Guest guest Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Namste Prathibha: thanks for sharing your feelings. As Swami says, in the beginning it takes effort to push past the inertia we all have, but, in time, as one understands more and as one's heart begins to open and devotion grows, one fins the desire to perform puja is stronger than the desire to perform other actions. Even then, some days it is great, and some days boring. That is life as we live it in the world. But, just as we had to stretch ourselves in university, or training in sports, etc., one just keeps on the schedule, and the fruits will come. Understanding the mantra and the reason we perform puja, and being with like-minded seekers really helps one achieve one's goals. And, being with Maa and Swami, those pure souls who demonstrate the value of a life lived with God as the foremost thought-that is our highest blessing. Jai Ma Jai Swami vishweshwar , " sharanam_lalitambike " <prats74 wrote: > > Dear Vishveshwar, > Thank you for inviting me to share my experiences. > > I feel the biggest change Shiva Puja has brought about in my life is > enforcing discipline. Since I started doing Shiva puja, I have > improved to the extent that I actually hesitate to skip puja on a > given day and give higher priority to some other task. > > Another thing Shiva Puja has taught me is structured worship. I was > ignorant of the various rituals in a puja. Now I am able to perform > puja and also understand a little bit better what the steps involved > mean. > > Learning Shiva puja has also made me understand the term Sadhana much > better. I also feel now that regularity is a core aspect of fruitful > Sadhana. > > Swamiji's recent response that regular Sadhana is an ultimate > demonstration of devotion has reinforced this understanding. I am > grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate devotion to God by > performing Shiva Puja regularly. > > I am grateful for this change in life which makes me a little bit more > disciplined in spiritual practice. Thanks to Shree Maa & Swamiji for > showering their grace on us with this introduction to Shiva Puja. > > Jai Bom Bholenath! > Jai Maa! > > Regards, > Prathibha > > , " inspectionconnection108 " > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaste Prathibha and all family: > > Could you please share how Shiva worship has changed your life? I > > perform puja to Shiva daily also and find it helps me to center and > > become grounded. > > It has really been a very great boon to have learned this puja. > > > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Vishveshwar, > > > Thank you for your response. I am learning more each day - doing the > > > beginner's Shiva puja has been a boon. > > > > > > Jai bom bhole nath! > > > > > > Jai Maa, > > > Prathibha > > > > > > , " inspectionconnection108 " > > > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Namaste Brother and sister: > > > > Those are really powerful questions. I have forwarded them to > Swami. > > > > I have heard Swami say that if one makes a sankalpa to perform > > > > worship, and keeps that commitment no matter what, that one receives > > > > great merit. > > > > He also said that if one continues to perform the sadhana of one's > > > > sankalpa, in spite of it being difficult or uncomfortable, boring, > > > > etc, that one will receive greatest benefit. > > > > He said it is important to demonstrate one's devotion and commitment > > > > to God, and that completing one's sankalpa is very important. > > > > I find that there are times when I feel so tired and cranky that > I do > > > > not want to perform my sankalpa. But, because I have made the > > > > sankalpa, I perform the worship. I do not care how I feel > during the > > > > worship, I pray to God to accept whatever I can offer, and to > help me > > > > to worship with as much focus as possible, as that it is the best I > > > > can give. And, when I have completed the worship, I thank God for > > > > helping me complete my vow of worship. > > > > Ultimately, my devotion has grown as a result of keeping my > > sankalpa. > > > > > > > > Regarding the question of whether loving God is worship and > sadhana, I > > > > think there are many parts of my life where I can demonstrate and > > > > practice my love of God: worship, seva-SELFLESS SERVICE, my > job, my > > > > family interactions, etc. Maa and Swami say that work is worship if > > > > one gives all of one's self to the task and one seeks to help this > > > > universe become a better place. Swami reminds us constantly that a > > > > sadhu is one who gives more than they take and leaves this world a > > > > better place. > > > > Let's see how Swami guides us. > > > > > > > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > > > , " sharanam_lalitambike " > > > > <prats74@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Vishveshwar, > > > > > From personal experience, I have a question. If we perform sadhana > > > > > mechanically (while our minds are wandering) does it still help to > > > > > keep doing the sadhana regularly? > > > > > > > > > > Can we hope that one day (in spite of the disinterested > sadhana) we > > > > > will gain the faith and devotion that makes the sadhana more > > > > > fulfilling to our hearts? > > > > > > > > > > Jai Maa, > > > > > Prathibha > > > > > > > > > > , Ray Happy <amritanandamoyi@> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Vishweshwar, > > > > > > > > > > > > For someone who does not know what devotion is, or for > > someone who > > > > > may be new to all this (spirituality, discipline etc... ) does > > sadhana > > > > > give devotion as well ? > > > > > > > > > > > > I read once (I think in this group) that to love god is to do > > > > > sadhana... is that right ? > > > > > > > > > > > > Jai Maa, > > > > > > Prasana. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaste all family: recently our family has been very > > > > > quiet. How is > > > > > > everyone? What topics would you like to cover? What questions > > do you > > > > > > have for Maa or Swami? > > > > > > How are you feeling regarding the turmoil in the world? How is > > your > > > > > > sadhana? > > > > > > I have been pondering what it means to be a disciple of a Divine > > > > > > Master. Today I had a chance to talk to Maa. She indicated > that it > > > > > > is so important to perform sadhana. Sadhana purifies one and > > allows > > > > > > one to become more subtle. As one becomes more subtle, the > Guru is > > > > > > able to align with the disciple, and help them grow closer. > > > > > > The Guru will do anything required to help the disciple work > > through > > > > > > their karmas. And, they can take some of that karma from the > > > > > > disciple, and lessen their burden. Even if it effects the Guru's > > > > > > physical body. > > > > > > I cannot fathom the love and commitment the Guru has for their > > > > > > disciple, but I am certainly thankful for it. > > > > > > > > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > > > > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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