Chandi Sadhana

May 24, 2008

Namaste Sadhana Warriors!

Recent posts have enquired of ways to keep your sadhana in general,

and Chandi sadhana in particular going strong and regular.

Could you please share your methods to stay inspired in the sadhana?

How do you achieve your sadhana goals? What inspires you?

Looking forward to your responses.

Love

srini

May 24, 2008

Namaste Srini and all,

I have written something about my experience with Chandi. I hope you

don't mind it is a bit long and it is not exactly literature:

My Chandi is like a beautiful horse, suddenly appearing in a field

near my house. I admired her from a distance at first, in awe of her

strength and beauty. She would run away whenever I tried to come

closer. But I went to the field every day and just stood there,

silently watching her every move, and after a while she allowed me to

approach her. From up close, she was even more beautiful and I would

have been happy just to look at her for a long time. I started

bringing my sketchbook and all kinds of books about horses in an

effort to draw her and learn as much as I could about her. But then

one day she came right up to me and said: " If it is your desire to

get to know me, you will have to let me carry you. I can take you

where you need to go. "

" Oh, that is just wonderful " , I thought and I went out and got myself

a first class horse-riding kit. That evening, I returned to the field

with a firm determination to ride her. So, at the first opportunity,

I tried to grab her by the mane and harness her. She bolted and ran,

but I persisted and I guess she finally felt sorry for me, for after

some days she allowed me to laboriously climb onto her back, take the

reigns and make the sounds I thought would get her going. She was

even gracious enough to move in the direction I had chosen. Even

though I could only keep in the saddle with great physical effort and

emotional stress, I felt quite good about my being able to ride such

a magnificent horse. But then it gradually dawned on me that we were

actually going nowhere; we were going round in circles.

So I complained " I thought you said you would take me wherever I

wanted to go! And now we're going round in circles! What use are you

to me in this way? " She turned to look at me and said: " You did not

listen, did you? I never said I would take you wherever you wanted to

go! " and with that she threw me off. After having thrown off the

harness as well, she broke into a gallop and disappeared from view. I

had landed on the floor with the harness on top of me, hurt my head

and my pride, and decided this riding business was not for me.

For quite a while, I would not even allow my thoughts to dwell on

her, so painful was the memory. I did not go near the field and threw

myself into any activity that would take my mind of her. Thus it took

me a long time to realize that indeed, I had not listened to what she

had said. But when the enormity of my mistake finally dawned on me, I

knew I had to go back and face her. When I saw her in the distance, I

felt so ashamed, I did not have the courage to look at her, so I

knelt on the floor and hid my head in my hands, not knowing what to

do. Suddenly, there was this gentle nudge against my shoulder. I

could feel her warm breath on my hands and I heard her voice, saying:

" If you believe you love me, just put your arms around me and allow

yourself to be lifted up " . Without thinking, I did what she said, and

before I knew it, I was on her back again, but this time without

effort and without force. She told me to hold onto her gently and

just move with her, and away we went. My body moving with her body,

my breath with her breath.

And so it is that we made a fresh start. Whenever I go up to the

field, she is there waiting for me, ready to carry me where I need to

go. I cannot say exactly where she takes me. I only know that after

the journey I sometimes feel very happy, sometimes very sad. At

times I don't feel anything and I wonder if I have been anywhere at

all. Her back can feel like velvet or as hard as stone. She can run

like the wind or plod along like a farmer's horse. When the journey

has been rough, I hesitate to go to the field again and sometimes I

stay away. But when I return, I always remember why I have come.

Slowly, I learn to trust her. My Chandi is like a beautiful horse.

with love,

Henny

, " srini_sadhu " <srini_sadhu

wrote:

>

> Namaste Sadhana Warriors!

>

> Recent posts have enquired of ways to keep your sadhana in general,

> and Chandi sadhana in particular going strong and regular.

>

> Could you please share your methods to stay inspired in the sadhana?

> How do you achieve your sadhana goals? What inspires you?

>

> Looking forward to your responses.

>

> Love

> srini

>

May 25, 2008

Namaste' Srini and everyone...

Over the past several years my practice of chanting the Chandi has

grown steadily and, at your request, I would like to share what has

worked for me.

At first I felt very lost. This practice of chanting in Sanskrit was

very foreign to me and it felt as if my mind (and my mouth) were

constantly tripping over each other as I tried to learn to put the

letters together in some way that sounded even close to what Swamiji

and the other people I was listening to were doing.

I began by reading the Chandi in english, this way I could connect to

the story and find a way through understanding what was happening to

make a connection to my life in general. When I felt ready to really

begin to learn I decided to spend a week on each new part. First I

chanted the Kushandika for a week, then the Durga Sapta Sloki for a

week then the 108 names for a week, etc... I found various parts of

the Chandi that particularly appealed to me (like the Kavatch and 32

names and Sapta Sloki) So I would chant these daily, along with

whatever I happened to be chanting that week. As I became

comfortable with one I would add another.

I found that by doing this, and as time went by, that I could add new

parts much more often. So I just persevered, adding as my comfort

increased. This year I am working on chapters 1-13 at the rate of

one per month (and I am chanting ch. 11 almost everday because I

don't think I can praise Maa too much.) Along with my (mostly) daily

chanting of ch. 11 and my chapter of the month I am also chanting

most of the beginning and ending verses. (I've been adding them as I

get comfortable - this way I am ever increasing my capacity.) I am

also chanting a Seedha Path almost every Friday and sometimes on

other days as well.

So, the best thing for me has been to start where I was, very limited

and unsure, and just add a little at a time as I've been able.

I know that I still have a long way to go to really learn this

sadhana but my perseverance has certainly paid off. My practice has

grown steadily by using the method Swamiji suggests of adding 5

minutes a month. I can't imagine starting my day without doing my

sadhana at this point. I love doing this so much that even my

abbreviated version for particularly early days has expanded well

beyond where I began from.

As to what inspires me..? It must be the delight I get from my

practice and the understanding of this life which I have gained. I

am very fortunate in that my nature is such that when I set a goal I

am committed to its completion. Knowing this about myself I am

careful to set goals that are reachable. So far this has worked very

well for me. I am also fortunate in that Maa has given me a life

that allows me to spend as much of my time as I desire doing

sadhana. And it has always seemed that the more dedicated I am to my

sadhana the more time itself opens up to allow me to reach my goals.

May Maa bless us all with victory and the gifts of the Chandi.

Chandi Maa ki JAI

OM Shanti

Morningsong

, " srini_sadhu " <srini_sadhu

wrote:

>

> Namaste Sadhana Warriors!

>

> Recent posts have enquired of ways to keep your sadhana in general,

> and Chandi sadhana in particular going strong and regular.

>

> Could you please share your methods to stay inspired in the sadhana?

> How do you achieve your sadhana goals? What inspires you?

>

> Looking forward to your responses.

>

> Love

> srini

>

May 25, 2008

Wow Hennyji, this is fantastic and oh so true. When we give it all to

Mother She willingly accepts us but once we think ourselves to be the

doer, She leaves us to our own ignorance. .....

Sounds like the writings of Ramprasad.

Jai Maa Jai Swamiji

, " henny_v_i " <henny_v_i wrote:

>

> Namaste Srini and all,

>

> I have written something about my experience with Chandi. I hope you

> don't mind it is a bit long and it is not exactly literature:

>

> My Chandi is like a beautiful horse, suddenly appearing in a field

> near my house. I admired her from a distance at first, in awe of her

> strength and beauty. She would run away whenever I tried to come

> closer. But I went to the field every day and just stood there,

> silently watching her every move, and after a while she allowed me to

> approach her. From up close, she was even more beautiful and I would

> have been happy just to look at her for a long time. I started

> bringing my sketchbook and all kinds of books about horses in an

> effort to draw her and learn as much as I could about her. But then

> one day she came right up to me and said: " If it is your desire to

> get to know me, you will have to let me carry you. I can take you

> where you need to go. "

> " Oh, that is just wonderful " , I thought and I went out and got myself

> a first class horse-riding kit. That evening, I returned to the field

> with a firm determination to ride her. So, at the first opportunity,

> I tried to grab her by the mane and harness her. She bolted and ran,

> but I persisted and I guess she finally felt sorry for me, for after

> some days she allowed me to laboriously climb onto her back, take the

> reigns and make the sounds I thought would get her going. She was

> even gracious enough to move in the direction I had chosen. Even

> though I could only keep in the saddle with great physical effort and

> emotional stress, I felt quite good about my being able to ride such

> a magnificent horse. But then it gradually dawned on me that we were

> actually going nowhere; we were going round in circles.

> So I complained " I thought you said you would take me wherever I

> wanted to go! And now we're going round in circles! What use are you

> to me in this way? " She turned to look at me and said: " You did not

> listen, did you? I never said I would take you wherever you wanted to

> go! " and with that she threw me off. After having thrown off the

> harness as well, she broke into a gallop and disappeared from view. I

> had landed on the floor with the harness on top of me, hurt my head

> and my pride, and decided this riding business was not for me.

> For quite a while, I would not even allow my thoughts to dwell on

> her, so painful was the memory. I did not go near the field and threw

> myself into any activity that would take my mind of her. Thus it took

> me a long time to realize that indeed, I had not listened to what she

> had said. But when the enormity of my mistake finally dawned on me, I

> knew I had to go back and face her. When I saw her in the distance, I

> felt so ashamed, I did not have the courage to look at her, so I

> knelt on the floor and hid my head in my hands, not knowing what to

> do. Suddenly, there was this gentle nudge against my shoulder. I

> could feel her warm breath on my hands and I heard her voice, saying:

> " If you believe you love me, just put your arms around me and allow

> yourself to be lifted up " . Without thinking, I did what she said, and

> before I knew it, I was on her back again, but this time without

> effort and without force. She told me to hold onto her gently and

> just move with her, and away we went. My body moving with her body,

> my breath with her breath.

> And so it is that we made a fresh start. Whenever I go up to the

> field, she is there waiting for me, ready to carry me where I need to

> go. I cannot say exactly where she takes me. I only know that after

> the journey I sometimes feel very happy, sometimes very sad. At

> times I don't feel anything and I wonder if I have been anywhere at

> all. Her back can feel like velvet or as hard as stone. She can run

> like the wind or plod along like a farmer's horse. When the journey

> has been rough, I hesitate to go to the field again and sometimes I

> stay away. But when I return, I always remember why I have come.

> Slowly, I learn to trust her. My Chandi is like a beautiful horse.

>

> with love,

> Henny

>

> , " srini_sadhu " srini_sadhu@

> wrote:

> >

> > Namaste Sadhana Warriors!

> >

> > Recent posts have enquired of ways to keep your sadhana in general,

> > and Chandi sadhana in particular going strong and regular.

> >

> > Could you please share your methods to stay inspired in the sadhana?

> > How do you achieve your sadhana goals? What inspires you?

> >

> > Looking forward to your responses.

> >

> > Love

> > srini

> >

>

May 25, 2008

Dear Srini and all,

Three main things that keeps me inspired - the desire for a life of

truth, to see my blood family and the world especially the creators

(females) in a better place of realization and most importantly love of

Gurujis who has given this soul the opportunity to recall its divine

nature.

The goals are achieved by praying to Mother to keep focussed on Her. At

times this monkey mind make this very difficult but when the mind would

want to slip i ask Mother for help, i ask Her to keep the devotion to

Her Feet. Swamiji's enthusiam; Maa's smile of compassion; visiting

the Mandir through the portal of mind and memory; all these keep are

aids and inspirations.

Eternal blessing to Guru.

Love

Kalia

, " srini_sadhu " <srini_sadhu

wrote:

>

> Namaste Sadhana Warriors!

>

> Recent posts have enquired of ways to keep your sadhana in general,

> and Chandi sadhana in particular going strong and regular.

>

> Could you please share your methods to stay inspired in the sadhana?

> How do you achieve your sadhana goals? What inspires you?

>

> Looking forward to your responses.

>

> Love

> srini

>

May 27, 2008

Namaste Siters and Brothers, What inspires me with sadhana goals

includes:

1. What a better reason can there be than to have the privilege and

honor to see Maa and Swamiji recite the Chandi, whether in person or

via the webcam, this is one of the hugest emobidments of LOVE

possible. This inspires me because They care enough to reveal their

paths to us.

2. Maa has said before to not leave the house in the morning without

doing the Devi Kavacham, at a minimum. I can't think of a better

reason to do perform sadhana than this.

3. All of YOU at the Devi Mandir inspire me with your warmth and

love when i show up online or in person at the Devi Mandi. You

inspire me...Your smiles and Love keep me.

4. Just the thought of making Maa happy inspires me. Having the

privilege of the Mantras inspires me. Are we here to be emodiments

of the Living Truth?

, " srini_sadhu " <srini_sadhu

wrote:

>

> Namaste Sadhana Warriors!

>

> Recent posts have enquired of ways to keep your sadhana in general,

> and Chandi sadhana in particular going strong and regular.

>

> Could you please share your methods to stay inspired in the

sadhana?

> How do you achieve your sadhana goals? What inspires you?

>

> Looking forward to your responses.

>

> Love

> srini

>

May 27, 2008

Wonderful post, Hennyji!

Jai Maa!

Chris