Notes from Swamiji's class on Chandi: Chapter 12

[Guest guest]

Namaste!

 

Here are notes from Swamiji's class on Chandi, chapter 12.

You can watch the entire class on video here:

 

http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/node/1692

 

Love

srini

 

In this chapter, we recite the phala sruti - what will happen if we

study and sing the Chandi.

 

Rishis and Munis get their siddhis (attainments) from tapasya

Gods get their siddhis from drinking the nectar of devotion

Asuras get their siddhis from wearing stones and amulets

 

So if you any adverse planetary influence sit down and do tapasya and

you will get the attainments of rishis and munis.

 

In order to listen to it once and really listen, really intuitively

grok the essence of the Chandi, we need to prepare ourselves. Some

once asked Shree Maa, " Swami Vivekananda was touched by Sri

Ramakrishna and he got enlightened by single touch, will you touch me

like that? " Maa said, certainly, but first you become Swami Vivekananda. "

 

In verse 20, what are offerings of animalistic nature?

 

Some people like to slay an animal. I like to slay my animalistic

nature, my pashu bhava. The selfish guy within me is the one whom I

want to scarifce. That is the purpose of this Chandi.

 

We are told to recite or listen with concentration and full devotion.

In verse 11 we are told that it doesn't matter whether or not we

understand it. Is it possible to really have full concentration

without understanding?

 

Yes. When we are beginning it is enough to be able to pronounce even a

single line. More we study, more we understand and the easier it is to

focus on the story of what is happening to me, the story of oour

personal transformations. Self-conceit and self-deprecation in us

makes us follow our day dreams. The purpose of concentration is to

focus on the scripture to the exclusion of these day dreams

 

In verse 20-22, other than the consideration of time, why do we recite

a shortened version of the Chandi Path? Will the benefits still be the

same?

 

The benefits are not exactly the same. The longer we sit, the more we

benefit.

 

With all the benefits the Goddess showers upon the devotee, please

tell us why it is NOT ok to ask Her for material benefits.

 

It's certainly OK to ask her for material benefits. But when she

grants you the wish,you will come back and ask her for something else.

We want something permanent. The only thing permannet is devotion. If

I am devoted, I love what I am doing, wherever I am at, and whomever I

am with. If she gives me that devotion, everything else will come.

Asking for material benefits is like going to a billionaire and asking

him hey buddy can I have a dime for a cup of coffee.

 

Is the way Mother removes all obstacles, afflictions, and other bad

things by our chanting the Chandi because through this practice we

become in alignment with Her and by knowing our true nature none of

these things can be of any consequence to us?

 

Yes, very true. When we are aligned with her of what consequence are

robbers, lions, tigers, etc?

 

The chapter mentions ghosts and inimical forces. In the Chandi you

have translated Asuras as Thoughts. Do negative and inimical beings

(other than our thoughts) actually exist?

 

Yes, they do. They are in my thoughts. These are incorporeal spirits

that are perplexing us and exist in our minds. Whther they have

external existence as well us is of no consequence to us. They

represent the conflicts and confusions that are making obstacles in

our paths.

 

In verse 8, what are spiritual and physical confusions?

 

We have physical obstacles, limitations. For example, I have a pain in

my leg and I have a confusion: should I sit or not sit in the asan. I

have spiritual confusions - what is my dharma in this circumstances, a

debate between two conflicting ideals of perfection. That's a Dharma

sankat.