Q and A #12: Swami and Henney:and all about sankalpafobia

[Guest guest]

Namaste all family: Swami is responding to a question from Henny

about the effect of different mantras. His response is at the top and

her question is beneath it.

 

SWAMI'S RESPONSE:

 

Namaste Henny Maa,

 

We strive to become proficient with many mantras in order to become

the character of the Chandi, Savarni, he who is one with all castes,

tribes, colors, with everyone.

 

When we change the mantra, we change the quality of mind. With the

change of mind comes attitudes, feelings, aspirations, the definitions

of our values in life.

 

The objective is to attach ourselves to the mantra, and then attach

ourselves to another mantra, until we attach ourselves to the Guru who

gave the mantra, and then we attach ourselves to God.

 

Please give up all confusion and doubt!

 

The mind can never ignore the mantra it is aware of, no matter how

many thoughts try to present themselves in front of it. Whether they

are positive or negative is of no account. That the mantra is there,

obviates that Consciousness is the screen upon which the rest of

worldly thoughts is being reflected.

 

That is sufficient!

 

 

JAI MAA JAI SWAMI

 

 

HENNY'S QUESTION

>

> Now I have some additional questions about mantras:)

> -last year, due to some time mismanagement on my part, I could only

> complete the 'sarva baadhaa' mantra sankalpa by devoting many hours a

> day to the practice during the lasts months of the year. Result was

> that it really became part of my life, and I experienced the effects

> you mention in your post. Then this year, Maa gave us another mantra

> for sankalpa. I notice I had become attached to the 'old' one, and

> felt great reluctance to change. Changing the mantra felt like

> abandoning a friend. Even now it takes an effort to remember to chant

> the new one. So the question is: should one give up all attachment to

> a particular mantra? Is it not important to stick to one mantra? How

> does one change the groove without getting into confusion and doubt?

> Is there a reason Maa gives us a different mantra?

> -second question: I found it is quite possible to have the mantra

> going on in the mind while thinking about other things entirely, even

> negative thoughts, and even when the mantra tries to come to the

> foreground, the mind can 'ignore' it even while the mantra is going

> on in the background. The mind is very clever in accomoding the

> mantra and still doing its own thing; how do we teach it to 'listen'

> with attention?

>

> thank you for sharing your wisdom and love so generously in the group,

>

> with love,

> henny

>

 

 

 

 

-- In , " henny_v_i " <henny_v_i wrote:

>

> Namaste Vish,

>

> thank you for your clear explanation of the value of sankalpas.

> Now I have some additional questions about mantras:)

> -last year, due to some time mismanagement on my part, I could only

> complete the 'sarva baadhaa' mantra sankalpa by devoting many hours a

> day to the practice during the lasts months of the year. Result was

> that it really became part of my life, and I experienced the effects

> you mention in your post. Then this year, Maa gave us another mantra

> for sankalpa. I notice I had become attached to the 'old' one, and

> felt great reluctance to change. Changing the mantra felt like

> abandoning a friend. Even now it takes an effort to remember to chant

> the new one. So the question is: should one give up all attachment to

> a particular mantra? Is it not important to stick to one mantra? How

> does one change the groove without getting into confusion and doubt?

> Is there a reason Maa gives us a different mantra?

> -second question: I found it is quite possible to have the mantra

> going on in the mind while thinking about other things entirely, even

> negative thoughts, and even when the mantra tries to come to the

> foreground, the mind can 'ignore' it even while the mantra is going

> on in the background. The mind is very clever in accomoding the

> mantra and still doing its own thing; how do we teach it to 'listen'

> with attention?

>

> thank you for sharing your wisdom and love so generously in the group,

>

> with love,

> henny

>

>

> , " inspectionconnection108 "

> <inspectionconnection108@> wrote:

> >

> > Namaste all family: Saturday night during dinner at the Mandir, we

> > were talking about the value of sankalpas. We examined our own

> > experiences during and after completion of Mother's sankalpas, and

> > deduced that Maa gives us these sankalpas for 2 reasons:

> > 1. by immersing ourselves in the mantra, thoughts of God

> predominate,

> > and thoughts of the world fade into the background. We automatically

> > become less attached to the world and our thoughts.

> > As Ramakrishna says: be like a mudfish at the bottom of a pond.

> > Sitting in the mud, yet never dirty.

> > Repeating the mantras over and over, ultimately, mantra will take

> away

> > the mind, and the great ego, and lead us to samadhi.

> > By chanting the mantra so often, we are developing deep grooves in

> our

> > mind and hearts. The mantra begins to become the primary thought,

> > while other thoughts and emotions begin to capture us less and

> less.

> > For example, I was drifting into a negative emotion. I caught

> myself,

> > Durga's mantra popped into the forefront of my mind. Immediately I

> > felt calmer and the mind settled down. After a few minutes, the

> mind

> > again drifted, and the mantra eliminated the disturbance.

> >

> > 2. by performing action which Maa suggests, we become closer to

> Her.

> > She says that those who perform Her sadhana, who align themselves

> > consciously with Her will and desire, She can and will work with

> them

> > more easily. And the results are profound.

> > for example, I find myself thinking of Her and She calls me. Or, I

> > need something, and she gives it to me. This is happening more and

> > more often. It is the highest blessing I can imagine, and is

> bringing

> > me closer to my ultimate goal of being one with Her.

> > By performing Maa's sankalpas, we are developing the habit of

> thinking

> > of God first, and self second. And this brings us freedom.

> >

> > In conclusion, committing to Maa's sankalpas brings benefits so

> great,

> > so huge, so magnificent, that I pray for the chance to dive into

> each

> > one fully and completely, and that She give me the strength and

> > devotion to fulfill Her desire.

> >

> > Jai Maa Jai Swami

> >

> > vishweshwar

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > , nierika@ wrote:

> > >

> > >

> > > Henny wrote:

> > >

> > > I even developed a sankalpafobia for a

> > > while. But all this has taught me something about sankalpas:

> they are

> > > not so much something we invented for God, but something God

> invented

> > > for us...

> > > Like you, I believe Mother loves us all always anyway...we are

> not

> > trying to

> > > manipulate Mummy into giving us things we want

> > > by showing off, but rather, because we are just doing what She

> asks

> > > us to do because we trust Her, we find we get everything we need

> and

> > > more, even when we ourselves think we have failed...

> > >

> > >

> > > Dear Henny ~ you have been an inspiration to me from the day you

> first

> > > showed up on the digest. In fact, your devotion and practice were

> so

> > beautiful to

> > > " see " unfold, and your questions always went straight to the heart

> > of the

> > > matter ... as do your comments and responses to questions from Maa

> > and Swamiji.

> > > I believe I have also had a sankalphobia due to my difficulty in

> > keeping up.

> > > In fact, at the end of the year that we did the 9 Planet

> sankalpa,

> > for reasons

> > > related to chaos in my life and because I was becoming more ill,

> I

> > didn't

> > > not finish out the year. I nearly cried when I got the beautiful

> > T-shirt from

> > > Maa. I felt I didn't deserve it, and I've never been able to wear

> > it. But I

> > > realize now that in disowning the gift, I am, in a sense not

> > trusting Maa's

> > > unconditional love. So guess I'll find it and put it on.

> > >

> > > And I would add that perhaps it goes beyond success/failure as you

> > indicate

> > > above, but that we were always already home. (click heels three

> > times...) Jai

> > > Maa ~ Linda

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the

> > live music

> > > scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com!

> > > (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste Swamiji, thank you for your patience in answering my

questions, taking away confusion,

 

with love and deepest respect,

Henny

 

 

 

 

, " inspectionconnection108 "

<inspectionconnection108 wrote:

>

> Namaste all family: Swami is responding to a question from Henny

> about the effect of different mantras. His response is at the top

and

> her question is beneath it.

>

> SWAMI'S RESPONSE:

>

> Namaste Henny Maa,

>

> We strive to become proficient with many mantras in order to become

> the character of the Chandi, Savarni, he who is one with all castes,

> tribes, colors, with everyone.

>

> When we change the mantra, we change the quality of mind. With the

> change of mind comes attitudes, feelings, aspirations, the

definitions

> of our values in life.

>

> The objective is to attach ourselves to the mantra, and then attach

> ourselves to another mantra, until we attach ourselves to the Guru

who

> gave the mantra, and then we attach ourselves to God.

>

> Please give up all confusion and doubt!

>

> The mind can never ignore the mantra it is aware of, no matter how

> many thoughts try to present themselves in front of it. Whether they

> are positive or negative is of no account. That the mantra is there,

> obviates that Consciousness is the screen upon which the rest of

> worldly thoughts is being reflected.

>

> That is sufficient!

>

>

> JAI MAA JAI SWAMI

>

>

> HENNY'S QUESTION

> >

> > Now I have some additional questions about mantras:)

> > -last year, due to some time mismanagement on my part, I could

only

> > complete the 'sarva baadhaa' mantra sankalpa by devoting many

hours a

> > day to the practice during the lasts months of the year. Result

was

> > that it really became part of my life, and I experienced the

effects

> > you mention in your post. Then this year, Maa gave us another

mantra

> > for sankalpa. I notice I had become attached to the 'old' one, and

> > felt great reluctance to change. Changing the mantra felt like

> > abandoning a friend. Even now it takes an effort to remember to

chant

> > the new one. So the question is: should one give up all

attachment to

> > a particular mantra? Is it not important to stick to one mantra?

How

> > does one change the groove without getting into confusion and

doubt?

> > Is there a reason Maa gives us a different mantra?

> > -second question: I found it is quite possible to have the mantra

> > going on in the mind while thinking about other things entirely,

even

> > negative thoughts, and even when the mantra tries to come to the

> > foreground, the mind can 'ignore' it even while the mantra is

going

> > on in the background. The mind is very clever in accomoding the

> > mantra and still doing its own thing; how do we teach it to

'listen'

> > with attention?

> >

> > thank you for sharing your wisdom and love so generously in the

group,

> >

> > with love,

> > henny

> >

>

>

>

>

> -- In , " henny_v_i " <henny_v_i@> wrote:

> >

> > Namaste Vish,

> >

> > thank you for your clear explanation of the value of sankalpas.

> > Now I have some additional questions about mantras:)

> > -last year, due to some time mismanagement on my part, I could

only

> > complete the 'sarva baadhaa' mantra sankalpa by devoting many

hours a

> > day to the practice during the lasts months of the year. Result

was

> > that it really became part of my life, and I experienced the

effects

> > you mention in your post. Then this year, Maa gave us another

mantra

> > for sankalpa. I notice I had become attached to the 'old' one,

and

> > felt great reluctance to change. Changing the mantra felt like

> > abandoning a friend. Even now it takes an effort to remember to

chant

> > the new one. So the question is: should one give up all

attachment to

> > a particular mantra? Is it not important to stick to one mantra?

How

> > does one change the groove without getting into confusion and

doubt?

> > Is there a reason Maa gives us a different mantra?

> > -second question: I found it is quite possible to have the mantra

> > going on in the mind while thinking about other things entirely,

even

> > negative thoughts, and even when the mantra tries to come to the

> > foreground, the mind can 'ignore' it even while the mantra is

going

> > on in the background. The mind is very clever in accomoding the

> > mantra and still doing its own thing; how do we teach it to

'listen'

> > with attention?

> >

> > thank you for sharing your wisdom and love so generously in the

group,

> >

> > with love,

> > henny

> >

> >

> > , " inspectionconnection108 "

> > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Namaste all family: Saturday night during dinner at the

Mandir, we

> > > were talking about the value of sankalpas. We examined our own

> > > experiences during and after completion of Mother's sankalpas,

and

> > > deduced that Maa gives us these sankalpas for 2 reasons:

> > > 1. by immersing ourselves in the mantra, thoughts of God

> > predominate,

> > > and thoughts of the world fade into the background. We

automatically

> > > become less attached to the world and our thoughts.

> > > As Ramakrishna says: be like a mudfish at the bottom of a

pond.

> > > Sitting in the mud, yet never dirty.

> > > Repeating the mantras over and over, ultimately, mantra will

take

> > away

> > > the mind, and the great ego, and lead us to samadhi.

> > > By chanting the mantra so often, we are developing deep grooves

in

> > our

> > > mind and hearts. The mantra begins to become the primary

thought,

> > > while other thoughts and emotions begin to capture us less and

> > less.

> > > For example, I was drifting into a negative emotion. I caught

> > myself,

> > > Durga's mantra popped into the forefront of my mind.

Immediately I

> > > felt calmer and the mind settled down. After a few minutes,

the

> > mind

> > > again drifted, and the mantra eliminated the disturbance.

> > >

> > > 2. by performing action which Maa suggests, we become closer to

> > Her.

> > > She says that those who perform Her sadhana, who align

themselves

> > > consciously with Her will and desire, She can and will work

with

> > them

> > > more easily. And the results are profound.

> > > for example, I find myself thinking of Her and She calls me.

Or, I

> > > need something, and she gives it to me. This is happening more

and

> > > more often. It is the highest blessing I can imagine, and is

> > bringing

> > > me closer to my ultimate goal of being one with Her.

> > > By performing Maa's sankalpas, we are developing the habit of

> > thinking

> > > of God first, and self second. And this brings us freedom.

> > >

> > > In conclusion, committing to Maa's sankalpas brings benefits so

> > great,

> > > so huge, so magnificent, that I pray for the chance to dive

into

> > each

> > > one fully and completely, and that She give me the strength and

> > > devotion to fulfill Her desire.

> > >

> > > Jai Maa Jai Swami

> > >

> > > vishweshwar

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > , nierika@ wrote:

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Henny wrote:

> > > >

> > > > I even developed a sankalpafobia for a

> > > > while. But all this has taught me something about sankalpas:

> > they are

> > > > not so much something we invented for God, but something God

> > invented

> > > > for us...

> > > > Like you, I believe Mother loves us all always anyway...we

are

> > not

> > > trying to

> > > > manipulate Mummy into giving us things we want

> > > > by showing off, but rather, because we are just doing what

She

> > asks

> > > > us to do because we trust Her, we find we get everything we

need

> > and

> > > > more, even when we ourselves think we have failed...

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Dear Henny ~ you have been an inspiration to me from the day

you

> > first

> > > > showed up on the digest. In fact, your devotion and practice

were

> > so

> > > beautiful to

> > > > " see " unfold, and your questions always went straight to the

heart

> > > of the

> > > > matter ... as do your comments and responses to questions

from Maa

> > > and Swamiji.

> > > > I believe I have also had a sankalphobia due to my difficulty

in

> > > keeping up.

> > > > In fact, at the end of the year that we did the 9 Planet

> > sankalpa,

> > > for reasons

> > > > related to chaos in my life and because I was becoming more

ill,

> > I

> > > didn't

> > > > not finish out the year. I nearly cried when I got the

beautiful

> > > T-shirt from

> > > > Maa. I felt I didn't deserve it, and I've never been able to

wear

> > > it. But I

> > > > realize now that in disowning the gift, I am, in a sense not

> > > trusting Maa's

> > > > unconditional love. So guess I'll find it and put it on.

> > > >

> > > > And I would add that perhaps it goes beyond success/failure

as you

> > > indicate

> > > > above, but that we were always already home. (click heels

three

> > > times...) Jai

> > > > Maa ~ Linda

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and

the

> > > live music

> > > > scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com!

> > > > (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)

> > > >

> > >

> >

>