to vish about living spirituality

[Guest guest]

vish wrote:

Namaste: I do not spend all my time doing pujas. etc. I live with mywonderful wife of 35 years, Bharati, and my 19 year old sonJanarandan. We live in a home 15 minutes from the Mandir and I gothere daily to perform Shiva puja at Napashwar, the large lingum inthe woods. Every Saturday night we go for satsunga and every Sundaymorning for group Chandi with Maa and Swami. My wife and I have ourown business we operate out of our home. We life a full life of workand spiritual practice and consider ourselves disciples of Maa andSwami for the past 10.5 years.

Dear vish ~ First let me apologize for not getting this back to the digest sooner ... rough week with my illness, and I've missed the group. So where it sounds like the present, it was actually several days ago.

I hope you don't mind too much my breaking up of your wonderful writing, but when I thought about what I wanted to respond to, I realized I couldn't leave any of what you wrote out. Right now, in this very moment, tears are streaming from my eyes, having just read what you said at the end about opening up my heart to Maa. I needed this. My heart is sore from being cast out, yet again, by my sister. Each time, I welcome her back, but it seems to hurt more every time we do this leela. If I put my heart and trust in the care of Maa, then it will be filled, and I won't be thrashed about the ocean of objects and relationships.

 

I am also very moved by your so wonderfully sharing your life and spiritual practice. With Maa and Swamiji as the ultimate Goal of Perfection, it is still very helpful to one like me to have another person recount their own experiences. Before, when I was very active in the Digest, I wrote several times of my wish to have some of these personal accounts published as a book. I know it would be difficult to go through all the digests and pick out what to share, but there is so much richness, inspiration, diversity, and love...

Prior to that, we were disciples of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for 25years, and I taught TM full time for 5 years in Philadelphia. Wemoved to Fairfield Iowa to live in Maharishi's Ashram town about 26years ago and moved to Napa to be near Maa 6.5 years ago.Maa has told my wife and I that we should be an ideal couple, livingin the world, but not of the world. We work to create an idealenvironment and to infuse our work with spiritual vigor and we utilizeMaa's teachings in every way, every day. Hinduism is a real , vibrant,living part of our lives. We try to give more than we take, and leave each situation better thanwe find it. We give our clients 110% of our attention and love, andwork very hard for their success, on every level. If they have apersonal problem, we ask if they would like us to pray for them, andif there is any problem, we always tell the truth.

I too began, many many years ago, with TM. The way I was taught it was very scientific, with the introductory lectures presenting much research about the positive affects on health. I think this was to make it more appealing to Westerners. So imagine my surprise when I showed up to receive my mantra and find the altar, the prasad, the flowers, the aura of sincere devotion ... I wasn't expecting that, but it was wonderful. And my first experience with meditation was so incredible.

 

Maa in Her wisdom makes a very good point for you and your wife to serve as an example of how spirituality can live in and infuse the lives of us ordinary "householders." I am very intrigued about your business, and love your idea of leaving each situation better than you find it. I believe Swamiji has said this too. So if it seems appropriate, I would very much like to know what kind of business you and your wife have.

So, if one thinks of pujas as sitting in front of an altar, chantingmantras to God, then I do not do that every moment of my day. but, ifpuja can be thought of as performing all actions to help manifest thehighest ideal of perfection, then I try to do this kind of puja allthe time. Maa sends us Her love and support constantly. Sometimes life is smoothand easy, sometimes it is difficult. We have our karmas to work onjust like everyone else. That said, my wife and I know in our heartsthat Maa's influence is helping us live a better life than if we wereliving without the knowledge, shakti, and love which She and Swamishower on us.We made a decision to move to Napa to be close to Her, we took thesteps to demonstrate our love and willingness to surrender to Her. Once we did that, She has helped us in every way.

Okay, this next part is where my tears really started to flow. Intellectually I know that Maa is everywhere and can thus touch and infuse my life with Her Love. On the practical level, as I deal with the daily "cost" of my illnesses, it is so easy to become discouraged and lose the flow and the feeling of the Presence of the Sacred. This morning, my hubby took me and our dog, Pepper, for a walk along the river. The light was dancing on the water, the trees were so beautiful, and as we walked I began to be drawn to things on the ground ~ a gently folded leaf, a piece of tree bark that looked like it had an image of the Goddess on it, some gull feathers ... all so precious, and for that time, I once again felt the connection with the Divine.

For me there seems to be a connection to the "Land," to the natural world, which, after all is every bit an expression of the Creation of Mother/Father God/dess. It had been years since I felt this, and if their weren't so many people around, I would have fallen to my knees. As it was, I lifted a prayer of gratitude ... that in some things that are so simple, I yet am able to feel that Connection. In a way, this makes me think of the Shiva Lingum in the forest at the Mandir. How wonderful to be able to go and offer worship there.

 

Also, I have to say, the growing relationship between my husband and my/our dog, Pepper, is nothing short of miraculous, as is David's presence in my life. David and I married and were together for nine years; then in the early 80's we separated. We went our separate ways, but the Universe kept inexplicably bringing us together. Finally, when I had been cast out by my family, brutalized by an abusive relationship, and succombed to the illnesses that seemed to claim my body ... I reached out to David. For the first time, neither of us was with anyone else. He came right away; helped pack me up; moved me to Massachusetts, and now we are living that bond that never went away. This is such a gift, it is like a fairy tale come true. That we never stopped loving each other all those years, and, as David used to say back then, we are together for the "duration." This is true love. It just is ... no questions asked, no stipulations made ... just the light in two hearts coming to glow together again.

 

Back to Pepper. I had two dogs ~ Pepper and Cassie. Pepper had been with me for 7 years (and had been dumped ... I am an irrepressible dog rescuer). Cassies was younger; I got her as a pup. David said, okay bring Pepper, but not Cassie. Even his acceptance of Pepper was a surprise, but I think he knew I would not leave Pepper behind.

 

And then, as David began to take Pepper on walks, during and after our move, he began to enjoy these encounters, rather than just seeing them as a chore. Slowly, he warmed to Pepper and was rewarded by all the unconditional love and devotion that can be so unique to animals when they are treated well. Then he got to the point of playing with Pepper, of being proud that other people noticed Pepper when they went for walks. And he began to understand and appreciate the time I had taken to work with Pepper (who had been abused) to train him, socialize him, love him. In a very small way, this is a kind of a metaphor for spiritual growth, except that instead of working with someone else, we are working, with the help of our Gurus, to work on ourselves. I think the hard part is that we may forget to treat ourselves as lovingly as we might treat others. I see this loving kindness in your writing.

I know it is not possible for everyone to move to Napa, but, I know itis possible to be Her disciple anywhere in this Universe, and She willreach out and support with love so pure that it will take your breathaway. If you want Her love, and Her support, just close your eyes and prayto Her, right now, and She will respond. She will let you know,without a doubt, that She is always with you and will always be withyou. Whether you are good or bad, and each of us will be one or theother from one moment to the next, She will always be with us. To be alive and to know of Her, is Grace indeed. Now, take advantage of this Grace, and call Her, cry for Her, and Shewill come. Open your heart, to the degree that you can, and She willtake residence there, and clean house, and fill your heart with loveand peace.Tell me how you all feel. Let's share what She has given us.

 

And yes, here, again, is where I cried. For, in the end, there has to be a leap of faith, that, despite the distance between Massachusetts and California, Maa knows me, watches over me, wishes me well in my childlike attempts to get myself going, and ever inspires me, with Her own words and actions, and through the loving words of Her devotees.

 

As always, thank you, vish and pranams to you and Bharati ~ LindaLooking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

[Guest guest]

, nierika wrote:

>

> vish wrote:

>

> Namaste: I do not spend all my time doing pujas. etc. I live with

my

> wonderful wife of 35 years, Bharati, and my 19 year old son

> Janarandan. We live in a home 15 minutes from the Mandir and I go

> there daily to perform Shiva puja at Napashwar, the large lingum in

> the woods. Every Saturday night we go for satsunga and every

Sunday

> morning for group Chandi with Maa and Swami. My wife and I have

our

> own business we operate out of our home. We life a full life of

work

> and spiritual practice and consider ourselves disciples of Maa and

> Swami for the past 10.5 years.

> Dear vish ~ First let me apologize for not getting this back to the

digest

> sooner ... rough week with my illness, and I've missed the group.

So where it

> sounds like the present, it was actually several days ago.

> I hope you don't mind too much my breaking up of your wonderful

writing, but

> when I thought about what I wanted to respond to, I realized I

couldn't

> leave any of what you wrote out. Right now, in this very moment,

tears are

> streaming from my eyes, having just read what you said at the end

about opening up

> my heart to Maa. I needed this. My heart is sore from being cast

out, yet

> again, by my sister. Each time, I welcome her back, but it seems to

hurt more

> every time we do this leela. If I put my heart and trust in the

care of Maa,

> then it will be filled, and I won't be thrashed about the ocean of

objects and

> relationships.

>

> I am also very moved by your so wonderfully sharing your life and

spiritual

> practice. With Maa and Swamiji as the ultimate Goal of Perfection,

it is still

> very helpful to one like me to have another person recount their

own

> experiences. Before, when I was very active in the Digest, I wrote

several times of

> my wish to have some of these personal accounts published as a

book. I know

> it would be difficult to go through all the digests and pick out

what to

> share, but there is so much richness, inspiration, diversity, and

love...

>

>

> Prior to that, we were disciples of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for 25

> years, and I taught TM full time for 5 years in Philadelphia. We

> moved to Fairfield Iowa to live in Maharishi's Ashram town about 26

> years ago and moved to Napa to be near Maa 6.5 years ago.

> Maa has told my wife and I that we should be an ideal couple,

living

> in the world, but not of the world. We work to create an ideal

> environment and to infuse our work with spiritual vigor and we

utilize

> Maa's teachings in every way, every day. Hinduism is a real ,

vibrant,

> living part of our lives.

> We try to give more than we take, and leave each situation better

than

> we find it. We give our clients 110% of our attention and love,

and

> work very hard for their success, on every level. If they have a

> personal problem, we ask if they would like us to pray for them,

and

> if there is any problem, we always tell the truth.

> I too began, many many years ago, with TM. The way I was taught it

was very

> scientific, with the introductory lectures presenting much research

about the

> positive affects on health. I think this was to make it more

appealing to

> Westerners. So imagine my surprise when I showed up to receive my

mantra and

> find the altar, the prasad, the flowers, the aura of sincere

devotion ... I

> wasn't expecting that, but it was wonderful. And my first

experience with

> meditation was so incredible.

>

> Maa in Her wisdom makes a very good point for you and your wife to

serve as

> an example of how spirituality can live in and infuse the lives of

us ordinary

> " householders. " I am very intrigued about your business, and love

your idea

> of leaving each situation better than you find it. I believe

Swamiji has said

> this too. So if it seems appropriate, I would very much like to

know what

> kind of business you and your wife have.

>

>

> So, if one thinks of pujas as sitting in front of an altar,

chanting

> mantras to God, then I do not do that every moment of my day.

but, if

> puja can be thought of as performing all actions to help manifest

the

> highest ideal of perfection, then I try to do this kind of puja all

> the time.

> Maa sends us Her love and support constantly. Sometimes life is

smooth

> and easy, sometimes it is difficult. We have our karmas to work on

> just like everyone else. That said, my wife and I know in our

hearts

> that Maa's influence is helping us live a better life than if we

were

> living without the knowledge, shakti, and love which She and Swami

> shower on us.

> We made a decision to move to Napa to be close to Her, we took the

> steps to demonstrate our love and willingness to surrender to Her.

> Once we did that, She has helped us in every way.

> Okay, this next part is where my tears really started to flow.

> Intellectually I know that Maa is everywhere and can thus touch and

infuse my life with

> Her Love. On the practical level, as I deal with the daily " cost "

of my

> illnesses, it is so easy to become discouraged and lose the flow

and the feeling of

> the Presence of the Sacred. This morning, my hubby took me and our

dog,

> Pepper, for a walk along the river. The light was dancing on the

water, the trees

> were so beautiful, and as we walked I began to be drawn to things

on the

> ground ~ a gently folded leaf, a piece of tree bark that looked

like it had an

> image of the Goddess on it, some gull feathers ... all so precious,

and for that

> time, I once again felt the connection with the Divine.

> For me there seems to be a connection to the " Land, " to the natural

world,

> which, after all is every bit an expression of the Creation of

Mother/Father

> God/dess. It had been years since I felt this, and if their weren't

so many

> people around, I would have fallen to my knees. As it was, I lifted

a prayer of

> gratitude ... that in some things that are so simple, I yet am able

to feel

> that Connection. In a way, this makes me think of the Shiva Lingum

in the

> forest at the Mandir. How wonderful to be able to go and offer

worship there.

>

> Also, I have to say, the growing relationship between my husband

and my/our

> dog, Pepper, is nothing short of miraculous, as is David's presence

in my

> life. David and I married and were together for nine years; then

in the early

> 80's we separated. We went our separate ways, but the Universe

kept inexplicably

> bringing us together. Finally, when I had been cast out by my

family,

> brutalized by an abusive relationship, and succombed to the

illnesses that seemed

> to claim my body ... I reached out to David. For the first time,

neither of us

> was with anyone else. He came right away; helped pack me up; moved

me to

> Massachusetts, and now we are living that bond that never went

away. This is

> such a gift, it is like a fairy tale come true. That we never

stopped loving

> each other all those years, and, as David used to say back then,

we are together

> for the " duration. " This is true love. It just is ... no questions

asked, no

> stipulations made ... just the light in two hearts coming to glow

together

> again.

>

> Back to Pepper. I had two dogs ~ Pepper and Cassie. Pepper had been

with me

> for 7 years (and had been dumped ... I am an irrepressible dog

rescuer).

> Cassies was younger; I got her as a pup. David said, okay bring

Pepper, but not

> Cassie. Even his acceptance of Pepper was a surprise, but I think

he knew I

> would not leave Pepper behind.

>

> And then, as David began to take Pepper on walks, during and after

our move,

> he began to enjoy these encounters, rather than just seeing them as

a chore.

> Slowly, he warmed to Pepper and was rewarded by all the

unconditional love

> and devotion that can be so unique to animals when they are treated

well. Then

> he got to the point of playing with Pepper, of being proud that

other people

> noticed Pepper when they went for walks. And he began to understand

and

> appreciate the time I had taken to work with Pepper (who had been

abused) to

> train him, socialize him, love him. In a very small way, this is a

kind of a

> metaphor for spiritual growth, except that instead of working with

someone else,

> we are working, with the help of our Gurus, to work on ourselves. I

think the

> hard part is that we may forget to treat ourselves as lovingly as

we might

> treat others. I see this loving kindness in your writing.

>

>

> I know it is not possible for everyone to move to Napa, but, I

know it

> is possible to be Her disciple anywhere in this Universe, and She

will

> reach out and support with love so pure that it will take your

breath

> away.

> If you want Her love, and Her support, just close your eyes and pray

> to Her, right now, and She will respond. She will let you know,

> without a doubt, that She is always with you and will always be

with

> you. Whether you are good or bad, and each of us will be one or the

> other from one moment to the next, She will always be with us.

> To be alive and to know of Her, is Grace indeed.

> Now, take advantage of this Grace, and call Her, cry for Her, and

She

> will come. Open your heart, to the degree that you can, and She

will

> take residence there, and clean house, and fill your heart with

love

> and peace.

> Tell me how you all feel. Let's share what She has given us.

>

>

>

> And yes, here, again, is where I cried. For, in the end, there has

to be a

> leap of faith, that, despite the distance between Massachusetts

and

> California, Maa knows me, watches over me, wishes me well in my

childlike attempts to

> get myself going, and ever inspires me, with Her own words and

actions, and

> through the loving words of Her devotees.

>

> As always, thank you, vish and pranams to you and Bharati ~ Linda

>

>

>

> **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your

budget?

> Read reviews on AOL Autos.

> (http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?

ncid=aolaut00050000000017 )

>