Guest guest Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 vish wrote: ...As I read these thoughts about prayer, attachment,and suffering, Swami's words in the Preface to Advanced Shiva Pujacame to mind. He is addressing the source of all the illnesses of allmankind. And he gives us the cure. Here is a brief quote from the text: "...All fear is of the unknown. The transitory nature of existence makes us feel insecure. We wantthings to stay the way they are, because we do not know what changewill bring. That is why Shiva, as the Destroyer, is so frightening.What will it be like when He is done? Will He ever be done?... We create our own pain by ourattachment to the way we think things should be. Shiva, as the GreatDestroyer, will destroy our attachment too. That is His function asthe Consciousness of Continual Transformation.By worshiping Shiva, we cultivate the qualities of infinite,consciousness, unattachment, and freedom from bondage to this world ofobjects and their relationships.... Dear vish and all the Devi Mandir family, Thank you so much for reminding me of this. I was going along, feeling I had made a bit of progress in terms of unattachment, which actually I will not discredit. Much of this has been in relation to my husband, David, who I have reunited with after 29 years! Talk about a period of transformation... I became fearful that it would not work out, but as soon as I accepted David and his importance in my life, I became willing to shed attachments to the "way it should be." It is not that all difficulties are gone, but I am less attached, able to more than more quickly, and also I have the surprise every day of gratitude and happiness, and just plain fun in our relationship. This would never have been, or never was, possible in my previous relationship with David. So, also I learn that in shedding one layer of the onion, another is revealed. Recently I got a letter from my step brother and was a bit taken aback because his previous letters to me have been attacking me or verbally punishing me. This letter was just reaching out about losses ... one was the death of Chance, their dog, who jumped out their car window and got hit by another car. They tried to save Chance, but finally he had to be "put down." This, along with other losses, had me suddenly reeling. It was like I went to my closet and got out my Al Anon "Save My Family" dress, and began to get together my "kit" of overly solicitous words and feeling like I had to do something right away ... fortunately David and my therapist pulled me back from the brink. Over the years I have so quickly and easily attached to saving my family. Of course I never could, and of course my ocean of objects and relationships was choppy and seemingly treacherous. I was constantly bailing water out of my boat, holding on for dear life, but pointing my stern directly into the flooding waters. It is not that I do not care for my family, or that I will not let them know I care about what happened to them, or that I will be here for them if need be. It is just that I am not jumping headlong into my boat and heading out to the eye of the storm. In actuality this has given me the opportunity to be a witness, to let the waves wash over me, but not be knocked over by them. I hope this makes sense. Truly, the concept of the ocean of objects and relationships was an entirely new concept to me, a new way of being with and looking at this ocean. I am a bit more able to just sit in my boat, say my mantra, and keep sailing happily where ever the ocean takes me. I have always, for some reason, connected with Shiva Nataraj, the Dancer. To me Shiva is the epitome of being able to stand a bit above the ocean of objects and relationships and also to dance upon the waves. Shiva has been a savior to me. Additionally having Swamiji's view, as you so wonderfully recounted here, is of great help and lets me further see that, though the dance may be stomping on and flattening things, still it is a dance of ecstacy. I find this throughout the Sanatana Dharma. Kali, also a "destroyer" dancing with Her skulls, for example. Now, talk about a frightening image. It was only after working with the Chandi and with Swamiji's guidance that I was able to embrace Kali and appreciate Her role as the destroyer of the great ego. Thanks vish. Jai Shiva ~ Jai Maa ~ Jai Swamiji LindaIt's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Dear Linda, Thank you for sharing with us your personal experiences with us which are a source of inspiration. In fact, it is our turbulent life that is a window to the Divine, that is when we turn into dispassionate observers looking thru' the window at our lives. And time which makes everything so insignificant - our fears, traumas, love, hate and all those emotions. Being able to see ourselves in a somewhat detached way is a big step forward. May God Bless you and may we see your progress as an inspiration for ourselves! Swamiji's insightful 'translations' of the Mantras have changed my life as well... Jai Maa and Jai Swamiji Manjusha , nierika wrote: > > vish wrote: > > ..As I read these thoughts about prayer, attachment, > and suffering, Swami's words in the Preface to Advanced Shiva Puja > came to mind. He is addressing the source of all the illnesses of all > mankind. And he gives us the cure. > Here is a brief quote from the text: " ...All fear is of the unknown. > The transitory nature of existence makes us feel insecure. We want > things to stay the way they are, because we do not know what change > will bring. That is why Shiva, as the Destroyer, is so frightening. > What will it be like when He is done? Will He ever be done?... We create > our own pain by our > attachment to the way we think things should be. Shiva, as the Great > Destroyer, will destroy our attachment too. That is His function as > the Consciousness of Continual Transformation. > By worshiping Shiva, we cultivate the qualities of infinite, > consciousness, unattachment, and freedom from bondage to this world of > objects and their relationships.... > Dear vish and all the Devi Mandir family, > > Thank you so much for reminding me of this. I was going along, feeling I had > made a bit of progress in terms of unattachment, which actually I will not > discredit. Much of this has been in relation to my husband, David, who I have > reunited with after 29 years! Talk about a period of transformation... I > became fearful that it would not work out, but as soon as I accepted David and his > importance in my life, I became willing to shed attachments to the " way it > should be. " It is not that all difficulties are gone, but I am less attached, > able to more than more quickly, and also I have the surprise every day of > gratitude and happiness, and just plain fun in our relationship. This would > never have been, or never was, possible in my previous relationship with David. > > So, also I learn that in shedding one layer of the onion, another is > revealed. Recently I got a letter from my step brother and was a bit taken aback > because his previous letters to me have been attacking me or verbally punishing > me. This letter was just reaching out about losses ... one was the death of > Chance, their dog, who jumped out their car window and got hit by another car. > They tried to save Chance, but finally he had to be " put down. " This, along > with other losses, had me suddenly reeling. It was like I went to my closet > and got out my Al Anon " Save My Family " dress, and began to get together my > " kit " of overly solicitous words and feeling like I had to do something right > away ... fortunately David and my therapist pulled me back from the brink. > Over the years I have so quickly and easily attached to saving my family. Of > course I never could, and of course my ocean of objects and relationships was > choppy and seemingly treacherous. I was constantly bailing water out of my > boat, holding on for dear life, but pointing my stern directly into the flooding > waters. > > It is not that I do not care for my family, or that I will not let them know > I care about what happened to them, or that I will be here for them if need > be. It is just that I am not jumping headlong into my boat and heading out to > the eye of the storm. In actuality this has given me the opportunity to be a > witness, to let the waves wash over me, but not be knocked over by them. I > hope this makes sense. Truly, the concept of the ocean of objects and > relationships was an entirely new concept to me, a new way of being with and looking > at this ocean. I am a bit more able to just sit in my boat, say my mantra, and > keep sailing happily where ever the ocean takes me. > > I have always, for some reason, connected with Shiva Nataraj, the Dancer. To > me Shiva is the epitome of being able to stand a bit above the ocean of > objects and relationships and also to dance upon the waves. Shiva has been a > savior to me. Additionally having Swamiji's view, as you so wonderfully recounted > here, is of great help and lets me further see that, though the dance may be > stomping on and flattening things, still it is a dance of ecstacy. I find > this throughout the Sanatana Dharma. Kali, also a " destroyer " dancing with Her > skulls, for example. Now, talk about a frightening image. It was only after > working with the Chandi and with Swamiji's guidance that I was able to embrace > Kali and appreciate Her role as the destroyer of the great ego. > > Thanks vish. > > Jai Shiva ~ Jai Maa ~ Jai Swamiji > Linda > > > > **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel > deal here. > (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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