to Kumari about my limitations doing puja at my altar

[Guest guest]

Dear Kumari ~ I meant to comment on this yesterday and then forgot. Even sitting in front of your altar is great, and not something I would be able to do myself, because of severe leg pain and stiffness. I am going to get a lawn chair with short legs like the one Maa was seated in when She and Swamiji did puja on the side of the river in Colorado. It was so beautiful seeing Her there, all dressed in yellow like a Sacred Buttercup.

 

Perhaps you know, or perhaps you don't, that due to the severity of my illness I was almost completely bedridden for nearly a year. And before that doing anything for more than a few minutes would cause my chronic pain and other symptoms to worsen, and inevitably I would end up in bed. Due to some new medication, some of my worst symptoms are relieved, and this has given me my life back. But I still have limitations on what I can physically do.

 

I am well aware that answers from Swamiji are very tailored to the circumstances and capacity of each individual, so I am not putting this out to apply to anyone else, just to the fact that over such matters one can confer with Swamiji, and he will provide the best answer for the person. I wrote to him of my plight and asked if I could do my recitations reclining in my bed, and he wrote back that I could. Obviously this is not the goal everyone aspires to when worshiping, but it was all my poor body could handle. So now I aspire to be in front of my altar in my little chair (which I still have to get) to do things that, previously, I could have only done in bed. Even the fact that I am not in bed all day and can make an altar is a tremendous gift. Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji

~ Linda

 

 

Kumari wrote:

> ...My body will not allow me to sit in a lotus pose at this poinlyt. But > I will practice sitting on the floor so that I will have a firm > seat. I will do as much as I can and may the Lord and Lady be > forgiving of my weakness...One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social networks, and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com today!

[Guest guest]

I wanted to reply to this. I am impressed with your courage to

continue on with your spiritual practice under the health conditions

that you have. I think the idea of a short leg beach chair (is that

what you meant?) is a great idea. My pain is mostly in my hip and

back and to a lesser degree in my legs. I'm not sure if getting down

to the floor and back up is going to be possible for me. It is

amazing. I used to practice Hatha Yoga when I was younger and could

get myself into most of the positions, except for a full lotus, but

now I am barely able to get down to the floor. It is a reminder of

the limitations of the body and the fact that we are dependent on Ma

and Shiva to remove our obstructions. Also the sad fact that most of

us waste our time and do not apply ourselves to God Realization when

we are young and strong. But, better to start late, or in my case to

return to the path then never to do so. For that opportunity I am

grateful.

 

Om Jai Kali Ma! Om Namah Shivaya

Kumari

 

 

 

-- In , nierika wrote:

>

> Dear Kumari ~ I meant to comment on this yesterday and then forgot.

Even

> sitting in front of your altar is great, and not something I would

be able to do

> myself, because of severe leg pain and stiffness. I am going to get

a lawn

> chair with short legs like the one Maa was seated in when She and

Swamiji did

> puja on the side of the river in Colorado. It was so beautiful

seeing Her

> there, all dressed in yellow like a Sacred Buttercup.

>

> Perhaps you know, or perhaps you don't, that due to the severity of

my

> illness I was almost completely bedridden for nearly a year. And

before that doing

> anything for more than a few minutes would cause my chronic pain

and other

> symptoms to worsen, and inevitably I would end up in bed. Due to

some new

> medication, some of my worst symptoms are relieved, and this has

given me my life

> back. But I still have limitations on what I can physically do.

>

> I am well aware that answers from Swamiji are very tailored to

the

> circumstances and capacity of each individual, so I am not putting

this out to apply

> to anyone else, just to the fact that over such matters one can

confer with

> Swamiji, and he will provide the best answer for the person. I

wrote to him of

> my plight and asked if I could do my recitations reclining in my

bed, and he

> wrote back that I could. Obviously this is not the goal everyone

aspires to

> when worshiping, but it was all my poor body could handle. So now I

aspire to

> be in front of my altar in my little chair (which I still have to

get) to do

> things that, previously, I could have only done in bed. Even the

fact that I

> am not in bed all day and can make an altar is a tremendous gift.

Jai Maa ,

> Jai Swamiji

> ~ Linda

>

>

> Kumari wrote:

>

> > ...My body will not allow me to sit in a lotus pose at this

poinlyt. But

> > I will practice sitting on the floor so that I will have a firm

> > seat. I will do as much as I can and may the Lord and Lady be

> > forgiving of my weakness...

>

>

> **************One site has it all. Your email accounts, your social

networks,

> and the things you love. Try the new AOL.com

> today!

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