Guest guest Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Namaste Brian: Many of us struggle with additions of all types. Maa and Swami offer us a number of techniques to help us grow stronger and move beyond our ego and physical attachments. Recently, we posted here on the club about meditating. The entire technique was described in detail. Meditation and chanting or performing japa of Lord Shiva's name are very powerful techniques. Also, you could learn how to perform Shiva puja. Tonight, Swami will begin a class on Shiva puja at the Devi Mandir at 6PM Pacific time. It is live, and can be viewed via the WEB CAMERA on the Mandir web site: www.shreemaa.org, then click on the WEB CAMERA on the left column. If you have further questions, please contact me. Jai Ma Jai Swami vishweshwar , " brian " <mahadeva_sadhus wrote: > > hi, > > i have struggled for years with alcohol and drug addiction i am a > devotee of shiva and durga..i am starting a 12 step program and i am > interested in any help and /or experience from others in this area..i > want to be free from this so i can be at peace and stop hating > everyone and everything..my life is a mess...thank u > > namaste > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 at the un-enlightened state its important to recognize that we all need to be addicted to something. we all need to lean upon something. when we ask the question what is my goal. and is this addiction taking me closer or farther then we propose a choice to our minds. i find that for my spiritual growth its about training the mind to be able to stand on its own but until that time it needs to lean on something. so the question is how can i take that addictive nature and use it for good instead of harm? for me its about using that as fuel to fire my devotion. addiction to god is a much more fruitful addiction in my opinion. so then what are the steps to override my patterns of addiction to keep their source, but change their manifestation. an example from my life is i used to smoke ganja and then meditate. then eventually i became more attached to having a good meditation than the ganja. and then it falls away naturally because it becomes an impediment to what im really seeking. i find that if we dont try to fight against the addiction (which in turn gives it more reality and more life) but we just find a new addiction then that one falls away naturally. think of as a child your favorite toy. no one could rip it away from you, but then when you found a better toy how quickly that old toy sat in a closet collecting dust. you just didnt need it anymore. i feel this same process exists in our search for god. rising our attachments higher and higher. desire is desire. its what we do with our inherent nature. sukra is ojas. if the mind wants alcohol at a certain time feed it 5 cups of water. so that it feels so full it couldnt even think of drinking any more liquid. after a while then it will be trained for those 5 cups of water. after a while introduce 3 cups of water and 2 malas of om namo shivaya. etc etc. as swamiji said! we dont liberate From desire, we liberate THROUGH desire. OM NAMO SHIVAYA. may shiva lead us all to his absolute light inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 1:15 pm [www.ShreeMaa.org] Brian: drug abuse issues Namaste Brian: Many of us struggle with additions of all types. Maa and Swami offer us a number of techniques to help us grow stronger and move beyond our ego and physical attachments. Recently, we posted here on the club about meditating. The entire technique was described in detail. Meditation and chanting or performing japa of Lord Shiva's name are very powerful techniques. Also, you could learn how to perform Shiva puja. Tonight, Swami will begin a class on Shiva puja at the Devi Mandir at 6PM Pacific time. It is live, and can be viewed via the WEB CAMERA on the Mandir web site: www.shreemaa.org, then click on the WEB CAMERA on the left column. If you have further questions, please contact me. Jai Ma Jai Swami vishweshwar , " brian " <mahadeva_sadhus wrote: > > hi, > > i have struggled for years with alcohol and drug addiction i am a > devotee of shiva and durga..i am starting a 12 step program and i am > interested in any help and /or experience from others in this area..i > want to be free from this so i can be at peace and stop hating > everyone and everything..my life is a mess...thank u > > namaste > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Brian, Dan gave some very good advice in his post. I had extensive problems with drug abuse when I was a teenager and into my early twenties. I can assure you that replacing one's other habits with mantra recitation does work very well. An equally important part is, at least for the time being, to cut your association with the people that you share your addictions with. This is very important. The 12 step program will give you a new support network, as well as friends you make in a setting like this. When you have some strength, you can restore those other friendships but if they really care about you they will understand if you take a time out while you get your head together. A really key weapon that I used was the thought: " If I give in to this now and indulge again, I am going to be suffering from this problem on and on for the rest of my life. If I bear with the discomfort now for a few days or a couple of weeks, things are going to get progressively better. " This helped tremendously, along with the constant mantra recitation. You have recognized that there is a problem. That recognition is your own better nature telling you that you deserve more, that you are capable of more. That is a wonderful thing, it is itself the light at the end of the tunnel. You are never so close to restoring your life and becoming happy as when you hit rock bottom and decide that life is worth more than you thought. Please feel free to contact me off list at anandabhairav if you want to discuss anything. I've been there. All the best and warm regards, Kalidas On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 4:01 PM, <bmarley343 wrote: > at the un-enlightened state its important to recognize that we all need > to be addicted to something. we all need to lean upon something. > > when we ask the question what is my goal. and is this addiction taking > me closer or farther then we propose a choice to our minds. > > i find that for my spiritual growth its about training the mind to be > able to stand on its own but until that time it needs to lean on > something. so the question is how can i take that addictive nature and > use it for good instead of harm? for me its about using that as fuel to > fire my devotion. addiction to god is a much more fruitful addiction in > my opinion. so then what are the steps to override my patterns of > addiction to keep their source, but change their manifestation. an > example from my life is i used to smoke ganja and then meditate. then > eventually i became more attached to having a good meditation than the > ganja. and then it falls away naturally because it becomes an > impediment to what im really seeking. > > i find that if we dont try to fight against the addiction (which in > turn gives it more reality and more life) but we just find a new > addiction then that one falls away naturally. > > think of as a child your favorite toy. no one could rip it away from > you, but then when you found a better toy how quickly that old toy sat > in a closet collecting dust. you just didnt need it anymore. > > i feel this same process exists in our search for god. rising our > attachments higher and higher. desire is desire. its what we do with > our inherent nature. sukra is ojas. > > if the mind wants alcohol at a certain time feed it 5 cups of water. so > that it feels so full it couldnt even think of drinking any more > liquid. after a while then it will be trained for those 5 cups of > water. after a while introduce 3 cups of water and 2 malas of om namo > shivaya. etc etc. > > as swamiji said! we dont liberate From desire, we liberate THROUGH > desire. > > OM NAMO SHIVAYA. may shiva lead us all to his absolute light > > > inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108 > > Mon, 26 Jan 2009 1:15 pm > [www.ShreeMaa.org] Brian: drug abuse issues > > Namaste Brian: Many of us struggle with additions of all types. Maa > and Swami offer us a number of techniques to help us grow stronger and > move beyond our ego and physical attachments. > Recently, we posted here on the club about meditating. The entire > technique was described in detail. Meditation and chanting or > performing japa of Lord Shiva's name are very powerful techniques. > Also, you could learn how to perform Shiva puja. Tonight, Swami will > begin a class on Shiva puja at the Devi Mandir at 6PM Pacific time. > It is live, and can be viewed via the WEB CAMERA on the Mandir web > site: www.shreemaa.org, then click on the WEB CAMERA on the left > column. > > If you have further questions, please contact me. > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > vishweshwar > > , " brian " <mahadeva_sadhus wrote: >> >> hi, >> >> i have struggled for years with alcohol and drug addiction i am a >> devotee of shiva and durga..i am starting a 12 step program and i am >> interested in any help and /or experience from others in this area..i >> want to be free from this so i can be at peace and stop hating >> everyone and everything..my life is a mess...thank u >> >> namaste >> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Hello Brian and all: I just wanted to forward on this link to a article that pertains to this topic of addiction from the ijourney website. http://www.ijourney.org/index.php?tid=589 Namste Ann On 1/27/09, Thubten Namgyal <anandabhairav wrote: > Brian, > > Dan gave some very good advice in his post. I had extensive problems > with drug abuse when I was a teenager and into my early twenties. I > can assure you that replacing one's other habits with mantra > recitation does work very well. An equally important part is, at > least for the time being, to cut your association with the people that > you share your addictions with. This is very important. The 12 step > program will give you a new support network, as well as friends you > make in a setting like this. When you have some strength, you can > restore those other friendships but if they really care about you they > will understand if you take a time out while you get your head > together. > > A really key weapon that I used was the thought: " If I give in to > this now and indulge again, I am going to be suffering from this > problem on and on for the rest of my life. If I bear with the > discomfort now for a few days or a couple of weeks, things are going > to get progressively better. " This helped tremendously, along with > the constant mantra recitation. > > You have recognized that there is a problem. That recognition is your > own better nature telling you that you deserve more, that you are > capable of more. That is a wonderful thing, it is itself the light at > the end of the tunnel. You are never so close to restoring your life > and becoming happy as when you hit rock bottom and decide that life is > worth more than you thought. > > Please feel free to contact me off list at anandabhairav if > you want to discuss anything. I've been there. > > All the best and warm regards, > > Kalidas > > On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 4:01 PM, <bmarley343 wrote: >> at the un-enlightened state its important to recognize that we all need >> to be addicted to something. we all need to lean upon something. >> >> when we ask the question what is my goal. and is this addiction taking >> me closer or farther then we propose a choice to our minds. >> >> i find that for my spiritual growth its about training the mind to be >> able to stand on its own but until that time it needs to lean on >> something. so the question is how can i take that addictive nature and >> use it for good instead of harm? for me its about using that as fuel to >> fire my devotion. addiction to god is a much more fruitful addiction in >> my opinion. so then what are the steps to override my patterns of >> addiction to keep their source, but change their manifestation. an >> example from my life is i used to smoke ganja and then meditate. then >> eventually i became more attached to having a good meditation than the >> ganja. and then it falls away naturally because it becomes an >> impediment to what im really seeking. >> >> i find that if we dont try to fight against the addiction (which in >> turn gives it more reality and more life) but we just find a new >> addiction then that one falls away naturally. >> >> think of as a child your favorite toy. no one could rip it away from >> you, but then when you found a better toy how quickly that old toy sat >> in a closet collecting dust. you just didnt need it anymore. >> >> i feel this same process exists in our search for god. rising our >> attachments higher and higher. desire is desire. its what we do with >> our inherent nature. sukra is ojas. >> >> if the mind wants alcohol at a certain time feed it 5 cups of water. so >> that it feels so full it couldnt even think of drinking any more >> liquid. after a while then it will be trained for those 5 cups of >> water. after a while introduce 3 cups of water and 2 malas of om namo >> shivaya. etc etc. >> >> as swamiji said! we dont liberate From desire, we liberate THROUGH >> desire. >> >> OM NAMO SHIVAYA. may shiva lead us all to his absolute light >> >> >> inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108 >> >> Mon, 26 Jan 2009 1:15 pm >> [www.ShreeMaa.org] Brian: drug abuse issues >> >> Namaste Brian: Many of us struggle with additions of all types. Maa >> and Swami offer us a number of techniques to help us grow stronger and >> move beyond our ego and physical attachments. >> Recently, we posted here on the club about meditating. The entire >> technique was described in detail. Meditation and chanting or >> performing japa of Lord Shiva's name are very powerful techniques. >> Also, you could learn how to perform Shiva puja. Tonight, Swami will >> begin a class on Shiva puja at the Devi Mandir at 6PM Pacific time. >> It is live, and can be viewed via the WEB CAMERA on the Mandir web >> site: www.shreemaa.org, then click on the WEB CAMERA on the left >> column. >> >> If you have further questions, please contact me. >> >> Jai Ma Jai Swami >> >> vishweshwar >> >> , " brian " <mahadeva_sadhus wrote: >>> >>> hi, >>> >>> i have struggled for years with alcohol and drug addiction i am a >>> devotee of shiva and durga..i am starting a 12 step program and i am >>> interested in any help and /or experience from others in this area..i >>> want to be free from this so i can be at peace and stop hating >>> everyone and everything..my life is a mess...thank u >>> >>> namaste >>> >> >> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 I am touched by such a positive action of support and love. To admit that one has had a problem and offer to help those who need help is the greatest service. i am touched by this. Thank you. Mandakini From: anandabhairavDate: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:10:42 -0500Re: [www.ShreeMaa.org] Brian: drug abuse issues Brian,Dan gave some very good advice in his post. I had extensive problemswith drug abuse when I was a teenager and into my early twenties. Ican assure you that replacing one's other habits with mantrarecitation does work very well. An equally important part is, atleast for the time being, to cut your association with the people thatyou share your addictions with. This is very important. The 12 stepprogram will give you a new support network, as well as friends youmake in a setting like this. When you have some strength, you canrestore those other friendships but if they really care about you theywill understand if you take a time out while you get your headtogether.A really key weapon that I used was the thought: "If I give in tothis now and indulge again, I am going to be suffering from thisproblem on and on for the rest of my life. If I bear with thediscomfort now for a few days or a couple of weeks, things are goingto get progressively better." This helped tremendously, along withthe constant mantra recitation.You have recognized that there is a problem. That recognition is yourown better nature telling you that you deserve more, that you arecapable of more. That is a wonderful thing, it is itself the light atthe end of the tunnel. You are never so close to restoring your lifeand becoming happy as when you hit rock bottom and decide that life isworth more than you thought.Please feel free to contact me off list at anandabhairav ifyou want to discuss anything. I've been there.All the best and warm regards,KalidasOn Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 4:01 PM, <bmarley343 (AT) aim (DOT) com> wrote:> at the un-enlightened state its important to recognize that we all need> to be addicted to something. we all need to lean upon something.>> when we ask the question what is my goal. and is this addiction taking> me closer or farther then we propose a choice to our minds.>> i find that for my spiritual growth its about training the mind to be> able to stand on its own but until that time it needs to lean on> something. so the question is how can i take that addictive nature and> use it for good instead of harm? for me its about using that as fuel to> fire my devotion. addiction to god is a much more fruitful addiction in> my opinion. so then what are the steps to override my patterns of> addiction to keep their source, but change their manifestation. an> example from my life is i used to smoke ganja and then meditate. then> eventually i became more attached to having a good meditation than the> ganja. and then it falls away naturally because it becomes an> impediment to what im really seeking.>> i find that if we dont try to fight against the addiction (which in> turn gives it more reality and more life) but we just find a new> addiction then that one falls away naturally.>> think of as a child your favorite toy. no one could rip it away from> you, but then when you found a better toy how quickly that old toy sat> in a closet collecting dust. you just didnt need it anymore.>> i feel this same process exists in our search for god. rising our> attachments higher and higher. desire is desire. its what we do with> our inherent nature. sukra is ojas.>> if the mind wants alcohol at a certain time feed it 5 cups of water. so> that it feels so full it couldnt even think of drinking any more> liquid. after a while then it will be trained for those 5 cups of> water. after a while introduce 3 cups of water and 2 malas of om namo> shivaya. etc etc.>> as swamiji said! we dont liberate From desire, we liberate THROUGH> desire.>> OM NAMO SHIVAYA. may shiva lead us all to his absolute light>> > inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108 >> > Mon, 26 Jan 2009 1:15 pm> [www.ShreeMaa.org] Brian: drug abuse issues>> Namaste Brian: Many of us struggle with additions of all types. Maa> and Swami offer us a number of techniques to help us grow stronger and> move beyond our ego and physical attachments.> Recently, we posted here on the club about meditating. The entire> technique was described in detail. Meditation and chanting or> performing japa of Lord Shiva's name are very powerful techniques.> Also, you could learn how to perform Shiva puja. Tonight, Swami will> begin a class on Shiva puja at the Devi Mandir at 6PM Pacific time.> It is live, and can be viewed via the WEB CAMERA on the Mandir web> site: www.shreemaa.org, then click on the WEB CAMERA on the left> column.>> If you have further questions, please contact me.>> Jai Ma Jai Swami>> vishweshwar>> , "brian" <mahadeva_sadhus wrote:>>>> hi,>>>> i have struggled for years with alcohol and drug addiction i am a>> devotee of shiva and durga..i am starting a 12 step program and i am>> interested in any help and /or experience from others in this area..i>> want to be free from this so i can be at peace and stop hating>> everyone and everything..my life is a mess...thank u>>>> namaste>>>> The new . You don’t want to miss this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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