Peace mantra and praying for peace during Navaratri

[Guest guest]

Namaste Linda and Everybody

 

The peace mantra is posted in shreemaa.org -- here is the location

 

http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/taxonomy_menu/65/143

 

Happy to have you back!!

 

Jai Maa!

 

 

 

, " Linda " <nierika wrote:

>

> Dear vish ~ can you post the peace mantra? I'm not sure where to find it, and

I very much want to pray for peace in Iran. I'm so glad that Maa has asked this

of us. Jai Maa Jai Swamiji

> ~ Linda

> P.S. It is so good to again read what you have to say vish.

>

>

> vish wrote:

> >

> > Namaste Manjushri and all: as difficult as following the path of Dharma may

be, I remember how much more difficult and painful life was prior to meeting Maa

and Swami.

> > They set the highest standards for ideal behavior, THE SADHU, because they

want us to give our best. They know that the forces of duality cause us to waver

and falter, and sometimes lose our way, but, that clear goal, and the faith that

we can attain it, always brings us back.

> > In addition, we have 2 ideal examples of THE SADHU- Maa as the Universal

Mother-Compassion Incarnate, and Swami as Lord Shiva-Lord of Sankalpa, who will

move Heaven and Earth to help us reach the goal. They will not rest until we are

one with God. All they ask is that we do our best, and never quit.

> >

> >

> > Today was the first day of Navaratri and I was indeed blessed to be able to

be at the Mandir for early morning aarti. I am not a morning person, so it is

with PURE GRACE that I could arise and drive to the Mandir to join in the aatri

and singing, and then sit at the Divine Homa and chant mantras.

> > Later, after Maa completed her puja, I walked with her back to her home. I

asked her if she could suggest a sankalpa with us for Navaratri, and she asked

us to continue chanting the peace mantra, and pray for peace in Iran.

> >

> > I pray that you all have a wonder-ful Navaratri, and take advantage of the

extra shakti and sattwa which is generated when Maa and Swami perform extra

sadhana.

> > I certainly felt a big difference today, and we have just begun.

> >

> > God Bless you all

> >

> > Love

> >

> > Jai Maa Jai Swami

> >

> > vishweshwar

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > , " misra_manjusha " <misra_manjusha@>

wrote:

> > >

> > > Namaste Vish and dear family,

> > >

> > > Thank you for your inspirational response! Yes, the commitments, as you

have rightly pointed out, are as much, if not more than in any relationship of

love. And the truth is that most of us are not prepared for that kind of

commitment.

> > > While reading the 16 initiations of a sadhu on the Devi Mandir website, I

realised the level of difficulty in each one. Even chanting a mantra each day,

with the same level of devotion, at the same time of the day like clockwork, is

more difficult than it may appear to be.

> > > I wonder why we were created the way we are in a world that works

perfectly. And more so, the amazing belief that we are created in the image of

God!! Imperfect creatures, in the image of God!!!?????

> > > You are inspiring Vish, because your devotion is so pure and transparent.

Thank you for your response, which in turn has helped me understand this

question so much better.

> > > When Maa told me in Benares - " Tum apne husband ka seva karo. Vahi bas

hai. " I knew I'm not cut out to be a sadhu. (sigh!)But at least I'm following

her advise!!!! So there!

> > >

> > > Jai Maa! and Jai Swamiji!

> > >

> > > Lots of Love

> > > Manjushri

> > >

> > > , " inspectionconnection108 "

<inspectionconnection108@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Namaste Dear Manjushri and all family: thank you for diving so deeply

into your heart to bring out these truths. While the relationship between

Master and devotee is indeed an intensely personal one, there are certain

considerations that everyone should ponder and pray upon deeply before beginning

to walk this path. You have elaborated upon some of them so well.

> > > > And, as one grows and the relationship ripens and deepens, the need to

continue to ponder, reflect, pray, and reason, and to SURRENDER, never ends. In

fact, the need grows stronger for the ego seems to fight harder as it faces the

threat of its annihilation at the hand of Mother.

> > > > Truthfully, the longer I am with Maa and Swami, the more time and energy

the relationship demands. And this is great, because spending time to serve the

Master and fulfill my sankalpas, forces me to push through and go beyond my

selfish interests and desires.

> > > > Yes indeed, " faith in Maa, {and Her advice}, means never having to say

you are sorry. "

> > > > Thanks again for considering this topic so deeply. It has really helped

me.

> > > >

> > > > Jai Ma Jai Swami

> > > >

> > > > vishweshwar

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > , " misra_manjusha " <misra_manjusha@>

wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > Namaste dear wonderful family,

> > > > >

> > > > > Devi's comment `I was frozen by some of the responses' made me feel

the need for reflecting further on the question and on my own response, and to

give it the time and depth of thought that it deserves.

> > > > > My current environment (Iran) and its ongoing events remind me of

Swamiji's wisdom in using caution in both selecting and following a Guru. A

religious leader wielding absolute (almost) power over a nation (Iran's 99%

Shia, who mostly believes in the need for a spiritual leader in the society

–Imamat), has decided to make use of that power to impose his will on the

people.

> > > > > This brings us to the question of `Following'. If we have accepted Maa

as our Guru, the understanding is that we have done so after taking into account

all the factors that Swamiji has explained so well and so often, always using

the scriptures to support his arguments. And that acceptance is a total

commitment, because we have `tested' our Guru. And in the circumstances I would

say – obviously I would follow Her advise to the best of my capability, to the

letter.

> > > > > Why have we chosen Maa as our Guru? Because of our faith in her

Divinity, which is what we ourselves aspire. We have not chosen Maa as our Guru

for solving our everyday problems, making our lives smoother, gaining material

wealth….in short, measuring Her with all the limitations of the scales of our

mind. In our expectations of Her we use our own yardstick.

> > > > > The next question, therefore, is what advise are we seeking? Maa has

the capacity to enable us to enlarge our frameworks, our small mindedness, to

help us find our Divine Selves!!! Once we know ourselves better, we begin to use

our Capacities to solve our little problems, by defining our goals better,

understanding our lives and those around us better and being able to deal with

the issues of ego, too little and too much and so on, better…. Swamiji has been

telling us these things all the time, through the Chandi, the Shiva Puja, the

Ganesh Puja, his books, his life…….telling us why he worships Maa and why his

devotion never wanes.

> > > > > How then, would I answer the question? I would say, are you crazy? Of

course I would follow Maa's advise.

> > > > > But before I say that I would measure myself as to how capable am I

for following Maa's advise and how long would it take me to measure up to that

advise. Can I recite the Mantra as she has prescribed? Can I maintain the

devotion she expects? Can I leave everything else to do what she has asked me to

do – regularly, every day, without feeling lazy, without finding it a burden,

without thinking `How sweet of Maa, but then she can be so unreasonable'.

> > > > > And to take the consequences of that advise. I don't blame all that

happens to me on Maa. I don't say that something terrible happened to me because

I did not follow Maa's advise. I ask myself what did I do wrong? Or what were

the circumstances? How best can I overcome my circumstances? How do the

circumstances bring me closer to my Goals.

> > > > > Faith in Maa's advise means never having to say you are sorry. Maa

will take you through a journey that will eventually bring you to your Self.

> > > > > Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji!

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > Manjushri

> > > > >

> > > > > , devi <student61754@> wrote:

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Oh this is wonderfully helpful Vish.

> > > > > > Have been reading some of the posts and been frozen.

> > > > > > Then went back to old blogs clearing them out and found something

interesting.

> > > > > > This is obviously an on going thing in my life as well.

> > > > > > Here I have just made notes of my thoughts while talking to Swamji,

> > > > > > sort of like a diary.

> > > > > > A good point here is that the answers are already given.

> > > > > > I know Chandi path is what I need to bite into and chew and digest

every word but excuses are what I create instead.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Your letter is such a comfort Vish.  It gives hope.

> > > > > > As Swamiji says: (and i paraphrase) when you fall just get up and

brush yourself off and begin again.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Guess what I have to do now is just do it.

> > > > > > Even the questions have become excuses that distract from doing.

> > > > > > So many times the answers are there but in asking there is the hope

for an easy way out.  Ego, laziness, we are many things.  Time and practice is

the answer but to get the action is the job at hand.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Thanks again VIsh.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Blogger Post:

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Swamiji,

> > > > > > How do I get past my ego?

> > > > > > It keeps me from asking the questions I need to ask to grow.

> > > > > > It causes me to desire to be seen as perfect when I am not.

> > > > > > How do I humble myself?

> > > > > > What makes me think I am so great, or is it that I think I am so

little and I am trying to hide that from others?

> > > > > > Help me Swamiji to understand, to ask, to grow, to be.

> > > > > > Is it insecurity? Wanting to be accepted? Fear of being thought of

as being stupid?

> > > > > > How do I get past this great ego I have created?

> > > > > > I know! I'll make myself ask the questions.

> > > > > > What does it matter what others think of me?

> > > > > > If I can't ask I can't learn and I'll never change.

> > > > > > I'll continue as I am. In the dark.

> > > > > > Only

> > > > > > I can make the decision to step out of the illusion I have created.

> > > > > > Only I can type the quesitons and send them out asking for help.

I'll

> > > > > > have to be brave and trust that all happens for the best.

> > > > > > Here goes.

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

__________________________

> > > > > >

> > > > > > tana mamavatu, tada vaktaramavatu

> > > > > >

> > > > > > avatu mam, avatu vaktaram

> > > > > >

> > > > > > --- On Sat, 6/20/09, inspectionconnection108

<inspectionconnection108@> wrote:

> > > > > >

> > > > > > inspectionconnection108 <inspectionconnection108@>

> > > > > > [www.ShreeMaa.org] Re: What would you do if Maa give you

advice?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Saturday, June 20, 2009, 3:15 AM

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Namaste Dear Kalia and all: thanks for sharing you intimate

experience, and the lesson learned. I too have had similar experiences, and yet,

" i " still resist. " i " think " i " know what is best, or it seems too much effort

to follow her advice, or " i " simply want " my own way " . Why do " i " do this?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Understanding and following Maa's advice, regardless of how " i "

" feel " about it and regardless of whether it resonates with my ego, is a test of

how " in-tune " with her " i " really am.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > " In-tune " means to me: how much " i " have surrendered to her, how

much faith " i " have that she is right, and " i " am not. Faith that where she is

taking me is better than where " i " would go.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > So what does surrender mean? What have " i " surrendered, and to whom

or what? Can " i " control how much " i " surrender, or does she control it?

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > A short story I heard from a Master many years ago may help to

clarify my thoughts on faith and surrendering.

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > A poor man was living in an old hut. It was drafty and cold in the

winter and hot in the summer. He suffered terribly and wished for better, but he

had no means to improve his life. This was his home. One day a rich benevolent

Prince came along, and seeing the poor man's plight, took pity on him. He

offered to bring him to live in his beautiful mansion, where he could live

comfortably in peace. But the old man was attached to his hut, and fearful that

he would lose it. So he stayed in the hut living the life he knew,continuing to

suffer, all the while thinking over and over: " My hut, My hut, I don't want to

lose my hut. "

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Maa and the Universal Self, God, Unbounded Absolute Bliss

Consciousness, Sat, Chit, Ananda-these are the source and goal of " me " . As the

scriptures say: " I am That, Thou are That, All This is That. "

> > > > > >

> > > > > > So what do " i " fear, why do " I " resist, why do " i " think " i " know

what is best?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > In the story of my life, " i " know that the benevolent Prince is

always watching me, always taking care of me, always, now, and forever. And He

is always giving me exactly what " i " need to move towards the Mansion of Eternal

Peace and Joy. And that Peace and Joy is MY OWN NATURE, MY SELF. " i " only have

to give up my hut, to gain MYSELF.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > But " i " continue to cry: " Oh, my hut, my hut. "

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Dear family, know that " i " am not sad, not suffering terribly, but,

" i " am holding onto my hut. " i " know that Maa and Swami, the living embodiments

of My Highest Ideal of Perfection, will not stop until " i " have reached the

Mansion, and that no matter how hard " i " hold on, or how long it takes for " me "

to relax my grip on my hut, they will wait. And they will not rest until " i " am

HOME.

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > vishweshwar

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > -- In , " kaliananda_ saraswati "

<kaliananda_ saraswati@ ...> wrote:

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > Dear Vish and All;

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > At times Maa advice is so simple that one gets the feeling that

She is

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > just kidding. I say this because it has happened to me, I was

having a

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > bad time with an employer years ago, where I worked for almost 4

years

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > with no holiday or holiday pay, it was an international

organization and

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > exempted from the labour laws of this country. You can imagine

how

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > tired the body was, the tiredness turned to anger and I sought

Maa's

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > advice. She very sweetly said, " maybe he needs a sweet, give him

a

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > sweet " .

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > Instead of following Maa's advice, the i-go started to debate how

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > could I just give him a sweet? What would I tell him? Etc, etc.

The

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > thoughts debate continued inwardly and the anger continued to grow

then

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > I felt, surely Maa was joking with me. I eventually got a job

with

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > another agency within the same organization and moved on thinking

well

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > this is the opportunity to start over which I did, but each time I

reach

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > a certain level I find that something happens and its back to

square

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > one.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > I did not understand the advice or the importance of Beloved Maa's

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > words but I can say today, I wish I had the opportunity to offer

the

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > sweet because my conditions of work have not been very good since

then

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > and my level of responsibly (and needless to say, compensation)

has

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > diminished considerably over the years.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > Before being married, I sought Maa's advice and received Her

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > blessing, by that time, i had understood enough to know that if

Maa had

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > said no, then that would have been my answer. My husband likes

Maa very

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > much and is very respectful of Her, he always creates an

atmosphere to

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > encourage my sadhana. He follows the orthodox worship and I

observe him

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > worshipping very much since our union and I believe that one day

he will

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > join me in sadhana. He never dwells on the negative but can find

the

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > most minute good out of the worst situation.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > We see with worldly eyes, Maa sees with eyes of purity and

divinity and

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > She never puts Her children wrong. A teaspoon of humility can

prevent

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > years of pain and hardship.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > Beloved Mother I pray for wisdom and understanding never again

to

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > disobey Your words and though my physical being seems to in the

world

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > that You would take Your home in my heart so that my soul and mind

will

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > ever be with you. Please Maa do not ever let me go, instead make

a

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > chakra of this union and reel it into Thee.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > Jai Maa

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > Love,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > Kalia

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > , " inspectionconnecti on108 "

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > <inspectionconnecti on108@> wrote:

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Namaste all family: Over the years I have known Maa and Swami, I

have

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > heard Maa give very specific advice to devotees. For example, a

male

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > devotee 50 years old, and single, who has raised children, and

whose

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > marriage has ended, Maa has suggested that it is time to focus on

the

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > final stage of life: meditation, service, and most importantly-

staying

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > single- and focusing on God.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > > The devotee appears very clear that following Maa's advice will

bring

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > great benefits, yet, shortly, they find a woman, and pursue a

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > relationship. As a result, they leave Maa's presence and go back

into

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > the world.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I have observed this exact situation several times, and Maa has

told

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > me of many other devotees who have ignored her advice on different

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > topics and left her.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > > My question to you all is: what would you do? and why would you

do it?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I pose these questions because I have been thinking deeply

lately

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > about surrender to the Guru, and following the Guru's advice-even

when

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > it counters my own desires.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I hope we can discuss this so I can learn how other devotees

deal with

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > the ego's attempts to control our lives.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Jai Ma Jai Swamii

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > > vishweshwar

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>