Guest guest Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Namaste everyone! I joined the group a few months back and haven't supplied a proper introduction yet. And seeing as how I have some spare internet time, I thought I'd finally get on task! My name is Michelle Schurko and I'm from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. I was born October 3rd, 1983. I had the blessing of a pilgrimage to the Devi Mandir back in May where Shree Maa gave me the name of Manya. I've had a long and winding spiritual journey that really started when I left the Christian church I had attended for the first 18 years of my life. I was fascinated by paganism and Buddhism but was at a loss for how they could make sense with each other. A few years back I finally started seriously studying Hinduism and yoga and all the pieces fell together. And I've been in love ever since. It was an absolute fluke that I stumbled upon Swamiji and his teachings. I was searching for commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita and found a video with the name Swami Satyananda Saraswati, who is also a Swami in India with a fairly large organization. However, THAT video wasn't the Swami I was expecting. But I was immediately drawn in by Swamiji's passion for his subject. He reminded me of one of those high school science teachers who were very boisterous and absolutely loved science. But Swamiji was teaching what I absolutely loved. I gobbled up all the information I could find. I got the chance to take a trip down and it was a defining experience in my life. First of all, everything fell into place perfectly in a very short amount of time. I was able to get a flight and a passport so easily and it felt as though I wasn't actually the one doing any of the arranging. We've all taken enough trips to know there's usually something forgotten or a late plane or trouble in customs. I was blessed with a flawless trip. In fact the only single thing that went wrong was me forgetting to leave my car insurance with the right people! When I met Swamiji, I felt like one of those stuttering high school boys who suddenly found themselves being spoken to by the most popular girl in school. But at the same time, it was like finding a long lost family member who knew and loved me since long before we met in person. And Shree Maa was so regal and beautiful and so funny. It's hard not to just stare at her when she's in the room. Since getting home, I've been watching more of the lectures, especially the Chandi class. And I've been enjoying this group and all of the extraordinary souls connected to it. I look forward every day to reading these messages and I never fail to be inspired in some way by the individuals in this group. I hope to one day be as spiritually advanced and wise as the rest of the international Devi Mandir family. Much love and respect to all, Manya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 welcome and god bless! weeshe83 <weeshe83 Sun, Aug 23, 2009 1:36 am [www.ShreeMaa.org] Very Belated Introduction Namaste everyone! I joined the group a few months back and haven't supplied a proper introduction yet. And seeing as how I have some spare internet time, I thought I'd finally get on task! My name is Michelle Schurko and I'm from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. I was born October 3rd, 1983. I had the blessing of a pilgrimage to the Devi Mandir back in May where Shree Maa gave me the name of Manya. I've had a long and winding spiritual journey that really started when I left the Christian church I had attended for the first 18 years of my life. I was fascinated by paganism and Buddhism but was at a loss for how they could make sense with each other. A few years back I finally started seriously studying Hinduism and yoga and all the pieces fell together. And I've been in love ever since. It was an absolute fluke that I stumbled upon Swamiji and his teachings. I was searching for commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita and found a video with the name Swami Satyananda Saraswati, who is also a Swami in India with a fairly large organization. However, THAT video wasn't the Swami I was expecting. But I was immediately drawn in by Swamiji's passion for his subject. He reminded me of one of those high school science teachers who were very boisterous and absolutely loved science. But Swamiji was teaching what I absolutely loved. I gobbled up all the information I could find. I got the chance to take a trip down and it was a defining experience in my life. First of all, everything fell into place perfectly in a very short amount of time. I was able to get a flight and a passport so easily and it felt as though I wasn't actually the one doing any of the arranging. We've all taken enough trips to know there's usually something forgotten or a late plane or trouble in customs. I was blessed with a flawless trip. In fact the only single thing that went wrong was me forgetting to leave my car insurance with the right people! When I met Swamiji, I felt like one of those stuttering high school boys who suddenly found themselves being spoken to by the most popular girl in school. But at the same time, it was like finding a long lost family member who knew and loved me since long before we met in person. And Shree Maa was so regal and beautiful and so funny. It's hard not to just stare at her when she's in the room. Since getting home, I've been watching more of the lectures, especially the Chandi class. And I've been enjoying this group and all of the extraordinary souls connected to it. I look forward every day to reading these messages and I never fail to be inspired in some way by the individuals in this group. I hope to one day be as spiritually advanced and wise as the rest of the international Devi Mandir family. Much love and respect to all, Manya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 Namaste and Welcome, Manya! Thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself; it was enjoyable to hear more from you following your first visit to the Mandir. I found the communication of your perceptions direct and refreshing. Everyday during this month of Bhadrapad when we are chanting the Laxshmi Sahashranam at the fire before the evening arati, I think of you when we come to Laxshmi's name #814, "Om Manyayai" which translates as "She who is contemplative". See how beautifully Maa has noticed and is continually nurturing this quality within you on your long and winding spiritual journey. Your post reminded me of just how much is the wealth of inspiration always pouring from Divine Mother to us in the forms of Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda.Sincerely,Kamala , "weeshe83" <weeshe83 wrote:>> Namaste everyone!> > I joined the group a few months back and haven't supplied a proper introduction yet. And seeing as how I have some spare internet time, I thought I'd finally get on task!> > My name is Michelle Schurko and I'm from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. I was born October 3rd, 1983. I had the blessing of a pilgrimage to the Devi Mandir back in May where Shree Maa gave me the name of Manya. I've had a long and winding spiritual journey that really started when I left the Christian church I had attended for the first 18 years of my life. I was fascinated by paganism and Buddhism but was at a loss for how they could make sense with each other. A few years back I finally started seriously studying Hinduism and yoga and all the pieces fell together. And I've been in love ever since.> > It was an absolute fluke that I stumbled upon Swamiji and his teachings. I was searching for commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita and found a video with the name Swami Satyananda Saraswati, who is also a Swami in India with a fairly large organization. However, THAT video wasn't the Swami I was expecting. But I was immediately drawn in by Swamiji's passion for his subject. He reminded me of one of those high school science teachers who were very boisterous and absolutely loved science. But Swamiji was teaching what I absolutely loved. I gobbled up all the information I could find. > > I got the chance to take a trip down and it was a defining experience in my life. First of all, everything fell into place perfectly in a very short amount of time. I was able to get a flight and a passport so easily and it felt as though I wasn't actually the one doing any of the arranging. We've all taken enough trips to know there's usually something forgotten or a late plane or trouble in customs. I was blessed with a flawless trip. In fact the only single thing that went wrong was me forgetting to leave my car insurance with the right people! > > When I met Swamiji, I felt like one of those stuttering high school boys who suddenly found themselves being spoken to by the most popular girl in school. But at the same time, it was like finding a long lost family member who knew and loved me since long before we met in person. And Shree Maa was so regal and beautiful and so funny. It's hard not to just stare at her when she's in the room.> > Since getting home, I've been watching more of the lectures, especially the Chandi class. And I've been enjoying this group and all of the extraordinary souls connected to it. I look forward every day to reading these messages and I never fail to be inspired in some way by the individuals in this group. I hope to one day be as spiritually advanced and wise as the rest of the international Devi Mandir family.> > Much love and respect to all,> Manya> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Is this the Kamala that I got to drink strawberry smoothies and learn about the BART system with? After I got home, I realized I didn't have your e-mail or anything and I wasn't certain where I could find you. I've missed you since then! So many of my favourite memories from my visit have you in them. I always point you out on the webcam to my friends and family whenever you happen to pop on there. " That's Kamala. She's AWESOME! " This e-mail address is the one I use for mailing lists, but my personal e-mail is mschurko. I talked with Swamiji and I'm hoping to get back down there when winter sets in up north here so probably around February sometime. I'll be the crazy canuck in shorts and a t-shirt when everyone else is in their jackets and toques! You're right about the name Maa gave me. Swamiji gave me the translation " she who controls the mind, " but contemplative describes me better currently! Controlling the mind is my goal. And now " contemplation " shows me the path. I've never been anywhere else that made me constantly wonder how much people knew about me and if they could read my mind. Being given a name was one of the only real wishes I had for my trip. But I came away with so much more. I'm quite sure after all was said and done, I even won over my dad. Much love, Manya , " kamalaji_india " <kamalaji_india wrote: > > Namaste and Welcome, Manya! > > Thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself; it was enjoyable > to hear more from you following your first visit to the Mandir. I found > the communication of your perceptions direct and refreshing. Everyday > during this month of Bhadrapad when we are chanting the Laxshmi > Sahashranam at the fire before the evening arati, I think of you when we > come to Laxshmi's name #814, " Om Manyayai " which translates as " She who > is contemplative " . See how beautifully Maa has noticed and is > continually nurturing this quality within you on your long and winding > spiritual journey. Your post reminded me of just how much is the wealth > of inspiration always pouring from Divine Mother to us in the forms of > Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda. > Sincerely, > Kamala > > > , " weeshe83 " <weeshe83@> wrote: > > > > Namaste everyone! > > > > I joined the group a few months back and haven't supplied a proper > introduction yet. And seeing as how I have some spare internet time, I > thought I'd finally get on task! > > > > My name is Michelle Schurko and I'm from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. > I was born October 3rd, 1983. I had the blessing of a pilgrimage to the > Devi Mandir back in May where Shree Maa gave me the name of Manya. I've > had a long and winding spiritual journey that really started when I left > the Christian church I had attended for the first 18 years of my life. > I was fascinated by paganism and Buddhism but was at a loss for how they > could make sense with each other. A few years back I finally started > seriously studying Hinduism and yoga and all the pieces fell together. > And I've been in love ever since. > > > > It was an absolute fluke that I stumbled upon Swamiji and his > teachings. I was searching for commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita and > found a video with the name Swami Satyananda Saraswati, who is also a > Swami in India with a fairly large organization. However, THAT video > wasn't the Swami I was expecting. But I was immediately drawn in by > Swamiji's passion for his subject. He reminded me of one of those high > school science teachers who were very boisterous and absolutely loved > science. But Swamiji was teaching what I absolutely loved. I gobbled > up all the information I could find. > > > > I got the chance to take a trip down and it was a defining experience > in my life. First of all, everything fell into place perfectly in a > very short amount of time. I was able to get a flight and a passport so > easily and it felt as though I wasn't actually the one doing any of the > arranging. We've all taken enough trips to know there's usually > something forgotten or a late plane or trouble in customs. I was > blessed with a flawless trip. In fact the only single thing that went > wrong was me forgetting to leave my car insurance with the right people! > > > > When I met Swamiji, I felt like one of those stuttering high school > boys who suddenly found themselves being spoken to by the most popular > girl in school. But at the same time, it was like finding a long lost > family member who knew and loved me since long before we met in person. > And Shree Maa was so regal and beautiful and so funny. It's hard not to > just stare at her when she's in the room. > > > > Since getting home, I've been watching more of the lectures, > especially the Chandi class. And I've been enjoying this group and all > of the extraordinary souls connected to it. I look forward every day to > reading these messages and I never fail to be inspired in some way by > the individuals in this group. I hope to one day be as spiritually > advanced and wise as the rest of the international Devi Mandir family. > > > > Much love and respect to all, > > Manya > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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