Guest guest Posted May 25, 2003 Report Share Posted May 25, 2003 Dear Michael Spotts: I share your concerns/frustrations. In the past, I joined a Vedanta Society, even though it was several states away from my home. It's great if you live nearby, but they are not really geared for long-distance fellowship. regarding diksha, until you receive that blessing, for a mantra I'd recommend,"Ramakrishna," which could be preceded with, "Om," if you like. Regarding, darshan, I'd say, "Keep on dreaming!" How fortunate you are to have Thakur grace your nightly slumber! (He's only made 2-3 appearances in mine.) Try to consciously approach Him in your dreams -- ask Him questions, etc. If you can accomplish that -- you won't need an earthly guru! Regarding satsang, jay appropriately recommends this List. It certainly is the best thing I have access to. But, it does not fulfill my inner need to intimately discuss Ramakrishna, His life, His teachings, His disciples and share my own attempts to apply His teachings in my life. I imagine an "electric satsang" via internet could offer such an intimate, nourishing environment, but I don't feel this List is set-up to achieve that goal. I believe it would take a smaller, self-selected and daily participating group of devotees. Most of the 700 on this List rarely participate, so their spiritual goals/beliefs/practices are unknown. jay, I may have asked this previously, if so I apologize, but would you be interested in setting up a separate List organized specifically to be a "Ramakrishna Satsang," complete with participant bios and some "participant agreement," ala, "The Rules of St. Benedict" for an electric satsang of Ramakrishna devotees??? (I emphasize Ramakrishna as I am not drawn to Swamiji, per se.) Thank you, Brad Stephan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 Sri Ramakrishna says that if a frog is seized by an ordinary snake both the frog and snake suffer but if it is bitten by a cobra, at most there are three croaks. What does it mean ? Some say that it is equal to getting a Mantra. What does it mean ? Yours in the Master, Suresh --- Brad Stephan <brad wrote: > Dear Michael Spotts: > > I share your concerns/frustrations. In the past, I > joined a Vedanta Society, even though it was several > states away from my home. It's great if you live > nearby, but they are not really geared for > long-distance fellowship. regarding diksha, until > you receive that blessing, for a mantra I'd > recommend, " Ramakrishna, " which could be preceded > with, " Om, " if you like. > > Regarding, darshan, I'd say, " Keep on dreaming! " How > fortunate you are to have Thakur grace your nightly > slumber! (He's only made 2-3 appearances in mine.) > Try to consciously approach Him in your dreams -- > ask Him questions, etc. If you can accomplish that > -- you won't need an earthly guru! > > Regarding satsang, jay appropriately recommends this > List. It certainly is the best thing I have access > to. But, it does not fulfill my inner need to > intimately discuss Ramakrishna, His life, His > teachings, His disciples and share my own attempts > to apply His teachings in my life. I imagine an > " electric satsang " via internet could offer such an > intimate, nourishing environment, but I don't feel > this List is set-up to achieve that goal. I believe > it would take a smaller, self-selected and daily > participating group of devotees. Most of the 700 on > this List rarely participate, so their spiritual > goals/beliefs/practices are unknown. > > jay, I may have asked this previously, if so I > apologize, but would you be interested in setting up > a separate List organized specifically to be a > " Ramakrishna Satsang, " complete with participant > bios and some " participant agreement, " ala, " The > Rules of St. Benedict " for an electric satsang of > Ramakrishna devotees??? (I emphasize Ramakrishna as > I am not drawn to Swamiji, per se.) > > Thank you, > Brad Stephan > The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2003 Report Share Posted May 26, 2003 Dear Brad, The " electric satsang " looks mouth watering ... :-) But I still do not see how it will be different from something like this list. Participation probably needs to be voluntary and not rule based ... Would you like to elaborate ? Thanks and regards, Ashish --- Brad Stephan <brad wrote: > Dear Michael Spotts: > > I share your concerns/frustrations. In the past, I > joined a Vedanta Society, even though it was several > states away from my home. It's great if you live > nearby, but they are not really geared for > long-distance fellowship. regarding diksha, until > you receive that blessing, for a mantra I'd > recommend, " Ramakrishna, " which could be preceded > with, " Om, " if you like. > > Regarding, darshan, I'd say, " Keep on dreaming! " How > fortunate you are to have Thakur grace your nightly > slumber! (He's only made 2-3 appearances in mine.) > Try to consciously approach Him in your dreams -- > ask Him questions, etc. If you can accomplish that > -- you won't need an earthly guru! > > Regarding satsang, jay appropriately recommends this > List. It certainly is the best thing I have access > to. But, it does not fulfill my inner need to > intimately discuss Ramakrishna, His life, His > teachings, His disciples and share my own attempts > to apply His teachings in my life. I imagine an > " electric satsang " via internet could offer such an > intimate, nourishing environment, but I don't feel > this List is set-up to achieve that goal. I believe > it would take a smaller, self-selected and daily > participating group of devotees. Most of the 700 on > this List rarely participate, so their spiritual > goals/beliefs/practices are unknown. > > jay, I may have asked this previously, if so I > apologize, but would you be interested in setting up > a separate List organized specifically to be a > " Ramakrishna Satsang, " complete with participant > bios and some " participant agreement, " ala, " The > Rules of St. Benedict " for an electric satsang of > Ramakrishna devotees??? (I emphasize Ramakrishna as > I am not drawn to Swamiji, per se.) > > Thank you, > Brad Stephan > The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.