Guest guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 > Dear Samuel, > > This follows the time honoured custom in India of paying > respect to the Guru by bending down and touching his feet. > The feet are really the lowest part of the Guru which touch > Earth, which is our level. At the Devotee's stage we are > only in touch with his feet.. The full dimension of the > Guru is beyond us until Realisation, when we know our own > Self. > > The word Lotus is a poetic adjective , as the lotus flower > is soft and beautiful. The feet of the Guru contain all the > wisdom and power necessary to enlighten the Devotee if he or > she follows his or her suggestions. It even takes > 'practice' for these feet to be alive in our Hearts > whereby we receive Grace. Of course this is all poetic and > metaphorical but the Tradition honours this description. > > Others may add to this with their interpretation. > > All best wishes, > > Alan > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2009 Report Share Posted January 23, 2009 Dear Samuel, David Godman in his index to Padamalai defines Padam , the Feet, as meaning the Self. So this is another angle on the metaphor. Regards , Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote: > > > > Dear Samuel, > > > > This follows the time honoured custom in India of paying > > respect to the Guru by bending down and touching his feet. > > The feet are really the lowest part of the Guru which touch > > Earth, which is our level. At the Devotee's stage we are > > only in touch with his feet.. The full dimension of the > > Guru is beyond us until Realisation, when we know our own > > Self. > > > > The word Lotus is a poetic adjective , as the lotus flower > > is soft and beautiful. The feet of the Guru contain all the > > wisdom and power necessary to enlighten the Devotee if he or > > she follows his or her suggestions. It even takes > > 'practice' for these feet to be alive in our Hearts > > whereby we receive Grace. Of course this is all poetic and > > metaphorical but the Tradition honours this description. > > > > Others may add to this with their interpretation. > > > > All best wishes, > > > > Alan > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Re: Lotus Feet of the Guru Posted by: "alan jacobs" alanadamsjacobs tigersjaws Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:22 am (PST) Dear Samuel,David Godman in his index to Padamalai defines Padam , the Feet, as meaning the Self. So this is another angle on the metaphor.RegardsAlan Jacobs dear alan. is there a relationship between the Feet (Padam) and the Heart? thanks, and best wishes, samuel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 Dear Samuel, Yes - the feet are also a symbol for the Heart. When the Devotee bends before the Guru and places his head on his feet, he or she is surrendering their mind or ego to the Heart. All regards, Alan --- On Sat, 24/1/09, Samuel Cole <samuel.cole wrote: Samuel Cole <samuel.cole Re: Lotus Feet of the Guru Date: Saturday, 24 January, 2009, 12:32 PM Re: Lotus Feet of the Guru Posted by: "alan jacobs" alanadamsjacobs@ .co. uk tigersjaws Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:22 am (PST) Dear Samuel,David Godman in his index to Padamalai defines Padam , the Feet, as meaning the Self. So this is another angle on the metaphor.RegardsAlan Jacobs dear alan. is there a relationship between the Feet (Padam) and the Heart? thanks, and best wishes, samuel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 In Hinduism, the lotus (Sanskrit: padma) primarily represents beauty and non-attachment. The lotus is born in the mud but floats on the water without becoming wet or muddy shining beautifully in the Sun. This symbolizes how how one should live in the world. Enlightened Guru is compared to the Lotus. He lives and walks in the world but does not become one of the world. He is completely detached from the worldly attachments. Thus his feet are Lotus feet. Purnima , Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote: > > Dear Samuel, >  > Yes - the feet are also a symbol for the Heart. When the Devotee bends before the Guru and places his head on his feet, he or she is surrendering their mind or ego to the Heart. >  > All regards, >  > Alan > > --- On Sat, 24/1/09, Samuel Cole <samuel.cole wrote: > > Samuel Cole <samuel.cole > Re: Lotus Feet of the Guru > > Saturday, 24 January, 2009, 12:32 PM > > Re: Lotus Feet of the Guru > Posted by: " alan jacobs " alanadamsjacobs@ .co. uk  tigersjaws > Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:22 am (PST) > Dear Samuel, > > David Godman in his index to Padamalai defines Padam , the Feet, as > meaning the Self. So this is another angle on the metaphor. > > Regards > > Alan Jacobs >  > dear alan. is there a relationship between the Feet (Padam) and the Heart? >  > thanks, and best wishes, > samuel > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 Dear Sri Purnima, Many thanks for this helpful elucidation. All best wishes and regards, Yours in Bhagavan, Alan --- On Sun, 25/1/09, purnimamujumdar <purnimamujumdar wrote: purnimamujumdar <purnimamujumdar Re: Lotus Feet of the Guru Sunday, 25 January, 2009, 10:38 AM In Hinduism, the lotus (Sanskrit: padma) primarily represents beauty and non-attachment. The lotus is born in the mud but floats on the water without becoming wet or muddy shining beautifully in the Sun. This symbolizes how how one should live in the world. Enlightened Guru is compared to the Lotus. He lives and walks in the world but does not become one of the world. He is completely detached from the worldly attachments. Thus his feet are Lotus feet. Purnima , Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs@ ...> wrote: > > Dear Samuel, >  > Yes - the feet are also a symbol for the Heart. When the Devotee bends before the Guru and places his head on his feet, he or she is surrendering their mind or ego to the Heart. >  > All regards, >  > Alan > > --- On Sat, 24/1/09, Samuel Cole <samuel.cole@ ...> wrote: > > Samuel Cole <samuel.cole@ ...> > Re: Lotus Feet of the Guru > > Saturday, 24 January, 2009, 12:32 PM > > Re: Lotus Feet of the Guru > Posted by: " alan jacobs " alanadamsjacobs@ .co. uk  tigersjaws > Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:22 am (PST) > Dear Samuel, > > David Godman in his index to Padamalai defines Padam , the Feet, as > meaning the Self. So this is another angle on the metaphor. > > Regards > > Alan Jacobs >  > dear alan. is there a relationship between the Feet (Padam) and the Heart? >  > thanks, and best wishes, > samuel > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 purnimamujumdar wrote: > > In Hinduism, the lotus (Sanskrit: padma) primarily represents beauty > and non-attachment. The lotus is born in the mud but floats on the > water without becoming wet or muddy shining beautifully in the Sun. > This symbolizes how how one should live in the world. Enlightened > Guru is compared to the Lotus. He lives and walks in the world but > does not become one of the world. He is completely detached from the > worldly attachments. Thus his feet are Lotus feet. > > Purnima > indeed, thank you, purnima. as the hindu simile says, the lotus grows in ths swamp, its root and stem surrounded by dirt, mud and vermin; yet it remains ever pure, and even water itself cannot stick to it and spoil the pristine cleanness... so the guru's feet, even though apparently wallowing in the dust of the world, remain ever pure and unaffected. padanamaskaram, ramanaji! yosy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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