Guest guest Posted November 14, 2003 Report Share Posted November 14, 2003 We are here in cyberspace, "talking" or writing, putting our thoughts down in words--and I was thinking about Swamiji's teaching the other day about sound--actually the path of sound, how sound can bring us to God. It gave me a tiny insight about chanting--another sense of the purpose of that sadhana--why do we chant, especially Sanskrit? Our path, with our gurus, is that of sadhana, spiritual practice, and bhakta, devotion, and since we have these reflecting minds, we may ask, "why?" I fell in love with my gurus, and that placed me at the beginning; I am still in love with my gurus, and with God, and I continue to chant, and have fallen in love with that too; but I want to know more--why do we chant, and in this way? I know that one purpose is for focus on God and control of the mind; but more specifically.... Swamiji said: Botikashabdha are words about the world--words most of us use every day and take for granted; but, if we focus our sound towards greater wisdom, there are Jnanshabdha, words of knowledge, and Vaidashabda, words of wisdom These are teachings from the gurus, from the scriptures, words of perceptive insight about God, about the way of things These are words, too, in the scriptures of Sanskrit we chant; within these shlokas, themselves mantras, are (smaller) mantras, shortened sounds, like the mantras we use to bring us further into meditation (he had lots to say about just this) The mantras are made of bija mantras - these are the closest approximations or the audible expressions of some meaning (such as aim or sam; or even ka, or ra) The bijas are made of the naada, which is the subtle body of sound, the vibration, not audible, essentially Within the naad is the bindu - one point of sound, and the first sound of the entire field of possibilities Within that is shabda brahma, the infinite expression of God; (the closest audible expression we have of that is Om) it's always so beautiful to me to hear Swamiji's knowledge, once again reminding us of our purpose, why we do things--and, that there ARE things that we can do, can practice, in our every day lives that truly bring us closer that that which we love the most Jai Swamiji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2003 Report Share Posted November 14, 2003 It IS so beautiful to hear Swamiji's knowledge! Thank you so much for sharing it. The next best thing to hearing it myself is hearing all about it from you wonderful people! Love Rosie , "nitya_ma" <nitya_ma> wrote: > We are here in cyberspace, "talking" or writing, putting our thoughts down > in words--and I was thinking about Swamiji's teaching the other day > about sound--actually the path of sound, how sound can bring us to God. > It gave me a tiny insight about chanting--another sense of the purpose > of that sadhana--why do we chant, especially Sanskrit? > Our path, with our gurus, is that of sadhana, spiritual practice, and bhakta, > devotion, and since we have these reflecting minds, we may ask, "why?" > > I fell in love with my gurus, and that placed me at the beginning; I am still in > love with my gurus, and with God, and I continue to chant, and have fallen in > love with that too; but I want to know more--why do we chant, and in this way? > > I know that one purpose is for focus on God and control of the mind; but more > specifically.... > > Swamiji said: > Botikashabdha are words about the world--words most of us use every day > and take for granted; but, if we focus our sound towards greater wisdom, there > are > Jnanshabdha, words of knowledge, and > Vaidashabda, words of wisdom > These are teachings from the gurus, from the scriptures, words of perceptive > insight about God, about the way of things > > These are words, too, in the scriptures of Sanskrit we chant; > within these shlokas, themselves mantras, are > > (smaller) mantras, shortened sounds, like the mantras we use to > bring us further into meditation (he had lots to say about just this) > > The mantras are made of bija mantras - these are the closest approximations > or the audible expressions of some meaning (such as aim or sam; or even ka, > or ra) > > The bijas are made of the naada, which is the subtle body of sound, the > vibration, not audible, essentially > > Within the naad is the bindu - one point of sound, and the first sound of > the entire field of possibilities > > Within that is shabda brahma, the infinite expression of God; (the > closest audible expression we have of that is Om) > > it's always so beautiful to me to hear Swamiji's knowledge, once again > reminding us of our purpose, why we do things--and, that there > ARE things that we can do, can practice, in our every day lives that > truly bring us closer that that which we love the most > Jai Swamiji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2003 Report Share Posted November 14, 2003 Dearest Nitya_Ma, Thanks for sharing. What I find particularly interesting is Swamiji's definition of Botikashabdha "words about the world--words most of us use every day and take for granted". This brings to mind Sutra 4 of the Kasyapa Sutras ("Shree Maa Guru and the Goddess" by Swami Satyananda Saraswati). In the Bija mantras for positive qualities, one can find words like am (immortality /joy), sum (pleasure / comfort), sat (truth), mum (freedom). I have for years used all of these words, especially mum, --a pet name for mother or to indicate silence -- completely ignorant of their greater use, which is to rid the self of certain negatives. Also, as a child one is taught that if not telling truth then it is untruth, the Sutras teach us that Truth has no negatives. Thank you Swamiji! Thank you Nitya-Ma! Jai Maa! , "nitya_ma" <nitya_ma> wrote: > We are here in cyberspace, "talking" or writing, putting our thoughts down > in words--and I was thinking about Swamiji's teaching the other day > about sound--actually the path of sound, how sound can bring us to God. > It gave me a tiny insight about chanting--another sense of the purpose > of that sadhana--why do we chant, especially Sanskrit? > Our path, with our gurus, is that of sadhana, spiritual practice, and bhakta, > devotion, and since we have these reflecting minds, we may ask, "why?" > > I fell in love with my gurus, and that placed me at the beginning; I am still in > love with my gurus, and with God, and I continue to chant, and have fallen in > love with that too; but I want to know more--why do we chant, and in this way? > > I know that one purpose is for focus on God and control of the mind; but more > specifically.... > > Swamiji said: > Botikashabdha are words about the world--words most of us use every day > and take for granted; but, if we focus our sound towards greater wisdom, there > are > Jnanshabdha, words of knowledge, and > Vaidashabda, words of wisdom > These are teachings from the gurus, from the scriptures, words of perceptive > insight about God, about the way of things > > These are words, too, in the scriptures of Sanskrit we chant; > within these shlokas, themselves mantras, are > > (smaller) mantras, shortened sounds, like the mantras we use to > bring us further into meditation (he had lots to say about just this) > > The mantras are made of bija mantras - these are the closest approximations > or the audible expressions of some meaning (such as aim or sam; or even ka, > or ra) > > The bijas are made of the naada, which is the subtle body of sound, the > vibration, not audible, essentially > > Within the naad is the bindu - one point of sound, and the first sound of > the entire field of possibilities > > Within that is shabda brahma, the infinite expression of God; (the > closest audible expression we have of that is Om) > > it's always so beautiful to me to hear Swamiji's knowledge, once again > reminding us of our purpose, why we do things--and, that there > ARE things that we can do, can practice, in our every day lives that > truly bring us closer that that which we love the most > Jai Swamiji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 Nitya Ma, I was hoping someone would bring up the topic of the Matrika Shakti. The entire Universe is made from sound. I want to know more! Astraea , "nitya_ma" <nitya_ma> wrote: > We are here in cyberspace, "talking" or writing, putting our thoughts down > in words--and I was thinking about Swamiji's teaching the other day > about sound--actually the path of sound, how sound can bring us to God. > It gave me a tiny insight about chanting--another sense of the purpose > of that sadhana--why do we chant, especially Sanskrit? > Our path, with our gurus, is that of sadhana, spiritual practice, and bhakta, > devotion, and since we have these reflecting minds, we may ask, "why?" > > I fell in love with my gurus, and that placed me at the beginning; I am still in > love with my gurus, and with God, and I continue to chant, and have fallen in > love with that too; but I want to know more--why do we chant, and in this way? > > I know that one purpose is for focus on God and control of the mind; but more > specifically.... > > Swamiji said: > Botikashabdha are words about the world--words most of us use every day > and take for granted; but, if we focus our sound towards greater wisdom, there > are > Jnanshabdha, words of knowledge, and > Vaidashabda, words of wisdom > These are teachings from the gurus, from the scriptures, words of perceptive > insight about God, about the way of things > > These are words, too, in the scriptures of Sanskrit we chant; > within these shlokas, themselves mantras, are > > (smaller) mantras, shortened sounds, like the mantras we use to > bring us further into meditation (he had lots to say about just this) > > The mantras are made of bija mantras - these are the closest approximations > or the audible expressions of some meaning (such as aim or sam; or even ka, > or ra) > > The bijas are made of the naada, which is the subtle body of sound, the > vibration, not audible, essentially > > Within the naad is the bindu - one point of sound, and the first sound of > the entire field of possibilities > > Within that is shabda brahma, the infinite expression of God; (the > closest audible expression we have of that is Om) > > it's always so beautiful to me to hear Swamiji's knowledge, once again > reminding us of our purpose, why we do things--and, that there > ARE things that we can do, can practice, in our every day lives that > truly bring us closer that that which we love the most > Jai Swamiji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2003 Report Share Posted November 16, 2003 Nitya Ma, So much is not written, but only transmitted orally. You are so very fortunate to be there to receive it. Chris , "nitya_ma" <nitya_ma> wrote: > We are here in cyberspace, "talking" or writing, putting our thoughts down > in words--and I was thinking about Swamiji's teaching the other day > about sound--actually the path of sound, how sound can bring us to God. > It gave me a tiny insight about chanting--another sense of the purpose > of that sadhana--why do we chant, especially Sanskrit? > Our path, with our gurus, is that of sadhana, spiritual practice, and bhakta, > devotion, and since we have these reflecting minds, we may ask, "why?" > > I fell in love with my gurus, and that placed me at the beginning; I am still in > love with my gurus, and with God, and I continue to chant, and have fallen in > love with that too; but I want to know more--why do we chant, and in this way? > > I know that one purpose is for focus on God and control of the mind; but more > specifically.... > > Swamiji said: > Botikashabdha are words about the world--words most of us use every day > and take for granted; but, if we focus our sound towards greater wisdom, there > are > Jnanshabdha, words of knowledge, and > Vaidashabda, words of wisdom > These are teachings from the gurus, from the scriptures, words of perceptive > insight about God, about the way of things > > These are words, too, in the scriptures of Sanskrit we chant; > within these shlokas, themselves mantras, are > > (smaller) mantras, shortened sounds, like the mantras we use to > bring us further into meditation (he had lots to say about just this) > > The mantras are made of bija mantras - these are the closest approximations > or the audible expressions of some meaning (such as aim or sam; or even ka, > or ra) > > The bijas are made of the naada, which is the subtle body of sound, the > vibration, not audible, essentially > > Within the naad is the bindu - one point of sound, and the first sound of > the entire field of possibilities > > Within that is shabda brahma, the infinite expression of God; (the > closest audible expression we have of that is Om) > > it's always so beautiful to me to hear Swamiji's knowledge, once again > reminding us of our purpose, why we do things--and, that there > ARE things that we can do, can practice, in our every day lives that > truly bring us closer that that which we love the most > Jai Swamiji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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