Shree Maa

November 26, 2003

I was wondering if people in the group who have met Shree Maa could

write a litle bit(or a lot) about the first meeting with Her and how

She has impacted your life.

November 27, 2003

Sarada, thank you for providing this opportunity.

----

------------------------

Sometime in 1998, the book "Daughters of the Goddess" by Linda

Johnsen was loaned to me. The picture on the cover of the book held

my gaze in a way that is unexplainable, I read the introduction and

came back to the cover, the first chapter back to the cover. "Who

was this beautiful woman, she is so sweet" was my constant thought.

I read the story of "Shree Maa of Kamakhya" but had to re-read it

prior to moving on, at the end of the book, back to reading Shree Maa

once more. There was something special about this stately yet

seemingly shy "lady". The one who loaned the book asked sometime

after if I liked the book, I said "Shree Maa, she is beautiful, so

beautiful." So much did I speak about Maa that the book was

eventually given to me as a gift and I was told that there was an

email in case I wanted to contact Maa. A few months after contact

around mid-1999 I was invited to visit. Boy, that invitation was all

that I needed, preparations were started almost immediately and at

Ashwin Navaratri 1999 my first visit to the Mandir became a reality.

The night I entered the Devi Mandir, I literally stepped into heaven,

there was Swami Satyananda Saraswati who led the devotees into the

most joyous chant that I had ever heard. What pure joy and devotion

filled that room, where was I, for sure I must have left the earth

and gone to an abode of the Goddess. Live sized statues of God and

Goddesses were everywhere and there, seated directly to Swamiji's

left, was the Goddess, Beloved Shree Maa! My heart stopped, I felt

undressed in my western clothing … was my dress appropriate, would

Maa be happy?

This thought disappeared with the welcoming smile of devotees,

seated crossed legged, clapping, chanting, dancing. I walked to

where Maa was seated and bowed to Her the best I knew and tried to

smile away the shyness which I felt I did not know what to expect,

Maa looked at me and with utmost compassion and in a tone most

pleasing to the ear said, "Kali are you tired, we have left dinner

for you. Rest and we will see you tomorrow". "Yes Maa," I bowed

again. Swamiji and the devotees never seemed to stop smiling and the

statues all seemed alive and dancing. I sat and watched Maa as she

prepared to leave the temple for the night, it was almost 9.00 p.m.

then, Maa paused and blessed a couple of visiting devotees before

leaving in the company of one of her female disciples.

The journey to the Mandir took eighteen and one half hours, walking

up the path to the Mandir, I thought I would die from hunger and

exhaustion but it all disappeared on entering "heaven'. Those ten

days with Maa were a profound impact on my life, the greatest being

the need to be truthful, to look within rather than without. In

this "other world" at times it seems so hard to live a life of

spirituality but Maa's love, grace, peacefulness, humility and

childlike innocence are like shining lights for me, reflecting on

these quailities help me through each day. ShreeMaa is everything

that I Kaliananda Saraswati strive to become.

Maa's bodily appearance seems frail but She is a mountain of Purity

and Truth, she lives what she teaches. This aura of Purity exudes

throughout the Ashram.

Beloved Shree Maa,

With all the love that this heart knows, I thank you. You have given

and continue to give this child so very, very much, yet ask for so

little in return.

You know this child's desire and one day, with your love and

guidance, it will be realized.

In loving surrender at Your Respected Lotus Feet,

Jai Jai Shree Maa Ki Jai!

Kaliananda Saraswati

, "Sarada" <sarada_saraswati>

wrote:

> I was wondering if people in the group who have met Shree Maa could

> write a litle bit(or a lot) about the first meeting with Her and

how

> She has impacted your life.

November 28, 2003

Like everyone I started life out very unconsciously. And like many I spent

the first several decades of my life asleep.

I first met Maa and Swamiji in the mid nineties. I could place the date if

someone could tell me when they held the last Satsang in Martinez. That is

when I first met Maa.

I'm a white catholic boy, who happens to have a connection with an Indian

guy that goes back to the sixth grade. (well I suspect even a bit further

than that)

I went mostly because I wanted something to do that was with my best

friend. I hung out in the back, I listened to the chanting and honestly, I

didn't understand.

I felt the goodness of the people, and I felt the various feelings from the

various types of people you are bound to meet when an enlightened being

walks on the planet, but for myself I felt separate from it all.

I always used to feel separate from it all.

The irony is: I had been initiated by an Indian Guru years before, but I

still knew little of myself, of my path or of Indian Culture. Basically I

knew to not aim the soles of my feet at Gurus and Goddesses.

I stayed invisible, which is my practice, and I kept quiet, inside myself

as I always did.

The only thing I knew for sure was that I had met people who, like me,

sincerely sought truth and strived to set an example to follow. I was

barely a newbie spiritualist at the time, hardly aware of my own mind, let

alone anything beyond thought.

As ashamed as I am to admit this, I simply didn't understand Maa beyond the

physical.

That is a summary of when I first physically met Maa. But I think its only

fair to tell when I first felt Maa.

I don't remember when I first felt her energy, I've felt it so many times

since then that its all just a blur to my mind now.

I was sitting in the Temple at Napa after Arti -- not meditating -- like I

had so many times before.

I sometimes look around the room to get a sense of what people are

experiencing, its an odd habit I have to look for understanding in others.

Sometimes I stare at Maa and Swamiji, to try and connect with where they

are. A bold thing I suppose, but I didn't know any better. Naivete has some

benefit.

"What must Samadhi be like?" I wondered as only a mind can.

As I stared with childish mental wonder at Maa I knew she was in Samadhi.

Suddenly, and I mean SUDDENLY, I became aware of what Maa was doing in the

room. I could not exactly see and not exactly feel but I knew where she was

and what she was doing. Mentally I thought this energy was universal

Mother, not Shree Maa, but mentally I wondered "is there a difference?"

But then my mind got sucked back out of its thoughts and I was aware again

of the energy and how it was visiting everyone in the room, sequentially.

I felt the reaction of one person, and then another, and some of them I saw

a physical reaction, a straightening of the spine, a smile, a tear.

Then it was my turn and well ... words cannot explain the rush of Shakti.

If you've experienced it and been aware that you were experiencing it, then

you know what I mean. Otherwise, just wait, pray and meditate, it will happen.

That is the first time I experienced Maa.

Since then I've been blessed to encounter her in many places outside of

Devi Mandir. And I have Shree Maa and Swamiji to thank for that. And I try

to thank them as best I can every time I see them.

I don't thank them to their faces often, but I do what I can to be of

service to Shree Maa, Swamiji and the other billions of her incarnations

that I meet. I'm not as good at it as I'd like to be, but I keep growing

because of her grace and her willingness to make my heart her home.

Namaste,

Brian

---

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November 28, 2003

Blessings to All,

I, too, was introduced to Shree Maa through "Daughters of the

Goddess", given to me by my teacher at a time when I was going

through yoga teacher training. I, like you, was blown

away--continually flipping the book closed to view the cover. That

was it, I was in love! Sometimes in class my teacher would chant the

Nivarna Mantra and I would find myself floating in exquisite bliss. I

have never met Shree Maa and Swamiji in person, but I would still like

to share about the continual discovery of their blessing.

Several months after my training, as I struggled through a difficult

time, I read "Shree Maa, the Life of a Saint". At one point in the

book the crown of my head began to tingle--really intense. I tried

to make it stop by sitting up, scratching my head, etc. But I

realized that it was Her. I really felt Her there with me, tears

streaming down my face--just so filled with love. She was so

beautiful, so beautiful and she was with ME! I felt so

blessed--barely believing it.

I have since read almost everything that Shree Maa and Swamiji have

written and had many experiences with Swamiji's wonderful blessings

as well. When I watched the videos of Shree Maa and Swamiji's 1998

tour of India with my children I noticed them chanting along with the

soundtrack--couldn't help themselves. Right after, they asked for me

pictures of Her for their altars! They have asked when they will

meet her and I always say "someday". We don't live close, but

perhaps when they tour again. I now have the blessing of teaching

yoga in a small temple that She and Swamiji set up in a local

spiritual center. The vibrations of their love continuing to flow

there, too.

So, my devotion only gets stronger--even though I haven't "met" them,

yet. I am inspired by them continually and strive to live into their

example and their teachings. Thank you, thank you, blessed Mother,

for guiding me to these High Beings. I offer my heart, my energy and

my love to Shree Maa and Swamiji's lotus feet. Love to you all...

Lynne

-

kaliananda_saraswati

Thursday, November 27, 2003 2:07 PM

Re: Shree Maa

Sarada, thank you for providing this

opportunity.----------------Sometime

in 1998, the book "Daughters of the Goddess" by Linda Johnsen was

loaned to me. The picture on the cover of the book held my gaze in a

way that is unexplainable, I read the introduction and came back to

the cover, the first chapter back to the cover. "Who was this

beautiful woman, she is so sweet" was my constant thought.I read the

story of "Shree Maa of Kamakhya" but had to re-read it prior to

moving on, at the end of the book, back to reading Shree Maa once

more. There was something special about this stately yet seemingly

shy "lady". The one who loaned the book asked sometime after if I

liked the book, I said "Shree Maa, she is beautiful, so beautiful."

So much did I speak about Maa that the book was eventually given to

me as a gift and I was told that there was an email in case I wanted

to contact Maa. A few months after contact around mid-1999 I was

invited to visit. Boy, that invitation was all that I needed,

preparations were started almost immediately and at Ashwin Navaratri

1999 my first visit to the Mandir became a reality.The night I

entered the Devi Mandir, I literally stepped into heaven, there was

Swami Satyananda Saraswati who led the devotees into the most joyous

chant that I had ever heard. What pure joy and devotion filled that

room, where was I, for sure I must have left the earth and gone to an

abode of the Goddess. Live sized statues of God and Goddesses were

everywhere and there, seated directly to Swamiji's left, was the

Goddess, Beloved Shree Maa! My heart stopped, I felt undressed in my

western clothing … was my dress appropriate, would Maa be happy? This

thought disappeared with the welcoming smile of devotees, seated

crossed legged, clapping, chanting, dancing. I walked to where Maa

was seated and bowed to Her the best I knew and tried to smile away

the shyness which I felt I did not know what to expect, Maa looked

at me and with utmost compassion and in a tone most pleasing to the

ear said, "Kali are you tired, we have left dinner for you. Rest and

we will see you tomorrow". "Yes Maa," I bowed again. Swamiji and

the devotees never seemed to stop smiling and the statues all seemed

alive and dancing. I sat and watched Maa as she prepared to leave

the temple for the night, it was almost 9.00 p.m. then, Maa paused

and blessed a couple of visiting devotees before leaving in the

company of one of her female disciples.The journey to the Mandir took

eighteen and one half hours, walking up the path to the Mandir, I

thought I would die from hunger and exhaustion but it all disappeared

on entering "heaven'. Those ten days with Maa were a profound impact

on my life, the greatest being the need to be truthful, to look within

rather than without. In this "other world" at times it seems so hard

to live a life of spirituality but Maa's love, grace, peacefulness,

humility and childlike innocence are like shining lights for me,

reflecting on these quailities help me through each day. ShreeMaa is

everything that I Kaliananda Saraswati strive to become.Maa's bodily

appearance seems frail but She is a mountain of Purity and Truth, she

lives what she teaches. This aura of Purity exudes throughout the

Ashram. Beloved Shree Maa, With all the love that this heart knows,

I thank you. You have given and continue to give this child so very,

very much, yet ask for so little in return. You know this child's

desire and one day, with your love and guidance, it will be

realized.In loving surrender at Your Respected Lotus Feet,Jai Jai

Shree Maa Ki Jai!Kaliananda Saraswati--- In

, "Sarada" <sarada_saraswati> wrote:>

I was wondering if people in the group who have met Shree Maa could >

write a litle bit(or a lot) about the first meeting with Her and how

> She has impacted your life.To from this group, send an

email to:Your use of

Groups is subject to the

November 29, 2003

Namaste Lynne,

Isn't Maa Amazing.

Coming from an orthodox Anglican upbringing, and being part of a

group whose main focus was on Jesus and Buddhism, the experience of

meeting Maa was beyond my greatest imagination. I too fell in love.

I left my abode that day with no expectations, just a deep longing to

meet this 'lady" on the cover of that book, I wanted to meet Shree

Maa.

As soon as the door of the temple came ajar that evening, I heard

this thunderous but joyous chant to Goddess Kali they were many

harmonious voices but one stood out, that was the voice of the one

who led the chant, Beloved Swamiji. So elated was I that I believe

my spirit left me standing at the door and went off to join

the "party". That welcoming went on until this body, nervous as it

was, made its way through the crowd first to Swamiji as I was unsure

of the procedure, Swamiji sweetly and smiling said "Welcome Kali,

this is our Guru Shree Maa". At this, I bowed to Maa who blessed me

and enquired after my welfare. Maa's voice was filled with

compassion. She then called on one of her devotees to "look after"

me and then said " .... will look after you now Kali? You rest now

and we will talk tomorrow .. ok". With a smile, her hands

automatically took on the pray posture, I bowed before her again. I

was welcomed by all, some with words other with smiling eyes and

hugs. The joy and devotion was intense, the love was pure and the

(statues of the) Gods and Goddesses were alive, they were in bliss

and they were dancing. The devotees ensured that I was made

comfortable in every way possible. Lynne, it is no exaggeration to

say that I was in heaven. That night when all was quiet and there

was time to reflect, tears flowed freely and many days after, I

really did not want to leave, I never want to leave.

Again, like you Lynne, I find myself not using books, but pictures of

Maa on the body from heart to crown, the one on the cover of "Shree

Maa the Life of a Saint" I usually place in the throat as Goddess

Saraswati. Interesting how Maa "plays" with her children.

I pray that one day you and your children would have the opportunity

to "meet" Maa and Swamiji.

Love to all!

Jai Maa

Kali

, "Lynne McKinnon" <omgirl@p...>

wrote:

> Blessings to All,

> I, too, was introduced to Shree Maa through "Daughters of the

Goddess", given to me by my teacher at a time when I was going

through yoga teacher training. I, like you, was blown away--

continually flipping the book closed to view the cover. That was it,

I was in love! Sometimes in class my teacher would chant the Nivarna

Mantra and I would find myself floating in exquisite bliss. I have

never met Shree Maa and Swamiji in person, but I would still like to

share about the continual discovery of their blessing.

>

> Several months after my training, as I struggled through a

difficult time, I read "Shree Maa, the Life of a Saint". At one

point in the book the crown of my head began to tingle--really

intense. I tried to make it stop by sitting up, scratching my head,

etc. But I realized that it was Her. I really felt Her there with

me, tears streaming down my face--just so filled with love. She was

so beautiful, so beautiful and she was with ME! I felt so blessed--

barely believing it.

>

> I have since read almost everything that Shree Maa and Swamiji have