Guest guest Posted November 26, 2003 Report Share Posted November 26, 2003 Can everyone who is going to write something about experiences with Shree Maa just post them rather than send them to me so everyone can read them. I we get enough good ones maybe it can become a book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2003 Report Share Posted November 26, 2003 First Visit In February of 1993, an acquaintance of mine mentioned casually that there was a Hindu woman saint living in a temple in Martinez, CA and that he thought that I might find it worth my while to go and take her darshan. I liked the idea of having a woman teacher, but I had spent the last thirty years of my life as a Buddhist; first as a Zen Buddhist and then as a Tibetan Buddhist. I had no desire to change my religion. I was a very happy and peaceful Buddhist; satisfied with my meditation practice. In early March, I talked a friend into taking the drive to Martinez. We were quite shocked to see that the little temple was dwarfed by an enormous, ugly, oil refinery across the street. At first I thought that I must have the wrong address. Why would a saint choose to live in such a place? But then I saw some Indian women in saris walking from the parking lot into the building. Suddenly I had cold feet. I almost asked my friend if it was OK to just go back home. But I could tell that he was looking forward to meeting the saint. When I walked through the door I felt like I had been transported through a time and space tunnel to India of another age. In front of me was a huge altar taking up a whole wall from the floor to the ceiling filled with murtis (statues) of numerous Gods and Goddesses. It seemed as though they were all glittering and glistening and emitting holy light. Also, the tiny temple seemed to have expanded greatly. It seemed to be much larger on the inside than on the outside. My breath was taken away and my feet were glued to the floor. I just stood there in bliss. My friend motioned to me that we should bow to the deities. This brought me back to the present as we did our 3 full pranams (Tibetan style). Parvati, a disciple of the Holy Mother, came over and offered to explain the altar. She was very warm and welcoming and gave an explanation that even a non-Hindu could understand. She suggested that we might want to offer a flower to the main goddess. I sat in front of the goddess in meditation posture and offered my flower. A strange thing happened. I looked up at the goddess and felt that she was speaking to my heart. She said "This is where you belong. This is your home. Your search is over." When I met Shree Maa (The Respected Holy Mother) I was amazed. She was extremely beautiful and graceful. She seemed to barely be in her body. She was in samadhi much of the time. She was the picture of humility and graciousness. She was Shrim, the Ultimate Respect. A little later, she was sitting in a chair off to the side. I went and sat at her feet. I said "I hear that you come from Assam". She reached down and thumped me hard on my chest, over the heart chakra, and said "I come from here". I was sort of shocked and didn't really know what she meant. Then I asked her how she felt about moving to Napa. She said "Here, there… my Home is Everywhere." Then she smiled and told me about the Yoni Tree at the Napa Ashram. She said "You are going to love it." I felt that she was joyous to be able to share this secret with me. When my friend wanted to leave, I didn't want to go. I felt like I had found my spiritual home. Maa came up to us and she thanked us for coming to the temple. I had never met anyone like Her. No guru or lama or rimpoche contained Her special qualities. Her radiance and Her simplicity and Her directness. I also felt that She was going to be a "tough" teacher. She was not going to play into my ego games of being the perfect student. She was going to challenge me and get me to grow spiritually. ..Although I no longer live close by or visit the Mandir, She guides my life everyday. I am so deeply grateful to have Shree Maa as my Divine Mother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2003 Report Share Posted November 29, 2003 After reading the Shree Maa biography, I showed up a day late for Navaratri '99. Some days later, Shree Maa turned around and looking at me asked my name. She then also asked if I was going to learn how to act properly. Since that time I learned how to recite Chandi and many other pujas from the Devi Manir books. I am not sure if I've become very proper, but now I have plenty of pujas to do. , "Sarada" <sarada_saraswati> wrote: > Can everyone who is going to write something about experiences with > Shree Maa just post them rather than send them to me so everyone can > read them. I we get enough good ones maybe it can become a book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2003 Report Share Posted November 29, 2003 pl. inform the biography of Maa is available online. - "rudran2" <stechiekov <> Sunday, November 30, 2003 12:41 AM Re: Shree Maa stories > After reading the Shree Maa biography, I showed up a day late for > Navaratri '99. Some days later, Shree Maa turned around and looking > at me asked my name. She then also asked if I was going to learn how > to act properly. > > Since that time I learned how to recite Chandi and many other pujas > from the Devi Manir books. I am not sure if I've become very proper, > but now I have plenty of pujas to do. > > > , "Sarada" <sarada_saraswati> > wrote: > > Can everyone who is going to write something about experiences with > > Shree Maa just post them rather than send them to me so everyone > can > > read them. I we get enough good ones maybe it can become a book! > > > > > > > > > > Your use of is subject to > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2003 Report Share Posted November 30, 2003 Did you ever figure out what you did improper? Let me know because I'll be visiting next Sivaratri. Was it proper temple etiquite or something else? Jai Maa! Kellyrudran2 <stechiekov > wrote: After reading the Shree Maa biography, I showed up a day late for Navaratri '99. Some days later, Shree Maa turned around and looking at me asked my name. She then also asked if I was going to learn how to act properly. Since that time I learned how to recite Chandi and many other pujas from the Devi Manir books. I am not sure if I've become very proper, but now I have plenty of pujas to do.--- In , "Sarada" <sarada_saraswati> wrote:> Can everyone who is going to write something about experiences with > Shree Maa just post them rather than send them to me so everyone can > read them. I we get enough good ones maybe it can become a book!To from this group, send an email to:Your use of is subject to the Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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