Guest guest Posted January 30, 2004 Report Share Posted January 30, 2004 like daniel boone said: 'i wasn't lost, i just didn't know where i was for a few days." steve c. , "SVS" <svs_here> wrote: > Many of us are in the same position as the traveller. We know where > we are - sometimes dissatisfied, disappointed and experiencing little > peace of mind. > And we know where we want to be - at peace, fulfilled and living life > abundantly" Like the traveller, we are not lost - we just need > directions. It may not take much to find the high road to success, > but to reach it we need an agenda for the present. We need directions > for today. We need a purpose. > Listen to the advice the president of Lincoln University gave to a > group of incoming students: "Your life cannot go according to a plan > if you have no plan!" > > So plan your minutes always. > > Regards & Have a Nice and Wonderful day Today and Every Day > > SVS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2004 Report Share Posted January 30, 2004 Namaste, SVS, Thanks for your thoughts--you remind me of what Swamiji often says, "No one plans to fail, they just fail to plan..." Recently, Swamiji was making a commentary on Chandi path, chapter two; he talked about goals, as he often does--how so very important they are. In Chapter two, the generals in the army of the ego are mobilizing and attacking the Goddess (being manifested from the divine lights of all the gods, and armed with weapons they have all given to her), who has been created to challenge the Ego, now ruling the three worlds. Someone asked Swamiji about the Ego (Mahisasura) coming to attack once he hears the commotion of joy and worship of the Goddess. Swamiji said, "Every time the munis (holy people, wise ones) start to worship, the ego gears up to attack.....expect a conflict at that point..." In other words, as soon as we earnestly direct our attention to worship, instead of gratifying the ego in some way, the ego comes forward more strongly (attempt to keep things status quo), and the "generals' amass and gain momentum. These Generals are enumerated in the Chandi in chapters 2 and 3: they include: Devoid of Clear Understanding (Chiksura)--the first to attack Fickleness (Chamarash) Haughtiness (Udagra) Great Deceiver (or rationalizer) (Mahahanuh) Want of Resolution (Asiloma) Memories (Bashkalo) Wandering To and Fro (Parivaritah) Hypocrisy (Bidalakho) All of them we are all very familiar with--they are the generals, the class of thoughts that attack when we begin focus on Divinity. A question arose, regarding one of the generals, Mahahanuh: "How do you know when you are rationalizing vs. just disciminating?" Swami replied, "Go back to the goal...now you have criteria by which to discriminate." He also said, "Enlightenment is a battle we fight with every breath." Having the goal--the laksha--as our anchor, I believe, to which we can return again and again as we grow more adept in recognizing the generals, our tendencies--allows us to hone and sharpen, to become more efficient, and to spend less time being run by any of the generals, wandering away from our goal. We become adept travelers, armed with wisdom, spurred by love, and oriented with our true desire or goal. Perhaps our goal is less an anchor, and more of a compass. Sea metaphors work well for me. Nitya , "SVS" <svs_here> wrote: > Many of us are in the same position as the traveller. We know where > we are - sometimes dissatisfied, disappointed and experiencing little > peace of mind. > And we know where we want to be - at peace, fulfilled and living life > abundantly" Like the traveller, we are not lost - we just need > directions. It may not take much to find the high road to success, > but to reach it we need an agenda for the present. We need directions > for today. We need a purpose. > Listen to the advice the president of Lincoln University gave to a > group of incoming students: "Your life cannot go according to a plan > if you have no plan!" > > So plan your minutes always. > > Regards & Have a Nice and Wonderful day Today and Every Day > > SVS 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.