Guest guest Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 I have the good fortune of interacting with Maa and Swamiji on the weekends. And at times these interactions get close and personal. When Maa or Swami talk with me, usually I am feeling so self- conscious that instead of paying attention to their words I am instead talking to myself to paying attention, and therefore not paying attention .And most of the time I come away a bit dazed and dazzled and it takes me a whole day to internalize the conversation. I had this idea - to take my handycam with me to my next interview with Swamiji. So that even if I missed out the camera would tell all. And sure enough I used it the next time with good results. However I learned the value of really paying attention without the help of a camcorder the hard way. After all , the great books - Vedas were handed down from disciple to disciple via word of mouth. Nothing was written down until much later. So we know the great texts because of Sruti and Smriti , definitely no camcorders around then. These Rishis knew the importance of paying attention. Anyways, I was hanging around the Mandir last weekend. I had no scheduled appointment with Swamiji , so I hadnt bothered packing my handycam. And then he drops in on me casually, we chat of this and that, and suddenly before I knew it, we were talking about all the subjects that mattered most to me, and he gave me personal advice at a rapid pace. And all the time I was thinking "Omigosh, the camcorder. Why didnt I bring it? I shoulda been prepared" and the self-beration goes on. And to top it all, he is looking at me kindly after asking a question ,waiting for my response , and I blurt out "I forgot the camcorder". Instead of paying full attention to his words ! And most of the advice had just sailed past me. The incident taught me a valuable lesson - paying attention. Swamiji says that paying attention is best way to demonstrate the highest respect. And oh, I will keep the handycam around too ! Just in case .... you never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Latha, What a wonderful story. I have never actually had a conversation with Maa or Swamiji, but Maa spoke to me once and I will never forget it. Suddenly there she was, standing in front of me in her diminutive form, radiating presence. I remember looking down at her as if from a great height, and suddenly my mind said "Oh my god! There she is!" and exploded with all manner of superfluous, self-conscious thoughts, so that it seemed I could barely hear her. She said, "Baby, what is your name?," and I said, "Chris," and she said, "Chris?" in her Bengali accent, to which I replied, "Yes Maa." She just looked at me, her eyes bouncing back and forth, up and down, as they do when she's doing something uncanny in agna chakra or beyond. Then she looked directly into my eyes, smiled, and turning quickly, flounced away like a young girl. It was very beautiful, and I think of it often. Chris , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > I have the good fortune of interacting with Maa and Swamiji on the > weekends. And at times these interactions get close and personal. > > When Maa or Swami talk with me, usually I am feeling so self- > conscious that instead of paying attention to their words I am > instead talking to myself to paying attention, and therefore not > paying attention .And most of the time I come away a bit dazed and > dazzled and it takes me a whole day to internalize the conversation. > > I had this idea - to take my handycam with me to my next interview > with Swamiji. So that even if I missed out the camera would tell > all. And sure enough I used it the next time with good results. > > However I learned the value of really paying attention without the > help of a camcorder the hard way. After all , the great books - > Vedas were handed down from disciple to disciple via word of mouth. > Nothing was written down until much later. So we know the great > texts because of Sruti and Smriti , definitely no camcorders around > then. These Rishis knew the importance of paying attention. > > Anyways, I was hanging around the Mandir last weekend. I had no > scheduled appointment with Swamiji , so I hadnt bothered packing my > handycam. And then he drops in on me casually, we chat of this and > that, and suddenly before I knew it, we were talking about all the > subjects that mattered most to me, and he gave me personal advice at > a rapid pace. > > And all the time I was thinking "Omigosh, the camcorder. Why didnt I > bring it? I shoulda been prepared" and the self-beration goes on. > > And to top it all, he is looking at me kindly after asking a > question ,waiting for my response , and I blurt out "I forgot the > camcorder". Instead of paying full attention to his words ! And most > of the advice had just sailed past me. > > The incident taught me a valuable lesson - paying attention. Swamiji > says that paying attention is best way to demonstrate the highest > respect. > > And oh, I will keep the handycam around too ! Just in case .... you > never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 latha you are the best. it is always fun to hear your honest accounts. steve c. aka bingo ridley , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > I have the good fortune of interacting with Maa and Swamiji on the > weekends. And at times these interactions get close and personal. > > When Maa or Swami talk with me, usually I am feeling so self- > conscious that instead of paying attention to their words I am > instead talking to myself to paying attention, and therefore not > paying attention .And most of the time I come away a bit dazed and > dazzled and it takes me a whole day to internalize the conversation. > > I had this idea - to take my handycam with me to my next interview > with Swamiji. So that even if I missed out the camera would tell > all. And sure enough I used it the next time with good results. > > However I learned the value of really paying attention without the > help of a camcorder the hard way. After all , the great books - > Vedas were handed down from disciple to disciple via word of mouth. > Nothing was written down until much later. So we know the great > texts because of Sruti and Smriti , definitely no camcorders around > then. These Rishis knew the importance of paying attention. > > Anyways, I was hanging around the Mandir last weekend. I had no > scheduled appointment with Swamiji , so I hadnt bothered packing my > handycam. And then he drops in on me casually, we chat of this and > that, and suddenly before I knew it, we were talking about all the > subjects that mattered most to me, and he gave me personal advice at > a rapid pace. > > And all the time I was thinking "Omigosh, the camcorder. Why didnt I > bring it? I shoulda been prepared" and the self-beration goes on. > > And to top it all, he is looking at me kindly after asking a > question ,waiting for my response , and I blurt out "I forgot the > camcorder". Instead of paying full attention to his words ! And most > of the advice had just sailed past me. > > The incident taught me a valuable lesson - paying attention. Swamiji > says that paying attention is best way to demonstrate the highest > respect. > > And oh, I will keep the handycam around too ! Just in case .... you > never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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