Guest guest Posted February 13, 2004 Report Share Posted February 13, 2004 ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to write to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd to 4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it (haha.) and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how silly. am i not an adult person? ha! over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she ignites it in this very different way. she bridges the little details like cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way like zen either. i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would be too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... different now that i am experiencing it for myself. well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these ups and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has shown all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and there is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. in the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only an emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my ways. always learning, unlearning, etc. steve c. , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> wrote: > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that I have a > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told this, it hurt > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very sattwic. But I > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has propelled me into > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with Divinity and > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I just call > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep on crying, I > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I don't want > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am now at a point > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands and feet; > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't know where > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she points my eyes > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. This morning > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am sure to thank > Her. > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like this: "I walk > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the Voice I > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He walks with me > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the joy I bear as I > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri Ramakrishna > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother Kali. This > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their ishta devata. > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and forth > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and total absorption > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri Ramakrishna is > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda > Saraswati. > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada Devi!!! > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > The dual nature of desire. > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a word doesn't > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles to a person's > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at his disposal > for spiritual enlightenment. > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to put it > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! Please Maa!" > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed but had not > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but had not yet > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he lost himself > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come to me, if I > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can build that desire > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess will come to > me. Consciousness will come. > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to feeling. You > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long a teenage boy > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that example was just > a metaphor. > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two techniques of > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its just > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire goddess. Literally > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart and soul. > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with you!" > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never experienced before. I > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my body charging > with consciousness. > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a boon. "Please > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > Namaste, > > Brian > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas Adams, The > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > Links > > / > > > > <? subject=Un> > > Terms of Service > <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2004 Report Share Posted February 13, 2004 , Brian McKee <brian@s...> wrote: > Hi Steve, > > I'm not sure what brought all of the following on. I hope you realize I say > it with the best of intentions. -- of course i do! silly! > > Presence is devoid of thought. Look for the spaces between the words like > you would look for the space between the white lines while driving down the > highway. See not the lines, but the lack of lines and there you will find her. -- yes, yes. > > As for desire to do silly things, desire is real, the classification of > that desire as silly is a mental trick meant to stop you from fulfilling > desire and IS NOT REAL. There are no silly desires, just silly minds. -- oh yes i know. i say this as a joke. i walk around naked. i know i am naked in this world. my desire is to exist. > > All desires lead to Maa. Some may be more direct than others, and its true > that you get there faster by doing the best desires, but you won't get > there faster by avoiding all desire. -- no no of course not. all desire is channeled into this one ray, to know god. what this even means is ambiguous. it is a desire that grows out of the ground like a plant. it is going to the sun, or towards some light, that is all. > If you desire to write Maa a letter as a forth grader, then do it. She will > answer as the Mother of a forth grade child. -- yes how sweet. someone told me i don't need to e-mail, but i think, you are saying it is ok. surely it cannot hurt. i want to do what is best and not waste anyone's time, but also live the true relationship, if there is one. > > Most fears we experience are fear of being hurt. The hurt already exists as > a memory and we fear not only being hurt again, but re- experiencing the > hurt that is already there. If you cannot face the fear alone, ask Maa to > face the fear with you and together you will see what it relates to and > that it is just a shadow of an unconscious past action over which you had > no control. Facing the fear, allows us to feel the hurt and allows mother > divine consciousness to heal the hurt. There is no fear once pain is faced. -- yes so true. but in this instance i am stretching out the rope of pain for a purpose. i know that probably makes no sense, except that a long chain of karma has to be finally resolved. it is like, the last 1%. maybe. > > The mind itself is a reaction to what are perceived to be life threatening > circumstances and is formed during our early years to guarantee our > survival. The mind is an old piece of technology that is on its way out as > consciousness gives us access to higher purpose and understanding. > > The mind does not want to die and becomes extremely creative in its > attempts to get us to identify with it, instead of with mother, with who we > are. -- yes. the mind can be understood in so many ways. an enemy, or it doesn't even exist, or accepted "as is" with a sort of ignorance. i see it as a sort of stream we can influence, but we can't stop the river except using relatively harsh methods. it can reveal or obscure but it is not to be blotted out any more easily than the world itself. -- peace to you, there is no problem, -- steve c. > > Sincerely, > > Brian > > PS Chandi Maa Ki Jai! > > At 05:55 PM 2/13/2004, you wrote: > > >ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was > >over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought > >sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little > >differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. > > > >i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to write > >to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd to > >4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it (haha.) > > > >and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. > >again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how > >silly. am i not an adult person? ha! > > > >over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she ignites > >it in this very different way. she bridges the little details like > >cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way like > >zen either. > > > >i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would be > >too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing > >always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... different > >now that i am experiencing it for myself. > > > >well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these ups > >and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has shown > >all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and there > >is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. > > > >i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. in > >the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of > >death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only an > >emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my ways. > > > >always learning, unlearning, etc. > > > >steve c. > > > > > >, Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > >wrote: > > > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > > > > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that I > >have a > > > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told > >this, it hurt > > > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very > >sattwic. But I > > > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has propelled > >me into > > > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with > >Divinity and > > > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > > > > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I > >just call > > > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep on > >crying, I > > > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I > >don't want > > > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am now > >at a point > > > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands > >and feet; > > > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't know > >where > > > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she points > >my eyes > > > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. > >This morning > > > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am sure > >to thank > > > Her. > > > > > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like > >this: "I walk > > > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the > >Voice I > > > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He > >walks with me > > > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the joy I > >bear as I > > > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri > >Ramakrishna > > > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother > >Kali. This > > > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their ishta > >devata. > > > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and > >forth > > > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and total > >absorption > > > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri > >Ramakrishna is > > > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami > >Satyananda > > > Saraswati. > > > > > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada > >Devi!!! > > > > > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > > > > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > > > > > The dual nature of desire. > > > > > > > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a > >word doesn't > > > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > > > > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles to > >a person's > > > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at > >his disposal > > > for spiritual enlightenment. > > > > > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to put > >it > > > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! > >Please Maa!" > > > > > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed > >but had not > > > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but had > >not yet > > > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he > >lost himself > > > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > > > > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come to > >me, if I > > > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can build > >that desire > > > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess will > >come to > > > me. Consciousness will come. > > > > > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to > >feeling. You > > > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long a > >teenage boy > > > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that > >example was just > > > a metaphor. > > > > > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two > >techniques of > > > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its > >just > > > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire goddess. > >Literally > > > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart and > >soul. > > > > > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with > >you!" > > > > > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never experienced > >before. I > > > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my body > >charging > > > with consciousness. > > > > > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a > >boon. "Please > > > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > > > > > Namaste, > > > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot of > >people > > > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas > >Adams, The > > > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > > > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > / > > > > > > > > > > > > <? > >subject=Un> > > > > > > Terms of Service > > > <> . > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >--- > >Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. > >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > >Version: 6.0.583 / Virus Database: 369 - Release 2/10/2004 > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.583 / Virus Database: 369 - Release 2/10/2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2004 Report Share Posted February 13, 2004 Steve, I have heard Maa speak on several occasions about the importance of faith. Have you ever heard her sing the song "Please Take My Hand Lord" ? It is an incredibly beautiful experience to hear her sing this song because she sings it from the depth of her divine heart. Here's how it goes. "Please take my hand my Lord and show me the way. I don't know this path very well. (repeat) I fully rely on you, I trust you with all my heart. Beyond you I know of no one else. Today you are the King of my heart. Today I can see Your Beauty. Undeniably it is true without the slightest doubt, NOTHING can break this bond of faith." She sings this song to Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, her guru and her Beloved Lord. To me the song is a prayer of great depth because it speaks of how deeply Maa relies on Divinity and trusts God with all her heart. It is the bond of faith with Ramakrishna that has kept her going her entire life through many trials and tribulations. It is her faith in Divinity, whether one sees that Divinity as Lord Shiva or Kali or Chandi or Ramakrishna, that lights her path and the lives of all who come in contact with her. Jai Shree Maa !! Jai Sri Ramakrishna Ki Jai !! "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:55:49 -0000 Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to write to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd to 4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it (haha.) and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how silly. am i not an adult person? ha! over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she ignites it in this very different way. she bridges the little details like cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way like zen either. i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would be too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... different now that i am experiencing it for myself. well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these ups and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has shown all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and there is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. in the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only an emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my ways. always learning, unlearning, etc. steve c. , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> wrote: > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that I have a > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told this, it hurt > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very sattwic. But I > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has propelled me into > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with Divinity and > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I just call > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep on crying, I > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I don't want > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am now at a point > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands and feet; > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't know where > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she points my eyes > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. This morning > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am sure to thank > Her. > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like this: "I walk > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the Voice I > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He walks with me > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the joy I bear as I > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri Ramakrishna > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother Kali. This > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their ishta devata. > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and forth > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and total absorption > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri Ramakrishna is > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda > Saraswati. > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada Devi!!! > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > The dual nature of desire. > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a word doesn't > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles to a person's > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at his disposal > for spiritual enlightenment. > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to put it > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! Please Maa!" > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed but had not > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but had not yet > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he lost himself > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come to me, if I > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can build that desire > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess will come to > me. Consciousness will come. > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to feeling. You > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long a teenage boy > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that example was just > a metaphor. > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two techniques of > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its just > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire goddess. Literally > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart and soul. > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with you!" > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never experienced before. I > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my body charging > with consciousness. > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a boon. "Please > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > Namaste, > > Brian > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas Adams, The > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > Links > > / > > > > <? subject=Un> > > Terms of Service > <> . / <?subject=Un> Terms of Service <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2004 Report Share Posted February 13, 2004 those word, "i don't know this path very well" are so touching. yes faith! that's what the little plant has. mind is like some kinda instrument isn't it? and an instrument can be powerful, or it can even break. that faith, maybe it is like, you reach to the beyond, maybe a hand will help you, maybe not, but you reach. there, you are strengthening your faith in the act of it. it has nothing to do with, will i or won't i, can i or can't i ... it is more like I MUST. of course it is that joyous resonance with the divine mother that is so compelling! without that i am a little snail sliming up a great tree. still, i must climb. it is joyous to make this journey, it is what a snail must do. peace to you oh ardis. yes, i truly know nothing, on this bhakti journey to jnana. it is liberating for me, to hear the guru so humble. steve c. , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> wrote: > Steve, > I have heard Maa speak on several occasions about the importance of faith. > > Have you ever heard her sing the song "Please Take My Hand Lord" ? It is an > incredibly beautiful experience to hear her sing this song because she sings > it from the depth of her divine heart. Here's how it goes. "Please take > my hand my Lord and show me the way. I don't know this path very well. > (repeat) I fully rely on you, I trust you with all my heart. Beyond you I > know of no one else. Today you are the King of my heart. Today I can see > Your Beauty. Undeniably it is true without the slightest doubt, NOTHING can > break this bond of faith." > > She sings this song to Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, her guru and her Beloved > Lord. > > To me the song is a prayer of great depth because it speaks of how deeply > Maa relies on Divinity and trusts God with all her heart. It is the bond of > faith with Ramakrishna that has kept her going her entire life through many > trials and tribulations. It is her faith in Divinity, whether one sees that > Divinity as Lord Shiva or Kali or Chandi or Ramakrishna, that lights her > path and the lives of all who come in contact with her. > > Jai Shree Maa !! Jai Sri Ramakrishna Ki Jai !! > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:55:49 -0000 > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis > > > ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was > over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought > sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little > differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. > > i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to write > to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd to > 4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it (haha.) > > and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. > again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how > silly. am i not an adult person? ha! > > over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she ignites > it in this very different way. she bridges the little details like > cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way like > zen either. > > i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would be > too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing > always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... different > now that i am experiencing it for myself. > > well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these ups > and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has shown > all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and there > is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. > > i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. in > the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of > death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only an > emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my ways. > > always learning, unlearning, etc. > > steve c. > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > wrote: > > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that I > have a > > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told > this, it hurt > > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very > sattwic. But I > > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has propelled > me into > > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with > Divinity and > > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I > just call > > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep on > crying, I > > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I > don't want > > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am now > at a point > > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands > and feet; > > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't know > where > > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she points > my eyes > > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. > This morning > > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am sure > to thank > > Her. > > > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like > this: "I walk > > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the > Voice I > > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He > walks with me > > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the joy I > bear as I > > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri > Ramakrishna > > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother > Kali. This > > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their ishta > devata. > > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and > forth > > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and total > absorption > > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri > Ramakrishna is > > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami > Satyananda > > Saraswati. > > > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada > Devi!!! > > > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > > > The dual nature of desire. > > > > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a > word doesn't > > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles to > a person's > > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at > his disposal > > for spiritual enlightenment. > > > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to put > it > > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! > Please Maa!" > > > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed > but had not > > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but had > not yet > > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he > lost himself > > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come to > me, if I > > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can build > that desire > > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess will > come to > > me. Consciousness will come. > > > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to > feeling. You > > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long a > teenage boy > > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that > example was just > > a metaphor. > > > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two > techniques of > > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its > just > > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire goddess. > Literally > > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart and > soul. > > > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with > you!" > > > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never experienced > before. I > > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my body > charging > > with consciousness. > > > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a > boon. "Please > > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > > > Namaste, > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot of > people > > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas > Adams, The > > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > > > > > Links > > > > / > > > > > > > > <? > subject=Un> > > > > Terms of Service > > <> . Links > > / > > > > <? subject=Un> > > Terms of Service > <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 and humble She is.... Truly amazing. I remember my shock when I saw Her serving dinner to 40-50 people at the Saturday night satsang in the Martinez temple... sitting on the floor with them. Then I found out later that She had prepared all the food Herself! I fell in love with Her and Swamiji and the whole Devi Mandir Family. So much love and simplicity. Gurus who truly teach by their example. They taught me the joy of worship and the importance of a regular rhythm of sadhana. And their humility does wonders for poking holes in egoism and pomposity and self-righteousness. When they ask us to join in the joy of worship, they mean JOY. Nothing stuffy or dull. They invite us into the holy love affair with God and they show us how to spread the table and make our altars inviting to God. I'd say Hallelujah ! but I guess in this context I need to phrase it Jai Maa !! "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 03:45:14 -0000 Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis those word, "i don't know this path very well" are so touching. yes faith! that's what the little plant has. mind is like some kinda instrument isn't it? and an instrument can be powerful, or it can even break. that faith, maybe it is like, you reach to the beyond, maybe a hand will help you, maybe not, but you reach. there, you are strengthening your faith in the act of it. it has nothing to do with, will i or won't i, can i or can't i ... it is more like I MUST. of course it is that joyous resonance with the divine mother that is so compelling! without that i am a little snail sliming up a great tree. still, i must climb. it is joyous to make this journey, it is what a snail must do. peace to you oh ardis. yes, i truly know nothing, on this bhakti journey to jnana. it is liberating for me, to hear the guru so humble. steve c. , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> wrote: > Steve, > I have heard Maa speak on several occasions about the importance of faith. > > Have you ever heard her sing the song "Please Take My Hand Lord" ? It is an > incredibly beautiful experience to hear her sing this song because she sings > it from the depth of her divine heart. Here's how it goes. "Please take > my hand my Lord and show me the way. I don't know this path very well. > (repeat) I fully rely on you, I trust you with all my heart. Beyond you I > know of no one else. Today you are the King of my heart. Today I can see > Your Beauty. Undeniably it is true without the slightest doubt, NOTHING can > break this bond of faith." > > She sings this song to Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, her guru and her Beloved > Lord. > > To me the song is a prayer of great depth because it speaks of how deeply > Maa relies on Divinity and trusts God with all her heart. It is the bond of > faith with Ramakrishna that has kept her going her entire life through many > trials and tribulations. It is her faith in Divinity, whether one sees that > Divinity as Lord Shiva or Kali or Chandi or Ramakrishna, that lights her > path and the lives of all who come in contact with her. > > Jai Shree Maa !! Jai Sri Ramakrishna Ki Jai !! > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:55:49 -0000 > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis > > > ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was > over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought > sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little > differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. > > i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to write > to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd to > 4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it (haha.) > > and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. > again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how > silly. am i not an adult person? ha! > > over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she ignites > it in this very different way. she bridges the little details like > cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way like > zen either. > > i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would be > too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing > always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... different > now that i am experiencing it for myself. > > well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these ups > and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has shown > all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and there > is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. > > i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. in > the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of > death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only an > emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my ways. > > always learning, unlearning, etc. > > steve c. > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > wrote: > > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that I > have a > > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told > this, it hurt > > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very > sattwic. But I > > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has propelled > me into > > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with > Divinity and > > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I > just call > > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep on > crying, I > > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I > don't want > > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am now > at a point > > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands > and feet; > > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't know > where > > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she points > my eyes > > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. > This morning > > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am sure > to thank > > Her. > > > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like > this: "I walk > > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the > Voice I > > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He > walks with me > > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the joy I > bear as I > > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri > Ramakrishna > > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother > Kali. This > > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their ishta > devata. > > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and > forth > > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and total > absorption > > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri > Ramakrishna is > > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami > Satyananda > > Saraswati. > > > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada > Devi!!! > > > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > > > The dual nature of desire. > > > > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a > word doesn't > > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles to > a person's > > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at > his disposal > > for spiritual enlightenment. > > > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to put > it > > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! > Please Maa!" > > > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed > but had not > > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but had > not yet > > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he > lost himself > > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come to > me, if I > > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can build > that desire > > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess will > come to > > me. Consciousness will come. > > > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to > feeling. You > > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long a > teenage boy > > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that > example was just > > a metaphor. > > > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two > techniques of > > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its > just > > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire goddess. > Literally > > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart and > soul. > > > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with > you!" > > > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never experienced > before. I > > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my body > charging > > with consciousness. > > > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a > boon. "Please > > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > > > Namaste, > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot of > people > > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas > Adams, The > > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > > > > > Links > > > > / > > > > > > > > <? > subject=Un> > > > > Terms of Service > > <> . > > > > > > > Links > > / > > > > <? subject=Un> > > Terms of Service > <> . / <?subject=Un> Terms of Service <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 ardis i am glad you posted back. i don't want to be a pest but this is all of great interest. this example thing, basic human humility, in the GREATER CONTEXT OF REALIZATION AND AUTHENTIC PRACTICE ... this is a definite "wow!" working hard at god and doing spiritual life authentically, with some foundation, that is impressive. add to it some real heart and living sense of the divine sacred and you have something better than all the world's riches. steve , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> wrote: > and humble She is.... Truly amazing. I remember my shock when I saw Her > serving dinner to 40-50 people at the Saturday night satsang in the Martinez > temple... sitting on the floor with them. Then I found out later that She > had prepared all the food Herself! I fell in love with Her and Swamiji and > the whole Devi Mandir Family. So much love and simplicity. Gurus who truly > teach by their example. They taught me the joy of worship and the > importance of a regular rhythm of sadhana. And their humility does wonders > for poking holes in egoism and pomposity and self-righteousness. When they > ask us to join in the joy of worship, they mean JOY. Nothing stuffy or > dull. They invite us into the holy love affair with God and they show us > how to spread the table and make our altars inviting to God. I'd say > Hallelujah ! but I guess in this context I need to phrase it Jai Maa !! > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 03:45:14 -0000 > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis > > > those word, "i don't know this path very well" are so touching. > > yes faith! that's what the little plant has. > > mind is like some kinda instrument isn't it? and an instrument can > be powerful, or it can even break. > > that faith, maybe it is like, you reach to the beyond, maybe a hand > will help you, maybe not, but you reach. there, you are > strengthening your faith in the act of it. it has nothing to do > with, will i or won't i, can i or can't i ... it is more like I MUST. > > of course it is that joyous resonance with the divine mother that is > so compelling! > > without that i am a little snail sliming up a great tree. still, i > must climb. it is joyous to make this journey, it is what a snail > must do. > > peace to you oh ardis. yes, i truly know nothing, on this > bhakti journey to jnana. it is liberating for me, to hear the guru > so humble. > > steve c. > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > wrote: > > Steve, > > I have heard Maa speak on several occasions about the importance > of faith. > > > > Have you ever heard her sing the song "Please Take My Hand > Lord" ? It is an > > incredibly beautiful experience to hear her sing this song because > she sings > > it from the depth of her divine heart. Here's how it > goes. "Please take > > my hand my Lord and show me the way. I don't know this path very > well. > > (repeat) I fully rely on you, I trust you with all my heart. > Beyond you I > > know of no one else. Today you are the King of my heart. Today I > can see > > Your Beauty. Undeniably it is true without the slightest doubt, > NOTHING can > > break this bond of faith." > > > > She sings this song to Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, her guru and her > Beloved > > Lord. > > > > To me the song is a prayer of great depth because it speaks of how > deeply > > Maa relies on Divinity and trusts God with all her heart. It is > the bond of > > faith with Ramakrishna that has kept her going her entire life > through many > > trials and tribulations. It is her faith in Divinity, whether one > sees that > > Divinity as Lord Shiva or Kali or Chandi or Ramakrishna, that > lights her > > path and the lives of all who come in contact with her. > > > > Jai Shree Maa !! Jai Sri Ramakrishna Ki Jai !! > > > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:55:49 -0000 > > > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho > ardis > > > > > > ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was > > over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought > > sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little > > differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. > > > > i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to write > > to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd to > > 4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it > (haha.) > > > > and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. > > again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how > > silly. am i not an adult person? ha! > > > > over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she ignites > > it in this very different way. she bridges the little details like > > cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way like > > zen either. > > > > i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would > be > > too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing > > always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... different > > now that i am experiencing it for myself. > > > > well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these ups > > and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has > shown > > all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and there > > is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. > > > > i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. > in > > the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of > > death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only an > > emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my ways. > > > > always learning, unlearning, etc. > > > > steve c. > > > > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > > wrote: > > > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > > > > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that I > > have a > > > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told > > this, it hurt > > > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very > > sattwic. But I > > > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has > propelled > > me into > > > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with > > Divinity and > > > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > > > > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I > > just call > > > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep > on > > crying, I > > > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I > > don't want > > > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am now > > at a point > > > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands > > and feet; > > > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't > know > > where > > > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she > points > > my eyes > > > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. > > This morning > > > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am sure > > to thank > > > Her. > > > > > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like > > this: "I walk > > > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And > the > > Voice I > > > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He > > walks with me > > > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the joy I > > bear as I > > > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri > > Ramakrishna > > > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother > > Kali. This > > > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their > ishta > > devata. > > > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and > > forth > > > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and total > > absorption > > > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri > > Ramakrishna is > > > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami > > Satyananda > > > Saraswati. > > > > > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada > > Devi!!! > > > > > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > > > > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > > > > > The dual nature of desire. > > > > > > > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a > > word doesn't > > > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > > > > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles to > > a person's > > > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at > > his disposal > > > for spiritual enlightenment. > > > > > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to put > > it > > > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! > > Please Maa!" > > > > > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed > > but had not > > > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but had > > not yet > > > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he > > lost himself > > > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > > > > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come to > > me, if I > > > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can build > > that desire > > > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess will > > come to > > > me. Consciousness will come. > > > > > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to > > feeling. You > > > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long a > > teenage boy > > > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that > > example was just > > > a metaphor. > > > > > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two > > techniques of > > > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its > > just > > > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire goddess. > > Literally > > > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart > and > > soul. > > > > > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with > > you!" > > > > > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never > experienced > > before. I > > > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my > body > > charging > > > with consciousness. > > > > > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a > > boon. "Please > > > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > > > > > Namaste, > > > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot > of > > people > > > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas > > Adams, The > > > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > > > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > / > > > > > > > > > > > > <? > > subject=Un> > > > > > > Terms of > Service > > > <> . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > / > > > > > > > > <? > subject=Un> > > > > Terms of Service > > <> . Links > > / > > > > <? subject=Un> > > Terms of Service > <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 when you say "it is joyous to make this journey" that is such a wondrous discovery and realization. Too many people see life as a big pain. I remember when I was a young woman and practicing Zazen for a couple of years, I suddenly realized one day that I had gone beyond pain. No physical pain. No mental pain or distraction. No emotional pain. Just absorption and peace. It was quite amazing. Then life became a joyous adventure for me. Shree Maa told me one day "you will come to a crossroads where you have to choose joy or peace. Always choose peace." At the time I did not really understand what she was telling me. Now I know. Peace is the ultimate state of being while still in separation. It is the platform you sit on to prepare for Divine Union. Joy would be a distraction. It is also easy to become attached to bliss. Peace is more steady. When you see Maa or Swamiji in samadhi, total absorption, they are sitting on the asan of peace, wrapped in a shawl of peace and released from all concerns. They exude peace in all of the ten directions. Jai Maa !! "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 03:45:14 -0000 Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis those word, "i don't know this path very well" are so touching. yes faith! that's what the little plant has. mind is like some kinda instrument isn't it? and an instrument can be powerful, or it can even break. that faith, maybe it is like, you reach to the beyond, maybe a hand will help you, maybe not, but you reach. there, you are strengthening your faith in the act of it. it has nothing to do with, will i or won't i, can i or can't i ... it is more like I MUST. of course it is that joyous resonance with the divine mother that is so compelling! without that i am a little snail sliming up a great tree. still, i must climb. it is joyous to make this journey, it is what a snail must do. peace to you oh ardis. yes, i truly know nothing, on this bhakti journey to jnana. it is liberating for me, to hear the guru so humble. steve c. , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> wrote: > Steve, > I have heard Maa speak on several occasions about the importance of faith. > > Have you ever heard her sing the song "Please Take My Hand Lord" ? It is an > incredibly beautiful experience to hear her sing this song because she sings > it from the depth of her divine heart. Here's how it goes. "Please take > my hand my Lord and show me the way. I don't know this path very well. > (repeat) I fully rely on you, I trust you with all my heart. Beyond you I > know of no one else. Today you are the King of my heart. Today I can see > Your Beauty. Undeniably it is true without the slightest doubt, NOTHING can > break this bond of faith." > > She sings this song to Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, her guru and her Beloved > Lord. > > To me the song is a prayer of great depth because it speaks of how deeply > Maa relies on Divinity and trusts God with all her heart. It is the bond of > faith with Ramakrishna that has kept her going her entire life through many > trials and tribulations. It is her faith in Divinity, whether one sees that > Divinity as Lord Shiva or Kali or Chandi or Ramakrishna, that lights her > path and the lives of all who come in contact with her. > > Jai Shree Maa !! Jai Sri Ramakrishna Ki Jai !! > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:55:49 -0000 > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis > > > ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was > over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought > sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little > differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. > > i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to write > to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd to > 4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it (haha.) > > and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. > again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how > silly. am i not an adult person? ha! > > over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she ignites > it in this very different way. she bridges the little details like > cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way like > zen either. > > i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would be > too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing > always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... different > now that i am experiencing it for myself. > > well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these ups > and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has shown > all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and there > is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. > > i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. in > the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of > death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only an > emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my ways. > > always learning, unlearning, etc. > > steve c. > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > wrote: > > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that I > have a > > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told > this, it hurt > > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very > sattwic. But I > > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has propelled > me into > > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with > Divinity and > > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I > just call > > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep on > crying, I > > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I > don't want > > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am now > at a point > > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands > and feet; > > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't know > where > > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she points > my eyes > > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. > This morning > > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am sure > to thank > > Her. > > > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like > this: "I walk > > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the > Voice I > > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He > walks with me > > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the joy I > bear as I > > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri > Ramakrishna > > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother > Kali. This > > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their ishta > devata. > > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and > forth > > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and total > absorption > > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri > Ramakrishna is > > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami > Satyananda > > Saraswati. > > > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada > Devi!!! > > > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > > > The dual nature of desire. > > > > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a > word doesn't > > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles to > a person's > > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at > his disposal > > for spiritual enlightenment. > > > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to put > it > > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! > Please Maa!" > > > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed > but had not > > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but had > not yet > > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he > lost himself > > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come to > me, if I > > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can build > that desire > > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess will > come to > > me. Consciousness will come. > > > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to > feeling. You > > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long a > teenage boy > > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that > example was just > > a metaphor. > > > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two > techniques of > > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its > just > > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire goddess. > Literally > > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart and > soul. > > > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with > you!" > > > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never experienced > before. I > > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my body > charging > > with consciousness. > > > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a > boon. "Please > > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > > > Namaste, > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot of > people > > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas > Adams, The > > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > > > > > Links > > > > / > > > > > > > > <? > subject=Un> > > > > Terms of Service > > <> . > > > > > > > Links > > / > > > > <? subject=Un> > > Terms of Service > <> . / <?subject=Un> Terms of Service <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 There is no question that I feel very deeply that I have something better than all the world's riches. I knew it the moment I sat down in front of MahaLakshmi in their temple and the feeling just grew and grew over the years. Sometimes I feel totally overwhelmed at the grace I have received from them. I am so blessed. "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 05:27:07 -0000 Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis ardis i am glad you posted back. i don't want to be a pest but this is all of great interest. this example thing, basic human humility, in the GREATER CONTEXT OF REALIZATION AND AUTHENTIC PRACTICE ... this is a definite "wow!" working hard at god and doing spiritual life authentically, with some foundation, that is impressive. add to it some real heart and living sense of the divine sacred and you have something better than all the world's riches. steve , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> wrote: > and humble She is.... Truly amazing. I remember my shock when I saw Her > serving dinner to 40-50 people at the Saturday night satsang in the Martinez > temple... sitting on the floor with them. Then I found out later that She > had prepared all the food Herself! I fell in love with Her and Swamiji and > the whole Devi Mandir Family. So much love and simplicity. Gurus who truly > teach by their example. They taught me the joy of worship and the > importance of a regular rhythm of sadhana. And their humility does wonders > for poking holes in egoism and pomposity and self-righteousness. When they > ask us to join in the joy of worship, they mean JOY. Nothing stuffy or > dull. They invite us into the holy love affair with God and they show us > how to spread the table and make our altars inviting to God. I'd say > Hallelujah ! but I guess in this context I need to phrase it Jai Maa !! > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 03:45:14 -0000 > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis > > > those word, "i don't know this path very well" are so touching. > > yes faith! that's what the little plant has. > > mind is like some kinda instrument isn't it? and an instrument can > be powerful, or it can even break. > > that faith, maybe it is like, you reach to the beyond, maybe a hand > will help you, maybe not, but you reach. there, you are > strengthening your faith in the act of it. it has nothing to do > with, will i or won't i, can i or can't i ... it is more like I MUST. > > of course it is that joyous resonance with the divine mother that is > so compelling! > > without that i am a little snail sliming up a great tree. still, i > must climb. it is joyous to make this journey, it is what a snail > must do. > > peace to you oh ardis. yes, i truly know nothing, on this > bhakti journey to jnana. it is liberating for me, to hear the guru > so humble. > > steve c. > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > wrote: > > Steve, > > I have heard Maa speak on several occasions about the importance > of faith. > > > > Have you ever heard her sing the song "Please Take My Hand > Lord" ? It is an > > incredibly beautiful experience to hear her sing this song because > she sings > > it from the depth of her divine heart. Here's how it > goes. "Please take > > my hand my Lord and show me the way. I don't know this path very > well. > > (repeat) I fully rely on you, I trust you with all my heart. > Beyond you I > > know of no one else. Today you are the King of my heart. Today I > can see > > Your Beauty. Undeniably it is true without the slightest doubt, > NOTHING can > > break this bond of faith." > > > > She sings this song to Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, her guru and her > Beloved > > Lord. > > > > To me the song is a prayer of great depth because it speaks of how > deeply > > Maa relies on Divinity and trusts God with all her heart. It is > the bond of > > faith with Ramakrishna that has kept her going her entire life > through many > > trials and tribulations. It is her faith in Divinity, whether one > sees that > > Divinity as Lord Shiva or Kali or Chandi or Ramakrishna, that > lights her > > path and the lives of all who come in contact with her. > > > > Jai Shree Maa !! Jai Sri Ramakrishna Ki Jai !! > > > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:55:49 -0000 > > > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho > ardis > > > > > > ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was > > over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought > > sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little > > differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. > > > > i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to write > > to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd to > > 4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it > (haha.) > > > > and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. > > again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how > > silly. am i not an adult person? ha! > > > > over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she ignites > > it in this very different way. she bridges the little details like > > cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way like > > zen either. > > > > i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would > be > > too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing > > always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... different > > now that i am experiencing it for myself. > > > > well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these ups > > and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has > shown > > all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and there > > is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. > > > > i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. > in > > the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of > > death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only an > > emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my ways. > > > > always learning, unlearning, etc. > > > > steve c. > > > > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > > wrote: > > > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > > > > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that I > > have a > > > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told > > this, it hurt > > > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very > > sattwic. But I > > > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has > propelled > > me into > > > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with > > Divinity and > > > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > > > > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I > > just call > > > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep > on > > crying, I > > > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I > > don't want > > > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am now > > at a point > > > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands > > and feet; > > > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't > know > > where > > > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she > points > > my eyes > > > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. > > This morning > > > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am sure > > to thank > > > Her. > > > > > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like > > this: "I walk > > > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And > the > > Voice I > > > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He > > walks with me > > > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the joy I > > bear as I > > > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri > > Ramakrishna > > > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother > > Kali. This > > > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their > ishta > > devata. > > > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and > > forth > > > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and total > > absorption > > > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri > > Ramakrishna is > > > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami > > Satyananda > > > Saraswati. > > > > > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada > > Devi!!! > > > > > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > > > > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > > > > > The dual nature of desire. > > > > > > > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a > > word doesn't > > > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > > > > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles to > > a person's > > > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at > > his disposal > > > for spiritual enlightenment. > > > > > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to put > > it > > > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! > > Please Maa!" > > > > > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed > > but had not > > > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but had > > not yet > > > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he > > lost himself > > > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > > > > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come to > > me, if I > > > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can build > > that desire > > > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess will > > come to > > > me. Consciousness will come. > > > > > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to > > feeling. You > > > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long a > > teenage boy > > > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that > > example was just > > > a metaphor. > > > > > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two > > techniques of > > > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its > > just > > > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire goddess. > > Literally > > > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart > and > > soul. > > > > > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with > > you!" > > > > > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never > experienced > > before. I > > > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my > body > > charging > > > with consciousness. > > > > > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a > > boon. "Please > > > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > > > > > Namaste, > > > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot > of > > people > > > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas > > Adams, The > > > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > > > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > / > > > > > > > > > > > > <? > > subject=Un> > > > > > > Terms of > Service > > > <> . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > / > > > > > > > > <? > subject=Un> > > > > Terms of Service > > <> . > > > > > > > Links > > / > > > > <? subject=Un> > > Terms of Service > <> . Sponsor Click Here <http://rd./SIG=12coltmol/M=274551.4550177.5718621.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705075991:HM/EXP=1076823058/A=1994230/R=2/*http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N3349.1/B1282054.22;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=300x250;code=18634;dcopt=rcl;ord=1076736658097927?> / <?subject=Un> Terms of Service <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 yes it is. there is nothing so wonderful as this. each step of the way. and just to see the face of a person, even our own face, such a light of life is there ... imagine, individual beingness, such a paradoxical wonder we are. that is wonderful to hear about you going past pain. it is funny, about a year ago i was dwelling on pain quite a bit. i was experiencing a lot of it. i can say now in contemplation there is no pain only this passage but i cannot say i am beyond anything. oh i see what you mean, you are saying maa meant peace is a greater state than happiness with the bubbles and all? because the mind is opening to a greater identity, perhaps, and spiritual insight is emerging. yes. the joy i was referring to is a movement into that peace, yes you could say that. that shining in ten directions ... i would like to have such a darshan. when the being is no longer seeking the center "off-center" then the light can shine as it is. but such an unusual thing to behold. you are indeed fortunate ardis. well ... this fellow is off to bed ... a saturday work day tomorrow ... peace to you and thank you for sharing some of your story, i feel fortunate to be able to hear it. steve c. , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> wrote: > when you say "it is joyous to make this journey" that is such a wondrous > discovery and realization. Too many people see life as a big pain. I > remember when I was a young woman and practicing Zazen for a couple of > years, I suddenly realized one day that I had gone beyond pain. No physical > pain. No mental pain or distraction. No emotional pain. Just absorption > and peace. It was quite amazing. Then life became a joyous adventure for > me. > > Shree Maa told me one day "you will come to a crossroads where you have to > choose joy or peace. Always choose peace." At the time I did not really > understand what she was telling me. Now I know. Peace is the ultimate state > of being while still in separation. It is the platform you sit on to > prepare for Divine Union. Joy would be a distraction. It is also easy to > become attached to bliss. Peace is more steady. When you see Maa or > Swamiji in samadhi, total absorption, they are sitting on the asan of peace, > wrapped in a shawl of peace and released from all concerns. They exude peace > in all of the ten directions. Jai Maa !! > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 03:45:14 -0000 > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis > > > those word, "i don't know this path very well" are so touching. > > yes faith! that's what the little plant has. > > mind is like some kinda instrument isn't it? and an instrument can > be powerful, or it can even break. > > that faith, maybe it is like, you reach to the beyond, maybe a hand > will help you, maybe not, but you reach. there, you are > strengthening your faith in the act of it. it has nothing to do > with, will i or won't i, can i or can't i ... it is more like I MUST. > > of course it is that joyous resonance with the divine mother that is > so compelling! > > without that i am a little snail sliming up a great tree. still, i > must climb. it is joyous to make this journey, it is what a snail > must do. > > peace to you oh ardis. yes, i truly know nothing, on this > bhakti journey to jnana. it is liberating for me, to hear the guru > so humble. > > steve c. > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > wrote: > > Steve, > > I have heard Maa speak on several occasions about the importance > of faith. > > > > Have you ever heard her sing the song "Please Take My Hand > Lord" ? It is an > > incredibly beautiful experience to hear her sing this song because > she sings > > it from the depth of her divine heart. Here's how it > goes. "Please take > > my hand my Lord and show me the way. I don't know this path very > well. > > (repeat) I fully rely on you, I trust you with all my heart. > Beyond you I > > know of no one else. Today you are the King of my heart. Today I > can see > > Your Beauty. Undeniably it is true without the slightest doubt, > NOTHING can > > break this bond of faith." > > > > She sings this song to Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, her guru and her > Beloved > > Lord. > > > > To me the song is a prayer of great depth because it speaks of how > deeply > > Maa relies on Divinity and trusts God with all her heart. It is > the bond of > > faith with Ramakrishna that has kept her going her entire life > through many > > trials and tribulations. It is her faith in Divinity, whether one > sees that > > Divinity as Lord Shiva or Kali or Chandi or Ramakrishna, that > lights her > > path and the lives of all who come in contact with her. > > > > Jai Shree Maa !! Jai Sri Ramakrishna Ki Jai !! > > > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:55:49 -0000 > > > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho > ardis > > > > > > ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was > > over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought > > sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little > > differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. > > > > i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to write > > to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd to > > 4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it > (haha.) > > > > and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. > > again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how > > silly. am i not an adult person? ha! > > > > over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she ignites > > it in this very different way. she bridges the little details like > > cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way like > > zen either. > > > > i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would > be > > too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing > > always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... different > > now that i am experiencing it for myself. > > > > well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these ups > > and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has > shown > > all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and there > > is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. > > > > i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. > in > > the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of > > death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only an > > emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my ways. > > > > always learning, unlearning, etc. > > > > steve c. > > > > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > > wrote: > > > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > > > > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that I > > have a > > > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told > > this, it hurt > > > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very > > sattwic. But I > > > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has > propelled > > me into > > > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with > > Divinity and > > > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > > > > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I > > just call > > > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep > on > > crying, I > > > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I > > don't want > > > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am now > > at a point > > > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands > > and feet; > > > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't > know > > where > > > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she > points > > my eyes > > > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. > > This morning > > > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am sure > > to thank > > > Her. > > > > > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like > > this: "I walk > > > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And > the > > Voice I > > > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He > > walks with me > > > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the joy I > > bear as I > > > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri > > Ramakrishna > > > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother > > Kali. This > > > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their > ishta > > devata. > > > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and > > forth > > > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and total > > absorption > > > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri > > Ramakrishna is > > > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami > > Satyananda > > > Saraswati. > > > > > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada > > Devi!!! > > > > > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > > > > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > > > > > The dual nature of desire. > > > > > > > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a > > word doesn't > > > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > > > > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles to > > a person's > > > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at > > his disposal > > > for spiritual enlightenment. > > > > > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to put > > it > > > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! > > Please Maa!" > > > > > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed > > but had not > > > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but had > > not yet > > > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he > > lost himself > > > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > > > > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come to > > me, if I > > > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can build > > that desire > > > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess will > > come to > > > me. Consciousness will come. > > > > > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to > > feeling. You > > > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long a > > teenage boy > > > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that > > example was just > > > a metaphor. > > > > > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two > > techniques of > > > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its > > just > > > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire goddess. > > Literally > > > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart > and > > soul. > > > > > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with > > you!" > > > > > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never > experienced > > before. I > > > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my > body > > charging > > > with consciousness. > > > > > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a > > boon. "Please > > > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > > > > > Namaste, > > > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot > of > > people > > > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas > > Adams, The > > > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > > > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > / > > > > > > > > > > > > <? > > subject=Un> > > > > > > Terms of > Service > > > <> . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > / > > > > > > > > <? > subject=Un> > > > > Terms of Service > > <> . Links > > / > > > > <? subject=Un> > > Terms of Service > <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2004 Report Share Posted February 14, 2004 you are blesssed. i pray i am so fortunate as to be able to make intelligent use of their offering. off to bed ... steve c. , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> wrote: > There is no question that I feel very deeply that I have something better > than all the world's riches. I knew it the moment I sat down in front of > MahaLakshmi in their temple and the feeling just grew and grew over the > years. Sometimes I feel totally overwhelmed at the grace I have received > from them. I am so blessed. > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 05:27:07 -0000 > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho ardis > > > ardis i am glad you posted back. i don't want to be a pest but this > is all of great interest. > > this example thing, basic human humility, in the GREATER CONTEXT OF > REALIZATION AND AUTHENTIC PRACTICE ... this is a definite "wow!" > > working hard at god and doing spiritual life authentically, with > some foundation, that is impressive. add to it some real heart and > living sense of the divine sacred and you have something better than > all the world's riches. > > steve > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > wrote: > > and humble She is.... Truly amazing. I remember my shock when I > saw Her > > serving dinner to 40-50 people at the Saturday night satsang in > the Martinez > > temple... sitting on the floor with them. Then I found out later > that She > > had prepared all the food Herself! I fell in love with Her and > Swamiji and > > the whole Devi Mandir Family. So much love and simplicity. Gurus > who truly > > teach by their example. They taught me the joy of worship and the > > importance of a regular rhythm of sadhana. And their humility > does wonders > > for poking holes in egoism and pomposity and self-righteousness. > When they > > ask us to join in the joy of worship, they mean JOY. Nothing > stuffy or > > dull. They invite us into the holy love affair with God and they > show us > > how to spread the table and make our altars inviting to God. I'd > say > > Hallelujah ! but I guess in this context I need to phrase it Jai > Maa !! > > > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 03:45:14 -0000 > > > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho > ardis > > > > > > those word, "i don't know this path very well" are so touching. > > > > yes faith! that's what the little plant has. > > > > mind is like some kinda instrument isn't it? and an instrument can > > be powerful, or it can even break. > > > > that faith, maybe it is like, you reach to the beyond, maybe a hand > > will help you, maybe not, but you reach. there, you are > > strengthening your faith in the act of it. it has nothing to do > > with, will i or won't i, can i or can't i ... it is more like I > MUST. > > > > of course it is that joyous resonance with the divine mother that > is > > so compelling! > > > > without that i am a little snail sliming up a great tree. still, i > > must climb. it is joyous to make this journey, it is what a snail > > must do. > > > > peace to you oh ardis. yes, i truly know nothing, on this > > bhakti journey to jnana. it is liberating for me, to hear the guru > > so humble. > > > > steve c. > > > > > > , Ardis Jackson <anandamama@e...> > > wrote: > > > Steve, > > > I have heard Maa speak on several occasions about the importance > > of faith. > > > > > > Have you ever heard her sing the song "Please Take My Hand > > Lord" ? It is an > > > incredibly beautiful experience to hear her sing this song > because > > she sings > > > it from the depth of her divine heart. Here's how it > > goes. "Please take > > > my hand my Lord and show me the way. I don't know this path very > > well. > > > (repeat) I fully rely on you, I trust you with all my heart. > > Beyond you I > > > know of no one else. Today you are the King of my heart. Today > I > > can see > > > Your Beauty. Undeniably it is true without the slightest doubt, > > NOTHING can > > > break this bond of faith." > > > > > > She sings this song to Thakur Sri Ramakrishna, her guru and her > > Beloved > > > Lord. > > > > > > To me the song is a prayer of great depth because it speaks of > how > > deeply > > > Maa relies on Divinity and trusts God with all her heart. It is > > the bond of > > > faith with Ramakrishna that has kept her going her entire life > > through many > > > trials and tribulations. It is her faith in Divinity, whether > one > > sees that > > > Divinity as Lord Shiva or Kali or Chandi or Ramakrishna, that > > lights her > > > path and the lives of all who come in contact with her. > > > > > > Jai Shree Maa !! Jai Sri Ramakrishna Ki Jai !! > > > > > > "bingo_ridley" <bingo_ridley> > > > > > > Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:55:49 -0000 > > > > > > Re: The dual nature of desire. ... hey ho > > ardis > > > > > > > > > ardis i read in one of the books maa or swami said no tattva was > > > over another. i was surprised at that interpretation, i thought > > > sattwa was always desired. but then i see the meaning a little > > > differently now, all the qualities are part of existence. > > > > > > i fell under the spell of this maa very recently. i wanted to > write > > > to her in long-hand like a little man would do maybe in the 2nd > to > > > 4th grade. how ridiculous, i thought i was finally losing it > > (haha.) > > > > > > and then i was fearful she would hurt me, if i trusted too much. > > > again, how crazy! i just want her to see me, or to see her. how > > > silly. am i not an adult person? ha! > > > > > > over time love kind of gets stuck or something and then she > ignites > > > it in this very different way. she bridges the little details > like > > > cutting carrots into god practice. not in some conceptual way > like > > > zen either. > > > > > > i was even afraid, maybe the devotion for the divine mother would > > be > > > too great, it would block my passage to god. this sort of thing > > > always seemed sort of silly ... even saccharine to me ... > different > > > now that i am experiencing it for myself. > > > > > > well i see that as part of the devotional life. there are these > ups > > > and downs. fortunately for me some long analysis of things has > > shown > > > all is relative. there are movements that are so massive, and > there > > > is the cosmic mandir of no relative size at all. > > > > > > i almost died in a car accident not that long ago, maybe 2 years. > > in > > > the emergency room i looked up at the lights and had no fear of > > > death, but there was also no "other" or love-center there. only > an > > > emptiness. i resolved to address that, and changed some of my > ways. > > > > > > always learning, unlearning, etc. > > > > > > steve c. > > > > > > > > > , Ardis Jackson > <anandamama@e...> > > > wrote: > > > > That is so very beautiful Brian. > > > > > > > > I am not much good at self analysis. but I have been told that > I > > > have a > > > > predominance of rajas over tamas and sattwa. When I was told > > > this, it hurt > > > > my feelings a little bit. I wanted to see myself as very > > > sattwic. But I > > > > have come to see that it is my rajasic tendency that has > > propelled > > > me into > > > > being a bhakta and given me the energy to fall in love with > > > Divinity and > > > > carry on my sadhana for the last 11 years. > > > > > > > > Sometimes I am put in the mood of a baby or a small child and I > > > just call > > > > Maa, Maa, Maa, Maa over and over again. And even though I keep > > on > > > crying, I > > > > am very aware of Her presence. I just keep on crying because I > > > don't want > > > > Her to leave or set me down (just like a spoiled baby). I am > now > > > at a point > > > > that I can feel Her working through me, using my eyes and hands > > > and feet; > > > > taking me places; giving me jobs to do. When I, Ardis, don't > > know > > > where > > > > something is (keys, glasses, papers) I just ask Her and she > > points > > > my eyes > > > > and hands in the right direction. She can see through things. > > > This morning > > > > She found my glasses under a thick sleeping bag. I always am > sure > > > to thank > > > > Her. > > > > > > > > My father's favorite hymn was "In the Garden". It goes like > > > this: "I walk > > > > in the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And > > the > > > Voice I > > > > hear, whispering in my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He > > > walks with me > > > > and He talks with me and He tells me I am His Own. And the > joy I > > > bear as I > > > > tarry there, few other have ever known." It reminds me of Sri > > > Ramakrishna > > > > walking in the gardens at Dakshineshwar with his Beloved Mother > > > Kali. This > > > > is the song of the bhakta walking in a daily walk with their > > ishta > > > devata. > > > > Ramakrishna blessed all of us with his ability to move back and > > > forth > > > > between the life of the bhakta and the life of complete and > total > > > absorption > > > > and Divine Union. Just as eternity is a single moment, Sri > > > Ramakrishna is > > > > very much with us in each moment. As are Shree Maa and Swami > > > Satyananda > > > > Saraswati. > > > > > > > > Jai Maa!!! Jai Swamiji!!! Jai Ramakrishna!!! Jai Sarada > > > Devi!!! > > > > > > > > "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> > > > > > > > > Fri, 13 Feb 2004 18:02:39 -0500 (EST) > > > > > > > > The dual nature of desire. > > > > > > > > > > > > I learned something a couple of days ago. Well, "learned" as a > > > word doesn't > > > > do it justice. I guess it was a realization. > > > > > > > > Desire, which is considered to be one of the biggest obstacles > to > > > a person's > > > > spritual progress, also happens to be the most powerful tool at > > > his disposal > > > > for spiritual enlightenment. > > > > > > > > RamakKrishna, when he was young, was felt to be a bit off (to > put > > > it > > > > nicely), because he ran around crying to Murti's, "Maa! Maa! > > > Please Maa!" > > > > > > > > I now understand why he did that. He knew consciousness existed > > > but had not > > > > yet experienced it. He had seen the goddess on the mount but > had > > > not yet > > > > become her husband. Ramakrishna desired mother so badly that he > > > lost himself > > > > to the desire and thus enabled her to enter into his body. > > > > > > > > What I learned is simply that if I desire the goddess to come > to > > > me, if I > > > > can build the desire to the fullness of my being, if I can > build > > > that desire > > > > even greater than my fears of self anihilation, then goddess > will > > > come to > > > > me. Consciousness will come. > > > > > > > > This is not a mental process, this is a process that relates to > > > feeling. You > > > > can feel her in your body as you literally lust after her long > a > > > teenage boy > > > > lusts after a runway model. This lust is not physical, that > > > example was just > > > > a metaphor. > > > > > > > > Yesterday, while waiting to see my doctor I practiced two > > > techniques of > > > > meditation. One was to feel my body and ignore my thoughts. Its > > > just > > > > allowing myself to feel my body. The second is to desire > goddess. > > > Literally > > > > call for her, want her, need her, desire her with all my heart > > and > > > soul. > > > > > > > > "Maa, Maa, Please Maa! Come into my heart and make me one with > > > you!" > > > > > > > > The result was an eyes open meditation like I've never > > experienced > > > before. I > > > > could feel her energy within me. I could feel the cells in my > > body > > > charging > > > > with consciousness. > > > > > > > > It is such a wonderful feeling that I've asked her for a > > > boon. "Please > > > > mother, let me desire you for the rest of eternity." > > > > > > > > Namaste, > > > > > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "In the begining, the universe was created. This has made a lot > > of > > > people > > > > very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." -- Douglas > > > Adams, The > > > > Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Radio Program. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. > > > > Introducing My Way - http://www.myway.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > > > / > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > <? > > > subject=Un> > > > > > > > > Terms of > > Service > > > > <> . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > / > > > > > > > > > > > > <? > > subject=Un> > > > > > > Terms of > Service > > > <> . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Links > > > > / > > > > > > > > <? > subject=Un> > > > > Terms of Service > > <> . > > > > Sponsor > Click Here > <http://rd./SIG=12coltmol/M=274551.4550177.5718621.1261774/D =egroup > web/S=1705075991:HM/EXP=1076823058/A=1994230/R=2/*http://ad.doublecli ck.net/ > jump/N3349.1/B1282054.22;abr=!ie4;abr=! ie5;sz=300x250;code=18634;dcopt= > rcl;ord=1076736658097927?> > > > > Links > > / > > > > <? subject=Un> > > Terms of Service > <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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