Guest guest Posted March 16, 2004 Report Share Posted March 16, 2004 Namaste Steve, This thread seems to be going on for a while now and it is a good question.What came to mind was the 8 limbs of yoga which can be found on page 16-18 in the Guru and the Goddess book. Briefly here are the 8 limbs as outlined by Swamiji: 1. yama-take control in life by defining your goals 2. niyama-create a discipline, budget your time, resources and mind. How much can we actually dedicate to achieve our goals? 3. asana- put the body in harmony 4. pranayama-take control of the breath 5. pratyahara-bring the senses inside, look within 6. dharana-concentration 7. dhyana- absorption in meditation 8. samadhi-completion, accomplishment, the perfection of union Swamiji emphasizes the importance of defining our goals and establishing a discipline that is in harmony with our goals and surrounding environment. We need to think about how much time we can actually spend in pursuit of our goals. When we have clearly defined our goals then we will have the criteria to discriminate which actions which take us closer and which actions will take us further away. How deeply can we meditate when our minds are thinking about some other work that has to be fulfilled or an obligation to be met? As the first Chapter of the Chandi emphasizes: Balance. Not Too Much and not Too Little. All good things in all good time.Quality not quantity at this point. Jai Kali Maa! Chandi Maa ki jai! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2004 Report Share Posted March 16, 2004 Parvati, This planning, does it go something like this: I have this karma to take care of that is old. It is hanging me up, and distracting me from deeper, longer meditation. So if I manage it (OK I am thinking about some old taxes) then I can proceed to a longer meditation period? And the goals ... is it enough to say "To See God?" Or should that be broken down to Sankalpas, etc. That one goal of 3 words I personally find very motivating. Is it possible to have too many spiritual goals? Or, is it a matter of sequential practical goals to support an ultimate goal: svahaa! Thank you for your help ... Steve , "parvati_saraswati108" <parvati_saraswati108> wrote: > Namaste Steve, > This thread seems to be going on for a while now and it is a good > question.What came to mind was the 8 limbs of yoga which can be found > on page 16-18 in the Guru and the Goddess book. > Briefly here are the 8 limbs as outlined by Swamiji: > 1. yama-take control in life by defining your goals > 2. niyama-create a discipline, budget your time, resources and mind. > How much can we actually dedicate to achieve our goals? > 3. asana- put the body in harmony > 4. pranayama-take control of the breath > 5. pratyahara-bring the senses inside, look within > 6. dharana-concentration > 7. dhyana- absorption in meditation > 8. samadhi-completion, accomplishment, the perfection of union > > Swamiji emphasizes the importance of defining our goals and > establishing a discipline that is in harmony with our goals and > surrounding environment. We need to think about how much time we can > actually spend in pursuit of our goals. When we have clearly defined > our goals then we will have the criteria to discriminate which > actions which take us closer and which actions will take us further > away. > How deeply can we meditate when our minds are thinking about > some other work that has to be fulfilled or an obligation to be met? > > As the first Chapter of the Chandi emphasizes: Balance. Not Too Much > and not Too Little. All good things in all good time.Quality not > quantity at this point. Jai Kali Maa! Chandi Maa ki jai! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2004 Report Share Posted March 16, 2004 Parvati, I just absorbed this last line of your post a little deeper, and will try to do this ... "As the first Chapter of the Chandi emphasizes: Balance. Not Too Much and not Too Little. All good things in all good time. Quality not quantity at this point. Jai Kali Maa! Chandi Maa ki jai!" Please share my daily gratitude with the Spiritual Mother ... Steve , "bingo_ridley" <sconnor@a...> wrote: > Parvati, > > This planning, does it go something like this: > > I have this karma to take care of that is old. It is hanging me up, > and distracting me from deeper, longer meditation. So if I manage it > (OK I am thinking about some old taxes) then I can proceed to a > longer meditation period? > > And the goals ... is it enough to say "To See God?" Or should that > be broken down to Sankalpas, etc. That one goal of 3 words I > personally find very motivating. > > Is it possible to have too many spiritual goals? Or, is it a matter > of sequential practical goals to support an ultimate goal: svahaa! > > Thank you for your help ... > > Steve > > , "parvati_saraswati108" > <parvati_saraswati108> wrote: > > Namaste Steve, > > This thread seems to be going on for a while now and it is a good > > question.What came to mind was the 8 limbs of yoga which can be > found > > on page 16-18 in the Guru and the Goddess book. > > Briefly here are the 8 limbs as outlined by Swamiji: > > 1. yama-take control in life by defining your goals > > 2. niyama-create a discipline, budget your time, resources and > mind. > > How much can we actually dedicate to achieve our goals? > > 3. asana- put the body in harmony > > 4. pranayama-take control of the breath > > 5. pratyahara-bring the senses inside, look within > > 6. dharana-concentration > > 7. dhyana- absorption in meditation > > 8. samadhi-completion, accomplishment, the perfection of union > > > > Swamiji emphasizes the importance of defining our goals and > > establishing a discipline that is in harmony with our goals and > > surrounding environment. We need to think about how much time we > can > > actually spend in pursuit of our goals. When we have clearly > defined > > our goals then we will have the criteria to discriminate which > > actions which take us closer and which actions will take us > further > > away. > > How deeply can we meditate when our minds are thinking about > > some other work that has to be fulfilled or an obligation to be > met? > > > > As the first Chapter of the Chandi emphasizes: Balance. Not Too > Much > > and not Too Little. All good things in all good time.Quality not > > quantity at this point. Jai Kali Maa! Chandi Maa ki jai! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2004 Report Share Posted March 17, 2004 Dear Steve, Swamiji always stresses the importance of efficiency in organizing our life for sadhana. Part of that organization means paying bills on time, taking care of outstanding debt, etc. When the Divine Mother comes she may just tell us to go and take care of our bills. The length of the meditation is not as important as the depth of our meditation and when we get so deeply engrossed in the bliss of consciousness is the Divine Mother going to take us or send us back to pay our bills or debt? Parvati , "bingo_ridley" <sconnor@a...> wrote: > Parvati, > > This planning, does it go something like this: > > I have this karma to take care of that is old. It is hanging me up, > and distracting me from deeper, longer meditation. So if I manage it > (OK I am thinking about some old taxes) then I can proceed to a > longer meditation period? > > And the goals ... is it enough to say "To See God?" Or should that > be broken down to Sankalpas, etc. That one goal of 3 words I > personally find very motivating. > > Is it possible to have too many spiritual goals? Or, is it a matter > of sequential practical goals to support an ultimate goal: svahaa! > > Thank you for your help ... > > Steve > > , "parvati_saraswati108" > <parvati_saraswati108> wrote: > > Namaste Steve, > > This thread seems to be going on for a while now and it is a good > > question.What came to mind was the 8 limbs of yoga which can be > found > > on page 16-18 in the Guru and the Goddess book. > > Briefly here are the 8 limbs as outlined by Swamiji: > > 1. yama-take control in life by defining your goals > > 2. niyama-create a discipline, budget your time, resources and > mind. > > How much can we actually dedicate to achieve our goals? > > 3. asana- put the body in harmony > > 4. pranayama-take control of the breath > > 5. pratyahara-bring the senses inside, look within > > 6. dharana-concentration > > 7. dhyana- absorption in meditation > > 8. samadhi-completion, accomplishment, the perfection of union > > > > Swamiji emphasizes the importance of defining our goals and > > establishing a discipline that is in harmony with our goals and > > surrounding environment. We need to think about how much time we > can > > actually spend in pursuit of our goals. When we have clearly > defined > > our goals then we will have the criteria to discriminate which > > actions which take us closer and which actions will take us > further > > away. > > How deeply can we meditate when our minds are thinking about > > some other work that has to be fulfilled or an obligation to be > met? > > > > As the first Chapter of the Chandi emphasizes: Balance. Not Too > Much > > and not Too Little. All good things in all good time.Quality not > > quantity at this point. Jai Kali Maa! Chandi Maa ki jai! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2004 Report Share Posted March 17, 2004 hmmm, i think i hear you saying, we might be "returned" to the world because of unfinished business, so, finishing our business helps us stay in bliss[?] thanks for returning attention to depth not duration, this means, go deeper, whatever time is available. good, good, this works, clearly. , "parvati_saraswati108" <parvati_saraswati108> wrote: > Dear Steve, > Swamiji always stresses the importance of efficiency in organizing > our life for sadhana. Part of that organization means paying bills on > time, taking care of outstanding debt, etc. When the Divine Mother > comes she may just tell us to go and take care of our bills. The > length of the meditation is not as important as the depth of our > meditation and when we get so deeply engrossed in the bliss of > consciousness is the Divine Mother going to take us or send us back > to pay our bills or debt? > Parvati > > > , "bingo_ridley" <sconnor@a...> > wrote: > > Parvati, > > > > This planning, does it go something like this: > > > > I have this karma to take care of that is old. It is hanging me up, > > and distracting me from deeper, longer meditation. So if I manage > it > > (OK I am thinking about some old taxes) then I can proceed to a > > longer meditation period? > > > > And the goals ... is it enough to say "To See God?" Or should that > > be broken down to Sankalpas, etc. That one goal of 3 words I > > personally find very motivating. > > > > Is it possible to have too many spiritual goals? Or, is it a matter > > of sequential practical goals to support an ultimate goal: svahaa! > > > > Thank you for your help ... > > > > Steve > > > > , "parvati_saraswati108" > > <parvati_saraswati108> wrote: > > > Namaste Steve, > > > This thread seems to be going on for a while now and it is a good > > > question.What came to mind was the 8 limbs of yoga which can be > > found > > > on page 16-18 in the Guru and the Goddess book. > > > Briefly here are the 8 limbs as outlined by Swamiji: > > > 1. yama-take control in life by defining your goals > > > 2. niyama-create a discipline, budget your time, resources and > > mind. > > > How much can we actually dedicate to achieve our goals? > > > 3. asana- put the body in harmony > > > 4. pranayama-take control of the breath > > > 5. pratyahara-bring the senses inside, look within > > > 6. dharana-concentration > > > 7. dhyana- absorption in meditation > > > 8. samadhi-completion, accomplishment, the perfection of union > > > > > > Swamiji emphasizes the importance of defining our goals and > > > establishing a discipline that is in harmony with our goals and > > > surrounding environment. We need to think about how much time we > > can > > > actually spend in pursuit of our goals. When we have clearly > > defined > > > our goals then we will have the criteria to discriminate which > > > actions which take us closer and which actions will take us > > further > > > away. > > > How deeply can we meditate when our minds are thinking about > > > some other work that has to be fulfilled or an obligation to be > > met? > > > > > > As the first Chapter of the Chandi emphasizes: Balance. Not Too > > Much > > > and not Too Little. All good things in all good time.Quality not > > > quantity at this point. Jai Kali Maa! Chandi Maa ki jai! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.