The Chandi Class

[Guest guest]

Latha, I just wanted to take this opportunity (your posting) to thank

you sincerely for presenting the introduction to the Chandi class.

My husband and I both "attended" and we especially benefitted from

the efficient way you presented the class. Your summary of the

Chandi was excellent! I also want to say how much I admire the heart

and soul that you put into this cyber satsang group. How wonderful of

you!!

I have questions about the asan section of the class, which was a bit

confusing for me (all due to my ignorance). I am trying to

understand the 5 preferred asans as presented in the class and

described in the Devi Gita, but I admit to not getting a grasp. None

of my yoga books show the postures, except for the Lotus (Padmasana).

Do you know of a source for giving more direction and illustration for

the other 4 asans: Svastik, Bhadra, Vajra, and Vijra? The only asan

I can sit comfortably in is the Sukhasana (Easy Seated Pose/Tailor's

Pose) and wonder if this is OK. I am not sure if my old bones and

funky back can attempt anything more complex.

Best wishes and warmest regards,

Karen

-

Latha Nanda

3/16/2004 9:45:28 AM

What will Maa and Swamiji do ?

I was starting my Chandi at the Mandir on Saturday night. It was 9 pm.

I had a headache - I didnt want to cry off with "Not tonight Maa, I

have a headache" so I sat down. Yet my heart wasnt in the chanting.So

I started, with very little interest, temples throbbing and a longing

for my sleeping bag.I went for about a half hour - finished the

Prayog - now you guys know what a Prayog is after the online Chandi

class , started on the 700 verses, came to chapter 2 and all of a

sudden I stopped. I had enough.I closed my book and got up. Not a

soul around to witness me sneaking away from the Chandi. (If a tree

falls downand there is no one to hear it, does it make a sound? )Then

a senior disciple walked in.She asked me "Are you going to start your

Chandi now?"I sez sheepishly "Oh I started it and just got up cos

.....y' know..."And she looks concerned and her face gets all focussed

and sincere "YOU CANT DO THAT"I sez "oh yeah ? I been doin that all

the time. why , back home, i even get up to check my email ...." She

looks at me more earnestly than ever. I begin to feel a bit

scared.She said " When you take a sankalpa to chant - you are

inviting the Goddess. How can you walk away when She is front of you

listening to you chant ?"Hmmm , I guess I kinda know this but

conveniently rationalized with "She is mother.. She will

understand.."She continued " Have you ever seen Maa or Swamiji walk

away from their Sankalpa ? "Nope !She went on " You know the stories

of how Swamiji continued chanting even when his clothes got on fire

and when there was a flood .""When you take the sankalpa, you SIT and

FINISH and that is how you respect the Goddess"WOW. Yes, absolutely

irrefutably YES.From then on, WHATEVER HAPPENS, hell or high water,

when I sit to pray and chant, I may squirm in my seat bcos of my poor

posture, but I WILL NOT get up and walk away even for a break.Thank

you Seema ! Your advice came at the RIGHT time - on my 4th month

anniversary of my taking the Chandi Sankalpa.

[Guest guest]

Old bones and funky back! That sounds familiar! At 63, I am grateful

that I was a dancer in my youth and started meditating (full lotus)

when I was 21. So some of that flexibility is still there. Not full

lotus anymore, except for brief periods. The Devi Gita describes the

5 asans in detail, in Chapter 7, starting with Verse 8. (no

pictures, though). Shree Maa and Swamiji recommend the Svastikasana.

I get a lot of pain in my ankles with that one. The Bhadrasana is a

good one for opening up the other asans. I remember Swamiji

emphasizing keeping both knees on the ground, so I always do that.

Just take it easy, but take it!

"Karen Borak" <karenborak (AT) earthlink (DOT) net>

Tue, 16 Mar 2004 09:59:32 -0700

The Chandi Class

Latha, I just wanted to take this opportunity (your posting) to thank

you sincerely for presenting the introduction to the Chandi class.

My husband and I both "attended" and we especially benefitted from

the efficient way you presented the class. Your summary of the

Chandi was excellent! I also want to say how much I admire the heart

and soul that you put into this cyber satsang group. How wonderful of

you!!

I have questions about the asan section of the class, which was a bit

confusing for me (all due to my ignorance). I am trying to

understand the 5 preferred asans as presented in the class and

described in the Devi Gita, but I admit to not getting a grasp. None

of my yoga books show the postures, except for the Lotus (Padmasana).

Do you know of a source for giving more direction and illustration for

the other 4 asans: Svastik, Bhadra, Vajra, and Vijra? The only asan

I can sit comfortably in is the Sukhasana (Easy Seated Pose/Tailor's

Pose) and wonder if this is OK. I am not sure if my old bones and

funky back can attempt anything more complex.

Best wishes and warmest regards,

Karen

-

Latha Nanda <lathananda >

3/16/2004 9:45:28 AM

What will Maa and Swamiji do ?

I was starting my Chandi at the Mandir on Saturday night. It was 9

pm. I had a headache - I didnt want to cry off with "Not tonight Maa,

I have a headache" so I sat down. Yet my heart wasnt in the chanting.

So I started, with very little interest, temples throbbing and a

longing for my sleeping bag.

I went for about a half hour - finished the Prayog - now you guys

know what a Prayog is after the online Chandi class , started on the

700 verses, came to chapter 2 and all of a sudden I stopped. I had

enough.

I closed my book and got up. Not a soul around to witness me sneaking

away from the Chandi. (If a tree falls down

and there is no one to hear it, does it make a sound? )

Then a senior disciple walked in.

She asked me "Are you going to start your Chandi now?"

I sez sheepishly "Oh I started it and just got up cos ....y' know..."

And she looks concerned and her face gets all focussed and

sincere "YOU CANT DO THAT"

I sez "oh yeah ? I been doin that all the time. why , back home, i

even get up to check my email ...."

She looks at me more earnestly than ever. I begin to feel a bit

scared.

She said " When you take a sankalpa to chant - you are inviting the

Goddess. How can you walk away when She is front of you listening to

you chant ?"

Hmmm , I guess I kinda know this but conveniently rationalized

with "She is mother.. She will understand.."

She continued " Have you ever seen Maa or Swamiji walk away from

their Sankalpa ? "

Nope !

She went on " You know the stories of how Swamiji continued chanting

even when his clothes got on fire and when there was a flood ."

"When you take the sankalpa, you SIT and FINISH and that is how you

respect the Goddess"

WOW.

Yes, absolutely irrefutably YES.

>From then on, WHATEVER HAPPENS, hell or high water, when I sit to

pray and chant, I may squirm in my seat bcos of my poor posture, but

I WILL NOT get up and walk away even for a break.

Thank you Seema ! Your advice came at the RIGHT time - on my 4th

month anniversary of my taking the Chandi Sankalpa.

Sponsor

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