Durga's presence

March 23, 2004

Ok, so I'm not together enough this time in my journey to be able to

do the 32 names, but as Swamaji says in his latest online audio

teaching on the website, it is the focus in the heart that is most

important. The chanting is to maintain that focus correct?

Many months ago I felt distressed because I didn't know the mantras

or the sacred teachings to connect with the Goddess (all this is

coming to me now through Shree Maa and Swamaji's site and book, the

local temple, books and a very nice Hindu woman who introduced

herself to me in the Indian grocery store) and she told me not to

worry, that she is right here in my heart and she hears my prayers.

I felt overjoyed. Sometimes all the sanskrit and practices seem a

barrier I can not get over, and perhaps it is that they are more

useful as a tool for some? I don't know, and perhaps some day they

will come. I do believe they are beautiful and healing, but I have

to keep it so simple, just a short one line mantra, or the mantra

becomes the focus instead of the Goddess because it is so much it is

overwhelming to learn all.

It is good to know that the Goddess does not require these things in

order to meet with us, but comes when we call to her with an open

heart. Thank you for teaching me this and sharing the sacred

practices as well. I am perhaps crude in my attempts, but mostly

find I worship with my heart mostly. I feel like I am apologizing

for not being able to participate, however I know you all understand

I am with you in spirit and seeking Goddess in my own way and

feeling her presence.

At any rate, I am very sensitive to energies, and lately the past 3

days it has been calmness (and I know the world isn't calm, so it

must be the effect of this goodness and meditation is being felt and

we are reaping the benefits!) It is for the benefit of all humankind

and know that your sankalpa is purifying us all, having a good

effect on even those of us that are not able to do it.

Today, or was it last night, I saw Durga in my mind. I thought,

perhaps she will show me a different aspect of her every day, but I

did see her murti in my mind very clear and beautiful sparkling. I

know when I went to the temple this weekend, that I went through the

tunnel of the God and Goddesses and prayed to them, that they are

very present with us (I don't believe just me, but She is present

with us all) I couldn't stop crying because I was so happy that

they were reassuring me that all is well, they are there with us.

I was a bit embarrassed sitting there with the tears streaming

down,but Goddess said to just pretend I was the only one there, just

me and her, and not to worry about the others. Still I felt I

needed to go wash my face a bit, but the tears were cleansing.

Ammachi says that tears are a part of our prayer when we pray in

earnest Goddess hears us and that is what I hear in Swamaji's

teachings on the Shree Maa site as well.

Goddess we are so blessed.

Jai Santoshi Maa!

-td

March 23, 2004

td

i am not the most well versed in these matters either, but my sense

is, you are in the true bhakti spirit of things.

steve c.

, "turtle dragon"

<turtledragonscove> wrote:

>

> Ok, so I'm not together enough this time in my journey to be able

to

> do the 32 names, but as Swamaji says in his latest online audio

> teaching on the website, it is the focus in the heart that is most

> important. The chanting is to maintain that focus correct?

>

> Many months ago I felt distressed because I didn't know the

mantras

> or the sacred teachings to connect with the Goddess (all this is

> coming to me now through Shree Maa and Swamaji's site and book,

the

> local temple, books and a very nice Hindu woman who introduced

> herself to me in the Indian grocery store) and she told me not to

> worry, that she is right here in my heart and she hears my

prayers.

>

> I felt overjoyed. Sometimes all the sanskrit and practices seem a

> barrier I can not get over, and perhaps it is that they are more

> useful as a tool for some? I don't know, and perhaps some day

they

> will come. I do believe they are beautiful and healing, but I

have

> to keep it so simple, just a short one line mantra, or the mantra

> becomes the focus instead of the Goddess because it is so much it

is

> overwhelming to learn all.

>

> It is good to know that the Goddess does not require these things

in

> order to meet with us, but comes when we call to her with an open

> heart. Thank you for teaching me this and sharing the sacred

> practices as well. I am perhaps crude in my attempts, but mostly

> find I worship with my heart mostly. I feel like I am apologizing

> for not being able to participate, however I know you all

understand

> I am with you in spirit and seeking Goddess in my own way and

> feeling her presence.

>

> At any rate, I am very sensitive to energies, and lately the past

3

> days it has been calmness (and I know the world isn't calm, so it

> must be the effect of this goodness and meditation is being felt

and

> we are reaping the benefits!) It is for the benefit of all

humankind

> and know that your sankalpa is purifying us all, having a good

> effect on even those of us that are not able to do it.

>

> Today, or was it last night, I saw Durga in my mind. I thought,

> perhaps she will show me a different aspect of her every day, but

I

> did see her murti in my mind very clear and beautiful sparkling.

I

> know when I went to the temple this weekend, that I went through

the

> tunnel of the God and Goddesses and prayed to them, that they are

> very present with us (I don't believe just me, but She is present

> with us all) I couldn't stop crying because I was so happy that

> they were reassuring me that all is well, they are there with us.

>

> I was a bit embarrassed sitting there with the tears streaming

> down,but Goddess said to just pretend I was the only one there,

just

> me and her, and not to worry about the others. Still I felt I

> needed to go wash my face a bit, but the tears were cleansing.

> Ammachi says that tears are a part of our prayer when we pray in

> earnest Goddess hears us and that is what I hear in Swamaji's

> teachings on the Shree Maa site as well.

>

> Goddess we are so blessed.

>

> Jai Santoshi Maa!

> -td

March 23, 2004

"....I felt overjoyed. Sometimes all the sanskrit and practices seem

a

barrier I can not get over, and perhaps it is that they are more

useful as a tool for some? I don't know, and perhaps some day they

will come. I do believe they are beautiful and healing, but I have

to keep it so simple, just a short one line mantra, or the mantra

becomes the focus instead of the Goddess because it is so much it is

overwhelming to learn all.

It is good to know that the Goddess does not require these things in

order to meet with us, but comes when we call to her with an open

heart. Thank you for teaching me this and sharing the sacred

practices as well. I am perhaps crude in my attempts, but mostly

find I worship with my heart mostly. I feel like I am apologizing

for not being able to participate, however I know you all understand

I am with you in spirit and seeking Goddess in my own way and

feeling her presence...."

Dear Turtle Dragon,

Thank you for your beautiful post! It's really ALL about that

profound inner connection...exactly what you have just expressed in

your post. After many years, my experience is that these practices

arise very very naturally when you are closely attuned to your own

inner guidance. There are times when there is nothing you want to do

more than study Sanskrit! Even if someone offered you a cruise to

Hawaii, you might reply, "Oh, no...I really want to study my

Sanskrit". At other times, all you want to do is express your

gratitude to the Teacher by immersing yourself in seva or you may

want nothing more than to sit beside the yagna fire for hours on

end. Then you might be drawn to spend time alone in Nature,

contemplating the form of God....You seem to have a most wonderful

connection to your heart and a real love for Devi. Many people

search endlessly for exactly these two qualities. I remember two

years in my own life when I seemed to do nothing but cry....it

wasn't even longing that made me cry, just the REALIZATION that God

was real. I couldn't get over it; every time I thought of it, I'd

start crying all over again. Then a very beautiful old sadhu told me

that "there is nothing so precious to God as the tears of a

devotee". So I would say that you are making the most exquisite

offering to Devi during our Navaratri sankalpa. Thank you.

with great love,

sadhvi

March 23, 2004

Shree Maa always says "take baby steps" or "take one step at a time".

We all started out that way. Of course some of us dive right in. I

always chanted very loud at the fire. After months of this, I heard

a devotee say "well at least she is starting to learn how to chant."

I think I might have been irritating them with my loud voice and

mistaken pronunciation.

As to crying... it is a sign of true bhakti. I can't imagine

approaching the Goddess without tears. It is all part of the love

affair with the Divine. As Swamiji says "we sit at our altar to

enter an altered state... to come into the presence of the Goddess."

Thank you for sharing. I know you will keep calling out to the

Goddess and experiencing Her Presence in your life.

Goddess Bless,

Ardis

"turtle dragon" <turtledragonscove >

Tue, 23 Mar 2004 16:28:59 -0000