RE: hello sanga

[Guest guest]

"....The difficult part for me is not feeling bad when my family

members don't "buy in" to my practices--although they all support

me. When they don't believe in what I'm doing it gets

discouraging. Everybody has their own way of learning and unfolding

spiritually..."

 

Dear Lynne,

This is my situation exactly (except my daughter is full grown).

My husband supports my practices but has no interest whatsoever in

being a part of it. Well, we've been together for SO many years and

there were times (the times I wanted to be a REAL sadhvi...run off

to India) when it was so hard for me to be living with someone who

did not share my enthusiasm for worship. Once my husband said to a

swami, "Sadhvi's heart belongs to Bhagavan Nityananda" and the swami

gave me a very stern look and said, "you must take care of your

husband"...well, to be clear, my spiritual heart DOES belong to

Nityananda but my human heart belongs to my husband (as he knows)and

it's not as though I wasn't taking care of my husband. This was a

dilemma for me for several years. What changed it for me was this:

one day I was planning a trip with a friend.We were going to attend

a yagna and it meant being away for several days. She said to

me, "Your husband is so great! He really supports your practice!"

and I said, "yes, he is! I am so grateful to be married to him".

Then she said, "Even more! The fruits of all of your sadhana will go

to him as well since you are one in the eyes of God!". After she

said that to me, my entire attitude changed. I thought, "what an

incredible thing. that my efforts will benefit my husband. All

my "work" will lead to his spiritual advancement". After I came back

from that trip, my husband said the most amazing thing to me

(without any of this being discussed with him). He said, "You know,

I really appreciate all of the sadhana that you do because I know

that it has a profound effect on me". I think about that alot. The

fact that what I do is benefitting my family..very directly. It

takes away that feeling of lonliness that you describe as

discouragement and,somehow, even though they are not practicing

directly with you, you bring them with you right into your practice.

best regards,

sadhvi

[Guest guest]

Sadhvi,

This was really great. Your words helped me so much. The more

aligned I can stay, the more loving and rooted in the fullness of

Being, the more benfit for all. Sometimes it's hard for me to reveal

myself, to show that part of me for the fear of it being rejected. I

realized now that it is not possible for others to reject, as

everyone has an internal, inherent desire for spiritual growth--like

a seed God put in us that HAS to grow. And I'm not in charge of how

others do it.

Namaste and thank you!

Lynne

-

nityashakti

Tuesday, April 06, 2004 9:53 AM

RE: hello sanga

"....The difficult part for me is not feeling bad when my family

members don't "buy in" to my practices--although they all support me.

When they don't believe in what I'm doing it gets discouraging.

Everybody has their own way of learning and unfolding

spiritually..."Dear Lynne, This is my situation exactly (except my

daughter is full grown). My husband supports my practices but has no

interest whatsoever in being a part of it. Well, we've been together

for SO many years and there were times (the times I wanted to be a

REAL sadhvi...run off to India) when it was so hard for me to be

living with someone who did not share my enthusiasm for worship. Once

my husband said to a swami, "Sadhvi's heart belongs to Bhagavan

Nityananda" and the swami gave me a very stern look and said, "you

must take care of your husband"...well, to be clear, my spiritual

heart DOES belong to Nityananda but my human heart belongs to my

husband (as he knows)and it's not as though I wasn't taking care of

my husband. This was a dilemma for me for several years. What changed

it for me was this: one day I was planning a trip with a friend.We

were going to attend a yagna and it meant being away for several

days. She said to me, "Your husband is so great! He really supports

your practice!" and I said, "yes, he is! I am so grateful to be

married to him". Then she said, "Even more! The fruits of all of your

sadhana will go to him as well since you are one in the eyes of God!".

After she said that to me, my entire attitude changed. I thought,

"what an incredible thing. that my efforts will benefit my husband.

All my "work" will lead to his spiritual advancement". After I came

back from that trip, my husband said the most amazing thing to me

(without any of this being discussed with him). He said, "You know, I

really appreciate all of the sadhana that you do because I know that

it has a profound effect on me". I think about that alot. The fact

that what I do is benefitting my family..very directly. It takes away

that feeling of lonliness that you describe as discouragement

and,somehow, even though they are not practicing directly with you,

you bring them with you right into your practice.best regards,sadhvi

[Guest guest]

Sadvi,

 

Yes, there is a portion of shared, or rather, blended, karma between

husband and wife, as I have read. Very interesting and mysterious

stuff! I have often wished I could see just how my wife's and my

karmas are blended. I have seen numerous references in scriptures to

the benefits for the practitioner's family from doing one or another

practice. The belief that what I do helps my wife is a comfort, since

she, like the other spouses mentioned in this thread, doesn't

practice.

 

Chris

 

 

, "nityashakti" <sadhvi@p...> wrote:

> "....The difficult part for me is not feeling bad when my family

> members don't "buy in" to my practices--although they all support

> me. When they don't believe in what I'm doing it gets

> discouraging. Everybody has their own way of learning and

unfolding

> spiritually..."

>

> Dear Lynne,

> This is my situation exactly (except my daughter is full grown).

> My husband supports my practices but has no interest whatsoever in

> being a part of it. Well, we've been together for SO many years and

> there were times (the times I wanted to be a REAL sadhvi...run off

> to India) when it was so hard for me to be living with someone who

> did not share my enthusiasm for worship. Once my husband said to a

> swami, "Sadhvi's heart belongs to Bhagavan Nityananda" and the

swami

> gave me a very stern look and said, "you must take care of your

> husband"...well, to be clear, my spiritual heart DOES belong to

> Nityananda but my human heart belongs to my husband (as he knows)

and

> it's not as though I wasn't taking care of my husband. This was a

> dilemma for me for several years. What changed it for me was this:

> one day I was planning a trip with a friend.We were going to attend

> a yagna and it meant being away for several days. She said to

> me, "Your husband is so great! He really supports your practice!"

> and I said, "yes, he is! I am so grateful to be married to him".

> Then she said, "Even more! The fruits of all of your sadhana will

go

> to him as well since you are one in the eyes of God!". After she

> said that to me, my entire attitude changed. I thought, "what an

> incredible thing. that my efforts will benefit my husband. All

> my "work" will lead to his spiritual advancement". After I came

back

> from that trip, my husband said the most amazing thing to me

> (without any of this being discussed with him). He said, "You know,

> I really appreciate all of the sadhana that you do because I know

> that it has a profound effect on me". I think about that alot. The

> fact that what I do is benefitting my family..very directly. It

> takes away that feeling of lonliness that you describe as

> discouragement and,somehow, even though they are not practicing

> directly with you, you bring them with you right into your practice.

> best regards,

> sadhvi