Guest guest Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 I do my Shiva Puja in the mornings - usually a well meaning but hurried 15 minute affair. So I skimp on the offerings and offer them from "the garden of my heart" with the justification that Gods knows whats in my heart. And then the other day, I went the whole nine yards - cleaned my altar until it was spick and span, polished the silver , brought new flowers , made the offerings and sat and did the puja . The puja was SO meaningful - and just because I made the extra effort. More and more it is clear to me ... it is not the puja or the meditation that makes the difference - it is WHAT I AM ABLE TO GIVE OFF OF MYSELF THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. I could give more of myself in terms of a) time - I WILL sit in front of you as long as I can and sing your glories even if I dont understand a word of what I am saying b) energy - I WILL make the extra effort - to clean the altar, to prepare the offerings , WHATEVER IT TAKES. The pujas and meditations are just outlets for me to give more and more of myself and to push my limits higher . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 I've been doing my 10 malas of japa and yes it is making a difference. It's changing me, and I like the change. It is very much like tending a garden, and it could turn into a garden of eden. Japa is certainly a turn for the better. , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > I do my Shiva Puja in the mornings - usually a well meaning but > hurried 15 minute affair. > > So I skimp on the offerings and offer them from "the garden of my > heart" with the justification that Gods knows whats in my heart. > > And then the other day, I went the whole nine yards - cleaned my > altar until it was spick and span, polished the silver , brought > new flowers , made the offerings and sat and did the puja . > > The puja was SO meaningful - and just because I made the extra > effort. > > More and more it is clear to me ... it is not the puja or the > meditation that makes the difference - it is WHAT I AM ABLE TO GIVE > OFF OF MYSELF THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. > > I could give more of myself in terms of > > a) time - I WILL sit in front of you as long as I can and sing your > glories even if I dont understand a word of what I am saying > > b) energy - I WILL make the extra effort - to clean the altar, to > prepare the offerings , WHATEVER IT TAKES. > > The pujas and meditations are just outlets for me to give more and > more of myself and to push my limits higher . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2004 Report Share Posted April 10, 2004 Hi Latha, And you can do that all the time, not just during puja. The point is, everything is a puja to god. Driving to work, eating lunch, chatting with friends, watching TV (okay that's a stretch). Everything can be a fulfillment of god worship. Its really about sincerity of intent. The more positive our intent and the more sincerely we work at making our actions positive, helpful, well -- Goddess like -- the more we become like her and the more she grants us boons. Just be careful what you ask for. *hugs* Brian At 04:54 PM 4/9/2004, you wrote: >I do my Shiva Puja in the mornings - usually a well meaning but >hurried 15 minute affair. > >So I skimp on the offerings and offer them from "the garden of my >heart" with the justification that Gods knows whats in my heart. > >And then the other day, I went the whole nine yards - cleaned my >altar until it was spick and span, polished the silver , brought >new flowers , made the offerings and sat and did the puja . > >The puja was SO meaningful - and just because I made the extra >effort. > >More and more it is clear to me ... it is not the puja or the >meditation that makes the difference - it is WHAT I AM ABLE TO GIVE >OFF OF MYSELF THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. > >I could give more of myself in terms of > >a) time - I WILL sit in front of you as long as I can and sing your >glories even if I dont understand a word of what I am saying > >b) energy - I WILL make the extra effort - to clean the altar, to >prepare the offerings , WHATEVER IT TAKES. > >The pujas and meditations are just outlets for me to give more and >more of myself and to push my limits higher . Links > > > > > > > >--- >Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). >Version: 6.0.645 / Virus Database: 413 - Release 3/28/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.645 / Virus Database: 413 - Release 3/28/2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2004 Report Share Posted April 10, 2004 Latha, I think you're right. I am not very good at this, but I hope I will improve. So far, what this has meant for me is making the effort to do bhastrika, when I could just do the japa, to take the time to remember the guru, to purify the atmosphere before I start, to truly devote that time to God, to make the little bit of extra effort that makes the practice a good one. Chris , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > I do my Shiva Puja in the mornings - usually a well meaning but > hurried 15 minute affair. > > So I skimp on the offerings and offer them from "the garden of my > heart" with the justification that Gods knows whats in my heart. > > And then the other day, I went the whole nine yards - cleaned my > altar until it was spick and span, polished the silver , brought > new flowers , made the offerings and sat and did the puja . > > The puja was SO meaningful - and just because I made the extra > effort. > > More and more it is clear to me ... it is not the puja or the > meditation that makes the difference - it is WHAT I AM ABLE TO GIVE > OFF OF MYSELF THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. > > I could give more of myself in terms of > > a) time - I WILL sit in front of you as long as I can and sing your > glories even if I dont understand a word of what I am saying > > b) energy - I WILL make the extra effort - to clean the altar, to > prepare the offerings , WHATEVER IT TAKES. > > The pujas and meditations are just outlets for me to give more and > more of myself and to push my limits higher . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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