Why Vs How ?

April 15, 2004

Someone asked Swamiji - why is the world like this ? Why do we have

to put so much effort into sadhana ? why cant I just know God

effortlessly ? why....

And Swamiji said "The right question is "How?" not "why?" . Because,

we dont presume to know why the God/Goddess created us as we are .

Why should we presume to find the answers ? But, there ARE people who

have found the most important thing of them all - PEACE. And I can

show you HOW to get there and what you would need to do to get there.

But you have to do the walk yourself . "

And it seems to me sometimes, that when we do get this glimpse of

peace, the questions, answered or not, dont seem to matter as much.

JAI MAA

April 15, 2004

yes latha that is what shivapuri baba said, in so many words!

perfect! he also said, all those questions will be answered. but what

is the use of a relative answer, because they only lead to relative

questions ... it is not conclusive. peace is conclusive, as in it

turns towards the absolute. so then the question is of course, "how

do i come to this peace or understanding?"

"why" can be interesting, but like with the recent question from

swamiji, there is no final "why?" answer, there are only specific

why's related to specific situations or individuals. the "why" itself

has to be highly qualified. a question like "why do we exist?" in a

way has no use.

"why" even becomes an intellectual waste of time, and you feel life

is more like surfing, you are HERE and you are doing it.

BUT ... even this question, can evolve to devotion. "god, why, why,

why?" [sounds melodramatic doesn't it] quickly becomes, "god, how,

how, do i know you? show me your form. protect me from pain. let me

know you."

s

, "Latha Nanda" <lathananda>

wrote:

> Someone asked Swamiji - why is the world like this ? Why do we have

> to put so much effort into sadhana ? why cant I just know God

> effortlessly ? why....

>

> And Swamiji said "The right question is "How?" not "why?" .

Because,

> we dont presume to know why the God/Goddess created us as we are .

> Why should we presume to find the answers ? But, there ARE people

who

> have found the most important thing of them all - PEACE. And I can

> show you HOW to get there and what you would need to do to get

there.

> But you have to do the walk yourself . "

>

> And it seems to me sometimes, that when we do get this glimpse of

> peace, the questions, answered or not, dont seem to matter as much.

>

> JAI MAA

April 15, 2004

Yesterday, I chanted the 12th chapter of the Chandi again. Swamiji

had told me to do this. But he didn't say how many times. And I

noticed the underlined phrase that says, "This entire narration of my

glories makes my presence manifest." verse 20-22

Now, I didn't know if that meant the entire Chandi was necessary or if

this one chapter might have that effect in itself. So, at the end, I

just spoke to Mother as if She was right there listening, and I asked

Her for Peace. Send Peace to everyone I have ever known, in every

lifetime. Send Peace throughout my past. Send Peace and healing and

restoration to anyone and anything I have ever harmed in any way.

Send Peace to all those I am indebted to, prosper and heal them, good

measure, pressed down, shaken together to overflowing. I asked

forgiveness of all those I needed it from, and gave forgiveness to

all who were indebted to me in any way. I asked for that Peace to

flow into the future to any and all.

I felt like I was standing in this river of peace as it flowed out

from all sides, waves of peace through all this relative maya.....no

resistance in me, empty. It flowed out touching relationships,

unfinished business, failures, shame, injuries, injustice, guilt,

debts, excesses, childhood, dreams, longings, enemies, false

teachers,.....and I made sure to name them by name.....including all

excluding none. Peace to feelings, Peace to regrets, Peace to

lonliness, Peace to all that will never be. Peace to roads not

taken, songs left unsung.

Peace Peace Peace, Shanti Shanti Shanti.....so tender, so gentle...

And when this river of peace had filled all things, all people, all

manifest and unmanifest creation, then the river turned and flowed

back into my own heart.....and for the first time, I knew what it was

to love and forgive myself. As I loved, so I was loved, as I forgave,

so I was forgiven. This is also why Maa sings the Gayatri....

I am aware, in a new way, of my own heart. Chandi calls forth our own

inner Guru, lights the light in our own heart, and enables us to start

living from there...This is why we obey the Guru.

That Peace that surpasses all understanding...is very real, and

available and alive.......what are you waiting for?