Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 Dear Latha, I was thinking the other day about a child with his/her mother at the playground and the power of the mantra to protect. The child is picked on by some other children and turns and runs and at the same time calls out "Mommy", the protection is instant and the other children hesitate and pull back. It is simple, direct and the mantra of the child. When this is how we are and the practice becomes the way we live, the Mother (Father) is always there. Om Namah Sivaya, Love Kanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 Here is an excerpt from Before Becoming This - the book is available at http://www.shreemaa.org/bookstore.htm My acknowledgement and thanks to Dr. Steven Newmark I also have a question at the end of the excerpt and would be interested in getting feedback from the readers. Begin of excerpt ---- Shree Maa : ....Always pray to God to get His grace. If we think we are a child of God all the time, our actions will become divine. Automatically everything will come to us." Author :Does one ask for the Divine Mother for grace, like we'd ask our own mother for a birthday present ? Shree Maa : Yes , I ask her for devotion and wisdom all the time. When you have pure devotion, pure knowledge will come. Author : It sounds so simple. Shree Maa : It is very simple. That is why we need to do spiritual practices, to remind ourselves to remember divinity all the time. But performing spiritual practices is no substitute for leading a spiritual life. ..... End of excerpt ------ OK, my question - what is a spiritual life ? how does it differ from an "ordinary" life ? If spiritual practices are not everything, what do you need to add to an "ordinary" life to make it a "spiritual" one ? Any thoughts that you can share ? JAI MAA !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 hm, she is making a really cool distinction. she is saying, don't think of yourself as an ordinary guy or gal applying spiritual tools and fixes to yourself, like yoga, and other methods ... but, be at your very center a spiritual being, and express it, and be that, in your every aspect. s , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > Here is an excerpt from Before Becoming This - the book is available > at http://www.shreemaa.org/bookstore.htm > > My acknowledgement and thanks to Dr. Steven Newmark > > I also have a question at the end of the excerpt and would be > interested in getting feedback from the readers. > > Begin of excerpt ---- > > Shree Maa : ....Always pray to God to get His grace. If we think we > are a child of God all the time, our actions will become divine. > Automatically everything will come to us." > > Author :Does one ask for the Divine Mother for grace, like we'd ask > our own mother for a birthday present ? > > Shree Maa : Yes , I ask her for devotion and wisdom all the time. > When you have pure devotion, pure knowledge will come. > > Author : It sounds so simple. > > Shree Maa : It is very simple. That is why we need to do spiritual > practices, to remind ourselves to remember divinity all the time. > But performing spiritual practices is no substitute for leading a > spiritual life. ..... > > End of excerpt ------ > > OK, my question - what is a spiritual life ? how does it differ > from an "ordinary" life ? If spiritual practices are not everything, > what do you need to add to an "ordinary" life to make it > a "spiritual" one ? Any thoughts that you can share ? > > JAI MAA !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > OK, my question - what is a spiritual life ? how does it differ > from an "ordinary" life ? If spiritual practices are not everything, > what do you need to add to an "ordinary" life to make it > a "spiritual" one ? Any thoughts that you can share ? > > JAI MAA !!! Spiritual practices are an "aid" to FINALLY start living a spiritual life. A spiritual life is a life of: 1. Complete awareness (moment-to-moment awareness; I fantasize it as being aware of what I thought on, say, 8:58 am of 10th May 1999, and how it has lead me to be what I am today). 2. Perfect and spntneous Response to every stimulus. 3. Compassion for all. Reminds me of Divine Mother's name from LS - Abrahma-kita-janani - the mother of all, from the lowest worm to the creator Brahma himself! There are other ways in which it can be described, but you may be to able to map them all to one of these, or more of these. In fact, there is a strong co-relation between the 3 aspects I have mentioned above too. Just for the record, I got MILES and MILES to go before I can start living a spiritual life. Jai Ma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 "But performing spiritual practices is no substitute for leading a spiritual life. ..... End of excerpt ------ OK, my question - what is a spiritual life ? how does it differ from an "ordinary" life ? If spiritual practices are not everything, what do you need to add to an "ordinary" life to make it a "spiritual" one ? Any thoughts that you could contribute?" Dear Latha, Boy, I'll bet we have ALL had experience of this one....performing a morning puja (spiritual) and then snapping at our spouse at the breakfast table (ordinary) or, how about, leaving an uplifting satsang (spiritual) and getting mad at the person who cuts you off at the rotary on the way home (ordinary). Spiritual practices seem, to me, like the "reward" for trying, in my life in the world, to actually put the teachings into practice, rather than keeping everything separated. As I've gotten older, the gap between the world outside my puja room and my puja room has lessened. Ideally there should be no difference at all....your whole LIFE should be a spiritual life but, for most of us, there will be a sense of separation until we no longer see the two lives as "different" from one another. Practically speaking, really putting some effort into the yamas and niyamas as touchstones for our "wordly lives", taking the lessons of attention, purity, focus and discipline from our puja rooms into our work, really paying attention to the deep meaning of the texts we are chanting and studying and relating them DIRECTLY to our lives and, especially (in my experience) learning to listen to that little voice that lets you know that you are "off" in your behavior when you are in the world. Lately, it has become more and more important, when I observe how easily we can hurt one another, that I learn how to not cause more suffering in the world through my own carelessness...so I would say the willingness to take responsbility and to carefully observe your own behavior is very helpful in leading a truly spiritual life....not causing harm and, when you do cause harm (through ignorance or carlessnes), trying to make it right. It's a great thing to have people who are Living Lessons for us and, also, to have the company of others who are attempting to understand these questions. I always pray for the good health and well being of all of the saints who so generously point the way for us. best, sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 this problem is universal it seems. i have a really curious old book from india called "science of soul" ... it has all these diagrams of the internal body with westerns and spiritual concepts all blended together. in it, the author relates his experience as a boy who lived with a yogi for a while. he and a friend were with the yogi swimming/bathing in a small lake. when the yogi did not rise to the surface after a dive for over 10 minutes, tehy were really distressed and wend under water to find him. they pulled him out from the bottom where he was in an asan. he sucked in a big gasp of air, then furiously reprimanded the 2 boys for interrupting his pranayama kumbhak practice, and did not allow them to accompany him any longer. !!!! steve c. , "nityashakti" <sadhvi@p...> wrote: > "But performing spiritual practices is no substitute for leading a > spiritual life. ..... > > End of excerpt ------ > > OK, my question - what is a spiritual life ? how does it differ > from an "ordinary" life ? If spiritual practices are not everything, > what do you need to add to an "ordinary" life to make it > a "spiritual" one ? Any thoughts that you could contribute?" > > Dear Latha, > Boy, I'll bet we have ALL had experience of this one....performing > a morning puja (spiritual) and then snapping at our spouse at the > breakfast table (ordinary) or, how about, leaving an uplifting > satsang (spiritual) and getting mad at the person who cuts you off > at the rotary on the way home (ordinary). > Spiritual practices seem, to me, like the "reward" for trying, in > my life in the world, to actually put the teachings into practice, > rather than keeping everything separated. As I've gotten older, the > gap between the world outside my puja room and my puja room has > lessened. Ideally there should be no difference at all....your whole > LIFE should be a spiritual life but, for most of us, there will be a > sense of separation until we no longer see the two lives > as "different" from one another. > Practically speaking, really putting some effort into the yamas > and niyamas as touchstones for our "wordly lives", taking the > lessons of attention, purity, focus and discipline from our puja > rooms into our work, really paying attention to the deep meaning of > the texts we are chanting and studying and relating them DIRECTLY to > our lives and, especially (in my experience) learning to listen to > that little voice that lets you know that you are "off" in your > behavior when you are in the world. Lately, it has become more and > more important, when I observe how easily we can hurt one another, > that I learn how to not cause more suffering in the world through my > own carelessness...so I would say the willingness to take > responsbility and to carefully observe your own behavior is very > helpful in leading a truly spiritual life....not causing harm and, > when you do cause harm (through ignorance or carlessnes), trying to > make it right. > It's a great thing to have people who are Living Lessons for us > and, also, to have the company of others who are attempting to > understand these questions. I always pray for the good health and > well being of all of the saints who so generously point the way for > us. > best, > sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 Latha, It is a good question. We know that spiritual practice is the key to divinity. If one is to live a "spiritual life" spiritual practice is the means. So, just what is Maa saying... Though a spiritual life must include the externals, abstaining from whoring, drugging, cheating, etc., it is spiritual practice that allows this abstinence in the first place, and there are many people who abstain for cultural and social reasons and have little spiritual life in their life. On the other hand, one may be practicing regularly, connected to God at the heart, and still possess bad habits. Spiritual practice is a process of purification. It takes time. Maa is well aware of this. Messing around too much with the externals, trying too hard to be good through will power alone can create splits in the personality, and reservoirs of emotional energy that can threaten to overwhelm when the Mother awakens within. So what is she saying... It must be a matter of intention, a matter of connection, between the practitioner and God, between the practice and the life that comes after one leaves the practice room. It must be less about externals than about the intention to be a godly person, whatever the reality may appear to be from outside. Living a spiritual life is about maintaining and nurturing the experience we have during practice, after the practice is over. It is a discipline, but one of relationship, rather than negation. It is the process of an active will toward a goal, gaining force without interruption. To be able to give more than we receive, we first have to receive. Our continuing intention allows us to receive without interruption. Chris (I thought about this for some time, and I still don't think I quite got the essence of what I feel...Oh well.) , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > Here is an excerpt from Before Becoming This - the book is available > at http://www.shreemaa.org/bookstore.htm > > My acknowledgement and thanks to Dr. Steven Newmark > > I also have a question at the end of the excerpt and would be > interested in getting feedback from the readers. > > Begin of excerpt ---- > > Shree Maa : ....Always pray to God to get His grace. If we think we > are a child of God all the time, our actions will become divine. > Automatically everything will come to us." > > Author :Does one ask for the Divine Mother for grace, like we'd ask > our own mother for a birthday present ? > > Shree Maa : Yes , I ask her for devotion and wisdom all the time. > When you have pure devotion, pure knowledge will come. > > Author : It sounds so simple. > > Shree Maa : It is very simple. That is why we need to do spiritual > practices, to remind ourselves to remember divinity all the time. > But performing spiritual practices is no substitute for leading a > spiritual life. ..... > > End of excerpt ------ > > OK, my question - what is a spiritual life ? how does it differ > from an "ordinary" life ? If spiritual practices are not everything, > what do you need to add to an "ordinary" life to make it > a "spiritual" one ? Any thoughts that you can share ? > > JAI MAA !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 Sadhvi, Very nice, very personal response. Right to the point, I think. Chris , "nityashakti" <sadhvi@p...> wrote: > "But performing spiritual practices is no substitute for leading a > spiritual life. ..... > > End of excerpt ------ > > OK, my question - what is a spiritual life ? how does it differ > from an "ordinary" life ? If spiritual practices are not everything, > what do you need to add to an "ordinary" life to make it > a "spiritual" one ? Any thoughts that you could contribute?" > > Dear Latha, > Boy, I'll bet we have ALL had experience of this one....performing > a morning puja (spiritual) and then snapping at our spouse at the > breakfast table (ordinary) or, how about, leaving an uplifting > satsang (spiritual) and getting mad at the person who cuts you off > at the rotary on the way home (ordinary). > Spiritual practices seem, to me, like the "reward" for trying, in > my life in the world, to actually put the teachings into practice, > rather than keeping everything separated. As I've gotten older, the > gap between the world outside my puja room and my puja room has > lessened. Ideally there should be no difference at all....your whole > LIFE should be a spiritual life but, for most of us, there will be a > sense of separation until we no longer see the two lives > as "different" from one another. > Practically speaking, really putting some effort into the yamas > and niyamas as touchstones for our "wordly lives", taking the > lessons of attention, purity, focus and discipline from our puja > rooms into our work, really paying attention to the deep meaning of > the texts we are chanting and studying and relating them DIRECTLY to > our lives and, especially (in my experience) learning to listen to > that little voice that lets you know that you are "off" in your > behavior when you are in the world. Lately, it has become more and > more important, when I observe how easily we can hurt one another, > that I learn how to not cause more suffering in the world through my > own carelessness...so I would say the willingness to take > responsbility and to carefully observe your own behavior is very > helpful in leading a truly spiritual life....not causing harm and, > when you do cause harm (through ignorance or carlessnes), trying to > make it right. > It's a great thing to have people who are Living Lessons for us > and, also, to have the company of others who are attempting to > understand these questions. I always pray for the good health and > well being of all of the saints who so generously point the way for > us. > best, > sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 cool, chris, your meaning comes through. s , "Chris Kirner" <chriskirner1956> wrote: > Latha, > > It is a good question. > > We know that spiritual practice is the key to divinity. If one is to > live a "spiritual life" spiritual practice is the means. So, just > what is Maa saying... > > Though a spiritual life must include the externals, abstaining from > whoring, drugging, cheating, etc., it is spiritual practice that > allows this abstinence in the first place, and there are many people > who abstain for cultural and social reasons and have little spiritual > life in their life. > > On the other hand, one may be practicing regularly, connected to God > at the heart, and still possess bad habits. Spiritual practice is a > process of purification. It takes time. Maa is well aware of this. > > Messing around too much with the externals, trying too hard to be > good through will power alone can create splits in the personality, > and reservoirs of emotional energy that can threaten to overwhelm > when the Mother awakens within. > > So what is she saying... > > It must be a matter of intention, a matter of connection, between the > practitioner and God, between the practice and the life that comes > after one leaves the practice room. It must be less about externals > than about the intention to be a godly person, whatever the reality > may appear to be from outside. > > Living a spiritual life is about maintaining and nurturing the > experience we have during practice, after the practice is over. It is > a discipline, but one of relationship, rather than negation. It is > the process of an active will toward a goal, gaining force without > interruption. To be able to give more than we receive, we first have > to receive. Our continuing intention allows us to receive without > interruption. > > Chris > > (I thought about this for some time, and I still don't think I quite > got the essence of what I feel...Oh well.) > > , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> > wrote: > > Here is an excerpt from Before Becoming This - the book is > available > > at http://www.shreemaa.org/bookstore.htm > > > > My acknowledgement and thanks to Dr. Steven Newmark > > > > I also have a question at the end of the excerpt and would be > > interested in getting feedback from the readers. > > > > Begin of excerpt ---- > > > > Shree Maa : ....Always pray to God to get His grace. If we think we > > are a child of God all the time, our actions will become divine. > > Automatically everything will come to us." > > > > Author :Does one ask for the Divine Mother for grace, like we'd ask > > our own mother for a birthday present ? > > > > Shree Maa : Yes , I ask her for devotion and wisdom all the time. > > When you have pure devotion, pure knowledge will come. > > > > Author : It sounds so simple. > > > > Shree Maa : It is very simple. That is why we need to do spiritual > > practices, to remind ourselves to remember divinity all the time. > > But performing spiritual practices is no substitute for leading a > > spiritual life. ..... > > > > End of excerpt ------ > > > > OK, my question - what is a spiritual life ? how does it differ > > from an "ordinary" life ? If spiritual practices are not > everything, > > what do you need to add to an "ordinary" life to make it > > a "spiritual" one ? Any thoughts that you can share ? > > > > JAI MAA !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2004 Report Share Posted May 26, 2004 Swamiji speaks of a spiritual life being a holistic life. He teaches the importance of having a goal in life and of seeing life as a privilege. In terms of spiritual practice, he always emphasizes the privilege of being in the presence of God and carrying that sense of presence and privilege throughout your life. He speaks of efficiency in organizing one's life so that the spiritual goal is primary. Maa speaks often of the need to overcome selfishness. They both speak of giving more than you take. They both live so that their godliness is apparent and a shining example to all. Living a godly life, a spiritual life, is why we are here. "Latha Nanda" <lathananda > Tue, 25 May 2004 15:16:32 -0000 Spiritual Practices and Spiritual Life Here is an excerpt from Before Becoming This - the book is available at http://www.shreemaa.org/bookstore.htm My acknowledgement and thanks to Dr. Steven Newmark I also have a question at the end of the excerpt and would be interested in getting feedback from the readers. Begin of excerpt ---- Shree Maa : ....Always pray to God to get His grace. If we think we are a child of God all the time, our actions will become divine. Automatically everything will come to us." Author :Does one ask for the Divine Mother for grace, like we'd ask our own mother for a birthday present ? Shree Maa : Yes , I ask her for devotion and wisdom all the time. When you have pure devotion, pure knowledge will come. Author : It sounds so simple. Shree Maa : It is very simple. That is why we need to do spiritual practices, to remind ourselves to remember divinity all the time. But performing spiritual practices is no substitute for leading a spiritual life. ..... End of excerpt ------ OK, my question - what is a spiritual life ? how does it differ from an "ordinary" life ? If spiritual practices are not everything, what do you need to add to an "ordinary" life to make it a "spiritual" one ? Any thoughts that you can share ? JAI MAA !!! Sponsor / <?subject=Un> Terms of Service <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2004 Report Share Posted May 26, 2004 My thanks to Manoj,Kanda,Steve,Sadhvi, Chris for responding to this post with their insights. Here is something I read in Swamiji's translation of the Kashyapa Sutras (The Guru and the Goddess available at http://www.shreemaa.org/bookstore.htm ). This is Maa talking about manifesting the highest ideals of perfection in one's life and this particular paragraph appealed to me very much. It seems to summarize what a spiritual aspirant needs to work towards along with his/her spiritual practice. Maa says : .......Maintain the recollection that God within you is performing all action. Remember who you are. Who am I ? I am nobody. Remembering Truth is meditation. In whatever circumstance you reside, remember who is residing there, and there will be no concept of gain or loss, difficulty or comfort. When you remain in this attitude of Truth, this is satsanga, this is communion with truth. Cultivating this attitude, you establish a pattern for the mind to sit still. ........ Thank you Maa. I just realised from your message that satsanga is not only communing with people of like minds, but also means 'sat'- truth , sanga -union , ie communion with truth. Jai Maa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2004 Report Share Posted May 26, 2004 oh latha that is beautiful, that is exactly what i was trying to say, that is the inquiry, 'Where is God?' thank you for showing how unitive this path is once again. as i read it a 2nd time, i see how directly she knits together the INQUIRY with the SADHANA [method, satsang.] i love it! peace! s , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > My thanks to Manoj,Kanda,Steve,Sadhvi, Chris for responding to this > post with their insights. > > Here is something I read in Swamiji's translation of the Kashyapa > Sutras (The Guru and the Goddess available at > http://www.shreemaa.org/bookstore.htm ). This is Maa talking about > manifesting the highest ideals of perfection in one's life and this > particular paragraph appealed to me very much. It seems to summarize > what a spiritual aspirant needs to work towards along with his/her > spiritual practice. > > Maa says : > > ......Maintain the recollection that God within you is performing > all action. Remember who you are. Who am I ? I am nobody. > Remembering Truth is meditation. In whatever circumstance you > reside, remember who is residing there, and there will be no concept > of gain or loss, difficulty or comfort. When you remain in this > attitude of Truth, this is satsanga, this is communion with truth. > Cultivating this attitude, you establish a pattern for the mind to > sit still. ........ > > Thank you Maa. I just realised from your message that satsanga > is not only communing with people of like minds, but also > means 'sat'- truth , sanga -union , ie communion with truth. > > Jai Maa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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