"wandering "to and fro" chasing after every desire," Parvati

[Guest guest]

Dear Parvati,

The solution that you present as a way to reduce desires and move

further towards the goal is very helpful. Discrimination is the key

as you point out. Your explanation is clear and easy to understand,

and I thank you so very much for taking the time to help others. You

are always and ever, as mentioned in the Introduction to the Kasyapa

Sutra, "a most humble and serviceful devotee." Whenever you post, I

get a strong feeling of satsanga, good company.

Namaste

-

parv108

Friday, November 05, 2004 10:57 PM

To Brian: Re: Desire

Dear Brian,The asura you are referring to as 'desire' appears in

chapter 8 of the Chandi and is called Raktabija.In Sanskrit, Rakta

means red, blood, passion, or desire and bija means seed. Raktabija

is the seed of desire. The Goddess Kali drinks up all of the seeds of

desires. That is why she is sticking out her tongue. Raktabija won a

boon that anytime one drop of blood, one seed of desire would touch

the ground, a new seed of desire would be born with the same

intensity and strength.Therefore, compassionate Kali drinks up the

seeds before they touch the ground and manifest into new desires.One

thing we can do to keep Raktabija from multiplying is to remember our

goal and then discriminate as to which desires will take us closer to

our goal and which ones will take us further away. Otherwise we will

be wandering "to and fro" chasing after every desire.Jai Kali Maa!---

In , "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> wrote:> >

Dearest Sankar,> > Why feel guilty?> > What is wrong with desiring?>

> Nandu gave me an article, I'm not even sure where it came from. It

talks about the anchient mystics and their perspective of reality.> >

They understood that it is desire which creates and maintains the

universe. To attempt to limit desire was like trying to stop being.>

> Guilt over desire is like sending one thought or idea to battle an

asura. There is an asura we haven't discussed yet from the Chandi. I

don't know his sanskrit name, but swamiji translates it as "Desire."

I would add the adjective, "unconscious" to the front and say the

asura's name is, "unconscious desire," because I don't see desire

itself as a bad thing. Its just a part of who we are, who goddess

is.> > So there is this giant battle waging between the gods and

desire, with desire spilling his blood over the fullness of the three

worlds, multiplying all the while. And the gods -- the holy and noble

thoughts -- are approached by and mistake the demon guilt as an

emissary and ask him to try and coerse desire into stopping his

leacherous ways.> > That's like sending gasoline to put out a fire.>

> KABOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!> > In reality guilt and unconscious

desire are twin brothers. One makes us feel bad about ourselves and

the other makes us feel good about feeling bad.> > Neither are

consciousness.> > The way to overcome desire is simply to alow it to

change the object of the desire. Desire that goddess, consciousness.

Once you see her on that hill side, you gather desire for her beauty,

you wish to lick her salted feet, make love to her beautiful form,

marry her and go on a REALLY long honeymoon.> > Desire is not bad, it

is not good, it simply is. Accept it and allow yourself to feel it.

Then offer it up to her as proof of your devotion to her. With every

flower you offer in puja, offer a desire, and when she asks for a

boon ask her to give you desire for her, to build your desire for

her. Once your desire for her overwhelms all other desire there will

be no desires to stand between you and your goal and you will attain

her, marry her and live happily ever after. Fully present and

deleriously thoughtless.> > It is not possible to do a puja

incorrectly. It simply is not possible. As badly as we American's

slaughter the sanscrit I know mother is listening and loving me for

it. I can feel her in my heart and in my hands. She feels my love and

my desire and she grants me what ever I ask for. The more I ask for

the more she gives. And with each granting I become more thankful,

more grateful, and more peaceful deep down inside.> > Just keep doing

the pujas. It doesn't matter if you take a sankalpa. It doesn't matter

if you feel guilty or angry, or upset or happy or blissful. It only

matters that you do it for her and that she is present in your

thoughts while you do it. It is her presence in your thoughts that

allows her to battle against them. The process is automatic.> > It

does not matter how you feel while you do the puja, in fact feeling

guilty is PROOF that it is working! Feel the guilt and know it is the

opposite of her and that she's showing it to you so you can say, "Take

this away Maa! Take this away!"> > I suggest the next time she grants

you a boon say, "goddess destroy these feelings that would have me

stop my puja or alter it! Do it here and now! I want to desire you,

please Maa grant me this boon that I may serve you better."> > It

will happen. I promise.> > Love,> > Brian