Guest guest Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 In page 33 of "The Guru and the Goddess" , Swamiji says "How can I even figure out what I want to do until I have that inspiration, that example, that vision" Dear all, I have often wondered , as many of you might have, if I am on the right path, how do I know if I am doing the right thing, etc etc .... ie plagued by lack of clarity and other demons. I found the answer in my interactions with Maa and Swamiji over the last year. The nice thing about our Swamiji is that his advice is ever so PRACTICAL. In the above mentioned book, he continues "That is why we start with selfless actions" Selfless action is the key to cultivating love. We have our inspiration - mine is to keep association with beautiful , heart oriented people - and we want to sustain that inspiration. How ???? We like and respect and appreciate and admire many saints and Swamis ... but HOW does one fall in love with the Guru ? How do we know that (S)HE is the one ? Swamiji says "That is why we start with selfless actions" It is such a practical step - to cultivate the relationship and try each other out as it were. Selfless actions - seva - done with reverence... and before I know it... there is a deep affection that comes from a glimpse of knowing a little more about the teacher. Let us just try it out ... serve our Gurus. Establish that relationship with selfless actions and see how our love deepens... Jai Maa ! Thank you Swamiji for the wisdom that is translatable into action in this world. Love Latha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 Swamiji once told Krista and I, that we must love each other completely and give everything. He continued to say that ultimately all our relationships must be like that because people who only wish to give a little, or some want something. I realized in that moment that he was describing the root cause of co-dependency. We fear not having enough, so we withold our love, we attract those same kinds of people, they demand from us, we demand from them and thus we become dependent on others to satisfy our needs. If we give everything, without fear, without judgement with total understanding that goddess is in everyone, then we know that no wrong can be committed by us or to us. It is the attitude of love and giving that enables us to truly receive. When people speak at me about "give and take" relationships, I know they are talking about co-dependence. I believe in giving and receiving with grace, love, respect and admiration. I think that's why the wise man said, "Niether a borrower or a lender be." Just give what you can, with no expectations and watch as the world does the same to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 I believe in this. Especially the last two lines. Thank you, Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 Namaste Brian, I agree ... totally with your comments. I was talking about in my post, the revelation that I had - how selfless seva to a Guru works towards cultivating devotion and love for the Guru. This seva works whether or not I know anything about the Guru, and it serves to help me and the Guru try each other out. It seems so obvious ... but yet there was an 'Aaha' moment when I really understood the benefit of seva. Thank you for the discussion Love Latha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 seva itself is realization, it is the objective, because one is then serving god not self. , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > > > Namaste Brian, > > I agree ... totally with your comments. > > I was talking about in my post, the revelation that I had - how > selfless seva to a Guru works towards cultivating devotion and love > for the Guru. > > This seva works whether or not I know anything about the Guru, and > it serves to help me and the Guru try each other out. > > It seems so obvious ... but yet there was an 'Aaha' moment when I > really understood the benefit of seva. > > Thank you for the discussion > > Love > Latha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2004 Report Share Posted November 13, 2004 Thank you for sharing your epiphany. Brian At 05:30 PM 11/12/2004, you wrote: >Namaste Brian, > >I agree ... totally with your comments. > >I was talking about in my post, the revelation that I had - how >selfless seva to a Guru works towards cultivating devotion and love >for the Guru. > >This seva works whether or not I know anything about the Guru, and >it serves to help me and the Guru try each other out. > >It seems so obvious ... but yet there was an 'Aaha' moment when I >really understood the benefit of seva. > >Thank you for the discussion > >Love >Latha > > > > > > > Links > > > > > > > > > >--- >Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). >Version: 6.0.794 / Virus Database: 538 - Release 11/10/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.794 / Virus Database: 538 - Release 11/10/2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2004 Report Share Posted November 13, 2004 OM NAMAH SIVAYA Steve, great point. this brings to mind the story of the Guru who asked the young disciple to move a pile of rocks to the other side of the ashram. when he had finished the Guru then asked the devotee to move the rocks back to the original location. the disciple was angry because he felt his effort was a waste. he now must move the rocks back to where they were when he started. the lesson the Guru was trying to teach the young disciple was the lesson of surrender and the lesson karma yoga or selfless service. but once the disciple learned that lesson there was more to learn. the Guru said he must learn to live it. if he continued to move the rock pile just because he was told, the Guru said he would be surrendering without the use of discrimination and thus wasting the lesson. the full lesson of karma yoga is it is practiced for the benefit of others. to serve and surrender was only half the lesson. JAI MA , "Steve Connor" <sconnor@a...> wrote: > > > seva itself is realization, it is the objective, because one is then > serving god not self. > > , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> > wrote: > > > > > > Namaste Brian, > > > > I agree ... totally with your comments. > > > > I was talking about in my post, the revelation that I had - how > > selfless seva to a Guru works towards cultivating devotion and love > > for the Guru. > > > > This seva works whether or not I know anything about the Guru, and > > it serves to help me and the Guru try each other out. > > > > It seems so obvious ... but yet there was an 'Aaha' moment when I > > really understood the benefit of seva. > > > > Thank you for the discussion > > > > Love > > Latha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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