Guest guest Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Jana quoted from Swami Chidananda .... It is not the Guru that accepts the disciple, but the disciple has to first accept the Guru. The disciple first of all has to render himself a sishya... Namaste Jana, Your post with quotes with Swami Chidananda was filled with useful wisdom for devotees/disciples and aspirants in general. Thank you. I wanted to focus on one line in particular ... "The disciple first of all has to render himself a sishya" Our Swamiji has often said "Siksha before Diksha" ie we make ourselves worthy of disciplehood. For me this involves carrying out their instructions to the letter 1) Doing the prescibed sadhana because this takes us into their world 2) Seva - what has been requested by them as well as looking for any opportunity to be of service. I would like to throw this question open to the group - what are the ways a person makes him/herself worthy of being a disciple ? Can you share any experiences in your life or that you have read. Thanks for sharing. Jai Maa Latha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Latha, My situation was admittedly unusual. I never met my gurudeva. I did not therefore receive personal diksha, and never got a gurumantra. Some will doubt that I was ever a "disciple," and all I can say is that his grace was such that it is beyond all doubt for me. He gave, and he gave unstintingly. All I did to receive his grace was to surrender at his feet in loving hope and faith, and cry for his help. He never even wrote me. But he placed a part of himself inside, at a time when I needed help and stability, and his words were my constant guide. At another point in my life, someone else (who didn't know who he was) saw him standing next to me looking very sad just three days before an incident that was to turn my life upside down (I couldn't see him). He was described by a senior disciple as retiring at a certain hour every night to "visit" his students in meditation and help them. I feel certain I was one of them, though I never did anything to deserve his care of me, and was never able to do anything for him. I always tried (wanted) to follow his teachings, but there were years altogether when I did no practices, and I was never a very good student. I have always been difficult, with many habits and complexes and little capacity. His great compassion and selfless service of humanity, one person at a time, is the reason I am here today. I will never be able to repay him for what he has given me. Swami Rama will always be in my heart. Jai Guru! Chris , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > > Jana quoted from Swami Chidananda > > ... It is not the Guru that accepts the disciple, but the disciple > has to first accept the Guru. The disciple first of all has to > render himself a sishya... > > Namaste Jana, > > Your post with quotes with Swami Chidananda was filled with useful > wisdom for devotees/disciples and aspirants in general. Thank you. > > I wanted to focus on one line in particular ... > > "The disciple first of all has to render himself a sishya" > > Our Swamiji has often said "Siksha before Diksha" ie we make > ourselves worthy of disciplehood. > > For me this involves carrying out their instructions to the letter > > 1) Doing the prescibed sadhana because this takes us into their world > 2) Seva - what has been requested by them as well as looking for any > opportunity to be of service. > > I would like to throw this question open to the group - what are the > ways a person makes him/herself worthy of being a disciple ? Can you > share any experiences in your life or that you have read. > > Thanks for sharing. > > Jai Maa > Latha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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