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--- Steve Connor <sconnor wrote:

> there is this knowledge

> and there is this personal dharma;

> forge these TWO

> into

>ONE.

 

I am reminded of a beautiful episode from Parvati Devi's life...

 

Parvati Devi was born as an incarnation of Divine Mother. From birth itself,

her only desire was to be married to/one with Lord Shiva. This desire was so

overwhelming that by the age of 5 or so, she wanted to dedicate her life to

tapasya, for the sake of winning Lord Shiva to her side. Her name "Uma", when

translated one way, means "O child, no", indicating her mother's dismay at the

thought of her sweet daughter living a severe life as a renunciant.

 

When she became a young woman, she could take it no longer, so she left to

begin her sacred austerities. She undertook a number of vows, increasing the

severity of her practices as she progressed. Finally, desperate with love, she

took a vow that she would not break her meditative/yogic posture for any

reason, until she had finally won Lord Shiva. According to tradition, the

consequence of breaking this vow could be that she would NEVER attain her goal.

Once she had commenced her austerities, she heard the sound of a small child

shouting for help. As she was in a remote area, she knew that there was no one

else to aid the helpless child.

 

Feeling unbearable compassion for the child, and without even thinking of the

undesirable effects of breaking her vow, Parvati jumped up and ran towards the

sound of the crying. Immediately Lord Shiva appeared in front of her, told her

that there was actually no child in distress, and said, "O Parvati, you were

willing to give up what you desired most--to be my wife--for the sake of

helping an innocent, helpless child. Now I know for certain that you are worthy

of union with me."

 

The lesson I take from this story is that those who act selflessly for the

well-being of others will definitely achieve their goal of enlightenment.

Devi/Lord Shiva will make sure of it.

 

Jai Maa,

Ekta

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read only the mail you want - Mail SpamGuard.

 

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Yes,

 

I do believe the primary purpose of all of these austerities is to

bring us to a place where we can serve. Those fortunate few who are

capable of serving others joyfully, without getting swallowed-up by

the ego, or losing sight of God, are indeed blessed. Divine is another

word for servant of all.

 

Chris

 

 

 

, Eleathea Barraclough

<eleathea> wrote:

>

> --- Steve Connor <sconnor@a...> wrote:

> > there is this knowledge

> > and there is this personal dharma;

> > forge these TWO

> > into

> >ONE.

>

> I am reminded of a beautiful episode from Parvati Devi's life...

>

> Parvati Devi was born as an incarnation of Divine Mother. From birth

itself,

> her only desire was to be married to/one with Lord Shiva. This

desire was so

> overwhelming that by the age of 5 or so, she wanted to dedicate her

life to

> tapasya, for the sake of winning Lord Shiva to her side. Her name

"Uma", when

> translated one way, means "O child, no", indicating her mother's

dismay at the

> thought of her sweet daughter living a severe life as a renunciant.

>

> When she became a young woman, she could take it no longer, so she

left to

> begin her sacred austerities. She undertook a number of vows,

increasing the

> severity of her practices as she progressed. Finally, desperate with

love, she

> took a vow that she would not break her meditative/yogic posture for any

> reason, until she had finally won Lord Shiva. According to

tradition, the

> consequence of breaking this vow could be that she would NEVER

attain her goal.

> Once she had commenced her austerities, she heard the sound of a

small child

> shouting for help. As she was in a remote area, she knew that there

was no one

> else to aid the helpless child.

>

> Feeling unbearable compassion for the child, and without even

thinking of the

> undesirable effects of breaking her vow, Parvati jumped up and ran

towards the

> sound of the crying. Immediately Lord Shiva appeared in front of

her, told her

> that there was actually no child in distress, and said, "O Parvati,

you were

> willing to give up what you desired most--to be my wife--for the sake of

> helping an innocent, helpless child. Now I know for certain that you

are worthy

> of union with me."

>

> The lesson I take from this story is that those who act selflessly

for the

> well-being of others will definitely achieve their goal of

enlightenment.

> Devi/Lord Shiva will make sure of it.

>

> Jai Maa,

> Ekta

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Read only the mail you want - Mail SpamGuard.

>

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--- Steve Connor <sconnor (AT) austin (DOT) rr.com> wrote:> there is this

knowledge > and there is this personal dharma;> forge these TWO>

into>ONE.I am reminded of a beautiful episode from Parvati Devi's

life...Parvati Devi was born as an incarnation of Divine Mother. From

birth itself,her only desire was to be married to/one with Lord Shiva.

This desire was sooverwhelming that by the age of 5 or so, she wanted

to dedicate her life totapasya, for the sake of winning Lord Shiva to

her side. Her name "Uma", whentranslated one way, means "O child, no",

indicating her mother's dismay at thethought of her sweet daughter

living a severe life as a renunciant.When she became a young woman,

she could take it no longer, so she left tobegin her sacred

austerities. She undertook a number of vows, increasing

theseverity of her practices as she progressed. Finally, desperate

with love, shetook a vow that she would not break her

meditative/yogic posture for anyreason, until she had finally won

Lord Shiva. According to tradition, theconsequence of breaking this

vow could be that she would NEVER attain her goal.Once she had

commenced her austerities, she heard the sound of a small

childshouting for help. As she was in a remote area, she knew that

there was no oneelse to aid the helpless child. Feeling unbearable

compassion for the child, and without even thinking of theundesirable

effects of breaking her vow, Parvati jumped up and ran towards

thesound of the crying. Immediately Lord Shiva appeared in front of

her, told herthat there was actually no child in distress, and said,

"O Parvati, you werewilling to give up what you desired most--to be

my wife--for the sake ofhelping an innocent, helpless child. Now I

know for certain that you

are worthyof union with me." The lesson I take from this story is that

those who act selflessly for thewell-being of others will definitely

achieve their goal of enlightenment.Devi/Lord Shiva will make sure of

it.Jai Maa,Ekta Do you

? Read only the mail you want - Mail SpamGuard.

 

That is a truly beautifull story I would love to know where it is from.

 

Jai Ma BOm Shankar

The all-new My – Get yours free!

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