Guest guest Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Dear All, Last Sunday, I had the privilege to watch a sacred ritual - a ritual that symbolized to me the "roles" (for lack of a better word) of a guru/devotee/Goddess. The ritual was enkindling the divine fire - the Vedic way. Very simply put - it is the method of invoking fire by rubbing two pieces of wood together and letting friction to the work. Some description of how this happens ... There is a block of wood (wish I knew the Sanskrit names , would ask Swamiji, but he is so absorbed in Sadhana these days that I dont wanna disturb him) that is laid on the floor. There is another small block of wood that is stuck to an iron rod that is held in place by a handle and rotates freely. The process involves four people - two to hold the block of wood, one person to hold the handle just right so that the rod doesnt slip, and a fourth person to tie a piece of rope around the iron rod and pull the rope back and forth to cause the rod to move . This movement causes the small piece of wood to rub against the block and cause friction. If done right, this friction causes smoke and then will set the block on fire. The trick is to keep the rubbing constant - because a break means you would have to start all over. Simple enough you would think... but was very interesting how it all turned out this Sunday. Swamiji said that the fire could be started anywhere between 15 mins to 3 hrs. It took us almost 4 hours. So Swamiji enlisted 4 well muscled gentlemen and started the process at about 3 pm.All of the other folks were to keep chanting the Gayatri mantra. Each gentleman did his job to perfection and after about 15 mins - sure enough - there was a lot of smoke. Excited, Swamiji sprinkled camphor dust around the hole that was bored and all of us (the non - participants) increased the pitch of the chanting... All of a sudden the small piece of wood rolled off the iron rod ....(OOOOOOOOH went a groan) and we had to start all over again. Another set of gentlemen took over and started ... more smoke... more feverish chanting ...more disappointment. This went on hour after hour until about 6pm. There was a noticeable flagging of energy and people getting disheartened. Then Maa stepped in... She said that she would prefer to light a fire with a matchbox and looked at the four gentlemen meaningfully - as if to say - lets not prolong this anymore. I was torn - and I would think the gentlemen were too. On the one hand , we wanted to succeed in the task as a way of pleasing the Guru, and on the other here was the Guru herself saying that we needed to give up. What does one do? In my mind - the answer was simple. KEEP GOING ! Only because we would not fail our Gurus. And I could see that reflected in the four gentlemen. "Just one more time Maa. Please allow us to try just one more time " asked one devotee. "OK , just one more time" said Maa. One more time later ... no fire. In desperation, we tried one more, and another and another... Maa stood poised with her matchstick (NOOOO Maa !) and kept going and going .... until a point where I stopped thinking and was just chanting (and pretty sure that was the point when everybody was just doing the job without any expectation) when SUDDENLY the block of wood BURST into flames. JAI MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA we screamed. It took us 3 hrs and 50 minutes ... but the feeling of jubilation , exhilaration , celebration was unbelievable. We used that block of wood to do Arati to the Goddess . Maa said "It was everyone's devotion that made this happen". Swamiji said with a twinkle in his eye "And some people had their doubts" Reflecting on that little episode - the Guru gave the inspiration ... Swamiji showed the method. The devotees applied that method. When the technique was not producing the result, the Guru stepped in as if to say - looks like its not happening because you dont want it enough - and revitalized the devotees tried and tried and .... the Goddess took over and made it happen. It was to me a perfect example of how the trio work together - the Guru gives the inspiration and technique the devotee/disciple makes the effort and the Goddess makes it happen. Pretty sure that the effort itself wasnt enough - it required the grace to make it happen, but without the effort nothing would have been gained. Jai Maa ! Thank you for the valuable lesson dear Maa and Swamiji. Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Thank you so much for sharing that with us! When I completed my first 10 day Navaratri fast, Maa told me that it was my faith and devotion that made it possible. I definitely felt that it was the Guru’s grace and the Goddess’s action that made it happen. Jai Maa! Jai Guru! >SUDDENLY the block of wood BURST into flames. JAI MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA we screamed. It took us 3 hrs and 50 minutes ... but the feeling of jubilation , exhilaration , celebration was unbelievable. We used that block of wood to do Arati to the Goddess . Maa said "It was everyone's devotion that made this happen". Swamiji said with a twinkle in his eye "And some people had their doubts" Reflecting on that little episode - the Guru gave the inspiration ... Swamiji showed the method. The devotees applied that method. When the technique was not producing the result, the Guru stepped in as if to say - looks like its not happening because you dont want it enough - and revitalized the devotees tried and tried and .... the Goddess took over and made it happen. It was to me a perfect example of how the trio work together - the Guru gives the inspiration and technique the devotee/disciple makes the effort and the Goddess makes it happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 wow! wonderful lesson and good food for thought, too. -- Be Love Berijoy http://www.egyirba.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Jai Maa, Nandaji and our beloved family! Wow! The symbolism of all this is mind boggling! We are the wood, Mantra is the 'rubbing of the wood', and [if] with Faith and Love, we don't give up...one day... we burst into flame! Enlightenment! Jaiiiiii Maaaaa!!!!!!!!! Love! Love Love! muktimaa , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> wrote: > > > Dear All, > > Last Sunday, I had the privilege to watch a sacred ritual - a ritual > that symbolized to me the "roles" (for lack of a better word) of a > guru/devotee/Goddess. > > The ritual was enkindling the divine fire - the Vedic way. Very > simply put - it is the method of invoking fire by rubbing two pieces > of wood together and letting friction to the work. > > Some description of how this happens ... > > There is a block of wood (wish I knew the Sanskrit names , would ask > Swamiji, but he is so absorbed in Sadhana these days that I dont > wanna disturb him) > that is laid on the floor. There is another small block of wood that > is stuck to an iron rod that is held in place by a handle and > rotates freely. > The process involves four people - two to hold the block of wood, > one person to hold the handle just right so that the rod doesnt > slip, and a fourth person to tie a piece of rope around the iron rod > and pull the rope back and forth to cause the rod to move . This > movement causes the small piece of wood to rub against the block and > cause friction. If done right, this friction causes smoke and then > will set the block on fire. The trick is to keep the rubbing > constant - because a break means you would have to start all over. > > Simple enough you would think... but was very interesting how it all > turned out this Sunday. > > Swamiji said that the fire could be started anywhere between 15 mins > to 3 hrs. It took us almost 4 hours. > > So Swamiji enlisted 4 well muscled gentlemen and started the process > at about 3 pm.All of the other folks were to keep chanting the > Gayatri mantra. > > Each gentleman did his job to perfection and after about 15 mins - > sure enough - there was a lot of smoke. Excited, Swamiji sprinkled > camphor dust around the hole that was bored and all of us (the non - > participants) increased the pitch of the chanting... All of a sudden > the small piece of wood rolled off the iron rod ....(OOOOOOOOH went > a groan) and we had to start all over again. > > Another set of gentlemen took over and started ... more smoke... > more feverish chanting ...more disappointment. > > This went on hour after hour until about 6pm. There was a noticeable > flagging of energy and people getting disheartened. > > Then Maa stepped in... She said that she would prefer to light a > fire with a matchbox and looked at the four gentlemen meaningfully - > as if to say - lets not prolong this anymore. > > I was torn - and I would think the gentlemen were too. On the one > hand , we wanted to succeed in the task as a way of pleasing the > Guru, and on the other here was the Guru herself saying that we > needed to give up. > > What does one do? > > In my mind - the answer was simple. KEEP GOING ! Only because we > would not fail our Gurus. And I could see that reflected in the four > gentlemen. > > "Just one more time Maa. Please allow us to try just one more time " > asked one devotee. > > "OK , just one more time" said Maa. > > One more time later ... no fire. > > > In desperation, we tried one more, and another and another... Maa > stood poised with her matchstick (NOOOO Maa !) and kept going and > going .... > > until a point where I stopped thinking and was just chanting (and > pretty sure that was the point when everybody was just doing the job > without any expectation) > > when > > SUDDENLY the block of wood BURST into flames. > > > JAI MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA we screamed. > > It took us 3 hrs and 50 minutes ... but the feeling of jubilation , > exhilaration , celebration was unbelievable. We used that block of > wood to do Arati to the Goddess . > > Maa said "It was everyone's devotion that made this happen". Swamiji > said with a twinkle in his eye "And some people had their doubts" > > > Reflecting on that little episode - the Guru gave the > inspiration ... Swamiji showed the method. The devotees applied that > method. When the technique was not producing the result, the Guru > stepped in as if to say - looks like its not happening because you > dont want it enough - and revitalized the devotees tried and tried > and .... the Goddess took over and made it happen. > > It was to me a perfect example of how the trio work together - > the Guru gives the inspiration and technique > the devotee/disciple makes the effort > and > the Goddess makes it happen. > > > Pretty sure that the effort itself wasnt enough - it required the > grace to make it happen, but without the effort nothing would have > been gained. > > Jai Maa ! Thank you for the valuable lesson dear Maa and Swamiji. > > Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 In a message dated 1/27/05 9:08:20 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, muktimaa (AT) aol (DOT) com writes: Jai Maa, Nandaji and our beloved family!Wow! The symbolism of all this is mind boggling! We are the wood, Mantra is the 'rubbing of the wood', and [if] with Faith and Love, we don't give up...one day... we burst into flame! Enlightenment! Jaiiiiii Maaaaa!!!!!!!!! Love! Love Love! muktimaa How wonderful ! Om Namah Sivaya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 And to think that Swamiji used to do it by himself because he did't have three others to help... Wonderful story. Wish I'd been there. Brian > > > Dear All, > > Last Sunday, I had the privilege to watch a sacred ritual - a ritual > that symbolized to me the "roles" (for lack of a better word) > of a > guru/devotee/Goddess. > > The ritual was enkindling the divine fire - the Vedic way. Very > simply put - it is the method of invoking fire by rubbing two pieces > of wood together and letting friction to the work. > > Some description of how this happens ... > > There is a block of wood (wish I knew the Sanskrit names , would ask > Swamiji, but he is so absorbed in Sadhana these days that I dont > wanna disturb him) > that is laid on the floor. There is another small block of wood that > is stuck to an iron rod that is held in place by a handle and > rotates freely. > The process involves four people - two to hold the block of wood, > one person to hold the handle just right so that the rod doesnt > slip, and a fourth person to tie a piece of rope around the iron rod > and pull the rope back and forth to cause the rod to move . This > movement causes the small piece of wood to rub against the block and > cause friction. If done right, this friction causes smoke and then > will set the block on fire. The trick is to keep the rubbing > constant - because a break means you would have to start all over. > > Simple enough you would think... but was very interesting how it all > turned out this Sunday. > > Swamiji said that the fire could be started anywhere between 15 mins > to 3 hrs. It took us almost 4 hours. > > So Swamiji enlisted 4 well muscled gentlemen and started the process > at about 3 pm.All of the other folks were to keep chanting the > Gayatri mantra. > > Each gentleman did his job to perfection and after about 15 mins - > sure enough - there was a lot of smoke. Excited, Swamiji sprinkled > camphor dust around the hole that was bored and all of us (the non - > participants) increased the pitch of the chanting... All of a sudden > the small piece of wood rolled off the iron rod ....(OOOOOOOOH went > a groan) and we had to start all over again. > > Another set of gentlemen took over and started ... more smoke... > more feverish chanting ...more disappointment. > > This went on hour after hour until about 6pm. There was a noticeable > flagging of energy and people getting disheartened. > > Then Maa stepped in... She said that she would prefer to light a > fire with a matchbox and looked at the four gentlemen meaningfully - > as if to say - lets not prolong this anymore. > > I was torn - and I would think the gentlemen were too. On the one > hand , we wanted to succeed in the task as a way of pleasing the > Guru, and on the other here was the Guru herself saying that we > needed to give up. > > What does one do? > > In my mind - the answer was simple. KEEP GOING ! Only because we > would not fail our Gurus. And I could see that reflected in the four > gentlemen. > > "Just one more time Maa. Please allow us to try just one more time > " > asked one devotee. > > "OK , just one more time" said Maa. > > One more time later ... no fire. > > > In desperation, we tried one more, and another and another... Maa > stood poised with her matchstick (NOOOO Maa !) and kept going and > going .... > > until a point where I stopped thinking and was just chanting (and > pretty sure that was the point when everybody was just doing the job > without any expectation) > > when > > SUDDENLY the block of wood BURST into flames. > > > JAI MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA we screamed. > > It took us 3 hrs and 50 minutes ... but the feeling of jubilation , > exhilaration , celebration was unbelievable. We used that block of > wood to do Arati to the Goddess . > > Maa said "It was everyone's devotion that made this happen". > Swamiji > said with a twinkle in his eye "And some people had their > doubts" > > > Reflecting on that little episode - the Guru gave the > inspiration ... Swamiji showed the method. The devotees applied that > method. When the technique was not producing the result, the Guru > stepped in as if to say - looks like its not happening because you > dont want it enough - and revitalized the devotees tried and tried > and .... the Goddess took over and made it happen. > > It was to me a perfect example of how the trio work together - > the Guru gives the inspiration and technique > the devotee/disciple makes the effort > and > the Goddess makes it happen. > > > Pretty sure that the effort itself wasnt enough - it required the > grace to make it happen, but without the effort nothing would have > been gained. > > Jai Maa ! Thank you for the valuable lesson dear Maa and Swamiji. > > Nanda > > Sponsor > Children International > Would > you give Hope to a Child in > need? > > > > > > · Click > Here to meet a Girl > And Give Her Hope > · Click Here to meet a Boy > And Change His Life > > Learn More > Links > > / > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Wow, your insite is beautiful...Always a pleasure that you share Jai Maa Grace On 28/01/2005, at 2:32 AM, muktimaa wrote: > > > Jai Maa, Nandaji and our beloved family! > Wow! The symbolism of all this is mind boggling! We are the wood, > Mantra is the 'rubbing of the wood', and [if] with Faith and Love, we > don't give up...one day... we burst into flame! Enlightenment! > Jaiiiiii Maaaaa!!!!!!!!! Love! Love Love! > muktimaa > > > > > , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> > wrote: > > > > > > Dear All, > > > > Last Sunday, I had the privilege to watch a sacred ritual - a > ritual > > that symbolized to me the "roles" (for lack of a better word) of a > > guru/devotee/Goddess. > > > > The ritual was enkindling the divine fire - the Vedic way. Very > > simply put - it is the method of invoking fire by rubbing two > pieces > > of wood together and letting friction to the work. > > > > Some description of how this happens ... > > > > There is a block of wood (wish I knew the Sanskrit names , would > ask > > Swamiji, but he is so absorbed in Sadhana these days that I dont > > wanna disturb him) > > that is laid on the floor. There is another small block of wood > that > > is stuck to an iron rod that is held in place by a handle and > > rotates freely. > > The process involves four people - two to hold the block of wood, > > one person to hold the handle just right so that the rod doesnt > > slip, and a fourth person to tie a piece of rope around the iron > rod > > and pull the rope back and forth to cause the rod to move . This > > movement causes the small piece of wood to rub against the block > and > > cause friction. If done right, this friction causes smoke and then > > will set the block on fire. The trick is to keep the rubbing > > constant - because a break means you would have to start all over. > > > > Simple enough you would think... but was very interesting how it > all > > turned out this Sunday. > > > > Swamiji said that the fire could be started anywhere between 15 > mins > > to 3 hrs. It took us almost 4 hours. > > > > So Swamiji enlisted 4 well muscled gentlemen and started the > process > > at about 3 pm.All of the other folks were to keep chanting the > > Gayatri mantra. > > > > Each gentleman did his job to perfection and after about 15 mins - > > sure enough - there was a lot of smoke. Excited, Swamiji sprinkled > > camphor dust around the hole that was bored and all of us (the non - > > participants) increased the pitch of the chanting... All of a > sudden > > the small piece of wood rolled off the iron rod ....(OOOOOOOOH went > > a groan) and we had to start all over again. > > > > Another set of gentlemen took over and started ... more smoke... > > more feverish chanting ...more disappointment. > > > > This went on hour after hour until about 6pm. There was a > noticeable > > flagging of energy and people getting disheartened. > > > > Then Maa stepped in... She said that she would prefer to light a > > fire with a matchbox and looked at the four gentlemen meaningfully - > > > as if to say - lets not prolong this anymore. > > > > I was torn - and I would think the gentlemen were too. On the one > > hand , we wanted to succeed in the task as a way of pleasing the > > Guru, and on the other here was the Guru herself saying that we > > needed to give up. > > > > What does one do? > > > > In my mind - the answer was simple. KEEP GOING ! Only because we > > would not fail our Gurus. And I could see that reflected in the > four > > gentlemen. > > > > "Just one more time Maa. Please allow us to try just one more > time " > > asked one devotee. > > > > "OK , just one more time" said Maa. > > > > One more time later ... no fire. > > > > > > In desperation, we tried one more, and another and another... Maa > > stood poised with her matchstick (NOOOO Maa !) and kept going and > > going .... > > > > until a point where I stopped thinking and was just chanting (and > > pretty sure that was the point when everybody was just doing the > job > > without any expectation) > > > > when > > > > SUDDENLY the block of wood BURST into flames. > > > > > > JAI MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA we screamed. > > > > It took us 3 hrs and 50 minutes ... but the feeling of jubilation , > > exhilaration , celebration was unbelievable. We used that block of > > wood to do Arati to the Goddess . > > > > Maa said "It was everyone's devotion that made this happen". > Swamiji > > said with a twinkle in his eye "And some people had their doubts" > > > > > > Reflecting on that little episode - the Guru gave the > > inspiration ... Swamiji showed the method. The devotees applied > that > > method. When the technique was not producing the result, the Guru > > stepped in as if to say - looks like its not happening because you > > dont want it enough - and revitalized the devotees tried and tried > > and .... the Goddess took over and made it happen. > > > > It was to me a perfect example of how the trio work together - > > the Guru gives the inspiration and technique > > the devotee/disciple makes the effort > > and > > the Goddess makes it happen. > > > > > > Pretty sure that the effort itself wasnt enough - it required the > > grace to make it happen, but without the effort nothing would have > > been gained. > > > > Jai Maa ! Thank you for the valuable lesson dear Maa and Swamiji. > > > > Nanda > > > Sponsor > > > > Children International > > Would you give Hope to a Child in need? > > > <332170_011805_newchildforemail.jpg> > > · > Click Here to meet a Girl > And Give Her Hope > > · > Click Here to meet a Boy > And Change His Life > > Learn More > > <l.gif> > > Links > > • > / > > • > > > • Terms of > Service. > > Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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