Guest guest Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Chocolate is yummy, right? Well if you plucked it off a cocoa tree and ate it, you'd probably think, "God this is just aweful!" Chocolate has to be processed, treated with alkalai, pulverized and mixed with sugar, water and milk to taste good. I often wonder who figured that out. I mean they took something aweful and made it one of the most addictive and tasty snacks on the planet. At any rate, one can see that chocolate in its raw form isn't yummy until the workmanship and creativity of man make it that way. Likewise, we are raw chocolate hanging from mother's limbs and she plucks us, breathing existance into our minds and then via the machinery of reality she molds us, purifies us, and distills our essence into a wonderful yummy treat for her. And if you don't think she's going to swallow us up, you should talk to Swamiji about Samadhi, he he. All the happenings in life are meant to teach us about ourselves. Everything that happens around us is a pure reflection of what's going on within us. Symbolism works because symbolism isn't just a concept, its how the universe works. Sadhana's goals, in my opinion, are to make us receptive to the truth, to open our minds to the point where we allow the entire universe to enter us. To see it from Maa's perspective to prepare us to be swallowed by Her. She wants us to be not only ready and willing, but She wants us to be able to accept Her. Its a game to Her, She knows we are Her, She knows we have just allowed ourselves to forget Her, but since we have done it, since we have been born, she wants to make sure we really want Her, really are as tasty as we can be before She breaks down the barriers we created and allows us to merge into Her. Life's goals are exactly the same as sadhana's. The only difference between sadhana and life is that in sadhana we choose to desire to be open. In life, we rarely feel we are ready for what is happening to us, we rarely feel we have chosen the experiences and rarely desire to accept what is happening. The dynamic of life, the lack of peace within life is caused by our mind's refusal to accept her working of us. When we rebel against reality and decide that we know what's right, that we should not be treated in this way, then we react to life's circumstances with mental, emotional and sometimes physical violence. These reactions are the opposite of sadhana. The reason I post on this subject today is three fold: 1. Pujas, meditation, chanting, singing, and devotion to goddess are not the only ways to get her attention. 2. Spritual practice performed in the world is much more beneficial to the participant than spiritual practice performed in the cave of the heart. Although both practices are exactly the same, external non-reactionary devotion to peace is profoundly more transforming than any single mantra said within the heart. But ironically it can be the mantra itself which enables the non-reaction in the world. 3. Each type of spritual practice enforces the other type. That means if you have a period of intense inner devotion, your outter attitude will be affected and peace will shine through you. Likewise if you find yourself in a drama, you close your eyes and stop yourself from reacting, repeat a prayer to mother asking for awareness to strip you of your fears and angers, then your ability to meditate and inner devotion will strengthen. Many people see the path of spirituality as separate from their worldly duties. Most modern religions are based on that fact. Christianity has people go to worship at a church on Sunday. Even Hinduism has people go to a temple to worship Maa or Shiva. The simple fact is, there is no difference. And the best we can do to integrate with Her is to recognize Her not only in the form of the Gods and Goddesses in the temple, not just within the temple bodies of Shree Maa and Swamiji, but also within the temple bodies of all those around us, in the animals and trees, the blades of grass and even in the pavement, the car tires, and yes even in the people who perform so many misdeeds, leading mankind seemingly away from peace. The true strength of a devotee lies in the recognition of Her in everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Dear Brian, Your satsang is beautiful and I understand and appreciate the underlying sentiment that all is not separate from Maa and all is sadhana be it 'spiritual practices' such as chanting , meditating etc. or our work in the world, raising our family etc. The only problem I have is your categorical statement that sadhana in the world is more beneficial that sadhana in t he cave of the heart. What is most beneficial to each individual varies as to their individual karma and can vary at different times. I don't claim to know what is best for others or even myself for that matter, I leave that to the Guru's. Sincerely, Jai Maa Jai Swamiji On 19/02/2005, at 8:30 AM, brian wrote: > > Chocolate is yummy, right? > > Well if you plucked it off a cocoa tree and ate it, you'd probably > think, > "God this is just aweful!" > > Chocolate has to be processed, treated with alkalai, pulverized and > mixed > with sugar, water and milk to taste good. > > I often wonder who figured that out. I mean they took something > aweful and > made it one of the most addictive and tasty snacks on the planet. > > At any rate, one can see that chocolate in its raw form isn't yummy > until > the workmanship and creativity of man make it that way. > > Likewise, we are raw chocolate hanging from mother's limbs and she > plucks > us, breathing existance into our minds and then via the machinery of > reality she molds us, purifies us, and distills our essence into a > wonderful yummy treat for her. > > And if you don't think she's going to swallow us up, you should talk > to > Swamiji about Samadhi, he he. > > All the happenings in life are meant to teach us about ourselves. > Everything that happens around us is a pure reflection of what's > going on > within us. Symbolism works because symbolism isn't just a concept, > its how > the universe works. > > Sadhana's goals, in my opinion, are to make us receptive to the > truth, to > open our minds to the point where we allow the entire universe to > enter > us. To see it from Maa's perspective to prepare us to be swallowed by > Her. > She wants us to be not only ready and willing, but She wants us to be > able > to accept Her. Its a game to Her, She knows we are Her, She knows we > have > just allowed ourselves to forget Her, but since we have done it, > since we > have been born, she wants to make sure we really want Her, really are > as > tasty as we can be before She breaks down the barriers we created and > allows us to merge into Her. > > Life's goals are exactly the same as sadhana's. The only difference > between sadhana and life is that in sadhana we choose to desire to be > open. In life, we rarely feel we are ready for what is happening to > us, we > rarely feel we have chosen the experiences and rarely desire to accept > what is happening. > > The dynamic of life, the lack of peace within life is caused by our > mind's > refusal to accept her working of us. When we rebel against reality and > decide that we know what's right, that we should not be treated in > this > way, then we react to life's circumstances with mental, emotional and > sometimes physical violence. These reactions are the opposite of > sadhana. > > The reason I post on this subject today is three fold: > > 1. Pujas, meditation, chanting, singing, and devotion to goddess are > not > the only ways to get her attention. > 2. Spritual practice performed in the world is much more beneficial > to the > participant than spiritual practice performed in the cave of the > heart. > Although both practices are exactly the same, external non-reactionary > devotion to peace is profoundly more transforming than any single > mantra > said within the heart. But ironically it can be the mantra itself > which > enables the non-reaction in the world. > 3. Each type of spritual practice enforces the other type. That means > if > you have a period of intense inner devotion, your outter attitude > will be > affected and peace will shine through you. Likewise if you find > yourself > in a drama, you close your eyes and stop yourself from reacting, > repeat a > prayer to mother asking for awareness to strip you of your fears and > angers, then your ability to meditate and inner devotion will > strengthen. > > Many people see the path of spirituality as separate from their > worldly > duties. Most modern religions are based on that fact. Christianity has > people go to worship at a church on Sunday. Even Hinduism has people > go to > a temple to worship Maa or Shiva. The simple fact is, there is no > difference. And the best we can do to integrate with Her is to > recognize > Her not only in the form of the Gods and Goddesses in the temple, not > just > within the temple bodies of Shree Maa and Swamiji, but also within the > temple bodies of all those around us, in the animals and trees, the > blades > of grass and even in the pavement, the car tires, and yes even in the > people who perform so many misdeeds, leading mankind seemingly away > from > peace. > > The true strength of a devotee lies in the recognition of Her in > everything. > > Links > > • > / > > • > > > • Terms of > Service. > > Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 We all have different opinions, that's part of the fun. > Dear Brian, > Your satsang is beautiful and I understand and appreciate the > underlying sentiment that all is not separate from Maa and all is > sadhana be it 'spiritual practices' such as chanting , meditating etc. > or our work in the world, raising our family etc. > The only problem I have is your categorical statement that sadhana in > the world is more beneficial that sadhana in t he cave of the heart. > What is most beneficial to each individual varies as to their > individual karma and can vary at different times. I don't claim to > know what is best for others or even myself for that matter, I leave > that to the Guru's. > Sincerely, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 This is truly wonderful, Brian. And I can tell it comes from your own experience. My only disagreement would be in where you put the emphasis. I feel that many of us need the formal sadhana of the cave of the heart before we can begin to reach the stage of non-reactivity in the world. Love and blessings, Ardis on 2/18/05 1:30 PM, brian (AT) soulspark (DOT) org at brian (AT) soulspark (DOT) org wrote: Chocolate is yummy, right? Well if you plucked it off a cocoa tree and ate it, you'd probably think, "God this is just aweful!" Chocolate has to be processed, treated with alkalai, pulverized and mixed with sugar, water and milk to taste good. I often wonder who figured that out. I mean they took something aweful and made it one of the most addictive and tasty snacks on the planet. At any rate, one can see that chocolate in its raw form isn't yummy until the workmanship and creativity of man make it that way. Likewise, we are raw chocolate hanging from mother's limbs and she plucks us, breathing existance into our minds and then via the machinery of reality she molds us, purifies us, and distills our essence into a wonderful yummy treat for her. And if you don't think she's going to swallow us up, you should talk to Swamiji about Samadhi, he he. All the happenings in life are meant to teach us about ourselves. Everything that happens around us is a pure reflection of what's going on within us. Symbolism works because symbolism isn't just a concept, its how the universe works. Sadhana's goals, in my opinion, are to make us receptive to the truth, to open our minds to the point where we allow the entire universe to enter us. To see it from Maa's perspective to prepare us to be swallowed by Her. She wants us to be not only ready and willing, but She wants us to be able to accept Her. Its a game to Her, She knows we are Her, She knows we have just allowed ourselves to forget Her, but since we have done it, since we have been born, she wants to make sure we really want Her, really are as tasty as we can be before She breaks down the barriers we created and allows us to merge into Her. Life's goals are exactly the same as sadhana's. The only difference between sadhana and life is that in sadhana we choose to desire to be open. In life, we rarely feel we are ready for what is happening to us, we rarely feel we have chosen the experiences and rarely desire to accept what is happening. The dynamic of life, the lack of peace within life is caused by our mind's refusal to accept her working of us. When we rebel against reality and decide that we know what's right, that we should not be treated in this way, then we react to life's circumstances with mental, emotional and sometimes physical violence. These reactions are the opposite of sadhana. The reason I post on this subject today is three fold: 1. Pujas, meditation, chanting, singing, and devotion to goddess are not the only ways to get her attention. 2. Spritual practice performed in the world is much more beneficial to the participant than spiritual practice performed in the cave of the heart. Although both practices are exactly the same, external non-reactionary devotion to peace is profoundly more transforming than any single mantra said within the heart. But ironically it can be the mantra itself which enables the non-reaction in the world. 3. Each type of spritual practice enforces the other type. That means if you have a period of intense inner devotion, your outter attitude will be affected and peace will shine through you. Likewise if you find yourself in a drama, you close your eyes and stop yourself from reacting, repeat a prayer to mother asking for awareness to strip you of your fears and angers, then your ability to meditate and inner devotion will strengthen. Many people see the path of spirituality as separate from their worldly duties. Most modern religions are based on that fact. Christianity has people go to worship at a church on Sunday. Even Hinduism has people go to a temple to worship Maa or Shiva. The simple fact is, there is no difference. And the best we can do to integrate with Her is to recognize Her not only in the form of the Gods and Goddesses in the temple, not just within the temple bodies of Shree Maa and Swamiji, but also within the temple bodies of all those around us, in the animals and trees, the blades of grass and even in the pavement, the car tires, and yes even in the people who perform so many misdeeds, leading mankind seemingly away from peace. The true strength of a devotee lies in the recognition of Her in everything. / <?subject=Un> Terms of Service <> . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 Mamaste, Dear Family! i want to qualify my earlier post saying 'That this story has become one of my all time teaching stories'. It still remains one of my all time favorites, but upon re-reading it, there is one thing i would most definitely change, and that is this statement: " Spritual practice performed in the world is much more beneficial to the participant than spiritual practice performed in the cave of the heart." The Cave of the Heart is Everywhere equally...within and without...without and within. It is all the same. Let us all worhip in whatever way we wish and know that one way is not better than the other. Everything is Goddess. Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! Jai Ramakrishna Deva! muktimaa , brian@s... wrote: > > Chocolate is yummy, right? > > Well if you plucked it off a cocoa tree and ate it, you'd probably think, > "God this is just aweful!" > > Chocolate has to be processed, treated with alkalai, pulverized and mixed > with sugar, water and milk to taste good. > > I often wonder who figured that out. I mean they took something aweful and > made it one of the most addictive and tasty snacks on the planet. > > At any rate, one can see that chocolate in its raw form isn't yummy until > the workmanship and creativity of man make it that way. > > Likewise, we are raw chocolate hanging from mother's limbs and she plucks > us, breathing existance into our minds and then via the machinery of > reality she molds us, purifies us, and distills our essence into a > wonderful yummy treat for her. > > And if you don't think she's going to swallow us up, you should talk to > Swamiji about Samadhi, he he. > > All the happenings in life are meant to teach us about ourselves. > Everything that happens around us is a pure reflection of what's going on > within us. Symbolism works because symbolism isn't just a concept, its how > the universe works. > > Sadhana's goals, in my opinion, are to make us receptive to the truth, to > open our minds to the point where we allow the entire universe to enter > us. To see it from Maa's perspective to prepare us to be swallowed by Her. > She wants us to be not only ready and willing, but She wants us to be able > to accept Her. Its a game to Her, She knows we are Her, She knows we have > just allowed ourselves to forget Her, but since we have done it, since we > have been born, she wants to make sure we really want Her, really are as > tasty as we can be before She breaks down the barriers we created and > allows us to merge into Her. > > Life's goals are exactly the same as sadhana's. The only difference > between sadhana and life is that in sadhana we choose to desire to be > open. In life, we rarely feel we are ready for what is happening to us, we > rarely feel we have chosen the experiences and rarely desire to accept > what is happening. > > The dynamic of life, the lack of peace within life is caused by our mind's > refusal to accept her working of us. When we rebel against reality and > decide that we know what's right, that we should not be treated in this > way, then we react to life's circumstances with mental, emotional and > sometimes physical violence. These reactions are the opposite of sadhana. > > The reason I post on this subject today is three fold: > > 1. Pujas, meditation, chanting, singing, and devotion to goddess are not > the only ways to get her attention. > 2. Spritual practice performed in the world is much more beneficial to the > participant than spiritual practice performed in the cave of the heart. > Although both practices are exactly the same, external non- reactionary > devotion to peace is profoundly more transforming than any single mantra > said within the heart. But ironically it can be the mantra itself which > enables the non-reaction in the world. > 3. Each type of spritual practice enforces the other type. That means if > you have a period of intense inner devotion, your outter attitude will be > affected and peace will shine through you. Likewise if you find yourself > in a drama, you close your eyes and stop yourself from reacting, repeat a > prayer to mother asking for awareness to strip you of your fears and > angers, then your ability to meditate and inner devotion will strengthen. > > Many people see the path of spirituality as separate from their worldly > duties. Most modern religions are based on that fact. Christianity has > people go to worship at a church on Sunday. Even Hinduism has people go to > a temple to worship Maa or Shiva. The simple fact is, there is no > difference. And the best we can do to integrate with Her is to recognize > Her not only in the form of the Gods and Goddesses in the temple, not just > within the temple bodies of Shree Maa and Swamiji, but also within the > temple bodies of all those around us, in the animals and trees, the blades > of grass and even in the pavement, the car tires, and yes even in the > people who perform so many misdeeds, leading mankind seemingly away from > peace. > > The true strength of a devotee lies in the recognition of Her in everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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