To Brian on Nandu

[Guest guest]

What timing, I was just talking to a friend today about how much we

appreciate people who live life in a simple and childlike way.

 

I thought you might enjoy this. When I took refuge as a Tibetan

Buddhist, my lama searched and searched for the name that he felt was

most appropriate for me.

 

The name he chose was Tashi Lhamo. He translated it as "Goddess of

Auspiciousness". I told him I didn't really know what auspiciousness

meant. He said "whatever experiences you encounter in life, you do not

label them good or bad, painful or joyful, easy or hard. You apply all

experiences to your path which you have dedicated to the liberation of

all beings.You will bring blessings wherever you go."

 

When I first chanted the closing prayers "To the Auspicious of all

Auspiciousness, to the Good, to the Accomplisher of all Objectives, to

the Source of Refuge, to the Mother of the three worlds, to the Goddess

Who is Rays of Light, Exposer of Consciousness, we bow to you", I felt

a very close connection.

 

This sounds a lot like your description of Nandu.

 

Ardis

 

The example I try to follow is from my friend Nandu. His approach to

life

is so child like, its simply beautiful. When anything happens that seems

bad or good, hard or easy, up or down (etc.) He just laughs and asks,

"What are you doing now Maa?"

 

Another lesson Nandu taught me very recently is that the picture of

RamaKrishna where he is posing next to a podium looking deeply into the

camera, he is not looking at us or the photographer, he is looking at

Maa.

He is seeing her in the camera, on the film, within and without the

photographer. That is the ideal devotee.

 

The questions I ask myself when I see the Jerry Falwells (oh my God,

Fall

Well what a name!) of the world is this, "Why do I care that he seems so

plastic and fake? Why do I judge him to be false when in reality he is

also Maa in disguise?"

 

The answer is straight forward, my ego resents his egos apparent power

over people.

 

When ever there is discord it is because the egoic mind does not accept

that which is. (That's a quote from "The Power of Now" or at least a

paraphrase)

 

There are people who do not know and who do not know that they do not

know. A spiritualist simply knows he does not know. Not really much of a

difference and certainly no basis for an upturned nose.

 

We are all saints and we are all devotees. Everyone is God and everyone

is

devoted to God. This place is all about God playing with God while

forgetting Herself.

 

Maya's job is to make us forget God. She's very good at it. However,

once

we begin to see Maya as God, then she's got quite a dilemna doesn't she?

"How can I fool those who see Goddess in me" She asks herself. The

answer

is that she cranks up the skill level. She makes it harder for us to see

her by presenting us with those who would threaten us or try to

manipulate

us, those who would press our fear buttons. She presents us with people

who pretend to know and use people. She presents us with people whose

karma is such that they will know and then forget. This is what she does

to get us back into our egos, to forget Her.

 

The irony is, the more extreme She has to get, the easier it is for us

to

realize what She is doing. There is a great risk we will forget falling

very hard, but there is also a huge risk from her perspective that her

gamble will fail and We'll become realized.

 

These so called fallen Gurus are simply those who forgot because Maya

tricked them. She gave them understanding and wisdom and then tricked

them

into identification with the egoic identity of the "Great Teacher." They

can't be blamed that they forgot, its the nature of Her game. They are

still God, as we all are, they just forgot what the definition of God is

and now believe that the little me is God or something to that effect.

 

And now she is using them to test your devotedness to a truth that you

found through them and then felt you lost because the Guru appears to

have

fallen. Where does your Faith come from? From the man or from the Guru?

 

Don't believe in the man. Believe in the God within the man. Base your

love not on how the man behaves but on the light of the man's soul.

 

Be devoted to the truth. Be devoted to the light. Worship the light

within

him. Bow before the consiousness of Goddess within him. Be that way with

everyone, Self proclaimed Guru, friend, stranger, beggar and family

member.

 

When someone is rude be like Nandu, think to yourself, "Oh Maa, you are

so

funny! What are you up to now?" By seeing Maa in that moment you are

maintaining awareness of her and thus preventing yourself from

forgetting

for the moment who you are.

 

You are Goddess.

 

I worship you.

 

I bow to your jewel encrusted feet.

 

I wash your feet in milk, yogurt and ghee.

 

I love you with all my heart and soul.

 

You are my wife, you are my mother, you are my neighbor, and you are my

friend.

 

Teach me oh master to realize thy truth. What is your lesson for this

moment?

 

I bow to your infinite awareness. I bow to your wisdom. I bow. I bow.

 

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Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored]

[Guest guest]

There are certain people who have that poise. I bow to them.

 

I loved your story about RamaKrishna. Thanks for sharing it.

 

 

Ardis Jackson wrote:

> *What timing, I was just talking to a friend today about how much we

> appreciate people who live life in a simple and childlike way.

>

> I thought you might enjoy this. When I took refuge as a Tibetan

> Buddhist, my lama searched and searched for the name that he felt was

> most appropriate for me.

>

> The name he chose was Tashi Lhamo. He translated it as "Goddess of

> Auspiciousness". I told him I didn't really know what auspiciousness

> meant. He said "whatever experiences you encounter in life, you do not

> label them good or bad, painful or joyful, easy or hard. You apply all

> experiences to your path which you have dedicated to the liberation of

> all beings.You will bring blessings wherever you go."

>

> When I first chanted the closing prayers "To the Auspicious of all

> Auspiciousness, to the Good, to the Accomplisher of all Objectives, to

> the Source of Refuge, to the Mother of the three worlds, to the

> Goddess Who is Rays of Light, Exposer of Consciousness, we bow to

> you", I felt a very close connection.

>

> This sounds a lot like your description of Nandu.

>

> Ardis *

>

> The example I try to follow is from my friend Nandu. His approach to life

> is so child like, its simply beautiful. When anything happens that seems

> bad or good, hard or easy, up or down (etc.) He just laughs and asks,

> "What are you doing now Maa?"

>

> Another lesson Nandu taught me very recently is that the picture of

> RamaKrishna where he is posing next to a podium looking deeply into the

> camera, he is not looking at us or the photographer, he is looking at

> Maa.

> He is seeing her in the camera, on the film, within and without the

> photographer. That is the ideal devotee.

>

> The questions I ask myself when I see the Jerry Falwells (oh my God, Fall

> Well what a name!) of the world is this, "Why do I care that he seems so

> plastic and fake? Why do I judge him to be false when in reality he is

> also Maa in disguise?"

>

> The answer is straight forward, my ego resents his egos apparent power

> over people.

>

> When ever there is discord it is because the egoic mind does not accept

> that which is. (That's a quote from "The Power of Now" or at least a

> paraphrase)

>

> There are people who do not know and who do not know that they do not

> know. A spiritualist simply knows he does not know. Not really much of a

> difference and certainly no basis for an upturned nose.

>

> We are all saints and we are all devotees. Everyone is God and

> everyone is

> devoted to God. This place is all about God playing with God while

> forgetting Herself.

>

> Maya's job is to make us forget God. She's very good at it. However, once

> we begin to see Maya as God, then she's got quite a dilemna doesn't she?

> "How can I fool those who see Goddess in me" She asks herself. The answer

> is that she cranks up the skill level. She makes it harder for us to see

> her by presenting us with those who would threaten us or try to

> manipulate

> us, those who would press our fear buttons. She presents us with people

> who pretend to know and use people. She presents us with people whose

> karma is such that they will know and then forget. This is what she does

> to get us back into our egos, to forget Her.

>

> The irony is, the more extreme She has to get, the easier it is for us to

> realize what She is doing. There is a great risk we will forget falling

> very hard, but there is also a huge risk from her perspective that her

> gamble will fail and We'll become realized.

>

> These so called fallen Gurus are simply those who forgot because Maya

> tricked them. She gave them understanding and wisdom and then tricked

> them

> into identification with the egoic identity of the "Great Teacher." They

> can't be blamed that they forgot, its the nature of Her game. They are

> still God, as we all are, they just forgot what the definition of God is

> and now believe that the little me is God or something to that effect.

>

> And now she is using them to test your devotedness to a truth that you

> found through them and then felt you lost because the Guru appears to

> have

> fallen. Where does your Faith come from? From the man or from the Guru?

>

> Don't believe in the man. Believe in the God within the man. Base your

> love not on how the man behaves but on the light of the man's soul.

>

> Be devoted to the truth. Be devoted to the light. Worship the light

> within

> him. Bow before the consiousness of Goddess within him. Be that way with

> everyone, Self proclaimed Guru, friend, stranger, beggar and family

> member.

>

> When someone is rude be like Nandu, think to yourself, "Oh Maa, you

> are so

> funny! What are you up to now?" By seeing Maa in that moment you are

> maintaining awareness of her and thus preventing yourself from forgetting

> for the moment who you are.

>

> You are Goddess.

>

> I worship you.

>

> I bow to your jewel encrusted feet.

>

> I wash your feet in milk, yogurt and ghee.

>

> I love you with all my heart and soul.

>

> You are my wife, you are my mother, you are my neighbor, and you are my

> friend.

>

> Teach me oh master to realize thy truth. What is your lesson for this

> moment?

>

> I bow to your infinite awareness. I bow to your wisdom. I bow. I bow.

>

> *********************************************************************

>