Guest guest Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Hi Sweetie, Since you mentioned your hesitation in visiting a Hindu Temple, I have to tell you about my first visit to the Devi Mandir. First of all, I was a practicing Tibetan Buddhist at the time. I had separated from my Tibetan lama a year earlier. Someone I barely knew called me up and said that I must go to the Devi Mandir and take Shree Maa's darshan. He was a HIndu. I was not at all interested in changing religions. I was not looking for a teacher. The only thing that caught my interest was that she was a Woman Saint. At that time the Mandir was located in a very strange location in Martinez, CA. I got another Hindu/Buddhist friend to go with me to give me courage. When we got to the location I couldn't believe my eyes. The Mandir was a nondescript box of a building across from an enormous Power Plant. Talk about ugly! I looked at the parking lot and I saw Indian women carrying in bowls and plates of food. Everyone I saw outside was dressed in Indian garb. I was ready to just leave and call it quits. I didn't feel that I would be welcome or comfortable in those surroundings. But my friend wouldn't let me leave. He said "come on, think of it as an adventure." He was 24 and up for just about anything. When we entered the temple I stopped dead in my tracks. It was magical. The small box of a building seemed to be MUCH larger inside than it was outside. I felt that I had gone through a time/space tunnel and I was in ancient India. Facing me was a whole wall filled with sparkling Gods and Goddesses. Flowers, flowers everywhere. Incense and candles and ghee lamps. There was also a hawan kund where devotees were throwing rice, black sesame and ghee into the fire and chanting in Sanskrit. My friend and I did three full prostrations in front of the altar. I couldn't take my eyes off the murtis. They were so gorgeous and they seemed to be alive. Parvati, Maa's closest disciple, came over and asked us if we wanted to offer a flower. When I sat down in front of the altar and offered the flower, I looked up into the Goddess MahaLakshmi's eyes and knew that I was "home". My spiritual journey was over. No more searching. And this was before I even saw Shree Maa or Swamiji! Parvati asked us if we wanted her to explain the Cosmic Altar and introduce us to the Deities. Of course we said yes. In a joyous and loving way, she told us who everyone was. Shiva and his wife Durga, Brahma and his wife Saraswati, Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi. MahaKali with ten heads, ten arms and ten feet. Mahalakshmi who takes us to our Goal. Mahasaraswati the Goddess of Knowledge and Music. Ganesh. Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi. She was introducing us to her Divine Family. Then I turned around and realized that Shree Maa and Swamiji were sitting in chairs behind me. Swamiji invited me to join the people at the fire, but I did not feel ready to do that. Then Satsang began. Shree Maa leading the bhajans. Swamiji playing the harmonium with great vigor. Gautam playing the violin. Then Swamiji told us a wonderful story from one of the Puranas. Then there was arati, the waving of the lights in front of the murtis. Then they spread out tablecloths on the floor and everyone took their places. Big pots of food appeared. Shree Maa fed all her children (about 50 or so) the food that she had cooked with her own hands. I was amazed at her humility, her "normalcy", her generosity, her grace Joy filled the room as we all shared this divine meal together. Later Shree Maa was sitting at one side in a chair. There were some empty chairs so I went over and joined her. I started a conversation as though she were an ordinary person. I said "I hear that you are from Assam." She thumped me on my chest over my heart chakra and said "I come from your heart." I said "I hear that you are moving to Napa" (the Devi Mandir was going to move in just weeks. If I had not gone to see them at that time, I would probably have never found them.) She said "here, Napa, what does it matter. The Universe is my home." I found out that "ordinary" conversation was not really possible with this extraordinary being. When I was leaving, she came up to me and gave that gaze that seems to penetrate your very being. I said "Thank you for letting us visit your temple." She said "It is your temple. Don't ever think that it is just my temple." My whole life changed with that visit. I hate to think of what I would have missed if I had stayed away. It was Heaven on Earth. And I met the Gurus who would show me how to make my whole life Heaven on Earth. Jai Maa Jai Swamiji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 I *loved* this story, Ardis. Thank you for sharing your experience, especially since I'm basically in the same position as I type! New and green and a little intimidated by everything -- but the exception is that I know I'm already Home. Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! Much love, Christine , Ardis Jackson <ardis1@v...> wrote: > > Hi Sweetie, > > Since you mentioned your hesitation in visiting a Hindu Temple, I have > to tell you about my first visit to the Devi Mandir. > > First of all, I was a practicing Tibetan Buddhist at the time. I had > separated from my Tibetan lama a year earlier. Someone I barely knew > called me up and said that I must go to the Devi Mandir and take Shree > Maa's darshan. He was a HIndu. I was not at all interested in > changing religions. I was not looking for a teacher. The only thing > that caught my interest was that she was a Woman Saint. > > At that time the Mandir was located in a very strange location in > Martinez, CA. I got another Hindu/Buddhist friend to go with me to > give me courage. When we got to the location I couldn't believe my > eyes. The Mandir was a nondescript box of a building across from an > enormous Power Plant. Talk about ugly! I looked at the parking lot > and I saw Indian women carrying in bowls and plates of food. Everyone > I saw outside was dressed in Indian garb. I was ready to just leave > and call it quits. I didn't feel that I would be welcome or > comfortable in those surroundings. > > But my friend wouldn't let me leave. He said "come on, think of it as > an adventure." He was 24 and up for just about anything. > > When we entered the temple I stopped dead in my tracks. It was > magical. The small box of a building seemed to be MUCH larger inside > than it was outside. I felt that I had gone through a time/space > tunnel and I was in ancient India. Facing me was a whole wall filled > with sparkling Gods and Goddesses. Flowers, flowers everywhere. > Incense and candles and ghee lamps. There was also a hawan kund where > devotees were throwing rice, black sesame and ghee into the fire and > chanting in Sanskrit. > > My friend and I did three full prostrations in front of the altar. I > couldn't take my eyes off the murtis. They were so gorgeous and they > seemed to be alive. > > Parvati, Maa's closest disciple, came over and asked us if we wanted to > offer a flower. When I sat down in front of the altar and offered the > flower, I looked up into the Goddess MahaLakshmi's eyes and knew that I > was "home". My spiritual journey was over. No more searching. And > this was before I even saw Shree Maa or Swamiji! > > Parvati asked us if we wanted her to explain the Cosmic Altar and > introduce us to the Deities. Of course we said yes. In a joyous and > loving way, she told us who everyone was. Shiva and his wife Durga, > Brahma and his wife Saraswati, Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi. MahaKali > with ten heads, ten arms and ten feet. Mahalakshmi who takes us to > our Goal. Mahasaraswati the Goddess of Knowledge and Music. Ganesh. > Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi. She was introducing us to her Divine > Family. > > Then I turned around and realized that Shree Maa and Swamiji were > sitting in chairs behind me. Swamiji invited me to join the people at > the fire, but I did not feel ready to do that. > > Then Satsang began. Shree Maa leading the bhajans. Swamiji playing > the harmonium with great vigor. Gautam playing the violin. Then > Swamiji told us a wonderful story from one of the Puranas. Then there > was arati, the waving of the lights in front of the murtis. > > Then they spread out tablecloths on the floor and everyone took their > places. Big pots of food appeared. Shree Maa fed all her children > (about 50 or so) the food that she had cooked with her own hands. I > was amazed at her humility, her "normalcy", her generosity, her grace > Joy filled the room as we all shared this divine meal together. > > Later Shree Maa was sitting at one side in a chair. There were some > empty chairs so I went over and joined her. I started a conversation > as though she were an ordinary person. I said "I hear that you are > from Assam." She thumped me on my chest over my heart chakra and said > "I come from your heart." I said "I hear that you are moving to Napa" > (the Devi Mandir was going to move in just weeks. If I had not gone to > see them at that time, I would probably have never found them.) She > said "here, Napa, what does it matter. The Universe is my home." I > found out that "ordinary" conversation was not really possible with > this extraordinary being. > > When I was leaving, she came up to me and gave that gaze that seems to > penetrate your very being. I said "Thank you for letting us visit your > temple." She said "It is your temple. Don't ever think that it is just > my temple." > > My whole life changed with that visit. I hate to think of what I would > have missed if I had stayed away. It was Heaven on Earth. And I met > the Gurus who would show me how to make my whole life Heaven on Earth. > > Jai Maa Jai Swamiji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Dear Ardis, Thank you as always for sharing. Jai Maa and Jai Swamiji Grace On 27/02/2005, at 10:34 AM, Ardis Jackson wrote: > > Hi Sweetie, > > Since you mentioned your hesitation in visiting a Hindu Temple, I have > to tell you about my first visit to the Devi Mandir. > > First of all, I was a practicing Tibetan Buddhist at the time. I had > separated from my Tibetan lama a year earlier. Someone I barely knew > called me up and said that I must go to the Devi Mandir and take Shree > Maa's darshan. He was a HIndu. I was not at all interested in > changing religions. I was not looking for a teacher. The only thing > that caught my interest was that she was a Woman Saint. > > At that time the Mandir was located in a very strange location in > Martinez, CA. I got another Hindu/Buddhist friend to go with me to > give me courage. When we got to the location I couldn't believe my > eyes. The Mandir was a nondescript box of a building across from an > enormous Power Plant. Talk about ugly! I looked at the parking lot > and I saw Indian women carrying in bowls and plates of food. Everyone > I saw outside was dressed in Indian garb. I was ready to just leave > and call it quits. I didn't feel that I would be welcome or > comfortable in those surroundings. > > But my friend wouldn't let me leave. He said "come on, think of it as > an adventure." He was 24 and up for just about anything. > > When we entered the temple I stopped dead in my tracks. It was > magical. The small box of a building seemed to be MUCH larger inside > than it was outside. I felt that I had gone through a time/space > tunnel and I was in ancient India. Facing me was a whole wall filled > with sparkling Gods and Goddesses. Flowers, flowers everywhere. > Incense and candles and ghee lamps. There was also a hawan kund where > devotees were throwing rice, black sesame and ghee into the fire and > chanting in Sanskrit. > > My friend and I did three full prostrations in front of the altar. I > couldn't take my eyes off the murtis. They were so gorgeous and they > seemed to be alive. > > Parvati, Maa's closest disciple, came over and asked us if we wanted > to > offer a flower. When I sat down in front of the altar and offered the > flower, I looked up into the Goddess MahaLakshmi's eyes and knew that > I > was "home". My spiritual journey was over. No more searching. And > this was before I even saw Shree Maa or Swamiji! > > Parvati asked us if we wanted her to explain the Cosmic Altar and > introduce us to the Deities. Of course we said yes. In a joyous and > loving way, she told us who everyone was. Shiva and his wife Durga, > Brahma and his wife Saraswati, Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi. MahaKali > with ten heads, ten arms and ten feet. Mahalakshmi who takes us to > our Goal. Mahasaraswati the Goddess of Knowledge and Music. Ganesh. > Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi. She was introducing us to her Divine > Family. > > Then I turned around and realized that Shree Maa and Swamiji were > sitting in chairs behind me. Swamiji invited me to join the people at > the fire, but I did not feel ready to do that. > > Then Satsang began. Shree Maa leading the bhajans. Swamiji playing > the harmonium with great vigor. Gautam playing the violin. Then > Swamiji told us a wonderful story from one of the Puranas. Then there > was arati, the waving of the lights in front of the murtis. > > Then they spread out tablecloths on the floor and everyone took their > places. Big pots of food appeared. Shree Maa fed all her children > (about 50 or so) the food that she had cooked with her own hands. I > was amazed at her humility, her "normalcy", her generosity, her grace > Joy filled the room as we all shared this divine meal together. > > Later Shree Maa was sitting at one side in a chair. There were some > empty chairs so I went over and joined her. I started a conversation > as though she were an ordinary person. I said "I hear that you are > from Assam." She thumped me on my chest over my heart chakra and said > "I come from your heart." I said "I hear that you are moving to Napa" > (the Devi Mandir was going to move in just weeks. If I had not gone > to > see them at that time, I would probably have never found them.) She > said "here, Napa, what does it matter. The Universe is my home." I > found out that "ordinary" conversation was not really possible with > this extraordinary being. > > When I was leaving, she came up to me and gave that gaze that seems to > penetrate your very being. I said "Thank you for letting us visit > your > temple." She said "It is your temple. Don't ever think that it is just > my temple." > > My whole life changed with that visit. I hate to think of what I > would > have missed if I had stayed away. It was Heaven on Earth. And I met > the Gurus who would show me how to make my whole life Heaven on Earth. > > Jai Maa Jai Swamiji > Sponsor > > > <22305_0205_016_b_300250_a.gif> > <l.gif> > > Links > > • > / > > • > > > • Terms of > Service. > > Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 It thrills me that you already know that you are home. Jai Maa! On Feb 26, 2005, at 4:41 PM, Christine wrote: > > > I *loved* this story, Ardis. Thank you for sharing your experience, > especially since I'm basically in the same position as I type! New > and green and a little intimidated by everything -- but the exception > is that I know I'm already Home. Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! > > Much love, > Christine > > , Ardis Jackson <ardis1@v...> wrote: > > > > Hi Sweetie, > > > > Since you mentioned your hesitation in visiting a Hindu Temple, I > have > > to tell you about my first visit to the Devi Mandir. > > > > First of all, I was a practicing Tibetan Buddhist at the time. I > had > > separated from my Tibetan lama a year earlier. Someone I barely > knew > > called me up and said that I must go to the Devi Mandir and take > Shree > > Maa's darshan. He was a HIndu. I was not at all interested in > > changing religions. I was not looking for a teacher. The only > thing > > that caught my interest was that she was a Woman Saint. > > > > At that time the Mandir was located in a very strange location in > > Martinez, CA. I got another Hindu/Buddhist friend to go with me > to > > give me courage. When we got to the location I couldn't believe my > > eyes. The Mandir was a nondescript box of a building across from > an > > enormous Power Plant. Talk about ugly! I looked at the parking > lot > > and I saw Indian women carrying in bowls and plates of food. > Everyone > > I saw outside was dressed in Indian garb. I was ready to just > leave > > and call it quits. I didn't feel that I would be welcome or > > comfortable in those surroundings. > > > > But my friend wouldn't let me leave. He said "come on, think of it > as > > an adventure." He was 24 and up for just about anything. > > > > When we entered the temple I stopped dead in my tracks. It was > > magical. The small box of a building seemed to be MUCH larger > inside > > than it was outside. I felt that I had gone through a time/space > > tunnel and I was in ancient India. Facing me was a whole wall > filled > > with sparkling Gods and Goddesses. Flowers, flowers everywhere. > > Incense and candles and ghee lamps. There was also a hawan kund > where > > devotees were throwing rice, black sesame and ghee into the fire > and > > chanting in Sanskrit. > > > > My friend and I did three full prostrations in front of the altar. > I > > couldn't take my eyes off the murtis. They were so gorgeous and > they > > seemed to be alive. > > > > Parvati, Maa's closest disciple, came over and asked us if we > wanted to > > offer a flower. When I sat down in front of the altar and offered > the > > flower, I looked up into the Goddess MahaLakshmi's eyes and knew > that I > > was "home". My spiritual journey was over. No more searching. > And > > this was before I even saw Shree Maa or Swamiji! > > > > Parvati asked us if we wanted her to explain the Cosmic Altar and > > introduce us to the Deities. Of course we said yes. In a joyous > and > > loving way, she told us who everyone was. Shiva and his wife > Durga, > > Brahma and his wife Saraswati, Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi. > MahaKali > > with ten heads, ten arms and ten feet. Mahalakshmi who takes us > to > > our Goal. Mahasaraswati the Goddess of Knowledge and Music. > Ganesh. > > Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi. She was introducing us to her Divine > > Family. > > > > Then I turned around and realized that Shree Maa and Swamiji were > > sitting in chairs behind me. Swamiji invited me to join the people > at > > the fire, but I did not feel ready to do that. > > > > Then Satsang began. Shree Maa leading the bhajans. Swamiji > playing > > the harmonium with great vigor. Gautam playing the violin. Then > > Swamiji told us a wonderful story from one of the Puranas. Then > there > > was arati, the waving of the lights in front of the murtis. > > > > Then they spread out tablecloths on the floor and everyone took > their > > places. Big pots of food appeared. Shree Maa fed all her children > > (about 50 or so) the food that she had cooked with her own hands. > I > > was amazed at her humility, her "normalcy", her generosity, her > grace > > Joy filled the room as we all shared this divine meal together. > > > > Later Shree Maa was sitting at one side in a chair. There were > some > > empty chairs so I went over and joined her. I started a > conversation > > as though she were an ordinary person. I said "I hear that you > are > > from Assam." She thumped me on my chest over my heart chakra and > said > > "I come from your heart." I said "I hear that you are moving to > Napa" > > (the Devi Mandir was going to move in just weeks. If I had not > gone to > > see them at that time, I would probably have never found them.) > She > > said "here, Napa, what does it matter. The Universe is my home." I > > found out that "ordinary" conversation was not really possible with > > this extraordinary being. > > > > When I was leaving, she came up to me and gave that gaze that seems > to > > penetrate your very being. I said "Thank you for letting us visit > your > > temple." She said "It is your temple. Don't ever think that it is > just > > my temple." > > > > My whole life changed with that visit. I hate to think of what I > would > > have missed if I had stayed away. It was Heaven on Earth. And I > met > > the Gurus who would show me how to make my whole life Heaven on > Earth. > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swamiji > > > Sponsor > > > <22305_0205_016_b_300250_a.gif> > <l.gif> > > Links > > • > / > > • > > > • Terms of > Service. > > Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 beatiful, as always! i'm so glad you entered the temple doors. Ardis Jackson wrote: > > Hi Sweetie, > > Since you mentioned your hesitation in visiting a Hindu Temple, I have > to tell you about my first visit to the Devi Mandir. -- Be Love, Berijoy http://www.egyirba.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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