Guest guest Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 You know how after a great performance, people call out, "Encore, encore"? Well, Miss Ardis, that's what I felt like doing after I read this story. What happened next? Ardis Jackson <ardis1 (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote: 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 Me Too !!!! On Feb 26, 2005, at 5:23 PM, Berijoy wrote: > > 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 > > 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 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 , Ardis Jackson <ardis1@v...> wrote: Ardis said to Shree Maa "I hear that you are from Assam." She(Shree Maa) thumped me on my chest over my heart chakra and said "I come from your heart." I come from your heart....thank you for sharing this this, Ardis. Thank you Mother. Om Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 The following Saturday I returned to the Mandir for Satsang. I had found my spiritual home. For the next eight years, until I moved away from the SF Bay Area, I spent every weekend and longer periods when possible with Shree Maa, Swamiji and the Devi Mandir Family. When I entered the Temple, Parvati, radiant Parvati, started jumping up and down with joy and cried out "she came back, she came back !" I was quite surprised by this display of enthusiastic welcome. After all, I knew that I had found my Gurus. Why wouldn't I come back? I would have to be a fool. Then I looked at Swamiji's face. He was smiling in a gentle way and somehow I knew that he knew what I was thinking. A little while later, he came up to me and said "at last you have come". I had no idea what he meant. It took me years to realize in my heart that this was not the first lifetime in which I was his disciple. They were planning to move up to the rural ashram. They said that they could use volunteers. They did not call it seva. I wouldn't have known what that meant anyway. They had a little book in the temple. One page said "volunteers". I remember writing in my name and saying that I could help with cooking, cleaning, writing and accounting. Years later I saw the book and my name was the only entry on that page. Then they announced that they were still clearing the land. On the Saturday that I was driving up to the ashram for the first time, I called first. A devotee answered the phone. I asked is there was anything they needed that I could pick up on the way. He asked Maa. I could hear her say "Only pure love". I found myself answering "I have plenty of that." I stopped at a hardware store and bought new work gloves, weed diggers and loppers. When I drove up the temple road I felt like I had entered another dimension. I saw Swamiji leading a group on a tour of the land. I was about to park my car. I took my hands off the wheel, closed my eyes and bowed to him in a Namaste. The car parked itself. The group was gathered in front of the temple. Maa had joined them. I told her that I had some tools in my trunk and should I get them. She said yes. When I came back with the tools, Swamji had rejoined the group. Maa said "she brought her own tools." He smiled. She told me that I could do weeding. But Swamiji said "oh no, I have a real job for her and pointed at the lobbers." "Come with me." I picked up the lobbers and the work gloves and started to follow him. He looked back and said "ah, new gloves." I don't know why, but I felt that if you were working on a temple, you should use new items. It was a terribly hot day and it only got hotter. He put me out in the direct sun, using my lobbers to cut up branches that had been cleared from the forest to make firewood for the hawan kund (ceremonial fire pit). I had never used lobbers before in my life. In fact I have done very little physical labor in my life. My right hand is permanently damaged due to a physician's error. I cannot make a complete fist and I have trouble holding on to things. I even find it hard to throw rice into the fire with it. It tires very easily. But there I was, using my pure love, to do this difficult work. After a while Swamiji wandered over to see how I was doing. He was so radiant that I couldn't even look at him. He was golden like the sun. I almost felt like I had to shade my eyes. I often feel this way about saints, that I can't look at them directly, just close my eyes and feel their presence. And his presence was so very sweet and gentle that day. Maa served a huge lunch for all the visitors and volunteers. It was very lovely. Everyone had a great time. The next weekend there were very few people there. When I entered the temple Swamiji looked at me and said "no crowd, just family; just the way I like it." That was the first time he had referred to me as family. Amazing. I had just met them a few weeks before. Now I had been adopted. Wonderful, wonderful, full of wonder. My new and ancient home. On Feb 26, 2005, at 5:45 PM, Karen Borak wrote: > You know how after a great performance, people call out, "Encore, > encore"? Well, Miss Ardis, that's what I felt like doing after I read > this story. What happened next? > > > Ardis Jackson <ardis1 wrote: > > 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 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 If you can't find Her in your heart, you won't find her in Assam, or anywhere else. On Feb 27, 2005, at 4:30 AM, Sherri wrote: > > > , Ardis Jackson <ardis1@v...> wrote: > > Ardis said to Shree Maa "I hear that you are from Assam." She(Shree > Maa) thumped me on my chest over my heart chakra and said "I come > from your heart." > > I come from your heart....thank you for sharing this this, Ardis. > Thank you Mother. Om > > > 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 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 Oh my dear beloved sweet sister, Ardisji! i am sobbing in joy! Oh, please, i am so hungry for more...more... more...! These stories are Divine Prasadam! You write so vividly, that i can picture and feel everything...even the hot sun and Swamiji's Glowing, sweet presence. My heart is burning and yearning! Maa! Maa! Maa! Please!! Let me feel Your Holy Presence with each breath... Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! Jai Ramakrishna Deva! Jai Mother Ardisji! muktimaa , Ardis Jackson <ardis1@v...> wrote: > The following Saturday I returned to the Mandir for Satsang. I had > found my spiritual home. For the next eight years, until I moved away > from the SF Bay Area, I spent every weekend and longer periods when > possible with Shree Maa, Swamiji and the Devi Mandir Family. > > When I entered the Temple, Parvati, radiant Parvati, started jumping up > and down with joy and cried out "she came back, she came back !" I was > quite surprised by this display of enthusiastic welcome. After all, I > knew that I had found my Gurus. Why wouldn't I come back? I would > have to be a fool. Then I looked at Swamiji's face. He was smiling in > a gentle way and somehow I knew that he knew what I was thinking. > > A little while later, he came up to me and said "at last you have > come". I had no idea what he meant. It took me years to realize in my > heart that this was not the first lifetime in which I was his disciple. > > They were planning to move up to the rural ashram. They said that they > could use volunteers. They did not call it seva. I wouldn't have > known what that meant anyway. They had a little book in the temple. > One page said "volunteers". I remember writing in my name and saying > that I could help with cooking, cleaning, writing and accounting. > Years later I saw the book and my name was the only entry on that page. > Then they announced that they were still clearing the land. > > On the Saturday that I was driving up to the ashram for the first time, > I called first. A devotee answered the phone. I asked is there was > anything they needed that I could pick up on the way. He asked Maa. I > could hear her say "Only pure love". I found myself answering "I have > plenty of that." > > I stopped at a hardware store and bought new work gloves, weed diggers > and loppers. > > When I drove up the temple road I felt like I had entered another > dimension. I saw Swamiji leading a group on a tour of the land. I was > about to park my car. I took my hands off the wheel, closed my eyes > and bowed to him in a Namaste. The car parked itself. > > The group was gathered in front of the temple. Maa had joined them. I > told her that I had some tools in my trunk and should I get them. She > said yes. When I came back with the tools, Swamji had rejoined the > group. Maa said "she brought her own tools." He smiled. She told me > that I could do weeding. But Swamiji said "oh no, I have a real job for > her and pointed at the lobbers." "Come with me." I picked up the > lobbers and the work gloves and started to follow him. He looked back > and said "ah, new gloves." I don't know why, but I felt that if you > were working on a temple, you should use new items. > > It was a terribly hot day and it only got hotter. He put me out in the > direct sun, using my lobbers to cut up branches that had been cleared > from the forest to make firewood for the hawan kund (ceremonial fire > pit). I had never used lobbers before in my life. In fact I have done > very little physical labor in my life. My right hand is permanently > damaged due to a physician's error. I cannot make a complete fist and > I have trouble holding on to things. I even find it hard to throw rice > into the fire with it. It tires very easily. But there I was, using > my pure love, to do this difficult work. After a while Swamiji > wandered over to see how I was doing. He was so radiant that I > couldn't even look at him. He was golden like the sun. I almost felt > like I had to shade my eyes. I often feel this way about saints, that > I can't look at them directly, just close my eyes and feel their > presence. And his presence was so very sweet and gentle that day. > > Maa served a huge lunch for all the visitors and volunteers. It was > very lovely. Everyone had a great time. > > The next weekend there were very few people there. When I entered the > temple Swamiji looked at me and said "no crowd, just family; just the > way I like it." That was the first time he had referred to me as > family. Amazing. I had just met them a few weeks before. Now I had > been adopted. Wonderful, wonderful, full of wonder. My new and > ancient home. > > > On Feb 26, 2005, at 5:45 PM, Karen Borak wrote: > > > You know how after a great performance, people call out, "Encore, > > encore"? Well, Miss Ardis, that's what I felt like doing after I read > > this story. What happened next? > > > > > > Ardis Jackson <ardis1@v...> wrote: > > > > 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. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 Love love and more love Dolly Ardis Jackson <ardis1 (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote: The following Saturday I returned to the Mandir for Satsang. I had found my spiritual home. For the next eight years, until I moved away from the SF Bay Area, I spent every weekend and longer periods when possible with Shree Maa, Swamiji and the Devi Mandir Family.When I entered the Temple, Parvati, radiant Parvati, started jumping up and down with joy and cried out "she came back, she came back !" I was quite surprised by this display of enthusiastic welcome. After all, I knew that I had found my Gurus. Why wouldn't I come back? I would have to be a fool. Then I looked at Swamiji's face. He was smiling in a gentle way and somehow I knew that he knew what I was thinking.A little while later, he came up to me and said "at last you have come". I had no idea what he meant. It took me years to realize in my heart that this was not the first lifetime in which I was his disciple.They were planning to move up to the rural ashram. They said that they could use volunteers. They did not call it seva. I wouldn't have known what that meant anyway. They had a little book in the temple. One page said "volunteers". I remember writing in my name and saying that I could help with cooking, cleaning, writing and accounting. Years later I saw the book and my name was the only entry on that page. Then they announced that they were still clearing the land.On the Saturday that I was driving up to the ashram for the first time, I called first. A devotee answered the phone. I asked is there was anything they needed that I could pick up on the way. He asked Maa. I could hear her say "Only pure love". I found myself answering "I have plenty of that."I stopped at a hardware store and bought new work gloves, weed diggers and loppers.When I drove up the temple road I felt like I had entered another dimension. I saw Swamiji leading a group on a tour of the land. I was about to park my car. I took my hands off the wheel, closed my eyes and bowed to him in a Namaste. The car parked itself.The group was gathered in front of the temple. Maa had joined them. I told her that I had some tools in my trunk and should I get them. She said yes. When I came back with the tools, Swamji had rejoined the group. Maa said "she brought her own tools." He smiled. She told me that I could do weeding. But Swamiji said "oh no, I have a real job for her and pointed at the lobbers." "Come with me." I picked up the lobbers and the work gloves and started to follow him. He looked back and said "ah, new gloves." I don't know why, but I felt that if you were working on a temple, you should use new items.It was a terribly hot day and it only got hotter. He put me out in the direct sun, using my lobbers to cut up branches that had been cleared from the forest to make firewood for the hawan kund (ceremonial fire pit). I had never used lobbers before in my life. In fact I have done very little physical labor in my life. My right hand is permanently damaged due to a physician's error. I cannot make a complete fist and I have trouble holding on to things. I even find it hard to throw rice into the fire with it. It tires very easily. But there I was, using my pure love, to do this difficult work. After a while Swamiji wandered over to see how I was doing. He was so radiant that I couldn't even look at him. He was golden like the sun. I almost felt like I had to shade my eyes. I often feel this way about saints, that I can't look at them directly, just close my eyes and feel their presence. And his presence was so very sweet and gentle that day.Maa served a huge lunch for all the visitors and volunteers. It was very lovely. Everyone had a great time.The next weekend there were very few people there. When I entered the temple Swamiji looked at me and said "no crowd, just family; just the way I like it." That was the first time he had referred to me as family. Amazing. I had just met them a few weeks before. Now I had been adopted. Wonderful, wonderful, full of wonder. My new and ancient home.On Feb 26, 2005, at 5:45 PM, Karen Borak wrote:> You know how after a great performance, people call out, "Encore, > encore"? Well, Miss Ardis, that's what I felt like doing after I read > this story. What happened next?>>> Ardis Jackson wrote:>> 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>> >> Links>> • To visit your group on the web, go to:> /> > • To from this group, send an email to:> > > • Your use of Groups is subject to the Terms of > Service.>> Tired of spam? Mail has the best spam protection around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 Dear Dolly, my sister, Thank you for your love. I will pray for you that your waiting will soon be over. Accept Divine Love where ever you find it. Give, so that you may receive. Pray to our Divine Mother with your whole heart. She is watching out for you at all times. Ardis On Feb 27, 2005, at 12:32 PM, Lall and Dolly Singh wrote: > Very nice indeed what an experience; IF I am very envious of u at this > moment its only because I am still Krishna lost cow waiting to find my > HOME or where is it that I belong. > > Love love and more love > > Dolly > > Ardis Jackson <ardis1 wrote: > The following Saturday I returned to the Mandir for Satsang. I had > found my spiritual home. For the next eight years, until I moved away > from the SF Bay Area, I spent every weekend and longer periods when > possible with Shree Maa, Swamiji and the Devi Mandir Family. > > When I entered the Temple, Parvati, radiant Parvati, started jumping up > and down with joy and cried out "she came back, she came back !" I was > quite surprised by this display of enthusiastic welcome. After all, I > knew that I had found my Gurus. Why wouldn't I come back? I would > have to be a fool. Then I looked at Swamiji's face. He was smiling in > a gentle way and somehow I knew that he knew what I was thinking. > > A little while later, he came up to me and said "at last you have > come". I had no idea what he meant. It took me years to realize in my > heart that this was not the first lifetime in which I was his > disciple. > > They were planning to move up to the rural ashram. They said that they > could use volunteers. They did not call it seva. I wouldn't have > known what that meant anyway. They had a little book in the temple. > One page said "volunteers". I remember writing in my name and saying > that I could help with cooking, cleaning, writing and accounting. > Years later I saw the book and my name was the only entry on that > page. > Then they announced that they were still clearing the land. > > On the Saturday that I was driving up to the ashram for the first time, > I called first. A devotee answered the phone. I asked is there was > anything they needed that I could pick up on the way. He asked Maa. I > could hear her say "Only pure love". I found myself answering "I have > plenty of that." > > I stopped at a hardware store and bought new work gloves, weed diggers > and loppers. > > When I drove up the temple road I felt like I had entered another > dimension. I saw Swamiji leading a group on a tour of the land. I was > about to park my car. I took my hands off the wheel, closed my eyes > and bowed to him in a Namaste. The car parked itself. > > The group was gathered in front of the temple. Maa had joined them. I > told her that I had some tools in my trunk and should I get them. She > said yes. When I came back with the tools, Swamji had rejoined the > group. Maa said "she brought her own tools." He smiled. She told me > that I could do weeding. But Swamiji said "oh no, I have a real job > for > her and pointed at the lobbers.Come with me." I picked up the > lobbers and the work gloves and started to follow him. He looked back > and said "ah, new gloves." I don't know why, but I felt that if you > were working on a temple, you should use new items. > > It was a terribly hot day and it only got hotter. He put me out in the > direct sun, using my lobbers to cut up branches that had been cleared > from the forest to make firewood for the hawan kund (ceremonial fire > pit). I had never used lobbers before in my life. In fact I have done > very little physical labor in my life. My right hand is permanently > damaged due to a physician's error. I cannot make a complete fist and > I have trouble holding on to things. I even find it hard to throw rice > into the fire with it. It tires very easily. But there I was, using > my pure love, to do this difficult work. After a while Swamiji > wandered over to see how I was doing. He was so radiant that I > couldn't even look at him. He was golden like the sun. I almost felt > like I had to shade my eyes. I often feel this way about saints, that > I can't look at them directly, just close my eyes and feel their > presence. And his presence was so very sweet and gentle that day. > > Maa served a huge lunch for all the visitors and volunteers. It was > very lovely. Everyone had a great time. > > The next weekend there were very few people there. When I entered the > temple Swamiji looked at me and said "no crowd, just family; just the > way I like it." That was the first time he had referred to me as > family. Amazing. I had just met them a few weeks before. Now I had > been adopted. Wonderful, wonderful, full of wonder. My new and > ancient home. > > > On Feb 26, 2005, at 5:45 PM, Karen Borak wrote: > > > You know how after a great performance, people call out, "Encore, > > encore"? Well, Miss Ardis, that's what I felt like doing after I > read > > this story. What happened next? > > > > > > Ardis Jackson wrote: > > > > 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> > > > > > > Links > > > > • > > / > > > > • > > > > > > • Terms of > > Service. > > > > > > > > > > > > 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 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 dolly dolly dolly please do not feel sad. this god is for you too. ardis, tell her she is not alone. , Lall and Dolly Singh <dolly8655> wrote: > Very nice indeed what an experience; IF I am very envious of u at this moment its only because I am still Krishna lost cow waiting to find my HOME or where is it that I belong. > > Love love and more love > > Dolly > > Ardis Jackson <ardis1@v...> wrote: > The following Saturday I returned to the Mandir for Satsang. I had > found my spiritual home. For the next eight years, until I moved away > from the SF Bay Area, I spent every weekend and longer periods when > possible with Shree Maa, Swamiji and the Devi Mandir Family. > > When I entered the Temple, Parvati, radiant Parvati, started jumping up > and down with joy and cried out "she came back, she came back !" I was > quite surprised by this display of enthusiastic welcome. After all, I > knew that I had found my Gurus. Why wouldn't I come back? I would > have to be a fool. Then I looked at Swamiji's face. He was smiling in > a gentle way and somehow I knew that he knew what I was thinking. > > A little while later, he came up to me and said "at last you have > come". I had no idea what he meant. It took me years to realize in my > heart that this was not the first lifetime in which I was his disciple. > > They were planning to move up to the rural ashram. They said that they > could use volunteers. They did not call it seva. I wouldn't have > known what that meant anyway. They had a little book in the temple. > One page said "volunteers". I remember writing in my name and saying > that I could help with cooking, cleaning, writing and accounting. > Years later I saw the book and my name was the only entry on that page. > Then they announced that they were still clearing the land. > > On the Saturday that I was driving up to the ashram for the first time, > I called first. A devotee answered the phone. I asked is there was > anything they needed that I could pick up on the way. He asked Maa. I > could hear her say "Only pure love". I found myself answering "I have > plenty of that." > > I stopped at a hardware store and bought new work gloves, weed diggers > and loppers. > > When I drove up the temple road I felt like I had entered another > dimension. I saw Swamiji leading a group on a tour of the land. I was > about to park my car. I took my hands off the wheel, closed my eyes > and bowed to him in a Namaste. The car parked itself. > > The group was gathered in front of the temple. Maa had joined them. I > told her that I had some tools in my trunk and should I get them. She > said yes. When I came back with the tools, Swamji had rejoined the > group. Maa said "she brought her own tools." He smiled. She told me > that I could do weeding. But Swamiji said "oh no, I have a real job for > her and pointed at the lobbers.Come with me." I picked up the > lobbers and the work gloves and started to follow him. He looked back > and said "ah, new gloves." I don't know why, but I felt that if you > were working on a temple, you should use new items. > > It was a terribly hot day and it only got hotter. He put me out in the > direct sun, using my lobbers to cut up branches that had been cleared > from the forest to make firewood for the hawan kund (ceremonial fire > pit). I had never used lobbers before in my life. In fact I have done > very little physical labor in my life. My right hand is permanently > damaged due to a physician's error. I cannot make a complete fist and > I have trouble holding on to things. I even find it hard to throw rice > into the fire with it. It tires very easily. But there I was, using > my pure love, to do this difficult work. After a while Swamiji > wandered over to see how I was doing. He was so radiant that I > couldn't even look at him. He was golden like the sun. I almost felt > like I had to shade my eyes. I often feel this way about saints, that > I can't look at them directly, just close my eyes and feel their > presence. And his presence was so very sweet and gentle that day. > > Maa served a huge lunch for all the visitors and volunteers. It was > very lovely. Everyone had a great time. > > The next weekend there were very few people there. When I entered the > temple Swamiji looked at me and said "no crowd, just family; just the > way I like it." That was the first time he had referred to me as > family. Amazing. I had just met them a few weeks before. Now I had > been adopted. Wonderful, wonderful, full of wonder. My new and > ancient home. > > > On Feb 26, 2005, at 5:45 PM, Karen Borak wrote: > > > You know how after a great performance, people call out, "Encore, > > encore"? Well, Miss Ardis, that's what I felt like doing after I read > > this story. What happened next? > > > > > > Ardis Jackson wrote: > > > > 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> > > > > > > Links > > > > • > > / > > > > • > > > > > > • Terms of > > Service. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 Home is where you hang your devotion... *hugs* Lall and Dolly Singh wrote: > *Very nice indeed what an experience; IF I am very envious of u at > this moment its only because I am still Krishna lost cow waiting to > find my HOME or where is it that I belong.* > *Love love and more love* > *Dolly* > > */Ardis Jackson <ardis1/* wrote: > > The following Saturday I returned to the Mandir for Satsang. I had > found my spiritual home. For the next eight years, until I moved away > from the SF Bay Area, I spent every weekend and longer periods when > possible with Shree Maa, Swamiji and the Devi Mandir Family. > > When I entered the Temple, Parvati, radiant Parvati, started > jumping up > and down with joy and cried out "she came back, she came back !" I > was > quite surprised by this display of enthusiastic welcome. After all, I > knew that I had found my Gurus. Why wouldn't I come back? I would > have to be a fool. Then I looked at Swamiji's face. He was smiling in > a gentle way and somehow I knew that he knew what I was thinking. > > A little while later, he came up to me and said "at last you have > come". I had no idea what he meant. It took me years to realize in my > heart that this was not the first lifetime in which I was his > disciple. > > They were planning to move up to the rural ashram. They said that > they > could use volunteers. They did not call it seva. I wouldn't have > known what that meant anyway. They had a little book in the temple. > One page said "volunteers". I remember writing in my name and saying > that I could help with cooking, cleaning, writing and accounting. > Years later I saw the book and my name was the only entry on that > page. > Then they announced that they were still clearing the land. > > On the Saturday that I was driving up to the ashram for the first > time, > I called first. A devotee answered the phone. I asked is there was > anything they needed that I could pick up on the way. He asked Maa. I > could hear her say "Only pure love". I found myself answering "I have > plenty of that." > > I stopped at a hardware store and bought new work gloves, weed > diggers > and loppers. > > When I drove up the temple road I felt like I had entered another > dimension. I saw Swamiji leading a group on a tour of the land. I was > about to park my car. I took my hands off the wheel, closed my eyes > and bowed to him in a Namaste. The car parked itself. > > The group was gathered in front of the temple. Maa had joined them. I > told her that I had some tools in my trunk and should I get them. She > said yes. When I came back with the tools, Swamji had rejoined the > group. Maa said "she brought her own tools." He smiled. She told me > that I could do weeding. But Swamiji said "oh no, I have a real > job for > her and pointed at the lobbers.Come with me." I picked up the > lobbers and the work gloves and started to follow him. He looked back > and said "ah, new gloves." I don't know why, but I felt that if you > were working on a temple, you should use new items. > > It was a terribly hot day and it only got hotter. He put me out in > the > direct sun, using my lobbers to cut up branches that had been cleared > from the forest to make firewood for the hawan kund (ceremonial fire > pit). I had never used lobbers before in my life. In fact I have done > very little physical labor in my life. My right hand is permanently > damaged due to a physician's error. I cannot make a complete fist and > I have trouble holding on to things. I even find it hard to throw > rice > into the fire with it. It tires very easily. But there I was, using > my pure love, to do this difficult work. After a while Swamiji > wandered over to see how I was doing. He was so radiant that I > couldn't even look at him. He was golden like the sun. I almost felt > like I had to shade my eyes. I often feel this way about saints, that > I can't look at them directly, just close my eyes and feel their > presence. And his presence was so very sweet and gentle that day. > > Maa served a huge lunch for all the visitors and volunteers. It was > very lovely. Everyone had a great time. > > The next weekend there were very few people there. When I entered the > temple Swamiji looked at me and said "no crowd, just family; just the > way I like it." That was the first time he had referred to me as > family. Amazing. I had just met them a few weeks before. Now I had > been adopted. Wonderful, wonderful, full of wonder. My new and > ancient home. > > > On Feb 26, 2005, at 5:45 PM, Karen Borak wrote: > > > You know how after a great performance, people call out, "Encore, > > encore"? Well, Miss Ardis, that's what I felt like doing after I > read > > this story. What happened next? > > > > > > Ardis Jackson wrote: > > > > 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> > > > > > > Links > > > > • > > / > > > > • > > > > > > • Terms of > > Service. > > > > > > > > > > * Sponsor* > > click here > <http://us.ard./SIG=129jf3ol6/M=298184.6018725.7038619.3001176/D=groups\ /S=1705075991:HM/EXP=1109623898/A=2593423/R=0/SIG=11el9gslf/*http://www.netflix.\ com/Default?mqso=60190075> > > > > ------ > * Links* > > * > / > * > > <?subject=Un> > * Terms of > Service <>. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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