Question for Group - Spiritual practices and family

[Guest guest]

Steve said : ..

 

seems like we have a green light at elana rose mandir.

 

Dear All,

Steve's comment prompted this question.

 

Many of us , striving for practice and sadhana find resistance from

the closest of quarters - our beloved families.

 

Sometimes there is confusion , hurt , a fear that people are

changing in a way that is not understandable , a suspicion of our

motives .... a whole gamut of emotions ....

 

How have you handled these situations and helped your loved ones

understand and appreciate your practices , and maybe even helped

them join your practices too .. (like Steve has )

 

I look forward to hearing your experiences.

 

JAi Maa

Nanda

[Guest guest]

this is a very big deal.

 

in my case, i had a guru relationship that caused all sorts of

problems, the community was really wild, etc. so there is some

wariness on the topic. we are going against the odds, so to speak.

 

i had to constantly show that shree maa was an actual benefit to us

all [in my family] and is turning me into a NICER person: step 1.

 

and that no one else's faith is being impugned; step 2.

 

and that all our other responsibilities are being taken care of [step

3] and not only that, but enthusiastically [step 4] and i am not

turning into a silent sadhu [step 5.]

 

that's a lot to manage! love EVERYONE and serve EVERYONE and it will

work out. remember swamiji and the dishes and the chores and somehow

with faith we will prevail.

 

oh yes one more thing. be prepared to fail, and bounce back,

remember, you are in this for the long run. fall down, get up, that

is what i do. go for seeing shiva all the time. that takes work, the

best work we can do.

 

 

 

, "Nanda" <chandimaakijai>

wrote:

>

>

> Steve said : ..

>

> seems like we have a green light at elana rose mandir.

>

> Dear All,

> Steve's comment prompted this question.

>

> Many of us , striving for practice and sadhana find resistance from

> the closest of quarters - our beloved families.

>

> Sometimes there is confusion , hurt , a fear that people are

> changing in a way that is not understandable , a suspicion of our

> motives .... a whole gamut of emotions ....

>

> How have you handled these situations and helped your loved ones

> understand and appreciate your practices , and maybe even helped

> them join your practices too .. (like Steve has )

>

> I look forward to hearing your experiences.

>

> JAi Maa

> Nanda

[Guest guest]

When I meet my Other half, I had been involved with the Hari

Krishna group here in detroit, Michigan. The reputation that they

have had in the past is not a great one. So when I found Maa and

Swamiji, I had a battle on my hands. I know that I am new to Maa and

Swamiji's family but feel that I can be a better person through

accepting them as my Gurus. I have had to learn myself what it means

to be Maa's child, as well as teach others that it is not what they

percieve from past experiences. I feel that I am winning this part,

yet have had to go back to step one many times. We must hold fast to

our sadana(sorry for the spelling, and show by example that we are

the same person that they love, yet we are becoming more like Maa.

Unlimited love for them and all of those around us. Keep the faith

and Serve Maa,

 

Jeffrey Harris

>

>

> Steve said : ..

>

> seems like we have a green light at elana rose mandir.

>

> Dear All,

> Steve's comment prompted this question.

>

> Many of us , striving for practice and sadhana find resistance

from

> the closest of quarters - our beloved families.

>

> Sometimes there is confusion , hurt , a fear that people are

> changing in a way that is not understandable , a suspicion of our

> motives .... a whole gamut of emotions ....

>

> How have you handled these situations and helped your loved ones

> understand and appreciate your practices , and maybe even helped

> them join your practices too .. (like Steve has )

>

> I look forward to hearing your experiences.

>

> JAi Maa

> Nanda

[Guest guest]

right on jeffrey, keep the faith.

 

here are some things i think about with regards to this.

 

shree maa is above all kind to others. so is swamiji. that is the

ideal.

 

respect others, don't hurt others.

 

i might fail. there are moments beyond me. then i repeat the

application.

 

if i do not perform some sadhana, i know swamiji and shree maa accept

me completely. i however know when i fail or not. the infinite way

means there is endless improvement, we take this as a way of life.

 

life has many extremes. we can feel good or not. the idea is to

consistently apply pressure towards the infinite good.

 

the bhav people talk about is a natural consequence of attention. so

there is not reason to feel any pride about it.

 

feeling and imagination are a big part of all this. the shiva we pray

to is not some superior separate being; no; he is our own infinite

potential.

 

everything we understand to be good and inclusive is part of this

way. and that as i understand it is just the beginning, but it also

deepens, so we never leave behind these basic virtues. and they

always provide a challenge to us, we are always obligated to be good

loving beings.

 

, "Jeffrey Harris" <jhrrs3485@h...>

wrote:

>

>

> When I meet my Other half, I had been involved with the Hari

> Krishna group here in detroit, Michigan. The reputation that they

> have had in the past is not a great one. So when I found Maa and

> Swamiji, I had a battle on my hands. I know that I am new to Maa

and

> Swamiji's family but feel that I can be a better person through

> accepting them as my Gurus. I have had to learn myself what it

means

> to be Maa's child, as well as teach others that it is not what they

> percieve from past experiences. I feel that I am winning this part,

> yet have had to go back to step one many times. We must hold fast

to

> our sadana(sorry for the spelling, and show by example that we are

> the same person that they love, yet we are becoming more like Maa.

> Unlimited love for them and all of those around us. Keep the faith

> and Serve Maa,

>

> Jeffrey Harris

> >

> >

> > Steve said : ..

> >

> > seems like we have a green light at elana rose mandir.

> >

> > Dear All,

> > Steve's comment prompted this question.

> >

> > Many of us , striving for practice and sadhana find resistance

> from

> > the closest of quarters - our beloved families.

> >

> > Sometimes there is confusion , hurt , a fear that people are

> > changing in a way that is not understandable , a suspicion of our

> > motives .... a whole gamut of emotions ....

> >

> > How have you handled these situations and helped your loved ones

> > understand and appreciate your practices , and maybe even helped

> > them join your practices too .. (like Steve has )

> >

> > I look forward to hearing your experiences.

> >

> > JAi Maa

> > Nanda