new to the group

March 21, 2005

In a message dated 3/21/05 11:12:56 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, HvI (AT) SoftHome (DOT) net writes:

So I will be following the posts and asking questions etc. and I thank

you, Nanda, for creating and maintaining this opportunity (not to

mention the note that inspired it.)So, for those of you who have had

the patience to read this long post up to this point: thank you all

for being here and I will talk to you again soon,with love from

Amsterdam,Henny

Namaste Dear Henny,

With love we help each other.

Om Namah Sivaya

Kanda

March 21, 2005

Dear friends,

as you may or may not have seen, my name has figured on the list of

participants in the Prayer Club sankalpa for some weeks now and I

feel

it was time I introduced myself to the group, having lurked in the

shadows long enough.

Actually, if I may, I would like to share with you how I found the

Devi Mandir (which is not so strange, given the miracle of Google),

and (what is more miraculous) how the Devi Mandir keeps drawing me

back, despite my efforts to run away. I found you when looking for

songs with the texts of Ramprasad, because after having read the

Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, I dearly wanted to get an idea of what the

songs may have sounded like. So I found the website, looked round,

heard and saw Shree Maa singing; such a beautiful smile, and the

voice.. yes, this is what it must have sounded like. I was deeply

moved and ordered some CD's. Then later I listened to Swamiji talking

and I thought,'hey this guy really has a great sense of humour for a

swami and he really seems to know what he is talking about', so I

ordered some books. The package arrived promptly, complete with

gifts,

and I was so pleasantly surprised by your generosity! So I read and I

listened and I was captivated and fascinated and I don't know what,

and I went back to the website to find out more. Found the group and

decided to join Prayer Club, because I figured 'well even though I

don't know any Sanskrit and I have no hindu background,praying is

praying in whatever language' and it seemed like a good way to get a

'feeling' of what the group is about before actually joining in the

discussion. And the first time I prayed with you, it was wonderful, I

felt such a connection to everyone on the list! So I decided to check

out the puja stuff as well, because even though I meditate every day

and have devised a ritual myself for 'warming the heart' before

meditation, I was interested to find out how a system that has been

tried and tested for thousands of years actually works. And there the

problems started. All the questions that are now coming up in the

group leapt into my mind, and doubts like 'what am I doing with this

Indian stuff, and who is this Shiva anyway' crept up. I felt

ridiculous, did not know what to do exactly, did not want to ask

(stupid, I know), looked through a few thousand (!!!) previous posts

to see if I could find something, looked for a book answering my

questions(which I did not find), and finally gave up the idea. Oh

well, why bother with learning a new language, a new ritual, and

other

stuff which only confuses me since I have been meditating and using

'Western' symbolism so far. I thought I might as well give up Prayer

Club as well, what with the mantra and sankalpa and all that funny

business, and it had nothing to do with me and there were no devotees

here in Europe, which would make it a lonely affair anyway. But then

something strange happened. As I was in bed and could not sleep, I

suddenly heard, and I mean as clear as if it was next to my ear,

Shree

Maa singing 'Om nama Shivaya' and without any hesitation or

difficulty, my internal voice joined in and I think we sang together

for quite a while, until I fell asleep. Then, just as I had decided

to

give up Prayer Club, I found a statement I sent to Prayer Club

earlier

about my feeling connected to all included anonymously among the

reactions 'from the field'; it was as if I suddenly 'saw my

self/Self'

and instead of giving up, I found myself signing up for another week.

As I read the long list of recipients that Saturday, my heart opened

up for each and everyone of the people on the list, and I just know

that She was praying through me for all of Her children. And then to

be able to pray for THE UNIVERSE! It is awesome and very humbling at

the same time! And then you started the beginner's Shiva Puja series,

as if my prayer for guidance had been heard... What can I say? I am

hooked, I have run out of excuses (for now, that is). So I will be

following the posts and asking questions etc. and I thank you, Nanda,

for creating and maintaining this opportunity (not to mention the

note

that inspired it.)So, for those of you who have had the patience to

read this long post up to this point: thank you all for being here

and

I will talk to you again soon,

with love from Amsterdam,

Henny

March 21, 2005

Beloved Henny!

Thank-you so much for taking the time to write such a beautiful

hearfelt letter! i welcome you from the bottom of my heart into the

loving arms of the Devi Mandir Family! We are so pleased to have you!

i for one, feel your sincere heart and hope that all of your needs

and questions will gradually be answered. i am so moved about how you

came to Discover Shree Maa! Looking for Ram Prasad songs on the web!

That is so perfect! i am a great lover of his songs and also of Sri

Ramakrishna. i am glad to hear that your reading of The Gospel of

Ramakrishna was sort of the stepping stone to Maa! This all gives me

goose bumps! And then your 'Dream'! Wow! Om Namah Shivaya! Henny, you

are truly blessed! And you are right about prayer..it is the language

of the heart that counts, and THAT is Universal. :<) Again, dear,

Welcome!

Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! Jai Ramakrishna Deva!

muktimaa

, "henny_v_i" <HvI@S...> wrote:

>

> Dear friends,

>

> as you may or may not have seen, my name has figured on the list of

> participants in the Prayer Club sankalpa for some weeks now and I

> feel

> it was time I introduced myself to the group, having lurked in the

> shadows long enough.

> Actually, if I may, I would like to share with you how I found the

> Devi Mandir (which is not so strange, given the miracle of Google),

> and (what is more miraculous) how the Devi Mandir keeps drawing me

> back, despite my efforts to run away. I found you when looking for

> songs with the texts of Ramprasad, because after having read the

> Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, I dearly wanted to get an idea of what

the

> songs may have sounded like. So I found the website, looked round,

> heard and saw Shree Maa singing; such a beautiful smile, and the

> voice.. yes, this is what it must have sounded like. I was deeply

> moved and ordered some CD's. Then later I listened to Swamiji

talking

> and I thought,'hey this guy really has a great sense of humour for

a

> swami and he really seems to know what he is talking about', so I

> ordered some books. The package arrived promptly, complete with

> gifts,

> and I was so pleasantly surprised by your generosity! So I read and

I

> listened and I was captivated and fascinated and I don't know what,

> and I went back to the website to find out more. Found the group

and

> decided to join Prayer Club, because I figured 'well even though I

> don't know any Sanskrit and I have no hindu background,praying is

> praying in whatever language' and it seemed like a good way to get

a

> 'feeling' of what the group is about before actually joining in the

> discussion. And the first time I prayed with you, it was wonderful,

I

> felt such a connection to everyone on the list! So I decided to

check

> out the puja stuff as well, because even though I meditate every

day

> and have devised a ritual myself for 'warming the heart' before

> meditation, I was interested to find out how a system that has been

> tried and tested for thousands of years actually works. And there

the

> problems started. All the questions that are now coming up in the

> group leapt into my mind, and doubts like 'what am I doing with

this

> Indian stuff, and who is this Shiva anyway' crept up. I felt

> ridiculous, did not know what to do exactly, did not want to ask

> (stupid, I know), looked through a few thousand (!!!) previous

posts

> to see if I could find something, looked for a book answering my

> questions(which I did not find), and finally gave up the idea. Oh

> well, why bother with learning a new language, a new ritual, and

> other

> stuff which only confuses me since I have been meditating and using

> 'Western' symbolism so far. I thought I might as well give up

Prayer

> Club as well, what with the mantra and sankalpa and all that funny

> business, and it had nothing to do with me and there were no

devotees

> here in Europe, which would make it a lonely affair anyway. But

then

> something strange happened. As I was in bed and could not sleep, I

> suddenly heard, and I mean as clear as if it was next to my ear,

> Shree

> Maa singing 'Om nama Shivaya' and without any hesitation or

> difficulty, my internal voice joined in and I think we sang

together

> for quite a while, until I fell asleep. Then, just as I had decided

> to

> give up Prayer Club, I found a statement I sent to Prayer Club

> earlier

> about my feeling connected to all included anonymously among the

> reactions 'from the field'; it was as if I suddenly 'saw my

> self/Self'

> and instead of giving up, I found myself signing up for another

week.

> As I read the long list of recipients that Saturday, my heart

opened

> up for each and everyone of the people on the list, and I just know

> that She was praying through me for all of Her children. And then

to

> be able to pray for THE UNIVERSE! It is awesome and very humbling

at

> the same time! And then you started the beginner's Shiva Puja

series,

> as if my prayer for guidance had been heard... What can I say? I am

> hooked, I have run out of excuses (for now, that is). So I will be

> following the posts and asking questions etc. and I thank you,

Nanda,

> for creating and maintaining this opportunity (not to mention the

> note

> that inspired it.)So, for those of you who have had the patience to

> read this long post up to this point: thank you all for being here

> and

> I will talk to you again soon,

>

> with love from Amsterdam,

>

> Henny

March 21, 2005

Welcome Henny,

and thank you for sharing your journey thus far.

It is a beautiful story of Mother reminding her children where home

really is, and I guess it is finally time for you to come home.

Jai Maa and Jai Swamiji

Grace

On 22/03/2005, at 5:04 AM, henny_v_i wrote:

>

> Dear friends,

>

> as you may or may not have seen, my name has figured on the list of

> participants in the Prayer Club sankalpa for some weeks now and I

> feel

> it was time I introduced myself to the group, having lurked in the

> shadows long enough.

> Actually, if I may, I would like to share with you how I found the

> Devi Mandir (which is not so strange, given the miracle of Google),

> and (what is more miraculous) how the Devi Mandir keeps drawing me

> back, despite my efforts to run away. I found you when looking for

> songs with the texts of Ramprasad, because after having read the

> Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, I dearly wanted to get an idea of what the

> songs may have sounded like. So I found the website, looked round,

> heard and saw Shree Maa singing; such a beautiful smile, and the

> voice.. yes, this is what it must have sounded like. I was deeply

> moved and ordered some CD's. Then later I listened to Swamiji talking

> and I thought,'hey this guy really has a great sense of humour for a

> swami and he really seems to know what he is talking about', so I

> ordered some books. The package arrived promptly, complete with

> gifts,

> and I was so pleasantly surprised by your generosity! So I read and I

> listened and I was captivated and fascinated and I don't know what,

> and I went back to the website to find out more. Found the group and

> decided to join Prayer Club, because I figured 'well even though I

> don't know any Sanskrit and I have no hindu background,praying is

> praying in whatever language' and it seemed like a good way to get a

> 'feeling' of what the group is about before actually joining in the

> discussion. And the first time I prayed with you, it was wonderful, I

> felt such a connection to everyone on the list! So I decided to check

> out the puja stuff as well, because even though I meditate every day

> and have devised a ritual myself for 'warming the heart' before

> meditation, I was interested to find out how a system that has been

> tried and tested for thousands of years actually works. And there the

> problems started. All the questions that are now coming up in the

> group leapt into my mind, and doubts like 'what am I doing with this

> Indian stuff, and who is this Shiva anyway' crept up. I felt

> ridiculous, did not know what to do exactly, did not want to ask

> (stupid, I know), looked through a few thousand (!!!) previous posts

> to see if I could find something, looked for a book answering my

> questions(which I did not find), and finally gave up the idea. Oh

> well, why bother with learning a new language, a new ritual, and

> other

> stuff which only confuses me since I have been meditating and using

> 'Western' symbolism so far. I thought I might as well give up Prayer

> Club as well, what with the mantra and sankalpa and all that funny

> business, and it had nothing to do with me and there were no devotees

> here in Europe, which would make it a lonely affair anyway. But then

> something strange happened. As I was in bed and could not sleep, I

> suddenly heard, and I mean as clear as if it was next to my ear,

> Shree

> Maa singing 'Om nama Shivaya' and without any hesitation or

> difficulty, my internal voice joined in and I think we sang together

> for quite a while, until I fell asleep. Then, just as I had decided

> to

> give up Prayer Club, I found a statement I sent to Prayer Club

> earlier

> about my feeling connected to all included anonymously among the

> reactions 'from the field'; it was as if I suddenly 'saw my

> self/Self'

> and instead of giving up, I found myself signing up for another week.

> As I read the long list of recipients that Saturday, my heart opened

> up for each and everyone of the people on the list, and I just know

> that She was praying through me for all of Her children. And then to

> be able to pray for THE UNIVERSE! It is awesome and very humbling at

> the same time! And then you started the beginner's Shiva Puja series,

> as if my prayer for guidance had been heard... What can I say? I am

> hooked, I have run out of excuses (for now, that is). So I will be

> following the posts and asking questions etc. and I thank you, Nanda,

> for creating and maintaining this opportunity (not to mention the

> note

> that inspired it.)So, for those of you who have had the patience to

> read this long post up to this point: thank you all for being here

> and

> I will talk to you again soon,

>

> with love from Amsterdam,

>

> Henny

>

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March 21, 2005

Welcome Henny. Yes, I did see your name on the Prayer List and on the

"where in the world" list. They have visited Europe several times and

do have devotees there.

We all have found our way to Maa and Swamiji in our own ways, but the

bottom line is that they have been reeling us in. Once you are hooked

on their line, you can't help yourself. You are theirs and they are

yours.

Jai Maa Jai Swamiji

Enjoy Shiva Puja! It is truly life transforming.

Ardis

On Mar 21, 2005, at 10:04 AM, henny_v_i wrote: