Beginner Puja –Day 3- Feedback - All’s quiet on the Western front

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Here’s is some feedback on the previous two posts on this thread :

 

Ruchi asks:

I have advanced shiva puja book. It was my understanding that the

advanced puja has beginers puja. Could you please point the chapters

that constitute Beginers shiva puja.

 

Dear Ruchi - it is difficult to say which lines from the Beginner

Shiva Puja book map one to one with the Advanced Puja book. A more

experienced person could pare down the Advanced Shiva book to suit a

smaller puja's needs, but sufficient to say that Swamiji wrote the

Beginner Puja book so that it fits the needs of newbies to puja.

 

May I recommend that you invest the time and money to buy the beginner book? It is well worth it.

 

Linda asked me in an email:

It would have been nice to get some advance notice that you were going to discuss the Beginner Puja.

 

Well, Linda, I started it as a casual discussion and before I knew it

I am writing a whole "Cliff's notes " on it. I am also saving all the

tips and discussions into a file (thanks to Manoj for the suggestion)

, and you will have no problem catching up. Besides I am always there

to help so do feel free to ask questions at any point in time, OK?

Henny, our newest member from Amsterdam says

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.

 

HENNNNNNNNNNYYYYYY , A warm welcome to this group. Thanks for

de-lurking, we are de-lighted that you are not de-priving us of your

de-licious comments and de-serving presence . Welcome de-ar friend

and I look forward to your questions.

 

Grace is grappling with the idea of a new altered location for her altar.

She said

“ I am still doing battle in my mind over the location of the puja. I

guess it has become the surrender of my life. If I make a new puja on

the Northern wall, am I turning my back on my past 20 years of

sadhana? I cannot break the puja down. If I don't make another puja

and I refusing to accept Maa and Swamiji as my guiding light and

inspiration?, which they are.

Every morning I place the mantra in the ten directions. Is there a

place that Gods and Goddess are not? “

 

I hear you Grace and can sympathize with the fact that we are

constantly being pulled in different directions.

 

I sent your question to Swamiji and here is what he had to say

 

"Keep things the way they are. The Gods are interested in our devotion

and sincerity. If there are technical imperfections they will forgive

us. Recite the Song of Forgiveness from Chandi. "

Do you know the Song of Forgiveness from the Chandi ? It starts with "

Many thousands of mistakes I make..." and ends with "A child can be

bad but a mother can never be bad"

So hope there is no more confusion in your heart dear Grace now that

you have heard from Swamiji that you are OK as you are.

 

Morningsong wanted to know if she could use the Beginner Durga Puja.

My vote is a resounding YES! The Beginner Shiva and Beginner Durga are

very similar. If you find anything particular in Durga Puja that is

not covered in this discussion please bring it up and we'll talk!!!!

 

And then we have some nice words from Ardis. She says

I truly pray that everyone on the list will discover the joy and

privilege of doing the Shiva Puja. It changed my life.

 

Well, there was no feedback to the theory stuff that I posted

yesterday. I presume that you all understand all the concepts

perfectly. Good going!!!

Later this evening, I will post on the first few pages from the Shiva Puja.

JAI MAA

Nanda