Guest guest Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Henny wrote : The other thing you mentioned was the importance of 'learning by observation.' I feel that this is very true and unfortunately that is what those of us who live further away physically and/or have never met Maa and Swamiji in person are not able to do. So even small things like you told us about Swamiji's computer can help. For example, the first book I ordered was the book with Shree Maa's favorite recipes (yes, I like my food and I thought it would be a good place to start!) and when I am cooking from it I try to imagine how Maa would do this, but of course I can't. Nanda writes : Lieve Henny, I have written once before on Maa's cooking when I assisted her in chopping the veggies. She wants us to chop and cook with mantra (our guru mantra or if we dont have one, it could be any mantra - an "om namah shivaya" or "om hrim annapurnayai namah") Maa's movements are quick, unhurried and graceful whether She spends 10 minutes cooking , or 2 hours hitting the tabla in accompaniment to Swamiji chanting the Sundar Kand (as happened last Saturday) . And She is about 80 pounds in all ... but an energy dynamo. Henny continues :So that's why I want to know things about life in the Mandir, just practical, every day things, like the one about Swamiji's organized office. It helps, because now I have placed one of those lovely little cards with his picture on it next to my computer to remind me to be efficient. So please, Lieve Nanda, from time to time, be my eyes and provide me with little bits of information I can use in a practical sense (at least untill I move to California, lol). Nanda says : It is my pleasure to do so. Also, if you look at our older posts from Sept 2003, a lot of people have shared their impressions of Maa and Swamiji and what they have learned from them .. Henny says : I am beginning to think that I was wrong when I thought that the Guru in physical form is hard to find. You must be prepared to be found. Nanda says : YESSSSS , I totally agree with you. Somewhere Swamiji had quoted ... "Gurus are easy to find, but a true disciple is hard to find". And I believe all our sadhana and seva and introspection is to help us trust the Guru more and more . Oh... here is a fun thing about Swamiji ... Sometimes before he starts the puja in the morning... he sits down and looks at all the deities in the Cosmic altar and says "Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen"... Somehow that image always evokes a smile ... Sending smiles across the miles Jai Maa Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 Lieve Nanda, thank you for taking the time to give me yet another glimpse of life at the Mandir. I have tried to chop and cook with mantra, and found this very difficult to do consistently, but I'm sure that here, as in all things, practice makes perfect. I also have difficulties with keeping myself from having a taste or a nibble! Habits of a lifetime.. .... 'Quick, unhurried and graceful'; may I someday approach that state. Thank you also for referring to the earlier posts! One more question (I feel like Det. Columbo now): I understand that (a portion of) what is cooked should always be offered to God first and, seeing the logic and beauty in this, I would like to try to do this. But...since I do Shiva-puja in the morning (and offer Him some breakfast), I am at a loss about what to do in the evening. Should I do a complete puja again (complete with bath and change of clothes, which would not be very handy when you have something on the stove) or could I simply put some food on a small plate with the mantras from the cook-book and put that on my living-room altar before setting the food on the table? Would that be considered appropriate? > Oh... here is a fun thing about Swamiji ... Sometimes before he > starts the puja in the morning... he sits down and looks at all the > deities in the Cosmic altar and says "Good Morning Ladies and > Gentlemen"... Somehow that image always evokes a smile ... Oh, I love this! may we all become true disciples, with love, Henny , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> wrote: > > > Henny wrote : > The other thing you mentioned was the importance of 'learning by > observation.' I feel that this is very true and unfortunately that > is what those of us who live further away physically and/or have > never met Maa and Swamiji in person are not able to do. So even > small things like you told us about Swamiji's computer can help. For > example, the first book I ordered was the book with Shree Maa's > favorite recipes (yes, I like my food and I thought it would be a > good place to start!) and when I am cooking from it I try to > imagine how Maa would do this, but of course I can't. > > Nanda writes : > Lieve Henny, I have written once before on Maa's cooking when I > assisted her in chopping the veggies. She wants us to chop and cook > with mantra (our guru mantra or if we dont have one, it could be any > mantra - an "om namah shivaya" or "om hrim annapurnayai namah") > > Maa's movements are quick, unhurried and graceful whether She spends > 10 minutes cooking , or 2 hours hitting the tabla in accompaniment > to Swamiji chanting the Sundar Kand (as happened last Saturday) . > And She is about 80 pounds in all ... but an energy dynamo. > > > Henny continues :So that's why I want to know things about life > in the Mandir, just practical, every day things, like the one about > Swamiji's organized office. It helps, because now I have placed one > of those lovely little cards with his picture on it next to my > computer to remind me to be efficient. So please, Lieve Nanda, from > time to time, be my eyes and provide me with little bits of > information I can use in a practical sense (at least untill I move > to California, lol). > > Nanda says : It is my pleasure to do so. Also, if you look at our > older posts from Sept 2003, a lot of people have shared their > impressions of Maa and Swamiji and what they have learned from > them .. > > Henny says : I am beginning to think that I was wrong when I thought > that the Guru in physical form is hard to find. You must be prepared > to be found. > > Nanda says : YESSSSS , I totally agree with you. Somewhere Swamiji > had quoted ... "Gurus are easy to find, but a true disciple is hard > to find". > > And I believe all our sadhana and seva and introspection is to help > us trust the Guru more and more . > > Oh... here is a fun thing about Swamiji ... Sometimes before he > starts the puja in the morning... he sits down and looks at all the > deities in the Cosmic altar and says "Good Morning Ladies and > Gentlemen"... Somehow that image always evokes a smile ... > > Sending smiles across the miles > Jai Maa > Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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