Guest guest Posted May 26, 2005 Report Share Posted May 26, 2005 Our verse today is 127 - Wherever such a one is established, that place shines forth with merit. Oh Goddess, the description of a liberated devotee has been explained by me. Can anyone share their thoughts/feelings on the first visit to the Devi Mandir? Of course other thoughts are also welcomed. ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2005 Report Share Posted May 26, 2005 > Can anyone share their thoughts/feelings on the first visit to the Devi Mandir? Of course other thoughts are also welcomed. > Dear Kalia, Thank you again for leading us through this discussion of the Guru Gita. My first visit to the Mandir. I noticed ... ....STILLNESS ! ....interrupted by the sound of a gurgling brook. ....only one building - the temple ....and everyone including Maa and Swamiji living in trailers. ....the trees - some tied with a red scarf to identify them as female trees and others with the three horizontal marks of Shiva to identify them as male. I still remember the feeling of driving back to San Jose in a daze. Jai Maa Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 27, 2005 Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 nanda, what made you feel you were in a daze? what it something that was said, seen, heard, or felt? or unknown, or none of the above? , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> wrote: > > > Can anyone share their thoughts/feelings on the first visit to the > Devi Mandir? Of course other thoughts are also welcomed. > > > > Dear Kalia, > Thank you again for leading us through this discussion of the Guru > Gita. > > My first visit to the Mandir. I noticed ... > > ...STILLNESS ! > ...interrupted by the sound of a gurgling brook. > ...only one building - the temple > ...and everyone including Maa and Swamiji living in trailers. > ...the trees - some tied with a red scarf to identify them as female trees and others with the three horizontal marks of Shiva to identify them as male. > > I still remember the feeling of driving back to San Jose in a daze. > > Jai Maa > Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 27, 2005 Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 Dear Steve, d) None of the above.It was due to a medley of emotions and thoughts, the newness of the experience, new faces ... and tongue- tied to be in the presence of Maa and Swamiji. I knew that my life was going to change in someway .... Jai Guru Nanda , "Steve Connor" <sconnor@a...> wrote: > nanda, what made you feel you were in a daze? what it something that > was said, seen, heard, or felt? or unknown, or none of the above? > > , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> > wrote: > > > > > Can anyone share their thoughts/feelings on the first visit to > the > > Devi Mandir? Of course other thoughts are also welcomed. > > > > > > > Dear Kalia, > > Thank you again for leading us through this discussion of the Guru > > Gita. > > > > My first visit to the Mandir. I noticed ... > > > > ...STILLNESS ! > > ...interrupted by the sound of a gurgling brook. > > ...only one building - the temple > > ...and everyone including Maa and Swamiji living in trailers. > > ...the trees - some tied with a red scarf to identify them as female > trees and others with the three horizontal marks of Shiva to identify > them as male. > > > > I still remember the feeling of driving back to San Jose in a daze. > > > > Jai Maa > > Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 27, 2005 Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 Kalia, The latter part of this verse, "Oh, Goddess, the description of a liberated devotee has been explained by me," is pretty self-explanatory, but it does suggest a couple of things, one, that the text is organized into themes, and two, that it may follow a linear progression, say, from `Introduction to the Guru', to `The Liberated Devotee'. What do you think? Anyone? As far as the first part of the verse is concerned, I have never been to the Mandir, but having seen them on tour I can say that they definitely bring a presence, a bhaava, an influence, something, with them that permeates a room affecting everyone in it. The effect is very palpable to me at the fire. Since I am usually late for things, I have twice arrived late to Swamiji's homas, and I noticed a `thickening' of the atmosphere, a concentration, in a ring around the fire. I feel certain that long after Maa and Swamiji are gone, the Devi Mandir will remain as center of subtle spiritual influence and a place of pilgrimage for sincere devotees of Divine Mother and Shiva. Jai Maa! Chris , Kali Kali <kaliananda_saraswati> wrote: > > Our verse today is 127 - > > Wherever such a one is established, that place shines forth with merit. Oh Goddess, the description of a liberated devotee has been explained by me. > > > > Can anyone share their thoughts/feelings on the first visit to the Devi Mandir? Of course other thoughts are also welcomed. > > > > > > ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 27, 2005 Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 Nanda <chandimaakijai > wrote: My first visit to the Mandir. I noticed ......STILLNESS ! ....interrupted by the sound of a gurgling brook. ...only one building - the temple...and everyone including Maa and Swamiji living in trailers....the trees - some tied with a red scarf to identify them as female trees and others with the three horizontal marks of Shiva to identify them as male.I still remember the feeling of driving back to San Jose in a daze.Jai MaaNanda Thanks Nanda Devi! My first visit to the Mandir, I noticed … Total BLACKNESS and tranquility. It was about 8:45 p.m. on the first day of Navaratri in 1999 when the cab pulled by the “walk-up gate” of the Devi Mandir. I started up the walkway but after a few steps, the cabby who was helping with my bags turned back to the car to try to find a torch light. He succeeded in finding a little one, more like a pen light, just enough to show the path trodden by those who had gone before. It was so dark out and not knowing where I was and what to expect, I walked literally blindly up the dark path that seemed unending. A thought came “maybe you should turn back and find a hotel and return in the morning, then another thought … after traveling all this way are you going to give up now? No way.” So on I walked, then – was that a spark of light, looked again – BLACKNESS. On I continued while that cabby kept the light spotting directly on the earth before us, a little while after there was a sound of merriment - laughter, a bell, perhaps, or something … then voices and ah ha, LIGHT, I can see light up ahead I told the cabby, “thank God”. I got a renewed energy, the travel bag became as light as a feather and in a second I was opening the door to heaven and there seating, standing, clapping, singing, dancing - were the beautiful Gods and Goddesses (including the murtis that seemed literally alive and dancing) and 1000 eyes were looking back at me. In recalling this experience, maybe this was Mother Kali’s welcome, taking this child from DARKNESS into LIGHT! Jai Kali Maa!Nanda <chandimaakijai > wrote: > Can anyone share their thoughts/feelings on the first visit to the Devi Mandir? Of course other thoughts are also welcomed.> Dear Kalia,Thank you again for leading us through this discussion of the Guru Gita. My first visit to the Mandir. I noticed ......STILLNESS ! ....interrupted by the sound of a gurgling brook. ...only one building - the temple...and everyone including Maa and Swamiji living in trailers....the trees - some tied with a red scarf to identify them as female trees and others with the three horizontal marks of Shiva to identify them as male.I still remember the feeling of driving back to San Jose in a daze.Jai MaaNanda ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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