Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 OM NAMAH SIVAYA Nanda, i found this post and your comments extremely interesting. this example you posted is the type of thing that makes me crazy. if Swamiji had said that to me i would have took that to mean that if i truly want to follow his example i should no longer go to Barnes & Noble. and when/if i did, i would feel guilty or like i was not living up to his example or my expectations. like i didn't want it enough. intellectually i know i should not think in this manner, but i do. yet you seem to acknowledge at the end of your post that you will go there again and you seem to be OK with that. i realize my attitude is something Chandi deals with in chapter 9. and i think your way is probably a healthier attitude. my question to you or anyone else who wants to answer, is how do you do that? JAI MA , Nanda <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Dear All, > > Once , a few weeks ago, I confessed to Swamiji how I was having difficulty getting to do any sadhana on a Friday evening. > > I just get off from work , dont feel like doing much except maybe heading to a Barnes and Noble and browsing the books there. Maybe a cuppa java at the cafe. Just linger over the books , listen to a few CDs and head home later that evening. This is a nice way to unwind after a long week. > > So I mentioned that to Swamiji...how I get sidetracked from sadhana to doing other "interesting" stuff. > > Swamiji smiled and said that he too had faced such attempts when he was beginning sadhana. > > He said (and I paraphrase) "I used to tell my Guru that I HAD to go away to Delhi to buy this IMPORTANT book" (Swamiji recounted his days in India as a sadhak under his Guru) > > And his Guru looked at him keenly and said (and I paraphrase) "Alright, now go and do your sadhana" , almost dismissing his student's wishes summarily. > > Swamiji said that his Guru knew the tricks the mind gets upto to wiggle out of sadhana. > > And Swamiji just smiled at me - as if to say "I too have been there and its tough, but the result is well worth it , so dont give up and keep at the sadhana". > > So the next time the lure of B&N is irresistable, I will give in and go check it out (for after all sometimes I HAVE to go and buy this important book), but I will forever remember Swamiji's compassionate face gently urging me not to yield to the tricks of my mind. > > Jai Swamiji > Nanda > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Dear Nanda and Eric, Om Namah Shivayah! A quote by Sri Neem Karoli Baba that is related to your discussion: "If you want to see God, kill desires. Desires are in the mind. When you have a desire for something, don't act on it and it will go away. If you desire to drink this cup of tea, don't, and the desire for it will fall away." Dear Nanda, Thank you so much for sharing Swamiji's story. Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! with love and prayers, srini , "ecjensen_us" <ecjensen_us> wrote: > OM NAMAH SIVAYA > > Nanda, i found this post and your comments extremely interesting. > this example you posted is the type of thing that makes me crazy. > if Swamiji had said that to me i would have took that to mean that > if i truly want to follow his example i should no longer go to > Barnes & Noble. and when/if i did, i would feel guilty or like i > was not living up to his example or my expectations. like i didn't > want it enough. intellectually i know i should not think in this > manner, but i do. yet you seem to acknowledge at the end of your > post that you will go there again and you seem to be OK with that. > > i realize my attitude is something Chandi deals with in chapter 9. > and i think your way is probably a healthier attitude. my question > to you or anyone else who wants to answer, is how do you do that? > > JAI MA > > , Nanda <chandimaakijai> > wrote: > > Dear All, > > > > Once , a few weeks ago, I confessed to Swamiji how I was having > difficulty getting to do any sadhana on a Friday evening. > > > > I just get off from work , dont feel like doing much except maybe > heading to a Barnes and Noble and browsing the books there. Maybe a > cuppa java at the cafe. Just linger over the books , listen to a few > CDs and head home later that evening. This is a nice way to unwind > after a long week. > > > > So I mentioned that to Swamiji...how I get sidetracked from > sadhana to doing other "interesting" stuff. > > > > Swamiji smiled and said that he too had faced such attempts when > he was beginning sadhana. > > > > He said (and I paraphrase) "I used to tell my Guru that I HAD to > go away to Delhi to buy this IMPORTANT book" (Swamiji recounted his > days in India as a sadhak under his Guru) > > > > And his Guru looked at him keenly and said (and I > paraphrase) "Alright, now go and do your sadhana" , almost > dismissing his student's wishes summarily. > > > > Swamiji said that his Guru knew the tricks the mind gets upto to > wiggle out of sadhana. > > > > And Swamiji just smiled at me - as if to say "I too have been > there and its tough, but the result is well worth it , so dont give > up and keep at the sadhana". > > > > So the next time the lure of B&N is irresistable, I will give in > and go check it out (for after all sometimes I HAVE to go and buy > this important book), but I will forever remember Swamiji's > compassionate face gently urging me not to yield to the tricks of my > mind. > > > > Jai Swamiji > > Nanda > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 namaste this is a real important issue i think a lot of people are facing. it does no good to beat ourselves up. none. nada. zip. it is a habit, part of our inheritance as humans living in this time. we all suffer from this one way or another. we need inspiration, that is the positive way. seriously, the book store could also have inspiration. there are many ways to turn our mind to god. this way is about doing, big time, and learning the path. it is quite a marvel ... here we have swamiji and shree maa. here we have a body and mind. how fortunate we are. we use all the tools and help we are given. talwar , "ecjensen_us" <ecjensen_us> wrote: > OM NAMAH SIVAYA > > Nanda, i found this post and your comments extremely interesting. > this example you posted is the type of thing that makes me crazy. > if Swamiji had said that to me i would have took that to mean that > if i truly want to follow his example i should no longer go to > Barnes & Noble. and when/if i did, i would feel guilty or like i > was not living up to his example or my expectations. like i didn't > want it enough. intellectually i know i should not think in this > manner, but i do. yet you seem to acknowledge at the end of your > post that you will go there again and you seem to be OK with that. > > i realize my attitude is something Chandi deals with in chapter 9. > and i think your way is probably a healthier attitude. my question > to you or anyone else who wants to answer, is how do you do that? > > JAI MA > > , Nanda <chandimaakijai> > wrote: > > Dear All, > > > > Once , a few weeks ago, I confessed to Swamiji how I was having > difficulty getting to do any sadhana on a Friday evening. > > > > I just get off from work , dont feel like doing much except maybe > heading to a Barnes and Noble and browsing the books there. Maybe a > cuppa java at the cafe. Just linger over the books , listen to a few > CDs and head home later that evening. This is a nice way to unwind > after a long week. > > > > So I mentioned that to Swamiji...how I get sidetracked from > sadhana to doing other "interesting" stuff. > > > > Swamiji smiled and said that he too had faced such attempts when > he was beginning sadhana. > > > > He said (and I paraphrase) "I used to tell my Guru that I HAD to > go away to Delhi to buy this IMPORTANT book" (Swamiji recounted his > days in India as a sadhak under his Guru) > > > > And his Guru looked at him keenly and said (and I > paraphrase) "Alright, now go and do your sadhana" , almost > dismissing his student's wishes summarily. > > > > Swamiji said that his Guru knew the tricks the mind gets upto to > wiggle out of sadhana. > > > > And Swamiji just smiled at me - as if to say "I too have been > there and its tough, but the result is well worth it , so dont give > up and keep at the sadhana". > > > > So the next time the lure of B&N is irresistable, I will give in > and go check it out (for after all sometimes I HAVE to go and buy > this important book), but I will forever remember Swamiji's > compassionate face gently urging me not to yield to the tricks of my > mind. > > > > Jai Swamiji > > Nanda > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 jai maaaaaa! every day we foget this awesome power of mind!!!!!!!! we are creating this, every day, every moment!!!!!! devotion is nothing but recreation of the universe!!!!!!! drink tea for shiva and you will be shiva!!!!! i send you all blessings to be hanuman, and for me, to be hanuman!!!! , "ammasmkd" <r_srinivasan@e...> wrote: > Dear Nanda and Eric, > > Om Namah Shivayah! > > A quote by Sri Neem Karoli Baba that is related to your discussion: > > "If you want to see God, kill desires. Desires are in the mind. When > you have a desire for something, don't act on it and it will go > away. If you desire to drink this cup of tea, don't, and the desire > for it will fall away." > > > Dear Nanda, > > Thank you so much for sharing Swamiji's story. > > Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! > > with love and prayers, > srini > > , "ecjensen_us" <ecjensen_us> > wrote: > > OM NAMAH SIVAYA > > > > Nanda, i found this post and your comments extremely interesting. > > this example you posted is the type of thing that makes me crazy. > > if Swamiji had said that to me i would have took that to mean that > > if i truly want to follow his example i should no longer go to > > Barnes & Noble. and when/if i did, i would feel guilty or like i > > was not living up to his example or my expectations. like i > didn't > > want it enough. intellectually i know i should not think in this > > manner, but i do. yet you seem to acknowledge at the end of your > > post that you will go there again and you seem to be OK with > that. > > > > i realize my attitude is something Chandi deals with in chapter > 9. > > and i think your way is probably a healthier attitude. my question > > to you or anyone else who wants to answer, is how do you do that? > > > > JAI MA > > > > , Nanda <chandimaakijai> > > wrote: > > > Dear All, > > > > > > Once , a few weeks ago, I confessed to Swamiji how I was having > > difficulty getting to do any sadhana on a Friday evening. > > > > > > I just get off from work , dont feel like doing much except > maybe > > heading to a Barnes and Noble and browsing the books there. Maybe > a > > cuppa java at the cafe. Just linger over the books , listen to a > few > > CDs and head home later that evening. This is a nice way to unwind > > after a long week. > > > > > > So I mentioned that to Swamiji...how I get sidetracked from > > sadhana to doing other "interesting" stuff. > > > > > > Swamiji smiled and said that he too had faced such attempts when > > he was beginning sadhana. > > > > > > He said (and I paraphrase) "I used to tell my Guru that I HAD to > > go away to Delhi to buy this IMPORTANT book" (Swamiji recounted > his > > days in India as a sadhak under his Guru) > > > > > > And his Guru looked at him keenly and said (and I > > paraphrase) "Alright, now go and do your sadhana" , almost > > dismissing his student's wishes summarily. > > > > > > Swamiji said that his Guru knew the tricks the mind gets upto to > > wiggle out of sadhana. > > > > > > And Swamiji just smiled at me - as if to say "I too have been > > there and its tough, but the result is well worth it , so dont > give > > up and keep at the sadhana". > > > > > > So the next time the lure of B&N is irresistable, I will give in > > and go check it out (for after all sometimes I HAVE to go and buy > > this important book), but I will forever remember Swamiji's > > compassionate face gently urging me not to yield to the tricks of > my > > mind. > > > > > > Jai Swamiji > > > Nanda > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2005 Report Share Posted June 1, 2005 Hi Nanda, When you get a chance, ask Swamiji if its possible his guru's saying, "Go do your sadhana," had a dual meaning. Maybe he was testing Swamiji to see if he could go to town to buy his book as a service for the Goddess, just making it Sadhana. By stating it the way he did, he left sadhana open for interpretation, and that way Swamiji would do Sadhana no matter what he did... Debi has taught Krista and I that we do what we do not for ourselves, but for Her. The little her we call daughter, and the big Her we call goddess, all manifest in that cute little body. Love. Nanda Ki Jai wrote: > Dear All, > > Once , a few weeks ago, I confessed to Swamiji how I was having >difficulty getting to do any sadhana on a Friday evening. > > I just get off from work , dont feel like doing much except maybe >heading to a Barnes and Noble and browsing the books there. Maybe a >cuppa java at the cafe. Just linger over the books , listen to a few > CDs and head home later that evening. This is a nice way to unwind > after a long week. > > So I mentioned that to Swamiji...how I get sidetracked from > sadhana to doing other "interesting" stuff. > > Swamiji smiled and said that he too had faced such attempts when > he was beginning sadhana. > > He said (and I paraphrase) "I used to tell my Guru that I HAD to > go away to Delhi to buy this IMPORTANT book" (Swamiji recounted his > days in India as a sadhak under his Guru) > > And his Guru looked at him keenly and said (and I > paraphrase) "Alright, now go and do your sadhana" , almost > dismissing his student's wishes summarily. > > Swamiji said that his Guru knew the tricks the mind gets upto to > wiggle out of sadhana. > > And Swamiji just smiled at me - as if to say "I too have been > there and its tough, but the result is well worth it , so dont give > up and keep at the sadhana". > > So the next time the lure of B&N is irresistable, I will give in > and go check it out (for after all sometimes I HAVE to go and buy > this important book), but I will forever remember Swamiji's > compassionate face gently urging me not to yield to the tricks of my > mind. > > Jai Swamiji > Nanda > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 Hi Eric, Your zeal and commitment is something to be pleased with. One should always desire to do the right thing. However, one also needs to recognize that the right thing, like everything else, come in degrees and grades. Notice that Swamiji didn't tell Nanda not to go, he merely pointed out the dilemma and the best course of action, leaving it to Nanda to deal with her own habits. Swamiji and Maa represent the highest examples. If we are to be perfect we should emulate their discipline. Sadly, we are not capable. Should we then all feel guilty about not being what Shree Maa and Swamiji are? Somewhere we must draw a line, find our own `leading edge' of discipline. For Nanda this is Barns and Noble on Friday nights. Eventually she will leave this behind, or find a way to work it around her sadhana. Until then, I'm sure she juggles her own share of conflict between her actions and her aspirations. Jai Maa! Chris , "ecjensen_us" <ecjensen_us> wrote: > OM NAMAH SIVAYA > > Nanda, i found this post and your comments extremely interesting. > this example you posted is the type of thing that makes me crazy. > if Swamiji had said that to me i would have took that to mean that > if i truly want to follow his example i should no longer go to > Barnes & Noble. and when/if i did, i would feel guilty or like i > was not living up to his example or my expectations. like i didn't > want it enough. intellectually i know i should not think in this > manner, but i do. yet you seem to acknowledge at the end of your > post that you will go there again and you seem to be OK with that. > > i realize my attitude is something Chandi deals with in chapter 9. > and i think your way is probably a healthier attitude. my question > to you or anyone else who wants to answer, is how do you do that? > > JAI MA > > , Nanda <chandimaakijai> > wrote: > > Dear All, > > > > Once , a few weeks ago, I confessed to Swamiji how I was having > difficulty getting to do any sadhana on a Friday evening. > > > > I just get off from work , dont feel like doing much except maybe > heading to a Barnes and Noble and browsing the books there. Maybe a > cuppa java at the cafe. Just linger over the books , listen to a few > CDs and head home later that evening. This is a nice way to unwind > after a long week. > > > > So I mentioned that to Swamiji...how I get sidetracked from > sadhana to doing other "interesting" stuff. > > > > Swamiji smiled and said that he too had faced such attempts when > he was beginning sadhana. > > > > He said (and I paraphrase) "I used to tell my Guru that I HAD to > go away to Delhi to buy this IMPORTANT book" (Swamiji recounted his > days in India as a sadhak under his Guru) > > > > And his Guru looked at him keenly and said (and I > paraphrase) "Alright, now go and do your sadhana" , almost > dismissing his student's wishes summarily. > > > > Swamiji said that his Guru knew the tricks the mind gets upto to > wiggle out of sadhana. > > > > And Swamiji just smiled at me - as if to say "I too have been > there and its tough, but the result is well worth it , so dont give > up and keep at the sadhana". > > > > So the next time the lure of B&N is irresistable, I will give in > and go check it out (for after all sometimes I HAVE to go and buy > this important book), but I will forever remember Swamiji's > compassionate face gently urging me not to yield to the tricks of my > mind. > > > > Jai Swamiji > > Nanda > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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