to Ektaji: Recent discussion on human/superhuman aspects of guru

[Guest guest]

Beloved Ekta, Jai Maa!

i must tell you that i am so deeply moved by your story and

everything else that you have said, that i am speechless and can only

say "Thank-you once again for your beautiful words of Wisdom." And of

course, the following that you have so eloquently espressed, has me

weeping for joy:

 

"I've often felt that physical distance from the guru can help to

deepen the

> inner relationship. When there is longing and no chance of physical

contact,

> the mind starts to penetrate more deeply into the subtle realms in

its desire

> to make some kind of contact. Often, the longing will encourage

extended

> contemplation and meditation on the guru, such that a subtle bond

is formed and

> strengthened. Teachings and grace flow through this psychic bond,

according to

> the intensity and receptivity of the disciple. This is how some

gurus prefer to

> operate, instead of openly or externally."

 

Thank-you so much for your wise and sensitive insights! i bow to

you, and i bow to your beautiful Guru!

Your grateful sister dissolving in Maa's Love,

muktimaa

 

 

 

 

 

, Eleathea Barraclough

<eleathea> wrote:

> Jai Maa!

>

> I was reading with interest the recent discussions on how human and

divine

> aspects of gurus seem to conflict. It reminded me of my first major

contact

> with Shree Maa.

>

> She had come to Philadelphia on one of Her tours, and the first

night we had a

> bhajan session. Words cannot describe how amazing the energy was

that night.

> Every time Maa began to sing, and as the group bhakti energy grew,

I was

> overflowing with tears, just crying uncontrollably. My whole body

was surging

> with shakti.

>

> At a certain point I grew aware of a "feeling" that I was in the

presence of

> God. I don't know how else to describe it. It was as if some large

and

> unimaginably holy presence was filling the room in a subtle form. I

didn't have

> any visions, but it was just a felt perception that I was in the

presence of

> the Divine, and that this presence was connected to Maa.

>

> Was it Her aura expanding to its complete divine form? Was it the

subtle bodies

> of celestial beings who had come for Maa's darshan? Was it just my

own

> imagination? I have absolutely no idea. All I know is that it was

overwhelming

> and awe-inspiring. I remember looking at Maa and not being able to

tell if She

> was looking at me or not, if She was focused on anything in the

room, or

> completely beyond.

>

> The next day I came for a homa program. I was standing at the back

of the

> house, when suddenly Maa came around the corner and was standing

RIGHT next to

> me. The sudden shock of seeing Her so close made me raise my hands

in surprise.

> Maa immediately grasped my hand in Hers and said with so much

girlish

> enthusiasm, "Hi! How are you?" Mentally, I was thinking, "Aaaah!

How can You be

> holding my hand so casually?! You're God!" I felt so shy I wanted

to run away,

> but I squeaked out "I'm good, Maa". She smiled and continued

towards Her chair.

> It was so utterly jarring to have such an intense God-experience in

Maa's

> presence, and then to have Her just take my hand and "chat".

>

> In the presence of many holy people, I become completely shy and

tongue-tied.

> The divine energy inspires so much awe, that I freeze up and just

start to

> stare. Yet, some of the saints I've met will seem to make specific

efforts to

> interact in a very human way. I've felt that they do this to help

me loosen up

> and feel more comfortable in their presence. I've also felt that

they were

> trying to get me to be more "grounded". Sometimes, in the presence

of intense

> shakti, I might lose most mental functions, but if I'm forced to

talk or do

> some task, I have to integrate the energy with human activities. It

seems to be

> an important skill, being able to function in the midst of intense

energy.

>

> But I still find it jarring to see saints somehow switch from

incredibly

> elevated states to a more "human" kind of interaction. It's really

their

> compassionate grace, though. It often helps disciples to have a

human dimension

> to the guru relationship, so the gurus will engage in certain human

activities,

> like chatting casually, making jokes, etc. One saint once was

asking me with

> great interest what kinds of foods I like. I mentioned potatoes,

and She asked

> me in what preparation? The only thing that came to mind

was "mashed potatoes".

> Then She asked, "Do all Americans like mashed potatoes very much?"

I found it

> so mind-boggling that She could be interested in this, but very

endearing and

> funny at the same time. It definitely helped me to loosen up in Her

presence!

>

> It's hard to reconcile the divine and human aspects of the guru,

but the human

> aspects often help us to feel that we have something in common with

the guru,

> and therefore we have a chance to become more like them! If gurus

were too

> otherworldly and unapproachable, we might just give up because

their state

> seems so unattainable for us.

>

> I've often felt that physical distance from the guru can help to

deepen the

> inner relationship. When there is longing and no chance of physical

contact,

> the mind starts to penetrate more deeply into the subtle realms in

its desire

> to make some kind of contact. Often, the longing will encourage

extended

> contemplation and meditation on the guru, such that a subtle bond

is formed and

> strengthened. Teachings and grace flow through this psychic bond,

according to

> the intensity and receptivity of the disciple. This is how some

gurus prefer to

> operate, instead of openly or externally.

>

> Jai Maa!

> Ekta

>

>

>

> __

> Sports

> Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football

> http://football.fantasysports.