Day 11: Q/A Feedback

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Day 11 Q/A feedback

 

 

Dear Henny,

Thanks for your attention concerning these rules of purity. On

one level it is that attentive awareness which is the offering as

we strive for the highest ideal of perfection.

 

Henny says:

 

With regards to the asan, I have a few questions about purity:

 

-are there any rules regarding the feet and the asan (I mean the

cloth I sit on)? When I sit down, parts of my feet sometimes

touch

the ground around the asan. Should the feet be kept on the asan

at

all times? Are you allowed to stand on the asan before sitting

down

or should you stand on the ground, sit down and then draw the

feet in? when I recited the Rudri last Monday (which took quite a

while), I

got tired and I suddenly noticed my hands holding the book

touched my

feet. Probably, that was a mistake (a music stand would correct

that). Am I right in thinking that your hands should never touch

the

feet?

 

A: Swamiji says that the feet are not considered jhuta but shoes

are. You should wash your hands after touching shoes. Also, if

you use a broom before sitting down for prayer or sweep masala

off the floor with a broom you should wash your hands.

There are certain viddhis in the puja where we touch our feet. For

example:

In the Cosmic puja page 201 (anga puja-worship of the Divine

Mother;s body) we touch our feet and say "Om durgaayai namah

padaau puujaayaami-I bow to the Reliever of Difficulties and

worship her feet.)

On page 187 baahya maatrikaa nyaasa (establishment of the

letters in the external body we touch the joints and tips of toes

Ex: We say: om dham namah -touch joints on right toes with left

fingers 1,3,5,. We say: om nam namah-touch tips of right toes

with left fingers 1,3,5. The process reverses with the other side

of the body as well.)

 

Standing on the ground and then sitting down on the asan,

drawing the feet in is okay.

 

 

Q: Am I right in thinking that you are not supposed to touch the

face

to relieve an itch or wipe the mouth during recitation? Is there a

difference depending on whether the itch occurs before or after

purification of the hands or before or after taking the sankalpa?

 

A: Swamiji says there are three places on the face that are

considered jhuta to touch:

1. finger in ear, nose, and mouth. You may want to keep a small

container of water near your asan so you can wash you hands if

you need to touch one of these places. Swamiji keeps a towel

across his lap. You can just sprinkle a little water on your hands.

If you are performing puja then you can use a little of your puja

water.

Indicating the mouth, ears and nose is different than touching.

There are certain places in the puja where we indicate the ears,

mouth, and nose with mantra but do not touch. It is okay to touch

your face to relieve an itch but if you wipe your mouth you will

need to sprinkle a little water on your hands. Hope this clarifies

some of your questions. Always remember that the bhava is the

bottom line.

 

Kumari asked:

 

If a sadhaka is unable to sit in siddhasana due to physical

limitation, does this detract in any way from dhyana?

 

A: Swamiji always recommends that we sit in an asan but if you

have a physical limitation then you have to do the best that you

can to focus your attention on the Supreme Divinity with whatever

constraints you have.