To Nanda about The Meaning and The Method

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Nanda wrote:

>> Once during a Satsang (I believe it is also in a Q&A on the group),

some of us had asked >> him what was more important while chanting -

>> 1)accurate pronunciation therefore slower chanting or >> 2)faster

chanting and pranayam but sacrificing on the pronunciation. >>

Swamiji said that these two were not the only ones to consider when

chanting. He said >> that we had to consider the meaning of the

verses too. He suggested to pick out words >> and phrases from the

text that call out to us . We were to imbue ourselves with the bhava

of >> the meaning of those words when we chanted those verses. >>

Swamiji demonstrated exactly what he meant, one day a few weeks ago,

when we were >> chanting the Chandi with him. >> I think it started

somewhere in Chapter 2, when we were chanting how the Gods and

>> Goddesses put forth their energies and Chandi came forth blazing as

a pillar of fire. Every >> word of those few verses, he dramatized for

us until we were actually watching the

>> happenings of the Chandi right in front of us. We watched the Goddess roar, RING the

>> bell to destroy those asuras, CUT other asuras to pieces.. >>

Swamiji was enacting the story right in front of us...

Dear Nanda ~ thank you so much for this sharing. This seems like

really important info that one should keep in mind when chanting any

of the pujas. We have been given our imaginations for a reason, and

this is one really good way to use them. I loved your description of

how you now "see" episodes of the Chandi come to life before you, now

that you have started doing this. Chandi Ma Ki Jai! ~ Linda