Guest guest Posted January 25, 2006 Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 >>">> Swamiji's response: >> No, we do not escape from family ties - we perfect them. We use these relationships to >> offer the most pure expression of dharma that is possible, removing all selfishness from >> our actions"<< Dear Linda, Sadhu Maa and List, I have been following the discussion about family ties/family karma and wanted to offer my experience of these ties. Two years ago, Swamiji advised me on how to do the Pitru Paksha practice. I had been given the responsiblity of both my parents' ashes by my siblings. Swamiji suggested doing the short puja from "Cosmic Puja" book everyday until the time when I would do a complete puja and immerse their ashes. During that 3 month period, leading up to the final ceremony, I thought alot about both my Mother and Father. They had both been extraordinary people: wonderful and "difficult", like most human beings. I began to do a practice every morning before the short puja, remembering 3 "difficult things" (that seemed to have caused personal "suffering" for me) and following that with 3 "wonderful things" (that had really influenced me in a very positive way). What struck me, above all, was the "human-ness" of my parents. I realized that they had been so very young when they were raising their family...both had struggled with their own fears, inadequacies, desires, etc. It really helped me to understand that nothing that had "happened" to "me" was really personal. Whatever hurt they had inflicted was simply the residual effect of their own fears. Maybe it was the first time that my parents became simply human beings to me and not beings so powerful that they were able to trigger off immediate emotional reactions, both positive and negative. I have noticed since that time that my relationship with my husband, sister and brothers has changed to a more accepting one and the fact that I don't just "react" to the old triggers has helped to create a much better and more loving connection. They are SEPARATE incarnated beings, not just extensions of ME...not here to make ME happy or unhappy, to affirm MY existence. It's interesting because finally being able to respect their "difference" has helped me to feel that inner connection and understand that they simply want to be happy, like everyone, all over the world. No one wants to suffer. The fact that I am so fortunate as to understand that chasing after "things" is not going to make anyone happy just makes me feel more sympathy for them.It seems like a happy "accident" of karma that I am focused on God not Maya. I don't want to present myself as the epitome of patience here...I still get irritated and frustrated but maybe with a little more understanding beneath the surface annoyance. best regards sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2006 Report Share Posted January 25, 2006 Namaste Sadhvi Thank you so much for sharing your experience with family ties. I love to hear about personal experience and am pleased that Swamiji gave you something very practical to do along with the pooja suggestions. It's helpful to hear these things. But something I'd like to know--what is the "Pitru Paksha" practice exactly? nityashakti wrote: > Dear Linda, Sadhu Maa and List, > I have been following the discussion about family ties/family > karma and wanted to offer my experience of these ties. Two years > ago, Swamiji advised me on how to do the Pitru Paksha practice. I -- "Naan Amme Snehikkunnu" Be Love, Egyirba (Berijoy) -=-=- .... The transformation of the experience: that is pure art -- Rebecca Horn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Dear all, I have been following the discussion about family ties with great interest and it has helped me to clarify my own situation. As I was reciting the Guru Gita this morning, two verses took on special importance: "Blessed is the mother, blessed is the father, blessed is the family and blessed is the lineage. Blessed is the earth, oh Goddess, because of he who has devotion to the Guru, which is so difficult of attainment." "This body, these organs organs of action and knowledge, this life force, and objective of being, one's own near and dear and friends, mother, father, family: oh Goddess, all are only the Guru without a doubt." (vss. 169/170) To me, these verses say that no matter what our family members may seem to do wrong or right, and no matter what we ourselves seem to do wrong or right in our mutual relationships, if we remember the Guru always, and recognize His/Her presence in our own hearts and see the same Guru's presence shining through our relatives when we are together, we cannot go very far wrong. with love, Henny , Devi's Daughter <devi.daughter@g.. ..> wrote: > > Namaste Sadhvi > > Thank you so much for sharing your experience with family ties. I love > to hear about personal experience and am pleased that Swamiji gave you > something very practical to do along with the pooja suggestions. It's > helpful to hear these things. But something I'd like to know--what is > the "Pitru Paksha" practice exactly? > > > nityashakti wrote: > > Dear Linda, Sadhu Maa and List, > > I have been following the discussion about family ties/family > > karma and wanted to offer my experience of these ties. Two years > > ago, Swamiji advised me on how to do the Pitru Paksha practice. I > > -- > "Naan Amme Snehikkunnu" > > > Be Love, > Egyirba (Berijoy) > > -=-=- > ... The transformation of the experience: that is pure art -- Rebecca Horn > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Namaste Henny What an apt reminder. Thank you for sharing this. henny_v_i wrote: > Dear all, > > I have been following the discussion about family ties with great > interest and it has helped me to clarify my own situation. As I was > reciting the Guru Gita this morning, two verses took on special > importance: > > "Blessed is the mother, blessed is the father, blessed is the family > and blessed is the lineage. Blessed is the earth, oh Goddess, because > of he who has devotion to the Guru, which is so difficult of > attainment." > > "This body, these organs organs of action and knowledge, this life > force, and objective of being, one's own near and dear and friends, > mother, father, family: oh Goddess, all are only the Guru without a > doubt." (vss. 169/170) > > To me, these verses say that no matter what our family members may > seem to do wrong or right, and no matter what we ourselves seem to do > wrong or right in our mutual relationships, if we remember the Guru > always, and recognize His/Her presence in our own hearts and see the > same Guru's presence shining through our relatives when we are > together, we cannot go very far wrong. > > with love, > Henny > In this world men try all kinds of paths. But they overlook the Self, the Beloved. Awake and pure, flawless and full, beyond the world. --Ashtavakra Gita 18:35 From "The Heart of Awareness: A Translation of the Ashtavakra Gita," by Thomas Byrom, 1990. -=-=- -- "Naan Amme Snehikkunnu" Be Love, Egyirba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 In a message dated 1/26/06 12:02:41 AM Mountain Standard Time, HvI (AT) SoftHome (DOT) net writes: To me, these verses say that no matter what our family members may seem to do wrong or right, and no matter what we ourselves seem to do wrong or right in our mutual relationships, if we remember the Guru always, and recognize His/Her presence in our own hearts and see the same Guru's presence shining through our relatives when we are together, we cannot go very far wrong.with love,Henny Namaste Henny, This is the Guru in our karma, not good, not bad. A reflection of the individual journey taken. Om Namah Sivaya dear Gurudeva. With Love Kanda ( melting in Love ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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