Question for Swamiji about family ties

[Guest guest]

Dear Swamiji ~ thank you for being so accessible to answer our

questions. I don't know if anyone told you the immense significance

your response, "perfect them," to a question about family ties, had

on me. It turned all I had been thinking and feeling inside out, and

"poof"

I had a feeling of complete freedom regarding this issue. But I am

sure this "A ha" experience will need to be supported so that I don't

fall back into the shame/pain/sorrow/anger/etc. that was circling

endlessly in my mind.

 

One person said that you suggested the Pitra Paksah as well as the

tarpana from the Cosmic Puja. My father is deceased; my mother is

still living, and my circling conundrum has most recently focused on

my mother, until I read your words, "perfect them."

 

There is a section from the Chandi (I have the old version, so citing

the page would be meaningless). It is on the fourth page after the

country, state, city, temple, etc. have been invoked.) Here is what

it says, and I have loved this from the first time I ever read it:

"The Mother of Enlightenment pervades the heavens; the Mother of

Enlightenment pervades the atmosphere; the Mother of Enlightenment

pervades the Mother and Father and child. All Gods of the Universe

are pervaded by the Mother, the five forms of living beings, all

Life. The Mother of Enlightenment she is to be known..."

 

It seems to me that one could actually read this passage, as a prayer

to our parents and ancestors, both living and deceased, all the way

to the end: "Thus by means of Peace, altogether one with the means of

Peace, Ignorance is eliminated, Violence is eradicated, Improper

Conduct is eradicated, Confusion is eradicated, all that is, is at

Peace, all that is perceived, each and everything, altogether for us,

om santih santih santhi."

 

Do you think this would be a good practice, to recite this portion of

the Chandi, so that I keep my focus on the divinity within my parents

and not fall back into the cyclic "hell realm" I had put myself in? Is

there any other thing you can think of that could be recited or prayed

or practiced that would apply to honoring one's parents and ancestors,

both living and deceased that would aid in "perfecting" our family

ties?

 

Thank you very much for the time you take to answer our questions. Pranams ~ Linda