To Nanda question for the group-absolute and relative truth

[Guest guest]

Nandaji wrote:

>> ...So my question is - how does one apply absolute truths to the

>> relative world ? How does one translate one's actions in the world

>> to reflect the absolute truths ? Or is that even doable ?...

Dear Nandaji ~ what a tough question. First we need to ask what

absolute truth or truths are we referring to, and then your question

about transferring this understanding into action.

First, as a general response, I believe we (at least those who are

members of this digest and many others who choose to bring spiritual

understanding and work into their everyday lives) are already

attempting to apply these truths to our lives all the time. We take

the truths we read, chant and learn in the Chandi Path or from other

scriptures, or from Swamiji's and Maa's words, and we seek to apply

these to our lives. I am reminded of the incredible discussion in the

digest, when we were working with the Chandi Path, about each of the

individual asuras, with many people writing in acknowledging their

difficulty with a specific asura or asuras, as well as sharing how we

were struggling to overcome these asuras, as the Goddesses did in the

Chandi Path.

Then, I think of the "truth" that is expressed when one clicks the

"Enter" button on the home page of Shree Maa's website: "Worship

means paying attention. Learning takes place when one pays attention.

When we love something or someone, we pay attention. We offer respect

through paying attention." So we find several absolute truths stated

here, but the seed truth is "paying attention," and we are given the

"clue" that paying attention is connected to respect. It is not just

watching the world go by. I think if all we did was master this, we

would have come a very long way. It is not easy to respectfully pay

attention to the person who is flipping you the bird or honking at

you in traffic. It is not easy to respectfully pay attention when

someone is in our face, criticizing us or yelling. And just because

of all the distractions of our culture, it is not easy to

respectfully pay attention. But I believe we try. That is part of why

we follow Shree Maa and Swamiji because, even in their actions alone

they exemplify this respectful paying attention.

There are other "truths" that could be mentioned, but I will stick to

the two examples I've given. Perhaps it might be useful if folks put

forth to the group a single "truth," and we could all examine if or

how we work to apply that in our lives.

I believe it is doable. I believe we all must believe that, or else we

wouldn't be here, doing what we are doing. I believe it is doable

because others have done it and have pointed the way. That is part of

what the purpose of the guru, or the avatar, or the saint is ... to

demonstrate that applying "truth" to our lives is doable.

Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji ~ Linda