Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Dear Steve and Linda, Thank you for your thoughtful responses! I am intrigued by Steve's statement that the Gita and other scriptures say that it is our duty to support saints. Do you or anyone else have scriptural references for this? I would be very interested. Jai Maa! with love and prayers, srini , "Steve Connor" <sconnor wrote: > > think of them as your parents. what do they need. are their physical > bodies hungry, can they pay for their internet connection? it is a > part of both responsibility and devotion to support saints according > to the gita and other places. think, how can i enable them to do their > work in this world. > > then give them what they ask for. both literally and ultimately. if > they do not ask, try and read between the lines. it's not personal. > you do it for your own connection with the Self. each according to his > ability without judgment. > > , "srini_sadhu" <srini_sadhu@> wrote: > > > > Dear Family, > > > > Namaste! > > > > When I was young I had a small Sri Krishna idol in wood that I would > play with. I had a pink > > Shawl that I would wrap him with and everyday I would bathe Him and > affix chandan on > > Him. This was 30-35 years ago. > > > > I think after 8th grade, I stopped doing this and the world took > over and I forgot. > > > > In 2000, I met our Beloved Maa and Beloved Swamiji and since then > they have > > demonstrated to me again and again how to love God. This is just one > of the beautiful > > gifts They have given me. The love they shower on all of us is > infinite and inconceivable. I > > feel it everyday. > > > > How can we offer our gratitude to these two wonderful souls? What > are concrete ways for > > us to demonstrate our thankfulness? How can we complete the circle? > We receive, how do > > we give back to Them so that the circle of love remains fresh and > complete always. > > > > I look forward to your replies. > > > > with love and prayers > > srini > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 srini, you know of shivapuri baba? in his talks he stated, for what he calls in english the "right life," a responsibility of a devotee is supporting saints with 10%. he constantly referenced the bhagavad gita and the vedas, ramayana, etc. verse 26-27 in our own guru gita says to offer "a seat, a bed, cloth, ornaments,conveyance, and other things" ... the sadhak should "make offering of the necessities of life to produce the effect of delight in the life of the Guru." , "srini_sadhu" <srini_sadhu wrote: > > Dear Steve and Linda, > > Thank you for your thoughtful responses! > > I am intrigued by Steve's statement that the Gita and other scriptures say that it is our duty > to support saints. Do you or anyone else have scriptural references for this? I would be > very interested. > > Jai Maa! > > with love and prayers, > srini > > > > > > , "Steve Connor" <sconnor@> wrote: > > > > think of them as your parents. what do they need. are their physical > > bodies hungry, can they pay for their internet connection? it is a > > part of both responsibility and devotion to support saints according > > to the gita and other places. think, how can i enable them to do their > > work in this world. > > > > then give them what they ask for. both literally and ultimately. if > > they do not ask, try and read between the lines. it's not personal. > > you do it for your own connection with the Self. each according to his > > ability without judgment. > > > > , "srini_sadhu" <srini_sadhu@> wrote: > > > > > > Dear Family, > > > > > > Namaste! > > > > > > When I was young I had a small Sri Krishna idol in wood that I would > > play with. I had a pink > > > Shawl that I would wrap him with and everyday I would bathe Him and > > affix chandan on > > > Him. This was 30-35 years ago. > > > > > > I think after 8th grade, I stopped doing this and the world took > > over and I forgot. > > > > > > In 2000, I met our Beloved Maa and Beloved Swamiji and since then > > they have > > > demonstrated to me again and again how to love God. This is just one > > of the beautiful > > > gifts They have given me. The love they shower on all of us is > > infinite and inconceivable. I > > > feel it everyday. > > > > > > How can we offer our gratitude to these two wonderful souls? What > > are concrete ways for > > > us to demonstrate our thankfulness? How can we complete the circle? > > We receive, how do > > > we give back to Them so that the circle of love remains fresh and > > complete always. > > > > > > I look forward to your replies. > > > > > > with love and prayers > > > srini > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Steve wrote: > srini, you know of shivapuri baba? in his talks he stated, for > what he calls in english the "right life," a responsibility of a > devotee is supporting saints with 10%. he constantly referenced the > bhagavad gita and the vedas, ramayana, etc. > > verse 26-27 in our own guru gita says to offer "a seat, a bed, cloth, > ornaments,conveyance, and other things" ... the sadhak should "make > offering of the necessities of life to produce the effect of delight > in the life of the Guru." Dear Steve/Srini, Both of you have raised a very good topic. Isnt there a similar concept in other religions too - that of a "tithe" ? We define spirituality being "giving more than we take". Certainly I wont be able to give more than what Maa and Swamiji have given me, but I could do what I can to contribute to their earthly needs so that they may continue to inspire me. I confess that I have been a very erratic contributor, but the talk of consistency today on the group, as well as the supporting of saints with 10% has made sit and take note . I think of all the blessings and energy that Maa and Swamiji fill me with and definitely want it to continue and prosper. I definitely agree with what the Guru Gita says - that contributing towards the necessities of life for the Guru so that the Guru may continue to be in our midst and continue to inspire us. Pranams to you for making me sit up and think. Jai Guru Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 jai maa, nanda. thank you for letting us discuss this here. one thing is 100% important. everybody does what they do, without any judgment or comparison. everybody takes their path. everybody has their unique sadhana. we all choose what we can do. everyone, even the gurus, have a unique circumstance. a nice way to think about it is, facilitation. what can we as individuals do to facilitate the Eternal Way as it is appearing in our lives. we are on many levels talking about maintaining the temple. Ramakrishna maintained the temple. he had to eat too. who took care of that. someone knows the story better than me. i assume there was an owner of the temple, such an arrangement i understand is not uncommon in india. so we extend our thoughts. how is that to work here and now. then we come to have a different sense of who we are and who the Gurus are, and how that is to proceed. , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai wrote: > > Steve wrote: > > > srini, you know of shivapuri baba? in his talks he stated, for > > what he calls in english the "right life," a responsibility of a > > devotee is supporting saints with 10%. he constantly referenced the > > bhagavad gita and the vedas, ramayana, etc. > > > > verse 26-27 in our own guru gita says to offer "a seat, a bed, cloth, > > ornaments,conveyance, and other things" ... the sadhak should "make > > offering of the necessities of life to produce the effect of delight > > in the life of the Guru." > > Dear Steve/Srini, > Both of you have raised a very good topic. Isnt there a similar concept > in other religions too - that of a "tithe" ? > > We define spirituality being "giving more than we take". Certainly I wont be able to give more than what Maa and Swamiji have given me, but I could do what I can to contribute to their earthly needs so that they may continue to inspire me. > > I confess that I have been a very erratic contributor, but the talk of > consistency today on the group, as well as the supporting of saints with > 10% has made sit and take note . I think of all the blessings and > energy that Maa and Swamiji fill me with and definitely want it to > continue and prosper. I definitely agree with what the Guru Gita says - > that contributing towards the necessities of life for the Guru so that > the Guru may continue to be in our midst and continue to inspire us. > > > > Pranams to you for making me sit up and think. > Jai Guru > Nanda > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 Devnath posted: Q: Is it Dakshina if you ask for it? A: No it is not Dakshina if you ask for it. If I sell you a mantra or a puja for $50 that is called "doing business," and that is not one of the six activities of a Brahmin. Q: If you don't or can't ask for it, then how are we in the west to know about it. A: You know in your hearts if you've been touched, you know if you've been inspired, you know if your life has changed because of contact with a holy person...then you want it to continue. Namaste Devanath, Thank you for your timely post on Dakshina. It is true that Maa and Swamiji never ask for Dakshina or "sell" a puja/mantra/initiation/retreat . They always keep giving as they see the need in the recipient. And it is true that since they never ask for it, few people feel the need to give. As Linda asked in her post "so, if I periodically sent a donation to the Mandir, it would be welcome? This may seem a silly question, but the job of a guru is to be a guru, and so the guru doesn't have a "day job" like some of us." Thank you Linda for your post. And yes it is absolutely welcome for you and for anyone that has felt the inspiration to donate according to their individual capacities. Yes, we want Maa and Swamiji to keep inspiring us! Yes, they dont have "day jobs" - but a full time job to keep inspiring the world, by showing us how to live a life of Sadhana. And Yes, they never ask ! But... Just because they never ask , sometimes we (I) forget! The email thread from Srini/Steve/Devnath serve as reminders.. We have to be sensitive enough to remember all the advice/inspiration that we continue to get and give back appropriately. My humble pranams to everyone that helps to support the sadhana of Maa and Swamiji. Jai MAA Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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