A message to the group following Shivaratri

[Guest guest]

Dear Devi Mandir friends,

 

I want to share with with you my experience of observing Maha

Shivaratri. My observance was so simple, but last year at this time I

never thought I would be able to ever do even this much. But what I

did, or how much isn't the most important thing, what is most

important is the effect that doing it had on me, both in the

immediate moment and continuing into the current present.

 

What I have to say may seem a bit naive or childlike. Actually it is

quite paradoxical, for at one and the same moment I can feel like a

child, and also like a conscious adult taking responsibility for my

experience and my life. Here is what I wrote in my journal:

 

I feel as if I've just been given a priceless gift, the key to the

rudder of the boat that can carry me across the "sea of objects and

relationships." I feel at peace. I feel happy. Om Namah Shivaya.

 

This morning, I listened to my favorite Shiva bhajan tape. I had told

my hubby that I was going to disappear into the bedroom in the

evening to do my spiritual practice. Then at the time, I went in,

shut the door, got my rudraksha mala and Shiva Puja Beginner book and

cd. Even though I didn't have an altar, just doing this much, in a

definite way, gave me a sense of reverence and peace. First I

listened to the Shiva Beginner Puja cd and followed the Sanskrit

translation in the book. Then I recited it, without the cd, reading

both the Sanskrit transliteration and the English translation. To my

utter delight I found the words to some of my favorite Shiva bhajans

embedded in the text.

 

Finally I read the English transliteration of the Shiva Chalisa, which

was so wonderful because at the end was a prayer to Shiva as the

remover of pain. I recited a mala of Om Namah Shivah. So little, but

more than I have been able to do before, and I am so grateful to

discover this on this special night. I couldn't imagine even doing

the beginner puja ... now I wonder what took me so long. And now I

can further imagine that I will have the joy of gathering together

the ingredients to do the puja, something else which I felt I would

never manage.

 

I have never felt so close to God, or so full of joy, despite the pain

my physical body is going through. I love Shree Maa & Swamiji, my true

gurus.

Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji , Shiva Ki Jai

 

Pranams to you all who have inspired and encouraged my journey by your own example.

Devi Mandir Digest Group Ki Jai

[Guest guest]

Jai Lindaji! I am so happy for you. May He who Shares Delight be with

you always,

 

with love,

Henny

 

-- In , nierika wrote:

>

> Dear Devi Mandir friends,

>

> I want to share with with you my experience of observing Maha

Shivaratri. My

> observance was so simple, but last year at this time I never thought

I would

> be able to ever do even this much. But what I did, or how much isn't

the most

> important thing, what is most important is the effect that doing it

had on

> me, both in the immediate moment and continuing into the current

present.

>

> What I have to say may seem a bit naive or childlike. Actually it is

quite

> paradoxical, for at one and the same moment I can feel like a child,

and also

> like a conscious adult taking responsibility for my experience and

my life.

> Here is what I wrote in my journal:

>

> I feel as if I've just been given a priceless gift, the key to the

rudder of

> the boat that can carry me across the "sea of objects and

relationships." I

> feel at peace. I feel happy. Om Namah Shivaya.

>

> This morning, I listened to my favorite Shiva bhajan tape. I had

told my

> hubby that I was going to disappear into the bedroom in the evening

to do my

> spiritual practice. Then at the time, I went in, shut the door, got

my rudraksha

> mala and Shiva Puja Beginner book and cd. Even though I didn't have

an altar,

> just doing this much, in a definite way, gave me a sense of

reverence and

> peace. First I listened to the Shiva Beginner Puja cd and followed

the Sanskrit

> translation in the book. Then I recited it, without the cd, reading

both the

> Sanskrit transliteration and the English translation. To my utter

delight I

> found the words to some of my favorite Shiva bhajans embedded in the

text.

>

> Finally I read the English transliteration of the Shiva Chalisa,

which was

> so wonderful because at the end was a prayer to Shiva as the remover

of pain. I

> recited a mala of Om Namah Shivah. So little, but more than I have

been

> able to do before, and I am so grateful to discover this on this

special night.

> I couldn't imagine even doing the beginner puja ... now I wonder

what took

> me so long. And now I can further imagine that I will have the joy

of

> gathering together the ingredients to do the puja, something else

which I felt I

> would never manage.

>

> I have never felt so close to God, or so full of joy, despite the

pain my

> physical body is going through. I love Shree Maa & Swamiji, my true

gurus.

> Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji , Shiva Ki Jai

>

> Pranams to you all who have inspired and encouraged my journey by

your own

> example.

> Devi Mandir Digest Group Ki Jai

>