To Zac on empowerment (was being a devotee)

[Guest guest]

Zac wrote:

>> ...I really want to serve God, but first I want to feel empowered

some , >> and like most people my life isnt't too simple...

Dear Zac ~ by the time you get this, you will have read my other post,

which did have a few concrete suggestions, and I'm also sure you'll

have others tell you about puja and the Chandi. But the single

statement that you made, above, "I really want to serve God," is a

powerful statement of intent as well as of humility. Your desire to

serve God in itself alone makes you a devotee. And as Henny and

others have said, stick around and you'll get more of the "how to's".

But let this desire stay firmly rooted in your heart and soul because

it will take you wherever your journey leads. I will give a simple,

age-old and traditional "something" for empowerment: dedicate every

single action you take, every single day, to God. This alone can take

you very far along your path to the goal. Blessings ~ Linda

P.S. I am now "hearing" in my mind, playing like a tape, some of what

Swamiji said during his and Shree Maa's last tour. It was in Isaquaa,

WA, at a beautiful retreat center. Swamiji is talking about how to

find your guru. His own response was to "be the perfect devotee." But

what is a perfect devotee; what are the actions of a perfect devotee?

I can "hear" Swamiji talking about arranging your life so it is

simple, efficient, elegant, so that it gives you time for

worship/prayer/meditation and also for your work in the world. Even

Swamiji has work in the world, for, besides being a really amazing

Guru, he has been busy for years, translating ancient Hindu texts to

make them available to a contemporary audience. I'm not at the

Mandir, so I can't speak to how he manages to do all that he does.

But somehow, he finds time to do his work for the world, translating,

being our Guru, even reading our questions and answering them, and

still seems to be doing puja and worship all day and all night.

Perhaps Nanda or Parvati could give us a little insight into how

Swamiji manages to be so efficient so that we might better model

ourselves. :::hint, hint:::

[Guest guest]

, nierika wrote:

>

>

> Dear Linda, THank you for your note, and I do question myself.

However what you wrote was and is empowering in a sense that I know

there are others who know what I'm saying, and it's just beutiful to

know.

WEll, I live on a farm for people with mental illness, a therapeutic

community. It poses some problems to being devoted but also some

oppurtunities as well.

I've been farming through some issues for three years. We all need

inpiration and religion here, and to move past fear, and to instill in

our hears love.

I long for my guru. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Best

Zack