Guest guest Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Swamiji's response:The only way to participate in spiritual life is to give. There are two ways to give: either we give our actions, or we give the fruit of our actions. Being spiritual we will want to do both. Giving of our actions means sadhana. We want to follow the examples of our gurus. We want to sit as they sit, worship as they worship, as much as possible to follow their bhava in our lives. Giving of the fruits of our actions means supporting their sadhana. The more they are free to pursue their sadhana, the greater is our opportunity to witness and therefore increase in our own disciplines. Dakshina is the wife of Yajna. They never come alone. They never attend anyone's worship individually. Wherever we give up something for our spiritual growth, there we want to demonstrate our appreciation and respect by giving more, so that we will recognize the privilege to be spiritual in life. The Giver is always greatest! Be spiritual - be a giver! And the greatest gift is to empower and support the spiritual practices of our gurus. That is how we move ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2006 Report Share Posted March 13, 2006 Namaste` Family, My preference is to keep my sadhana and sankalpas close to my chest so- to-speak. Discussing things can dilute them. However, I think it appropriate to share on this topic. I have never been asked for anything by Shree Maa and Swamiji, except to love the world. I have written them a lot and gotten a lot of questions answered. Always with love and wisdom. I have in the past made donations to the Devi Mandir. Sometimes small, sometimes large in my world of assets. After watching my Gurus for a couple of years and being so very impressed with their dedication, spiritual focus and ethics, meeting some of the Devi Mandir family, doing a little bit of seva one morning, my heart lead me to act on something I had been contemplating. I had written a letter to Swamiji about how if my karma was going to keep me in the world of work then I wanted some of the fruit of that work to support his and Shree Maa's, and the sevaks sadhana. In a sense, I spend my time in this labor and they are making up for the sadhana I do not seem to be able to do. I never mailed the letter, but instead made a sankalpa to write a check for $108 every Thursday (guru day) mail it, and do one mala each of mantra for Swamiji and Shree Maa for one year. This sankalpa will stretch me. I might have to literally go begging to keep my sankalpa, or take on more work, etc. I certainly will have to remember my gurus every week on Thursday and take a moment to pray for them. They pray for all of us. The fruit of my labor is different. I offer it at the feet of my beloved Gurus. I got the idea from a story posted on the group about devotees taking an ox cart every week through a circuit of farm villages, doing kirtan, accepting donations, and returning to their guru with rice, lentils, ghee and such, in order to support his sadhana. This is my virtual ox cart that I send to my Gurus weekly. It is easier to mail a check than a five-pound sack of rice! For me, the consistency that is required is part of my sadhana and learning. Maybe this would work for you. If not $108 dollars a week, how about 108 pennies or 1008 pennies (probably you should send it in a check not a roll of pennies!). I like thinking of them every Thursday and doing this act to convey my appreciation is really good for me. It is a stretch but within my capabilities. That is part of what sadhana is about isn't it...consistency, devotion, stretching, appreciation, giving? It brings a positive bhava to my life. As I said to Swamiji, I know I am the one that will benefit the most if I am able to complete this sankalpa. OM With love, Om Tat Sat Sadhu Maa , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai wrote: > > > Question from Srini/Nanda and others: > Namaste and Pranams! You and Shree Maa define spirituality as giving > more than you take. We receive so much from You and Shree Maa. How do we > give back to you? In particular, if we are physically away from Devi > Mandir, how can we best demonstrate our gratitude? > > Swamiji's response: > The only way to participate in spiritual life is to give. There are two > ways to give: either we give our actions, or we give the fruit of our > actions. Being spiritual we will want to do both. > > Giving of our actions means sadhana. We want to follow the examples of > our gurus. We want to sit as they sit, worship as they worship, as much > as possible to follow their bhava in our lives. > > Giving of the fruits of our actions means supporting their sadhana. The > more they are free to pursue their sadhana, the greater is our > opportunity to witness and therefore increase in our own disciplines. > > Dakshina is the wife of Yajna. They never come alone. They never attend > anyone's worship individually. Wherever we give up something for our > spiritual growth, there we want to demonstrate our appreciation and > respect by giving more, so that we will recognize the privilege to be > spiritual in life. > > The Giver is always greatest! Be spiritual - be a giver! And the > greatest gift is to empower and support the spiritual practices of our > gurus. That is how we move ahead. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2006 Report Share Posted March 13, 2006 Dear Sadumaa, Pranams to you. Thanks for sharing this you are a great inspiration for me, thank you. May that firm resolve of Shiva be your constant companion throughout this sankalpa year and always. Kalia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 sadhu maa, may i comment. what you say is good, and i am for it. my only thought is this, that the amount you speak of sounds like a lot, when you refer to the things you might have to do to fulfill it. maybe one way to think of it is, would swamiji want you to put yourself in that position of additional stress. just a thought. why not consider $108 per month. that is still a lot, quite a lot actually, over a year for one person. steve , "sadumaa" <sadumaa wrote: > > Namaste` Family, > My preference is to keep my sadhana and sankalpas close to my chest > so- to-speak. Discussing things can dilute them. However, I think it > appropriate to share on this topic. I have never been asked for > anything by Shree Maa and Swamiji, except to love the world. I have > written them a lot and gotten a lot of questions answered. Always with > love and wisdom. I have in the past made donations to the Devi Mandir. > Sometimes small, sometimes large in my world of assets. After watching > my Gurus for a couple of years and being so very impressed with their > dedication, spiritual focus and ethics, meeting some of the Devi > Mandir family, doing a little bit of seva one morning, my heart lead > me to act on something I had been contemplating. I had written a > letter to Swamiji about how if my karma was going to keep me in the > world of work then I wanted some of the fruit of that work to support > his and Shree Maa's, and the sevaks sadhana. In a sense, I spend my > time in this labor and they are making up for the sadhana I do not > seem to be able to do. > > I never mailed the letter, but instead made a sankalpa to write a > check for $108 every Thursday (guru day) mail it, and do one mala each > of mantra for Swamiji and Shree Maa for one year. This sankalpa will > stretch me. I might have to literally go begging to keep my sankalpa, > or take on more work, etc. I certainly will have to remember my gurus > every week on Thursday and take a moment to pray for them. They pray > for all of us. The fruit of my labor is different. I offer it at the > feet of my beloved Gurus. > > I got the idea from a story posted on the group about devotees taking > an ox cart every week through a circuit of farm villages, doing > kirtan, accepting donations, and returning to their guru with rice, > lentils, ghee and such, in order to support his sadhana. This is my > virtual ox cart that I send to my Gurus weekly. It is easier to mail a > check than a five-pound sack of rice! > > For me, the consistency that is required is part of my sadhana and > learning. Maybe this would work for you. If not $108 dollars a week, > how about 108 pennies or 1008 pennies (probably you should send it in > a check not a roll of pennies!). I like thinking of them every > Thursday and doing this act to convey my appreciation is really good > for me. It is a stretch but within my capabilities. That is part of > what sadhana is about isn't it...consistency, devotion, stretching, > appreciation, giving? It brings a positive bhava to my life. > > As I said to Swamiji, I know I am the one that will benefit the most > if I am able to complete this sankalpa. OM > With love, > Om Tat Sat > Sadhu Maa > > > > , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai@> wrote: > > > > > > Question from Srini/Nanda and others: > > Namaste and Pranams! You and Shree Maa define spirituality as giving > > more than you take. We receive so much from You and Shree Maa. How do we > > give back to you? In particular, if we are physically away from Devi > > Mandir, how can we best demonstrate our gratitude? > > > > Swamiji's response: > > The only way to participate in spiritual life is to give. There are two > > ways to give: either we give our actions, or we give the fruit of our > > actions. Being spiritual we will want to do both. > > > > Giving of our actions means sadhana. We want to follow the examples of > > our gurus. We want to sit as they sit, worship as they worship, as much > > as possible to follow their bhava in our lives. > > > > Giving of the fruits of our actions means supporting their sadhana. The > > more they are free to pursue their sadhana, the greater is our > > opportunity to witness and therefore increase in our own disciplines. > > > > Dakshina is the wife of Yajna. They never come alone. They never attend > > anyone's worship individually. Wherever we give up something for our > > spiritual growth, there we want to demonstrate our appreciation and > > respect by giving more, so that we will recognize the privilege to be > > spiritual in life. > > > > The Giver is always greatest! Be spiritual - be a giver! And the > > greatest gift is to empower and support the spiritual practices of our > > gurus. That is how we move ahead. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 Each according to their capacities. Thank you, but this is my sankalpa for a year, I am clear about that. For others with other talents it will be different. The biggest challenge for me is consistency. This is my sadhana lesson. The amount was not the point. The doing something consistently is. Please do not miss the joy and play in my post. I am not worried about it. It is a total blessing. Om , "Steve Connor" <sconnor wrote: > > sadhu maa, > > may i comment. what you say is good, and i am for it. my only thought > is this, that the amount you speak of sounds like a lot, when you > refer to the things you might have to do to fulfill it. maybe one way > to think of it is, would swamiji want you to put yourself in that > position of additional stress. just a thought. why not consider $108 > per month. that is still a lot, quite a lot actually, over a year for > one person. > > steve > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 Om Sadu Maa! Namasthasyai Namasthasyai Namasthasyai Namo Namaha! Jai Maa! with love and prayers srini , "sadumaa" <sadumaa wrote: > > Namaste` Family, > My preference is to keep my sadhana and sankalpas close to my chest > so- to-speak. Discussing things can dilute them. However, I think it > appropriate to share on this topic. I have never been asked for > anything by Shree Maa and Swamiji, except to love the world. I have > written them a lot and gotten a lot of questions answered. Always with > love and wisdom. I have in the past made donations to the Devi Mandir. > Sometimes small, sometimes large in my world of assets. After watching > my Gurus for a couple of years and being so very impressed with their > dedication, spiritual focus and ethics, meeting some of the Devi > Mandir family, doing a little bit of seva one morning, my heart lead > me to act on something I had been contemplating. I had written a > letter to Swamiji about how if my karma was going to keep me in the > world of work then I wanted some of the fruit of that work to support > his and Shree Maa's, and the sevaks sadhana. In a sense, I spend my > time in this labor and they are making up for the sadhana I do not > seem to be able to do. > > I never mailed the letter, but instead made a sankalpa to write a > check for $108 every Thursday (guru day) mail it, and do one mala each > of mantra for Swamiji and Shree Maa for one year. This sankalpa will > stretch me. I might have to literally go begging to keep my sankalpa, > or take on more work, etc. I certainly will have to remember my gurus > every week on Thursday and take a moment to pray for them. They pray > for all of us. The fruit of my labor is different. I offer it at the > feet of my beloved Gurus. > > I got the idea from a story posted on the group about devotees taking > an ox cart every week through a circuit of farm villages, doing > kirtan, accepting donations, and returning to their guru with rice, > lentils, ghee and such, in order to support his sadhana. This is my > virtual ox cart that I send to my Gurus weekly. It is easier to mail a > check than a five-pound sack of rice! > > For me, the consistency that is required is part of my sadhana and > learning. Maybe this would work for you. If not $108 dollars a week, > how about 108 pennies or 1008 pennies (probably you should send it in > a check not a roll of pennies!). I like thinking of them every > Thursday and doing this act to convey my appreciation is really good > for me. It is a stretch but within my capabilities. That is part of > what sadhana is about isn't it...consistency, devotion, stretching, > appreciation, giving? It brings a positive bhava to my life. > > As I said to Swamiji, I know I am the one that will benefit the most > if I am able to complete this sankalpa. OM > With love, > Om Tat Sat > Sadhu Maa > > > > , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai@> wrote: > > > > > > Question from Srini/Nanda and others: > > Namaste and Pranams! You and Shree Maa define spirituality as giving > > more than you take. We receive so much from You and Shree Maa. How do we > > give back to you? In particular, if we are physically away from Devi > > Mandir, how can we best demonstrate our gratitude? > > > > Swamiji's response: > > The only way to participate in spiritual life is to give. There are two > > ways to give: either we give our actions, or we give the fruit of our > > actions. Being spiritual we will want to do both. > > > > Giving of our actions means sadhana. We want to follow the examples of > > our gurus. We want to sit as they sit, worship as they worship, as much > > as possible to follow their bhava in our lives. > > > > Giving of the fruits of our actions means supporting their sadhana. The > > more they are free to pursue their sadhana, the greater is our > > opportunity to witness and therefore increase in our own disciplines. > > > > Dakshina is the wife of Yajna. They never come alone. They never attend > > anyone's worship individually. Wherever we give up something for our > > spiritual growth, there we want to demonstrate our appreciation and > > respect by giving more, so that we will recognize the privilege to be > > spiritual in life. > > > > The Giver is always greatest! Be spiritual - be a giver! And the > > greatest gift is to empower and support the spiritual practices of our > > gurus. That is how we move ahead. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 Namaste Beloved Family, Thank you SOOOOO much Sadu Maa for this BEAUTIFUL inspiration! Thank so much for Kalia, Steve, Forall10q, Srini, Nanda, Linda, Devapriya -- for all these powerful ideas and inspiration. Sadu Maa your message reminded me of a sweet practice that i think they follow in many homes in India. Everyday when the mother of the house does puja, she puts some money away for God. It is Dakshina - for God who is sustaining and nourishing us in so many ways every day, and for Gurus who teach us how to talk to God and do puja. In our house it was a little blue-box -- it was called "God's box" and it had "God's money" -- periodically, when we go to Temple, we put the money in the donation box. If we are not able to go and know a neighbour or friend who is going to the temple on a pilgrimage, we ask them to put our money in the donation box. Sometimes, we make a sankalpa (like Sadumaa is doign so beautifully) to give God a certain amount before a festival (e.g. by Navarathri time) -- and we put aside for that purpose every day. It is very beautiful and a lot of fun - like planning a birthday party!!!! We are not helping God and Gurus as much as God and Gurus help us to remember, play and talk to God - at least that is my humble feeling. I pray to that source of all Love and Goodness to help us all make beautiful sankalpas and love and share and offer our lives at the Feet of our Eternal Mother! Jai MAA! Jai Swamiji! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! , "sadumaa" <sadumaa wrote: > > Namaste` Family, > My preference is to keep my sadhana and sankalpas close to my chest > so- to-speak. Discussing things can dilute them. However, I think it > appropriate to share on this topic. I have never been asked for > anything by Shree Maa and Swamiji, except to love the world. I have > written them a lot and gotten a lot of questions answered. Always with > love and wisdom. I have in the past made donations to the Devi Mandir. > Sometimes small, sometimes large in my world of assets. After watching > my Gurus for a couple of years and being so very impressed with their > dedication, spiritual focus and ethics, meeting some of the Devi > Mandir family, doing a little bit of seva one morning, my heart lead > me to act on something I had been contemplating. I had written a > letter to Swamiji about how if my karma was going to keep me in the > world of work then I wanted some of the fruit of that work to support > his and Shree Maa's, and the sevaks sadhana. In a sense, I spend my > time in this labor and they are making up for the sadhana I do not > seem to be able to do. > > I never mailed the letter, but instead made a sankalpa to write a > check for $108 every Thursday (guru day) mail it, and do one mala each > of mantra for Swamiji and Shree Maa for one year. This sankalpa will > stretch me. I might have to literally go begging to keep my sankalpa, > or take on more work, etc. I certainly will have to remember my gurus > every week on Thursday and take a moment to pray for them. They pray > for all of us. The fruit of my labor is different. I offer it at the > feet of my beloved Gurus. > > I got the idea from a story posted on the group about devotees taking > an ox cart every week through a circuit of farm villages, doing > kirtan, accepting donations, and returning to their guru with rice, > lentils, ghee and such, in order to support his sadhana. This is my > virtual ox cart that I send to my Gurus weekly. It is easier to mail a > check than a five-pound sack of rice! > > For me, the consistency that is required is part of my sadhana and > learning. Maybe this would work for you. If not $108 dollars a week, > how about 108 pennies or 1008 pennies (probably you should send it in > a check not a roll of pennies!). I like thinking of them every > Thursday and doing this act to convey my appreciation is really good > for me. It is a stretch but within my capabilities. That is part of > what sadhana is about isn't it...consistency, devotion, stretching, > appreciation, giving? It brings a positive bhava to my life. > > As I said to Swamiji, I know I am the one that will benefit the most > if I am able to complete this sankalpa. OM > With love, > Om Tat Sat > Sadhu Maa > > > > , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai@> wrote: > > > > > > Question from Srini/Nanda and others: > > Namaste and Pranams! You and Shree Maa define spirituality as giving > > more than you take. We receive so much from You and Shree Maa. How do we > > give back to you? In particular, if we are physically away from Devi > > Mandir, how can we best demonstrate our gratitude? > > > > Swamiji's response: > > The only way to participate in spiritual life is to give. There are two > > ways to give: either we give our actions, or we give the fruit of our > > actions. Being spiritual we will want to do both. > > > > Giving of our actions means sadhana. We want to follow the examples of > > our gurus. We want to sit as they sit, worship as they worship, as much > > as possible to follow their bhava in our lives. > > > > Giving of the fruits of our actions means supporting their sadhana. The > > more they are free to pursue their sadhana, the greater is our > > opportunity to witness and therefore increase in our own disciplines. > > > > Dakshina is the wife of Yajna. They never come alone. They never attend > > anyone's worship individually. Wherever we give up something for our > > spiritual growth, there we want to demonstrate our appreciation and > > respect by giving more, so that we will recognize the privilege to be > > spiritual in life. > > > > The Giver is always greatest! Be spiritual - be a giver! And the > > greatest gift is to empower and support the spiritual practices of our > > gurus. That is how we move ahead. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2006 Report Share Posted March 16, 2006 In a message dated 3/14/2006 8:17:04 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, sadumaa writes: Each according to their capacities. Thank you, but this is my sankalpafor a year, I am clear about that. For others with other talents itwill be different. The biggest challenge for me is consistency. Thisis my sadhana lesson. The amount was not the point. The doingsomething consistently is. Please do not miss the joy and play in mypost. I am not worried about it. It is a total blessing.Om Namaste Sadumaa Om Love Kanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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