To Tanmaya about spiritual tool chest

[Guest guest]

Tanmaya wrote:

>> It has been said, by those who are holy enough to know, that the>>

greatest and most effective tapas that human beings have, whether in

an>> ashram or in the worldly world, is simply to get along well

together.>> We have three powerful tools in our spiritual tool-chest.

>> ...to relate to others, not as body, mind or ego, but as the living divine reality

>> which indwells every human being...

>> ...A second tool is the Chandi...The Mother promises in the Chandi

>> that its reading is the best way to neutralize oppressive people in high

>> positions, and to bring harmony to relationships of all kinds.>>

The third tool is nothing more than to recognize when an unpleasent>>

situation is really a blessing in disguise. Divine Providence

sometimes>> presents those of us, who can't go to India and climb

mountains, with>> the opportunity to do real serious and effective

tapas at home...

Dear Tanmaya ~ thank you so much for what you said in your post, and

especially for referring to these three things to do as "tools." One

doesn't often hear spiritually oriented people speak of methods as

"tools," but it is a term I have used a lot when I've done workshops

about the Tarot and other topics.

I present people in these workshops with an opportunity to look at the

energies which are part of and all around us, and which sometimes get

the better of us, as "tools." So briefly, Fire is a tool of spirit

and physical energy; it is also a part of integrating the strength of

will (but not willfulness) into a goal. Fire can also burn us if we

are not careful. Water is also a tool of spirit, manifesting as

intuition, dreams, visions, and the yearning for connection to the

Divine. It isn 't any mistake that so many Eastern mahatmas use the

Ocean as a metaphor for diving deep into our spiritual selves. Earth

is another tool of spirit, made manifest in concrete reality. How do

we use our creative energies and gifts? Do we offer them, as you

suggest, Tanmaya, without ego, as a way to share the gifts God/dess

has given us, or do we use them to get high on fame and fortune? Air,

another spiritual tool, relating to intellect and to intelligent use

of the mind, our own mind and our connection to the greater Mind that

is the Supreme. Do we rush all around, blown here and there and

accomplishing little, or do we focus that air, like a windtunnel, to

become a great force for understanding and communication. I hope you

don't mind my sharing this ... I had a conversation with someone

about it today, and about a book I've written, and she was

encouraging me to bring it out of the shed and complete it.

The fact that you mentioned the Chandi as a tool surprised me a bit,

but as I read on I understood. I also understood why I have been

having an almost irresistible urge to pick up my recitation of the

Chandi again.

And recognizing the Divine, or the gift, in an unpleasant situation,

may be the most difficult of all. After talking with my friend about

these ideas, I realized that I need to begin looking at my illness in

this way, not as something that defeats me, but as something that

presents an opportunity for tapas, for more quiet time (when I really

can't do anything else) to devote to worship. I have been so far down

in the dumps about my illness and the effect it has had on my life

that I have failed to see the gift inside the package.

So, again, thank you very much ~ Linda