To artsofnapa about Mother and Swamiji-- recollections of one Chandi

[Guest guest]

artsofnapa wrote:

Our portable sacred fire "pit" made of copper rode in the trunk of one

of several cars headed toward an isolated beach south of Santa Cruz.

We were jubilant, expecting shortly to chant Chandi with Mother and

Swamiji on the sands of the Pacific Ocean. Arriving, we carried wood,

copper fire pit, all articles of sadhana, and prasad across the sands

on this foggy, wind-swept day. Swamiji led us in this exhuberant

recitation, and at the completion...

Dear artsofnapa ~ it is hard to even imagine having the opportunity

for this wonderful Chandi journey with Maa and Swamiji. Thank you so

much for sharing it with us. (P.S. Is anybody keeping track of these

stories about Maa and Swamiji ... surely there is at least one other

book, or several, that we devotees would be hungry to read.) Jai Maa

, Jai Swamiji ~ Linda

[Guest guest]

, nierika wrote:

>Jai Maa, Linda, and all: Another anecdote of Mother and Swamiji's journeys

through the

years:

 

We were a rather small family of seekers who happened to converge with Mother

and

Swamiji around 1984-1985, and it seemed like spontaneity and eagerness to learn

and

serve were sprinkled with the fire of love in our hearts, along with all the

confusion of

working thru our own states of mind. The tools they gave and are still giving

were

methods of transcending the mind stuff by actually doing our own spiritual

practices

according to the traditions rishis applied in ancient India (then known as the

land of

Bharat). Six of us decided we would like to move into a larger structure with

them in

Moraga, California, so we rented the house, worked at our jobs, and had satsang

with

them every morning and evening. We struggled through the Chandi and other Indian

scriptures, sitting in the sadhasana and attempting to keep our knees flat on

the floor for

as long as it took to finish the Chandi (which at first took about 5 hours to

complete for

the shorter version). One day we all agreed that, like the rishis, we'd take a

trip into

natural surroundings to practice sadhana. Mt. Shasta became our home for the

next seven

days as we chanted group Chandis with our gurus. On the last day, Swamiji sat

for six

consecutive Chandis without a break. That night I happened to be still awake

around

midnight, and there seemed to be a choir of voices singing "Om Hring Chandikayai

Namo"

as Swamiji sat next to me. I commented on the fact, and he said he also heard

the voices,

then said "the trees are very happy and they are singing this mantra." Jai

Maa-- Gautam

>

> artsofnapa wrote:

>

> Our portable sacred fire "pit" made of copper rode in the trunk of one of

> several cars

> headed toward an isolated beach south of Santa Cruz. We were jubilant,

> expecting shortly

> to chant Chandi with Mother and Swamiji on the sands of the Pacific Ocean.

> Arriving, we

> carried wood, copper fire pit, all articles of sadhana, and prasad across

> the sands on this

> foggy, wind-swept day. Swamiji led us in this exhuberant recitation, and at

> the completion...

>

>

>

> Dear artsofnapa ~ it is hard to even imagine having the opportunity for this

> wonderful Chandi journey with Maa and Swamiji. Thank you so much for sharing

> it with us. (P.S. Is anybody keeping track of these stories about Maa and

> Swamiji ... surely there is at least one other book, or several, that we

> devotees would be hungry to read.) Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji ~ Linda

>

[Guest guest]

Mt. Shasta is such a magical place. I used to spend a few weeks each

summer at a stretch camping by myself, fasting/eating very light and

doing sadhana up at Squaw Meadow. This was before my householder

days and my intense summer seva schedule. I really miss that place.

I could really see a beautiful image from your story.

Pranams,

Surya

-

artsofnapa

Monday, March 13, 2006 8:32 PM

Re: To artsofnapa about Mother and Swamiji-- recollections of one Chandi

, nierika wrote:>Jai Maa, Linda,

and all: Another anecdote of Mother and Swamiji's journeys through the

years:We were a rather small family of seekers who happened to

converge with Mother and Swamiji around 1984-1985, and it seemed like

spontaneity and eagerness to learn and serve were sprinkled with the

fire of love in our hearts, along with all the confusion of working

thru our own states of mind. The tools they gave and are still giving

were methods of transcending the mind stuff by actually doing our own

spiritual practices according to the traditions rishis applied in

ancient India (then known as the land of Bharat). Six of us decided

we would like to move into a larger structure with them in Moraga,

California, so we rented the house, worked at our jobs, and had

satsang with them every morning and evening. We struggled through the

Chandi and other Indian scriptures, sitting in the sadhasana and

attempting to keep our knees flat on the floor for as long as it took

to finish the Chandi (which at first took about 5 hours to complete

for the shorter version). One day we all agreed that, like the

rishis, we'd take a trip into natural surroundings to practice

sadhana. Mt. Shasta became our home for the next seven days as we

chanted group Chandis with our gurus. On the last day, Swamiji sat

for six consecutive Chandis without a break. That night I happened to

be still awake around midnight, and there seemed to be a choir of

voices singing "Om Hring Chandikayai Namo" as Swamiji sat next to me.

I commented on the fact, and he said he also heard the voices, then

said "the trees are very happy and they are singing this mantra."

Jai Maa-- Gautam> > artsofnapa wrote:> > Our portable sacred fire

"pit" made of copper rode in the trunk of one of > several cars >

headed toward an isolated beach south of Santa Cruz. We were

jubilant, > expecting shortly > to chant Chandi with Mother and

Swamiji on the sands of the Pacific Ocean. > Arriving, we > carried

wood, copper fire pit, all articles of sadhana, and prasad across >

the sands on this > foggy, wind-swept day. Swamiji led us in this

exhuberant recitation, and at > the completion... > > > > Dear

artsofnapa ~ it is hard to even imagine having the opportunity for

this > wonderful Chandi journey with Maa and Swamiji. Thank you so

much for sharing > it with us. (P.S. Is anybody keeping track of

these stories about Maa and > Swamiji ... surely there is at least

one other book, or several, that we > devotees would be hungry to

read.) Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji ~ Linda>