To durgaphite on visiting the Mandir

[Guest guest]

durgaphite wrote:

Today I call Devi Mandir and ask the devotee who answer the phone,if

Swamiji and Shree Maa are taking visitor ,I would like very much for

a long time to meet them and participated in the ceremonies or

sadhana.I was told that i need to post messages ,so Swamiji will get

to Know me.Is this really necesary...

Dear durgaphite ~ thank you for doing the "leg work" on something that

has been burning in my heart for quite awhile. I have been told the

Devi Mandir is "closed," yet from what you were told, it seems that

the doors will open now and then. Personally, if someone told me that

coming to the Mandir meant posting more to the digest so Swamiji could

get to know me, I would be posting constantly all the time. (Since I

already post quite a bit, I'm not sure extra posting would be

required in my case, but if it was, I would do it without question or

hesitation.)

 

I think that guru and devotee getting to know one another is a

significant part of the process of the guru/devotee relationship,

historically and traditionally. Since we have no way of Swamiji and

Maa getting to know us, as they are not touring and the Mandir is

"closed," the only way we have of getting to know each other is

through this wonderful digest. And how very fortunate we are to have

this wonderful means that 10 years ago didn't exist. Swamiji and Maa

send us messages, via the digest, messages that are so precious and

encouraging. Swamiji personally answers our questions, tailoring his

answers to the individual person and sometimes, for broader

questions, tailoring for the person and the group. And so we learn

more about both Shree Maa and Swamiji. We also learn about them from

visiting their website, from reading the books that Swamiji has so

lovingly translated, and by emulating what we know of their

activities and way of being in the world (most often from vignettes

of Devi Mandir life posted by those who are at the ashram). Even this

much contact brings me so much encouragement and joy.

 

Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji ~ Linda