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~~OM~~

Shree Maa often talks about “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram - Truth, Infinite Consciousness and Beauty.” Shree Maa says, “If you live in truth and beauty – you will get infinite consciousness.” When we watch Mother, hear Her speak or listen to Her singing, we know She is living in Truth and Beauty. In Her every act and move we see, we feel and we admire these qualities.

We want to learn how we, too, can imbibe these qualities and be in that place of perfect truth, beauty and pure love. “Step by step, my children,” She tells us lovingly with a smile.

One step we can all begin with is worship or puja. Maa does puja every single day multiple times, beginning many hours before day break. Puja is the Sanskrit word for worship; it is composed of “pu” and “ja” and means that which gives birth to merit.

Shree Maa and Swamiji tell us that “Worship means attention.” When we do any action with complete attention, we are engaged in worship. Therefore, puja is not limited to the time we sit in front of our altar, but can conceivably fill every moment of our lives. The practice of doing puja each day helps us to make our entire life a festival of worship.

At the tender age of four, Shree Maa started doing puja in Her family shrine every day. She learned all the mantras and mudras and vidhis to worship numerous deities. As she grew older, she was often invited to neighbors’ houses to do worship there also. Every morning before day break she got up to bathe in the pond and wear a red-bordered puja saree, and sat down to worship. One day when she was a little girl, she went to the pond in the pre-dawn darkness and slipped and fell. She hurt her hand and was not even able to move. She was in a lot of pain and her hand had to be tied in a sling. Still, she did not let that pain stop her from doing her worship.

In India, Maa went from house to house teaching people how to do puja. She encourages us to do puja and to learn the mantras. “If you learn the mantras by heart, the Gods will always be with you,” She once told us. In America too, Shree Maa and Swamiji have helped many, many devotees set up altars in their houses and to get started with regular worship – to make their house into a temple.

Shree Maa and Swamiji say, “Worship is the bridge by which we cross from duality to non-duality.”

This week we will be discussing puja – what are the steps, what does it mean in practice, how we can use this practice to make all of life a puja (worship).

Please join us in worship……

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srini_sadhu: Please introduce yourselves. We have another 10 minutes. Its going to be great!
srini_sadhu: Ok let me start.
srini_sadhu: I live in Devi Mandir by the Grace of Shree Maa and Swamiji
srini_sadhu: Before coming here I was a professor of accounting for 10 years
srini_sadhu: My sadhana includes Chandi Path and Cosmic Puja
srini_sadhu: I help Swamiji in his office on some matters
srini_sadhu: Welcome Prasana!
Ram Prasana: thanks srini, I am happy to be part of this group
srini_sadhu: Great! Could people say aline or two about themselves
amritagita: I am Raghu Srinivasan, I live in Maysville, KY. I am an interventional cardiologist by trade. I am a Sri Vidya Upasaka. I chant Lalita sahasranamam, Trisati and Khadgamala Stotram everyday. I try to remember to chant my Gurur mantra
srini_sadhu: Wonderful to be in the company of sadhakas!
Ram Prasana: This is Prasana, live in Tigard in Oregon. Work for HSBC as a Risk Analyst. Not big time into any sadhana... but try to do a little bit as and when possible...
srini_sadhu: Alphansa, Ann, could you please say a little about yourselves
Ann Millet: I am a psychotherapist. I have recently relocated to Hawaii from upstate New York.
srini_sadhu: Thank you Prasana! Every little is good
srini_sadhu: Aloha! Ann!
Alphansa DSouza: I am Alphanso DSouza; new to this and Devi mandir. I do not chant any mantras but do live a somewhat Hindu life. I am now in Calgary Canada. work as an Financial Anylst
srini_sadhu: I used to teach Financial Analysis! Thank you all!
srini_sadhu: Ok Let me talk a little about the class
srini_sadhu: This class is about goal setting.
srini_sadhu: Maa and Swamiji have frequently reminded me about the importance of setting goals
srini_sadhu: Om sang Saraswatyai Namaha! Its 4:30 Shall we begin?
Ram Prasana: sure
amritagita: Sure
srini_sadhu: In this class we would like to cover 5 topics. The way it will be easiest is if I write about a topic first – and you get to listen and learn. And then open it for discussion. Then we will move on to the next topic.
Ram Prasana: sounds good to me
srini_sadhu: I would like to learn from all of you. Please do share!!!
srini_sadhu: The five topics we will cover are: (a) What is a goal? (b) Why do we set goals? (c) How to set goals? (d) Sankalpa and relating sankalpa to goals (e) Yama
srini_sadhu: Any questions?
Ann Millet: not yet...
srini_sadhu: Topic 1: What is a goal?
srini_sadhu: Our goals are what we value.
srini_sadhu: What we value is also our wealth.
srini_sadhu: Some examples of values: peace, money, career, love
srini_sadhu: The Sanskrit word for goal is “Laksya”.
srini_sadhu: The Goddess of Wealth is Laksmi.
srini_sadhu: Which is why She is also the Goddess of our goals, our values, and our aspirations.
srini_sadhu: OK I am going to talk a little bit of Lakshmi's bija mantra Srim and then open it up for discussion
srini_sadhu: Srim is made up of Sa, Ra, I and M.
srini_sadhu: Sa means peace. Ra means the mind, I means the heart or intuition. M is perfection. Thus Srim means The perfect peace in the mind and heart.
srini_sadhu: Lakshmi’s promise is “Whoever will pursue their goals with peace, they will find the wealth.”
srini_sadhu: She is the Goddes of Goals. When we pray to Her, she helps define our goals.
srini_sadhu: Discussion?
amritagita: It's great when goals are known and expressed, what happens when there is conflict amongst values or unclear goals
srini_sadhu: We pray to Mother Durga to remove all confusion
Ram Prasana: So Goddess Lakshmi also helps us refine our goals... right ?
srini_sadhu: Yes!
Ramya: One time Swamiji was saying in relation to how to set goals is think of what contribution you can make to the world
Ramya: Think of the best contribution - and use that to define your goals - the contribution you can make - that will bring peace and happiness.
Ram Prasana: can you give an example Ramya ?
Ramya: Also he said think of your ideal lifestyle - how would you like to live -- and use that to set your goals.
Ramya: It could be something you are talented in - like singing or writing or business or anything...it is just something you can give freely and happily...that is my understanding
Ramya: Spirituality is giving more than taking -- Shree Maa and Swamiji say. When we want to give, God will surely help us!
Ann Millet: thats reassuring
srini_sadhu: It is helpful to write down all the thinks that inspire you ona white sheet of paper when you are calm. As you write this list, things that truly inspire you will come up
Ramya: Yes for me too!
srini_sadhu: I di this sometime ago and it gave me a vision for what I want to do
srini_sadhu: Ok the next thing to understand is why do we set goals?
srini_sadhu: Setting goals bring us more clarity and focus and meaning to our life.
Ann Millet: I do this a lot in my career and for myself - when we write I think it gives the goal a deeper meaning or higher vibration or request.
srini_sadhu: It makes you clear-headed, motivated, and inspired
Alphansa DSouza: Thinking positively in everyday life will also help in your growth as a human being. The more positive instructions you give it, the more positive results you will get.
Ramya: Thanks Ann, you are inspiring me to write down as well!
Ram Prasana: Srini, a question about Ra beejam... from a sloka I learnt earlier Ra stood for fire element... is that why it is meant to be the mind here ?
srini_sadhu: Ram is the bija mantra associated with the manipura chakra which is related to the fire element
Ann Millet: Alphansa I love what you said = instructing life...
srini_sadhu: Ra here is different
Ram Prasana: thanks thats helpful.
srini_sadhu: Back to goals
Ram Prasana: ok
Alphansa DSouza: Part of the reason why I write down and examine our goals is to create a set of instructions for our subconscious mind to carry out. Your subconscious mind is a very efficient tool, it can not determine right from wrong and it does not judge. It's only function is to carry out its instructions.
srini_sadhu: By setting goals we improve the quality of our present moment
Ram Prasana: agree
srini_sadhu: Thanks Alphansa!
srini_sadhu: Goal setting helps train the mind
Ramya: Along the lines of what Alphansa has been telling us
Ramya: Swamiji says that we should do pran pratishta to our goals – see them, breathe life into them everyday. It reminds you of your goal and gives you focus each day.
Ramya: i think it makes each day a positive step towards a positive future -- which makes our present moment positive too!
Alphansa DSouza: Interesting. I agree.
srini_sadhu: Ok next topic, How do you all set goals? What criteria do you use to set goals?
Ram Prasana: I try to observe each day what little has happened that takes me toward that goal... and that gives a sense of movement toward the goal...
Ann Millet: think of what this could do for our leaders of the world and all those suffering- I will breath peace and love to them!
srini_sadhu: Love to hear from all of you!
Alphansa DSouza: Shoot for the moon, if you miss you'll still be in the stars.
Ram Prasana: thats a great prayer shakti_ann
srini_sadhu: Once when talking to Swamiji about how to define goals or figure out the purpose of life He suggested that we can think of what is our ideal life style. Then try to think what we need to do to get there – what will help us get there, how can we make a plan to get there.
Ramya: Are there other ways to set goals that people have used?
Alphansa DSouza: Writing down your goals creates the roadmap to your success. Although just the act of writing them down can set the process in motion, it is also extremely important to review your goals frequently. Remember, the more focused you are on your goals the more likely you are to accomplish them.
amritagita: Visualizing the anticipated end in great detail helps me get working toward it
Ann Millet: having small goals on the way helps me stay on track
Ann Millet: like signposts
srini_sadhu: On similar lines, I have read that it is useful to visualize your ideal day for the next day every night before you sleep
Alphansa DSouza: Reviewing your goals daily is a crucial part of your success and must become part of your routine.
srini_sadhu: You keep doing that every night and the quality of your life improves
srini_sadhu: I like Ann's point about small goals
srini_sadhu: Ok, you have defined your goals. What do you think is the next step?
Ann Millet: do it!!
Ram Prasana: I write down small goals and re-visit them roughly after a month and check out those covered and left out... and sometimes replan whats left out.
amritagita: Taking action to get there
srini_sadhu: What does it take to do it?
Ram Prasana: stay motivated
Ann Millet: dedication, trust, motivation and prayer
Ramya: Swamiji says – First you set the goal and then you take the sankalpa to achieve the goal.
srini_sadhu: What is sankalpa?
Ram Prasana: resolve...
amritagita: Committment
Ramya: sam means "all" and kalpa is "idea" -- when you gather all your loose threads and focus on ONE idea - you are taking a sankalpa
Ann Millet: humility?
Ramya: It is a STRONG resolve -- total commitment!
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says Sankalpa is the strength of will power to obtain our goals
Ram Prasana: how to make a resolve and yet be detached ? i
srini_sadhu: How to obtain this will-power?
srini_sadhu: Prasana, detached from what?
Ram Prasana: detached from the goal itself
Alphansa DSouza: Every time you make a decision during the day, ask yourself this question, "Does it take me closer to, or further from my goal." If the answer is "closer to," then you've made the right decision. If the answer is "further from," well, you know what to do. Ask God for the power to help too.
srini_sadhu: I would think you should very attached to the goal but not attached to whether you achieve it
Ram Prasana: resolve with attachment leads to expectation and it has happened to me earlier that I did not achieve a goal and that lead to disappointment. So I felt it is important to make a goal and yet be detached from it
srini_sadhu: Easy to say, hard to practice
srini_sadhu: I meant my statement
Ram Prasana: oh, yes I agree to that... not be attached to achieving it... thats well stated
Ann Millet: hard to know where the line is bet motivating to succeed and letting go of result
amritagita: Any resolve or goal has with it the ability to make it come true
srini_sadhu: Well said!
srini_sadhu: For every goal, there is Guru who can teach you how to achieve it
Ram Prasana: Guru ? Can u be a little more clear on that?
srini_sadhu: The Guru could be an experience, inner voice, or person
Ramya: i have heard Swamiji say that we are the children of Shiva and Shakti. Lord Shiva gives us the will power to make the sankalp and be motivated to succeed.
srini_sadhu: Or a scripture
Ramya: Divine Mother gives us the fruit of our karma - and we have to accept it as it was our karma.
srini_sadhu: Adding to what Ramya said. Swamiji says there are two things: free will and fruits of our actions
Ramya: So we need the motivation and the acceptance
Ramya: Luckily - we can pray to both of them to help us!
Ram Prasana: Can you explain what you meant by free will ?
srini_sadhu: We use our free will to define our goals and Lord Shiva gives us determination to achieve
Ram Prasana: So use free will to achieve goal, Lord Shiva motivates us and keeps us going and Mother yields the results... did I get that right ?
srini_sadhu: Divine Mother gives us the fruit of our action. Sometimes we achieve sometimes we dont, its up to Her
srini_sadhu: Yes that is my understanding Prasana
Ram Prasana: thanks
srini_sadhu: One very nice slokam to read to develop sankalpa Shakti is Siva Sankalpa Stotram
srini_sadhu: The audio of Swamiji chanting it and translation is on www.shreemaa.org
srini_sadhu: Might be a good time to discuss some simple examples of goals and the sankalpa we take to achieve them
srini_sadhu: For example, one of my goals is attain Asan Siddhi
srini_sadhu: This means sitting in Siddhasan without moving knees while chanting the Chandi for three hours
srini_sadhu: Right now my knees dont touch the floor and I can barely sit for one hour
srini_sadhu: The Path is to practice Baddha Konasana for ten minutes everyday . Swamiji told me to.
Alphansa DSouza: ?
Ram Prasana: thanks for sharing this Srini. I need this one too.
srini_sadhu: So my sankalpa is to practice Baddha Konasan for ten minutes everyday
Ramya: It is a yoga pose -- Butter fly pose
Alphansa DSouza: ok
srini_sadhu: I dont have a time limit on when I will achiev this, but just keep at it ten minutes everyday
srini_sadhu: Would some one like to share any other examples of goals and how to achieve them
Ram Prasana: discipline is paramount to goal achievement...
amritagita: How does one set goals and works at it while weakening the sense of doership rather than enahancing it
srini_sadhu: Hmmmm
Ram Prasana: I think it helps to say 'God, you achieve this goal through me'
Ramya: my humble opinion - we do for God. Like my goal could be "Mother i want to sing for You" So the path is to take singing lessons.
Ramya: Sankalpa is to practise music everyday for half an hour. As i practice i remember it for my beautiful Mother..and its a lot of fun!
srini_sadhu: I would say the loss of the sense of doership comes only from years of sadhana and Grace of God and Guru
srini_sadhu: One thing "I" do is to talk less and watch how often "I" use the word "I"
Ann Millet: nice reminder - loss of doership
Ram Prasana: we can loose the sense of doership if we observe circumstances that help us lead to the goal... actually be aware of who is helping you achieve it... then you know for sure you are not in the scene
srini_sadhu: We have another ten minutes. Could we talk about the last topic, Yama.
Ramya: ok
Ram Prasana: it takes time but when you pray know whom you are praying to and review your day at night,,,
Ram Prasana: ok
srini_sadhu: Yama means to take control. It is the first step in the path of Yoga and relates to all that we have been talking so far.
srini_sadhu: In Patanjali Yoga sutras, there are 5 Yamas – Causing no harm to others (Ahimsa), Truthfulness (satya), Not coveting things of the world (asteya), Sacred study (Brahmacharya), controlling greed (aparigraha).
Ramya: How does this relate to goals?
srini_sadhu: Anyone?
Ram Prasana: I think practice of the yamas keeps our mind at peace... that increases focus on the goal...
Alphansa DSouza: Is it not that Lord Yama is the God of death in Hindu belief?
Ram Prasana: good question... I wanted to ask the same thing...
amritagita: These qualities are what makes a goal worth having
srini_sadhu: Yes, Yama is the Lord of Death. He is the greatest controller.
srini_sadhu: That is why Yam means taking control
srini_sadhu: In the Cosmic Puja, Swamiji translates Yama as the Supreme Controller
amritagita: In other words how far will untruth/ harming others...etc help in one's goal?What good can it do
srini_sadhu: The five Yamas are criteria which help define your goal.
Ramya: So Amritagita we want to think of our goal as being dependent on these qualities?
Ramya: did i understand correctly?
Ram Prasana: achieving the goal depends on the 5 yamas ?
srini_sadhu: My humble example
amritagita: The higher the values, the greater is the goal
srini_sadhu: My goal is to study scripture
srini_sadhu: I choose an environment where I can study the scripture while at the same time practice Ahimsa, Satya, etc.
Ramya: can you please explain -- what higher the values means?
Ram Prasana: can u say something more about the role of the environment ?
amritagita: The 5 Yamas - non injury by body, thought, deed, truthfulness when it meets these requirements - is it true, is it kind, is it necessary
srini_sadhu: So the Yamas define the environment and profession and the people you hang out with when trying to achieve your goals
amritagita: Being content with what comes your way - asteya, can you educate us about brahmacharya srini
srini_sadhu: Easier to study scripture in a temple than in a club!
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says brahmacharya is spending time in sacred study
amritagita: Is it celibacy/ monogamy - does it have anything to do with brahmacharya
srini_sadhu: Does that help?
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says that one does not practice celibacy
Ram Prasana: yes...
srini_sadhu: I would like to say more on this, but we are out of time.
srini_sadhu: There is a link on www.shreemaa.org where Swamiji has spoken on this topic.
srini_sadhu: Can I email you the link?
amritagita: Most certainly
srini_sadhu: Ok my dear friends, it has been great chatting with you
srini_sadhu: We will continue this discussion on the yahoo club over the week
Ann Millet: thank you! this has been great. looking forward to next time. Shakti
srini_sadhu: Any final thoughts from anybody?
Ram Prasana: thanks a lot. this was great !
amritagita: Thank you, it has been great
Alphansa DSouza: thanks ...it was awesome!
srini_sadhu: I enjoyed this! I pray for our continued friendship and peace
Ramya: Thank you eveybody. Looking forward to meeting again! jai MAA
srini_sadhu: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha!
Ram Prasana 5:38:08 : Jai Maa
srini_sadhu 5:38:14 : Jai Maa!
amritagita 5:38:21 : Jai Maa

n_ramya108: Om Sang saraswatyai Namaha!
srini_sadhu: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha!
kaliananda_saraswati: Om Sang saraswatyai Namaha!
Rick Veda: Om Sang Saraswatyai namaha!~
Henny: om sang saraswatyai namaha!
srini_sadhu: Jai Maa ! Wonderful to hear you all
Henny: And you! Happy to be here and that it all works!
kaliananda_saraswati: Jai Maa!
n_ramya108: We have 5 more minutes.maybe we can do quick intros?
n_ramya108: i am ramya and grew up in India and now we stay in california.Excited about this class!
srini_sadhu: I am Srini and I live in Devi Mandir. Its exciting
kaliananda_saraswati: i am kaliananda and live in Barbados. Excited to be with you all today.
Henny: My name is Henny and I can't believe I can talk to you while sitting behind my computer in Amsterdam. It is a blessing, truly.
Rick Veda: I am Rick and I live in Stockton, California (about 2 hours from Devi Mandir). Delighted to be here.
Alan: I'm also from California. Glad to be on the chat with you all.
n_ramya108: Maa says we are a Universal Family -- and we can feel it already!
mani manjali: I'm from the bay area in California.
srini_sadhu: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha
srini_sadhu: The Class will begin now. Jai Maa!
Rick Veda: Jai Maa!
srini_sadhu: This class is about Goal setting
srini_sadhu: Maa and Swamiji have frequently reminded me about the importance of goal setting.
srini_sadhu: In this class we would like to cover 5 topics.
srini_sadhu: The way it will be easiest is if I write about a topic first. Is that OK?
Henny: Fine
kaliananda_saraswati: Yes.
Alan: Yes
srini_sadhu: And then open it for discussion. Then we will move on to the next topic.
mani manjali: yes
srini_sadhu: The five topics we will cover are: (a) What is a goal? (b) Why do we set goals? (c) How to set goals?
Latha Krishnamurthi: Jai Jai Maa
Rick Veda: Namaste Nanda
srini_sadhu: (d) Sankalpa and relating sankalpa to goals (e) Yama
srini_sadhu: Questions?
mani manjali: no niyama?
srini_sadhu: Probably not.
srini_sadhu: Ok. We will start with the first topic.
srini_sadhu: What is a Goal?
srini_sadhu: Our goals are what we value
srini_sadhu: What we value is our wealth
srini_sadhu: Some e.g.s of values: peace, money, career, love
srini_sadhu: The sanskrit word for goal is "lakshya"
srini_sadhu: The goddess of wealth is Lakshmi
srini_sadhu: Which is why She is also the Goddess of our goals, our values, our aspirations
srini_sadhu: Srim is the bija mantra for Lakshmi
srini_sadhu: Srim is made up of "sa" "ra" "i" "m"
srini_sadhu: sa means peace
srini_sadhu: ra means mind
srini_sadhu: i means heart or intuition
srini_sadhu: m means perfection
srini_sadhu: Srim = perfect peace in the mind and heart
srini_sadhu: Lakshmi's promise "Whoever will pursue their goals with peace, they will find wealth"
srini_sadhu: want to discuss now? What do you think Rik?
Rick Veda: I have been thinking about this since receiving your email
Rick Veda: To me a goal is more long term and a sankalpa is right now.
Rick Veda: Is that accurate?
srini_sadhu: Yes. We will talk about this in more detail later. Great point!
Alan: Regarding Lakshmi's promise, what does it mean to pursue a goal "with peace"?
srini_sadhu: Peace is something I value. For me it means equanimity. I define my goal and strive to achieve it with an attitude of equanimity
Rick Veda: Well stated.
srini_sadhu: Kali, Henny, Gary, are you OK?
Alan: Does it involve the idea that we are detached from whether we actually achieve the goal?
mani manjali: y
kaliananda_saraswati: yes. just taking in what is being said.
srini_sadhu: Alan - we want to set goals that will bring peace in our hearts and in our minds
srini_sadhu: That is the lesson for me from this!
srini_sadhu: We can pray to Lakshmi to help us in this!
Alan: Thanks.
Henny: yes, I am thinking about that part of the puja where it is said that by means of peace ignorance, violence and confusion are eradicated. That seems to be relevant to the pursuit of a goal.
srini_sadhu: Yes! Great way to think more deeply about what peace means! Thank you!
mani manjali: how peaceful is it to tear apart our delusion?
kaliananda_saraswati: well said.
Rick Veda: Her activity results in my peace.
srini_sadhu: We strive to maintain peace within - as much we can - as we go about acheiving our goals. This brings us to "why we set goals?"
mani manjali: k
Henny: because otherwise we don't move at all. You have to know the direction
srini_sadhu: Yes -- Henny -- Goals bring more clarity, focus and meaning in our lives.
srini_sadhu: Swamiji once said that the quality of our life depends upon the quality of our goals.
srini_sadhu: The quality of our present-moment is improved if we have a well-considered goal. does this make sense so far?
Rick Veda: Very much sense
kaliananda_saraswati: yes, thank you.
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says that we should do prana prathishta to our goals -- see them, breath life into them -- everyday. It reminds us of our goal and gives focus to each day.
Henny: I like that idea very much. Never thought about it like that
srini_sadhu: So the second lesson we get is -- We set goals so as to inspire us to do better each moment -- They make our present moment more fulfilling
srini_sadhu: It is all about the present moment
srini_sadhu: A clear goal makes the present moment clear and the path clear.
srini_sadhu: How do we set goals? Please share.
Rick Veda: Look at where I am compared to where I want to be and make a plan how to get there.
srini_sadhu: How do you figure out where you want to be?
Henny: We get inspiration from our examples, the people we want to be like
Rick Veda: For me, that is where Maa comes in.
srini_sadhu: Jai Maa!
Henny: Jai Maa!
kaliananda_saraswati: by looking at a place where we would like to be an emulating a person or path that would take us to that point.
srini_sadhu: I asked Swamiji how to find the purpose of one's life
srini_sadhu: He said, (a) you can travel around the world and learn and this will give you an idea
srini_sadhu: (b) As you all said, look and learn from some one who inspires you and use this inpiration to define goals
srini_sadhu: (c) Dream
srini_sadhu: Alan, Mani, Nanda discussion?
Alan: There has already been enough said in this conversation to keep me thinking until next week's class!
Henny: For me, the problem is that you have to think of the tiny which can take you there. And I find that difficult
Henny: oops, I deleted 'steps'
Latha Krishnamurthi: Thank you - this is a lot of food for thought. Well presented.
Alan: Are we talking about one or two overarching goals, or are we talkign about many little goals for the detailed aspects of one's life?
srini_sadhu: Personally, I like to start with overarching goals and then look at how to get there
kaliananda_saraswati: Though we know the path we would like to take and performing daily sadhana at times so much comes into the day to day world that we tend to forget the preciousness of the moment. How can we keep on tract?
Rick Veda: Steps can be confusing. I try to focus only on what is the next step. Then the next one will come to me, etc.
Henny: but how do you know the next step?
Rick Veda: If my goal is to go north, I may have to rule out east, south and west to find it.
srini_sadhu: Good point
Henny: Very good!!!Thank you Rick, that really helps
srini_sadhu: Swamiji said one thing to us that could be relevant here
srini_sadhu: To start with He said, think about what is your ideal lifestyle
srini_sadhu: Then try to think what we need to get there
srini_sadhu: Any one else?
Alan: If a clear goal means a clear path, if we're not sure what the path is, does it maybe mean we need to clarify our goal?
srini_sadhu: I would say think about the goal first. It really helps me to not to think about the path or the obstacles etc.
n_ramya108: my understanding in defining goals also is that they need to be concrete -- At least the way Swamiji talked about them.
n_ramya108: Concrete in the outside world -- He said once try to think of what skills you have and how you can contribute to the world.
n_ramya108: We want to make a contribution -- and be peaceful. Alan, as you say the more we can have clarity in our goal definition, easier to take steps to reach it
Rick Veda: If I can clearly see the goal, I need to do whatever it takes to get closer to it. That is the next step.
srini_sadhu: The next step is Sankalpa
srini_sadhu: Point # 1 We need Goals.
srini_sadhu: Point # 2 We need goals because they omprove the clarity and focus in our life
srini_sadhu: Point # 3: When we set goals, we sghould set goals that will bring us peace in our hearts and minds
srini_sadhu: To achieve goals, we need take a sankalpa
srini_sadhu: Any one want to define Sankalpa
Alan: A vow to do something specific.
srini_sadhu: Great
srini_sadhu: Any one else?
Latha Krishnamurthi: kalpa - idea ; san - all together
srini_sadhu: Excellent
Henny: a bringing together of all your energies to reach a particular goal
Latha Krishnamurthi: we get all our ideas focussed on one big idea - sankalpa
Rick Veda: great definition!
srini_sadhu: Swamiji defines it as the strength of willpower to obtain our goals
n_ramya108: how do we get that strength?
srini_sadhu: People?
Henny: Pray
srini_sadhu: I bow to You
Rick Veda: It has to be Maa's strength working through me. Her strength comes from sadhana for me.
Alan: Association with sadhus.
kaliananda_saraswati: constancy
srini_sadhu: At the Fire a few days ago, Swamiji said that the two most important slokams for sankalpa shakti are Siva Sankalpa Stotram and Sadhana Panchakam
n_ramya108: Thank's Rik and Henny! Seems like we need a sankalpa to start praying - and then that helps us to get more strength to pray more, to love more, to live more!
srini_sadhu: I want to discuss Lord Siva a little bit now
srini_sadhu: Why do we pray to Lord Siva for Sankalpa Sakti?
Alan: Because Shiva is together with Lakshmi?
srini_sadhu: Shiva is the Lord of Sankalpa – nothing deflects Shiva from his path. Shiva gives us the strength to attach ourselves to the sustaining value of life, the values that will stay with us through eternity.
srini_sadhu: Shiva Sankalpa Stotram is aPrayer to Lord Shiva to give you strength and focus to reach our goals
Rick Veda: I like to think that since Maa adores Shiva, when we worship him she is moved to grant us her shakti.
srini_sadhu: It has 26 verses. SWamiji has chanted it and the audio file with translation is on the web site
srini_sadhu: Thats nice Rik
n_ramya108: How do we know what sankalpa to take? What tiny steps as Henny said?
srini_sadhu: Let us look at some examples. Please share examples
srini_sadhu: My example:
srini_sadhu: Goal: I want to get asan siddhi. This means sit witout moving my knees for three hours
srini_sadhu: Path: Practice badha kona asana and keep track of sitting time and increase it little by little.
srini_sadhu: My Sankalpa: Do badha kona asana for 10 mins every day. Start with sitting in asana 30 mins and increase 5 mins every week/month.
srini_sadhu: Would others give examples of goals and sankalpa to flesh this idea out
Latha Krishnamurthi: i like how you have tied it all together in one example - the Goal, the Path and the Sankalpa
srini_sadhu: Thanks!
kaliananda_saraswati: Srini may i ask a question here. Let's say your goal was devotion? What would be your path?
srini_sadhu: The first step of devotion in Tulsidas Ramayana is Satsanga. Hang out with Saints
srini_sadhu: Next Read stories about Saints and Gods. There are nine steps
srini_sadhu: So you take a sankalpa about how much of your time you give to spending in satsangha and it will grow
srini_sadhu: Any one else want to share about Goals and sankalpa
Rick Veda: If my goal is to master Durga Puja, then my first sankalpa could be to learn her mantras (bija, gayatri, etc.) thoroughly.
kaliananda_saraswati: Thanks.
srini_sadhu: If your goal is love Goddess Durga, your path is to do Durga Puja and Sankalpa is to Do Durga Puja every day
Alan: Is a sankalpa involved in our being together regularly each weekend for the next couple of months in order to learn these things?
srini_sadhu: Or your Sankalpa is look at her Image and meditate on Her form for ten minutes everyday.
srini_sadhu: Yes! Yes! Yes!
Henny: Pray
n_ramya108: Yes Alan - Maa says that we should do each action in a conscious way with a sankalpa.
srini_sadhu: We have another five minutes, so I wnt to talk about Yama, the last topic
srini_sadhu: I just talked to Swamiji about Yama just before the class.
srini_sadhu: He said Yam means to take control.
srini_sadhu: The Yoga Sutras give five aspects of Yam and Devi Gita gives ten
srini_sadhu: In yoga sutras, there are 5 Yamas – Causing no harm to others (Ahimsa), Truthfulness (satya), Not coveting things of the world (asteya), Sacred study (Brahmacharya), controlling greed (aparigraha).
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says thinking about the Yamas help us define the criteria we can use to define the lifestyle we aspire for
srini_sadhu: For example, if aparigraha or absence of greed is important, then maybe we should not start a business
srini_sadhu: Discussion?
Alan: Are the yamas themselves goals?
Henny: so we can use the yamas to hold our goals to the light and see if they will bring us peace and can be achieved with peace?
srini_sadhu: I asked Swamiji this, Alan.
srini_sadhu: He said it is true that Yamas are goals. But it is better to think of them as criteria to use to choose a lifestyle.
srini_sadhu: I agree with Henny.
srini_sadhu: This has been a great discussion. But we are out of time.
srini_sadhu: Final thoughts?
Rick Veda: Thank you so much Srini and Ranya!
Latha Krishnamurthi: Jai Maa - thank you
Alan: Many thanks! Looking forward to the next class.
srini_sadhu: We will be continuing this discussion on the yahoo club through the week
Henny: thank you very much
srini_sadhu: Please do participate actively
kaliananda_saraswati: Thanks much.
srini_sadhu: Thank You! Jai Maa!
Rick Veda: Jai Maa!
srini_sadhu: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha!
Henny: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha!
mani manjali: thank you all

1. In your opinion, what is a good spiritual goal to have?

To love God with all your heart and all your soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

2. We say that we should surrender everything to God. We also say that we should establish goals. Are not the two contrary? If I am trying to establish a goal (say for example early retirement) I am not surrendering to God's will (maybe He wants me to work till the end) and vice versa. I think there is something I am missing, can you please help me understand?

Man proposes and God disposes. Make your goals, strive for your goals, and accept all that God wishes to give.

3. Is this true of spiritual goals also? For example, if I decide on a goal of chanting the Chandi and perfecting it, how would I know that something that comes in the way of this goal is an obstacle that I have to overcome versus realizing that it is the will of God for me not to chant.

It is true of all goals. Still we will make our best efforts. But there are times when even our best efforts fall short. Then we seek forgiveness for our short-comings and forgive ourselves as well.

4. If your goal is devotion, what would be the path and sankalpa?

The continuous prayer for increase in devotion is the way to increase devotion. Love is such an entity that the more we give it away, the more it grows.

5. How to make a goal (resolve) and yet be detached from the goal itself.

Defining a pure goal which includes renunciation and making our motives pure will yield the proper results. Some attachments are pure and will lead us to freedom. Some attachments are a bondage. The function of discrimination is to determine what is appropriate according to each of our circumstances.

6. How to know where to draw the line between being motivated and letting go of the result?

When the result is to be enjoyed by others, we can be motivated and unattached at the same time.

7. How does one set goals and works at it while weakening the sense of doership rather than enahancing it?

It is not a bad concept to become a servant of God. But remember, the servant does his or her best, but remembers the Master will enjoy the fruits. The servant rejoices in doing his or her best with a pure heart.

8. Are we always able to judge what would be best for us? I mean, isn't there a tendency to choose goals which are either too comfortable/easy, or too difficult/ambitious (when learning how to perform puja, I could choose to add one mantra a month or I could have the ambition to master the advanced Shiva Puja in that time.) So in the first case you could be tempted to think you are doing fine, while actually you are not moving at all, and in the second case you would think you had chosen the wrong goal, while all you did was bite off more than you could chew.

Too Much and Too Little are constantly plaguing us, so that determination is a matter of constant rebalancing. We require to adjust our schedule at least daily, if not many times during the day. There is no One Final Determination until we remain in Samadhi.

Little by little we grow organically.

9. I also find it is not always easy to evaluate if some situation I have maneuvered myself into is taking me towards or away from the goal. For instance, some years ago I decided to take a simple part time job in order to have more time for spiritual practice. Now I have more time, but really dislike the job. Does this dislike take me away from my goal because I spend too much time fretting about it and I feel I waste talents I could have put to better use, or does it actually take me closer because it gives me a chance to practice humility and selfless service?

Regarding employment, sometimes an easy repetitive task gives us the capacity to keep our mind in the mantra. We can recite texts inwardly while we are performing, so that the routine work becomes an expression of our love for God. Then we find more time and capacity to serve God in other ways without thinking about remuneration.

We can also utilize our skills and talents in serving humanity with our knowledge. Both ways have their place.