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