- This topic has 176 replies, 22 voices, and was last updated 6 days, 16 hours ago by .
-
Posts
-
-
-
-
Most of these resources were used in compiling the list of Bija Mantras used in the 4th Sutra of the Kashyap Sutras.
-
Thank you, Shiva Baba! Hope you are well.
-
-
Namaste Tulsiram,
Thank you for reaching out on the Navadurga posts. I am happy you are reading them and that they seem to be inspiring you.
You had a question regarding other’s experience worshiping the Goddesses in this nine-step Navadurga process of worship.
In my experience, if you use this system of worship as your sadhana, there is no reason to rush through it by doing a Goddess a day.
Rather, I have found that for me, it is better to worship a Goddess, contemplate her, feel her essence. Doing this, then you will intuitively know when to move to the next Goddess.
This is what has worked for me: worship – contemplate – feel – move forward.
No rush. Each step is Divine.
Jai Maa!
Pushpa Rashmoni Maa
-
Namaste Pushpa Rashmoni Maa,
Although I don’t have too much experience with chakras, what you’re saying correlates to how the energy goes up the chakras, there’s no way to rush it. I will go slow as you recommended and feel each part fully. I think I’ll go back to the 1st day so I can really get more out of reading that, chanting the mantra of Shailaputri Devi and experiencing what she stands for.
Thank you so much for yours and everyone’s guidance along the way!
Jai Maa!
-
Thank you for this message Swami Pushpa! I was particularly moved by the Shailaputri and Kalratri reflections sent during Navaratri. Your advice to “worship – contemplate – feel – move forward” is great way of moving in spiritual practice.
-
-
-
I have a question about curses. This is so common in the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam and the other puranas I have read. Can you explain it in your words, as they always help me understand it more personally.
Namaste Ramloti, Every curse given by a Rishi has turned out to be a blessing. The examples are too numerous to cite them all, but a few that come to mind immediately are: when Ram put his foot on the stone in Rishi Gautam’s Ashram, Ahalya emerged and said she was wrong when she thought she was cursed, but what an incomparable blessing to look into the face of God!
Even when Brahma, Vashishta, and Vishwamitra cursed the mantras of the Chandi to say: these mantras are revealed to be helpful in personal transformation. Whoever will use them for selfish gain, will lose/abuse the tools by which they can be freed from the attachments of the samsara. That granted to pure devotees the means of achieving freedom.
There are many such examples. In every story we can see the ultimate result of the curse.
-
-
What is the difference between the right hand path and the left hand path?
Swamiji: The left hand path or Beloved Path is perfecting every action we perform in the world. The right hand path or preferred path is reducing our necessity to act.
-
-
Namaste Shiv Baba, pursuing the left hand path, efficiency in every action, is the way to stop creating karma.
-
-
Awesome definition and explanation, Swamiji. JAI MAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
-
-
Namaste Swamiji,
Does pursuing the right hand path
also stop the creation of karma?-
Absolutely Daniel, BY making all of our worldly karma efficient (the left hand path), we do not require to go back to repeat it or correct it. But following the right hand path, we resist performing actions which are not necessary, and thereby stop the creation of karma.
-
-
Pranams Swamiji,
There seems to be a discrepancy in the page numbers you cite in your class and the PDF I have downloaded. I turned off my computer and i am lost again.Are we on ekādaśodhyāyaḥa today? Also is there a reason why you skip the “aim” in the recitation? Is this in the interest of time? May we follow your practice and skip “aim.”-
Yes, I am using the book: Secret Bija Mantras from the Chandi Path, which is different from the free download. That does not contain the translations. Tonight we will begin at Chapter 12.
-
Swamiji, the paramadevī-sūktam was mind blowing! Wow!Thank you for translating that so beautifully! I have to go back and listen to it again.
-
Namaste Chandirupini, I am so happy for your participation! There is still more to come. Please share our love and blessings.
-
-
-
-
Namaste,
Testing out a message on our new home.
Jai Maa!-
It most definitely works! Thanks Rama Maa.
-
-
Namaste All. Just joined & testing.
-
Namaste and Jai Maa! Hello, everyone– I’m grateful for this virtual satsang and looking forward to learning more and making my altar bigger, as Swamiji says.
Hayes Hampton
-
Namaste everyone,
Shree Maa and Swamiji have given us a new sankalpa for the month of November. I hope we all participate.
Here is the link:
Jai Maa!
-
Namaste Swamiji,
Although the outer setting has changed, one thing that remains constant are your teachings, blessings and grace! Thank you for remaining the one constant in the midst of all the changes 🙏🏼.This leads in to a question, how important is it for all of us to maintain good company (satsang), the virtues of which have been extolled in our scriptures. And what are the harmful effects of bad company? How can we decipher between what is good company and what is not?
Thank you for giving us so many avenues to maintain good company!
Pranaam 🙏🏼
-
Namaste Tulsi Baba, thanks for recognizing the positive. Sat sangha is an association with truth. You can recognize bad company by an emphasis on selfishness, more “I” and less of we; scheming, plotting, to “win”, even at the expense of others. I am so proud of our entire family for choosing to associate with truth. Namaste!
-
-
Om Namah Shivaya Namaste Devi Mandir Family Satyam Shivam Sundaram Blessings Blessings Blessings
-
Namaste Swamiji,
Thank you for continuing to shine your light endlessly, on our questions.
Thank you for the November Sankalpa, Pushpa Maa.
Thank you so much for ALL your hard work and efforts towards our Gurus, Shiv Baba.
Jai Kali Maa!
-
Namaste Durga Devi, Thank you all for being members of our family. and joining us in our explorations. Tonight we will begin Sri Kunjika Stotram, and this version from Damara Tantra has some surprising anomalies which differ from Markandeya Purana.
-
-
Swamiji please share….Exact procedure of sandhya vandana…
Namaste Anup, There are many different types of Sandhya vandana. We recommend mostly Gayatri and Chandi. The Gayatri Vidhi is in most of our puja books. That will be appropriate along with Gayatri Japa.
For Chandi I will recommend the Navarna Vidhi and japa, and the Chandi Dhyanam.
We send all our blessings.
-
Namaste swamiji…
For chandi, the navarna vidhi, dhyanam and japa is recommended. And chandi gayatri?-
Certainly Anup, Chandi Gayatri will be appropriate.
-
-
-
Swamiji I recently read a bunch of articles about the benefits of pranayama. I know you have spoken about this quite a bit. But honestly I sort of ignored it. But it’s only over the last few days that I have been reviewing scientific papers on the benefits of slow breathing that my views on pranayama have completely changed. Given our modern life styles it’s absolutely essential that I practice pranayama everyday. I chant chandi anyways so I wanted to combine slow breathing with chanting. My plan is to inhale slowly with the ujjayi breath and then chant out the chandi during the exhalation. I am thinking of chanting the navarana mantra during the inhalation’s so I not just sitting around waiting for the inhalation to finish. Do you think this would give me some of the benefits of a pranayama?
Namaste Narendra, That is precisely the method which I practice and recommend to all devotees who wish to chant the Chandi. If we inhale the Navarna Mantra silently, and exhale the pronunciation audibly, then we can regulate the amount of air that is needed by changing the number of verses pronounced in each cycle of breath. If we inhale one Navarna Mantra, then exhale 1 verse, 2 verses, 3, 4, 5, making sure that each cycle is equal, then we will receive an intuitive illumination of application of the mantras as we chant.
We send all our blessings.
-
Pranams Swamiji,
Is the Samasti Chandi Tantra: Bijamantratmaka translation available on Kindle? Since I keep moving homes, it is best for me to be as fluid as I can. It would help to purchase books that I can store on my computer.I love the Satsanghas and appreciate you sharing this knowledge with us!
Love,
Chandirupini.-
Namaste Chandirupini, You must excuse that I am technologically challenged, and have not yet found the volunteer with talents or the resources to make any of our offerings available on Kindle. I am not confident about any of our digital offerings, except the free pdf downloads we have been sharing, because I have chosen to focus my attention towards the Sanskrit rather than to the technology. Please excuse me. I will certainly let you know when we find a qualified volunteer to help us. Please share our blessings.
-
-
Hello Swamji
Is Hrim a Vedic bija to Lord Surya and goddess because Do they share this Bija?
Somehow can Hrim be as powerful as OM , only reason I’m asking Is when Hrim is added to mantras what does it mean, as example Hrim Suryaya Namah, what does it mean? that I’m calling the power of Lord Sun? is this safe to chant?Namaste Hemant,
Hrim is known as Devi Pranav. Om is the Infinite Consciousness unmanifest, Hrim is the Infinite Nature unmanifest. Both together become Ardanarishwar or Ishwar tattva, Shiva and Shakti which are indistinguishable.
Surya is the Light of Wisdom, which illuminates that understanding. Therefore He has the same Bija as Shakti: the illumination of all Wisdom of the Infinite. We send our blessings.
-
Swamiji,
I had a question about the 5 kosha and our spiritual evolution. My understanding is that we are given a body appropriate to our spiritual evolution. For example I am currently in a human body since I have desires to experience physical pleasures. Once I am sufficiently advanced, where I am no longer attracted to these physical pleasures then I level up to get a more subtle body. So my current thinking is that as we evolve spiritually we get more subtle bodies that will allow us to partake in those desires and eventually be satiated which allows us to evolve further. Ultimately we evolve enough that we are completely free and there is no attachment. Would you agree with this model of our evolution. Therefore according to my model, evolution is a slow gradual process that takes place over a long long time, possibly infinite time.-
Namaste Kulki, I apologize, but I do not agree with this understanding. I believe that all five koshers affect all of us all of the time, and that only disembodied beings (people who have no bodies) are free from them. If we have a physical body, that is the Anamayi Kosha. When we take breath, that is the Pranamayi Kosha. When we think, that is the Manamayi Kosha. When all our thoughts merge into totally focused concentration beyond duality, that is the Vijnanamayi Kosha. And when we move into deep meditation and intuitive awareness, that is the Anandamayi Kosha. So long as we have a physical body, all of these are part of the geography where Consciousness dwells. Please take my love and blessings.
-
-
Namaste All,
I ordered a copy of Secret Bīja Mantras of the Chaṇḍī Pāṭhaḥ on Oct 24. I still haven’t received it yet. I was wondering how backed up things are and when I should expect to receive it. I am still in Encinitas, CA (San Diego area).
Thanks and JAI MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
-
Namaste Surya, I have put out a tracer on the transaction, and sent you a copy of our inquiry. I will let you know as soon as we get a reply. Sorry.
-
Namaste always a wonderful blissful experience to be able to listen to Swamiji and Shree Ma’s Satsang this morning. The Gayatri Nyasam this time . Thank you Shree Maa and Swamiji with infinite gratitude and love 🙏❤️🕉 and thanks so much to all the sadhana’s doing Seva to make DeviMandirs teachings available to us . Jai Ma Koti Pranaams
-
-
Pranaam Swamiji and Maa,
Testing my access.
Love and pranaams
Papia-
It sure works!
-
-
Thanks Swamiji❤️ I have a question about the Devi pithas. Chapter 10 verse 7. Every other sthanam has an accompanying goddess this one seems to just mention one: shakambari and bhramari are in the genitive/ablative… and raktadantika and Durga don’t seem to have a place assigned to where they reside. Any insight?
Namaste Ekatma, These are the names of some of the Goddesses who are so famous that when you search for them, you will automatically find their geographical location as well. However, we are more concerned with their places within our consciousness and our body, so while it is possible to visit physical places on the earth, it is more important to visit the metaphysical places in our awareness. Take our love and blessings.
-
Pranaam
Is the focus on the “metaphysical places in our awareness” because that is the true essence of our life and that’s where we must start?
🙏🏼-
We can begin by taking the yatra (the pilgrimage) to all the places we know in the body, and then expand that journey to all the places we recognize in our minds. Merge that understanding into the universality of consciousness, and remain in that meditation.
-
We can begin by taking the yatra (the pilgrimage) to all the places we know in the body, and then expand that journey to all the places we recognize in our minds. Merge that understanding into the universality of consciousness, and remain in that meditation.
-
-
-
Namaste Swamiji, this presentation was brilliant and excellent!! It stirs deep devotion and inspiration and also provides plenty of intellectual fodder to the Gyana yogis amongst us.
As we progress through the various stages of worship, experiential knowledge and truth of the divinity within will reveal itself, even more, I believe, for All seekers!
The world clearly needs more peace and love and love of God/the Divine within and in everything. I believe these eternally teachings share it beautifully and there is so much for everyone to dive in and discoverNamaste, Thank you so much for your inspiring words of appreciation. We send you all our love and blessings, and pray the meanings of the Cosmic Puja come alive for us all!
-
How does one purify the subtle and casual bodies (and the gross ofcourse) with the recitation of these mantras? What are the divine mechanics of it?
We have gone through all the processes in our booklet presentation of Tattva Jnana. Maybe we can review that again after we complete the Cosmic Puja.
-
Swamiji- in today’s talk, is it correct that Saraswati is transformative desire and knowledge in the vital body and Durga has a transformative role in the Causal body while Saraswati is creative?
Yes, Sudipt. The Goddesses are One, and yet they play different roles in their different relationships. Therefore, in the causal body Saraswati is the energy of Creation; in the subtle body the energy of desire. In the causal body Durga is the energy of transformation.
-
Swamiji thank you.
If gross body is matter, subtle body is energy then is causal body comprised majorly of consciousness?-
Very nicely explained, Sudipt.
-
-
Kahon Hanumanson sujaan Raamraayson,
Kripanidhaan sankarson saavdhaan suniye |
Harash vishaad raag rosh gun doshmaee,
Birchee biranchi sab dekhiyat duniye |
Maya jeev kaalke karamke subhaayke,
Karaaiya Raam baid kahaain saanchee man guniye |
Tumhaten kahaa na hoy haahaa so bujhaaiye mohi,
Haaun hoon rahon maaun hee bayo so jaani luniye ||
Listen attentively to what I have to say to Hanumanji,the discerning king Rama, and Shankarji who is the trove of mercy. It has been seen that the creator has made the entire world, delightful, dejected, loving and raging, virtuous and sinful. The Vedas affirm that Ramchandraji is the preserver of the illusory world, mankind, kaal (eventual fate), karmas (actions) and temperament. Mentally I have acknowledged this fact to be the truth.
I beg that you make me understand what is it that can not be done by you. Thereafter I will keep quiet on knowing that I reap what has been sown by me.
Thank you for this loving inspiration, Upendra. We send all our love and blessings.
-
Wow, thank you Swamiji! Feels like from Vinaya Patrika or some smaller work of Tulsidas. Your insights of all these works will be so sublime to read!
-
-
If we see how these divine beings fit together on the Cosmic level and the individual level, we can make ourselves more accepting of their will; surrendering to the circumstances they create.
-
Namaste always a wonderful blissful experience to be able to listen to Swamiji and Shree Ma’s Satsang this morning. The Gayatri Nyasam this time . Thank you Shree Maa and Swamiji with infinite gratitude and love 🙏❤️🕉 and thanks so much to all the sadhana’s doing Seva to make DeviMandirs teachings available to us . Jai Ma Koti Pranaams
-
Namaste Antarma, Thank you so much for joining us,, and for your words of encouragement. That gives me the inspiration to continue to try to share translations from Sanskrit literature, especially the meanings and applications of the pujas. My love to all the sadhus of London.
-
-
Namaste Swamiji
It really is an such incredible blessing to be in communication with you on this forum, and to have access not only to these pure divine teachings, but to be able to also questions and receive clarifications directly from you in such relevant and deeply profound answers. Many of the conversations above are very helpful and I have saved some of them in notes for reading again later.
earlier Today I started to read the Sahib Sadhu book as a friend kindly offered as a gift. So inspiring and magical to read more stories about your days of Tapasya in the Himalayas. Koti Pranaams 🙏Jai Ma
-
Namaste Antarma, Wait until you meet Sushil! He is a complete bundle of Love! Even more than 50 years later, our friendship is the same! He shared many of those experiences with me, and in later days toured the world, while we sang and danced and did pujas. There is a new vaccine on the horizon, and I am hopeful that next year we can begin to travel again. I hope we will be welcome to visit the UK.
-
-
-
Hello Swamji
R we allowed to chant mantra or stotra while driving car or Sitting any where with shoes on?
And same question is it better to do Stotra instead of mantra anytime cause mantra needs diksha and can mistake on mantra hurt us??Please guide
Namaste Hemant, We can recite mantra everywhere. There is no inappropriate place to love God!
Mantra cannot hurt us. Only if we become selfish and try to use mantras for selfish reasons can we ever have a bad effect. We do not need diksha in order to begin practices. After we have been practicing, diksha can be helpful in going farther and deeper into the meaning and application of the mantras, but it is not necessary to start.
Sometimes it is more appropriate to use mantra, other times to recite stotrams. You will feel the environment and determine yourself which is more appropriate in which circumstances.
-
Pranams Swamiji,
Is this applicable for kali/chandi puja and teaching as well. Does one need to be a pujari to do a quiet chandi puja at home without acharya diksha?
-
-
-
Namaste Swamiji,
I have been thinking about the topic of death and what happens to us after death. Shree Ma once told me that she remembers her past lives and in fact also aware of her future births. I have seen similar statements by other sadhu’s as well. Gita explicitly states that the true self cannot be destroyed and it is eternal. Swamiji, you have been walking this spiritual path for a long time now. My question to you is based on your intuitive knowledge and not so much based on what others books or other saints state (since I already know what the books and other saints say). Do you believe in this concept on the atman which is everlasting and changeless?-
Namaste Narendra, Since you asked for my personal understanding, rather than a scholastic reply, I must say that I totally believe in the everlasting, changeless soul, and have had too many experiences first hand to allow any doubt. There is no other explanation that I can find by which to understand how individuals born and raised in one culture, would feel compelled to move to another, changing their language, their customs, their goals and aspirations. There is no other way in which I can explain how I became a sadhu.
-
thank you Swamiji for your answer. If you dont mind I had one more personal question for you. Why did you become a Sadhu (especially since like you mention “individuals born and raised in one culture, would feel compelled to move to another, changing their language, their customs, their goals and aspirations.”) Why did you change your language, culture, goals and aspirations? And was it worth it?
Forgive me for being so intrusive. I am not asking out of just idle curiosity. Hearing such words from a Sadhu inspires me and helps to build some amount of confidence in my own faith in god. Since I have had zero experiences, I greatly struggle. I desperately want a everlasting, imperishable soul. But I also care for the truth. I dont want to believe in something thats not true.
-
-
Namaste,
Can you please tell me, when Shree Maa is performing Kali Puja this Diwali. How and when can we see her online? 🙏🏼
Answer:
It will be tomorrow evening at about 8:00 pm pst in California. We will live stream. I will send link.
Question:
Please post the link here, as it becomes available for everyone’s benefit.
A very Happy Diwali to All! 🕉🙏🏼✨
-
A very Happy Diwali to you too, Durga Devi! And to all the family as well. Remember, Ram returned to Ayodhya on Diwali: the individual manifestation of perfect consciousness returned to the place where there is no war, the place of perfect peace!
Happy Diwali!
-
-
We want to wish you all a wonderful Kali Puja and a very Happy Diwali! Remember Kali takes away the darkness, and Diwali celebrates the Light. We hope to see you all in our Zoom class tonight. Take our love and blessings.
-
Namaste everyone! My name is Amanda and I am in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I have been drawn to Maa Devi for a while now. I unfortunately have been wandering for the past few years and trying to for lack of better terms, convert to Hinduism, but came up empty. I hung out with ISKC ON devotees and went to my local non-denominational temple a few times, but felt like something was missing and I was getting conflicting information on the proper way to come into the fold. I love the teachings here and I feel the love of Maa Devi and something about Shree Maa keeps pulling me here. So my question is, how do I start my journey here? Thank you for your time.
-
Namaste Amanda, You have just taken the first step to entering this tradition and coming closer to Shree Maa. Let’s first begin with a definition of what it means to be a Hindu: https://www.shreemaa.org/meaning-of-being-a-hindu-0/
Becoming a Hindu is an attainment, a realization. It is pretty arrogant to call ourselves as such, unless we mean an ethnic Hindu, or my family raised me in the Hindu religion. But to actually be a Hindu according to definition, rather than tradition, takes some work, some discipline, and that is what we call sadhana.
Welcome to the fold. We send all our love and blessings.
-
Thank you so much for sharing that true definition of what it actually means and takes to be a ‘Hindu’!
It’s so refreshing to learn that clan, class, tribe, hereditary, elitism, colour, language, customs nationality or gender, have no role to play at all, whatsoever!
Aum Tat Sat.
-
Thank you so much for the clarification and the warm welcome. I feel like I am home after being lost for years! I cannot wait to learn more from yours and Shree Maa’s guidance and wisdom. I look forward to the continued relationship with you both and with the other devotees here. Again thank you so much. I pray for blessings of health and long life for you both.
-
-
-
Pranams Swamiji,
Is the Saraswati Sampradaya, yours and Sree Maa school, bhedabheda or advaita?
-
Namaste Chandirupini, the Saraswati Sampradaya is one of the ten tribes of Sannyasis defined by Shankaracharya in 700 AD. He created ten orders of spiritual aspirants, and you can find more information about them on page 21 of our presentation called: Tattva Jnana at https://www.shreemaa.org/tattva-jnana-2020-podcast/
You might like to read the entire presentation. I hope it give you some good information.
-
Namaste Swamiji, thank you so much for taking the time to share your labours of love with us, so generously and kindly!
The‘Tattva Jnana’ Presentation is deeply profound, comprehensive and excellent!
It nicely summarises your video and audio classes on the same book.
I highly recommend it to all seekers looking for a deeper understanding.
Aum Tat Sat
-
-
-
Namaste Parizad, I don’t have all of my books available to me right now, but from memory I retyped it, so there may be some spelling mistakes. We might ask Adaityananda to spell check it, but I think it is sufficient to convey our meaning: धर्माधर्म हविर्दीप्त्व अत्मा मनसे स्रु च ।
अहमेव अहम मं जुहोमि स्वाहा ।।
Dharma and Adharma, Positive and negative, are both offerings to the light of the divine fire, with the Soul pouring oblations into the mind. But it is only I offering to my own self with the oblation: I am One with God!Please let me know if you or anyone else needs the Romanized transliteration of this mantra, and I hope one of our family will step forward.
Also compare it to: Apavitra pavitra va… in all of our pujas.
Take love and blessings.
-
Namaste Swamiji,
Once again, thank you for sharing that deeply profound, universal and absolute truth.
Life is nothing but a play of light and shadows, and as you correctly pointed out above, they reside within each and everyone of of Us! To deny, escape, suppress or repress the shadow side, also leads to tainting or contaminating the ‘light’!
One cannot co-exist without ‘the other’. The Chinese Ying-Yang symbol explains this simplistically. Many cultures and Guru lineages have conceded upon the same truth.
The trick lies in remembering God/Goddess (or any form of divinity) amidst life’s dramas of comedies and tragedies, success and failure, creation and death, joys and sorrows etc..
Getting ‘one’ or unifying with that one beam of light (which is the process of the Supreme Yoga or Divine Union), one realises that it all a play of that one supreme consciousness, that we may choose to call Shiva or Kali (or any form of the Divine Mother) or Krishna or Christ or Allah.
Aum.
Pranam.
-
-
Namaste Suparna,
I don’t know how your astrologer arrived at the conclusion that your Ishta Devata is Maa Kamalatmika, but She has both the qualities of Lakshmi and Kali.
Kamala and Sri Laksmi are the same goddess. Atmika refers to an internal acquiescence or intrinsic nature, often the domain of Kali.
The best way to worship Her is with the pujas of Lakshmi and Kali. You can find both of those pujas at: https://www.shreemaa.org/ways-to-worship-pages/deities/
Of course Lakshmi’s bija is Shrim. You can find Kali’s bija at: https://www.shreemaa.org/kali-japa-mantra-2/We send all our blessings.
-
Namaste dear Swamiji,
Thank you for your oh-so-prompt reply!! I am studying your Kali Puja text using your online classes. I cannot thank you enough!
Thank you for your guidance. I will pursue the worship of Maa Laksmi and Maa Kali. I don’t have the knowledge to quite explain how the jyotish came to the conclusion he did. But, I will just listen to my inner voice and what my heart says. I will let that guide me and I know that Maa speaks deep within me.
Onek dhonnobad, Swamiji.
Pronams,
Suparna-
Kup Balo katha, Suparna. Amra ashirbad patachi.
-
-
-
What is the reasoning behind moving the energy from the pot to the heart and then on the yantra and so forth?
Great question! As we practice moving the energy from place to place, using our heart as the main point of transfer, we become more practiced and accustomed to seeing (perceiving) the energy as it moves, and more acclimated to having our heart become its main residence.
With some practice it becomes the reality of our life, that the heart is filled with divine energy (the energy of love), and we are constantly giving it to others, empowering them to feel the love that we share in every object of creation, animate or inanimate. It is a wonderful practice, but even greater than the practice is that it becomes a way of life!
-
Thank you for that incredible response, Swamiji. Pranam.
-
Namaste Durga!
-
-
-
In the Chandi Path, it is mentioned that Lord Vishnu was in a state of Yoga Nidra. What exactly is that? A state of complete balance and potential energy, or something else? I see yoga schools touting certification in Yoga Nidra and that has me completely confused. Thank you so much! Pronams.
-
In the Chandi Path, it is mentioned that Lord Vishnu was in a state of Yoga Nidra. What exactly is that? A state of complete balance and potential energy, or something else? I see yoga schools touting certification in Yoga Nidra and that has me completely confused. Thank you so much! Pronams.
Namaste, your description of Yoga Nidra as a complete balance and potential energy is very accurate. That is what it means: absorption beyond duality, what the Rishis described as Neti Neti, not this, not that. There are no words by which it can be described. Only we can describe what we did to attain that state.
Because of the infinite nature of divinity, Sanskrit describes the path and the destination by the same terms. The word Meditation applies both to the practice of meditation, as well as the perfection of complete absorption; but because it is infinite, one can never say: I’ve got it! Who is there to have achieved what?
Unfortunately, in the commercialization of spirituality, many groups have trademarked specific terms in order to distinguish their brands. For example: Transcendental Meditation; is there any meditation which does not seek to transcend? Integral Yoga, is there any Yoga which does not seek to integrate. Yoga is the unity of all. There are too many examples to cite them all.
Some groups have taken to teaching the techniques by which Yoga Nidra can be attained, and have thus chosen to distinguish themselves from others by this kind of branding. In reality, every technique, every group, every trademarked system, is only a subset of Tantra, which means to weave. They all teach us how to weave together, to synthesize, the techniques that work for us into our own brand of sadhana.
Ramakrishna said it so aptly: Jato math, tato path; as many as there are individuals proceeding, so many are the ways to God!
-
Beautiful explanation, thank you!
Pronams,
Suparna
-
-
Pranaam Swamiji,
What is the ego in the context of our tradition, and why is it something to be sacrificed? We speak of duality and unity.. or man and divine.. at all times, we speak of cutting the ego. But unless one is – believes and understands as an individual, what does one offer?
Or is it that when we speak of ego, we are speaking of surrender?-
Namaste Divya, The Ego is the sense of “I”, the understanding that “I” am separate or distinct from you, the admission of separation and duality. So long as the Ego “I” is the controlling thought, then Unity is only a concept, a wish, an aspiration. When the Ego surrenders to the Divine, then there is only Unity, Oneness, and We realize the illusion of duality.
-
-
Pranaam Swamiji.
What I understand from your answer is that when one surrenders to the divine, and surrender would mean acceptance of anything and everything that life brings your way, we also at the same time try to do what feels right?
So how should letting go of ego, understanding the concept of unity translate in life, for a person like me who is completely mired in the world, even enjoys what it has to offer? How do we translate it when we navigate the daily interactions, specially petty conflicts with the world around us?-
Namaste Divya, In our daily interactions, we try to eliminate all conflict and confrontation. Rather than trying to be judged for being right or wrong, we seek the most efficient means of descaling conflict. We want resolutions, not judgments. Always seeking compromise in which all are reconciled, we become Savarni, who belongs to all castes, creeds, colors. We seek justice in every situation. What is most just in equity, is the best solution for us in all our behaviors.
-
-
Question: I always wondered what is the significance of using a fly whisk, umbrella and fanning the Goddess. Today in Satsang, it became more clear. Can you please tell us more about this tradition, practices, their origins and deeper meanings. Thank you.
Namaste, We get the prasad of what we offer. When we offer the umbrella, we give refuge and protection, and we get the same as prasad. The fly whisk removes all the pests which bother us inside and out. The fan keeps us cool, so we are always in our comfort zone, never prone to respond to emotional outbreaks, and always respond with intelligence.
-
Pranam, Swamiji! I am studying the Kali Puja and have a few more questions. One, you mention that Krishna and Kali are the same… could you please elaborate on that? Perhaps it has to do with both being the mover of all energies (aka, shesh naag and snakes?). In Bengal, there are ancient systems of snake worship — is that related?
Second, of Kali’s various names, she is the seed of desire and passion — and yet she slays Raktabeeja… At the subtle level, I realize that she slays wayward desires and inefficient passions within us, but, in some ways, is she ‘slaying’ (aka, withdrawing energies) from parts of herself to give energy to other parts of herself within us?
Last question for tonight (sorry about the many questions!!) — this is about the Chandi Paath — It extols Maa Ambika, Durga, etc… and yet the Navarna mantra is specifically about Chamunda. Why? Why Chamunda and not any other goddess?
Thank you so much!!-
Pranam, Swamiji! I am studying the Kali Puja and have a few more questions. One, you mention that Krishna and Kali are the same… could you please elaborate on that? Perhaps it has to do with both being the mover of all energies (aka, shesh naag and snakes?). In Bengal, there are ancient systems of snake worship — is that related?
Second, of Kali’s various names, she is the seed of desire and passion — and yet she slays Raktabeeja… At the subtle level, I realize that she slays wayward desires and inefficient passions within us, but, in some ways, is she ‘slaying’ (aka, withdrawing energies) from parts of herself to give energy to other parts of herself within us?
Last question for tonight (sorry about the many questions!!) — this is about the Chandi Paath — It extols Maa Ambika, Durga, etc… and yet the Navarna mantra is specifically about Chamunda. Why? Why Chamunda and not any other goddess?
Thank you so much!!Namaste, Krishna as the Doer of All and Kali as She who is Beyond Time and the Remover of Darkness, share the same qualities and activities, and therefore, the same vibrations and bija mantras: Krim and Klim. Both indicate the Cause of the subtle body moving into perfection in the causal body, and the Cause of the Gross body moving into perfection in the causal body. Certainly they are both the movers of all energy: Krishna as the Doer of All, and Kali as Mother Nature dancing on the stage of Consciousness, standing with one foot on Lord Shiva’s chest. Snakes are intimately connected with energy.
As Mother Nature dancing on the stage of Consciousness, Kali is the Seed of Desire, and as Raktabeeja Vinashini, She is the Slayer of the Seed of Desire, both. She is constantly ‘slaying’ (aka, withdrawing energies) from parts of herself to give energy to other parts of herself within us. She withdraws the energy from our Asuras, and again gives it to the Gods within us, making us more like the divine.
Chamunda is more than the Slayer of Passion and Anger. Cha means to move; munda means the ‘head’, the paradigm of reality. Aim Hrim Klim move in the paradigm of reality of vic, means Samvit (all that is knowable) che means Chaitanya, as perceived by consciousness. All that is perceived by Consciousness is the constant movement of Srishti, Stithi, Laya; sattva, rajo, tamo gunas, in the paradigm of reality, and that is all that can be known.
-
-
Is there something called Vaikuntha Loka?
Vaikuntha Loka in Vaisnava theology is the residence of Lord Vishnu.Who is greater Maa or Lord Vishnu?
They are One, known by different names and different genders.Why is Lord Vishnu referred as Bhagawan and Maa as devi and not Bhagawan?
Maa is also know as Bhagavati.Is Lord Vishnu the supreme Lord and Maa is worshipping him?
Yes, and also Maa is the Supreme Goddess, and Lord Vishnu is worshipping Her. -
Namaste Swamiji and Shree Ma
Such Pure blissful feelings to be able to listen to the Satsang today listening to the Kali and Lakshmi parts of Cosmic Puja just fill me with so much good feeling so thankful and grateful to be able to join. 🙏❤️🕉 -
I have one more question after my father passed away I am getting more and more drawn to the GITA more so as my father used to read de GITA AND CHANDI he knew the shlokas by heart..however, in ISCKON they say if u worship any Demi God which includes MAA she would lead you to Lord Krishna..pl.clarify
Namaste Swati, We did have this conversation on the chat group today, and again in the class: that Krishna and Kali share the same bija, because their karma is so related. Krishna is the Doer of All, Kali is She Who Takes away the Darkness. She takes away the ignorance that makes us think: I am the Doer. We can only recognize that Krishna is the Doer of All, when Kali takes away the Darkness that makes me think: I am the Doer.
It is the Vaishnava devotion that makes them say: my God is the Supreme of all, and every other form of God is lower, whereas we say: there is only One God, and we bow to all the forms as representatives of the One! Do not be disturbed because of another’s limited understanding. Be pleased because your own expanded capacity.
-
Swamiji I wanted to ask what you can share about Kundalini, and experiences of involuntary Movements for Sadhaka’s.
The experience of involuntary movement gentle swaying or rocking to and fro, when in a peaceful mood remembering Divine is not a problem and can be stopped and controlled when needed.
For that I have received guidance to just observe whatever is happen is Devi’s play.But What would you use advice for people who chant and do daily sadhana,
And they have involuntary Movements forming mudras that they can’t really control Or stop very easily,
that sometimes becomes too much for them to handle.Your Perspective and advise is greatly appreciated🙏
This also does take me to another question about the place of mediumship in the Sanatan Dharma.
It seems there are cases in many spiritual paths where people get taken over by a certain spirit or deity and they then become the host for that divinity or spirit. They change their voice and may move differently and perform Healing’s blessings or give advice answer questions.
Yet in this case their is an idea of separation from the Divine,
Certain times the Divinity or spirit is coming to inhabit and then it goes away and the person is the normal person again.With all due respect for all the different ways, I have been guided that this is not the highest path, and as a Sadhaka then our goal should be to always be remembering the divine and experience the Bhava of Oneness with divine in each moment. But be in total control of that and not show outward signs of changing voice, or different spirits coming or going from the body in trance etc.
To Still be able to function well in practical life and fulfil duties while having consciousness fully immersed and surrendered to the Divine Mother.Ur reflections in this also appreciated Swamiji.
Koti Pranaams
-
Namaste Antarma, What people often report as Kundalini experiences, which result in uncontrolled movements of the body, we would regard as minor distractions. Obviously our goal is not to have experiences, but to realize the Experiencer. We strive to hold the body completely steady in Yoga, and not to allow, let alone encourage, the movements of the body.
We told the analogy of the Kalas, the pot: the space inside is the same as the space outside; the only difference is the pot, the container which defines the interior space as unique, while the exterior space is unlimited. The same holds true for Shakti, energy: the energy outside of the limitation is undefined, and therefore is called MahaShakti. The energy within is defined by the limitation, the boundaries. In a human body this is known as Kundalini.
Kundalini is in constant motion. She only sleeps in a corpse. When we speak of Her as awakening, what we really mean is that we have awaken, our awareness has awakened, and now we are aware of Her. As we become more proficient in that awareness, we can watch Her movements without moving ourselves. This is why Rishi are called Seers.
-
-
-
Thank you Swamiji for this clarification and wonderful analogy of the space within the pot and the space outside the pot. It is The same space but one is defined by the Boundary the other not defined by any boundary.
And this same analogy of the energy within the body being limited by the boundary of the body and the energy beyond the body being unlimited.Please Forgive me for asking the same question again, maybe I didn’t word it right the last time.
For someone who Is usually in control of their bodily movements but doesn’t have much control of the movements when they sit for sadhana, is there anything you could advise for such a person ?Pranaams
-
Question: A while ago, I had inquired about the Kriya Yoga Tradition and their Masters, as compared to this lineage of Gurus and Sadhana. You had mentioned, that you incorporate the Kriya Pranayama in the Cosmic Puja. Can you please specifically point out when and how and in what sections of the Samasti Upasana, can the Kriya Pranayama be used?
The entire Bhuta Shuddhi is Kriya Yoga, along with the breathing, the visualizations, the pranayam, and the japa.
-
Thank you for responding, Swamiji. I did resonate with that class proceedings and will revisit it in greater detail now.
Thank you for your sense of universal inclusion and it’s offering through this ‘Samasti‘ Puja.
Pranams 🌹🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
-
-
Question: Is it possible to include other deties or Gurus as part of this Samasti Upasana. How can one practice it? What sections of the puja can be replicated to adjust for other details, as the heart or occasion calls. Namaste.
We are getting there. So far we are covering the traditional format first. After the second Ganesh Puja there will be plenty of space for insertion of any traditions you wish to acknowledge. After Guru I have acknowledged Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi, and Shree Maa. I hope this will give you inspiration and freedom to expand these pujas in any way or direction you deem appropriate.
-
Thank you for that clarification, and granting the appropriate freedom of expression, Swamiji. In addition to this lineage of Gurus, including ‘Yourself‘ and Shree Maa and Beloved Shree RamaKrishna, Maa Sarada Devi, I humbly bow and honour every other Guru parampara that has graced my spiritual path.
Aum. Pranams.
-
-
Pranams Swamiji,
May I ask a question. Although all the Goddess’ are one I’m drawn to a particular form of the Goddess, her Chandi form. She is not my diksha deity yet Her name, her iconographic form is absolutely mesmerizing to me. Her Kalratri form is also something that creates some deep bhavas within me. Does this mean something to my personal life? How do I deepen my relationship with this form of Maa?
-
Namaste Chandirupini, Your Ishta Deva(i) is your chosen form of worship, who attracts you towards Her specific Bhavana, so obviously it means much to your personal life.
Shree Maa and I have personally accepted Chandi as our Ishta, so following the example of your Gurus, is the best way to deepen your relationship with your Ishta. I hope that our example shows regular, sincere, dedicated devotion to our practices: to understanding and reciting the mantras of our Ishta, and to the other practices owe endeavor to share.
We send our blessings.
-
Pranams Swamiji,
Yes, you and Sree Maa are wonderful examples. I have been reading these posts and the ones on wassapp before we moved here and I cant think of once when you have said or done anything not exemplary of a Swami. I thought I had conceived of an ideal that was not achievable by human standards but clearly it is from your’s and Sree Maa’s life.
Chandi Maa ki Jai!
-
-
-
Pranam Swamiji!! I was studying the tantric section of the Kali Puja and wondered about the reference to Batukaya. The translation says Om I bow to young people. What is the significance of bowing to young people as part of the ritual?
Also, I understood previously that Batukaya is a form of Shiva. Is that right?
Finally, Sr Arthur Avalon’s translation refers to the Kula-Kundalini. Is this a form of Ardhanareshwar in this context?
Thank you!!
Namaste,
Suparna-
Namaste Suparna, Batuk generally refers to a form of Bhairav, who comes in the form of a young male child. Often, when we worship Kumaris, young girls, who are regarded as the Goddess of Purity being free from desires, we also worship young males, who are also divine, as Shiva-Shakti in their childhood state.
As many masculine nouns also include the female reference, I included both males and females, and therefore, Om I bow to young people.
The significance is two fold: One, we bow to the purity, clarity, and innocence which young people often exhibit; and two, by giving the young people respect and appreciation, we inspire them to become the beings we choose to acknowledge them to be. We think they are divine; may they realize their own divinity and always act in accordance.
-
-
-
Namaste everyone,
As we prepare for the Thanksgiving Holiday coming up on Thursday, November 26th, Shree Maa called me and asked if I would post the link to Her Kali Thanksgiving song.
Here is the LINK: https://www.shreemaa.org/shree-maa-sings-episode2-kali-thanksgiving/
Enjoy! It is really beautiful and reminds us that we sure have a lot to be thankful for.
Jai Maa!
Love,
Pushpa Rashmoni Maa
-
-
Namaste Shiv Baba, Now that we know that we are Pujaris, we must want to extend the principles of sadhana to every type of puja we perform. We know there are five parts to every puja: preparation, purification, invitation, union, and offering.
In formal worship this means:
Preparation: gathering the materials, organizing the altar, preparing the offerings, preparing the worshipper and your asana.
Purification: cleaning the worshipper, wearing clean clothes, asana shuddhi, pushpa shuddhi, bhuta shuddhi; all the ways to create greater purity.
Invitation: Avahan, sthapan.
Union: Nyasa, japa, dhyanam.
Offering: Naividyam, stotram, pranam.Let’s apply these functions to any other activity. Our first example will be cooking.
Preparation: preparing the menu, gathering the materials, organizing the utensils, organizing the ingredients and the work space.
Purification: cleaning the vegetables, measuring and cutting the ingredients, making sure that all is capable of being added in an appropriate way.
Invitation: We invite all the ingredients to enter our utensils and to be combined in an appropriate way according to the recipe we are following.
Union: We stir the pot until all the ingredients are blended to perfection.
Offering: We invite the Gods, friends, and family to partake of the prasad.Let’s apply this to an administrative situation, to someone who works in an office with a computer.
Preparation: We organize the work space for the optimum efficiency.
Purification: We segregate the tasks, and take the sankalpa of prioritizing each function to be performed.
Invitation: We invite all the data to join with us in our computer.
Union: We combine the data into relevant information, which will bring us closer to our goal of outputting inspiring knowledge.
Offering: We share that inspiration through whatever media we choose to output!It is all puja! As we study and practice, we can recognize the steps of puja in everything we are doing, and thereby we become sadhus, true Pujaris, who are capable to make every action a part of the puja.
-
-
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
I am the bearer of some really great news.
Listen in: Join Shree Maa and Swamiji tomorrow evening at 8:00 pm PST for live-streaming of the Guru Gita recitation.
It is a time to give thanks, and especially to the Gurus.
Please join in, chant with devotion, and fill your heart with gratitude and appreciation.
Here is the link: https://www.shreemaa.org/zoom-meetings/nightly-satsang/
Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji!
-
Thank you for being the auspicious bearer of such great news, Pushpa Maa. Thank YOU for ALL your seva to OUR Gurus.
Most of all, an immense, huge, gargantuan ton of gratitude to our Beloved Shree Maa and Swamiji on this thanksgiving day!
Thank YOU (to the GURUS) for consistently showing up for us each day, whether rain, hail or sunshine (metaphorically and mildly speaking). Thank you for gracing US with your Divine Love and Presence. Thank you for dispersing such Divine, Pure, and the Highest Knowledge and Wisdom, to us (so generously, peacefully and lovingly!). Thank You for your guidance, support, endurance and patience with US!
At your lotus feet, I truly and humbly Bow, again and again and again…!!
Aum Tat Sat. Jai Sat Chit Ananda! Jai Shree Gurus!
-
Namaste Durga Devi, Thank you for your giving of thanks. We send our entire family all our love and thanks for this Thanksgiving. Please join us to sing the Guru Gita together in our next satsangha.
-
Namaste Swamiji and Everyone,
It was a true privilege, honour and joy to be present and sharing this live Satsang with the Gurus and soul family.
We need to practice this more often, if we can.
Here is the link to the Guru Gita Satsang from today, for those who are interested. 🙏🏼💜🕉
https://www.facebook.com/swamisatyananda.saraswati.5/videos/197181932041867/?extid=0
-
-
-
-
Pranam Swamiji,
Thank you so much for the entire Cosmic Puja series. It was deeply enriching, nourishing and whole!
I have a question in relation to its last class, where we offer our respects to the ancestors, the Gods’ and Goddesses and Gurus of our choice.
Can you please explain what positive benefits or energetic implications accrue to the ancestors, Gurus etc. as we take their names during such a puja (with offerings).
What are the energetic transfers or implications to those whose names are taken and that of the worshipper or pujari (if any?). Although, taking such additional names and paying homage and respect, is meant to be a selfless act on my part, I would like to better understand, it’s deeper significance for myself, and to the unseen, divine ones of all kinds.
Much gratitude. Aum.
-
Namaste Durga Devi, Every time we mention a name of a great being who gave positive influence to our lives, we amplify that influence, and expand the inspiration they gave to us. This helps everybody: the individuals who gave us the inspiration gain greater longevity and renown because of the positive influence, the devotees become more deeply impacted because of the positive influence, the world becomes a better place because of more positive energy, and Goodness and Shiva become more highly regarded. That is the result of our regard.
When we remember, contemplate, appreciate, extol, loudly proclaim the names and attributes of our positive contributors, we empower them and their ideals, and they empower us. History remembers and regards their contributions, and we gain strength and grow in capacity to live according to those examples. We send all our appreciation along with blessings.
-
So much heartfelt gratitude for explaining that so clearly, Swamiji.
I certainly won’t miss a chance to extol the virtues of the noble ones who have walked this Earth before me and made it a better place for US ALL, just by virtue of their ‘being’, essence, and living examples!
Jai Shree Maa!
Jai Shree Swami Satyananda Saraswati!
Jai Shree RamaKrishna!
Jai Shree Sarada Devi!
Jai Shree Swami Vivekananda!Jai to All True Gurus, Saints and Sages of All Traditions!
To You All, I humbly bow.
Aum.
-
-
-
Namaste Swamiji,
I have a question in relation to the Guru Gita:
– in one of the verses it says, that if a woman (or possibly man, please confirm?) chants it without any desires, she attains liberation. If she chants with desires, she may attain it in the next birth/s?
– in a later verse, the text seems to contradict itself and says, one must desire liberation while chanting it, in order to attain. (This is based on my naive understanding of the recitation).
So which interpretation is correct? Please clarify.
Aum Namah Shivaya!
Pranams.
-
Namaste Durga Devi, If any of us chant without desires, we attain liberation (freedom from desires). If we have desires, those will be fulfilled in our future.
In order to attain Liberation, we must recite desiring Liberation.
-
Thank you for making that clear, Swamiji.
How does Lord Shiva or the respected divinity or Guru decide whether desires have to be granted and fulfilled first, versus, liberation?
-
Namaste Durga Devi, Rather than an anthropomorphic figurehead sitting in heaven adjudicating each desire, I believe our karma decides that for us: which desires, if fulfilled, will bring us closer to our highest destiny, and which desires will not lend to our ultimate evolution. In accordance with such measures we will feel greater attraction, and thereby focus our attention and achieve success and union, or we will be peripherally involved, and the desire will dissipate along the way, and we will leave it unfinished.
-
Thank you so much for explaining that so clearly, Swamiji. Pranam.
-
-
-
-
-
Namaste everyone,
We launched a Book Store Sale for the Holiday Season.
We made a sweet price reduction – 40% off – on several of your favorite books.
These books will undoubtedly expand and deepen your sadhana.
But Shree Maa and Swamiji’s books also make excellent presents for fellow spiritual seekers, friends, family, yoga studios, educational institutions, and even libraries.
Check it out here: https://www.shreemaa.org/holiday-book-promotion/
Jai Maa!
-
Namaste Swamiji,
A comment from your reading of the book, Shree Maa: The Life of a Saint, sparked this question in my mind out of sheer curiosity:
Why do Sadhus (or followers of Shiva and Vishnu) smoke weed/pot/marijuana and hash?
Is getting stoned in the name of attaining states of Divine Bliss really necessary or advisable, (especially given it’s after effects on one’s mental and physical health and the body)?
Is begging for Alms and getting by life on charity and other people’s hard earned money, a more spiritual way of life? Please explain.
Thanks in advance.
-
A comment from your reading of the book, Shree Maa: The Life of a Saint, sparked this question in my mind out of sheer curiosity:
Why do Sadhus (or followers of Shiva and Vishnu) smoke weed/pot/marijuana and hash?
As I read this question, I believe we can add followers of Kali, Durga, Ram and Ganesh as well. The desire for intoxication transcends caste and sects. It is important to some people regardless.
Is getting stoned in the name of attaining states of Divine Bliss really necessary or advisable, (especially given it’s after effects on one’s mental and physical health and the body)?
Getting stoned is neither necessary nor advisable in attaining states of Divine Bliss. Other than the recreational aspects, and the fun that some people sometimes enjoy, it is possible that under the right circumstances, taken in moderation, that such activities make it easier to sit, to forget the body, and to go deeper inside. We would need a qualified Guru and the right motivation and understanding to pursue such a path.
Is begging for Alms and getting by life on charity and other people’s hard earned money, a more spiritual way of life? Please explain.
According to Buddhist tradition, it was important to subsist on charity. In fact the Pali name for Sanyasi is Bhikshuk, a beggar. Their reasoning is that asking or begging for alms cultivates humility, and makes one to accept with appreciation everything that God chooses to give.
However, a proverb I learned from my Guru भिक्षण नेव नेव च, never never by begging can freedom be attained.
-
A comment from your reading of the book, Shree Maa: The Life of a Saint, sparked this question in my mind out of sheer curiosity:
Why do Sadhus (or followers of Shiva and Vishnu) smoke weed/pot/marijuana and hash?
As I read this question, I believe we can add followers of Kali, Durga, Ram and Ganesh as well. The desire for intoxication transcends caste and sects. It is important to some people regardless.
Is getting stoned in the name of attaining states of Divine Bliss really necessary or advisable, (especially given it’s after effects on one’s mental and physical health and the body)?
Getting stoned is neither necessary nor advisable in attaining states of Divine Bliss. Other than the recreational aspects, and the fun that some people sometimes enjoy, it is possible that under the right circumstances, taken in moderation, that such activities make it easier to sit, to forget the body, and to go deeper inside. We would need a qualified Guru and the right motivation and understanding to pursue such a path.
Is begging for Alms and getting by life on charity and other people’s hard earned money, a more spiritual way of life? Please explain.
According to Buddhist tradition, it was important to subsist on charity. In fact the Pali name for Sanyasi is Bhikshuk, a beggar. Their reasoning is that asking or begging for alms cultivates humility, and makes one to accept with appreciation everything that God chooses to give.
However, a proverb I learned from my Guru भिक्षण नेव नेव च, never never by begging can freedom be attained.
-
-
Namaste, what we may regard as a bad experience from operational or political dynamics within various groups or communities, in actuality may have been the catalyst for me to change myself, for me to become who I am, and where I am at.
Now I like who I have become, and I appreciate my associations, and whatever “bad” experiences in my past that helped me get here, I want to look back and say: That was an extremely inconsequential price for me to pay for such an opportunity! Thank you all for driving me out of my comfort zone, and into a much more healthy relationship with what I want to be in life.
Certainly I do not want to experience grief or sadness because of what happened. I want to appreciate where I ended up as a consequence, and to actively thank them for their inspiration for what I became.
I think such an attitude will bring peace to the past, and insure that such patterns are not repeated.
-
Question: How does one make peace with departed loved ones, or ancestors or even significant others (who a soul has shared significant karmic contracts with), after they leave one’s life (and may be in the body or departed the earthly realm)?
What if things didn’t play out as harmoniously as expected or despite one’s best efforts, prayers and good wishes for them.
How does one reconcile the past? How does one wish them love and peace and only the best and highest for the future? How does one try to ensure the karmic connection is truly over or extinguished, (if at all)? How does one know a karmic connection is truly over?
I believe the Chandi Path addresses these issues most definitively, especially in the last episode with the battle of Self Conceit and Self Deprecation. So long as those two are critiquing all the memories of our lives, we are bound by Ego I. I did it well; I really blew it!
There comes a point in time when we can observe those memories without judgement, when Chandi Maa has actually laid those two Generals of the Asura army to rest, and we merely look at what is without elation or condemnation. Then we finally make peace with all of those old histories, and again we are able to say: What a joy to be where I am at now! Thank you all experiences and all those who participated. Because of you I am where I am today, and I like what I have become!
Thank you!
-
Pranams Swamiji,
What happens in situations in which after we have overcome self-deprecation and self-conceit and achieved a detached view of events we happen to meet or have to interact with the same person again? How do we deal in that situation? Should we give the person another chance or should we cut off completely so as to not get hurt again. In some situations we may have cut off due to unethical behavior. Should we speak the truth and continue in a relationship? I do believe people deserve second chances, actually more than just two chances, many. I realize it also means having to have the emotional capacity to go through situations like that again. Kindly advice. What if it is your own Guru who may have hurt you? They may not be unethical but do we forgive them and give another chance? Or should we move on.
-
Namaste Chandirupini, I believe there is no one rule as to how we will deal with people after they they have betrayed our trust. Each circumstance will have its own determining factors.
But a Guru is always to be respected, even if you choose not to follow the example of his behavior. Certain we can forgive them, we can love and respect them, but we do not necessarily wish to follow that example any longer.
-
-
-
Can someone comment on the astrology of the winter solstice?
On the 21st of December will be a planetary alignment. What kind of influences will it have?Also, can someone comment on the extra moon we had until October? It was in our orbit for 2.6 years if I remember correctly. Does vedic astrology say anything about such things?
I’m just curious.
Paramananda
-
Pranams Swamiji,
I am doing Kali Puja for the first time in my life. I am following your book. I have a few questions, if I may?1) When imagining a sacrificial victim, I am imagining myself, is that all right to do?
2) then it says, do nyasa to six parts of “her body” do you mean my body or do you mean the murti?
3)I am not doing Visarjan because i don’t want her to go. is that okay?
4) I am modifying this a little bit to suit my purpose, I am offering my self and all that I do, eat, drink etc as offerings to Maa.
Is that okay? I hope I am not messing with this powerful system.
I am looking forward to your advice.
Chandirupini.-
1) When imagining a sacrificial victim, I am imagining myself, is that all right to do?
Absolutely! All the ego and attachments! What greater sacrifice could we offer?
2) then it says, do nyasa to six parts of “her body” do you mean my body or do you mean the murti?
Your body is the express representative of the living Goddess! Perform the Hridayadi Nyasa: heart, top of the head, crown of the head, crossing both arms, and in the three eyes, and then roll hand over hand forwards and back and clap with the weapon of virtue: in the six places.
3) I am not doing Visarjan because i don’t want her to go. is that okay?
You can get away with it for a little while, but the time will come when She will make you put Her back in your heart, so you can carry Her from place to place along with you.
4) I am modifying this a little bit to suit my purpose, I am offering my self and all that I do, eat, drink etc as offerings to Maa.
Is that okay? I hope I am not messing with this powerful system.Two things here: First, a Pujari is like a musician; there is a written theme of music, which creates the parameters within which to improvise. You are supposed to adapt the written pujas to suit your personality, your mood, your bhavana. It is your Love Affair with God. Nobody else has the authority to tell you how you should love. We give suggestions of what worked for other Lovers in the past.
Second, the ultimate goal of all worship is to lose our smaller selves. We are the offering. You are NOT messing up!We send blessings.
-
-
Hey Everyone! Namaste.
Shree Maa and Swamiji are reciting The Samaṣṭi Chaṇḍī Tantra Bījamantrātmaka at 8:00 am PST every morning until further notice.
I joined them this morning and it was fantastic – just like being in the same room with them.
Join us by going to our website’s ZOOM Link menu (at top of menu) or here: https://www.shreemaa.org/zoom-meetings/nightly-satsang/.
See you tomorrow morning bright and early. Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji!
-
Namaste,
Excuse me for my ignorance but what is the Samasti Chandi Tantra Bijamantratmaka, in relationship to the Chandi Path, and what is the purpose of chanting it? As much as I like to just follow the chanting, it helps me to know the meaning behind things to participate in the right spirit. Please excuse my inclination to know before jumping in with full confidence.
Pranaam, Jai Maa!
-
Namaste Tulsiramji,
Allow me to jump in to answer this question for you.
Swamiji has compiled the bijās that form the “vibrations of every verse,” in the Chandi Path, the “vibrations interspersed between the verses,” and those that are “in a series, or āvali, separate” from the text itself which are recorded in the Secret Bīja Mantras, the Saptaśatyā Guhya Bījanāmāvali, and the Śrī Tantra Durgā Saptaśatī (Saraswati 2020, i). These vibrations are extremely important as they contain only positive energies. Bijā mantras when combined with “sitting (āsana), breathing (prāṇāyāma), chanting (pāṭha)” may lead to “the bhāvana, the feeling, the attitude, the understanding, the realization” (Saraswati 2019, iv).
What helped me particularly during these chants was sitting and imagining the words in my body. You can also download the text from the Devi mandir website. I have downloaded two versions. I don’t think there is any other text that combines these various bijas. I have checked online and in libraries as well. Much recommended.-
Namaste Chandirupini, I will like to present two amendments to your excellent analysis of the Bijamantratmaka. The first is that this Swami has not compiled them. The oldest version of this compilation that I have is at least a hundred years old. I have only endeavored to translate, interpret, and apply.
The second issue I wish to clarify is that there are other texts in Sanskrit which combine these various bijas. I hope in the Introductions to most of the free downloadable versions we have made available that proper credit has been given for preserving this knowledge. We send all our blessings.
-
Namaste Chandirupini, I will like to present two amendments to your excellent analysis of the Bijamantratmaka. The first is that this Swami has not compiled them. The oldest version of this compilation that I have is at least a hundred years old. I have only endeavored to translate, interpret, and apply.
The second issue I wish to clarify is that there are other texts in Sanskrit which combine these various bijas. I hope in the Introductions to most of the free downloadable versions we have made available that proper credit has been given for preserving this knowledge. We send all our blessings.
-
Pranaam,
Sorry for the delay in following up. Thank you so much Ma ChandiRupini, I have just purchased the Secret Bija Mantras of the Chandi Pathah book, and I hope to study that. From your response I’m feeling that the Samasti Chandi Tantra Bijamantratmaka chanting is maybe an advanced version of the Chandi Pathah chanting. The rest of it is very hard for me to understand at this point, so I can maybe categorize it in my mind as Advanced Chandi Pathah?
The Chandi Pathah is a new scripture for me, and we’re very grateful to Shree Maa and Swamiji for introducing it to all of us and teaching us all the meanings so lovingly.
Thank you _/\_
Pranaam, Namaste, Jai Maa!
-
-
How does one discriminate and discern with our everyday relationships, clients and the rest of humanity, about how to selflessly share one’s fragrance without doing any harm or hurting the other, or wishing any ill or evil upon the other; yet drawing boundaries to protect oneself?
Namaste, Please remember the Ramakrishna story we have often shared, of the cobra snake whose Guru told him to avoid himsha. “Don’t cause harm to anyone,” was the Guru’s instruction. When the Guru returned after several years to find his disciple in a very abused condition, the disciple reminded him of his instruction. “Yes,” replied the Guru. “But I didn’t tell you not to hiss!” -
-
Namaste Swamiji,
Shree Maa and You always emphasise on a ‘Sadhu means being efficient’.
How does one introduce and apply ‘efficiency’ in all aspects of life, for example, for householders: In the areas of family, duties, finances, work, harmony etc. and for Sadhus in their everyday spiritual discipline and practices/Sadhana.
Kindly explain.
Thanking You in advance! Aum.
-
Namaste Durga, Whatever we do, we do for God, so we want it to be the best we can do. We want to conserve resources, not waste time, save money, and make our presentation in the most respectful way possible. Everything is part of the puja, so this will apply to cooking, cleaning, bookkeeping, every function we perform.
We send all our blessings.
-
Thank you so much for responding, so promptly and meaningfully, Swamiji.
To You and Maa, I bow!
Charan Sparsh 🕉🙏🏼🌺
-
-
Shree Maa and You always emphasise on a ‘Sadhu means being efficient’.
How does one introduce and apply ‘efficiency’ in all aspects of life, for example, for householders: In the areas of family, duties, finances, work, harmony etc. and for Sadhus in their everyday spiritual discipline and practices/Sadhana.
I understand efficient as not too much and not too little, but the optimum in everything we do: we understand the perfect balance without any waste of time, energy or resources. That means every action in life is part of our puja, and we are constantly searching for the appropriate paddhati in every circumstance of life.
Just like when we take the Sankalpa for Durga Puja, we create a karya kram, a list of prioritized actions, by which we will honor our beloved deity: preparation, purification, invitation, union, and offering; in the same way we will analyze every important task of our lives with the same efficiency, so we do things right the first time, and are not required to repeat them again. Thereby we conserve our resources, energy, and strive for harmony through every action.
-
Thank you for making this additionally and abundantly clear, Swamiji.
I am extremely grateful for your presence in our lives.
Blessings and love.
-
-
-
Namaste Swamiji,
We had an excellent question by a fellow devotee in the morning Satsangha. I have a few follow up questions to that.
Could you kindly shed some light on these topics, so that all readers can benefit from your guidance.
Question 1: Is Renunciation a decision or step on the path, or rather a journey on the spiritual path?
Question 2: Does Renunciation always have to be outward? When Renunciation is inward, how does one navigate worldly realities?
Question 3: You spoke about attaining ‘oneness’ or divine union or Yoga this morning, which brings about no separation (because the Ego is not present), and thereby only bringing harmony and peace.
How does one attain these states of Oneness and eliminate the ‘Vrittes’ from the spine and energy body as well as the causal body. I realise this is a very big question, but can you please do it complete justice in answering 🙏🏼🙏🏼Pranams. Jai Gurus!🌹🙏🏼🕉
-
-
Namaste Swamiji
I have nothing but infinite gratitude, love and the highest form of respect, one can offer, for You and Shree Maa.
In sincere humility, I bow at both your feet!
Koti Koti Pranams to the Gurus and the entire lineage!
Aum.
-
-
-
Namaste Swamiji,
Thank you for answering all our questions so patiently and lovingly. This is the rarest of opportunities of all! Thank you to Shiv Baba and all who have helped to create this forum where we can be inspired by the questions and answers.
It is very enjoyable to do the Sundar Kanda chanting with Shree Maa and yourself. If I may ask, Swamiji what intention should we have while chanting the Sundar Kanda? Is it one of surrender, or doing God’s work joyfully, or as you have said in the Hanuman puja book, “to inspire the mind to subservience.” Is that the intention behind chanting the Sundar Kanda?
Jai Maa! Pranaam, Namaste!
-
Namaste Tulsi, all of the above! We want to surrender to doing God’s work joyfully, while inspiring the mind to subservience. We also want to emulate our Guru Hanuman, by jumping over the ocean of worldliness to find the True Nature of Consciousness.
It’s a lot of fun! At the conclusion we are in love with all of life! Please accept our blessings.
-
Pranaam Swamiji, Namaste!
It is hard to believe that such possibilities exist in life that we can be “in love with all of life.” How can one who is not aware of what is going on within, in their antahkaran, have any peace?
Jai Maa! Thank you for your continued blessings despite of our unworthiness!
-
If we don’t know what is going on within, it will be very difficult to have context to relate to what is going on outside.
-
Where can we start on our journey to discovering what is going on within? It feels like after all these years, that the real journey hasn’t even started.
-
-
-
-
-
Namaste!
This is a friendly reminder that Shree Maa and Swamiji are having a Christmas Program in two hours! That’s right – join us online at 8:00 PM PST.
Here is the link:
Join in the singing by downloading the songbook:
Devi Mandir Christmas Songs 2020
See you all soon,
Jai Maa!
-
Pranaam Swamiji,
Is there a subtle difference between Ram (Consciousness) and Shiva (The Consciousness of Infinite Goodness)? In the Ramayan we learn how much they love and respect each other. How can we understand them within us.
Pranaam! Jai Maa, Jai Swamiji!
-
Is there a subtle difference between Ram (Consciousness) and Shiva (The Consciousness of Infinite Goodness)? In the Ramayan we learn how much they love and respect each other. How can we understand them within us.
Namaste Tulsi,
There is only One Consciousness; sometimes we call it Shiva, sometimes Ram. It is also known by many other names: Chandi, Durga, Ishwara, Brahman.
There is no difference in the consciousness. The differences lie in the language, traditions, the stories, and the various means through which we identify with the various forms of Awareness.
One woman wears a business suit to work, a cocktail dress for evening wear, a tennis suit, a swimming suit, or a formal gown, according to the different functions She is called upon to attend.
She is daughter to her mother, Mother to her daughter, sister, friend, wife, lover; she has so many names according to the various roles in various relationships she assumes. She is a cook, a cleaner, a psychiatrist, a chauffeur, a nurse, and how many other roles she plays, yet she remains the same woman.
In the same way the One Infinite Consciousness wears the form of Ram, of Shiva, Durga, and Chandi, and even though the story is different, yet there is no difference in the Consciousness.
-
Namaste and Happy New Year to you all!
GREAT NEWS!
Shree Maa and Swamiji have just published a January Sankalpa for world peace. Please check it out and join in:
Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji!
-
-
Namaste Swami-ji,
Pranaam. As we are chanting the 1000 names of Shiva now, in order to be inspired for such an endeavor, would it be okay to ask what the purpose of chanting the 1000 names of any form of Divinity is, and what bhavna should one hold while chanting the 1000 names?
Thank you, understanding the why helps to put all the other aspects together, thank you, thank you!
Jai Maa, Jai Swami-ji
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Pranams Swamiji,
Yesterday during Yantra Puja on page 26/27 it said, ” we invite the great spirit of infirmities/illnesses.” You were on speaker during the Satsang and my roommate who I thought was busy on her phone suddenly exclaimed “Why would we do that?” I had a similar reaction. I am guessing we are trying to appease this Great Spirit so that it causes us no illness?
Thank you in advance for answer. With love and appreciation for all that you do for us.
-
-
-
Namaste Swamji,
Do Gurus see the faults of the disciples when they come to their shelter? What are the pre-requisites before they offer guidance to the saint & sinner alike?
Can anyone come to the Gurus basically? Sometimes I feel, not enough, why do they still keep shining their grace on me?
Jai Maa
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
