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Sri Devi Khadga Mala Stotram

Naveen108 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:17:33 GMT

OM AMRITESHWARYAI NAMAHA

Sri Devi Khadga Mala Stotram

Om Asya Sri Suddha Sakti málá mahá mantrasya

Upasthendriya adhisthayi Varunaditya Rishih

Daivi Gayatri Chandah

Satvika Kakára bhattaraka pithasthita

Sri mat Kámesveranka nilaiaya

Sri mat Kámesvari devatá

Aim Bijam, Klim Saktihi, Souh kilakam

Sri Devi prityarthe Khadga siddthyarthe jape viniyogah

Of this, Devi's sword, the Seer is the Sun rising from the ocean; the ocean being the Divine Mother; Gayatri is the meter; passionate Kameshwari, sitting on the lap of joyous Kameswara is the deity; Aim is the seed; Klim is the power; Souh is the pivot; it is purpose is for worship of the Divine Mother. This worship of the Divine Mother (of Kameshwari ) which is the ocean's embrace with the Sun, gives the devotee a Sword, a power supreme, that Heavens of the remotest galaxies. When the devotee thinks of such a sword, he or her become the protector and enjoyer of eighteen lands of jewels ( Sakti peetams ), and five continents.

Dhyanam

Tadrisam Khadgam apnoti

Yena hasta sthitena vai

Astadasa Mahadvipa

Samrad bhokta bhavisyati

Hrimkrasana Garbhitanala Sikham

Souh Klim kalam bibhratim dhautam trinetrojvalam

I meditate on Sri Devi glowing with red, yellow, and blue flames of passion fanning the erotic sentiment of Kameshwara, in the meddle of a triangle called Hrim, whose three points are the light of Hari, Hara Virinchi, the three gurus; Sri Devi is wearing the full moon on her crown ( Souh ), Her body is full of desire for union ( Klim ) with Kameshwara, the controller of lust;

Vande pustaka pasam ankusadharam

Sragbhusitam ujvalam

Tvam Gourim Tripuram Paratparakalam

Sri Cakra Sancarinim

She is wearing a sari made of golden threads; She is fair as nectarine milk and the moonlight; She has three eyes; in Her four hands she is wearing a book of knowledge, a noose, a goad, and a garland of letters; She is a personification of all that is beautiful, aesthetic, harmonius, joyful, vibrant; she moves in Sri Chakra, a mandala consisting of all the deities worshipping their consorts named here after.

Om Aim Hrim Srim Aim Klim Souh

om (in the name of God), may you grant us benediction of knowledge, power and grace; and the power over creation, nourishment and destruction.

Om Namah Tripura Sundari

Hridayadevi - Compassionate heart

Sirodevi - princely diadem

Sikhadevi - flowing hair

Kavaca Devi - protective hands

Netra Devi - graceful look

Astra Devi - protective weapons

Om, we bow to you, the most beautiful in all the waking, dreaming, or sleeping worlds. Oh Tripura Sundari. We bow to the compassionate heart of your highness princely diadem, flowing hair, protective hands, graceful look, protective weapons.

( Keep offering kumkum at Her feet with every name below )

Kamesvari - Controller of lust

Bhagamalini, - Garland of Suns

Nityaklinne, - Oozing wet

Bherunde, - Terrific

Vahnivasini, - Residing in fire

Mahavajresvari, - Jewel in lotus

Sivaduti, - Llarbinger of joy

Tvarite, - Speed

Kulasundari, - beautiful lotus on a lake

Nitya, - Eternal

Nilapatake, - Blue flag with red tip

Vijaye, - Dominat

Sarvamangale, - All auspicious

Jvalamalini, - Flames

Citre, - Kaleidoscope

Mahanitye, - Truth eternal

Paramesvara - Goddess of God

Paramesvari - Friendly

Mitresamayi, - Sexy

Sasthisamayi, - Erect

Uddisamayi, - Stroking

Caryanathamayi - Happiness

( Follow the names of the saints who have worshipped the Deviine Mother and attained liberation thereby;)

Lopamudramayi, - Lopamudra - She offered herself for worship

Agastyamayi, - Agastya - he drank the water of the oceans, drying them up

Kalatapanamayi, - Kalatana - he set time on fire

Dharmacharyamayi, - Dharmacharya - he preached the nature of good and evil

Muktakesisvaramayi, - Muktakaleisvara - not worrying about his appearace he let the hair flow loose

Dipakalanathamayi, - Depakalanada - he gazed on eternal light

Visnudevamayi, - Vishnudeva - he expanded himself, took up the whole of space

Prabhakara devamayi, - Prabhaharadeva - he became a star called the sun

Tejodevamayi, - Tejodeva - he became the light witch was speeding over all space creating space itself

Manojadevamayi, - Manojadeva - he was desire

Kalyanadevamayi, - Kalyanadeva - he was ever auspicious

Vasudevamayi, - Vasudeva - the world grew out of his memory

Ratnadevamayi, - Ratnadeva - concentrated like jewels

Sri Ramanandamayi - Sri Ramananda - he enjoyed the Goddess Sri Rama Blissfully

( Follow the Gods of the nine enclosures of Sri Chakra / the first enclosure)

Anima Siddhe, Laghima Siddhe, Garima Siddhe, Mahima Siddhe, Isitva Siddhe, Vasitva Siddhe, Prakamya

Siddhe, Bhukti Siddhe, Iccha Siddhe, Prapti Siddhe, Sarvakama Siddhe, Brahmi, Mahesvari, Koumari,

Vaisnavi, Varahi, Mahendri, Camunde, Mahalaksmi, Sarva Samksobhini, Sarva Vidravini, Sarva karsini, Sarva

Vasamkari, Sarvonmadini, Sarva Mahankuse, Sarva Khecari, Sarva Bije, Sarva Yone, Sarva Trikhande

( The passions called : lust, anger, possessiveness, obsession, pride, jealousy, good, and evil. The procedure to control these passions and obtain the powers of: agiting all, liquifying all(orgasmically), attracting all controlling all, maddening all, directing all, moving in all space, be the information of all, be the source of all ( womb), be tri-fold division of all ( the knower, the knowing, and the know)

Trilokya mohana cakra swamini Prakata yogini

The wheel of the three worlds of waking, dreaming, and sleeping, expressing Herself openly without inhibitions.

( Follow the sixteen attractive powers identified with the sixteen days of the lunar calender; according to the Hindu art of love, the erotic zone moves up from feet to head in the bright half of the lunar month and comes down to the dark half of the lunar month; the expression of the eros os through the various power of the mind described bellow: - the Gods of the second enclosure )

Kamakarsini, - Attractive powers of lust

Buddhyakarsini, - Attractive powers of discrimination

Ahamkarakarsini, - Attractive powers of ego

Sabdhakarsini, - Attractive powers of sound

Sparsakarsini, - Attractive powers of touch

Rupakarsini, - Attractive powers of form

Rasakarsini, - Attractive powers of taste

Gandhakarsini, - Attractive powers of odor

Cittakarsini, - Attractive powers of mind

Dharyakarsini, - Attractive powers of valour

Smrityikarsini, - Attractive powers of memory

Namakarsini, - Attractive powers of name

Bijakarsini, - Attractive powers of semen

Atmakarsini - Attractive powers of self

Amrtakarsini, - Attractive powers of immortality

Sarirakarsini, - Attractive powers of morality

Sarvasa paripuraka cakra svamini Gupta yogini

The wheel which fulfills all directions and all desires, the secret yogini - female yogini

( Follow the eight erotic sentiments: - the third encloure: )

Ananga Kusume, - The sentiment of flowering

Ananga Mekhale, - The sentiment of girdling

Ananga Madane, - The sentiment of love

Ananga Madananture, - The sentiment of lust

Ananga Redhe, - The sentiment of outlining

Ananga Vegini - The sentiment of the disire of sex

Ananga Kusume, - The sentiment of the insistence on sex

Ananga Malini, - The sentiment of orgy

Sarva sanksoghana sadhak a cakra swamini Gupta tara yogini

The wheel that agitates everyone, the esoteric yogini

( Follow the descriptions of the fourteen worlds of the fourth encloure: )

Sarva Samksobhini, - Agitating all

Sarva Vidravini, - Liquifying all

Sarva Karsini, - Attracting all

Sarva Hladini, - Pleaseing all

Sarva Sammohini, - Deluding all

Sarva Stambini- Obstructing all

Sarva Jrumbhini, - Expanding all

Sarva Vasamkari, - Controlling all

Sarva Ranjani, - Enjoying all

Sarvonmadini, - Maddening all

Sarvarthasadhini, - all properous

Sarva Sampattipurani - All fullfilling riches

Sarva Mantra Mayi, - All mantras

Sarva Dvandva Ksayamkari, - Eliminating all dualiities

Sarva Soubhagya Dayaka Cakra Swamini

Sampradaya yogini

The wheel of all kinds of union, traditional yogini:

( Follow the Gods of the fifth Chakra: )

Sarva Siddhiprade, - Giver of all achievments

Sarva Sampatprade, - Giver of all wealth

Sarva Priyamkari, - Giver of all that one like to have

Sarva Mangalakarini, - Harbinger of all auspiciousness

Sarva Kamaprade - Fulfiller of all desires

Sarva Duhkha Vimocani, - Eliminator of all misery

Sarva Mrityu Prasamani, - Eliminator of all accidental deaths

Sarva Vigna Nivarani, - Eliminator of all obstracles

Sarvanga Sundari, - Beautful in every part of Her body

Sarva Soubhagya Dayini Sarvartha Sadhaka Cakra Swamini Kulottirna yogini

The wheel which propets you on the righteous path, gives you all wealth, fullfills all your desirers, and makes liberation possible, the yogini that has graduated out if all classifications.

( Follow the Gods of the sixth Encloure: )

Sarva Jne, - Omniscienl

Sarva Sakte, - Omnipotent

Sarvaisvarya pradayini, - Omniexpressive

Sarva Jnanamayi, - Providing the bliss of omniscience

Sarva Vyadhivinasini, - Eliminating all maladies

Sarvadharasvarupe - The support of all

Sarva Papa Hare, - The elimintor of notions of sin

Sarva Ananda Mayi, - All happiness

Sarva Raksa Svarupini, - All protecting

Sarvepsita Phala Prade, - Provider of all desired fruits

Sarva Raksakara Cakra Svamini, Nigarbha yogini

The wheel of all prodection, the yoini protecting the child in the womb.

( Following the eight forms os Sarasvati, knowledge, which are originally the group of letters describing the explosion of the cosmos from a point: - the seventh enclosuer: )

Vasini, - Contorl

Kamesvari, - Express

Modini, - Pleasure

Vimale, - Purity

Arune, - Passion

Jayini, - Victory

Sarvesvari, - Controlling all

Kaulini, - Enjoying all

Sarvarogahara Cakra Swamini Rahasya yogini

The wheel which eliminates disease, the secret yogini.

( Follow the weapons of the Divine Mother: )

Banini, - The five flowery arrows of Manmatha called the senses of sound ( music ), touch ( eros ), form (beauty ), taste (sweetness), smell (fragrance )

Capini, - The suger cane bow ( the mind which likes sweet things of life )

Pasini, - The attractive power of love

Ankusini - The repulsive power to control evil

( Follow the Goddesses of the eighth enclosure of the Sri Chakra: )

Maha Kamesvari, - The thrust of God expressing the desire to see Himself in many forms

Maha Vajresvari, - The ability to obtain the cosmos in seed form

Maha Bhagamalini, The ability to express the cosmos out of the seed

Sarva Siddhiprada Cakra Swamini

Ati Rahasya yogini

The wheel of realizations, the most secrect yogini.

( Follow the central hub of the wheel of Sri Devi, the Supreme Goddess: - in ninth enclosure: )

Sri Sri Maha Bhattarike,

Sarvananda Maya Cakra Swamini

Parapara Rahasya Yogini

The Godes Sri Devi present in all the cosmos. The wheel of all bliss, the trancendental secret yogini.

( Follow the nine Goddesses controlling the nine wheels above: )

Tripure - Waking , Dreaming and Sleeping states

Tripuresi - The controller of these three states

Tripurasundari - The beautiful one among all these three states

Tripura Vasini - The one who lives in all these three states

Tripura Srih - The riches of all these three states

Tripuramalini - The sequences of all these states experienced by all people

Tripura Siddhe - The achievements possible in all these three states

Tripurambe - The experience of the cosmos in Her three states unifying all the experiences of all life

Maha Mahesvari - The great cosmic controller

Maha Maha Rajni - The great cosmic empress

Maha Maha Sakte - The great cosmic power

Maha Maha Gupte - The great cosmic secret

Maha Maha Jnapte - The great cosmic memory

Maha Mahannande - The great cosmic bliss

Maha Maha Skandhe - The great cosmic support

Maha Mahasaye - The great cosmic expression

Maha Maha Sri Cakra Nagara Samrajni - The great transcendental conscious empress of the wheel of Sri Cakra

Namaste Nameste Nameste Namah

We bow to You, we bow to You, We bow to You in the three states of waking, dreaming, and sleeping states O Divine Mother!

Sri Gurupyom namha:

In Love and Light

Naveen

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Navaratri: The 9 Divine Nights

Naveen108 — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:59:08 GMT

Om Amriteswaryai Namah

Navaratri: The 9 Divine Nights

"Nava-ratri" literally means "nine nights." This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter.

What's the Significance of Navratri?
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as "Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there.

Why Worship the Mother Goddess?
We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. "Why mother; why not father?", you may ask. Let me just say that we believe that God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute.

Why Twice a Year?
Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because:
(1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.

(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.

Why Nine Nights & Days?
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.

In Love and Light

Naveen

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grace

Naveen108 — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:04:49 GMT

NAMASTE

After receiving grace of a God, the devotee can never be the same again, never look at life again in the old way. By grace we are directed deeper into spiritual life, pointed in the right direction, carefully guided on the San Marga, the straight path to our supreme God. After grace has been received, our thoughts are enlivened, our life is inspired with enthusiasm and energy, and we live daily in the joyous knowledge that everything is all right, everything is happening around us in accord with our karma, our dharma and God’s gracious will.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001), founder of Hinduism Today

In Love and Light

Naveen

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Tian Gong Tribe!

achanceperson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:51:50 GMT

Just got the new version of the Tian Gong Tribe up and running!

Tian Gong is a Qi Gong school for energy & spiritual healing. A place where body, mind & soul work together, we offer weekly classes, practice groups, energy transmissions & workshop intensives to accelerate personal growth & development. This unique form of Qi Gong incorporates meditation, physical movement, sound healing, Eastern & Western spiritual wisdom & ancient alchemical practices.
Practicing Tian Gong Qi Gong helps to restore & strengthen emotional, mental & physical health & balance. Even more importantly, Tian Gong distinguishes itself through intermediate & advanced courses which lead students to a deeper understanding of karma, reincarnation & soul health. Teachings are based on Eastern philosophy grounded in 8,000 years of wisdom passed down by sages & ancient cultures around the world, as well as new Universal messages.

With a mission to provide global humanitarian relief aid and a curriculum that emphasizes energy-based environmental sustainability, social philanthropy and disaster relief skills, we hope that anyone interested in changing the world for the better will find a home in your heart here — because finding your inner peace will lead the world to global peace.

Come to one of our group practices!

Berkeley
7:30 - 9 pm, every Tuesday
Rudramandir, a Center for Spirituality and Healing
830 Bancroft Way, Lotus Room #114

San Francisco
7 - 8:30pm, every Tuesday
300 Bella Vista Way

Santa Cruz
7 - 8:30 pm, every Thursday
The Garden Sanctuary, 3070 Prather Lane, Soquel, CA 95065

Sebastopol
7-8:30pm, every Tuesday
Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 Depot St, Sebastopol, CA 95472

Call 510-883-1920 for info about classes in Marin, San Diego, San Mateo, Sacramento, and Union City.

See our flier and website for upcoming events and workshops!
www.TianGong.org

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Glory of annadaana & Powerful and Rare Homas

rakesh — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:57:00 GMT

The glory of annadaana

Anna daanaat param daaann na butham na bhavishyati

Naatra paatra vichaa roshti nakaala niyamastaa

Among all the virtues annadaana is the highest virtue.

Annam prajapathi sakshat Vishnu shiva swayam

Tasmaat anna samam daanam na bhutham na bhavisyati

“there is no virtue like annadaana. Among all the various daanas annadaana is the most highest.’ . its verily the form of shiva and Vishnu

The merits of performing severe tapas, millions of japa and devata pujana are attain by just feeding a hungry person. The person who feeds the needy is like a person who gave them life.

Every single anna (rice ) contain in the food given to the poor and the needy will destroy the sin done in one birth!

The vedaas hail anna (food) as the form of Brahman as it’s the source of life. ( annam bramhethi vyajaanaat)This can be seen in thaitiriya Upanishad

Gaja duraga sahasram gokulam koti daanam

Kanakha rajata paatram medhini sakharantham

Upaya kula vishuddham koti kanya pradaanam

Nahi nahi bahu daanam annadaanam samaapa

The merit obtained by doing one single annadaana cannot be compared even to the daana phala of thousand elephants, horses and cattels, by giving a way thousands of gifts made of gold and silver, by giving the whole land and sea on earth, by conducting kanya daana (wedding) for 1 crore kanyas.

This shows the greatness of annadaana.

Annadaana is a very important part in mantra purascarana . where one has to perform dashamsa homa, dashamsa tarpana and dashamsa annadaana. Without annadaana mantra siddhi is not achieveable and the purascarana is incomplete.the whole benefit of the mantra siddhi is obtained through this annadaana. The reason behind this is, annadaana removes the shortcomings in the purascarana karma and makes it complete.it removes the bakti lobha, mantra lobha and kriya lobha.. And bestows perfection.

Our guruji always say “…. If u ask me whether a person who has done millions of japa and did severe tapas is higher or the person who has fed 100 people in his lifetime….. the answer will be the person who fed the 100 persons”

all the punya phalas promised in the scriptures are attained easily by feeding the poors and the sadhus. Normal persons who don’t know how to do worship, japa etc can get the similar benefit in multiple folds by just feeding the needy and the sadhus.

If u give money to a person he will not be satisfied, if u give gold, vastra etc… still the same…. He will want more…….but he can only eat until his stomach gets full. He himself will say enough and goes home satisfied.

Feeding the sadhus and shiva baktas ia a great blessings for mankind. Its like feeding shiva himself , as they are the human form of shiva. Its very rare to get an opportunity to feed a holy men. If got…. It shouldn’t be missed. Feeding a holy men can remove all our obstacles in life and spiritual path, and it blesses with wisdom. All past karmas are washed away the moment you feed a sadhu. Thats the power of annadaana!

Annapoorne sadha purne sankara praana vallabhe nyana vairagya siddhyartham biksham dhehi cha parvathi!

Please click the following link and join us in our annadaana seva in kashi.Various rare homas being conducted to raise funds for the annadaana programe. Devotees may participate in the homas and gain the benefit of the homa and doing annadaana in kashi kshetra. We need lots of helping hand in making this seva a success , as this cant be done by a single person.

http://jdayal2000.startlogic.com/store/index.html

hara hara mahadeva !!!!!!

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Bhakti Yoga Festival Houston

Mon, 04 May 2009 05:18:40 GMT

Important Update (Apr 30, 2009)

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus and Didis:

Please note the following important updates regarding the BHAKTI Yoga Festival in Houston (May 23 – May 29, 2009).

1. Festival Registration: Its only 3 weeks before the festival starts. If you are planning to attend, please register now. Why wait in long lines at the Registration table at the Festival when you can be hearing Hari Katha and melodious kirtanas at that time. So, save time and last minute anxiety and register now.

It will also help us to plan better and provide better facilities and prasadam to all the participants.

Please fax your registration form to (713) 995-6320. You can also email the scanned form to sushil1955@gmail.com. The mailing address is:

IGVS Houston

4107 Laguna Cir

Missouri City, TX 77459

2. Room Sharing and Car Pooling: You can save money by sharing the hotel room with another devotee or car pooling with others. If you are interested in either sharing a room or car pooling, please send an email to igvs_houston@yahoo.com. You may also call Vishnu das at (281) 491-4114

3.

Vendor Booths: If you plan to set up a booth to sell any devotional paraphernalia or books, you must register for it by May 15th. No booths will be allowed after this date. To reserve a booth, please contact Tarun Krsna prabhus at (281) 827-5620.

4. Camping: Due to safety regulations we will not be able to allow any type of camping on the festival grounds. Those who have already registered for camping will be accommodated in alternate accommodations. For additional information or any questions, please contact Vishnu das at (281) 4... or email igvs_houston@yahoo.com

5. Hotel: If you have not been able to find any hotel accommodation, you can call the following hotel and reserve a room. This hotel is about 20 minutes from the festival site. Ask for Harry Patel.

Super 8 Motel

12845 Murphy Road, Stafford, TX 77477
Phone: 281-568-1214 Fax: 281-776-9795

Room rates are as follows:

Room with one King size bed: $55 + tax

Room with two beds: $65 + tax

They will allow up to 4 people in room with one King size bed and up to 6 people in room with two beds. They will provide extra quilts so that some can sleep on the floor.

From: Govinda Gaudiya Matha, Houston

Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha of Houston is happy to announce that by the blessings of Sri Sri Guru and Gaurang we have acquired two acres of land in Houston for constructing the first temple of International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society in North America. The location is near a busy highway in northwest part of Houston. This area has very good neighborhoods all around with affordable housing options. This area of Houston also has many people of Indian descent.

On the 24th of May, 2009 at 7:30am our dear Gurudeva, His Divine Grace BV Narayan Maharaja will oversee the sacred Bhoomi Pooja on the land purchased by the Matha. The Vedic rituals will be performed by Sripad BV Tirtha Maharaja. The Bhoomi Puja will be on the second day of the Houston Bhakti Yoga Festival. The Houston sanga will like to cordially invite all the devotees around the world to come and join us in this very auspicious and significant event.

Plans for construction are in the works and those who are able to assist in any capacity are encouraged to contact Vishnu das at 281-491- 4114 or email vishnudas16@yahoo.com.

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Ecstatic Kirtan Gathering at Harbin Hot Springs, CA 7/17–19

Satya — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:03:56 GMT

Come and be part of the first kirtan festival on the west coast. Join us for an ecstatic weekend of chanting, dance and healing hot spring waters. The theme of the weekend is “Surrendering to Ecstasy”. We’ll be creating a sacred space on the Harbin Hot Springs land that will support manifesting a deep connection to the Divine. The 3-day program includes focused spiritual activities for deep relaxation and transformation--yoga, chanting, pranayama & water purification--all which assist in deep letting go, allowing our natural ecstatic state to emerge. The cumulative effect keeps building! The tentative line-up of chant groups so far includes: Suzanne Sterling, Shantala (Benjy & Heather Wertheimer), Fanna Fi Allah Qawwali, Prema Mayi, Uma & Geoffrey Gordon, Kathy Zavada, Arpita, The Harbin Kirtan Band, and more are being added! Several daily yoga classes will be offered including flows with Harmony Ananda that include live music. There will be late night chanting.

Hosted by Harmony Ananda and Lyn Hunstad

Cost: $295 before June 10, $345 after. Price includes the festival plus simple vegetarian meals, camping, yoga classes and use of the hot springs .

Registration and information: EcstaticKirtan.com or you can call 707-987-8341.

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Find out how to use your voice to save your life

KailashBruder — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:30:49 GMT

What if you had a device that would reliably produce peace of mind, elevate your mood, and support your growth into who you most wish to be?
Good news: you have just such a device. It's your voice!
The ancients understood that our voice is the steering wheel of our thoughts and feelings. When you focus your attention on the sound of your own voice while repeating time-tested mantras ("mind-protectors"), you lead your mind and heart in an Ultimately True, Beautiful, and Healthful direction. And because we all live in the atmosphere of our thoughts, your quality of life will be dramatically improved.
Kailash (Kurt Bruder, Ph.D., M.Ed.) provides you with the tools you need to take up or deepen a life-saving practice of devotional chanting in his groundbreaking book & CD set, Following Sound into Silence: Chanting Your Way Beyond Ego into Bliss (Hay House).
To discover what several leading figures in sacred sound and spirituality have to say about this extraordinary resource, please use this URL link:

http://OmKailash.com/fsis_testimonials.html

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Khrist Kirtan - Yeshu Bhajans in bay area!!!

YeshuBhakti — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:37:15 GMT

Blessings to all, just wanted to share a few events coming up! Aradhna will be in the area leading Yeshu bhajans in the Hindi language, fusing the sounds of sitar, tabla, violin and guitar. The bhajans are devotional songs from the tradition in India known as Yeshu Bhakti (devotion to Jesus). For more info on the band, see their website: www.aradhnamusic.com

Santa Cruz:
Tuesday, April 14th @7pm
The Abbey (Vintage Faith Church)
350 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
$5 donation at the door

San Francisco:
Wednesday, April 15th@8pm
The Sangati Center
3049 22nd St
SF, CA 94110
$10-$20 sliding scale

Sunnyvale:
Thursday, April 16th @7pm
Sunnyvale Hindu Temple
420-450 Persian Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
(free)

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Seva

Naveen108 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:27:59 GMT

Jai Ma

It is very important to give light and love to everyone, because everyone needs affection. Let light, love and peace live today and always in our hearts. Let these words not just be words pouring out of our lips. Let light invade your whole being so that everyone may be able to love.
( Mataji Indra Devi)

In Love and light

Naveen

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

The limits of human love

Ann — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:36:16 GMT

Ive often thought that no human could posibly contain one persons love, let alone several members of a family and a few friends .All the self help books tell us of the dissatisfaction of Women from Venus, Men from Mars. Children brought up in unloving homes not having enough love , are we deluded, thinking we can ever love, even one person enough. to satisfy .

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 15 replies

What is Dattatreya Jayanti?

padma — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:45:17 GMT

Today is Dattatreya Jayanti. So who is Dattatreya and what does this Dattatreya Jayanti mean to all who

worship him?

Dattatreya Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of the Margaseersha (Margashirsha) month. On that

day, the feast of Dattatreya is celebrated by his worshippers.

Dattatreya is the combined avatar of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. There is a very interesting story behind

the birth of Dattatreya.

Many centuries ago, there lived a rishi (sage) called Atri. His wife Anasuya was very devoted and a

pativrata. Narada used to talk a lot about Anasuya and her devotion to her Atri. That made Saraswati,

Lakhsmi and Parvati jealous of Anasuya. They decided to really test the strength of Anasuya's fidelity

to her husband Atri. So they requested their husbands Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (Siva) to test

Anasuya.

So Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (Shankar) disguised themselves as sages and go to pativrat Anasuya's house

when her husband Atri was not at home. Anasuya welcomed the trinity and requests them to stay for lunch.

Brahma, Visnu and Shiva agree to that but they put one condition. They ask Anasuya to serve them naked.

Anasuya is shocked but cannot refuse the sages. But at the same time she is a devoted wife and hence

cannot stand naked before three strange men even though the three are sages.

Finally Anasuya hit upon a solution. With the power of her sincerity and devotion she turned the trinity

into three babies. She then removed her clothes and served the three babies their food. She treated the

babies as if they were her own.

Anasuya's husband Atri returns and immediately recognizes the babies for who they are. Anasuya tells her

huband about the sages. Atri explains to his wife who the three actually were. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

reappear in their own forms and bless the devoted couple. They leave back to the heavens but they also

leave a part of themselves in the form of a baby. This baby is named Dattatreya and thus Dattatreya is

born.

Dattatreya remained the son of Anasuya and Atri. He grew up to be a sage and a celibate. He remained

digambara (naked) throughout his life.

Dattatreya Mantra:

OM namo bhagavate dattaatreyaaya, smaraNa-maatra-samtushhTaaya

Translation:

Om salutations unto Lord Dattatreya who is appeased by devotion and remembrance

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 4 replies

Garuda

eylon — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 15:44:12 GMT

I am not sure why but I am drawn to find out more information about the king of the birds - stories, chants, beliefs, anecdotes, pilgrimage places and tattoo ideas ;)

Any help would be appreciated!

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 3 replies

Actions of Bhakti

Naveen108 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:34:26 GMT

NAMASTE

I found this to be a example of such great devotion and Bhakti and thought i would post it here.

Tirupati Temple to Give Copies of the Bhagavad Gita To Prisoners

HYDERABAD, INDIA, August 26, 2008: In an attempt to bring a change in the mindset of prisoners, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has decided to gift them copies of the Bhagavad Gita. The TTD, which manages the affairs of Lord Venkateshwara temple at Tirupati, said it would distribute copies of the holy book among prisoners lodged in various jails in Andhra Pradesh.

The board also decided to gift prasadam, holy food offerings from the temple to prisoners at least once a year. TTD chairman Karunakar Reddy, who presided over the meeting at Tirupati, hoped that distribution would change the prisoners.

The governing body also decided to impose a complete ban on footwear in the area around the temple. In a move to maintain the sanctity of the place, it banned footwear in the complexes and lanes.

Source: http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=89908

In Love and Light

Naveen

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Sista Shree in NYC

brian — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:05:41 GMT

Sista Shree is an internationally known singer-
she chants healing, traditional Sanskrit mantras
with a twist....She uses her soulful voice to bring
these healing mantras to a new style-using riffs
and rhythms of funk, blues, jazz, rock, and world
music. SistaShree will be performing in NYC at
East West Yoga this coming Sunday, Aug. 24th
at 8pm. She will be accompanied by the band,
Bhakti, and you should not miss this! Get ready
to bathe in the light of Shakti as you rock out
to SistahShree! Call for tickets. $30.
212 243 5995
www.eastwestnyc.com
www.sistashree.com

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

endeavor to become gopis mayavada, ahankara

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:15:21 GMT

SP lecture, SB 1.7.41-42 October 2, 1976

So when we come to that stage, as Caitanya mahaprabhu's teaching, the gopi bhartuh pada kamalayoh, Krishna is completely under gopis. Don't try to become gopis. Just like Uddhava. Uddhava wanted to become one grass in Vrndavana because the gopis will trample over it. This is the highest perfection.

So we must always remember that if we want to be recognized by Krsna, if we want to become inhabitants of Vrindavan then we must take this lesson given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Gopi bhartuh pada kamalayor dasa dasa dasanudasah. So to endeavor to become gopis, that is also Mayavada. That "I shall become gopis." No. You have to become the servant of the servant of the servant of gopis. That is...otherwiswe the same ahankara. Then again we'll be misled. This is material disease.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

If You Could Only Have One Yoga Book

Dennis — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:27:40 GMT

If one could only have one book on yoga, the new book, Classical Hatha Yoga by Swami Rajarshi Muni would likely be it. This is the only book on yoga the practitioner or teacher would ever need. It is probably the most comprehensive book ever written on the subject of yoga and, most important, it is written by a highly advanced Yogi, based on his personal Kundalini sadhana. Check it out on Amazon's Inside the Book Program, where you can actually see its contents as well as its summary. It can also be purchased at the Kripalu Book Store.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 5 replies

Check out Devotional dance fusion..awsome

Chris — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:17:04 GMT

Just discovered some cool new chanting group, who fuse dance music, english lyrics and sanskrit chants.

Anyone heard them play live ?

www.maha-ra.com

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Ganga Dashami – Ganga Dashahara Festival

Naveen108 — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:44:28 GMT

JAI MA

Ganga Dashami, also referred as Ganga-Dashahara, celebrates the birthday of River Ganga – her descent on earth. The festival begins on the Amavasi day in the Hindu month of Jyestha and ends on the Dashami tithi. The festival lasts for 10 days. In 2008, Ganga Dashahara begins on June 3 and Ganga Dashami date is June 13.

Goddess Ganga Devi is an important deity in Hinduism and bathing in the divine river is the believed to cleanse the sins committed. The ritual of bathing in Ganga is also a way to achieve moksha – the escape from the endless cycles of birth and death.

The festival of great importance in those places through which the Ganges flows especially at Haridwar and Prayag (Allahabad). Ganga is worshipped in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal during this period.

Apart from bathing in the river on the day, people mediate on the banks and recite the prayer dedicated to Ganga:

Devi suresvari bhagavati gange
Tribhuvana tarini tarala tarange
Sankara mauli viharini vimale
Mama matirastam tava pada kamala

Bhagirathi sukhadayini matas
Tava jala mahima nigame khyatah
Naham jane tava mahimanam
Pahi krpamayi mama ajnanam

The global warming phenomenon has started affecting Ganga and the glaciers that provide water to this perennial river is fast depleting. Environmentalists have been warning about the serious consequences that are in store, if we humans are not ready to change and live in harmony with nature. Many scientists have even predicated the death of River Ganga.

Ganga Dashami is an ideal opportunity to contemplate and usher in change and save Mother Ganga.

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Mantras for the Departed Soul

Bala — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:51:59 GMT

Namah Sivaya

I was wondering if anyone knows of specific prayers to chant for someone who has trancended their body?

I am aware of the Matyuijaya Mantra, which is a Siva mantra to attain victory over death, to restore the health of someone who is suffering from physical pain or illness and for a dying person to be granted a peaceful death. Though this mantra from my understanding is to be chanted before someone transcends.

Is there any mantra to be chanted for beings after they transcend ?

My grandpa is about to transcend from his body, and I just want to offer everything I can for him during his passing and after he passes.

Blessings..
Bala

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 13 replies

Unshakable Bhakti

Naveen108 — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:52:45 GMT

NAMASTE

Unshakable Bhakti , one person comes to mind that i grew up hearing stories of was Mira Bai .
I was reading about her today and came across this by Sri Swami Sivananda .

Mira Bai

Mira is regarded as an incarnation of Radha. She was born in Samvat 1557 or 1499 A.D. in the village Kurkhi, near Merta, a small state in Marwar, Rajasthan. Mira was the daughter of Ratan Singh Ranthor and the grand-daughter of Dudaji of Merta. The Ranthors of Merta were great devotees of Vishnu. Mira Bai was brought up amidst Vaishnava influence, which moulded her life in the path of devotion towards Lord Krishna. She learnt to worship Sri Krishna from her childhood. When she was four years of age, she manifested religious tendencies. Once there was a marriage procession in front of her residence. The bridegroom was nicely dressed. Mira, who was only a child, saw the bridegroom and said to her mother innocently, "Dear mother, who is my bridegroom?". Mira’s mother smiled, and half in jest and half in earnest, pointed towards the image of Sri Krishna and said, "My dear Mira, Lord Krishna—this beautiful image—is your bridegroom".

Child Mira began to love the idol of Krishna very much. She spent much of her time in bathing and dressing the image. She worshipped the image. She slept with the image. She danced about the image in ecstasy. She sang beautiful songs in front of the image. She used to talk to the idol.

Mira’s father arranged for her marriage with Rana Kumbha of Chitore, in Mewar. Mira was a very dutiful wife. She obeyed her husband’s commands implicitly. After her household duties were over, she would go to the temple of Lord Krishna, worship, sing and dance before the image daily. The little image would get up, embrace Mira, play on the flute and talk to her. Rana’s mother and other ladies of the house did not like the ways of Mira, as they were worldly-minded and jealous. They were all annoyed with her. Mira’s mother-in-law forced her to worship Durga and admonished her often. But Mira stood adamant. She said, "I have already given up my life to my beloved Lord Krishna". Mira’s sister-in-law Udabai formed a conspiracy and began to defame the innocent Mira. She informed Rana Kumbha that Mira was in secret love with others, that she with her own eyes had witnessed Mira in the temple with her lovers, and that she would show him the persons if he would accompany her one night. She further added that Mira, by her conduct, had brought a great slur on the reputation of the Rana family of Chitore. Rana Kumbha was very much enraged. He straightaway ran with sword in hand towards the inner apartments of Mira. Fortunately, Mira was not in her room. A kind relative of the Rana checked him and said, "Look here Rana! Do not be in haste. You will repent later on. Consider well. Enquire into the matter very carefully. Find out the truth. Mira is a great devotional lady. What you have heard now may be a wild rumour only. Out of sheer jealousy some ladies might have concocted a cock-and-bull story against Mira to ruin her. Be cool now". Rana Kumbha agreed to the wise counsel of his relative. The Rana’s sister took him to the temple at dead of night. Rana Kumbha broke open the door, rushed inside and found Mira alone in her ecstatic mood talking to the idol.

The Rana said to Mira, "Mira, with whom are you talking now? Show me this lover of yours". Mira replied, "There sits He—my Lord—the Nanichora who has stolen my heart". She fainted. There was a wild rumour that Mira was mixing very freely with Sadhus. She, no doubt, had great regard for Sadhus and mixed freely with them. Mira never cared a bit for the meaningless scandals. She stood unruffled.

Mira was persecuted in various ways by the Rana and his relatives. She got the same treatment which Prahlad got from his father Hiranyakasipu. Hari shielded Prahlad. Here, Sri Krishna always stood by the side of Mira. Once the Rana sent a cobra in a basket to Mira with the message that it contained a garland of flowers. Mira took her bath and sat for worship. After finishing her meditation, she opened the basket and found inside a lovely idol of Sri Krishna and a garland of flowers. Then the Rana sent her a cup of poison with the message that it was nectar. Mira offered it to Lord Krishna and took it as His Prasad. It was real nectar to her. Then the Rana sent a bed of nails for Mira to sleep on. Mira finished her worship and slept on the bed of nails. Lo! The bed of nails was transformed into a bed of roses.

When Mira was thus tortured by her husband’s relatives, she sent a letter to Tulsidasji and asked the advice of the saint. She wrote thus: "All my relatives trouble me, because I move amongst Sadhus. I cannot carry on my devotional practices in the house. I have made Giridhar Gopal my friend from my very childhood. I am strongly attached to Him. I cannot break that attachment now".

Tulsidasji sent a reply: "Abandon those who do not worship Rama and Sita as if they are your enemies, even though they are your dearest relatives. Prahlad abandoned his father; Vibhishana left his brother Ravana; Bharata deserted his mother; Bali forsook even his Guru; the Gopis, the women of Vraja, disowned their husbands in order to attain the Lord. Their lives were all the happier for having done so. The opinion of holy saints is that the relation with God and love of God alone is true and eternal; all other relationships are unreal and temporary".

Once Akbar and his court musician Tansen came in disguise to Chitore to hear Mira’s devotional and inspiring songs. Both entered the temple and listened to Mira’s soul-stirring songs to their heart’s content. Akbar was really moved. Before he departed, he touched the holy feet of Mira and placed a necklace of emeralds in front of the idol as a present. Somehow the news reached the Rana that Akbar had entered the temple in disguise, touched the feet of Mira and even presented her a necklace. The Rana became furious. He told Mira, "Drown yourself in the river and never show your face to the world in future. You have brought great disgrace on my family".

Mira obeyed the words of her husband. She proceeded to the river to drown herself. The names of the Lord "Govind, Giridhari, Gopal" were always on her lips. She sang and danced in ecstasy on her way to the river. When she raised her feet from the ground, a hand from behind grasped her. She turned behind and saw her beloved Krishna. She fainted. After a few minutes she opened her eyes. Lord Krishna smiled and spoke to her these words: "My dear Mira, your life with this mortal husband is over now. You are absolutely free. Be cheerful. You are Mine. Immediately proceed to the bowers of Vraja and the avenues of Brindavan. Seek Me there, my child. Be quick". He then disappeared.

Mira obeyed the divine call immediately. She walked barefoot on the hot sandy beds of Rajasthan. On her way, she was received by many ladies, children and devotees with great hospitality. She reached Brindavan. She found out her Flute-bearer there. She went about Brindavan begging for her food and worshipped in the Govinda Mandir which has since become famous and is now a place of pilgrimage. Her devotees of Chitore came to Brindavan to see Mira. Rana Kumbha came to Mira in the disguise of a mendicant, revealed himself and repented for his previous wrongs and cruel deeds. Mira at once prostrated before her husband.

Jiva Gosain was the head of the Vaishnavites in Brindavan. Mira wanted to have Darshan of Jiva Gosain. He declined to see her. He sent word to Mira that he would not allow any woman in his presence. Mira Bai retorted: "Everybody in Brindavan is a woman. Only Giridhar Gopal is Purusha. Today only I have come to know that there is another Purusha besides Krishna in Brindavan". Jiva Gosain was put to shame. He thought that Mira was a great devotional lady. He at once went to see Mira and paid her due respects.

Mira’s fame spread far and wide. So many princesses and queens have come and gone. So many Ranis, Kumaris and Maharanis have appeared on the stage of this world and vanished. How is it that the queen of Chitore alone is still remembered? Is this on account of her beauty? Is this on account of her poetic skill? No. It is on account of her renunciation, one-pointed devotion to Lord Krishna and God-realisation. She came face to face with Krishna. She conversed with Krishna. She ate with Krishna—her Beloved. She drank the Krishna-prema-rasa. She has sung from the core of her heart the music of her soul, the music of her Beloved, her unique spiritual experiences. And she has sung songs of surrender and Prem.

Mira had the beautiful cosmic vision. She saw Krishna in the tree, in the stone, in the creeper, in the flower, in the bird, in all beings—in everything. As long as there is the name of Krishna, there will be the name of Mira also.

It is extremely difficult to find a parallel to this wonderful personality—Mira—a saint, a philosopher, a poet and a sage. She was a versatile genius and a magnanimous soul. Her life has a singular charm, with extraordinary beauty and marvel. She was a princess, but she abandoned the pleasures and luxuries incident to her high station, and chose instead, a life of poverty, austerity, Tyaga, Titiksha and Vairagya. Though she was a delicate young lady, she entered the perilous journey on the spiritual path amidst various difficulties. She underwent various ordeals with undaunted courage and intrepidity. She stood adamant in her resolve. She had a gigantic will.

Mira’s songs infuse faith, courage, devotion and love of God in the minds of the readers. They inspire the aspirants to take to the path of devotion and they produce in them a marvellous thrill and a melting of the heart.

Mira’s earthly life was full of troubles and difficulties. She was persecuted. She was tormented and yet she kept up an undaunted spirit and a balanced mind all through, by the strength of her devotion and the grace of her beloved Krishna. Though she was a princess, she begged alms and lived sometimes on water alone. She led a life of perfect renunciation and self-surrender.

Mira had Raganuga or Ragatmika Bhakti. She never cared for public criticism and the injunctions of the Shastras. She danced in the streets. She did no ritualistic worship. She had spontaneous love for Lord Krishna. She did not practise Sadhana-bhakti. From her very childhood she poured forth her love on Lord Krishna. Krishna was her husband, father, mother, friend, relative and Guru. Krishna was her Prananath. Mira had finished the preliminary modes of worship in her previous birth.

Mira was fearless in her nature, simple in her habits, joyous in her disposition, amiable in her deportment, graceful in her behaviour and elegant in her demeanour. She immersed herself in the love of Giridhar Gopal. The name of Giridhar Gopal was always on her lips. Even in her dreams, she lived and had her being in Sri Krishna.

In her divine intoxication, Mira danced in public places. She had no sex-idea. Her exalted state could not be adequately described in words. She was sunk in the ocean of Prem. She had no consciousness of her body and surroundings. Who could gauge the depth of her devotion? Who could understand her internal Premamaya state of Maha-bhava? Who could measure the capacity of her large heart?

Mira wafted the fragrance of devotion far and wide. Those who came in contact with her were affected by her strong current of Prem. Mira was like Lord Gauranga. She was an embodiment of love and innocence. Her heart was the temple of devotion. Her face was the lotus-flower of Prem. There was kindness in her look, love in her talk, joy in her discourses, power in her speech and fervour in her songs. What a marvellous lady! What a wonderful personality! What a charming figure!

Mira’s mystic songs act as a soothing balm to the wounded hearts and tired nerves of those who toil in this world with the heavy burden of life. The sweet music of her songs exerts a benign influence on the hearers, removes discord and disharmony, and lulls them to sleep. Mira’s language of love is so powerful that even a downright atheist will be moved by her devotional songs.

Mira acted her part well on the stage of the world. She taught the world the way to love God. She rowed her boat dexterously in a stormy sea of family troubles and difficulties and reached the other shore of supreme peace and absolute fearlessness—the kingdom of supreme love. She belonged to the gentle fair sex and yet how undaunted in spirit and how courageous she was! Though she was young, she bore the persecutions silently. She endured the piercing taunts and sarcastic criticisms of the world bravely. She has left an indelible impression on the world and her name will be handed down to posterity.

From Brindavan, Mira proceeded to Dwaraka. There she was absorbed in the image of Lord Krishna at the temple of Ranchod.

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 2 replies

Manas Chora Radha Krishna

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:07:13 GMT

manas chora radha krishna muralimohana saure
he yadunayaka jai giridhari
jasumatinandan pyare
nandakumara mathuranatha bhajan kare ham tere

"Stealer of Mind, beautiful flute player, son of Yashoda, hail,
the one who lifts mountains, son of Nanda, Lord of Mathura,
Radha's Krishna, I sing your glory"

tere paun pade ham kanha
tu hai hrdayavikari
ho syam to aja

"I bow to your feet you reside in my heart"

radha ke priya mira ke priya sab ka priyatam he tu
gopi vallabha kamsanisudana
karunasagara he tu
syamal tere rup nihare aja krsna murare
kesava madhava bansi vadaka natavara mere pyare
ho syam to aja
ho syam tu aja

"Dearest of Radha, Mira, Gopis and everyone,
destroyer of Kamsa, You are the ocean of compassion.
Dark is your complexion, O Keshava, player of the flute,
dancer my beloved"

bangke bihari bhayabhavari bhakto ke hitakari
prem piyase nayan tihare darsan ko lalchaye
sundar mangal syam kalebar nandan yadukula raja
bansi lal bajake jaldi aja mohan aja
ho syam tu aja
ho syam tu aja

"You roam the forests, remove our worldly fears,
Protector of the devotees, beautiful, auspicious,
dark hued king of Yadavas,
Play your flute and hurry here."

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 1 reply

WATER WOMAN GATHERING

Renee — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:11:38 GMT

please check out WATER WOMAN GATHERING TRIBE for sharing visions and co-creation of the potential gathering called WATER WOMAN~ or click www.waterwomangathering.blogspot.com

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

to the network of love and light...

lookinglasssky — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:29:58 GMT

i have recently applied for a volunteer/student position at the Ratna Ling retreat center in Sonoma County
California. If accepted, and they're reviewing my application this week, i'll be helping out with the Tibetan Aid
Project binding sacred books whilst taking classes and getting that much for a long time needed healing retreat
on 110 acres of wooded landscape... I have been recently praying for an opportunity like this to enter my life but
also know that i can't really achieve it without an infinite amount of grace... sooo, i thought that i would reach out
to the network of Devas and Lightworkers out here in dream land and ask that they keep me in they're prayers,
i really need as much of a karmic boost as i can get... thank you sooo very much...
namaste and many blessings...
matthew

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Love

georgemarc — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:51:06 GMT

Anything will give up it's secrets,
if you love it enough.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 5 replies

Experience An India Yoga Odyssey

Dennis — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:06:40 GMT

Experience a Transforming India YOGA Odyssey
(February 21 to March 6, 2008)

Just imagine your airplane touching down at the India airport of your choice – Mumbai or Ahmadabad – on Thursday, February 21, 2008. Awaiting you at the airport is your guide, who will escort you by rail or taxi to your hotel accommodations in Surat City, Gujarat State. You will have arrived just in time to take in the World Yoga Championships, either as a participant or as a spectator. If anyone wishes to participate in the Championships the necessary registration forms can be downloaded at www.lifemission.org. The Championships run from February 22 though February 24. (The Championships were primarily founded as a means for encouraging youth worldwide to engage themselves in the ageless science of yoga for the betterment of body, mind and spiritual development in similar fashion that society worldwide encourages youth to participate in common sporting events.)

Following the Championships, you will be escorted to Malav Ashram for a five night stay, which includes three days of “hands on” yogic training under the expert guidance of Acharya Yogendradev, who has taught in North America, Taiwan, and India

And now – the Tours – you will tour the historic spiritual pilgrimage site of Kayavarohan and visit the Brahmeshwar Temple of Lord Lakulish (the 28th incarnation of Lord Shiva). You will spend 5 nights at a beautiful oceanside resort near the city of Div, overlooking the Indian Ocean with its miles of sandy beaches, and visit surrounding points of interest including the renowned Somnath Temple; a lion wildlife reserve, an ayurvedic clinic of a renowned ayurvedic physician where you will be able to observe the natural preparation of ayurvedic medicines and receive a free medical check-up. You will also have the opportunity to visit the temple complex at Rajrajeshwardham, where Lord Lakulish materialized in his divine body on January 29, 2007. Then – another great grace awaits you – you will have the rare opportunity of having darshan with the highly advanced yogi, Swami Rajarshi Muni.*

Now your yoga trip is reaching its end – on March 6, you will be escorted by your guide to your departure airport for your trip home – to reflect on and absorb your many yoga experiences of the past 2 weeks; the multitudes of wondrous Indian sites you've seen; the unmatched hospitality of its people and the many lasting new friendships you've made.

The cost per participant is $ 695.00 USD. This price does not include your transportation costs to and from India, which is entirely your responsibility, as are any required passports, visas etc. This price does include designated tour accommodations and meals in India, and all ground transportation to the Championships and touring sites in India, as well as ground transportation to and from airports at Mumbai or Ahmedabad. Any profits after all costs have been met will be directed to projects for the poor, including schools and hospitals. For further information, go to www.lifemission.org, or email: Acharya Yogendradev, ggvaghela@yahoo.com; or Dennis Konchak, lifema@telus.net; or Hans Splinter, Hsplinter@cogeco.ca.

* Swami Rajarshi Muni is the author of a vast library of nearly 100 titles in four different languages, including ten books in English. Some of the English titles are: Classical Hatha Yoga, Divine Body Through Yoga; Tenets for the Spiritual Life; Infinite Grace (The Story of My Spiritual Lineage), Awakening the Life Force, and Light from Guru to Disciple. For more information, check the Life Mission website www.lifemission.org and www.amazon.com under Rajarshi Muni

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

MORE THAN A RESOLUTION

everlutionary — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:51:37 GMT

More Than A Resolution

Must we resolve what we are already doing? To resolve means we haven't reached our intention, or, that we are creating a new intention; it means we are striving to meet and reach an ideal.

The ideal we hold is why we resolve to change our actions, thoughts, and hence current situation; this is accomplished through an accumulated force of will meant to propel us in a new direction. Today propel onto a new path and internalize the resolution; doing so means it fuses with your every waking and sleeping moment.

Resolve only until it becomes a part of your nature then drop the resolution.

More than a resolution,
the intention must be to change the very nature of our being, therefore, making us congruent with whom we strive to be.

Be.

Resolve to accept yourself for who you are. Remember: no one is ever perfect. Accept the dynamism of change. Experience a growth which cannot be calculated. Situations do not remain the same and as the environment around us shifts, we must open to transform the resolutions once needed… for even they shall one day become obsolete or counter-productive.

Resolve to not be disappointed, overly critical or difficult upon what you do and have done.
If we fix upon a goal and don't reach it we lead ourselves to disappointment.

Dynamic resolutions assist in preventing this occurrence.
Static resolutions do not.

Accept all the good and the bad... accept that which you cherish and that which you despise. Move into a space of acceptance; release from self-judgment. Guilt is not healthy, instead embrace change and create alternatives. Move past the limiting idea of failure. Move into a constant state of embracing every moment... and then become open... to all experiences... open to all that arises and passes.

Look at yourself. Discover your fears. Understand your faults. Reach for the zenith and don't be afraid to fall. Fall down. Stand back up. Embrace falling, it is necessary to learn walking.

Challenge even your resolutions, hence reaching awareness of self.

Avoid causing the self pain by sticking to a resolution that may no longer be relevant. As the conscious intention penetrates into your being, resolve to not blindly cling to resolutions without understanding their meaning; instead, embrace your true nature through awareness of who you are... the change sought is dependent on self-realization.

The change is dependent upon acceptance,
internalizing it so that it becomes more than just a resolution.

-----------------------------------

:HAWAH:
www.everlutionary.net
www.myspace.com/everlutionary

http://www.graphicmail.com/rwcode/subscribe.asp?SiteID=11598

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Happy Holiday

Naveen108 — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:29:44 GMT

For a whole new year is coming again. And it brings new opportunities, new dreams, fun-filled new days may each of you have the best new year .

In Love and Light

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 1 reply

Shaiva Bhakti: The 63 Nayanmars

kalkin — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:54:02 GMT

Stories of the 63 Nayanmar saints, legendary Shaiva Bhaktas:

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 12 replies

Lakulish Yogasan Championships 2008: Feb. 22; 23; & 24th, - City of Surat, Gujarat State, India

Dennis — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:11:36 GMT

For details and application forms, please refer to: http://www.lifemission.org/ and under "New" go to item #4 and click on "World Open Yogasan Championships".

Please note, to optimize your India trip and your experience of Lakulish Yoga you could attend or participate in the Yogasan Championships and also take in the 3 week Certificate Yoga Training Course being offered at Swami Rajarshi Muni's Malav Ashram from January 30 -February 20th. For details on the training go to http://www.lifemission.org/ and under "New" click on item # 5 " "Overseas Students Annual Yoga Certificate Training Program"

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Yoginis, Masseurs, Bodyworkers, Energy Workers, Light Workers...an unparalleled opportunity to come gather with us in Mexico

Briggi — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:20:05 GMT

Even as you read this folks from world round are gathering in Mexico for a two month free international gathering. Here is the website to learn all details:

www.cenotes.com/save/rainbow/ire1.html

We are in process and in progress, creating a Bodyworkers Camp, a collective where volunteer instructors can have maximum creative freedom to present workshops in the fields of their choice. Come down to do your practice, and to share with others in a beautiful, simple, natural, free tropical setting. The gathering is hosted by the Rainbow Family of Living Light, a tribe of volunteers guided by Spirit to share a vision of living in harmony with Nature, of healing ourselves and healing this planet. Vegetarian food Prasad circle is twice daily. All work is volunteered. All costs are by voluntary donation...

We are an experiment in free, non-commercial living from the heart. Join us!

Namaste,...nice day,....Love yall.
b!

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Sankara a Demon, according to Vaishnavas!

Suresh — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:02:04 GMT

Friends,

As a lot of discussion is going on about Sankara and his place in the 'hindu' world, I thought it fit to post a new topic, and find out how Vaishnavas view this saint. That should clear things up, perhaps stop the "fist fight" between certain members of this forum.

Mind you, these are NOT my words or views, I am simply presenting the views of certain acharyas in Vaishnava schools. So don't shoot the messenger!

According to the Vaishnava saint who wrote "Mani Manjari" as well as Madhvacharya's bio, aka Sumadhva Vijaya, Adi Sankara was the incarnation of an asura named Manimantha. For details on why Manimantha took borth as Sankara, visit http://www.dvaita.org/list/list_46/msg00032.html

According to Garuda Purana:

maNimAnnAma daityastu shaN^karAkhyo bhaviShyati |
sarveShAM saN^karaM yastu kariShyati na saMshayaH ||
tena shaN^karanAmA.asau bhaviShyati khageshvara |
dharmAn.h bhAgavatAn.h sarvAn.h vinashyati sarvathA ||

A Demon by name maNimAn will come into being as Shankara, who will,
no doubt, pollute everything. This is why, O King of birds (Garuda), his
name will be Shankara; he will pollute and destroy all BhAgavata Dharmas.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Again, these are NOT my views, just letting people know that most Vaishnavas have a negative view of Sankara.

Regards,
Suresh

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 25 replies

bhakti yoga practice for beginner

Sky — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:43:47 GMT

Blessings to All!
I have been a yoga practitioner for several years now and would like to incorporate some bhakti yoga into my practice. I have a heavy emphasis on hatha and ashtanga yoga with a recent departure into kundalini yoga. Are there any recommended practices which I could worn into my sadhana?

Namaste, Sat Nam.
Sky

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 7 replies

Ashwathama Alive ??????

indiabazaar — Sun, 03 Jul 2005 16:45:49 GMT

If you belive on hinduisam and krishna you must belive on Mahabharat.. according mahabharat ashwatham could not die..
so what do you think about Ashwathama is he alive...
some where i read long before.. in desert of Rajasthan Army saw many times.. the old old person walking far in Desert according mahabharat krishna took off his mani from head so as he will always alive on earth and bleeding on his head..... it was his punishment of using Bhramastra ... so is he alive on earth and some where in desert of Rajasthan...what do you think

Ajay

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 8 replies

Certificate Yoga Training - Malav, Gujarat State, India - Ashram of Swami Rajarshi Muni

Dennis — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:41:41 GMT

An International tuition free Certificate 3 week Yoga Training Program is being offered at Malav Ashram, Gujarat State, India
from January 31 - February 20, 2008. The only Charge is Board & Room for the 3 week event of $1200. See www.lifemission.org
or e-mail Dennis (Sandip Kumar) for further details: denlor2@telus.net

Malav Ashram is where Swami Kripalvanandji (Bapuji) did his sadhana before moving to Kayvarohan on Dadaji's (Lord Lakulish's) instructions.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Bay Area Hindus Celebrate Vijaya Dasami with Community Service

Naveen108 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:58:33 GMT

NAMASTE

Bay Area Hindus Celebrate Vijaya Dasami with Community Service

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, November 15, 2007: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh organized this year's Vijayadashami celebrations in the Bay Area at the Sunnyvale Hindu temple on October 27. All nine Bay Area chapters of HSS from San Ramon to Fremont and from San Jose to San Bruno enthusiastically participated. This year's event was attended by more than 500 people.

In keeping with the tradition of Hindu Dharma, in which it is said that serving humanity and especially those in need is the real service to God, HSS organized with American Red Cross a blood donation drive. The response from the community was so overwhelming, thanks to the weeks of hard work put in by HSS volunteers with ample support from Red Cross, that forty units of blood were collected during the five hours. Many eligible volunteers had to return home without donating as the Red Cross had reached their capacity. Sunnyvale mayor, Mr. Otto Lee, visited the site and was very happy to see such a turnout for blood drive, and commended the commitment of HSS to the society.

www.hssus.org

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 1 reply

Texas Students Celebrate Diwali

Naveen108 — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:42:19 GMT

NAMASTE

Texas Students Celebrate Diwali

The students in the University of Texas chapter of the Hindu Students Council celebrated Diwali this year with a bang. On November 9, students gathered at the base of the University of Texas tower to participate in a Lakshmi Pooja, sing bhajans and watch a fireworks show. Diwali is put on by the Hindu Students Council every year and is always a success, but organizers were impressed with the large turnout this year. Over 500 students of all faiths turned out to express support of the university Hindu community. The event started at 5:30 PM with a Rangoli contest and a Diya Decorating contest. At 6:30 PM, Acharyaji Soneraro from the Arya Samaj of Greater Houston began the Lakshmi Havan puja. The Acharya, at the request of the Hindu Students Council, explained the complex puja in English to the polyglot participants and included them in the havan rituals. Following the puja, participants listened to bhajans and then performed aarti to the images of the Ashta Lakshmi. All participants were given a chance to perform the Aarti and to partake in the Prasad. At 9:00 PM, a spectacular fireworks show commenced over the tower.

This event was completely organized by students in the Hindu Students Council, one of the largest Indian groups on campus. It serves as a forum for discussion and socializing between the approximately 1,500 Hindu students on campus.

studentorgs.utexas.edu

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Trinidad Hindus Celebrate Kaatik-ke-Nahaan on November 18

Naveen108 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:11:55 GMT

NAMASTE

Trinidad Hindus Celebrate Kaatik-ke-Nahaan on November 18

Paras Ramoutar

TRINIDAD, November 11, 2007: Hindus will finally complete two months of fasting and penance on Kaatik-ke-Nahaan November 18, as a signal that this auspicious and spiritually-charged period comes to an end. Thousands of Hindus, mainly women, will converge at several beaches and rivers to celebrate the annual festival of Kaatik-ke-Nahaan.

Main areas of focus will be Manzanilla and Mayaro beaches, which have become the Khumba Mela for this very auspicious Hindu religious observance over the years. Kaatik is a full month of celebration which falls in October/November and coincides with Divali, the Festival of Lights.

Several mandirs and other religious groups will perform Ganga Puja and make offerings to the ocean and recite special mantras in honour of Ganga Mata, the Mother of the Ocean.

Among the many mandirs and religious groups participating in the celebrations are: Edinburgh Hindu Temple led by Pundit Ramesh Tiwari; mandirs from Caparo, Felicity, Penal, Chaguanas, Cunupia, Sangre Grande, Longdenville, Princes Town, Debe, Tunapuna and Couva.

Boodram and Kamla Ramoutar will host the Edinburgh Hindu Temple's celebration at their beach resort, (entrance is the road opposite the Mayaro Composite School). There will be music, songs and dances, and the public is invited to attend. Pundit Tiwari will perform special puja at Mayaro Beach to mark the occasion.

According to Hindu astrology, the correct name is Kaartik Poornima Snaari. Hindus believe taking a bath in the Holy River of the Ganges is considered sacred since the Goddess Ganga is personified with this river, according to Pundit Tiwari.

"A dip in this river on the Kaatik fulll moon day is believed to be especially important as this cleanses the bather of all impurities and frees him from the three types of fear in the world:daihik or physical, daivic or natural, and bhautic or non-physical.

"Fasting as a religious vow and observance is the best form of austerity for the masses and householders as they help in developing the spiritual side of the aspirant. It has been a time-honoured religious practice since the hoary past," Pundit Munesh remarked.

"Kaatik observance is a medium for prayer and devotion, and it fosters charity and contemplation, and it is a natural vehicle for spiritual growth, purification and self-control," Pu ndit Vishnu Deonarine pointed out.

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Jagannath Shrines in Orissa Renovated

Naveen108 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:57:56 GMT

NAMASTE

Jagannath Shrines in Orissa Renovated

KENDRAPARA, ORISSA, INDIA, November 10, 2007: A number of shrines of Lord Jagannath in Orissa, languishing after surviving the onslaught of medieval Muslim invaders, are poised to get a facelift. The Puri Jagannath temple administration, as a part of its plan to preserve and enlarge the sphere of Jagannath spiritual lineage and its heritage, has embarked upon the project, deputy administrator of the temple Bhaskar Mishra said. As many as 35 Jagannath shrines including a 400-year-old temple in Kendrapara district's Indupur village are being covered under the plan to propagate the spiritual lineage, he said. The temples being taken up for maintenance owed historical linkage to Lord Jagannath at Puri. Moreover, these places of worship withstood the marauding 16th century Muslim invaders, he added.

"Some of these temples had turned protectors as the Deities of Lords in Puri temple were relocated to these places for safety," Bhaskar said adding a team of researchers have identified seven Jagannath temples across Khurda, Cuttack, Puri and Bolangir districts where Puri deities were safely ensconced during the invasion. Stone cut inscriptions and palm-leaf scripts retrieved from these places bear testimony to these facts, he said adding there are other temples like the one at Indupur where the stone citadel of Puri deities was relocated. The aim is to interlink the rest of Jagannath Peethas with Puri, while plan is afoot to maintain uniformity in puja rituals and religious practices adhered to in the Jagannath temples, he said.

www.hinduonnet.com

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Ohio Hindus Celebrate Diwali

Naveen108 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:48:07 GMT

NANASTE

Ohio Hindus Celebrate Diwali

BRUNSWICK, OHIO, November 12, 2007: Bowls of curry and heaps of rice. Gourds decorated like ducks and watermelon halves dressed up as boats. Mountains of cookies and stacks of flat bread and a gingerbread house with a flashing-light Deity inside. This is how the Swaminarayan Temple celebrates Diwali. "It's the Hindu New Year, the beginning of the year for Hindus throughout the world," said Ashok Patel, addressing hundreds of devotees gathered to celebrate the festival of light. "This is our way of saying thank you. . . . Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping our plates full."

In India, the traditional holiday stretches more than a week and includes cleaning house, paying off debts, worshipping the Goddess of wealth and honoring brothers and sisters. There, they close school, spread colored powder in designs on the floor, exchange food with neighbors, give money to children, string bright lights and marvel at fireworks. Here, in their adopted country, the Hindu festival is gaining attention. But the celebration is more low-key, squeezed into a weekend at the temple.

"It's very important," said Usha Patel of Erie, Pa., who like many of the temple's unrelated members shares the common surname. "It's like your Thanksgiving and Christmas."

Inside the Swaminarayan Temple, women in brightly colored saris and men in shirts and slacks sit separately - cross-legged and barefoot, chanting and clapping and hailing God. About a dozen men and women hold silver plates with candles, circling them in the air, infusing God's divinity into the flame.

And before them, like some fantastic dream, beneath colored lights and a fuchsia backdrop, is the annukut -- the offering of food to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the central figure of the Swaminarayan faith of Hinduism. Through an afternoon of prayer sessions, the food is sanctified. And at the end of the day, after a Sunday service, the devotees feast.

About 60 women cooked and baked the more than 500 delicacies, all vegetarian, all without eggs, to comply with the sect's dietary guidelines. There were time-honored treats of ladu and barfi, as well as chocolate-chip cookies, pizza and quesadillas.

"I cook what I like to eat because today's the day I get to cook for God," said Swati Patel, 43, of Strongsville, who brought eggplant, rice pudding, fried potato chips and a milkshake.

The array is sort of symbolic, agreed Sneha Patel, 25, of Strongsville. Indian and American. Traditional and new. "God eats what we eat," she said. "It's fun. This is our party."

www.cleveland.com

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

is love same as a never-ending experiment

tarunark — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:43:11 GMT

love: is what some may call devotion, bhakti

never-ending: becasue, it never started and is 'anadi' ....without a beggining or an end.

exprimental: because.... the act of experiencing love constantly evolves into some new, with every breath.

as i learn more, i understand that there is one more way of loving you.

n i love it:)

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

What is the best Bhakti/Vaisnava forum?

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:55:52 GMT

Since I don't know so well the forums of Tribe and who's who actively within each one I just wanted to ask this.
Requesting that anyone who knows point me to the most active tribe especially consisting of members of Vaisnavism, Gaudia Vaisnavism & Prabhupadism.
I have a number of questions regarding spirituality, theism and especially these Vaisnava schools, but would like to get response and discussion from the most intelligent and authoritative active practitioners of these schools. So to put it simply, where do they hang out? And if not Tribe where is the best online open forum to get the ear of these devotees?
Otherwise perhaps I'll just post the same questions in a number of the most active looking tribes.
Thanks.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 6 replies

Happy Diwali

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 03:00:56 GMT

May divine blessings shine upon you and may you know peace and happiness in the new year. Shubh Diwali!
Om Shonti Om

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 1 reply

Bhakti beyond Vaishnavism

kalkin — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:48:21 GMT

Okay, instead of talking in circles with Machanchor and Manu I've decided to do something constructive, getting back to the original point, by demonstrating the rich Bhakti tradition that runs throughout Hinduism as an essential part of most schools (contrary to the statements made by Manu and Sacred River in the 'Do you believe in Eternal Damnation' topic'). Sorry that their shenanigans made me become an annoying ass!

I've already stared a thread about the Shavia Bhakta's called the Nayanmars http://bhaktiyoga.tribe.net/thread/f100e785-7e66-453f-959b-7d3beba233f2 which I'll add to periodically. I'll start here with a statement on Bhakti Yoga from the oldest and most respected Hindu group in the west, the Vedanta Society started by the great Saint Sri Ramakrishna's successor Swami Vivekananda (both of which are bhaktas of Kali Mata), taken from the excellent site of The Vedanta Society of Southern California http://www.vedanta.org/ :

The Path of Love: Bhakti Yoga

For those more emotional than intellectual, bhakti yoga is recommended. Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion, the method of attaining God through love and the loving recollection of God. Most religions emphasize this spiritual path because it is the most natural. As with other yogas, the goal of the bhakta, the devotee of God, is to attain God-realization—oneness with the Divine. The bhakta attains this through the force of love, that most powerful and irresistible of emotions.

Love is accessible to everyone: we all love someone or something, frequently with great intensity. Love makes us forget ourselves, our whole attention being devoted to the object of our adoration. The ego loosens its grip as we think of our beloved's welfare more than our own. Love gives us concentration: even against our will, we constantly remember the object of our love. In an easy and totally painless way, love creates the preconditions necessary for a fruitful spiritual life.

Vedanta therefore says, Don't squander the power of love. Use this powerful force for God-realization. We must remember that when we love another we are really responding—though unconsciously—to the divinity within him or her. As we read in the Upanishads, "It is not for the sake of the husband that the husband is dear, but for the sake of the Self. It is not for the sake of the wife that the wife is dear, but for the sake of the Self." Our love for others becomes unselfish and motiveless when we are able to encounter divinity in them.

Unfortunately, we usually misplace our love. We project our vision of what's true, perfect, and beautiful and superimpose it upon whomever or whatever we love. It is God alone, however, who is True, Perfect, and Beautiful. Vedanta therefore says: Put the emphasis back where it belongs—on the divine Self within each person that we encounter. That is the real object of our love.

Rather than obsessing on a limited human being, we should think of God with a longing heart. Many spiritual teachers have recommended adopting a particular devotional attitude towards God: thinking of God as our Master or Father or Mother or Friend or Child or Beloved. The determining factor here is, Which attitude feels the most natural to me and which attitude brings me closest to God?

Jesus looked upon God as his Father in Heaven. Ramakrishna worshipped God as Mother. Many great saints have attained perfection through worshipping God as the baby Jesus or the baby Krishna. Many have attained perfection through worshipping Christ as the bridegroom or Krishna as the beloved. Others have attained perfection through worshipping God as their master or friend.

The point to remember is that God is our own, the nearest of the nearest and dearest of the dearest. The more our minds are absorbed in thoughts of Him—or Her as the case may be—the closer we shall be to attaining the goal of human life, God-realization.

Aum! Shanti!

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 6 replies

Do you believe in Eternal Damnation?

Suresh — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 05:01:57 GMT

The concept of Eternal Damnation is very popular in Semitic religions, as well as in the Vaishnava schools within Hinduism. Madhva, the founder of the dvaita school of Vaishnavism, stated in no uncertain terms that certain souls will always be 'demonic' in nature, and will subsequently go to eternal hell, which he called Andha Tamas. There are references to this in many vedic texts, particularly Ishavasya Upanishad and Gita.

The 9th Shloka in Ishavasya....

andham tamah pravisanti ye'vidyamupasate
tato bhuya iva te tamo ya u vidyayam ratah

Those who worship [Visnu or others] with false understanding enter dense, unrelenting darkness; to a greater darkness than that go they, who are merely devoted to the correct understanding (but do not care to criticize incorrect understanding).

Bhagvat Gita 16.20

asurim yonim apanna
mudha janmani janmani
mam aprapyaiva kaunteya
tato yanty adhamam gatim

Attaining repeated birth amongst the species of demoniac life, such persons can never reach Me. Thereafter, they reach the lowest destination.

There are many more references, but you get the picture. Belief in eternal damnation is necessary to be a Vaishnava, but I see most modern Vaishnvas denying this, despite references to eternal hell in scriptures, especially the theistic scriptures they revere.

Suresh

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 116 replies

Great saints and gurus on bhakti

kalkin — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 08:32:20 GMT

"Of all the means to liberation,
devotion is the highest. To seek
earnestly to know one's real nature-
this is said to be devotion."

~Adi Shankaracharya, Viveka Chudamani sloka 31

"The major purpose of bhakti is to quell all desires and get attracted to that Infinite source of Bliss."

~Kanchi Mahaswamigal, discourse on Soundarya Lahiri slokas 5 & 6

"Unalloyed love of God is the essential thing. All else is unreal."

~Sri Ramakrishna

"GOD is to be worshipped as the one beloved, dearer than everything in this and next life."

~Swami Vivekananda

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 21 replies

Measuring, comparing and judging others.

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:58:08 GMT

I'm gonna paste a short transcript of a section of a talk I like alot. He puts the thing very well I think. First, I want to know what you think in general, just loose free flowing response about the whole idea and second, in particular offer some solutions.

------------
You look at your relations with others, in just a very honest way. And you realize that they’re always spoiled by one of three things. Whenever you meet anybody or you spend any time with any of them. You measure and evaluate them instantly, just as a reflex. And you either locate them, as you’re inferior, in some way. You’re equal, which is hard, but in some way. Or, the worst, for a red blooded American (laughter), you’re superior, in some way.

And the minute you do, if you locate them as inferior, you condescend to them, immediately, you kind of little bit, despise them. It sounds harsh, but you do, you don’t account them much, as we say. If you perceive them as you’re superior, in any way, you’re immediately envious. “Well who do they think they are, they got a couple of bucks, or they have a pretty nose, or they have like a diamond earring, or they have a better car, or they live so and so, well I bet they’re not so great. Immediately, envy. And you see them some way equal, then it’s like, how can I elbow them ahead, how can I compete, rivalry and competition, immediately.
True? I’m sorry. We’re trained like that, we’re conditioned like that. The ego habit, not the ego necessarily, but the ego habit makes us do that.

-Robert Thurman

------------

Now the main point I'm looking at here are the 3 ways we habitually and immediately evaluate and categorize others.
I'm superior and you're inferior.
We're equal.
I'm inferior and you're superior.

At least for myself I can see I do exactly as he describes all the time. Often it's just very subtle and hard to notice. But as much as I don't like the habit it just seems to be automatic. And I can tell it really sucks and causes problems. And I really want freedom from this problem.

Here's my observations and thoughts.

These evaluations can be about our self as a whole. Like the way I believe myself to be as a whole is one of these things (superior, equal, inferior) compared to another.
Or it can be about specific qualities.
In the first case it's obviously completely absurd and couldn't possibly be true. (Really I'm not completely superior, equal or inferior to anyone else, but I still get roped into thinking I am)
In the second case it's obviously a fact for any individual quality.
My dad is quite superior at math than I am.
I am quite superior at computer hardware and software stuff than he is, for examples.

Now perhaps it may be dysfunctional to eliminate these quality specific evaluations altogether?
They are a certain component of functional interaction?

Maybe the problem is found in the way we do the first one. Considering a solid absolute 'me' as a whole and then rate and compare that to others?
Maybe the problem is found in this very idea of a 'me'?
'I' am so and so, these are 'my' qualities, and altogether this make 'me' better or worse than 'you'.

So we can have a relative and flexible self that is not a fixed static thing, and not to rate compare and judge it. But how to do this and overcome the habit of believing in a fixed self and comparing and judging it?

Maybe the problem is found in the second set of things he mentioned in the talk. Where we despise, envy or compete with the other person. We can functionally recognize ours and others strengths and weaknesses. The things we are especially skilled in and the things we are ordinary in and the things we are less then capable at. We don't necessarily have to get fancy ideas about these things. We can see the range of qualities and skills of others and our self. But we don't necessarily have to compare and judge, or despise, envy and compete because of it. How to do this?

Despise and Envy are like the opposites of Love & Hate. attraction & aversion, and so on. (not "spiritual" love, but the love we more frequently mean when we say love)

So these are just my thoughts so you can see where I'm coming from.
I'm really just interested in understanding better what it's all about and how can we solve the problems associated with these 3 habitual ways of seeing and dealing with others.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 2 replies

Is Bhakti necessary?

Suresh — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:51:38 GMT

Dear Devotees,

Don't mean to upset anyone, but I am sure most people agree that the highest state to be attained is that of oneness, non-dualism, or what we normally refer to as 'advaita.' Even people claiming to be devotees are of the view that the non-dual state is the highest there is, and that we are all that One Reality, Brahman. That said, bhakti is probably a means to an end, not an end in itself.

As to Advaitins like Sankara praising bhakti, the word has a totally different significance in the advaitic sense. In advaita, devotion simply means devotion to the Self, as this attitude motivates a seeker; that's all. It has nothing to do with the traditional idea of bhakti like singing, chanting, praying to krishna, whatever. This position is more logical than the sentimental bhakti advocated by traditional bhakti schools like Vaisnvas, Harekrishnas etc., because it's commonly observed that man loves himself more than he does anything else.

Vaisnava idea of bhakti isn't entirely logical, because do we normally love a person just because he's got all the good qualities? Probably not, we may feel jealous, perhaps even hate him! That being the case, how is it possible to love god, whether krishna or whoever, just because he's got wonderful qualities? Put simply, what does it matter if god has admirable qualities, how is it going to propel us to love him? So it's evident that love of oneself is the only love there is, and this is exactly what advaita advocates, doing which we'll strive to reach the ultimate state.

Bhakti, therefore, has to be understood in this sense, not as some kind of sentimental activity.

Hope I haven't offended anyone by writing this. Please do discuss this interesting subject matter, as it shakes the very foundation of traditional bhakti.

Suresh

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 24 replies

New Group / Keep the Channel Open

alex — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:04:45 GMT

Haribol! I wanted to invite everyone to check out a new tribe I just started, "Wrestling With God." I choose to focus on the dark side of spirituality with the understanding that once all those dark clouds are cleared the sky's natural radiance will shine forth in full effulgence. Check it out!

http://tribes.tribe.net/wrestlinggod

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

~RADHARANI!

wendy — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:22:06 GMT

Greetings~Please Celebrate Radharani's Appearance date tomorrow~!She is most Loving!!!

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 2 replies

O Truth Eternal...

Bala — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 03:46:21 GMT

O Truth Eternal, mankind is searching for Thee since millions and millions of years....

The ancient sages, renouncing everything, performed endless years of austarities in order to make their self flow into Thy Divine Stream through meditation.

Inaccessible to all, Thy infinitesimal Flame, glowing like the effilgence of the sun, stands still without dancing even in the fiercely blowing cyclone.

Flowers, creepers, shrine rooms and temples with newly installed sacred pillars, all are waiting for Thee since aeons and aeons, but still Thou art inaccessibly distant...

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The Glories of Bhakti

Naveen108 — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:16:56 GMT

NAMASTE

The Glories of Bhakti

By Swami Satyadharma Saraswati

Just as different bhavanas, or relationships, are necessary in this world, so in the path of bhakti, we each have to form our own special relationship with the Lord. Without this divine relationship, there can be no bhakti, no devotion to or meditation on the Lord. Each one of us must look within and decide what our relationship with God may be. Although Paramahamsaji has spoken to us at length about the importance of a living relationship with God, this idea is often superseded by other philosophical concepts which appeal greatly to our intellect. However, the truth is that bhakti will only develop in our day-to-day life when we begin to relate with God at a personal level.

This is the dichotomy that we all experience: we would like to travel the path of bhakti, but we do not relate with God. We relate with everything but God. We relate with people, money, status, job, car, clothes, friends, lovers, events and situations, but we do not have the time or inclination to relate with God. Every relationship, whether important or unimportant, close or distant, takes effort and time to cultivate. If we want to develop a relationship with our husband, wife, child, relative, teacher or friend, we will have to spend time with that person. In order to develop a close and intimate relationship, quality time is required. When we are together, we must open ourselves to that person and communicate all of our innermost thoughts and feelings. We must tell what we have been doing, thinking and feeling. Isn't this what friendship means, what marriage means? So, in the same way we have to develop a relationship with the Divine.

Master-servant relationship
There are many different types of relationships, but Kaka Bhusundi has recommended this relationship: "I am the servant and Lord Rama is my Master." He has suggested this because in a sense it is the most realistic. If we think about God, about the Divine, or even about the Guru, the fact is that He is the Master. We are ignorant, under the influence of limitation, while God is unlimited and all knowing. So, the most practical and honest relationship is that of Master and servant. Again, if we look at our life in the ashram and our relationship with the Guru, we can see that this is how the actual relationship between Guru and disciple develops. This is a relationship between Master and servant. So, when We begin to develop this relationship with the Guru, or with the Divine, we have to learn to serve.

Sometimes developing this relationship can be a difficult process because when we are growing up, especially in modern life, we do not learn to serve. We learn to command or demand, but we do not learn to obey. The Master-servant relationship is a very particular relationship; it requires total obedience. The servant has to do one thing only: to obey the Master. He does not have to say what he likes or dislikes. He does not have to offer his grievances or criticisms; that is not necessary. The only thing he has to offer is service. And when the Master requires no further service from him, he is free to lie down and sleep. He has no worries in that sense, because nothing is his. Everything is the Master's responsibility. The servant simply hears and obeys; that is all.

Service is the lesson, the teaching, and also the path in relation to ashram life, sannyasa life and gurukul or student life. This is what we are really learning all the time that we are in the ashram. But for some of us this is the most tiresome part: listening to an order, being told to do something and just doing it without thinking how we might like to do it or how it could be done better, or that we don't like the person who is giving the order and so on. The Master-servant relationship is formed on these three principles: just doing the work, doing it to the best of our ability, and doing it with a feeling of devotion for the Master. This relationship, according to the teachings of Sage Bhusundi, is the best and easiest means to develop the path of bhakti.

Kaka Bhusundi says further in the same doha: "Blessed are the souls that worship Raghunath, who has the power to make the animate inanimate and the inanimate animate." God alone has the power to create, to give life, and again to destroy, to take life away. We do not have that power, and neither do we concern ourselves with that aspect of life. We worship things which limit us, which take away our power. We care for material prosperity, physical relationships, beautiful places and things. But we do not worship that which creates and destroys all these things. Those who worship the source of life, not just the manifest forms, are blessed because in the end they merge into the source and become the source.

The illumined heart
In the following chopai the sage crow goes on to say: "Now hear about the power of bhakti. Devotion to Rama is an effulgent chintamani." The chintamani is a wish-fulfilling gem which has the power to make whatever we think or wish come true. This quality of the chintamani is the quality of anahata chakra when it is fully awakened. In this sense, devotion to Rama brings about the full awakening of anahata chakra and all the divine qualities within the heart. So, he continues: "This chintamani sheds infinite radiance day and night, requiring neither lamp nor ghee nor wick (to light it). He in whose heart this jewel abides is not affected by the poverty of illusion, nor does the blast of desire ever extinguish this light." This is the glory of bhakti. We do not have to worry about the lamp going out.

Once anahata is awakened, once devotion to God arises within, the heart will be ever illumined. This inner illumination becomes so constant and bright that it can never be diminished or extinguished. The chopai continues, "The overpowering gloom of ignorance is dispelled by this jewel of bhakti, and the swarms of moths (of ego, pride and vanity) keep away, being utterly overcome. Negative propensities like lust, anger and greed dare not approach one in whose heart the gem of bhakti abides."

The bhakta, whose heart is suffused with divine love, is not affected by darkness, delusion or ignorance because wherever the light shines, darkness disappears. Darkness cannot abide in the light, nor can the blast of sensuality or negativity ever extinguish this light. When negative thoughts and feelings arise, they have no influence. So the chopai continues: "For him, poison is changed to nectar and enemies to friends. He is never affected by the terrible mental distress from which all people suffer."

For one who awakens devotion in the heart, the poison of darkness and negativity is changed to nectar and enemies become friends. Let us look at this for a moment. In yoga, when we are able to awaken a particular chakra or psychic centre, then the next centre also opens. So, when we are able to fully illumine anahata, then the energy moves upward of its own accord and opens the next centre, which is vishuddhi. The word vish means 'poison' and Shuddhi means 'to purify'. In vishuddhi the poison is changed to nectar and enemies become friends, because all the sattwic and divine qualities which awaken in anahata such as love, kindness and compassion are expressed through vishuddhi. As we begin to convey these qualities in our life, it will naturally happen that our enemies will leave aside their animosities and quickly become our friends.

This is what happens when the energy of anahata moves upward; vishuddhi awakens and the poison changes to nectar. This nectar is also a very powerful force. It rejuvenates the body and brain, and makes us long lived. It removes all our diseases and makes the whole world our friend. When everybody is our friend, life becomes a very happy affair. ,It is only when we go about making enemies that we feel unhappy. But when everywhere we look we see our friends smiling, life becomes a happy affair.

The jewel of bhakti
So, Kaka Bhusundi says: "Without this jewel of bhakti, no one can find happiness." We all suffer from mental distress because we focus on the negative qualities, aspects or limitations of our self. That negativity may reflect from outside, but the source of it is within. When bhakti awakens, the negativity is dispersed and mental distress is removed. The chopai continues: "He never suffers the least affliction, even in a dream, in whose heart abides the jewel of devotion to Rama. Therefore, they are the wisest of the wise in this world who spare no pains to secure the jewel of bhakti. Although this jewel is manifest in the world, no one can find it without the grace of Rama."

Without the grace of Guru or God, the path of bhakti is not easily discovered. This is why we need to have a relationship with the Guru and with the Divine. We need to have that connection through whom the grace can flow. Without a Guru, without a living connection, it is very difficult to connect with the subtle, with the supreme reality, and receive grace. But through the relationship with the Guru or with the Lord, the grace comes. Kaka Bhusundi says further: "There are easy ways to attain this grace, but luckless souls contemptuously reject them and search for more complex and difficult means." The easy ways to attain grace and to develop bhakti are given in the nine modes of bhakti, the nine ways to develop devotion.

According to the Ramacharitamanas, the nine ways to attain bhakti are as follows: (i) Satsang, (ii) listening to stories about the Divine, (iii) hearing about the qualities of God, (iv) developing vairagya, or non-attachment, for all the worldly roles and associations, (v) becoming attached to Guru, God or the Divine, (vi) becoming selfless, (vii) repeating God's name and remembering God at all times, (viii) imbibing spiritual qualities, (ix) feeling the presence of God everywhere and in everything. When we try to feel the presence of God within us, and to identify our self with those unconditional qualities which are not limited to our ego and individual roles in life, it is easier to find our own path or dharma, whatever that path may be. It becomes easier to see God in that path and to feel ourselves moving towards God through that path.

Then we begin to see the positive nature, the divinity and the essence of God in all beings and things, not just the negative or the limiting aspects. To see the Divine in everyone, to perceive the good and the positive in whatever anyone is trying to do, to be content with whatever we have, with whatever comes our way, without finding fault with it, and finally to surrender the self, the sense of individuality, to God - these are the different ways in which grace comes. With grace, the path of bhakti opens and the divine form, divine qualities and divine powers become one's own. In this way, the bhakta is transformed into the very object of his devotion; the Master and the servant become one. Therefore, Kaka Bhusundi said: "I have in my heart this conviction, that the servant of Rama is greater than Rama himself."

In Love and Light

Pritam

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A Month of Festivities Honoring Lord Krishna has Commenced

Naveen108 — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:11:41 GMT

NAMASTE

www.dailyindia.com

VRINDAVAN, INDIA, August 27, 2007: The month-long festival honoring Lord Krishna and Radha commenced during the month of Shravan in the City of Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh. On September 4th, Lord Krishna's birthday, festivities will reach new heights of devotion with many temples featuring decorated swings. The news release elaborates, "Visitors from different parts of the country and foreign tourists are also flocking to the city located 15 kilometers from Mathura. Small Deities of Krishna and Radha have been placed on swings heavily decorated with flowers and expensive jewelry. Devotees offer prayers and pull swings to display their affection Lord Krishna. Chants of Jai Radhe Jai Krishna' (Hail Radha, Hail Krishna) invoking devotion for the deity reverberate in all temples here. "

Ritesh, a devotee, says, "The swing gives the essence of different aspects of the Krishna's life. I see the swing every year but every year, I get a different feeling, it's really divine."

Jaish Khandelwal, a priest, adds, "We are trying to take out the tradition that has remained restricted within temples, to the people outside, by making them aware of our customs. We will take cue from old timers who have witnessed the festival celebrated in its original fervour. We want the new generation to be aware of it."

In Love and light

Pritam

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Everyone In The World

Bala — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:13:30 GMT

Everyone in the world should sleep without fear,
at least for one night, sleep without fear.

Everyone in the world should eat to their fill,
at least for one day, eat to their fill.

There should be one day when there is no violence,
no one is injured, no one is harmed.

All people young and old should serve the poor
and needy, at least for one day serve selflessly.

This is my dream... this is my prayer.
Love is the answer, love is the way.
Love is the answer, love is the way.

~Mata Amritanandamayi

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Kirtan @ Yoga For Peace Day - Edgewood Park New Haven CT 9/8/07

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:53:35 GMT

Kirtan @ Yoga For Peace Day - Edgewood Park New Haven CT 9/8/07

Dear Friends -

A reminder that this Saturday, September 8 is Yoga for Peace day at Edgewood Park in New Haven CT. People will gather to do yoga for 2 hours with the intention of increasing peace within and without. Registration is 11 to noon. Yoga is from noon to 2.

Kirtan chanting will be happening throughout the yoga practice. Please join me if you can to chant. Bhakti yoga masters say that when people chant together the power of the mantra is multipled by a hundred for each one chanting! So let's chant together for peace.

The gazebo at Edgewood Park is where this will be happening. The gazebo is near the intersection of West Rock Avenue and Whalley Avenue. I hope to see you there.

There is a small fee if you are doing the asanas. I don't believe there is a fee if you are there just to chant. For more information on Yoga for Peace Day visit their site at:

http://www.yoga-for-peace.org/

Please do not register for this event via the online registration through the site. Registration will be in person and start at 11am.

Blessings -

Jacq

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The New Krishna.com

NityanandaRam — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:10:22 GMT

The New Krishna.com

After almost two years in the making, we bring to you the new Krishna.com upgrade.

We listened to many of your suggestions about how to make Krishna.com better, and we want to show you the result.

The website all about Krishna will be reborn on Janmastami, the auspicious day of Sri Krishna’s appearance, on September 4th, bringing you your favorite devotional service in action.

And you can get a sneak preview right here. http://208.122.24.198/

You’ll be seeing the BETA version, which means that it’s still under construction and subject to change, but it’ll be a glimpse of what’s to come. Here’s what to expect:

* Do you prefer reading, listening, or watching? Our new action-oriented menus let you decide what Krishna conscious activity you’d like to absorb yourself in next.
* Take the Krishna.com experience to the next level with Connect and Experience. Create profiles. Associate with like-minded people from a worldwide spiritual community. Find out where to further your Krishna conscious education and what holy places to visit. Your Krishna conscious life is waiting.
* Where’s my beloved old Krishna.com? Don’t worry! We’ve maintained all our original content, and everything will still look familiar. You’ll feel right at home. We have even begun a series of “How-to" videos” to help you make the most of the new Krishna.com
* The new Krishna.com is easier to navigate and find what you’re interested in. Want more videos, more music, more Krishna conscious association, and more fresh spiritual content? Drop by and visit us!

Please let us know what you think about the new Krishna.com, and if you find anything that’s not working as it should be, so that we can give you the very best Krishna experience possible. Email us at krishna.combeta@gmail.com.

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Madhvacharyas refutations of Mayavada advaita impersonalistic philophy

NityanandaRam — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 03:05:51 GMT

common sence stuff

Text 6
The Mayavadi commentator on the Vedanta claimed that the words tat tvam asi are the maha-vakya, the most important statement in the Vedas. According to this explanation, tat means "the Supreme," tvam means "you," and asi means "are." He interpreted the phrase to mean "you are the Supreme" and he claimed that there is no difference between the Supreme and the individual spirit souls.
The Vaisnava commentator on Vedanta interpreted these words in a different way, saying that tat-tvam is a possessive compound word (sasthi-tatpurusa-samasa). According to his explanation, tat means "of the Supreme," and the entire phrase means "you are the servant of the Supreme." In this way the proper meaning of the scriptural statement is clearly shown.

Text 7
O friend, the Supreme is all-knowing and He sees everything. From Him, this entire astonishing and variegated material cosmos has emanated. He creates, maintains, and destroys the entire universe by slightly moving His eyebrow. O friend, you are not like Him. You are ignorant of so many things and your vision is limited, although you wish to see everything. The Supreme is full of all opulences, and He is the ultimate witness who observes everyone. O friend, the individual living entities are numerous, but the Supreme is one only. You are stunted and impure by material contact, but He remains always pure and free from the touch of matter. O friend, your nature is completely different from His in these ways.
Text 8
The objection may be raised: "The Vedas say brahmaham asmi ('I am Brahman'). The word brahman is certainly in the nominative case (prathama vibhakti). You cannot say it is possessive (sasthi) and thus change the meaning. How is it that you have foolishly interpreted tat tvam asi as a possessive compound (sasthi-tatpurusa-samasa)? How can you avoid interpreting the quote api ca so yam devadattah ('O Devadatta, you are that') in the nominative (prathama) and try to make it genitive (sasthi)?"
To this I reply: "When the scriptures explain that the individual spirit soul is Brahman, the proper understanding is that the individual souls are like tiny sparks that have emanated from the great fire of the Supreme Brahman. As far as the possessive compound (sasthi-tatpurusa) interpretation of tat tvam asi: you may not like it, but it is certainly grammatically sound. Why do you not accept it?"

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DEFINITION OF BHAKTI

Naveen108 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:27:55 GMT

JAI MA

DEFINITION OF BHAKTI

BHAKTI-YOGA is a real, genuine search after the Lord, a search beginning, continuing, and ending in love. One single moment of the madness of extreme love of God brings us eternal freedom. "Bhakti is intense love of God," says Narada in his bhakti aphorisms. "When a man gets it he loves all, hates none; he becomes satisfied for ever." "This love cannot be reduced to any earthly benefit"-because so long as worldly desires last that kind of love does not arise. "Bhakti is greater than karma, greater than jnana, and greater than yoga," because these have in view the attainment' of an object, while bhakti is its own fruition, "its own means, and its own end."

Bhakti has been the one constant theme of our sages. Apart from the special writers on bhakti such as Sandilya or Narada, the great commentators on the Vyasa Sutras, evident advocates of jnana, have also something very suggestive to say about love. Even when those commentators are anxious to explain many, if not all, of the texts so as to make them impart a sort of dry knowledge, the sutras, in the chapter on worship especially, do not lend themselves to be easily manipulated in that fashion.

There is not really so much difference between jnana and bhakti as people sometimes imagine. We shall see, as we go on, that in the end they converge and finally meet in the same point. So also is it with raja-yoga, which, when pursued as a means to attain liberation and not (as unfortunately it has frequently become in the hands of charlatans and mystery-mongers) as an instrument to hoodwink the unwary, leads us to the same goal.

The one great advantage of bhakti is that it is the easiest and the most natural way to reach the great divine end in view. Its great disadvantage is that in its lower forms it oftentimes degenerates into hideous fanaticism. The fanatical crew in Hinduism or Mohammedanism or Christianity have always been almost exclusively recruited from these worshippers on the lower planes of bhakti. That singleness of attachment (nishtha) to a loved object, without which no genuine love can grow, is very often also the cause of the denunciation of everything else. All the weak and undeveloped minds in every religion or country have only one way of loving their own ideal, and that is to hate every other ideal. Herein is the explanation of why the same man who is so lovingly attached to his own ideal of God, so devoted to his own ideal of religion, becomes a howling fanatic as soon as he sees or hears anything of any other ideal. This kind of love is somewhat like the canine instinct of guarding the master's property from intruders; only the instinct of the dog is better than the reason of man, for the dog never mistakes its master for an enemy, in whatever dress he may come before it. Again, the fanatic loses all power of judgement. Personal considerations are in his case of such absorbing interest that to him it is no question at all of what a man says-whether it is right or wrong; but the one thing he is always particularly careful to know is, who says it. The same man who is kind, good, honest, and loving to people of his own opinion will not hesitate to do the vilest deeds against persons beyond the pale of his own religious brotherhood.

But this danger exists only in that stage of bhakti which is called the gauni or preparatory stage. When bhakti has become ripe and has passed into that form which is called the para or supreme, no more is there any fear of these hideous manifestations of fanaticism. That soul which is overpowered by this higher form of bhakti is too near the God of Love to become an instrument for the diffusion of hatred.

It is not given to all of us to be harmonious in the building up of our characters in this life; yet we know that that character is of the noblest type in which all these three-knowledge and love and raja-yoga-are harmoniously fused. Three things are necessary for a bird to fly: the two wings, and the tail as a rudder for steering. jnana is the one wing, bhakti is the other, and raja-yoga is the tail that maintains the balance. For those who cannot pursue all these three forms of worship together in harmony, and take up, therefore, bhakti alone as their way, it is necessary always to remember that forms and ceremonials, though absolutely necessary for the progressing soul, have no other value than to lead us on to that state in which we feel the most intense love of God.

There is a little difference in opinion between the teachers of knowledge and those of love, though both admit the power of bhakti. The jnanis hold bhakti to be an instrument of liberation; the bhaktas look upon it as both the instrument and the thing to be attained. To my mind this is a distinction without much difference. In fact, bhakti, when used as an instrument really means a lower form of worship; and when this lower form is further cultivated it becomes inseparable from the higher form of bhakti. Each seems to lay great stress upon his own peculiar method of discipline, forgetting that with perfect love true knowledge is bound to come unsought, and that, at the end, true love is inseparable from perfect knowledge.

Bearing this in mind, let us try to understand what the great Vedantic commentators have to say on the subject. In explaining an aphorism of the Vedanta Sutras, Sankara says: "Thus people say, 'He is devoted to the king' or 'He is devoted to the guru.' They say this of him who follows his king or his guru, and does so, having that following as the one end in view. Similarly they say, 'The loving wife meditates on her loving husband away in a foreign land.' Here also a kind of eager and continuous remembrance is meant." This is devotion according to Sankara

Bhagavan Ramanuja, in his commentary on the first aphorism of the Vedanta Sutras, says:

"Meditation, again, is a constant remembrance [of the thing meditated upon], flowing like an unbroken stream of oil poured from one vessel to another. When this kind of remembering has been attained [in relation to God], all bondages break, Thus it is said in the scriptures regarding constant remembering as a means to liberation. This remembering, again, is of the same form as seeing, because it has the same meaning, as in the passage: 'When He who is far and near is seen, the bonds of the heart are broken, all doubts vanish, and all effects of work disappear. He who is near can be seen, but he who is far can only be remembered. Nevertheless the scriptures say that we have to see Him who is near as well as far, thereby indicating to us that the above kind of remembering is as good as seeing. This remembrance, when exalted, assumes the same form as seeing. . . . Worship is constant remembering, as may be seen from the principal texts of the scriptures. Knowing, which is the same as repeated worship, has been described as constant remembering. . . . Thus the memory which has attained to the height of what is as good as direct perception is spoken of in the Sruti as a means of liberation. 'This Atman is not to be reached through various sciences, nor by intellect, nor by much study of the Vedas. Whomsoever this Atman desires-by him is Atman attained; unto him Atman reveals Itself.' Here, after saying that mere hearing, thinking, and meditating are not the means of attaining this Atman, the Sruti says: 'Whomsoever this Atman desires-by him is Atman attained.' The extremely beloved is desired. He by whom this Atman is extremely beloved becomes the most beloved of the Atman. So that this beloved may attain the Atman, the Lord Himself helps. For it has been said by the Lord: 'Those who are constantly attached to Me and worship Me with love-I give that direction to their will by which they come to Me.' Therefore it is said that he to whom this remembering, which is of the same nature as direct perception, is very dear, because it is dear to the object of such memory perception-he is desired by the Supreme Atman and by him the Supreme Atman is attained. This constant remembrance is denoted by the word bhakti.

In commenting on the sutra of Patanjali, "Or by the worship of the Supreme Lord," Bhoja says: "Pranidhana ('worship') is that sort of bhakti in which, without one's seeking results, such as sense enjoyments and so forth, all works are dedicated to the Lord, who is the Teacher of teachers." Bhagavan Vyasa also, when commenting on the same sutra, defines pranidhana as "the form of bhakti by which the mercy of the Supreme Lord comes to the yogi and blesses him by granting him his desires." According to Sandilya "bhakti is intense love of God." The best idea of bhakti, however, is given by the king of bhaktas, Prahlada: "May that intense and deathless love which ignorant people have for the fleeting objects of the senses not slip away from my heart as I keep meditating on Thee!"

Love for whom? For the Supreme Lord Isvara. Love for any other being, however great, cannot be bhakti; for, as Ramanuja says in his Sri Bhashya, quoting an ancient acharya, or great teacher: "From Brahma to a clump of grass, all things that live in the world are slaves of birth and death caused by karma; therefore they cannot be helpful as objects of meditation, because they are all in ignorance and subject to change." In commenting on the word anurakti used by Sandilya, the commentator Svapnesvara says that it means anu, after, and rakti, attachment; that is to say, the attachment which comes after the knowledge of the nature and glory of God -else a blind attachment to anyone, such as wife or children, would be bhakti. We plainly see, therefore, that bhakti is a series or succession of mental efforts at religious realization, beginning with ordinary worship and ending in a supreme intensity of love for Isvara

Parts taken from talks on Bhakti by Swami Vivekananda
and from my studies in bhakti .

In Love and Light

Pritam

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USA Kumbha Mela Set for September 9 in California

Naveen108 — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:08:34 GMT

NAMASTE

USA Kumbha Mela Set for September 9 in California
www.usakumbhamela.net

NORWALK, CALIFORNIA, August 17, 2007: The Kumbha Mela USA this year will be held on Sunday, September 9, in Norwalk, CA, followed by a peace prayer on September 11, continuing in the tradition of the first ever Kumbha Mela in the United States held in 2006. This festival is based on the rich Vedic tradition which heralds in collective positive thinking and celebration to bring about global peace.

The Virat Hindu Samaj welcomes all organizations to be a part of this grand celebration. With at least 100 Spiritual Masters and their organizations, ashrams and temples expected to participate in the festivities; the Mela will infuse tremendous positivity to the entire globe and contribute in no small measure to World Peace.

In Love and Light

Pritam

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Huge Kitchen of Puri's Famed Jagannath Temple Can Prepare Food for 100,000 in an Hour

Naveen108 — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 01:27:09 GMT

NAMASTE

This holds what is the true spirit in my view what true Bhakti is.The famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, Orissa has become known for its large kitchen that has the capacity to accomodate the making of mega offerings. The news release explains, "Around 500 cooks and 300 helping hands prepare 56 different offerings known as Mahaprasad or Abhada for Lord Jagannath, which are served to the deity six times a day. The kitchen has 32 rooms, 752 stoves and nine earthen pots. The meals include seven different types of rice, four types of pulses, nine types of vegetables and different items of sweet dishes. Fine molasses, instead of sugar is used for preparing sweet dishes. But potatoes, tomatoes and cauliflower are not used in the temple." Balbhadra Mahapatra, a servitor at the kitchen says, "You will never see it in any part of India. In one hour, food for one hundred thousand devotees can be prepared in the kitchen." Sukadev Mohapatra, another servitor, adds, "It is not written in any book how much rice is to be cooked. Food is cooked for the devotees who come." Radhakrishna Mahasuar, a devotee, sums it up, "This Mahaprasad has great significance because only people who are fortunate can have it. All your work is done and wishes are fulfilled after having it.

In Love and Light

Pritam

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Spiritual Pilgrimage to India

Barbara — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:07:43 GMT

Though there are many yoga retreats where one immerses into the practice of yoga in a beautiful setting, Spirit of India offers a Spiritual India: A Yoga Journey. As spiritual traditions are the fabric of the culture of India, there is no better way to “get into the culture” than to visit its sacred sites. The emphasis of the journey is on spiritual practice as an inherent aspect of daily life in India. There are opportunities to practice physical yoga as well as engage in meditation, chanting, dharma talks and other traditional rituals throughout the journey as we learn about the histories and philosophies of Sikhs, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Jains. The next one coming up is Oct 9-29. It is such a special journey for a specific community of people, I wonder how to get the word out to those who would be interested. Is anyone in this tribe able/wiling/interested in helping ?

Namasté
Barbara

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8-18 Himalayan Fest: Kathak dance & Tabla, Carnatic Flute and more

Hannah — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 03:54:22 GMT

Don't miss the 2nd West Marin Himalayan Festival at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center on Saturday August 18th from 11-5pm,

Performances include Vandhana Dance Company will perform North Indian Kathak dance featuring Megan Black who trained under Smt. Kumudini Lakhia, one of the foremost Kathak exponents in India today. Michael Davis, who has been seen on All India Television and at the Center for World Music in Madras, will perform Carnatic bamboo flute, a South Indian tradition accompanied by Douglas Vurek, who studied with South Indian percussion legend Palghat Mani Iyer on mridangam. traditional Tibetan music and dance from the children’s performance group of the Tibetan Association of Northern California who are saving these traditions for the coming generations.

Additional talent:
Seen on ABC’s “Profiles in Excellence” last year Tsering Wangmo, a co-founder of Chaksam-Pa, the world’s premiere musical group preserving Tibetan culture, is one of only 60 masters of the Tibetan performance arts. She was among those selected to study in the Tibetan Music, Dance and Drama Society founded in Dharamsala, India in 1959 by the Dalai Lama in response to China’s occupation of Tibet and use of Tibetan storytelling and operas to spread propaganda. Wangmo has performed around the world and with notables including David Bowie, Laurie Anderson, Ray Davies (the Kinks), Ziggy Marley and Phillip Glass. To view the ABC profile please go to: video.google.com/videoplay <video.google.com/videoplay

Ang Tsherin Sherpa, a renowned third generation Thangka (sacred banners) painter who has shown in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco twice and whose painting “Green Tara” is owned by actor Richard Gere, will provide an all-day demonstration of this sacred art form with hourly art talks. He has had murals commissioned by Monasteries, has been shown and collected internationally and teaches in Marin and other parts of the Bay Area. He and his father Urgen Dorje are working to preserve the tradition of Thangka painting and plan to open a school to train people of all ages and backgrounds in Thangka painting in Nepal, where Dorje is based. Commenting on his work Sherpa says, ”The strict tradition of Thangka painting teaches one how to view oneself as a channel through which all the deities manifest. There’s room for self-expression in Thangka painting but the actual practice is to eliminate the self clinging to ego.” ¬

The visual arts component of the Festival has expanded substantially with the all-day Thangka demonstration as well as a entire gallery devoted to a show by Fairfax-based Nepali contemporary painter, Sunila Bajracharya. Her work has been collected and shown internationally including at the 10th Asia Biennial Bangladesh, 5th International Art Exhibition at Gallery Dikmayer in Berlin, and as part of a special online exhibition of the International Museum of Women. Attendees will be able to meet Bajracharya at the Festival where she will be on hand to answer questions and discuss her work.

Event attendees are welcome to create their own art in the Prayer Flag making activity. There will also be kid-oriented activities and young children's toys available. There are also 3 playgrounds on our campus outside the event area. Authentic meals, snacks and beverages will be available including mouth-watering traditional handmade Tibetan Momos (dumplings) and more food to be announced. The Festival offers the best of Himalayan vendors who have traveled from up to 2 hours away creating an exciting outdoor shopping experience where unique clothing, jewelry, carpets, art, household items, books and more can be found.

After drawing 400 attendees in it¹s inaugural year, the 2nd West Marin Himalayan Festival expects to draw substantially more to enjoy a dynamic outdoor family-friendly festival in the beautiful San Geronimo Valley
setting on this Saturday, August 18th from 11-5pm. Tickets will be: Adults $8-15 sliding scale; Kids 3 and up $5; Families of 4 plus $25. Coproducers: San Geronimo Valley Community Center & the Himalaya Resource Center. Partial proceeds will benefit Himalayan Organizations of the Bay Area. The other portion will support the Community Center’s programs including the emergency food pantry, teen center, and services for families.

The San Geronimo Valley Community Center is located at 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. 9 miles west of San Rafael in Marin. There is extensive parking in the area and the Community Center is a Stage bus stop. Visit www.sgvcc.org <www.sgvcc.org> <www.sgvcc.org <www.sgvcc.org> > or call 415-488-8888 for more information

Directions: From US 101, take the Central San Rafael Exit and turn West onto 3rd Street. Follow 3rd street west through San Rafael and turn Right onto Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Follow Sir Francis Drake Blvd. through the towns of San Anselmo and Fairfax. We are approximately 5 miles west of Fairfax. Pass
the San Geronimo Valley Golf Course and keep going for another 1/4 mile. Turn into the 1st parking lot on your right. (Look out for the Community Center Marquee). (Under 1 hour from SF, Berkeley; Under 40 minutes from Petaluma, Bolinas.)

Closest Lodgings: Valley Inn (415) 488-0105. Camping: Samuel P. Taylor State Park 415-488-9897. From the east, we are en route to Point Reyes National Seashore.

Also, visit us next weekend for dancing –
Sat Aug 11, 8pm at San Geronimo Valley Community Center
Please join us for a
Conscious Dance Party with The Human Revolution!
Adults $15; Seniors $12; Kids $8.

The Human Revolution serves up “conscious dance music for the people” tackling serious topics in infectiously fun world-beat & Americana tunes. Popular at Earthdance, and known for election year favorite, “Don’t Blame Me, I Voted for Willie Nelson” they‘ve played The Ashland Summer Music Festival & have been called “melodious nourishment for the soul” (Caspar Inn).
Visit www.sgvcc.org <http://www.sgvcc.org> <http://www.sgvcc.org> or call 415-488-8888 for more information

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

May all beings be happy...

Bala — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:23:36 GMT

Kushiyom Ki Bahar

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Niramayah
Sarve Bhadrani Pasyantu
Ma Kaschid Duhka Bhavet

May all beings be happy and without sorrow. May all see only the good that is in everything.
May the season of joy manifest.
May the whole world be filled with peace.
May we become free of (all) desires, so we can come closer to You.

Let everyone be content.
Let divine light be seen in all.
Let love shine in all our hearts.
May we all live in harmony.

May the season of joy manifest.

Let everyone sing... this prayer of hope.... all together as one.

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu~Om
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu...

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Devi Gita on Bhakti Yoga

Naveen108 — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 13:36:08 GMT

NAMASTE

Chapter XXXVII

On Bhakti Yoga

1. The Himâlayâs said:--"O Mother! Now describe your Bhaki Yoga, by which ordinary men who have no dispassion get the knowledge of Brahma easily.

2-10. The Devî said:--"O Chief of Mountains! There are three paths, widely known, leading to the final liberation (Moksa). These are Karma Yoga, Jñâna Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Of these three, Bhakti Yoga is the easiest in all respects; people can do it very well without incurring any suffering to the body, and bringing the mind to a perfect concentration. This Bhakti (devotion) again is of three kinds as the Gunas are three. His Bhakti is Tâmasî who worships Me, to pain others, being filled with vanity and jealousy and anger. That Bhakti is Râjâsic, when one worships Me for one's own welfare and does not intend to do harm to others. He has got some desire or end in view, some fame or to attain some objects of enjoyments and ignorantly, and thinking himself different from Me, worships Me with greatest devotion. Again that Bhakti is Sâttvikî when anybody worships Me to purify his sins, and offers to Me the result of all his Karmas, thinking that Jîva and Îs'vara are separate and knoxing that this action of his is authorized in the Vedas and therefore must be observed. This Sâttvikî Bhakti is different from the Supreme Bhakti as the worshippers

p. 729

think Me separate; but it leads to the Supreme Bhakti. The other two Bhaktis do not lead to Parâ Bhakti (the Supreme Bhakti or the Highest unselfish Love.)

11-20. Now hear attentively about the Parâ Bhakti that I am now describing to you. He who hears always My Glories and recites My Name and whose mind dwells always, like the incessant flow of oil, in Me Who is the receptacle of all auspicious qualities and Gunas. But he has not the least trace of any desire to get the fruits of his Karma; yea he does not want Sâmîpya, Sârsti, Sâyujya, and Sâlokya and other forms of liberations! He becomes filled with devotion for Me alone, worships Me only; knows nothing higher than to serve Me and he does not want final liberation even. He does not like to forsake this idea of Sevya (to he served) and Sevaka (servant who serves). He always meditates on Me with constant vigilance and actuated by a feeling of Supreme Devotion; he does not think himself separate from Me but rather thinks himself "that I am the Bhagavatî." He considers all the Jîvas as Myself and loves Me as he loves himself. He does not make any difference between the Jîvas and myself as he finds the same Chaitanya everywhere and mainfested in all. He does not quarrel with anybody as he has abandoned all ideas about separateness; he bows down, and worships the Chândâlas and all the Jîvas. He who becomes filled with devotion to Me whenever he sees My place, My devotees, and hears the Sâstras, describing My deeds, and whenever he meditates on My Mantras, he becomes filled with the highest love and his hairs stand on their ends out of love to Me and tears of love flow incessantly from both his eyes; he recites My name and My deeds in a voice, choked with feelings of love for Me. [N. B.--The Parâ Prema Bhakti is like the maddening rush of a river to the Ocean; thence in the shape of vapour to the highest; Himâlayân Mountain peaks to be congealed into snow where various plays of bright colours take place.]

21-30. O Lord of the mountains! He worships Me with intense feeling as the Mothee of this Universe and the Cause of all causes. He performs the daily and occasional duties and all My vows and sacrifices without showing any miserly feeling in his expenditure of money. He naturally longs to perform My festivities and to visit places where My Utsabs are held. He sings My name loudly and dances, being intoxicated with My love, and has no idea of egoism and is devoid of his body-idea, thinking that the body is not his. He thinks that whatever is Prârabdha (done in his previoas lives) must come to pass and therefore does not become agitated as to the preservation of his body and soul. This sort of Bhakti is called the Parâ Bhakti or the Highest Devotion. Here the

p. 730

predominent idea is the idea of the Devî and no other idea takes its place. O Mountain! He gets immediately dissolved in My Nature of Consciousness whose heart is really filled with such Parâ Bhakti or All Love. The sages call the limiting stage of this devotion and dispassion as Jñâna (knowledge). When this Jñâna arises, Bhakti and dispassion get their ends satisfied. Yea! He goes then to the Mani Dvîpa, when his Ahamkâra does not crop up by his Prârabdba Karma, though he did not fail to give up his life in devotion. O Mountain! That man enjoys there all the objects of enjoymerits, though unwilling and at the end of the period, gets the knowledge of My Consciousness. By that he attains the Final Liberation for ever. Withqut this Jñâna, the Final Liberation is impossible.

31-33. He realises Para Brahma who gets in this body of his the above Jñâna of the Pratyak Âtmâ in his heart; when his Prâna leaves his body, he does not get re-birth. The S'ruti says:--"He, who knows Brahma, becomes Brahma." In the logic of Kantha, Châmîkara, (gold on the neck) the ignorance vanishes. When this ignorance is destroyed by knowledge, he attains all his knowledge the object to be attained, when he recoginises the gold on his neck.

34-37. O Best of Mountains! This My consciousness is different from the perceived pots, etc., and unperceived Mâyâ. The image of this Paramâtmâ is seen in bodies other than the Âtmâ as the image falls in a mirror; as the image falls in water, so this Paramâtmâ is seen in the Pitrilokas. As the shadow and light are quite distinct, so in My Manidvîpa, the knowledge of oneness without a second arises. That man resides in the Brahma Loka for the period of a Kalpa who leaves his body without attaining Jñâna, though he had his Vaîrâgyam. Then he takes his birth in the family of a pure prosperous family and practising again his Yoya habits, gets My Consciousness.

38-45. O King of Mountains! This Jñâna arises after many births it does not come in one birth; so one should try one's best to get this Jñâna. If, attaining this rare human birth, one does not attain this Jñâna, know that a great calamity has befallen to him. For this human birth is very hard to attain; and then the birth in a Brâhmin family is rarer; moreover amongst the Brâhmins, the knowledge of the Veda (the Consciousness is exceedingly rare.) The attaining of the six qualities (which are considered as six wealth), restraint of passions, etc.; the success in Yoga and the acquisition of a pure real Guru, all these are very hard to be attained in this life. O Mountain! The maturity and the activities of the organs of the senses, and the purification of the body according to the Vedic rites are all very difficult to attain. Know this again that to get a desire for final liberation is acquired by the merits acquired in many births. That man's birth is entirely futile, who attaining all the above qualifications does not try his best to attain this Jñâna, So one should

p. 711

try one's best to acquire the Jñâna. Then, at every moment, he gets the fruits of the As'vamedha sacrifice. There is no doubt in this. As ghee (clarified batter) resides potentially in milk, so the Vijñâna Brahma resides in every body. So make the mind the churning rod and always churn with it. Then, by slow degrees, the knowledge of Brahma will be attained.

Man attains blessedness when he gets this Jñâna; so the Vedânta says: Thus I have described to you in brief, O King of Mountains! all that you wanted to hear. Now what more do you want?

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 1 reply

guidance needed

Amanda — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 03:37:06 GMT

hello friends. sorry for being gone so long. I am having a hard time right now. my grandmother is not long for this world. are there any passages or words of wisdom that you can offer me? especially anything that I could read at her funeral to spread comfort and wisdom to others? much gratitude.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 10 replies

books

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 05:56:33 GMT

I love to read the stories about krishna and all the other deities can you all reccomend some good books with good stories for me to read and then to read to Irie?

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 3 replies

japa mala care

Amanda — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:42:49 GMT

Hi there! I am the new owner of a Bodhi seed 108 bead mala and I love it. I just had some general questions:

1) what is a good mantra for this type of bead? I've just been using "om" which works fine for me.
2) what are some general rules for wearing the mala? I know which wrist to wear it on and where to store it, but when are appropriate times to wear and not wear it?
3) how do I clean my mala and how often?

peace be with you. many thanks!

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 32 replies

chanting japa

Wed, 23 May 2007 05:27:07 GMT

so I chant a lot, pretty much all the time when I am doing chores, hiking or just about anything, but I find it difficult to have one hand on the mala because I have a little one, and also a lot of things to do, if I wear the mala does this have the same effect or does actually touching it do something, should I try to do at least one round a day? What is a good balance?

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 20 replies

why no eggs

Thu, 31 May 2007 06:58:36 GMT

well that is it why no eggs?

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 2 replies

God and His Name are One

Narayan — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:18:57 GMT

SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 23 MAY
GOD AND HIS NAME ARE ONE

What a lot of joy the repetition of His name brings! What a lot of
power it infuses into man! How it changes the human nature
marvellously! How it exalts a man to the status of divinity! How it
destroys old sins, vasanas (tendencies), sankalpas (thoughts),
whims, fancies, depressing moods, sex-impulses, and various
samskaras (psychological impressions)!

How sweet is God's name! What a tremendous power it possesses! How
it transforms quickly the asuric (diabolical) nature into satvic
(divine) nature! How it brings you face to face with the Lord and
makes you realise your oneness with him (para bhakti - supreme
love)!

The name of God, chanted correctly or incorrectly, knowingly or
unknowingly, carefully or carelessly, is sure to give the desired
result. Every name is filled with countless potencies (saktis). Its
glory is indescribable. The efficacy and inherent sakti of the name
of God is unfathomable.

Just as fire has the natural property of burning inflammable things,
so also the name of God has the power of burning sins, samskaras and
vasanas and bestowing eternal bliss and everlasting peace on those
who repeat it. Just as burning quality is natural to and inherent in
fire, so also the power of destroying sins with their very root and
branch, and bringing the aspirant into blissful union with the Lord
through bhava-samadhi (culmination of devotion) is natural to and
inherent in the name of God.

O man! Take refuge in the name. Nami (God) and Nama (name) are
inseparable. Sing the Lord's name incessantly. Remember the name of
the Lord with every incoming and outgoing breath. In this present
age japa (repetition of God's name) is the easiest, quickest, safest
and surest way to reach God and attain immortality and perennial
joy. Glory to the Lord! Glory to his name!

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

The spiritual meaning of your life challenges

Fri, 18 May 2007 22:52:28 GMT

If the moderators will kindly permit a new book announcement, I would like to tell people about a spirituality book I’ve written and recently published that may be of interest and service.

Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth? explores the premise that we are all eternal souls who plan our lives, including our greatest challenges, before we’re born for purposes of spiritual growth.

The book contains ten true stories of people who planned physical illness, having handicapped children, deafness, blindness, drug addiction, alcoholism, losing a loved one, and severe accidents.

The information about their pre-birth plans was obtained by four very gifted mediums and channels, including one who has the ability both to see and to hear the conversations we have with one another before we’re born. The book therefore contains the actual conversations people had with their future parents, children, spouses, friends, and other loved ones when they planned these challenges.

As readers come to understand that they themselves planned many of their challenges, suffering that once seemed purposeless becomes imbued with deep meaning. Wisdom may be acquired in a more conscious manner; feelings of anger, guilt, blame, and victimization are replaced by acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace.

A free PDF with a large sample of the book is available on the About the Book page at www.CourageousSouls.com. People may also wish to read the reviews on Amazon.

The book may be ordered on the Courageous Souls web site or from Amazon, including Amazon Canada, UK, France, Germany, and Japan. It may also be ordered from any bookstore or library (in most countries) by providing them with the ISBN number (9780977679454).

Thank you for permitting me to post this message.

Kind regards,
Robert Schwartz
author, Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?
www.CourageousSouls.com

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

one akshra mantra

Amit — Fri, 18 May 2007 04:29:24 GMT

hello member
i am new to this group and thanks for starting and maintaining such a good tribe.. kindly let me know if any body know the one akshra mantra for lord Hanuman ji..

Amit puri

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 1 reply

Pearlsof Wisdom

SacredRiver — Wed, 16 May 2007 05:21:58 GMT

All important teachings from a Bhakti Yoga teacher ,,,,,

http://scienceofidentityfoundation.info/science-of-identity-foundation

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Swami Sivananda on Bhakti

Narayan — Mon, 14 May 2007 10:26:19 GMT

Bhakti is resting in God. Bhakti is the flow of devotion like the
flow of a river. Bhakti is continuity of devotion, just as there is
continuity in the flow of oil from one vessel to another vessel.
Bhakti is the attraction of the needle to the magnet.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

japa mala mantra

Wed, 09 May 2007 08:16:37 GMT

ok so remember in the other thread we talked about how just to use one mantra on a mala, what if there are two mantras that you resonate with? I like the maha mantra, but I also like to just chant ram, should I get another mala for one of the mantras, or just stick to one mantra?

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 6 replies

The shastras on bhakti

kalkin — Thu, 03 May 2007 09:11:21 GMT

"....men can learn to overcome the universal Maya (illusion) if only the Lord is gracious to them. They can never escape from Maya, without His grace.

Therefore he should be worshipped by those who are anxious to cross the Ocean of Maya.

He with whom God is graciously pleased is endowed with Mahavidya, the supreme knowledge by means of which his crossing of the Ocean of Maya is certain.

Other methods are also put forward as serving this supreme end, but they are bound to fail in their purpose if the Lord's grace be not forthcoming.

Therefore worship the Primal Cause of the universe as the starting point; be devoted to Him; He will soon enable you to succeed in your attempts to destroy the illusion."

~Tripura-rahasya 7.30-33

"Surrender yourself directly and unhesitatingly to him. He will ordain the best for you and you need not ask for it.

Among the methods of approach to God, there are (1) worship to overcome troubles, (2) worship to gain wealth, etc., and (3) loving dedication of oneself. The last one is the best and surest in its results."

~Tripura-rahasya 7.50-51

"The supreme love for the Lord, called devotion divine, is of the nature of immortality also.
Having gained this supreme devotion, the devotee attains perfection and immortality and becomes extremely satisfied."

~Narada Bhakti Sutras 3-4

“ 'The devotion for God, which is not opposed to attachment to the inner-Self is true devotion,' according to Sage Shandilya."

~Narada Bhakti Sutras 8

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 5 replies

KIRTAN with SHARADA

sharada — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:19:35 GMT

~ KIRTAN with SHARADA ~
Accompanied by:
Ike Rodriguez on Dholak
Bill Ruyle on Hammer Dulcimer and Tablas
Maggie McNicols on Harmonium
Sharada on Ektara and percussion.
PREMA SHANTI YOGA CENTER
157 Fisher Avenue Eastchester, NY
entrance corner of Hillside Place
914-779-6459
$15 in Advance
$20 at the Door
Cash only
sharadama@aol.com..to jopin her email list of events
No experience required.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

jewelry that's good for your soul

Amanda — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:01:25 GMT

I just want to let you all know about a great jewelry company. They are big on fair trade and proceeds from all sales go to the Tibetan Children's Education Foundation. They sell great pendants with mantras on them and I'm probably going to buy the Buddha stud earrings. I have supplied the link below :)

www.shantiboutique.com

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

please ditch the cell phone

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 06:43:19 GMT

PLEASE help spread alert, the worlds' bees are dying!

Without bees, we can NOT survive. Please post this on as many forums as you can.

news.independent.co.uk/enviro...968.ece

CELL PHONE RADIATION
MAY BE KILLING BEES

Scientists claim radiation from handsets are to blame
for mysterious world wide 'colony collapse' of bees

By Geoffrey Lean and Harriet Shawcross
Published: 15 April 2007

It seems like the plot of a particularly far-fetched horror film. But some scientists suggest that our love of the mobile phone could cause massive food shortages, as the world's harvests fail.
They are putting forward the theory that radiation given off by mobile phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible answer to one of the more bizarre mysteries ever to happen in the natural world - the abrupt disappearance of the bees that pollinate crops. Late last week, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon - which started in the US, then spread to continental Europe - was beginning to hit Britain as well.
The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) occurs when a hive's inhabitants suddenly disappear, leaving only queens, eggs and a few immature workers, like so many apian Mary Celestes. The vanished bees are never found, but thought to die singly far from home. The parasites, wildlife and other bees that normally raid the honey and pollen left behind when a colony dies, refuse to go anywhere near the abandoned hives.
The alarm was first sounded last autumn, but has now hit half of all American states. The West Coast is thought to have lost 60 per cent of its commercial bee population, with 70 per cent missing on the East Coast.

CCD has since spread to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. And last week John Chapple, one of London's biggest bee-keepers, announced that 23 of his 40 hives have been abruptly abandoned.

Other apiarists have recorded losses in Scotland, Wales and north-west England, but the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs insisted: "There is absolutely no evidence of CCD in the UK."

The implications of the spread are alarming. Most of the world's crops depend on pollination by bees. Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared, "man would have only four years of life left".
No one knows why it is happening. Theories involving mites, pesticides, global warming and GM crops have been proposed, but all have drawbacks.

German research has long shown that bees' behaviour changes near power lines.
Now a limited study at Landau University has found that bees refuse to return to their hives when mobile phones are placed nearby. Dr Jochen Kuhn, who carried it out, said this could provide a "hint" to a possible cause.

Dr George Carlo, who headed a massive study by the US government and mobile phone industry of hazards from mobiles in the Nineties, said: "I am convinced the possibility is real."
The case against handsets
Evidence of dangers to people from mobile phones is increasing. But proof is still lacking, largely because many of the biggest perils, such as cancer, take decades to show up.

Most research on cancer has so far proved inconclusive. But an official Finnish study found that people who used the phones for more than 10 years were 40 per cent more likely to get a brain tumour on the same side as they held the handset.

Equally alarming, blue-chip Swedish research revealed that radiation from mobile phones killed off brain cells, suggesting that today's teenagers could go senile in the prime of their lives.
Studies in India and the US have raised the possibility that men who use mobile phones heavily have reduced sperm counts. And, more prosaically, doctors have identified the condition of "text thumb", a form of RSI from constant texting.

Professor Sir William Stewart, who has headed two official inquiries, warned that children under eight should not use mobiles and made a series of safety recommendations, largely ignored by ministers.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 3 replies

teacher training in LA...reach out

TaoinofLore — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:04:40 GMT

Namaste breathers..movers and meditators..
lovers of yoga...the union of mind body and breath

I am reaching out to the LA yoga community in hopes of connecting with kin...
I will be in LA from the 10-31 of July to partake in the prana flow yoga teacher training
facilitated by Shiva Rea....
I am a vinyasa teacher in Iceland at the moment...and thai yoga massage practitioner
living foods lover and sun worshipper...we do get a lot of sun this far north...tho usually not accompanied by heat...

My request is to find a couch..or small space/room in the Venice Beach or Santa Monica area
the few delightful friends i have all live in the Melrose...silver lake..Hollywood area and i will be out from 6am-7pm all days
and do not want to rent a car,...and take part in road rage when i am there to find center...and deepen calm...
the teacher training is at Exhale spa in Venice Beach...

I am totally open to offering flow...thai massage...living foods creations..so yummy
and a chill..meditative vibe...with fellow yoga lovers...
my schedule will be non stop...for the duration....
tho i would love to take in some musik and sights...it is not destined with this journey...

i would be very blessed to hear from any yogi..yoginis who feel the divine call to respond..
even if only to connect here..and now...

bowing in ...breathing deep
taoin lore

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

In the Beginning......

kalia — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:44:57 GMT

There is only NOW.
Thought splits diamond perfection
and separation is born.
Mind has found many stories
but something is mourned.
Something starts to eat me away -
Unstoppable - like wildfire!
It burns through me, burning me -
it sets me upon a funeral pyre.
This yearning to be Here
I feel in my heart.
This burning to be NOW
tears me exquisitely apart.
To die into Love
I intensely long!
To end this "I" is now this song.
Hopeless, there is nothing I can do
to find this Heart.
No effort I can make
to return to the Start.
Helpless......It all Stops,
and there is Only, Absolutely, Beautifully,
NOW.

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 2 replies

Durga Das in CT - 3/18/07

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 21:52:17 GMT

Durga Das at Blissworks Yoga
253 State Street
New London, CT 06320
860.448.YOGA

Sunday March 18, 2007 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Blissworks Yoga welcomes Durga Das to Connecticut once again! His music is an eclectic blend of Sanskrit and English. Other stops on his tour include Jivamukti and Laughing Lotus studios in NYC. You can hear a selection of the music at www.davidnewmanmusic.com

Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door ~ reserve your space now!
www.blissworksyoga.org

"Love is the Strongest Medicine" Neem Karoli Baba

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Hanuman the perfect devotee

Naveen108 — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:05:45 GMT

NAMASTE

The relationship between Rama and Hanuman demonstrates the perfection of devotion in the mood of service (dasya-rasa). In an almost classical manner Hanuman demonstrated the symptoms of pure devotional service. Everything that he did was only for the pleasure of Lord Rama, whether it was building bridges, fighting rakshasas or flying across the country to fetch life saving herbs, his constant meditation was how to best serve Rama. When he sought out Sita in Ravana's Lanka, he was not merely satisfied at delivering to her the message of Lord Rama. He also destroyed the forest, killed many rakshasas and burnt down half of Lanka. That is the mood of a pure devotee. To consciously cultivate everything that is positive to the service of the Lord and reject everything that is not. Even though Lord Rama reciprocated very sweetly with gratitude, praise or benedictions for Hanuman, he never had any expectation for them. Hanuman
often presented himself as a simple ignorant monkey in front of Rama. When Hanuman returned from Lanka with news of Sita, an overjoyed Rama embraced him tightly. However a clearly uncomfortable Hanuman stated that his position could only be at the feet of his Lord. The highest reward for him was to serve Lord Rama. Service to Rama was the most exalted destination for Hanuman, and he constantly endeavored to perfect himself in this respect

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 4 replies

8:00 PM Moment for Peace - Every Night -

Keylumin — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:03:51 GMT

A Moment For Peace Each Night 8:00 PM - On-going Send Peace - Your Lovetopic posted Today, 5:21 PM by Jay Mayer fo... delete entire topic

Moment for Peace Every Night at 8:00 PM in Your time zone and worldwide.

Inner wisdom tells me, that constructive change can occur on this earth, by millions of people focusing together, at the same time, A Moment for Peace. 8:00 PM in Your Time Zone. Soldiers, Jews Moslems, Christians Political leaders, Rich, Poor, Young and Old. It's a Big Deal when you decide to create world peace, with millions of others.

The beauty of this event, is that you, and anyone reading this, has the opportunity to reach hundreds, even thousands of people, who then in turn with the push of a button can reach, thousands more, We can begin right away, Instantly. Blessings, Peace

Thank You,

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 2 replies

A Dance of Bhakti & Jnana

kalia — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 03:36:43 GMT

To worship is to desire only Truth.
This is the only Sadhana - the only Vichara.
Let all desires and vasanas fall away.
Burning for Freedom -
Burning up in Bhakti.
Choose only This
and you will know yourself as This.
Let forth the true Jnani.
See what Is, when mind Stops.
There is only One.
Silence....Self.....Shiva....
Nothing to see and Nothing to see it.
No mind to understand.
This is all there Is -
Nothing.

In this Nothing, Maya becomes Lila
and Shiva dances with Shakti.

OM Namah Shivaya OM Shanti Shanti Shanti

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 2 replies

tripsichore in nyc

Sitaram Das — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:55:00 GMT

tripsichore, a yoga/dance troupe will be in nyc next week.
they are pretty amazing.
Im going to the workshop on wednesday, anyone want to join?

FEBRUARY 21 Workshop at Om Factory New York, NY
www.omfactorynyc.com

Feb 22 Performance at Center Point Yoga Studio New York NY
www.centerpointyogastudios.com

www.tripsichore.com

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Kirtan in NYC??? Beyond???

harshada — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 18:55:37 GMT

Hey folks,

I am looking for Kirtan Happenings in NYC
I am a practicioner looking for opportunities for practice, and I'm also a writer working on an article about Kirtan in the west.

I hope to feature various western kirtan artists. URLs are most appreciated.

Much love

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 9 replies

Kirtan 2/9 @ West Hartford Yoga

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:17:33 GMT

KIRTAN WITH SHANKARA & FRIENDS
2.9, - Friday Evening 8:00 - 10:00 pm
Join us for an evening of devotional singing, chanting, and personal expression. Kirtan is part of an ancient form of yoga known as Bhakti, or the Yoga of Devotion. The meditative quality of the music promotes a joyousness of spirit. Shankara leads our group in chants and songs in Sanskrit and English, from ancient Vedic text to traditional American music. Kirtan is for everyone, the experience itself offers possibilities of personal discovery or simply, the joy of raising one's voice in song. Allow yourself the gift of making a joyous noise. It's all about the spirit and the feeling. Bring yours to share! Expect surprises and unannounced musical guests!
$5 suggested donation. No registration required.

West Hartford Yoga (WHY)
32 Jansen Court
West Hartford CT 06110
860-953-9642

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The Power of Intentional Sound:

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:31:53 GMT

The Power of Intentional Sound:
Thoughts On the World Sound Healing Day
By Tom Kenyon
In tantric Buddhism, or the energy-practices of consciousness, the primordial sound "AH" is associated with the throat center and the action of "enlightened speech."
On World Sound Healing Day, we are being given an opportunity to join others all over the planet to create a conscious sound-wave for world peace. And we will do this by making the sound "AH" for five minutes, either silently or out-loud, either alone or in groups, as our situation allows.
How will this work?
First of all, let's take a look at it from the 'esoteric' or hidden tradition. From this perspective, the throat chakra is associated with the power of creation and the expression of personal will. When we speak, we are using the inherent power of this energy-center. And when we speak with conscious intention, the creations of this center carry the vibrational essence of our intention, in other words, intention put into sound.
As I said at the beginning, the "AH" sound is associated with "enlightened speech." What do I mean by this rather exotic term? Well there are many ways of describing it, but for our purposes I think we can say this - it is joining the creative power of our voices with the wisdom power of our hearts. The wisdom power of our hearts has many aspects, but primarily it is the power to generate compassion. And to speak in ways that are compassionate in nature.
Compassion means literally "to feel with." Thus, when we feel compassion for someone, either ourselves or another, we are feeling with that person. Compassion brings with it the recognition that we are all in the same boat so to speak. We are all in the world of duality and we all suffer from time to time. When we see suffering around us, compassion creates an immediate response of connection. Compassion is not pity. Feeling sorry for someone is actually a kind of spiritual superiority. We feel higher than someone when we pity them.
Compassion is different. It is the heart-felt recognition that we are all connected by virtue of our humanity and what happens to one of us, in some inexplicable way, happens to all of us. Whether we are aware of this or not, is another question.
Now in order for the "AH" sound of creation to do anything other than sound interesting, we have to align it with a positive feeling. It is this union of creative intention with feeling that moves energy into manifestation. If we just make an "AH" sound without conscious intention, it is rather wasted effort. The trick is that the intention has to be held in the heart, not so much in the mind.
In the 'esoteric' traditions of Buddhism, the heart is the residing place of our wisdom-mind. And it is through the heart that we can sense the underlying interconnectedness of ourselves with all beings. In the Christian and Muslim traditions, the heart is also the residing place of wisdom and holds the capacity to express love.
For those of you who may not have a particular spiritual lineage to explain the hidden powers of the heart, let me offer some recent scientific evidence.
First of all, it has been found that the electromagnetic fields of the heart are stronger than those of the brain. In fact, they are 30-60 times stronger. And there is evidence that when we feel strong emotions our electromagnetic fields 'broadcast' these feelings to other biological systems, especially those of humans and higher mammals.
Think of yourself as adding your positive feelings to the planetary broadcast of peace, and you will have some idea of what we are doing here.
If you would like to further explore the scientific understanding of emotion and sound, I would refer you to two sources: the work of Manfred Clynes and the research of the Heart Math Institute. You can find both of these by going to an Internet search engine such as www.google.com.
As we prepare to join our voices to the planetary sound-wave that we will all be creating, it is important that we make contact with a positive feeling from the heart. For some this may be compassion which arises naturally from enlightened states of mind. But for many of us, this might be difficult especially if we are in mental and/or emotional turmoil.
Having studied the effects of positive feelings and their affects on consciousness for many years, I have found a particular feeling-state quite easy for most people to access. I call that state appreciation.
Physiological studies on the effects of appreciation are quite interesting and show that it has very positive effects on the heart, brain function and our immune systems. It is a highly coherent emotion and one ideally suited to our peace efforts through the use of conscious-sound.
Some of you, no doubt, know quite easily how to use this positive feeling-state, but in case you don't, here's a brief suggestion.
You don't need to have a reason to feel appreciation. You can self-generate it. Just remember the feeling. Or if that is too difficult, recall something in your past that you feel appreciation for. Then let the content of the memory drop away, so that you are left with just the feeling. It's that simple.
I strongly suggest you try practicing this a few times before the actual World Sound Healing Day, so that you 'know' how to do it on demand. Then when you start to make your sound for peace, connect to this feeling. Actually put your awareness in your heart center, either your heart chakra or your physical heart, and recall the feeling of appreciation.
As you make the "AH" sound, let it come out of, so to speak, this feeling of appreciation. Imagine yourself sending your sound out to the entire planet. Imagine your voice joining thousands, if not tens of thousands of people all over the globe. Let your feeling of appreciation for life join with theirs. Know that you are broadcasting a powerful feeling-state throughout the planet. The gift of love and appreciation is the greatest gift we can give, especially in this most perilous time.
Know that your efforts will have an effect. Exactly what, we might not know for sometime. But every conscious creation of love given to the web of life has a positive effect.
Bless you for joining us. May we all be lifted up, and may we all attain our highest destinies.
*To find out more about Tom Kenyon, visit the web: www.tomkenyon.com

www.healingsounds.com/sounds/

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Kirtan this sat night 2/10/07 in NYC with Maya Solovey and Dancovan

Dan — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:00:01 GMT

www.yogamandali.com events
Kirtan singing from the heart with Maya Solovey and Dan Covan

When:
Sat Feb. 10
7pm-9:30pm. .
Where:
Yoga Mandali
560 Broadway at Prince Street (in Dean and Deluca Building)
Suite 406-elevator to 4th floor, take left hallway
Subway: R/W to Prince Street
Cost: donations welcome!!!
Description: We look fwd. for you to join us in joy and song, with Love,. Dan and Maya

Maya Solovey
Dear Reader,

Where I come from is not as important as where I am right now. Or where I am going.
To say what style of music I create is almost futile, because these things have changed. And will change. The fingerprint of my music is my voice.
The style of my songs is not as much a genre, but personal statements of an emotional nature. Who I am as a person, and how I feel and translate things inside of me.
I seek out sounds from all places. From distant countries and cultures, to things very near and close. The senses, memories, hopes, ideas, emotions. To create songs that are delicate as spider webs, and as strong as love.
My first language is english. But lately I have been writing in spanish and portuguese. Or other languages. (some possibly newly created). The world is a vast and beautiful place, and I want to reach my hand out as far as it can go. To touch both sides of duality, and bring it together in the most terrible and beautiful chaos of one kiss.
Thank you for being here.

Love
Maya

Maya is currently in the studio working with Karl Berger, a composer, arranger, conductor, and co-producer known for his innovative arrangements for Jeff Buckley, Natalie Merchant, collaborations with producers such as Bill Laswell, and world musicical communications.

Maya lives in New york City and plays for people there and elsewhere.

Awards and Mentions for her 2005 released four-song EP "Dissolving" include:

* John Lennon Songwriting Contest, one of three finalists in the Pop category, for her song "I Stand Alone"

* Winner of the Pop/Adult Contemporary category in The Great American Song Contest, for her song "Linger"

* Billboard Song Contest, Honorable Mentions for "I Stand Alone", "Dissolving", and "In Time"

* Independent Music Awards, finalist in the Folk/Singer-songwriter category, for "In Time"

* Named one of the Top Five Vocalists of the month by SingerUniverse Magazine

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~ dying into our Love ~

strawbelly — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:49:44 GMT

eyez vibrating high
as if morning shines all:ready
for this day to Rise
in ever light...

full belly mama luna
laughs as she peers
into my heart
and whispers:
'sister.daughter.lover.bee,
we are free,
heheheheeee!! hwoosh..."

the owl in the eve
sinks into the deep dark
and dresses the direxion
of his audible offerings
in fine silk
as if this is the now:meant
to act as true as ever...

and my bitty bee.ing
buzzes softly
as eye reach my cute nose straw
into yet another flower
sipping the delicious pollen,
noticing again and again and again
how sweet the nectar is
however our journeys breathe us into its(S)elf...

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

Maha Shivrathri 2007

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 15:34:49 GMT

Maha Shivrathri 2007

Divine Friends,

Maha Shivrathri is the single most important day. It is a night of renewal to be born again. It is the night to experience the mind state of that which transcends sleep- the state of Turiya. It is the awakening of the Eternal Yogi, Lord Siva, in us. This state of turiya is the consciousness that is beyond being asleep, awake or dreaming. Maha Shivrathri is our experience of this higher conscious state that then plugs our mind into another socket of reality to manifest within and outside ourselves.

It is the only time when even Sages who have been meditating for years in caves for the whole year actually take a break to come out and give grace/darshan to all the seekers. This special period is a huge energy 'vortex' when all we need do is to be in the receiving mode to be graced by the transforming blessings that flow this period of time.

In the West we are lucky in our location and time. The whole of India and all its millions of Sages do the intense tapas and meditation to celebrate the Oneness in its sleepless night made powerful by collective turiya and then due to time difference, we in the West get to receive this prasad simply by being aware of this time.

Adiyen's first Maha Shivrathri about 21 years back. It was in the sacred thresholds of the Siddhars in South India- Mahalingamalai. Could still remember this night for its experience that guided the next Shivrathris. Climbing above to the mountains to enjoy Shivrathri on Mahalingamalai a powerful Siddhar center was exciting. Without any guidance as what needs be done this night other than knowing that it was a night of no sleep and repeated pujas for Lord Siva, Adiyen's experience was huge. That night, Lord Siva's worship being done was beautiful but the mind was sleepy, the body was cold and sometimes hungry, the state was restlessness. Beyond these states of duality was the Oneness shining and tempting to become but obviously with the techniques and deep carving each day to reach to Be.

Since then, each Maha Shivrathri has been more with the infusing of yogic techniques and the grace of allowing to Be to experience the ultimate joy of being Lord Siva with the human dissolved and the Spirit beyond body and mind. The time to renew.

This Maha Shivrathri will be celebrated Sedona. The program is of FOUR parts. This MahaShivrathri Feb 16th evening to morning journey will be graced by Tapasyogi Siddhargurunatha Baba Nataraj.
Program ONE: is open only for those who have been initiated and taken satsangs with Adiyen. Join Adiyen and others in our circle starting Feb 3rd until Feb 17th. The cost will be high since we wish only for the very few to join in.
Program TWO:
a. Come for our initiation/workshop/program/deep dive on Feb 10/11 and then join our daily satsangs until Maha Shivrathri Feb 17 Stay with us.Join our sacred circle!
b. Come for our initiation/workshop/program/deep dive on Feb 10/11 and then join our daily satsangs until Maha Shivrathri Feb 17. Arrange your own accommodation. Join our sacred circle!
Program THREE: The Maha Shivrathri on Feb 16th with Tapasyogi Siddhargurunatha Baba Nataraj and Adiyen.
Please email back Adiyen for which program you might be interested in and the costs. We wish to have a small spiritual gathering. It is only for those seeking the intense path of fire.

Every MahaShivrathri we start our 'fast' and meditative silence 2 weeks prior. During this period, if in India, we visit all the sacred places and our wonderful Gurus. We feed ourselves through powerful subtle energies by feeding the saddhus and the hungry in large numbers and in their stomach being filled, we transcend to be hungerless. At the end of MahaShivrathri we feed thousands who had fasted until MahaShivrathri in Thiruvannamalai- main temple and Mamara Guhai, Pavanasam and many other sacred places and then break our fast.
Will appreciate each of your extremely valued contributions towards the feeding in all the sacred places at the end of Maha Shivrathri in India.

Guiding thoughts on Maha Shivrathri:
1. Begin lighting a lamp (candle if you do not have a lamp) every evening starting any day from Feb 2 06.
2. Change your diet to plenty of water, fruit juices, dry fruits and nuts and fruits.Our body shrine is too precious. It needs be treated gently especially with its food requirement. Slowly the needs from outside, such as hunger falls off. Our fasting is done without feeling hungry- it is a yogic journey. If you feel hungry eat.
3. Every evening, feel yourself as the waning moon- feel the ego entity of ours dissolve each day. Maha Shivrathri is near the new moon. The moon represents our mind.
4. Focus your meditation during this period chakra by chakra starting from the Muladhara each day during this period. i.e, Muladhara chakra, Ganapathy mantras the first 3 days, then the Guru mantras in the Guru chakra above the navel the next 2 days, then the Vishnu mantras from the Manipura/Anahata chakras and Lord Siva from the Vissuddha, Sahasrara and Ajna chakras towards the Maha Shivrathri period. After the Maha Shivrathri night, next day enter into Lord Vishnu to enter the sustaining energies of the mind of abundance and its creative powers.
5. Once you climb up above the navel, have your morning showers in cold water. You will begin to identity the body thought to the experience of being Spirit and the peace in surrender of body to acquire the joys of being Spirit.
6. When the mind is set inward, it needs be fed higher energy intellectual stuff if not, just silence. Read spiritual books, monitor every sensory inputs for its ability to take us inwards, indulge in satsangs and keep the lamp within lit. Generate inner energies that enable observe the mind. On the MahaShivrathri night, climb above the mind's sleep/awake pattern to experience being I AM.

Know that we are all One in your lamp lit. Lets celebrate our Oneness together as spirit on MahaShivrathri.

Love and the sacred essence of Oneness that we awaken to Be.

Jai Guruve Thunai- may our thoughts be from the higher wisdom forms to our intellect!

anbe sivam, in oneness is love,

tapasyogi adiyen nandhi

with folded hands and love! anbe sivam

Inspired by the Siddhar Sages- http://www.nandhi.com/
The enlightening marketplace- http://www.sensitiveplanet.com/

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Kirtan Practice Chanting CD

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 05:00:26 GMT

Hello all,

I've recently produced a Chanting CD that supports a home chanting practice. If this interests you, please visit:

http://www.learningtolisten.info/pages/store/store.html

Enjoy this day,

Jonathan Reynolds

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Gita by A.C BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada

shyam — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:11:37 GMT

Hello Fellow Bhakta's

Please visit the gita tribe for disscussions on the teachings in gita by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prapbhupada
link is:

http://tribes.tribe.net/saarthi

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 0 replies

a Prayer to Share.

Ryan — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:42:58 GMT

Dear lord, our father, our mother, our breath. Thank you
Oh lord , may peace be in all our hearts, and may that peace bring love and understanding to all beings
Oh dear lord, please let us see you all we see, feel you in all we touch, taste you in all we eat, drink, and in the air we breath
May we know that it is you that both breaths in us, and gives us breath.
Oh dear sweet mother God allow us to arise and greet you in your gift of every moment
May we walk softly apoun this earth,
May the suffering of all being be relieved ,
As the sun arises and as the moon sets let our hearts, words and actions humbly work for you, in you
Thank you, ommmm peace amen

posted in Bhakti Yoga - 1 reply

School of Gokula

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:49:07 GMT

55 (Followed by Vrnda, Madhava enters).
Madhava: If the many things that bring a great festival of transcendental happiness to My heart were increased without limit, would they equal the happiness I feel by meeting Radha? If My desire to associate with Radha is even slightly fulfilled, I taste an unparalleled intense bliss that makes Me at once forget the entire world.
56 Krsna: (glancing at Paurnamasi) O affectionate Paurnamasi, in all ways you are very expert at pleasing Me. You are more expert than even your spiritual master (Narada). By the trick of the dramatic performance you have made Me again enter My very rare and difficult-to-attain Gokula-pastimes.
57 Radha: (seeing Madhava, She becomes filled with bliss. She says to Herself) O My Lord, O raincloud of transcendental bliss, the cakora-bird of My eyes has performed great austerities, longing to attain You. Please allow that cakora-bird to drink for a moment the difficult-to-attain effulgence of the shining moon of Your face. (Knitting Her eyebrows, She openly says:) Lalita, this is right? This is right? I am an honest girl. You have cheated Me! (She blows Her nose and pretends to cry).
58 Lalita: Why blame me? This is the work of destiny. What can I do?
59 Madhava: (glancing at Radha, He becomes happy) Radha's eyes continually invade the boundary of Her ears. Her breasts have stolen the substance of Her waist and bound it with the ropes of tri-bali (three folds of skin at the waist). Playfully lifting their bows, Her eyebrows have arrested Her feet and ordered them not to move. In this way the king named childhood has withered and died in the city of Radha's body.
60 Lalita: (in Sanskrit) O most beautiful friend, please accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is standing before you full of transcendental bliss. The border of His eyes roam side to side, and His eyebrows move slowly like bumblebees on His lotuslike face. Standing with His right foot placed below the knee of His left leg, the middle of His body curved in three places, and His neck gracefully tilted to the side, He takes His flute to His pursed lips and moves His fingers upon it here and there.*

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Self and Satisfaction

matura — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 21:05:28 GMT

There is much concern in contemporary alternative and spiritual societies with the cleansing, clearing and healing of the physical body as well as the mental and energetic systems.

Many rightly propose fasting, vegetarian and vegan diets of clean, fresh, locally grown organic produce and grains. When such foodstuffs are prepared with the beneficial enhancement of a devotional mood in dedication to the conscious sacred source of their spiritual origin, they acquire a subtle yet profound spiritual energetic to heal the physical body at a deeper level by cleansing the subtle psychic body of negative karmic impressions or samskaras.

This process of clean eating can be undertaken by anyone, anywhere, at anytime, with relative ease providing one is sincere in intention and action.
In chapter nine of the Bhagavad-gita, we find this passage:

patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayachati
tad aham bhakty upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”

No great sacrifice of time, materials or energy is required if the substantial inner mood of sincere aspiration to satisfy and unite with Divinity through loving devotion is present.

True healing and deep cleansing must always begin at the spiritual conscious level, for the gross physical body of five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether) is the shadow or product of the subtle psychic self, who’s focus, quality and nature are reflected and manifested in the physical characteristics.

This psychic self is also a thinner shadow and a more subtle reflection of the true spiritual conscious identity that gives rise to the subtle psychic nature of thinking, feeling and willing as well as the gross physical body of biological constitution.

Just as when a cloud, though eclipsing the full moon at night, is actually seen by the presence of the moon behind it, in a similar way the physical body and subtle mind appear energized, active and alive due to the presence of the energizing, subjective non-material self or jivatma that illuminates them with life symptoms from within.

The Gita also gives evidence of the non-materially quantifiable conscious self in this way:

avinasi tu tad viddhi
yena sarvam idam tatam
vinasam avyayas yasya
na kascit kartum arhati

“That which pervades the entire body is indestructible, no one is able to destroy that imperishable self.”

Cleansing diet, yoga, spiritually conscious lifestyles, all contribute towards a healthier individual on all levels, however, the single most determining factor of our level of satisfaction in life stems from the profound yet simple understanding that what we actually focus upon from moment to moment determines the quality and nature of our experiences in life. A material focus covers our true conscious nature. A spiritually conscious focus uncovers our clear and natural qualities of existence, consciousness and joy.

If we accept the spiritual paradigm that the true self is spiritual, non-material and indestructible due to its extremely subtle nature… our lives begin to flow toward an incredibly auspicious state of Divine Grace. This imperishable nature has three constituents, namely unassailable existence or sat, conscious awareness, sentience or chit, and a natural joy or spiritual happiness independent of material circumstance called ananada.

Our moment to moment focus determines the quality of our experiences in life, and this is demonstrated by the way most people unconsciously drift between the illusory mental representations of the regretful past or the fearful future. When one consciously attempts to hold the consciousness in the present moment by mantra meditation, one will become aware of this drifting mental propensity. The nature of the mind is sankalpa and vikalpa. Accepting and rejecting. One thought replaces another, however, sometimes the mind becomes fixed or obsessed upon a particular emotionally charged thought or mental representation of a past event or future hopeful or fearful event. Rare indeed is the length of time actually spent in the present moment of the here and now. Mantra meditation can be very effective in this regard by holding the awareness and focusing it constructively.

The Vedas declare vishvam purnam sukayate, The universe is a perfect abode of happiness! Yet very few people experience the world in this way. Is it actually possible?
Not only is it possible, it is the actual goal of the human platform of life to experience the self-realization that we are producing our experience of life by the focus of our minds.

The subjective pure awareness of self, clear of mental clutter, is the deepest spiritual identity of the individual. And as previously stated is of the simple clear nature of eternal, unassailable existence, pure unclouded perception and a natural independent spiritual joy.

When consciousness is drawn back and detached from the gross physical body and the subtle mind it is possible to gain a new and higher perspective of ourselves free from the encumbrances of the entangling and ignorant identification with matter (the body) and mind (psychic envelope). We are not bound or imprisoned by any external force but rather bound up in the mistaken identification with the saguna or material modes (goodness, passion & ignorance) and elements of nature, by our attraction, identification and desire to sensually enjoy them. This has a binding effect upon our natural clear awareness.

Finding joy in the self we become freed from the imprisoning compulsions of the material mind and senses. Param dristva nivattate-a higher taste is awakened within us. Positive engagement of a higher order is indispensable in this regard and for this we need higher association with, and service engagement to, saintly and realized agents of the nirguna, or materially unconditioned Absolute Reality. False teachers, bogus gurus and cheaters abound in the environment of commercial spirituality, however, if we are sincere in our intention to give of ourselves selflessly, then a correspondingly sincere agent will manifest and we shall avoid falling into the gutter of the cheaters and the cheated.

When an individual soul reaches a sufficient level of faith that is characterized by a deep longing for union with the Truth or Divinity, revelation takes place. Our negative charge of seeking (laulyam) draws the positive charge or attention of Divinity (parusha), for union (yoga) in devotional love (bhakti).

The Absolute Reality is inconceivably all pervading yet personal. Recognizing our sincere necessity, our need is proportionally reciprocated by the appearance of an agent suitable for our current level of understanding. Ye yatha mam prapadynte… It may come in the form of book, sadhu or similar spiritual seeker, or if our faith is sufficiently developed, a Guru of high type. From this position an active engagement in higher activities as directed by the guide will successively lead us through higher and finer states of theistic awareness until a profound unfolding of the heart reveals our natural spiritually dynamic and wholesome reciprocal loving relation to the dynamic Absolute Conscious Whole, or Divine Personality of Godhead.

Love is the fulfillment of all things. If we have learned how to spiritually love (prema-dharma), we have learned all of wisdoms secrets and entered the dynamic stream of conscious dedication. Achintya-beda-beda-tattva, Our fulfillment will not be a static position of unified monism but a “Unity of Divine Variagated Diversity, wherein our unity (yoga) with Divinity is ever fresh in new experience, revelation, playfulness and beauty (lila).

These are the realizations of the yogic Rishis, the ancient spiritual research scientists of the Vedic civilization which flourished thousands of years ago in India. This wisdom was widely distributed in modern times by the great apostle of Divine Love, Shri Chaitanya Dev who taught the chanting of the Holy Names of God as the most effective path of self-realization in the current modern age which is predominated by overwhelming materialism.
Shi Chaitanya Deva’s teachings can be extensively explored at http://www.scsmath.com

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Rienhard Gammenthaler Workshop

Chitta Vritti Nirodhah — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:29:20 GMT

March 11 – 16, 2007

Goa, India

AWAKENING KUNDALINI SHAKTI

Teacher: Reinhard Gammenthaler, direct disciple and successor of Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari (Berne, Switzerland)
Yogic sukshma vyayama in the tradition of Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari.
Subtle techniques and breathing exercises to purify the system of Nadis, energy channels in the astral body of man which carry the life-force, Prana.
These thousands years-old techniques, which had been a carefully hidden secret amongst Indian Yogis, have the potential for a speedy and safe awakening of inner energy, culminating in the awakening of Kundalini Shakti and preparing the practitioner for the realization of the higher stages of Ashtanga-Yoga, the eightfold Yoga Path – namely Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.
Cost for 6 days: $300 / Single days: $60Tel.: (+4131) 311 5955
Email: shakti@kundalini-yoga.ch
Details: www.kundalini-yoga.ch

Jai Shri Shakti

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David Newman aka Durga Das Chanting workshop and Holiday Kirtan in Philadelphia

Durgadas — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 19:32:00 GMT

David Newman aka Durga Das

December, 16 2006 at Workshop: Chanting and Transforming the Emotions - Philadelphia
4363 Main St., Yoga On Main - Manayunk, PA, Pennsylvania 19127
Cost :

2-5pm Workshop: Chanting and Transforming the Emotions Yoga On Main 4363 Main St. Manayunk, PA 19127 info@yogaonmain.com 215. 482. 7877

December, 16 2006 at Holiday Kirtan - Philadelphia
4363 Main St., Yoga On Main - Manayunk, PA, 19127
Cost :

8 pm Holiday Kirtan Yoga On Main 4363 Main St. Manayunk, PA 19127 info@yogaonmain.com 215. 482. 7877

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have yer Guru

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:22:02 GMT

It is very important that we don’t focus on anyone’s faults. Look at their good qualities. We have to absorb these qualities in ourselves. We must take the association of Vaisnavas who are superior to us and who have the mood we want. Then we can attain bhakti.

Someone who has no nistha (strong faith) in his Guru and in the Vaisnavas, no attachment for them, no attachment for their service, and who doesn’t take any responsibility to do seva – such a person is like an animal with two legs. Taking responsibility can even make an animal into a human. Stay in the Mathas (temples) under the guidance of Guru and Vaisnava. Respect them and serve them with strong faith and attachment.

Devotees must take responsibility for service. Wherever Gurudeva sends a disciple, he should do that service with a sense of responsibility.

Gurudeva sent me to Mathura, and I accepted all the responsibilities of the Matha – including fighting in the court, preaching, doing kirtana, cooking, going house to house and preaching, writing books, publishing Bhagavat Patrika (monthly magazine). I took all this upon my head. This was my area of responsibility for Gurudeva.

You have all come here from different countries, for Guru-seva. What responsibility have you taken? You should consider whether or not you have accepted any responsibility, and whether or not you have got attachment for your service. All of you must think about this.

Taking your own life in your hand, perform Guru-seva. Bhakti is not easily attained. Valmiki performed severe austerities for 60,000 years and received the fruit of devotion to Lord Rama. How he served his Guru, Sri Narada, and followed his instructions! Narada told him to sit in one place and engage in harinama (chanting the name of Lord Rama). He sat down for 60,000 years and did not get up. He did not eat or drink, or even go to latrine. He did nothing but chant. Ants gradually built an anthill around him and covered his entire body, and his life airs stayed in his bones. This is Guru-seva.

Ekalabhya was only an ordinary person, but he gave his thumb to his Guru. His fault was that he didn’t follow his Gurudeva properly, but he did give his thumb when it was requested.

Even Lord Krsna carried a bundle of wood on His head for His Guru. He stood in the rain the entire night and got completely wet in the service of His Guru, and He is God Himself. This is how to do Guru-seva.

In the Upanisads we find the history of Upamanyu. His Guru told him to take the cows out grazing. After some time his Guru asked him, “Why are you so fat and healthy?” He replied, “After the calves take their milk, I drink the remaining milk.” His Guru said, “Don’t drink the milk,” but he did not tell Upamanyu what he could take. Some days passed, and when he saw Upamanyu, again he said, “How is it that you are still so fat and healthy? What are you eating?” Upamanyu answered, “I take the foam of the milk left in the calves’ mouths.” Again his Guru said, “Don’t do that.” Now all roads were closed. So what did he do? He saw some leaves with a white liquid coming out of them, and started taking that 'milk.' He became blind from that poisonous white liquid, and he fell in a well.

Gurudeva came looking for him, calling out, “Where are you?” He called back, “I am in this well.” “What happened?” Gurudeva asked. Upamanyu replied, “I was taking this milk from the leaves, not realizing it to be poison. I became blind and fell down in this well.” Gurudeva said, “You will get your eyesight back, and all Vedic knowledge will be at once be revealed in your heart.”

In the Upanisads and other Vedas, such examples of Guru-seva are given.

yasya deva para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah

[Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed. (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)]

We should be like such disciples. Bhakti is not easy. Bhakti will not come simply by saying the word 'bhakti.' Moreover, in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, vraja-bhakti, gopi-bhakti, is very, very difficult to attain.

You are very fortunate to have come here. Keep your good fortune by developing strong faith in Guru, by performing devotional services under his guidance with commitment, and by following his instructions nicely – even if you have to go to hell. Go to hell with a contract. In other words, wherever you are sent – it may even be to hell – you will have your commitment to Gurudeva always with you, and you will execute it. Take Guru’s instructions to heart, and then you will get bhakti; otherwise it is not possible.

For more, visit purebhakti.com/
or see tribes.tribe.net/gurudeva/

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