Devoted to God~!'s topics - tribe.net

Mataji Indra Devi

Naveen108 — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:19:08 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

Pritam

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Ganga Dashami – Ganga Dashahara Festival

Naveen108 — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:46:18 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

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CHOOSING LOVE INSTEAD OF FEAR (the only reason we're here)

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:12:06 GMT

The only reason we incarnate is to learn how to choose love instead of fear. It does not matter what you do for a living, where you live, or who you marry, etc. The only purose you have is to extend love to everyone you come into contact with, including yourself. This is how you BECOME what you already ARE: LOVE. The only way to restore perfect inner peace that is stable and unwavering is to choose to be willing to extend love to everyone you come into contact with, including yourself.

By "love" I mean unconditional acceptance. And by "unconditional acceptance" I mean God. By "you" I mean me. And by "me" I mean you. We are all ONE and we are all LOVE. And by "we" I mean GOD. And by "God" I mean LOVE...You get the picture!

The most amazing miracle has transpired in my life over the last 24 hours as a result of my own sincere willingness to be a vessell for love, to be a vessell for that which I AM, which is God. I wanted to share...

I put a profile on My Space about a month ago. I saw a woman on there named Joni Ellen Jenkins. This is my name. I almost asked her to join my friend list but hesitated and then did nothing. I had a very stressful custody hearing scheduled with my son's father yesterday. When I got home from the courthouse yesterday there was an e-mail from Joni Ellen Jenkins who lives in Pennsylvania. Her e-mail address is jonijenks@gmail.com and mine is jonijenkins@gmail.com. She had suspected that her insurance company had sent e-mails meant for her to me. Sure enough I had the e-mails in my box that day. We started to breifly chat and make small talk through e-mails. She invited me to join her friend list on My Space. One thing led to another and she told me she had cancer and is only a 40 year old mom. I am a 39 year old mom. I started writing to her from a spiritual perspective, and then suddenly I realized what was going on!

Here is the last e-mail I sent to her; this is incredilbe!!

************************************

Dear Joni Ellen Jenkins,

Oh my God, I think that meeting you has been the greatest gift God has ever given me!

I have been trying to release all my own walls to self love, with perfect inner peace being the goal. I have made much progress but there was still a little bit of work left.

I went through a traumatizing custody trial with my son's father yesterday, but won. However the experience made me more aware of my own walls to love. When I came home from the courthouse I got your e-mails.

I know why I hesitated when I first saw the My Space profile. There was a timing issue. I was meant to make contact with you right after court when my own fears were so triggered and my walls to love were easy to see.

When you told me about the cancer my heart was flooded with so much love and compassion for you. It is always easier to see someone else's perfection and divinity than your own. It is always easier to see someone else's wall to self love than it is to see your own. As I was loving you and contemplating that we have the exact same name, Joni Ellen Jenkins, the reality that we (all of humanity) really are ONE permeated my consciousness. I had the profound realization that by deeply loving and forgiving you (Joni Ellen Jenkins) I was deeply loving and forgiving myself (Joni Ellen Jenkins).

The truth is that you are love, you are God, and you are soooooooooo powerful and perfect. All you need do is forgive yourself for forgetting the truth. That is always easier said than done. And all I need do is forgive myself for forgetting the truth. By loving you so deeply I have let down yet another wall to self-love and that is the greatest gift I have ever received. When I love you I love myself becasue we are, in truth, ONE. The fact that we have the same name is just a coincidence, but has aided me in dramatically shifting and healing my perception.

You truly are God--you knew exactly when the right time was to contact me so that the highest form of healing would take place for both of us.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU MY DEAR SISTER OF LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Joni Ellen Jenkins

*********************************

I hope that Joni Ellen Jenkins inspired you as much as she has inspired Joni Ellen Jenkins. I hope that LOVE inspired you to remember that you are LOVE. I hope that God is willing to allow God to remind God that God cannot be anything but God.

I LOVE YOU.

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

Devotion

Naveen108 — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:07:16 GMT

NAMASTE

Devotion must not be like the flood of the rainy season in which all get washed away. Devotion should be like the river that retains water even in the hottest season.
Saint Kabir (1440-1518)

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

silence

Naveen108 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:58:40 GMT

NAMATSE

In silence, we can know ourselves. In silence, we observe better. A reacting mind is noisy. In silence, we come upon right action. A noisy mind leads to distorted action. In silence, we understand others. Otherwise we are in our own world. When we are silent, we hear God.

Anonymous

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

exhaling, breathing

amrta — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:25:30 GMT

expanding my breath to greater reaches beyond where i think i can go. breath is such a powerful tool to gain insight and clarity. i am grateful for such simple and accessible answers.

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Mantras for the Departed Soul

Bala — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:50:26 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

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Mira Bai

Naveen108 — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:29:41 GMT

NAMASTE

(( I went to the root of things, and found nothing but Him alone. ))

Mira Bai (1500-1550), princess of Rajasthan, Northwest India, a saint celebrated for her lyrical poetry dedicated to Krishna .

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

Ramakrishna

Naveen108 — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:54:33 GMT

NAMASTE

A poor devotee points to the sky and says, God is up there. An average devotee says, God dwells in the heart as the Inner Master. The best devotee says, God alone is and everything I perceive is a form of God.
Ramakrishna

In Love and Light

Pritam

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An Interview with the Lord

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:49:55 GMT

I dreamed I had an interview with God.
"Come in," God said. "So, you would like to interview Me?"

"If you have the time," I said.

God smiled and said: "My time is eternity and is enough to do everything; what questions do you have in mind to ask me?"

I said "What surprises you most about mankind?"

God answered:
"That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again."

"That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health."

"That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present."

"That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived..."

God's hands took mine and we were silent for while and then I asked... "As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"

God replied with a smile:
"To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved."

"To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives."

"To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least."

"To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them."

"To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings"

"To learn that money can buy everything but happiness."

"To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally different."

"To learn that a true friend in someone who knows everything about them...and likes them anyway."

"To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they have to forgive themselves."

I sat there for awhile enjoying the moment. I thanked Him for his time and for all that He has done for me and my family, and He replied,

"Anytime. I'm here 24 hours a day. All you have to do is ask for me, and I'll answer."

"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel."

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The Hand of God

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:08:13 GMT

Rick volunteers with prison ministries, and in his work has become friends with a pastor of a store front church. The pastor's church is called Almighty God Tabernacle. On a Saturday night several weeks ago, this pastor was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. It was about 10:00 PM, but his wife didn't answer the phone. The pastor let it ring many times. He thought it was odd that she didn't answer, but decided to wrap up a few things and try again in a few minutes.

When he tried again she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn't answered before, and she said that it hadn't rung at their house. They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.

The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that he'd used that Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he'd called on Saturday night. The pastor couldn't figure out what the guy was talking about.

Then the guy said, "It rang and rang, but I didn't answer." The pastor remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he'd intended to call his wife.

The man said, "That's OK. Let me tell you my story. You see, I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, 'God if you're there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign now.' At that point my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, 'Almighty God'. "I was afraid to answer!"

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2 Horses

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:56:45 GMT

Two Horses

There is a field, with two horses in it.

From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if
you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something
quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose
that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down,
but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a
bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see
that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.

Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell. It lets the blind
friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two horses, you'll see that the
horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and
that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly
walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be
led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn
each evening, it stops occasionally and looks b ack, making sure
that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away
just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or
challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help
us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little
ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.

Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their
way....

Good friends are like that... you may not always see them, but
you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.

And remember...be kinder than necessary- everyone you meet is
fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly....
Leave the rest to God

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

crying to God

Naveen108 — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 03:39:47 GMT

NAMASTE

Ammachi says:

"The state that we attain by calling and crying to God is equal to the bliss that the yogi experiences in samadhi."
Ammachi - Awaken Children, vol. 3

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

Ramakrishna

Naveen108 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:02:12 GMT

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Mahadeviyakkha

Naveen108 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:42:14 GMT

NAMASTE

"The arrow that is shot should penetrate so deeply
that even the feathers do not show.
Hug the body of the Lord so tightly
that the bones must be crushed to crumble.
Weld to the divine until the very welding disappears. "

Mahadevi

In Love and Light

Pritam

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Happy Holiday

Naveen108 — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:47:30 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

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Oh Divine Mother.

Naveen108 — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:14:45 GMT

JAI MA

Oh Divine Mother.
Let my every action
Be a Worship of You
Let every sound falling from my lips
Be a chant of your great mantra

In Love and Light

Pritam

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Devotee

Naveen108 — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:01:54 GMT

NAMASTE

The heart of the devotee is the drawing-room of God.

In Love and Light

Pritam

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Amma on Devotion

Naveen108 — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:54:39 GMT

jai Ma

Amma on Devotion

“Crying to God for five minutes is equal to one hour of meditation. If tears are not coming by themselves, try to cry by thinking, ‘Why am I not able to cry?’ Try to develop devotion. That is the easiest way.”

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

Hermetics Lecture in New York City

Wizard-Of-Air — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:41:41 GMT

A week from today; Friday October 19, 2007 at 6:00pm, I will be giving an address at the New Life Expo. The topic I will be speaking on is "The Hermetic Principles; the Secret beyond The Secret." In this address I will explain the Hermetic Principles, discuss their origin, discuss how "The Secret" and "The Law of Attraction" are descended from them, and how to use the Principles to more than just manifest; to create your personal reality by intention.

My lecture will be brief, but will allow sufficient time for a Q & A period to follow. I will distribute an introductory guide to Hermeticism (gratis), and a regimen of exercises utilizing the Hermetic Principles to "morp" the individuals life (also gratis). In the short period of this lecture: LIVES WILL BE CHANGED!!!

I invite all of my old friends to come as well as those new friends and colleagues whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meetinging person. If you are outside of the New York City area and can't attend, please share this information with friends who can. The venue offers limited space so please come a little early for the best selection of seating. I will be offering consultations after the lecture at booth #509 on the third floor, for the balance of Friday evening and throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.

The New Life Expo will be Friday October 19, 2007 through Sunday October 21, 2007 at the Hotel New Yorker; 481 8th. Ave. @ 34th. St in New York City. To view their website please visit the following link: http://newlifeexpo.com/index.php

I look forward to seeing you there. Namaste,

al anderson

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New Group: "Wrestling with God"

alex — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:15:36 GMT

Hi -- if anyone's interested, I'm starting a new group for discussing the challenges of leading a devotional lifestyle, check it out.

http://tribes.tribe.net/wrestlinggod

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Everyone In The World

Bala — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:14:20 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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A poem by Mahadevi Akka Yakka.

Naveen108 — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 13:40:05 GMT

JAI MA

Riding the blue sapphire mountains
wearing moonstone for slippers
blowing long horns
O Shiva
when shall I
crush you on my pitcher breasts

O Lord White as Jasmine
when do I join you
stripped of body’s shame
and heart’s modesty?

In Love and Light

Pritam

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New Tribe MAHA DEVI

Naveen108 — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 03:28:59 GMT

JAI MA

I started a new tribe in honor of the Divine Mother in all her forms. I would be very blessed to see you all there .

http://tribes.tribe.net/mahadevi

In Love and Light

Pritam

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A Month of Festivities Honoring Lord Krishna has Commenced

Naveen108 — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:14:10 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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O Truth Eternal...

Bala — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 03:47:17 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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Were the Mother dwells

Naveen108 — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 03:56:31 GMT

NAMASTE

Na-ham tirthe na kailase vaikunthe va na karhicit
vasami kinyu majjnanihrdayambhojamadhyame

Neither do i reside in any sacred place of pilgrimage, nor in Kailasa ( the home of Lord Siva )
nor in vailkuntha ( the home of Lord Visnu ) , nor any such place . But i dwell in the middle of the lotus of the hearts of my Jnani.

In Love and Light

Pritam

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Path to the Divine Mother from the Devi Gita

Naveen108 — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 03:37:33 GMT

JAI MA

Margastrayo me vikhyata mokasapraptau nagadhipa

karmayoga jnanayogo bhaktiyogasca sattama

The well know path to Me harmonizes three to attain to Self-Realization ( liberation ) , oh chief of Mountains. These
are in truth: Karma Yoga , Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.

In Love and Light

Pritam

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USA Kumbha Mela Set for September 9 in California

Naveen108 — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:06:14 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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May all beings be happy...

Bala — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:25:25 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...

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Divine surrender

Naveen108 — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 13:58:23 GMT

NAMASTE

Honouring is a sign of divine love. This is called pooja. The ceremony of pooja imitates what nature is already doing for you. The Divine worships you in so many forms. In pooja, you offer everything back to the Divine.

Flowers are offered in pooja. The flower is a symbol of love. The Divine has come to you in love through so many forms: mother, father, wife, husband, children and friends.

The same love comes to you in the form of the Master to elevate you to the level of divine love, which is also your own nature. Recognising this flowering of love from all sides of life, we offer flowers.

Fruits are offered, because the Divine offers you fruits in due season. You offer grain, because nature provides you food. A candle light and a cool camphor light are offered; in the same way nature continually revolves the sun and moon around you.

Incense is offered for fragrance. All the five senses are used in pooja, and it is performed with deep feeling. Through pooja, we say to God, ‘Oh, whatever you give to me, I give back to you.’ Pooja is honour and gratitude.

Have you seen children? They have small little pots and dishes. They sometimes pretend that they make toast or tea. They come to the elders and say, ‘Now, please have some tea.’ They serve you. There will be nothing in the cup; it is all in their imagination.

They play with you. Whatever you do to them, they also do. They put the doll to sleep. They feed it and bathe it. In the same way, pooja is an expression of what the Divine is doing for you. pooja is a mixture of imitation, honour, playfulness and love.

When you are in deep love, you naturally want to offer something. Somebody from California sent a big parcel to me. It was filled with candies and candles. Now, the person who sent it knows that candies and candles can be got here, too. And the cost of the airmail is much more than the candles and candies. But in love, you want to offer something anyway.

Usually when you love something, you want to possess it. And in the process of possessing, you make the beautiful thing ugly. Pooja is contrary to that. Pooja means honour and worship, offering one’s self. You appreciate, you adore, you recognise beauty. Worship is just the opposite of wanting to possess. Usually our relationships do not flower to this extent. Instead we start demanding. Husband and wife, master and servant, there is a demand. ‘I have done so much for you. Now you must do this thing for me.’ Demanding is contrary to honouring. The way to preserve a relationship is to honour.

Honour the creation. Look at a tree with honour. Feel grateful for its being here. It purifies the poison that we breathe out. It makes the air fresh. Have you ever thought, ‘These trees are mine. The sun, the moon, the air, the water — everything belongs to me. All these stars are mine. The people are mine?’ When you honour the creation, you will feel this.

Honour your own body. Remember that when you eat, you are offering food to the Divine that resides inside this body. When people are agitated, they eat more. Take your food, not in a hurry, not with violence, but with a sense of offering. This also is pooja.

Have you ever looked at your breath with honour? Have you ever thought, ‘This breath is so beautiful, moving in and out; without it, my body would be thrown away.’ With honour, look into your breath. With this depth of worship, all your feverishness will be transformed into love.

Honouring leads to devotion that leads to surrender. Surrender to the Divine brings total rest from all anxieties, from all wants. Life has burned down with so many various wants. In every direction, life is found to be weary. Devotion brings that total rest — a healing touch to the life, which has been moving in so many directions.

The mind always looks for charms, miracles, events, excitements. Yet once it goes there, the charm ceases to exist. The charm of the mind is a continuous mirage; it is always farther, it is always somewhere else. When the flame of devotion is lit, the craving mind melts away like wax. As the mind melts, the flame of devotion becomes more alive and intense.

Charm is always an outside influence. Devotion is an inner flowering. Devotion starts from where you are, whereas a charm is something that pulls you away from yourself. The charm never lasts for long. Unless you are lit in devotion to the Divine, your life will remain restless.

In devotion, in that process of burning, longing will arise in you. With love, there is bound to be longing. If there is longing, know that there is also love. They are two sides of the same coin; they cannot be separated. Usually when longing arises, we are in a hurry to finish it off. But this longing is fortunate and very beautiful. It will transform your mind totally.

Devotion is your nature. When you rest in your own nature, there is no conflict. But usually we feel a conflict. We feel bad about a negative quality we have or something that we did. A Master is one who lifts these burdens from you that you yourself cannot carry — and kindles in you devotional love.

Offer everything to the Master — your anger, your frustration, all your bad feelings and good feelings. Your negativity pulls you down. Your positive qualities bring pride and arrogance in you.

Your whole life becomes a big weight. When you offer it all, you become free. You become light like a flower. You can again smile and rejoice in the moment. What remains in you is pure love.

In Love and Light

Pritam

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Happy Jyestha Purnima

amrta — Wed, 30 May 2007 17:01:58 GMT

This evening it will be a full moon. And it is the birthday of Lord Jagannath,

May we feel full like the Moon and bring the wealth of joyful living to all..

Aum Jagananthaya Namah

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Being filled with tears for the Divine

Naveen108 — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:30:52 GMT

NAMASTE

I made a reply to a post in another tribe and after posting this sloka would not leave my heart. Being so filled with the Love for the Divine one falls in complete surrender.

Seeing her, the hairs on Indra's body stood on ends with ecstasy. His eyes were filled with tears of love and deep devotion and he immediately fell prostrate at the feet of the goddess, singing hymns in her praise. (Devi Bhagavata Purana: 12.8.52-60)

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

Just joined

Wendy — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 04:22:49 GMT

Blessings and thanks for this wonderful site. xx
Hope to meet you all soon.
blessings xxx

posted in Devoted to God~! - 2 replies

Crying to the Divine in Love

Naveen108 — Sun, 14 May 2006 00:02:47 GMT

NAMASTE

I was thinking alot about how Ramakrishna would spend hours crying to Kali in true love for the Divine.How often we cry or shed tears for are loved ones be it family or friends but rarely do most if any shed not tears to the divine if any other than times of need.I write this for the last few months i have cried for no reason when meditating to the Divine or doing prayers or japa.When this has happened i have felt more than once a stronger conection to my path and the Divine that is in all.I wander how many here have you felt this happen in your sadhana and how has this effected you and your path???

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 11 replies

Mahasivaratri: Kashmir Style

Naveen108 — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 02:15:01 GMT

NAMASTE

"Mahasivaratri is one of the most important festivals associated with Siva worship. In different parts of the country, various myths are ascribed to the observance of the day. Kashmir has the most distinct celebration. According to one legend, Lord Siva performs the ritualistic dance of Creation, Preservation and Dissolution on this night and so devotees also spend the night fully awake while reciting praises of Siva. Saiva tradition of Kashmir has been very strong at both levels-the metaphysical and as ritualistic practice. The celebration of Sivaratri is unique in Kashmir. It is celebrated with the same zest and grandeur as Diwali is celebrated in North India. The earliest availabl e text (6th/7th Cen. A.D.) from Kashmir the Nilamatapurana, lists the festivals and rituals of Kashmir. It describes Sivaratri festival as: 'Sivalinga from which the blanket like plaster of purified butter has been removed is to be worshipped on the dark 14th of Phalguna.... Sivalinga is to be worshipped with perfumes, garlands, unguents and naivedya consisting of animals made of flour. The worshippers are enjoined to observe fast during the day and vigil at night listening to the Sivadharmas and the stories of Siva incarnations. On the 15th day, the worship of Siva is prescribed and worshippers have to take meals consisting of Kulmasa and sweetmeats.'

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

One Thousand Siva Lingams Worshipped Simultaneously to Mark Beginning of Maha Sivaratri in Mauritius

Naveen108 — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 02:10:59 GMT

NAMASTE

To mark the beginning of the festivities of Maha Sivaratri, 1,000 families simultaneously offered rituals to Lord Siva at the Swamy Srinivasacharya Badarika Ashramam. Several political personalities were present, including the Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, Lady Sarojini Jugnauth (wife of the President) and Minister Arvin Boolell. It was an unprecedented event in Mauritius to have 1,000 Siva Lingams, symbols representing the God Siva, simultaneously worshipped with water collected from 108 rivers in India by the assembled devotees. Swamy Srinivasacharya Badarika Ashramam is a sociocultural organization managing a temple dedicated to God Siva in Forest-Side. Unrecognizable to regular visitors, the Ashramam temple was completely sheltered under a huge canopy to accommodate the total of 6,000 guests. Traffic was held up in the area of Forest-Side as 350 police officers diverted cars along the only route which passes through Curepipe. The devotees followed instructions given in several languages over loudspeakers. Priests had come from India to assist.

www.lexpress.mu

In Love and Light

Pritam

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~ dying into our Love ~

strawbelly — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:19:58 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 Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

Enjoy.

lodha — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:52:47 GMT

blogs.ibibo.com/herald.
Enjoy this blog and recommend if you think its good enough to be shared.

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

Zen for you.

lodha — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 11:38:14 GMT

Better than a thousand hollow words
Is one word that brings peace.
Better than a thousand hollow verses
Is one verse that brings peace.
It is better to conquer yourself
Than to win a thousand battles.
Then the victory is yours.

- Dhammapada

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

what is God?

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 23:35:35 GMT

what do you all think or feel God is

posted in Devoted to God~! - 13 replies

Loving Each day.

lodha — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 03:07:36 GMT

The whole spectrum of your life takes place within God, and
anyone who is residing in the power of love is never
destroyed, never separated, always free, always up, always
growing.

- John-Roger
(From: Living Love from the Spiritual Heart, p. 3-4)

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

LOVING EACH DAY

lodha — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 05:20:31 GMT

Material abundance may be more accessible if you are
internally balanced.

Part of this balance involves being at one with what is
going on in the present. This does not necessarily mean
liking it or even preferring it, but accepting it without
judgment.

- John-Roger
(From: Wealth & Higher Consciousness, p. 64)

posted in Devoted to God~! - 2 replies

aching...

amrta — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:03:39 GMT

How many ways are there to describe the infinite love of God?
How many adjectives and compound plays-on-words can fully expound the magnificence, the burning. The art made, the songs written and sung, the visions and meditations, glimpses of, glances from the beloved, aching to find the perfect expression but feeling like there are no fancy five-syllable words that can do justice, no poetic displays of intangible melting can name the un-nameable. Moving my finger along, wanting for an edge to trace. But how can light be contained or defined. Yet still, the tightrope I walk along, holding balance, focused. The moments of God overlap and find congruence in the recognition of themselves in one another. Time grows quiet. Developing awareness, I know the answers are contained inside the questions. Less searching, and more recognizing. For me, all there is to do is bring perfect gratitude, in the spontaneous light of love

posted in Devoted to God~! - 2 replies

Was Krsna Cheating?

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 08:03:25 GMT

Devaki has great mamata (sense of posessiveness) towards Lord Krsna, but she also has her own self-interest in mind. She thought to herself, "It doesn’t matter that the gopas, gopis and cows will die in Vrndavana if Krsna does not go there. We can give anything to the Vrajavasis, but we cannot give Krsna."

After hearing the promise of Devaki to give the Vrajavasis a donation, Padmavati, the mother of Kamsa, became afraid. She thought, "Now there will be a big problem. Devaki may give the whole kingdom to Nanda and Yasoda." Therefore, in a clever way, she began to give many arguments.

Padmavati asked, "Why are you talking so much about what to give to the Vrajavasis? It is a very simple matter. Krsna was only 10 years and 8 months old when He left Vrndavana, so there is nothing to be confused about. We just have to make an account of how much He ate and how much buttermilk He drank in those years. Subtract four years because for the first four years of His life He only drank breast milk from the breast of Yasoda, and there is no cost for that. We will calculate how much they owe Krsna for His cow-grazing, how much food He ate and how much chach (buttermilk) He drank, and whatever we owe we will give them double that amount. So there is nothing to be confused about. We can ask Garga Muni because He is an expert astrologer. His calculation will not be off by even one paisa.

"There are great quantities of buttermilk in Vrndavana – because no one drinks it. After taking the butter out of the milk, what is left is chach. It is so useless that the Vrajavasis throw it down the drain and it goes into one big buttermilk pond in Nandagaon; the price for it is nothing. So take away three or four years of only drinking breast milk, and that means about eight years of drinking buttermilk which costs nothing."

Some people say that Krsna is in the stage of kaisora (teenage years – youth) up to 10 years and 8 months, and some people say that His kaisora-lila goes up to 15 years. Srila Sanatana Gosvami has reconciled this. Krsna has three ages – balya, pauganda and kaisora, and the junction between the three ages is called vayasasandi. Each of these three ages also has three stages. When Akrura came to Vrndavana he saw Krsna as kisora, and when Krsna went to Mathura to fight with Carana and Mustika, the Mathura-ramanis saw Him as the personification of Kamadeva which is His kaisora age.

One specialty of Lord Krsna, and also of Bhagavan Lord Ramacandra, is that when they appear in this world they never look beyond the age of kaisora. When Krsna was in Kuruksetra, for example, He was 125 years old, but He did not have a mustache or beard, and this is one specialty of bhagavat-tattva.

The Srimad-Bhagavatam describes that Krsna's kaisora-lila is performed up to his eleventh year. We can reconcile this by thinking that when He was in Vrndavana and eating a lot of butter He appeared like a 15 year-old. Also, He was the son of Nanda Baba who was a king, so also because of that He appeared as a 15 year-old – older than He actually was.

When Krsna came to Mathura He offered pranama to Mother Devaki, and at that time He told her, "O Mother Devaki, We are your sons." As soon as she heard this, aisvarya-bhava manifested in her heart and she became fearful. Krsna continued, "Unfortunately, after our birth we were taken to Vrndavana, and therefore you could not see our pastimes in our balya, pauganda, and kaisora; ages. You were cheated because you could not see My pastimes." Immense opulence is displayed in Mathura. Jarasandha came seventeen times to fight with Krsna. Sometimes Krsna manifests His four armed form and carries His wheel, club, lotus and conch shell there.

The symptoms of His kaisora age are described in Sri Ujjvala-nilamani, but this is such a confidential subject that it is very rare to find someone who can and will explain it and someone who can understand it.

When Rohini devi and the Dvarakavasis heard the comments of Padmavati – that they should work out how much they owe Nanda Baba and pay him, they simply ignored her, thinking her ignorant.

Lord Krsna had a desire to go to Vrndavana, but at the same time He considered, "If I go to Vrndavana, what will happen to Vasudeva, Devaki and all the other Dvarakavasis if they know I want to leave? They will die if they know I want to leave." Uddhava previously went to Vrndavana for three months, and he somewhat knows the heart of Sri Krsna and the Vrajavasis. Krsna therefore cleverly asked him in front of all the others present, "You know what the Vrajavasis want. You know what I can do for them and what I can give them." Krsna considered. "If I myself say that I want to go to Vrndavana, everyone would blame Me, but if Uddhava says I should go there, then nobody will blame Me. They will all blame Uddhava." He therefore very cleverly asked Uddhava this question, and He also began to cry.

Hearing Krsna’s words Uddhava became astonished and said, "What is this? I went to Vrndavana and promised all the Vrajavasis that I would bring Krsna back by hook or by crook. He is Bhagavan and He is sarvajna (all-knowing), so why is He asking me what the Vrajavasis want? They do not want any type of opulence or payment, and they are not interested in anything material or spiritual in the three worlds. They only want that "my Krsna", "my son", "my beloved" should put His lotus feet here in Vrndavana."

Uddhava became disturbed thinking, "Krsna is very crooked, and clever. He knows everything but still he is asking me if He should go to Vrndavana .This means that He does not really want to go there. He is simply cheating everyone by asking me."

In whatever position Krsna is situated, whether He is in Vrndavana, Mathura, Dvaraka or anywhere else, He is always sarvajna – He knows everything. In Mathura He is fully situated with His aisvarya-sakti and He manifests His mood of knowing everything. In Vrndavana, however, He is simultaneously mugdha, like an ignorant child and not knowing anything, and He is sarvajna meaning He knows everything. Both exist at one and the same time. For example, when Krsna is performing rasa-lila with the gopis and playing on His flute, Draupadi is in Hastinapura calling out to Him, "Dusasana is trying to disrobe me. Oh Krsna, save me, save me!" Does Krsna know this? Yes, He knows even in His situation of being in rasa, because it was He who put Draupadi in Her situation of attempted disrobement.

Thinking in this way, Uddhava considered, "Krsna is very cruel-hearted. He is a cheater. His behavior is very poor, otherwise why would He ask me that question?"

When Akrura went to Vrndavana his heart did not melt, When Uddhava went there, however, his heart melted somewhat and he somewhat understood the moods of the Vrajavasis. By the mercy of the gopis he offered many prayers to their lotus feet, and by their mercy realization came in his heart.

All the Vrajavasis have no self-interest, and of all the Vrajavasis the gopis are the topmost. They are the unique examples of the complete definition of pure bhakti as stated in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.11):

anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama

["The cultivation of activities which are meant exclusively for the pleasure of Sri Krsna, or in other words the uninterrupted flow of service to Sri Krsna, performed through all endeavors of the body, mind and speech, and through the expressions of various spiritual sentiments (bhavas), which is not covered by jnana (knowledge aimed at impersonal liberation) and karma (reward-seeking activity), and which is devoid of all desires than the aspiration to bring happiness to Sri Krsna, is called uttama-bhakti, pure devotional service."

The Vrajavasis perform continuous service to Lord Krsna. They are not interested in any type of material opulence from Svarga (heaven) or from anywhere else. This is the difference between the Vrajavasis and the Dvarakavasis. For example, in the previous class we heard how Satyabhama wanted the parijata flower from heaven. So even the Dvarakavasis have some type of desire and want something from Svarga (the heavenly planets). On the other hand the Vrajavasis are not interested in anything material or spiritual. They are only interested in seeing the lotus feet of Krsna again and serving Him.

In the mood of the most exalted gopi, Srimati Radhika, prays,

aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam
adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah

["Let Krsna tightly embrace this maidservant who has fallen at His lotus feet, or let Him trample Me or break My heart by never being visible to Me. He is a debauchee, after all, and can do whatever He likes, but He is still no one other than the worshipable Lord of My heart." (Sri Siksastakam Verse, 8)]

The gopis' goal is Sri Krsna's happiness. They think "If Krsna is happy in Mathura and Dvaraka, we do not want to force Him to return to Vrndavana. Let Him happily stay there."

Srimati Radharani prayed, "I don't want My own happiness. Krsna can do anything He likes. He can make Me happy by embracing Me or He can crush My heart underneath His feet. Even though He is a debauchee and full of bad qualities, He is my only beloved."

When Uddhava was in Vrndavana and heard the prayers of the gopis and the Vrajavasis, he considered, "Maybe the gopis want to give a return message to Krsna." So he asked them three times, "Is there anything you want to say to Krsna?" Srimati Radhika said, "There is no need to give Him any message. In fact, you should not mention that we are suffering in separation from Him in any way. Tell Him that we are very happily residing here in Vrndavana. His heart is very soft, more so than butter. If He hears that we are suffering in His separation, then perhaps He will also experience great suffering – and He may die."

Uddhava now replied to Krsna, "I can give you advice, but I do not know if my advice is good or bad. You can decide for Yourself."

After Krsna killed Kamsa and Carana and Mustika and their friends, Nanda Baba was waiting on his bullock cart just outside Mathura. He waited throughout the night, but Krsna didn't return. The next day Krsna and Balarama somehow managed to meet with him. Krsna was thinking, "What should I do? Should I stay in Mathura or should I return to Vrndavana with Nanda Baba? He said, "O Nanda Baba. Vasudeva and Devaki are your friends. They have lost six sons. Devaki has no sons and no one to comfort her. What should we do?"

Baladeva is the son of Vasudeva, so Nanda Baba suggested, "Balarama can stay in Mathura for a few days."

Balarama said, "That is not possible. I cannot be separated from Krsna."

They finally agreed that Krsna and Balarama would stay in Mathura for a few days, and then they would both return to Vrndavana.

Krsna had become prince and Devaki had given Him many ornaments such as necklaces and armbands. As a token of His affection Krsna gave all this jewelry to Nanda Baba, and Nanda Baba went back to Vrndavana empty-handed – except for the jewelry.

Nanda Baba promised Mother Yasoda and all the Vrajavasis, "Don't fear. I promise to bring Krsna and Balarama back to Vrndavana." When Nanda Baba came back, however, all he had was one pile of jewelry. All the Vrajavasis became grief-stricken and began to accuse Nanda Baba. They said, "What have you done? Have you sold Krsna and Balarama for this jewelry? Nanda Baba was also overwhelmed with grief. He said, "No, my son Krsna is satyavaka – whatever He says must come true. This jewelry is simply His token of affection for you. When He returns to Vrndavana, as He said He would, and sees that you are not wearing these decorations and ornaments, He will be very unhappy. Therefore, in order to fulfill His desire, please wear these ornaments."

If one is a saranagata-bhakta, fully surrendered, Krsna hears his prayers.

sad-anga saranagati hoibe jahara
tahara prarthana sune sri nanda-kumara

["The prayers of one who submits unconditionally to this six-fold surrender are heard by Sri Nanda-kumara." (Sad-Anga Saranagati verse 5)]

If Lord Krsna is totally absorbed in Vrndavana in rasa-lila, day and night serving Srimati Radhika, and if someone like Draupadi, Gajendra or any saranagata bhakta prays to him from the core of his heart, who will hear him? After all, Krsna is totally absorbed there in Vrndavana. Someone may say that the manifestation of Krsna known as Paramatma will hear. But that devotee is not praying to Paramatma, Ksirodakasayi Visnu, or Lord Narayana. He is praying to Sri Krsna, to Nanda-Kumara; so Krsna is bound to hear. He is mugdha in Vrndavana, forgetful of everything except His loving relationships there, but at the same time He is sarvajna. Yogamaya serves Him there; she always searches for any occasion to serve. Although Krsna may not be aware of all the happenings outside His intimate surroundings, she is aware. This is all inconceivable

When Nanda Baba returned alone with the jewels that Krsna had given him, the gopis and all Vrajavasis were thinking," Fie on us. This is how little Krsna appreciates our love for Him. He is giving us these jewels as a payment – so we are the most unfortunate."

Suppose someone goes to a foreign country and sends money every month to his family – will the family be happy? No, because this is only one type of self-interest on the part of that family member. The gopis were lamenting, "This is how little Krsna values our love. We are the most unfortunate. Fie on us and fie on Nanda Baba."

The only reason the gopis and Vrajavasis did not die was because Krsna had promised that He would return the "day after tomorrow." The priya, lover, is very fortunate because she lives only for the happiness of the priyatam, beloved, and the priyatam is most fortunate because he lives only for the happiness of his priya. Both only live for the happiness of each other. This principle of lover and beloved is described in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Cc Madhya-lila ch. 13), a most wonderful and astonishing book.

Srimati Radharani puts a flower in the hand of Lalita and, weeping, told her, "O Lalita, when I die you can give this flower to Krsna. I planted a creeper of malati flowers and I will not be able to nourish it after I die, so you can tell Krsna that I died thinking of Him – and give Him this flower."

When Yasoda devi was waiting for Nanda Baba to return to Vrndavana, she had some hope that Krsna would surely return. When she saw him coming with a bag of jewels, however, her last hope was destroyed. She gave up eating, sleeping and all other bodily activities, and simply wept day and night. This was the condition of Yasoda Maiya, so what to speak of the condition of the gopis.

Uddhava now considered, "What can I do? I cannot go there again, because I promised the gopis that I would return and definitely bring Krsna. Nanda Baba was weeping and crying for three days and his life airs had come up to his throat, but he did not die. Just before someone dies their life airs come up to their mouth. Nanda Baba was thinking, 'If Krsna comes back to Vrndavana and we have all died, He will experience great suffering and pain. So we should live – for Krsna's happiness. My son always tells the truth, so we must have faith in His words. When He says He will return, He will certainly return.' With this hope, therefore, the Vrajavasis are maintaining their lives."

Krsna had sent a message with Uddhava saying, "O Nanda Baba, don't worry. I stay here with the Yadus and all your friends like Vasudeva and Devaki – only because they are related to you. I stay with them to give them some happiness." When Nanda Baba saw this message he told all the Vrajavasis, "My son is truthful, He will surely return just as He said." Krsna had written, "Nanda Baba, you are the life of My life. I must come to see you again." Nanda Baba used many types of logic to help all the Vrajavasis understand that, "Krsna has a few duties there, like killing Jarasandha and a few other demons, but when He is finished He will return. This jewelry is not a sign of neglect; it is a sign of His prema for us. When He sees us wearing this jewelry He will become very happy because we fulfilled His desire. All the Vrajavasis complained about the words of Nanda Baba. Uddhava considered that the Vrajavasis were very simple but that Krsna was very crooked – because even after hearing this He did not return to Vrndavana.

Uddhava said, "I went to Vrndavana to try to pacify the Vrajavasis but their separation increased – more and more. O Krsna, don't you know that the Vrajavasis have unlimited love towards You? Their love is like an ocean, and still You neglect them. What is this?!" Uddhava remembered that Krsna had sent a message to the gopis which told them to meditate on Him: "Be in samadhi. Just as the earth is everywhere, so I am everywhere and nothing is separate from Me. This universe is made of earth, air, fire, water, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego – which all comes from Me. You, and everything in this world, are nothing but Me, the Supersoul; I am all-pervading. You can therefore meditate, and you can see Me in your meditation." This was all jnana (knowledge of God's opulence). The Vrajavasis put that jnana in a cloth, threw it in the Yamuna, and it flowed down to Varanasi (a place of studying jnana).

Krsna later gave the same message to the gopis at Kuruksetra, and hearing it they became angry. The gopis are always in a natural samadhi. They always think of Krsna in walking, eating and everything they do. They replied to Krsna's words, "Don't tell us to meditate. We don't want to think of You. We try to forget You and to think of our household affairs, but we cannot. Your instructions for us to perform bhakti, to take us out of the material world, is not very instructive to us.

Srimati Radharani continued, "My mind and Vrndavana are one. You tell Me to think of You in My mind, but My mind and Vrndavana are the same. So therefore, if You put Your lotus feet on the land of Vrndavana, this will be true meditation."

Gaura Premanande.
http://tribes.tribe.net/gurudeva/

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

new levels of devotion

amrta — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 05:57:58 GMT

i am seeing the need to reconnect myself to the divine.
to drink in the real nectar
and surrender myself to the unchanging. sometimes i forget, or make it hard on myself. sometimes i think the daily routines and activities are the most important, or at least that is how i act..and i am sitting in the spiral, remembering all that i have to be thankful for does not come from me, but through humility and devotion to the God that takes the best care of me, and always will.
all there is to do is bow down and give thanks.

posted in Devoted to God~! - 2 replies

Daily Zen.

lodha — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 04:18:03 GMT

Wanting nothing with all your heart, stop the stream
When the world dissolves, everything becomes clear.
Go beyond this way or that way
To the farther shore where the world dissolves,
And everything becomes clear.
Beyond this shore and the farther shore,
Beyond the beyond,
Where there is no beginning, no end,
Without fear, go.

- Dhammapada

Note: No comment , a blank is good enough.

posted in Devoted to God~! - 5 replies

free Bhakti University

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 04:17:55 GMT

http://bhaktiuniversity.com/bhakti/

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

New Ram Das site up

Naveen108 — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 23:41:44 GMT

NAMASTE

here is the e-mail i got today from Krishna Das site telling of the great new site that is up for Ram Das.

New Ram Dass Website

We are proud to announce the release of the new Ram Dass web portal and interactive satsang, www.ramdass.com. This new web site will be a platform for all of Ram Dass' teachings - video, audio, text and photo archives; live talks and one on one conferences and a constant source of information and news for all of his activities from his home in Maui, Hawaii. Please go to ramdass.com where all of the details are available to join Ram Dass' interactive satsang.

"I have been traveling these many years to reach out to souls, but now I think the technology can serve us and I can stay put for a while in Maui, where I am healing."

Ram Dass

From the Center For Spiritual Studies - A non-profit foundation dedicated to the teachings of Ram Dass

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 2 replies

na dhanam... give me devotion!

amritavidya — Sat, 20 May 2006 10:23:39 GMT

bhakt de shakti de prema de ma

Na Dhanam na janam na ca sundarim
kavitam va jagadisha kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare
bhavatad bhakti ahaituki twayi

O Lord! I do not desire wealth, fame, followers, a beautiful husband or wife, flowery words of praise or the comforts of this world. I do not even ask for liberation - all i ask is selfless devotion to you, birth after birth.

to truly love. for the sake of love. this is true love!

posted in Devoted to God~! - 5 replies

A drop of devotion

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:35:12 GMT

O Effulgent Being, the one without a second. The ruler of the universe.
I seek refuge in your radiance. I wish for nothing except your love and compassion.

Baba Hari Dass

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

Giving thanks to the Mother

Naveen108 — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 15:27:37 GMT

NAMASTE

every time i see a lake or the rain i think of what Caitanaya Mahaprabhu said many years ago::::

O Ganga-Devi , your waters are the ambrosia of love of Godhead. The mere utterance of your name invokes devotional service to the supreme Lord. By your mercy , the living entities aquire a tast for chanting lord Krishna"s name.

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 2 replies

hari bol

Sat, 15 Jul 2006 15:49:50 GMT

hari bol, hari bol , hari bol

posted in Devoted to God~! - 2 replies

Buddha's wisdom.

lodha — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:48:07 GMT

On hearing the teaching ,the wise become perfectly purified ,like a lake deep ,clear and still.-Dhammapada.

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

albuquerque family??

strawbelly — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 01:34:05 GMT

anyOne in albuquerque? i'm seekin devotional familee...

love n bless to highestness,

kay'a ma~~*

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

Daily Zen.

lodha — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 02:35:19 GMT

Know the essence of mind. Its intrinsic essence is pure clarity. It is essentially the same as a Buddha. Know the functions of the mind. Its functions produce the treasure of teachings. When its activity is always silent, myriad illusions become suchness. Constantly be aware, without stopping. When the aware mind is present, it senses the formlessness of things. Constantly see your body as empty and quiet, inside and outside communing sameness. Plunge the body into the realm of reality, where there has never been any obstruction. Keep to unity without shifting. With constant presence, whether active or still, the student can see the Buddha nature clearly.

- Tao-hsin (580-651)

Note:-Don't comment. A blank is enough.Plz co-operate.

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

Daily Zen.

lodha — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 01:22:11 GMT

All those who suffer in the world do so
Because of their desire for their own happiness.
All those happy in the world are so
Because of their desire for the happiness of others.

- Santideva

Note:- Don't comment.If you agree live with it and if not, don't. If you think you do and you meet me on same level of mind I did love to be a friend of yours.Thanx. for co-operation.

posted in Devoted to God~! - 0 replies

Daily Zen. [Lin-chi]

lodha — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:25:04 GMT

From the Record of Lin-chi

Someone asked: “What do you mean by the true Buddha, the true Dharma, and the true Way? Would you be good enough to explain to us?”

The Master said: “Buddha is the cleanness and purity of the mind. The Dharma is the shining brightness of the mind. The Way is the pure light that is never obstructed anywhere. The three are in fact one. All are empty names and have no true reality.”

“Suppose you yearn to be a sage. Sage is just a word, sage. There are some types of students who go off to Mt. Wu-t’ai looking for Manjushri. They’re wrong from the very start! Manjushri isn’t on Mt. Wu-t’ai. Would you like to get to know Manjushri? You here in front of my eyes, carrying out your activities, from first to last never changing, wherever you go never doubting; this is the living Manjushri.

“Your mind that each moment shines with the light of nondiscrimination, wherever it may be, this is the true Samantabhadra. Your mind that each moment is capable of freeing itself from its shackles, everywhere emancipated, this is the method of meditating on Kwan-yin. These three act as host and companion to one another, all three appearing at the same time when they appear, one in three, three in one. Only when you have understood all this will you be ready to read the scriptural teachings.”

“You can’t seem to stop your mind from racing around everywhere seeking something. That’s why the Ancestor said, ‘Hopeless fellows using their head to look for their heads!’ You must right now turn your light around and shine it on yourselves, not go seeking somewhere else. Then you will understand that in body and mind you are no different from the Ancestors and buddhas, and that there is nothing to do. Do that and you may speak of ‘getting the Dharma.’

“In my view, there are, in fact, no great number of principles to be grasped. If you want to use the thing, then use it. If you don’t want to use it, then let it be.

“People here and there talk about the six rules and the ten thousand practices, supposing that these constitute the Dharma of the buddhas. But I say that these are just adornments of the sect, the trappings of Buddhism. They are not the Dharma of the buddhas. You may observe the fasts and observe the precepts, or carry a dish of oil without spilling, but if your Dharma-eye is not wide open, then all you’re doing is running up a big debt.

“As for those who go off to live all alone on a solitary peak, eating only one meal a day at the hour of dawn, sitting in meditation for long periods without lying down, performing circumambulations six times a day; such persons are all just creating karma. Then there are those who cast away their head and eyes, marrow and brains, their domains and cities, family, horses, the seven precious things, throwing them all away. People who think in that way are all inflicting pain on their body and mind, and in consequence will invite some kind of painful retribution. Better to do nothing, to be simple, direct, with nothing mixed in.

“Followers of the Way, don’t take the Buddha to be some sort of ultimate goal. Bodhisattvas and arhats are like chains for fettering people.

Followers of the Way, there is no Buddha to be gained, and the Three Vehicles, the five natures, the teaching of the perfect and immediate enlightenment are all simply medicines to cure diseases of the moment. None have any true reality. Even if they had, they would still all be mere shams, placards proclaiming superficial matters, so many words lined up, pronouncments of such kind.

“Followers of the Way, even if you can understand a hundred sutras and treatises, you’re not as good as one plain monk who does nothing. As soon as you acquire a little of such understanding, you start treating others with scorn and contempt, vying and struggling with them like so many asuras, blinded by ignorance of self and others, forever creating karma.

When you get hungry, eat your rice;

When you get sleepy, close your eyes.

Fools may laugh at me,

But wise people will know what I mean.

Ming-tsan

“Followers of the Way, don’t search for anything in written words. The exertions of your mind will tire it out; you’ll gulp cold air and gain nothing. Better to realize that at every moment all is conditioned and without true birth, to go beyond the bodhisattvas of the Three Vehicle provisional doctrines.

“Don’t dawdle your days away! In the past, before I had come to see things right, there was nothing but blackness all around me. But I knew that I shouldn’t let the time slip by in vain, and so, belly all afire, mind in a rush, I raced all over in search of the Way. Later I was able to get help from others, so that finally I could do as I’m doing today, talking with you followers of the Way. As followers of the Way, let me urge you not to do what you are doing just for the sake of appearances. See how quickly the world goes by! A good friend and teacher is hard to find, as rarely met with as the udumbara f lower.

“If you want to be always in accord with the Dharma, never give in to doubt. ‘Spread it out and it fills the whole Dharma-realm; gather it up, and it’s tinier than a thread of hair.’ Its lone brightness gleaming forth, it has never lacked anything. ‘The eye doesn’t see it; the ear doesn’t hear it.’

“What shall we call this thing? A man of old said, ‘Say something about a thing, and you’re already off the mark.’ You’ll just have to see it for yourselves. What other way is there?”

Lin-chi

Excerpted from The Roaring Stream - A New Zen Reader

Edited by Nelson Foster and Jack Shoemaker 1996

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

devoted to self

amrta — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:59:11 GMT

have you ever considered that in your devotion to god, you are showing devotion to your self?
is this to your "higher" spiritual self or could it be to all the aspects of Self, big and small self?

it is much easier for me to be devoted to something external and a yearslong practice to recognize that which i feel such gratitude, such depth of compassion and longing is the same as me.

what is a tangible way to be devoted to oneself? is it through self-respect? self-care? honoring boundaries? Prioritizing feelings?

posted in Devoted to God~! - 5 replies

Deities Drinking Milk Offerings Again

Naveen108 — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 19:40:25 GMT

NAMASTE

Thought this was fitting to share here.

www.hindustantimes.comNEW DELHII, INDIA, August 24, 2006: Thousands of people tonight thronged temples across Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab to watch Deities of Goddess Durga and God Siva drinking milk offered to them by devotees. In a rerun of similar incidents claimed to have taken place across the country in 1995, a large number of people queued up outside temples in Mathura and nearby holy cities of Vrindavan and Govardhan in UP, Vadodara in Gujarat and Kurukshetra in Haryana and Ludhiana in Punjab following claims that the Deities are taking milk offered to them. "A cup of milk was offered to Durgaji in Rama Nand Ashram Goverdhan this evening and she was not only pleased but has drank all. It is a good omen and the future of the country is bright," noted Saint Mahamandaleshwar Krishna Das Kanchan Maharaj said in Mathura. (HPI note: The 1995 "Milk Miracle" in which Lord Ganesha consumed milk was witnessed by thousands of devotees in countries around the world, as well as video-taped.)

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 9 replies

First Kumbha Mela in the USA

Naveen108 — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 14:14:49 GMT

NAMASTE

I see this as being a great blessing from the Divine to have such a event being held in the US at this time in life. I seen this posting about it on the Hindu Press Internationals web site.

06: (HPI note: Following is a press release from the organizers.) The first Kumbha Mela in the USA is being organized on September 10, 2006 at Bren Center, University of California Irvine, to usher in peace by infusing collective positivity. In India for thousands of years, millions of yogis, masters and saints have come together every 12 years at auspicious planetary convergences, to bring healing energy to the planet, and share information about spiritual practices. The Kumbha Mela in India brings 70 million people together, and is the largest spiritual gathering in the world. Now for the first time, the Kumbha Mela will take place in the USA. The Kumbha Mela USA is organized under the auspices of Paramahamsa Nithyananda, Nithyananda Foundation; Swami Ishwarananda, Chinmaya Mission; Swami Sarvadevananda, Vedanta Society; Dr. Acharya Yogeesh, Yogeesh Ashram; and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh.

On September 10, 2006, thousands of spiritual aspirants, yogis, masters and spiritual leaders will converge in California to usher in the cosmic energy to create more peace on planet Earth. The highlights of the celebration include a powerful Vishwa Shanti Yagna, a Vedic style fire ceremony to invoke peace energy through one of the purest elements of nature--fire, an abhishekam, or offering of water from 21 holy rivers of India to all the Deities present, and a grand procession with participation by various spiritual organizations from across the country. Homas and aratis will add to the festivities and mahaprasad, or energized food for offering to everyone, will be prepared from rice collected from thousands of homes. This day-long event starts at 2:00 p.m..

In LOVE and LIGHT

PRITAM

posted in Devoted to God~! - 5 replies

.........Jai Balaram!!...........

Sandra Ma — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 04:17:51 GMT

Namaste
wondering if anyone would like to share any ideas
for offerings on Balarams appearance day
I was thinking about maybe
bringing something with HONEY?
maybe some type of sweet ball?
Mata is making Dal, rice, subji.

Hare Krsna

Jai to the assembled devotee's

posted in Devoted to God~! - 2 replies

Man Of Tao

lodha — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 06:49:24 GMT

A student once asked, “What is the difference between a Man of Tao and a little man?” The Zen Master replied, “It is simple. When the little man becomes a student, he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone. Upon hearing the words of the master, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon learning the ways of the master, he will parade through town telling one and all about his new knowledge”.
The Zen Master continues, “When the Man of Tao becomes a student, he will bow his head in gratitude. Upon hearing the words of the master, he will bow his head and his shoulders. Upon learning the ways of the master, he will bow to the waist and quietly walk alongside the wall so that people will not see him or notice him”.
f Tao

posted in Devoted to God~! - 7 replies

Chomolungma

bradleyalbus — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 19:04:58 GMT

Have been reading about the tallest mountain in the world, "Chomolungma", and how she is seen as the "mother goddess of the world" to Tibetans and local peoples.

Many people are upset that we westerners have tried to rename a mountain that already has an ancient named and is so highly revered.

Pretty interesting

Harmony & blessings,
Silly_Love

posted in Devoted to God~! - 14 replies

Guru Purnima Day

Naveen108 — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 13:05:47 GMT

NAMASTE

Practices done on this day will bring growth and auspiciousness in ones life.
By doing so we see all as one.

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

one of my favourite prayers

bhakta — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 03:10:11 GMT

The Universal Prayer
from Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh

O adorable Lord of mercy and Love!
Salutations and prostrations unto thee.
Thou art omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient.
Thou art Satchitananda.
Thou art the indweller of all beings.
Grant us an understanding heart,
equal vision,
balanced mind,
faith,
devotion,
and wisdom.
Grant us inner spiritual strength
to resist temptation and to control the mind.
Free us from egoism, lust, greed, hatred and jealousy.
Fill our hearts with divine virtues.

Let us behold thee in all these names and forms.
Let us serve thee in all these names and forms.
Let us ever remember thee.
Let us ever sing thy glories.
Let thy name be ever on our lips.
Let us abide in thee forever and ever.

Om om.

posted in Devoted to God~! - 1 reply

every act can become devotion

Tue, 30 May 2006 04:26:59 GMT

I realized today afte I got a piano that even the music I will eb playing is devotional
everything comes from God
not just kirtan but
everything
and with that understanding
I feel that a human being can relate to everything as a relaitonship with the beloved

posted in Devoted to God~! - 27 replies

''Spirituality begins were intellingence ends"

Naveen108 — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 19:30:42 GMT

NAMASTE

In my linage Shri Dhayanyogi-ji would often remind devotees on the words of Swamii Vivekanada's words ((( Spirituality begins were intelingence ends".
This brings to mind of all that is going on in the world now and threw history were wars
and religions have fought over each others doctrines and do so today.Were i wander is were was Spirituality lost and the lack of intellingence brought in???In the vedas we find the answers to this.But still this maya of mind clouds the foundation for most jivas to be devoted to the Divine.Is this then the Divine showing all souls the true light????For myself true devotion to the Divine starts when all dogmas are surpassed and one follows there true Dharma and merges with the All.

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in Devoted to God~! - 4 replies