Bhaktas worshipping more than one?

November 18, 2004

-

>

> The Shakta takes the Tantric view that the human body and human

> experience is a microcosm of the Cosmos. Since it is our experience

> that it is Woman, not Man, who gives birth, Devi Herself is seen as

> the principle form of God, producing all other dieties, including

> Shiva, out of Her own body. Again, this does not mean that Shiva or

> whatever god cannot be worshiped. It simply means that they are

> understood by the Shakta as only aspects of Her Totality.

The experience of woman giving birth is limited to beings in this

planet.

In my opinion the feminine and masculine are two different forms of

energy.

Does anyone observe differences between male ascetics and female

ascetics?.

November 18, 2004

In a message dated 11/18/2004 9:03:16 PM Eastern Standard Time,

sephirah5 writes:

In

the absence of a guru,if I didn't know which one would

be good I would worship Ganesha and ask Him to direct

me.

Yes. In the abscence of a Guru I wopuld first ask Ganish for help since he

remopves obstacles and opens doors. Surely you can never go wrong with him!

Shiva may seem to be a "default" but I think more westerners actually embrace

Krishna dur to the work of ISKON. In Bengal people always assumed I was a

Hari Krishna, then I reassured them of my love for Kali and stated that I could

never deal with the haircut! lol

I did seem to get more respect as a Kali Bhakta visiting for my love of her

and not being a member to any organization. The Sadhus and crazy Babas tended

to like me

November 18, 2004

In a message dated 11/18/2004 9:11:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,

angelusmortiis writes:

I get frustrated when some Wiccans (I say some, not all) or any Pagan for

that matter will automatically stick a picture of Kali on their altar and

start worshipping her just because they consider her a "dark goddess." Them

doing that and playing on the general Western view of her just proves to me

that they did not put any effort in studying her, how her devotees in the

East view her, and the basic philosophy of the Sanatana Dharma. I will be

damned if I fall in that same trap.

Blessings,Right you are!

I had a female aquaintance tell me she wanted to have good and evil

contrasting tattoos. She then went on to say that she was thinking of having the

Virgin

Mary on one arm and Kali (she pronounced like cali) on the other. I then went

on to explain that they are basically the same thing for most people even

though they may seem different they are both very much benevolent Mother dieties

once you understand. It all seemed to confuse her so much that she changed the

plan altogether, hahaha

November 18, 2004

In a message dated 11/18/2004 9:11:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,

angelusmortiis writes:

I get frustrated when some Wiccans (I say some, not all) or any Pagan for

that matter will automatically stick a picture of Kali on their altar and

start worshipping her just because they consider her a "dark goddess."

Also I might add that it is very hard for people here to break free of the

social conditiong that they are subjected to growing up.

Me following this type of spiritual path has created friction with my family

and mostly just because they do not understand it all, or it is over their

head. Nonetheless, my Mother overcame her strict Catholic upbringing enough to

buy me a beautiful picture of Kali from the California Mandir and it now hangs

in my living room. Since it came from my earthly mother as well it is very dear

to my heart.

Honestly though, liberation is what we seek, so the eastern deities may be

quite perfect to break free of that conditioning since they are so different

then what we usually get here!

November 18, 2004

In a message dated 11/18/2004 9:12:29 PM Eastern Standard Time,

angelusmortiis writes:

Yes. I started getting better results when I realized

>I was using techniques designed for men, and changed

>accordingly. Women are better served with more active,

>dynamic meditations, like dancing.

I'm so glad you can see these things as they are and act accordingly! People

tend to get very angry when you simply label things as feminie or masculine

anymore, it can be hard to even discuss such issues without their being

flare-ups!

Perhaps this is why Kali has been so great for me. I mean my attitude toward

all things feminine has become more sensitive and without being a submissive

zealot either.

She magnifies my own feminine side and it helps me achieve a balance in that

way too.

So many reasons I love my Ma Kali!

November 18, 2004

In a message dated 11/18/2004 3:15:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,

devi_bhakta writes:

You added, "do Sakta's worship ganesha?"

We most certainly do. In Srividya, it is integral.

DB

I also do. He was the one I started with for the same reasons previously

mentioned. Ganesha is a super friendly deity no doubt about that! otherwise how

could so many love him?

Now, I do have to add that in West Bengal where Kali worship is umm pretty

prevalent I did not see such a high regard for Ganesh. No disrespect, but he

just did not seem as generally important.

I mostly saw him in every shop keepers altar along with Lakshmi to help in

the business transactions and such. There are swastikas at Dakshinishwar and

that is his sign, but I saw no effigies there, same with Tarapith and Kalighat.

November 18, 2004

Devi_bhakta,

Male ascetics in indian stories usually after years of Tapas etc

would fall for some shakti and again live in the sensual realm for

many years.

The female ascetics transcend the sensual realm, become shaktis with

immense spiritual power, they worship shiva and become shiva.

This is just an observation.

-J

, "Devi Bhakta"

<devi_bhakta> wrote:

>

> Dear Jessica:

>

> You write: "The experience of woman giving birth is limited to beings

> in this planet."

>

> If you mean, by the term woman, "the female of the terrestrial human

> species," then I would have to agree.

>

> But if you mean that "the experience of the *feminine* giving birth is

> limited to beings of this planet," then I would respectfully observe

> that your theory contradicts the philosophy of the Tantras, which

> allots to the Feminine the property of creative generation.

>

> *** In my opinion the feminine and masculine are two different forms

> of energy. ***

>

> This is absolutely true. But the two aspects of this energy each have

> their own qualities and functions.

>

> *** Does anyone observe differences between male ascetics and female

> ascetics? ***

>

> In what sense?

>

> DB

November 18, 2004

I imagine I am not the only one who has noticed

this..but for my part the Gods approached ME, not I

Them... and many Western people have told me about

being "followed" by Hindu Deities; appearing in their

dreams, constantly popping up all over, etc. Sometimes

there may be only one, sometimes several! But Shiva is

kind of a "default setting" (can't go wrong with Shiva

Puja! Even Krishna worships Shiva!), as is Ganesh. In

the absence of a guru,if I didn't know which one would

be good I would worship Ganesha and ask Him to direct

me.

Lilith M.

--- Anya Mortiis <angelusmortiis a

écrit :

>

> Hopefully this is not too silly of a question,

> but...

>

> Let's say you were...for instance, a Shiva bhakta.

> Would it be considered

> breaking away from the "bhakta" aspect of your path

> if you decided to

> worship other deities every now and then? I

> wondered about that, since I am

> fairly novice in the Sanatana Dharma.

>

> Just food for thought...maybe I am too analytical

> for my own good. The

> question came to my head when discussing Bhakti Yoga

> with someone.

>

> Blessings,

> Anya

>

Vous manquez d’espace pour stocker vos mails ?

Mail vous offre GRATUITEMENT 100 Mo !

Créez votre Mail sur http://fr.benefits./

Le nouveau Messenger est arrivé ! Découvrez toutes les nouveautés pour

dialoguer instantanément avec vos amis. A télécharger gratuitement sur

http://fr.messenger.

November 18, 2004

Yes I feel this is very true; the deities are very real and are not

some symbolic representation of attributes as many would have it. I

was reading "Pathnotes of an American Ninja" by Glenn Morris which

has some good tips on sadhana but more oriented towards Zen

teachings, where he states he had a vision of a Hindu temple harlot

dancing in front of him with a mini-skirt and a bare breast plate,

with creepers around around body parts- at the time he did not know

who this was but years later when he came across a picture of Lord

Siva, he instantly recognized the Lord as the temple harlot LOL.

Just to give you Morris's background- he was raised a Methodist

fundamentalist with many years of Zen based teachings, with no

exposure to Hindu figures- yet the Lord blessed him with a vision.

-yogaman

, Lili Masamura <sephirah5>

wrote:

> I imagine I am not the only one who has noticed

> this..but for my part the Gods approached ME, not I

> Them... and many Western people have told me about

> being "followed" by Hindu Deities; appearing in their

> dreams, constantly popping up all over, etc. Sometimes

> there may be only one, sometimes several! But Shiva is

> kind of a "default setting" (can't go wrong with Shiva

> Puja! Even Krishna worships Shiva!), as is Ganesh. In

> the absence of a guru,if I didn't know which one would

> be good I would worship Ganesha and ask Him to direct

> me.

> Lilith M.

November 18, 2004

Yes. I started getting better results when I realized

I was using techniques designed for men, and changed

accordingly. Women are better served with more active,

dynamic meditations, like dancing. We are striving for

balance, here; men mostly need to slow down, and women

need to speed up, as a rule of thumb. I was also

better served when I relied on my own intuition, and

"figured it out" for myself. We already "submit"

enough as women, now we need to take a more leading

role and work on developing our dynamic wills. This

is not done by bowing and scraping to yet ANOTHER

overlord!

Lilith M.

--- jessica_malone1000 <jessica_malone1000

a écrit :

>

> -

> >

> > The Shakta takes the Tantric view that the human

> body and human

> > experience is a microcosm of the Cosmos. >

> Does anyone observe differences between male

> ascetics and female

> ascetics?.

>

Vous manquez d’espace pour stocker vos mails ?

Mail vous offre GRATUITEMENT 100 Mo !

Créez votre Mail sur http://fr.benefits./

Le nouveau Messenger est arrivé ! Découvrez toutes les nouveautés pour

dialoguer instantanément avec vos amis. A télécharger gratuitement sur

http://fr.messenger.

November 18, 2004

It is interesting that you mention dancing, since I actually bellydance now.

I practice for at least an hour (or more) for most of the days of the

week. I found it not only stress-relieving, but a spiritual experience.

Also of recent months, I have been -trying- to follow my intuition. It has

not been easy since I am so used to using my mind for everything, my

intuition for nothing. Perhaps that is one of the lessons I need to learn

in this life time - to balance out my mind and intuition. I am making