Is Shaktism 'Special'?

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Msbauju:

 

Another lovely quote. But I wonder, could these observations be

applied to any conception of the Divine, or are they more or less

specific to Devi and Her worship?

 

Chidananda says, "Without Her grace, most difficult it is to get an

opportunity to think of Her, to remember Her, to speak of Her, and

to utter Her glorious names, calling upon Her as Mother."

 

Ramakrishna says that only "through Her grace [does a person's mind]

turn toward Herself."

 

But is all this just the typical sentiment of many faiths around the

world -- that its own adherents are somehow special, "chosen"

people? Or is this something entirely different?

 

I've been told by many knowledgeable and experienced sadhaks that

Devi chooses very, very few to worship Her as Supreme -- rather than

simply as consort of some form of Vishnu or Siva (a theory seemingly

supported by the proportional tiny-ness of Shaktism compared to the

other major schools of Hinduism).

 

But I wonder why this is? Why do these two great sages quoted above

agree that it "most difficult" to "become devoted to the Lotus Feet

of the Divine Mother"? Why does the "grace" that "turns the mind

toward Herself" apparently descend upon so few?

 

Just curious, in case anyone wishes to share their thoughts ...

 

DB

 

, "msbauju" <msbauju>

wrote:

> I ran across the following Ramakrishna quote yesterday; it

reminded

> me of the section of devishakti's post that DB commented on:

>

> "The mind can disentangle itself from worldliness if, through Her

> grace, She makes it turn toward Herself. Only then does it become

> devoted to the Lotus Feet of the Divine Mother."

> - Sri Ramakrishna

>

> , "devi_bhakta"

> <devi_bhakta> wrote:

> > I like this very much. Thank you.

> >

> > , "devishakti_india"

> > <devishakti_india> wrote:

> >

> > *** [L]et us ever be aware that even this

> > privilege of worshiping Her -

> > - glorifying Her and dwelling upon Her greatness --

> > is only due to Her

> > compassion and grace. Without Her grace,

> > most difficult it is to get

> > an opportunity to think of Her,

> > to remember Her, to speak of Her, and

> > to utter Her glorious names, calling upon Her as Mother. ***