Where to start?- Start right here!!!

[Guest guest]

Firstly my apologies for the delay in this reply. I was actually away

to Varanasi for prayers and solitude. Secondly thank you for your

kind words.

 

Now let us go to your queries;

 

How will I be able to love Kali.

 

This is a very beautiful and deep question. Somehow how the english

word "love" does not really portray the sanskrit word

called "bhakthi". However, I believe this is what you are

actually

asking; that is cultivation of bhakthi towards your beloved chosen

deity of worship. To be able to love her in such a way requires

cultivation of pure unconditional devotion in your heart first of

all. A lot of followers believe they love their chosen ideal of

worship but actually are not .Now how to know this ? And how to

cultivate such a pure unconditional love for Her ? What are the

symptoms? How does this lead to final emancipation? Are our feelings

like the rest of Her evolved children ? Are our spiritual fervor

like Ramkrishna, Kamalakanta , Ramprasad and so forth. To know this

and to cultivate such a love Narada Bhakthi Sutra and Sandilya

Bhakthi Sutra would be a good reference point. This scripture would

lay down the way step by step and progressive methodologies to

cultivate bhakthi in your chosen path. It will even show where

you're

now in bhakthi yoga and how to move further. To be able to cultivate

pure love for Her simply follow the steps prescribed in this

scripture.

 

Often I have seen pretenders to misquote a statement from Bhagavad

Gita which states that you could offer even a leave as offering of

pure devotion to your chosen deity thus stating that so long we do

anything in name love the deity would accept it. But they fail to

reckon the underlying truth that cultivation of pure devotion just

like any other method like Jnana Yoga, karma yoga etc. needs

progressive and evaluative measurement to finally bring you to the

highest goal of realization. Without this, love is only a mere word

to hide our laziness to explore the realm of our heart further with

proper yardstick that would actually expose our true sincerity and

determination to attain Her Divine Feet.

 

If you like we could discuss on Narada Bhakthi sutra in the future .

 

 

I understand that puja is done in order for us to cultivate love for

her.

 

You are almost right in your assertion. Firstly puja came from the

sanskrit word which is a combination of punya and jata . Puja is

accumulation of the highest merit .In our tradition we feel the

highest merit one can obtain in this life in establishment of

communion with the highest ideal of perfection-our choosen ideal of

worship. This would lead to final unification with the absolute

reality.Others call this as guided meditation

 

When you mentioned that puja is done to cultivate love for Her you

are not very far from the truth . From bhakthi yoga point of

view ,this puja is a good tool to create one of the nine steps

towards cultivation of bhakthi-pure devotion for the Supreme Reality.

But the bhakthi text does not use the specific word puja instead it

uses the word smarana or in very literal english it would be constant

remembrance of the Supreme Reality. To cultivate constant remembrance

of Supreme Reality, puja could be an ideal tool. I would explain how

in short while

 

Now puja is also relevant to asthanga yoga method(eight limb yoga

practice) We all know the ancient seers (rishis)have prescribed

various yoga methodologies to obtain final emancipation from this

wheel of samsara(cycle of life ) Yoga came from the yuj which signify

to yoke together . In plain english yoga means union with the Supreme

Being. This union according to Vedanta philosophy would tantamount to

four great truths or Maha Vakyas which bring to realization that

Brahman alone exist and you are that Brahman. Thus the distinction of

Parama Atma (Supreme Reality) and jiva atma (conditional self) is

lost in this unification known as yoga . Thus various yoga method was

laid down by the seers like karma yoga , laya yoga ,jnana yoga,

kundalini yoga and so forth to have this final moksha- liberation

from the cycle and when you have realized this you are known as a

realized soul. This is what final step of spirituality know as self

realization. Realization of the Self!!!

 

Now according to asthanga yoga there are 8 steps to attain this

state. Firstly there is yama and niyama- the moral and ethical

observation for a a new spiritual aspirant. Then he has to practice

pratyahara (restraint of his 5 senses). Then he must be able to bring

of his attention together for cultivating concentration, which will

lead him to meditation. This is from dharana (concentration) to dhyana

(meditation) that would lead to final emancipation. Now what it means

here is a spiritual aspirant no matter which path or religion he

takes need to purify his external state by moral and ethical

observance . This would prepare him for constant meditation on the

Supreme Reality however he need to be able to calm his mind and the

only way he could do that is by controlling his five senses that is

hearing, seeing, touching, tasting and smell. Once this is done he

could bring his mind to attention and this would allow him to

cultivate concentration that is neccesary for meditation.

 

Now puja actually would be helpful at pratyahara level up to dhyana

level. Whilst an aspirant is doing puja his mouth recites the mantra,

while his ears hearing the vibration, his hand would be serving the

deity while his eyes is fixed on his deity and the his nose would be

fixed to the divine atmosphere. This is actually focussing all the 5

sense to the one Supreme Deity . And at final stage when he does

japa he is mentally repeating Her divine name thus concentration is

enhanced setting the atmosphere appropriate for meditation on the

Chosen Ideal of Worship.

 

But we as human always look for result for everything we do what

about her and how sure are we that ahe too don't look for the same

result

 

 

Yes my dear; so long you are in this human body you will expect

results because you have desires . Unfulfilled expectation evolved

from desires which will beget frustration that creates anger .One way

out of it is by surrendering everything to the Divine Will of Ma.

Unconditional surrender is not easy but we all can cultivate it .That

is why in the end of puja (if you learnt from proper tradition)

would have a portion where there will be a surrendering of the fruit

(merit of doing puja) to Her Divine Feet as well. By surrendering

everything to Her Divine will you will learn to be humble and you

would have a peek at Her mysteries divine self – Maya. The child

expects the mother to cuddle and carry him always but the mother

knows what is the best for it growing years and let him cry but when

the baby cries its heart out and calls for the mother, the mother

rushes to its aid. As soon as the child stops crying the mother

leaves it down and continues with her daily chores. This is similar

to our Ma Kali, She knows what we need in this life and provides for

us accordingly. She knows our expectation too and sometimes She do

pampers us but when it is necessary for our evolution into divinity

sometimes She watches us with glee at our confrontation with Her

divine play Maya .

 

If there is any, Her expectation, that it will only be our well

being. Ramprasad use to sing that Maa is playing kites and once a

while when one of the kite string give away as it move higher against

the opposite wind . She claps her hand in glee watching this

particular kite flying freely on the sky. This kite is none other

than us the caged soul within the body . The wind is confrontation in

life that pushes against us whilst the string is Maya . when cut away

from shackles of maya and flying freely in state of moksha, Maa

smiles and claps Her hand happily seeing another one of her son free

but remember she was earlier playing the kite – the whole thing

was

only Her lila…………….So the best way is to surrender to Her

Divine Will

( One way is saying her name with have deep breath out) I know this

is not easy mental speculation would creates hoax in your mind but

later this will be swept away in her current of oceanic love

………..

 

How do we know that she love us too.

 

This will disappear when you truly love Her. Expectation would

disappear and limitation would dissolve. Results would not matter

anymore but the scriptures would be your measurement in absence of

bonafide guru if you do not have one by then. When Bhagawan

Ramakrishna always felt hungry , his body aching and was lost to the

world ,the learned of that age consulted various saints for

answer .And among them one states he was in state of mahabhava this

was according to scriptural identification of his state then !! To

check this they donated everything in the temple stock room that

appeased his hunger, the deity in the temple was given bath that

calmed his body this confirmed the scriptural assertion. You too can

know she loves you or not by using the scriptures to your

assistance . But if you ask me as a person this would not matter to

you when you are madly in love with Her one day. For you would not

care whether She loves you or not but that only you love her so much

that tears trickle form you eyes at the very mention of Her name .

The gooze bumps that you have at merely watching Her eyes .You will

not have the question does she love you but how much you love her

alone would be you quest in life .Don't worry you will know then

how

much She loves you as well……………

 

 

How do you find out about what we are doing is the right thing.

 

Well like I said earlier check with your guru and in his absence Her

scripture and if you cannot get that as well with Her bonafide

devotees.

`

 

I am sorry ji, if I am bothering you with my questions. I look

forward to hear from you soon.

 

 

No, you did not . In fact this are good questions-a lot of aspirants

today simply rushed through their spirituality with what they FEEL

right rather that what IS right and I suggest you could continue this

type of inquiries until you find proper guru for

yourself

 

May Maa bless you pursuit always ……………………

 

Her child too