hmmm... Daily Practices

[Guest guest]

<<<

For the first time in my life, I am feeling as if I want to have some

sort of daily practice. I wasn't ready for it before, but now I am

drawn to it very strongly.

>>>

[Ranjeesh K R.] Yeahhhhh !!! at last ... oohhhh .. everybody... give a big hand

to our sugarbrandy ( hey hey heyyy !!! that's how i read your e-mail id first )

... very very happy to see the changes ..

 

<<< How would you suggest I start a daily sadhna? What are the first

steps, or should I dive in, head-first?

>>>

I was just thinking how did I learn to do puja and all. may be learned by

looking at the people doing it , reading a lot all . But still I would agree one

thing that the `best practises` I learned was from amma only.In your case your

hubby being a tamilian, you can learn a lot from him and his family . They are

quite famous for best practices. even best food practices too. ( again if he was

born and brought up in US , then gone case ...hi hee... lol ,just joking )

 

even though at http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/daily/practice.htm amma says

that

"don't worry about finding traditional materials such as oil lamps, camphor ..."

, in my experience it helps a lot & a lot , especially when we are leading a

cosmo politan life style.In my case I spend nearly 1 hour in the morning ( my

morning time is 11 AM , hey hey ... beacuse of my working hours constraint ) and

1/2 hour in the evening ( my evening range is 1.30 Pm to 2.30 AM ha ha .. I do

reach home at that time.. ) for puja and meditation . and mediatation is damn

easy in front of the oil lamp. but do NOT do any breathing practices in front of

lamp. right now I am sending the bare minimum, when you feel you need more ask

for it . ok ?. you can start with spending 10 mins , 2 times a day. Do this

after bath. ayurveda recommends massaging with oil in all the joints ( like

wrist , elbow , neck .. etc ..) . do bit warm up exercises( typical rotate

around joint ) before bath . while doing exercises do conscious breathing with

sounds like "haaa.." , "shhh..." and all. Put your 110% for the exercises , then

if the body is warm enough you will not postpone taking bath ( khurrr.. from

your photo we can make out that you are abit lazy gal even though very innocent

)

 

1) Identify a location , preferably a corner , where you could sit for some time

for meditation and puja, Keep the same place for everyday. Keep amma's photo and

other puja accessories there. Sit on a cushion ( yepp.. reserved for sadhana, ok

?.)

 

2) get the oil lamp ( there is small one where we could keep the thread in the

centre vertically is very good , I mean it lights for more time ) & special

plate like structure for keeping camphor ( while you light the camphor , for

normal plates will be damn hot at the bottom , even though a ash bed cam

minimise the heat ) . camphor can create a lot of fumes which can spoil your

ceilings. so take care . I do burn around 4 pieces at a time. I do use small

bell for ringing while puja . your innocence is the key . as amma says while

during the puja pray to amma that " amma sorry, if I am doing this wrongly".

circle the lamp/capmhor plate vertically in front of you may be 3-7 times .

Show this in all directions 1-3 times .

After the oil lamp circle , camphor circling too .. It clears a lot of stuff

beleive me ..

 

3) play your favourite bhajan while the puja is going on, If you have got mantra

, chant that during puja , else chant " Om Namah Shivayah Namaha". do the same

while taking bath too..

 

4) Amma recommends chanting Ashtotharam ( 108 names ) & Lalitha sahasra namam

daily . If you find it difficult, Play your fav. bhajan and "sing with it". (

Try to keep variety & choose spontaneously to have more awareness while singing

)

In the evening I do play amma's bhajan's only. In the morning depending upon my

mood, for for energising I do play gayathri mantra ( By hindi singer anuradha

poduval) & another a bit hare rama hare krishna cassette.( starts with jaya

radha madhava and all ) and sing with it

 

5) if you can offer flowers and fruits , once a week , it's the best.

6) there are few devotees who keep the food next to amma during puja , and they

eat the food as `prasad`

 

7) about meditation , there are a lot. amma recommends manasa puja , If you can

sing the song a bit loudly in the presence of lamps it helps to open up your

heart., It creates an energy circle. So if not comfortable in doing manasa puja,

You can start watching that divine enrgy in your heart after singing with the

songs. else another practice is gazing at amma's photo which is kept near the

lamp and watch the thoughts WITHOUT closing the eyes.

 

8) and do not forget the most important !!!, share everything with amma , do not

hide anything from amma , you can tell any damn thing , including your

complaints about hubby and all ( lol )

 

I guess enough to start with, Keep us updated when u need more. but be

consistent , never compromise on 2 puja a day. with in a month you will start

feeling the lightness, the lightness of the divine.

 

 

<<<

I have trouble making and keeping positive habits.

>>>

No no , We will give you enjoyable practices too, ok ?, so you will not get

bored.

 

 

With love,

[Ranjeesh K R.] With lots of luv and blessings from your bros & sis

Niseema