Guest guest Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 Namah Shivaya Ranjeesh, What is manasa puja? Also, what did you mean by showing the plate in all directions ... to circle it 3-4 times in each direction? I second the vote for using camphor, which I do on occasions while attempting to sing Arati. I am schedule challenged since I work 4 nights a week, 10-10:30PM to 8-8:30AM. I am sooo tired by 3:30AM that meditation could easily turn into sleep. I hope to find a different schedule to work before too much longer. (yawn) Also, does anyone have any thoughts on chanting the Sri Devi Khadgamala Strota Ratna as taught by Sri Karunamayi? I understand that our Amma gives us all we need & wonder if I'm mixing up too many practices when chanting this. Although, I did feel it was tremedously energized by Amma while chanting it in Her presence. Thank you, Sweta "Ranjeesh K R." <ranjeeshk wrote: <<< 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 Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! Ammachi/ Ammachi New and Improved Mail - Send 10MB messages! 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Guest guest Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 Ammachi, wrote: > > What is manasa puja? Manasa puja is mental worship - basically you are doing a puja in your mind, without physically performing it. There are instructions for it in the Archana book, and also on the Amritapuri website: http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/mantra/manasa.htm http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/mantra/manasa2.htm The instructions in the book are more detailed, but you might find the simpler instructions on the website above easier to concentrate on. >From the second link posted above: Brahmachari: "I am not getting enough concentration, Amma." Mother: "Try practising manasa puja, son. The mind is like a cat. We may take care of it with a lot of affection, but the moment our attention wanders, it will stick its head in the pot and steal some food. Manasa puja is a method to keep the wayward mind fixed on God. Hope this is helpful Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Dear Sweta Namah Sivaya I learned the Sri Khadgamala as taught by Sri Karunamayi , it is a very powerful stotra , beautifull as it is invocation of the Devi Herself , actualy I never heard Ammachi talk about the stotra ( am curious if anyone on the forum has some info from Ammachi or recommendation from Her ) . Sri Karunamayi on Her last tour 2004 was stressing its importance and benefits such as cleansing of once sins ( karma ) , it helps to purify the environment , and chakras . There is much more to Sri Khadgamala and the information can be found either on Devipurnam.org or Karunamayi.org and shaktisadhana.org . However I am curious too if Ammachi has sad anything about the stotra also . Namaste , Joanna P --- <jpm333_bc wrote: > Namah Shivaya Ranjeesh, > > What is manasa puja? Also, what did you mean by > showing the plate in all directions ... to circle > it 3-4 times in each direction? I second the vote > for using camphor, which I do on occasions while > attempting to sing Arati. I am schedule challenged > since I work 4 nights a week, 10-10:30PM to > 8-8:30AM. I am sooo tired by 3:30AM that meditation > could easily turn into sleep. I hope to find a > different schedule to work before too much longer. > (yawn) > > Also, does anyone have any thoughts on chanting the > Sri Devi Khadgamala Strota Ratna as taught by Sri > Karunamayi? I understand that our Amma gives us all > we need & wonder if I'm mixing up too many practices > when chanting this. Although, I did feel it was > tremedously energized by Amma while chanting it in > Her presence. > > Thank you, > > Sweta > > "Ranjeesh K R." <ranjeeshk wrote: > <<< > 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 > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > Sponsor > > > > Links > > > Ammachi/ > > > Ammachi > > Your use of is subject to the > > > > > > > New and Improved Mail - Send 10MB messages! > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Namah Shivaya Joanna, Thank you. You said enough so that I feel good about continuing the practice, but I will check out your recommended web sites. It usually feels spiritually powerful when I chant or listen to it & now I understand the reasons. Sweta joanna pollner <joannapollner wrote: Dear Sweta Namah Sivaya I learned the Sri Khadgamala as taught by Sri Karunamayi , it is a very powerful stotra , beautifull as it is invocation of the Devi Herself , actualy I never heard Ammachi talk about the stotra ( am curious if anyone on the forum has some info from Ammachi or recommendation from Her ) . Sri Karunamayi on Her last tour 2004 was stressing its importance and benefits such as cleansing of once sins ( karma ) , it helps to purify the environment , and chakras . There is much more to Sri Khadgamala and the information can be found either on Devipurnam.org or Karunamayi.org and shaktisadhana.org . However I am curious too if Ammachi has sad anything about the stotra also . Namaste , Joanna P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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