To joanna about Mantras+Stotras

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Mahamuni wrote to joanna:

 

Start with a smaller number of names and work your way up. You can always

do the 108 names of Devi that we do at the Atma pujas until you are ready.

 

 

Dear joanna ~ if you have the Archana book (a small booklet available from

Amma's bookstore), it has the 108 Names of Amma. Okay, let me do it in order.

First in the book are the 108 Names of Amma, called "Sata Namavali." Next is

the Sri Lalita Sahasranamavali ("The 1,000 names of the Divine Mother") Then

it has the Sri Lalita Sahasranama Stotram, which has 182 names. Finally,

there is the Sri Lalita Astottara-Sata-Nama-Vali (which are the 108 names of

The

Divine Mother/Devi that Mahamuni mentioned)...handy little book. So, as

Mahamuni suggested you could start with just the 108 names for either Amma or

Lalita.

 

I have found that what works best for me is to do things, and especially to

add things to my spiritual practices in small "bites"...like a tasty bit of

prasad. Otherwise I become overwelmed, and then I am apt to give up altogether.

And of course, you could always just do a mala of Aum Amriteswaryai Namah.

But I believe that Amma would say it isn't how much you squeeze in, but the

shradda (attention) with which you do it. Something small with a lot of

respectful attention is like a seed that has already begun to germinate.

Something

big, with feeling rushed or pressured is like a seed that got stepped on. Amma

wants to blossom in our hearts; I'm not sure She's a stickler for how we

water the seed. Jai Ma ~ Linda

 

Sorry ... I have no idea where all this seed metaphor came from ... maybe

it's because here in NM, the trees are already budding, and I see Devi taking

form before my very eyes.