To Eknath re: Spiritual Growth - A Human Perspective (was Christian Perspective)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/27/2006 11:21:06 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, 

Ammachi writes:

 

....Many  people act as though spiritual growth is  automatic. They may have a

plan  to save for  retirement. They may have a plan for sending their kids to

college. But they  don't have a strategy for enriching their  souls.  They

leave the single most important facet of human existence to  chance!...

Dear Eknath ~ I read your post, and this paragraph is what stood out the 

most for me. It applies to all of us, regardless of religion or creed or belief. 

Without a plan, we are like someone in a boat with no paddle. The boat will

be  tossed hither and yon as the waves grow and subside, and will follow the 

direction of the tides, but it will be very difficult for the person in the

boat  to get anywhere.

I am reminded of a beautiful song that was on a tape by Gayatri (sorry, by 

then she was a Swamini, but I can't remember that name). The tape was

beautiful.  Amma was pressing Gayatri a bit to go beyond her belief in her own

limitations  (Amma also had Gayatri begin doing talks during the tours, and poor

Gayatri ...  she was so shy and looked like she wished the floor would swallow her

up). On  the tape was a kind of revised rendition of an old spiritual.

All I can remember is part of the chorus, and I'm not sure I'm remembering 

that part correctly. But it goes something like this, "There is a boat that 

carries me; that boat is named Amritanandamayi." I think this song is also on 

one of the Bhajanamritam tapes with Big Swami singing.

Swami Satyananda Saraswati often makes reference to spiritual practices 

carrying us across "the ocean of objects and relationships." In fact, it is so 

often a part of his writing or discourse that I have begun to feel that there is

some scriptural reference to this. I wish I knew what it was, because it is

a  very apt description. Our little boats are dodging trash, other boats 

(relationships), buoys, boulders, etc.

So if we have a plan, what do we put in our boat? We can't put very much. 

Perhaps a tape or CD player with lots of batteries so we can listen to bhajans 

and to Shri Lalitha Sahasranama and other stotras and prayers. A couple of our

favorite books ~ the "Archana," one or two of the "Awaken Children" series.

Then  we have to have a few changes of clothes, a bunch of MREs, water,

vitamin C. We  might include a few of our favorite puja and altar items, but they

will have to  be light weight and pared down to the basics. So, now we have

planned  the journey. When we push our boat off from the shore, what is our plan

for how  we will conduct our daily routines? And, of course, we know Amma is

drawing the  boat to Her, but perhaps we also have a couple of paddles so we can

help ... we  don't want our Mother to do all the work.

Actually, thinking about this boat metaphor, I realize it isn't all that 

different from being in a trailer. LOL But a plan, definitely. Yet our plan 

perhaps needs to be flexible to allow for unexpected events, a big rock we 

suddenly see ahead, sticking up out of the water. Who knows how big the part  under

the water may be? So we change our direction for a bit to steer clear of  the

obstacle. But the obstacle is part of the journey too. Every experience 

teaches us something. After awhile, other boats whose pilots have the same  or a

similar destination, group together. Perhaps once in awhile  they form a circle

so they can have a satsang.

This gives me something to think about, especially since my own life, 

because of my illnesses and space limitations ... a bit like being on a  boat. How

will I outline my day? How will I fit sadhana into going to the store  or to

the gallery, having to take a nap, etc. Really, I have a lot of  time on my

hands, and I could be planning that time so that  those spaces are where I

incorporate my sadhana. This morning a fellow was  interviewed on television. He has

written a book, "Letters to Sam." It is about  his journey to spirit, which

started when he was hit by a "big black thing" and  became paralyzed from the

waist down. Sam is his grandson. This man, whose name  I can't recall at the

moment, said we are all hit by "big black things" in  our life, and the challenge

is what do we do with that? Can we turn the negative  to a positive. Seeing

the strength I have seen in this group with others  who struggle, I believe we

can, and that is, in fact what we are doing ... when  we share in this

satsangh, when we participate in the prayer seva, when we do  our own sadhana, when

we make a contribution to the work of our guru. Blessed  are you all ~ Linda

 

 

 

 

 

Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

 

 

 

 

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