Overcoming objections to Homam and Chandi Paath?

[Guest guest]

Namaste all,

 

I thought that there was no better place to ask this question since this is the

which has inspired me to consider doing the Chandi Homam along with

Shri Narasimhaji's words. My desire to praise the Divine Mother in this way,

keeps increasing everyday especially now that we are coming close to the

auspicious Navratri festival. I am plannig to start with the recitation first so

that I am up to scratch when I start doing the homam. (Learning to walk before

learning to run)

 

I don't know if you had such dilemmas before you began doing Homams regularly.

Please kindly share how you have managed? My dilemmas are two-fold. Firstly, I

encounter objections from outside from fellow friends and family members who say

that " the Chandi homam isn't part of the family tradition " hence the family

devta won't be pleased or " un-initiated people cannot perform such a high level

ritual " or even " un-married people cannot get married if they do this on a

regularly basis " ! However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am

prepared to disregard the superstitions.

 

What I find harder to discard though, are personal objections that I create for

myself..I call it the " I-am-not-worthy-enough " syndrome. I am not confident of

being able to stay completely detached during the homam. I think what I am

trying to say is that I do not know to what extent my underlying motives can

remain pure (unselfish) enough. At some point or another won't one end up

automatically asking for one's personal gains? After all, isn't it human nature

to confide everything/ask the Mother for everything..Maa mujhe new car chaahiye,

please give my kids good health/good grades etc? Will one incur the Brahma's

curse for reciting the Paath with these motives in mind? In that case, is the

Brahmadi Sapa Vimochan mantra enough to 'white-wash' one's selfish motives?

 

Secondly, I have to admit that after listening to some tales about regular

recitation of the Chandi Paath being associated with 'Kundalini jagran', I am a

bit worried. Can sadhana and 'kundalini jagran' ever be mutually exclusive? What

if one wants to pray for the sake of praying only? Do they still have to undergo

chakra awakening etc?

 

Thank u.

Somanathan

[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

 

I call it the "I-am-not-worthy- enough" syndrome. I am not confident of being able to stay completely detached during the homam. I think what I am trying to say is that I do not know to what extent my underlying motives can remain pure (unselfish) enough. At some point or another won't one end up automatically asking for one's personal gains?

Consider this example. Say you love playing cricket, infact you adore the game of cricket and you aspire to become a player like Sachin Tendulkar.. So, how should you approach this problem? The natural way is to start playing the game as much as possible such that with time you develop into a great player. Of course initially you will make mistakes, but finally with time you will succeed.

 

Same way start doing the homams, pray hard for forgiveness, keep doing it regularly as a single pointed focus, slowly by Her grace detachment will come. On the other hand if you wait for detachment to dawn and only then you will start the homams, it may become too late. The fire, the Devi, are potent enough to bring detachment into you when She wants.The idea is a disciplined practise. Same as wanting to be a good cricket player. Failing is not a problem. The number of failures is not a criteria for success. The ability to get up and start again - after every failure - is the key to success.

 

If you are generally worried about some thing in material life, it is a better idea to start with Ganapati Homams initially, in my opinion. This way you also get familiarized with the homa fire and learn to handle the fire, plus Ganapati with make you path smooth. After some months of Ganapati Homam, you can shift to other homams.

 

-Regards

Rajarshi

 

 

 

 

The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra--- On Tue, 15/9/09, waspieswaspies <waspieswaspies wrote:

waspieswaspies <waspieswaspies Overcoming objections to Homam and Chandi Paath? Date: Tuesday, 15 September, 2009, 3:34 AM

Namaste all, I thought that there was no better place to ask this question since this is the which has inspired me to consider doing the Chandi Homam along with Shri Narasimhaji' s words. My desire to praise the Divine Mother in this way, keeps increasing everyday especially now that we are coming close to the auspicious Navratri festival. I am plannig to start with the recitation first so that I am up to scratch when I start doing the homam. (Learning to walk before learning to run) :)I don't know if you had such dilemmas before you began doing Homams regularly. Please kindly share how you have managed? My dilemmas are two-fold. Firstly, I encounter objections from outside from fellow friends and family members who say that "the Chandi homam isn't part of the family tradition" hence the family devta won't be pleased or "un-initiated people cannot perform such a high level ritual" or even "un-married people cannot get

married if they do this on a regularly basis"! However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am prepared to disregard the superstitions. What I find harder to discard though, are personal objections that I create for myself..I call it the "I-am-not-worthy- enough" syndrome. I am not confident of being able to stay completely detached during the homam. I think what I am trying to say is that I do not know to what extent my underlying motives can remain pure (unselfish) enough. At some point or another won't one end up automatically asking for one's personal gains? After all, isn't it human nature to confide everything/ask the Mother for everything... Maa mujhe new car chaahiye, please give my kids good health/good grades etc? Will one incur the Brahma's curse for reciting the Paath with these motives in mind? In that case, is the Brahmadi Sapa Vimochan mantra enough to 'white-wash' one's selfish motives?Secondly, I have to admit

that after listening to some tales about regular recitation of the Chandi Paath being associated with 'Kundalini jagran', I am a bit worried. Can sadhana and 'kundalini jagran' ever be mutually exclusive? What if one wants to pray for the sake of praying only? Do they still have to undergo chakra awakening etc? Thank u.Somanathan

See the Web's breaking stories, chosen by people like you. Check out Buzz.

[Guest guest]

Namaste Shri Somanathan,

 

Firstly, good luck with your spiritual endeavors and I pray that Lord Ganesha

removes all your obstacles (mental & physical). I guess most/all the people go

through the dilemma that you are facing, so there's nothing new in that.

 

Now, regarding your objections. Please don't listen to anyone. Most of the

objections are either from people who are selfish, ignorant or downright lazy!!!

They don't even make any sense. I am not even going to bother why they are

incorrect!!!

 

Now, to your other objection. See, when you tackle mundane challenges, like say,

you want to learn a new computer language or a new operating system (like

windows), what do you do? Obviously, you start working on it, and over a period

of time, with dedication and perseverance, you overcome all the obstacles, and

become fluent in it. Right? So why not adopt the same attitude in your spiritual

path? Most people whom I know, including myself at one time, had similar

reservations, when it came to spirituality! There is nothing that cant be

achieved through hard-work, sincerity and dedication. Period!

 

Secondly, when you started out with school by joining Kinder Garten (KG), did

you ever pause for a moment and thought ... Wow!! Somewhere down the line, I am

going to be solving quadratic equations, probability, differential calculus,

which are so tough that you might run into tons of problems ... so let me not

get into school??? If you think about your questions, they are similar in nature

to the one above !!

 

Don't worry about your worthiness, we all are definitely worthy!! You see, when

GOD made us in his own mold, he performed prana pratishthapana on us, i,e, we

all have GOD inside us, through which we are divine, and get in touch with

him!!!

 

All your other questions are just unnecessary obstacles you are creating for

your self. Stop it and get going. I remember Shri Manish Pandit telling me, that

the best thing about spirituality is that if you have sincere intentions, then

no matter what, it will definitely work out. You don't have to start out as

Einstein to succeed!

 

Once again ... Good Luck!

 

Regards

Narayan

 

 

 

, " waspieswaspies " <waspieswaspies

wrote:

>

> Namaste all,

>

> I thought that there was no better place to ask this question since this is

the which has inspired me to consider doing the Chandi Homam along

with Shri Narasimhaji's words. My desire to praise the Divine Mother in this

way, keeps increasing everyday especially now that we are coming close to the

auspicious Navratri festival. I am plannig to start with the recitation first so

that I am up to scratch when I start doing the homam. (Learning to walk before

learning to run)

>

> I don't know if you had such dilemmas before you began doing Homams regularly.

Please kindly share how you have managed? My dilemmas are two-fold. Firstly, I

encounter objections from outside from fellow friends and family members who say

that " the Chandi homam isn't part of the family tradition " hence the family

devta won't be pleased or " un-initiated people cannot perform such a high level

ritual " or even " un-married people cannot get married if they do this on a

regularly basis " ! However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am

prepared to disregard the superstitions.

>

> What I find harder to discard though, are personal objections that I create

for myself..I call it the " I-am-not-worthy-enough " syndrome. I am not confident

of being able to stay completely detached during the homam. I think what I am

trying to say is that I do not know to what extent my underlying motives can

remain pure (unselfish) enough. At some point or another won't one end up

automatically asking for one's personal gains? After all, isn't it human nature

to confide everything/ask the Mother for everything..Maa mujhe new car chaahiye,

please give my kids good health/good grades etc? Will one incur the Brahma's

curse for reciting the Paath with these motives in mind? In that case, is the

Brahmadi Sapa Vimochan mantra enough to 'white-wash' one's selfish motives?

>

> Secondly, I have to admit that after listening to some tales about regular

recitation of the Chandi Paath being associated with 'Kundalini jagran', I am a

bit worried. Can sadhana and 'kundalini jagran' ever be mutually exclusive? What

if one wants to pray for the sake of praying only? Do they still have to undergo

chakra awakening etc?

>

> Thank u.

> Somanathan

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Somanathan,

 

Chandi homam is very good to kill the bad qualities that are with-in us! Yes,

now and then you will want seek some personal gain. A child asks mother to do

favors. How ever, the mother normally does only those favors which are

reasonable. Mother does not give too much of chocklates just becuase the childs

asks. Even when she showers her kindness, she know how much to do with out

spoiling the child.

 

If you are asking for personal benefits, it perhaps does not harm, but, refrain

from seeking what is bad for others (like " that idiot has insulted me today,

hence he should meet up with an accident " ). As long you can control what you

desire the mother for, you are safe.

 

Coming to kundalini - There is no need to fear! In my child I had perseption

that if kundalini awakens, I will get extraordinary powers. Don't give in to

them. Kundalini awaking is awakening of self awareness. When Kundalini araise,

you experiance the God. There is no need to be wary of the same.

 

What are you afraid? Are you afraid, if you get self realisation, you will

renounce the world and attain mukthi and your family will be left behind in

sadness? If you have so much affinity to the material world, in all likelyhood

kundalini will not raise. So, on your path, if kundalini araise, by then your

attachment to the material world will be far lesser and you would not be afraid

of the consequences any more!

 

Best regards,

Vijay

, " waspieswaspies " <waspieswaspies

wrote:

>

> Namaste all,

>

> I thought that there was no better place to ask this question since this is

the which has inspired me to consider doing the Chandi Homam along

with Shri Narasimhaji's words. My desire to praise the Divine Mother in this

way, keeps increasing everyday especially now that we are coming close to the

auspicious Navratri festival. I am plannig to start with the recitation first so

that I am up to scratch when I start doing the homam. (Learning to walk before

learning to run)

>

> I don't know if you had such dilemmas before you began doing Homams regularly.

Please kindly share how you have managed? My dilemmas are two-fold. Firstly, I

encounter objections from outside from fellow friends and family members who say

that " the Chandi homam isn't part of the family tradition " hence the family

devta won't be pleased or " un-initiated people cannot perform such a high level

ritual " or even " un-married people cannot get married if they do this on a

regularly basis " ! However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am

prepared to disregard the superstitions.

>

> What I find harder to discard though, are personal objections that I create

for myself..I call it the " I-am-not-worthy-enough " syndrome. I am not confident

of being able to stay completely detached during the homam. I think what I am

trying to say is that I do not know to what extent my underlying motives can

remain pure (unselfish) enough. At some point or another won't one end up

automatically asking for one's personal gains? After all, isn't it human nature

to confide everything/ask the Mother for everything..Maa mujhe new car chaahiye,

please give my kids good health/good grades etc? Will one incur the Brahma's

curse for reciting the Paath with these motives in mind? In that case, is the

Brahmadi Sapa Vimochan mantra enough to 'white-wash' one's selfish motives?

>

> Secondly, I have to admit that after listening to some tales about regular

recitation of the Chandi Paath being associated with 'Kundalini jagran', I am a

bit worried. Can sadhana and 'kundalini jagran' ever be mutually exclusive? What

if one wants to pray for the sake of praying only? Do they still have to undergo

chakra awakening etc?

>

> Thank u.

> Somanathan

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste Narayan,

How beautifully you put these sentences !!!

---Don't worry about your worthiness, we all are definitely worthy!! You see, when GOD made us in his own mold, he performed prana pratishthapana on us, i,e, we all have GOD inside us, through which we are divine, and get in touch withhim!!!

I suddenly realized how worthy I am !! Even though I am doing ganapathi homam regularly, I am a little scared to do Chandi homam. And your mail gave me so much encouragement.

Thanks a lot,

Bharathi Kumar

 

-- In , "naaraayana_iyer" <narayan.iyer wrote:>> Namaste Shri Somanathan,> > Firstly, good luck with your spiritual endeavors and I pray that Lord Ganesha removes all your obstacles (mental & physical). I guess most/all the people go through the dilemma that you are facing, so there's nothing new in that.> > Now, regarding your objections. Please don't listen to anyone. Most of the objections are either from people who are selfish, ignorant or downright lazy!!! They don't even make any sense. I am not even going to bother why they are incorrect!!!> > Now, to your other objection. See, when you tackle mundane challenges, like say, you want to learn a new computer language or a new operating system (like windows), what do you do? Obviously, you start working on it, and over a period of time, with dedication and perseverance, you overcome all the obstacles, and become fluent in it. Right? So why not adopt the same attitude in your spiritual path? Most people whom I know, including myself at one time, had similar reservations, when it came to spirituality! There is nothing that cant be achieved through hard-work, sincerity and dedication. Period!> > Secondly, when you started out with school by joining Kinder Garten (KG), did you ever pause for a moment and thought ... Wow!! Somewhere down the line, I am going to be solving quadratic equations, probability, differential calculus, which are so tough that you might run into tons of problems ... so let me not get into school??? If you think about your questions, they are similar in nature to the one above !!> > Don't worry about your worthiness, we all are definitely worthy!! You see, when GOD made us in his own mold, he performed prana pratishthapana on us, i,e, we all have GOD inside us, through which we are divine, and get in touch with him!!! > > All your other questions are just unnecessary obstacles you are creating for your self. Stop it and get going. I remember Shri Manish Pandit telling me, that the best thing about spirituality is that if you have sincere intentions, then no matter what, it will definitely work out. You don't have to start out as Einstein to succeed!> > Once again ... Good Luck!> > Regards> Narayan> > > > , "waspieswaspies" waspieswaspies@ wrote:> >> > Namaste all, > > > > I thought that there was no better place to ask this question since this is the which has inspired me to consider doing the Chandi Homam along with Shri Narasimhaji's words. My desire to praise the Divine Mother in this way, keeps increasing everyday especially now that we are coming close to the auspicious Navratri festival. I am plannig to start with the recitation first so that I am up to scratch when I start doing the homam. (Learning to walk before learning to run) > > > > I don't know if you had such dilemmas before you began doing Homams regularly. Please kindly share how you have managed? My dilemmas are two-fold. Firstly, I encounter objections from outside from fellow friends and family members who say that "the Chandi homam isn't part of the family tradition" hence the family devta won't be pleased or "un-initiated people cannot perform such a high level ritual" or even "un-married people cannot get married if they do this on a regularly basis"! However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am prepared to disregard the superstitions. > > > > What I find harder to discard though, are personal objections that I create for myself..I call it the "I-am-not-worthy-enough" syndrome. I am not confident of being able to stay completely detached during the homam. I think what I am trying to say is that I do not know to what extent my underlying motives can remain pure (unselfish) enough. At some point or another won't one end up automatically asking for one's personal gains? After all, isn't it human nature to confide everything/ask the Mother for everything..Maa mujhe new car chaahiye, please give my kids good health/good grades etc? Will one incur the Brahma's curse for reciting the Paath with these motives in mind? In that case, is the Brahmadi Sapa Vimochan mantra enough to 'white-wash' one's selfish motives?> > > > Secondly, I have to admit that after listening to some tales about regular recitation of the Chandi Paath being associated with 'Kundalini jagran', I am a bit worried. Can sadhana and 'kundalini jagran' ever be mutually exclusive? What if one wants to pray for the sake of praying only? Do they still have to undergo chakra awakening etc? > > > > Thank u.> > Somanathan> >>

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Let me address the concerns about Kundalini.

 

(1) Do not associate Kundalini in your mind with any particular sadhana.

Kundalini is awakened and rises if one is making pogress towards

self-realization, no matter what path one follows and what sadhana one does.

Whether one chants Chandipath or mahamantra or Vishnu sahasra naama or Gayatri

or Ganapathi atharva seersha or an Islamic holy chant or a Christian holy chant

or does no mantra but just engages in selfless service, does not matter.

 

(2) Kundalini is the force of self-awareness. As one's false ideas of " I am

this " get destroyed and one's self-awareness becomes refined, it translates to

Kundalini awakening and rise.

 

(3) Certain practices (e.g. some tantras and some praanaayaamas) are normally

associated with Kundalini. However, I can declare one thing very confidently.

Most people engaged in those practices actually have no clue. As long as one has

a firm notion " I am this body. There is a Kundalini in this body. It will rise

from point X in this body to point Y in this body now " , one's self-awareness is

firmly stuck to the body and one's Kundalini is sure to be fast asleep in

Mooladhara. Kundalini spontaneously rises when one's body awareness goes.

Consciously thinking of Kundalini rise is not required. As a matter of fact, it

becomes a blockage and makes one cling on to body awareness. In other words,

pre-occupation with Kundalini rise blocks Kundalini rise. Forget about

Kundalini, forget about chakras, forget even about body. Focus on the mantra and

deity and imagine that they alone exist and fill the entire universe.

 

(4) Kundalini awakening is not something to be feared. Forget all that you may

have read. Sat-chid-aananda described in scriptures is obtained when Kundalini

is at sahasrara. Even low level aananda (bliss) that is experienced as Kundalini

merely rises is far higher than any physical or mental pleasures one may have

experienced when one's self-awareness is firmly rooted in one's body.

 

A prince once got a wrong idea that his father wanted to kill him. He ran away

and hid in a dirty cave. When sunlight came into the cave, he was happy. When

the cave became dark, he was scared. He lived like that in the cave, happy

sometimes and sad at others. He became so attached to the cave that he decided

never to leave it. Also, he was afraid to get out of the cave lest he be killed.

But his people were looking for him outside, because his father wanted to find

his son and coronate him as the king. But, the prince rotted in the cave unaware

of this and afraid of going out.

 

A person's attachment to body and fear of self-realization is just like the

above. Body is like the dirty cave. Self-realization is like getting out of the

cave and becoming king.

 

* * *

 

> Will one incur the Brahma's curse for reciting the Paath with

> these motives in mind?

 

Chanting a mantra without being tempted by any desires ever is the best. But,

chanting a mantra and falling to some desires now and then is still better than

not doing any sadhana. It is not like your desires will leave you automatically

if you do not do any sadhana. As sadhana progresses, one *slowly* overcomes

weaknesses and desires. The debit from any offenses committed in sadhana due to

the few desires left are smaller than the credit from doing the sadhana.

 

One may be putting salary money in the bank every month, but some of it may be

being deduced for paying bills (mortgage, phone, cable, groceries etc). Still,

going to work everyday and putting the salary money in the bank account is

better than not working.

 

> However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am

> prepared to disregard the superstitions.

 

There are many misconceptions about every spiritual matter in today's world.

After all, this is Kali yuga and we have been through a particularly a dark

phase. Just as undigested food becomes toxic, undigested and unassimilated

knowledge leads to corruptions and superstitions.

 

If you hear a call from inside, do respond to it fearlessly.

 

Best regards,

Narasimha

 

Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

Spirituality:

Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

 

 

---- waspieswaspies <waspieswaspies wrote:

> Namaste all,

>

> I thought that there was no better place to ask this question since this is

the which has inspired me to consider doing the Chandi Homam along

with Shri Narasimhaji's words. My desire to praise the Divine Mother in this

way, keeps increasing everyday especially now that we are coming close to the

auspicious Navratri festival. I am plannig to start with the recitation first so

that I am up to scratch when I start doing the homam. (Learning to walk before

learning to run)

>

> I don't know if you had such dilemmas before you began doing Homams regularly.

Please kindly share how you have managed? My dilemmas are two-fold. Firstly, I

encounter objections from outside from fellow friends and family members who say

that " the Chandi homam isn't part of the family tradition " hence the family

devta won't be pleased or " un-initiated people cannot perform such a high level

ritual " or even " un-married people cannot get married if they do this on a

regularly basis " ! However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am

prepared to disregard the superstitions.

>

> What I find harder to discard though, are personal objections that I create

for myself..I call it the " I-am-not-worthy-enough " syndrome. I am not confident

of being able to stay completely detached during the homam. I think what I am

trying to say is that I do not know to what extent my underlying motives can

remain pure (unselfish) enough. At some point or another won't one end up

automatically asking for one's personal gains? After all, isn't it human nature

to confide everything/ask the Mother for everything..Maa mujhe new car chaahiye,

please give my kids good health/good grades etc? Will one incur the Brahma's

curse for reciting the Paath with these motives in mind? In that case, is the

Brahmadi Sapa Vimochan mantra enough to 'white-wash' one's selfish motives?

>

> Secondly, I have to admit that after listening to some tales about regular

recitation of the Chandi Paath being associated with 'Kundalini jagran', I am a

bit worried. Can sadhana and 'kundalini jagran' ever be mutually exclusive? What

if one wants to pray for the sake of praying only? Do they still have to undergo

chakra awakening etc?

>

> Thank u.

> Somanathan

[Guest guest]

Namaste everyone,

 

Objections overruled! Thank you ever so much.

 

I feel truly humbled and blessed that you have replied to my post and quelled my

fears. I found the analogies very enlightening and I have reflected a lot upon

your wise words of encouragement and I shall stop dilly-dallying asap.

 

Aap sab ko koti koti dhanyawad.

 

, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr wrote:

>

> Namaste,

>

> Let me address the concerns about Kundalini.

>

> (1) Do not associate Kundalini in your mind with any particular sadhana.

Kundalini is awakened and rises if one is making pogress towards

self-realization, no matter what path one follows and what sadhana one does.

Whether one chants Chandipath or mahamantra or Vishnu sahasra naama or Gayatri

or Ganapathi atharva seersha or an Islamic holy chant or a Christian holy chant

or does no mantra but just engages in selfless service, does not matter.

>

> (2) Kundalini is the force of self-awareness. As one's false ideas of " I am

this " get destroyed and one's self-awareness becomes refined, it translates to

Kundalini awakening and rise.

>

> (3) Certain practices (e.g. some tantras and some praanaayaamas) are normally

associated with Kundalini. However, I can declare one thing very confidently.

Most people engaged in those practices actually have no clue. As long as one has

a firm notion " I am this body. There is a Kundalini in this body. It will rise

from point X in this body to point Y in this body now " , one's self-awareness is

firmly stuck to the body and one's Kundalini is sure to be fast asleep in

Mooladhara. Kundalini spontaneously rises when one's body awareness goes.

Consciously thinking of Kundalini rise is not required. As a matter of fact, it

becomes a blockage and makes one cling on to body awareness. In other words,

pre-occupation with Kundalini rise blocks Kundalini rise. Forget about

Kundalini, forget about chakras, forget even about body. Focus on the mantra and

deity and imagine that they alone exist and fill the entire universe.

>

> (4) Kundalini awakening is not something to be feared. Forget all that you may

have read. Sat-chid-aananda described in scriptures is obtained when Kundalini

is at sahasrara. Even low level aananda (bliss) that is experienced as Kundalini

merely rises is far higher than any physical or mental pleasures one may have

experienced when one's self-awareness is firmly rooted in one's body.

>

> A prince once got a wrong idea that his father wanted to kill him. He ran away

and hid in a dirty cave. When sunlight came into the cave, he was happy. When

the cave became dark, he was scared. He lived like that in the cave, happy

sometimes and sad at others. He became so attached to the cave that he decided

never to leave it. Also, he was afraid to get out of the cave lest he be killed.

But his people were looking for him outside, because his father wanted to find

his son and coronate him as the king. But, the prince rotted in the cave unaware

of this and afraid of going out.

>

> A person's attachment to body and fear of self-realization is just like the

above. Body is like the dirty cave. Self-realization is like getting out of the

cave and becoming king.

>

> * * *

>

> > Will one incur the Brahma's curse for reciting the Paath with

> > these motives in mind?

>

> Chanting a mantra without being tempted by any desires ever is the best. But,

chanting a mantra and falling to some desires now and then is still better than

not doing any sadhana. It is not like your desires will leave you automatically

if you do not do any sadhana. As sadhana progresses, one *slowly* overcomes

weaknesses and desires. The debit from any offenses committed in sadhana due to

the few desires left are smaller than the credit from doing the sadhana.

>

> One may be putting salary money in the bank every month, but some of it may be

being deduced for paying bills (mortgage, phone, cable, groceries etc). Still,

going to work everyday and putting the salary money in the bank account is

better than not working.

>

> > However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am

> > prepared to disregard the superstitions.

>

> There are many misconceptions about every spiritual matter in today's world.

After all, this is Kali yuga and we have been through a particularly a dark

phase. Just as undigested food becomes toxic, undigested and unassimilated

knowledge leads to corruptions and superstitions.

>

> If you hear a call from inside, do respond to it fearlessly.

>

> Best regards,

> Narasimha

>

> Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

> Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

> Spirituality:

> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

>

>

> ---- waspieswaspies <waspieswaspies wrote:

> > Namaste all,

> >

> > I thought that there was no better place to ask this question since this is

the which has inspired me to consider doing the Chandi Homam along

with Shri Narasimhaji's words. My desire to praise the Divine Mother in this

way, keeps increasing everyday especially now that we are coming close to the

auspicious Navratri festival. I am plannig to start with the recitation first so

that I am up to scratch when I start doing the homam. (Learning to walk before

learning to run)

> >

> > I don't know if you had such dilemmas before you began doing Homams

regularly. Please kindly share how you have managed? My dilemmas are two-fold.

Firstly, I encounter objections from outside from fellow friends and family

members who say that " the Chandi homam isn't part of the family tradition " hence

the family devta won't be pleased or " un-initiated people cannot perform such a

high level ritual " or even " un-married people cannot get married if they do this

on a regularly basis " ! However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I

am prepared to disregard the superstitions.

> >

> > What I find harder to discard though, are personal objections that I create

for myself..I call it the " I-am-not-worthy-enough " syndrome. I am not confident

of being able to stay completely detached during the homam. I think what I am

trying to say is that I do not know to what extent my underlying motives can

remain pure (unselfish) enough. At some point or another won't one end up

automatically asking for one's personal gains? After all, isn't it human nature

to confide everything/ask the Mother for everything..Maa mujhe new car chaahiye,

please give my kids good health/good grades etc? Will one incur the Brahma's

curse for reciting the Paath with these motives in mind? In that case, is the

Brahmadi Sapa Vimochan mantra enough to 'white-wash' one's selfish motives?

> >

> > Secondly, I have to admit that after listening to some tales about regular

recitation of the Chandi Paath being associated with 'Kundalini jagran', I am a

bit worried. Can sadhana and 'kundalini jagran' ever be mutually exclusive? What

if one wants to pray for the sake of praying only? Do they still have to undergo

chakra awakening etc?

> >

> > Thank u.

> > Somanathan

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Such dilly-dallying and doubts will remain for a while. Nature puts some

serious impediments to doing serious sadhana and realizing Self. Otherwise,

everyone will realize Self very quickly. So, even one on the right path will

occasionally start to wonder.

 

Even Vivekananda and other disciples of Ramakrishna had doubts at various

stages of their spiritual evolution. Especially after Ramakrishna left,

several of them wanted to go back to their houses and lead " regular lives " .

Some force kept them together. It was worthwhile at the end, because all of

them realized god. Actually, that is not the important thing - they were all

elevated beings who had realized god before and bound to realize god again

that time too. What is more important is that each of them helped so many

other people in making progress towards realization! *That* was why that

whole group came to earth after all.

 

If such elevated beings had doubts about so many things (is the guru

genuine, am I on the right path, can I succeed, is it worthwhile etc), what

about ordinary people like us?

 

So, expect the doubts to return now and then and put in your best conscious

effort to overcome them!

 

Good luck,

Narasimha

 

Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

Spirituality:

Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

 

 

-

" Somanath " <waspieswaspies

 

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 6:23 PM

Re: Overcoming objections to Homam and Chandi Paath?

 

 

> Namaste everyone,

>

> Objections overruled! Thank you ever so much.

>

> I feel truly humbled and blessed that you have replied to my post and

> quelled my fears. I found the analogies very enlightening and I have

> reflected a lot upon your wise words of encouragement and I shall stop

> dilly-dallying asap.

>

> Aap sab ko koti koti dhanyawad.

>

> , Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr wrote:

>>

>> Namaste,

>>

>> Let me address the concerns about Kundalini.

>>

>> (1) Do not associate Kundalini in your mind with any particular sadhana.

>> Kundalini is awakened and rises if one is making pogress towards

>> self-realization, no matter what path one follows and what sadhana one

>> does. Whether one chants Chandipath or mahamantra or Vishnu sahasra naama

>> or Gayatri or Ganapathi atharva seersha or an Islamic holy chant or a

>> Christian holy chant or does no mantra but just engages in selfless

>> service, does not matter.

>>

>> (2) Kundalini is the force of self-awareness. As one's false ideas of " I

>> am this " get destroyed and one's self-awareness becomes refined, it

>> translates to Kundalini awakening and rise.

>>

>> (3) Certain practices (e.g. some tantras and some praanaayaamas) are

>> normally associated with Kundalini. However, I can declare one thing very

>> confidently. Most people engaged in those practices actually have no

>> clue. As long as one has a firm notion " I am this body. There is a

>> Kundalini in this body. It will rise from point X in this body to point Y

>> in this body now " , one's self-awareness is firmly stuck to the body and

>> one's Kundalini is sure to be fast asleep in Mooladhara. Kundalini

>> spontaneously rises when one's body awareness goes. Consciously thinking

>> of Kundalini rise is not required. As a matter of fact, it becomes a

>> blockage and makes one cling on to body awareness. In other words,

>> pre-occupation with Kundalini rise blocks Kundalini rise. Forget about

>> Kundalini, forget about chakras, forget even about body. Focus on the

>> mantra and deity and imagine that they alone exist and fill the entire

>> universe.

>>

>> (4) Kundalini awakening is not something to be feared. Forget all that

>> you may have read. Sat-chid-aananda described in scriptures is obtained

>> when Kundalini is at sahasrara. Even low level aananda (bliss) that is

>> experienced as Kundalini merely rises is far higher than any physical or

>> mental pleasures one may have experienced when one's self-awareness is

>> firmly rooted in one's body.

>>

>> A prince once got a wrong idea that his father wanted to kill him. He ran

>> away and hid in a dirty cave. When sunlight came into the cave, he was

>> happy. When the cave became dark, he was scared. He lived like that in

>> the cave, happy sometimes and sad at others. He became so attached to the

>> cave that he decided never to leave it. Also, he was afraid to get out of

>> the cave lest he be killed. But his people were looking for him outside,

>> because his father wanted to find his son and coronate him as the king.

>> But, the prince rotted in the cave unaware of this and afraid of going

>> out.

>>

>> A person's attachment to body and fear of self-realization is just like

>> the above. Body is like the dirty cave. Self-realization is like getting

>> out of the cave and becoming king.

>>

>> * * *

>>

>> > Will one incur the Brahma's curse for reciting the Paath with

>> > these motives in mind?

>>

>> Chanting a mantra without being tempted by any desires ever is the best.

>> But, chanting a mantra and falling to some desires now and then is still

>> better than not doing any sadhana. It is not like your desires will leave

>> you automatically if you do not do any sadhana. As sadhana progresses,

>> one *slowly* overcomes weaknesses and desires. The debit from any

>> offenses committed in sadhana due to the few desires left are smaller

>> than the credit from doing the sadhana.

>>

>> One may be putting salary money in the bank every month, but some of it

>> may be being deduced for paying bills (mortgage, phone, cable, groceries

>> etc). Still, going to work everyday and putting the salary money in the

>> bank account is better than not working.

>>

>> > However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am

>> > prepared to disregard the superstitions.

>>

>> There are many misconceptions about every spiritual matter in today's

>> world. After all, this is Kali yuga and we have been through a

>> particularly a dark phase. Just as undigested food becomes toxic,

>> undigested and unassimilated knowledge leads to corruptions and

>> superstitions.

>>

>> If you hear a call from inside, do respond to it fearlessly.

>>

>> Best regards,

>> Narasimha

>>

>> Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

>> Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

>> Spirituality:

>> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

>> Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

>> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

>>

>>

>> ---- waspieswaspies <waspieswaspies wrote:

>> > Namaste all,

>> >

>> > I thought that there was no better place to ask this question since

>> > this is the which has inspired me to consider doing the

>> > Chandi Homam along with Shri Narasimhaji's words. My desire to praise

>> > the Divine Mother in this way, keeps increasing everyday especially now

>> > that we are coming close to the auspicious Navratri festival. I am

>> > plannig to start with the recitation first so that I am up to scratch

>> > when I start doing the homam. (Learning to walk before learning to run)

>> >

>> >

>> > I don't know if you had such dilemmas before you began doing Homams

>> > regularly. Please kindly share how you have managed? My dilemmas are

>> > two-fold. Firstly, I encounter objections from outside from fellow

>> > friends and family members who say that " the Chandi homam isn't part of

>> > the family tradition " hence the family devta won't be pleased or

>> > " un-initiated people cannot perform such a high level ritual " or even

>> > " un-married people cannot get married if they do this on a regularly

>> > basis " ! However, the call to praise the Mother is stronger and I am

>> > prepared to disregard the superstitions.

>> >

>> > What I find harder to discard though, are personal objections that I

>> > create for myself..I call it the " I-am-not-worthy-enough " syndrome. I

>> > am not confident of being able to stay completely detached during the

>> > homam. I think what I am trying to say is that I do not know to what

>> > extent my underlying motives can remain pure (unselfish) enough. At

>> > some point or another won't one end up automatically asking for one's

>> > personal gains? After all, isn't it human nature to confide

>> > everything/ask the Mother for everything..Maa mujhe new car chaahiye,

>> > please give my kids good health/good grades etc? Will one incur the

>> > Brahma's curse for reciting the Paath with these motives in mind? In

>> > that case, is the Brahmadi Sapa Vimochan mantra enough to 'white-wash'

>> > one's selfish motives?

>> >

>> > Secondly, I have to admit that after listening to some tales about

>> > regular recitation of the Chandi Paath being associated with 'Kundalini

>> > jagran', I am a bit worried. Can sadhana and 'kundalini jagran' ever be

>> > mutually exclusive? What if one wants to pray for the sake of praying

>> > only? Do they still have to undergo chakra awakening etc?

>> >

>> > Thank u.

>> > Somanathan