Guest guest Posted September 16, 2005 Report Share Posted September 16, 2005 Swamiji says : Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we perform shraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day, culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day before the Navaratri begins. What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our lineage, and what is the efficacy? Nanda's footnote :- Sunday refers to Sept 18 2005 , the first day of Bhadrapad Krishnapaksha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 My understanding of the ceremony for departed ancestors is that it frees their soul from karmic entanglements, and thus allows them to reach their true heavenly level. When we are in the body, our soul is mixed up with karmic factors and because of that, we may not reveal our deeper and truer feelings while living in the world. In fact, relationships, etc. can get very confused. After departing the body, the soul reviews it's life and from that level, clearly sees all it's imperfections, and the mistakes it committed while embodied. Instead of being able to rise to it's true spiritual level, it may be held back by unresolved worldly entanglements. An extreme example of the efficacy of the shraddha and tarpana is when Swami Vivekananda, while a wandering sadhu, encountered two ghosts on the beach. They had committed suicide and were so bound by their wrong actions that they couldn't break loose from the earthly level. So the Swami did a ceremony for departed ancestors. All he had to offer was water from the sea and handfuls of sand, but he said the appropriate mantras and prayed for their release. In doing so, the ghosts suddenly disappeared and he assumed that they had been freed. In performing the ceremony for the ancestors; the mantras, the offerings, and perhaps even more the love and forgiveness that the worshipper sends to the departed relatives brings peace to their soul, and frees them from any lingering earthly entanglements. With Love, Kumari , Nanda <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Swamiji says : > Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we perform shraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day, culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day before the Navaratri begins. > > What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our lineage, and what is the efficacy? > > Nanda's footnote :- Sunday refers to Sept 18 2005 , the first day of Bhadrapad Krishnapaksha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 This is a luscious revelation of Wisdom. That Vivekananda story is quite potent and reveals and states so much. Thank you for this and for your open Heart! - ty_maa Saturday, September 17, 2005 12:46 AM Re: Question from Swamiji for the group My understanding of the ceremony for departed ancestors is that itfrees their soul from karmic entanglements, and thus allows them toreach their true heavenly level.When we are in the body, our soul is mixed up with karmic factors andbecause of that, we may not reveal our deeper and truer feelings whileliving in the world. In fact, relationships, etc. can get very confused.After departing the body, the soul reviews it's life and from thatlevel, clearly sees all it's imperfections, and the mistakes itcommitted while embodied. Instead of being able to rise to it's truespiritual level, it may be held back by unresolved worldly entanglements.An extreme example of the efficacy of the shraddha and tarpana is whenSwami Vivekananda, while a wandering sadhu, encountered two ghosts onthe beach. They had committed suicide and were so bound by theirwrong actions that they couldn't break loose from the earthly level. So the Swami did a ceremony for departed ancestors. All he had tooffer was water from the sea and handfuls of sand, but he said theappropriate mantras and prayed for their release. In doing so, theghosts suddenly disappeared and he assumed that they had been freed.In performing the ceremony for the ancestors; the mantras, theofferings, and perhaps even more the love and forgiveness that theworshipper sends to the departed relatives brings peace to their soul,and frees them from any lingering earthly entanglements.With Love,Kumari--- In , Nanda <chandimaakijai> wrote:> Swamiji says :> Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we performshraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day,culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the daybefore the Navaratri begins. > > What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor ofour lineage, and what is the efficacy? > > Nanda's footnote :- Sunday refers to Sept 18 2005 , the first day ofBhadrapad Krishnapaksha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 Will attempt non-scholarly intuitive answer. The ceremonies are for us, not the ancestors, although it would appear to be otherwise. Or, it is for both of us. We see the benefit when we see a world where there is no such ceremony. Humans on earth are as if disconnected. Disconnected from their own past, the earth, themselves, driven by desire fueled by the market economy and advertising. My relation died. I remember him or her. We are part of the network of living and dying. I see the connection, I am grateful for their lives that have enabled my own. This can only help put the mind in a better attitude for devotion. s , Nanda <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Swamiji says : > Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we perform shraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day, culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day before the Navaratri begins. > > What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our lineage, and what is the efficacy? > > Nanda's footnote :- Sunday refers to Sept 18 2005 , the first day of Bhadrapad Krishnapaksha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 Namaste Swamiji, thank you for asking this question. My tentative contribution to the discussion: by performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our ancestors, we thank them for having been part of the chain that brought us to where we are now. We acknowledge that whatever they did, whether we think it good or bad, was an action prompted by Divine Love (however imperfectly expressed). Our acknowledgment frees them and us of personal ties woven by guilt or the idea of unfinished business and by remembering them with gratitude and love we acknowledge that we are truly One. with love, Henny Henny's footnote: Nandaji, I have no idea what these memorial ceremonies entail. The Internet confused me. Could you please tell us a little more about the actual ceremony? What could I do for my ancestors on Sunday? , Nanda <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Swamiji says : > Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we perform shraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day, culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day before the Navaratri begins. > > What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our lineage, and what is the efficacy? > > Nanda's footnote :- Sunday refers to Sept 18 2005 , the first day of Bhadrapad Krishnapaksha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 Beloved Swamiji, Thank you for these questions. Perhaps the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies to honor our lineage is to refocus our attention on the spiritual heritage that has been passed down and refined through the ages. It might serve to remind us of the many contibutions that we inherit. The efficacy is situated in the divine mother. It is she who lovingly guides us to release all attachments, even to family, and to direct us in the way of universal love. By performing these ceremonies we can love ancestors, both familial and spiritual, and in so doing offer up all that love to her beautiful feet. Beloved teacher, please share with us what form would be most efficient for us to honor our ancestors. Because of Her, Rick , Nanda <chandimaakijai> wrote: > Swamiji says : > Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we perform shraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day, culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day before the Navaratri begins. > > What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our lineage, and what is the efficacy? > > Nanda's footnote :- Sunday refers to Sept 18 2005 , the first day of Bhadrapad Krishnapaksha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 we are just the "I"... "I" is one which enjoys all... "I" is the one who suffers... the extent of the "I" in us... is the extent of the world we experience... when the extent is our body and mind... Then we are in debt to its creators... our fathers and forefathers... we provide for them when they are alive... if our tradition believes in the after life... we provide for them in the after life... but provide we must... since the creators are energetically connected to their creations... to acknowledge the creator is to understand the creation... to understand the creation is to understand ourselves... isn't that what we strive for every moment of our lives... when the extent is HER... then SHE is our creator... SHE is the cause of everything... why SHE is Everything... then EVERYTHING is the source of us... the only way to pay our debt is acknowledge EVERYTHING... then extent disappears... enjoyer disappears... sufferer disappears... only the "I" remains... but i say only SHE REMAINS... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 Dear Swamiji,Pranams. I was thinking of your question - and my thoughts/ideas agree with what a few of your children have already posted. I believe that every ritual in the Sanatan dharma has so many aspects to it - spiritual , psychological, social etc. Remembering our ancestors gives us ... ....yet another reason to go back to the altars and pray (the spiritual reason). ....a way to feel ourselves mentally of any entanglements with the past by lovingly letting go of it (psychological reason) . I sincerely believe the only way to be free of anything is letting go lovingly and joyfully. ....a way to contribute to our fellow beings in need - usually the observances include feeding a few of the poor (the social reason) In this way , all pujas,festivals and observances serve to right any imbalance in one or more spheres of our lives. And specifically , this puja serves as a reminder to thank all the forces that have brought us thus far, and the responsibility that we have in leaving this place a better one for our having been there , for our future inhabitants. Thank you for making us think and realize how all parts fit together to make the whole. LoveNandaDo You ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2005 Report Share Posted September 17, 2005 henny this is so beautifully said. and i, too, would like to know what such service entails. henny_v_i wrote: >Namaste Swamiji, > >thank you for asking this question. My tentative contribution to the >discussion: by performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our >ancestors, we thank them for having been part of the chain that >brought us to where we are now. We acknowledge that whatever they did, >whether we think it good or bad, was an action prompted by Divine Love >(however imperfectly expressed). Our acknowledgment frees them and us >of personal ties woven by guilt or the idea of unfinished business and >by remembering them with gratitude and love we acknowledge that we are >truly One. > >with love, >Henny > >Henny's footnote: Nandaji, I have no idea what these memorial >ceremonies entail. The Internet confused me. Could you please tell us >a little more about the actual ceremony? What could I do for my >ancestors on Sunday? > -- "Naan Amme Snehikkunnu" Be Love, Egyirba (Berijoy) http://www.egyirba.net /`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/`/` -=-=- .... 0343."A person who always thinks intellectually cannot understand the feelings of the heart. He cannot understand the meaning of meditation and love. He knows nothing but talking. What's the use of such intellect?" - Vol.5, p10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 i'll have a go at an answer, since i am zipping up my bags heading for peru tomorrow to, coincidentally, do some shamanic work on ancestors! i would say ceremony for our lineage is a way of touching into the stream that we come from--are a part of--the Greater Stream as reflected in the line of our ancestors. each of us is a distillation of everything and everyone that came before us, extending back, and out, in all directions until we can see that we are a part of the greater family of the Cosmos. to honor and invoke our lineage in ceremony puts us consciously back into that stream, and, by Her grace, allows us to heal the legacy of suffering and separation that may have flowed through that stream not just for ourselves, but for all that came before and all that may come after. we purify what is coming through the particular channel of our being, of our family's being, of human being. see you all in three weeks in love and devotion, ~leela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 In a message dated 9/18/2005 5:19:05 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, durgakali8 writes: to honor and invoke our lineage in ceremony puts us consciously backinto that stream, and, by Her grace, allows us to heal the legacy ofsuffering and separation that may have flowed through that stream notjust for ourselves, but for all that came before and all that may comeafter. Karma and reincarnation bring us back into play with our family. Blessings lighten the load for all of us. Om Namah Sivaya Kanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 >>>"Swamiji says : Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we perform shraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day, culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day before the Navaratri begins. What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our lineage, and what is the efficacy? "<< Dear Swamiji and List, There must be very deep cultural explanations of our relationship to our ancestors, to the choices (karmically) we made by coming here as souls through the particular family "lineage" we were born into and , later, to the particular guru lineage we were also born into. My response to Swamiji's question is a story that involves Pitru Paksha and Swamiji himself. Last Summer I accepted the resposibility from my siblings to somehow find a way of putting the ashes of both parents "to rest". There had been a period of more than 5 years with no action taken and various "factions" unable to come together in a way that worked for everyone. Meanwhile, I was deeply troubled by the fact that my parents ashes were still in a kind of limbo,sitting on a shelf in my sister's house. Finally, I had everyone's agreement to "do what was necessary". I thought, immediately, about getting on a plane and travelling to Kashi to put the ashes into the Ganga but this was most definitely unacceptable to my siblings. I wrote to Swamiji and asked him for his help and he suggested to me that I do the tarpana puja (from the Cosmic Puja text)to my parents for a period of 41 days, making offerings everyday to their ashes. At the end of that period, I created a "final puja" for my parents and a memorial service (which some family members were able to attend)by the ocean on Cape Cod, where their ashes are now at peace. In one of my yoga books, tarpana is defined as "the practice of offering libations of water to the deities, thereby delighting them and making them favorably disposed towards the practitioner"..and the tarpana puja, itself, says "my ancestors are my heaven,my dharma, my highest tapas;if they ar satisfied, all the Gods will be satisfied" (Swamiji's translation)....the tarpana puja asks "compassionate ancestors, bless me, speak words of peace to me and release me from all bondage". Swamiji asks us,"what is the 'efficacy'" of these offerings, the tarpana. I can only answer from my own experience. During the 41 days of doing this puja to my parents, every memory (glorious, awful, wonderful, terrible, joyful, sad,etc.)came into my mind...my own childhood, memories of my parent's tales from THEIR childhood, images of both of them during various times of life. I found myself seeing both parents as "people" separate from their connection to ME...people who had been born, grown up, lived and,ultimately, died. I realized that actions by my parents that constituted some of my most painful memories had occured when they were in their late 20s and early 30s, having lived through a War and busy raising 4 children kind of "winging it". I remembered their most wonderful qualities and it astounded me that such vibrant, extraordinary people lived only in the memory of a few of us. By the end of the tarpana puja sadhana, any sense of bitterness towards the usual childhood events, any blaming, any feeling of "wishing my parents had been different" had been totally swept clean and released. What was left was an immense gratitude that these two human beings had been "the ones" who had "agreed" to give me the opportunity to come here and do the work of this particular lifetime. Following that gratitude was the profound gratitude for beings like Swamiji, Maa and other compassionate, highly evolved souls who have taken on the task of helping others find their way here on the Earth plane. I think, personally, that Pitru Paksha and the tarpana puja are a way of opening the "loop" between souls who have left the body and those of us who are still here....offering gratitude and praying for release from the "bondage" of the personal karmas that get created between us and our ancestors so that the blessings can flow in BOTH directions: from us to them, in gratitude and from them to us in gratitude. I will never forget Swamiji's kindness in helping me to do this great service for my parents. It was one of the most profound blessings in my life! With love to all, sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 Namaste and thank you for this opportunity. I think we perform memorial ceremonies in honour of our lineage to thank our ancestors for the opportunity (1) of being in the body, (2) to dissolve attachments, and (3) to express appreciation for the path they have prepared for us. Once we have satisfied our ancestors, there is total peace and we are then able to worship without obstruction for the festival of 9 nights. "Oh compassionate ancestors, bless me. Always speak words of peace to me and release me from all bondage." Thank you for your time Swamiji. Pranams henny_v_i <HvI (AT) SoftHome (DOT) net> wrote: Namaste Swamiji,thank you for asking this question. My tentative contribution to the discussion: by performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our ancestors, we thank them for having been part of the chain that brought us to where we are now. We acknowledge that whatever they did, whether we think it good or bad, was an action prompted by Divine Love (however imperfectly expressed). Our acknowledgment frees them and us of personal ties woven by guilt or the idea of unfinished business and by remembering them with gratitude and love we acknowledge that we are truly One. with love,Henny Henny's footnote: Nandaji, I have no idea what these memorial ceremonies entail. The Internet confused me. Could you please tell us a little more about the actual ceremony? What could I do for my ancestors on Sunday?, Nanda <chandimaakijai> wrote:> Swamiji says :> Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we perform shraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day, culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day before the Navaratri begins. > > What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our lineage, and what is the efficacy? > > Nanda's footnote :- Sunday refers to Sept 18 2005 , the first day of Bhadrapad KrishnapakshaDo You ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2005 Report Share Posted September 18, 2005 A most beautiful answer. Thank you. It is in line with my thoughts on the subject. We worship our ancestors because it is they who made it possible for us to ask the most relevant questions: Who am I? And why am I here? Brian nityashakti wrote: > >>>"Swamiji says : > Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we perform > shraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day, > culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day > before the Navaratri begins. > > > What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor of > our lineage, and what is the efficacy? "<< > > Dear Swamiji and List, > There must be very deep cultural explanations of our relationship > to our ancestors, to the choices (karmically) we made by coming here > as souls through the particular family "lineage" we were born into > and , later, to the particular guru lineage we were also born into. > My response to Swamiji's question is a story that involves Pitru > Paksha and Swamiji himself. > Last Summer I accepted the resposibility from my siblings to > somehow find a way of putting the ashes of both parents "to rest". > There had been a period of more than 5 years with no action taken > and various "factions" unable to come together in a way that worked > for everyone. Meanwhile, I was deeply troubled by the fact that my > parents ashes were still in a kind of limbo,sitting on a shelf in my > sister's house. Finally, I had everyone's agreement to "do what was > necessary". I thought, immediately, about getting on a plane and > travelling to Kashi to put the ashes into the Ganga but this was > most definitely unacceptable to my siblings. I wrote to Swamiji and > asked him for his help and he suggested to me that I do the tarpana > puja (from the Cosmic Puja text)to my parents for a period of 41 > days, making offerings everyday to their ashes. At the end of that > period, I created a "final puja" for my parents and a memorial > service (which some family members were able to attend)by the ocean > on Cape Cod, where their ashes are now at peace. > In one of my yoga books, tarpana is defined as "the practice of > offering libations of water to the deities, thereby delighting them > and making them favorably disposed towards the practitioner"..and > the tarpana puja, itself, says "my ancestors are my heaven,my > dharma, my highest tapas;if they ar satisfied, all the Gods will be > satisfied" (Swamiji's translation)....the tarpana puja > asks "compassionate ancestors, bless me, speak words of peace to me > and release me from all bondage". > Swamiji asks us,"what is the 'efficacy'" of these offerings, the > tarpana. I can only answer from my own experience. During the 41 > days of doing this puja to my parents, every memory (glorious, > awful, wonderful, terrible, joyful, sad,etc.)came into my mind...my > own childhood, memories of my parent's tales from THEIR childhood, > images of both of them during various times of life. I found myself > seeing both parents as "people" separate from their connection to > ME...people who had been born, grown up, lived and,ultimately, died. > I realized that actions by my parents that constituted some of my > most painful memories had occured when they were in their late 20s > and early 30s, having lived through a War and busy raising 4 > children kind of "winging it". I remembered their most wonderful > qualities and it astounded me that such vibrant, extraordinary > people lived only in the memory of a few of us. By the end of the > tarpana puja sadhana, any sense of bitterness towards the usual > childhood events, any blaming, any feeling of "wishing my parents > had been different" had been totally swept clean and released. What > was left was an immense gratitude that these two human beings had > been "the ones" who had "agreed" to give me the opportunity to come > here and do the work of this particular lifetime. Following that > gratitude was the profound gratitude for beings like Swamiji, Maa > and other compassionate, highly evolved souls who have taken on the > task of helping others find their way here on the Earth plane. > I think, personally, that Pitru Paksha and the tarpana puja are a > way of opening the "loop" between souls who have left the body and > those of us who are still here....offering gratitude and praying for > release from the "bondage" of the personal karmas that get created > between us and our ancestors so that the blessings can flow in BOTH > directions: from us to them, in gratitude and from them to us in > gratitude. I will never forget Swamiji's kindness in helping me to > do this great service for my parents. It was one of the most > profound blessings in my life! > With love to all, > sadhvi > > > ------ > > > * Visit your group " > <>" on the web. > > * > > <?subject=Un> > > * Terms of > Service <>. > > > ------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 Namaste Swami Ji, My humble offering to your question: We want to thank everyone in our lineage for the fact that we are right here, right now, and everything they did led us to this exact point. If we are able to realize God in this lifetime, or even gain more merit along the path, we owe a great debt to our ancestors for bringing us here. Their great sacrifices have given us life, and the opportunity to walk the path toward realization. Also, with this worship, karmas which have been inherited by us from our lineage, are purified. Jai Maa! --- Nanda <chandimaakijai wrote: > Swamiji says : > Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during > which we perform shraddha and tarpana in honor of > our departed relatives every day, culminating in the > Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day > before the Navaratri begins. > > What is the meaning of performing memorial > ceremonies in honor of our lineage, and what is the > efficacy? > > Nanda's footnote :- Sunday refers to Sept 18 2005 , > the first day of Bhadrapad Krishnapaksha > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 Om Namah Sivaya, What a very powerful experience, Sadhvi! I thank you for sharing it. I believe ancestral rituals are important, too, especially in African culture. I am wondering what people do if there are no ashes? I don't think that creamation is still that common in U.S. (of course, I could be wrong), but I know that none of my relatives were creamated. Is this ritual still useful? That is, what do you offer the water to if no ashes remain? It was so beautiful to read how healing this puja was for you. That you could remember and then let go. That is ideal. Again, thank you. nityashakti wrote: "Swamiji says : Sunday is the first day of the Pitri Paksha, during which we perform shraddha and tarpana in honor of our departed relatives every day, culminating in the Mahalaya Parvan Shraddha, performed on the day before the Navaratri begins. What is the meaning of performing memorial ceremonies in honor of our lineage, and what is the efficacy? "<< Dear Swamiji and List, There must be very deep cultural explanations of our relationship to our ancestors, to the choices (karmically) we made by coming here as souls through the particular family "lineage" we were born into and , later, to the particular guru lineage we were also born into. My response to Swamiji's question is a story that involves Pitru Paksha and Swamiji himself. Last Summer I accepted the resposibility from my siblings to somehow find a way of putting the ashes of both parents "to rest". There had been a period of more than 5 years with no action taken and various "factions" unable to come together in a way that worked for everyone. Meanwhile, I was deeply troubled by the fact that my parents ashes were still in a kind of limbo,sitting on a shelf in my sister's house. Finally, I had everyone's agreement to "do what was necessary". I thought, immediately, about getting on a plane and travelling to Kashi to put the ashes into the Ganga but this was most definitely unacceptable to my siblings. I wrote to Swamiji and asked him for his help and he suggested to me that I do the tarpana puja (from the Cosmic Puja text)to my parents for a period of 41 days, making offerings everyday to their ashes. At the end of that period, I created a "final puja" for my parents and a memorial service (which some family members were able to attend)by the ocean on Cape Cod, where their ashes are now at peace. In one of my yoga books, tarpana is defined as "the practice of offering libations of water to the deities, thereby delighting them and making them favorably disposed towards the practitioner"..and the tarpana puja, itself, says "my ancestors are my heaven,my dharma, my highest tapas;if they ar satisfied, all the Gods will be satisfied" (Swamiji's translation)....the tarpana puja asks "compassionate ancestors, bless me, speak words of peace to me and release me from all bondage". Swamiji asks us,"what is the 'efficacy'" of these offerings, the tarpana. I can only answer from my own experience. During the 41 days of doing this puja to my parents, every memory (glorious, awful, wonderful, terrible, joyful, sad,etc.)came into my mind...my own childhood, memories of my parent's tales from THEIR childhood, images of both of them during various times of life. I found myself seeing both parents as "people" separate from their connection to ME...people who had been born, grown up, lived and,ultimately, died. I realized that actions by my parents that constituted some of my most painful memories had occured when they were in their late 20s and early 30s, having lived through a War and busy raising 4 children kind of "winging it". I remembered their most wonderful qualities and it astounded me that such vibrant, extraordinary people lived only in the memory of a few of us. By the end of the tarpana puja sadhana, any sense of bitterness towards the usual childhood events, any blaming, any feeling of "wishing my parents had been different" had been totally swept clean and released. What was left was an immense gratitude that these two human beings had been "the ones" who had "agreed" to give me the opportunity to come here and do the work of this particular lifetime. Following that gratitude was the profound gratitude for beings like Swamiji, Maa and other compassionate, highly evolved souls who have taken on the task of helping others find their way here on the Earth plane. I think, personally, that Pitru Paksha and the tarpana puja are a way of opening the "loop" between souls who have left the body and those of us who are still here....offering gratitude and praying for release from the "bondage" of the personal karmas that get created between us and our ancestors so that the blessings can flow in BOTH directions: from us to them, in gratitude and from them to us in gratitude. I will never forget Swamiji's kindness in helping me to do this great service for my parents. It was one of the most profound blessings in my life! With love to all, sadhvi -- "Naan Amme Snehikkunnu" Be Love, Egyirba (Berijoy) http://www.egyirba.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 >>"Swamiji's question : "If we could find one extra hour every day, what would you add to your present sadhana and why?" Dear Swamiji, Ah, an "extra hour" every day!!! I would add another hour of meditation. I "do" so much recitation, japa, puja...what bliss to have another hour to simply be still and allow the waves of mantra to settle deeply into my being. thank you for asking this question. sadhvi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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