Still point

“At the still point, there the dance is.”  —T. S. Eliot

Discrimination

Swami Vivekandanda

I am watching myself become free and completely in the now, carried on my guru's grace. But my mind is waiting and turns it all into concepts, then and now, "do" the path (not). 

There is only this, only now. The Self is attained now.

My guru has said that it is very very hard to attain the Self without the grace of a guru. I have this grace, but she cannot give to me if I allow my mind to dictate the samskaras again, the habit and lack of discipline, subtly pushing her out, filling that space (again) with mind.

I am craving discrimination, in the moment. It would help me to see what is happening in my consciousness right now.

Maa Saraswati

I pray for your grace and wisdom, beloved Devi Saraswati. I pray for wisdom and learning. Your lotus symbolizes the source of true knowledge. Your vehicle, the white swan, symbolizes Sattwa Guna, or purity and discrimination.

These are treasures that I seek.

Om Saraswati Mahabhagey, Vidye Kamala Lochaney |

Viswarupey Vishalakshmi, Vidyam Dehi Namohastutey ||
Jaya Jaya Devi, Charachara Sharey, Kuchayuga Shobhita, Mukta Haarey |
Vina Ranjita, Pustaka Hastey, Bhagavati Bharati Devi Namohastutey ||

The beautiful human form of Saraswati comes to the fore in this English translation of the Saraswati hymn:

"May Goddess Saraswati,
who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,
and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;
who is adorned in radiant white attire,
on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,
and whose throne is a white lotus;
who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me.
May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance."

Maa Saraswati

Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts, represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. She is the mother of the Vedas, and chants to her, called the 'Saraswati Vandana' often begin and end Vedic lessons.

Saraswati is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. It is believed that goddess Saraswati endows human beings with the powers of speech, wisdom and learning. She has four hands representing four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego.

She has sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus – the symbol of true knowledge – in the second.

With her other two hands she plays the music of love and life on a string instrument called the veena. She is dressed in white – the symbol of purity – and rides on a white swan – symbolizing Sattwa Guna or purity and discrimination. Saraswati is also a prominent figure in Buddhist iconography - the consort of Manjushri.

The learned and the erudite attach greater importance to the worship of goddess Saraswati. As a practice, only educated people worship her for knowledge and wisdom. They believe that only Saraswati can grant them 'moksha' - the final liberation of the soul.

From Subhamoy Das, Hinduism Expert, About Religion, About.com

hinduism.about.com/od/hindugoddesses/p/saraswati.htm

Maa Saraswati shares her love as knowledge and means

Cave diving

"No matter what happens go on remembering God and he will carry you."

~ Swami Lakshmanjoo

I have an obsession with videos about cave diving. I found one that I really love in particular. I have watched it several times.

"Flash mob" refers to coordinating flashlights to illuminate a large cavern

I feel like I am floating, not rising or falling except by grace. I feel ever more still inside. I have left the places I thought were about one of many. I am moving with eyes closed in the total darkness. Grace is the way. I await only Grace. I control nothing. Grace.

I have rock solid equipoise in situations and interactions that used to set me off like a marionette.

I watch myself engage with my appetites, but I'm not invested anymore. It comes from habit, samskaras. 

I have conceived of freedom in so many ways. Now, I not only conceive of but can feel the beginnings of freedom that come from not being swayed one way or another by appetites. Instead of engaging, I watch them arise and dissolve.

The appetites in me cringe and complain as I let go, a tiny rift. I choose freedom. It is painful for a few moments. Something rips apart.

I go back to floating, free. Carried along on this current, free. Free.

"The greatness of Lord Shiva is that no matter what intensity of his 

grace is with you, it will carry you to his nature in the end."

~ Swami Lakshmanjoo

Inner current

There is an inner place. I'm already there. I've always been there.

The inner place is tugging at me. See anew. Open your eyes. Feel anew. Catch this current tugging at you.

Everything is different. Colors, taste. My body rejected meat. Now I want less food.

My awareness of this subtle world fills the ever growing (always infinite) place in me left by controlling my mind, becoming friends, by growing beyond my mind, getting it out of the way.

Art by Tino Rodriguez

The river's edge represents the place between 

See anew. Open your eyes.

Durga always sets things right

Durga's power and grace are a steady, fierce current that precedes her insistent advance. There is no struggle at all for Durga's efforts, she is always victorious, wielding her many weapons that spell death to demons and uncontrolled ego. 

Mother is here. Kali Durga brings all the constant energy and sharpest discrimination to instantly conquer and build momentum. Durga does not exert her influence. She is. She simply arrives at full power and speed. If she takes you on board her vehicle, her lion, prepare for a breathtaking ride of completely unexpected tasks and locations. 

Durga sees everyone and everything. She is air energy, the double-edged sword of justice.

Durga is power, the force of good. She always sets things right. (Watch for the flip flop).

GIFs from Kung Fu Hustle

Jai Maa Durga Jai!

Oh BLISS! It is Navaratri time again. I love you Mother.

Abhishek