Humbly seeking guidance...

[von bek]

Hello, all.

I have recently embarked on the Shakta path. This decision was the culmination of many things that have been building my entire lifetime. What I ask of y'all now is, who here is initiated or formally practicing within an established Shakta tradition? How did you meet your guru? Do you even have or need one? How could I establish contact with one? There is a Hindu temple in my city, but it appears to be Vaishnava.


Jai Maa Kali

 

[Vinayaka]

Welcome home!

 

[Mindmaster]

Hello, all.

I have recently embarked on the Shakta path. This decision was the culmination of many things that have been building my entire lifetime. What I ask of y'all now is, who here is initiated or formally practicing within an established Shakta tradition? How did you meet your guru? Do you even have or need one? How could I establish contact with one? There is a Hindu temple in my city, but it appears to be Vaishnava.


Jai Maa Kali

Orthodox opinion says, ¨Yes, you need a guru.¨ But, that being said contemporary beliefs it simply doesn't matter. Religion starts and ends in one's own head, or rather in the universal Atman/Brahman.

In any case, I'd suggest you read a great deal long before you approach any guru because otherwise you will be asking of them lots of stupid questions you could have already figured out on your own. I'd figure out what scriptural works are associated with that particular group, and what modern contemporary authorities there are and read the hell out of those. (The commentaries of the luminaries of that belief sect are extremely important, as important as the scriptures themselves) If that leaves unresolved questions, I'd then start working toward a Guru. You also will have a hard time learning the relevant prayers, mantras, hymns, and rituals without observing them or doing them under instruction. I still think you should explore the belief system more before you commit.

 

[von bek]

Orthodox opinion says, ¨Yes, you need a guru.¨ But, that being said contemporary beliefs it simply doesn't matter. Religion starts and ends in one's own head, or rather in the universal Atman/Brahman.

In any case, I'd suggest you read a great deal long before you approach any guru because otherwise you will be asking of them lots of stupid questions you could have already figured out on your own. I'd figure out what scriptural works are associated with that particular group, and what modern contemporary authorities there are and read the hell out of those. (The commentaries of the luminaries of that belief sect are extremely important, as important as the scriptures themselves) If that leaves unresolved questions, I'd then start working toward a Guru. You also will have a hard time learning the relevant prayers, mantras, hymns, and rituals without observing them or doing them under instruction. I still think you should explore the belief system more before you commit.

Thank you for the response.

Hinduism as a whole is something I have studied and read up on since I was a kid. (Turning 40 this year.) This was not a whim decision. This is the result of much contemplation, studying, evaluating my own beliefs, and Kali Herself opening my heart and mind. My interest in a guru is that I may have structure in my spiritual journey. I want a deeper understanding and connection to those who have carried these teachings down through the millennia. I have great love for Mahadevi, I want to please Her.

 

[Mindmaster]

Thank you for the response.

Hinduism as a whole is something I have studied and read up on since I was a kid. (Turning 40 this year.) This was not a whim decision. This is the result of much contemplation, studying, evaluating my own beliefs, and Kali Herself opening my heart and mind. My interest in a guru is that I may have structure in my spiritual journey. I want a deeper understanding and connection to those who have carried these teachings down through the millennia. I have great love for Mahadevi, I want to please Her.

I'd presume you already pleasing her by attempting to undertake this journey.

However, I'd say that you need to read these scriptures either way as most Gurus would expect that much anyway.

It does come down to the sect-specific sruti (scriptures) as well and especially the commentaries you may have read many of them before, but without the context relevant to the system in question. There are vastly different interpretations of the same scriptures between the various branches of Hinduism so whatever you were reading in the past may have diminished relevance, or even contradict previous readings. For example, Advaita Vedanta practitioners would interpret the Gita differently from someone who followed a Shakti tradition. Merely reading the Gita wouldn't be enough, you'd need the commentaries from the luminaries of that sect for the proper relevant interpretation. All of my comments, obviously are in this regard.

Finding a Guru if you are anywhere but India is a long process, so do that, but do your reading as well.

 

[von bek]

I'd presume you already pleasing her by attempting to undertake this journey.

However, I'd say that you need to read these scriptures either way as most Gurus would expect that much anyway.

It does come down to the sect-specific sruti (scriptures) as well and especially the commentaries you may have read many of them before, but without the context relevant to the system in question. There are vastly different interpretations of the same scriptures between the various branches of Hinduism so whatever you were reading in the past may have diminished relevance, or even contradict previous readings. For example, Advaita Vedanta practitioners would interpret the Gita differently from someone who followed a Shakti tradition. Merely reading the Gita wouldn't be enough, you'd need the commentaries from the luminaries of that sect for the proper relevant interpretation. All of my comments, obviously are in this regard.

Finding a Guru if you are anywhere but India is a long process, so do that, but do your reading as well.

Thank you again for responding. I am happy to have your advice.

I'm presently studying the Devi Mahatmya. The copy I have contains commentaries, also researching online for more insight into the text. My hope is that my love for Kali Maa will keep me pointed in the right direction as my understanding of Her grows!

 

[sayak83]

Hello, all.

I have recently embarked on the Shakta path. This decision was the culmination of many things that have been building my entire lifetime. What I ask of y'all now is, who here is initiated or formally practicing within an established Shakta tradition? How did you meet your guru? Do you even have or need one? How could I establish contact with one? There is a Hindu temple in my city, but it appears to be Vaishnava.


Jai Maa Kali

Try to see if there are any Hindu Bengali community around. They are all devoted Shakti worshippers and often organize yearly worship of Kaali and Durga.

 

[SomeRandom]

Hooray another Kali devotee!!!
Always good to have another one for our team

Unfortunately I am rather isolated where I live. My family's group are very nice but they're not Shaktas per Se, universalist though. So Gurus are a tad sparse. But no matter.
Devotion is experiential anyway. What more can we hope to offer Ma Kali except a child's love?

Jai Kali Maa!

 

[von bek]

Try to see if there are any Hindu Bengali community around. They are all devoted Shakti worshippers and often organize yearly worship of Kaali and Durga.

Thank you for the suggestion! There are actually a couple of Hindu temples in my city. From what I can tell, they all appear to be Vaishnava, one of them is ISKCON. I honestly do not know if there is a Bengali community here. I will try to do a little more digging. So far, I seem to be out of luck in having a readily available Shakta community in traveling distance. Perhaps my fortunes will change on this front. I am not going to let that deter me as, ultimately, Maha Devi Herself is the highest Guru. I know She gets whatever she wants! I will learn and chant more mantras, meditate on Her beauty and love, and direct bhakti towards Her. If I need something more, She will provide it.

 

[von bek]

Hooray another Kali devotee!!!
Always good to have another one for our team

Unfortunately I am rather isolated where I live. My family's group are very nice but they're not Shaktas per Se, universalist though. So Gurus are a tad sparse. But no matter.
Devotion is experiential anyway. What more can we hope to offer Ma Kali except a child's love?

Jai Kali Maa!

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement! I pray that I may always be pleasing to Kali's Heart!

Jai Kali Maa!
Jai Durga Maa!

 

[Vinayaka]

Thank you for the suggestion! There are actually a couple of Hindu temples in my city. From what I can tell, they all appear to be Vaishnava, one of them is ISKCON. I honestly do not know if there is a Bengali community here. I will try to do a little more digging. So far, I seem to be out of luck in having a readily available Shakta community in traveling distance. Perhaps my fortunes will change on this front. I am not going to let that deter me as, ultimately, Maha Devi Herself is the highest Guru. I know She gets whatever she wants! I will learn and chant more mantras, meditate on Her beauty and love, and direct bhakti towards Her. If I need something more, She will provide it.

Very often the smaller generalised one-size-fits-all kinds of temples have a Shakti element. They're designed to have something for everyone. So people like you, (or like me) can spend time there focussing on that one area/shrine of the temple they're drawn to. It's harder if all the murthis are in a bunch at the front, but if there are independent shrines, it's great. Pure shakta temples are harder to find.

I rather like the energy of Shakti temples. There's a very large one here, that has Durga as the central deity. I took my Saiva friend there the other day. It was his first time, and he was really impressed. Those kinds of temples are more 'old hat' to me, so I don't notice them as much. But even if there is a 'Saiva family' shrine, half of that is Shakti.

 

[Aupmanyav]

What I ask of y'all now is, who here is initiated or formally practicing within an established Shakta tradition? How did you meet your guru? Do you even have or need one? There is a Hindu temple in my city, but it appears to be Vaishnava.

I am a Devi bhakta but never felt the need for initiation or a Guru. One dose not need a middle-man to talk to one's mother. Vasishnava? It will have Srimati Radharani, Mother Rukmini, Mother Sita. Mother Lakshmi. Are they not forms of the Mother? Perspective, Von Bek.

I have great love for Mahadevi, I want to please Her.

There. You have already pleased her. Why make a simple thing complicated?

Finding a Guru if you are anywhere but India is a long process, so do that, but do your reading as well.

They say it is the Guru who will find you.

Try to see if there are any Hindu Bengali community around. They are all devoted Shakti worshippers and often organize yearly worship of Kaali and Durga.

I have yet to see a Hindu lady who is not a devotee of the Mother.

From what I can tell, they all appear to be Vaishnava, one of them is ISKCON. I honestly do not know if there is a Bengali community here.

If there is an ISKCON temple, I expect that there will be Bengalis and Gujaratis too.

 

[von bek]

Very often the smaller generalised one-size-fits-all kinds of temples have a Shakti element. They're designed to have something for everyone. So people like you, (or like me) can spend time there focussing on that one area/shrine of the temple they're drawn to. It's harder if all the murthis are in a bunch at the front, but if there are independent shrines, it's great. Pure shakta temples are harder to find.

I rather like the energy of Shakti temples. There's a very large one here, that has Durga as the central deity. I took my Saiva friend there the other day. It was his first time, and he was really impressed. Those kinds of temples are more 'old hat' to me, so I don't notice them as much. But even if there is a 'Saiva family' shrine, half of that is Shakti.

Thank you for this. I think I will take your advice and check out the temples in my city and see what I find. Honestly, one of my biggest fears is making things too intellectual, that can be a bad habit of mine. I want devotion to Devi to be front and center in my practices.

 

[von bek]

I am a Devi bhakta but never felt the need for initiation or a Guru. One dose not need a middle-man to talk to one's mother. Vasishnava? It will have Srimati Radharani, Mother Rukmini, Mother Sita. Mother Lakshmi. Are they not forms of the Mother? Perspective, Von Bek.There. You have already pleased her. Why make a simple thing complicated?They say it is the Guru who will find you.I have yet to see a Hindu lady who is not a devotee of the Mother.

Thank you for your kind words. I hope for guru so that I may learn more about Kali Maa. I must be humble, I realize that there is much I do not know. I agree that we do not need intermediaries to have a relationship with Her.

 

[Aupmanyav]

But even if there is a 'Saiva family' shrine, half of that is Shakti.

The same for a Vaishnava temple too. Radhe-Krishna, Sita-Ram. Mother's name comes first.

Honestly, one of my biggest fears is making things too intellectual, that can be a bad habit of mine. I want devotion to Devi to be front and center in my practices.

In that case, do not be in a hurry to find guru.

 

[Vinayaka]

Thank you for this. I think I will take your advice and check out the temples in my city and see what I find. Honestly, one of my biggest fears is making things too intellectual, that can be a bad habit of mine. I want devotion to Devi to be front and center in my practices.

I have found over many years, that sannidhya, shakti, can erase the intellect, at least temporarily. So just sitting in the presence of God/Gods eliminates those racing thoughts. It seems to happen quite naturally. You go to a temple with a problem, and by the time you leave you can't even remember what the problem was. He/she can be like an eraser.

Best wishes.

 

[sayak83]

Thank you for the suggestion! There are actually a couple of Hindu temples in my city. From what I can tell, they all appear to be Vaishnava, one of them is ISKCON. I honestly do not know if there is a Bengali community here. I will try to do a little more digging. So far, I seem to be out of luck in having a readily available Shakta community in traveling distance. Perhaps my fortunes will change on this front. I am not going to let that deter me as, ultimately, Maha Devi Herself is the highest Guru. I know She gets whatever she wants! I will learn and chant more mantras, meditate on Her beauty and love, and direct bhakti towards Her. If I need something more, She will provide it.

Try these links. Its very likely that these groups organize Kali Puja, or have Kali devotees as well.
United States | Probashi Durga Puja 2017 in USA List of Durga Puja in United States

 

[von bek]

Seriously, thank you to everyone for what you have shared. It is greatly appreciated.

 

[von bek]

Try these links. Its very likely that these groups organize Kali Puja, or have Kali devotees as well.
United States | Probashi Durga Puja 2017 in USA List of Durga Puja in United States

I see that there will be events in both Houston and Dallas. I live in Texas, but the state is pretty big and I am a few hours away from both cities. Still, I will keep my eyes open and see what I can manage. Many thanks!

 

[sayak83]

I see that there will be events in both Houston and Dallas. I live in Texas, but the state is pretty big and I am a few hours away from both cities. Still, I will keep my eyes open and see what I can manage. Many thanks!

Houston is great place to find Devi devotees. There is a permanent temple to Devi there.
Durgabari – Houston Durgabari Society