Instant Karma

[NobodyYouKnow]

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers anyway. I really appreciate that.

Yes, I need to be taken 'out of myself' but I don't know how that works, when I have the worst case of introversion ever possible...no-one can ever be more introverted than myself.

While this is very useful for meditation, it is of not much use for anything else and meditation can only get me so far...I still have to live in this world and that world exists outside myself, so I don't know how to internalise the whole universe...I never learned how to do that, because I need to externalise my awareness first and I just can't.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers anyway. I really appreciate that.

Yes, I need to be taken 'out of myself' but I don't know how that works, when I have the worst case of introversion ever possible...no-one can ever be more introverted than myself.

While this is very useful for meditation, it is of not much use for anything else and meditation can only get me so far...I still have to live in this world and that world exists outside myself, so I don't know how to internalise the whole universe...I never learned how to do that, because I need to externalise my awareness first and I just can't.

Have you ever considered the fact you may be suffering with Schizoid Personality Disorder?

Schizoid personality disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There may be nothing more to it than that and everything that is happening can be attributed to only that.

It could also be combined Schizotypal and Masochistic Personality Disorder, which would be hell to go through.

It could be a combination of Schizoid Personality Disorder, Paranoid Personality Disorder, Masochistic Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, Asperger's Disorder (low-functioning), Bi-Polar Disorder, Clinical Depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder...

Maybe all of this is just acting up again big time and I need to somehow get myself on the inside of a mental health facility for a while...a few months in a nice hospital would be just what the 'doctor ordered'...

I should make that my goal for the immediate future and see if I can make that happen as a volunteer patient without any money...yeah, go me. lol

 

[ShivaFan]

I think your sense of what might be sarcasm is a misuse of medical conditions that some may suffer under, which may include you but your "ding list" is actually insulting both to yourself but more so to those who have far worse situations and struggles in life than you.

You have already made your message clear, you're blaming Shiva, and Whoever and whatever your going to hate next because your electricity will be cut off (why not cook on coals like in India?), which dwelling on such hate isn't a solution for anything but rather such bizarre ******** which turns into hate is the reason we have so many idiots in the world in the first place.

Siva is my devotion, this is a Hinduism DIR, and this has reached a tone where I find you insulting frankly. I get it. So if you don't like Siva and falsely blame Divinty for your power bills and debt, I kindly ask you to take it elsewhere because your point is made,

I mean, some men beat their wife because employees at work pick on the guy or he thinks they do, but that is no excuse to do so, neither beating an innocent dog. You got problems, you told everyone, prayers have been offered, but I am personally already sick of hearing about it nor am I personally interested in hearing the "I (****) Siva" stuff.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Madhuri]

1. Because all the prayers and supplications in the world will/can never change what is 'meant to be' and

I haven't read the book so I'm not sure what good argument it holds to support your idea.

Why must it mean that God is bound by karma simply because he does not wish to control our actions and experiences? An interference like that would go against the whole point of life and this world, according to my understanding.

God is neither bound by karma and nor is he influenced by our wishes, curses, and other petty things. The one exception, I think, is that he will guide one toward knowledge of him if that person truly wishes for it.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

I think your sense of what might be sarcasm is a misuse of medical conditions that some may suffer under, which may include you but your "ding list" is actually insulting both to yourself but more so to those who have far worse situations and struggles in life than you.

You have already made your message clear, you're blaming Shiva, and Whoever and whatever your going to hate next because your electricity will be cut off (why not cook on coals like in India?), which dwelling on such hate isn't a solution for anything but rather such bizarre ******** which turns into hate is the reason we have so many idiots in the world in the first place.

Siva is my devotion, this is a Hinduism DIR, and this has reached a tone where I find you insulting frankly. I get it. So if you don't like Siva and falsely blame Divinty for your power bills and debt, I kindly ask you to take it elsewhere because your point is made,

I mean, some men beat their wife because employees at work pick on the guy or he thinks they do, but that is no excuse to do so, neither beating an innocent dog. You got problems, you told everyone, prayers have been offered, but I am personally already sick of hearing about it nor am I personally interested in hearing the "I (****) Siva" stuff.

Om Namah Sivaya

You do not understand. I actually do suffer with all those things and I am certifiably insane and on welfare to prove it!

In fact, I have just got off the phone with a mental health advocacy worker, and I have already raised the $500 by taking out a loan against my pension, to be paid off at $25 a fortnight for a year, then using the symptom of 'memory loss' as a reason why I forgot to pay the fine before.

I'll probably end up with a 'restricted license' with conditions placed upon where I can go and the times I can drive in accordance with my mental health issues, but it will be worth it, just to get back on the 'system' again.

I would never use this to make fun of anybody else with 'real' mental health issues...you should know me better than that, mate.

However, I also understand all you guys frustrations with me, when even my own daughter, mother and friends all go 'just shut the f*** up, either you believe in God, or you don't...that's something you must decide for and within yourself...in total silence. We all have enough problems of our own and don't want/need to hear about yours, you're nothing but a huge 'drama queen' so, just f*** off'.

So, the only one who can help me now, is a mental health specialist ( if I have the delusion that God is to blame for this, I need to rid myself of that mental delusion as being the product of my unstable mind).

I am not belittling myself nor putting myself down either. I have just been doing a very good job of hiding all this until now, so yeah, I can see where people may think that I am 'being sarcastic' (I wouldn't even know HOW to be due to my Asperger's Disorder).

I also have reached the point where I do not care about others 'less fortunate' than myself, because to be 'less fortunate than myself' means they are really bloody unfortunate! I don't want to compare fortunes and sympathies anymore to 'justify' this, because it has become 'all about me' now, so it's time I went through another round of CBT under medication.

Yes, I have lost the respect of many on here in the past 24hrs, which only goes to prove one thing....when one has a problem, the only people who will listen/help are those who get paid to do so.

I will end my participation in this thread now, but if you find my tone insulting and don't want to read any more of my posts, you can report this thread for being 'anti-Hindu' or whatever, or you can place me on your 'ignore list'...there's always that choice too.

Goodbye.

 

[Sumit]

After a very long time praying to Lord Siva out of love and not even expecting anything, I notice my life and personal situation just keeps on going from bad to worse.

Last night, I just couldn't take being ignored anymore, so I said, 'you know what, Siva? I am done with you. If this happens when I believe in God, I probably would be much better off financially and with my living conditions if I just...didn't anymore, so get lost now, I want to do this using my own ego now'.

This morning, I woke up and the Siva pendant I wear just fell off my neck chain with jump loop in tact...I laughed and went 'yeah, that's right...just go away'.

Five minutes after that happened, I received a phone call from my father...he said that the police were just at his place looking for me and he didn't divulge where I live - I have been 'on the run' from finance companies and credit agencies for about a year now, living in a house, out in the middle of nowhere, about 5kms off any main roads...all my mail/correspondence gets sent to my father and I have registered his address as my 'living address'.

Apparently, I received a parking fine 2 freaking years ago, which went unpaid (I don't even remember it) and they are just letting me know this NOW? How ridiculous is that?

So, I had to go to the police station, and they took my car license off me and said that I need to either remain at my father's place, or divulge my current address...they also said I have to go to court now, with the possibility of a jail sentence...whichever way things went, I would lose my license for 6 months and have to pay a $500 fine - I learned that the initial fine was only $120.

Dad told me that we could fight it in court and have my name cleared and the charges expunged, but I told him straight out, that God would never allow that to happen, so we would only be wasting our time.

Upon hearing that, he said "I have a friend...." and he went to make a phone call.

What happened after that, was us going to see his friend, an Anglican priest who was very influential in social circles and also ran a community outreach program (serving meals to homeless people, operating a 'community garden' and distributing clothing, blankets etc).

The upshot of everything, after the priest making some phone calls etc, is that if I do community service for a month in his church (basically cleaning the church, helping in the garden and cooking meals) and doing whatever is asked of me, the church will back me up and I will get my license back in 1 month, as opposed to six and I wouldn't have to go to court or jail. The priest would send a letter to the magistrate saying I am already 'doing my time' for the 'crime'.

It was also suggested to me (by my father) that I place a sticker of an Aboriginal flag (we are not Aboriginal) on my car, because 'white guilt' will stop the coppers from booking me in future (that sounds like a very good idea I may follow through).

So, what do you all make of that? All I can say is that Siva has taken everything away from me (except for my life) and it's time I got some of that back, no matter what I have to do to make that happen.

I'm tired of God making a huge joke out of me.

​

Feel sorry for you, I had such hard times in past. We have many stories in scriptures that tells us how devotees faced problems in their lives, a person climbing in spiritual heights often face such problems. Also that may be your past Karmas as everyone has to pay for their karmas. Remember, Mirabai and her devotion to krishna, relationship between Deity and devotee is judged in hard times.

However If you are really tired of all this, do vedic sadhna of Gayatri, Gayatri mantra is most powerful mantra of World. Sadhna is done by chanting of 125000 rounds of Gayatri mantra with full procedure and followed by Havan, this will solve all your problems. You can also chant 1000 times Gayatri mantra daily in morning if possible at 3am and ask Maa Gayatri for help.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Karma, causation, and divine intervention

I'm reading this now to try and get my head around the whole concept of it.

It's gonna take a while, but I feel I have worn out my welcome here, so a break is called for anyway.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Also, I just realised that Saturn is in a really bad position now, in reference to my natal chart...

11.01.2014 h.10:43: Venus sextile Saturn
11.01.2014 h.12:24: Sun conjunction Venus
11.01.2014 h.13:38: Sun sextile Saturn

Things won't start improving until after May 24, when Jupiter trines Saturn in Cancer.

So, I could do that Gayatri Mantra thing...or do Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan...Shanishchara.

Saturn is the 'karma planet'.

 

[Sumit]

It's gonna take a while, but I feel I have worn out my welcome here, so a break is called for anyway.

Take a break if you want, you are always welcomed here

Also, I just realised that Saturn is in a really bad position now, in reference to my natal chart...

11.01.2014 h.10:43: Venus sextile Saturn
11.01.2014 h.12:24: Sun conjunction Venus
11.01.2014 h.13:38: Sun sextile Saturn

Things won't start improving until after May 24, when Jupiter trines Saturn in Cancer.

So, I could do that Gayatri Mantra thing...or do Shri Shaneshwar Devasthan...Shanishchara.

Saturn is the 'karma planet'.

I will suggest you to go for Gayatri anushthan, you will definitely see results.
Here is good book in english detailing method of anusthan
Super science of Gayatri

 

[Aupmanyav]

I will end my participation in this thread now, but if you find my tone insulting and don't want to read any more of my posts, you can report this thread for being 'anti-Hindu' or whatever, or you can place me on your 'ignore list'...there's always that choice too.

We will do no such thing. We will wait for you to stabilize yourself and return to the forum when something good happens.

 

[ShivaFan]

NYK, if indeed you have issues in your head and brain transmitters as you describe, then professional help may be in order.

Typically, from my University days when I did a report/research paper involving actual one-on-one interviews, interactions and looking into the past personal history of patients at the Napa State mental hospital (1976, these interviews and interactions for the paper were onsite at the institution itself in the locked quarters) I wrote as part of my "assumptions" that:

* while it is not the only cause, nor the specific cause which in some cases has a relation to injury or drug abuse, in many cases the cause is chemical and chemical inbalances...

I am only talking about mental issues, not personal issues as debt but often one dominoes the other.

Yes, a PAID professional may be the only person who will have the time to continously listen and focus on your own personal details on and on, and an endless story of such personal details while it is the tendency of such patients to do so as I found during my paper, simply providing a sounding board for it in a forum as this in which, frankly one accusation against Siva or whatever religion only begs insult and response, isn't the proper venue. It also does not benefit you either to fixate only on the wound.

Part of being in the world, and part of the "cure", is to realize that, yes, the entire world does not, cannot, stop just because of your woes. Yes, time IS money, and time is also a chance for each and that includes others who need to utilize it.

The advice you receive from a forum can be very, very dicey, and that is also true from other venues. For what it is worth, I would think it would be your benefit to explore (1) if you have an excess of toxin in your system (anything from drugs, to household or "home repair" chemicals, to too much of the wrong foods, even past drug abuse of parents before you were born) that is a chemical imbalance, that good herbs or natural medicine or detoxification methods may help to draw out. This includes sweating out toxins.

Also, balance any medication very carefully, which indeed is difficult to do, but the idea is that the medication may have a regimen or schedule, let us say it is "take this pill every 24 hours", but due to age, life style or other factors, it may initially be the proper schedule but over time because it may take one person LONGER to draw out or rid the medication from the previous pill before taking the next, you may be slowly building up an overdose over time. Work carefully with your doctor regarding such schedules.

But that is only an idea. Frankly, while I understand the good thoughts behind other suggestions regarding Gayatri mantra, and I am an advocate of mantra method, I would NOT recommend the Gayatri mantra for you at this time, but a mantra related to Hanuman or some other mantra.

Take rest from a long thread of woes, this isn't going to help you, nor is re-enforcing such woes by harping and receiving "amens" to legitimate woes. That doesn't help much either. Also please leave the talk about Siva out of this, I can tell you 1000 percent it has nothing to do with that in your case. Do not focus on karma, either. Focus on the next step, while lifting the foot of the previous step, not things as past karma, IMHO.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Asha]

itDear NYK

We will do no such thing. We will wait for you to stabilize yourself and return to the forum when something good happens.

Sounds like this is the perfect answer to me , lets face it we all go through ups and downs. Ok some go through bigger ups and downs than others!
But, Hey ...that is the point of any spiritual practice, learning to even out the peaks and troughs.
After all isnt it all just Maya ? And the sooner we realise this we save our selves the unnecessary angst and the wasting of our precious energy throwing a hissy fit at it.
After all is said and done if we react to Maya, if we belive in it, it just increases.

Sumit's suggestion of chanting Gayatri Mantra is a wonderfull idea,

quote Nobody You Know ...

Yes, I need to be taken 'out of myself' but I don't know how that works, when I have the worst case of introversion ever possible...no-one can ever be more introverted than myself.

Here you have the answer, fix your mind on the Gayatri mantra ask Maa Gayatri to lift this dark cloud fron your head, we can all be sympathetic and look for reasons, medical conditions, astralogical aspects and other un favorable conditions. But at the end of the day it is upto you, no one can take you out of yourself only you can do that.

Shiva is giving you a tough lesson but if you dont learn from it the conditions will apear to get worse. So the lesson here is trust your lord Shiva, He will not harm his devotee all he will do is kill their ignorance.

So choice is yours we are all here to offer support but at the end of the day it is up to you.

its time for a leap of faith, you just got to look at it this way ''What have I got to loose ? ''

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

Vanakkam,

NYK, we've talked much already so I don't think I have much left to tell you right now. Just don't forget that you have always a (virtual) shoulder to rant on if you need to let go some pressure. K' ?

I just wanted to add something: in Hinduism, whatever the sect or sampradaya or Ishta, relationship between devotee and God is strictly personal. It is a religion where Ishta God is like your brother, friend, king, father, even husband. It means that we are living with God. Sharing with God. And all these experiences, from the tiny one to the bigger, like what you say during prayer with your lips closed, it is all personal between you and God.

NYK have a relationship with Shiva, she shared many good and bad things with Shiva in her life. During a relationship there is always good times, and bad times. Times of love and happiness, and times of doubts and fights. Sometimes people break up. Then they go back together. Or they never come back to each other. Who can judge the relationship between Shiva and NYK here ? We know nothing about the deep bonds and feelings that runs between the two. Maybe it is a passing phase. She is just angry. Then it will be better. Maybe it will be durable and she have reasons. Who knows ? Let it rest some times.

Let's just give support, encouragements and advices to our sister if she need or want it. Because it is our duty, as Hindus, toward God, toward our friend. Of course big problems lead to harsh conditions, and harsh conditions lead to harsh words. There is no need to judge or anything.

It is her choice, and whatever choice she makes, we should always open our arms for a kind person in trouble.

Aum Namah Shivaya

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram NYK ji :namaste

I wasnt going to coment as the more people add their own opinions , the more complicated it becomes .

all we can do is support and encorage eachother through tough times .

and yes it is an unfair world some seem to get more troubles than others , but the hard truth is that is the nature of samsara ,it dosent want to be too good or we would attatch to it and never progress beyond this point .

but yes there are a few things we can do that will help us get through it the best we can shiva fan brings up one good point ...

NYK, if indeed you have issues in your head and brain transmitters as you describe, then professional help may be in order.

Yes, a PAID professional may be the only person who will have the time to continously listen and focus on your own personal details on and on, and an endless story of such personal details while it is the tendency of such patients to do so as I found during my paper,

yes there are some times when professional help can be very benificial , it is not so much that being paid means that they have the time to listen but what is most important is their imparciality . and the fact that a good trained professional is there to lead you to finding your own solutions and to answering your own questions .

The advice you receive from a forum can be very, very dicey, and that is also true from other venues. For what it is worth, I would think it would be your benefit to explore (1) if you have an excess of toxin in your system (anything from drugs, to household or "home repair" chemicals, to too much of the wrong foods, even past drug abuse of parents before you were born) that is a chemical imbalance, that good herbs or natural medicine or detoxification methods may help to draw out. This includes sweating out toxins.

this is most certainly worth discussing with someone , especialy if you have been on medication previously as sometimes even medicinal drugs given to ease one situation cause an imballance which causes other problems both physicaly and mentaly . a simple detox is well worth looking into and also being strict with oneself avoding all intoxicants .

But that is only an idea. Frankly, while I understand the good thoughts behind other suggestions regarding Gayatri mantra, and I am an advocate of mantra method, I would NOT recommend the Gayatri mantra for you at this time, but a mantra related to Hanuman or some other mantra.

at times like these mantra can be very helpfull in re directing the mind , taking it away from the counter productive dwelling on ones imidiate problems and giving us some thing more positive to focus on . it sounds like you need something that will lift you out of this dark space and will alow you to rekindle your faith .

the beautifull thing about Gayatri mantra is that we are not saying it with any expectation of a result we are simply meditating upon the divine force and requesting inspiration . Shiv ji I would be interested as to why you think it not so benificial and also please say more about the values you see in chanting Hanuman chalisa ?

I think at times like these we need to engage in regular simple meditations , we often try too hard in our spiritual practices this can often lead to confusion and dissapointment if not total burn out . our interlect and ego often fall into the trap of choosing highly advanced practices and doing them with an eye on a result , which will surely end in tears , it is better that we choose a simple practice and allow things to unfold naturaly .

blessings be yours :namaste

 

[Poeticus]

Shiv ji I would be interested as to why you think it not so benificial and also please say more about the values you see in chanting Hanuman chalisa ?

[wobbles hands in the air like a front-row student at a middle school or high school]

Oh, please, please, please let me answer for Shiv-ji!!! I'd like to answer because you'll never know when he'll post next. He comes and goes like the sporadic wind.

Here, let's take a look at his quote:

But that is only an idea. Frankly, while I understand the good thoughts behind other suggestions regarding Gayatri mantra, and I am an advocate of mantra method, I would NOT recommend the Gayatri mantra for you at this time, but a mantra related to Hanuman or some other mantra.

Now, now, Ratiben - ShivaFan is not saying that the Gayatri is not so beneficial. In fact, he's rather saying that he wouldn't recommend the japa of the Gayatri to NYK right now (<--- key point right thurr - Chingy status ]. Since, right now, what NYK needs is strength and mobility and motivation. And, that is what the Hanuman Chalisa or Hanuman-related mantra-s are for. They are for rejuvenation and strength. The Gayatri Mantra, on the other hand, is for the focusing of the mind, to acquire the serenity and concentration of one's soul or knowledge of all that one has acquired right now. To chant the Gayatri would definitely dislodge any Chakric balance one may have right now, if any, especially in a time of spiritual turbulence. It would be spiritually unsafe. Therefore, if I were in NYK's shoes - I'd ask for strength and motivation and resolve and confidence...which is where Hanuman-related chants and mantra-s come in. 'Tis a Shaiva thing, homie.

Yay! I beat ShivaFan to a post! Muahahaha!

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

I think at times like these we need to engage in regular simple meditations , we often try too hard in our spiritual practices this can often lead to confusion and dissapointment if not total burn out . our interlect and ego often fall into the trap of choosing highly advanced practices and doing them with an eye on a result , which will surely end in tears , it is better that we choose a simple practice and allow things to unfold naturaly .

blessings be yours :namaste

Thank you, ratikala and I do believe this is what has happened in my case...I am just 'spiritually burned out/exhausted', so I am not about to wake up at 3am and chant Gayatri Mantra 1000 times.

I reached the understanding that I may be 'trying too hard' yesterday, and let my mind roam into alternative practices, which are not necessarily Hindu ones...just temporarily and for the time being, until I get my 'mojo' back.

One thing that is really helping atm, is Shinto and the notion of 'Kami'. I also find Buddhist chanting relaxing me of a night, so that I can sleep.

I have made the resolve to go out to Sydney City the next time I get paid...hang around the Adyar library for a while and pick up some Geoffrey Hodson CDs, go to the Mahikari centre for a bit of 'hands-on healing', pick up some prasadam from ISKCON food for life and hang around for sankirtan, then go down to the Harbour foreshore and watch all the ferries travel in and out...I need to do those things that used to relax/detox me when I was younger...that I still would like to do...

I also used to do a lot of Miso detoxing when I was younger, and discovered Kombucha (I may grow another one).

Yeah, I have a lot of toxins in my system caused by my past drug abuse, painkillers for my fibromyalgia, the occasional cigarette I like to smoke, and about 4-5 cups of coffee I consume in one day, not to mention all the cleaning chemicals I use....I am getting old way before my time with wrinkles starting and such...

I'll still see a doctor though, but one who is more of a 'naturopathic bent'.

I am also reaching that age where changes start occurring to a woman, and this also may have something to do with it too.

At the moment, I don't even want to think about God and have become an 'agnostic' for this exercise, so we'll see where that goes when I become okay within myself again.

Thank you all for your prayers, concerns and well-wishes.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram MV ji :namaste

[wobbles hands in the air like a front-row student at a middle school or high school

jai jai , please please feel free , ...Shiv ji can allways answer later ,

Oh, please, please, please let me answer for Shiv-ji!!! I'd like to answer because you'll never know when he'll post next. He comes and goes like the sporadic wind.

Now, now, Ratiben - ShivaFan is not saying that the Gayatri is not so beneficial. In fact, he's rather saying that he wouldn't recommend the japa of the Gayatri to NYK right now (<--- key point right thurr - Chingy status ].

Ah ha , ... now you see my reason for asking is just to have the benifits openly discussed then rather than each of us suggesting another solution to NYK , when no one of us here can realy read the situation she is in ...

so we discuss the benifits of any suggestions and NYK can conscider the possible benifits for herself that is safest solution to my thinking

Since, right now, what NYK needs is strength and mobility and motivation. And, that is what the Hanuman Chalisa or Hanuman-related mantra-s are for. They are for rejuvenation and strength.

so it is NYK's question , is it strenght that is needed or is it clarity of mind or even peace of mind that would help most at the moment ???

The Gayatri Mantra, on the other hand, is for the focusing of the mind, to acquire the serenity and concentration of one's soul or knowledge of all that one has acquired right now. To chant the Gayatri would definitely dislodge any Chakric balance one may have right now, if any, especially in a time of spiritual turbulence. It would be spiritually unsafe. Therefore, if I were in NYK's shoes - I'd ask for strength and motivation and resolve and confidence...which is where Hanuman-related chants and mantra-s come in. 'Tis a Shaiva thing, homie.

me being me , ...is going to go for the more gentle meditive approach ...

but true everyone loves Hanuman ji

I would love to suggest a few Buddhist practices and chants , but this is hinduism DIR so I could get in big troubble if I do that !!!

but this is about NYK's well being so it is not for us to get in to personal preferences

Yay! I beat ShivaFan to a post! Muahahaha!

ah but now we have to hear also what shiv ji has to say ???

Ps , shiv ji How is your wife I hope things are beter for her ???

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Peace of mind.

Going with the flow, I guess.

Just being in a 'mental environment' I am familiar with.

I already have feelings about what to do...just things that make me spiritually peaceful.

Swimming in the ocean...riding horses around....renewing my TS membership and going to lectures...listening to Kitaro and Deuter....taking up macrobiotics...doing the whole 'Japanese Spiritual thing' again which may include a form of Martial Arts like Judo, remembering how to do the White Light Invocation again...taking up photography again...

These are the things I need to do....practical, living spirituality that takes me out of myself and out of the whole framework of anything, really...just living peacefully and learning to find those simple life pleasures that exist apart from any deity for a while...

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram :namaste

Thank you, ratikala and I do believe this is what has happened in my case...I am just 'spiritually burned out/exhausted', so I am not about to wake up at 3am and chant Gayatri Mantra 1000 times.

no dont even think of it , getting up at 3.00 and chanting 1000 times is prehaps being excessive given your situation , what ever practice you choose 108 times done from the heart is more than enough !!!

I reached the understanding that I may be 'trying too hard' yesterday, and let my mind roam into alternative practices, which are not necessarily Hindu ones...just temporarily and for the time being, until I get my 'mojo' back.

One thing that is really helping atm, is Shinto and the notion of 'Kami'. I also find Buddhist chanting relaxing me of a night, so that I can sleep.

seeing as you've mentioned other practices , ....and forgive me bringing this up in hindu DIR but it is at times like these , that the intelectual aspect of faith just has to take a back seat there are times when every one just needs to think of the physical body and calming the mind , whether that is through some form of yoga or meditation hardly matters .

this trying too hard is a real problem for many people , I dont know if it is a westerners problem but I have seen it affect indian hindus too , there is a competative streak in human beings that has just got to be the best , they have to get up at 3.00 and recite thousands of repetitions , and then they have got to be the greatest depository of knowledge in town , and all this does is produce stress

where as prehaps for those brought up in the system life is a little more relaxed , the need to prove oneself is not so strong , so when this person pays his devotions it is because he has love in his heart , the motivation is very different .

in the west or should I say in westernised cultures , we are often doing things without realy understanding what we are doing and we are not given the tools to cope .

In my years serving in the temple there was so much stress , I used to silently compair the benifits of buddhist medative practices with hindu devotions and Allthough I never voiced an opinion on it I allways thought that a little quiet meditation would have done some people the world of good .

I watched so many people get so worked up about their practices taking everything to extremes , feeling absolutely great about themselves and then burning out .

where as coming from a meditational background I took everything at a steady pace , mindfullness in its truest sence ,

remembering allways what krsna says in the gita ...''not elated not depressed'' ....it is so reminicient of the buddhist veiw of equanimity in that krsna reminds us constantly that we are not just this just the physical and temporary body , that one should remain ballanced , equal in happiness and distress , equal to everyone , ...that we should remain unattatched and un affected , ....

But how ? ....either we meditate upon the lord (in whichever form) or we meditate upon the formless absolute but either way we gain a perspective that raises us above our mundane concerns ...or simply just meditate to clear the mind , you can allways go back to the question of the absolute at a later date .

I have made the resolve to go out to Sydney City the next time I get paid...hang around the Adyar library for a while and pick up some Geoffrey Hodson CDs, go to the Mahikari centre for a bit of 'hands-on healing', pick up some prasadam from ISKCON food for life and hang around for sankirtan, then go down to the Harbour foreshore and watch all the ferries travel in and out...I need to do those things that used to relax/detox me when I was younger...that I still would like to do...

its important to do this , just take a break for a while ,

I also used to do a lot of Miso detoxing when I was younger, and discovered Kombucha (I may grow another one).

Yeah, I have a lot of toxins in my system caused by my past drug abuse, painkillers for my fibromyalgia, the occasional cigarette I like to smoke, and about 4-5 cups of coffee I consume in one day, not to mention all the cleaning chemicals I use....I am getting old way before my time with wrinkles starting and such...

I'll still see a doctor though, but one who is more of a 'naturopathic bent'.

I am also reaching that age where changes start occurring to a woman, and this also may have something to do with it too.

you may have just identified a large part of the problem , yes our bodies change and depending on our general health and wellbeing it is going to effect us all differently ,

but healthy lifestyle , healthy diet ... would certainly help you are lucky to have a more naturopaticaly inclined doctor , but seriously just do your best to cut down on the cigerettes and the cleaning chemicals and any other toxic stuff sounds like you know about it anyway so I dont have to preach .

At the moment, I don't even want to think about God and have become an 'agnostic' for this exercise, so we'll see where that goes when I become okay within myself again.

there is no harm in that , once you get your ballance back you will naturaly find your place again if that is what is meant for you .

Thank you all for your prayers, concerns and well-wishes.

best wishes and enjoy sankirtan

 

[Jainarayan]

I do believe this is what has happened in my case...I am just 'spiritually burned out/exhausted', so I am not about to wake up at 3am and chant Gayatri Mantra 1000 times.

I reached the understanding that I may be 'trying too hard' yesterday, and let my mind roam into alternative practices, which are not necessarily Hindu ones...just temporarily and for the time being, until I get my 'mojo' back.

One thing that is really helping atm, is Shinto and the notion of 'Kami'. I also find Buddhist chanting relaxing me of a night, so that I can sleep.

Fwiw, been there, done that. Spiritual burn-out, trying too hard, listening to too many people and reading too many books and articles that conflict. I believe this especially plagues converts and those of us who have a fragile mental or emotional base to begin with.