Trust, faith take care of worries.Byline: FROM HEART TO HEART By Arun Toke toke verb Substance abuse To inhale a large air volume while smoking a substance of abuse–eg, marijuana, less commonly cocaine or crack cocaine, maintaining the lungs expanded with a slight Valsalva maneuver, to maximize the substance's absorption. Cf 'Snort.'. For The Register-Guard Om Gurubhyo Namaha - Salutations to the Guru (spiritual teacher). S/he is none other than pure consciousness. Since I'm just a beginner on the spiritual path of complete reliance in the divine, I begin with a prayer for guidance. As a child, I remember that I was afraid of thunder and lightning. Often, the monsoon months in India brought severe thunderstorms thunderstorms a storm characterized by thunder and lightning caused by strong rising air currents; identified as agents of animal disease because of their involvement causing (1) spasmodic colic; (2) lightning strike; (3) injuries of cattle acquired in stampedes initiated by storms. at night. Lightning flashed like the Tandava Dance of Shiva dance of Shiva symbolizes the passage of time. [Hindu Tradition: Cirlot, 76] See : Time as sheets of rain drummed on the tin roofs. Only a warm embrace in my mother's arms could melt my fears, brought about by the flashes of white light and the deafening sounds of thunder that followed like a ghost. As an adult, I find solace and comfort in remembering the divine. I recall reading in Mahatma mahatma (məhăt`mə, –hät`–) [Sanskrit,=great-souled], honorific title used in India among Hindus for a person of superior holiness. Mohandas Gandhi is the best-known figure to whom the title was applied. Gandhi's autobiography how he was able to overcome his fears of darkness, snakes and public speaking simply by repeating the divine name of Lord Rama. I have come to realize that constantly chanting the mantra given to me by Amma, my Sat Guru, is also like the motherly moth·er·ly adj. 1. Of, like, or appropriate to a mother: motherly love. 2. Showing the affection of a mother. adv. In a manner befitting a mother. embrace that takes away sorrows in life and fears of the uncertain future. Several years ago, we went to California in our 1979 VW Rabbit. Upon our return, our neighbor joked, "That must have taken lots of prayers." Indeed, we had taken the old clunker clunk·er n. Informal 1. A decrepit machine, especially an old car; a rattletrap. 2. A failure; a flop. only with a full faith in the power of prayer. I often feel that my Rabbit runs on spiritual energy. In my Hindu upbringing, it was always stressed that nothing is permanent except our Atman atman (Sanskrit: “breath” or “self”) Basic concept in Hindu philosophy, describing that eternal core of the personality that survives death and transmigrates to a new life or is released from the bonds of existence. and Paramatman (soul and the Great Soul). Our soul merges into the Great One when our ego ("I" and "mine") dies. I'm learning that everything in life has a purpose and that suffering, old age, physical ailments and death are integral parts of life. Our soul does not die. In the Hindu concept of karma, what we experience in this life is the fruit of what we sow in previous lives, and these experiences help us grow spiritually. Being spiritual means welcoming whatever comes our way as a Divine Prasad Prasāda (Sanskrit: प्रसाद), prasād/prashad (Hindi), Prasāda in (Kannada), prasādam (Tamil), or prasadam (grace). Someone once asked Amma, my spiritual teacher, what was the essence of spirituality. Amma replied, "Saying yes to life." I am learning to welcome the divine will. If I can learn to do everything in life with Shraddha (full faith and trust) as a spiritual practice, my whole life will become a spiritual journey. Although I can do my work with one-pointedness, the results of my actions are not guaranteed. All spiritual teachers, including Amma and Krishna, tell us that we shouldn't desire any fruits of our actions. If we perform our actions selflessly, as an offering to the supreme, then we'll have no worries. In response to my concerns over the years, Amma has often assured me that since I have surrendered to the divine, I need not worry about anything. God takes care of all spiritual aspirants! I believe that whatever I truly need, it will be provided. All I need is Shraddha. Arun Toke is a member of Amma's Eugene Satsang Satsang (Sanskrit sat = true, sanga = company) describes in Indian philosophy (1) the company of the "highest truth," (2) the company of a guru, and (3) company with an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the truth. and a co-planner for the Interfaith Prayer and Reflection service, "Garden of Abundance," to be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at First Christian Church First Christian Church can refer to:
CAPTION(S): RELIGION |
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