Comment below: **
--- In [email protected], new.morning <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Thus, see, at least look for and seek, the Divine -- the infinitely > bestowed -- in everyone one and everything that passes before you. And > praise THAT divinity. The result; the person or thing is uplifted, > they do not lose merit, and you gain "blessings". Not that that is a > worthy prusuit in itself. But it is a by-product of a much greater > thing: cultivating the "naturalness" of seeing the blazing Dinine in > everything and everyone. > > And this explains the greeting "Namaste" -- I bow to the divinity > within you. (other translations or corrections welcome). > > And explains the deeper mechanics of the greeting "jai Guru Dev". For > example, MMY's st andard practice is to take no praise for himself but > directs all praise to the "Infinely Bestowed". The practical effect is > no loss of merit to himself/TMO, yet same blessings (or more) bestowed > upon the praiser. > > Jai Guru Dev > > Interesting, shockingly at first, in great contrast, SSRI allows his > "vessel" to be praised, even worshiped. Odd upon first encounter, > especially if coming from TMOville, but it it is so "reflective", > innocent and "beaming". Reflective is the word that best describes > that for me. The deeper the praise, the more "reflection" back to and > within oneself. Mileage may vary. > **snip to end** NewMorning, excellent posts, thanks. In the Indian culture the praise thing is so ubiquitous ("Namaste", as you point out, the perfect example), that people take it (and offer it) with less concern than we as Westerners might feel. Several years ago I participated in a day long engagement ceremony and puja for the son (and his fiancee) of a friend of mine. Both families are Hindu from Trinidad and they had brought in a Kali priest from Trinidad to perform the rituals. It was a real treat to be there and my friend had asked me to say a few words of blessing for the two who were to be married as part of the ceremonies. They were both in the early 20s and beautiful young people. After the main part of the ceremonies were ended and everyone started to mill about and eat, the young bride-to-be went around with a tray with flowers, coconut and camphor flame and did a short ararti to each one of us individually who had been in the ceremony. It was humbling to the max, but I had a wonderful feeling of 'reflecting' that which she was doing back to her and with some added joy. Very lovely and a special experience. The late Shankaracharya of Kanchi (I believe), Chandrashekara Saraswati, who had served as Shankaracharya of that math from the time he was a very young man to his mahasamadhi in very old age, remarked how in his position, he never had the opportunity to bow down to others and what a valuable activity that was; humbling and elevating at the same time. Thanks. Marek
