07 Feb 2010 Vrindavan, India
Category: Religion
Vrindavan is a spiritual town, a place to which many pilgrims come for their ceremonies, their prayers and to walk the parikrama, the pilgrimage walk around town. It is usual to chant one’s Mantras, the prayers to god, with the help of a Mala with 108 beads. I have been told that in Christianity people are using a rosary for exactly the same purpose. You say one prayer with the finger on one bead and then with the next bead you say it the second time. I heard that also in Islam people use to pray like this.
Their idea is that you have something in your hand like an anchor for your mind, so if your mind starts travelling during one prayer, when you start again, your finger will turn one bead and your mind will return.
One day Ramona came back from doing some shopping in town and told me about a funny situation she had witnessed. In the same shop there was a couple and both had bags with malas in their hands and reciting their mantras without making sound but while moving the lips. And at the same time they were watching what the shopkeeper spread in front of them: pants in different colours and patterns. When the woman saw one she liked, she stopped the praying, asked the shopkeeper ‘Do you have this one in red, too?’ and while he turned to look she started praying again. And the same thing happened several times: she was moving her lips in silent prayer, then suddenly said something about some dress or colour and started praying again.
How much effect will this woman actually have from this exercise? Nothing, she could as well just go shopping! There you see again how hollow these rituals are! They are just habits, nothing else. You cannot tell me that this woman felt anything special during this shopping trip! But well, to everyone his own!
Tags:: Meditation, Mind, Pilgrimage, Fun, God, Vrindavan, Awareness, Iskcon, Mala, Prayer
2 Comments
Posted By Swami Balendu
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Maybe the mantra was important to the shopping trip: "I ask for Divine guidance in the best color to wear. I ask for Divine guidance in the best color to wear. I ask for... Do you have that in blue?" Haha
Reply By Gia Melia on October 05, 2011 03:40
Do you have that one in red too? That's hilarious. So, I can't tell if it is disrespecting prayer to do it when you are shopping or just being extra devoted by involving it in every area of your life... I just don't know!
Reply By Reida on October 28, 2010 07:16
Today was the last day of the school year 11/12. The children got their report cards, the olde...
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Religion kills. Fasting can take the life of an unborn baby.
SourceIn a certain Hindu celebration, believers worship the goddess and that is only seen in small girls before they have started menstruation. The menstruation thus degrades her from being the goddess to someone similar to an outcast.
SourceThere is a thin line in between healthy pride and too much ego. Everybody needs some ego and everybody should be proud of himself. Without ego or pride you cannot survive. You cannot exist without ego because you need your ego to identify yourself.
SourceWhen shopping becomes an addiction like gambling, when your house gets more and more full, when you walk in the city and realize that you already have everything in those shops full of useless things, it is time to rethink on what you spend your money.
SourceThere is always something good in everything.
SourceI don’t tell you what you should believe or that you should follow me. I am just a normal person like you and everyone else whose thinking is influenced by his surrounding and the events happening around him.
SourceIf you see the typical lifestyle in the west, it is all about freedom. Freedom there does not usually mean freedom of the mind, of decision and independence of negativity but often means physical distance and financial independence.
SourceOnly a rapist mentality blames rape victims for their clothing and behaviour!
SourceGiving unpleasant answers can be avoided by not answering at all.
SourceSex is a very holy and spiritual act and the subject of soul and body, but not of the mind. If it comes into the mind, it will make you sick. You should enjoy sex with your soul and with your body. Don’t think of it, just do it!
SourceAt some point everybody needs to take his own responsibility and act according to what makes him happy. If you tried to make everyone around you happy, you would never succeed but forget your own fun and joy! You should never make the happiness of others more important than your own happiness, otherwise you will make yourself unhappy – and won’t be able to help others!
SourceAfter accidents some people believe it happened due to their sins and bad Karma but God saved them. Well, he saved your life but you do have broken bones. If this guy could keep you from dying, why could he not save your bones from being crushed? Was he too busy? Did he think it would look unrealistic that you have an accident and don’t even break something? Or did he really think ‘Man, you got some bad Karma over there! Not bad enough for dying but at least a bone fracture!’
SourceHow could you, by writing a few lines or talking a few minutes, erase ideas which have been created over the course of many years or were learned while growing up? Change takes place only when a person is ready and really wants to.
SourceYou don’t need a church or temple to pray and get in touch with god.
SourceDon't take everything personal!
SourceIn my relationship I want to give the command of my life and my heart to the one I love. Now you can guide me because I know you, I trust you, in your love, you will do best for me.
SourceIndians have too many expectations on their women!
SourcePeople have to develop their consciousness and stop killing animals to fill their stomach. They have a soul like us and god is in them, too.
SourceFind your meaning of life and be happy. That is what I call spirituality.
SourceYou should have enough confidence in yourself and your actions to know that what you do is right. Do your best, with love and your full effort and you have the possibility to be happy.
Source
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