Talk: The Significance of Mother Worship, according to Swami Swahananda
Speaker: Br. Shankara
October 14th, 2018 Click for NOTES & QUOTES from the talk (PDF)
October is a month for study of Bhakti Yoga. As a bhakti yogi, you establish a devotional relationship with God through study, prayer, ritual, and worship. You practice giving every action, thought, emotion, perception and tendency “a Godward turn.” All your energies and attributes, both positive and negative, are offered to the Divine Presence. Your prayer is for self-surrender, union with your Belovèd.
This is the Season for Worship of the Divine Mother. On Sunday we’ll talk about why Her worship can be of great benefit to your spiritual life. Called Shakti or Kali by Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, they say She is the Creative Power that manifests our Universe, that the inner nature of this Power is feminine.
Swami Swahananda said:
“It is in the struggles, even in the lost battles (of life), that a spiritual seeker is to see the hands of the Mother. Then only is he or she established in steadfast devotion.
The seeker is to steel himself against all fears and weaknesses, and the worship of the Mother as Power (in all Her aspects) prepares him for it.”
Sunday morning, we’ll speak of this worship in daily life. Bhakti means devotion; worship of the Mother is a special kind of devotion. It focuses your attention on abiding with Her, and on your deepening, loving relationship with Her.
As we explore these ideas we will discuss the specific results you can expect to achieve by practicing this particular form of Bhakti Yoga.
Note: There is silent meditation in the Chapel from 10:30-11am, before each Sunday’s talk. After the talk, devotees and friends meet in the Monastery from noon to 1:30pm, for tea, coffee, snacks and a continuation of our spiritual fellowship. Spiritual talks and classes are open to the public and free of charge. [/et_pb_text][et_pb_button admin_label=”Button – Talk Archive” _builder_version=”3.16.1″ button_text=”Talk Archive” button_url=”https://vedantaatlanta.org/audio-archive-of-past-talks/” button_alignment=”center” background_layout=”dark” custom_button=”on” button_bg_color=”#9f4204″ button_border_color=”#d59952″ button_icon=”%%372%%” button_border_width=”4″ button_letter_spacing=”1″ button_font=”|700|||||||” button_text_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.96)” /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.16.1″ area=”sidebar-1″ /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]