Yā devī sarva bhūteṣu śraddhā rūpeṇa saṃsthitā । namastasyai ॥ namastasyai ॥ namastasyai namo namaḥ ॥

To the divine Goddess who resides in all existence in the form of faith, we bow to her; we bow to her; we bow to her, continually we bow, we bow.

Śloka 18 of the Chaṇḍī Pāṭhaḥ from ‘Atha tantroktaṃ devī sūktam’, The Tantric Praise of the Goddess

Navarātri ends tomorrow. I have been more dedicated this year, making time to listen to the stories and mantras and chanting the mantras myself. My teacher during this period has shared that mantras are both devotional and upāya (a form of mystical medicine). I am remembering my mother who loved the chanting of mantras.

Śraddhā calms the mind. As we develop our faith - whether this be faith in the Divine, or in a teacher or Guru, or perhaps in ourselves - we are able to better focus, to reason, to become aware of what we believe and why. With śraddhā we are able to manage our fears; in this day and age there is much to manage and thus more reason for us to work on building our faith.

In a course I took last year on Bhakti Yoga the teacher shared four points that enable us to participate fully in our lives:

1. Do your work with faith in the Divine

2. View challenges as tests for self-refinement

3. View consequences as a means to become a better person

4. Surrender success and failure (equally) to the Divine

As we do this, as we act with faith, we generate a calmness of mind and build our equanimity.

tasmāt sarveṣhu kāleṣhu mām anusmara yudhya cha

mayyarpita-mano-buddhir mām evaiṣhyasyasanśhayam

Therefore, always remember Me and also do your duty of fighting the war. With mind and intellect surrendered to Me, you will definitely attain Me; of this, there is no doubt. Bhagavad Gita 8:7

This verse reiterates the definition of karma yoga, the yoga of action and service to others. While we do our work in the world, whatever work it may be, we must hold the Divine in heart and mind.

I am continuing my contemplations. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to message me via the comment form below!

peace,