An Evening At the Kingdom Hall

Namaste

No post yesterday but that's because it was New Year's Eve and I indulged a little in some alcohol (I also offered some to Ma Kali. The alcohol represents all my vices and my ego - by drinking it up she releases me from them so that I might become closer to her.) and didn't want to post while tipsy. But before all those drinks and becoming exceedingly loud, I went to the Kingdom Hall and spent a good two hours listening to the Brothers and Sisters of the Witnesses talk.

First, we sung and then a Brother prayed for us all and then there was a talk - for half an hour - about how Christ was the Messiah (he pronounced it Meziah and at first I thought he had no idea how to pronounce the word properly but then he said 'uz' as well instead of 'us' so I think he has problems with the letter S) and he has been among us, invisible, since 1914. The talk wasn't really important. It didn't effect me in anyway - especially considering that I don't believe in Christ or Jehovah. However, afterwards was the study of the Watchtower and I was deeply affected by this.

What struck me about the Watchtower study was the emphasis on (and though they'd never call it that) bhakti. Give everything up to Jehovah, they were told, and always pray to him before making any big decisions for Jehovah is always listening. Make no big decisions without first praying to Jehovah and when temptation raises its ugly head, seek refuge in Jehovah.

It is very similar to what the bhakti schools of Sanatana Dharma teach. As a (primarily) Shakta, I approach Maha Devi as a child. She is my great mother - eternal, awe inspiring, and ever loving - and She is always close for this entire world and everything in it is She. Make every action a devotion to Her, every thought, every feeling, lay it all at Her feet.

When I am in pain - emotional and physical - I seek refuge in Her bosom (and it's a very lovely bosom, thank you very much -.^) and when I am happy I thank Her for Her blessings (at least I try to remember to!).

While the Watchtower study emphasised Jehovah, I saw Maha Devi in the words and in the devotion these people felt. To be surrounded by them for a few hours was a blessing, even if it was a bit saddening. They are devoted but Maha Maya still covers their eyes and for all their talk about the scales falling from their eyes they have yet to actually experience it.

I firmly believe that in their next lives they will be blessed with Truth and become devotees of one of the myriad true forms of God, whether that be Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, Surya, Ganesh, or Maha Devi. They are on the right track.

Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicche Namaha
Chhaya

Maha Devi displaying her expansions as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Without her they are nothing.

Does God Punish?

Namaste

Yesterday, when I visited with Debby, she gave me two magazines published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. One of these is self titled 'The Watch Tower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom' has as its front page topic for December 'Natural Disasters: Punishment from God?' so I thought I might address that today.

First: do I believe that God punishes us? Well, that's easy, no. God doesn't punish us for God, Iswara, is eternally merciful and benevolent. Do we punish ourselves? Most definitely. The question that could also be asked is 'is karma punishment' but as karma is neither good nor bad it cannot punish (the common saying 'bad karma' is a misnomer for karma is merely the law of cause and effect).

So, are natural disasters a punishment from God? As I believe, put simply, no. Natural disasters happen. It is the interaction of the forces of nature that cause them and with disasters like the Japan earthquakes there is really nothing that could have been done. You can't prepare for quakes of that scale, not really.

And as for the people affected by these disasters, I firmly believe that it is part of their karma. However, I might hasten to add, just because it is karma at work that does not mean that people should not be helped and that they should not help themselves. Karma is not immovable. 'Bad' karmas can be prevented from sprouting just as 'good' karmas can be encouraged to flourish (or not) in this life.

But God does not punish. Even Ma Durga, riding out on her lion does not go out to punish the Asuras, but rather to guide us and teach us how to battle those impulses that rage within us so that we might open ourselves up to her more fully and accept her loving presence into our lives.

Let me say this again for it bears repeating. God does not punish.

Is Debby Happy?

Namaste

I am always left confused after seeing Debby. Let me preface this by saying that she is a Jehovah's Witness and due to her influence I came very, very close to becoming a Witness myself. Clearly I didn't - I have embraced Sanantana Dharma and I'm even changing my name so that says something for the pull Shiva and Shakti hold over me.

But there is something about Debby... I'm not sure what it is but she is such a beautiful woman. Every time I see her I am filled with joy. This woman radiates love and it's nothing so mundane as earthly love. If she were Hindu I would marvel at her bhakti(1) and even though she isn't and would have no idea what bhakti is (she might even see it as Satan-inspired) she is clearly an exemplary example.

Debby was my bible study tutor for about 3 years. As I've said, she's an amazing woman, and her love for God is simply awe inspiring but while she is generally happy there is an undercurrent of sadness that runs through it and is revealed when she talks about the current world. Jehovah's Witnesses, you see, deeply believe that we are in the end times and that everything points towards looming disaster. Just imagine if she were an ardent devotee of Krishna or Shakti or Shiva. Just imagine the positivity that this woman would radiate. She lights up a room as it is but she would blind those around her if she were a follower of Brahman because she would not have to mourn for anyone. There wouldn't be anyone to save (but she could guide them on the path to enlightenment!), there would be no grief because she would know - if her bhakti found its outlet in Krishna, Shiva or Shakti - that the jiva is eternal and it is not going to die after this life but go forward, continually evolving until achieving moksha.

It deeply saddens me that she is so sad, underneath it all. But she has found God in her current life and while I don't believe the path she walks will take her to heaven (or hell), perhaps in her next life she will be born into a more appropriate setting where her love for God can truly flourish.

Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicche Namaha
 Chhaya

(1: Bhakti)

Shiva and Parvati

Radhakrishna (Radha on the left, Krishna on the right)

Mahadevi (from left to right - Laksmi, Tripurasundari, Saraswati)

Namaste

Namaste, one and all


So I have decided to start a blog totally unrelated to any of my others and I am going to use this one to chronicle my life and my steps as I move towards becoming, on the outside, the follower of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) that I am on the inside.

In 2012 I plan on changing my name. Currently it is legally Casey McKenzie and while I love the name my mother has given me and I identify with it, it is a Christian name and I want the name that people know me by to say who I am and I am Hindu, first and foremost.

I have chosen the name Chhaya as my first name and have yet to chose my last name. Chhaya (or Chaya, I have yet to decide on the spelling) means 'shadow' and for me it has had a strong call. I would love to be a mere shadow of Devi (any of Her forms) or to live eternally in Her shadow, basking in her glory. So Chhaya is not a negative name for me but one filled with promise and positivity.

Anyway, I hope to write a post a day but it's unlikely so let's hope for at least once a week, eh?

Aum Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vicche Namaha

Chhaya