FIRST NIGHT OF LAKSHMI WORSHIP
[Valentina enters the Sanctuary in a veritable Lakshmi form - identical to the Image on the Altar - bringing out a silver tray with coins] Now...this is Lakshmi’s gelt. Put it over there by the other treasures [At the Altar] Then you can take a coin... everyone. You see, this is the outer, obvious glory of this earth, but the inner, the hidden one, is the one which produces and suggests this outer. It is the Autumnal thanks-giving. Similar to the autumnal thanks following shortly after Yom Kippur... I'll tell you all about it.... esoterically. So after the Day of Atonement and repentance one is more apt to express the gratitude, the Autumnal, mind you, gratitude, a special attitude of thanks for the bounties of this earth. Now, similarly, we, after the very profound and austere three days of the worship of that austere aspect of the Divine, - we give the thanks for the other aspect of the Divine which sustains, protects, nourishes and blesses this earthly life. Now again, it can be interpreted in a pagan way and it can be interpreted in a spiritual way. Mostly people are, of course, inclined to interpret it in a savage way. They give thanks because they are gratified and they want more gratification. Spiritually speaking, they give thanks because without that sustaining Force they would not be able to live spiritually. Their would be too many indulgences, too many temptations, as well as too many miseries. And... without thanksgiving you are not entitled to the bounties; consequently you pay penalty for the wrongly used privileges. It is spiritually considered a theft to take everything and to give nothing to the gods and to God. So this is how we come to Mother Lakshmi. Not in the name of indulgences and not in the sense of gratification, but in the sense of the most humble gratitude. That is what it is.
Now the question arises, "How about the joy and the frolics and the all of it? It is very pleasing, “and why not?!” [Laughter] Sure, why not? Definitely. But it all goes together with the awesomeness and with the true spiritual appreciation. It is interesting that a person usually divides the joy from spirituality, - either you are joyous or you are spiritual! It is ridiculous. It is just the opposite. If you are spiritual, you are joyous, but you are not carnal and you are not silly. You are just joyous. In connection with that, I want the two notes to be read now. They are very similar and I won’t comment anything now but afterwards. Hand written. I didn't have time to ask to type them, so please, somebody, please. Joseppi! Give him a flashlight. [Turning to the Altar] And is that glorious, Zaichik, what do you think?
Student: Such bounties and such beauty, only in Devaloka, Guru.
Valentina: That is right! I agree.
[Student who went for a flashlight, comes back with a small candle for the reader] Very well organized secretary! [Laughter] Well, he thinks it is more poetic, and fits the environment. All right. Can you see, Joseppi? Can you manage?
Student: Yes Ma’am. [Student reads the two letters]
The first letter: Dear Guru, I felt I couldn’t understand the Force of Mother Lakshmi. Maybe ‘cause I lack the joy of life or something. I cannot understand intellectually. I guess it doesn’t come that way. Then I saw the sunset and I felt better. I felt I understood a fraction. In a rose, in a song, in the rhythm of Your movements, in a smile of Guru, in Your eyes - in all these things there is the Benevolence, Love and Consolation. So grateful for Guru.
The second letter: The best moment today was towards dusk when I opened the “On Sakti” book, the section on Sri Lakshmi. It was just in one second like a flash, adoring the fact that there is Beauty, that there is Purity, there is realness. That I don't know it or have it doesn't matter. But just to know that there is. Thank You, Guru. I just pray to mean it more.
Valentina: Okay. Who wants to a comment on these two notes? Yes, Bella.
Student: [Overwhelmed with gratitude to Guru, tries to express her feelings] I was very touched. [Student almost unable to speak, her voice barely audible] I just want to be able to say thank You. I didn’t know I wouldn’t have my voice....
Valentina: [Softly] Yes.... And about the notes? X, what do you think?
Student: I Just felt they were very real and...
Valentina: And so old! These teenagers sound like my grandparents! [Laughter] They are wonderful! [Miming, with amusement, the tone of the student’s note, with a moaning voice] "I don’t understand the Joy..." I do! [Guru claps Her hands] Durga talking. Durga says, "I don't care for your golden attire, I'm still here." Yes, Mother. That's for sure. Of course joy cannot be learned and if you will talk yourself into joy - these two letters are most charming but they are talking themselves into joy. You really cannot, you really cannot. It is a very spontaneous thing. [Interrupting Herself] I'm sorry, Professor, I interrupted you! [Laughter] I think you wanted to take it into entirely different vain. [Laughter] You're probably just as old. Come on, I'm listening.
Student: [Laughs] I take it all back. Very old letters.
Valentina: You cannot learn joy... you cannot learn joy. But you can acquire it; really, not through such attitudes though. You can acquire it through very silent, concentrated observation ... of yourself. You can understand that there are many subtle movements within you and some of them are beautiful and that alone can give you joy. Nothing else. Not the sunset and not the Guru's beautiful Lotus Eyes! [Playing with Her eyes] But you can appreciate everything beautiful if you will rejoice at your own beauty. And that does not mean conceit and that does not mean smugness and that does not mean silliness, of course, because there are a lot of very silly people who like themselves for nothing. That is absolutely not joy, that is just silliness. But joy comes when you can trace within yourself love, when you go deep within yourself and know that there is such thing as Flame. It gives you enormous joy. And then, everything else gives you joy. A flower, a smile. a graceful movement, [Smiling] a clumsy movement, - everything! Because it is life. Because Lakshmi is behind. Because you are here for some purpose. You are here for the purpose to evolve, to learn, to fulfill. That is very joyous. Do not feign joy! Do not call aridity by other names, but develop farsightedness - see far beyond! [Silence] Without finding within yourself the deep love you cannot rejoice. A lot of people are vital and they think they are joyous. No, they are not. They are just vitally responding to things that are pleasing... and mind you, just as vitally are weeping when the pleasing things are taken away from them. That joy costs one penny and a half, maybe [with a sad smile] - maybe tuppence ha’penny... cheap? I am talking about different joy which perishes not because there are many calamities in the world or because you are dissatisfied and disenchanted because life is not treating you rightly. If a person can have that flame within himself in spite of circumstances inflation or no inflation, whatever! - he knows what I am talking about. Sure it is costly. Sure it is rare. But everything worthy is dear. And that is Lakshmi. Om Devi.... Om Devi. She sure knows what I am talking about. That's all.
October 9, 1994
SECOND NIGHT OF LAKSHMI WORSHIP
Second night of Mother Lakshmi, the Divine aspect of Lord Vishnu, the Divine Sakti of His! The Benevolent, Loving, Adoring, promoting peace and bounties, Divine Sakti. So how did we spend these two days? Just a moment ago I heard my own voice saying we should live so that the reactions will not be too painful. Apparently there are reactions. You cannot be without them. You are here in peace and with the roses (I brought an extra one, the red one)! You are here with lights and symbology of opulence and plenty and loveliness and the whatever is sweet and charming. [About to put the rose into a vase] Hey, suppose I'll give it to Jack?! Careful, 'cause it's prickly!...
So apparently these two days were more preparation for Mother Lakshmi than actual absorption and understanding of her, of Her mysteries. I always feel that the three days are not enough, three years a little bit better. All right. Let us start now propitiating Her. Give the gelt away. [Smiling] I hope we still have enough of it. Do we? If not, then we shall change the bills! [Student brings the tray of coins to Guru] That's for sure. You know what? I took a penny [Student waits for Guru to take more] No, it's genug. I'll multiply!... [As student starts to offer the coins to each one] Don’t be bothering yourself. Just sit down quietly. Let them enjoy it themselves. Just let them pass it to each other, so much simpler. And somebody can take as much as he wants and another can take as little as he wants and so it will be just right! [Indicating the Altar, laden with fruits and cake] And now you can also spread these bounties, take them and spread them. Or else, tell them to come and take it afterwards, because I am not so fond of commotions. And then there is an offering of jewels and things which you love best. I decided to watch over a very costly one which belongs to X, because she usually is extra careful about it and is worrying about it. So I am wearing it myself. It will be Lakshminized through and through. [Holding up Her hand with the ring on Her finger] See how beautiful it is?! Look! Sprinkling and shrinkling and talking. Okay! If you want you can offer Her even more, put whatever you want, put your heart... which, if good - is your best Jewel! Who wants to tell me something? Please say.
Student: I was thinking outside how much of a blessing it is to be here with You, to share in Your Heart, the Sanctuary, there is no other place in the... three worlds like this.
Valentina: It is beautiful really. It is all the play of the Forces. Very beautiful. Who wants to say something else?... Yes, Claudia, you did raise your hand. Now that you are refreshed after a long nap I expect confessions! She told me that she slept like a log. How long? I won’t expose that part; you just say it yourself. How long did you sleep?
Student: Three hours.
Valentina: A fine nap! So it means a three hours nap, you probably have enough energy to tell me something [Smiling] Say something. How does it feel [smiling] to be so refreshed? Feel good? Good or drowsy?
Student: I feel good, Guru.
Valentina: Good. Great! So say something. What did you dream about? Did the Force come to you and say, "Come, Claudia, get up!" Did It say so? Did She say so? How did you spend the day? Lakshmi-like or not? [No answer] Not Lakshmi-Like? Who spent the day Lakshmi-like? Who tried to?
Student: Sweetness in the heart was my Lakshmi day! And what Guru said, to love the flowers, the trees, the animals and to feel that in my heart.
Valentina: Good. Okay, put the lights off and I shall pray for you [Silence] Give us music, Jay. [Music follows]
[Entirely different tone - serious and aloof] It would be an absurdity to expect, during these three days, only because we pronounce them as Lakshmi’s to be cloudless and spotless and smiling! That Force exists and that Force is tangible and that Force is descending to you, yes - but only in proportion to your, not imagination and not artificial determination and resolution, "I better or else." No, no! - in proportion to your intense concentration and dedication and adoration and faith which precedes these worships. We certainly cannot expect mystical background in the life of ordinary people or even aspirants. Nevertheless, they can outline the certain proximity to the Divine during these nine days. These days are very, very, very auspicious. And therefore you need not despair or breast-beat if you did not succeed to be cheerful, hospitable, elegant and charming during these three days. Of course you did not! And I will tell you why you could not. Because the moment you start your day, early in the morning, you are confronted with the list of duties and many things which may interfere into your resolves. Even if you are on vacation, it is not so much the formal association with people as it is the “informal.” By informal I do not mean, "Hi Johnny, how are you today?" But I mean the invisible influences of which I have been telling you recently.
Now, how can you immediately recollect that you are now on Lakshmi "program" if you are provoked, or if something comes your way which is obnoxious, or something which you are very critical about? You have to pinch yourself and say, "Hey! I am supposed to be very amiable today. And it won't work! So these are the paradoxes of life which you, being honest, should not overlook; should not deceive yourself. The best part of Lakshmi worship is when you are through with the dealings with people and the world, like we are now - when we come here more or less carefree. In the course of our worship we will be more carefree - carefree in the sense that we gradually will shake off the world and it will not pester and overload us. We shall gradually renew our awareness of the Mother. We shall gradually push away the petty things, the petty occurrences. And mind you, you cannot despise them when the occurrences occur! For such is life. If you will be despising them and pushing them away, they will push you away. You have to know how to deal with the world without being of it. It is a task. It is difficult....
Today at the Asana Class I was observing the clashes of auras; later on I was observing the clashes of consciousnesses; then later on, I was observing the clashes of the whole atmospheric condition - everywhere the clash. So if you can observe, you are already on the winning side, very much so. [Pause] Mother! Lakshmi! Om Sakti.
Well, I told you facts which are not too adorable. There is no use of pointing the facts without pointing the way out of them. The way out of these facts, of these clashes, is definitely to develop empathy. It is not tolerance to the intolerable situations. You cannot be tolerant only because you are worshipping Lakshmi. You cannot tolerate injustice, ugliness, stupidity. You cannot tolerate it within yourself, by the way, you should not . Yet you cannot separate yourself from vices by just declaring that you despise them. If you are at all subtle you will notice that, simultaneously, you are practicing something worse than the vices you struggle against; namely, you are practicing the “holier than thou.” So the whole thing is a mess![Smiling] You have to be very, very, very wise and very humourous in order to be able to move in this funny universe.
[Addressing the Image of Mother Lakshmi] Mother, You didn't do a good job; it's a funny Universe of Thine.
She says, "It's not My fault, Valentina, don't You see?!"
"Mother, whose fault is that?"
"It is the Asuric fault."
"Oh Mother, then I understand; it's the faults of the Asuras!
Indeed, Mother creates everything perfectly. Everything Perfect! But then the Delusive Power, the dark power distorts. So that is why we are in the clashes. Now back to my first remark about the empathy. To tolerate, you should never; but criticize you should not either. And that is the trap, you see. Because you are so quick to say, "Oh, that disturbs me. I am on the hi-fi and this one is dragging me down." [Smiling] It is so tempting to say that, and that is what the holier-than-thou all the time pronounces, you see? And then Mother says, "Well, Child, you are also one of the Asuras who I have to fight." [Silence]
October 10, 1994
THIRD NIGHT OF LAKSHMI WORSHIP
Third night of the worship of Maha Lakshmi. [Pause] Very benevolent, very auspicious, very beautiful. [Silence]
The nine days of the worship of the Divine Mother, it is said, are very dear to Her. During these nine days, one can become a different man, a different person, if one takes it very seriously. Last night, I mentioned about remembrance as a special virtue. I hope you re-listened it, did you? No. You don't remember. [Smiling] Very, very important to remember that which you receive, to absorb it, to practice it, to raise your vibrations. It is all life that you are under the guidance of Divine Sakti. But how many accept this guidance and how many hear it? So in specially assigned time for the worship of the Divine Mother, of the Mother of the Universe, of the Dynamic Aspect of God, it is very wonderful to increase your capacity.
Tonight we shall end our worship of Mother Lakshmi with one very important understanding - that here on earth man is only for one purpose - to benefit himself in knowledge and then to help everybody else to know. It is a very short life we have here, and if we squander it, it is absolutely unpardonable. And so the Divine Mother, in all Her aspects, is to increase our capacity, to enlarge our knowledge, to attain to Self-Realization and to help every single person. If this would be the goal of the true aspirant, there would be, simultaneously, quite a bit of harmonization throughout the whole world. Also, if there would be not so many Asuras so near the earth, there would be not so much corruption and so many wars and so much distress, so much suffering. But so much suffering. So we shall propitiate the Divine Mother by our givingness and openness. Not by intellectual resolve but, I hope, by some realization of the emergency of the time, of the striking contrasts of extreme wealth with extreme poverty, extreme comforts of any kind - comfort of health, comfort of friendship, comfort of any kind of achievement with terrible discomfort of dejection, of being crippled in mind and body and soul. These contrasts are to be more or less neutralized only through the Benevolence of that Goddess. That is Her business - to neutralize, to soothe, to give inspiration and to help. You might say, "Well, I belong to Jewish religion. I know nothing about Mother Lakshmi, how come then? I am out?" Nobody, almost, knows about it except very few people who study the Eastern philosophy, who are devotees of Sakti. But I told you, in the very beginning of Navaratri, that regardless whether you know it or not, you still are under the Divine projections of the Energy of God. Every religion, in its own way, believes in it and feels it, and some understand it. The fact is to open your hearts to that Divine Benevolence of Mother Lakshmi. And I repeat again, it is only one Divine Sakti but we, for our own comforts and convenience, analyze It and worship It separately, for It manifests Itself very precisely through these three Forces - Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. And as a matter of fact, the name Durga is used for the name of Mother generally, not only as the destructive aspect, but when one says “Durga” in Sanscrit, one means that It is the Mother. So that is what it is... to submit yourself to that Divine Sakti and to love It very much.
And, we will have some music first and then Devi Mahatmayam and you will subdue this a little bit [The candle light]. Did you eat everything already? Still something? Do you want first to attend to the gastronomical department of Mother?
And then we shall go into the higher realms. Give the rest of it. Philip, are you here? Hi. Do you want Mother Lakshmi’s coin? Get it for your good luck. Give it to those who did not take it and to those who did take it, because we are so opulent! [Smiling] Lakshmi! All right. I shall not interfere. While you will be eating and distributing gelt, I shall be with Mother Lakshmi in my own apartment. And then I will come back. [Guru goes to Her own Abode]
[Guru re-enters the Sanctuary. Addressing a student] Are you a good cook? No? Give her something big. I just thought of it. That's it. Hey, where is my first papaya? Is it still there? Keep it for me! Who wants a papaya aside from me? Rosie, you want a papaya?
Student: No, thank You, Guru.
Valentina: [Whispering] It's so big! It'll ripen here and then we will cut it to pieces, everybody will have it. How do you like my red dress? It's a Lakshmi dress. [Pause] Okay, genug. And you just finished to distribute everything, right? Take more. Take to Bu-Bell. That is right. Because it is all sanctified, it will make you healthy, wealthy and wise. And now we shall put the lights off and have the soothing atmosphere and we will listen from Devi Mahatmayam. You have the Fifth Chapter now and we will go also to the last one, yesterday's one you will repeat after this one.
[Tape recorded recitation of the Devi Mahatmayam follows] ... Help to understand what it is all about. Indra is in charge of the Devas. The Devas are the Divine Forces. Indra is one of the Divine Forces which is strong enough to govern the other Forces. And here are enumerated many Forces which were overpowered by the opposers, by the ones who protest against the Divine. They are the forces of ignorance, the dark forces. And sometimes, when the Devas are not vigilant enough, the darkness overpowers even them, - not only the human being, but even the Divine Beings are attacked. So these particular ones - Sumbha and Nisumbha - were the most powerful dark forces. And I told you, during these days of Navaratri, that Asuras are not necessarily just insignificant and disgusting evil forces. They can be very magnificent in their power, prowess, as well as in their nastiness, but they are strong enough to overpower even the gods! So the position of Indra actually is not the permanent position; it is a temporary position, as it were. In other words, in Cosmos, just as in our little world here on earth, there are various positions. One can attain to the position of Indra through various austerities, through many great achievements, through much brilliance and reliability and dedication to the Divine. All the Divine Forces are the radiations of God. So, in this particular instance, the Asuras overpowered the Divine Government and took the position of Indra, Varuna, the Sun, the Moon. Kubera, the force of wealth and opulence, Agni, the force of Light, Fire and many other forces were overpowered by darkness and the ignorant but powerful Asuras took over. [Tape recorded recitation follows]
Now let us contemplate the Powers of the Devi. As you see, She abides - She, that Energy - in every human being in the form of all the virtues. Whatever virtue, whatever power, whatever glory, talent there is, it is all from Her. "Salutation to the Devi, who abides in all beings in the form of faith," I'll add also! So whatever of Beauty there is, it is all from that Devi, from that Mother of the Universe. To propitiate Her is to put at Her Feet whatever Beauty we can perceive and conceive. Whatever of any kind of glory there is, it is all Hers. But what does it mean to put it at Her Feet? It means extreme humility, modesty. It means also tremendous self-abnegation and purity. Beauty is a great power. When it is abused, it becomes an Asuric power; they also have beauty, but this beauty is unacceptable to God. It is a distorted Sakti, it is full of lust; it is full of hatred, it is full of frustration, it is full of opinionatedness. It is ugly beauty. It is offensive to Mother Lakshmi. You cannot come near Her; you cannot even think of Her unless you purify yourself by the Fire of Mother Kali, the Maha Kali... I keep on telling you this all the time. It is the greatest blasphemy to profess Saktism, or the adoration of the Power of God, and to not purify yourself simultaneously. You simply cannot do it. You immediately switch to the Asuric field, and Asuric field is extremely wide, of a tremendous range. You can be a number one devil; you can be number two; most people are number thousand-one. They are very, very insignificant in talent, very insignificant in whatever strength or prowess, but they are very, very sinful. So that is about all from the Asuras they get.
Therefore, when we are thinking of the Divine Mother, please, please understand one thing, that it is not a joke, that we are here performing something mystical, something of great significance and of mysterious power. We are invoking the Devi. So during these ten days - nine days and the tenth day of Divine Victory, one has to be very vigilant. You probably remember, the very first day of Navaratri, I warned everybody. I said that one has to be extremely cautious, and very few people understood what I meant. There were questions and I elaborated so you can re-listen the tape. But I shall briefly tell you that this caution pertains also to the fact that we are invoking the forces which we cannot manage ourselves. So you have to be very careful not to invoke the Asuras instead of the Devi. That is why, if you approach the Devi, you have to follow the Devas or the Divine Forces. Just watch. Concentrate upon the Devi Mahatmayam, that which was recited a moment ago, how the Devas were prostrating with salutations to the Mother of the World. What immense humility they have! And please, they are the great Forces; they are the Divine Beings! And even they - they do not beg Her do this, that and that or else! They do not command to Her as almost every smart-alec does. No, they don't. They prostrate to Her again and again.
And whenever one is dealing with the Devi, one simultaneously performs austerities, either physical fasting or mental fasting. Mental fasting is far more important than physical fasting. Physical fasting is not always advocated, and especially in our times when there is so much work and so little rest. But the mental fast is a must. Physical fast, occasionally, also is a must. Mental fast consists of abstinence from evil thoughts, from evil emotions, from revengefulness, from anything which is barricading you from the Divine Sakti. And especially Lakshmi. Lakshmi is such tenderness and such exquisite Beauty that to approach Her without self-purification and austerity and acute vigilance is to offend Her; to slight the Devi, is to raise a sword against Her, is to be the Asura! So please think about it seriously, for it is not a joke. We are not gathering here for entertainment, although I entertain you plenty because I love you and because I love fun, but I give it to the Devi first and then to you.
Now please continue. Now that the Devi accepted the prostrations of the Devas, She is talking to them, She is answering them. [Tape recorded recitation follows]
...rob the Devas and all the treasures are in their possession now, just like in this world. Almost every millionaire is a crook! [Smiling] So the Asuras now are boasting and those two chief [Smiling] secretaries of Sumbha and Nisumbha are describing to him, reminding him how extremely wealthy and powerful he is and they are so greedy to have everything which is beautiful and excellent in their possession - look, even from Brahma, the Swans, the Chariot with the Swans, is in their possession - everything, all the jewels, everything! So now they want the Devi Herself! You see? There is no limit to the impudence and lust of the Asuras. And that is really the most tragicomical aspect of every ignorant dark force. It becomes extremely arrogant and it does not realize that God is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent and there is no way of overcoming and overpowering Him. The Devas are the only ones who have the access to the Divine Force or the Mother of the World. The Asuras have to be killed because there is no right for the evil and there is no life for the evil. Sooner or later they are going to be slain, all of them, but it is a long process. So please continue. [Tape recorded recitation follows]
All I can say now is, let's pray so that the Asuras will perish quicker than it is expected. And we shall end in meditation, a special Lakshmi meditation. I suppose I didn't dismiss you in time, so those of you who are very tired will have to [Smiling] bear with me a little longer. And those who are not tired should be very much reinforced with inspiration. During these three days, we are meditating upon the acquirement of special virtues. Last night it was a collective meditation upon the remembrance - the remembrance of the high spirit here, the remembrance of the recitation from the most magnificent and powerful Scriptures, the remembrance of your Higher Self above all, the remembrance of the Devi. So tonight, we shall again collectively meditate upon the fearlessness. Everyone, it is said, who is listening with all his heart to the recitation of the Devi Mahatmayam is acquiring some fearlessness because the Devi shows such Courage and such Power and such Absolute Fearlessness that it somehow blesses the one who prays to Her with these hymns to which you have just listened. So we shall meditate upon fearlessness. It is said that the one who dedicates himself to the Path of God-Realization should fight against fear. Fear is by no means an asset... a very dire enemy of an aspirant. So let us now meditate upon fearlessness, or if you want to concretize it, on the opposite of fear, namely, courage, and daring... daring. Now, spiritual daring is miles apart from arrogance. Sometimes people think that they are daring when they are impudent. Well, Asuras think they are daring. When I say daring, I say [intensely] to dare to take the Cross and follow Him. That is what I mean. Om Sakti.