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The nature of your personal relationship with God.

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
This is inspired by another thread, my apologies.

I think insight might be gained into some of our differences, and perhaps similarities, if we look into the personal relationships each of us has with God, of Gods, if indeed we do have one. I realise some theists have no personal relationship.

Firstly, I could never yell at Siva. That makes absolutely no sense to me. How could I yell at someone who brings me so much Joy? Yes, I'll capitalise Joy to stress that the Joy of being in the presence of Siva is insignificant to the emotional joys of life.

Awe is always there. Once I beseech Siva's presence for the day, I'm overwhelmed. It surprises me on a daily basis. Occasionally He doesn't come, and I know it. The Agamas teach this mystical science, and I know regularity is part of the nature of beseeching. Just as you might wake up at the same time every day, the inner habits of God, and devas will align with your timing. (In the puja you can state a precise time of day, and place) One of the reasons He doesn't come is that because of Covid, and personal safety, I go shopping at the established time, and I know He gets that. The devas do hang about though. In my branch of Hindusim, we are assigned personal devas at name giving, and they come to the pujas as well. They're not beseeched like Siva is, but come to receive His blessings.

The main thing is He's just ... right ... there, constant companion. The Agamas, the Vedas, the Tirumantiram, all state that if there is one thing He cannot do, it's to separate Himself from his own creation.

That's enough of a rant/share for now. In Tamil Saivism (Saiva Siddhanta, Advaitha Siddhanta,) the devotee, and God are interlocked, and it's always personal.

I'm interested about your personal relationship with your version, or interpretation of God.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
This is inspired by another thread, my apologies.

I think insight might be gained into some of our differences, and perhaps similarities, if we look into the personal relationships each of us has with God, of Gods, if indeed we do have one. I realise some theists have no personal relationship.

Firstly, I could never yell at Siva. That makes absolutely no sense to me. How could I yell at someone who brings me so much Joy? Yes, I'll capitalise Joy to stress that the Joy of being in the presence of Siva is insignificant to the emotional joys of life.

Awe is always there. Once I beseech Siva's presence for the day, I'm overwhelmed. It surprises me on a daily basis. Occasionally He doesn't come, and I know it. The Agamas teach this mystical science, and I know regularity is part of the nature of beseeching. Just as you might wake up at the same time every day, the inner habits of God, and devas will align with your timing. (In the puja you can state a precise time of day, and place) One of the reasons He doesn't come is that because of Covid, and personal safety, I go shopping at the established time, and I know He gets that. The devas do hang about though. In my branch of Hindusim, we are assigned personal devas at name giving, and they come to the pujas as well. They're not beseeched like Siva is, but come to receive His blessings.

The main thing is He's just ... right ... there, constant companion. The Agamas, the Vedas, the Tirumantiram, all state that if there is one thing He cannot do, it's to separate Himself from his own creation.

That's enough of a rant/share for now. In Tamil Saivism (Saiva Siddhanta, Advaitha Siddhanta,) the devotee, and God are interlocked, and it's always personal.

I'm interested about your personal relationship with your version, or interpretation of God.

My relationship with the Gods is one of Reverence and Reciprocity. I honor the holy high days, and make sacrifices in the names of the Gods, with the understanding that they will bestow gifts of wisdom in return.

One way I do this is a simple offering of mead into a ritual fire, with an accompanying prayer.

Throughout my daily interactions, I see and interact with the divine everywhere I go, from the ingenuity of human kind, to the simple sound of birdsong, and whispers of wind.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
Mostly good, I think. I thank G-d for many things every day and ask him to bless folks I love, and especially my RFian friends.

But at times it's tumultuous as I'm so lonely and I wonder why He put me on such a lonely path.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
My relationship with the Gods is one of Reverence and Reciprocity. I honor the holy high days, and make sacrifices in the names of the Gods, with the understanding that they will bestow gifts of wisdom in return.

One way I do this is a simple offering of mead into a ritual fire, with an accompanying prayer.

Throughout my daily interactions, I see and interact with the divine everywhere I go, from the ingenuity of human kind, to the simple sound of birdsong, and whispers of wind.

Thank you. Reverence is such a beautiful word. We have high holy days as well. Are yours based on natural cycles, like solstice, for instance.

My favorite offering is flowers. My friends in the monastery did make mead at one time, not sure if they ever offered it, although honey is an offering. I'll offer honey here in about 10 days time.
 

sealchan

Well-Known Member
This is inspired by another thread, my apologies.

I think insight might be gained into some of our differences, and perhaps similarities, if we look into the personal relationships each of us has with God, of Gods, if indeed we do have one. I realise some theists have no personal relationship.

Firstly, I could never yell at Siva. That makes absolutely no sense to me. How could I yell at someone who brings me so much Joy? Yes, I'll capitalise Joy to stress that the Joy of being in the presence of Siva is insignificant to the emotional joys of life.

Awe is always there. Once I beseech Siva's presence for the day, I'm overwhelmed. It surprises me on a daily basis. Occasionally He doesn't come, and I know it. The Agamas teach this mystical science, and I know regularity is part of the nature of beseeching. Just as you might wake up at the same time every day, the inner habits of God, and devas will align with your timing. (In the puja you can state a precise time of day, and place) One of the reasons He doesn't come is that because of Covid, and personal safety, I go shopping at the established time, and I know He gets that. The devas do hang about though. In my branch of Hindusim, we are assigned personal devas at name giving, and they come to the pujas as well. They're not beseeched like Siva is, but come to receive His blessings.

The main thing is He's just ... right ... there, constant companion. The Agamas, the Vedas, the Tirumantiram, all state that if there is one thing He cannot do, it's to separate Himself from his own creation.

That's enough of a rant/share for now. In Tamil Saivism (Saiva Siddhanta, Advaitha Siddhanta,) the devotee, and God are interlocked, and it's always personal.

I'm interested about your personal relationship with your version, or interpretation of God.

Occassionally I feel the Holy Spirit uplifting me when I might otherwise expect that I should be afraid, nervous or worried. Sometimes I smile at the humor of the creator for making the world so tricksy in how it can subtly rebalance itself. Sometimes I get angry at the cruelty and injustice that is allowed to persist within a creation deemed to be Good by a seemingly unconcerned Father. Sometimes I feel humbled to near humiliation by just how little I can do against what is and I simultaneously regret and feel relieved that the world is not really my burden. I dont say much to God other than thank you and to ask to be given what 8 will need to encounter a given situation.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Occassionally I feel the Holy Spirit uplifting me when I might otherwise expect that I should be afraid, nervous or worried. Sometimes I smile at the humor of the creator for making the world so tricksy in how it can subtly rebalance itself. Sometimes I get angry at the cruelty and injustice that is allowed to persist within a creation deemed to be Good by a seemingly unconcerned Father. Sometimes I feel humbled to near humiliation by just how little I can do against what is and I simultaneously regret and feel relieved that the world is not really my burden. I dont say much to God other than thank you and to ask to be given what 8 will need to encounter a given situation.
Yes, I smile at His humor as well.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
Thank you. Reverence is such a beautiful word. We have high holy days as well. Are yours based on natural cycles, like solstice, for instance.

My favorite offering is flowers. My friends in the monastery did make mead at one time, not sure if they ever offered it, although honey is an offering. I'll offer honey here in about 10 days time.

Yes they are, I follow the traditional neo-pagan 8 high days. These include the two Solstices and Equinoxes as the 4 major holy days, with the other 4 cross-quarter days falling between those.

I offer flowers, food and drink, smoke (tobacco or cannabis), as well as personal things such as drawings, written prayers or other personal things I have created myself. The plants that I offer are what happens to be growing in my yard, during that portion of the season: poppies, bluebells, snowdrops, clover, stalks of flowering grass.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Yes they are, I follow the traditional neo-pagan 8 high days. These include the two Solstices and Equinoxes as the 4 major holy days, with the other 4 cross-quarter days falling between those.

I offer flowers, food and drink, smoke (tobacco or cannabis), as well as personal things such as drawings, written prayers or other personal things I have created myself. The plants that I offer are what happens to be growing in my yard, during that portion of the season: poppies, bluebells, snowdrops, clover, stalks of flowering grass.

Do your written prayers get burned? Is your altar (assuming it's the place where offerings are made) outside?
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
Do your written prayers get burned? Is your altar (assuming it's the place where offerings are made) outside?

They do :).

I have an indoor Altar that I use, but it is mostly symbolic at the moment due to location. I keep a representation of the 3 hallows that are important in Druid cosmology the Fire, Well, and Tree motif on it, as well as my drinking horn and tools for Ritual.

My rituals that I have been conducting lately have all been outside on my firepit that I built (this takes the place of my Fire hallow), and I bring my tools and other Altar adornments for ritual outside and set it up there.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
They do :).

I have an indoor Altar that I use, but it is mostly symbolic at the moment due to location. I keep a representation of the 3 hallows that are important in Druid cosmology the Fire, Well, and Tree motif on it, as well as my drinking horn and tools for Ritual.

My rituals that I have been conducting lately have all been outside on my firepit that I built (this takes the place of my Fire hallow), and I bring my tools and other Altar adornments for ritual outside and set it up there.

Interesting. We burn written prayers as well, in particular designated fires for that. I like the idea of outside shrines, but here in Cold Canada, it's nigh impossible 4 months of the year.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
Interesting. We burn written prayers as well, in particular designated fires for that. I like the idea of outside shrines, but here in Cold Canada, it's nigh impossible 4 months of the year.

Fire melts snow. ;)
Neat that you burn written prayers as well.
I'm in WA, the only thing that stops me from setting up is rain. But I've been blessed with clear days the last few years.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Fire melts snow. ;)
I'm in WA, the only thing that stops me from setting up is rain. But I've been blessed with clear days the last few years.
A guy could put a roof over his altar ... just sayin'. Rain is wonderful. The Hindu temples in tropical countries are often open-aired, for heat reasons, and the breezes flowing through are healing, not to mention cooling. We have a small outdoor shrine just off the deck that comes in in winter.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I think my avatar shows where my heart is...

Though I honor both Shiva and Krishna, my relationship with both is different. I tend to approach Shiva when I feel as a child might... when I am filled with joy, or fear. I may relate to him how wonderful I feel something is, or I might cry to him in the night when I feel something is wrong. And I feel a very strong love that comes from him; one that is happy when I am, and one that despairs when I do. I see Shiva in the workings of nature, and I feel his presence all around.

With Krishna, the relationship is different. Krishna is my best friend. He may not always give me what I want, but he has always given me what I've needed. I do not blame difficult circumstances on him(or Shiva), but I do ask that he help me through them. I may vent frustrations to him from time to time. Actually, that was how we 'met'. I find he has an active sense of humor, and there are times when I feel he plays jokes on me... but its all in fun. He laughs, I laugh. Krishna is the buddy I go through the day with. I feel it is he who guides me along my path.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
I share some of what others in this thread have shared.

But another aspect is my journey to see Divinity in a dog turd on the lawn and a homeless man on the street. Working on seeing the Divine in everything is, as they say, a work in progress, but unless I try I'm not living my beliefs.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I share some of what others in this thread have shared.

But another aspect is my journey to see Divinity in a dog turd on the lawn and a homeless man on the street. Working on seeing the Divine in everything is, as they say, a work in progress, but unless I try I'm not living my beliefs.

Try looking at that turd from a worm's point of view. ;)
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
This is inspired by another thread, my apologies.

I think insight might be gained into some of our differences, and perhaps similarities, if we look into the personal relationships each of us has with God, of Gods, if indeed we do have one. I realise some theists have no personal relationship.

Firstly, I could never yell at Siva. That makes absolutely no sense to me. How could I yell at someone who brings me so much Joy? Yes, I'll capitalise Joy to stress that the Joy of being in the presence of Siva is insignificant to the emotional joys of life.

Awe is always there. Once I beseech Siva's presence for the day, I'm overwhelmed. It surprises me on a daily basis. Occasionally He doesn't come, and I know it. The Agamas teach this mystical science, and I know regularity is part of the nature of beseeching. Just as you might wake up at the same time every day, the inner habits of God, and devas will align with your timing. (In the puja you can state a precise time of day, and place) One of the reasons He doesn't come is that because of Covid, and personal safety, I go shopping at the established time, and I know He gets that. The devas do hang about though. In my branch of Hindusim, we are assigned personal devas at name giving, and they come to the pujas as well. They're not beseeched like Siva is, but come to receive His blessings.

The main thing is He's just ... right ... there, constant companion. The Agamas, the Vedas, the Tirumantiram, all state that if there is one thing He cannot do, it's to separate Himself from his own creation.

That's enough of a rant/share for now. In Tamil Saivism (Saiva Siddhanta, Advaitha Siddhanta,) the devotee, and God are interlocked, and it's always personal.

I'm interested about your personal relationship with your version, or interpretation of God.
Allah is not the reason i some times feel suffering and hardship:) it's my own action words and thoughts that lead me to feel suffering. Do Allah test me? Yes for sure, but then it is not to hurt me or make me suffer more, it is to test my faith in Allah and to see if i in difficult times can keep my faith, hope and belief same as when all is well.
 

Mock Turtle

Oh my, did I say that!
Premium Member
My relationship with God is like a game of pass the parcel, where there are several million (or even billion) doing so before I get it. :oops:
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
I am an atheist, I do not worship any deity. But I was a theist at one time, so I know many Gods and Goddesses (it is impossible to know all God and Goddesses in Hinduism because their number is very large, certainly goes into thousands if not in millions). Now, they are friends, always with me. I would be heart-broken if they leave me. And one respects friends.
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
I'm in WA, the only thing that stops me from setting up is rain. But I've been blessed with clear days the last few years.
Can you establish your altar under a shade? We do that in our Yajnas (Fire-sacrifices).

images
Making a temporary Yajnashala (Fire-Altar).
 
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Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
But another aspect is my journey to see Divinity in a dog turd on the lawn and a homeless man on the street. Working on seeing the Divine in everything is, as they say, a work in progress, but unless I try I'm not living my beliefs.
That is Hindu 'Advaita' (non-duality), but one may not seek any divinity.
 
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