If she is pleased with the sincerity of our devotion she will take the energy away from the ego and give that energy to the Divine, the Gods within.

Every opportunity to use the mantra avail it. Keep on rubbing the beads till they wear out. That’s what Swamiji’s Guru told Him.

For sadhus the goal is to seek that they become so filled with devotion that they cannot think of anything else.

Answers to questions:

1. Besides duration of asan and regularity, what are some objective criteria to measure progress in our Chandi Sadhana?

Most important thing is change in our mind. When we wake up in the morning and we feel that the only thing that you want to do is to chant the Chandi. That is a very significant change in the evolution of our spirit. The bhava and understanding with which you do it will change. How you respond to situations during the day will change.

2. Can a devotee gain the level of consciousness where one can
continually be a witness to the changes?

Absolutely!

3. If one wishes to be initiated into the Navarna mantra and perform Chandi sadhana FULL TIME, how should one organize one’s lifestyle.

Hmmmm. Wow! That’s a thesis. First thing, we want to make sure that we will never be a burden to anyone else. Organize our life so that we have skills and talents that will be useful to others, something to share. Second, approach Guru and ask, “Will  my circumstance in life and belief system be in harmony with the initiation?” The answer is different for everybody.

4. Swamiji, these pins and bolts in the Chandi – do they have anything to do with the granthis or knots ?

Yes they do.

5. If we use in our hands in our work. Should we do kara nyasa before we start?

Great idea!