Sadhu Maa had two questions on the meaning of the mantra.

Sadhu Maa asked : In the UPS mantra there is reference to “the three worlds”. Will you please explain what is meant by “the three worlds”?

Swamiji says: The gross body, subtle body and causal body: what can be perceived through the senses, conceived in the mind, and known through intuition.

Sadhu Maa asked: When we say “and in like manner, remove from us all hostility”, are we talking about hostility present in our subtle, vital and gross bodies?

Swamiji says: Yes, as well as all hostility within us, or directed to us, and ultimately all hostility from creation.

Here is what Maruthi had to say “I really feel blessed that Shree MAA gave us the opportunity to take part in the Universal Peace Sankalpa.”

And here is Surya‘s sharing from this sankalpa – the feeling of what an honor and privilege it is to serve Her.

“I finished the 100,000 repetitions Monday night. I figured since it was Shiva’s Day (and Night) it would be an auspicious way to end, so I pushed it and did the last 4030 reps that day/night. Now I am just finishing another 11,111 so that I can have a total of 111,111–an auspicious Gauri Shankar number. Om Shiva Shakti Aikya Rupinyai Namah!

This sadhana has really changed me and my outlook on many things. Some shift definitely occured that night. I really felt a big change starting on Maha Shivaratri and this “sealed the deal”, so to speak.

I decided that from now on, I am going to really apply myself to see everything in my life as a true and beautiful gift from the Goddess.

I am truly thankful for all these Blessings She has given me. My family, my partner, my kids and all that makes up my life. I gladly accept my karma and dharma and will work hard to live up to what is required of me.

I must admit that becoming a householder has been a very difficult road for me. In many ways I have fought it tooth and nail. But this was/is just silly. Everything is how it should be and I am very grateful for it.

We can always choose to look at our circumstances in many different ways. We can complain about our lot in life or we can see that it is all Her Will and be grateful for the Honor and Privilege of Serving Her, the Universe and Our Self in the way that She has chosen for us. She always knows what is Best for us and gives us Everything we need, even without us asking for it. So why not trust Her?

It is said that Life is what you make it. I firmly believe this. The grass isn’t greener anywhere else. So lets make Life a Celebration–a Truly Joyous Event. Lets revel in the Bliss. This is my ideal that I am going to do my utmost to embody each and every day.”

Here is a moving account from one of our participants, Wendy about how this sankalpa is already beginning to change her life and that of her son Sam.

“My first encounter with Shree Maa and Swamiji was last month, when my Gita study class was invited to visit the Devi Mandir. Before I left, I “signed on” to complete the Peace Sankalpa, and nothing has been the same since.
Once home, I started my recitations, sometimes silently and sometimes aloud. After a week or so, my 17 year old son started to imitate me – only he was saying sarvaa bgjklfda plkdj mdnkjm. In other words, he sounded out the first word and then just mumbled the rest. So I asked him if he wanted to learn the mantra, to which he responded enthusiastically — yes. He memorized it, and the English translation, in less than 5 minutes. He was quickly able to recite it quite fast and clear. This might not seem that remarkable, however, my son is autistic. He is fairly high functioning, and has pretty good language skills, but I can assure you there is no way that I can get him to recite anything that he doesn’t want to. I know, because I have tried!!
He now says the mantra every morning upon rising, and it is the last thing he says as he falls asleep at night. I have suggested that he pay attention, and if he hears it in his head, to let it come through naturally. I also suggested that, if he is moved to do so, he can say it before his meals. If this continues to grow, I am going to get him a hand counter so he can keep track of how many he says each day. That is something I think he might like.
Last month, Swamiji blessed him with the gift of a rudraksha bead for healing, which he happily (and seriously) wears around his neck all the time. He never stops talking about Maa. He listens to her sing, he wants to cook the recipes from her cookbook, sometimes he will sit next to me at the computer for the beginning of the Gita classes, and he keeps their picture in his room. Something magical is happening in my home, and to my son.
Last night, in Gita class, Swamiji answered my question about “those with small intelligence” and their ability to reach God. (Ch.7, v.23). He said that those with limited mental capacity often have a pureness about them that allows them to see/know things more easily than the rest of us, due in part, to not having the same distractions the rest of us deal with every day. And yes, they can reach God. (This is my feeble paraphrasing – forgive me for not properly quoting Swamiji).
My son is a very pure spirit, only seeing the good in others,assuming everyone loves him as much as he loves everyone, and now, he has connected to the loving energy of Maa. He has actually said to me – “Maa can see my soul all the way from California. I know she loves me.”
He is so blessed. I am so blessed. We are all so blessed. Jai Maa ”