Many who are predisposed to a Jnana Yoga "way" might be surprised to
see how profoundly initiatory it is to be in the bhakti/karma yoga
atmosphere around Ammachi. Part of that, I think, is because she is
indeed truely Realized (completely), and that the forms of initiation
(touch and glance) that she "uses" are incredibly potent. I have
been surprised everytime (being a "dry" Jnana type) how much affect
it has been to be with her! Also, felt the same thing with Shree Maa!
(Again: surprise! surprise!)

Am very much looking forward to being in San Ramon again this June.

Hi,

Can you please share some more of your experiences here.

When did you first meet Ammachi?
Where?
What was the quality of your experience vis-a-vis your experience
with the Jnana way?
What was the quality of your experience with Shree Ma?
What were your experiences with these two masters? similar or
different?
Have you 'converted' to 'bhakti way' or has the experience reinforced
your 'Jnana way'?
Or are you going to follow a mix of the two ways?
Or is it too early to decide what to do?

And anything else you may want to share.

I have always been fascinated with the various paths, and the
mixtures that influence most beings on their path.

Jai Ma!

--- In Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com, "mdj1950 <mike_jamieson50@h...>"
<mike_jamieson50@h...> wrote:
>
>
> Many who are predisposed to a Jnana Yoga "way" might be surprised
to
> see how profoundly initiatory it is to be in the bhakti/karma yoga
> atmosphere around Ammachi. Part of that, I think, is because she
is
> indeed truely Realized (completely), and that the forms of
initiation
> (touch and glance) that she "uses" are incredibly potent. I have
> been surprised everytime (being a "dry" Jnana type) how much affect
> it has been to be with her! Also, felt the same thing with Shree
Maa!
> (Again: surprise! surprise!)
>
> Am very much looking forward to being in San Ramon again this June.

--- In Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com, "manoj_menon <manoj_menon@y...>"
<manoj_menon@y...> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Can you please share some more of your experiences here.
>
> When did you first meet Ammachi?
> Where?
> What was the quality of your experience vis-a-vis your experience
> with the Jnana way?
> What was the quality of your experience with Shree Ma?
> What were your experiences with these two masters? similar or
> different?
> Have you 'converted' to 'bhakti way' or has the experience
reinforced
> your 'Jnana way'?
> Or are you going to follow a mix of the two ways?
> Or is it too early to decide what to do?
>
> And anything else you may want to share.
>
> I have always been fascinated with the various paths, and the
> mixtures that influence most beings on their path.
>
> Jai Ma!
>
> --- In Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com, "mdj1950 <mike_jamieson50@h...>"
> <mike_jamieson50@h...> wrote:
> >
> >
Hi. Good questions. I saw her several times in November 1998, in
San Ramon. I had gone with a friend, who came out from Minneapolis
(and who had seen her before). Mostly I sat (sometimes sang and
danced during bhajans) in a state of meditation (at varying
distances). The second time in darshan line I felt a rising terror
or panic, but I just relaxed with it and allowed it. I went into her
arms, and felt like I was in a motionless and limitless space. She
kissed the right side of my face, and then hand (placing prasad
there); as we looked into each other's eyes, I said "thankyou" and
walked away (ok, maybe staggered a little). While walking away, the
top of my head felt like it was fracturing in three different
directions...and I quickly sat in the nearest chair and watch my
friend get his hug. And, then, we caught the shuttle back....and
were atypically quiet for some time.

I saw Shree Maa at her ashram outside Napa, Ca. on Valentines Day
1999, for Shiva/Ratri. I bought a nice bowl of fruit, and someone
guided me through a puja (at one of the lingams on the long temple
altar), I think to bless the fruit, and then sat down waiting for
Shree Maa and her Swami companion. There was singing, and the
passing of the fruit, which she blessed. (It turned out to be the
fruit I brought.) At one point I felt a whole body pulse, like a
magnetic sensation, and everything seemed to stop and the sense of
body solidity and boundaries melted away. That affected me for
several days.

I think devotion is a natural, even visceral, response around people
like that. Not something you try to generate. There are all these
legitimate ways to non-dualistic awareness, imo.