Guest guest Posted November 12, 2002 Report Share Posted November 12, 2002 What do you all think about the proposed Amma community? Think it's a realistic vision? I remember years ago some people in southern Virginia were trying to put together a Sai Baba community but I can't seem to find out any information nowadays. It was supposed to be starting with some land, with huts to be sold as permanent dwelling units or weekend use. I find it kinda hard to believe that such a community could make it, considering the way some Amma groups go (politics, etc.). Among Amma's devotees there are a wide range of committment to Her teachings. How would such a place be run, with all the secretive politics, all the "Amma wants it this way..." (really just their intuition). How about a realistic discussion? Has anyone lived in a similar community and experienced particular benefits or losses? >From the enewsletter: Have you heard about a possible Amma Community in the United States? It is being called Amrita Village and if fully developed could have different types of housing and facilities to meet different needs - apartments, townhomes, single family homes, a continuing care senior housing with independent and semi-independent living, open spaces, a temple and a school. The purpose of building and living in such a community is to have an environment to grow spiritually, supporting one another as Amma's children, lighting the torch of selfless-service and universal love. For those who would like to be a part of this community please e-mail us at amritavillage with your details including name, address, telephone, and email the type of housing and facilities in which you are interested (home, apt, senior housing, nursing home, school or any other category.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2002 Report Share Posted November 12, 2002 Dear Tom, This is an interesting question. Having (probably) been on this earth for a few more revolutions than your honored self, I'd say that in my experience every new age or religious community I've heard of has had problems. In the 70's I was SO HURT because a group of SRF friends bought land in the country without inviting me to join them. It was to be their place to go when times got hard. Well, the years went by and none of them ever lived on the land; in fact it became a major problem, even in their relationship with each other. Finally, twenty-five years later they sold the land, and I was SO RELIEVED that I was never a part of that mess! I don't know how an Amma community would function. I certainly see problems with how the satsangs function. I guess my thinking at this advanced age is that if one takes everything as coming from God, and God is omnipresent, what is the need to segregate oneself from society? Having said that, I also acknowledge that if it seems to be in harmony with the Divine Will, I could end up at such a place--but don't count on it:-). In Amma's love, Jyotsna --- Tom <tomgull wrote: > What do you all think about the proposed Amma > community? Think it's > a realistic vision? I remember years ago some > people in southern > Virginia were trying to put together a Sai Baba > community but I can't > seem to find out any information nowadays. It was > supposed to be > starting with some land, with huts to be sold as > permanent dwelling > units or weekend use. > > I find it kinda hard to believe that such a > community could make it, > considering the way some Amma groups go (politics, > etc.). Among > Amma's devotees there are a wide range of > committment to Her > teachings. How would such a place be run, with all > the secretive > politics, all the "Amma wants it this way..." > (really just their > intuition). > > How about a realistic discussion? Has anyone lived > in a similar > community and experienced particular benefits or > losses? > > From the enewsletter: > > Have you heard about a possible Amma Community in > the United States? > It is being called Amrita Village and if fully > developed could have > different types of housing and facilities to meet > different needs - > apartments, townhomes, single family homes, a > continuing care senior > housing with independent and semi-independent > living, open spaces, a > temple and a school. > > The purpose of building and living in such a > community is to have an > environment to grow spiritually, supporting one > another as Amma's > children, lighting the torch of selfless-service and > universal love. > For those who would like to be a part of this > community please e-mail > us at amritavillage with your details > including name, > address, telephone, and email the type of housing > and facilities in > which you are interested (home, apt, senior housing, > nursing home, > school or any other category.) > > U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos http://launch./u2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2002 Report Share Posted November 13, 2002 Ammachi, Ellen Lamb <jyotsna2> wrote: > Dear Tom, > > This is an interesting question. Having (probably) > been on this earth for a few more revolutions than > your honored self, I'd say that in my experience > every new age or religious community I've heard > of has had problems. In the 70's I was SO HURT > because a group of SRF friends bought land in > the country without inviting me to join them. It > was to be their place to go when times got hard. > Well, the years went by and none of them ever > lived on the land; in fact it became a major > problem, even in their relationship with each > other. Finally, twenty-five years later they > sold the land, and I was SO RELIEVED that I was > never a part of that mess! > > I don't know how an Amma community would function. > I certainly see problems with how the satsangs > function. I guess my thinking at this advanced age > is that if one takes everything as coming from > God, and God is omnipresent, what is the need to > segregate oneself from society? Having said that, > I also acknowledge that if it seems to be in harmony > with the Divine Will, I could end up at such a > place--but don't count on it:-). > > In Amma's love, > Jyotsna > > --- Tom <tomgull@m...> wrote: > > What do you all think about the proposed Amma > > community? Think it's > > a realistic vision? I remember years ago some > > people in southern > > Virginia were trying to put together a Sai Baba > > community but I can't > > seem to find out any information nowadays. It was > > supposed to be > > starting with some land, with huts to be sold as > > permanent dwelling > > units or weekend use. > > > > I find it kinda hard to believe that such a > > community could make it, > > considering the way some Amma groups go (politics, > > etc.). Among > > Amma's devotees there are a wide range of > > committment to Her > > teachings. How would such a place be run, with all > > the secretive > > politics, all the "Amma wants it this way..." > > (really just their > > intuition). > > > > How about a realistic discussion? Has anyone lived > > in a similar > > community and experienced particular benefits or > > losses? > > > > From the enewsletter: > > > > Have you heard about a possible Amma Community in > > the United States? > > It is being called Amrita Village and if fully > > developed could have > > different types of housing and facilities to meet > > different needs - > > apartments, townhomes, single family homes, a > > continuing care senior > > housing with independent and semi-independent > > living, open spaces, a > > temple and a school. > > > > The purpose of building and living in such a > > community is to have an > > environment to grow spiritually, supporting one > > another as Amma's > > children, lighting the torch of selfless-service and > > universal love. > > For those who would like to be a part of this > > community please e-mail > > us at amritavillage@a... with your details > > including name, > > address, telephone, and email the type of housing > > and facilities in > > which you are interested (home, apt, senior housing, > > nursing home, > > school or any other category.) > > > > Dear Tom, I feel much would depend on the consciousness of the group of individuals that comprise the community. So that would be an major factor. Of course, with Amma's grace the community can and will come into existence. But that doesn't necessarily mean it will be flawless. She may even make it difficult for some of it's members if that is her will. Of course, like any other community there would probably be obstacles to overcome. But living in a community of Amma devotees would also be a wonderful support system. If the intention of the community is shared by all with similar spiritual values, I think it would be a great place for people to live and grow. I, myself, had lived in an ashram for many years, and it's not always easy. People work on eachother, at times ruthlessly and all kinds of things can come up for individuals. Without the presence of the physical guru, everyone becomes a mirror for one another. When I first read about this community, one of the things I wondered was how will this community differ from an ashram. Will they be similar in life style, or different. Will there be mandatory activities like those in an ashram, including seva and community service, chanting, etc., or will people live independently like in any worldly community with the option to contribute as much or as little as they would like? These are all things to consider and I would think the terms would need to be defined initially. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2002 Report Share Posted November 13, 2002 Dear all, The idea of living in a supportive spiritual community is very appealing to this child of Amma's. However, my experiences of living in ashrams long ago (not Mother's) were weird. While being there was for the most part wonderful, many of the people were not. There were incredible politics and power playing. I suppose any time a bunch of people are put together there are always going to be people who have the need to dominate, and people who are more passive, then the passive people resent the domineering people, etc. After my last stay in an ashram I was so glad to go home and back to work where the atmosphere was easy going and people actually treated each other with respect. The notion of paying money to take abuse was absurd. People in a spiritual community can be manipulative in a very unique way and still claim that they have your best spiritual needs in mind. Recently my mother-in-law moved into a retirement home. It is very nice there, but there is no spiritual environment for her as there are very few people of her religion. Imagine being a devotee of the Divine Mother in a mainstream American retirement community! How weird! It would be comforting to live with other Children of our Mother. So it is a conundrum to this child who is also not so far away from being old. Jai Jai Ma!! Prasadini Ammachi, Ellen Lamb <jyotsna2> wrote: > Dear Tom, > > This is an interesting question. Having (probably) > been on this earth for a few more revolutions than > your honored self, I'd say that in my experience > every new age or religious community I've heard > of has had problems. In the 70's I was SO HURT > because a group of SRF friends bought land in > the country without inviting me to join them. It > was to be their place to go when times got hard. > Well, the years went by and none of them ever > lived on the land; in fact it became a major > problem, even in their relationship with each > other. Finally, twenty-five years later they > sold the land, and I was SO RELIEVED that I was > never a part of that mess! > > I don't know how an Amma community would function. > I certainly see problems with how the satsangs > function. I guess my thinking at this advanced age > is that if one takes everything as coming from > God, and God is omnipresent, what is the need to > segregate oneself from society? Having said that, > I also acknowledge that if it seems to be in harmony > with the Divine Will, I could end up at such a > place--but don't count on it:-). > > In Amma's love, > Jyotsna > > --- Tom <tomgull@m...> wrote: > > What do you all think about the proposed Amma > > community? Think it's > > a realistic vision? I remember years ago some > > people in southern > > Virginia were trying to put together a Sai Baba > > community but I can't > > seem to find out any information nowadays. It was > > supposed to be > > starting with some land, with huts to be sold as > > permanent dwelling > > units or weekend use. > > > > I find it kinda hard to believe that such a > > community could make it, > > considering the way some Amma groups go (politics, > > etc.). Among > > Amma's devotees there are a wide range of > > committment to Her > > teachings. How would such a place be run, with all > > the secretive > > politics, all the "Amma wants it this way..." > > (really just their > > intuition). > > > > How about a realistic discussion? Has anyone lived > > in a similar > > community and experienced particular benefits or > > losses? > > > > From the enewsletter: > > > > Have you heard about a possible Amma Community in > > the United States? > > It is being called Amrita Village and if fully > > developed could have > > different types of housing and facilities to meet > > different needs - > > apartments, townhomes, single family homes, a > > continuing care senior > > housing with independent and semi-independent > > living, open spaces, a > > temple and a school. > > > > The purpose of building and living in such a > > community is to have an > > environment to grow spiritually, supporting one > > another as Amma's > > children, lighting the torch of selfless-service and > > universal love. > > For those who would like to be a part of this > > community please e-mail > > us at amritavillage@a... with your details > > including name, > > address, telephone, and email the type of housing > > and facilities in > > which you are interested (home, apt, senior housing, > > nursing home, > > school or any other category.) > > > > > > > > > U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos > http://launch./u2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2002 Report Share Posted November 18, 2002 I¹ve lived in Fairfield, Iowa since 1987 and was in and out of here for 10 years before that. I¹d say it¹s a pretty successful spiritual community maybe the most successful one in the country. Maharishi University of Management is at the center of it. There¹s nothing communal about Fairfield or it¹s meditating sub-culture, aside from group participation in campus events and group meditations. Otherwise, it¹s a small town of 10,000, including about 3000 meditators and spiritual aspirants of various persuasions. The latter are pretty thoroughly integrated into the community. They have their own jobs, money, houses, etc. I¹d say that has contributed to the community¹s success 30 years and going strong. If we were really trying to be communal, all sorts of frictions would arise. Spiritually, the community has become very diverse, including a strong Amma contingent (hence her visit last summer). Some hard-line TMers resent this, but for the most part, people are pretty tolerant, and most people have friends from a variety of spiritual orientations, including none at all. In local businesses, the most successful ones owned by meditators, TMers, Amma devotees, Qui Gong practitioners, and what have you all work side-by-side. So as Ellen suggested, we¹re not segregated from society. A small town like this is ideal for such a thing because it provides a support system while allowing the spiritual contingent to maintain its integrity. In a large city, it would be lost in the hubbub. -- > Ellen Lamb <jyotsna2 > I don't know how an Amma community would function. > I certainly see problems with how the satsangs > function. I guess my thinking at this advanced age > is that if one takes everything as coming from > God, and God is omnipresent, what is the need to > segregate oneself from society? Having said that, > I also acknowledge that if it seems to be in harmony > with the Divine Will, I could end up at such a > place--but don't count on it:-). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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