Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Hi Erica, I just received my mantra from Amma this past summer, and I do feel deeply more connected to her. I didn't plan to get a mantra from her. I was waiting in line on Devi Bhava nite and it occurred to me to ask for a mantra. After the hug, I looked at her and said "Mantra?" and she sort of pulled her head to her right and smiled at me, which I found out meant to go sit on that side of the stage and I would be instructed on what to do. Not only was the idea of a mantra from Amma amazing, the process of getting a mantra from her was equally mind-blowing. She has so many things going on at once, darshan, prasad, talking to her helpers, receiving everyone's gifts, running the show in general. And while all that's going on, she could glance at me, know the mantra she should give me, and lean over and whisper it twice in my ear. Wow! So it seemed like total chaos on stage that nite, but within that chaos was a plan, an order, and it was quite a realization to experience all that, manifesting at once. Anyway, getting a mantra from Amma was and is a way to get much more in tune with her and to further one's progress on the spiritual path. Just my humble opinion. J'ai Ma! -Rufus In Ammachi, "Erica" <sugarandbrine> wrote: > Namaste to all... _/\_ > > I was wondering how you all feel about getting a mantra from Amma. Do > you think it has changed your relationship with her? Do you feel it > is necessary to do so? Is it possible to be a "good devotee" without > having a mantra? What about receiving a name from Her? How is this > different from getting a mantra? > > A few years ago, I was typing an email to a friend and thinking about > what I was going to do afterwards. Suddenly, I looked at the email > and I'd just typed out "Love, Padma". I didn't even realize it before > that! It was a very VERY strange experience. So, I sort of feel like > Padma is a name I was given by Ma some time ago. > > I take the thought of receiving a mantra and/or a name from Amma VERY > seriously and am not sure if I am ready. However, there is a part of > me that feels as if a mantra will strengthen my connection to Her and > help me along with my sadhana. > > Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > With love! > At Amma's Divine Lotus Feet, > Erica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 - Erica Ammachi Tuesday, November 11, 2003 2:04 PM Receiving a mantra/name Namaste, I can't speak for anyone else, but I also took getting a name and a mantra from Amma very seriously for several reasons. At that point, I was strongly attached to Christ - and still am, altho perhaps differently now - and was not sure whether getting that involved with Mother would somehow create an odd betrayal of my natal faith. I was also aware that Christianity, as an organized religion, was not meeting my needs and that concerned me. I also knew from my first awareness of Amma that I needed whatever it was that She had - I could feel it even thru the tv and understood from that first view of Her that I had to know this "woman." So, to make a long story short, I was not sure until I was in Mt. Pleasant that I wanted to be renamed and be given a mantra. And I understood, somehow, from then on, that there was no conflict for me, nor did Amma ever suggest that She saw one, either. Accepting those gifts may or may not have changed my relationship with Mother; I can't answer that because I don't know where I'd be without having made that choice. I do know, tho, that doing so was a formal committment from me to Mother that I understood, accepted, and welcomed my responsibilty and committment to her and to my own spiritual growth. It is, in my mind, the most sacred "pact" I have ever made. I am choosy about whom I share my spiritual name with and have shared my mantra with no one -nor will I ever. I don't take my spiritual name as something to give those who would not understand it significance or who would use it cavalierly; it is most important to me that that is the name She knows me by and that those who know it understand that is a holy name to me. As Dixie, I walk in the world; as Snehalata, I am Mother's daughter. Love, Snehalata Namaste to all... _/\_ I was wondering how you all feel about getting a mantra from Amma. Do you think it has changed your relationship with her? Do you feel it is necessary to do so? Is it possible to be a "good devotee" without having a mantra? What about receiving a name from Her? How is this different from getting a mantra? A few years ago, I was typing an email to a friend and thinking about what I was going to do afterwards. Suddenly, I looked at the email and I'd just typed out "Love, Padma". I didn't even realize it before that! It was a very VERY strange experience. So, I sort of feel like Padma is a name I was given by Ma some time ago. I take the thought of receiving a mantra and/or a name from Amma VERY seriously and am not sure if I am ready. However, there is a part of me that feels as if a mantra will strengthen my connection to Her and help me along with my sadhana. Any thoughts would be appreciated. With love! At Amma's Divine Lotus Feet, Erica Sponsor Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! Ammachi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Hello Erica, I wasn't ready for a name when I went to RI, but I did take a mantra. Now that I think about it, the mantra is actually the stronger connection in my book. It HAS changed my life because taking a mantra means you agreet to take Amma as your guru - it's official - for life - as serious as marriage or parenting! In return, Amma asks you to chant your (secret) mantra at least 108 times a day, to make time to read spiritual texts, and to take up some kind of service. It has changed my life immensely! If you're not sure when you get there, I suggest taking one of the pamphlets on mantra they hand out during Devi Bhava. You can ask for your mantra at any time that night, so take a pamphlet, read it and go with your heart. If you're still not sure, go through the firs step: talking with a volunteer about what it means to take a mantra. I wish you luck, dear Erica. Remember - as a Realized Soul, Amma can look at our True Nature and tell us what our mantra is; she can see the "key" that will "unlock the Truth" for us! That's the power of Her mantra! Jai Ma! Gabriela --- Erica <sugarandbrine wrote: > Namaste to all... _/\_ > > I was wondering how you all feel about getting a > mantra from Amma. Do > you think it has changed your relationship with her? > Do you feel it > is necessary to do so? Is it possible to be a "good > devotee" without > having a mantra? What about receiving a name from > Her? How is this > different from getting a mantra? > > A few years ago, I was typing an email to a friend > and thinking about > what I was going to do afterwards. Suddenly, I > looked at the email > and I'd just typed out "Love, Padma". I didn't even > realize it before > that! It was a very VERY strange experience. So, I > sort of feel like > Padma is a name I was given by Ma some time ago. > > I take the thought of receiving a mantra and/or a > name from Amma VERY > seriously and am not sure if I am ready. However, > there is a part of > me that feels as if a mantra will strengthen my > connection to Her and > help me along with my sadhana. > > Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > With love! > At Amma's Divine Lotus Feet, > Erica > > Protect your identity with Mail AddressGuard http://antispam./whatsnewfree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 I second all that Rufus, Snehalata & Gabriela have said about mantra initiation. When I went for my mantra I was so conflicted about choosing an Ishtadevata as you are asked to choose the form of "God" that you relate to and I was waiting on the platform getting a major headache/soulache bouncing between Durga or Krishna, Durga or Krishna.. it was quite awful, i couldn't decide.. so as I ran out of time I decided I would not choose the forms i adore but formless God so i choose "Divine Mother" and that was written and presented to Mata. What i recieved from Amma was something full of bijas (sounds/words)I didn't recognize. (And the experience of playing with Devi on the platform as I tried to understand the words was magnificent.. She laughed shook Her head and play slapped me in the face after 3 tries and was laughing and gesturing in mock frustration like "get outta here kid, ya buggin me" too funny! Amma is really funny, and for that moment in the crowded hall I felt alone with HER) Swami explained the meaning - went in one ear and out the other somehow - overload! I came home surfed the internet, typing in the syllables and found out that Durga AND Krishna in relative forms are both in my mantra! Not only that, but within in this cluster of syllables, their forms & meanings are serious pointers poignant to my present incarnation that I cannot explain here lest i give too much away. I had been a devotee of Amma for at least 5 years before I requested a mantra, but at that moment I was struck fully with the understanding that Amma IS the Immortal Goddess and that my mantra is my life line to Devi. With that ring we did wed friends! As for names, Gabriela already has the name of an archangel... maybe she doesn't need another one, a name is very personal and magical. Snehalata is something special that maybe symbolizes something that "Dixie" didn't convey about Dixie. "Amarthya" is my scrying mirror and a view to something much bigger than I am, but that I am also, second but not less than the mantra. Jai Ma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2003 Report Share Posted November 16, 2003 Namah Shivaya Amarthya, You wrote: "When I went for my mantra I was so conflicted about choosing an Ishtadevata as you are asked to choose the form of "God" that you relate to and I was waiting on the platform getting a major headache/soulache bouncing between Durga or Krishna, Durga or Krishna.. it was quite awful, i couldn't decide.. so as I ran out of time I decided I would not choose the forms i adore but formless God so i choose "Divine Mother" and that was written and presented to Mata. What i recieved from Amma was something full of bijas (sounds/words)I didn't recognize. I came home surfed the internet, typing in the syllables and found out that Durga AND Krishna in relative forms are both in my mantra! Not only that, but within in this cluster of syllables, their forms & meanings are serious pointers poignant to my present incarnation that I cannot explain here lest i give too much away." I have to say I found out the same thing! I was locked up trying to decide whether or not to choose a particular form of the Goddess that meant a lot to me, but in the end chose Divine Mother. I got a different mantra from you, I can tell, because though you and I both said "Divine Mother", my mantra has syllables for two different forms, including the one I was thinking of choosing! I have to confess this also brings up an embarrassing lack of faith on my part. Since I received my mantra, I've often wondered how "unique" mine could be when I was sure so many chose "Divine Mother". Now I know that Amma chose something very specific for me, just as she did for you. I am learning more and more that it's okay to let go and HAVE FAITH! With love, and growing faith, Gabriela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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