Needing some input

December 14, 2003

Namaste, All

The holidays are bringing out a time of light awkwardness for me and I hope some

of my dear brothers and sister will be willing to share their thoughts on the

subject for me.

I've been invited to attend numerous Christian Christmas programs, which I look

forward to for two reasons - seeing my friends' pleasure and letting them know

that that is important to me and out of respect for/paying homage to Christ.

Some of the people - fellow teachers particularly - don't know that I am not a

practicing Christian or that my Satguru is Hindu. I've not mentioned it because

I'm really not sure what to say - I'm not a Hindu, either (I don't think). I am

the Divine Mother's daughter with respect for all other paths and avatars, but

as I've mentioned before, my area of Appalachia is primarily Fundamentalist

Southern Baptist and diversity is not well respected. I do not like feeling

that I need to defend my choice or that I should defend Mother, who certainly

does not need any defense -nor do I think She would want us to participate in

these piddly personal crusades.

Others who do know, and whom I'd like to continue being friends with, seem to

believe that, with enough wearing down, I will return to "the fold"- the

husband ofa dear friend recently brought me a "How to know God" cassette,

knowing that I have chosen my path and am committed to it. I appreciate his

genuine concern for my soul, but I would like friends to respect my faith as I

respect theirs -or at least not express their belief that following "an infidel"

is a sure-fire way to blow the whole deal.

Please don't suggest not associating with such 'friends" because that was my

first thought, too, but I really believe it is the wrong one. In "From Amma's

Heart" Mother says that it does not matter who Her children worship or even if

they don't worship-Her love remains the same. She also admonishes us to see Her

in everyone and everything so I feel quite certain that Mother has me right

where She wants me - if I am ever to truly learn to keep an even mind in all

situations, putting me with 100 thirteen year olds every day, then sending me

out to play among the members of my community in my spare time serves as a

world-class boot camp for doing so!

Seriously, I am sure I am not the only squirming through this bit of leela, and

I really do want to find some way to handle it graciously, with an open heart,

and respectfully to all. Any help will really

be appreciated.

Always,

Snehalata

December 14, 2003

Om Namah Shivaya, Snehalata!

I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to maintain friendships

with people who believe that there is only one path to God. I'm afraid that I

cannot provide good advice because I myself have struggled with a lack of

courage with regard to speaking about spiritual matters with my family and

friends. I still haven't told my family that I am moving to Amritapuri, and have

never spoken to them about Amma, which is causing me a lot of anxiety the closer

it gets to my departure.

In the video "Light of Wisdom", Amma speaks about how She doesn't feel that

there is only one path for all individuals and doesn't believe it is right to

try to convert others to a particular spiritual path. I also recall reading (in

Awaken Children, I believe) Amma's teaching about speaking with those who

criticize our faith, that we should have the courage to speak openly about our

interest in spirituality, explaining that by this path we achieve happiness and

peace of mind. I apologize for not being able to provide Amma's exact quotes on

this subject, and for any confusion/offense caused by my failure to accurately

paraphrase the teachings of our Beloved Mother.

In Amma,

Kirsten

December 14, 2003

-

khd5

Ammachi

Sunday, December 14, 2003 10:27 AM

Re: Needing some input

Namaste, Kirsten,

Thank you for such a beautiful response. I think the idea of just stating

that this path brings us peace of mind and happiness is a lovely way to go - and

refrain from anything further. I am trying so hard to stay level and respect

all - and deal with each person in the most loving manner I can - that the

response you offered would serve me perfectly. I suspect I will have bitten my

tongue bloody by the end of the holidays, but I really am trying to get past

feeling the need to involve my ego and defensive mechanisms in my personal

interactions. The few times I have managed to say only what had to be said,

then surrendered the issue to Mother and really let it go, the peace that has

followed has been marvelous. Please pray that I will be able to do this more

and more frequently.

Dear sister, I hope that this issue will resolve itself for you, too - please

know that I will ask Mother to stand beside you and keep you wrapped snuggly in

Her arms.

At Amma's feet,

Snehalata

I also recall reading (in Awaken Children, I believe) Amma's teaching about

speaking with those who criticize our faith, that we should have the courage to

speak openly about our interest in spirituality, explaining that by this path we

achieve happiness and peace of mind.

In Amma,

Kirsten

Sponsor

Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

Ammachi

December 14, 2003

Dear Snehalata,

Well, I'll give this a shot, as this is also an

issue that I have also had to work with. I spent

the first 23 years of my life in the same general

religious climate as yourself, had my first

religious experiences in a fundamentalist church,

and still count several devout Christians as

cherished friends.

>

> Some of the people - fellow teachers particularly -

> don't know that I am not a practicing Christian or

> that my Satguru is Hindu. I've not mentioned it

> because I'm really not sure what to say - I'm not a

> Hindu, either (I don't think).

Once 25 or so years ago, I heard SRF's Brother

Bhatananda talk about this. He maintained that

westerners shouldn't consider themselves Hindu,

but Christian. Two trips to India have convinced

me of nothing so much as that I AM Christian, not

Hindu. Even though my beloved Amma would be

classified

as Hindu by so-called pundits, She herself says that

she teaches no particular religion, that religion

is like the finger pointing at the fruit, not the

fruit itself. As Yogananda would say, all true

religions lead to the same goal.

>

> Others who do know, and whom I'd like to continue

> being friends with, seem to believe that, with

> enough wearing down, I will return to "the fold"-

> the husband ofa dear friend recently brought me a

> "How to know God" cassette, knowing that I have

> chosen my path and am committed to it. I appreciate

> his genuine concern for my soul, but I would like

> friends to respect my faith as I respect theirs -or

> at least not express their belief that following "an

> infidel" is a sure-fire way to blow the whole deal.

Most of my strictly Christian friends just avoid

speaking of religion with me. My oldest friend

(from 5th grade) has also pulled away some after I

excitedly wrote her about Amma. I haven't tried

this yet, but I am toying with the idea of asking

her very earnestly (with wide-eyed innocence) "But

you do believe in freedom of religion, don't you?"

(To me, that's what it all boils down to.)

When she originally made some deprecating statement

about Amma, I said to her earnestly, "I know you

well enough to know that you wouldn't judge someone

you haven't even met! Pleae com and meet her!"

When someone gives me

something to (hopefully) propel me along their

spiritual belief path, I just humbly smile and

say thank you. If I know them a little better, I

might ask them if I can give them something (if

I have something in mind).

>

> Please don't suggest not associating with such

> 'friends" because that was my first thought, too,

> but I really believe it is the wrong one.

This is absolutely right on. If we as friends can't

show love to each other, what hope is there for

the world, and people who are not friends?

In "From

> Amma's Heart" Mother says that it does not matter

> who Her children worship or even if they don't

> worship-Her love remains the same. She also

> admonishes us to see Her in everyone and everything

> so I feel quite certain that Mother has me right

> where She wants me - if I am ever to truly learn to

> keep an even mind in all situations, putting me with

> 100 thirteen year olds every day, then sending me

> out to play among the members of my community in my

> spare time serves as a world-class boot camp for

> doing so!

Great training!

>

> Seriously, I am sure I am not the only squirming

> through this bit of leela, and I really do want to

> find some way to handle it graciously, with an open

> heart, and respectfully to all. Any help will

> really

> be appreciated.

My own dear mother was a devout fundamentalist who

never accepted my spiritual path as valid. (I was

in SRF until after she died.) She spent the last

2 1/2 years of her life here in my home, with me

as caregiver. I never talked to her about religion,

only tried to SHOW her through my service to her

what I was trying to live. A few months before she

passed, when I was in the kitchen washing dishes, I

was blessed with a vision of Jesus Christ. It was

totally unexpected, but remains a highlight of my

life. As Yogananda wrote so many years ago, "His

eyes were eternally wondrous." I can only guess

that this was some kind of reward for taking care

of my mother, his devout disciple. My point in

sharing this is that I believe my philosophy of

showing, not talking, was the correct one in this

circumstance, and possibly others. It's something

to think about anyway.

In Her love,

Jyotsna

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

New Photos - easier uploading and sharing.

December 14, 2003

Namah Shivaya,

I saw a man in line for darshan with our beloved Amma, he had on a t-

shirt that read "God is too big to be contained in one religon". I

think that about sums it up for me when I try to deal with those that

view only one path (their path) to God.

What I try to focus on is what all faiths agree on not the

differences. What I look for in myself is whether I am judging others

harshly. Am I finding fault with other's beliefs? Am I critical of

their practices? Am I defensive about their reactions to my beliefs?

In other words, these people in our lives are like prasad from Amma.

They can help me to gain clarity of my own beliefs, to practice

humility, to practice responding not reacting, to practice seeing

Amma in all others and in all other faiths.

How about celebrating the birth of Christ (though probably not his

birthday) joyfully with Christians, as we would celebrate the birth

of Krishna joyfully at Amritapuri, or the birth of Buddha with a

Buddhist community? Wouldn't a celebration of love be so much better

than looking for conflict?

Of course all this is so easy to say, sooooo hard to practice! But ya

got to have goals, right?!

Jai Ma! Jai Christ!

Omana

December 14, 2003

-

Omana

Ammachi

Sunday, December 14, 2003 2:46 PM

Re: Needing some input

Namah Shivaya,

How about celebrating the birth of Christ (though probably not his

birthday) joyfully with Christians, as we would celebrate the birth

of Krishna joyfully at Amritapuri, or the birth of Buddha with a

Buddhist community?

Yes, this is what I indicated I intend to do - I frequently share my Christian

friends' clebrations with them! And I do celebrate Christmas with those members

of my immediate family who are Christians because I fully accept Christ as an

avatar. Jyotsna also replied and may have made a very valid point: Like her, I

may very well still be a Christian AND the Divine Mother's daughter -this could

well acount for my ease with my Christian friends and their discomfort with my

beliefs.

Wouldn't a celebration of love be so much better than looking for conflict?

Always, which was my point -I'd like to find a grace-filled way to have my

Christian friends stand as comfortably beside me in my faith as I do by them in

theirs. I really do believe both paths lead to the same outcome and would

actually like all of us to move beyond such delineators.

Of course all this is so easy to say, sooooo hard to practice! But ya

got to have goals, right?!

It really does become difficult when I feel that I am being judged by someone

else's standards and understand that the intent is to make me repent my choice

or feel guilty for it. And yes, I guess I do have to have a goal - finding

acceptance while causing no harm to any one else.

Thank you for your discussion on this; I am always humbled by the willingness

with which people take the time to share here.

Snehalata

Jai Ma! Jai Christ!

Omana

Sponsor

Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

Ammachi

December 14, 2003

Namah Shivaya Snehalata,

I certainly appreciate your situation. Over the years I have had many

well intentioned, and not so well intentioned people

inform me that I am indeed stumbling down the wrong path. The wife of an

Episcopalian minister told me that I could not possibly call myself a

Christian because Christ was not my personal Lord and Savior. My parents

and grandmother, even though they never went to church, thought I had

gone around the bend. And I live in California, in the Bay Area, and was

raised in a liberal Christian church.

I play down my spiritual preferences, and am somewhat closeted in this

respect. If I think someone is open to hearing about my relationship

with Amma, I will tell them about Her. Although they have not rushed to

Her feet, they are tolerant. I realize that in your situation you may

not have this luxury.

Once a woman told me that she was sensitive to electromagnetic

things, and that her body would go nuts around toasters. At the time I

would have thought that she was incredible, but she was so

matter-of-fact about it and her demeanor relayed that she didn't care if

I believed her. So I took it at face value. It was her attitude that

made the difference. She was not in the least defensive or apologetic. I

try to be the same when I am discussing Mother. I also don't really know

how to explain Her or my spiritual bent., because I don't consider

myself a Hindu per se.

My take is that the people who would try to get you back "into the fold"

are doing it out of love and religious obligation. I would take it as

that.

At Her Feet,

Prasadini

Dixie Thacker wrote:

> Namaste, All

>

> The holidays are bringing out a time of light awkwardness for me and I

> hope some of my dear brothers and sister will be willing to share

> their thoughts on the subject for me.

>

> I've been invited to attend numerous Christian Christmas programs,

> which I look forward to for two reasons - seeing my friends' pleasure

> and letting them know that that is important to me and out of respect

> for/paying homage to Christ.

>

> Some of the people - fellow teachers particularly - don't know that I

> am not a practicing Christian or that my Satguru is Hindu. I've not

> mentioned it because I'm really not sure what to say - I'm not a

> Hindu, either (I don't think). I am the Divine Mother's daughter with

> respect for all other paths and avatars, but as I've mentioned before,

> my area of Appalachia is primarily Fundamentalist Southern Baptist and

> diversity is not well respected. I do not like feeling that I need to

> defend my choice or that I should defend Mother, who certainly does

> not need any defense -nor do I think She would want us to participate

> in these piddly personal crusades.

>

> Others who do know, and whom I'd like to continue being friends with,

> seem to believe that, with enough wearing down, I will return to "the

> fold"- the husband ofa dear friend recently brought me a "How to know

> God" cassette, knowing that I have chosen my path and am committed to

> it. I appreciate his genuine concern for my soul, but I would like

> friends to respect my faith as I respect theirs -or at least not

> express their belief that following "an infidel" is a sure-fire way to

> blow the whole deal.

>

> Please don't suggest not associating with such 'friends" because that

> was my first thought, too, but I really believe it is the wrong one.

> In "From Amma's Heart" Mother says that it does not matter who Her

> children worship or even if they don't worship-Her love remains the

> same. She also admonishes us to see Her in everyone and everything so

> I feel quite certain that Mother has me right where She wants me - if

> I am ever to truly learn to keep an even mind in all situations,

> putting me with 100 thirteen year olds every day, then sending me out

> to play among the members of my community in my spare time serves as a

> world-class boot camp for doing so!

>

> Seriously, I am sure I am not the only squirming through this bit of

> leela, and I really do want to find some way to handle it graciously,

> with an open heart, and respectfully to all. Any help will really

> be appreciated.

>

> Always,

> Snehalata

>

> Sponsor

>

> Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

>

> Ammachi

>

December 14, 2003

Namah Shivaya,

Just another response to this topic. What is the difference between

the fundamentalist Christian who wants everyone to follow their

belief, and our desire to have everyone accept our right to our

belief and not judge us? The expecting ANYTHING from another is the

problem that, I believe, Amma has asked us to look at. We can only

work on our stuff, and in this situation that stuff looks to me like

the expectation of being accepted by others, not wanting to be

judged, and confidence and comfort with ones faith.

> It really does become difficult when I feel that I am being

judged by someone else's standards and understand that the intent is

to make me repent my choice or feel guilty for it.

It is difficult, and I have been there with family and friends, but

it is also such a fertile ground for spiritual practice.

Jai Ma!

Omana

December 14, 2003

Ammachi, "E. Lamb" <jyotsna2> wrote:

> > I've not mentioned it because I'm really not sure what to say - I'm not a

> > Hindu, either (I don't think).

I'm also not clear on this. It doesn't feel accurate to say that I am a Hindu,

per se...and

yet, here I am, with a guru, chanting Hindu prayers, and singing kirtan and

bhajans to

the Hindu gods and goddesses (although I believe, ultimately, in Divine

Oneness).

Actually, I don't think I can label myself religiously as "Hindu" OR "Jewish."

It's to the

point when I really dread people asking me what religion I am. I don't know!

It's too

bad most people won't understand if we say, as Amma does, that love is our

religion.

I guess it's not as much a problem in my own mind (personally, I don't feel a

need to

define myself -- for me, it's about the process of the experience of drawing

nearer to

G-d) as it is in interacting with others who need a neat little census label for

me!

> He maintained that westerners shouldn't consider themselves Hindu,

> but Christian.

I have to say, coming from a Jewish background...I think my family would be much

more disturbed if I called myself a Christian than if I called myself a Hindu --

just

because there is so much baggage between Judaism and Christianity that simply

does

not exist between Judaism and Hinduism. It'd be *weird* for them, but not

offensive.

(Although I recognize that this is totally beyond your point!)

> She herself says that she teaches no particular religion, that religion is

like the

> finger pointing at the fruit, not the fruit itself.

This is true...and yet, in Her presence, we are steeped in Hindu custom and

ritual.

> When she originally made some deprecating statement

> about Amma, I said to her earnestly, "I know you

> well enough to know that you wouldn't judge someone

> you haven't even met! Pleae com and meet her!"

Ideally, we would all have open minds...but it's my experience that people see

what

they want to see, and what they're able to see, based on their conditioning.

I've heard

lots of stories of people coming to Amma who didn't originally believe in

Her...but I've

also personally witnessed people coming for darshan who didn't feel right about

it,

and then did not end up having good experiences. Although I think we all want

everyone to experience ("taste and see," to borrow a biblical phrase!) Her

Divine

nature as we have, it's not something that can be forced. We can only come in

our

own time, and according to the openness of our own hearts, by Amma's grace.

> My own dear mother was a devout fundamentalist who

> never accepted my spiritual path as valid. (I was

> in SRF until after she died.) She spent the last

> 2 1/2 years of her life here in my home, with me

> as caregiver. I never talked to her about religion,

> only tried to SHOW her through my service to her

> what I was trying to live. A few months before she

> passed, when I was in the kitchen washing dishes, I

> was blessed with a vision of Jesus Christ.

That is so very beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us! =)

Love,

Iswari

December 14, 2003

-

ganesh108

Ammachi

Sunday, December 14, 2003 3:36 PM

Re: Needing some input

My take is that the people who would try to get you back "into the fold"

are doing it out of love and religious obligation. I would take it as

that.

This is quite true; they are sincere, good, and devoted people who really do

care immensely about me. Thank you for the reminder; it helps.

At her feet also,