Guidance from Amma

[Guest guest]

Namah Shivaya,

 

I've been reading many Amma books and they are filled with stories about Amma

guiding devotees in the early days, even through the mid-1980's. Can anyone

tell me how much of this direct guidance is experienced by devotees currently

living in Amritapuri?

 

Also, can some of you share stories of guidance here in the U.S., either

directly at a program with Amma, or "indirectly" through some other means?

 

In learning to employ discrimination, I am having trouble telling the difference

between my mind and Amma's guidance. Perhaps some of your experiences can

help...

 

Namah Shivaya,

Anumati

 

 

"A real yogi is one who can maintain a peaceful mind in the midst of any

crisis." - Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

 

 

 

Find out what made the Top Searches of 2003

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Anumati,

 

It's hard to know exactly the stories to which

you are referring. I'm sure some devotees get

direct guidance, but the people who live at

Amritapuri and talk to me about their guidance

usually find it coming in other ways.

 

For example, in the earlier category, I know a

woman who had a series of written questions to

ask Amma at Amritapuri. When she got up to Amma,

she wasn't even allowed to give her paper to

anyone to translate. Later that afternoon, somehow,

she was told she had a phone call, and when she

answered the phone, it was Amma (!) who gave her

answers to every question that had been on her list!

I'm pretty sure it was in English, too. This I

would classify as a miracle.

 

More common, seems to be that someone just appears

who says something that helps the person who is

wondering about an issue. I even have a friend who

inwardly says to Amma, "If I'm supposed to do this,

please scratch your chin." And amazingly enough,

sometimes Amma vigorously scratches her chin st that

moment. Coincidence? I don't know, but have been

around Amma long enough to doubt not.

>

> Also, can some of you share stories of guidance here

> in the U.S., either directly at a program with Amma,

> or "indirectly" through some other means?

 

Again, I'm not exactly sure what you mean by guidance.

In the question line, I've had some very direct

guidance, not always to my liking. When I wanted

to quit my job and go to India to live, I was told.

"If you want to follow the tour, take vacation and

follow the tour. But do NOT resign your position."

Nonverbal guidance is all around though. The "chance"

meetings, conversations, etc. Many, many will say

the same thing--that these are uncanny at times.

Once I had inwardly challenged Amma about a deeply

felt need I had, and was sitting in a chair minding

my own business on that year's summer tour, when

a tour staff member "out of the blue" approached

me with what I knew then and still know was a direct

answer to my need. This could not have been

coincidence.

 

I could tell stories about this sort of thing all

night, but the point is that Amma's guidance is

ever present.

>

> In learning to employ discrimination, I am having

> trouble telling the difference between my mind and

> Amma's guidance. Perhaps some of your experiences

> can help...

 

I have found that a sincere prayer to God often

opens up the floodgates of Amma's guidance.

 

>

Love in Amma,

Jyotsna

>

>

> "A real yogi is one who can maintain a peaceful mind

> in the midst of any crisis." - Mata Amritanandamayi

> Devi

>

>

>

> Find out what made the Top Searches of 2003

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

 

 

 

 

Find out what made the Top Searches of 2003

http://search./top2003

[Guest guest]

Namah Shivaya Jyotsna,

 

Thank you for the stories.

 

"It's hard to know exactly the stories to which you are referring."

 

I've been reading stories where Amma will correct a devotee in their meditation,

work, etc. while walking around Amritapuri in the early days. For example,

walking in on an unsuspecting devotee in the middle of meditation and giving him

a talk about his attitude while meditating so he may correct it. I read this

and wonder, "What if my attitude is not correct?" or "Am I meditating

correctly?"

 

"More common, seems to be that someone just appears who says something that

helps the person who is wondering about an issue."

 

I have heard about that phenomenon a lot, but again, my mind seems to get in the

way. I worry that I will read into someone says when it's NOT supposed to be

divine guidance. This happened to me in the past, where I thought I had a "sign"

to do something, but it turned out to be very wrong. Later I realized the "sign"

was the product of my own mind. Of course, I could look at it as if that was

the lesson - learning to recognize my mind versus Amma.

 

"When I wanted to quit my job and go to India to live, I was told, 'If you want

to follow the tour, take vacation and follow the tour. But do NOT resign your

position.'"

 

That's amazing! How many of us would love to hear words directed at us from

Amma's mouth! That also interests me because at times, when my faith wavers, I

find myself thinking that She always says "Yes" to people moving to India,

following Her to India, etc., and here's an example when She says "No".

 

"I could tell stories about this sort of thing all night, but the point is that

Amma's guidance is ever present."

 

Thank you. Your stories help me a lot.

 

Namah Shivaya,

 

Anumati

 

 

"A real yogi is one who can maintain a peaceful mind in the midst of any

crisis." - Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

 

 

 

Find out what made the Top Searches of 2003

 

 

[Guest guest]

I don't remember if I've shared this story with the group, but I have asked

Amma a couple questions in the question line. One time, I asked her if

she wanted me to marry, and if so, would she send the right husband for me

my way!

( don't remember exactly my wording, but that was the gist of it!). I had

had so many

"failed" relationships that I wondered if she really wanted me to be a

renunicate, or

if I should just be patient a while longer.

 

Amma said, "start looking and Amma will help you."

 

Two months later, I met my husband. We are tremendously happy almost 5

years later

now, and he is slowly but surely becoming more connected to Amma.

 

I think she sensed that I really did want to get married, and wouldn't have

been happy

as a renunciate, at least not at this point in my life. And I feel that I

am learning and

growing so much from being with my husband - clearly, he is part of Amma's

plan for

my spiritual growth.

 

I feel that Amma guides me all the time, even though I haven't really talked

with her

other than maybe one other time over the last 6 years. I sort of sense what

her will

is... or, she gives me messages from the universe like others in this group

have

described!

Blessings,

Achintya

[Guest guest]

Namah Shivaya Achintya,

 

Thank you for that story! I've been feeling exactly the way you describe for

nearly a year. Early thirties, difficulty with relationships, etc. (the new

American legacy!). I also became curious about life as a renunciate - I woke up

from that fantasy quickly! Lately I've been trying to give up attachment

to the idea of marriage and children. Instead I try to focus on the freedom I

have to go back to college, meditate and dedicate time for satsang and service.

If Amma wants me to get married, I hope I hear Her guidance as easily as you

did.

 

Namah Shivaya,

Anumati

 

"I had had so many "failed" relationships that I wondered if she really wanted

me to be a renunicate, or if I should just be patient a while longer."

 

 

 

"A real yogi is one who can maintain a peaceful mind in the midst of any

crisis." - Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

 

 

 

Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes

 

 

[Guest guest]

One

> time, I asked her if

> she wanted me to marry, and if so, would she send

> the right husband for me

> my way!

 

Karunamayi (the "other" Amma) said that I would marry

sometime after age 50, i.e. sometime in the 2010's! I

haven't asked Ammachi for a second opinion But

both Amma's know that I have Asperger's syndrome,

which makes an intimate

relationship/girlfriend/significant other about as

likely for me as Christopher Reeve being able to walk.

 

Keval

 

 

 

Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes

http://hotjobs.sweepstakes./signingbonus

[Guest guest]

Namaste!

 

I have greatly enjoyed hearing everyone's accounts of receiving

guidance from Amma! The process of asking Mother questions and

receiving Her direct response in such an intimate way is overwhelming

for me. What grace and mercy to be given the opportunity to ask the

Absolute questions about our lives and our spiritual development!

Though I am quite content basing my life decisions on Amma's

teachings, I find it much easier to surrender after having received

Amma's direct guidance regarding what I should do (or not do:)

 

Om Amriteswariye Namaha

 

Kirsten

[Guest guest]

You never know! An acquaintance of mine with Asperger's syndrome married a

wonderful woman last year. She definitely had some concerns, but they were able

to

resolve them, and they're very happy... =) Iswari

 

Ammachi, Mike Brooker <patria1818> wrote:

> One

> > time, I asked her if

> > she wanted me to marry, and if so, would she send

> > the right husband for me

> > my way!

>

> Karunamayi (the "other" Amma) said that I would marry

> sometime after age 50, i.e. sometime in the 2010's! I

> haven't asked Ammachi for a second opinion But

> both Amma's know that I have Asperger's syndrome,

> which makes an intimate

> relationship/girlfriend/significant other about as

> likely for me as Christopher Reeve being able to walk.

>

> Keval

[Guest guest]

Dear Anumati, Although I have, at times, been able to seek Amma's guidance =

directly,

it is much more often that Her love and Her guidance come to me through oth=

er

means -- sometimes through dreams, sometimes through the stillness of my ow=

n

heart...but, perhaps most beautifully, through my interactions with other d=

evotees.

 

A couple of years ago, Amma told me that something challenging and traumati=

c that

I've been going through with my health was karmic and that it would be "ver=

y difficult"

for any change to occur. I was totally devastated, and this email from a s=

atsang sister

felt like a direct message from Amma:

 

"Amma talks a lot about how certain karmas can be erased through spiritual =

practice

and the Grace of God/Guru, and that others can be lessened, but not complet=

ely

erased, but that others simply have to be endured.  Even in that case, howe=

ver, She

says that if you have faith in God/Guru, and try and accept the situation a=

s God's will,

the Grace will be there to help you through the situation and it won't be a=

s hard.  For

example, when Nealu Swami (Swami Paramatmananda) met Amma, he was so sick h=

e

was almost on his deathbed.  He asked Amma if She would heal him.  She told=

him

that if She healed him, he would have to suffer even more in a future life,=

but if he

could bear the pain, and cry out to God, that he wouldn't have to take anot=

her birth. I

think about how Amma called your name three times in a row-- not once, not =

twice--

and to me, that means that She has really taken you on, and made a resolve =

to bring

you to the Goal... and probably in this very lifetime.  So-- when I think o=

f that, it

doesn't surprise me that you are going through a lot of hardship,  because =

She is

totally focused on liberating you.   That means taking out all the stops, a=

nd pushing

all the poison and pus from old and current wounds to the surface.  If you =

can endure

it-- seeing it as the greatest form of Her Love, then you will be rewarded =

 

unfathomably."

 

Sometimes, when it seems hopeless, I remember these words, and know it'll b=

e okay.

 

Love,

Iswari

 

Ammachi, Anumati <anumati_devi> wrote:

 

> Also, can some of you share stories of guidance here in the U.S., either =

directly at a

> program with Amma, or "indirectly" through some other means?