Guest guest Posted April 23, 2004 Report Share Posted April 23, 2004 It was dark, but Amma's face shone clearly in the glow of the portable lamps. She had been singing bhajans in Bengali, but now She wanted a story with a moral, a frequent request of Hers when sitting with Her children. One of Amma's Finnish devotees stood up and began to speak. She told Amma how at one of the recent programmes, she had become quite depressed. She had started to feel her connection with Amma diminishing; it suddenly seemed to her as if they were strangers. She decided to go near Amma, hoping it would make her feel better, but sitting watching Amma laugh and joke in Malayalam as She gave darshan only intensified Her sense of distance. After a little while, she got up and decided to go outside the programme to have a cup of tea at one of the local chai stalls. Drinking her tea, she suddenly saw another woman about the same age as her rummaging through a pile of trash for food. Almost impulsively, she got up, bought the woman some food and walked over to where She was searching. As she handed the lady the plate, something happened. She told Amma that when their eyes connected, she felt that they had connected. The differences of culture and country fell away. For that moment, they understood each other and were one. As the lady's story was translated to Amma, it was clear She was touched. "She was searching for food for the body, and you where searching for food for Atman-- the soul," Amma said. "The attitude of giving will bring the experience of completeness. The compassion will help you in the search. "Sometimes you may not feel thirsty, you may not feel bonded to Amma. That doesn't mean you don't have any love for Amma. It is there; it is the reason why you are feeling the bond's absence in the first place." Then Amma explained how our longing for God should have an intensity like one starving for food. When you are starving, first you will beg for food. If you don't receive any, you will start begging for money. If you don't get any money, you will resort to stealing. "'I am not feeling connected, I am not feeling the bond'--this thought itself is part of the bond. Deep inside there is a bond." --Kannadi Around Amma Sometimes you may not feel thirsty, you may not feel bonded to Amma. That doesn't mean you don't have any love for Amma. It is there; it is the reason why you are feeling the bond's absence in the first place. Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ ph/print_splash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 23, 2004 Report Share Posted April 23, 2004 The Finnish Devotee in the story posted below had a disconnect with Amma on the Darshan line.: "watching Amma laugh and joke in Malayalam as She gave darshan only intensified her sense of distance" This feeling has come over me watching Amma as I await Darshan. My problem is self-centeredness.. The miracle of Amma ever laughing/ ever joking/ ever comforting gets skewed by the old ME ME ME. The Concept Underlying this? She should be with me me me 24/7. Possible cure? Watch Amma in a state of complete Surrender. Not I but thou. Not I but thou. Self-Centered, Still Not Amma-Centered, GeorgeSon Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 23, 2004 Report Share Posted April 23, 2004 Namah Shivaya. > Self-Centered, Still Not Amma-Centered, how about "self-centered" not "Self-centered"? The Self is the self's best friend. The self is the Self's worst enemy. from the Upanishads Aum Namahshivaya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 On Fri, 23 Apr 2004, Kenna wrote: > > how about "self-centered" not "Self-centered"? > > The Self is the self's best friend. > The self is the Self's worst enemy. > from the Upanishads - From the Gita ? One should uplift one's lower self by the higher self. One should not depress or downgrade one's self. For the self verily is both the friend and foe of the self. Bhagvad Gita 6:5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 Namah Shivaya. With apologies, yes, the Gita! p. > On Fri, 23 Apr 2004, Kenna wrote: > >> >> how about "self-centered" not "Self-centered"? >> >> The Self is the self's best friend. >> The self is the Self's worst enemy. >> from the Upanishads > > - From the Gita ? > > One should uplift one's lower self by the higher self. > One should not depress or downgrade one's self. > For the self verily is both the friend and foe of the self. > > Bhagvad Gita 6:5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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