One more comment re (dis)connectedness -- was 2 Unofficial Q&A's

[Guest guest]

P.S., I didn't mean for that comment below to sound flip; it's just

that faith and realization are such mysterious things.

 

One thing that seems to have helped rekindle my connection to Amma

is, paradoxically, not worrying so much about Amma or myself but

rather striving to see good/God in everything around me. Certainly

the attitude of seeing Divinity in all beings and things is

consistent with Amma's and most perennial teachings, and it provides

a good balance (or context) for seeking Divinity in one's guru, or

within. This reminds me of Amma's suggestion to do something else

if one is having a hard time with one's mantra (as she said, "doing

selfless service is also a mantra", etc.). By cultivating the

attitude of seeing everything around me as a flower emanating Divine

fragrance, Amma's attractiveness becomes much more obvious. I can

enjoy and appreciate everything she has to offer without worrying

whether she measures up to some sort of ideal of "Mahatma-hood".

 

blessings,

Jim/Pranav

 

Ammachi, "Jim Butler" <acujames> wrote:

> It all comes back to faith in yourself in the end.

>

> (A bold statement, but I know it's true, because Amma said so, I

> believe it, and that's that.)

>

> ;-)

>

> Ammachi, "Dixie Thacker" <dixielou@s...>

> wrote:

> >

> > -

> >

> > ammachi

> > Saturday, September 11, 2004 1:10 PM

> > 2 Unofficial Q&A's

> >

> >

> > Namah Shivaya,

> >

> > Since a couple of people on this list have expressed feeling

> disconnected from Amma lately.

> >

> > I had not added myself to the 'disconnected' devotee

group

> officially, but I have been experiencing it privately - to the

point

> I wasn't even really responding here. I read all the posts, but

the

> distance between me and anything Amma related has seemed intense

> lately. This had reached the point that I had actually wondered

if

> I was not where I belonged-or rather, perhaps where Mother did not

> want me to be anymore. Thank you so much for the q/a's given here

> because this part adressed the other possibility I was

considering:

> >

> >

> > When we are doubting and think that Amma looks like a human

> being, and wonder how can She be God, then we can go by our

> experiences. When we know that Amma is a Mahatma, we should stick

to

> it. She won't show us each day.

> > Oops, I deleted an important part of this: that it may be

> easier to surrender to Amma than God because we've seen Her. I

> think it's the opposite for me - last year, when I met Mother for

> the first time, I was literally awestruck and nearly overwhelmed

by

> my absolute realization that Amma IS God. This year, not just

> during my time with Her in Iowa, I have felt more distanced and

have

> been more apt to think of Her in terms of a super human-type

> mother. I had been wondering for some time if Mother has been

> testing the strength of my faith by leaving it to me to know who

She

> really is - or if not actually 'testing' it, forcing me to examine

> it more closely. Questions keep arising about whether or not I

can

> (or will?) surrender to the point I know I need to -and deeply

think

> I want to. Several people have expressed regrets about not being

> able to be with Amma over Thanksgiving and I am in the same boat;

I

> am heartbroken that She will be in the US and I 'have' to

celebrate

> the holiday with family. And yet I know, deep down and from the

> spiritual heart, that surrending my need for familial approval is

> going to be essential at some point if I intend to 'grow'

> spiritually. The whole thing has made me feel almost ashamed in

> front of Mother - God is going to be in my country and I dare to

be

> too busy and-or too otherwise committed to seek Her out????????

> >

> > Well, that's about it, but it really does help to know that

> others struggle with similar issues. I know Amma meant the dark

> clouds on the sun to include the big picture, but I must admit

that

> there are dark clouds over my sun right now.

> >

> > Namaste,

> > Snehalata

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Also, living with Amma doesn't mean people will get full

> devotion. Some live with Amma and then leave because they

couldn't

> cultivate the faith in Amma. Faith in Amma can happen even when

we

> are far away.

> >

> > I think he said that apparently, it's Amma's good qualities,

> (love and compassion), which opens our hearts. To wrap it up, Sw

RK

> again suggested to go by our close friends' experiences and to

> observe Amma's actions. It's like cultivating faith in God who we

> don't see, but in whom we believe. It's our own effort.

> >

> > Q: How does one cultivate an attitude of surrender?

> >

> > A: If Amma makes it easy, then there is no effort. There is

no

> free lunch in spirituality.

> >

> > Now it's off to work on cultivating some devotion & faith

> >

> > Sweta

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

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> >

> >

> > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

> >

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