Guest guest Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 I will be attending the Michigan Retreat program, and will be seeing Amma for the first time as well. I have read Amma's biography, and feel a deep spiritual connection to her. I have read this is how most are drawn to Amma. I am debating over what question to ask of Amma when I see her, but I may wish to ask for a spiritual name. Is it advisable to ask for a spiritual name from Amma upon meeting her for the first time, and am I able to ask two questions or only one? Also, do people who participate in the retreat normally also attend the public progams to receive darshan. Which should I do as this is my first darshan? -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Ammachi, DB <dises@c...> wrote: > I will be attending the Michigan Retreat program, and will be seeing Amma > for the first time as well. I have read Amma's biography, and feel a deep > spiritual connection to her. Beautiful! =) > I have read this is how most are drawn to Amma. People are drawn to Mother in all kinds of ways! One of the things I love about going to the programs/retreats is getting to know other devotees, and hearing their stories about how they've come to Amma, and what their journeys with Her have been like! > I am debating over what question to ask of Amma when I see her, but > I may wish to ask for a spiritual name. These are not mutually exclusive, though you should be aware that the morning question line (on the left side of Amma) usually has a very limited number of available spaces, in relation to the number of people at the morning programs. So, I would ask yourself if it feels important that you ask Amma a question...and if the answer is yes, then go for it! (Unless you're lucky enough to speak one of Amma's Indian languages, in which case, you can just chat with Her when you go up for darshan...although if there is a pressing question and you can't get on the question line, you can try asking during your darshan.) Also, if your question is not about your specific personal situation, there is a question- and-answer session during the retreat, in which devotees have the opportunity to ask Mother questions that She'll answer in front of all present. For this, be sure to sit up front! And sometimes, you may find that Amma answers your questions in more subtle ways! =) > Is it advisable to ask for a > spiritual name from Amma upon meeting her for the first time I really encourage you to seek the answer within your own heart. Some devotees feel moved to ask Amma for a name right away, while others don't for years (or never do!). (If you haven't already gathered, there are no hard and fast rules for these things! ;-) > and am I able to ask two questions or only one? Basically, what happens is that you're given a small index card, and are asked to keep your questions simple and brief. You can ask two, but it's just best to not get convoluted. > Also, do people who participate in > the retreat normally also attend the public progams to receive darshan. Often it depends on the availability of darshan tokens. If there are too many people and not enough tokens, those who have met Mother before will often wait for the retreat to have darshan. Still, since you've never met Amma before, there is no problem with your having darshan during the public programs before the retreat. I'd suggest it, actually! =) > Which should I do as this is my first darshan? Don't worry so much! *grin* A few logistical things to know about going for darshan (and you'll be reminded, there!): ~ There are token boards up in the hall, on which number ranges are posted. Take a close look at your darshan token, because you must go when your number range is posted, unless there are special circumstances why you need to go earlier (e.g., medical needs, family with young child, etc.) or later (conflict with a scheduled seva shift). Don't lose your darshan token, because no one is allowed onto the line without an appropriately numbered token. Once on line, keep the token out and handy, as it will be checked more than once. Each member of a family (including kids) must have his/her own token. ~ You can have items that have never been used or worn before blessed by Amma (there is a bookstore at which you can buy various items, proceeds going to Amma's charities). Hand small items to Her with your right hand. Hold malas out to Her with both hands, so She can take it and slip it right over your head. If you buy a mantra/five-metal bracelet, open it up before you get to Her, so She can put it on easily. Hold shawls out to Her lengthwise, with both hands, so She can place it around your neck/shoulders. ~ Remove any pointy jewelry or other objects that may poke Amma, as well as glasses, toward the front of the darshan lines. There are baskets where you can leave this stuff. Also up toward the front of the line, you'll tissue off any perspiration/excess make-up. ~ When you approach Mother, you'll be kneeling at the center of Her chair. Put your arms on either side of Her, rather than hugging Her back, as that's a strain on Her body. There will be people to either side who will guide you into place, so you don't have to worry! What an exciting time for you! I hope we get to hear about about your first darshan! =) Namah Shivaya, Iswari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Thank you for your very detailed, kind answer. I am 18, but truly started self-searching consciously on my spiritual path when I was 12 and tended toward mysticism. I first read about Buddhism, and was very attracted to teachings about Love and Compassion. I have sometimes literally, when I was younger, felt that energy of Love and Compassion as like a shower and as if I could shower it onto others. I have always had this sense of spirituality, but when I went to High School I lost some of this in learning about life and am now just recently truly returning on a more permanent basis to my spirituality and being once again having a daily consciousness of it with Amma's grace. I learned about Amma when I first noticed the biography of Amma in a large chainbookstore near me about three years ago, it was the only book they had on Amma and stood out for me, and I just happened to pick it up. I was drawn in immediately, and felt very connected to Amma. I read it, and vivid images filled my mind. I did not find the website or persue further until later though.I ordered a picture of her following the Amma biography about two years ago, as well as as the book The Path of the Mother by Savitri L. Bess. Just seeing pictures of Amma brought this feeling of love and compassion to me, and I felt it touched something deeply within. In particularly receptive states, I feel th is very strongly just seeing pictures of Amma. It is like a wave of love, compassion, and light cascading over me. I have experienced this before contemplating other incarnations of the Divine Mother, but never so strongly as through Amma have I found my connection with the Divine Mother. The night I met my soulmate with whom I share a innocent playful love I felt Amma's presence fairly strongly and at other times in particular "turning point" events in the past year I have as well. I would find myself at school going to amma.org on the computer just to see Amma, and be comforted.. I also own copies of Finding God's Love and The Divine Christ by Ethan Walker which both truly has some beatiful quotes of Amma. I recently obtained an Amma doll, which I hold every night or lay beside me on my pillow. I truly cherish it. I also obtained the beatiful book Messages from Amma in the Language of the Heart that was recently released, and have shared it with others who are unfamiliar with Amma and they are truly touched by her simple truths. Recently I have felt so connected to Amma on a daily basis, and have been learning the 108 Names. The other day I called her "Mother" in English while talking about her to someone else, and smiled as I spontaneously said this. I am so glad that my plans have come together to go see her in Michigan for the first time, and attend the retreat. I truly feel she is probably my Guru, and I feel I may even go to Amritapuri in India some time to stay at the ashram. This pure innocent love, when I am able to consciously bring it up within myself, is so beautiful. Amma touches my heart, and soul and brings forth that beautiful spirituality I had when I was younger and I feel will take me even beyond to discover more of this beautiful presence. On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 04:23:47 -0000, ammasiswari <ammasiswari wrote: > > Ammachi, DB <dises@c...> wrote: >> I will be attending the Michigan Retreat program, and will be seeing >> Amma >> for the first time as well. I have read Amma's biography, and feel a >> deep >> spiritual connection to her. > > Beautiful! =) > >> I have read this is how most are drawn to Amma. > > People are drawn to Mother in all kinds of ways! One of the things I > love about > going to > the programs/retreats is getting to know other devotees, and hearing > their > stories about > how they've come to Amma, and what their journeys with Her have been > like! > >> I am debating over what question to ask of Amma when I see her, but >> I may wish to ask for a spiritual name. > > These are not mutually exclusive, though you should be aware that the > morning > question > line (on the left side of Amma) usually has a very limited number of > available > spaces, in > relation to the number of people at the morning programs. So, I would ask > yourself if it > feels important that you ask Amma a question...and if the answer is yes, > then go > for it! > > (Unless you're lucky enough to speak one of Amma's Indian languages, in > which > case, you > can just chat with Her when you go up for darshan...although if there is > a > pressing > question and you can't get on the question line, you can try asking > during your > darshan.) > > Also, if your question is not about your specific personal situation, > there is a > question- > and-answer session during the retreat, in which devotees have the > opportunity to > ask > Mother questions that She'll answer in front of all present. For this, > be sure > to sit up front! > > And sometimes, you may find that Amma answers your questions in more > subtle ways! > =) > >> Is it advisable to ask for a >> spiritual name from Amma upon meeting her for the first time > > I really encourage you to seek the answer within your own heart. Some > devotees > feel > moved to ask Amma for a name right away, while others don't for years > (or never > do!). > > (If you haven't already gathered, there are no hard and fast rules for > these > things! ;-) > >> and am I able to ask two questions or only one? > > Basically, what happens is that you're given a small index card, and are > asked > to keep your > questions simple and brief. You can ask two, but it's just best to not > get > convoluted. > >> Also, do people who participate in >> the retreat normally also attend the public progams to receive darshan. > > Often it depends on the availability of darshan tokens. If there are too > many > people and > not enough tokens, those who have met Mother before will often wait for > the > retreat to > have darshan. Still, since you've never met Amma before, there is no > problem > with your > having darshan during the public programs before the retreat. I'd > suggest it, > actually! =) > >> Which should I do as this is my first darshan? > > Don't worry so much! *grin* > > A few logistical things to know about going for darshan (and you'll be > reminded, > there!): > > ~ There are token boards up in the hall, on which number ranges are > posted. Take > a close > look at your darshan token, because you must go when your number range > is posted, > unless there are special circumstances why you need to go earlier (e.g., > medical > needs, > family with young child, etc.) or later (conflict with a scheduled seva > shift). > Don't lose your > darshan token, because no one is allowed onto the line without an > appropriately > numbered token. Once on line, keep the token out and handy, as it will be > checked more > than once. Each member of a family (including kids) must have his/her > own token. > > ~ You can have items that have never been used or worn before blessed by > Amma (there > is > a bookstore at which you can buy various items, proceeds going to Amma's > charities). > Hand small items to Her with your right hand. Hold malas out to Her with > both > hands, so > She can take it and slip it right over your head. If you buy a > mantra/five-metal > bracelet, > open it up before you get to Her, so She can put it on easily. Hold > shawls out > to Her > lengthwise, with both hands, so She can place it around your > neck/shoulders. > > ~ Remove any pointy jewelry or other objects that may poke Amma, as well > as > glasses, > toward the front of the darshan lines. There are baskets where you can > leave > this stuff. > Also up toward the front of the line, you'll tissue off any > perspiration/excess > make-up. > > ~ When you approach Mother, you'll be kneeling at the center of Her > chair. Put > your arms > on either side of Her, rather than hugging Her back, as that's a strain > on Her > body. There > will be people to either side who will guide you into place, so you > don't have > to worry! > > What an exciting time for you! I hope we get to hear about about your > first > darshan! =) > > Namah Shivaya, > Iswari > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > Sponsor > > Eliminate Your Debt! > · Get out of Debt Now · Christian counselors available > · Click here to find out how you can become free from debt. > > Links > > > Ammachi/ > > > Ammachi > > -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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