Guest guest Posted November 24, 2004 Report Share Posted November 24, 2004 There was a question about conch shells in this group a few days back. Now that I am back from San Ramon, I can sort of comment, since I was there. Amma asked some questions about Western philosophy: (a) she asked whether we felt it was true that Western philosophy recommended the nurturing and raising of the ego, and whether Indian philosophy recommended its annihilation. No-one really answered, but someone (Sudhakar?) mentioned that in Indian (Hindu) philosophy, it is said that just like a beautiful sound comes from a conch shell when the animal inside is dead and gone, so does the annihilation of the ego gives rise to something beautiful. They also mentioned the stress on individuality in the West. (b) Amma asked whether suicide was regarded as acceptable in Western thought in cases of despair, unlike in Hindu philosophy. Again, no- one really answered her. I pointed out that the saint Mirabai sort of committed suicide, but Amma said that her dying would not bring about karmic repercussions. The discussion was interesting, but is not easy to summarize, since it was rambling, with many speakers. Sorry ... Amma wore dark blue in Devi Bhava. Someone had brought a game called 'Enlightenment', and Gautam suggested that Amma and he play it right then. Amma agreed, and they opened up the game, which was a sort of religious-themed Trivial Pursuits game, with questions on various religions. Amma did not end up actually playing it, but had some of the questions and rules translated. Gautam told me that some of the question/answer cards mentioned Ammachi. I left at 8 AM, and Devi Bhava was still going on. Overall, I had a fabulous time there. Nandu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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