Guest guest Posted December 6, 2004 Report Share Posted December 6, 2004 Nice. I'm going to send this out to our satsang list. We're thinking of going around and speaking to various groups to raise awareness of Amma before her next visit to Iowa. Playing a tape as well. Perhaps we should speak at some prisons. on 12/6/04 6:34 PM, Aikya Param at aikya wrote: > > > Dear Ones, > > Men who love Amma and who are willing to write letters to to our > brothers in prison are urgently needed. We have very recently seen > that the story of Amma, even a photo of Amma, can melt the hearts > and change the lives of people serving time in prison. Inspired by > the transformation we have seen, the letter writing program has > spawned a special program. It will focus on sharing Amma, her > image, her story and her mission with our brothers and sisters > behind bars. It will involve letter writing, sending Amma's books to > prisoners, and visiting when this is appropriate. Presently, most of > our letter writers are women. We need some of Amma's son's to join > us. > > Amma is clearly at work here because the energy and grace flowing > are incredible. Volunteers have overcome fear and prejudice. The > spontaneous generosity delights me. One letter writer's 7 year old > son made a wonderful drawing of the Circle of Love for the brother > to whom his dad was writing. His dad just offered a contribution > that can send full sets of Awaken Children plus Amma's biodgraphies > to three prisons. One of our Circle of Love letter recipients is > going to visit the Apache woman on Death Row in Pennsylvania who has > not had visitors in years. I sent her a photo of Amma in Devi Bhava > and explained what that ceremony was. Today I heard that she wants > to know more about Amma. > > Here is a beautiful story to inspire you. A couple of weeks ago > Circle of Love letter writing received a request to write to one of > our bothers who is facing life in prison in Illinois. I wrote to > him. Here is part of his reply: > > *********** > Since I have been here god has really changed me, I look at life > different now, I look at everything around me as being me, I am the > earth and the earth is me, I look at the essence of everything.... > I am going to spread Amma's love to groups of people one day, I have > seen this in a vision, it is already starting to happen, sometimes > guys come to me wanting to know what keeps me so peaceful, I tell > them my god (Amma), Amma has touched a lot of the guys around me. > > There was a time when I was scared to do any time in the joint, but > now I look at myself as a leaf, wherever God blows me is where I > will be. It doesn't matter to me anymore whether I go home or I > don't. I just want to give love to everyone for the rest of my life. > > Lots of people laugh at me. lots of people feel sad for me, but I am > not sad at all. Some people say that my life is over with because I > am locked up...but I feel that my life has just begun because I have > acknowledged god within me, the time I've spent in this jail is not > wasted. Time spent well is no time wasted at all. > > In all I know nothing. All I have to offer is (Amma) love, that's > all. I'm not a doctor or a lawyer or a philosopher. I'm just a > person who wants to help people. I want to help the poor and the > sick. I don't want nothing in return. > ********************* > > Please reply to me off list if you would like to help by writing to > one of our brothers who is incarcerated. > > In Amma's love, > Aikya > > ===== > Aikya Param > Coordinator, Letter Writing Program > Circle of Love > > Do you know anyone who would benefit from letters of encouragement, > uplift and inspiration? Please send their names and contact > information. > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > Links > > > > > > > -- Rick Archer SearchSummit 1108 South B Street Fairfield, IA 52556 Phone: 641-472-9336 http://searchsummit.com rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2004 Report Share Posted December 6, 2004 Namah Shivayah I can understand feeling like we want to share Amma with people who we feel need Her, but to be honest, the whole thing kind of sits oddly with me. It reminds me too much of "recruiting" or campaigning for Amma. Why is this necessary? If someone is meant to meet Amma, will She not assure it is so? It seems to me that the programs are growing year after year. Has anyone asked Amma about this? I wonder what Her opinion is on this subject. With love and respect, Erica Ammachi, Rick Archer <rick@s...> wrote: > Nice. I'm going to send this out to our satsang list. We're thinking of > going around and speaking to various groups to raise awareness of Amma > before her next visit to Iowa. Playing a tape as well. Perhaps we should > speak at some prisons. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 She told us to do it. on 12/6/04 10:30 PM, Erica at sugarandbrine wrote: > > > Namah Shivayah > > I can understand feeling like we want to share Amma with people who > we feel need Her, but to be honest, the whole thing kind of sits > oddly with me. It reminds me too much of "recruiting" or campaigning > for Amma. Why is this necessary? If someone is meant to meet Amma, > will She not assure it is so? It seems to me that the programs are > growing year after year. Has anyone asked Amma about this? I wonder > what Her opinion is on this subject. > > With love and respect, > Erica > > Ammachi, Rick Archer <rick@s...> wrote: >> Nice. I'm going to send this out to our satsang list. We're > thinking of >> going around and speaking to various groups to raise awareness of > Amma >> before her next visit to Iowa. Playing a tape as well. Perhaps we > should >> speak at some prisons. >> >> >> Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > Links > > > > > > > -- Rick Archer SearchSummit 1108 South B Street Fairfield, IA 52556 Phone: 641-472-9336 http://searchsummit.com rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 Amma personally blessed by physically touching a letter intended to go to Michael, the man whose beautiful letter was posted here. Furthermore, Br. Dayamrita personally extended help by sending books to prisoners in New York State two years back. For that reason, we have Temba in Illinois who is now working directly with brothers inside and outside through a Christian recovery home. This is people reaching out to people, first and foremost. The brothers and sisters who are incarcerated with the exception of Carol in Muncy, PA, already knew about mother and either they or their families have asked for this support for them. They come from various religious traditions, just as all of us do. One brother who was just released is a Catholic with a strong devotion to the rosary and to Our Lady of Guadalupe. He loves Amma too. I personally am allergic to conversion. Nobody owns the soul or spiritual journey of another. Nobody has the right to interfere with the ancestral traditions of another. Our Amma includes it all as Savitri Bess so beautifully showed in her book. Om namah shivaya! Aikya Ammachi, "Erica" <sugarandbrine> wrote: > > Namah Shivayah > > I can understand feeling like we want to share Amma with people who > we feel need Her, but to be honest, the whole thing kind of sits > oddly with me. It reminds me too much of "recruiting" or campaigning > for Amma. Why is this necessary? If someone is meant to meet Amma, > will She not assure it is so? It seems to me that the programs are > growing year after year. Has anyone asked Amma about this? I wonder > what Her opinion is on this subject. > > With love and respect, > Erica > > Ammachi, Rick Archer <rick@s...> wrote: > > Nice. I'm going to send this out to our satsang list. We're > thinking of > > going around and speaking to various groups to raise awareness of > Amma > > before her next visit to Iowa. Playing a tape as well. Perhaps we > should > > speak at some prisons. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 Namaste, All; Erica, I feel the same way about it; it seems to me that people will find their way to Amma if they should be there and if the timing is appropriate. I don't recall Amma asking us to 'recruit' for her - I do remember Her saying that we should go about life as Her ambassadors but it seemed directly relating to behavior/ attitude. Anything else still seems like Christian witnessing and too close to attempting to convert someone, which I don't think Amma favors. I like the "Circle of Love" letters that go out as seva for some devotees, but I think those are sent to people who have requested such contact. I recently agreed to write to one of the inmates mentioned on our list but, not knowing if the woman specifically wanted Amma messages, I wrote saying only that I had received her name/address through the circle, then wrote much as I would to a pen pal. For me, at least, I think my role is to live so that the things Amma has taught us/asked of us are evidenced within my own life and, because of that, someone else's day is touched with a bit more love than it would have been otherwise. I'm not sure I'll ever even feel worthy of trying to tell others about Amma; my words would not convey even a millionth of Who and What She is, let alone carry the grace and love that Mother's own calling arouses. Just my thoughts on this. At Mother's feet with head bowed, Snehalata ---------- Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.6 - Release 12/5/2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 > > Erica, I feel the same way about it; it seems to me > that people will find their way to Amma if they > should be there and if the timing is appropriate. I > don't recall Amma asking us to 'recruit' for her - I > do remember Her saying that we should go about life > as Her ambassadors but it seemed directly relating > to behavior/ attitude. Anything else still seems > like Christian witnessing and too close to > attempting to convert someone, which I don't think > Amma favors. > I would tend to agree. Let's leave the prosletyzing to the Christians, Hare Krishnas, and Lubavitchers. If someone is meant to find Amma, he/she will find her without any "in your face" attempts to recruit new devotees. "When you are ready, the guru appears". Not that writing to prisoners is a bad idea, but if we're going to send letters to people in the slammer, why not send one to a certain Shankaracharya who could be facing some serious hard time in the Tamil Nadu State Penitentiary? (pardon me while I extract my tongue from my cheek!) Keval Take Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. http://mobile./maildemo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Circle of Love Inside is writing to and sending books and photographs to brothers and sisters who are incarcerated WHO REQUEST THEM. In addition we will donate books about Amma to prison libraries. Aikya Ammachi, Mike Brooker <patria1818> wrote: > > > > Erica, I feel the same way about it; it seems to me > > that people will find their way to Amma if they > > should be there and if the timing is appropriate. I > > don't recall Amma asking us to 'recruit' for her - I > > do remember Her saying that we should go about life > > as Her ambassadors but it seemed directly relating > > to behavior/ attitude. Anything else still seems > > like Christian witnessing and too close to > > attempting to convert someone, which I don't think > > Amma favors. > > > > I would tend to agree. Let's leave the prosletyzing > to the Christians, Hare Krishnas, and Lubavitchers. > If someone is meant to find Amma, he/she will find her > without any "in your face" attempts to recruit new > devotees. "When you are ready, the guru appears". > > Not that writing to prisoners is a bad idea, but if > we're going to send letters to people in the slammer, > why not send one to a certain Shankaracharya who could > be facing some serious hard time in the Tamil Nadu > State Penitentiary? > > (pardon me while I extract my tongue from my cheek!) > > Keval > > > > > > Take Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. > http://mobile./maildemo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2004 Report Share Posted December 9, 2004 Namah Shivaya, Aikya, I have some bigger photos of Amma and a batik Amma wall-hanging that used to belong to Vaishnavi. Who should I send them, too? Fe - "Aikya Param" <aikya <Ammachi> Thursday, December 09, 2004 12:28 PM Re: Letter Writing Men Who Love Amma > > > Circle of Love Inside is writing to and sending books and > photographs to brothers and sisters who are incarcerated WHO REQUEST > THEM. In addition we will donate books about Amma to prison > libraries. > > Aikya > > Ammachi, Mike Brooker <patria1818> wrote: >> > >> > Erica, I feel the same way about it; it seems to me >> > that people will find their way to Amma if they >> > should be there and if the timing is appropriate. I >> > don't recall Amma asking us to 'recruit' for her - I >> > do remember Her saying that we should go about life >> > as Her ambassadors but it seemed directly relating >> > to behavior/ attitude. Anything else still seems >> > like Christian witnessing and too close to >> > attempting to convert someone, which I don't think >> > Amma favors. >> > >> >> I would tend to agree. Let's leave the prosletyzing >> to the Christians, Hare Krishnas, and Lubavitchers. >> If someone is meant to find Amma, he/she will find her >> without any "in your face" attempts to recruit new >> devotees. "When you are ready, the guru appears". >> >> Not that writing to prisoners is a bad idea, but if >> we're going to send letters to people in the slammer, >> why not send one to a certain Shankaracharya who could >> be facing some serious hard time in the Tamil Nadu >> State Penitentiary? >> >> (pardon me while I extract my tongue from my cheek!) >> >> Keval >> >> >> >> >> >> Take Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. >> http://mobile./maildemo Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > Links > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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