Converting People to Amma-Circle of Love Inside

[Guest guest]

Hi folks

 

This is Aikya and I hate attempts to convert people. That's it.

That's how I feel about it. Also, thanks to having had an abusive

mother, I learned to keep what was most precious to me a secret so

it wouldn't be quashed by mom.

 

Meanwhile...

 

About two years ago, when I was presenting papers about Amma or the

devotional songs before Amaerican Academy of Religion and enjoying

the presentations of my sisters scholars in Women's Spirituality,

there was this guy who kept coming to all the presentations. He

looked like the Marlboro man. Finally I couldn't stand it anymore

and I introduced myself. It turned out that he was the wiccan

chaplain to the California prison system. His version of wicca

involved devotion to the goddess who was ever-nurturing, beneficent

and peaceful. His regular visits with prayer and education about

the goddes to men in prison were so successful that, in a major riot

in a large California prison the only prisoners who didn't

participate int he riot were in his prayer groups. They did not

join the rioters because, they said that the goodess wouldn't

approve. Now this guy is advising the federal system all across the

country.

 

All the brothers and sisters to whom we are writing--except for the

woman in Muncy, PA, already knew about Mother and they asked for

support or their families asked for support for them. Temba tells

all of them about Amma. Now Michael is also telling them and will

continue to tell about Amma, about love and service as opposed to

whatever they did before. Theirs is not an easy road. They will

need tools and support but Amma's grace is helping them look for it.

 

I wrote to Carol, the woman in Pensylvania who is on Death Row

because she has no one--no family, no visitors. In my first letter

I send a photo of Amma in Devi Bhava and explained what that was.

Since then, I have not mentioned Amma. She wrote to several of us

to say that -- get this--she is praying for Amma so that Amma can

continue her good work and that Carol would like to know more about

her. Books have to be sent via a company life Mothersbooks due to

prison rules. I told her not to worry. A devotee near Chicago who

is on this list has sent ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM. Someone will step

forward to order a biography by Swami amritasvarupananda for her.

 

Mother is pouring love and grace into this. It's not about

converting people. It's about outreach--no, Heartreach.

 

In amma's lvoe,

Aikya

[Guest guest]

Namah Shivayah

 

I never meant any offense to anyone. I was simply inquiring about

the activity. I was only wondering, and thought that my message

portrayed that. Sorry if it did not!!

 

With love,

Erica

[Guest guest]

No offence here, and I understand your aversion to conversion. But that's

not Amma's style. She just wants to inspire and uplift as many as possible.

 

 

on 12/7/04 4:46 PM, Erica at sugarandbrine wrote:

 

>

>

> Namah Shivayah

>

> I never meant any offense to anyone. I was simply inquiring about

> the activity. I was only wondering, and thought that my message

> portrayed that. Sorry if it did not!!

>

> With love,

> Erica