Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 When I returned home in last night's soft fog, I found three letters from the prison in Rockford. Two were being returned to me. One man, Munsure, had been released. The other letter, a letter to Michael, was returned because it had address stickers on it. "NO STICKERS" was written on the outside. Bureaucracy! The third letter was from Michael. He wrote, "beloved sister Aikya I received your letter's and I was very pleased to here from you, also once again I thank you for (Amma) love I say this because the love that you have in you is Amma's love, It is a different kind of love, It is the kind of love that doesn't say I love one and two but don't love three and four, It is the type of love that doesn't look at people wong's and say that evil person, it is the kind of love that love all creation, that love can ony be divine love! I believe that a person who has fully aknowledged the all within, doesn't hate anything in the world or outside of the world, because to evin hate a bug, cat, dog, spider, or anything, is to hate yourself because we are the earth, we are one with the earth and the earth is one with us. I look at the earth as being a part of the earth's body, For example the human body has many different parts and many diffrent functions but it is till on body, The earth is just a different part of the body. Sister it is oright to share the letter's that I send you wit others, because (Amma) love must be given to all, The words that I speak are not just mine alone but (Amma) too, I am the student (Amma) is the teacher the student only teaches other's what the teacher tute him and he never forgets the teacher who showed him the way. (Amma) love must continue to grow threw out the world, Amma is the light of the world..." "People were looking for Peace in the wrong places that were being controled by there desires, so the light chose to take the form of a woman and guide people to her so that they would know that she is the true peace...which is (god). " Last time I think I cleaned up Michael's spelling and punctuation. This time I didn't. When Hari, the dad whose little boy drew the Circle of Love for Michael, first started writing letters for Circle fo Love, he told me that he couldn't write letters by hand, that he had to use a computer with spellcheck because his spelling was very bad. When I wrote to Hari to give him Michael's address, I had totell himthat his letters to Michael had to be handwritten. That prison will not give inmates any typed personal letters. This was hard for Hari because his spelling embarassed him. As you see, Michael, like many men and women in prison, reveals the failure of the schools and society to commit to basic literacy. Michael's trouble with spelling and punctuation do not take away from him the deep understandings he has. His words about his body being part of the earth and the earth being part of his body reads like something a student of Tattwa Bodha could say. Michael may be thinking literally of the earth we live on versus the element prthivi--earth, but he understands the basic idea of the Atman and Paramatman, th? --the Self part of whose body is the earth, the planet, or whose body is partially made up of stuff, rithivi, earth element. His words about love...well. When I think that he has only heard about Amma and seen her phot, has never met her, has never felt her embrace. He's very clear about Amma's love. Aikya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 In your post and comments about the guy in prison you say: <<<<<As you see, Michael, like many men and women in prison, reveals the failure of the schools and society to commit to basic literacy.>>>> You mean, it's automatically the fault of the schools and the teachers that this guy can't read? How can you make that assumption?? Do you know what efforts have been made in trying to get him and so many like him to learn something in school? Maybe he was too lazy to learn when he had the opportunity, or just didn't care, or maybe he was too busy stealing and doing dope. This guy is in prison because he did something BAD and now he is paying the price for it. He is no innocent angel. Please don't try to blame everybody else - that is naive, bleeding heart liberal BS. As an educator I know what teachers are up against - and it is not a pretty picture. jm Ammachi, "Aikya Param" <aikya> wrote: > > When I returned home in last night's soft fog, I found three letters > from the prison in Rockford. Two were being returned to me. One > man, Munsure, had been released. The other letter, a letter to > Michael, was returned because it had address stickers on it. "NO > STICKERS" was written on the outside. Bureaucracy! > > The third letter was from Michael. He wrote, > > "beloved sister Aikya I received your letter's and I was very > pleased to here from you, also once again I thank you for (Amma) > love I say this because the love that you have in you is Amma's > love, It is a different kind of love, It is the kind of love that > doesn't say I love one and two but don't love three and four, It is > the type of love that doesn't look at people wong's and say that > evil person, it is the kind of love that love all creation, that > love can ony be divine love! I believe that a person who has fully > aknowledged the all within, doesn't hate anything in the world or > outside of the world, because to evin hate a bug, cat, dog, spider, > or anything, is to hate yourself because we are the earth, we are > one with the earth and the earth is one with us. I look at the earth > as being a part of the earth's body, For example the human body has > many different parts and many diffrent functions but it is till on > body, The earth is just a different part of the body. Sister it is > oright to share the letter's that I send you wit others, because > (Amma) love must be given to all, The words that I speak are not > just mine alone but (Amma) too, I am the student (Amma) is the > teacher the student only teaches other's what the teacher tute him > and he never forgets the teacher who showed him the way. (Amma) > love must continue to grow threw out the world, Amma is the light of > the world..." > > "People were looking for Peace in the wrong places that were being > controled by there desires, so the light chose to take the form of a > woman and guide people to her so that they would know that she is > the true peace...which is (god). " > > Last time I think I cleaned up Michael's spelling and punctuation. > This time I didn't. When Hari, the dad whose little boy drew the > Circle of Love for Michael, first started writing letters for Circle > fo Love, he told me that he couldn't write letters by hand, that he > had to use a computer with spellcheck because his spelling was very > bad. > > When I wrote to Hari to give him Michael's address, I had totell > himthat his letters to Michael had to be handwritten. That prison > will not give inmates any typed personal letters. This was hard for > Hari because his spelling embarassed him. As you see, Michael, like > many men and women in prison, reveals the failure of the schools and > society to commit to basic literacy. Michael's trouble with > spelling and punctuation do not take away from him the deep > understandings he has. > > His words about his body being part of the earth and the earth being > part of his body reads like something a student of Tattwa Bodha > could say. Michael may be thinking literally of the earth we live > on versus the element prthivi--earth, but he understands the basic > idea of the Atman and Paramatman, th? --the Self part of whose body > is the earth, the planet, or whose body is partially made up of > stuff, rithivi, earth element. > > His words about love...well. When I think that he has only heard > about Amma and seen her phot, has never met her, has never felt her > embrace. He's very clear about Amma's love. > > Aikya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 I taught from 4-year olds through 6th grade for 7 years. At least half that time was in the Southeast Bronx or a not-so-great neighborhood in Bronx, New York. Keep the faith. Teaching is tough. My point was only that those who wind up in prison, for whatever reason, often don't have skills. Amma's hug is big enough for the "bleeding heart liberals" and those who are "no innocent angels." Jai Ma! Aikya Ammachi, "susheelanji" <susheelanji@n...> wrote: > > In your post and comments about the guy in prison you say: > > <<<<<As you see, Michael, like > many men and women in prison, reveals the failure of the schools and > society to commit to basic literacy.>>>> > > You mean, it's automatically the fault of the schools and the > teachers that this guy can't read? How can you make that assumption?? > Do you know what efforts have been made in trying to get him and so > many like him to learn something in school? Maybe he was too lazy to > learn when he had the opportunity, or just didn't care, or maybe he > was too busy stealing and doing dope. This guy is in prison because > he did something BAD and now he is paying the price for it. He is no > innocent angel. Please don't try to blame everybody else - that is > naive, bleeding heart liberal BS. As an educator I know what teachers > are up against - and it is not a pretty picture. jm > > > Ammachi, "Aikya Param" <aikya> wrote: > > > > When I returned home in last night's soft fog, I found three > letters > > from the prison in Rockford. Two were being returned to me. One > > man, Munsure, had been released. The other letter, a letter to > > Michael, was returned because it had address stickers on it. "NO > > STICKERS" was written on the outside. Bureaucracy! > > > > The third letter was from Michael. He wrote, > > > > "beloved sister Aikya I received your letter's and I was very > > pleased to here from you, also once again I thank you for (Amma) > > love I say this because the love that you have in you is Amma's > > love, It is a different kind of love, It is the kind of love that > > doesn't say I love one and two but don't love three and four, It is > > the type of love that doesn't look at people wong's and say that > > evil person, it is the kind of love that love all creation, that > > love can ony be divine love! I believe that a person who has fully > > aknowledged the all within, doesn't hate anything in the world or > > outside of the world, because to evin hate a bug, cat, dog, spider, > > or anything, is to hate yourself because we are the earth, we are > > one with the earth and the earth is one with us. I look at the > earth > > as being a part of the earth's body, For example the human body has > > many different parts and many diffrent functions but it is till on > > body, The earth is just a different part of the body. Sister it is > > oright to share the letter's that I send you wit others, because > > (Amma) love must be given to all, The words that I speak are not > > just mine alone but (Amma) too, I am the student (Amma) is the > > teacher the student only teaches other's what the teacher tute him > > and he never forgets the teacher who showed him the way. (Amma) > > love must continue to grow threw out the world, Amma is the light > of > > the world..." > > > > "People were looking for Peace in the wrong places that were being > > controled by there desires, so the light chose to take the form of > a > > woman and guide people to her so that they would know that she is > > the true peace...which is (god). " > > > > Last time I think I cleaned up Michael's spelling and punctuation. > > This time I didn't. When Hari, the dad whose little boy drew the > > Circle of Love for Michael, first started writing letters for > Circle > > fo Love, he told me that he couldn't write letters by hand, that he > > had to use a computer with spellcheck because his spelling was very > > bad. > > > > When I wrote to Hari to give him Michael's address, I had totell > > himthat his letters to Michael had to be handwritten. That prison > > will not give inmates any typed personal letters. This was hard > for > > Hari because his spelling embarassed him. As you see, Michael, > like > > many men and women in prison, reveals the failure of the schools > and > > society to commit to basic literacy. Michael's trouble with > > spelling and punctuation do not take away from him the deep > > understandings he has. > > > > His words about his body being part of the earth and the earth > being > > part of his body reads like something a student of Tattwa Bodha > > could say. Michael may be thinking literally of the earth we live > > on versus the element prthivi--earth, but he understands the basic > > idea of the Atman and Paramatman, th? --the Self part of whose body > > is the earth, the planet, or whose body is partially made up of > > stuff, rithivi, earth element. > > > > His words about love...well. When I think that he has only heard > > about Amma and seen her phot, has never met her, has never felt her > > embrace. He's very clear about Amma's love. > > > > Aikya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 > > I taught from 4-year olds through 6th grade for 7 > years. At least > half that time was in the Southeast Bronx or a > not-so-great > neighborhood in Bronx, New York. > > Keep the faith. Teaching is tough. As a library technician at a community college, the lack of written English skills really gets me down. Not so much the immigrant students, but those who were born and educated in this country. I think that at the college level you should know the difference between "there" and "their" or "to" and "too", have mastered the past participles of certain irregular verbs (i.e. "I should have gone", not "I should of went"), and generally be able to compose a sentence with a subject and predicate. > > My point was only that those who wind up in prison, > for whatever > reason, often don't have skills. No one questioned the literacy skills of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela or MLK Jr. On the other hand, they didn't do time in the Big House for drug dealing, carjacking, or statutory rape! > > Amma's hug is big enough for the "bleeding heart > liberals" and those > who are "no innocent angels." > Amma will even hug the paleo-conservatives! Though her tour mostly visits "blue" states such as IL, NY, CA, DC and MA - not to mention that bleeding-heart liberal den of iniquity Canada - she also visits Gee Dubya's home state of Texas. I hope Michael (the prisoner) will get Amma's darshan after he's served his time! Keval Mail - Find what you need with new enhanced search. http://info.mail./mail_250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Namah Shivaya, Well, I have a master's degree and can't spell for anything. I used to look up almost every word in the research papers I had to write, and still misspelled many words. I received chastising notes from the professors who could spell. (Some were as bad as me!) So even those of us with a decent education have problems. It has been an exercise in frustration my whole life. Thank God for the spell checker. If I forget to use it, you know. Mother saved me with that little invention! So for our brothers and sisters who have problems in this area, this child can empathize! Jai Ma! prasadini Mike Brooker wrote: > > > > > I taught from 4-year olds through 6th grade for 7 > > years. At least > > half that time was in the Southeast Bronx or a > > not-so-great > > neighborhood in Bronx, New York. > > > > Keep the faith. Teaching is tough. > > As a library technician at a community college, the > lack of written English skills really gets me down. > Not so much the immigrant students, but those who were > born and educated in this country. I think that at > the college level you should know the difference > between "there" and "their" or "to" and "too", have > mastered the past participles of certain irregular > verbs (i.e. "I should have gone", not "I should of > went"), and generally be able to compose a sentence > with a subject and predicate. > > > > > My point was only that those who wind up in prison, > > for whatever > > reason, often don't have skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Namaste to you all, Just joined this group and happened to read this post. Michael's insight about unconditional love is very true. I would like to say something about teaching since I am a public school teacher in a high poverty area and I teach early literacy to children who have difficulty learning to read. Before going off to work in the morning I chant hoping to carry the pure vibrations of the mantras with me to work so as to better help these kids succeed. We also cannot forget that parents are a child's first guru. Teachers can give as much as they can but at some point the parents have to help. Nowadays it is very important that we all work together as a community in raising these kids so they don't end up in prison. Jai Maa! Blessings to all. Ammachi, "Aikya Param" <aikya> wrote: > > I taught from 4-year olds through 6th grade for 7 years. At least > half that time was in the Southeast Bronx or a not-so-great > neighborhood in Bronx, New York. > > Keep the faith. Teaching is tough. > > My point was only that those who wind up in prison, for whatever > reason, often don't have skills. > > Amma's hug is big enough for the "bleeding heart liberals" and those > who are "no innocent angels." > > Jai Ma! > > Aikya > > > Ammachi, "susheelanji" <susheelanji@n...> > wrote: > > > > In your post and comments about the guy in prison you say: > > > > <<<<<As you see, Michael, like > > many men and women in prison, reveals the failure of the schools > and > > society to commit to basic literacy.>>>> > > > > You mean, it's automatically the fault of the schools and the > > teachers that this guy can't read? How can you make that > assumption?? > > Do you know what efforts have been made in trying to get him and > so > > many like him to learn something in school? Maybe he was too lazy > to > > learn when he had the opportunity, or just didn't care, or maybe > he > > was too busy stealing and doing dope. This guy is in prison > because > > he did something BAD and now he is paying the price for it. He is > no > > innocent angel. Please don't try to blame everybody else - that is > > naive, bleeding heart liberal BS. As an educator I know what > teachers > > are up against - and it is not a pretty picture. jm > > > > > > Ammachi, "Aikya Param" <aikya> wrote: > > > > > > When I returned home in last night's soft fog, I found three > > letters > > > from the prison in Rockford. Two were being returned to me. > One > > > man, Munsure, had been released. The other letter, a letter to > > > Michael, was returned because it had address stickers on > it. "NO > > > STICKERS" was written on the outside. Bureaucracy! > > > > > > The third letter was from Michael. He wrote, > > > > > > "beloved sister Aikya I received your letter's and I was very > > > pleased to here from you, also once again I thank you for (Amma) > > > love I say this because the love that you have in you is Amma's > > > love, It is a different kind of love, It is the kind of love > that > > > doesn't say I love one and two but don't love three and four, It > is > > > the type of love that doesn't look at people wong's and say that > > > evil person, it is the kind of love that love all creation, that > > > love can ony be divine love! I believe that a person who has > fully > > > aknowledged the all within, doesn't hate anything in the world > or > > > outside of the world, because to evin hate a bug, cat, dog, > spider, > > > or anything, is to hate yourself because we are the earth, we > are > > > one with the earth and the earth is one with us. I look at the > > earth > > > as being a part of the earth's body, For example the human body > has > > > many different parts and many diffrent functions but it is till > on > > > body, The earth is just a different part of the body. Sister it > is > > > oright to share the letter's that I send you wit others, because > > > (Amma) love must be given to all, The words that I speak are not > > > just mine alone but (Amma) too, I am the student (Amma) is the > > > teacher the student only teaches other's what the teacher tute > him > > > and he never forgets the teacher who showed him the way. (Amma) > > > love must continue to grow threw out the world, Amma is the > light > > of > > > the world..." > > > > > > "People were looking for Peace in the wrong places that were > being > > > controled by there desires, so the light chose to take the form > of > > a > > > woman and guide people to her so that they would know that she > is > > > the true peace...which is (god). " > > > > > > Last time I think I cleaned up Michael's spelling and > punctuation. > > > This time I didn't. When Hari, the dad whose little boy drew > the > > > Circle of Love for Michael, first started writing letters for > > Circle > > > fo Love, he told me that he couldn't write letters by hand, that > he > > > had to use a computer with spellcheck because his spelling was > very > > > bad. > > > > > > When I wrote to Hari to give him Michael's address, I had totell > > > himthat his letters to Michael had to be handwritten. That > prison > > > will not give inmates any typed personal letters. This was hard > > for > > > Hari because his spelling embarassed him. As you see, Michael, > > like > > > many men and women in prison, reveals the failure of the schools > > and > > > society to commit to basic literacy. Michael's trouble with > > > spelling and punctuation do not take away from him the deep > > > understandings he has. > > > > > > His words about his body being part of the earth and the earth > > being > > > part of his body reads like something a student of Tattwa Bodha > > > could say. Michael may be thinking literally of the earth we > live > > > on versus the element prthivi--earth, but he understands the > basic > > > idea of the Atman and Paramatman, th? --the Self part of whose > body > > > is the earth, the planet, or whose body is partially made up of > > > stuff, rithivi, earth element. > > > > > > His words about love...well. When I think that he has only > heard > > > about Amma and seen her phot, has never met her, has never felt > her > > > embrace. He's very clear about Amma's love. > > > > > > Aikya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 Welcome to the Ammachi group, Parvati. You might recognize me as a member of the . Folks, Parvati is the moderator of the above-mentioned . I am sure this group will benefit from her wisdom and experience. Jai Ma! Ammachi, "parv108" <parv108> wrote: > > > Namaste to you all, > Just joined this group and happened to read this post. Michael's > insight about unconditional love is very true. I would like to say > something about teaching since I am a public school teacher in a > high poverty area and I teach early literacy to children who have > difficulty learning to read. Before going off to work in the morning > I chant hoping to carry the pure vibrations of the mantras with me > to work so as to better help these kids succeed. We also cannot > forget that parents are a child's first guru. Teachers can give as > much as they can but at some point the parents have to help. > Nowadays it is very important that we all work together as a > community in raising these kids so they don't end up in prison. > Jai Maa! > Blessings to all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 Namah Shivaya, Many of the people in my work place are on parole & just out of jail. Some of them have low reading levels, & may not be abe to read at all. Adults in jail could have been raised under horrific circumstances, landed in jail at a very young age (early teens), have a learning disability, have a mental illness, or? .... all circumstances that could negatively affect learning abilities. It seems that the exceptional students on either end of the spectrum don't necessarily have their educational needs met in large classrooms. I think that when more of the above mentioned factors are addressed, then just maybe fewer individuals will end up in jail. Who knows, maybe someday, Amma's COL will expand to support to at risk children. In the mean time, I hope we all remember it takes a village to raise a child. The book, "What Children Need to Succeed," gives evidence that suggests adults outside a child's family can have a very positive impact on a childs' life. ganesh108 wrote: Namah Shivaya, Well, I have a master's degree and can't spell for anything. I used to look up almost every word in the research papers I had to write, and still misspelled many words. I received chastising notes from the professors who could spell. (Some were as bad as me!) So even those of us with a decent education have problems. It has been an exercise in frustration my whole life. Thank God for the spell checker. If I forget to use it, you know. Mother saved me with that little invention! So for our brothers and sisters who have problems in this area, this child can empathize! Jai Ma! prasadini Mike Brooker wrote: > > > > > I taught from 4-year olds through 6th grade for 7 > > years. At least > > half that time was in the Southeast Bronx or a > > not-so-great > > neighborhood in Bronx, New York. > > > > Keep the faith. Teaching is tough. > > As a library technician at a community college, the > lack of written English skills really gets me down. > Not so much the immigrant students, but those who were > born and educated in this country. I think that at > the college level you should know the difference > between "there" and "their" or "to" and "too", have > mastered the past participles of certain irregular > verbs (i.e. "I should have gone", not "I should of > went"), and generally be able to compose a sentence > with a subject and predicate. > > > > > My point was only that those who wind up in prison, > > for whatever > > reason, often don't have skills. Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! Ammachi/ Ammachi Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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