To George fromBala: Holy Company of Another Saint

[Guest guest]

Dear brother George,

 

Namah shivaya.

 

Indeed your hypothetical scenario is very nice.

 

Consider this hypothetical scenario.

 

This Amma devotee of yours, whose mind is not calm and who has health

problems decides to avail himself of the other saints ' holy company. Of course,

his intentions are noble and pure. He just wants his "conciousness " raised and

some peace. Of course, he does not intend to "replace" Amma in his heart or try

for a substitute.

 

This Amma devotee goes and starts visiting the other saint. At first, it is

very nice. The other saint gives good talks, and sings songs and has His/Her own

devotees who have various wonderful experiences with that saint.

 

The Amma devotee is very happy . He will get the company of this great saint

and soon he will see Amma again in november.

 

Just then, unfortunately, something happens. Unknown to this devotee, there

lurks in his subconcious mind a vasana - its called the "comparison" vasana.

This ugly demon starts rearing its head. He starts comparing his beloved Amma

with this other Guru.

 

He thinks "Oh this guru is not so great.. My Amma is greater than this one..

this Guru is nice but doesnt give darshans like Amma.." and he increases his

ego that way.....

 

Or he thinks" Oh this Guru does not have such a big following .. Amma has a

such a big following , i hardly get to talk to Her..."

 

then his subconcious mind does worse things- it thinks " Oh maybe Amma only

sent me to this Guru.. maybe I need special attention from this Guru"... then

gradually the devotee starts getting confused. Unknown to himself, owing to

this confusion , his devotion and committment to Amma is descreasing. And

suprisingly, he is not devoted to the other Guru either as the same mind which

tricked him is still with him. The mind will continue to paint scenarios, give a

million excuses- till the confused devotee misses both boats, and is left

standing on the land.

 

What do you think of this hypothetical situation?

 

bala

 

 

 

GeorgeSon <leokomor wrote:

Om Amriteswarye Namah

 

Here is a hypothethical question:

 

An ardent Amma devotee is having trouble with keeping the mind stable. Various

health problems (mental and physical) make Sadhana chaotic. Amma is in far away

India.

 

A recognized Hindu Saint is staying within driving distance. fo the Amma

devotee. The Saint offers meditation in His/Her presence and Satsang and

Prasad. The Saint is non-commercial and unquestionably pure.

 

Should the devotee avail himself of the other Saints holy company? The Amma

devotees goal is not to replace or even substitute Amma. The devotees intention

is to have his consciousness raised and attain some calming of the mind.

 

What in your opinion is appropriate in this scenario?.

 

Bala, if you dislike hypotheticals then forgive the above.

 

With Regard,

 

GeorgeSon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

 

 

 

 

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Hinduism

 

 

 

 

 

Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web.

 

Ammachi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start your day with - make it your home page

 

 

[Guest guest]

Yes! This is a definite path that this can take you too! Many could end up

this way.

 

Though I will state there is not one way for all. Everyone's path is unique and

there is no scope for comparing another's path to one's own or anyone else's or

vice versa. No one can know your Path as well, except for your Guru/your

Goddess. Now if one hasn't already taken Amma as their Guru, then that is

something else. It can be very tricky and confusing...no doubt. There is only

one Guru, one Mother, one Shakti, but it is always more beneficial to keep one's

focus singular instead of dividing it. This is how one realizes success.

 

But that being said, if there are any doubts, one should ask Amma directly. She

has shown us again and again that it is She alone who we should consult with

anything serious. She will always set us straight...though we may not like

getting disciplined. The ego doesn't like being pricked and Amma doesn't play

to the ego. Its no fun getting scolded by Amma, but it is the Greatest

Blessing! An aspiring disciple will not only open himself/herself to the Amma's

scoldings, but will actually go seek to be disciplined. I mean isn't this what

we are going to Amma or any Guru for in the first place? I have full Faith,

that if Amma wants you to go learn a particular discipline from a certain

teacher, Guru, etc, She will let you know.

 

While there might be some rare exceptions, I have personally seen Amma severely

scold several different people that went to see other Gurus and formed at least

some type of close relationship with them. Those devotees definitely became

confused about where their heart was at and Amma set them straight in a direct

and hard core way.

 

She just commented recently (I'm paraphrasing not directly quoting) about how

most people that come to see will just go and see any Guru that strolls through

town. They think they are getting great benefit, but actually what attainment

they have is getting drained. Better to dig one deep hole and form one

relationship and be committed. Most of us in the West shy away from this

concept--unfortunately for us. We in the West, (and now even growing in the

East thanks to our export of our ideas and ways of doing things), are always

looking for the "highest" or "best" Path instead of just surrendering to One

Path, One Guru, One Form, One Tradition. This has been the tradition in India

for thousands of years. Just have faith that you are lead where you need to go

and let go. You know when you have met your Guru, your True Heart's Love. Even

if it doesn't dawn at first, eventually you fall in Love and once you are in

Love, that is it.

 

Regardless of how many devotees She has currently and how many more will come in

the future, She will always be there for you when you really need Her. I have

seen this over and over again and I am sure that all of you have as well. It is

one of Her most blessed miracles that each of us has a direct relationship with

Her, especially at the Heart. There may be an organization built up around Her,

but She runs the show absolutely and She is the One we have the direct

relationship with. She is our Mother. She carried us in Her womb. She gave

birth to us. She keeps allowing us to take that next Breath. She continues to

guide us, as much as we open to Her to do this. She is our Mother. A Mother

will never abandon Her child, regardless of how many children She has.

 

Sorry to blab on so long. I've been watching/reading this thread and this just

spontaneously came out. Just some thoughts. Please forgive me for thinking I

know anything, especially when it comes to Amma.

 

Jai Maa!

-

balakrishnan Shankar

Ammachi

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 9:41 PM

Re: To George fromBala: Holy Company of Another Saint

 

 

Dear brother George,

 

Namah shivaya.

 

Indeed your hypothetical scenario is very nice.

 

Consider this hypothetical scenario.

 

This Amma devotee of yours, whose mind is not calm and who has health

problems decides to avail himself of the other saints ' holy company. Of course,

his intentions are noble and pure. He just wants his "conciousness " raised and

some peace. Of course, he does not intend to "replace" Amma in his heart or try

for a substitute.

 

This Amma devotee goes and starts visiting the other saint. At first, it is

very nice. The other saint gives good talks, and sings songs and has His/Her own

devotees who have various wonderful experiences with that saint.

 

The Amma devotee is very happy . He will get the company of this great saint

and soon he will see Amma again in november.

 

Just then, unfortunately, something happens. Unknown to this devotee, there

lurks in his subconcious mind a vasana - its called the "comparison" vasana.

This ugly demon starts rearing its head. He starts comparing his beloved Amma

with this other Guru.

 

He thinks "Oh this guru is not so great.. My Amma is greater than this one..

this Guru is nice but doesnt give darshans like Amma.." and he increases his

ego that way.....

 

Or he thinks" Oh this Guru does not have such a big following .. Amma has a

such a big following , i hardly get to talk to Her..."

 

then his subconcious mind does worse things- it thinks " Oh maybe Amma only

sent me to this Guru.. maybe I need special attention from this Guru"... then

gradually the devotee starts getting confused. Unknown to himself, owing to

this confusion , his devotion and committment to Amma is descreasing. And

suprisingly, he is not devoted to the other Guru either as the same mind which

tricked him is still with him. The mind will continue to paint scenarios, give a

million excuses- till the confused devotee misses both boats, and is left

standing on the land.

 

What do you think of this hypothetical situation?

 

bala

 

 

 

GeorgeSon <leokomor wrote:

Om Amriteswarye Namah

 

Here is a hypothethical question:

 

An ardent Amma devotee is having trouble with keeping the mind stable.

Various health problems (mental and physical) make Sadhana chaotic. Amma is in

far away India.

 

A recognized Hindu Saint is staying within driving distance. fo the Amma

devotee. The Saint offers meditation in His/Her presence and Satsang and

Prasad. The Saint is non-commercial and unquestionably pure.

 

Should the devotee avail himself of the other Saints holy company? The Amma

devotees goal is not to replace or even substitute Amma. The devotees intention

is to have his consciousness raised and attain some calming of the mind.

 

What in your opinion is appropriate in this scenario?.

 

Bala, if you dislike hypotheticals then forgive the above.

 

With Regard,

 

GeorgeSon

 

 

 

 

 

Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

 

 

 

Beliefs of hinduism Different religions beliefs Hinduism religion Ammachi

Hinduism

 

 

 

Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web.

 

Ammachi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start your day with - make it your home page

 

 

 

 

Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

 

 

 

Beliefs of hinduism Different religions beliefs Hinduism

religion

Ammachi Hinduism

 

 

 

 

a.. Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web.

 

b..

Ammachi

 

c..