Guest guest Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 Thanks, Ishwari. Your point is well taken. When I ws doing my studies of Sanskrit and Vedanta in the late 70's, by the end of hte ocurse, evrybody ws chattering away in Sanskrit, quoting back and forth at each other. I remember that I vowed not to use any Sanskrit and did not for the firt 7 years I taught. This was partlly a test for myself also to see if I understood what I hade been taught well enough to communicate it in plain English. Maybe the gathered quotations could be spirit links for the letter writer, ways to link up and tune in, rather than things actually used in the letters. Sometimes people need a window through their own emotional reaction so that they can reach out. Maybe they are more for the letter writers rather than the letters. I expect that a lot of recipients are pretty angry at God right now, even before being angry at the government. Anybody out there ever been really angry at God, or angry at Amma. Aikya Ammachi, "ammasiswari" <ammasiswari> wrote: > Dear ones, these Amma lists have been so thought-provoking of late! One thing I couldn't > help being reminded of with this call for scriptural verses is my training in ecumenical > hospital chaplaincy. Personally, while I love sharing with others verses that have moved > me, it's never really been my inclination to do that with people I don't know during their > times of crisis -- especially if I don't know where they are, emotionally and spiritually. The > right verse at the right time can be deeply, powerfully uplifting. The wrong verse at the > wrong time (or even the right verse at the wrong time!) can be profoundly alienating. The > danger, especially at a time where even religious people might be having issues with God, > is that quoting verses in this way can come across as preachy or pat, even when it's not > meant as such. I remember watching the clergy and seminarians in my chaplaincy training > group having to unlearn this tendency to offer such verses as comfort and learn how to > simply be with people where they are in their suffering, to be a compassionate witness and > to let the love of God as promised in these verses simply flow through that connection. > This isn't to say that it's an inherently bad idea to send/include scriptural verses to Katrina > survivors (some may, indeed, really value that), but it is something for considerati Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2005 Report Share Posted September 19, 2005 Dear Aikya, that is a beautiful idea. I just had an idea and was wondering...would it be possible to get a copy of the CoL's Katrina letter-writing guidelines and how to proceed to make available at satsangs (in NYC, we usually have a table with flyers, donation basket). There are probably people at satsangs who have never heard of CoL or who have heard of it and didn't feel interested in the past but may be interested now, due to Katrina. Maybe if we had all the information right there, people might be more motivated to participate? Let me know what you think (feel free to reply privately, if you prefer). Blessings, Iswari Ammachi, "Aikya Param" <aikya> wrote: > Maybe the gathered quotations could be spirit links for the letter > writer, ways to link up and tune in, rather than things actually used > in the letters. Sometimes people need a window through their own > emotional reaction so that they can reach out. Maybe they are more > for the letter writers rather than the letters. > > I expect that a lot of recipients are pretty angry at God right now, > even before being angry at the government. Anybody out there ever > been really angry at God, or angry at Amma. > > Aikya > > Ammachi, "ammasiswari" <ammasiswari> > wrote: > > Dear ones, these Amma lists have been so thought-provoking of late! > One thing I couldn't > > help being reminded of with this call for scriptural verses is my > training in ecumenical > > hospital chaplaincy. Personally, while I love sharing with others > verses that have moved > > me, it's never really been my inclination to do that with people I > don't know during their > > times of crisis -- especially if I don't know where they are, > emotionally and spiritually. The > > right verse at the right time can be deeply, powerfully uplifting. > The wrong verse at the > > wrong time (or even the right verse at the wrong time!) can be > profoundly alienating. The > > danger, especially at a time where even religious people might be > having issues with God, > > is that quoting verses in this way can come across as preachy or > pat, even when it's not > > meant as such. I remember watching the clergy and seminarians in my > chaplaincy training > > group having to unlearn this tendency to offer such verses as > comfort and learn how to > > simply be with people where they are in their suffering, to be a > compassionate witness and > > to let the love of God as promised in these verses simply flow > through that connection. > > This isn't to say that it's an inherently bad idea to send/include > scriptural verses to Katrina > > survivors (some may, indeed, really value that), but it is something > for considerati Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 I know I am a bit late in chiming in here, but one thing I remember from a counseling class that always stayed with me is that what a person in crisis needs is emotional first aid. It really helps to just "be there" for the person. They have to go through what they are going through and will move on at their own pace. In my work as a speech and language therapist I found that people need affirmation, to know that they are OK with where they are. It is the job of the counselor, or any therapist for that matter, to meet the person where they are and go from there. And YES, I've been mad at God, and every spiritual person I've known well has been at one time or another. If the ultimate relationship in this life is with God, then there is bound to be some anger, unless the person is truly surrendered, and I have the utmost respect for such people. The last thing I've needed in a time of struggle is an empty scriptural quote. It might shut me up.....but it doesn't help my heart or my soul. Then there are times when spiritual wisdom is greatly appreciated. I guess knowing when to offer it comes from getting to really know where the other person is coming from and what they need - that's the hard part. If the darn ego would go away it would be much easier! Oh, to be an empty pot, a hollow bamboo. Jai Ma! Prasadini Aikya Param wrote: > Thanks, Ishwari. Your point is well taken. When I ws doing my > studies of Sanskrit and Vedanta in the late 70's, by the end of hte > ocurse, evrybody ws chattering away in Sanskrit, quoting back and > forth at each other. I remember that I vowed not to use any Sanskrit > and did not for the firt 7 years I taught. This was partlly a test > for myself also to see if I understood what I hade been taught well > enough to communicate it in plain English. > > Maybe the gathered quotations could be spirit links for the letter > writer, ways to link up and tune in, rather than things actually used > in the letters. Sometimes people need a window through their own > emotional reaction so that they can reach out. Maybe they are more > for the letter writers rather than the letters. > > I expect that a lot of recipients are pretty angry at God right now, > even before being angry at the government. Anybody out there ever > been really angry at God, or angry at Amma. > > Aikya > > Ammachi, "ammasiswari" <ammasiswari> > wrote: > > Dear ones, these Amma lists have been so thought-provoking of late! > One thing I couldn't > > help being reminded of with this call for scriptural verses is my > training in ecumenical > > hospital chaplaincy. Personally, while I love sharing with others > verses that have moved > > me, it's never really been my inclination to do that with people I > don't know during their > > times of crisis -- especially if I don't know where they are, > emotionally and spiritually. The > > right verse at the right time can be deeply, powerfully uplifting. > The wrong verse at the > > wrong time (or even the right verse at the wrong time!) can be > profoundly alienating. The > > danger, especially at a time where even religious people might be > having issues with God, > > is that quoting verses in this way can come across as preachy or > pat, even when it's not > > meant as such. I remember watching the clergy and seminarians in my > chaplaincy training > > group having to unlearn this tendency to offer such verses as > comfort and learn how to > > simply be with people where they are in their suffering, to be a > compassionate witness and > > to let the love of God as promised in these verses simply flow > through that connection. > > This isn't to say that it's an inherently bad idea to send/include > scriptural verses to Katrina > > survivors (some may, indeed, really value that), but it is something > for considerati > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > > > Mata amritanandamayi > </gads?t=ms&k=Mata+amritanandamayi&w1=Mata+amritanandamay\ i&c=1&s=26&.sig=DYRmPW4tjbUZrNprNMY6xw> > > > > ------ > > > * Visit your group "Ammachi > <Ammachi>" on the web. > > * > Ammachi > <Ammachi?subject=Un> > > * Terms of > Service <>. > > > ------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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