Guest guest Posted October 23, 2005 Report Share Posted October 23, 2005 I wanted to chime in, I've read some of Ram Dass's books a while back and really enjoyed them. I don't think he has "devotees" I think he is just a teacher, not a realized mahatma like our Amma is. It's okay to read books by people and agree and disagree with their experiences and conclusions, but being a devotee is different all together, it is a life commitment and a hopefully surrendering of the ego. From what I know, Ram Dass has never asked this of others. Also, in a book I read by him he said that he did drugs before he met his guru in India who taught him that he does not need drugs to reach high levels. I really wanted to clear this up because I think there are a lot of great teachers out there that we can gain a lot from and they are not even claiming to be saints, just people. People that have learned a lot and attained a higher level and are teaching others. I really enjoy Ram Dass BE Here Now, its a beautiful book. I've had many teachers along the way and will continue to, i revere them. but I only have one Mother. Nama Shivaya Dana -- "Love and beauty are within you. Try to express them through your actions and you will definitely touch the very source of bliss." - Mata Amritanandamayi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2005 Report Share Posted October 23, 2005 Om Namah Shivaya I completely agree. I have been at the Hanuman Temple in Taos, New Mexico with Ram Dass, and I found him to be humble and sweet. He steadfastly and firmly refused to let anyone treat him as guru in any way, shape, or form. He has done a great deal to introduce authentic spirituality to Western audiences. In fact, I feel my spiritual oddysey began in earnest after I attended a Ram Dass lecture in Kansas City in the early '90s. He never claims to be an enlightened being. Our lives are filled with upa-gurus, people who point out the way or teach us a particular subject. There is only one Satguru for an aspirant: for me our beloved Amma, for others another enlightened being. As far as drugs are concerned, I gave up all intoxicants when I met Amma. However, I believe LSD gave me a taste of what spirituality might be like. I think this is true for many Westerners who have sincerely incorporated Eastern spirituality into their lives. I have no need or desire for substances now, but whether necessarily or not, they were part of the journey that brought me to Amma. Finally, criticism of others' teachers or paths is not ahimsa, in my opinion. I pray I have not offended anyone. Jai Maa! Aravind --- *dana blu* <danablu wrote: > I wanted to chime in, I've read some of Ram Dass's > books a while back > and really enjoyed them. I don't think he has > "devotees" I think he is > just a teacher, not a realized mahatma like our Amma > is. It's okay to > read books by people and agree and disagree with > their experiences and > conclusions, but being a devotee is different all > together, it is a > life commitment and a hopefully surrendering of the > ego. From what I > know, Ram Dass has never asked this of others. > Also, in a book I read > by him he said that he did drugs before he met his > guru in India who > taught him that he does not need drugs to reach high > levels. > I really wanted to clear this up because I think > there are a lot of > great teachers out there that we can gain a lot from > and they are not > even claiming to be saints, just people. People that > have learned a > lot and attained a higher level and are teaching > others. > I really enjoy Ram Dass BE Here Now, its a beautiful > book. > I've had many teachers along the way and will > continue to, i revere > them. but I only have one Mother. > > Nama Shivaya > Dana > > -- > "Love and beauty are within you. Try to express them > through your > actions and you will definitely touch the very > source of bliss." - > Mata Amritanandamayi > Start your day with - Make it your home page! http://www./r/hs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2005 Report Share Posted October 23, 2005 on 10/23/05 7:40 PM, Jami Blakeley at jami108 wrote: > > Our lives are filled with upa-gurus, people who point > out the way or teach us a particular subject. There > is only one Satguru for an aspirant: for me our > beloved Amma, for others another enlightened being. I am taking tabla lessons now from a fellow less than half my age, as is Vaju (whose house doubles as Fairfield's "ashram"). You should see the respect with which Vaju treats him. She did a little ceremony before our first lesson, refers to him as our "tabla guru," which he is, etc. And if you know Vaju, it would be hard to find a more gung ho Amma devotee. Indians are raised to treat teachers of all kinds with respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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