Guest guest Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Last night Swami Ramakrishnananda and Br. Dayamrita Chaitanya gathered us together on the west side of Manhattan for a beautiful puja, chanting Amma's 108 names, satsang, bhajans, meditation, and socializing. The program was announced with very short notice, and we were glad to see so many people who had recently been out to San Ramon and/or hear about the Michigan programs. Amma's Swamis are in town (did I really just call NYC a town? yes I did...) to convey the M.A. Center's Hurricane Katrina donation through to its victims via another foundation. Ramakrishnaswami's presence seemed very... velvet-ethereal-glowing-radiance. ("Do tapas to eliminate the ego and one shines like the sun," says Amma.) Swami mentioned that on days that Amma does not give Darshan She feels very badly - saying things like, "What have I done for the world today?" Unlike us, who might on "a day off" decide to take a longer nap or eat bigger meals, Amma will not eat anything. He also told a story, I think from summer tour, of an incident that drew Amma's compassion and grace. A child had vomited in the queue for darshan and he and his mother got up quickly and left the hall so his illness wouldn't bother others. The people in darshan line were reacting in different ways to the vomit, wrinkling their noses with aversion etc., but holding their ground and moving up towards their motherly hugs. Except for one boy who got to the soiled place and then stood up, left the line, went to get a bucket and cloth, and cleaned up the other child's sickness. This all happened right in front of Amma, although She didn't seem to take notice at the time. That night the "ad hoc janitor's" face kept coming to Mother's mind and She mentioned to others that She wondered why. Then She looked into Her own mind and saw his selfless action and was so happy to find one of Her children more concerned about his brothers and sisters' comfort than his own position. Swami also spoke about the blessing of having a human birth - and that having reached a Master like Amma we are 50% of the way there on a spiritual journey. There were three points on this part of his talk, and we seem to have only "downloaded" memories of two of them. 1) We are blessed to be alive (no matter the challenges or sufferings of this particular incarnation). 2) We are blessed to know we are Amma's children. and 3).... (others who were there fill in the blank? Jeff is laughing beside me because he thought it was the most important thing he'd ever heard in his life and now he can't remember what was said!) It was a nice night, full of Amma's grace and some major rallying efforts by local NYC organizers. love, Prashanti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Dear Prashanti, thank you! I've been ill with bronchitis and breathing difficulties, so I was feeling really down about not being able to go...and you gave me a lovely taste! =) Blessings, Iswari Ammachi, Rachel Barrett Gallop <hipstorian@g...> wrote: > > Last night Swami Ramakrishnananda and Br. Dayamrita Chaitanya gathered us > together on the west side of Manhattan for a beautiful puja, chanting Amma's > 108 names, satsang, bhajans, meditation, and socializing. The program was > announced with very short notice, and we were glad to see so many people who > had recently been out to San Ramon and/or hear about the Michigan programs. > > > Amma's Swamis are in town (did I really just call NYC a town? yes I did...) > to convey the M.A. Center's Hurricane Katrina donation through to its > victims via another foundation. Ramakrishnaswami's presence seemed very... > velvet-ethereal-glowing-radiance. > > ("Do tapas to eliminate the ego and one shines like the sun," says Amma.) > > Swami mentioned that on days that Amma does not give Darshan She feels very > badly - saying things like, "What have I done for the world today?" Unlike > us, who might on "a day off" decide to take a longer nap or eat bigger > meals, Amma will not eat anything. > > He also told a story, I think from summer tour, of an incident that drew > Amma's compassion and grace. A child had vomited in the queue for darshan > and he and his mother got up quickly and left the hall so his illness > wouldn't bother others. The people in darshan line were reacting in > different ways to the vomit, wrinkling their noses with aversion etc., but > holding their ground and moving up towards their motherly hugs. Except for > one boy who got to the soiled place and then stood up, left the line, went > to get a bucket and cloth, and cleaned up the other child's sickness. This > all happened right in front of Amma, although She didn't seem to take notice > at the time. That night the "ad hoc janitor's" face kept coming to Mother's > mind and She mentioned to others that She wondered why. Then She looked > into Her own mind and saw his selfless action and was so happy to find one > of Her children more concerned about his brothers and sisters' comfort than > his own position. > > Swami also spoke about the blessing of having a human birth - and that > having reached a Master like Amma we are 50% of the way there on a spiritual > journey. There were three points on this part of his talk, and we seem to > have only "downloaded" memories of two of them. 1) We are blessed to be > alive (no matter the challenges or sufferings of this particular > incarnation). 2) We are blessed to know we are Amma's children. and > 3).... (others who were there fill in the blank? Jeff is laughing beside me > because he thought it was the most important thing he'd ever heard in his > life and now he can't remember what was said!) > > It was a nice night, full of Amma's grace and some major rallying efforts by > local NYC organizers. > > love, Prashanti > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2005 Report Share Posted December 10, 2005 Dear Jill, please see http://www.ammany.org for more info about NY satsangs. We have a number of satsangs in the metro area and a monthly "Mother's Kitchen," as well as shorter-term seva opportunities for various events during the year, including the tour. Please email me privately if you'd like more information or just to introduce yourself. (And welcome to NYC! =) Namah Sivaya, Iswari Ammachi, Jill Mijanovic <jmijanovic> wrote: > > Om Namah Sivaya! > > I just moved to New York City from southern > California. > > Can someone please send me info on the local satsangs, > seva, etc. > > Thanks! > > In Amma, > > Jill Mijanovic > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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