Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 Temba wrote: >> AMMAs son has a question.would one of his BELOVED brothers and sisters >> please be so kind to tell him what an "ADVANCED SPIRITUAL SEEKER" is? I AM >> LOVE YOU. Dearest Temba ~ I'm sure you'll get a lot of answers to this question, and it is likely everyone will have a unique view about it. A person might use this term or the way someone previously posted, "spiritually oriented." My first thought is that if the person him or herself is saying they are an "advanced spiritual seeker" or a very "spiritually oriented" person, whatever little red flag device you have in your heart should go up right up ... Warning, Will Robinson, Warning. (Sorry, if you don't get the reference its from an old tv scifi series called Lost in Space, and there was this robot which, anytime danger approached in any form, would wave its arms about, meander this way and that and say "Warning...etc.) An advanced spiritual seeker will be touched with humility so that you might even not notice him/her. But if you did, then they might be like some of the bramacharis, bramacharinis, swamis and swaminis that surround Amma. And even these people, who I see as way, way, way, way ahead of me, "running along the razor's edge," as one of the swami's book titles said, readily admit to their own shortcomings. But they do so with clarity and not as if they are bludgeoning themselves over the head with sticks. I don't think an advanced seeker would be puffed up over his/her accomplishments (i.e., can meditate for 6 hours a day; fast for a week; stand on his/her head, etc.). I am being a little tongue in cheek here, and the truth is some advanced seekers do actually do these things ... it's just that they wouldn't make a big deal about it. I always thought of my grandmother as an advanced spiritual seeker, though the term I used in my head was "Zen Master of Tuckerhill Virginia." She was small and unassuming; she lived her life simply; she prayed and went to church; she smiled a lot, even when she was doing "chores," and she taught me a lot of what I believe is character and the characteristics of a really "good" person, though she never sat me down and said, "Now, Linda, a really good person wouldn't come home with pokeberry juice all over her legs, screaming to high heaven, just to give everyone a bit of a scary tease.) (Yes, I actually did that.) She didn't know she was teaching, but she herself was the example. She was never mean spirited towards anyone, and whoever came to visit, depending on the time of day, would get invited to "sit and have some dinner with us or to "come in for a cup of tea." (In the South, back then, everybody ate dinner early in the day, and then had "supper" at dinner time. So, because my grandfather would get up at 3:00 am everyday to go fishing and crabbing, we'd all be eating our big meal of the day at 10 or 11 o'clock.) She went about her chores pleasantly, cheerfully ... you'd never think she was actually "working." And she would sit and visit with anyone and everyone who knocked on her door. She encouraged me a lot ... her way of putting it was to go "swing and sing," but she was encouraging my natural love of music. And if I actually did get hurt, like once when I was digging for potatoes at a neighbor's garden and ran right into a hornets nest, she'd sit me down and put some witch hazel (or some other tried and true home remedy); she'd empathize, but by not getting all in an uproar herself, she taught me that you could just deal with things without getting derailed emotionally by them. (Unfortunately, since I spent most of my time with my abusive father and my terrified mother, who were exampling the exact opposite ... everything was a HUGE issue ... with screaming, threats, sometimes hitting, all that craziness.) My grandmother loved birds and flowers and had the most lovely gardens around her little painted white house with its green roof. I didn't know how much I loved her until she died. I grieved for three years, I missed her so much. And for those who believe in such things, after I got through with my grieving, she used to come and visit me, usually if something unpleasant, like going to the dentist, was being done to my body. She would kind of float in the air, to the left front of my visual range, smile at me and radiate love and support and protection. I have gotten through a lot with her help, even after she crossed over. Even from the other side, she still was there for me, and ever herself, teaching patience, friendliness, tolerance, courage, and love. I don't see her anymore, so I feel she may have taken a new body, but I had many years of her spiritual presence around me, even after she left this earthly realm. I couldn't think of a better example of an "advanced spiritual seeker" than my Grandma Bertie. Jai Ma ~ Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 What a wonderful description of your Grandma, Linda. You learned many lessons from her. I also was blessed with a wonderful down-to-earth yet spiritual maternal grandmother who taught me how to pray when I was less than three years old. She also smiled when doing her chores. She seemed to love baking bread everyday and doing the wash and gardening. And I had a wonderful paternal step-grandfather who grew roses outside his little white painted house. He seemed to be "always radiant". These elders passed on so much love. And they were humble and simple. How fortunate we are (you too, Bela) for the example of these saints. On Jan 16, 2006, at 2:08 PM, nierika wrote: > > Temba wrote: > > >> AMMAs son has a question.would one of his BELOVED brothers and > sisters > >> please be so kind to tell him what an "ADVANCED SPIRITUAL SEEKER" > is? I > AM > >> LOVE YOU. > > > > > Dearest Temba ~ I'm sure you'll get a lot of answers to this > question, and > it is likely everyone will have a unique view about it. A person > might use this > term or the way someone previously posted, "spiritually oriented." My > first > thought is that if the person him or herself is saying they are an > "advanced > spiritual seeker" or a very "spiritually oriented" person, whatever > little > red flag device you have in your heart should go up right up ... > Warning, Will > Robinson, Warning. (Sorry, if you don't get the reference its from an > old tv > scifi series called Lost in Space, and there was this robot which, > anytime > danger approached in any form, would wave its arms about, meander > this way and > that and say "Warning...etc.) > > An advanced spiritual seeker will be touched with humility so that > you might > even not notice him/her. But if you did, then they might be like some > of the > bramacharis, bramacharinis, swamis and swaminis that surround Amma. > And even > these people, who I see as way, way, way, way ahead of me, "running > along the > razor's edge," as one of the swami's book titles said, readily admit > to > their own shortcomings. But they do so with clarity and not as if > they are > bludgeoning themselves over the head with sticks. I don't think an > advanced seeker > would be puffed up over his/her accomplishments (i.e., can meditate > for 6 > hours a day; fast for a week; stand on his/her head, etc.). I am > being a little > tongue in cheek here, and the truth is some advanced seekers do > actually do > these things ... it's just that they wouldn't make a big deal about > it. > > I always thought of my grandmother as an advanced spiritual seeker, > though > the term I used in my head was "Zen Master of Tuckerhill Virginia." > She was > small and unassuming; she lived her life simply; she prayed and went > to church; > she smiled a lot, even when she was doing "chores," and she taught me > a lot > of what I believe is character and the characteristics of a really > "good" > person, though she never sat me down and said, "Now, Linda, a really > good person > wouldn't come home with pokeberry juice all over her legs, screaming > to high > heaven, just to give everyone a bit of a scary tease.) (Yes, I > actually did > that.) > > She didn't know she was teaching, but she herself was the example. > She was > never mean spirited towards anyone, and whoever came to visit, > depending on the > time of day, would get invited to "sit and have some dinner with us > or to > "come in for a cup of tea." (In the South, back then, everybody ate > dinner > early in the day, and then had "supper" at dinner time. So, because > my > grandfather would get up at 3:00 am everyday to go fishing and > crabbing, we'd all be > eating our big meal of the day at 10 or 11 o'clock.) She went about > her chores > pleasantly, cheerfully ... you'd never think she was actually > "working." And > she would sit and visit with anyone and everyone who knocked on her > door. > > She encouraged me a lot ... her way of putting it was to go "swing > and > sing," but she was encouraging my natural love of music. And if I > actually did get > hurt, like once when I was digging for potatoes at a neighbor's > garden and > ran right into a hornets nest, she'd sit me down and put some witch > hazel (or > some other tried and true home remedy); she'd empathize, but by not > getting > all in an uproar herself, she taught me that you could just deal with > things > without getting derailed emotionally by them. (Unfortunately, since I > spent > most of my time with my abusive father and my terrified mother, who > were > exampling the exact opposite ... everything was a HUGE issue ... with > screaming, > threats, sometimes hitting, all that craziness.) > > My grandmother loved birds and flowers and had the most lovely > gardens > around her little painted white house with its green roof. I didn't > know how much > I loved her until she died. > I grieved for three years, I missed her so much. And for those who > believe > in such things, after I got through with my grieving, she used to > come and > visit me, usually if something unpleasant, like going to the > dentist, was being > done to my body. She would kind of float in the air, to the left > front of my > visual range, smile at me and radiate love and support and > protection. I have > gotten through a lot with her help, even after she crossed over. > Even from > the other side, she still was there for me, and ever herself, > teaching > patience, friendliness, tolerance, courage, and love. I don't see > her anymore, so I > feel she may have taken a new body, but I had many years of her > spiritual > presence around me, even after she left this earthly realm. > > I couldn't think of a better example of an "advanced spiritual > seeker" than > my Grandma Bertie. Jai Ma ~ Linda > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > > > > > ▪  Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web. >  > ▪  >  Ammachi >  > ▪  Terms of > Service. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 I was smiling so big throughout this e-mail, then especially at the bottom when you mentioned me. I was thinking throughout, how fortunate I and we all have been to have such bright and radiant grandparents in our lives! Your grandmother here sounds so much like mine. Up into her 80’s, she would still happily get up around 5 or 6AM and make tortillas by hand. She smiled as she was doing everything – chores, cooking, talking, you name it. I can only pray that each of us has the opportunity to be touched by such angels in our lives. They truly enrich us and show us what the true meanings of peace, humility, humbleness, happiness and love are, and how to live life embracing these attributes. ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:- ¸.•´ .•´¨¨)) ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::.. -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::.. "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma _____ Ammachi [Ammachi] On Behalf Of Ardis Jackson Monday, January 16, 2006 6:04 PM Ammachi Re: Re: To Temba about "advanced spiritual seeker" What a wonderful description of your Grandma, Linda. You learned many lessons from her. I also was blessed with a wonderful down-to-earth yet spiritual maternal grandmother who taught me how to pray when I was less than three years old. She also smiled when doing her chores. She seemed to love baking bread everyday and doing the wash and gardening. And I had a wonderful paternal step-grandfather who grew roses outside his little white painted house. He seemed to be "always radiant". These elders passed on so much love. And they were humble and simple. How fortunate we are (you too, Bela) for the example of these saints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 So true, so true. I remember my Grandma baking bread. She only used her hands to measure the ingredients, to mix them and to knead the dough (no measuring utensils). She acted as though the rising of the dough was a special gift from God... like the rising of the sun. She tore off pieces of dough and fried them and covered them with cinnamon sugar for her eager audience. She was a devout Roman Catholic. My mother had left the Church and became a protestant. My Grandma would take me into her bedroom to teach me to say the rosary and cross myself. She told me that my relationship with God was the most important relationship in my life. She also told me that it was secret and sacred. On Jan 16, 2006, at 5:23 PM, Bela Gaytan wrote: > I was smiling so big throughout this e-mail, then especially at the > bottom > when you mentioned me. I was thinking throughout, how fortunate I > and we > all have been to have such bright and radiant grandparents in our > lives! > Your grandmother here sounds so much like mine. Up into her 80’s, > she would > still happily get up around 5 or 6AM and make tortillas by hand. She > smiled > as she was doing everything – chores, cooking, talking, you name it. > > > > I can only pray that each of us has the opportunity to be touched by > such > angels in our lives. They truly enrich us and show us what the true > meanings of peace, humility, humbleness, happiness and love are, and > how to > live life embracing these attributes. > > > > ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:- > ¸.•´ .•´¨¨)) > ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::.. > -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•`       ..::Bela::..  > > > > "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The > heart > that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the > choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma > >  _____ > > Ammachi [Ammachi] On > Behalf Of > Ardis Jackson > Monday, January 16, 2006 6:04 PM > Ammachi > Re: Re: To Temba about "advanced spiritual seeker" > > > > What a wonderful description of your Grandma, Linda. You learned many > lessons from her. I also was blessed with a wonderful down-to-earth > yet spiritual maternal grandmother who taught me how to pray when I > was > less than three years old. She also smiled when doing her chores. > She > seemed to love baking bread everyday and doing the wash and > gardening. > And I had a wonderful paternal step-grandfather who grew roses outside > his little white painted house. He seemed to be "always radiant". > These elders passed on so much love. And they were humble and > simple. > How fortunate we are (you too, Bela) for the example of these saints. > > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > > > > > ▪  Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web. >  > ▪  >  Ammachi >  > ▪  Terms of > Service. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 How delightful! We’d always sneak in there and take one of the fresh warm tortillas, slather it with butter, roll it up and devour it like we were starving! And my grandmother was also a very devout Roman Catholic. I used to love going to midnight mass with her on holidays. What beautiful words your grandmother spoke to you…and I couldn’t agree more. ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:- ¸.•´ .•´¨¨)) ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::.. -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::.. "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma _____ Ammachi [Ammachi] On Behalf Of Ardis Jackson Monday, January 16, 2006 8:44 PM Ammachi Re: Re: To Temba about "advanced spiritual seeker" So true, so true. I remember my Grandma baking bread. She only used her hands to measure the ingredients, to mix them and to knead the dough (no measuring utensils). She acted as though the rising of the dough was a special gift from God... like the rising of the sun. She tore off pieces of dough and fried them and covered them with cinnamon sugar for her eager audience. She was a devout Roman Catholic. My mother had left the Church and became a protestant. My Grandma would take me into her bedroom to teach me to say the rosary and cross myself. She told me that my relationship with God was the most important relationship in my life. She also told me that it was secret and sacred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 Doesn't food prepared with the hands of love always taste better? When people tasted food prepared by Shree Maa, they always wondered why it tasted so much better than what they prepared at home. All that Divine Love and selfless service flavored the food. On Jan 16, 2006, at 6:03 PM, Bela Gaytan wrote: > How delightful! We’d always sneak in there and take one of the fresh > warm > tortillas, slather it with butter, roll it up and devour it like we > were > starving! And my grandmother was also a very devout Roman Catholic. > I used > to love going to midnight mass with her on holidays. > > > > What beautiful words your grandmother spoke to you…and I couldn’t > agree > more. > > > > ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:- > ¸.•´ .•´¨¨)) > ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::.. > -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•`       ..::Bela::..  > > > > "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The > heart > that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the > choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma > >  _____ > > Ammachi [Ammachi] On > Behalf Of > Ardis Jackson > Monday, January 16, 2006 8:44 PM > Ammachi > Re: Re: To Temba about "advanced spiritual seeker" > > > > So true, so true. I remember my Grandma baking bread. She only used > her hands to measure the ingredients, to mix them and to knead the > dough (no measuring utensils). She acted as though the rising of the > dough was a special gift from God... like the rising of the sun. She > tore off pieces of dough and fried them and covered them with cinnamon > sugar for her eager audience. > > She was a devout Roman Catholic. My mother had left the Church and > became a protestant. My Grandma would take me into her bedroom to > teach me to say the rosary and cross myself. She told me that my > relationship with God was the most important relationship in my life. > She also told me that it was secret and sacred. > > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > > > > > Mata amritanandamayi > > > > > > ▪  Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web. >  > ▪  >  Ammachi >  > ▪  Terms of > Service. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 Indeed! Swami Paramatmananda said this, in his first book, and I’ve always enjoyed the passage: By cooking for oneself, one gradually becomes able to ascertain which are one’s own thoughts and which are the thoughts of others. I believe the above statement not only applied to cooking for yourself, but receiving food from those that had good intentions, pure hearts, and love for you. But that’s just my interpretation of the concept. I know my grandmother’s food, no matter how simple or elaborate, always tasted so much better than most food I’ve ever eaten in my life! ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:- ¸.•´ .•´¨¨)) ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::.. -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::.. "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma _____ Ammachi [Ammachi] On Behalf Of Ardis Jackson Monday, January 16, 2006 9:12 PM Ammachi Re: Re: To Temba about "advanced spiritual seeker" Doesn't food prepared with the hands of love always taste better? When people tasted food prepared by Shree Maa, they always wondered why it tasted so much better than what they prepared at home. All that Divine Love and selfless service flavored the food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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