Introduction and a queston

February 16, 2006

Om Namah Sivaya,

Hello all,

I am writing this as a way of introducing myself to the list. Ny name

is Mike and I live near Yosemite in central California.

I am very new to Amma, having met her last November when I attended

the Retreat in San Ramon. I haven't "come down" from that experience

yet, and I am praying that I never will.

My daughter, Misha, and her husband, Mahesvara, have been devotees for

a couple of years and I learned of Amma from them. They left in

August to spend 6 months in Amritapuri and just returned a week ago

and are planning to return permanently when they get some things done

here.

I also attended the New Year's Retreat at MA Center and we are all

going to the Mid-Winter Retreat this coming weekend.

Now to my question:

Is there a resource available where I can learn the "etiquette" of

attending events in the Temple? Being new to all this, I want to not

"offend" anyone by my behavior there. I am, by nature, a very quiet

and observant being, and spent a lot of time puzzling out the various

things that I observed devotees doing in the temple while attending

the events there. I saw at least 3 forms of prostration, different

observances while entering the temple, different rituals performed

while approching the altar, etc. and wondered if there is anything out

there i can read that would educate me?

I am not too worried about not doing the most proper practice, because

I know that Amma knows my heart and loves me no matter what I do, but

I would like to honor her properly and would apppreciate knowing how

to do this.

If anyone could help with this, I would appreciate it greatly.

Thank you all,

Mike

February 17, 2006

Dear Dusty,

Namah Shivaya,

After meeting Amma over 3 years ago, I don't know much of the etiquette, either.

But, here is a little that I've picked up. First & foremost, as you must know,

it's what's in our hearts that matters above all else. After that, it's said to

be disrespectful to let the soles of our feet point towards Amma. Someone

please correct me if this is wrong, but I think we should hand things to people

with our right hands. For putting ash on your head at the end of satsangs, the

right hand's ring finger is said to have the best, or least worldly vibration.

Through making mistakes, I learned that we're not supposed to intentionally

sniff the fragrance of flowers that either have bee, or are to be offered to

Amma. Also, once when I was blowing out a flame used for lighting puja candles,

it was made clear that I should've extinguished the flame by waving it. I've

heard that we should sit at a lower level than our Guru, but that's not always a

practicality in the temple.

Sweta

Dusty Gain <dustygain wrote: Om Namah Sivaya,