To manoj and joanna about moving on to a new guru (was Mantras+Stotras)

[Guest guest]

manoj wrote (to joanna about requesting a mantra from Amma):

 

If you already have one, then the general suggestion is to stick to

it because at the time of initiation, a powerful bond has been

created, and your repetitions have deepened the bond further. Taking

another mantra (especially from another guru) may require more

effort to un-bond the old and bond the new before the mantra

starts 'singing'. not a very productive strategy as you can

see. .... but you never know, talk to Amma and explain all of this

to her and see what she says. Grace can free up a lot of the past.

 

if you don't already have one from Karunamayi (viz she promised to

give a mantra but has not yet delivered because of lack of time

etc), then I guess it's not a harm to get a mantra from Amma.

 

 

 

Dear manoj and joanna ~ I have never heard that, having received a mantra

from one guru, that following one's heart that leads you to another guru would

preclude you from asking that guru for a mantra. Even if Karunamayi gave you

(joanna) a mantra, I don't believe that precludes you asking for one from

Amma, particularly if your heart feels clear that your guru is now Amma. You

might want to discuss this with whatever Swami or Swamini is in charge of the

mantra line.

 

I will resort to a concept that I learned from Swami Satyananda Saraswati. I

was fortunate to see Swamiji and Shree Maa on their last (and maybe final) US

tour. I watched them perform a wonderful yagya (fire ceremony) and the bank

of a river in Colorado and then I was fortunate to, a few weeks later, attend

a several days retreat in Issaqua, Washington. During a lecture, Swami

discussed a concept called the "upa guru." Since this process has an actual

name,

and I trust Swamiji implicitely, I believe this concept to be rooted in Hindu

tradition. Even Swamiji had several gurus before he met Shree Maa.

 

The "upa guru" is the one who gives you the knowledge up to a certain point

where you are then drawn to another guru. The "upa guru" leads you to your

next guru, and maybe to the next and so on. Swamiji likened this to being in

school. He said, "the best gift you can give your first grade teacher is to

pass

first grade and go to second grade; the best gift you can give your second

grade teacher is to pass and move on to third grade. At some point you will

discover your lifelong guru, who is also an "upa guru" because (S)He leads you

to the Supreme Guru.

 

I would request that anyone inclined please resist the desire to criticize

Swamiji or Shree Maa. If there is a need to criticize someone, then criticize

me ... please.

 

Jai Ma ~ Linda