Guest guest Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Hi Surya, I am not sure most Westerners think once we have a spiritual life that we it's a bed of roses or easy street (wouldn't that be nice?!!) I think many of us Westerners may hold the belief that having faith, having a spiritual life,- will help us with the many difficulties we face and handle it all with equanimity. At least when I was raised with my Catholic faith attending parochial schools, I learned of so many saints who were tortured, killed, etc. and whose lives were anything but easy. I think spirituality simply helps to culture the mind, quiet the mind, to allow who we really "are" to begin to manifest. Then these other "things" no longer have their hold on us-no matter how difficult. > Most of us Westerners have this wrongful preconception that once we awake to the Spiritual Path, it is all comfort and roses after that point. We mostly get this from the books on Indian spirituality that have been published in the country for the last 100 yrs or so. These really only typically depict one small side/part/flavor of Indian Spiritual Traditions and what happens in Them. The Truth is generally far from this. Just look at the lives of any Saint, especially Amma, and we can see how much hardship surfaces and must be endured and overcome. > > Jai Maa! > > Surya > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Namah Shivaya Adriene, It's interesting how different religious backgrounds are so different in many ways, even though the basic message is the same. I was raised as a liberal protestant, so we didn't have saints, and the suffering or hardship aspects of spirituality were never discussed. The crucifix did not exist - just an empty cross to focus on the living Christ, not the crucifixion. The suffering of Christ was not emphasized. So I just pictured myself skipping down the spiritual path with nary a scratch, all would be done for me and life would be a breeze. Comfort and roses! Jai Ma! Prasadini Ammachi, "Adriane" <a1driane wrote: > > Hi Surya, > I am not sure most Westerners think once we have a spiritual life that > we it's a bed of roses or easy street (wouldn't that be nice?!!) > > I think many of us Westerners may hold the belief that having faith, > having a spiritual life,- will help us with the many difficulties we > face and handle it all with equanimity. At least when I was raised > with my Catholic faith attending parochial schools, I learned of so > many saints who were tortured, killed, etc. and whose lives were > anything but easy. > > I think spirituality simply helps to culture the mind, quiet the mind, > to allow who we really "are" to begin to manifest. Then these > other "things" no longer have their hold on us-no matter how difficult. > > > Most of us Westerners have this wrongful preconception that once we > awake to the Spiritual Path, it is all comfort and roses after that > point. We mostly get this from the books on Indian spirituality that > have been published in the country for the last 100 yrs or so. These > really only typically depict one small side/part/flavor of Indian > Spiritual Traditions and what happens in Them. The Truth is generally > far from this. Just look at the lives of any Saint, especially Amma, > and we can see how much hardship surfaces and must be endured and > overcome. > > > > Jai Maa! > > > > Surya > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Namaste Prasadini & Adriane: This IS interesting. I was also raised Catholic, where suffering is created and condoned as THE way of life, a mistaken fixation on pain when the crucifixion was to show humankind that the spirit is greater than the body, that a higher principle or power was what to live for, even if others would put you to death over it (if you go wtih the Gnostics, including the new Gospel of Judas, if anyone has read about that yet - scholarly-verified finding, a gospel in which Jesus asked Judas to turn him in, saying Judas exceeded the other disciples in understanding his teachings, and that Judas was releasing Jesus from the clothing of his body). Many people, East and West, latched onto the wrong idea there with the glorification of the pain part, so I'm not so sure your Protestant upbringing wasn't on stronger spiritual ground, though possibly without guidelines which we all wish came to us at birth! By the same token, I have actually said to myself recently, when an undertaking I began in my work was very well-received, "Oh, just because someone said something so positive did not mean this was going to be a bed of roses!" I had not anticipated the bumps in the road along the way, but I think this is more a matter of learning from life experience, and learning, as Adriane said, to handle all with equanimity. Ammachi, "rosebud1082001" <ganesh1008 wrote: > > Namah Shivaya Adriene, > It's interesting how different religious backgrounds are so different > in many ways, even though the basic message is the same. I was raised > as a liberal protestant, so we didn't have saints, and the suffering > or hardship aspects of spirituality were never discussed. The crucifix > did not exist - just an empty cross to focus on the living Christ, not > the crucifixion. The suffering of Christ was not emphasized. So I > just pictured myself skipping down the spiritual path with nary a > scratch, all would be done for me and life would be a breeze. Comfort > and roses! > Jai Ma! > Prasadini > > > Ammachi, "Adriane" <a1driane@> wrote: > > > > Hi Surya, > > I am not sure most Westerners think once we have a spiritual life that > > we it's a bed of roses or easy street (wouldn't that be nice?!!) > > > > I think many of us Westerners may hold the belief that having faith, > > having a spiritual life,- will help us with the many difficulties we > > face and handle it all with equanimity. At least when I was raised > > with my Catholic faith attending parochial schools, I learned of so > > many saints who were tortured, killed, etc. and whose lives were > > anything but easy. > > > > I think spirituality simply helps to culture the mind, quiet the mind, > > to allow who we really "are" to begin to manifest. Then these > > other "things" no longer have their hold on us-no matter how difficult. > > > > > Most of us Westerners have this wrongful preconception that once we > > awake to the Spiritual Path, it is all comfort and roses after that > > point. We mostly get this from the books on Indian spirituality that > > have been published in the country for the last 100 yrs or so. These > > really only typically depict one small side/part/flavor of Indian > > Spiritual Traditions and what happens in Them. The Truth is generally > > far from this. Just look at the lives of any Saint, especially Amma, > > and we can see how much hardship surfaces and must be endured and > > overcome. > > > > > > Jai Maa! > > > > > > Surya > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Dear Mary Ann, My husband is a fairly traditional Catholic, and I'm pretty sure he would not agree that the focus should be on pain, but on the supreme sacrifice Jesus made out of his love for us (not that his pain is irrelevant, but just that it's not the main point of the crucifixion). Iswari Ammachi, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61 wrote: > created and condoned as THE way of life, a mistaken fixation on pain > when the crucifixion was to show humankind that the spirit is > greater than the body, that a higher principle or power was what to > live for, even if others would put you to death over it ... > Many people, East and West, latched onto the wrong idea there with > the glorification of the pain part Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Hi Iswari, But Jesus didn't make a profound sacrifice for us. He made a profound point that Love and Compassion are above all, that kindness is the first order of business, and that we should live according to the truth of Love and Compassion as the highest principles, even if faced with death. I don't know whether your husband would agree with this or not, but it's my view after being raised Catholic and searching for meaning in my own life. Recently I read a book called The Powers That Be by Walter Wink, and it has helped me to understand Jesus' teachings as I have articulated above. Although I have known the focus of Catholicism in my upbringing definitely created pain and counseled continuing endurance of pain, Walter Wink's view on Jesus' teachings are a wonderful heart-opening experience. I understand Amma's teachings better after reading The Powers That Be. I doubt whether my understanding will jibe with your husband's if he is still a traditional Catholic. Ammachi, "ammasiswari" <ammasiswari wrote: > > Dear Mary Ann, > > My husband is a fairly traditional Catholic, and I'm pretty sure he would not agree that the > focus should be on pain, but on the supreme sacrifice Jesus made out of his love for us > (not that his pain is irrelevant, but just that it's not the main point of the crucifixion). > > Iswari > > > Ammachi, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61@> wrote: > > > created and condoned as THE way of life, a mistaken fixation on pain > > when the crucifixion was to show humankind that the spirit is > > greater than the body, that a higher principle or power was what to > > live for, even if others would put you to death over it ... > > Many people, East and West, latched onto the wrong idea there with > > the glorification of the pain part > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 I also want to say, however, that I know there are Catholics who work in South America and other dangerous places who help the poor and hide political prisoners and do risk their lives, as Jesus did, for what they believe is right - not "right" so that they would take up arms and kill, but right so that they would in fact risk their lives to help people in need. I'm sharing my experience of having grown up in an Ohio suburb where I was told in CCD class (what Saturday Catholic class was called in my neighborhood) that if I wanted to go to the dance on Saturday and my father said no, God said no. It wasn't about developing love and understanding and mutual respect, just asserting basic power-over stuff no matter what. Lots of abuse, just like what has come forward in the media about priests. Such abuse was allowed to take place in families, too, people looked the other way, couples were counseled to stay together, birth control is against the rules, etc. This is what I mean by creating pain and counseling endurance, and using guilt by saying Jesus sacrificed his life for us so hang in there, baby! Ammachi, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61 wrote: > > Hi Iswari, > > But Jesus didn't make a profound sacrifice for us. He made a > profound point that Love and Compassion are above all, that kindness > is the first order of business, and that we should live according to > the truth of Love and Compassion as the highest principles, even if > faced with death. I don't know whether your husband would agree with > this or not, but it's my view after being raised Catholic and > searching for meaning in my own life. > > Recently I read a book called The Powers That Be by Walter Wink, and > it has helped me to understand Jesus' teachings as I have > articulated above. Although I have known the focus of Catholicism in > my upbringing definitely created pain and counseled continuing > endurance of pain, Walter Wink's view on Jesus' teachings are a > wonderful heart-opening experience. I understand Amma's teachings > better after reading The Powers That Be. I doubt whether my > understanding will jibe with your husband's if he is still a > traditional Catholic. > > > Ammachi, "ammasiswari" <ammasiswari@> > wrote: > > > > Dear Mary Ann, > > > > My husband is a fairly traditional Catholic, and I'm pretty sure > he would not agree that the > > focus should be on pain, but on the supreme sacrifice Jesus made > out of his love for us > > (not that his pain is irrelevant, but just that it's not the main > point of the crucifixion). > > > > Iswari > > > > > > Ammachi, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61@> wrote: > > > > > created and condoned as THE way of life, a mistaken fixation on > pain > > > when the crucifixion was to show humankind that the spirit is > > > greater than the body, that a higher principle or power was what > to > > > live for, even if others would put you to death over it ... > > > Many people, East and West, latched onto the wrong idea there > with > > > the glorification of the pain part > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Probably he would partially, but not completely, agree. As for me...I don't feel qualified to say what Jesus was or wasn't doing (especially not being a Christian!). I'm not sure that there is some objectively knowable answer, but there is certainly subjective meaning. =) Blessings, Iswari Ammachi, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61 wrote: > > Hi Iswari, > > But Jesus didn't make a profound sacrifice for us. He made a > profound point that Love and Compassion are above all, that kindness > is the first order of business, and that we should live according to > the truth of Love and Compassion as the highest principles, even if > faced with death. I don't know whether your husband would agree with > this or not, but it's my view after being raised Catholic and > searching for meaning in my own life. > > Recently I read a book called The Powers That Be by Walter Wink, and > it has helped me to understand Jesus' teachings as I have > articulated above. Although I have known the focus of Catholicism in > my upbringing definitely created pain and counseled continuing > endurance of pain, Walter Wink's view on Jesus' teachings are a > wonderful heart-opening experience. I understand Amma's teachings > better after reading The Powers That Be. I doubt whether my > understanding will jibe with your husband's if he is still a > traditional Catholic. > > > Ammachi, "ammasiswari" <ammasiswari@> > wrote: > > > > Dear Mary Ann, > > > > My husband is a fairly traditional Catholic, and I'm pretty sure > he would not agree that the > > focus should be on pain, but on the supreme sacrifice Jesus made > out of his love for us > > (not that his pain is irrelevant, but just that it's not the main > point of the crucifixion). > > > > Iswari > > > > > > Ammachi, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61@> wrote: > > > > > created and condoned as THE way of life, a mistaken fixation on > pain > > > when the crucifixion was to show humankind that the spirit is > > > greater than the body, that a higher principle or power was what > to > > > live for, even if others would put you to death over it ... > > > Many people, East and West, latched onto the wrong idea there > with > > > the glorification of the pain part > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 My husband became a Catholic as an adult, so he was fortunate to have missed out on what you describe experiencing (power, guilt-tripping) while growing up in the church. In the same way, I have much more baggage with Judaism than does someone who came to it as an adult, as my Indian friend has way more baggage with Hinduism than I do! Blessings, Iswari Ammachi, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61 wrote: > I'm sharing my experience of having grown up in an Ohio suburb where > I was told in CCD class (what Saturday Catholic class was called in > my neighborhood) that if I wanted to go to the dance on Saturday and > my father said no, God said no. It wasn't about developing love and > understanding and mutual respect, just asserting basic power-over > stuff no matter what. Lots of abuse, just like what has come forward > in the media about priests. Such abuse was allowed to take place in > families, too, people looked the other way, couples were counseled > to stay together, birth control is against the rules, etc. This is > what I mean by creating pain and counseling endurance, and using > guilt by saying Jesus sacrificed his life for us so hang in there, > baby! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Hello buttercookie (love that email address since I cook) I did not feel that Catholicism taught pain to be a preferred way of life or condoned. I went to parochial schools for 10 yrs and considered becoming a nun when quite young. My brother went to the seminary for a couple of years. The lessons that I remember the most were those of Christ's life-love your brother as yourself. The greatest of these is "LOVE" ...Also helping the poor and giving until it hurts (getting rid of material things-we always gave up money for the poor in mission drives) were some of the greatest lessons that brought me to where I am today. It's true that Christ suffered. And in the early years, monks and such wore mohair, scratchy shirts for penance for their sins. Fasting was also advocated. So I cannot agree that suffering was necessarily encouraged though there is some of that present. I guess that is not the part that I found stressed to me as a child. More to the point, we were taught to think more about others than ourselves. As far as suffering, we were also taught that suffering can be a part of life (isn't that true?!) but that God is always with us. These are the things I recall most, -if this sheds any light on it.. Ammachi, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61 wrote: > > Namaste Prasadini & Adriane: > > This IS interesting. I was also raised Catholic, where suffering is > created and condoned as THE way of life, a mistaken fixation on pain > when the crucifixion was to show humankind that the spirit is > greater than the body, that a higher principle or power was what to > live for, even if others would put you to death over it (if you go > wtih the Gnostics, including the new Gospel of Judas, if anyone has > read about that yet - scholarly-verified finding, a gospel in which > Jesus asked Judas to turn him in, saying Judas exceeded the other > disciples in understanding his teachings, and that Judas was > releasing Jesus from the clothing of his body). > > Many people, East and West, latched onto the wrong idea there with > the glorification of the pain part, so I'm not so sure your > Protestant upbringing wasn't on stronger spiritual ground, though > possibly without guidelines which we all wish came to us at birth! > By the same token, I have actually said to myself recently, when an > undertaking I began in my work was very well-received, "Oh, just > because someone said something so positive did not mean this was > going to be a bed of roses!" I had not anticipated the bumps in the > road along the way, but I think this is more a matter of learning > from life experience, and learning, as Adriane said, to handle all > with equanimity. > > Ammachi, "rosebud1082001" <ganesh1008@> > wrote: > > > > Namah Shivaya Adriene, > > It's interesting how different religious backgrounds are so > different > > in many ways, even though the basic message is the same. I was > raised > > as a liberal protestant, so we didn't have saints, and the > suffering > > or hardship aspects of spirituality were never discussed. The > crucifix > > did not exist - just an empty cross to focus on the living Christ, > not > > the crucifixion. The suffering of Christ was not emphasized. So I > > just pictured myself skipping down the spiritual path with nary a > > scratch, all would be done for me and life would be a breeze. > Comfort > > and roses! > > Jai Ma! > > Prasadini > > > > > > Ammachi, "Adriane" <a1driane@> wrote: > > > > > > Hi Surya, > > > I am not sure most Westerners think once we have a spiritual > life that > > > we it's a bed of roses or easy street (wouldn't that be nice?!!) > > > > > > I think many of us Westerners may hold the belief that having > faith, > > > having a spiritual life,- will help us with the many > difficulties we > > > face and handle it all with equanimity. At least when I was > raised > > > with my Catholic faith attending parochial schools, I learned of > so > > > many saints who were tortured, killed, etc. and whose lives were > > > anything but easy. > > > > > > I think spirituality simply helps to culture the mind, quiet the > mind, > > > to allow who we really "are" to begin to manifest. Then these > > > other "things" no longer have their hold on us-no matter how > difficult. > > > > > > > Most of us Westerners have this wrongful preconception that > once we > > > awake to the Spiritual Path, it is all comfort and roses after > that > > > point. We mostly get this from the books on Indian spirituality > that > > > have been published in the country for the last 100 yrs or so. > These > > > really only typically depict one small side/part/flavor of > Indian > > > Spiritual Traditions and what happens in Them. The Truth is > generally > > > far from this. Just look at the lives of any Saint, especially > Amma, > > > and we can see how much hardship surfaces and must be endured > and > > > overcome. > > > > > > > > Jai Maa! > > > > > > > > Surya > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 I didn't go to parochial schools, and am speaking from what I learned in my parents' home, as well as at CCD class and church. I did not hear the message of love growing up. It took me a long, long time to hear it, and a lot of intention and endeavor. I'm glad to know that there were other kinds of experiences of Catholicism than mine. Ammachi, "Adriane" <a1driane wrote: > > Hello buttercookie (love that email address since I cook) > I did not feel that Catholicism taught pain to be a preferred way of > life or condoned. I went to parochial schools for 10 yrs and > considered becoming a nun when quite young. My brother went to the > seminary for a couple of years. The lessons that I remember the most > were those of Christ's life-love your brother as yourself. The > greatest of these is "LOVE" ...Also helping the poor and giving > until it hurts (getting rid of material things-we always gave up > money for the poor in mission drives) were some of the greatest > lessons that brought me to where I am today. It's true that Christ > suffered. And in the early years, monks and such wore mohair, > scratchy shirts for penance for their sins. Fasting was also > advocated. So I cannot agree that suffering was necessarily > encouraged though there is some of that present. I guess that is not > the part that I found stressed to me as a child. More to the point, > we were taught to think more about others than ourselves. As far as > suffering, we were also taught that suffering can be a part of life > (isn't that true?!) but that God is always with us. These are the > things I recall most, -if this sheds any light on it.. > > > Ammachi, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61@> > wrote: > > > > Namaste Prasadini & Adriane: > > > > This IS interesting. I was also raised Catholic, where suffering > is > > created and condoned as THE way of life, a mistaken fixation on > pain > > when the crucifixion was to show humankind that the spirit is > > greater than the body, that a higher principle or power was what > to > > live for, even if others would put you to death over it (if you go > > wtih the Gnostics, including the new Gospel of Judas, if anyone > has > > read about that yet - scholarly-verified finding, a gospel in > which > > Jesus asked Judas to turn him in, saying Judas exceeded the other > > disciples in understanding his teachings, and that Judas was > > releasing Jesus from the clothing of his body). > > > > Many people, East and West, latched onto the wrong idea there with > > the glorification of the pain part, so I'm not so sure your > > Protestant upbringing wasn't on stronger spiritual ground, though > > possibly without guidelines which we all wish came to us at birth! > > By the same token, I have actually said to myself recently, when > an > > undertaking I began in my work was very well-received, "Oh, just > > because someone said something so positive did not mean this was > > going to be a bed of roses!" I had not anticipated the bumps in > the > > road along the way, but I think this is more a matter of learning > > from life experience, and learning, as Adriane said, to handle all > > with equanimity. > > > > Ammachi, "rosebud1082001" <ganesh1008@> > > wrote: > > > > > > Namah Shivaya Adriene, > > > It's interesting how different religious backgrounds are so > > different > > > in many ways, even though the basic message is the same. I was > > raised > > > as a liberal protestant, so we didn't have saints, and the > > suffering > > > or hardship aspects of spirituality were never discussed. The > > crucifix > > > did not exist - just an empty cross to focus on the living > Christ, > > not > > > the crucifixion. The suffering of Christ was not emphasized. So > I > > > just pictured myself skipping down the spiritual path with nary a > > > scratch, all would be done for me and life would be a breeze. > > Comfort > > > and roses! > > > Jai Ma! > > > Prasadini > > > > > > > > > Ammachi, "Adriane" <a1driane@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Hi Surya, > > > > I am not sure most Westerners think once we have a spiritual > > life that > > > > we it's a bed of roses or easy street (wouldn't that be > nice?!!) > > > > > > > > I think many of us Westerners may hold the belief that having > > faith, > > > > having a spiritual life,- will help us with the many > > difficulties we > > > > face and handle it all with equanimity. At least when I was > > raised > > > > with my Catholic faith attending parochial schools, I learned > of > > so > > > > many saints who were tortured, killed, etc. and whose lives > were > > > > anything but easy. > > > > > > > > I think spirituality simply helps to culture the mind, quiet > the > > mind, > > > > to allow who we really "are" to begin to manifest. Then these > > > > other "things" no longer have their hold on us-no matter how > > difficult. > > > > > > > > > Most of us Westerners have this wrongful preconception that > > once we > > > > awake to the Spiritual Path, it is all comfort and roses after > > that > > > > point. We mostly get this from the books on Indian > spirituality > > that > > > > have been published in the country for the last 100 yrs or > so. > > These > > > > really only typically depict one small side/part/flavor of > > Indian > > > > Spiritual Traditions and what happens in Them. The Truth is > > generally > > > > far from this. Just look at the lives of any Saint, > especially > > Amma, > > > > and we can see how much hardship surfaces and must be endured > > and > > > > overcome. > > > > > > > > > > Jai Maa! > > > > > > > > > > Surya > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Really enjoyed Adriane thoughts on growing up Catholic. I grew up Episcopalian because my Catholic father married my Protestant mother, and that seemed a good middle ground for them. (So I grew up loving Catholics, Protestants, you name it.)What I was really wondering is why people think the Catholic faith is all about suffering? So I thought what Adriane said hit the nail on the head (no Catholic pun intended). The word suffering has such an adverse connotation. Maybe if some of the practices, such as fasting, penance, etc., of the Catholic church were simply viewed as tapasya (which seems to have a positive connotation), a better perspective would be had. ---4all Adriane wrote: Fasting was also advocated. So I cannot agree that suffering was necessarily encouraged though there is some of that present. Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Mary Ann wrote: I'm glad to know that there were other kinds of experiences of Catholicism than mine. I was happy to read this, and I want to add that my experiences, like Adrianne's, were awesome. I grew up with the feeling that the Catholic church was absolutely beautiful, and although I don't lean fully toward organized religions, if I had to choose one, that would be it. However, and I find this odd, it has been my connection with Hinduism that has really helped me appreciate the spirituality of the Catholic faith. Prior to that, I simply found the ceremonies and rituals of the church very soothing in an uspeakable way. ---4all Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Hi, I have come to appreciate the beauty of the Catholic church for it's architecture and sculpture, and its impact on artists and their work, and the priest and nuns who risk their lives helping people, which I think is under the Vatican radar, from what I've read. And there are Catholic orgs working to improve treatment of prisoners, etc. and I do greatly appreciate that. Also, I like the saints, who remind me of Hinduism. Maybe why Hinduism speaks to you more is based on what I have read in Amma's words - that Christianity has done far more to suppress the divine feminine, whereas Hinduism, although there is still the partriarchal sway, has goddesses, and the Ardanari (Half Shiva, Half Shakti), with a message of each human being as both male and female. Ammachi, forall10q <forall10q wrote: > > Mary Ann wrote: > I'm glad to know that there were other kinds of experiences of Catholicism than mine. I was happy to read this, and I want to add that my experiences, like Adrianne's, were awesome. I grew up with the feeling that the Catholic church was absolutely beautiful, and although I don't lean fully toward organized religions, if I had to choose one, that would be it. However, and I find this odd, it has been my connection with Hinduism that has really helped me appreciate the spirituality of the Catholic faith. Prior to that, I simply found the ceremonies and rituals of the church very soothing in an uspeakable way. ---4all > > Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Namah Shivaya Although I was a liberal protestant, (Congregational) when I was a kid many of my friends were Catholic, and I thought being Catholic was pretty neat. I used to feel the same way about the rituals. For a while I lived near a Catholic Cathedral and used to love to just go and sit there - it was so peaceful. I almost married a Catholic and went to inquiry classes. I discovered that I didn't resonate with Catholicism or the guy :-) The neat thing about the church was that it wasn't heavy with dogma, much was left up to the individual. We had the concept of seva. A couple of days a year we would do work for people (gardening, etc) and the money earned would go to various charitable causes. Many years ago I went to a Congregational church in San Francisco, and learned of the community work they were doing. Church members would walk the streets of the Tenderloin in San Francisco at night and help the homeless. Even at that time there were blocks of the Tenderloin I wouldn't walk down in daylight - so I was impressed. Good people are everywhere! Jai Ma! Prasadini Prior to that, I simply found the ceremonies and rituals of the church very soothing in an uspeakable way. ---4all > > Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ > countries) for 2¢/min or less. > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > ------ > > > * Visit your group "Ammachi > <Ammachi>" on the web. > > * > Ammachi > <Ammachi?subject=Un> > > * Terms of > Service <>. > > > ------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 But you could see why, since there is such a divine scent of roses and other registers of subtle perfume surrounding Mother, why one might expect things to... not get so thorny. I'm going to be late for the concert. Sorry you can't join us, Tom. But actually I don't think Dayamrita is giving a satsang. It's all about the music. - prashanti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Namah Shivaya Mary Ann. I just heard about the Gospel of Judas today and wondered if any others on this list knew about it. premarupa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2006 Report Share Posted April 8, 2006 Ammachi, Prasadini <ganesh1008 wrote: > > Namah Shivaya > ... Good people are everywhere! > Jai Ma! > Prasadini > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Amen ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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