Guest guest Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 Om Namah Shivaya, Here's one of Amma's Leela that She played on us during the LA Devi Bhava. We have a family friend who have known Amma for 10 years now. Their wedding anniversary falls around the time the retreat is held in San Ramon. So for the past few years when they go to get Darshan either during the retreat or Devi Bhava, they tell Amma that its their wedding anniversary. Hearing this Amma usually puts unwrapped candies into each of their mouth (just like us they too have 2 girls and they are about the same age too), instead of handing them over. Sometimes Amma gives them an Apple to bite. My wife has been observing this and always wished Amma would do this to us too, but she couldn't think of any reason or occasion that would make Amma do this to us. This time after San Ramon's DB, after the other family got their darshan and were fed candies, she playfully remarked that she was jealous that they get to eat from Amma's hands every time and its not fair. After that we completely forgot about the incident. Well, we end up in LA for the Devi Bhava, and our token was Z2 alomost at the end of the program. All of us were sad that this will be the last time we will be seeing Amma during this tour. While on the stage I saw the clicker in Amma's hands and told my wife I'll ask her what my number was, thinking this may make Amma laugh and we can return with this happy memory. Amma had something else in store for us that day. When my kids got their Darshan, unexpectedly she put a candy in each of their mouths. Before I could even grasp the situation, I got my Hug and she put one in my mouth too. I was just dumbfounded. Now comes my wife's turn, and Amma cooly hands her the candy and tells her, "You eat it by yourself". My wife made a sad face and proceeded to open the candy right there to eat it. Now Geetha who was helping commented to Amma, "Look at her, poor thing, she is so sad that you didn't feed her". To this Amma replied, "Well, look at her, she is not sad, she is acting it out, she doesn't want to have a loss of face in front of all, so she is trying to eat it herself here" To which my wife replied, "why didn't you feed me. You should have" and Amma replied, "you know why, well, come here, I'll feed you now" and put that opened cany in her mouth! The fact that she jokingly said she as jealous about the other family made Amma not to give feed her the first time. Amma gave us all a good lesson on envy. So be careful what you wish for and how you wish for. -Gopinath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 I wanted to add that it was so funny the way Amma said "loss of face". She used a very colloquial malayalam term, "aval bleech ayee poyee". We burst out laughing hearing this and seeing us She began laughing too. Thank You Amma for leaving us this happy meomory until the next time we see you. Jai Ma! -Gopinath --- Gopinath <pgopi > wrote: > Om Namah Shivaya, > Here's one of Amma's Leela that She played on us > during the LA Devi Bhava. > We have a family friend who have known Amma for 10 > years now. Their wedding anniversary falls around > the > time the retreat is held in San Ramon. So for the > past > few years when they go to get Darshan either during > the retreat or Devi Bhava, they tell Amma that its > their wedding anniversary. Hearing this Amma usually > puts unwrapped candies into each of their mouth > (just > like us they too have 2 girls and they are about the > same age too), instead of handing them over. > Sometimes > Amma gives them an Apple to bite. My wife has been > observing this and always wished Amma would do this > to > us too, but she couldn't think of any reason or > occasion that would make Amma do this to us. This > time > after San Ramon's DB, after the other family got > their > darshan and were fed candies, she playfully remarked > that she was jealous that they get to eat from > Amma's > hands every time and its not fair. After that we > completely forgot about the incident. > Well, we end up in LA for the Devi Bhava, and our > token was Z2 alomost at the end of the program. All > of > us were sad that this will be the last time we will > be > seeing Amma during this tour. While on the stage I > saw > the clicker in Amma's hands and told my wife I'll > ask > her what my number was, thinking this may make Amma > laugh and we can return with this happy memory. > Amma had something else in store for us that day. > When > my kids got their Darshan, unexpectedly she put a > candy in each of their mouths. Before I could even > grasp the situation, I got my Hug and she put one in > my mouth too. I was just dumbfounded. Now comes my > wife's turn, and Amma cooly hands her the candy and > tells her, "You eat it by yourself". My wife made a > sad face and proceeded to open the candy right there > to eat it. Now Geetha who was helping commented to > Amma, "Look at her, poor thing, she is so sad that > you > didn't feed her". To this Amma replied, "Well, look > at > her, she is not sad, she is acting it out, she > doesn't > want to have a loss of face in front of all, so she > is > trying to eat it herself here" To which my wife > replied, "why didn't you feed me. You should have" > and > Amma replied, "you know why, well, come here, I'll > feed you now" and put that opened cany in her mouth! > > The fact that she jokingly said she as jealous > about > the other family made Amma not to give feed her the > first time. Amma gave us all a good lesson on envy. > So be careful what you wish for and how you wish > for. > > -Gopinath > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 Woah, great story! Thank you for sharing! Gopinath <pgopi > wrote: I wanted to add that it was so funny the way Amma said "loss of face". She used a very colloquial malayalam term, "aval bleech ayee poyee". We burst out laughing hearing this and seeing us She began laughing too. Thank You Amma for leaving us this happy meomory until the next time we see you. Jai Ma! -Gopinath --- Gopinath <pgopi > wrote: > Om Namah Shivaya, > Here's one of Amma's Leela that She played on us > during the LA Devi Bhava. > We have a family friend who have known Amma for 10 > years now. Their wedding anniversary falls around > the > time the retreat is held in San Ramon. So for the > past > few years when they go to get Darshan either during > the retreat or Devi Bhava, they tell Amma that its > their wedding anniversary. Hearing this Amma usually > puts unwrapped candies into each of their mouth > (just > like us they too have 2 girls and they are about the > same age too), instead of handing them over. > Sometimes > Amma gives them an Apple to bite. My wife has been > observing this and always wished Amma would do this > to > us too, but she couldn't think of any reason or > occasion that would make Amma do this to us. This > time > after San Ramon's DB, after the other family got > their > darshan and were fed candies, she playfully remarked > that she was jealous that they get to eat from > Amma's > hands every time and its not fair. After that we > completely forgot about the incident. > Well, we end up in LA for the Devi Bhava, and our > token was Z2 alomost at the end of the program. All > of > us were sad that this will be the last time we will > be > seeing Amma during this tour. While on the stage I > saw > the clicker in Amma's hands and told my wife I'll > ask > her what my number was, thinking this may make Amma > laugh and we can return with this happy memory. > Amma had something else in store for us that day. > When > my kids got their Darshan, unexpectedly she put a > candy in each of their mouths. Before I could even > grasp the situation, I got my Hug and she put one in > my mouth too. I was just dumbfounded. Now comes my > wife's turn, and Amma cooly hands her the candy and > tells her, "You eat it by yourself". My wife made a > sad face and proceeded to open the candy right there > to eat it. Now Geetha who was helping commented to > Amma, "Look at her, poor thing, she is so sad that > you > didn't feed her". To this Amma replied, "Well, look > at > her, she is not sad, she is acting it out, she > doesn't > want to have a loss of face in front of all, so she > is > trying to eat it herself here" To which my wife > replied, "why didn't you feed me. You should have" > and > Amma replied, "you know why, well, come here, I'll > feed you now" and put that opened cany in her mouth! > > The fact that she jokingly said she as jealous > about > the other family made Amma not to give feed her the > first time. Amma gave us all a good lesson on envy. > So be careful what you wish for and how you wish > for. > > -Gopinath > > > > "Children, all of spirituality is contained in that one word: Awareness." - Amma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 Hi, This is an interesting story, and it made me ask the question: What is jealousy? In pondering this question, As shown in this case, it appears to be a series/cycle of thoughts and emotions, starting with the awareness of wanting something, sadness or anger or resentment or feeling inadequate, etc. at not having it, fear or not knowing that you can ask for it, and then being caught up in all that as a cycle, a downward spiral. This helps me to realize that, rather than thinking "jealousy is bad" (or any other feeling is bad/to be judged), it's more about coming to a place of realization about being trapped in or by such feelings. Once I recognize the trap, I can accept myself and my feelings with compassion, and move beyond the cycle. But what does the "loss of face" refer to? The woman not requesting what she wanted, and so, acting as if it's okay that her need for nurturance and inclusion was not being met? As if she was hiding? Mary Ann Ammachi, Prajna - Brianna <prajnaji wrote: > > Woah, great story! Thank you for sharing! > > > > Gopinath <pgopi wrote: > I wanted to add that it was so funny the way Amma said > "loss of face". She used a very colloquial malayalam > term, "aval bleech ayee poyee". We burst out laughing > hearing this and seeing us She began laughing too. > Thank You Amma for leaving us this happy meomory until > the next time we see you. > Jai Ma! > -Gopinath > > --- Gopinath <pgopi wrote: > > > Om Namah Shivaya, > > Here's one of Amma's Leela that She played on us > > during the LA Devi Bhava. > > We have a family friend who have known Amma for 10 > > years now. Their wedding anniversary falls around > > the > > time the retreat is held in San Ramon. So for the > > past > > few years when they go to get Darshan either during > > the retreat or Devi Bhava, they tell Amma that its > > their wedding anniversary. Hearing this Amma usually > > puts unwrapped candies into each of their mouth > > (just > > like us they too have 2 girls and they are about the > > same age too), instead of handing them over. > > Sometimes > > Amma gives them an Apple to bite. My wife has been > > observing this and always wished Amma would do this > > to > > us too, but she couldn't think of any reason or > > occasion that would make Amma do this to us. This > > time > > after San Ramon's DB, after the other family got > > their > > darshan and were fed candies, she playfully remarked > > that she was jealous that they get to eat from > > Amma's > > hands every time and its not fair. After that we > > completely forgot about the incident. > > Well, we end up in LA for the Devi Bhava, and our > > token was Z2 alomost at the end of the program. All > > of > > us were sad that this will be the last time we will > > be > > seeing Amma during this tour. While on the stage I > > saw > > the clicker in Amma's hands and told my wife I'll > > ask > > her what my number was, thinking this may make Amma > > laugh and we can return with this happy memory. > > Amma had something else in store for us that day. > > When > > my kids got their Darshan, unexpectedly she put a > > candy in each of their mouths. Before I could even > > grasp the situation, I got my Hug and she put one in > > my mouth too. I was just dumbfounded. Now comes my > > wife's turn, and Amma cooly hands her the candy and > > tells her, "You eat it by yourself". My wife made a > > sad face and proceeded to open the candy right there > > to eat it. Now Geetha who was helping commented to > > Amma, "Look at her, poor thing, she is so sad that > > you > > didn't feed her". To this Amma replied, "Well, look > > at > > her, she is not sad, she is acting it out, she > > doesn't > > want to have a loss of face in front of all, so she > > is > > trying to eat it herself here" To which my wife > > replied, "why didn't you feed me. You should have" > > and > > Amma replied, "you know why, well, come here, I'll > > feed you now" and put that opened cany in her mouth! > > > > The fact that she jokingly said she as jealous > > about > > the other family made Amma not to give feed her the > > first time. Amma gave us all a good lesson on envy. > > So be careful what you wish for and how you wish > > for. > > > > -Gopinath > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "Children, all of spirituality is contained in that one word: Awareness." - Amma > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 --- Mary Ann <buttercookie61 > wrote: > But what does the "loss of face" refer to? > Mary Ann > In this context, it was more of an embarrassment. My wife was embarrassed that Amma singled her out by not putting a candy in her mouth. So she wanted to eat it by herself so as to make it look like Amma fed her too. -Gopinath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 I'm not sure if "loss of face" means the same in Malayalam as it does to Japanese culture, but loss of face generally refers to loss of honor. If a Samuri lost face, he shamed his family and often committed seppuku to rectify the "problem". Jai Maa! -Katie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 Thanks Prajna. I needed that. And thanks to Gopinath and his wife too, for inspiring our honesty like this. lotsof love, prashanti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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