Excerpt from book “The Blessed Life” by Swami Ramakrishnananda :

[Guest guest]

Just finished reading "The Blessed Life"

Wonderful book !

One thread thoughout the book is how Amma watches our egos

and nips them in the bud; remember Amma's ultimate aim is

to Awaken us by dissolving our egos ~ if we want.

 

"The Blessed Life" :

Amma says that one may sit in a cave and meditate for long hours

each day, but when one comes out of the cave, one may lose one's

temper or feel disgusted or jealous toward another person, and when

one reacts in this way, much of the spiritual energy one has

accumulated is dissipated needlessly.

 

Amma often gives the example of the Sage Vishwamitra who did penance

for thousands of years. However, he was very hot-tempered, and

whenever he emerged from meditation, he would lose his temper very

easily. In order to regain the energy he had lost, he would have to

sit for many more years.

 

Finally he did achieve Self-realization, but it took much longer

than it might have if he had been able to overcome his habit of

losing his temper earlier.

 

That is why Amma places so much emphasis on helping and working with

others in addition to meditation and other more personal spiritual

practices. When we live and work in concert with others, we are able

to uncover and overcome negative tendencies of which we might

otherwise have never even been aware.

 

There is a joke about a conversation between two monks from

different traditions. One monk asked the other, "What is your

spiritual discipline?Oh, I have a very strict discipline. I wake

up at two in the morning every day and chant and pray until

breakfast.

Actually, on many days I don't even eat breakfast. I fast more than

100 days each year. And it is only because you are talking to me

today that I can even speak to you. Most days, I am observing a vow

of silence, and I am in solitude as well.Oh, that is a very

strict discipline..." the first monk commented.

 

"Why do you say that?" the second monk asked. "Surely you must be

doing nearly the same."

 

"Not really," the first monk confessed ruefully.

 

"What do you do then?" the second monk inquired.

 

"I live in a community along with 100 other monks," the first monk

said simply.

 

On hearing this, the second monk said, "I bow down to you, Brother.

Your discipline is far greater than mine." Even though the second

monk performed a great deal more austerities, he considered the

first monk's renunciation to be greater than his own, simply because

he was able to live and work closely with other monks.

>>>>>

 

Amma Bless,

amarnath

[Guest guest]

Thank you Amarnath

 

amarnath wrote:

>

> Just finished reading "The Blessed Life"

> Wonderful book !

> One thread thoughout the book is how Amma watches our egos

> and nips them in the bud; remember Amma's ultimate aim is

> to Awaken us by dissolving our egos ~ if we want.

>

> "The Blessed Life" :

> Amma says that one may sit in a cave and meditate for long hours

> each day, but when one comes out of the cave, one may lose one's

> temper or feel disgusted or jealous toward another person, and when

> one reacts in this way, much of the spiritual energy one has

> accumulated is dissipated needlessly.

>

> Amma often gives the example of the Sage Vishwamitra who did penance

> for thousands of years. However, he was very hot-tempered, and

> whenever he emerged from meditation, he would lose his temper very

> easily. In order to regain the energy he had lost, he would have to

> sit for many more years.

>

> Finally he did achieve Self-realization, but it took much longer

> than it might have if he had been able to overcome his habit of

> losing his temper earlier.

>

> That is why Amma places so much emphasis on helping and working with

> others in addition to meditation and other more personal spiritual

> practices. When we live and work in concert with others, we are able

> to uncover and overcome negative tendencies of which we might

> otherwise have never even been aware.

>

> There is a joke about a conversation between two monks from

> different traditions. One monk asked the other, "What is your

> spiritual discipline?Oh, I have a very strict discipline. I wake

> up at two in the morning every day and chant and pray until

> breakfast.

> Actually, on many days I don't even eat breakfast. I fast more than

> 100 days each year. And it is only because you are talking to me

> today that I can even speak to you. Most days, I am observing a vow

> of silence, and I am in solitude as well.Oh, that is a very

> strict discipline..." the first monk commented.

>

> "Why do you say that?" the second monk asked. "Surely you must be

> doing nearly the same."

>

> "Not really," the first monk confessed ruefully.

>

> "What do you do then?" the second monk inquired.

>

> "I live in a community along with 100 other monks," the first monk

> said simply.

>

> On hearing this, the second monk said, "I bow down to you, Brother.

> Your discipline is far greater than mine." Even though the second

> monk performed a great deal more austerities, he considered the

> first monk's renunciation to be greater than his own, simply because

> he was able to live and work closely with other monks.

> >>>>>

>

> Amma Bless,

> amarnath

>

>

[Guest guest]

Right on! Jai Maa!!!

 

-

amarnath

Ammachi

Saturday, August 12, 2006 2:37 AM

Excerpt from book "The Blessed Life" by Swami Ramakrishnananda :

 

 

Just finished reading "The Blessed Life"

Wonderful book !

One thread thoughout the book is how Amma watches our egos

and nips them in the bud; remember Amma's ultimate aim is

to Awaken us by dissolving our egos ~ if we want.

 

"The Blessed Life" :

Amma says that one may sit in a cave and meditate for long hours

each day, but when one comes out of the cave, one may lose one's

temper or feel disgusted or jealous toward another person, and when

one reacts in this way, much of the spiritual energy one has

accumulated is dissipated needlessly.

 

Amma often gives the example of the Sage Vishwamitra who did penance

for thousands of years. However, he was very hot-tempered, and

whenever he emerged from meditation, he would lose his temper very

easily. In order to regain the energy he had lost, he would have to

sit for many more years.

 

Finally he did achieve Self-realization, but it took much longer

than it might have if he had been able to overcome his habit of

losing his temper earlier.

 

That is why Amma places so much emphasis on helping and working with

others in addition to meditation and other more personal spiritual

practices. When we live and work in concert with others, we are able

to uncover and overcome negative tendencies of which we might

otherwise have never even been aware.

 

There is a joke about a conversation between two monks from

different traditions. One monk asked the other, "What is your

spiritual discipline?Oh, I have a very strict discipline. I wake

up at two in the morning every day and chant and pray until

breakfast.

Actually, on many days I don't even eat breakfast. I fast more than

100 days each year. And it is only because you are talking to me

today that I can even speak to you. Most days, I am observing a vow

of silence, and I am in solitude as well.Oh, that is a very

strict discipline..." the first monk commented.

 

"Why do you say that?" the second monk asked. "Surely you must be

doing nearly the same."

 

"Not really," the first monk confessed ruefully.

 

"What do you do then?" the second monk inquired.

 

"I live in a community along with 100 other monks," the first monk

said simply.

 

On hearing this, the second monk said, "I bow down to you, Brother.

Your discipline is far greater than mine." Even though the second

monk performed a great deal more austerities, he considered the

first monk's renunciation to be greater than his own, simply because

he was able to live and work closely with other monks.

>>>>>

 

Amma Bless,

amarnath