I went to see Amma and the workers at the LAX Hilton

[Guest guest]

I wanted to tell you about my experience at the LA event.

 

Here is the short summary: My experience with Amma was deeply

spiritual, her American handlers really turned me off, the workers and

union activists were sympathetic and convincing, and I feel very

strongly that we all need to act together to make sure that this

conflict does not repeat itself next year.

 

The longer version: First, with all due respect to those of you who

decided not to attend because of the boycott, I just could not stay

away. In part this was because I was so curious - both about Amma and

about the workers. The debate on this website got me really invested

in the collision of two worlds - the gathering of an Indian spiritual

phenomenon devoted to love and a movement of mostly Latino immigrant

workers devoted to justice.

 

As a newcomer, I got to sit up front. At first, I spent some time

taking in the vibe, feeling the room, before really focusing on Amma.

I was amazed by how quickly I felt a part of things and how expansive

I felt, as if extra oxygen were being pumped into the room. When I

finally focused on Amma, I was taken aback by the expression on her

face (it seemed quite clear to me that she is channeling something

larger than herself) and the amount of focus that she brings to each

and every person who presents him or herself to her. I sat for a

while, many emotions passing through me and, at points, on the verge

of tears.

 

Later, I wandered around a bit. I felt somewhat ambivalent about the

little market at the back of the room. On the one hand, I can see that

it is through the purchase of the various beads, trinkets, shawls,

etc. blessed by Amma that her programs are funded. However, as I

watched a variety of different people pawing at the different objects

for sale, I couldn't help but think about Chogyam Trungpa's warnings

about spiritual materialism. I found myself thinking similar things

about those around Amma (and was surprised by the scene in the her

immediate vicinity. It reminded me of the various nurses and interns

who hand a surgeon the scalpels and other instruments with which he

saves lives). Some of them seemed incredibly selfless in how they

assisted those who approached Amma, while others reeked of

self-importance.

 

While I still have questions about a great deal that surrounds Amma, I

have no doubts about her. I found her embrace amazing and powerful. I

suppose you all know this already, but I was surprised by how moved I

was (and afterwards I found myself immediately planning how to come

back).

 

When I emerged from my experience with Amma I walked out of the Hilton

and encountered a gathering of workers and union activists outside of

the hotel. One of them handed me a flower with a message attached

that asked that I boycott the LAX Hilton.

 

I spoke at length with a young man who has been a hotel worker for

many years and is a leader of the workers who are asking us to boycott

the LAX Hilton. If he had not introduced himself as a worker I would

never have differentiated him from the mass of devotees entering and

leaving the hotel. He was dressed in drawstring pants and a white

gauze shirt with mala beads around his neck.

 

I told him about my discomfort about attacking Amma, a woman who has

done so much for the world. He surprised me by listening and reacting

with real sympathy. He said that he was not really angry at Amma and

that he truly respects her. He said that under other circumstances he

might even go and see Amma but that many people who live around the

airport would never go into the LAX Hilton because the mistreatment

there is well known in the neighborhood. In fact, the LAX Hilton has

banned many of the people who have criticized the management from ever

going into the hotel, so they can't see Amma even if they want to.

 

The workers I met were not so much angry at Amma, but very angry with

the American organizers of the tour, the leaders of the MA Center, and

the LA organization because workers had tried to be in contact with

them for a solid year and, at first, the leaders of the organizations

refused to respond to them. When, after ongoing persistence, they

finally did respond, they showed no sympathy or compassion or even

concern about the difficult situation.

 

I told the young man who was the leader of the group about our debate

on the ammachi_free_speech_zone and he told me he would check it out.

I hope he does. I told him that some people on the site think that

the claims of mistreatment come from union leaders and not from the

workers. He responded that LAX Hilton workers have filed dozens of

charges of labor law violations with government agencies and that

these charges can only be sustained with direct evidence from workers.

So it is not possible for a union representative to fabricate these

charges, workers have to testify to the charges directly. So at the

very least we know that workers are in fact charging that the LAX

Hilton has broken the law.

 

The last and most important thing that the workers said to me was that

what they most need right now is for us to help make sure that next

year's event NOT be held at the LAX Hilton. Whatever we do with this

year's event with it being the second year of a two year contract,

there is no excuse for holding the event at the LAX Hilton again next

year now that the contract is over. I am going to look for a way for

anyone who is willing to help convince the tour organizers and the MA

Center and the LA leaders to move next year's gathering to another

hotel. I think this will help protect Amma from all this controversy

and also allow the event to be more open to everyone.

 

- meditationandyoga

 

 

Ammachi , " Prashanti " <ammasprashanti wrote:

>

> OM Amriteswaryai Namah,

>

> Thank you, Nischala, for forwarding this story. It makes sense that

Amma

> would " keep out " of the politics. And also not want to disappoint Her

> followers, or inflict additional costs on either them or the program.

> Especially with the pre-existing contract. What could " dharma " be

in such a

> situation but to minimize impact on the most people?

>

> Hopefully Her sacred presence will bring about a change in the mind

of the

> Hotel corporation, and assist the workers.

>

> While in San Ramon, I happened to spend some time with a longtime

devotee,

> from Gujarat, who works at one of the San Francisco hotels that the OAH

> decided last year not to patronize. He told me they - the UNITE HERE

> workers - had a five year battle to get a fair contract, and had only

> recently received their lump sum back pay and protection of health care.

> Since he has a family to support, and the U.S. does not have a good

social

> net for health care costs, it meant a lot to have a good contract

> resolution. The dignity of workers, especially service employees, seems

> also to be a Dharma to uphold. I begged him to ask Amma about the

> situation, but he was very humble about approaching the Master with

such a

> concern.

>

> As a member of the California Faculty Association, and the spouse of

a trade

> union member, however, it saddens me greatly to not feel able to

attend our

> beloved Amma's Los Angeles programs. It does not diminish my faith

in Her,

> nor do I mean any disrespect to the M.A. center or the local southern

> California satsangs. In fact, I bow down even deeper at their

abilities to

> transcend the worldly play.

>

> May the Mother of the Universe bestow Her blessings on the organizing

> efforts at LAX.

>

> Jai ma,

> Prashanti

>

> On 6/18/07, Nischala <ammasgirl9 wrote:

> >

> > L.A.'s labor leaders snub 'hugging saint' Indian spiritual figure Amma

> > gets

> > a cold shoulder over her refusal to honor a union boycott of the LAX

> > Hilton.

> > By Joe Mathews, Times Staff Writer

> > June 18, 2007

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I enjoyed this account. Regarding the people around Amma, as you know,

everyone is welcome, so you’re going to get a pretty wide spectrum of types

of people, levels of consciousness, ego, etc. Amma loves and uplifts them

all and people grow over time.

 

 

 

Regarding the hotel, we discovered here in Iowa that the Marriot, where

we’re holding the event for the first time, has a policy of donating its

facilities to non-profits after requiring them to pay the first year, as a

tax write-off I guess. So if all goes well, next year we won’t even have to

pay for the place, and it’s BEAUTIFUL! (Guests will still have to pay for

their rooms, of course.) I think this is a chain-wide policy with Marriott,

so you might see about using the Marriott there in LA next year.

 

 

 

----

 

Rick Archer

SearchSummit

1108 South B Street

Fairfield, IA 52556

Phone: (641) 472-9336

Fax: (914) 470-9336

http:HYPERLINK " http://searchsummit.com " //searchsummit.com

HYPERLINK

" http://searchsummit.comrick (AT) searchsummit (DOT) com " rick@...

 

Ammachi [Ammachi ] On Behalf Of

meditationandyoga

Wednesday, June 20, 2007 1:46 AM

Ammachi

I went to see Amma and the workers at the LAX Hilton

 

 

 

I wanted to tell you about my experience at the LA event.

 

Here is the short summary: My experience with Amma was deeply

spiritual, her American handlers really turned me off, the workers and

union activists were sympathetic and convincing, and I feel very

strongly that we all need to act together to make sure that this

conflict does not repeat itself next year.

 

The longer version: First, with all due respect to those of you who

decided not to attend because of the boycott, I just could not stay

away. In part this was because I was so curious - both about Amma and

about the workers. The debate on this website got me really invested

in the collision of two worlds - the gathering of an Indian spiritual

phenomenon devoted to love and a movement of mostly Latino immigrant

workers devoted to justice.

 

As a newcomer, I got to sit up front. At first, I spent some time

taking in the vibe, feeling the room, before really focusing on Amma.

I was amazed by how quickly I felt a part of things and how expansive

I felt, as if extra oxygen were being pumped into the room. When I

finally focused on Amma, I was taken aback by the expression on her

face (it seemed quite clear to me that she is channeling something

larger than herself) and the amount of focus that she brings to each

and every person who presents him or herself to her. I sat for a

while, many emotions passing through me and, at points, on the verge

of tears.

 

Later, I wandered around a bit. I felt somewhat ambivalent about the

little market at the back of the room. On the one hand, I can see that

it is through the purchase of the various beads, trinkets, shawls,

etc. blessed by Amma that her programs are funded. However, as I

watched a variety of different people pawing at the different objects

for sale, I couldn't help but think about Chogyam Trungpa's warnings

about spiritual materialism. I found myself thinking similar things

about those around Amma (and was surprised by the scene in the her

immediate vicinity. It reminded me of the various nurses and interns

who hand a surgeon the scalpels and other instruments with which he

saves lives). Some of them seemed incredibly selfless in how they

assisted those who approached Amma, while others reeked of

self-importance.

 

While I still have questions about a great deal that surrounds Amma, I

have no doubts about her. I found her embrace amazing and powerful. I

suppose you all know this already, but I was surprised by how moved I

was (and afterwards I found myself immediately planning how to come

back).

 

When I emerged from my experience with Amma I walked out of the Hilton

and encountered a gathering of workers and union activists outside of

the hotel. One of them handed me a flower with a message attached

that asked that I boycott the LAX Hilton.

 

I spoke at length with a young man who has been a hotel worker for

many years and is a leader of the workers who are asking us to boycott

the LAX Hilton. If he had not introduced himself as a worker I would

never have differentiated him from the mass of devotees entering and

leaving the hotel. He was dressed in drawstring pants and a white

gauze shirt with mala beads around his neck.

 

I told him about my discomfort about attacking Amma, a woman who has

done so much for the world. He surprised me by listening and reacting

with real sympathy. He said that he was not really angry at Amma and

that he truly respects her. He said that under other circumstances he

might even go and see Amma but that many people who live around the

airport would never go into the LAX Hilton because the mistreatment

there is well known in the neighborhood. In fact, the LAX Hilton has

banned many of the people who have criticized the management from ever

going into the hotel, so they can't see Amma even if they want to.

 

The workers I met were not so much angry at Amma, but very angry with

the American organizers of the tour, the leaders of the MA Center, and

the LA organization because workers had tried to be in contact with

them for a solid year and, at first, the leaders of the organizations

refused to respond to them. When, after ongoing persistence, they

finally did respond, they showed no sympathy or compassion or even

concern about the difficult situation.

 

I told the young man who was the leader of the group about our debate

on the ammachi_free_speech_zone and he told me he would check it out.

I hope he does. I told him that some people on the site think that

the claims of mistreatment come from union leaders and not from the

workers. He responded that LAX Hilton workers have filed dozens of

charges of labor law violations with government agencies and that

these charges can only be sustained with direct evidence from workers.

So it is not possible for a union representative to fabricate these

charges, workers have to testify to the charges directly. So at the

very least we know that workers are in fact charging that the LAX

Hilton has broken the law.

 

The last and most important thing that the workers said to me was that

what they most need right now is for us to help make sure that next

year's event NOT be held at the LAX Hilton. Whatever we do with this

year's event with it being the second year of a two year contract,

there is no excuse for holding the event at the LAX Hilton again next

year now that the contract is over. I am going to look for a way for

anyone who is willing to help convince the tour organizers and the MA

Center and the LA leaders to move next year's gathering to another

hotel. I think this will help protect Amma from all this controversy

and also allow the event to be more open to everyone.

 

- meditationandyoga

 

HYPERLINK " Ammachi%40 " Ammachi ,

" Prashanti " <ammasprashanti wrote:

>

> OM Amriteswaryai Namah,

>

> Thank you, Nischala, for forwarding this story. It makes sense that

Amma

> would " keep out " of the politics. And also not want to disappoint Her

> followers, or inflict additional costs on either them or the program.

> Especially with the pre-existing contract. What could " dharma " be

in such a

> situation but to minimize impact on the most people?

>

> Hopefully Her sacred presence will bring about a change in the mind

of the

> Hotel corporation, and assist the workers.

>

> While in San Ramon, I happened to spend some time with a longtime

devotee,

> from Gujarat, who works at one of the San Francisco hotels that the OAH

> decided last year not to patronize. He told me they - the UNITE HERE

> workers - had a five year battle to get a fair contract, and had only

> recently received their lump sum back pay and protection of health care.

> Since he has a family to support, and the U.S. does not have a good

social

> net for health care costs, it meant a lot to have a good contract

> resolution. The dignity of workers, especially service employees, seems

> also to be a Dharma to uphold. I begged him to ask Amma about the

> situation, but he was very humble about approaching the Master with

such a

> concern.

>

> As a member of the California Faculty Association, and the spouse of

a trade

> union member, however, it saddens me greatly to not feel able to

attend our

> beloved Amma's Los Angeles programs. It does not diminish my faith

in Her,

> nor do I mean any disrespect to the M.A. center or the local southern

> California satsangs. In fact, I bow down even deeper at their

abilities to

> transcend the worldly play.

>

> May the Mother of the Universe bestow Her blessings on the organizing

> efforts at LAX.

>

> Jai ma,

> Prashanti

>

> On 6/18/07, Nischala <ammasgirl9 wrote:

> >

> > L.A.'s labor leaders snub 'hugging saint' Indian spiritual figure Amma

> > gets

> > a cold shoulder over her refusal to honor a union boycott of the LAX

> > Hilton.

> > By Joe Mathews, Times Staff Writer

> > June 18, 2007

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This was very wonderful to read and thanks for sharing. Seeing Amma

is free to everyone and of course,the things sold are all for charity

and no profits are made so I am not sure that establishes much in the

way of materialism. We all have " things " , which is certain and most

of the items sold have enhanced my spiritual awareness and attention-

like the bhajans on CDs, movies of Amma, tapes, and my Amma doll.

 

Aside from that, the people around Amma are just that, people. There

are selfless as well as arrogant people everywhere you go, every day.

And some of us are most things we observe every day at some point or

another. It seems to me however, in Amma's presence, everyone is

amplified in some way. We all seem exposed in her divine,

intoxicating presence.

 

peace and love,

adriane

 

Ammachi , " meditationandyoga "

<meditationandyoga wrote:

>

> I wanted to tell you about my experience at the LA event.

>

> Here is the short summary: My experience with Amma was deeply

> spiritual, her American handlers really turned me off, the workers

and

> union activists were sympathetic and convincing, and I feel very

> strongly that we all need to act together to make sure that this

> conflict does not repeat itself next year.

>

> The longer version: First, with all due respect to those of you who

> decided not to attend because of the boycott, I just could not stay

> away. In part this was because I was so curious - both about Amma

and

> about the workers. The debate on this website got me really

invested

> in the collision of two worlds - the gathering of an Indian

spiritual

> phenomenon devoted to love and a movement of mostly Latino immigrant

> workers devoted to justice.

>

> As a newcomer, I got to sit up front. At first, I spent some time

> taking in the vibe, feeling the room, before really focusing on

Amma.

> I was amazed by how quickly I felt a part of things and how

expansive

> I felt, as if extra oxygen were being pumped into the room. When I

> finally focused on Amma, I was taken aback by the expression on her

> face (it seemed quite clear to me that she is channeling something

> larger than herself) and the amount of focus that she brings to each

> and every person who presents him or herself to her. I sat for a

> while, many emotions passing through me and, at points, on the verge

> of tears.

>

> Later, I wandered around a bit. I felt somewhat ambivalent about the

> little market at the back of the room. On the one hand, I can see

that

> it is through the purchase of the various beads, trinkets, shawls,

> etc. blessed by Amma that her programs are funded. However, as I

> watched a variety of different people pawing at the different

objects

> for sale, I couldn't help but think about Chogyam Trungpa's warnings

> about spiritual materialism. I found myself thinking similar things

> about those around Amma (and was surprised by the scene in the her

> immediate vicinity. It reminded me of the various nurses and interns

> who hand a surgeon the scalpels and other instruments with which he

> saves lives). Some of them seemed incredibly selfless in how they

> assisted those who approached Amma, while others reeked of

> self-importance.

>

> While I still have questions about a great deal that surrounds

Amma, I

> have no doubts about her. I found her embrace amazing and powerful.

I

> suppose you all know this already, but I was surprised by how moved

I

> was (and afterwards I found myself immediately planning how to come

> back).

>

> When I emerged from my experience with Amma I walked out of the

Hilton

> and encountered a gathering of workers and union activists outside

of

> the hotel. One of them handed me a flower with a message attached

> that asked that I boycott the LAX Hilton.

>

> I spoke at length with a young man who has been a hotel worker for

> many years and is a leader of the workers who are asking us to

boycott

> the LAX Hilton. If he had not introduced himself as a worker I

would

> never have differentiated him from the mass of devotees entering and

> leaving the hotel. He was dressed in drawstring pants and a white

> gauze shirt with mala beads around his neck.

>

> I told him about my discomfort about attacking Amma, a woman who has

> done so much for the world. He surprised me by listening and

reacting

> with real sympathy. He said that he was not really angry at Amma

and

> that he truly respects her. He said that under other circumstances

he

> might even go and see Amma but that many people who live around the

> airport would never go into the LAX Hilton because the mistreatment

> there is well known in the neighborhood. In fact, the LAX Hilton

has

> banned many of the people who have criticized the management from

ever

> going into the hotel, so they can't see Amma even if they want to.

>

> The workers I met were not so much angry at Amma, but very angry

with

> the American organizers of the tour, the leaders of the MA Center,

and

> the LA organization because workers had tried to be in contact with

> them for a solid year and, at first, the leaders of the

organizations

> refused to respond to them. When, after ongoing persistence, they

> finally did respond, they showed no sympathy or compassion or even

> concern about the difficult situation.

>

> I told the young man who was the leader of the group about our

debate

> on the ammachi_free_speech_zone and he told me he would check it

out.

> I hope he does. I told him that some people on the site think that

> the claims of mistreatment come from union leaders and not from the

> workers. He responded that LAX Hilton workers have filed dozens of

> charges of labor law violations with government agencies and that

> these charges can only be sustained with direct evidence from

workers.

> So it is not possible for a union representative to fabricate these

> charges, workers have to testify to the charges directly. So at the

> very least we know that workers are in fact charging that the LAX

> Hilton has broken the law.

>

> The last and most important thing that the workers said to me was

that

> what they most need right now is for us to help make sure that next

> year's event NOT be held at the LAX Hilton. Whatever we do with

this

> year's event with it being the second year of a two year contract,

> there is no excuse for holding the event at the LAX Hilton again

next

> year now that the contract is over. I am going to look for a way

for

> anyone who is willing to help convince the tour organizers and the

MA

> Center and the LA leaders to move next year's gathering to another

> hotel. I think this will help protect Amma from all this

controversy

> and also allow the event to be more open to everyone.

>

> - meditationandyoga

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I appreciate reading the posts on this site about this topic, too. I

just saw another article in the The Argonaut in Santa Monica quoting a

few local religious leaders who criticized Amma. If anyone is

interested, here is a link to that: http://tinyurl.com/2o29en

 

I was actually considering this to be analogous to a spiritual leader

who does not take sides in a war, but would minister to both sides,

and I was surprised that other religious folks were criticizing Amma.

I don't have an opinion on what Amma should or shouldn't have done,

really, and am a bit surprised that folks would expect her to do

something other than what was planned. Unlike Gandhi, she's not a

political protester. While offering love and compassion and Universal

Motherhood is itself contrary to the powers that be, Amma isn't going

on hunger strikes or getting herself arrested for disobeying laws out

of civil protest; she's offering hugs.

 

I consider Amma's annual visits as providing energy for my growth and

work in the world, too, and she would provide it to the union /

workers and Hotel management alike, in her hugs. Folks tried to post

articles that seemed slandering of Amma at AmmaBhakti just before her

visit, and I contacted the posters to ask them to provide more actual

information, rather than opinion, but no one did; one message came

back. Also, I have noticed that when spiritual leaders come around,

such as the Dalai Lama to San Francisco a couple months ago, outside

were folks handing out fliers for their issues, causes and

advertisements, and they had put a picture of the Dalai Lama on the

fliers, just like one I was sent to by a link someone tried to post re

the union and workers issue.

 

I did not know about the issue before this, and I still don't really

know about it, because I was more concerned at Amma being targeted.

Ok, the union / workers saw an opportunity for publicity of their

issue. Yet, because of the slander and judgment of Amma, I haven't

really learned about the issue because I don't appreciate anyone

trying to bully others, and all this flap seemed to be an attempt to

bully Amma into doing what others thought she should. As for workers

who may have wanted to get hugged, I would want to hear from someone

who actually tried to go and was prevented before I would accept that

the workers were not allowed to enter the hotel, or receive a hug from

Amma. In fact, if that were the case, I am certain that Amma would

have given them darshan outside, if that is what they wanted, rather

than to exploit Amma for their cause.

 

Namaste,

Mary Ann

 

Ammachi , " n2amma " <a1driane wrote:

>

> This was very wonderful to read and thanks for sharing. Seeing Amma

> is free to everyone and of course,the things sold are all for charity

....

[Guest guest]

Cannot worry about criticisms. They are bound to exist. Amma knows

what's best. Boycotting is okay but where would it end? Should Amma

boycott the USA itself because of the war in Iraq? Amma's

significance comes not from the people who criticize her, but from

those who go to get her hugs.

 

Labd

[Guest guest]

Good point; thanks for posting it.

 

Ammachi , " labd2929 " <labd2929 wrote:

>

> Cannot worry about criticisms. They are bound to exist. Amma knows

> what's best.

[Guest guest]

Expresses my sentiments also. Thank you for posting this.

 

Ammachi , " Mary Ann " <buttercookie61 wrote:

>

> I appreciate reading the posts on this site about this topic, too. I

> just saw another article in the The Argonaut in Santa Monica quoting a

> few local religious leaders who criticized Amma. If anyone is

> interested, here is a link to that: http://tinyurl.com/2o29en

>

> I was actually considering this to be analogous to a spiritual leader

> who does not take sides in a war, but would minister to both sides,

> and I was surprised that other religious folks were criticizing Amma.

> I don't have an opinion on what Amma should or shouldn't have done,

> really, and am a bit surprised that folks would expect her to do

> something other than what was planned. Unlike Gandhi, she's not a

> political protester. While offering love and compassion and Universal

> Motherhood is itself contrary to the powers that be, Amma isn't going

> on hunger strikes or getting herself arrested for disobeying laws out

> of civil protest; she's offering hugs.

>

> I consider Amma's annual visits as providing energy for my growth and

> work in the world, too, and she would provide it to the union /

> workers and Hotel management alike, in her hugs. Folks tried to post

> articles that seemed slandering of Amma at AmmaBhakti just before her

> visit, and I contacted the posters to ask them to provide more actual

> information, rather than opinion, but no one did; one message came

> back. Also, I have noticed that when spiritual leaders come around,

> such as the Dalai Lama to San Francisco a couple months ago, outside

> were folks handing out fliers for their issues, causes and

> advertisements, and they had put a picture of the Dalai Lama on the

> fliers, just like one I was sent to by a link someone tried to post re

> the union and workers issue.

>

> I did not know about the issue before this, and I still don't really

> know about it, because I was more concerned at Amma being targeted.

> Ok, the union / workers saw an opportunity for publicity of their

> issue. Yet, because of the slander and judgment of Amma, I haven't

> really learned about the issue because I don't appreciate anyone

> trying to bully others, and all this flap seemed to be an attempt to

> bully Amma into doing what others thought she should. As for workers

> who may have wanted to get hugged, I would want to hear from someone

> who actually tried to go and was prevented before I would accept that

> the workers were not allowed to enter the hotel, or receive a hug from

> Amma. In fact, if that were the case, I am certain that Amma would

> have given them darshan outside, if that is what they wanted, rather

> than to exploit Amma for their cause.

>

> Namaste,

> Mary Ann

>

> Ammachi , " n2amma " <a1driane@> wrote:

> >

> > This was very wonderful to read and thanks for sharing. Seeing Amma

> > is free to everyone and of course,the things sold are all for charity

> ...

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting this as it provided the information about the

program since there was a 2 yr contract at the hotel and untold money

would have been lost to M.A. Center with a change in venue (from the

story in the link). Can't wait to see Amma soon!

 

Adriane

 

Ammachi , " Mary Ann " <buttercookie61 wrote:

>

> I appreciate reading the posts on this site about this topic, too. I

> just saw another article in the The Argonaut in Santa Monica

quoting a

> few local religious leaders who criticized Amma. If anyone is

> interested, here is a link to that: http://tinyurl.com/2o29en

>

> I was actually considering this to be analogous to a spiritual

leader

> who does not take sides in a war, but would minister to both sides,

> and I was surprised that other religious folks were criticizing

Amma.

> I don't have an opinion on what Amma should or shouldn't have done,

> really, and am a bit surprised that folks would expect her to do

> something other than what was planned. Unlike Gandhi, she's not a

> political protester. While offering love and compassion and

Universal

> Motherhood is itself contrary to the powers that be, Amma isn't

going

> on hunger strikes or getting herself arrested for disobeying laws

out

> of civil protest; she's offering hugs.

>

> I consider Amma's annual visits as providing energy for my growth

and

> work in the world, too, and she would provide it to the union /

> workers and Hotel management alike, in her hugs. Folks tried to post

> articles that seemed slandering of Amma at AmmaBhakti just before

her

> visit, and I contacted the posters to ask them to provide more

actual

> information, rather than opinion, but no one did; one message came

> back. Also, I have noticed that when spiritual leaders come around,

> such as the Dalai Lama to San Francisco a couple months ago, outside

> were folks handing out fliers for their issues, causes and

> advertisements, and they had put a picture of the Dalai Lama on the

> fliers, just like one I was sent to by a link someone tried to post

re

> the union and workers issue.

>

> I did not know about the issue before this, and I still don't really

> know about it, because I was more concerned at Amma being targeted.

> Ok, the union / workers saw an opportunity for publicity of their

> issue. Yet, because of the slander and judgment of Amma, I haven't

> really learned about the issue because I don't appreciate anyone

> trying to bully others, and all this flap seemed to be an attempt to

> bully Amma into doing what others thought she should. As for workers

> who may have wanted to get hugged, I would want to hear from someone

> who actually tried to go and was prevented before I would accept

that

> the workers were not allowed to enter the hotel, or receive a hug

from

> Amma. In fact, if that were the case, I am certain that Amma would

> have given them darshan outside, if that is what they wanted, rather

> than to exploit Amma for their cause.

>

> Namaste,

> Mary Ann

>

> Ammachi , " n2amma " <a1driane@> wrote:

> >

> > This was very wonderful to read and thanks for sharing. Seeing

Amma

> > is free to everyone and of course,the things sold are all for

charity

> ...

>