Guest guest Posted September 14, 2007 Report Share Posted September 14, 2007 I seem to recall a quote from Amma in which she says that in speaking to spiritual novices, the guru will talk of annihilation of the ego and generally disparage the relative, but that speaking to more advanced souls she/he will express the truth that nothing is annihilated or need be shunned, rather, that the “small” ego just becomes part of a much larger whole, and the world is perceived in terms of the Self. Can anyone dig up that quote for me? Version: 7.5.487 / Virus Database: 269.13.18/1007 - Release 9/13/2007 9:48 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 Namaste Rick, Sorry don't have quotes handy. But, here is what I recall. This is also what some other Advaita teachers say; Francis Lucille for instance. That Awakening is a two step process. Because, the identification with body, mind and world is so strong, the first step is to reject everything as not real; that is, to witness it as an illusion, not " I " not my real true Self. This is called neti, neti( not that, not that ) Then, when the ego is fully surrendered( annihilated ), one knows oneself as the Self( Infinite Awareness ). The second step is that there is nothing to reject, but to love and to serve. Amma repeatedly says that Mahatmas " are " egoless. But, that the Self can create a new functional ego whenever and as needed to scare the Big Egos. Also, Amma says something like this: Forget the world, so that God can be remembered. Because, when the world is remembered, God is forgotten. Unless, one is strong enough to remember God always. But, there is a caution from some teachers, including Amma's story about the great sage Vishvamitra how one can attain a very, very powerful mind due to intense sadhana, and think one is fully enlightened while yet retaining ones ego. In other words, the danger is, as I understand it, to try and avoid the first step and to think that the small ego can be enlightened. This also seems to explains why so many spiritual teachers fall. A very good book that can perhaps clarify some of this for you is: " No Mind, I Am the Self " by David Godman on the lives and teachings of Swamy Lakshmana and his disciple Saradamma. Lakshmana was a direct disciple of Ramana Maharshi. It seems Amma does not disagree with Ramana Maharshi, that first the ego must go. " To become a hero, first become a zero. " It seems, it does not matter whether one is a novice or advanced, ego is the problem. And Amma warns of a " subtle spiritual ego " for " advanced sadhaks " recommending to always be a " beginner. " Most of this can be found in " Awaken Children " Vol 7. Hope this helps. Amma Bless, amarnath Ammachi , " Rick Archer " <rick wrote: > > I seem to recall a quote from Amma in which she says that in speaking to > spiritual novices, the guru will talk of annihilation of the ego and > generally disparage the relative, but that speaking to more advanced souls > she/he will express the truth that nothing is annihilated or need be > shunned, rather, that the " small " ego just becomes part of a much larger > whole, and the world is perceived in terms of the Self. Can anyone dig up > that quote for me? > > > > > Version: 7.5.487 / Virus Database: 269.13.18/1007 - Release Date: 9/13/2007 > 9:48 PM > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2007 Report Share Posted September 18, 2007 Hi Rick, Here is a story I recollect by Ron G. When he was directing the building of AIMS, he was working closely with Amma and Swamis. He noticed that Amma sometimes would scold the Swamis but not him. When it was explained to him that Amma did that to wittle down the egos of the Swamis to help them surrender more, he felt sad that he was not " advanced " enough to get Amma's scoldings. Whereas for general public Amma would normally talk about Seva, Love, Compassion, Devotion, Japa, Meditation. Just my 2cents. Amma Bless, amarnath Ammachi , " Rick Archer " <rick wrote: > > I seem to recall a quote from Amma in which she says that in speaking to > spiritual novices, the guru will talk of annihilation of the ego and > generally disparage the relative, but that speaking to more advanced souls > she/he will express the truth that nothing is annihilated or need be > shunned, rather, that the " small " ego just becomes part of a much larger > whole, and the world is perceived in terms of the Self. Can anyone dig up > that quote for me? > > > > > Version: 7.5.487 / Virus Database: 269.13.18/1007 - Release Date: 9/13/2007 > 9:48 PM > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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