Guest guest Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 These are some selected excerpts from it (not Big Swami's words, but added by people along the chain), with names and email addy's removed for privacy. Attached to the email was a photo of Balaji, an incarnation/form of Vishnu(?) which is one red flag, since you'd think it would be a Devi form. There was no distinguishable message from Big Swami in the email that I could tell, other than referencing the 'rare' photo. When responding to this, please cut-and-paste only the relevant text, it's a bit long. tom -- A loving embrace to all of you. Maybe this is just another hoax, but I went to get Sri Balaji's darshan 4 times by now and can asure you, the idol as such has a lot of shakti. Well, we'll see. -- Do not usually forward these, but Swami Amritwarupananda, Amma's Swami sent this(see below), so must be some value to viewing the photo. What to do? Send on to 7 persons. Enjoy the photo. May Amma's Grace shower us all. -- Namah Shivaya.....When I read that Big Swamiji was one of the participants in this chain, I figured....well....yes...do it. Also when you see such a sacred photo, you can only have respect. -- Really, I don't usually send FWDs, however, Look at the end, at the photo from India. FW: Tirupati Balaji Rare Photo : DO NOT BREAK THE CHAIN -- As a rule I do not participate in chain emails, but I could not refrain from sending this auspicious sacred photo from India. The idea is to send it to 7 people. Swami Amritaswarupananda was one of the participants a few levels back. -- You were all selected because you all are good-natured and I hope you won't be TOO upset by my forwarding this. Please forgive my superstitious nature. If you scroll way down to the bottom, you'll notice that Big Swami forwarded this.....to exactly 7 people. I really hate this type of email, but what to do?!! -- This mail has been sent to you for Good Luck. Pass it on to 7 persons or 21 persons as per your wish and you will receive Good News within 24 hours! DO NOT BREAK THE CHAIN OR YOU WILL BE HOUNDED BY BAD LUCK. > > Ammachi , " tom " <tomgull@> wrote: > > > For Big Swami to send out a chain email (the Balaji one) is 110% > > inappropriate and Amma should take punitive measures to teach him a > > lesson. The 10% extra is for being a senior disciple whom people will > > follow as an example. > > > Namah Shivaya Tom, > I haven't seen the " Balaji Chain email " you are talking about. Was > that forwared to this list recently? If so I missed it. Where can I > find it? > thanks > Gopinath > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Ammachi , " tom " <tomgull wrote: > > These are some selected excerpts from it (not Big Swami's words, but > added by people along the chain), with names and email addy's removed > for privacy. > > Attached to the email was a photo of Balaji, an incarnation/form of > Vishnu(?) which is one red flag, since you'd think it would be a Devi > form. There was no distinguishable message from Big Swami in the > email that I could tell, other than referencing the 'rare' photo. > > When responding to this, please cut-and-paste only the relevant text, > it's a bit long. > > tom I have seen that chain-mail years ago from various friends. That mail is going around the world for a LOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGG TIME now ..... I still have not see an email from Swami sending it out, but since I know it did not originate from him and he is merely playing " pass the parcel " I am not too concerned about it. The chain mail was for BALAJI ... so why would it have a DEVI form? And why would it be a " red flag " ? Are you so conscious of the sex of the gods? i wonder why.... splitting between Vishnu and Devi sounds weird to me .... examine your own ideas of divinity. Jai Ma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 The excerpts show that people ordinarily reluctant to forward chain mails, did so because of the appearance of his participation and/or origination. Isn't Big Swami a devotee of Devi? Contrary to popular belief among devotees, Sakta philosophy is not shared by Vaishnavas, Shaivites, etc. Just because Amma had devotion to Krishna, doesn't mean she's in line with traditional Vaishnavism, and that tradition should be respected. As is your right to, just like saying Amma is Christ, etc, you should respect Christians who believe otherwise and not necessarily see them as ignorant (ie, looking down on them). Red flag as in 'hoax' evidence. A Bhakti Yogi would have a preferred form. Even devotion to a formless God would need to have some sort of singular focus, Amma has implied this to me personally, that you'd need a singular focus for murthi reasons. tom Ammachi , " manoj_menon " <manoj_menon wrote: > The chain mail was for BALAJI ... so why would it have a DEVI form? > > And why would it be a " red flag " ? > > Are you so conscious of the sex of the gods? i wonder why.... > splitting between Vishnu and Devi sounds weird to me .... examine your > own ideas of divinity. > > Jai Ma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 I can't speak for Big Swami, but my understanding of Amma is that She is ALL in ALL. Did she not manifest Krishna Bhava earlier? Is she not Krishna? Is Krishna not She? From what I have heard (not confirmeD), Big Swami is a BIG Krishna devotee.... that he sees Amma as Krishna... I have heard it said that most senior Swamis share that outlook too. Also, contrary to what you perceive, my perception is that Amma's org is DEFINITELY not SAKTA, even though the DIVINE MOTHER is so strongly present. Because of the healthy ammalgamation of all deities (Devi, Krishna, Shiva, Ganesha etc), I would classify Amma's org as SMARTHA. But AMMA is AMMA ... unique in many senses from other established paths. 1. She gives lenient mantra initiation. (big no-no in traditional SAKTA paths). 2. She allows every one to chant Lalita Sahasranama (I was about to write LS!). Sakta path requires strict initiation into Sri Vidya before this and other Devi chants (including Devi Mahatmyam) are taken up. 3. Much of elaborate formal worship is traded for expanding the feeling in the heart (this is largely true for householders although each one is free to include more as is his inclination; ALSO, this could be different for the disciples in the ashram though) With Amma, one truly senses the changes after several years of association ... subtle underlying sense of happiness in all situations. Ultimately, Amma is about Vedanta .. She is beyond form and asking us to come there through any form. For Big Swami to send a mail with a BALAJI photo is his choice - maybe choice of the moment as appropriate for that mail; it is not sacrilegious, I think. Jai Ma! Ammachi , " tom " <tomgull wrote: > > The excerpts show that people ordinarily reluctant to forward chain > mails, did so because of the appearance of his participation and/or > origination. > > Isn't Big Swami a devotee of Devi? Contrary to popular belief among > devotees, Sakta philosophy is not shared by Vaishnavas, Shaivites, > etc. Just because Amma had devotion to Krishna, doesn't mean she's in > line with traditional Vaishnavism, and that tradition should be > respected. As is your right to, just like saying Amma is Christ, etc, > you should respect Christians who believe otherwise and not > necessarily see them as ignorant (ie, looking down on them). > > Red flag as in 'hoax' evidence. A Bhakti Yogi would have a preferred > form. Even devotion to a formless God would need to have some sort > of singular focus, Amma has implied this to me personally, that you'd > need a singular focus for murthi reasons. > > tom > > Ammachi , " manoj_menon " <manoj_menon@> wrote: > > > The chain mail was for BALAJI ... so why would it have a DEVI form? > > > > And why would it be a " red flag " ? > > > > Are you so conscious of the sex of the gods? i wonder why.... > > splitting between Vishnu and Devi sounds weird to me .... examine your > > own ideas of divinity. > > > > Jai Ma! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 A Letter to Tom Namaste I hope you can hear the voice spoken from my heart. I do not understand the ongoing condemnation of Swamiji? It is obvious from your writing you have spent much time acquiring knowledge about Hinduism. I have learned a few things from just reading and have learned some information i was not aware before, thank you. But overall i have a hard time hearing you because of how you express yourself in relationship. I do not have the desire to accuse or match your energy, nor i can i see how your style is helping you? In my world respect is a Big Word and believe it is an adult word. I would like to share a story with you to ask you to consider a different level of this discussion. " When i was in pre-school, i had a Choctaw/Cherokee Grandfather that taught me that i only needed to count to 3. He would practice me, by taking my hands and pointing skyward and say, " One is for Thou " , " Two is for me " as he pointed to my heart, and " Three is for All " as he circled our arms in a circle. Really simple yet not so simple stuff. I entered first grade and had a first grade teacher that would line the kids up in the front of the class and for each day they could not count to 100 she would give then an additional whop with the paddle. I had it in my head that i only needed to count to 3, and ended up getting whopped for many days. I did eventually learn to count to 100, and have a graduate degree, with a few hours lacking from a Phd. But i walked away from finishing that degree because i knew i needed to return to the basics of learning to count to 3. I relate this story to you, because one of the ways of looking at this is through the lens not of blame, shame, and content, but rather relationship. Is is possible that Amma (Divine Mother's message is one of just trying to teach her children to count to 3?) You express knowledge of Sakta, Smartha, Sri Vidya, Vaishnavism but what are they without right relationship? Is it possible to view Swamiji's email as making a very solid point as a teaching on the number ONE? How are we to be in right relationship with the Divine? How do we show honor to Amma? To the teaching that Amma holds sacred? Is it possible that we are not nearly as advanced as we believe? We live in global world and high tech we do have access to information, but i do not believe we are practicing the basics as shown by the content of these messages back and forth. Here in America we have built our National identity on free speech, and sometimes that declaration can be the open door to revealing what so many in other nations call the " UGLY AMERICAN " . So Tom is it possible that free speech without the grounding in counting to three (right relationship) is not pretty or spiritually honoring of Amma, Self or others. I do not know where Swamiji is in his spiritual development, but is it possible that Amma has him practicing (3) in trying to teach us (1)? Maybe he is not perfect(?), but from what i can see he has 1 and 2 down and is well on the way of 3. I think we all can learn to count to three. After i finished college, i found my self back home and in the local grocery store. Guess, who came walking up to me? Mrs. Mears my first grade teacher. She apologized and told me she was sorry for how she had taught her class and how she had whopped us. She said she did not teach that way any more. It took her a while, but she had learned to count to three. Tom, my final thought is; i do not think Amma, Swamiji, or any other true teacher is going to reveal the in depth spiritual teachings until a devotee masters the basic of 1-2-3. So if Swamiji is not showing you his stuff, perhaps it is because we cannot learn the first number, of honoring the One. Peace be with you, and may we get to three real soon. Be Blessed marci **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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