Guest guest Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Yes, Max's comment is very true because I think what I am describing below is actually my own need for safety. Ammachi , " Mary Ann " <buttercookie61 wrote: > > Interesting to see this topic pop up again. Thanks for the further > clarification. This is again leading me to share my approach to Amma, > and/or what I get from Amma that is meaningful to / for me. > > What I take from Amma is the sense that I am being asked to learn to > determine matters as I go through life, rather than to have someone, > whether Amma, or parents, or anyone else, be the authority that I > resist or follow. I consider that I am being encouraged to allow my > small self's hand to reach out to the hand of the Self in me and go > from there. > > This is why I am appreciative of the work of Dr. Dan Siegel who > co-wrote Parenting from the Inside Out. Dr. Siegel's brain research > shows that brain waves in healthy attachment between parent and child > flow in the same patterns as brain waves generated by meditation. > These waves correspond with more equilibrium in the person, more > resilience, and optimism. His idea of what to call the bringing about > of this healthy connection between self and Self (how I see it) he > called developing mindfulness. > > Someone pointed out the similarity between the Buddhist teachings and > meditation practice of mindfulness to Siegel's work, and now, > unfortunately (in my opinion), those two have united in Siegel's own > thinking, it seems. I actually prefer to keep the Buddhist > teachings/practices and the thousands of years behind them apart from > new discoveries via science because humanity, and where parenting is > concerned, because I consider that we are now developing emotionally > beyond where were as a species when Buddhists started teaching > mindfulness. > > To me Amma is providing the missing piece(s) I need so that the Self > is not a harsh authoritarian, but someone I can reach out to when I > feel small, someone capable of reaching out in compassion when I act > small, and also, someone in me who is the Self, whom I can > embrace/allow to embrace me. > > Now I am certain if others have responses to all of this, I might feel > a bit of knocking and pinging But this is just where I am coming > from on my journey in life, and with Amma. > > I welcome others' sharing, and hope that my offering is not felt as my > treading on anyone else's very special view of, or relationship to or > with Amma, or spirituality in general. If I feel knocking and pinging > inside, I will practice courage to be with those feelings > > > > Ammachi , Max Dashu <maxdashu@> wrote: > > > > I guess if safety is the person's paramount concern, then Amma is not > > going to push them in that way. > > > > I posted not out of feeling protective but based on my own experience > > of hard rocks, of which there have been plenty. I thought it might be > > helpful to others... > > > > Max > > > > >Well, I was talking about people in general in response to someone's > > >post about hard rocks, and the comment that some people are not open > > >and never will be, something like that. I guess utilizing/revealing my > > >own life experience, self-knowledge, and awareness of process subjects > > >me to what are " hard rocks " for me, such as someone disagreeing with > > >my understanding of simply being, which is how I read your post. Did > > >you post out of feeling protective of Amma's methods in response to > > >what I wrote? > > > > > ><Ammachi%40>Ammachi , > > >Max Dashu <maxdashu@> wrote: > > >> > > >> Nobody enjoys the hard rocks treatment but i have to disagree with > > >the below. > > >> > > >> Amma doesn't apply these hard experiences except to push us to > needed > > >> changes which otherwise are resisted with might and main. She isn't > > >> forcing the bud to open, but busting a dead weight off the plant so > > >> it can flower. And she knows what she is doing, and when not to... > > >> She is of course compassionate but also teaches > tyaga/renunciation. I > > >> see this as leading to that. > > >> > > >> Max > > >> > > >> >I know that such treatment would not actually help me learn. If you > > >> >have read any books > > >> >on how children learn, they need to feel safe with others, and in > > >> >their environments. Such > > >> >safety is NOT something we all are fortunate enough to grow up > with, > > >> >and instead we > > >> >become conditioned to shutting down rather than taking in. Until > > >> >that safety is established > > >> >and the child/adult can begin to relax and experience the parent as > > >> >genuinely loving, > > >> >deeper learning cannot take place. Without this bridge, " hard > rocks " > > >> >are just more abuse. > > >> >To automatically assume " hard rocks " are a better way to convey > > >> >lessons, or that those > > >> >who need gentleness " can't take it " is misguided. (How is Amma's > > >> >message of love and > > >> >compassion something someone cannot take?) > > >> > > > >> >Amma waits patiently outside the door, she does not push the door > > >> >open; life does not > > >> >force a bud to open. > > >> > > >> -- > > >> Max Dashu > > >> Suppressed Histories Archives > > >> > <http://www.suppressedhistories.net>http://www.suppressedhistories.net > > >> > > >> New: Women's Power DVD > > >> > > > >><http://www.suppressedhistories.net/womenspowerdvd.html>http://www.suppressedh\ istories.net/womenspowerdvd.html > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Max Dashu > > Suppressed Histories Archives > > http://www.suppressedhistories.net > > > > New: Women's Power DVD > > http://www.suppressedhistories.net/womenspowerdvd.html > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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