Response to first discussion question

[Guest guest]

First Discussion Question:

 

1. Many different religions say; " You shall know the truth, and the

Truth shall set you free. " As an Amma devotee what is setting you free?

Dear Amma Family ~ I am actually glad that marci asked this question because

it gave me a reason to think about what can, does, is setting me free. I

have been so caught up in family drama (again), worries about my health ... I

feel like I have been through a ten year " dark night of the soul, " and the light

shining at the end of the tunnel was Amma.

 

So what seems to be freeing me right now is Amma, first through reconnection

to Her via this group, through reconnection to the japa of my Amma mantra,

through seeing Her and hearing Her songs on YouTube, and through re-focusing

myself Ammawards. But what am I being freed from? Partially, I am being freed

from being over concerned with my body. My illness simply is. What works best

is if I accept it, honor the body temple the illness resides in, and take

care of the body without having it take over all my thoughts and time. I am

being freed from worrying too much about my relationship, renewed with my

hubby,

and by focusing on his good points and his love for me, a love I have no

doubt that Amma was keeping alive in our hearts.

 

An interesting thing is the way Amma refers so much to the Ocean ... She

sees it as a deep representation of the Divine. In another context, I was being

taught to think in this way ... the ocean of objects and relationships, and

how troubling they were. The ocean, which I have always loved, didn't feel

quite right to me as a reference to what binds us; I have always thought of it,

and of water, as a metaphor for diving deep into the Divine, drinking from

the well of the Divine, etc. And now, where I am in Massachusetts, I am only

about an hour away from the Ocean. The first thing David did when we got here

was drive me to the ocean so I could take off my shoes and socks and dabble my

feet in it. It was wonderful.

 

And as I write these words, I " see " the many loops of chain around me (like

the ghost of Marley in " A Christmas Carol, " and at the same time as I " see "

them, I see myself simply wriggling them loose and stepping out of them. Can

it possibly be that easy... Jai Ma ~ Linda

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[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

thanks labd for your kind words. . .Amma has graced us all by bringing forth

Her light through so many and like you i really enjoy reading the entries of

so many loving Amma. . . i really like the story you shared. . .and so true.

.. when a little bit makes such a difference. . .

 

was speaking to one of my sisters in Texas yesterday. . .she works with

homeless families. . .she told me of a story of a young Mother that brought her

two small children to a very crowded clinic for indigent families. . .the

staff gave the two small children granola bars. . .because the children had not

had breakfast. . .the little girl about three dropped her's on the floor and

started to pick it up and eat it. . .but the Mom said, " No, you know we do not

eat from the floor and told the little girl to place it in the trash. " . .

..the little brother about four walked over and unwrapped his granola bar and

halved it and handed one to his little sister. . .without the Mother ever

saying a word to him about sharing. . . when my sister told me. . . i

thought---Amma---that one is definitely Amma's child. . .i think one of the

blessings of

Amma is because of Her example we really start to see what love really is. .

..

 

Aum Amriteswaryai Namaha

marci

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[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

So much grace in your response to this question. . .thanks you for

sharing you ongoing Amma transformation with us. . .i am blessed. . .the

deep healing is beautiful. . .i will try to answer this question a bit

later. . .still need to contemplate it. . .once again thank you dear

Amma Sister. . .

 

Aum Amriteswaryai Namaha

 

marci

 

 

Ammachi , nierika wrote:

>

> First Discussion Question:

>

> 1. Many different religions say; " You shall know the truth, and the

> Truth shall set you free. " As an Amma devotee what is setting you

free?

> Dear Amma Family ~ I am actually glad that marci asked this question

because

> it gave me a reason to think about what can, does, is setting me free.

I

> have been so caught up in family drama (again), worries about my

health ... I

> feel like I have been through a ten year " dark night of the soul, " and

the light

> shining at the end of the tunnel was Amma.

>

> So what seems to be freeing me right now is Amma, first through

reconnection

> to Her via this group, through reconnection to the japa of my Amma

mantra,

> through seeing Her and hearing Her songs on YouTube, and through

re-focusing

> myself Ammawards. But what am I being freed from? Partially, I am

being freed

> from being over concerned with my body. My illness simply is. What

works best

> is if I accept it, honor the body temple the illness resides in, and

take

> care of the body without having it take over all my thoughts and time.

I am

> being freed from worrying too much about my relationship, renewed with

my hubby,

> and by focusing on his good points and his love for me, a love I have

no

> doubt that Amma was keeping alive in our hearts.

>

> An interesting thing is the way Amma refers so much to the Ocean ...

She

> sees it as a deep representation of the Divine. In another context, I

was being

> taught to think in this way ... the ocean of objects and

relationships, and

> how troubling they were. The ocean, which I have always loved, didn't

feel

> quite right to me as a reference to what binds us; I have always

thought of it,

> and of water, as a metaphor for diving deep into the Divine, drinking

from

> the well of the Divine, etc. And now, where I am in Massachusetts, I

am only

> about an hour away from the Ocean. The first thing David did when we

got here

> was drive me to the ocean so I could take off my shoes and socks and

dabble my

> feet in it. It was wonderful.

>

> And as I write these words, I " see " the many loops of chain around me

(like

> the ghost of Marley in " A Christmas Carol, " and at the same time as I

" see "

> them, I see myself simply wriggling them loose and stepping out of

them. Can

> it possibly be that easy... Jai Ma ~ Linda

> **************New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your

destination.

> Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out

> (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

marci and linda,

 

I have to admit - the two of you have utterly transformed this board

these last few days with your inspiring messages. I don't have any

answer to the question, but I did want to post something I read by

Peace Pilgrim on how a man was transformed in her presence. More on

her can be found at the following link:

 

http://peacepilgrim.net/book/index.htm#RECOMMENDED

 

 

From Peace Pilgrim's book:

 

" During my travels a saloon-keeper called me into his tavern to give

me some food, and while I was eating he asked, " How do you feel in a

place like this? "

 

" I know that all human beings are God's children, " I replied. " Even

when they are not acting what way, I have faith that they could, and I

love them for what they could be. "

 

As I rose to leave I noticed a man with a drink in his hand was also

on his feet. When he caught my eye he smiled a little, and I smiled at

him. " You smiled at me, " he said in surprise. " I should think you

wouldn't even speak to me but you smiled at me. " I smiled again. " I'm

not here to judge my fellow human beings, " I told him. " I am here to

love and serve. " Suddenly he was kneeling at my feet and saying,

" Everyone else judged me, so I defended myself. You didn't judge me,

so now I judge myself. I'm a no-good worthless sinner! I've been

squandering my money on liquor. I've been mistreating my family. I've

been going from bad to worse! " I put my hand on his shoulder. " You are

God's child, " I said, " and you could act that way. "

 

He looked with disgust at the drink in his hand, and then hurled it

against the bar, shattering the glass. His eyes met mine. " I swear to

you I'll never touch that stuff again, " he exclaimed. " Never! " And

there was a new light in his eyes as he walked through the door with

steady steps.

 

I even know the happy ending to that story. About a year and a half

later I heard from a woman in that town. She said as far as anyone

knew the man kept his promise. He never touched liquor again. He now

has a good job. He is getting along well with his family and has

joined a church.

 

When you approach others in judgment they will be on the defensive.

When you are able to approach them in a kindly, loving manner without

judgment they will tend to judge themselves and be transformed.

 

 

Labd

[Guest guest]

Namaste

 

P.S. Labd. . .one of the main things that turned it around for me was a

few Saturday's ago when you asked about the area around Amritapuri. . .

then received a reply. . . then you responded in with total non-defense.

.. .your response was a ray of light that begin to fill the space. .

..much like the story you shared. . .thanks. . .

 

Aum Amriteswaryai Namaha

 

marci

Ammachi , " labd2929 " <labd2929 wrote:

>

>

> marci and linda,

>

> I have to admit - the two of you have utterly transformed this board

> these last few days with your inspiring messages. I don't have any

> answer to the question, but I did want to post something I read by

> Peace Pilgrim on how a man was transformed in her presence. More on

> her can be found at the following link:

>

> http://peacepilgrim.net/book/index.htm#RECOMMENDED

>

>

> From Peace Pilgrim's book:

>

> " During my travels a saloon-keeper called me into his tavern to give

> me some food, and while I was eating he asked, " How do you feel in a

> place like this? "

>

> " I know that all human beings are God's children, " I replied. " Even

> when they are not acting what way, I have faith that they could, and I

> love them for what they could be. "

>

> As I rose to leave I noticed a man with a drink in his hand was also

> on his feet. When he caught my eye he smiled a little, and I smiled at

> him. " You smiled at me, " he said in surprise. " I should think you

> wouldn't even speak to me but you smiled at me. " I smiled again. " I'm

> not here to judge my fellow human beings, " I told him. " I am here to

> love and serve. " Suddenly he was kneeling at my feet and saying,

> " Everyone else judged me, so I defended myself. You didn't judge me,

> so now I judge myself. I'm a no-good worthless sinner! I've been

> squandering my money on liquor. I've been mistreating my family. I've

> been going from bad to worse! " I put my hand on his shoulder. " You are

> God's child, " I said, " and you could act that way. "

>

> He looked with disgust at the drink in his hand, and then hurled it

> against the bar, shattering the glass. His eyes met mine. " I swear to

> you I'll never touch that stuff again, " he exclaimed. " Never! " And

> there was a new light in his eyes as he walked through the door with

> steady steps.

>

> I even know the happy ending to that story. About a year and a half

> later I heard from a woman in that town. She said as far as anyone

> knew the man kept his promise. He never touched liquor again. He now

> has a good job. He is getting along well with his family and has

> joined a church.

>

> When you approach others in judgment they will be on the defensive.

> When you are able to approach them in a kindly, loving manner without

> judgment they will tend to judge themselves and be transformed.

>

>

> Labd

>

[Guest guest]

AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA,AMMA................\

.......

 

Ammachi: Mmrivertalk: Thu, 16 Oct 2008

19:46:19 -0400Re: Re: Response to first discussion question

 

 

 

 

Namaste thanks labd for your kind words. . .Amma has graced us all by bringing

forth Her light through so many and like you i really enjoy reading the entries

of so many loving Amma. . . i really like the story you shared. . .and so true.

.. when a little bit makes such a difference. . .was speaking to one of my

sisters in Texas yesterday. . .she works with homeless families. . .she told me

of a story of a young Mother that brought her two small children to a very

crowded clinic for indigent families. . .the staff gave the two small children

granola bars. . .because the children had not had breakfast. . .the little girl

about three dropped her's on the floor and started to pick it up and eat it. .

..but the Mom said, " No, you know we do not eat from the floor and told the

little girl to place it in the trash. " . . .the little brother about four walked

over and unwrapped his granola bar and halved it and handed one to his little

sister. . .without the Mother ever saying a word to him about sharing. . . when

my sister told me. . . i thought---Amma---that one is definitely Amma's child. .

..i think one of the blessings of Amma is because of Her example we really start

to see what love really is. . .Aum Amriteswaryai Namahamarci**************New

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Events, News & more. Try it out

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[Guest guest]

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.....

 

Ammachi: labd2929: Thu, 16 Oct 2008

22:57:15 +0000 Re: Response to first discussion question

 

 

 

 

marci and linda,I have to admit - the two of you have utterly transformed this

boardthese last few days with your inspiring messages. I don't have anyanswer to

the question, but I did want to post something I read byPeace Pilgrim on how a

man was transformed in her presence. More onher can be found at the following

link:http://peacepilgrim.net/book/index.htm#RECOMMENDEDFrom Peace Pilgrim's

book: " During my travels a saloon-keeper called me into his tavern to giveme some

food, and while I was eating he asked, " How do you feel in aplace like this? " " I

know that all human beings are God's children, " I replied. " Evenwhen they are

not acting what way, I have faith that they could, and Ilove them for what they

could be. " As I rose to leave I noticed a man with a drink in his hand was alsoon

his feet. When he caught my eye he smiled a little, and I smiled athim. " You

smiled at me, " he said in surprise. " I should think youwouldn't even speak to me

but you smiled at me. " I smiled again. " I'mnot here to judge my fellow human

beings, " I told him. " I am here tolove and serve. " Suddenly he was kneeling at

my feet and saying, " Everyone else judged me, so I defended myself. You didn't

judge me,so now I judge myself. I'm a no-good worthless sinner! I've

beensquandering my money on liquor. I've been mistreating my family. I'vebeen

going from bad to worse! " I put my hand on his shoulder. " You areGod's child, " I

said, " and you could act that way. " He looked with disgust at the drink in his

hand, and then hurled itagainst the bar, shattering the glass. His eyes met

mine. " I swear toyou I'll never touch that stuff again, " he exclaimed. " Never! "

Andthere was a new light in his eyes as he walked through the door withsteady

steps.I even know the happy ending to that story. About a year and a halflater I

heard from a woman in that town. She said as far as anyoneknew the man kept his

promise. He never touched liquor again. He nowhas a good job. He is getting

along well with his family and hasjoined a church.When you approach others in

judgment they will be on the defensive.When you are able to approach them in a

kindly, loving manner withoutjudgment they will tend to judge themselves and be

transformed. Labd

 

 

 

 

 

_______________

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