Ammachi's annual visit/Sri Ramana

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends:

 

Eleven years ago I came to Bryant to teach. The summer

following, Ammachi held her first retreat on campus.

It is one of the several major retreats in the U.S.

lasting from Thursday evening to Sunday morning.

 

Every year for the last 10 years the Ammachi group has

come and they are here again. Even though not part of

the group, I go and enjoy the Indian food and

sometimes the Kirtan.

 

A nice group of devotees to mingle with. They usually

form lines at night and get on their knees for a

chance to hug Amma.

 

Many of them ask me if I have had a chance to hug

Ammachi. It is hard to tell them that I don't feel

inclined to get in the line and so forth and come

mostly for food and sometimes the kirtan and the nice

environment. Frankly, I am satisfied hugging my own

Amma (my mother)!

 

In spiritual circles, the balancing act of respecting

others philosophy, gurus and views and at the same

time being true to oneself requires diplomacy and

tact.

 

Sri Ramana was, as I recall, was a master of such

tact. Once someone sought (offered) to initiate the

Sage and Sri Ramana characteristically kept quiet.

Later when the person insisted, Sri Ramana relying on

a scriptural text mentioned that those living within a

certain distance of Arunachala did not require formal

initiation and thus the matter came to a harmonious

end.

 

Love to all

Harsha

 

 

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/join