Guest guest Posted December 3, 2001 Report Share Posted December 3, 2001 Hi, I'm new here. My name is John and I just saw Amma for the first time last week in Ann Arbor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2001 Report Share Posted December 3, 2001 Welcome John! Perhaps you received a darshan token from me! Tell us all more about your experience meeting Amma, how you heard about it, etc. we love such stories. the more detail, the better. affectionately, kenna > "John Defever" <johndefever > Ammachi > Mon, 03 Dec 2001 22:52:49 -0000 > Ammachi > Hello > > Hi, > I'm new here. My name is John and I just saw Amma for the first > time last week in Ann Arbor. > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > Ammachi > > > Your use of is subject to > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2001 Report Share Posted December 4, 2001 Kenna, Thank you. If it was you that I received the token from, I apologize for what I thought when I saw the number on it. Just kidding. Since you asked about my experience prepare yourself for the most uninteresting Amma story you have ever read... I've been involved in the "guru scene" for a few years so of course I had heard of her. A couple of years ago I became more interested and read a couple of books about her. Last year I almost went to see her in Ann Arbor but didn't. And this year I finally did. I went on Tuesday and it was nice. And then I went on Thursday and received a mantra. Since then I've been reading this group from message #1 and practicing my mantra and meditation. I also want to hook up with the group in Ann Arbor. Since I'm new, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have regarding my practice. Feel free to e-mail me. Thanks for asking, john --- Kenna <kenna wrote: > Welcome John! Perhaps you received a darshan token > from me! Tell us all more > about your experience meeting Amma, how you heard > about it, etc. we love > such stories. the more detail, the better. > > affectionately, > > kenna > > > "John Defever" <johndefever > > Ammachi > > Mon, 03 Dec 2001 22:52:49 -0000 > > Ammachi > > Hello > > > > Hi, > > I'm new here. My name is John and I just saw Amma > for the first > > time last week in Ann Arbor. > > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > > Ammachi > > > > > > Your use of is subject to > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Sponsor > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > Ammachi > > > Your use of is subject to > > > Buy the perfect holiday gifts at Shopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2001 Report Share Posted December 4, 2001 I thought I might share this story of the "good old days" with the list. I first met Amma in 1987 when I had just completed high school. Amma had come to Madras (India) - there was no Ashram in Madras and she stayed at the house of my sister's classmate. I had gone with ny parents who had heard of her from some relatives. Amma was in a small romm and there were about 20 people around her. I remember that she sang some Bhajans, gave Darshan and had plenty of time to speak to everybody. In the evenings Amma would have a Bhajan program at some of the temples in the neighborhood where there would be hours of captivating Bhajans. It still makes me wonder at those days when there were about 20 people to see Amma and no tokens ! NamaShivaya Girish _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2001 Report Share Posted December 5, 2001 Dear John, It is difficult to say exactly what another's spiritual practice should be. For myself, my 'for real' spiritual practice or sadhana began when I took the mantra. Growing up Catholic it was the easiest spiritual practice and still is. It's something I can do anytime - walking to the subway, in the shower, while preparing dinner, when stopped at a red light, in times of stress. The Name of God clears the mind from excess thoughts which tend to hold me in their grip. The bhajans or spiritual music were also relatively easy for me to catch on to - particularly the ones containing more Sanskrit in them, since I had studied Sanskrit spiritual words as part of my lessons from another guru. The bhajans in Malayalam (the language of the state in India where Mother is from) were more difficult for me at first. After 5 years following Mother, I still deeply love the bhajans. Beyond that there is meditation and seva or selfless service. Some people find themselves more attracted to these two practices and not as much to the bhajans or the mantra japa. I have gotten a great deal out of doing seva but I must admit meditation is still hard for me to adhere to, especially since I work full-time and find it hard to fit in the time. If you read books associated with Mother (you can view the titles at the website of her California ashram at www.ammachi.org, they will tell you which practices others have done, and which ones Mother recommends. You can also see what other devotees in your area have to say, or what people on this list might have to recommend. My two cents, Amritanand (Harry) McCart San Francisco John Defever [johndefever] Tuesday, December 04, 2001 4:12 PM Ammachi Re: Hello Kenna, Thank you. If it was you that I received the token from, I apologize for what I thought when I saw the number on it. Just kidding. Since you asked about my experience prepare yourself for the most uninteresting Amma story you have ever read... I've been involved in the "guru scene" for a few years so of course I had heard of her. A couple of years ago I became more interested and read a couple of books about her. Last year I almost went to see her in Ann Arbor but didn't. And this year I finally did. I went on Tuesday and it was nice. And then I went on Thursday and received a mantra. Since then I've been reading this group from message #1 and practicing my mantra and meditation. I also want to hook up with the group in Ann Arbor. Since I'm new, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have regarding my practice. Feel free to e-mail me. Thanks for asking, john --- Kenna <kenna wrote: > Welcome John! Perhaps you received a darshan token > from me! Tell us all more > about your experience meeting Amma, how you heard > about it, etc. we love > such stories. the more detail, the better. > > affectionately, > > kenna > > > "John Defever" <johndefever > > Ammachi > > Mon, 03 Dec 2001 22:52:49 -0000 > > Ammachi > > Hello > > > > Hi, > > I'm new here. My name is John and I just saw Amma > for the first > > time last week in Ann Arbor. > > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > > Ammachi > > > > > > Your use of is subject to > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Sponsor > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > Ammachi > > > Your use of is subject to > > > Buy the perfect holiday gifts at Shopping. Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! Ammachi Your use of is subject to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2004 Report Share Posted February 7, 2004 Namah Shivaya to all, This is a very thrilling story from the archives. Kalika, Hi from the atom! Very inspiring. If you are still on the list, can you tell us more :-) Amme Sharanam, ota Ammachi, "kalika flores" <kalika108@h...> wrote: > Dear Raven, > you emailed the group I just wrote you back personally but if you are more > comfortable going through the group we can do that. > > You know Toronto isn't so far from where Amma is now. If Jesus were alive > and in N.Y. or Boston would you go? There is a really sweet group of Amma > devotees in Toronto. I am kind of busy today so I am going to send you a > story that I already had typed for one of Amma's magazine. This story > actually took place before I met Amma. I was only 16. It's a good example > though of how She knows our every thought and prayer. I invited the rest of > you to share your miracle stories with Raven and the rest of us because as > you know, one never tires of hearing of Her sweet bliss and grace! I will > tell you more recent stories when I have more time to type. But in answer to > your other question my more recent stories are still miracle stories but > Amma and I have now a different relationship as it has matured. So my more > recent stories are much more about how She is removing my ego. > > There is a few questions that I have still on her page it mentioned > that you have to Pick a Guru to pray to and obey. > > > You know often this type of thing happens around Amma. It is fortunate and > unfortunate that Her words are written. Fortunate because we will all always > have them and unfortunate because Amma teaches each individual differently > She may say one thing to you and another to me because our situations, our > egos, everything is different about us. I have also heard that She said the > Guru picks you. My advice is don't get caught in the snare of the words go > straight to Her HEART and know Her there. Most of the words written were > written many years ago to teach those who are now Swami's and may not be the > advice She would give householders today. > > Well Love here's my story: > > WAS THERE EVER A TIME WHEN AMMA WAS NOT IN OUR LIVES? > By Kalika > Flores > > My story begins in 1972, when I was 16. My husband (who at that time > was my boyfriend) and I were coming home late from a concert. We lived way > up in the mountains, and it was snowing very hard. The road had at least a > foot of snow on it and we were in a Volkswagen which did not have much > clearance. Since it was late, probably around 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning, > there were no other cars on the road. This was also long before cell phones > and there were no houses in the area. We were truly stranded in the middle > of nowhere. We had another couple with us and the two guys began to bounce > on the back bumper, for more traction, as I attempted to drive the car. It > was clear the car wasn't going anywhere. This is when I became aware of the > seriousness of the situation. I realized that we could actually freeze to > death here. We didn't have anything you should have in your car to be > prepared for a situation like this. > Luckily even though I was your average simi-wild teenager, I had an > ingrained knowingness to sing to God everyday, and to ask Him for what ever > I needed. So that night was no exception. I said a prayer, I said "Please > don't let us freeze to death here." > About 10-15 minutes later a guy and a girl came in a green Toyota > Landcrusier. The guy was yelling out the window "Hey Ham and Eggers." They > helped us to pull our car off the road and took us back to their cabin. We > spent the night and the next morning, had the best whole wheat pancakes for > breakfast. After which they took us back to our car. By this time the plows > had gone by and we were able to drive home. This story was always like one > of those angel stories where we never saw them again even though I always > wanted to thank them. > > [ [ ] > > We met Amma in 1990, and in 1991 I gave her my cigarettes (as an added > note I never smoked again, its really the only way to quit for those who are > interested.) That was one of the best darshans, She was so excited, She was > hugging me and kissing me. It was wonderful. In 1992 I was wishing we could > move to Sante Fe so we could go to their satsang. But I really love where I > live so I was torn. Then the idea came to start a satsang in Colorado. I was > secretly hoping when I asked Amma She would get as excited as She did the > last year when I gave her the cigarettes. This was not the case She just > said very matter-of-fact "Yes if you wish." > I told the M.A. Center that Amma had given her blessing for us to start > a satsang group and they sent me a paper on how to run it. We had no > musicians so our bhajans were tapes. We were a small group, but the love and > dedication was great. I no longer felt alone in my love for Mother. > One day I was feeling like the little finger that the hand doesn't know > exists. I was in Denver and I just had this passing thought, I couldn't even > call it a prayer, I thought " Mother please connect us to your inner core > group I don't know how to do it." That night I received a call....the guy > on the other end of the phone said "Hi my name is Mark, I'm from the Sante > Fe satsang group. We are here in Colorado visiting a friend and skiing. We > were wondering if you wanted to get together and play bhajans tomorrow > night?" I said yes, of course, and we set it up for the following night. > The next morning I was meditating and I began to think of these people > who were coming over tonight. Tears began to roll down my cheeks. Were > these tears of gratitude to Amma for answering my thoughts or more? I was > very excited about this night. > Mark had not planned this night so he had left his harmonium in Sante > Fe, but the friend they were staying with had a keyboard. This was so much > nicer then the listening to tapes which is what we were use to doing. The > live music was so wonderful. Mark and his wife Dawn had told us they were > going to India for the first time in December. I so much wanted to go also, > but it was not yet my time. > > After they left I wrote Mother a thank you letter (which I never > mailed.) I said thank you Mother so much for such a wonder night. And thank > you for letting us meet Mark and Dawn. The music was so wonderful, but > now..... (there's always another desire) we need a harmonium so we can have > live music at satsang. > Mark and Dawn called after they returned from India. Mark said that he > had bought a harmonium. He went on to explain that the first time Amma had > come there was a mix up with the harmoniums and the one Amma and the Swami's > had brought had been left behind. He said that Amritapriya loaned it to him > to learn on and since he had bought one he would check with her and see if > it would be okay for me to borrow. Amritapriya graciously consented to > loaning it to me so we planned a trip to Sante Fe. > We stayed with Mark and Dawn on this trip. Dawn and I were sitting at > the breakfast table enjoying scones, when she told me she use to live in > Colorado. This has never happened to me before or since, but as she was > talking I saw the main street of Evergreen in front of her face. Evergreen > is a little town close to the one I live in. I thought... Evergreen I wonder > if I knew her, she seems so familiar. Just after thinking this, that night > 20 years ago that we were stranded in the snow flashed in my mind. I think > that girls name was Dawn. While all of this was happening in my mind I > realized that I was spacing out and when I came back to physical reality > Dawn was talking about the winding roads of Connecticut I thought to myself > she said Connecticut not Colorado. So I left it alone. But the thought kept > nagging me, so finally we were standing on their doorstep ready to go back > to Colorado and I asked her "Did you say you use to live in Colorado?" > She said "Yes." > I asked her "What part of Colorado?" > She said "Idledale" > This is a little town just outside Evergreen so I got brave enough to > go on. > I said " I think we spent the night at your house 20 years ago." > Then my husband said "Do you know the Ham and Egger?" > And Dawn said "That's my brother!" > He use to use this term a lot because of a Ham and Egger restaurant he > would go to. The two of them lived together in the cabin in Idledale. > I will leave it up to each reader to answer my question in their own > way. > Was Mother the God I prayed to? > And Dawn the devotee She sent, long before either one of us had ever heard > of Her. I would also like to add.....since I was 16, Amma was only 18 > years old. > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________ __ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2004 Report Share Posted February 9, 2004 Namah Shivaya Atomji: This story would make Stephen King blush. Amma -ites take a few moments and read Kalika's oldie but goodie post below. Sincere thanks and appreciation to One Tiny Atom and Kalika Flores. Truly, George one_tiny_atom <one_tiny_atom wrote: Namah Shivaya to all, This is a very thrilling story from the archives. Kalika, Hi from the atom! Very inspiring. If you are still on the list, can you tell us more :-) Amme Sharanam, ota Ammachi, "kalika flores" <kalika108@h...> wrote: > Dear Raven, > you emailed the group I just wrote you back personally but if you are more > comfortable going through the group we can do that. > > You know Toronto isn't so far from where Amma is now. If Jesus were alive > and in N.Y. or Boston would you go? There is a really sweet group of Amma > devotees in Toronto. I am kind of busy today so I am going to send you a > story that I already had typed for one of Amma's magazine. This story > actually took place before I met Amma. I was only 16. It's a good example > though of how She knows our every thought and prayer. I invited the rest of > you to share your miracle stories with Raven and the rest of us because as > you know, one never tires of hearing of Her sweet bliss and grace! I will > tell you more recent stories when I have more time to type. But in answer to > your other question my more recent stories are still miracle stories but > Amma and I have now a different relationship as it has matured. So my more > recent stories are much more about how She is removing my ego. > > There is a few questions that I have still on her page it mentioned > that you have to Pick a Guru to pray to and obey. > > > You know often this type of thing happens around Amma. It is fortunate and > unfortunate that Her words are written. Fortunate because we will all always > have them and unfortunate because Amma teaches each individual differently > She may say one thing to you and another to me because our situations, our > egos, everything is different about us. I have also heard that She said the > Guru picks you. My advice is don't get caught in the snare of the words go > straight to Her HEART and know Her there. Most of the words written were > written many years ago to teach those who are now Swami's and may not be the > advice She would give householders today. > > Well Love here's my story: > > WAS THERE EVER A TIME WHEN AMMA WAS NOT IN OUR LIVES? > By Kalika > Flores > > My story begins in 1972, when I was 16. My husband (who at that time > was my boyfriend) and I were coming home late from a concert. We lived way > up in the mountains, and it was snowing very hard. The road had at least a > foot of snow on it and we were in a Volkswagen which did not have much > clearance. Since it was late, probably around 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning, > there were no other cars on the road. This was also long before cell phones > and there were no houses in the area. We were truly stranded in the middle > of nowhere. We had another couple with us and the two guys began to bounce > on the back bumper, for more traction, as I attempted to drive the car. It > was clear the car wasn't going anywhere. This is when I became aware of the > seriousness of the situation. I realized that we could actually freeze to > death here. We didn't have anything you should have in your car to be > prepared for a situation like this. > Luckily even though I was your average simi-wild teenager, I had an > ingrained knowingness to sing to God everyday, and to ask Him for what ever > I needed. So that night was no exception. I said a prayer, I said "Please > don't let us freeze to death here." > About 10-15 minutes later a guy and a girl came in a green Toyota > Landcrusier. The guy was yelling out the window "Hey Ham and Eggers." They > helped us to pull our car off the road and took us back to their cabin. We > spent the night and the next morning, had the best whole wheat pancakes for > breakfast. After which they took us back to our car. By this time the plows > had gone by and we were able to drive home. This story was always like one > of those angel stories where we never saw them again even though I always > wanted to thank them. > > [ [ ] > > We met Amma in 1990, and in 1991 I gave her my cigarettes (as an added > note I never smoked again, its really the only way to quit for those who are > interested.) That was one of the best darshans, She was so excited, She was > hugging me and kissing me. It was wonderful. In 1992 I was wishing we could > move to Sante Fe so we could go to their satsang. But I really love where I > live so I was torn. Then the idea came to start a satsang in Colorado. I was > secretly hoping when I asked Amma She would get as excited as She did the > last year when I gave her the cigarettes. This was not the case She just > said very matter-of-fact "Yes if you wish." > I told the M.A. Center that Amma had given her blessing for us to start > a satsang group and they sent me a paper on how to run it. We had no > musicians so our bhajans were tapes. We were a small group, but the love and > dedication was great. I no longer felt alone in my love for Mother. > One day I was feeling like the little finger that the hand doesn't know > exists. I was in Denver and I just had this passing thought, I couldn't even > call it a prayer, I thought " Mother please connect us to your inner core > group I don't know how to do it." That night I received a call....the guy > on the other end of the phone said "Hi my name is Mark, I'm from the Sante > Fe satsang group. We are here in Colorado visiting a friend and skiing. We > were wondering if you wanted to get together and play bhajans tomorrow > night?" I said yes, of course, and we set it up for the following night. > The next morning I was meditating and I began to think of these people > who were coming over tonight. Tears began to roll down my cheeks. Were > these tears of gratitude to Amma for answering my thoughts or more? I was > very excited about this night. > Mark had not planned this night so he had left his harmonium in Sante > Fe, but the friend they were staying with had a keyboard. This was so much > nicer then the listening to tapes which is what we were use to doing. The > live music was so wonderful. Mark and his wife Dawn had told us they were > going to India for the first time in December. I so much wanted to go also, > but it was not yet my time. > > After they left I wrote Mother a thank you letter (which I never > mailed.) I said thank you Mother so much for such a wonder night. And thank > you for letting us meet Mark and Dawn. The music was so wonderful, but > now..... (there's always another desire) we need a harmonium so we can have > live music at satsang. > Mark and Dawn called after they returned from India. Mark said that he > had bought a harmonium. He went on to explain that the first time Amma had > come there was a mix up with the harmoniums and the one Amma and the Swami's > had brought had been left behind. He said that Amritapriya loaned it to him > to learn on and since he had bought one he would check with her and see if > it would be okay for me to borrow. Amritapriya graciously consented to > loaning it to me so we planned a trip to Sante Fe. > We stayed with Mark and Dawn on this trip. Dawn and I were sitting at > the breakfast table enjoying scones, when she told me she use to live in > Colorado. This has never happened to me before or since, but as she was > talking I saw the main street of Evergreen in front of her face. Evergreen > is a little town close to the one I live in. I thought... Evergreen I wonder > if I knew her, she seems so familiar. Just after thinking this, that night > 20 years ago that we were stranded in the snow flashed in my mind. I think > that girls name was Dawn. While all of this was happening in my mind I > realized that I was spacing out and when I came back to physical reality > Dawn was talking about the winding roads of Connecticut I thought to myself > she said Connecticut not Colorado. So I left it alone. But the thought kept > nagging me, so finally we were standing on their doorstep ready to go back > to Colorado and I asked her "Did you say you use to live in Colorado?" > She said "Yes." > I asked her "What part of Colorado?" > She said "Idledale" > This is a little town just outside Evergreen so I got brave enough to > go on. > I said " I think we spent the night at your house 20 years ago." > Then my husband said "Do you know the Ham and Egger?" > And Dawn said "That's my brother!" > He use to use this term a lot because of a Ham and Egger restaurant he > would go to. The two of them lived together in the cabin in Idledale. > I will leave it up to each reader to answer my question in their own > way. > Was Mother the God I prayed to? > And Dawn the devotee She sent, long before either one of us had ever heard > of Her. I would also like to add.....since I was 16, Amma was only 18 > years old. > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________ __ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! Ammachi/ Ammachi Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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