Guest guest Posted December 16, 2001 Report Share Posted December 16, 2001 I have a few questions. I don't know if this is the right place to ask (if it isn't, or if there is a better place please let me know). If anyone would answer it would be greatly appreciated. 1. Does Amma ever discuss listening to "inner sounds" during meditation? I hear some and I don't know if it is wise to concentrate on them or ignore them and get back to my mantra (or ma om)? 2. I've read repeatedly the suggestion to repeat my mantra incessantly, however after practicing the "ma om" technique during meditation, I'm more inclined to repeat ma om mentally with my breath during my daily activities.Is this acceptable or should I just use that during meditation? Again, I would be grateful for any help and let me know if this isn't the proper forum for this kind of thing. --- tomgull <tomgull wrote: > First, I'd like to thank you for distinguishing > between SSB and his > devotees, as a person could easily make that mistake > about any guru. > My experience with SSB and his devotees is similar > to what you've > described, but it's 100% the fault of the devotees. > SSB does have > guidelines for his centers but there's plenty of > so-called long-time > devotees that hold unofficial authority over the > centers, by choice > of the members. There's other devotees who claim > to have "inner > guidance" from SSB. A local center here is > unpleasant to go to > because of the musical pride of many of it's members > and their annual > pilgrimage always results in an interview for the > group. Another > unofficial center closed recently because of the > declining > attendance, no doubt attributed to the deceitful and > stubborn ways of > the center's founders. That particular center was > run by > westerners, and although they had introduced many > people to Amma > through the years, didn't do much but spread > ignorance and encourage > the growth of the ego. SSB's discourses are > designed for the masses, > similar to Amma's public discourses which are more > mild than the > advice given in conversations (Awaken Children > series), so as not to > turn away those who are still quite worldly. > > As far as the presence of certain SSB devotees > causing you loss of > peace, health problems and not feeling comfortable > attending satsang > programs, maybe it's a blessing in disguise. > Somewhere I read that > Amma suggests, like a seedling growing close to the > tree, that a > sadhak should spend only 2-3 years in close contact > with their guru, > then should do sadhana in isolation. If you're > doing intense > sadhana and start progressing, you'll realize the > necessity of this. > > Your problems at work, especially being on > Thursdays, the common > night for Sai satsang gatherings, may have more to > do with the > placement (weak or afflicted) Jupiter in your birth > chart. Thursday > is the day of the guru, but also affects career. I > can personally > attest to this because I've had similar problems, > whether it's a sub- > sub-period or a major planetary period. Try doing > a mantra or > other sadhana to Jupiter on Thursdays (I think the > ideal time is a > few hours before sunset), or try a Durga mantra on > that day. > > Don't use bliss as a measurement of peace. Blissful > feelings and > sensations will come and go, so don't get hooked on > it like it were > some sort of narcotic or sign of auspiciousness. > > > > or tried to look gracefully at SSB's picture but > that would be just > > invitation to the bad influences of those local > thugs. > > I've turned my photo of Amma to face the wall plenty > of times. In 4 > years of sacrifice and devotion, my life has only > gotten worse since > I've met her. The so-called "bad-influence" you > claim to get from > SSB devotees, I've gotten from Amma devotees, but I > don't let that > affect my view of Amma, but I also keep my distance > from alot > devotees, especially the ones that only call me to > do seva, but lack > the skills to return a phone call. Last month I > drove 9 hours to > Ann Arbor and didn't even go for darshan, prefering > the peace of the > hotel room to the madness (I had given a ride to > some others). > > >Initially for few weeks I had no idea, I couldn't > believe that SSB > > or His Sanyasin (regular visitor of bay area) > > SSB doesn't have a Sannyasin, this must be one of > those people I've > mentioned, claiming to have the "in" with SSB. > > >>Their influeces have many times kept me away from > Amma satsangs, > etc.. Does anyone have any suggestion, etc? > > I can only suggest moving or finding some other > center or church to > experience a satsang experience, or spend your > Thursdays fasting and > doing sadhana in private. > > > ------------------------ Sponsor > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > Ammachi > > > Your use of is subject to > > > Check out Shopping and Auctions for all of your unique holiday gifts! Buy at or bid at http://auctions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2001 Report Share Posted December 16, 2001 hello, i'll share my expereince and understanding: i hope it help om amma Ammachi, John Defever <johndefever> wrote: > I have a few questions. I don't know if this is the > right place to ask (if it isn't, or if there is a > better place please let me know). If anyone would > answer it would be greatly appreciated. > 1. Does Amma ever discuss listening to "inner > sounds" during meditation? I hear some and I don't > know if it is wise to concentrate on them or ignore > them and get back to my mantra (or ma om)? Just last night, Dayamrita Swamiji was saying (in San Ramon) that sure we all hear our inner voice but one must discriminate the voice and message. One other devotee had same question and I was fooled few times by 'supposedly' inner voice which is not always in sync with the context in hand. > 2. I've read repeatedly the suggestion to repeat my > mantra incessantly, however after practicing the "ma > om" technique during meditation, I'm more inclined to > repeat ma om mentally with my breath during my daily > activities.Is this acceptable or should I just use > that during meditation? That's what I also thought but somehow that inner voice, etc. created slight confusion (and lack of focus) so i try to be totally silent also many times. you are right though, japa should be automatic without having to sit in a place only. > Again, I would be grateful for any help and let me > know if this isn't the proper forum for this kind of > thing. > > > > > > --- tomgull <tomgull@m...> wrote: > > First, I'd like to thank you for distinguishing > > between SSB and his > > devotees, as a person could easily make that mistake > > about any guru. > > My experience with SSB and his devotees is similar > > to what you've > > described, but it's 100% the fault of the devotees. > > SSB does have > > guidelines for his centers but there's plenty of > > so-called long-time > > devotees that hold unofficial authority over the > > centers, by choice > > of the members. There's other devotees who claim > > to have "inner > > guidance" from SSB. A local center here is > > unpleasant to go to > > because of the musical pride of many of it's members > > and their annual > > pilgrimage always results in an interview for the > > group. Another > > unofficial center closed recently because of the > > declining > > attendance, no doubt attributed to the deceitful and > > stubborn ways of > > the center's founders. That particular center was > > run by > > westerners, and although they had introduced many > > people to Amma > > through the years, didn't do much but spread > > ignorance and encourage > > the growth of the ego. SSB's discourses are > > designed for the masses, > > similar to Amma's public discourses which are more > > mild than the > > advice given in conversations (Awaken Children > > series), so as not to > > turn away those who are still quite worldly. > > > > As far as the presence of certain SSB devotees > > causing you loss of > > peace, health problems and not feeling comfortable > > attending satsang > > programs, maybe it's a blessing in disguise. > > Somewhere I read that > > Amma suggests, like a seedling growing close to the > > tree, that a > > sadhak should spend only 2-3 years in close contact > > with their guru, > > then should do sadhana in isolation. If you're > > doing intense > > sadhana and start progressing, you'll realize the > > necessity of this. > > > > Your problems at work, especially being on > > Thursdays, the common > > night for Sai satsang gatherings, may have more to > > do with the > > placement (weak or afflicted) Jupiter in your birth > > chart. Thursday > > is the day of the guru, but also affects career. I > > can personally > > attest to this because I've had similar problems, > > whether it's a sub- > > sub-period or a major planetary period. Try doing > > a mantra or > > other sadhana to Jupiter on Thursdays (I think the > > ideal time is a > > few hours before sunset), or try a Durga mantra on > > that day. > > > > Don't use bliss as a measurement of peace. Blissful > > feelings and > > sensations will come and go, so don't get hooked on > > it like it were > > some sort of narcotic or sign of auspiciousness. > > > > > > > or tried to look gracefully at SSB's picture but > > that would be just > > > invitation to the bad influences of those local > > thugs. > > > > I've turned my photo of Amma to face the wall plenty > > of times. In 4 > > years of sacrifice and devotion, my life has only > > gotten worse since > > I've met her. The so-called "bad-influence" you > > claim to get from > > SSB devotees, I've gotten from Amma devotees, but I > > don't let that > > affect my view of Amma, but I also keep my distance > > from alot > > devotees, especially the ones that only call me to > > do seva, but lack > > the skills to return a phone call. Last month I > > drove 9 hours to > > Ann Arbor and didn't even go for darshan, prefering > > the peace of the > > hotel room to the madness (I had given a ride to > > some others). > > > > >Initially for few weeks I had no idea, I couldn't > > believe that SSB > > > or His Sanyasin (regular visitor of bay area) > > > > SSB doesn't have a Sannyasin, this must be one of > > those people I've > > mentioned, claiming to have the "in" with SSB. > > > > >>Their influeces have many times kept me away from > > Amma satsangs, > > etc.. Does anyone have any suggestion, etc? > > > > I can only suggest moving or finding some other > > center or church to > > experience a satsang experience, or spend your > > Thursdays fasting and > > doing sadhana in private. > > > > > > ------------------------ Sponsor > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > > Ammachi- > > > > > > Your use of is subject to > > > > > > > > > > > Check out Shopping and Auctions for all of > your unique holiday gifts! Buy at > or bid at http://auctions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2001 Report Share Posted December 17, 2001 > 1. Does Amma ever discuss listening to "inner > sounds" during meditation? I hear some and I don't > know if it is wise to concentrate on them or ignore > them and get back to my mantra (or ma om)? Hello, Perhaps this might help. My first guru, Swami Muktananda (who I spent several years living with before meeting Amma a few years ago) spoke extensively on these things. Amma, I have noticed, doesn't seem to speak as much, at least publicly, on such matters as Kundalini. Inner sounds or nada, as Muktananda said, is of divine origin. If you are truly experiencing nada, then stop repeating your mantra and just listen to the nada. Become absorbed in the nada. It will become more and more beautiful as your sadhana continues and can take you directly to the Divine. Hope this helped. Lisa 2. I've read repeatedly the suggestion to repeat my > mantra incessantly, however after practicing the "ma > om" technique during meditation, I'm more inclined to > repeat ma om mentally with my breath during my daily > activities.Is this acceptable or should I just use > that during meditation? > Again, I would be grateful for any help and let me > know if this isn't the proper forum for this kind of > thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2001 Report Share Posted December 17, 2001 Ammachi, "lbrachlin" <lalita120@h...> wrote: > > 1. Does Amma ever discuss listening to "inner > > sounds" during meditation? I hear some and I don't > > know if it is wise to concentrate on them or ignore > > them and get back to my mantra (or ma om)? > > Hello, > > Perhaps this might help. My first guru, Swami Muktananda (who I spent > several years living with before meeting Amma a few years ago) spoke > extensively on these things. Amma, I have noticed, doesn't seem to > speak as much, at least publicly, on such matters as Kundalini. > > Inner sounds or nada, as Muktananda said, is of divine origin. If you > are truly experiencing nada, then stop repeating your mantra and just > listen to the nada. Become absorbed in the nada. It will become more > and more beautiful as your sadhana continues and can take you > directly to the Divine. > > Hope this helped. > > Lisa > Lisa, Thank you. I started visiting Muktananda ashram recently since last few months and you know they do mostly chanting followed by meditation. So I can recollect my expereince with what you have said in your reply. @Ammachi similar can be achieved with bhajans as well. It's always a challenge to truely know if that Inner Voice is Divine Naad (or @Ammachi we call it Inner Amma's Voice) or not - that requires good experience / maturity. That's why I guess swamiji was recommending apply descrimination. Earlier I replied saying "sometimes I just practise the silence", I was trying to tune in with my inner Naad or the connection we all have developed with our japa, etc. spiritual practises. Mantra helps us reach there easier. Om Amriteshwariye Namah :Ekanath > > > 2. I've read repeatedly the suggestion to repeat my > > mantra incessantly, however after practicing the "ma > > om" technique during meditation, I'm more inclined to > > repeat ma om mentally with my breath during my daily > > activities.Is this acceptable or should I just use > > that during meditation? > > Again, I would be grateful for any help and let me > > know if this isn't the proper forum for this kind of > > thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.