Guest guest Posted February 10, 2002 Report Share Posted February 10, 2002 Hi Peter, Thanks for giving me such detailed information. I really appreciate it! Actually, I lived in India for several years at Gurudev Siddha Peeth, the ashram of Baba Muktananda. So I know all about the Indian noise (however,GSP was very conducive to meditation). I know about the all night celebrations, etc. I was also in Rishikesh in the winter of 1983, a long time ago. But I was quite interested in the quality of meditation at Amritpuri, especially since many people had been leaving messages that in Amma's ashram, everyone must meditate 8 hours a day, so I wondered if there was a hall where one could go and do this at anytime. But if the hall is being used during the day, I don't see how this is possible and though perhaps in the early days it was, but perhaps now the emphasis lies elsewhere. I am still thinking of visiting Amritpuri...even have contemplated April when Amma should be there. By the way, that's amazing that each room has it's own kitchen! Ammachi, pwhite0130@a... wrote: > Jai Lisa: > > In response to your recent questions, let me add a bit of my experience. > > If you have never been to India, it is noisy! The entire country is noisy. > From the constant use of car, bus and truck horns to loud speakers blaring > out Sanskrit chants. Rishikish, one of the most spiritual towns in the > country, is a bedlam of noise from high powered loudspeakers from the Ashrams > at 5:00 (sharp) in the morning. I swear the ashrams must compete with one > another to have their prayers heard above all the other ones. > > Traveling on "video" busses was a real problem for me. The drivers always > wanted me to sit in the front seat to be courteous and give me a little more > leg room. It was always just under the video monitor was for showing Indian > videos. The volume was always loud so the people in the back could hear it > over the traffic noise. > > I spent several months at Amritapuri in 2000. There was another temple > closeby and they just install a sound system. They strung speaker wires a 1/4 > mile down the road to speakers hid in the palm trees. There were at least > three very large speakers almost surrounding Amma's ashram. I believe this > temple had a celebration going and the speakers were at full volume from 5:00 > am in the morning until 2:00 am the following night. Day after day after day. > > They do have morning chants and meditation in Amma's temple every morning and > usually satsang in the late afternoon. Other times, the meditation hall has a > lot of activity going on from handling the magazines to the Western store. > The Western office is there so there is a lot of people flowing in and out. > > But when you are mediating, you shut all that stuff out. It might take a bit > of doing! > > There is a room, where Amma sometimes holds satsang for residents, in the top > floor of the Temple that may be the best place to find some peace and quiet. > I don't think it was used that much. > > Things may have changed considerably since I was there. An email to the > Ashram might provide better information. > > Albeit, being at the Ashram is a tremendous experience and I highly recommend > a visit. I had many outstanding experiences often happening when I least > expect it! It is well, well worth the time. > > The main thing is that you are there with Amma and Her close disciples. Being > in that energy is something you will never forget. Lives are transformed. > > Even if you don't get to meditate as much as you would like, being there is a > spiritual growth that words cannot describe. > > Usually, they put four people to a room. Rooms are stark and you sleep on > foam mats on the flour. Each room has a kitchen and bath room with a shower. > Water is precious so there are no tubs. > There is no such thing as hot and cold water. It is always "warm" and quite > comfortable to shower. Besides, the temperature can get hot and a warm shower > is most refreshing. Some days, I changed my shirt many times because of the > heat. But, I love the heat! > > They do not use water heaters because electricity is expense and in short > supply. Also, no electrical devices like hair dryers, heaters, etc., that > need a lot of power. Cooking in the kitchen is done by a gas stove. > > Meals are free if you like Indian food. There is also a "Western" cafe for > breakfast and lunch that is not too expensive. It is best to take your own > dinner dish and cutlery. It is available but washing dinnerware, "Indian > style", consists of rinsing the plates with "warm" unfiltered water and > putting then back into a bucket. You are never sure how well the previous > person washed the plate. Not quite what we are a custom to. > > BTW, there is lots of filtered water available for drinking. > > And you met some on the greatest people in the world! > > Hope this helps a bit! > > Peter White > Alachua, Florida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2002 Report Share Posted February 12, 2002 Dear Lisa, you might be pleased to know that Amma has great respect for Bhagawan Nityananda She called him a spiritual sun. In matters of meditation things have changed over the years. Only tuesday is dedicated to meditation. But even without much sitting deep inner experiences happen. Just being in Amma's presence in India is a unique experience. To get her sweet darshan on the tour in the west is nice but if you dare to go to India she'll work on you in a deeper way if you allow it. It is truly a big mystery how she can work on so many different people at the same time. For me being in her presence was always fruitful but also a challenge. If you have some meditation background you might be able to tap her spiritual currents without running too much after her physical form. In April is already quite hot there but it is still ok because of the proximity of the sea. Greetings Lutz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2002 Report Share Posted February 13, 2002 Dear Lutz, Thanks. I heard Amma has great respect for Bhagawan Nityananda. I regularly went to his samadhi shrine, and it was a powerful place. I was thinking it could get hot in April, but then I thought there might be less people there because of that. Anyway, all of this feedback is great! Lisa Ammachi, "hermes1008" <berlinertraum@c...> wrote: > Dear Lisa, > you might be pleased to know that Amma has great respect for Bhagawan > Nityananda > She called him a spiritual sun. > In matters of meditation things have changed over the years. Only > tuesday is dedicated to meditation. But even without much > sitting deep inner experiences happen. > Just being in Amma's presence in India is a unique experience. To get > her sweet darshan on the tour in the west is nice but if you dare to > go to India she'll work on you in a deeper way if you allow it. It is > truly a big mystery how she can work on so many different people at > the same time. For me being in her presence was always fruitful but > also a challenge. If you have some meditation background you might be > able to tap her spiritual currents without running too much after her > physical form. > In April is already quite hot there but it is still ok because of the > proximity of the sea. > Greetings > Lutz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2002 Report Share Posted February 14, 2002 Hi Lisa: > Actually, I lived in India for several years at Gurudev Siddha Peeth, > the ashram of Baba Muktananda. So I know all about the Indian noise > Indeed! There is also a hall in the upper part of the Temple had was not used that much when I was there. It might be quite suitable for meditating. Lutz's comments, so beautifully put, are my sentiments too. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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