Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 Hi siblings, Here in the US the news is full of saber rattling against Iraq. Anyone else out there inspired to do anything special for peace? Yesterday someone told me that an artist who has built several peace walls (sounds counterintuitive but, that's just my opinion) was inspired by a note she saw saying "Do something today for peace." We can do things privately or within our satsangs or with the outside communities. These days all three seem like a good idea to me. I've been making candles and giving them away to people. They have a label saying they are peace candles with a variety of instructions on how to use them for peace. The inspiration was our lighting our little candles and chanting "Om. LokaaH samastaH sukinoH bhavantu" after 9/11. Aikya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 om amritesvaryai namah my personal opinion, as regards activism, is that praying with tears, meditating, or devotedly chanting one's mantra or otherwise doing sincere sadhana is more of an effective counterbalance than thousands of protesters marching or a million altruistic gestures made....the former radiates peace, the only thing to quell the prevailing atmosphere of agitation (which itself lies at the root of all the world's ills, the agitated mind giving rise to all other forms of unrest, war just being its extreme), and the latter only creates more agitation, and is more often than not just an opportunity for our small egos to dissolve itself in the thrill of a larger group ego, which is the reason why the enthusiasm of the crowd is such a drug to so many....but its still just ego.... quiet the mind, nurture the light within, and then you can do something useful for others by being an luminous example of living, breathing peace.....political activism and the like are extremely weak and unsteady forms of change, and if we want a true, lasting peace, the greatest contribution we can make is to lose ourselves at the Feet of the Guru, and let Her direct our actions, becoming limbs of Her all-knowing intelligence...She knows what to do, not we...and there is no more an effective force than Consciousness-Force, ParaShakti Herself. which is not to say that outer actions have no usefulness....they should just be the natural flowerings of our inner realisation....then and only then do they attain any power to make an enduring impression... just my view....pranams.... In Amma, ~sucetas mon~ om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu _______________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 Interesting. I didn't mention or ask about political activism. I'm not opposed to it at all either. In the US thye could be considered part of a citizen's duty.I like all your reminders, Sucetas. All good ideas. One woman who is senior to me hadthe practice of going through the qualities of a godly person (vs. a demonic person) listed in the Bhagavad Gita. She would take one each week and focus on developing it or showing it more in her life. That was how I was thinking of this war vs. peace issue. The media is promoting war. So I wonder what I am doing to promote peace within myself, within my house, my neighborhood, my state, etc. I don't want to have an answer but just to inquire and do more to promote peace. The candle idea came from a dream. In this waking dream, I was making candles. I haven't made candles for 30 years so it was odd. I asked Amma -- in my mind, you know -- what was all this about making candles. After two or three days I got a litle exasperated. There had been no "answer." I said a prayer to lead me to the purpose for the candle making dream. Shortly thereafter I found myself listening to a radio program in which Iraqi Americans were being interviewed regarding their feelings about the impending war. Very poignant. I said a thank you prayer to Amma because I understood that the candles should be peace candles. The rest is evolving. Lately I have peace on my mind a lot. Ammachi surely does everything she possibly can to increase world peace. Maybe I should be doing something or other in my setting since here I am and Amma is busy doing what she does wherever in the world she is right now. Aikya Ammachi, "sucetas mon" <sucetas@h...> wrote: > om amritesvaryai namah > > my personal opinion, as regards activism, is that praying with tears, > meditating, or devotedly chanting one's mantra or otherwise doing sincere > sadhana is more of an effective counterbalance than thousands of protesters > marching or a million altruistic gestures made....the former radiates peace, > the only thing to quell the prevailing atmosphere of agitation (which itself > lies at the root of all the world's ills, the agitated mind giving rise to > all other forms of unrest, war just being its extreme), and the latter only > creates more agitation, and is more often than not just an opportunity for > our small egos to dissolve itself in the thrill of a larger group ego, which > is the reason why the enthusiasm of the crowd is such a drug to so > many....but its still just ego.... > > quiet the mind, nurture the light within, and then you can do something > useful for others by being an luminous example of living, breathing > peace.....political activism and the like are extremely weak and unsteady > forms of change, and if we want a true, lasting peace, the greatest > contribution we can make is to lose ourselves at the Feet of the Guru, and > let Her direct our actions, becoming limbs of Her all-knowing > intelligence...She knows what to do, not we...and there is no more an > effective force than Consciousness-Force, ParaShakti Herself. > > which is not to say that outer actions have no usefulness....they should > just be the natural flowerings of our inner realisation....then and only > then do they attain any power to make an enduring impression... > > just my view....pranams.... > > In Amma, > ~sucetas mon~ > om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu > > _______________ > MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 --- "Aikya Param <aikya" <aikya wrote: > Hi siblings, > > Here in the US the news is full of saber rattling > against Iraq. > Anyone else out there inspired to do anything > special for peace? > > Yesterday someone told me that an artist who has > built several peace > walls (sounds counterintuitive but, that's just my > opinion) was > inspired by a note she saw saying "Do something > today for peace." > > We can do things privately or within our satsangs or > with the outside > communities. These days all three seem like a good > idea to me. > > I've been making candles and giving them away to > people. They have a > label saying they are peace candles with a variety > of instructions on > how to use them for peace. The inspiration was our > lighting our > little candles and chanting "Om. LokaaH samastaH > sukinoH bhavantu" > after 9/11. > > Aikya > > Nama Shivaya That is a very beautiful gesture , Amma's Energy certainly is there , I chant Sri Lalhita Sahasranama , and Sri Suktam as guided by Karunamayi, it is a very powerful healing and protecting for Mother Earth at these times , also I have not been to any protests , I belive they are good , praying is very important but action too. Amma Herself does not just sit and pray , Amma goes to the world and physically helps people also ! so our actions besides praying are important too . Me and my husband try to help people even just with conversation, and are not afraid to speak the truth if such is the need , this also helps and most of all asking for Amma's guidance in all prayers or actions is very important . Peace Love of the Heart to All Joanna P. Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 om amritesvaryai namah actually, Aikya, i wasn't responding to your email, per se....just some passing thoughts on the general idea of promoting peace....i actually thought your candle idea was a beautiful one... didn't mean to sound as if in opposition, if i did... pranams... In Amma, ~sucetas mon~ om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu _______________ The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 om amritesvaryai namah sorry, just one more....then i'll shut up... i wasn't saying action isn't necessary....but people, even spiritual people seem to always downplay prayer and meditation and these things as if to say, "sure, they help, but REAL change only comes from getting out there and doing something...", etc.... this is, in my opinion, a false and backward idea...real prayer, real meditation, real inner, spiritual development, - INCLUDING working in the world, but as karma yoga, in the spirit of self-giving, prayer, surrender - does far more good than making a few little relatively insignificant outer adjustments to an inherently flawed human condition.....a condition which won't change when you play by its rules, i.e. trying to fix things with the mind. the suffering of this world is due to spiritual ignorance, at its root, and by trying to apply a remedy that ignorance itself has devised seems a counter-productive method...it is in this vein that i choose to downplay social activism as a method toward real and lasting Peace. even Mother is quick to point out that, yes while we must consider it our Dharma to help others, and serve them selflessly, it is the SERVING SELFLESSLY which She emphasises as the only thing that qualifies the act as spiritual and of worth, and capable of effecting a real, lasting change...and this even, not so much because it effects a real lasting change in the outer world, though that is a natural result, but because it makes a lasting change one in oneself, and in those who see and emulate your example....its a change in Consciousness that She, and all Sages speak of, and this change is what makes one eventually become incapable of doing anything harmful, whose very breath is a benefit to the world, and whose every action heals. but moderns, and especially the western-minded, have no real faith anymore in the subtler side of things...only what comes with an immediate result do we believe, even though that result rarely has any staying power....the spiritual result is too often conspicuously underemphasised when these social works and betterings are done, especially because they are done almost exclusively with the fruit of the labor in mind, and this, as Sri Krishna taught, and Amma re-teaches is the very attitude one must lose, as it does no real good for oneself, and by extension anyone else....even seeking altruistic fruits is a barrier, as it is God's Will, not ours, which will be done...our priorities are naturally a little askew in this Kali Yuga. i guess i tend to feel compelled very often to sort of take the stance of emphasising this perspective, that silent acts of meditation and devotion and prayer and such act more as a counterbalance than people give them credit for, and it this that is our Dharma, as spiritual aspirants....yes, doing our outward part, but making a priority of surrendering and relying more on God's than on our own effort is the attitude i think is most helpful... in the final analysis, you aren't doing anything for anyone...it is God, doing God for God.... let us realise God. let us find Amma within. let us use ALL our energy and concentration for this alone, and THEN we can be of use....until then we are nothing, doing nothing for nothing.... and again, this all began just as a passing sparrow of a thought, which i promptly turned into a giant slow moving and oppresive zeppelin looming over our heads.....i truly say this with love y'all...i only have our spiritual progress in mind, not to suggest that i've got it figured out or can guide in any way....and its likely i will change my views at some point, but for now this seems right to me, and i felt like sharing... please forgive me if i offend anyone, as i'm smiling and in the most jovial of spirits as i write this, despite the somber gravitas.... now, back to my cave i retreat for mauna vrata.....pranams... In Amma, ~sucetas mon~ om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu _______________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 --- sucetas mon <sucetas wrote: > > om amritesvaryai namah > > sorry, just one more....then i'll shut up... > > i wasn't saying action isn't necessary....but > people, even spiritual people > seem to always downplay prayer and meditation and > these things as if to say, > "sure, they help, but REAL change only comes from > getting out there and > doing something...", etc.... > this is, in my opinion, a false and backward > idea...real prayer, real > meditation, real inner, spiritual development, - > INCLUDING working in the > world, but as karma yoga, in the spirit of > self-giving, prayer, surrender - > does far more good than making a few little > relatively insignificant outer > adjustments to an inherently flawed human > condition.....a condition which > won't change when you play by its rules, i.e. trying > to fix things with the > mind. the suffering of this world is due to > spiritual ignorance, at its > root, and by trying to apply a remedy that ignorance > itself has devised > seems a counter-productive method...it is in this > vein that i choose to > downplay social activism as a method toward real and > lasting Peace. > > even Mother is quick to point out that, yes while we > must consider it our > Dharma to help others, and serve them selflessly, it > is the SERVING > SELFLESSLY which She emphasises as the only thing > that qualifies the act as > spiritual and of worth, and capable of effecting a > real, lasting > change...and this even, not so much because it > effects a real lasting change > in the outer world, though that is a natural result, > but because it makes a > lasting change one in oneself, and in those who see > and emulate your > example....its a change in Consciousness that She, > and all Sages speak of, > and this change is what makes one eventually become > incapable of doing > anything harmful, whose very breath is a benefit to > the world, and whose > every action heals. > > but moderns, and especially the western-minded, > have no real faith anymore > in the subtler side of things...only what comes with > an immediate result do > we believe, even though that result rarely has any > staying power....the > spiritual result is too often conspicuously > underemphasised when these > social works and betterings are done, especially > because they are done > almost exclusively with the fruit of the labor in > mind, and this, as Sri > Krishna taught, and Amma re-teaches is the very > attitude one must lose, as > it does no real good for oneself, and by extension > anyone else....even > seeking altruistic fruits is a barrier, as it is > God's Will, not ours, which > will be done...our priorities are naturally a little > askew in this Kali > Yuga. > > i guess i tend to feel compelled very often to sort > of take the stance of > emphasising this perspective, that silent acts of > meditation and devotion > and prayer and such act more as a counterbalance > than people give them > credit for, and it this that is our Dharma, as > spiritual aspirants....yes, > doing our outward part, but making a priority of > surrendering and relying > more on God's than on our own effort is the attitude > i think is most > helpful... > > in the final analysis, you aren't doing anything for > anyone...it is God, > doing God for God.... > let us realise God. let us find Amma within. let us > use ALL our energy and > concentration for this alone, and THEN we can be of > use....until then we are > nothing, doing nothing for nothing.... > > and again, this all began just as a passing sparrow > of a thought, which i > promptly turned into a giant slow moving and > oppresive zeppelin looming over > our heads.....i truly say this with love y'all...i > only have our spiritual > progress in mind, not to suggest that i've got it > figured out or can guide > in any way....and its likely i will change my views > at some point, but for > now this seems right to me, and i felt like > sharing... > please forgive me if i offend anyone, as i'm smiling > and in the most jovial > of spirits as i write this, despite the somber > gravitas.... > > now, back to my cave i retreat for mauna > vrata.....pranams... > > In Amma, > ~sucetas mon~ > om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu > > I sincierely and whole heartedley share your views. pranamas. Avinash_______________ > MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months > FREE* > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2003 Report Share Posted January 25, 2003 Namah Shivaya Sucetas and other mons and mols, appreciate your comments very much. have had little inclination to get out in the streets like I did in earlier times. There is so much ego involved in many of the actions people are taking. Hard to sort it out. Ww want to do something about it all, no realizing we are not the doers at all. hard to get across to the western mind. thanks for your effort. There is a world wide peace meditation schedule for Sunday, February 9, noon EST. Joining together in meditation seems appropriate. May Amma guide us all to still mind. premarupa Aum Amriteshvaryai Namah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2003 Report Share Posted January 25, 2003 --- Kenna <kenna wrote: > Namah Shivaya Sucetas and other mons and mols, > > appreciate your comments very much. have had little > inclination to get out > in the streets like I did in earlier times. There is > so much ego involved in > many of the actions people are taking. Hard to sort > it out. Ww want to do > something about it all, no realizing we are not the > doers at all. hard to > get across to the western mind. thanks for your Om Nama Shivaya , another quote I want to add, as someone mentioned the importance of realizing oneself . Yes that is very true before we attempt anything how do we change the world for a better place ? Can We ? Amma was once asked a question when will the world change ? Amma responded " the world will change when You will change ! " Joanna P Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2003 Report Share Posted January 25, 2003 While I fully believe that the 'best' actions one can do is after realizing oneself completely (just like what Amma and Sri Ramakrishna had said), I also believe in "don't make the best the enemy of the better". I know I sound somewhat like the Devil's advocate, but it is not true. The contrasting view also ties in with the age-old discussions about self-effort vs Grace. Without self-effort (read 'better' action), Grace (read 'the source of the best' action) is usually not possible. And this is what Amma has always said too. I tend to think that the argument that 'the best actions one can do is only after realizing oneself completely' was reiterated by masters when they perceived that the motive lurking behind that action had even an iota of selfishness in it, and which is want they want to weed out from such disciples. Life is a real paradox, and how you interpret it can also complicate things.... I know squat about interpreting life correctly, but these are my two cents' contribution. Jai Ma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2003 Report Share Posted January 25, 2003 --- joanna pollner <joannapollner wrote: > --- Kenna <kenna wrote: > > Namah Shivaya Sucetas and other mons and mols, > > > > appreciate your comments very much. have had > little > > inclination to get out > > in the streets like I did in earlier times. There > is > > so much ego involved in > > many of the actions people are taking. Hard to > sort > > it out. Ww want to do > > something about it all, no realizing we are not > the > > doers at all. hard to > > get across to the western mind. thanks for your > Om Nama Shivaya , > > another quote I want to add, as someone > mentioned > > the importance of realizing oneself . Yes that is > very true before we attempt anything how do we > change > the world for a better place ? Can We ? > > Amma was once asked a question when will the > world change ? Amma responded " the world will > change > when You will change ! " > > > Joanna P I want to add another quote said by Mahatma Gandhi "become the chnage you want to see". Om Namah Shivaya. Avinash. > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up > now. > http://mailplus. > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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