Guest guest Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 I have great respect for and love Amma dearly, but sometimes I think people see her in a somewhat mythical or unreal way. To me, she is clearly an enlightened being, there's no question about that. But much of the reason she IS so enlightened is because of the things that she cares about and promotes and actually does something about: the suffering in this world. The fact that she litterally practices enlightened thought and action in the world, with all the charitable institutions that she has created. I also see her as just the same as any of you, and myself. Not that I'm enlightened like she is, but that she is "just" another human being like us all. That doesn't drag her down to a common level, not in my mind, but elevates us all to the potentially trancendent beings that we were all born to become. I think that rather than seeing ourselves as unworthy of being that, we need to look at our own thinking and identify fully with transcendent beingness rather than the nonsense beliefs that society has conditioned us to believe. It's rare that such a one as her who is as awakened as she is and yet as grounded and practical co-exist as one person! We are indeed fortunate to recognize the value of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 I agree that there is an earthly "humaness" about Amma that is so wonderful. It's part of what makes so many people respond to her as she swoops in with aid and love for those in need. It's that very human quality that will make it so that the world opens up for the work she does. On the other hand, if some of us see her as more "mythical", it's because we see God when we see her. Amma tells a very detailed story about the day the Divine Mother appeared before her and merged into her. As far as I know, she wasn't being metaphorical when she described this event. When I look at Amma, sometimes I see the body, and sometimes I see the Divine Mother. Anyway, from her biographies and such I get the impression that she's not just enlightened but a manifestation of the Divine. She carefully explains that Krishna Bhava and Devi Bhava are not temporary possessions by these gods; she says she is revealing her True Nature at those times. I think what's important is to have a clear understanding of our own perspective, and I think you do, Don, and I feel like mine is growing clearer. Different perspectives don't counter each other because they're all correct. I bet each person on this list has a slightly different perspective of Amma. What do I know? I write a lot, but it's because I love discourse. And I have the time. With love, Gabriela --- Don James <djames wrote: > I have great respect for and love Amma dearly, but > sometimes I think > people see her in a somewhat mythical or unreal way. > To me, she is > clearly an enlightened being, there's no question > about that. But > much of the reason she IS so enlightened is because > of the things > that she cares about and promotes and actually does > something about: > the suffering in this world. The fact that she > litterally practices > enlightened thought and action in the world, with > all the charitable > institutions that she has created. I also see her as > just the same as > any of you, and myself. Not that I'm enlightened > like she is, but > that she is "just" another human being like us all. > That doesn't drag > her down to a common level, not in my mind, but > elevates us all to > the potentially trancendent beings that we were all > born to become. I > think that rather than seeing ourselves as unworthy > of being that, we > need to look at our own thinking and identify fully > with transcendent > beingness rather than the nonsense beliefs that > society has > conditioned us to believe. It's rare that such a one > as her who is as > awakened as she is and yet as grounded and practical > co-exist as one > person! We are indeed fortunate to recognize the > value of that. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 Ammachi, Miranda Soliz <msoliz2000> wrote: > I agree that there is an earthly "humaness" about Amma > that is so wonderful. It's part of what makes so many > people respond to her as she swoops in with aid and > love for those in need. It's that very human quality > that will make it so that the world opens up for the > work she does. > > On the other hand, if some of us see her as more > "mythical", it's because we see God when we see her. -I hear that. I see God too, she is definitely connected and I feel more connected when I'm around her. > Amma tells a very detailed story about the day the > Divine Mother appeared before her and merged into her. > As far as I know, she wasn't being metaphorical when > she described this event. -No, I don't think she was being metaphorical either, but from my understanding this IS what enlightenment is, it is the merging of the divine oneness with a human being. > > When I look at Amma, sometimes I see the body, and > sometimes I see the Divine Mother. Anyway, from her > biographies and such I get the impression that she's > not just enlightened but a manifestation of the > Divine. -I think they are the same. I think all enlightened beings are now a manifestation of God, of the divine. I think we, at some point, will also become that. I could be wrong :-) She carefully explains that Krishna Bhava and > Devi Bhava are not temporary possessions by these > gods; she says she is revealing her True Nature at > those times. -The way it was explained to me is when we truly merge with our higher selves, our God nature, that there is little difference in anyone who experiences that. Maybe that's why the darshan stories here are all so similar :-) My first teacher told me that if you meet one Buddha, you have met them all. > > I think what's important is to have a clear > understanding of our own perspective, and I think you > do, Don, and I feel like mine is growing clearer. > Different perspectives don't counter each other > because they're all correct. I bet each person on this > list has a slightly different perspective of Amma. -yep, and I enjoy reading them. Don > > What do I know? > I write a lot, but it's because I love discourse. > And I have the time. > > With love, > Gabriela > > --- Don James <djames@t...> wrote: > > I have great respect for and love Amma dearly, but > > sometimes I think > > people see her in a somewhat mythical or unreal way. > > To me, she is > > clearly an enlightened being, there's no question > > about that. But > > much of the reason she IS so enlightened is because > > of the things > > that she cares about and promotes and actually does > > something about: > > the suffering in this world. The fact that she > > litterally practices > > enlightened thought and action in the world, with > > all the charitable > > institutions that she has created. I also see her as > > just the same as > > any of you, and myself. Not that I'm enlightened > > like she is, but > > that she is "just" another human being like us all. > > That doesn't drag > > her down to a common level, not in my mind, but > > elevates us all to > > the potentially trancendent beings that we were all > > born to become. I > > think that rather than seeing ourselves as unworthy > > of being that, we > > need to look at our own thinking and identify fully > > with transcendent > > beingness rather than the nonsense beliefs that > > society has > > conditioned us to believe. It's rare that such a one > > as her who is as > > awakened as she is and yet as grounded and practical > > co-exist as one > > person! We are indeed fortunate to recognize the > > value of that. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 Man, I love this list! Thanks Don! --- Don James <djames wrote: > Ammachi, Miranda Soliz > <msoliz2000> wrote: > > I agree that there is an earthly "humaness" about > Amma > > that is so wonderful. It's part of what makes so > many > > people respond to her as she swoops in with aid > and > > love for those in need. It's that very human > quality > > that will make it so that the world opens up for > the > > work she does. > > > > On the other hand, if some of us see her as more > > "mythical", it's because we see God when we see > her. > > -I hear that. I see God too, she is definitely > connected > and I feel more connected when I'm around her. > > > Amma tells a very detailed story about the day the > > Divine Mother appeared before her and merged into > her. > > As far as I know, she wasn't being metaphorical > when > > she described this event. > > -No, I don't think she was being metaphorical > either, but > from my understanding this IS what enlightenment is, > it is > the merging of the divine oneness with a human > being. > > > > When I look at Amma, sometimes I see the body, and > > sometimes I see the Divine Mother. Anyway, from > her > > biographies and such I get the impression that > she's > > not just enlightened but a manifestation of the > > Divine. > > -I think they are the same. I think all enlightened > beings > are now a manifestation of God, of the divine. I > think we, > at some point, will also become that. I could be > wrong :-) > > She carefully explains that Krishna Bhava and > > Devi Bhava are not temporary possessions by these > > gods; she says she is revealing her True Nature at > > those times. > > -The way it was explained to me is when we truly > merge > with our higher selves, our God nature, that there > is > little difference in anyone who experiences that. > Maybe > that's why the darshan stories here are all so > similar :-) > My first teacher told me that if you meet one > Buddha, you > have met them all. > > > > > I think what's important is to have a clear > > understanding of our own perspective, and I think > you > > do, Don, and I feel like mine is growing clearer. > > Different perspectives don't counter each other > > because they're all correct. I bet each person on > this > > list has a slightly different perspective of Amma. > > -yep, and I enjoy reading them. Don > > > > What do I know? > > I write a lot, but it's because I love discourse. > > And I have the time. > > > > With love, > > Gabriela > > > > --- Don James <djames@t...> wrote: > > > I have great respect for and love Amma dearly, > but > > > sometimes I think > > > people see her in a somewhat mythical or unreal > way. > > > To me, she is > > > clearly an enlightened being, there's no > question > > > about that. But > > > much of the reason she IS so enlightened is > because > > > of the things > > > that she cares about and promotes and actually > does > > > something about: > > > the suffering in this world. The fact that she > > > litterally practices > > > enlightened thought and action in the world, > with > > > all the charitable > > > institutions that she has created. I also see > her as > > > just the same as > > > any of you, and myself. Not that I'm enlightened > > > like she is, but > > > that she is "just" another human being like us > all. > > > That doesn't drag > > > her down to a common level, not in my mind, but > > > elevates us all to > > > the potentially trancendent beings that we were > all > > > born to become. I > > > think that rather than seeing ourselves as > unworthy > > > of being that, we > > > need to look at our own thinking and identify > fully > > > with transcendent > > > beingness rather than the nonsense beliefs that > > > society has > > > conditioned us to believe. It's rare that such a > one > > > as her who is as > > > awakened as she is and yet as grounded and > practical > > > co-exist as one > > > person! We are indeed fortunate to recognize the > > > value of that. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site > design software > > > > 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.