Guest guest Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 Amma says... "The Guru does not want anything from you. He does not have any personal interest, nor does he have anything to gain from your surrender. He is ever full and complete. The Guru knows only how to give, and he goes on giving. The Guru does not need any of the external things that you might give him." Maybe that's one good way to tell a true guru from on who is out for power. Does the guru benefit from your surrender? Does s/he require external things from you? I agree that it's great we have this forum for discussion, especially for those in remote areas with no satsang groups. Would someone please speak to the idea of "total surrender" to the guru? I read over and over, from Hindu texts and from Amma's books and websites, that this is what is required. Amma on surrender: "When you surrender to a higher consciousness, you give up all your claims; you release your grip from everything that you've been holding on to. Whether you gain or lose, it doesn't matter now. You don't want to be something any longer. You long to be nothing, absolutely nothing. So you dive into the River of Existence." "Until you realise that you are helpless, that your ego cannot save you, and that all you have acquired is nothing, God or the Guru will keep on creating the circumstances necessary to make you realise this truth. When that happens, you surrender. That is when you cast off all your fear and let the Guru or God dance on your ego while you lie low at His feet. That is when you become a true devotee." I'm hoping some of us can take some of these larger questions to Amma during Q&A at a retreat in the future. I'd be willing to try and ask this one about surrender and post the answer. With love, Gabriela --- ons20022001 <ons20022001 wrote: > Ammachi, "E. Lamb" > <jyotsna2> wrote: > > > Dear ONS, > > > > Thank you for this post. I am looking forward to > > dipping into "Sun at Midnight," even though I'm > > a little suspect of Andrew Harvey for leaving > > his guru. > > > > In Amma's love, > > Jyotsna > > > Dear Jyotsna, > > It has been a while since I read this book. I > remember it as being a > case of the guru using him and then throwing him out > when he had > served his purpose.... so a case of betrayal, > abandonment.... > Andrew, who had been the right-hand man for his guru > for several > decades (?) knew all the secrets of guru groups. He > decided to blow > the whistle so other westerners would not fall hook, > line and sinker > for anyone who stands up and says he is a guru and > asks you to trust > your experiences. Your experiences are just that, he > says. > > Most of Hinduism as it is practiced today is tantric > - so a lot of > magic is passed off as divinity or God's energy. SO > BEWARE, people. > > What I am finding among many of Amma's devotees is > that they are > faced with adversity, with challenges - health, > wealth, relationship > etc. and feel that they can turn their lives over to > Amma and let > her run it for them. In my opinion, it is a recipe > for disaster and > westerners are more likely to be taken advantage > off. The Hindus > themselves (I am not talking about expatriate > Indians who I think > are as clueless as we are) but the Hindus living in > India have the > social context in which to place the guru. They go > to a guru for > advice but use their own discrimination, experience > and judgement to > apply it to their lives unlike us westerners who > have largely failed > to grasp the essence of the guru-disciple > relationship and follow > blindly. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 --- Miranda Soliz <msoliz2000 wrote: > > > > > Would someone please speak to the idea of "total > surrender" to the guru? I read over and over, from > Hindu texts and from Amma's books and websites, that > this is what is required. Hi Gabriela, I certainly wouldn't presume to be an authority on surrender, but I'm sure with your beautiful spirit of devotion, Mother will begin giving you lessons very soon! The most graphic description I've seen of surrender is by Amma (who else?), who once said, "Be like a dead body floating down the river of life." In loving surrender, Jyotsna > > Amma on surrender: > > "When you surrender to a higher consciousness, you > give up all your claims; you release your grip from > everything that you've been holding on to. Whether > you > gain or lose, it doesn't matter now. You don't want > to > be something any longer. You long to be nothing, > absolutely nothing. So you dive into the River of > Existence." > > > > > > > > > > > > > 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.