Addiction/bad habits

[Guest guest]

Namaste Karen _/\_

 

Thank you for your response. I really appreciate these

words.

 

I feel blessed because my birthday happens to be

during the time when Amma's birthday program is going

on this year. I think it is going to be a special time

for me and for all of Amma's children all over the

world and beyond.

 

Bala also said something in another message to the

group about first putting forth effort and Amma will

help. But first we must put forth the effort. It

sincerely hit me somewhere deep that this is what I

must do . So, thank you to Bala also.

 

I guess there is not much of a distinction between a

bad habit and an addiction. I suppose mine is more of

a strong bad habit. I would really like to give it all

to Amma, but it is probably necessary to take even

more steps towards Her.

 

Thank you again for these words.

 

With love,

Padmakshi

 

--- karen koerber <kerbie66 wrote:

> Om Namah Shivaya,

> I do not know of any specific advice Mother has

> regarding addictions, but

> Mother may have uttered something you'd find helpful

> at this year's retreat

> in Rhode Island. The subject of sex was addressed to

> Mother at the Q & A,

> and Mother was very relaxed with the topic. She said

> that people definitely

> have to learn how to deal with their desires, but

> they usually put it off

> and say they'll start to try to control them

> "tomorrow." Mother suggested we

> not wait to try to conquer those desires anymore.

> she very calmly suggested

> we all try to bite the bullet. She only offers a

> solution, it's up to us to

> try to take her advice or not. She's not attached.

> But She does wish we

> would all make spiritual progress. Also, Mother says

> that to change any

> habit, we should always look at the harm of that

> habit, whether it's the

> financial or health costs of smoking, for example,

> where we could donate the

> new-found money from a renounced addiction...

>

> Also, several years ago I witnessed a sweet scene at

> one of Mother's

> programs, where two young (teenage) boys decided to

> quit smoking, and

> offered Mother their cigarrettes during darshan.

>

> I think if we all tried to give Mother our

> addictions for Her birthday, She

> would be very happy. She wants to help us all, She

> wants only our spiritual

> growth, that is the only reason She is here among

> us. I have something in

> mind I'd like to renounce on Mother's birthday. I'll

> share with the group

> how it's going after I see Mother and do it!

>

> P.S. Mother also states that we have usually

> inherited our vasanas from the

> previous birth, and all vasanas are very very hard

> to uproot. Only God's

> grace can remove the root of the habit, but we must

> earn the Grace with our

> sincere efforts to change.

>

> May Mother Bless all of our efforts and give us the

> perseverence we need!

> Om Amriteshwaryai Namaha

> karen

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Jai Padmakshi:

 

> Bala also said something in another message to the

> group about first putting forth effort and Amma will

> help. But first we must put forth the effort. It

> sincerely hit me somewhere deep that this is what I

> must do . So, thank you to Bala also.

>

> I guess there is not much of a distinction between a

> bad habit and an addiction. I suppose mine is more of

> a strong bad habit. I would really like to give it all

> to Amma, but it is probably necessary to take even

> more steps towards Her.

>

 

Sometimes that "effort" is just be willing, totally willing, for that habit

or addiction to go. It is using your inner Knowledge that the addiction, what

kind of addiction makes no matter, can go totally, completely, in the twinkling

of an eye.

 

Purge all doubt, no matter how subtle, from your mind for the slightest doubt

held in the mind will prevent the release.

 

All doubt is nothing but a thought. No "doubt" is True. It is only a thought.

Even if we THINK the thought is true, it is not. It is a lie. It does not

serve you.

 

First, let go of all doubt that the addiction will not leave, then let go of

the addiction.

 

This is true surrender. Surrender, not in the master/slave sense, but in the

sense of letting go, totally.

 

Be very careful with your wording. If you say to Amma: "I want to let go of

xyz addiction.", then you have exactly that. You will have, not the freedom,

but the WANTING of the freedom.

 

It may be helpful to sit down with pencil and paper and ask yourself the

question: "What benefit is there for me in holding on to this addiction right

now?" Let your pencil answer the question. You may get some real surprises.

 

This may appear to be difficult but that is only a thought. It is a little

tricky until you get the hang of it. Then it becomes easy. Play it like a game.

 

And remember, you will not only get rid of the addiction, but so much more

important, you develop the skill of letting go of them!

 

If Amma just waved her magic wand and set us all free of our troubles, we

would never acquire that skill.

 

Om Amriteshwariyai Namaha!

 

Kandar

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Very well said! Also, let's remember that there are

support groups and counseling services for all sorts

of addictions at all price ranges and even free.

Often when trying to give up an addiction, there is no

one to hold you accountable if you fall backward. If

you have a support group or counselor, there are

people holding you accountable. Ultimately, we are

only accountable to God, but as a practicle tool these

methods work very well.

 

--- KandarW wrote:

> Jai Padmakshi:

>

> > Bala also said something in another message to the

> > group about first putting forth effort and Amma

> will

> > help. But first we must put forth the effort. It

> > sincerely hit me somewhere deep that this is what

> I

> > must do . So, thank you to Bala also.

> >

> > I guess there is not much of a distinction between

> a

> > bad habit and an addiction. I suppose mine is more

> of

> > a strong bad habit. I would really like to give it

> all

> > to Amma, but it is probably necessary to take even

> > more steps towards Her.

> >

>

> Sometimes that "effort" is just be willing, totally

> willing, for that habit

> or addiction to go. It is using your inner Knowledge

> that the addiction, what

> kind of addiction makes no matter, can go totally,

> completely, in the twinkling

> of an eye.

>

> Purge all doubt, no matter how subtle, from your

> mind for the slightest doubt

> held in the mind will prevent the release.

>

> All doubt is nothing but a thought. No "doubt" is

> True. It is only a thought.

> Even if we THINK the thought is true, it is not. It

> is a lie. It does not

> serve you.

>

> First, let go of all doubt that the addiction will

> not leave, then let go of

> the addiction.

>

> This is true surrender. Surrender, not in the

> master/slave sense, but in the

> sense of letting go, totally.

>

> Be very careful with your wording. If you say to

> Amma: "I want to let go of

> xyz addiction.", then you have exactly that. You

> will have, not the freedom,

> but the WANTING of the freedom.

>

> It may be helpful to sit down with pencil and paper

> and ask yourself the

> question: "What benefit is there for me in holding

> on to this addiction right

> now?" Let your pencil answer the question. You may

> get some real surprises.

>

> This may appear to be difficult but that is only a

> thought. It is a little

> tricky until you get the hang of it. Then it becomes

> easy. Play it like a game.

>

> And remember, you will not only get rid of the

> addiction, but so much more

> important, you develop the skill of letting go of

> them!

>

> If Amma just waved her magic wand and set us all

> free of our troubles, we

> would never acquire that skill.

>

> Om Amriteshwariyai Namaha!

>

> Kandar

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>