Guest guest Posted September 14, 2003 Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 Hi Rick, I'll take your word for it. However, in SRF (the organization I was in for 27 years before meeting Amma) lessons were a very nominal amount, I think about $7 a month. Kriya, the crown jewel of the SRF teachings, has always been given for a free will donation. Similarly, Amma gives mantras (and hugs) for free. As much as I loved SRF (and still do) I love Amma more than I've ever loved anything in my life. If I don't understand everything that's done around Her, that doesn't mean anything other than my understanding isn't perfect. Amma's little baby, Jyotsna --- Rick Archer <rick wrote: > on 9/12/03 10:57 PM, E. Lamb at jyotsna2 > wrote: > > > snip > > > > I, too, dislike some of the > > money things around Amma, but I'm hoping she'll > > be patient with me and keep me ever in the center > > of Her Divine Will. > > > If you dislike money things around Amma, you should > see the TM Movement. > Hundreds of millions of dollars are raised and never > accounted for. There is > credible evidence that much of it is misappropriated > by Maharishi¹s family. > Those of us with a TM background now with Amma often > contrast the two > organizations. Amma does so much with so little by > comparison with any > organization I¹m familiar with. > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Ammachi, "E. Lamb" <jyotsna2> wrote: > If I don't understand everything that's done > around Her, that doesn't mean anything other > than my understanding isn't perfect. > > Amma's little baby, > Jyotsna Dear Jyotsna, Usage of too many negatives (don't, doesn't, other than, isn't) boggled me! Can you please undo all the negatives and re-phrase this so that I clearly understand what you intended to say? Jai Ma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 By comparison, these days TM costs $2500 in the US and comparable amounts in other countries. Last year, Maharishi held several one-month courses with a $1 million per attendee price tag. 87 people took the courses with the expectation that they would spend lots of personal time with him and very likely get enlightened. They spent 5 minutes at the beginning of the course and 45 at the end in a private video-conference. No face-to-face. As far as I know, no one got enlightened. The $87 million and much more that has been raised is supposed to support large groups of pundits in India who will chant the Vedas for world peace. So far no such groups have materialized that we know of. Now he is advertising $500,000 courses that will qualify one to run a "Peace Palace" in some US city. (a glorified name for a TM center). People are signing up for them. I'm saying all this in the hope that those who feel there's too much money stuff around Amma might feel relieved at the comparison. on 9/15/03 12:30 AM, E. Lamb at jyotsna2 wrote: > Hi Rick, > > I'll take your word for it. However, in SRF (the > organization I was in for 27 years before meeting > Amma) lessons were a very nominal amount, I think > about $7 a month. Kriya, the crown jewel of the SRF > teachings, has always been given for a free will > donation. Similarly, Amma gives mantras (and > hugs) for free. > > As much as I loved SRF (and still do) I love Amma > more than I've ever loved anything in my life. > If I don't understand everything that's done > around Her, that doesn't mean anything other > than my understanding isn't perfect. > > Amma's little baby, > Jyotsna > > > --- Rick Archer <rick wrote: >> on 9/12/03 10:57 PM, E. Lamb at jyotsna2 >> wrote: >> >>> snip >>> >>> I, too, dislike some of the >>> money things around Amma, but I'm hoping she'll >>> be patient with me and keep me ever in the center >>> of Her Divine Will. >>> >> If you dislike money things around Amma, you should >> see the TM Movement. >> Hundreds of millions of dollars are raised and never >> accounted for. There is >> credible evidence that much of it is misappropriated >> by Maharishi?s family. >> Those of us with a TM background now with Amma often >> contrast the two >> organizations. Amma does so much with so little by >> comparison with any >> organization I?m familiar with. >> >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been >> removed] >> >> >> > > > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > Ammachi > > > Your use of is subject to > > > -- Rick Archer 1108 South B Street Fairfield, IA 52556 Phone: 641-472-9336 Fax: 305-425-2820 http://searchsummit.com rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 With all due respect, I'd have to say those folks let their idealism outshine their common sense. This idea of being able to buy enlightenment is also something that doesn't sit well with me. There's a great verse in the Old Testament that I heard a sermon on once, "Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, sayeth the Lord." Not by money either, I might add. In love, Jyotsna --- Rick Archer <rick wrote: > By comparison, these days TM costs $2500 in the US > and comparable amounts in > other countries. Last year, Maharishi held several > one-month courses with a > $1 million per attendee price tag. 87 people took > the courses with the > expectation that they would spend lots of personal > time with him and very > likely get enlightened. They spent 5 minutes at the > beginning of the course > and 45 at the end in a private video-conference. No > face-to-face. As far as > I know, no one got enlightened. The $87 million and > much more that has been > raised is supposed to support large groups of > pundits in India who will > chant the Vedas for world peace. So far no such > groups have materialized > that we know of. Now he is advertising $500,000 > courses that will qualify > one to run a "Peace Palace" in some US city. (a > glorified name for a TM > center). People are signing up for them. I'm saying > all this in the hope > that those who feel there's too much money stuff > around Amma might feel > relieved at the comparison. > > on 9/15/03 12:30 AM, E. Lamb at jyotsna2 > wrote: > > > Hi Rick, > > > > I'll take your word for it. However, in SRF (the > > organization I was in for 27 years before meeting > > Amma) lessons were a very nominal amount, I think > > about $7 a month. Kriya, the crown jewel of the > SRF > > teachings, has always been given for a free will > > donation. Similarly, Amma gives mantras (and > > hugs) for free. > > > > As much as I loved SRF (and still do) I love Amma > > more than I've ever loved anything in my life. > > If I don't understand everything that's done > > around Her, that doesn't mean anything other > > than my understanding isn't perfect. > > > > Amma's little baby, > > Jyotsna > > > > > > --- Rick Archer <rick wrote: > >> on 9/12/03 10:57 PM, E. Lamb at > jyotsna2 > >> wrote: > >> > >>> snip > >>> > >>> I, too, dislike some of the > >>> money things around Amma, but I'm hoping she'll > >>> be patient with me and keep me ever in the > center > >>> of Her Divine Will. > >>> > >> If you dislike money things around Amma, you > should > >> see the TM Movement. > >> Hundreds of millions of dollars are raised and > never > >> accounted for. There is > >> credible evidence that much of it is > misappropriated > >> by Maharishi?s family. > >> Those of us with a TM background now with Amma > often > >> contrast the two > >> organizations. Amma does so much with so little > by > >> comparison with any > >> organization I?m familiar with. > >> > >> > >> [Non-text portions of this message have been > >> removed] > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site > design software > > > > > > > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > > > Ammachi > > > > > > Your use of is subject to > > > > > > > > > -- > > Rick Archer > 1108 South B Street > Fairfield, IA 52556 > Phone: 641-472-9336 > Fax: 305-425-2820 > > http://searchsummit.com > rick > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2003 Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Dear Manoj, All I meant to say was that She's perfect and I'm not. However, I now somewhat recant. Actually, I agree with those who have written eloquently about our need to remain vigilant to abuses. As Soulquest stated, it's the anti-democratic hierarchical nature of these groups which makes them ripe for abuse. I once had the temerity to suggest to the MA Center that satsang groups be run democratically instead of having a "shadow government," which seems to be the local way. To date, I have never even received a reply. To me this is not a small issue. Only when a group has a stable form of government can orderly transmission of power take place and group decisions about the allocation of resources occur. Ah, well. That's the way it is, I guess. In my prior affiliation, I was the (elected) leader for the last two years I was there. My goal was to have our group purchase a small, quiet chapel. When we sent out the letter asking people to pledge an amount over a two year period, it was like fish jumping out of the water! People we didn't even recognize dropped checks for $1000 in the offeratory. At the end of a two month pledge drive, we had $230,000 in pledges. People wanted with all their hearts to give to this organization which had given them so much and asked so little. With the guru's grace we were able to purchase the perfect place. This was accomplished because there was dedication and local control. If we had waited on the headquarters it never would have happened. In fact, I understand the headquarters now uses our model for all groups wanting a church. Needless to say, I will always be influenced by this experience. I know around Amma that things don't always flow logically, and that's part of the charm! So I'm all for enjoying the chaos and topsy-turvy nature of the experience--within limits. Hold onto your hats! Jai Ma, Jyotsna --- manoj_menon <manoj_menon wrote: > Ammachi, "E. Lamb" > <jyotsna2> wrote: > > If I don't understand everything that's done > > around Her, that doesn't mean anything other > > than my understanding isn't perfect. > > > > Amma's little baby, > > Jyotsna > > Dear Jyotsna, > > Usage of too many negatives (don't, doesn't, other > than, isn't) > boggled me! Can you please undo all the negatives > and re-phrase this > so that I clearly understand what you intended to > say? > > Jai Ma! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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