New to Amma - Question about Regulative Principles

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the response Adriane. Your post bring up a more specific

question to my mind. Some of this comes from my knowledge of other

gurus and groups which may not apply (forgive any ignorance of mine).

 

With some gurus and spiritual leaders they have specific " regulative "

principles for their followers such as:

 

1) Many gurus insist on Vegetarianism. Although , some ethnic Hindus

tell me that outside of the rules of specific gurus, it is no beef

(makes sense as " cow as mother " and Sri Krishna is their protector) -

vegetarianism is recommended but not mandatory - but at least no beef

and limit consumption of other meat.

 

2) No intoxication - to prevent abuse and/or attachments to

potentially addictive and harmful substances. Some ethnic Hindus tell

me that responsible consumption of alcohol may be okay if not getting

drunk.

 

3) No gambling.

 

4) No illicit sex outside of marriage or a committed relationship

(for example, a same sex couple).

 

Does Amma or her organization have anything similar to these

regulative principles as requirements for devotees? I'm always

conflicted on these. On the one hand, I am really good on two of

these (gambling and " illicit sex " ). I struggle with vegetarianism but

am being diligent about eliminating beef from my diet and only

responsible consumption of alcohol (I typically only drink

nonalcholic beer, but my doctor want me to drink 1 to 2 glasses of

wine per day for angina and heart / blood pressure related issues).

 

I also think that " practice " can tend to open us more to bringing our

lives more in accordance with such principles. Cart before horse type

of thing...

 

Also any ideas of what " practices " folks are doing at home would be

great!

 

Namaste,

 

Dave

 

--- ramram wrote

 

Ammachi , " n2amma " <a1driane wrote:

>

> Welcome to our family!

> I would say get some of the new books written by Amma's Swami's. I

> love the new one, Torrential Love and have just finished this. I am

> not much for any other advice as I don't consider myself any kind

of

> expert at all! LOL...I also struggle with being vegetarian-I know

and

> my friends are working on me. I have been before and somehow fell

> away from it. But I am feeling more and more drawn in that

direction.

>

> peace and love

> adriane

[Guest guest]

From the reading I've done, she's technically considered Tantric because

Devi Bhava tends to be a more tribal/village Tantric practice. *Shrug* I just

recall reading that somewhere. No one said she was left-hand Tantric, though.

Jai Ma!

-Katie

 

 

 

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at

http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Ammachi , " David Salyers " <salyed wrote:

> Does Amma or her organization have anything similar to these

> regulative principles as requirements for devotees?

> I struggle with vegetarianism but am being diligent about

> eliminating beef from my diet and only responsible consumption of

> alcohol (I typically only drink nonalcholic beer, but my doctor want

> me to drink 1 to 2 glasses of wine per day for angina and heart /

> blood pressure related issues).

>

> I also think that " practice " can tend to open us more to bringing

> our lives more in accordance with such principles. Cart before horse

> type of thing...

>

> Namaste,

> Dave

 

 

Amma's org tends to be conservative along the lines of other orgs.

click on " Teachings " on the left in this link: http://www.amritapuri.org/

 

But I personally feel Amma is SUPREMELY FLEXIBLE one-to-one. She

accepts you at your station in life and tries to pull you up from there.

 

Don't worry about meat and beer. Just continue your spiritual

practices with sincerity; you may or may not find your other

obsessions weaning away. it does not matter; just have faith in the

process and in yourself.

 

Loud singing of bhajans with feeling helps. Witnessing helps. These

practices, for me, tend to fill my body with sound and/or light and

the gross droopy heaviness of the body seems to go away because the

mind gets very quiet and the energy suddenly seems very centered.

 

I am not an " active " seva person. But there were times when seva

created the same above effect too, and rather strongly at that.

 

Jai Ma!

[Guest guest]

Dear Dave,

 

You should please see the Pancha Tattva of Tantra Yoga for more details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchamakara

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vamachara

 

However know that Amma has nothing at all do with tantra and tantric

teachings of the left-hand path. She isn't a tantric, is she?

http://www.skepticfiles.org/mys1/5-m-rit.htm

 

P.

 

Ammachi , " David Salyers " <salyed wrote:

>

> Thanks for the response Adriane. Your post bring up a more specific

> question to my mind. Some of this comes from my knowledge of other

> gurus and groups which may not apply (forgive any ignorance of mine).

>

> With some gurus and spiritual leaders they have specific " regulative "

> principles for their followers such as:

>

> 1) Many gurus insist on Vegetarianism. Although , some ethnic Hindus

> tell me that outside of the rules of specific gurus, it is no beef

> (makes sense as " cow as mother " and Sri Krishna is their protector) -

> vegetarianism is recommended but not mandatory - but at least no beef

> and limit consumption of other meat.

>

> 2) No intoxication - to prevent abuse and/or attachments to

> potentially addictive and harmful substances. Some ethnic Hindus tell

> me that responsible consumption of alcohol may be okay if not getting

> drunk.

>

> 3) No gambling.

>

> 4) No illicit sex outside of marriage or a committed relationship

> (for example, a same sex couple).

>

> Does Amma or her organization have anything similar to these

> regulative principles as requirements for devotees? I'm always

> conflicted on these. On the one hand, I am really good on two of

> these (gambling and " illicit sex " ). I struggle with vegetarianism but

> am being diligent about eliminating beef from my diet and only

> responsible consumption of alcohol (I typically only drink

> nonalcholic beer, but my doctor want me to drink 1 to 2 glasses of

> wine per day for angina and heart / blood pressure related issues).

>

> I also think that " practice " can tend to open us more to bringing our

> lives more in accordance with such principles. Cart before horse type

> of thing...

>

> Also any ideas of what " practices " folks are doing at home would be

> great!

>

> Namaste,

>

> Dave

>

> --- ramram wrote

>

> Ammachi , " n2amma " <a1driane@> wrote:

> >

> > Welcome to our family!

> > I would say get some of the new books written by Amma's Swami's. I

> > love the new one, Torrential Love and have just finished this. I am

> > not much for any other advice as I don't consider myself any kind

> of

> > expert at all! LOL...I also struggle with being vegetarian-I know

> and

> > my friends are working on me. I have been before and somehow fell

> > away from it. But I am feeling more and more drawn in that

> direction.

> >

> > peace and love

> > adriane

>

[Guest guest]

Those websites are about practices that advocate gluttony on meat and

drunkenness as " left hand " pratices. That is not what I am saying nor

implying. According to some Hindu temple priests and other ethnic

Hindus I have talked to, a good number of ethnic and practicing Hindus

are not vegetarian (although they do not eat beef and limit

comnsumption of beef) and not all of them are complete teetotalers (but

many are, those that are not limit consumption). Many view that as

specific practices tied in with specific gurus and schools.

 

I am wary of any type of fundamentalist interpretation. Not my tea.

 

Namaste,

 

Dave

 

Ammachi , " parzival35 " <parzival2 wrote:

>

> Dear Dave,

>

> You should please see the Pancha Tattva of Tantra Yoga for more

details.

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchamakara

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vamachara

>

> However know that Amma has nothing at all do with tantra and tantric

> teachings of the left-hand path. She isn't a tantric, is she?

> http://www.skepticfiles.org/mys1/5-m-rit.htm

>

> P.

[Guest guest]

Amma IS tantric.

 

Violet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammachi , " David Salyers " <salyed wrote:

>

> Those websites are about practices that advocate gluttony on meat and

> drunkenness as " left hand " pratices. That is not what I am saying nor

> implying. According to some Hindu temple priests and other ethnic

> Hindus I have talked to, a good number of ethnic and practicing Hindus

> are not vegetarian (although they do not eat beef and limit

> comnsumption of beef) and not all of them are complete teetotalers (but

> many are, those that are not limit consumption). Many view that as

> specific practices tied in with specific gurus and schools.

>

> I am wary of any type of fundamentalist interpretation. Not my tea.

>

> Namaste,

>

> Dave

>

> Ammachi , " parzival35 " <parzival2@> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Dave,

> >

> > You should please see the Pancha Tattva of Tantra Yoga for more

> details.

> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchamakara

> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vamachara

> >

> > However know that Amma has nothing at all do with tantra and tantric

> > teachings of the left-hand path. She isn't a tantric, is she?

> > http://www.skepticfiles.org/mys1/5-m-rit.htm

> >

> > P.

>

[Guest guest]

Um, if you are referring to " left hand " tantric then that doesn't seem

consistent with the teachings on her website (and I'm a newbie) such as:

 

http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/daily/food.php

 

The above link is where she advocates sattvic food. Nowhere does she

say to eat lots of meat and swill alcohol.

 

http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/daily/daily.php

 

The daily practices advocated seem fairly traditional, perhaps too

regulated for my tastes, but nothing out of the ordinary. I suspect

that when one actually submits to a guru (instead of just getting a

hug) then one is agreeing to follow the spiritual path laid out by that

guru. This sounds reasonable to me.

 

Namaste,

 

Dave

 

Ammachi , " violetdoves " <violetdoves wrote:

>

>

> Amma IS tantric.

>

> Violet

>

[Guest guest]

That is true , generally that is what Amma recommends , however Who knows maybe

some She treats accordingly to their schools of practice . Amma also has a way

of

contradicting Herself , in sense that She will say something to one person to

another

something else. So I would say Who knows . joanna

>

> Um, if you are referring to " left hand " tantric then that doesn't seem

> consistent with the teachings on her website (and I'm a newbie) such as:

>

> http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/daily/food.php

>

> The above link is where she advocates sattvic food. Nowhere does she

> say to eat lots of meat and swill alcohol.

>

> http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/daily/daily.php

>

> The daily practices advocated seem fairly traditional, perhaps too

> regulated for my tastes, but nothing out of the ordinary. I suspect

> that when one actually submits to a guru (instead of just getting a

> hug) then one is agreeing to follow the spiritual path laid out by that

> guru. This sounds reasonable to me.

>

> Namaste,

>

> Dave

>

> Ammachi , " violetdoves " <violetdoves@> wrote:

> >

> >

> > Amma IS tantric.

> >

> > Violet

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I have heard certain foods according to Ayurvedic increase ojas and

open up blocked channels within the body-basamati rice, honey,

oranges and almonds.

 

Ammachi , " David Salyers " <salyed wrote:

>

> Um, if you are referring to " left hand " tantric then that doesn't

seem

> consistent with the teachings on her website (and I'm a newbie)

such as:

>

> http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/daily/food.php

>

> The above link is where she advocates sattvic food. Nowhere does

she

> say to eat lots of meat and swill alcohol.

>

> http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/daily/daily.php

>

> The daily practices advocated seem fairly traditional, perhaps too

> regulated for my tastes, but nothing out of the ordinary. I suspect

> that when one actually submits to a guru (instead of just getting a

> hug) then one is agreeing to follow the spiritual path laid out by

that

> guru. This sounds reasonable to me.

>

> Namaste,

>

> Dave

>

> Ammachi , " violetdoves " <violetdoves@> wrote:

> >

> >

> > Amma IS tantric.

> >

> > Violet

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Ammachi , " violetdoves " <violetdoves wrote:

>

>

> Amma IS tantric.

>

> Violet

 

Please explain your stand.

 

Manoj

[Guest guest]

Does sattvic food mean avoiding garlic and onion too?

 

 

 

 

 

Ammachi [Ammachi ] On Behalf Of

David Salyers

Wednesday, July 25, 2007 3:11 PM

Ammachi

Re: New to Amma - Question about " Regulative Principles "

 

 

 

Um, if you are referring to " left hand " tantric then that doesn't seem

consistent with the teachings on her website (and I'm a newbie) such as:

 

http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/daily/food.php

 

The above link is where she advocates sattvic food. Nowhere does she

say to eat lots of meat and swill alcohol.

 

http://www.amritapuri.org/cultural/daily/daily.php

 

The daily practices advocated seem fairly traditional, perhaps too

regulated for my tastes, but nothing out of the ordinary. I suspect

that when one actually submits to a guru (instead of just getting a

hug) then one is agreeing to follow the spiritual path laid out by that

guru. This sounds reasonable to me.

 

Namaste,

 

Dave

 

Ammachi <Ammachi%40> ,

" violetdoves " <violetdoves wrote:

>

>

> Amma IS tantric.

>

> Violet

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Yes, and spicy food is rajasic (non-sattvic). They all increase

bodily heat, increasing chances for anger and passion. Funny

because most Indian food is spicy.

 

I've heard at both local and in another city, at Amma devotee meetings

for Mother's Kitchen, which requires vegetarian meals that

" vegetarian " meant even " no eggs " . But that's the difference between

what people in charge say versus policy.

 

Diet has more to do with how it affects the mind than any traditional

view of it being sin or not practicing non-violence. Just make your

best effort and you'll notice the difference.

 

tom

 

Ammachi , " Narendra Kulkarni " <nkulki wrote:

>

> Does sattvic food mean avoiding garlic and onion too?

>

>

>

>

> Ammachi [Ammachi ] On

Behalf Of

> David Salyers

> Wednesday, July 25, 2007 3:11 PM

> Ammachi

> Re: New to Amma - Question about " Regulative

Principles "

>

>

(snipped)

[Guest guest]

" Diet has more to do with how it affects the mind than any traditional

view of it being sin or not practicing non-violence. Just make your

best effort and you'll notice the difference. "

 

 

This is very wise and makes a lot of sense.

 

Thanks!

 

-Achyut

[Guest guest]

Also called Tan·trism / & #712;t & #652;ntr & #618;z & #601;m, & #712;tæn-/

Pronunciation Key - Show

Spelled Pronunciation[tuhn-triz-uhm, tan-] Pronunciation Key - Show

IPA Pronunciation. the philosophy or doctrine of these books,

regarding the changing, visible world as the creative dance or play

of the Divine Mother and regarding enlightenment as the realization

of the essential oneness of one's self and of the visible world with

Shiva-Shakti, the Godhead: influential in some schools of Mahayana

Buddhism, esp. in Tibet.

 

I did not know what this meant either and searched around and found

this definition. Well Amma is THAT! LOL..!

 

 

Ammachi , " manoj_menon " <manoj_menon wrote:

>

> Ammachi , " violetdoves " <violetdoves@> wrote:

> >

> >

> > Amma IS tantric.

> >

> > Violet

>

> Please explain your stand.

>

> Manoj

>

[Guest guest]

Amma sad this once which I think is vital !

 

" its more important what comes out of your mouth rather than what comes in "

 

ps I am vegeterian for over ten years consider it very healthy diet,.

Spices in moderation can also have healthy effect on the body , one of them

is

cleanses digestive system of pathogens bacteria ect... help to give heat ,

energy which

can be used in positive manner not necessarily anger or negative passion ( like

passion

for helping or something constructive ). I also mean here spicy in moderation

not that

You can not taste the food anymore and feel like searching for glass of cool

water )))

 

 

 

joanna

>

> Yes, and spicy food is rajasic (non-sattvic). They all increase

> bodily heat, increasing chances for anger and passion. Funny

> because most Indian food is spicy.

>

> I've heard at both local and in another city, at Amma devotee meetings

> for Mother's Kitchen, which requires vegetarian meals that

> " vegetarian " meant even " no eggs " . But that's the difference between

> what people in charge say versus policy.

>

> Diet has more to do with how it affects the mind than any traditional

> view of it being sin or not practicing non-violence. Just make your

> best effort and you'll notice the difference.

>

> tom

>

> Ammachi , " Narendra Kulkarni " <nkulki@> wrote:

> >

> > Does sattvic food mean avoiding garlic and onion too?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Ammachi [Ammachi ] On

> Behalf Of

> > David Salyers

> > Wednesday, July 25, 2007 3:11 PM

> > Ammachi

> > Re: New to Amma - Question about " Regulative

> Principles "

> >

> >

> (snipped)

>