some help

July 27, 2007

Hello, I was watching the posts on here since I had come on here to

ask some questions and I just wanted to post a website that my friend

in Colorado pointed me to of his friend named Roseanne Henry. She is a

therapist for people involved with cults and their families. I'm sure

there are many people on here who are very happy and are somehow

getting something beneficial in their association with Ammachi, and to

them I say god bless. But others should know that there is help

available. Anyway the internet website is cultrecover.com. There are

many therapists available who specialize in helping people trying to

get out of cults. I know most people will not care too much for me

posting this, but if it can save one person from psychological

devastation, then it was worth me posting it. Like I said, I am sure

there are honest people here who are truly benefiting from some

messages in the Amma group. At first I was not sure about this whole

Amma thing because of what I experienced at my first meeting. I think

it is important to ask questions and hear other peoples opinions

before jumping to a conclusion. Boy did those responses show just what

is going on here! I have seen in my life how mass manipulation works,i

have seen people and the way they act when they are under mind control

and I have seen a very scary amount of typical behavior of cult

victims in the responses and reactions to my questions. I don't have a

problem with spirituality or spiritual groups, as I am a devoted to

the Goddess and mother earth myself, but I know cult behavior when I

see it and I think this Amma thing is crossing the line between

spiritual and cult. I have had a relationship with god since I was a

young boy, so don't you try and tell me that just because I don't

believe your Amma is that God that I am somehow " not getting it " . I

may be an old man but I am no fool even though you may think I am one

because I do not agree with all of this nonsense. I wish you all peace

and good luck in finding out the truth of what you are dealing with. Woody

July 28, 2007

--- Woody <oldmoses65 wrote:

> Hello, I was watching the posts on here since I had

> come on here to

> ask some questions and I just wanted to post a

> website that my friend

> in Colorado pointed me to of his friend named

> Roseanne Henry. She is a

> therapist for people involved with cults and their

> families. I'm sure

> there are many people on here who are very happy and

> are somehow

> getting something beneficial in their association

> with Ammachi, and to

> them I say god bless. But others should know that

> there is help

> available.

If your darshan experience majorly sucked, if you're

convinced that Amma is the leader of a dangerous cult,

if you think the MA organization serves only to rake

in mega-bucks, and if you really believe Amma's

devotees need psychiatric help, what are you doing on

this list? Why not hang out with the cynics and

guru-trashers on groups such as guruphiliac?

Not that I expect everyone on this list to tow the

official Amma party line, but we don't need trolls.

Keval

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July 28, 2007

I think he is just drumming up business for his therapy website.

Unlike Amma who offers her services for free, his therapist is

charging steep fees for her sessions ($90 for 60 minutes). Maybe he

gets his cut out of that. Well, I guess Amma provides employment for

all and sundry in mysterious ways. Go Amma....

>

> If your darshan experience majorly sucked, if you're

> convinced that Amma is the leader of a dangerous cult,

> if you think the MA organization serves only to rake

> in mega-bucks, and if you really believe Amma's

> devotees need psychiatric help, what are you doing on

> this list? Why not hang out with the cynics and

> guru-trashers on groups such as guruphiliac?

>

> Not that I expect everyone on this list to tow the

> official Amma party line, but we don't need trolls.

>

> Keval

>

______________________________\

____

> Shape in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel

today! http://surveylink./gmrs/_panel_invite.asp?a=7

>

July 28, 2007

Dear Woody,

I would humbly reiterate my point that you are drawing some steep

conclusions about something you have had very little experience with

(by that I mean Amma and the scene around her). To those who are not

familiar with the cultural context of guru/disciple relationship as

it has been understood for several thousands of years in India, I can

see how it would look cultish to the modern mind. All I can say is,

this list (at this time) is perhaps not the best place to do your

research, and that you do not have even an inkling of how she has

helped (directly, personally, not imagined) and healed many of us,

and I find your quick, uninformed conclusions.... quick and

uninformed. Unfortunately any validity in your statement is eclipsed

by the clarity of the fact that you have loftily declared hundreds of

thousands of free-thinking individuals to be in need of " some help, "

after spending... do tell me, how much time did you actually spend in

her presence?

You are not the first person to try and " defraud " Amma. That has been

going on since day one. Yawn. You do seem like a nice man, so what

happened that made you so suspicious? Such a beautiful thing that

Amma is doing in this world, so many people uplifted, inspired,

healed, so many lives changed. You have no idea. I appreciate those

on this list who are able to separate their disagreements with

various aspects of the scene around Amma and still understand and

honor who she is and the noble work she is doing.

love,

Prajna

But others should know that there is help

> available. Anyway the internet website is cultrecover.com. There are

> many therapists available who specialize in helping people trying to

> get out of cults.

July 28, 2007

Dear Woody,

If you are still here. Would you share with us what it

was that drew you to go and visit Amma?

Most are going to find some calm and respite and to

see what it is like to be in the presence of a holy

person.

It seems this is the first time you have been in the

presence of a master who is from another culture.

You have mentioned that you have been through one or

two wars. And that you are an older man.

Unfortunately very few people truly know what goes on

during a war. In a conversation recently, a friend

shared with me what is given to our soldiers to keep

them fighting wars.

I am naive and had no idea that this was what was

happening. Some of you may know this and I do not feel

comfortable restating it on this list.

Woody, in the West we have very little that resembles

the spirituality of the East. There are very few if

any true masters who are teaching within the Sanatana

Dharma, this is the first religion, it originates from

India and is the bases of all of our religions, I say

religion, but it is not really a religion.

If one were not educated on the intricacies of this

philosophy and the intricacies of the spiritual path

as layed out within the Sanatana Dharma, it would be

very hard to understand what it was that happens with

the Guru and the student.

Many Avatars, as well as Amma do not interact with

their students on a one to one basis these days, as

there is truly not enough time for Her to do this.

Instead, much of what we learn, we learn directly

through our lives. In fact most on the spiritual path

do have a Guru and may never meet this one in person.

Other Avatars such as Mother Meera and Haidakhan

Babaji do not feel it is necessary to work with a Guru

and tell students to work directly with God.

In essence, that is what we do with Amma for the most

part, as we do not see her more than a few times a

year.

Many of us wish to be around her physical form more

often, but do not have the luxury to do that.

As well, the Goal of Self-Realization is to merge with

God/Guru and the Beloved. Then there is no longer the

need for the external guru.

It could be that you had advanced to a certain degree

on your own and it was time for you to meet a Master

in human form. If this was so, then she was working on

your connection to your lower nature as to help you

loosen the grip of the ego so that you could

experience more freedom and bliss.

It seems to me that you have opened an old wound and

are projecting some deep hurt onto this situation.

This is good actually and is a way for you to look

more deeply into what it is that you are carrying.

Amma is Love Woody, Amma is the Goddess and the Earth

Herself. Woody, God is Love.

Peace to you,

S

July 28, 2007

Woody,

There are many different uses for the term " cult " , so I won't even

attempt to

go there. Usually it implies that the participants are controlled, mind and

body. I really don't think this is the case here. Most followers of

Mother have

jobs, families, friends who are not followers of Amma, etc. In other

words, they

have a life, which YOU should get.

The detractors recently on this list would be banging their heads

somewhere

else if they weren't here. Hey, that's not a bad idea! Maybe there's a

harder rock you

can bang your head against. Maybe you'll get more attention elsewhere.

Prajna wrote:

>

> Dear Woody,

>

> I would humbly reiterate my point that you are drawing some steep

> conclusions about something you have had very little experience with

> (by that I mean Amma and the scene around her). To those who are not

> familiar with the cultural context of guru/disciple relationship as

> it has been understood for several thousands of years in India, I can

> see how it would look cultish to the modern mind. All I can say is,

> this list (at this time) is perhaps not the best place to do your

> research, and that you do not have even an inkling of how she has

> helped (directly, personally, not imagined) and healed many of us,

> and I find your quick, uninformed conclusions.... quick and

> uninformed. Unfortunately any validity in your statement is eclipsed

> by the clarity of the fact that you have loftily declared hundreds of

> thousands of free-thinking individuals to be in need of " some help, "

> after spending... do tell me, how much time did you actually spend in

> her presence?

>

> You are not the first person to try and " defraud " Amma. That has been

> going on since day one. Yawn. You do seem like a nice man, so what

> happened that made you so suspicious? Such a beautiful thing that

> Amma is doing in this world, so many people uplifted, inspired,

> healed, so many lives changed. You have no idea. I appreciate those

> on this list who are able to separate their disagreements with

> various aspects of the scene around Amma and still understand and

> honor who she is and the noble work she is doing.

>

> love,

> Prajna

>

> But others should know that there is help

> > available. Anyway the internet website is cultrecover.com. There are

> > many therapists available who specialize in helping people trying to

> > get out of cults.

>

July 28, 2007

Wow, Woody, those are some pretty lofty claims about Amma's

organization being a cult. Isn't a cult where members are forced to do

things against their will? I can guarantee that people associated with

Amma are there because they want to be. She doesn't foce anyone to do

anything! She is the real McCoy, while else would millions around the

world wait hours just to get 30 seconds with her? Do you think that

Amma is a great sorceress who has cast her spell on all these millions

of people just to get them to come to programs and spend all their

money on the Indian paraphanelia? Amma gives her love unconditionally

and equally to all, whether or not they can afford to help her

charities. Amma has very little poessessions, everything that is

donated to her goes to those in need....quite a miracle!

I'm sorry that your darshan experience was not what you wanted it to

be, but instead of focusing on other people who are far from perfect,

please try to focus an Amma, and her sacrifice to all of us (The Whole

World), and what she is doing in the world for those who are suffering.

Madhurima

July 28, 2007

Namah Sivaya

Thanks, Prajna. I was just going to speak up to say that what Woody is

interpreting as cult takes no regard for cultural differences and

understanding of Indian / Hindu culture. This accounts greatly for what he

might have interpreted through his own satsang experience.

Nischala

On 7/27/07, Prajna <prajnaji wrote: