Anti-Ammabots Go Online
File under: Amma All-Over-The-Planet
We've just received notice about the creation of the Cult Of The Hugging Saint website, a much-needed critical look at Ammachi:
Welcome to cultofthehuggingsaint.com, a place for alternative views on Mata Amritanandamayi (commonly known as "Amma" or the "hugging saint" in the Western media.) We hope to be able to provide information and views that have been censored or omitted from the mainstream press, allowing visitors to make an informed decision before jumping into a potentially damaging group.Along with the recently-initiated ExAmma Yahoo! discussion group, folks are beginning to wake up to the fact that the overly-perfumed portly lady in white isn't much more than an Indian version of Pat Robertson.
Coming soon to this blog: a time-line of the events surrounding the Green Avenue beatdown by Amma devotees in New Delhi.
Labels: Amma All-Over-The-Planet
posted by guruphiliac @ 10:36 AM
15 Comments:
What is this world coming to when Amma is considered a cult. She is a Saint. This is very sad news indeed that the world is turning against such a Godly, loving Saint. We definitely are in the Dark Ages once again.
At least Pat is honest and upfront about being an asshole with an agenda.
I doubt sir if Pat considers himself to be an asshole just because you and I do! And I for one do not consider a man honest just because he wears cowboy boots encrusted with hog plop and suffers from foot in mouth disease!
However I do believe that Amma has gotten too big for her britches has swallowed down too much of her PS shuck and has created a tape worm in the form of her own organization that has grown nearly as large as she has even though only eating a handful of grain per day!
What is the need for these mall sized gurus? Their devotees end up holding dolls with their eyes rolled up into their heads or letting their children be diddled for the sake of "spiritual merrit".
Adios!
I doubt sir if Pat considers himself to be an asshole just because you and I do! And I for one do not consider a man honest just because he wears cowboy boots encrusted with hog plop and suffers from foot in mouth disease!
However I do believe that Amma has gotten too big for her britches has swallowed down too much of her PS shuck and has created a tape worm in the form of her own organization that has grown nearly as large as she has even though only eating a handful of grain per day!
What is the need for these mall sized gurus? Their devotees end up holding dolls with their eyes rolled up into their heads or letting their children be diddled for the sake of "spiritual merrit".
Adios!
Dear Chuck,
I do believe you are one of a kind. I don't think I've ever read anyone put it as plainly and uniquely as you do :)
It's a laugh of this day... not the horrific abuse of these groups and their leaders, but in you "unique" style of saying what you have posted here today.
Laughing my way back to work.
anonymous said...Dear Chuck...I do believe you are one of a kind.
..................
Sir or Madam, I am gobstopped by your flattery! In fact I must retire to my toilet due to excess of exhileration over your kind attention!
Sunday July 29th Fox News Sunday may be airing a piece on Ammachi. No doubt they have done zero real investigation on Ammachi. I e-mailed them the Green Avenue Residents story. Anyone who has some extra time, e-mail foxnewsonline@foxnews.com or go to the website and hit "submit news tip" to offer a more broadminded view.
I've spent some days/weeks at a time at Ammachi's ashram in kerala. The people basically wanted me to do a lot of work, and I didn't feel like it so I just said "yeah", then went to the room that was assigned to me and slept or read. Nobody punished me for that. I didn't make any real friends, but got to know two people who were very close to Ammachi, one of whom died and the other who left. That person never would talk about why. (Maybe because the friend died of a disease?) When I've participated in local seva efforts when Amma is coming to town, I found the people to be very schizy -- one minute all sugary and the next all pushy and sharp. I didn't help again, but chose instead to donate some money to Amma's mission. I found her ashram a bit zooish, but well organized for something that size. I've seen worse in India. The probable fact that all the funds don't go where it's said they go is the same as every charity on the earth, included United Way in the USA. So what else is new? In a big organization, organizers eat the money up to some extent. My experience of Amma is one of feeling very meditative and "clear" when close to her, and after receiving a hug from her. I feel refreshed in a unique way, and realize things inside of me that could be changed or could use rearranging. I don't feel infantilized, as Jody suggests, but rather loved by someone hugging me. It's a lovely feeling for me, anyhow. I have always chosen not to join her organization because of the strident nature of the people around her, as well as their tired appearance -- I don't think I'd ever survive that level of no sleep and all work. I don't think it's possible for her to be held totally responsibility for the nasty things done by her various followers. You can't hold the PResident of country responsible for every murder or theft taking place. Her organization is huge. My personal opinion is that God is not so easy as people here would have us think. Sure, God is right in front of us, as near as our breath, blah blah blah. But I've met lots and lots of people who think they can guide you to God blabbing about all that and you get nowhere. Even though the statements are true, it's kind of like "chili peppers are hot". That's true. But if you never eat one, it's just a lot of words. Same for most "masters" and people who think they are enlightened because they had some opening or awareness dawning on them. God's not so easy, in my opinion. Who knows what determines who will know God/Englightenment and who will not? I dunno. But I'd venture to guess that Ammachi knows, and in her presence, I do experience what I believe is something closer to the Reality -- that which cannot be burned or cut, etc. It is temporary, but the remberance of it helps to keep me on track so to speak.
Lots of "masters" have told me this and that, told me that enlightenment is easy. But here I sit, some dummy posting on some site that hates gurus and "occluding ideas". What if much of what is posted here is, in itself occluding the Reality? Who can say?
This will not be a popular view on this website, but so what? Maybe there is room for everyone.
Happy Guru Poornima to all
P.S. Ammachi is not my Guru. Someone else is. :-))
Lots of "masters" have told me this and that, told me that enlightenment is easy. But here I sit, some dummy posting on some site that hates gurus and "occluding ideas". What if much of what is posted here is, in itself occluding the Reality? Who can say?
This will not be a popular view on this website, but so what? Maybe there is room for everyone.
Happy Guru Poornima to all
It is telling to read a post which claims it is the "middle ground", feeling the way to sway people into that "middle ground" of oh, maybe goons who beat people aren't all that bad, are they? Maybe Amma didn't know about these goons beating people, even if the very people beaten have written her and it's been in the media. Just call it her organization's fault, that way it avoids looking directly at, or saying, ohhhhh, hereeee it comessss: Amma's responsibility to look into and comment on such horrific behavior.
No mention of the media reports statements of Amma funds going into such a radical group. Why would you avoid mentioning this in your "middle ground" post?
But wait, here comes the razor's edge comment:
"But here I sit, some dummy posting on some site that hates gurus and "occluding ideas". What if much of what is posted here is, in itself occluding the Reality? Who can say? "
Then immediately segway (after such cutting remarks back to, but, oh gosh, jee whiz):
"This will not be a popular view on this website, but so what? Maybe there is room for everyone."
The minds of people who follow cults. Having once been such a person myself, it becomes easy to see through this convoluted trail of thought.
Maybe the author will have the insight to see this as well one day.
to last "anonymous":,
Uh, "Gosh, gee Whiz" I don't remember anywhere in my post claiming to middle ground,or air or water or anything else middle. I just gave my opinion of Ammachi, based on what I have witnessed and experienced, and offered the possibility (horror of horrors!) that perhaps this site it self offers, at times, occluding views of it's own.
Didn't like it? Sorry about that.
Sorry to hear you were a cult follower. Your overreaction to my post is possibly evidence of your damaged personality from that experience. Cult followers don't seem able to accept that others have differening opinions from theirs. Again, I was just stating my opinion, which is what I thought this venue was for.
I think Ammachi is a great master surrounded by some very ungreat fools and vicious individuals. And so I never joined them, but visit her and leave. I don't see how she is expected to keep track of what all of them do. I do expect that when viciousness comes to her attention that those people are dismissed. I've heard from some of her devotees who did join the group that people were dismissed for much less than beating others. They were told to leave. She told them. And some devotees said they felt it was too harsh a punishment. I thought she was right. I think she is a very great saint with lots of baggage around her. I wouldn't blame her if she walked away and said "F" U to the whole mess.
(revised)
Jody - the flavor of the writing on "cult of the hugging saint" tastes a lot like yours.
Can you verify for the record that you are not an originator or major contributor to the site? Not that this would make your opinions any less compelling.
thanks, moi
Can you verify for the record that you are not an originator or major contributor to the site?
I hereby state for the record for all eyeballs that fall upon this page that I have nothing to do with Cult of the Hugging Saint, although I love what they are doing and find it a fine service to humanity.
I think Ammachi is a great master surrounded by some very ungreat fools and vicious individuals. And so I never joined them, but visit her and leave. I don't see how she is expected to keep track of what all of them do. I do expect that when viciousness comes to her attention that those people are dismissed. I've heard from some of her devotees who did join the group that people were dismissed for much less than beating others. They were told to leave. She told them. And some devotees said they felt it was too harsh a punishment. I thought she was right. I think she is a very great saint with lots of baggage around her. I wouldn't blame her if she walked away and said "F" U to the whole mess.
Still waiting for her to take responsibility and publicly address why funds from her organization are making their way to fund such a radical group in India. Still waiting for her to take responsibility as head of her organization and publicly order the illegal sign to be taken down in India. Still waiting for her to take responsibility and offer a public apology to those beaten by these radical thugs. Still waiting for her to publicly walk away from the whole international money making enterprise when money is being sent into such radical groups.
Trying to separate Amma from such a serious situation does not work. She needs to stand up and publicly speak out about this, or close the doors to whole operation if she cannot control what is going on. It's much to serious a situation to leave in the middle ground of "non response" and limbo.
Either get with it and publicly address this issue, or shut down the money making machine. Walk away from the monster it's become.
I wouldn't blame her if she walked away and said "F" U to the whole mess.
If she did, then I'd consider the possibility that she might be a great saint. Until then, she's little more than a very successful mommy-proxy.
the site no longer exists now :(
The new url:
http://cultofthehuggingsaint.com/
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