On Ammachi
File under: Amma All-Over-The-Planet
Amma is a symbol of the Shakti, but she herself is nothing more than a woman who seemingly cares about others and found a way to do that. The idea that she has special powers is what draws the most people to her; their faith is based on the belief that being in her presence is being in God's presence, and that their problems might be solved as a result. It's on her website. You could call it a crass manipulation, but even if she honestly cares about these people, their folk ideas of enlightenment—endorsed and enjoyed by Amma—translate into occluding notions that kill understanding rather than promote it.
The fact that she hugs so much is no proof of her divinity. There are folks who can run a hundred miles in a day. Amma's talents as a hugger are comparable to those of any leading athlete. We may treat them as gods, but nobody in sports is actually thought of as God. Is a simple white dress, good endurance, and a smile for most all it takes for a talented human being to be seen as God? It actually takes much less … just look at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. ;)
Labels: Amma All-Over-The-Planet
posted by guruphiliac @ 8:09 PM
16 Comments:
I've gone to the race several times. I have felt the excitement in a crowd as she enters a room. I've been hugged.
She has an amazing organization that does much for many people. If the peoples adulation helps fund those causes even better.
I don't experience her as incarnation as some do, but I do respect what she does and what is done through her w/out the usual guru hanky panky
Remember SSSSRavishankar himself wanted to prevent exodus of some of his disillusioned devotees to Ammachi . Hence ordered all the exits to be shut & started bestowing hugs on those gathered but soon got exhausted & gave up.
Later someone equally disillusioned with Ammachi divulged that Ammachi takes steroids to maintain her stamina:-)
That these Ammachis & Ravishankars allegedly do a lot of charities is what we have been hearing.
Hindus support such people as a counterforce against evengelizations. Thanks to the fillip provided by Jody & this blog some more disenchanted "devotees" gathered the courage to express themselves.
All these "avatards" have strong political connections.
I thank you for existing. The Amritanandamayi gang is so damn powerful, that finding a negative article on the team of people hoisting her up on a pedestal is an ardous task.
Ammabots ridiculously outnumber and outspam any sane opinion or inquiry into her criminal empire.
Thank you sincerely.
Sujay
There is a word for you - hater. You clearly don't understand what a true Guru is, what real shakti is and what the difference is between the personality of a teacher and what awakened Consciousness is. One thing is for sure, you will never get Enlightened with your attitude.
The word was once "critic," but using the word "hater" better serves your need to negate an opinion that calls your beliefs into question. Enjoy the forest of metaphors that pass for spiritual understanding in your world.
Since when does spirituality equate to becoming a mindless follower? The Amma people promote exactly this. They want you to trust 100% in a person you will never have any actual contact with. They fill your mind with a fantasy of what spiritual life is.
I personnally think that your critics about sri sri ravi shankar are right and i thank you to make people aware of that, but i totally disagree about what you say of Amma.
I've been involved in both organizations, and i recognized ravi shankar is very doubtful, but Amma is really different.
Hugging people for 18 hours (as she does sometimes in India) is much more than an just an athletic performance. Try it you'll see, even with a athletic training, you won't succeed to hug people for 18 hours without eating and going to bathroom... And you would have to do this again the next day and again the day after. And to hug people is also emotionally tireing, sometimes people who suffer a lot comes to her. Did it never happen to you that you've get one day lots of people coming to you sad, angry, depressed in need of being soothed ? It's quite tireing. Imagine there would be hundreds of people like this, you would just reject them at the end of your day. If you look carefully at Amma, she is as fresh with the last person than with the first and take care as much of the last person than with the last. She is never mentally tired of hugging people, whoever they are. That's where comes from the beliefs of her divinity. Any normal person can't mentally do what she can. Of course, it's very hard for her body and maybe she takes steroids to help herself. But steroids will never help to be so mentally endurant.
And anyway what she does for the world is great ! There are millions of people who've been helped in their life by being hug with love (because she really has lots of love when she hugs you, i tell you this by experience). And her NGO is very effective and is recognized by the UN. Contrary to the art of living the actions claimed by ETW (Embracing the world : amma' organization)are realistic. Also she has been recognized by famous prices (like the gandhiking award) much more than SSRV.
Finally, i personally believe in the divinity of Amma, because of things i lived, some coincidences which have happened near her or while thinking/praying to her, also some answers she gave me. Or simply when listening her singing live bhajans... But this is personal and i would understand that it's not convicing, since you do not have the same experience. I can rationally understand and even agree with your arguments and doubts about Amma, but empirically my experience (took out of all the brain storming i could have undergo from people around Amma)proves there is really something special with her.
I just discovered this blog, and i was happy to read all what i read about the art of living because i really had doubts, but i'm disappointed to see you're also criticizing Amma.
If you think Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a false guru, i would say you're very smart but if you say Amma is one too, i would say you're very narrow minded and spiritually closed.
I think Ammachi sets a horrible example of what enlightenment actually is. She presents it as a pie-in-the-sky extravaganza where you will be rendered a living divinity able to perform miracles. This is the purest avidya maya, and it makes her "love" the enemy of self-realization.
But generally, I'd take Amma over Sri Sri if I had to choose.
Hi all,
With my personal experience after I met ammachi for 1st time in the year 1998,When she chanted "om" in my ears.At that time I was 21 years old.
When I went back my home,I made a prayer in my mind saying Oh God If you are really true ,and there are many people like ammachi saying they have seen god and can make others also to realize god and solve life problems instantly,
I am going to chant Om with the breathing technic inhaling Ma and Exhaling Om until I see u or realize you.Please show yourself to me .
I thought doing this until I reach the goal actually not me
and also prayed that I have so many desires to be filled and I am not pure but still one of the desire is to see you god and I am not pure but I know you are .
I am not fully loving all but I know you love all if you are true.
Please show me your self.,and prayed to ammachi that if at all any gift I can get i want u to make me understand you.
So many changes happened to me ,everything proved that both Ammaci and Sri Sri Ravishankar both are realized souls who train people from different directions to reach the same goal.
Ammachi is motherly approach (Instant self realization)
Sri sri is fatherly approach(make us to take full effort to reach the goal by ourself .
Both are true.
If anybody want to know the truth by yourself talk to god directly to show himself and start just sit and breath in and breath out with MA ,Om chanting or without Ma ,Om chanting 108 times morning and evening If possible do the whole life time until you reach the truth or god but I am pretty sure 100% you will get the result because your wish is pure .
All the best.
Soo many ignorants here. God bless you all.
I was a live entertainer for a number of years. When people are directing affection toward you as they do toward Amma, it totally energizes you. You can easily go on like that all night.
Ammachi takes steroids not to keep her going but to ease the pain of a chronic condition she has in her shoulder due to hugging so many people day in day out. Do your research and get your facts right before you start making self-serving comments. And being charged by people's affection? - that's the most ridiculous theory! I saw Amma first in 1997 and never have I felt addicted to her or pressured to become a member of any cult. I am a normal, functioning citizen. So what if some people have a cult mentality around her? Who are you to judge that? If you actually did some research you'd find that she has a lot of wonderful charities. On a personal level, I have never felt anything but utter respect from Amma, and a love I cannot understand it is so selfless. She has never expected anything from me and I am so grateful and honoured to have met her.
My Dear Bothers & Sisters
i am an extreme skeptic,i have always wanted prove/understanding of something before i could believe or even talk about it. My experiences with Amma has been nothing less than extraordinary-as much as i only see her whenever she is in my hometown Sydney, i do not follow her on the web, i have never been pressured to do anything by anyone who is associated with her organisations. I have read of only some of her teachings -but those teachings motivate and inspire me, encourages one to actually self-observe and assess one's thoughts, words and actions before causing any potential harm to either one's own self or to those around him or her and the wider environment. One is encouraged to come to his/her own conclusion about his/her own spiritual pursuits- even though group spiritual actitivies, (whether its meditation, or serving the needy,etc) is also encouraged. The many varied suggested guidelines to help us enrich our own daily life, keeping our peace and harmony within and around ourself is profound and we are encouraged to tailor these to suit our needs. As such, i have benefited tremenduously from these and look upon her with so much respect and love-that is all she wants- for us to develop our hearts and feel the love (respect) for oneself and others. I feel sad to hear that some of you have not had experiences similar to mine, but that does not mean that i love any of you any less, rather i respect that we are all on different frequencies in our pursuits for life-enriching goals.
"Amma is like a river, she simply flows, some take a bath in that river, others quench their thirst,
some come to enjoy a swim, and there are those who spit in it, whatever happens the river just flows-unaffected-embracing all,.."
Kunalan Arjunan-Solicitor, Sydney Australia
The following story reminds me of contemplations and experiences that I was blessed with while visiting nursing homes as one of Amma's children.
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GURU'S GRACE - My Amazing Amma
By Rama Devi Nina Marshall @ http://voices.yahoo.com/gurus-grace-amazing-amma-11830674.html?cat=47#post_a_comment
I remember numerous incidents where my Guru, Amma, revealed her incredible intuition and compassion.
One time, in particular, is highlighted in the files of my mind with sparkling, golden light.
It happened about six years ago. I'd been serving in Amma's hospital, counseling and consoling patients and their families (like a chaplain). I concentrated especially on those who were very ill or dying.
Though such work is intense, I've always felt Amma's blessing guiding each encounter. Amma had told me to be her instrument.
It is by these quaint stories that the folk theory of enlightenment serves the promotional needs of a guru like Ammachi.
http://shimmeringdeadend.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/deployment-of-the-ftoe/
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