mhgaffney in India

[mhgaffney]

Yesterday, I arrived at Amma's ashram at Amritapuri.

The ashram is located on the west coast of India -- near the southern tip -- on the Indian ocean.

We have been very lucky -- the weather has been cool --

I have met people from Sweden, Germany, Australia, England, Canada etc It's a real mixing bag.

At 5 AM this morning -- before dawn -- the gong sounded rousing everyone to chant the 1,000 names of the Divine Mother. The Kali temple is the center of this place.

The earliest Christians had a similar understanding -- but the misogynistic Church fathers soon expunged almost every trace of the mother --

Yesterday -- was a wild ride to the ashram. The highways here are insane. India is a world apart. Time seems to stand still.

As I am writing this -- today has not even started in the western US.

For the 12 days that I will be here -- I will check the board every other day or so. If you have any questions - I try to answer if I can.

[That One Guy]

Will you stay?

[ant1999e]

Will you stay?

Funny. I have always wanted to visit India.

[ghwk]

Eat cow. They love that there.

[W*GS]

Great. Book sale adverts and now travelogues.

gaffe, we're not your friends. You're our punching bag. Keep that clear.

PS - Make sure you eat as much food from streetside vendors as possible, especially the ones that look grungy and filthy. They're the best!

[Bronco_Beerslug]

We have been very lucky -- the weather has been cool --


Duh, that's because it is officially Winter here.

[spdirty]

What's the point of your trip?

[Bronco_Beerslug]

The ashram is located on the west coast of India -- near the southern tip -- on the Indian ocean.

Yeah, technically that's on the Arabian Sea but while you are here, I heard that up north, Old India and New India are the places to go see.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/Bocawaves/oldindia.jpg

[That One Guy]

Great. Book sale adverts and now travelogues.

gaffe, we're not your friends. You're our punching bag. Keep that clear.

PS - Make sure you eat as much food from streetside vendors as possible, especially the ones that look grungy and filthy. They're the best!

LOL

Nice.

[sinuous sausage]

Yesterday, I arrived at Amma's ashram at Amritapuri.

The ashram is located on the west coast of India -- near the southern tip -- on the Indian ocean.

We have been very lucky -- the weather has been cool --

I have met people from Sweden, Germany, Australia, England, Canada etc It's a real mixing bag.

At 5 AM this morning -- before dawn -- the gong sounded rousing everyone to chant the 1,000 names of the Divine Mother. The Kali temple is the center of this place.

The earliest Christians had a similar understanding -- but the misogynistic Church fathers soon expunged almost every trace of the mother --

Yesterday -- was a wild ride to the ashram. The highways here are insane. India is a world apart. Time seems to stand still.

As I am writing this -- today has not even started in the western US.

For the 12 days that I will be here -- I will check the board every other day or so. If you have any questions - I try to answer if I can.

are you referring to the virgin birther?

[theAPAOps5]

Can you check in every fourth day instead? We want you to enjoy yourself....... Yeah that's it.......... Enjoy yourself

[Rohirrim]

Post some Amma quotes. They're awesome.

[mhgaffney]

The message is that all men are brothers.

It's obviously too simple (too profound) for this place.

[theAPAOps5]

The message is that all men are brothers.

It's obviously too simple (too profound) for this place.

You said every other day, liar

[That One Guy]

You said every other day, liar

This.

Now you have to take 3 days off.

[mhgaffney]

Great. Book sale adverts and now travelogues.

gaffe, we're not your friends. You're our punching bag. Keep that clear.

PS - Make sure you eat as much food from streetside vendors as possible, especially the ones that look grungy and filthy. They're the best!

This from the guy who hates Jesus -- yet defends Wall Street because many investment bankers are Jews.

That he has not been laughed out of here long ago tells me all I need to know about this place.

The board is for and by haters.

What do haters do but hate.

[SoCalBronco]

This from the guy who hates Jesus -- yet defends Wall Street because many investment bankers are Jews.

That he has not been laughed out of here long ago tells me all I need to know about this place.

The board is for and by haters.

What do haters do but hate.

Cha-ching! I knew it was a good play to take the under on the posts before Gaffney would disparage Jews in a thread completely unrelated to Israel.

[Rohirrim]

This is my favorite Amma quote:

As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden. Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.

[sinuous sausage]

Hinduism is for insecure white people

[Spider]

can you go into those freaking tech centers slap hell out of em till they learn english ?

[spdirty]

The message is that all men are brothers.

It's obviously too simple (too profound) for this place.

That's why your there? To receive that message? Well guess I don't have to go then. Cool.

[Rohirrim]

Yeah. All men are brothers. Try getting a ****ing loan.

[DenverBrit]

Hey, Gaffney, I bet you just wow them with your crazy 911 stories.

Here's an interesting take on the 'place' you're staying. A pretty funny blog and it sounds like you're in for a treat. ;D

Amma's Ashram (aka Lunatic Asylum)


...............Physically: Amma's ashram is huge, ugly and has a population density approaching Mumbai.
Emotionally: The stress levels at Amma's are enormous. As soon as you walk through the gates you can almost taste and touch the stress.I can only liken the atmosphere and environment within the walls to that of a depressing electricity (almost an oxymoron I know but the best metaphor I can describe the feeling). It is everywhere. It is a pressure cooker just waiting to erupt.
Spiritually: This is serious and sincere. Unlike Shivananda it is not focused on fun, enjoyment or relaxation. You get the feeling that to the residents (devotees) here, pleasures of the planet are a little irrelevant.

No one is turned away from this Ashram so as you can imagine it is full of some very weird , odd and needy people.

The devotees are by and large very miserable and bad tempered. For example...as part of our SEVA (selfless work to provide internal purification) we were given the task by our Seva Co-ordinator (who just happened to be Austrian) to chop a mountain of potatoes and tomatoes for the evening meal. Together with a young couple from Sweden and Italy we set about our task with naive enthusiasm and desire to please...........................
...............After two hours of chopping our Austrian co-ordinator returned to prove that she was from Hitlers birthplace and literally bellowed at us "You have chopped the potatoes too small, why did you not do as I told you, you need to learn to listen when someone is instructing you". With that the English, Swedish and Italian contingent of her seva group collectively resigned and went in search of a coffee!
.............
My final observation is that many of the devotees are turning Amma into a God. Some pray to her image and some talk of miracles that she has performed (healing people with incurable diseases by licking their sores etc.). They even start to use her name to further their own objectives, e.g. "Amma prefers tomatoes to be chopped like this"!!!!

Read more: http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/susan_john/1/1267024712/tpod.html#ixzz1fdnPIBJL

[spdirty]

The guru of hugs? Geez, I bet your the type that would go to a Vision Seminar for reasons OTHER than getting laid or getting your old lady to shut up. What a bunch of stupid hippie bull****. Wouldn't surprise me if she charges for her hugs.

[mhgaffney]

The guru of hugs? Geez, I bet your the type that would go to a Vision Seminar for reasons OTHER than getting laid or getting your old lady to shut up. What a bunch of stupid hippie bull****. Wouldn't surprise me if she charges for her hugs.

None of the posts come close to covering it. But I appreciate the touch of humor.

My reasons for coming are deeply personal. No need for details, in any event.

Amma is that rarest of humans -- a sat guru -- the highest type of teacher. On the order of Jesus.

We are very fortunate to have such a teacher on the planet at this time.

In the 1st century there were knee jerks who dissed Jesus just as the clowns on the OM are dissing Amma

Why do they do this? Simple. It's an expression of their own terrifying sense of impotence. If they owned up to the truth of their own vacuous inner experience - it would be overwhelming. They would not be able to handle it.

So they slam everything. This accounts for most of the posts on the OM political forum. It's all about escape.

I am not a missionary so I really don't care. Let the knee jerks be themselves.

I posted this thread for the minority who really might want to know more.

Here is a link -- for the curious:
http://www.amritapuri.org/

[Bronco_Beerslug]

In the 1st century there were knee jerks who dissed Jesus just as the clowns on the OM are dissing Amma
Ah, so this "guru" is your "Jesus". Fantastic but don't forget about visiting the regions I mentioned above and make sure when you get to the first region, tell them that you are an American and you love the Indians.

[mhgaffney]

Ah, so this "guru" is your "Jesus". Fantastic but don't forget about visiting the regions I mentioned above and make sure when you get to the first region, tell them that you are an American and you love the Indians.

Amma is not just "my Jesus." You miss the point. Not only are her teachings the same as those of Jesus, Socrates and all other great spiritual masters -- she is here and now -- alive in our time.

So here's the question for Epic (who says he is a Christian) and indeed for all other Christians on this board. If you had an opportunity to meet Jesus in the flesh -- would yu avail yourself?

If the answer is "no," then, the convesration is over. But if the answer (as it ought to be) is "Yes, of course!" then Epic and company have some explaining to do.

Because as I stated -- Amma for all practical purposes = Jesus.

[alkemical]

Hinduism is for insecure white people

This is interesting - can you expound on it?

[Requiem]

Hope you learn a lot and have a safe, fun trip Mark.

[W*GS]

gaffe, you're funny.

You see "The Jews" *everywhere*.

[Rohirrim]

Amma is not just "my Jesus." You miss the point. Not only are her teachings the same as those of Jesus, Socrates and all other great spiritual masters -- she is here and now -- alive in our time.

So here's the question for Epic (who says he is a Christian) and indeed for all other Christians on this board. If you had an opportunity to meet Jesus in the flesh -- would yu avail yourself?

If the answer is "no," then, the convesration is over. But if the answer (as it ought to be) is "Yes, of course!" then Epic and company have some explaining to do.

Because as I stated -- Amma for all practical purposes = Jesus.

Been there, done that. I once lived in an ashram for four years, believe it or not. Got up and meditated for hours every morning, and then sat for hours in the evening listening to satsang, and then hours more of meditation.

Then, one day I had a realization. If there is no god, there sure as hell isn't a satguru. What we are, we are. Why do you need a guide to show you the road within yourself? Just start walking. If there is a god, why would he create you and leave out that crucial part of being able to understand yourself - a part supplied by a satguru? No. If you are a created being, created by a beneficent creator, you are created whole. If not, it doesn't matter, and no satguru is going to make a difference.

Beware the satguru, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

[spdirty]

So would you consider this an accurate summary of her life?

http://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/amma.html

[That One Guy]

So would you consider this an accurate summary of her life?

http://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/amma.html

Not a hottie. I wouldn't hit it.

[El Jué]

If you had an opportunity to meet Jesus in the flesh -- would yu avail yourself?

Yes. I'd also like to see a Rolling Stones concert. However, I wouldn't be terribly excited if I were offered tickets to see a Rolling Stones cover band.

Amma ain't Jesus and Amma ain't Mick Jagger.

[mhgaffney]

Been there, done that. I once lived in an ashram for four years, believe it or not. Got up and meditated for hours every morning, and then sat for hours in the evening listening to satsang, and then hours more of meditation.

Then, one day I had a realization. If there is no god, there sure as hell isn't a satguru. What we are, we are. Why do you need a guide to show you the road within yourself? Just start walking. If there is a god, why would he create you and leave out that crucial part of being able to understand yourself - a part supplied by a satguru? No. If you are a created being, created by a beneficent creator, you are created whole. If not, it doesn't matter, and no satguru is going to make a difference.

Beware the satguru, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"


I dare you to come over here and say this to my face.

[mhgaffney]

So would you consider this an accurate summary of her life?

http://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/amma.html

yes

[mhgaffney]

Here is a summary:

Like Socrates and Jesus, Amma teaches the immortality of the soul. Most Christians are unaware that the Church fathers abandoned the teaching by the 4th century. Today it is heresy. The official Catholic teaching is that souls are created with the body -- and die with it at death. Only through baptism in the church and right belief (and obedience) can Christians gain a chance for salvation.

It's all nonsense -- a way for the church to exercise control over the people.

The universal spiritual teaching is that the individual soul is but a part of the greater soul -- or God. We do not see the connection because of ego.

The purpose of spiritual practice is to loosen the bonds of ego -- thus allowing the greater truth to shine through.

[Rohirrim]

I dare you to come over here and say this to my face.

You want me to fly over to India to fight you? What, did they give you some bad dal or something? Sorry. Last time I went to India I got dysentery. Look me up when you get back, tough guy. Nyah!

[sinuous sausage]

This is interesting - can you expound on it?

It's not a referendum on Indian Hindus, just the white blokes who claim to practice it.

I've spent too many drunken nights in Boulder listening to the drivel of the random wannabe mystics populating the town to not take as a general rule of thumb the fact that white people who claim a heightened state of enlightenment due to their Hindu/Buddhist/Taoist syncretism are simply obfuscating their poor reasoning skills and posturing for appearance. They conflate their inability to understand one tradition as proof of that tradition's inferiority, and are giddy at the thought of deriding that tradition with the non-falsifiable and arcane claims of one practiced thousands of miles away. It makes them feel important. This new religion tends to be a hodgepodge of their own subjective convictions and impulses with an eastern face used to legitimize it (because, who's gonna know?): real Hindus would probably be embarrassed by the OP. "Baffle them with bull****" is an apt motto for this crowd.

As to Hinduism itself, it seems highly evolved and susceptible to misinterpretation (or maybe it's meant to be that way). It doesn't strike me as immanently reasonable. To me, the logical end road to life is Nihilsm, but then I'm left to wonder how there's any meaning in me saying everything is meaningless.

[sinuous sausage]

So would you consider this an accurate summary of her life?

http://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/amma.html

I'm sure she's a nice gal, but quotes like these drive me bananas:

When asked what her religion is she replies.
“My religion is love and service.”

^Totally empty claim to me. A misanthropic tit could make the same claim, so how do we decide? What's the process for decision and who gives the impetus to that process?

[theAPAOps5]

I dare you to come over here and say this to my face.

:rofl:

[TDmvp]

Eat cow. They love that there.

That made me LoL ... Thanks.

[That One Guy]

I dare you to come over here and say this to my face.

LOL

I... I wouldn't even know how to respond to this if it were me. I've seen Gaff's picture. He doesn't usually come across as the "Come at me, Bro" type. I'm stunned, I really am.

And over that post after all the things people on this site have said to him...

[DenverBrit]

I dare you to come over here and say this to my face.

The spectacle of Gaffney acting tough at an Ashram is just too funny. Ha!

Enjoy some humor....

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sdyC1BrQd6g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[underrated29]

I dare you to come over here and say this to my face.



Whoa...



Did she tell you you were going to rot in hell?
Seriously, so many things about that post are awesome, amazing and weird. All at the same time.

[alkemical]

It's not a referendum on Indian Hindus, just the white blokes who claim to practice it.

I've spent too many drunken nights in Boulder listening to the drivel of the random wannabe mystics populating the town to not take as a general rule of thumb the fact that white people who claim a heightened state of enlightenment due to their Hindu/Buddhist/Taoist syncretism are simply obfuscating their poor reasoning skills and posturing for appearance. They conflate their inability to understand one tradition as proof of that tradition's inferiority, and are giddy at the thought of deriding that tradition with the non-falsifiable and arcane claims of one practiced thousands of miles away. It makes them feel important. This new religion tends to be a hodgepodge of their own subjective convictions and impulses with an eastern face used to legitimize it (because, who's gonna know?): real Hindus would probably be embarrassed by the OP. "Baffle them with bull****" is an apt motto for this crowd.

As to Hinduism itself, it seems highly evolved and susceptible to misinterpretation (or maybe it's meant to be that way). It doesn't strike me as immanently reasonable. To me, the logical end road to life is Nihilsm, but then I'm left to wonder how there's any meaning in me saying everything is meaningless.

Good post, Thanks for sharing. :)

I can understand and appreciate your point, no doubt about it. I don't agree with Nihilism though, unless that's what you want to believe (of course!). :)

I try to believe 6 impossible things before breakfast too. ;)

I've realized than any real enlightenment...is usually done in silence. I actually think The Buddha is an asshole. If you read it, he's a d!ck!. But, i'm sure he was impatient with people who didn't understand.

;)

[Odysseus]

I dare you to come over here and say this to my face.

I did not realize that one of the keys to spirituality was ability to put a beat down on somebody. Chuck Norris must be some kind of saint.

"If we penetrate deeply into all aspects and all areas of life, we will find that hidden behind everything is love. We will discover that love is the force, the power and inspiration behind every word and every action. This applies to all people, irrespective of race, caste, creed, sect, religion or of what work people do."

- Amma

She sounds relatively harmless. Good luck on your path.

[Rohirrim]

The spectacle of Gaffney acting tough at an Ashram is just too funny. Ha!




I think he needs another Amma hug. :~ohyah!:

Of course, maybe he wasn't challenging me to fly over to India to fight with him. Maybe he just wanted to hear me recite "Jabberwocky?"

[mhgaffney]

I think he needs another Amma hug. :~ohyah!:

Of course, maybe he wasn't challenging me to fly over to India to fight with him. Maybe he just wanted to hear me recite "Jabberwocky?"

Consider what Ro told us. He spent four years in an ashram -- before he realized his guru was a huckster.

Of which there are many. No mistake about it.

Next, consider his logically flawed conclusions. His guru wasa fake, ergo all gurus are fakes. That's like saying: Orton sucks, therefor all qbs suck.

It's a measure of Ro's naivete that it took him 4 years to figure out he'd been had. Too bad for him.

I met Amma in 1987 and after losing touch with her -- rediscovered her about 4 years ago. I have checked her out very carefully for several years now -- no question about her authenticity. Amma is the real deal.

If you doubt this -- I suggest you check out her humanitarian activities. Which include hospitals, universities, orphanages, AIDs clinic, etc They go on and on.

Amma teaches service. This afternoon, she personally served lunch to more than a thousand people here at the ashram. I mean she passed out the plates of food. After I'd finished eating -- I looked in the ashram window and she was still in there handing out plates.

She practices the teachings.

MHG

[Rohirrim]

What der Gaffo doesn't understand is, that in India, there's one satguru for every ten square miles. They produce satgurus the way we produce Walmarts.

[mhgaffney]

I'm sure she's a nice gal, but quotes like these drive me bananas:

When asked what her religion is she replies.
“My religion is love and service.”

^Totally empty claim to me. A misanthropic tit could make the same claim, so how do we decide? What's the process for decision and who gives the impetus to that process?

Simple. You check her out. Very easy to do.

For anyone who cares enough to do it.

[Rohirrim]

Consider what Ro told us. He spent four years in an ashram -- before he realized his guru was a huckster.

Of which there are many. No mistake about it.

Next, consider his logically flawed conclusions. His guru wasa fake, ergo all gurus are fakes. That's like saying: Orton sucks, therefor all qbs suck.

It's a measure of Ro's naivete that it took him 4 years to figure out he'd been had. Too bad for him.

I met Amma in 1987 and after losing touch with her -- rediscovered her about 4 years ago. I have checked her out very carefully for several years now -- no question about her authenticity. Amma is the real deal.

If you doubt this -- I suggest you check out her humanitarian activities. Which include hospitals, universities, orphanages, AIDs clinic, etc They go on and on.

Amma teaches services. This afternoon, she served lunch to more than a thousand people here at the ashram. I mean she personally passed out the food. After I'd finished eating -- I looked in the ashram window and she was still in there handing out plates.

She practices the teachings.

MHG

I didn't say he was a huckster. He's still going strong. He still believes in what he is doing. I'm sure this Amma does as well. I just realized there is no god. At least no god who is interested in the day to day lives of the little creatures swarming over the surface of any particular planet. And if there is no god, there is certainly no need for a satguru, unless you need that sort of thing; Like therapy (which I also did for four years). One day you wake up and say, "I really don't need this anymore." Just as you die alone, on one level, you must live alone as well. No one can live your struggle for you.

[alkemical]

= ZARATHUD'S ENLIGHTENMENT =

Before he became a hermit, Zarathud was a young Priest, and took great delight in making fools of his opponents in front of his followers.

One day Zarathud took his students to a pleasant pasture and there he confronted The Sacred Chao while She was contentedly grazing.

"Tell me, you dumb beast." demanded the Priest in his commanding voice, "why don't you do something worthwhile. What is your Purpose in Life, anyway?"

Munching the tasty grass, The Sacred Chao replied "MU".*

Upon hearing this, absolutely nobody was enlightened. Primarily because nobody could understand Chinese.

* "MU" is the Chinese ideogram for NO-THING

[DenverBrit]

I think he needs another Amma hug. :~ohyah!:

Of course, maybe he wasn't challenging me to fly over to India to fight with him. Maybe he just wanted to hear me recite "Jabberwocky?"

I think he needs help peeling the potatoes. He's probably not doing it right and has been placed on latrine duties by his Austrian overseer. :pimp:

[mhgaffney]

I didn't say he was a huckster. He's still going strong. He still believes in what he is doing. I'm sure this Amma does as well. I just realized there is no god. At least no god who is interested in the day to day lives of the little creatures swarming over the surface of any particular planet. And if there is no god, there is certainly no need for a satguru, unless you need that sort of thing; Like therapy (which I also did for four years). One day you wake up and say, "I really don't need this anymore." Just as you die alone, on one level, you must live alone as well. No one can live your struggle for you.

So you spent 4 years in an ashram and found out there is no God. Bulley for you.

Then you did 4 years of therapy and came to the realization that you "don't need this **** anymore."

You sound almost convinced. Keep repeating your mantra and maybe one day you'll really believe it.

But I doubt it.

[Rohirrim]

So you spent 4 years in an ashram and found out there is no God. Bulley for you.

Then you did 4 years of therapy and came to the realization that you "don't need this **** anymore."

You sound almost convinced. Keep repeating your mantra and maybe one day you'll really believe it.

But I doubt it.

Hopefully, after you enjoy your truncated ashram experience you'll turn to therapy.

[mhgaffney]

Hopefully, after you enjoy your truncated ashram experience you'll turn to therapy.

Ro, you are just not credible.

Are we to believe you spent 4 years in an ashram and failed to study the lives of the saints -- and the scriptures?

The scriptures describe the Godhead and the qualities of a sat guru in exhaustive detail.

There is no mistake, here. Amma meets all of the definitions -- all of the criteria. It is not a question of her believing something. Amma is the rarest kind of being -- a fully human being who is also fully divine. She is the embiodiment of G-d in a human body.

No way to get the mind around it. It's too big for the mind.

That you think the way you do - -shows that you learned nothing from your time in the ashram.

Congratulations! You give new meaning to the word "narcissistic". No wonder it's one of your favorite words. Amazing how projection works.


BTW, I already went through therapy -- maeny years. (Not hjust4.)

MHG

[theAPAOps5]

Ro, you are just not credible.



Stopped right there. You have no business talking about credible with the **** you make up. What a joke.

[sirhcyennek81]

Here is a summary:

1. Like Socrates and Jesus, Amma teaches the immortality of the soul. Most Christians are unaware that the Church fathers abandoned the teaching by the 4th century. Today it is heresy. The official Catholic teaching is that souls are created with the body -- and die with it at death. Only through baptism in the church and right belief (and obedience) can Christians gain a chance for salvation.

It's all nonsense -- a way for the church to exercise control over the people.

The universal spiritual teaching is that the individual soul is but a part of the greater soul -- or God. We do not see the connection because of ego.

The purpose of spiritual practice is to loosen the bonds of ego -- thus allowing the greater truth to shine through.


1. As we have already observed, the immortality of the human soul is one of the most fundamental tenets of the Christian Religion. Consequently, every evidence for the Divine character of Christianity goes to prove and confirm the foundation upon which the whole edifice rests. Catholic philosophers, however, with the exception of Scotus and his followers, have generally claimed to establish the validity of the belief apart from revelation. Still its adequate treatment presupposes, as already demonstrated, some of the main theses of natural theology, ethics, and psychology. It is itself the crowning conclusion of this last branch of philosophy. Only the briefest outline of the argument can be attempted here. For fuller discussion the reader may consult any Catholic text-book of psychology. The following are the chief propositions involved in the building up of the doctrine : The human soul is a substance or substantial principle. It is a simple, or indivisible, and also a spiritual being, that is, intrinsically independent of matter. It is naturally incorruptible. It cannot be annihilated by any creature. God is bound to preserve the soul in possession of its conscious life, at least for some time, after death. Finally, the evidence all leads to the conclusion that the future life is to continue for ever...

http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6060

You are too damn dumb for words.


:Broncos:

[Rohirrim]

Ro, you are just not credible.

Are we to believe you spent 4 years in an ashram and failed to study the lives of the saints -- and the scriptures?

The scriptures describe the Godhead and the qualities of a sat guru in exhaustive detail.

There is no mistake, here. Amma meets all of the definitions -- all of the criteria. It is not a question of her believing something. Amma is the rarest kind of being -- a fully human being who is also fully divine. She is the embiodiment of G-d in a human body.

No way to get the mind around it. It's too big for the mind.

That you think the way you do - -shows that you learned nothing from your time in the ashram.

Congratulations! You give new meaning to the word "narcissistic". No wonder it's one of your favorite words. Amazing how projection works.


BTW, I already went through therapy -- maeny years. (Not hjust4.)

MHG

I started out on scripture but soon hit the harder stuff...

Like Kabir said:
Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat.
My shoulder is against yours.
you will not find me in the stupas, not in Indian shrine
rooms, nor in synagogues, nor in cathedrals:
not in masses, nor kirtans, not in legs winding
around your own neck, nor in eating nothing but
vegetables.
When you really look for me, you will see me
instantly —
you will find me in the tiniest house of time.


Take all the world's major religions and pile them all together and here's what you come up with:

There is a god.

He gives you eyes,
but tells you not to trust what you see.

He gives you ears,
but tells you not to trust what you hear.

He gives you a mind,
but tells you not to trust what you think.

He gives you the ego,
and then tells you not to believe
in yourself.
And to see his face, you must first divest yourself of that ego which you did not create.

He places you in a miraculous world,
and then tells you it is a false world,
which you should not believe in.

He tells you that only his world is true,
but won't take you there.
You must simply believe in its existence.
Those who refuse to believe in it
are doomed.

He fills you with the sensations
of this brilliant world,
but tells you that to indulge in the beauty of your sensations
is a false path.

He tells you he is
the god of peace,
but allows His creation to be filled with atrocities.

In other words,
he preaches against the illusion,
and yet,
who but he sustains the illusion?

He preaches against the false world,
and yet he continues to people it,
and sustain it,
for age after age.

He tells you to come to him
With the heart of a child,
But he comes to you as a trickster.

He plays a game,
that only he
is allowed to enjoy.

He works in mysterious ways.



It doesn't matter anyway. If I am wrong and others are right, then God is the Father, full of mercy and love, and I am simply the misguided child, the Prodigal Son, who will be inevitably returned to my true home, once the exercise of my god given logic fails me. ;D

[Rohirrim]

I have a new theory: The prophets of history (and the satgurus of now) are simply individuals suffering from various personality disorders. Hell, it's not like it's a difficult thing to become a guru and get people to follow you. Charlie Manson did it. Look at L. Ron Hubbard?. The guy was a lunatic drunk who got a bunch of people to believe that their spirits harbor the detritus of aliens dropped into volcanos! It doesn't prove the existence of God so much as it illustrates the gullibility of man. Some people will believe anything you tell them (ergo, the Republican Party).

You know what they tell you in the ashram when you ask why the guru indulges in behavior that doesn't make sense or goes against the teachings of higher consciousness? They tell you it's his "lila." In other words, a divine mind game. So why is the guru getting drunk and banging all the gopis? "Lila, my child." :rofl:

[mhgaffney]

I have a new theory: The prophets of history (and the satgurus of now) are simply individuals suffering from various personality disorders. Hell, it's not like it's a difficult thing to become a guru and get people to follow you. Charlie Manson did it. Look at L. Ron Hubbard?. The guy was a lunatic drunk who got a bunch of people to believe that their spirits harbor the detritus of aliens dropped into volcanos! It doesn't prove the existence of God so much as it illustrates the gullibility of man. Some people will believe anything you tell them (ergo, the Republican Party).

You know what they tell you in the ashram when you ask why the guru indulges in behavior that doesn't make sense or goes against the teachings of higher consciousness? They tell you it's his "lila." In other words, a divine mind game. So why is the guru getting drunk and banging all the gopis? "Lila, my child." :rofl:

It's simple, Ro. You picked the wrong horse.

Your logical error is blatantly obvious. I stated it before but will repeat -- to rub it in.

My guru was engaging in morally questionable behavior. Ergo, all gurus do the same.

That's like saying: Orton sucks. Therefor, so does Tom Brady, Payton Manning, John Elway, and all QBs.

You generalize from your own dubious experience.

MHG

[mhgaffney]

BTW, as for therapy -- I've been doing it for many years.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

BTW, as for therapy -- I've been doing it for many years.

In case you haven't figured it out, it's not working. :wave:

[mhgaffney]

In case you haven't figured it out, it's not working. :wave:

Very funny, Beerslugger.

[Rohirrim]

It's simple, Ro. You picked the wrong horse.

Your logical error is blatantly obvious. I stated it before but will repeat -- to rub it in.

My guru was engaging in morally questionable behavior. Ergo, all gurus do the same.

That's like saying: Orton sucks. Therefor, so does Tom Brady, Payton Manning, John Elway, and all QBs.

You generalize from your own dubious experience.

MHG

Ever notice how you cherry pick through posts and ignore the ones you can't dispute?

[W*GS]

gaffe is one of those people who's a pliable joiner, ready to believe any old crap so long as it apparently validates his beliefs (which are themselves manipulable).

He's the kind of person that ends up "just following orders", and we know how much pain, suffering, and death that creates.

[mhgaffney]

Ever notice how you cherry pick through posts and ignore the ones you can't dispute?

I cherry picked nothing.

You are a guy who went to college but failed to learn the simplest logic -- and how to think.

MHG

[mhgaffney]

Gaffney "just following orders..."

Hilarious.

W*gs will eat his words when my Black 9/11 is released, early next year.

[theAPAOps5]

nothing like beating your chest over a book about a tragedy. Pathetic doesn't even come close to describing you low you are.

[sirhcyennek81]

I cherry picked nothing.

You are a guy who went to college but failed to learn the simplest logic -- and how to think.

MHG


You stated it was Catholic doctrine that the soul "dies". Which makes me wonder how anything you write can be credible when you discount a bedrock principle of Christianity that is practically universal for Christianity as a whole.

Fail.

PS. You are a miserable human being, no yogi in the middle of India is going to change that.

:Broncos:

[mhgaffney]

You stated it was Catholic doctrine that the soul "dies". Which makes me wonder how anything you write can be credible when you discount a bedrock principle of Christianity that is practically universal for Christianity as a whole.

Fail.

PS. You are a miserable human being, no yogi in the middle of India is going to change that.

:Broncos:

Like 99% of Catholics -- you fail to understand your own religion.

Here is the fact: The church fathers threw out the core teachings of Jesus -- including the teaching of the immortality of the soul. The church cooked up its own doctrine of the soul --

This process of rewriting Christianity reached its culmination with the doctrine of original sin in the 4th century -- which has zero scriptural support.

I repeat: zero.

I covered this history in my 2004 book about early Christianity:

www.gnosticsecrets.com

[mhgaffney]

report from Amritapuri

Last week I was part of a group of volunteers who went to Amma's hospital in Kocki -- located up the coast. We were asked to fill in at the hospital -- temporarily -- because of s nurses strike.

The province Kerala has a communist government -- and the communists were behind the strike.

Amma's hospital was set up to serve the poor -- hence the wages are lower than what some other hospitals here pay staff.

I helped one day on a medical ICU unit -- mostly changing dirty diapers, sheets, and feeding patients.

The strike ended quickly. Probably because the strikers realized they would lose if the walk out went on indefinitely.

Amma has an army of volunteers --

The last two days Amma gave darshan. It started at 11 AM Saturday and continued until about 4 AM sunday morning -- a total of 17 hours.

During this period Amma greeted a continuous line of disciples and devotees - several thousands of people who lined up to meet her. She spoke with them, consoled and advised, and gave hugs to everyone.

Yesterday, on Sunday, the darshan continued, starting at 11 AM, and did not end until after 1 AM Monday morning. That's another 14 hours.

In other words, Amma spent 31 hours of the last 48 meeting with her devotees. While darshan was in process -- Amma never took a break, never left her seat. She took sips of water -- and was given some fruit to nibble -- that's it.

Amazing endurance for a 57 year old woman. Indeed -- it is superhuman. The crush of humanity around her must be seen.

I leave here Wed nite -- for the states.

What a trip.

[sirhcyennek81]

Like 99% of Catholics -- you fail to understand your own religion.

Here is the fact: The church fathers threw out the core teachings of Jesus -- including the teaching of the immortality of the soul. The church cooked up its own doctrine of the soul --

This process of rewriting Christianity reached its culmination with the doctrine of original sin in the 4th century -- which has zero scriptural support.

I repeat: zero.

I covered this history in my 2004 book about early Christianity:

www.gnosticsecrets.com

That would be wrong, giggles. The church teaches redemption through Christ. What is the purpose of redemption of sin if there is no continuation of existence after this life? Conversely, what is the purpose of punishment after death if there is nothing after death?

Logic fail. But considering how ****ing stupid you are, I'm not surprised. And please, b****. Do not lecture me on religion. You have no idea what you are mumbling about.

The fall of man IS original sin. And why do I have the feeling you think the DaVinci Code is real...

:Broncos:

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Amazing endurance for a 57 year old woman. Indeed -- it is superhuman. The crush of humanity around her must be seen.
I leave here Wed nite -- for the states.
What a trip.Yeah, you'll have that in a country of 1.2 billion crowded into an area 1/3 the size of the U.S.

Sure you can't stay longer? Come on over to my neck of the woods (about 300 clicks from MT. Everest on the Ganges). You could go backpacking over here, through Nepal and then head due East (a shortcut to get back to the states) thīk hai.

[Rohirrim]

I cherry picked nothing.

You are a guy who went to college but failed to learn the simplest logic -- and how to think.

MHG

Yeah. That's my problem. I fall for every loopy conspiracy theory that comes out of the internetz due to my lack of critical thinking skills.

BTW, have you heard it was invisible drones firing mini-nukes that brought down the WTC?

[alkemical]

nothing like beating your chest over a book about a tragedy. Pathetic doesn't even come close to describing you low you are.

Wait, are we talkin' bout the bible?

;)

[mhgaffney]

A Hindu funeral

Most of us have been to funerals -- but a Hindu version is a very different kind of experience.

A few days ago, the father of one of the swamis passed away. The funeral was last night. After chanting and a ceremony I did not understand -- the body was carried to the beach where a funereal pyre had been constructed. I had a ringside seat as the firewood was piled over the body, then lit.

In the morning the ashes were scattered into the Arabian sea.

It was a memorable experience. I return home on Wednesday.

[mhgaffney]

the core teachings of Jesus

1. the immortality of the soul -- within 200-300 years had been trashed by the church fathers.

2. Immanence -- the teaching that the divine pervades the universe. God is within and without -- but in seekers is experienced within. There is evidence that the disciples were instructed in this teachings - at the last supper -- in a special way. But the teaching was soon dropped by the church fathers - -who wanted God to remain in heaven -- far away from human affairs.

3. The holy spirit -- one of the major teachings of Jesus. The desent of this spiritual energy was a western counterpart to the awakening of shakti kkundalini. The Holy Spirit was understood to be a special form of the Shakti that animates the cosmos.

But the church fathers perverted the teaching by masculinizing (or neutering) this incredible spiritual force. Christianity has never recovered from this travesty.

4. reincarnation -- which is supported by numerous passages in the New and Old Testament -- which are obvious but somehow have been overlooked by Christians for many centuries.

This list is by no means exhaustive... Can you add to it?

[Bronx33]

Are you there for the lunatic convention gaff?

[sirhcyennek81]

the core teachings of Jesus

1. the immortality of the soul -- within 200-300 years had been trashed by the church fathers.

2. Immanence -- the teaching that the divine pervades the universe. God is within and without -- but in seekers is experienced within. There is evidence that the disciples were instructed in this teachings - at the last supper -- in a special way. But the teaching was soon dropped by the church fathers - -who wanted God to remain in heaven -- far away from human affairs.

3. The holy spirit -- one of the major teachings of Jesus. The desent of this spiritual energy was a western counterpart to the awakening of shakti kkundalini. The Holy Spirit was understood to be a special form of the Shakti that animates the cosmos.

But the church fathers perverted the teaching by masculinizing (or neutering) this incredible spiritual force. Christianity has never recovered from this travesty.

4. reincarnation -- which is supported by numerous passages in the New and Old Testament -- which are obvious but somehow have been overlooked by Christians for many centuries.

This list is by no means exhaustive... Can you add to it?


See folks, this post right here is why we can't have nice things.


:Broncos:

[Bronco_Beerslug]

A Hindu funeral
Most of us have been to funerals -- but a Hindu version is a very different kind of experience.
A few days ago, the father of one of the swamis passed away. The funeral was last night. After chanting and a ceremony I did not understand -- the body was carried to the beach where a funereal pyre had been constructed. I had a ringside seat as the firewood was piled over the body, then lit.
In the morning the ashes were scattered into the Arabian sea.
It was a memorable experience. I return home on Wednesday.

Not quite. You mean the body parts that haven't been completely consumed by the fire. I've seen it day after day here only they dump the bones/body parts in the Ganges along with all the livestock that "passes on", resulting hundreds of tons of carcasses polluting the waterways and bays on a daily basis.

[mhgaffney]

Not quite. You mean the body parts that haven't been completely consumed by the fire. I've seen it day after day here only they dump the bones/body parts in the Ganges along with all the livestock that "passes on", resulting hundreds of tons of carcasses polluting the waterways and bays on a daily basis.

Yeah -- good point. I did not stick around all night to monitor the effciciency of the cremation.

Though I doubt there is much chance of polluting the Indian Ocean.

[mhgaffney]

Are you there for the lunatic convention gaff?

You are just plain silly.

As I have pointed out, numerous times, Amma's core teachings are identical with those of Jesus. So no need for conversion. I am already on board.

Not to say that I will take up the Hindu customs -- though I do like the food.

No I will continue bring what I am -- a westerner.

[DenverBrit]

Not quite. You mean the body parts that haven't been completely consumed by the fire. I've seen it day after day here only they dump the bones/body parts in the Ganges along with all the livestock that "passes on", resulting hundreds of tons of carcasses polluting the waterways and bays on a daily basis.

Gaffney and 'facts' are mutually exclusive. ;)

Jeremy Wade's 'River Monsters' showed recently, Goonch catfish that were allegedly growing to huge proportions after feeding on the remains of the Hindu funerals.

http://animal.discovery.com/fish/river-monsters/goonch-catfish/

[theAPAOps5]

The real question must be asked...... what happened to only posting every other day?

[Bronx33]

You are just plain silly.

As I have pointed out, numerous times, Amma's core teachings are identical with those of Jesus. So no need for conversion. I am already on board.

Not to say that I will take up the Hindu customs -- though I do like the food.

No I will continue bring what I am -- a westerner.


I know a lot of westerners and none of them are even close to your level of westerner.

[sirhcyennek81]

The real question must be asked...... what happened to only posting every other day?


I am thinking India to Gaffney is a Navajo reservation in Utah. Its the only explanation.

:Broncos:

[Rohirrim]

I cherry picked nothing.

You are a guy who went to college but failed to learn the simplest logic -- and how to think.

MHG

Dispute the logic of post #60.

(BTW, you really don't have to initial every post. We're not saving them for posterity)

[alkemical]

I am thinking India to Gaffney is a Navajo reservation in Utah. Its the only explanation.

:Broncos:

I think he said he was coming home on Wednesday - if he's in India - it's possible he's using WiFi @ airports waiting for planes.