I was working on a post about my experiences visiting a Hindu saint known as Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma, and I realized that first I needed to address the reasons for making such visits. Well, as I opened the Sunday newspaper today, an article in the main section jumped out at me, “Trying to Explain a Brush with the Divine“, and it provided a good introduction to explaining the effects that some spiritual people have on others, especially when they are considered to be self-realized, or enlightened. You can read the entire article at the link, but here are some key excerpts:
“But some familiar with the Dalai Lama, and those who study religious figures, agree that every so often, people emerge who are perceived to offer proof of a higher authority, understanding or wisdom. …
In India, one of the most popular spiritual leaders is Mata Amritanandamayi, a Hindu woman who is said to impart divine energy with a hug. Over the years, according to her followers, the “Mother of Divine Bliss” has hugged more than 20 million people. …
What these special figures have in common is their effect on others. They are perceived as being able to bring people to a higher state of being through their example, teachings, sufferings or touch. “
This is very real, but the true evidence has to come from personal experience. What I find interesting is that the mainstream media is acknowledging the phenomenon. Hopefully, this is a good sign of the spiritual direction towards which our society is headed.
Some people who supposedly witness miracles don’t choose to believe their senses. When people experience a sense of awe and wonder, they may not have any baseline for comparison and so, choose to disregard the significance.
To believe in “enlightened beings,” it makes sense to gain understanding of what this means compared to what its not. To appreciate what you already have or your own journey may lead you to think its unnecessary to judge someone else’s abilities or to depreciate the power os one’s own thinking. Ultimately, each person has power to heal themselves.