Comments on: Crawling Up to the Hugging Guru http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/ Opening doors to consciousness, spirituality, and the awakening Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:48:26 +0000 hourly 1 By: chris http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-29283 chris Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:46:46 +0000 http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/2007/04/17/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-29283 The ironic thing is my wife isn't even religious, so the idolatry factor is not the issue. I think it's a cultural thing with westerners in that kneeling is considered an issue while things such as saluting (the military or to the flag) and standing (in courts, before a judge, before sports games, etc.) are not objectionable. And yet, is there really a difference? We live in a society where showing anyone else such deep respect is considered demeaning. Perhaps we could use more humility. The ironic thing is my wife isn’t even religious, so the idolatry factor is not the issue. I think it’s a cultural thing with westerners in that kneeling is considered an issue while things such as saluting (the military or to the flag) and standing (in courts, before a judge, before sports games, etc.) are not objectionable. And yet, is there really a difference? We live in a society where showing anyone else such deep respect is considered demeaning. Perhaps we could use more humility.

]]> By: collegeblogger http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-29272 collegeblogger Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:56:48 +0000 http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/2007/04/17/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-29272 I have a lot of unanswered questions regarding this whole process. I am definitely of the same mind as your wife, in that I would object to kneeling before another human being. Doesn't seem like anything I could every do, nor would ever want to. But to each his own! I have a lot of unanswered questions regarding this whole process. I am definitely of the same mind as your wife, in that I would object to kneeling before another human being. Doesn’t seem like anything I could every do, nor would ever want to. But to each his own!

]]> By: chris http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-1733 chris Fri, 18 May 2007 15:34:35 +0000 http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/2007/04/17/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-1733 Lord Matt, I have friends that point to the same thing ("Did it cost you? Did you have to buy anything?"), and many have criticized the commercial aspects of Amma's activities. We tend to have a negative view of making money. As if it is "bad" and inconsistent with spirituality. Maybe just making money is not really wrong, but I admit it does make it more difficult to weed out the charlatans. I don't believe that Amma herself is a charlatan. Her lifestyle, while not impoverished, is certainly not the high life either and nothing worth putting out that much effort and commitment (I've seen her give hugs from 7pm to 10am the next morning without a break, plus her charitable activities have earned her the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence). Regarding mass hypnosis ... if it helps me to be a better person, then maybe there are times when mass hypnosis is not such a bad thing. :) Lord Matt,
I have friends that point to the same thing (“Did it cost you? Did you have to buy anything?”), and many have criticized the commercial aspects of Amma’s activities.

We tend to have a negative view of making money. As if it is “bad” and inconsistent with spirituality. Maybe just making money is not really wrong, but I admit it does make it more difficult to weed out the charlatans.

I don’t believe that Amma herself is a charlatan. Her lifestyle, while not impoverished, is certainly not the high life either and nothing worth putting out that much effort and commitment (I’ve seen her give hugs from 7pm to 10am the next morning without a break, plus her charitable activities have earned her the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence).

Regarding mass hypnosis … if it helps me to be a better person, then maybe there are times when mass hypnosis is not such a bad thing. :)

]]> By: chris http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-1730 chris Fri, 18 May 2007 15:20:04 +0000 http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/2007/04/17/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-1730 ola, Glad I could help you relive your own experience. Thanks for your comment. ola,
Glad I could help you relive your own experience. Thanks for your comment.

]]> By: Lord Matt http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-1727 Lord Matt Fri, 18 May 2007 12:47:51 +0000 http://theordinarymystic.com/blog/2007/04/17/crawling-up-to-the-hugging-guru/#comment-1727 I'm not going to say mass hypnosis... oh damn. It's that "things for sale" thing again. It bugs me and I want to follow the money. Yes, maybe, as I turned 30, I became a cynical old (something). I’m not going to say mass hypnosis… oh damn. It’s that “things for sale” thing again. It bugs me and I want to follow the money. Yes, maybe, as I turned 30, I became a cynical old (something).

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