On Jun 19, 2005, at 1:22 PM, Rick Archer wrote: >> I once heard a story, possibly from someone who witnessed the >> incident (but >> I'm not sure) that Maharishi and a few of his disciples were visiting >> another guru and a few of his. The other guru told one of his >> disciples to >> go into samadhi. After he had done so, the guru instructed his >> disciples to >> try to disturb him. They made noise, pushed him around, etc., but he >> was >> oblivious. The other guru asked M, "can any of your disciples do >> that?" M >> replied, "Not yet." > > I want to add that there are numerous stories of Ammachi, in her > younger > days, going into samadhi like this. Even breath would stop and no pulse > would be detected for hours. People thought she had died. In light of > this, > and your comments, I wonder again about the possible distinction > between the > enlightenment attained by this type of person and that attained by > folks > around Fairfield. The latter insist that theirs is essentially the > same, but > that a "saint" such as Amma just has a different role to play, and thus > manifests powerful darshan, siddhis, extraordinary energy, etc. > Different > "job description." Kind of like light bulbs of different wattage all > plugged > into the same power source. All experience the same electricity > subjectively, but some are designed to emanate brighter light.
Ammachi fits the classic description given in the Upanishads. The question I would ask is "can the enlightened you have met go into samadhi for extended periods AT ALL?" I have asked at least one of them a few questions--without telling them WHY I was asking them--and these seem to indicate that this level of attainment in simply not there. I've also found it puzzling that when I have mentioned some obscure element of attainment, although there was initially no recognition--a couple of weeks later several were making such claims. While it's impossible to say for sure, I have to consider there may be some involvement of the ego in these processes. But then again, my perception could be wrong. To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
