I spoke to a child today who insisted she was an atheist. When I asked her exactly what she thought being an atheist meant, her answer was a revelation about religion: "I'm an atheist because I don't follow all the things my mother does every morning, like praying and all." To this child, this was religion. And therefore, spirituality.
How fortunate our children are who have been born knowing Amma. There are no empty rituals in their lives; no hollow prayers. What they know of is a very loving, compassionate God who protects them every step of the way and keeps them on the right path. Everything connected to Amma is important. Keeping a small photo of Amma in their bag is a reassurance that God is walking with them. Saying a little prayer at the start of the day isn't a ritual; it's a connection with the divine. There is intact nothing ritualistic about religion to them at all. We have grown up seeped in rituals but not them. Amma has made spirituality and religion so open and so clean for them. She has given everything pertaining to religion a whole new meaning. When prompted to state my religion in a form, I wonder what I should write. Love? Amma? Amma has injected a strong thread of compassion and love to it all. Now if only the entire world could become like this!
Om Amriteswariye namah!
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