Always thinking of Amma!

878. Om svatmaramayai namah: I bow down to Amma who rejoices in Her own self.

"If someone talks about unnecessary things and wastes our time, we should either repeat our mantra silently or contemplate the Beloved Deity. Imagine that the person talking is the Beloved Deity, or draw a triangle on the ground imagining your Deity standing in it. Take small stones and, thinking of them as flowers, offer them at the Feet of your Beloved Deity. Discuss only spiritual matters with others. Those who have affinity for spiritual subjects will listen; others will leave immediately. No time will be lost.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Our fate!

877. Om nir-alambayai namah: I bow down to Amma who depends on none

Amma is our ever loving Guru who will help us change the course of our fate. All our actions will always find a way back to us, When we are ungrateful, we hurt others deeply. These actions find a way back into our lives. But under the grace of Amma, we know how to change our lives:
"There are some who take God’s Will to be fate. There are people who think that fate is unchangeable. This is not correct. We perform actions according to our vasanas, the result of which will eventually come to us. The fruits of the actions performed in our previous births are known as our fate. Fate can be changed and transformed through self-effort, especially through sincere prayer and meditation.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Resolutions!

876. Om nir-amayayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is free from diseases of all kinds.

A really good read from here (by Allison Carmen):
Last summer, I spent a few days at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City to see Mata Amritanandamayi, known throughout the world as Amma ("Mother"), the Hugging Saint. Amma has inspired and transformed more than 34 million people through her hugs, her spiritual wisdom and her network of global charities, known as Embracing the World. In 40 countries, Amma feeds the hungry, educates children and women, builds homes and provides health care and disaster relief for those in need. When asked where she gets the energy to help so many people, Amma answers, "Where there is true love, anything is effortless." I watched this woman for three days as she hugged and inspired people for free no matter who they were, what they looked like or how much money they had. She stayed up all night long just to make sure each person who came to see her received a hug and had a chance to feel loved.

During the event, Amma told a story about a woman who boarded a bus. The woman sat right behind the bus driver and as he drove she gave him some peanuts. The bus driver did not want the peanuts but ate them because he did not want to insult the lady. A few minutes later she gave him some more peanuts and he reluctantly ate them again. When she tried to give him peanuts a third time he asked her, "Why did you buy a bag of peanuts if you don't want them?" She responded to the bus driver, "Oh no, I hate peanuts. But I love chocolate. All they had at the store was chocolate covered peanuts. So I am eating off the chocolate and giving the peanuts to you!"

Amma told this story to make us reflect on how we give to other people. She said that people often give by writing checks with some extra saved money or give something away that they no longer need. This is all wonderful, yet, she questioned how often are we willing to give up what we truly love and enjoy for the benefit of another human being? How inconvenienced are we willing to be to help our neighbor, a friend or a stranger? She said if we think about it honestly, many of us are licking off the chocolate and only giving up the peanuts just to keep our lives the way they are today. Based on the current state of the world, Amma was helping us see that this way of thinking is no longer enough.

I have been struggling with this idea in my own life and it occurred to me that a small step in the right direction could be shifting the paradigm on New Year's resolutions. Instead of just planning to lose weight, exercise more, earn more money, go on a great vacation and find the love of our lives, MAYBE we can add a resolution or two for the sake of someone else who needs our attention or help. Maybe we can skip Sunday brunch with friends and volunteer at a hospital or identify a literacy program and teach someone to read. Maybe we can delay our purchase of the newest iPhone and instead give some money to a food bank. Maybe we can stop less at Starbucks and instead donate that money to a children's hospital or provide a micro loan to help someone start a business in an impoverished country. Maybe it's okay to sleep one less hour in order to listen to a person in crisis or skip a few workouts to help clean up a community park. Maybe we can stop looking at work emails for the sake of efficiency while riding the elevator and instead have a conversation with an elderly neighbor. Maybe we can volunteer to help out at a homeless shelter instead of bingeing on a television show. Maybe we can go to a protest against gun violence or another cause we feel strongly about instead of sleeping late on the weekend.

Amma inspired me to consider that maybe it's okay if our usual resolutions aren't totally achieved. Maybe our bodies will be a little less toned, we will spend less time with friends and have less cash for take-out dinners. But if we are able to be a little more giving, MAYBE, just maybe, someone other than ourselves will be better off. And MAYBE, by shifting one resolution at a time away from our own needs and towards loving someone else, we will have made the greatest New Year's resolution of them all.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Removing the vasanas!

875. Om tripura-malinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is Tripuramalini (a Goddess in the Sri Chakra)

From today's Daily Amma Quotes oage on facebook:
"We have to get rid of all the vasanas which we have accumulated. But it is difficult to do this all at once. We need constant practice. We should chant our mantra continuously, while sitting, walking, and lying down. By chanting the mantra and visualizing God's form, our other thoughts will fade and our minds will be purified. To wash away the feeling of "I," we need to use the soap of "You." When we perceive that everything is God, the "I," that is, the ego, fades away and the supreme "I" shines forth within us.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Mantra japa!

874. Om tristhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who resides in the three worlds

"No matter how much we feed a cat and caress it, the moment we divert our attention, it will steal things. The mind is also like this. To tame and concentrate the mind, always repeat the mantra while walking, sitting, working. The mantra should continue like the flow of oil being poured from one vessel to another.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The ups and downs of life!

873. Om trivarga-nilayayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the abode of the threefold aims of human life.

Much needed advice for myself:
"Ups and downs are the very nature of life. It is not the incident but how we confront it that is most important. Incidents by themselves cannot influence us. If we are mentally weak, their effect will be worse than if we are strong and well-controlled. The wise ones quickly overcome such situations. A wise man may also feel sad, but quickly realizes that it is all a play, that it is the nature of life. If you go on worrying, it will dissipate a lot of your energy and will make you inactive.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A test!

872. Om trayyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the three vedas.

Sometimes Amma tests us, sometimes She sends people to test us:
"Whatever the Guru does is only for the spiritual progress of the disciple. It is absolutely impossible for him to act otherwise. Mother is referring to a Satguru, not just someone who declares himself to be a Guru. A true spiritual Master may sometimes behave strangely. He may get angry with the disciple for no apparent reason and might scold him severely, blaming him for errors which he hasn’t committed. But those seemingly strange actions are not because the Guru is angry with the student. That is the Guru’s method of teaching self-surrender, patience and acceptance.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Gratitude!

871. Om bahir-mukha-sudurlabhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is difficult to attain by those whose attention is directed outwards.

I've been grappling with how some people can be so bereft of gratitude in their lives. And so, when I found this quote, it seemed the perfect thought for today. As my friend always tells me, gratitude is the most important thing in our lives.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Everything as God!

870. Om antar-mukha-samaradhyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is to be worshipped internally

From the Daily Amma Quotes page on facebook, today:
"Everything is the Self or God" - this is the attitude a spiritual person should have. He should see everything as God, or else he should see everything as his own Self. From one point of view, everything is God; so there can be no hatred or anger towards anyone, there is only worship. From another point of view, nothing is distinct from our own Self; there is no second person. Remove the boundary between two fields, and there is only one field. We see ourselves in everything. Just as the right hand comes to dress the wound on the left hand, we see another man's sorrow as our own, and we come to his aid.: AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Eternal gratitude!

869. Om ksipra-prasadinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is quickly pleased

I once knew a person who was decent enough to have gratitude in his heart and cared for those in his life. Cared enough to 'invest' time and energy into a relationship. But I guess when you're blinded by your own web of lies, it becomes difficult to see goodness in anyone or anything. The world just reflects the bitterness you feel within. Gratitude, is a very important emotion to have. As Amma says: "We should have gratitude in life. We are indebted to the world and to all the beings in it."

It is my resolution to dedicate my life to Amma. It is my resolution to be grateful for every second, every minute and to the wonderful people who make my life happy. My daughter, my parents, my sister, my brother, their families, Bindu and other dear friends of mine. I'm grateful You have removed us from toxicity and kept my daughter and me safe. Thank You Amma! May we always be grateful.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The spiritual path!

868. Om mugdhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is captivating in Her beauty

"If we say that we have no time due to our problems and family responsibilities, that is simply an escape. That means we have no desire to follow the path of spirituality. We are lazy and want to avoid work. So immersed in maya, so trapped in its net, we do not even realize that there is a reality higher than the body and the external world around us. We have no eyes to see it, no ears to hear it and no heart to feel it. If we want to be more honest and sincere with ourselves, it would be better if we were bold enough to admit, "I'm not interested in spiritual matters," rather than twisting the truth by saying, "I have no time." When we really have the desire to do something, time and the proper conditions will be at our disposal. Time and circumstance follow desire.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Essence of Motherhood!

867. Om ksaya-vinirmuktayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is free from decay

"The essence of motherhood is not restricted to women who have given birth; it is a principle inherent in both women and men. It is an attitude of the mind. It is love--and that love is the very breath of life. No one would say, "I will breathe only when I am with my family and friends; I won't breathe in front of my enemies." Similarly, for those in whom motherhood has awakened, love and compassion for everyone are as much part of their being as breathing. Anyone--woman or man--who has the courage to overcome the limitations of the mind can attain the state of universal motherhood. The love of awakened motherhood is a love and a compassion felt not only towards one's own children, but towards all people, animals, and plants, rocks and rivers--a love extended to all of nature, all beings. Indeed, to a woman in whom the state of true motherhood has awakened, all creatures are her children. This love, this motherhood, is Divine Love--and that is God.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Seeing the light within us!

866. Om ajayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has no birth

On my journey ahead:
"Now we live with the attitude of "I" and "mine." As long as this attitude persists, we will not be able to find the power within us. When there is a curtain across the window, we cannot see the sky. Pull the curtain aside, and the sky will be visible. By the same token, if we remove the sense of "I" from our minds, we will be able to see the light within us. That sense cannot be removed without humility and dedication.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Sadhana before sleep!

865. Om lila-vigraha-dharinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who assumes various glorious forms as a sport.

Found this priceless nugget in www.amritapuri.org about prayers and spiritual practices to be done before sleep:
Just before going to sleep at night, sit on your bed and meditate for at least five minutes, and then bow down to your beloved deity or Master. When doing this, you can imagine that you are holding on tightly to the feet of your beloved deity, and pray with all your heart: “O God, please forgive me for all the mistakes I have knowingly or unknowingly committed today, and give me the  strength to refrain from repeating them.”
Then, imagine that you are lying with your head in the lap of, or at the feet of, your beloved deity or Master, or you can imagine that your deity is sitting next to you. Let yourself glide into the state of sleep while mentally chanting your mantra. By doing this, the awareness of the mantra will remain unbroken during sleep. Teach your children to acquire this habit. They should also be taught to wake up at regular times.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The healthy food in chanting the divine name!

864. Om kanat-kanaka-tatankayai namah: I bow down to Amma who wears glittering gold ear ornaments.

Brilliant words to live by, by Amma. I find these powerful nuggets on the Daily Amma Quotes page on facebook.
"Make the mind starve. Stop feeding the mind with thoughts. We continue feeding the mind with the food of desires and thoughts. This has become a habit, and the mind now thinks that this is the best food. This is a habit that should be stopped. The mind should know that this food will give us a "stomach ache," if not now, then later. The mind should learn that this food of thoughts and desires is harmful and that there is food far tastier and healthier than this. The various spiritual practices make up the most delicious and healthful food. Once you experience this, you should feed the mind regularly with the Divine Name, japa, dhyana, and other spiritual practices.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The right attitude!

863. Om kama-keli-tarangitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is overflowing with pleasure in the union with Kameshvara

"As soon as we take on the attitude of a beggar, the ego greatly disappears. We will feel that we have no refuge other than God, and then the negative vasanas will fall off by themselves. Only by trying to become smaller than the smallest, does one become greater than the greatest. By developing the attitude of being everyone's servant, one becomes the master of the world.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Dedication to God!

862. Om karya-karana-nirmuktayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is free from the bond of cause and effect

"There are no householders or brahmacharis in the eyes of God. He looks only at your mind. You can lead a truly spiritual life while remaining a householder. You will be able to enjoy the bliss of the Self, but your mind has to be on God all the time. Then you can easily attain bliss. A mother bird will be thinking of the young ones in the nest, even when she is out looking for food. Similarly, you have to keep your mind on God while engaging in all worldly actions. The important thing is to be completely dedicated to God or the guru. Once you have that dedication, the goal will not be far away.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Belonging only to God!

861. Om kantardha-vigrahayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is half the body of Her husband.

From the daily Amma quote page on facebook, I found today's gem:
"Everything belongs to God. Only through His grace are we able to enjoy things. If there is anything that is our own, it is our likes and dislikes; these are what we need to renounce. Even though we renounce many things now, we don't give up our attachment to those things. That is the reason for our sorrow. True renunciation happens only when we are convinced in our hearts that family, wealth, position, or fame will not give any lasting peace.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

An end to sin and sorrow!

860. Om akantayai namah: I bow down to Amma who ends all sins and sorrows

This is one saying by Amma I would like to read over and over again!:
"The Guru will create obstacles and sorrow for the disciple. The disciple should overcome all that with intense sadhana. Spirituality is not for idle people. The difficulties at the subtle level are hard compared to the sorrows of the external world. There is nothing to fear for one who dedicates everything to a Satguru.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Prayers done with true devotion!

859. Om kasthayai namah: I bow down to Amma who dwells in the highest state (beyond which there is nothing)

This is a long post from Amma's amritapuri.org website on how Amma has revolutionised prayers. Worth a read:
Through the Manasa Puja (mental worship), Amma has made another revolution. She declared that God doesn’t need our lamp, incense stick, flowers and food offerings. He is only interested in our innocent heart. Amma told  the devotees to sit with closed eyes, wherever they are, and visualise the the Divine within – fully alive, loving, smiling and showering blessings. All that was in Malayalam. Lately Amma started leading the Manasa puja, instructing in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi and in English.
(Amma’s instructions for mental worship of one’s Beloved Deity during meditation.)
Sit in a comfortable asana (posture) and try to feel a deep peace filling your being. Breathe slowly, deeply, consciously for 2-3 minutes.
Chant Aum three times with eyes closed. While chanting, imagine taking Aum from the navel upwards to the Sahasrara; also imagine the bad mental dispositions and bad thoughts within us flowing out.
Then while praying “Amma, Amma” with devotion, love, and tearful longing, imagine that the Divine Mother is standing before you, smiling and looking at you compassionately. For a minute enjoy Mother’s exquisite beauty, visualizing every part of Her divine form. Prostrate at Mother’s Lotus Feet, feeling the touch of your forehead on Her Holy Feet. Pray to Her, “O Mother, I take refuge in You. You are the only lasting Truth and support for me. You alone can give me real peace and joy. Never forsake me, never leave me!”
Then visualize the resplendent form of Devi on the inside of your palms. Rays of compassion from Devi’s eyes envelop you. Rub your face and from face to downwards with the palms. Feel that a divine energy is permeating you, and feel all misfortunes, all inauspiciousness being driven away.
Throughout this puja, continuously repeat with your lips, but without making any sound, “Amma, Amma, Amma, leave me not, forsake me not”.
Imagine now that you are bathing Mother. As you pour water on Mother’s head, watch the water flow down over each part of Her form until it reaches Her Lotus Feet. Then do ablutions with milk, ghee, honey, sandal paste, rose water, etc. With each item enjoy the beauty of Her form. Through offering these materials, you are offering your own purified mind to Mother.
Next, do ablutions with vibhuti (sacred ash). Watch how it slowly reaches Mother’s Feet. Then shower flowers on Mother’s head. Take a nice towel and wipe Her face and body. Adorn Her with a beautiful sari, as if you are dressing up your own child. Pray to Her, “O Mother, come sit in my heart. Only if You sit in my heart, can I tread the right path.”
Apply perfume on Devi. Adorn Her with ornaments: earrings, necklace, belt, anklets, etc. Apply kumkum on Her forehead. Place a crown bedecked with jewels on Her head. Garland Mother. Enjoy watching Mother’s peerless beauty, and let your glance pass from Her head down to Her feet and from Her feet to Her head again.
Like a child, talk to Mother about all kinds of things. Pray to Her, “O Mother, You are pure love. I am too impure to deserve Your Grace. I know that my egoism and selfishness must be repelling to You. Still, bear with me. Mother, please be with me. You are the holiest river. I am a stagnant, filthy pond. You flow to me and purify me, overlooking my shortcomings and forgiving my mistakes.”
With sandal paste, write “Om” on Mother’s feet. Offer flowers three times.
Now, after reciting the ‘Dhyana sloka’ in a meditative mood, begin to chant the Sahasranamavali, beginning with the ‘Om Sri Matre Namah’ (if chanting in a group, respond to each chant with ‘Om Parashaktyai namah’). As you chant each Name, imagine that you are picking a flower from your heart, and mentally offer the flower at Mother’s Lotus Feet. (The flower represents your own pure thoughts.) When the thousand Names have been chanted, sit erect silently for a few minutes, imagining that divine vibrations are spreading throughout your being.
Now, offer sweet porridge as naivedya (sacred food offering) for the Mother with your own hands and imagine that She relishes it. The real naivedya is your pure love for the Mother.
If you can sing, sing then a song offering to the Mother. Imagine that hearing the song, the Mother is dancing. Dance along with Her. Suddenly in the midst of the dance, She leaves you and runs away. Run after Her until you catch hold of Her. Cry out to Her: “O Mother, why are You forsaking me? Why do You allow me to perish in this forest of samsara? I am being burnt in the fire of worldliness. Come, lift me up and save me.”
Mother now stops running and She calls you, holding out Her arms towards you. Run to Her and embrace Her. Sit on Mother’s lap. Take complete freedom with Mother, as a child would with its own mother, caressing Her body and Lotus Feet, plaiting Her hair, etc. Ask Mother to never tease you like this again. Tell Her all your grievances and your anxieties. Tell Mother that you will never again allow Her to leave you.
Pray to Her: “O Mother, I am offering myself at Your Lotus Feet. Make me an ideal instrument of Yours. I do not want anything of this world. My only desire is to behold Your Divine form and to be in Your company. Give me eyes that see nothing but Your beauty. Give me a mind that revels in nothing but You. Let Your will be my will, let Your thoughts be my thoughts, Your words my words. Whatever I do, even eating and sleeping, let all my actions have only one aim—that of merging in You. Let me become as selfless and loving as You.” Constantly talking and praying like this, fix your mind on the Divine Mother’s form.
Wave lighted camphor before Mother, who stands before you smiling, Her eyes full of compassion. Imagine that you are offering all your good and your bad qualities, and the whole of yourself to Her.
Do pradakshina (circumambulation) and prostrate at Mother’s Lotus Feet with the prayer in your heart: “O Mother of the Universe, You are my only refuge. I surrender to You.”
Chant the peace invocations:

Om asatomā sadgamaya
tamasomā jyotirgamaya
mṛityormā amṛtamgamaya
om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Om, lead us from untruth to Truth,
from darkness to light,
from death to immortality.
Om peace, peace, peace

Pray for every one in this world

lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantū
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantū
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantū
om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Om, may all the beings in all the worlds be happy!
Om peace, peace, peace

After seeing Her there, while feeling peace and fullness of heart, bow to Her and to the place where you sat. Conclude the puja. If possible, meditate on Her form for some more time.

Om pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidam
pūrṇāt pūrṇamudacyate
pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya
pūrṇam-evā-vaśiśyate
om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
Om, That is the whole, this is the whole,
from the whole the whole becomes manifest
taking away the whole from the whole,
the whole alone remains.
Om peace, peace, peace.

Om śrī gurubhyo namaḥ; harī om
Om, reverence to the auspicious gurus, Hari Om

Feeling Your love!

858. Om kalpana-rahitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is free from imaginary attributes

Help us look forward Amma and find peace and happiness. Help us find a way out of any bitterness or feeling of rejection. It is not our fault. Please help us Amma. Please hold us tightly so we step onto the right route and always feel Your love!
"Whoever loves you in this world will have a selfish interest in it. We will get real love only from God. Real love is selfless. Unconditional love will be seen only in God. What else can such a God be except the embodiment of Love? But, how many people know the glory of that selfless love? Those who have known even a little taste of that love won’t run after worldly happiness.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Karma yoga!

857. Om gana-lolupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who delights in music.

"Without a center you cannot draw a circle. Without that center of love, there won’t be fulfilment to life. That is what makes life full. Doing actions as an offering to God is karma yoga. Here, in the ashram you can do this very easily – you can think that you are doing it for Amma. Remember that Amma has offered herself to the world. Amma is always in Atma-bhava, in the state of Self. She is your Atma; She is not different from you. So if you do actions with that attitude, then it is the Self offering it to the Self.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma!

856. Om garvitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is proud.

The only way forward - to immerse oneself in the Lord's name. Amma, Amma, Amma!

"The Lord's Name has power. But for every thing there must be correct attitude or feeling and mood. This is the same as concentration. For example, when a musician sings without feeling, the singing will have no appeal. Feeling comes only when there is bhakti or devotion. Bhakti towards an object or towards the work that we are doing is important. This feeling comes only when one does the work with concentration. It is a feeling of oneness, of merging in the work. In the same way, although God's Name has a power of Its own, when we chant It with feeling/mood or concentration, It becomes more powerful.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Seeing me through this!

855. Om gaganantahsthayai namah: I bow down to Amma who resides in the ether, space.

It's funny how Amma shows us our true friends. It's amazing how She reveals the truth to us. Amidst so much pain, as I realised exactly what had been happening, I knew Amma was there to hand hold me through it all. I had told Her it was too big for me to handle. I had told Her it was too enormous for me to process. And She hasn't let go ever since. I feel Her presence as She guides me and helps me come to terms with the deep rooted deceit. Everything happens for a reason. And this has happened so that I can finally have more faith in Amma and so that my spiritual journey can begin. As always, Amma will see me through this. I know there's a rainbow somewhere out there. I know one day Amma will help me see the world in colour again.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Letting go...and moving on!

854. Om gambhirayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is unfathomable.

As I stand on the cusp, a message from Amma I need to revisit:

"To attain the state of complete oneness with the Supreme, one has to lose oneself. This, however, is our greatest fear: that we will lose ourselves. For to lose oneself would be a form of dying, and who wants to die? Everyone wants to live. But in order to live life fully, we must learn to love life at its very essence, and to let go of everything else. Learn to embrace life with open arms as you let go of your attachments. Let go of all that you cling to, all your regrets, all your fears and anxieties. But this letting go is not a loss at all, it is the biggest gain there is. It brings the entire universe to you, and you become God."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

On discrimination in spirituality!

853. Om santyatita-kalatmikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who transcends the state of peace

"Discrimination is meant for one who is in the process of evolution. You need strict discrimination to understand the difference between what is good for your spiritual progress and what will create obstacles in your path. A seeker must discriminate between what is eternal and what is non-eternal. But once you have attained the state of perfection, you have renounced everything, even discrimination. You cannot hold onto anything. Transcending all dualities, you become the universe; you become expansiveness itself. You become both day and night. You go beyond purity and impurity.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Where are You, Amma?

852. Om sarvopanisad-udghustayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is celebrated by all the Upanisads

"You children are all like the leaves on a plant. Some leaves are close to the flower, and others are far away from it, but all the leaves belong to the same plant. Likewise, all are Amma's children; don't doubt that one bit. Don't feel sorry that you can't enjoy Amma's physical presence by not being with Her. You can also reach the ultimate goal some day.": AMMA

And yet I acutely feel Your absence, Amma! I wish, wish, wish I could see You! I love YOU!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

November rain of peace!

851. Om janma-mrtyu-jara-tapta-jana-visranti-dayinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who gives peace and repose to those afflicted by birth, death, and decrepitude.

A strange November it has become. A November that I sometimes forget is the second last month of this miserable year. And every time I find myself on the brink of tears, I remind myself of Amma's words: "Whether you're happy or sad, time will pass." The choice is mine. I might look back on this year as the year of painful change or as a pathway to peace. The choice is entirely mine. I have already decided on my spiritual path. I have oft said the words but maybe this was the test to truly mean it: I lay down my life by Your feet Amma. Do with it as You think best.
I recently read these words spoken by film director Shekhar Kapur about Amma. So, so true: 'How can you say a few words about Amma? Actually, it is better to say nothing because Amma is everything, and then she is nothing because she can become nothing whenever she wants. There is no description that anybody has ever been able to find for the description of the infinite except to say is that ‘it is.’So all I can say about Amma is that, 'Amma is… Amma is love..'

You are Love, Amma. And so, what I have lost, I will find in my total and complete surrender to You!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Remembering God, always!

850. Om varna-rupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of the letters of the alphabet

"Tapas alone is not enough; you need action also. Soap alone is not enough to wash your clothes; you need to "agitate" or beat the clothes clean. To overcome the circumstances, karma (action) is essential. We should be able to remember God constantly, whatever we are doing, and not just when we sit for meditation. Further, selfless action will help develop the purity needed for meditation. Action is also necessary to test the progress we have made in meditation. On the other hand, without meditation, selfless action is not possible. The actions of a man who does tapas have a power of their own; they benefit everyone.": AMMA

From hereon my singular spiritual journey starts. I will lie by Your feet and live in constant remembrance of You, Amma. Surrender really is the only way ahead, to heal and let heal.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Thoughts and happiness!

849. Om uddama-vaibhavayai namah: I bow down to Amma whose prowess is unlimited.

"Now the mind is full of many thoughts accumulated from the different experiences of life. When thoughts increase, we will not get any peace regardless of where we are or what we have. When thoughts decrease we can find peace even if we are not provided with any comforts or facilities. Those who decrease their thoughts through practice can find peace regardless of the time or place. For them, the so-called world of chaos and confusion becomes an abode of peace and harmony. For others it remains like a hell.": AMMA

I wish to find peace, Amma! Please let these thoughts subside and allow me to find much needed peace and happiness. 

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A Guru's way!

848. Om udara-kirtaye namah: I bow down to Amma who possesses exalted fame.

"Whatever the Guru does is only for the spiritual progress of the disciple. It is absolutely impossible for him to act otherwise. Mother is referring to a Satguru, not just someone who declares himself to be a Guru. A true spiritual Master may sometimes behave strangely. He may get angry with the disciple for no apparent reason and might scold him severely, blaming him for errors which he hasn’t committed. But those seemingly strange actions are not because the Guru is angry with the student. That is the Guru’s method of teaching self-surrender, patience and acceptance.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Watching our thoughts!

847. Om talodaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who has a slim waist.

"When we travel in a bus, we see so many nice things on the way, nice houses, pretty flowers, beautiful gardens, and so on. But we don't form any bonds with them; we just let them pass by because they are not our destination. We have to learn to see thoughts that pass through our minds in the same way. Watch them, but don't relate to them. Don't cling to them. We can stand on the bank and watch the river flow. The river is interesting to watch, but if we jump in, we will soon lose our strength. Try to develop the ability to stand back as a witness as thoughts pass through your mind. That will make your mind strong.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

For those years, thank You!

846. Om mantra-sarayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the essence of all mantras

Thank You Amma, for the past 22 years. Thank You for the lessons You have taught me. For the journey, for the companionship. Please show me the way ahead, Amma. I leave it all in Your hands. You have always looked after me and I know You will hold Your hand over me again and shower me with grace.

"We have a treasure within us that we will never lose, and that no one can steal; but we will not find it by searching on the outside. We have to look within. We have to offer the flower of our heart to God.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The healing begins!

845. Om sastra-sarayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the essence of all scriptures.

Thank You Amma for listening to me today. I cried out and I know You have heard. Please Amma, on this lonely spiritual journey of mine, let the healing begin.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Acceptance!

844. Om chandah-sarayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the essence of all the Vedas.

"A real Master teaches you to accept everything that happens in life. He helps you to be thankful for both good and bad, right and wrong, enemy and friend, those who harm you and those who help you, those who cage you and those who release you from the cage. The Master helps you forget about the dark past and the bright future full of a thousand promises. He helps you live life in the present moment with all its fullness. He lets you know that the whole of nature - everything, everybody, even your enemy is helping you evolve and attain perfection.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

God's will!

843. Om bhava-cakra-pravartinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who turns the wheel of the cycle of birth and death.

"Worrying about the past or future is meaningless. The former is no more; it has no validity. Even if you go on brooding about things that went wrong in the past, they will not be corrected. The future is also not in your hands. It is controlled by the Supreme. A true devotee who has surrendered everything to the Supreme will not worry about the past or future. For him whatever happens is God’s Will. He accepts everything as His prasad.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Thank You Amma!

842. Om bhava-roga-ghnyai namah: I bow down to Amma who eradicates the diseases of the cycle of birth and death.

Thank You Amma for finally showing me the right path. For finally removing the mask from the devil and revealing the true nature of someone I trusted and loved. Hopefully, the healing for my daughter and I can now begin.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

To learn...and move ahead!

841. Om bhava-jnayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the knower of all thoughts and sentiments.

It's my only consolation:
"When you find yourself reacting in a negative way to different situations, you should contemplate upon the workings of your own mind, remind yourself of the Goal, and then rectify your behavior. We should take every situation that comes in life as an opportunity for us to learn.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma will save me!

840. Om mula-vigraha-rupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the root form of everything.

I guess today's quote from this wonderful facebook account should just about sum up Amma's advice for me:
If a thorn pricks your foot when you walk, you will step more carefully. Thus you may escape falling into a ditch that may be just ahead. God gives us sorrow to save us. True believers will cling to God's feet even in sorrow. In their prayers, they will never ask for happiness. They will never think of selfish gains. But when somebody who suffers comes to us, we should give him solace. We should find time to speak a few comforting words.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Through Your grace!

839. Om mukti-nilayayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the abode of salvation

May Your grace always be upon us. And help me make the right decision. And help me feel less of the intense pain.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Prayers please!

838. Om mukundayai namah: I bow down to Amma who gives salvation

I need everyone's prayers. Please. This is a tough time and I would like my family to finally find some peace!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma...!

837. Om viyat-prasuve namah: I bow down to Amma who is Mother to the ether.

All cried out. No words.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

This too shall pass...!

836. Om vira-matre namah: I bow down to Amma who is the Mother of the valiant; Mother to the best among the devotees.

I asked You a question, Amma, 8 months ago and You finally answered. Painful as it is, this too shall pass.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Her grace is flowing!

835. Om viviktasthayai namah: I bow down to Amma who abides in secluded places.

Today was a better day. I felt Amma's presence strongly. And then a friend and one of Amma's favourite children sent me this:
"Her glories need to be told, retold and retold;
All your daily postings have not been in vain
They strengthen the heart and train the mind
To accept the pain and share in the gain
Realize who is in charge and who needs to yield
Your effort is showing Her grace is flowing
It flows and flows and it shall never cease"

Amma Sharanam.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Sincere prayer!

834. Om visrnkhalayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is unfettered, free in every way.

All I'm doing is praying. Please let him get better, Amma. Please let there be no problems or issues. Please. I'm laying it all at your feet.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Our colored glasses!

833. Om pancasat-pitha-rupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who has fifty centers of worship.

"Children, to a very large extent, it is the mind that is responsible for making life joyful or sorrowful. We happily welcome experiences that the mind likes, facing all others with resentment and grief and sometimes even anger. If we wear coloured glasses, we will see all objects tinged only with that colour. In a similar way, we view all experiences through the lenses of our likes and dislikes, and thus interpret them as good or bad accordingly.": AMMA

I'm undergoing an experience my mind certainly doesn't like but I also know that hidden within this, are many lessons for my husband and me. And for me towards Amma. I had begun to feel disconnected but I know now that She never let me go. Like an errant child, my Mother let me wander away a little before pulling me back, lock stock, into Her fold. I love Her. I am just waiting for Her grace to flow towards us now!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

You. Only YOU, Amma!

832. Om prana-datryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the giver of life.

"Ups and downs are the very nature of life. It is not the incident but how we confront it that is most important. Incidents by themselves cannot influence us. If we are mentally weak, their effect will be worse than if we are strong and well-controlled. The wise ones quickly overcome such situations. A wise man may also feel sad, but quickly realizes that it is all a play, that it is the nature of life. If you go on worrying, it will dissipate a lot of your energy and will make you inactive.": AMMA

I needed to read this today. And when I knew that Amma had blessed my husband's picture, I felt blessed myself. The journey is tough but I feel supported. I know Amma is there inside the room with him. I know that when a procedure is happening, it's Amma who's doing it all. She's taking care. She's holding our hands. She's seeing us through. And I'm just waiting to surrender every step. I can't do this Amma. Not alone. I need Your guidance every step of the way. I need You to walk me through this with baby steps. You. Only You.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A prayer!

831. Om pranesvaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who lords over the five pranas and the senses.

My next few days of writing is only for the recovery of my husband who is currently in the ICU. Please pray to Amma to keep Her grace flowing and for him to be entirely in Her care. This is all too big for me to handle and I am laying it all by Your feet, Amma. I truly have no idea what to do. Please hold my hands through this difficult ordeal. I have no road ahead but the one You lay down for us.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

MY AMMA!

830. Om prakatakrtyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is manifested in the form of the universe.

Today I'm too beat to write a long post but there's something I need to write. There is no one greater than Amma. When I truly and really surrendered, She made miracles happen. I had walked away Amma, from Your altar and yet, You, like a true Mother, refused to give up on me. Because You have always accepted me as Your daughter. Thank You Amma for holding Your hand so protectively over our heads and for being there for us. I love You!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Being one with Amma!

829. Om pratisthayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the foundation.

"As the mind becomes more and more one-pointed through spiritual practices, thought waves gradually decrease. And the mind, along with the thoughts, disappears and dissolves into the total mind. Our mind is nothing but a part of the universal mind, the cosmic mind. Thoughts are like a wall that stands between our own minds and the one cosmic mind. It is like two rooms separated by a wall. Demolish and remove the wall, and the rooms become one. In pure innocent love there is no wall. The wall of thoughts disappears. The lover's mind becomes one with the beloved's. In selfless love the lover forgets everything. Past and future drop away and love alone remains. There are no motives behind this love, except the desire to become one with the beloved.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!