This precious hug!

707. Om guhya-rupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who has a secret form.

An article in the Atlanta Journal about Amma's visit there...(Someone somewhere is feeling the same as I do about Amma!)

Around 10 a.m. Sunday, more than 300 people meditated in a silent ballroom in the Georgia International Convention Center — a slight shift from the typical Sunday morning church scene.
The room awoke and many moved toward the stairs on each side of the stage once the short woman dressed in all white at the center of the stage rose from her perch and Indian music began to play.
This was the moment they had all been waiting for. The hugging began promptly at 10:30 a.m.

Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as Amma, has given more 34 million hugs throughout her life. Known as one of India’s most prominent spiritual leaders, Amma has been embracing people worldwide since 1987.
Gigi Arroyave drove about three hours from Greenville, S.C.
“It’s the most humble experience I’ve ever had,” Arroyave, 30, said. “It is amazing to be hugged by somebody that changes your life in just one hug.”

Amma’s Atlanta visit included four programs over Sunday and Monday — chances to get that cherished hug. All of Amma’s programs are free, but to meet and hug Amma, each attendee needs a token, which were handed out before the start of each program.
Once attendees have their tokens, they take their seats for a two-hour-and-45-minute program in which Amma and other spiritual leaders speak and meditate before the hugging begins.
“It’s hard to give firm ending times for Amma’s programs because Amma personally meets each person who comes,” said Dante Sawyer, who has been a volunteer with the Amma organization for 15 years. “In India, programs can last up to 20 hours without Amma taking a break.”
At Amma’s Sunday morning event, she began embracing attendees at 10:30 a.m. and hugged the last person around 5 p.m.
Buckhead resident Samir Kamat, 44, has been working with the Amma Atlanta volunteer group to plan the Atlanta programs for the past four months. He said he wasn’t too surprised by long distances people traveled to see Amma in Atlanta, as it was the first time she traveled south of Washington, D.C.
First-time attendees Jan Autin, Mandani Bishop and Nalini Subramanian, neighbors from Port St. Lucie, Fla., drove nine hours to see Amma in Atlanta on Sunday morning. The three friends were some of the first in line to receive hugs from Amma.
“We came specifically for Amma,” Autin said. “We wanted to be hugged and be in her presence.”
Sreejith Nambiar, an Amma volunteer, flew from San Diego for the event. He first experienced Amma’s hug when he was growing up in India. Since then, he estimates that he’s hugged Amma about 25 times.
“It transports me to the memory of my mother hugging me as a child,” Nambiar, 38, said of Amma’s hug.
Atlanta resident Jewel Grant, 40, saw an ad on Facebook and was intrigued. Grant invited her friend and fellow Atlanta resident, Regina Barnes, to join her.
The two said they were also drawn to Amma because they believe in the power of hug therapy.
“It’s just one other hug,” Grant said, “and you can’t say no to a hug.”






You absolutely can't. Not to this one especially!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Amma's Krishna bhava!

706. Om guhambayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the Mother of Subrahmanya, who dwells in the cave of the heart.

I've always wanted to see Amma in krishna bhava and so today is an excerpt on Amma's krishna bhava from amritapuri.org:
By Her late teens, Sudhamani was abiding in the experience of inner bliss. By 1975, at the age of 22, She was fully established in the state of Supreme Love. A significant incident occurred in September 1975 that lifted one veil from Her divinity. One day, as Sudhamani was walking home, holding aloft a bundle of grass, She overheard the final verses of the Srimad Bhagavatam from a neighbouring house. The reading had come to an end and the devotional singing had just started.
Sudhamani stopped abruptly, appearing to listen intently to the singing. Suddenly, She ran towards where the devotees had gathered. Overwhelmed by divine bliss, Sudhamani’s inner identification with Lord Krishna transformed Her features and movements into those of the Lord.

Regarding the onset of the Krishna Bhava (the divine mood of Krishna, in which Amma experienced that She was one with the Lord), Amma says, “In the early days, I used to dance in bliss and move about alone, persisting in Krishna Bhava, but no one knew. One day I strongly felt the urge to be absorbed in the Supreme Being without returning. Then I heard a voice from within saying, ‘Thousands and thousands of people in the world are steeped in misery. I have much for you to do, you who are one with Me.'”
Thereafter Sudhamani regularly appeared in Krishna Bhava, during which people flocked to meet Her on the beach near Her home. But a group of youths from the surrounding villages, calling themselves the “Rationalists” were against Her and tried to harm Her. Seeing the harassment that his daughter was being subjected to, Amma’s father took pity on Her and converted the family cowshed to make a proper place for Her to meet people.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Ultimate truth!

705. Om sastramayyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of the scriptures, to Her whose limbs are the Scriptures

Every word of Amma's is the ultimate truth:
"When you surrender to a higher consciousness, you give up all your claims; you release your grip from everything that you’ve been holding on to. Whether you gain or lose, it doesn’t matter now. You don’t want to be something any longer. You long to be nothing, absolutely nothing. So you dive into the River of Existence. The ego, or the mind, is that which makes you feel that you are something. Unless it is eliminated, you cannot dive deep into your own consciousness. You have to become nothing. Not even a trace of, ‘I am something’ should remain. If you are something, there is no entry into the realm of pure Consciousness."
And my absolute favourite:
"Life should become one big, hearty laugh—that’s religion. That’s spirituality. That is real prayer. God is the innocent smile that blossoms from within. It is also the best gift one can bestow on the world. However, this smile is alien to the world today, familiar only with smiles of selfishness, rancor and artificiality. Those aren’t smiles, only the stretching of one’s lips, because the heart is not in them. It is a sin, violence, a betrayal of one’s soul. We must recover the child’s world of innocent play and laughter. There is a child’s heart lying dormant within each one of us. Without awakening it, we cannot grow. "
Om Amriteswariye namah!

Introspecting with Amma!

704. Om sarasvatyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of knowledge

'In response to the question of a devotee, Amma said, “We should introspect at the end of each day and ask ourselves, “Did I go out of my way and help somebody? Was I selfish in my actions or was I able to maintain a selfless attitude? Did I hurt anybody with my words and actions? Was I mature with my emotions?” These are questions that will help us to gauge our progress and help us make resolutions for the next day. My children, never lose your awareness of the goal. If the awareness stays with you, you will never be distracted by anything in the world.”'

I need this. Every day I need to work with the knowledge that some of my words may be leaving me clothed in barbed wires; some of my actions may be done under the cloak of stress. How does any of that matter? If I hurt anyone, who cares what the reason is? I don't wish to leave debris behind. Amma teaches us to accept everyone and see Amma in everyone. Only then can we truly love everyone around us. Imagine, seeing our darling Mother everywhere, within everyone:) When we do this, the world will naturally and easily become a wonderful place to live in!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Taken care of!

703. Om sarva-mohinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who deludes all

I  googled "Missing Amma" (because I truly am, quite a bit actually) and found this absolute gem!:

"What Amma has to do with Missing the Last Train:

If you are still waiting for a sign to go to Amma, this is it. I am serious, go there. Now. (Or tonight). Tomorrow it will be over and you have to wait another year or visit her in her ashram in Kerala.

I actually did not plan to write another Amma post, but for me her satsang last night turned out to be an inspiring lesson about life and connectedness in general and my current life situation in particular and I want to share this with you.
It wasn’t my first satsang with Amma – but it was the first time that I stayed for her embrace. Last year, I threw in the sponge around midnight. Having shown up rather late, I was looking at the perspective to wait until the early morning for the mother’s hug, until 2 maybe 3 am. I enjoyed the satsang, the chanting, the people – but at that point I did not think it was worth missing the last train home. I have been practical about it. I have been practical about a lot of things.

“Why can’t she just do it during the weekend when trains go all night and people don’t have to work the next day,” my friend and I wondered during the hours we spend together waiting last night. Now, after I stayed I understand. It’s not just a hug. It’s about devotion. If you make an effort and go out of your way to wait until it’s your turn to meet Amma, you build a strong connection. You give meaning to the experience. As soon as you give meaning to something, it becomes meaningful. Abracadabra, it’s magic!

Tonight at 11 pm, I still had not the slightest idea if I would stay or leave. “I wish somebody would just come and give us their tokens, so we can go earlier,” my friend mumbled tiredly. Three minutes later a girl I knew from yoga approached us and gave us her token that was in fact way earlier than ours. No shit! At this point I decided to stay. Even if I would miss the last train. Even if my friend left without me. Even if I might have to take a cab and pay 20 bugs to go across town. If Amma can sit and hug people for hours, I can at least stay until it’ s my turn.
So I waited and finally got embraced by Amma. Which was incredibly beautiful! “Meine Liebe, meine Liebe, meine Liebe” (my dear, my dear, my dear) the mother comfortingly mumbled in German, holding me in her arms, really seeing me – not with her eyes but with her heart. And I finally let go, tears running down my face. It all happened so quickly. Her voice still in my head, “meine Liebe, meine Liebe,” I stumbled down the stage, got my coat, left the venue. I had no idea if I could still reach the last train, but I knew that whatever would happen, was supposed to happen. “Meine Liebe, meine Liebe”. I trusted it. When I reached Schlesische Straße, the train had just left. I won’t tell you in detail what happened next, but it was easy, unexpected and involved an old friend I haven’t seen in a while…

So here’s what I learned tonight. Voilà:

• It’s okay to miss the last train (or any other practicality you can think of that might block your way). In fact, it is good.
• Don’t worry!
• Just keep walking in the right direction and you’ll be taken care of.

Thank you Amma!"

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

My choice forever!

702.  Om sarvagayai namah: I bow down to Amma who pervades all the worlds and all the beings; who is omnipresent

Every route and corner is an option for us. We always have choices and I am so grateful that years ago my father took me to meet Amma. And She accepted me as Her disciple. And that I had the sense to realise that Amma was my Guru. I know I've spoken about this before but I always wondered what life would have been like had I not met Amma. She has always been there like my guardian angel, watching over me, answering my every question. Even those days when I have sat quietly and wondered what life was unfolding for me, She has provided me the answers. There is no life without Amma. She is the only truth in my life. And when I see pictures of Amma like the one above, I'm amazed at how many millions of lives Amma has touched and changed for the better. At how many people have benefited from our Mother's influence in their lives. Thank You Amma for making such a massive difference to the route my life has taken and continues to take every day, only because of You! 

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Joyful life!

701. Om desa-kalaparicchinnayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is not limited (or measured) by time and space.

"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
Because of You, Amma, I have 3 days in a year that I treasure and look forward to. That I hold so dear to my heart. That I know makes a difference to the rest of the year. Those 3 days are what I keep going back to whenever I am down and out. And yet, like this mantra teaches me, You are not measured by time or space. You are omnipresent. You are with me every time, everywhere. But to reach this realization requires a good deal of grace. It's a path of absolute faith that can help us understand this vital truth. And once this truth seeps in, then I will be able to view every experience as being something planned by You, for my good. Looking at life as a big party that You have planned down to the smallest detail for me! May my every step in this wonderful party be a fun filled, spiritual one!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

A warm heart!

700. Om sac-cid-ananda-rupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is of the nature of existence, consciousness, and bliss

On the occasion of Shivaratri earlier this year, Amma had said these words:
“Lord Shiva is Gangadhara, the bearer of river Ganga. He holds the Ganga, which is of the nature of immortality, on His head eternally. Ganga is synonymous with gentle coolness. No matter how turbulent the situation, the Lord’s head and inner realm remains peaceful. Though the head is cool, the heart is always warm with compassion for the world. In order to save the world from the detrimental effect of the all-destructive Kalakuta poison, Paramashiva, the Supreme Lord, drank it. Through His personal example, Lord Shiva teaches us that what we need is a cool head and a warm heart. But what we see in the world today is the very opposite: most people are hot-headed and cold-hearted. Everyone’s head is heated up by worldly thoughts, and the heart has become frosty with selfishness. If our head is cool, we can face the most adverse circumstance peacefully and turn it to our advantage."
There can be no better example of this than Amma Herself! Each darshan of Hers feels like we've just embraced the warmest heart on the planet! And what we walk away with is a bit of that heart laced with purity and compassion. For me, it seems like it's time for another darshan very soon!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

The creative within!

699. Om savitryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the creative power in the universe

She who creates and She who is the creative power within each of us. Each of us has a strong creative power within us. Creative power is nothing but a state of total connection with our inner selves. And when Amma resides in there, when we are able to be grateful for the presence of Amma in our lives, then everything becomes very simple. Every event unfolds only because She wants us to undergo that for our own spiritual progress. I am here because Amma thinks this is the right space for me to be at. This juncture of my life, however happy, however painful, exists because Amma knows the path is needed. I am in a state of total surrender to Her. I withdraw all my expectations from everything and rest by Her feet. And in that space will I find solutions and answers in this spiritual quest.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Desire for happiness!

698. Om sarvartha-datryai namah: I bow down to Amma who grants all desires

In pursuit of happiness: (this is an entry in amritapuri.org from the year 2000, during Onam)

"All the 365 days in a year have to be filled with happiness and joy. The whole life should become a festival. Spirituality shows the way to such lasting happiness. It calls for surrender, total surrender to the Paramatman. ....The only thing that the Lord asks from us is surrender. God is the all-merciful one who with outstretched hands is ever waiting to receive our ego. That is the dakshina (offering) he expects from us....If we are not prepared to offer Him our ego, He will somehow extract it from us, for that is the only way we can become happy. When we offer ourselves to the Paramatman, our mind and intellect become purified, our sorrows come to an end and our entire life becomes a festival.

It is said that we can be happy only if there is tyaga (renunciation) in our life. Often we do small acts of tyaga in our lives. Those who are fond of cricket are prepared to bear the rain and sun for its sake. Parents are ready to forego their work and sleep in order to look after their sick child. There are so many such small small acts of tyaga in our life that we willingly undergo for the sake of something we consider important. We derive a sense of satisfaction and joy from them. Now in order that we experience the supreme ever-lasting joy, there is a need for the supreme tyaga — the sacrifice of our ego.

The happiness that we derive from small acts of tyaga is short-lived. Perhaps you remember a story that you might have studied in the first or second grade in school. A lump of soil and a dry leaf went out to play in the fields. When they were engaged in play, suddenly the wind began to blow. The lump of soil was sorry to see the suffering of the dry leaf. Out of compassion it stood over the dry leaf and protected it from the wind. After the wind was gone, they continued with their play. After sometime there was rain. This time, the dry leaf protected the lump of soil by shielding it from the rain. However after some time rain and wind came simultaneously. What was the result? The dry leaf was blown away and the lump of soil was washed away.

Our lives are like this when we depend on others. Of course, we are able to obtain some consolation and happiness from them for some time. However when a calamity overtakes our life, none can save us. Then only God can save us. Only the surrender to the Supreme Self will be our sole refuge. Infact surrender to God is the only guarantee for our protection. Self surrender to the Supreme Self — that’s the only way how we can remain blissful in all our lives."

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

That precious darshan!

697. Om sarva-loka-vasankaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who keeps all the worlds under Her control.

It's extremely difficult to explain exactly how Amma's hugs and darshans have changed my life; or even to put into words just what it feels like before and post a hug. How overwhelming the feeling is; how choked up I feel with that rush of love and compassion. How suddenly everything feels right. How I feel a deep happiness, satisfaction, innocence. And so when I read this article, I just had to share because the writer has captured it quite well!:
"It was not what I expected. I was warned that I might wait hours for my hug, as I experienced dashran, being in the physical presence of a guru. I prepared myself for long hours of silent meditation, and yet, when I arrived at Amma's ashram in the East Bay area, I found Amma sitting amidst a noisy, jubilant mass of followers. As newcomers, Tricia and I were invited to sit up close and personal with Amma, where we could radiate in her beautiful loving energy, although we could only see er face in glimpses from the side. Over the hours we waited, we came and went, eating lovely Indian food, watching the faces of others as they walked away from their embraces. One woman knelt in front of us and wept after her hug, and I rubbed her back silently. She thanked me later. Being so close, we could witness Amma's humanity, as she pinched her disciples when she was annoyed. I couldn't help smiling. She never rested, never peed, never ate. Instead, she spent hour after hour giving long hugs to each person who approached her.
The hours passed, and right when Tricia and I absolutely had to leave to meet other commitments, it just happened to be miraculously our turn. Within minutes, we were sitting in a line of chairs, waiting for our hugs. I must admit I felt a little silly at this point. Pink editor-in-chief Joy had come earlier and received her hug sooner, but Tricia and I had been waiting for about four hours, and I was starting wonder why I had come. Sure, Tricia and I spent beautiful bonding time together, and that alone made it worth the pilgrimage, but what about Amma? Why was I here?
The closer I got to her, the more detail I could see in her face. As the line moved forward, I could see that she spent almost a minute in each embrace. I could see her shoulders quiver and her face twist with the pain she felt in each individual. I could see the heaving shoulders of those who knelt at her feet and fell into her embrace. I could see them weeping when they stood up. I watched the sweat trickle down her soft, lined, human face.
As Tricia and I approached, Amma's disciples took our bags, pushed us on our knees and lined us up for our hugs. I kept thinking, "Why am I here? WHY AM I HERE?" but I tried to stay open in that holy state of unknowing. The closer I got to Amma, the more I felt brick walls in my heart crumbling. It's as if her physical presence cracked me wide open, exposing my raw, bleeding heart, so it was right there- quivering and vulnerable, when suddenly, I was on my knees, and someone was pushing me forward. Then I was home, with Amma holding my head to her soft bosom, as she embraced me. Like the calm after the storm, all my confused, doubting thoughts evaporated in her arms, as she whispered something into my ear in a language I didn't understand, in a voice that sounded like music. Within seconds, I found myself sobbing, choked gulps of tears and powerful emotion, and she was rocking me like a Mama rocks her child. And we were rocking, just like that, like no one has rocked me since I was a very little girl. I felt this rush of hot, flowing love like I have not felt- ever- in the physical presence of another person. I mean, my own mother loves me, and yet, it's always comes with this whole story of history and expectation and blood ties. But this woman had no clue who I was, and yet she was pouring her love into me like I was the open, un-knowing vessel and she was the blood of Christ. For all I know, she was off pinching her followers on the side because I was sucking her dry, but I didn't care. It felt like she brought her whole human presence to that moment, as if I was the only person in that festive ashram, as if the love I experienced was just for me, the only person she had ever loved that way- ever.
And then it was over. Amma released me, a follower handed me a pink flower petal (PINK!) and a Hershey kiss, and then I was physically moved aside so Tricia could come in for her hug. As I staggered away, dizzy and crying, I watched Tricia, as Amma pulled her into her arms. And I watched Tricia's shoulders heave with the tears I knew she cried, and Amma rocked her and rocked her, long and hard, just as she had me. When Tricia's hug was over, Amma looked into Tricia's eyes and then pulled her back into her arms, as if Tricia needed a bonus hug, a little more love poured into her wide-open, beautiful PINK heart. Me, my one hug was more than I could even handle.
Why did I cry so hard in the arms of a stranger? I don't know. Someone experienced in hugging Amma called it an "Amma blast." To me, it felt overwhelming, the whole human experience the way I've lived it lately, as is my life is so divinely guided that I am merely a vessel for something much bigger and more powerful than me. I exploded with this huge sense of gratitude for the life I am blessed to life. Have you ever felt that way? It is both exquisitely beautiful and a little freaky. It makes you realize you are not in control, that Someone bigger is in charge. Thank GOD"

Om Amriteswariye namah!

On Marriage!

696. Om daitya-samanyai namah: I bow down to Amma who destroys the demons, wicked forces.

For someone who reads my blog everyday, here's a little something from Amma:
‘If you see deficiencies in others, your duty is to forgive instead of pointing at it."

And here's one about relationships: 
“A true relationship can be developed only if there is proper understanding between a husband and wife, between friends, or whoever is involved in a relationship of any kind. There are different passages in life. Marriage is one such passage, and it is one of the most important ones there is. For a person who lives in the world (i.e. a householder), to be able to live a full, productive life, he or she must pass through the passage of marriage with as much love, intimacy, caring and commitment as possible. Married life, if it is lived with the proper love and understanding, will help awaken the feminine within a man, and the masculine within a woman. This balance can eventually help both of them reach the final goal of eternal freedom.”

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Our Compassionate Mother!

695. Om diksitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is under a vow

My Mother is the very epitome of compassion. And every day, She shows me Her compassionate side. An excerpt from an article:
Responding to Dr. Doty’s questions, Amma said human calculations might be wrong, but actions born of true compassion would always be right. “This is because compassion is the law of nature, the power of God and the heart of creation,” she noted. “If we tune the individual mind with compassion, then we, as individuals, are no longer really performing actions, but are merely allowing creation to act through us. And this is the power of compassion. In truth, the spiritual path both begins and ends with compassion.”   
“She inspires, uplifts, and transforms through her physical embrace, her spiritual wisdom and through her global charities, known as Embracing the World. While Amma is widely regarded as one of India’s foremost spiritual leaders, she says that her religion is love. Amma has never asked anyone to change their religion but only to contemplate the essential principles of their own faith and to try to live accordingly,” the institution said.    
How fortunate we are that Amma who inspires, uplifts and transforms millions of people is our Mother!
Om Amriteswariye namah!

Here, now, this moment!

694. Om sagara-mekhalayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is girdled by the oceans

This Mother of ours who walks with us through life always has plans for us. I keep hoping to see the future or at the very least, have lofty dreams about it but there I go against the grain of what Amma teaches us -to live in the moment. The ever present NOW. I watch my past intently and build my future with bricks from my past. How ever am I going to live for the here and now?
So this one was really relevant!:(She always knows what Her children are mulling over!)
"The meaning of ‘shraddha’ is to be constantly aware. But this is only possible when you are relaxed. A tense, agitated person, who is constantly thinking about his failures in life, cannot be watchful, nor can he be fully aware of the present moment. It is the same with a person who keeps dreaming about the future. Both of these moods will make you inert; you lose your creativity and cannot be productive. Relaxation, however, will enhance your awareness and bring out your real being. Only a relaxed person can be ever watchful and aware."

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Real love!

693. Om satya-sandhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is devoted to or maintains truth

Some important aspects of looking upon Amma as our Guru:
“If we have a friend who is a very good person, we will naturally begin to imitate him. Likewise, by contemplating on the Guru, we will begin to imbibe his qualities. When we become purnam [eternally full and complete] like the Guru, there will no longer be any distinctions such as ‘inside’ and ‘outside.’ When you transcend duality, there is nothing to reject. When you understand that there is nothing but your own Self everywhere, what is there to reject? Whatever is inside is the same outside—isn’t it? You see your Atma in everything—isn’t it so? The Guru is not dvaitam [duality]. The Guru is advaitam [non-duality]. The Guru is the Atma [Self]. ”....
Amma said that if one only loves the Guru when the Guru is looking at him or talking to him, then he, indeed, is merely loving his own ego. “Real love is when you make the bond with the Atma,” Amma said. “You may say, ‘Amma, you are my mother, you are my mother,’ but then when a situation comes, you start saying, ‘Oh, Amma is like this…. Amma is like that… Why is she not looking at me? Why is she not talking to me?'” With a mischievously smile on her face, Amma then said, “If I give you a test, then everyone’s true face will emerge.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Awareness in our selves!

692. Om samrajya-dayinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the bestower of imperial dominion

Some days, the prayers don't come easy. They choke up inside of me, lost in the depths of the mystery. Synonym, life. Such times it's better to listen and take in slowly.
“Suppose you have a weakness of getting angry easily. Now, what you should do is this: Once you become normal again, go and sit in the family shrine room if you have one, or sit in solitude; then regret and repent your own anger and sincerely pray to your beloved deity or to Mother Nature, seeking help to get rid of it. Try to make your own mind aware of the bad outcome of anger. When you are angry with someone, you lose all your mental balance. Your discriminative power completely stops functioning. You say whatever comes into your mind and you act accordingly. You may even utter crude words at your own wife or children, or your own father or mother. Once you lose your discrimination you may even kill someone. By acting and thinking with anger you lose a lot of good energy. Become aware of this great truth, that these negative feelings will only pave the way for your own destruction, and sincerely try to put forth effort to overcome them.”: AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Living together spiritually!

691. Om catur-anga-balesvaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who commands armies of four types

Something important to consider (source: amritapuri.org)
Question: Amma, could you please give us some instructions about marriage and married life?
Amma: Marriage and married life, in fact, are another way to attain God-realization, although many are not aware of it. For the attainment of this goal, both the husband and the wife need a certain amount of understanding about leading a married life coupled with spirituality. Patience, love and forgiveness are the three qualities that are needed to maintain a good relationship. In most cases, neither the husband nor the wife will have these qualities. Such relationships will always end up in a tragedy. Doubting each other’s love, they will always quarrel. A silly, insignificant incident or sometimes even a single word is enough to make them lose their mental balance. They will always blame each other, but never try to find a solution for the misunderstandings and conflicts. As a result, they suffer and also cause their children to suffer.
Children, learn to respect each other’s feelings. Learn to listen to each other’s problems with love and concern. When you listen to your partner, he or she should be able to feel that you are genuinely interested and that you would sincerely like to help. Your partner should feel your care and concern, your respect and admiration. An open acceptance of the other is needed, and there should be no reservations.”

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

For everything...!

690. Om kosa-nathayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the mistress of the treasury

For the ability to see a problem and realise that You have Your own methods...
For the understanding that Amma is looking out for me....
For the realization that whenever I feel like a downward spiral, Amma will always be there to hold me...
For the knowledge that Amma is holding my hand through everything....
For the reassurance that She knows everything despite being so far away...
For the firm belief that everything She does, She does it for me.

Thank You Amma for letting me live in faith. It doesn't matter whichever route You send me on. You will only put me on a path which You know is needed for my spiritual growth. And I will stand by, a willing student.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Refuge in a Satguru!

689. Om rajya-laksmyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the embodiment of the prosperity of the world.

Just one thing for today:

"One may ask, “The scriptures say that God is within us and not different from our true nature. Then why should we seek refuge in a Satguru?” It is true that God is within us. We are, in truth, the embodiment of Sachidananda—pure existence, pure consciousness, pure bliss. But have we experienced this truth? No, it is being veiled by our ego. We hold the key to the massive treasure chest within us, but that key has become rusty due to a long period of lack of use. Just as we remove rust from a regularly key by applying grease, so too we have to remove the rust of our ahamkara and vasanas—our sense of “I” as a limited body and mind and our deep-rooted tendencies. This will help us realize our true nature. It is for this purpose that we seek refuge in a Satguru.": AMMA
'Nuff said! We should be eternally grateful that Amma has agreed to be our Satguru:)

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The tough journey!

688. Om raja-pitha-nivesita-nijasritayai namah: I bow down to Amma who establishes on royal thrones those who take refuge in Her

I used to read the meaning of this mantra every time I did my prayers and get excited. I take refuge in Her and so Amma would establish me on a royal throne. I knew it didn't mean a real royal throne but something big for me! How life changes you. How, as we grow older, our aspirations change. Something royal for me now, is being closer to Amma. That's the royal throne. Having something to do all the time, for Amma. Being of use to society. Doing something beneficial. Every day Amma changes my outlook to life. She makes it a little less materialistic and a little more inward. She adds stress to one layer and introspection to another. She makes me think and rethink my choices. She makes me question the very basis of my morality. She makes me analyse my choices and re consider my actions. She sends angels and friends who watch over me. She sends a thought my way; an intuition. I beg Her for resolve and it comes, slowly, steadily, with it's own share of lessons. While I may mutter under my breath at how tough all this is, I know the destination will totally be worth it!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

On love and spiritual bliss...!

687. Om rajat-krpayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has a compassion that captivates everyone

Invaluable nuggets from Amma:

"When the desire to know the Self arises, you will start doing all the things that are required to attain that goal and start avoiding all the things that will take you away from it. The more love you develop for the goal and the more you understand the need for the various disciplines and spiritual practices, the easier it will be to adhere to those disciplines and practices."
"The happiness that we gain from the outer world is fleeting; it never stays with you for long. It is there for one moment and the next moment it is gone. But, spiritual bliss is not like that. Once the final breakthrough happens, that is, once you transcend the limitations of body, mind and intellect, once you reach that state, there is no return. The bliss is forever. And it is infinite. But for this to happen you need to pay accordingly. It is not sufficient to pay with only a part of yourself, you have to pay with everything. Your entire life is what has to be given."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Faith in ourselves!

686. Om rajya-vallabhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who protects all the dominions

Best moment of the day: when I was discussing my fear of flying with my daughter and she retorts back: "what do you have to fear? You have Amma. She's bigger than any army or any force. You have the best person on your side." Absolutely 100% true that!!
And here's an amazing quote by Amma on faith (for me, it touches upon fears also):
“It does not really matter whether you are a believer or a nonbeliever or a sceptic. You can be a nonbeliever, but at the same time lead a happy and successful life, if you have faith in you. You do not have to believe in Amma, or in a God who resides up above in the sky on a golden throne. It is enough if you have faith in yourself. If you don’t have faith in yourself, then there is not much to gain even if you believe in God. Faith in God is to strengthen your faith in you, the faith in your own Self. This is, in other words, called Self-confidence, confidence in your own Self. If that is not there you cannot succeed in life, whatever your field may be. Self-confidence is nothing but mental balance, courage and control over your own mind to confront the problems of life. You cannot escape from the problems of life; they are inevitable, unavoidable. How are you going to face them if you do not have faith in yourself? You cannot.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!
 

The fragility of life!

685. Om rajya-dayinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who gives dominion.

My heart breaks for all those parents whose children died in the Sabah earthquake. All it brings home is the entire fragility of life. My friend's son was on the mountain when it happened. The earth shook and a boulder hit him on the head. He fainted but not before seeing his teacher and 2 of his mates die. When he came around, he had a broken arm. He waited to be rescued but when that didn't happen, he walked down the mountain for 6 hours with some others. With a broken arm. His mother said this has changed her life. Nothing matters except the well being of her child. She said she was grateful that he was alive. Tomorrow morning she will pray at a temple to give thanks. For the life her child has received. Because he was spared.
How much we spend on the small little complaints in our lives! How much we whinge and whine about things going wrong or people not toeing our line. And every minute of the day we are living through a fragility we chose not to see. Because if we could, we'd shed our ego and throw ourselves at Amma's feet. We'd work towards making ourselves better people. We'd realise the futility of the small webs we wind up in and we'd vow to only see the good in everyone. Much as Amma always teaches us to do. Ending with a prayer for the families of the children and the teachers who died. May they find much needed peace.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Growing from our mistakes!

684. Om raja-rajesvaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the ruler of kings and emperors.

An article by Amma: (Much needed thoughts today. Amma just always knows!)

Children, making mistakes is part of life. We may have character flaws as well. When people commit mistakes, experience failures or downfalls, their first response is to try to defend themselves. As much as possible, they try to hide their failures. They also try to justify their actions, pointing out that other people are making mistakes as well.
However, if we respond in this manner we will never learn to overcome our negativities. For example, although it is true that bitter experiences in one’s childhood can have lasting effects on one’s psyche, if one just blames his parents then the problems will never be rectified. On the contrary, those problems can even become acute and for which his adult relationships will suffer.

Once a doctor was examining a patient. When the examination was finished, the doctor told him, “This is a hereditary disease, and therefore it will be very difficult to cure it completely.”The patient responded: “Okay, if that’s the case, please send the bill to my parents.”
In the patient’s attempt to attribute responsibility for his condition away from himself, he failed to focus on the one truly relevant aspect: what he could do to control the disease.
It would have been so much more beneficial if he had inquired about how he could he mitigate his illness through diet, exercise and medication. Unfortunately, when it comes to our own negativities and problems, many of us fail to truly confront the situation and instead react like this patient.
The reason we try to hide our failures and accuse others for our mistakes is because of our pride and ego. So, if we want to succeed in life—both spiritually and materially—we have to overcome these factors.
When we experience such failures, we must learn to look within and understand the nature of our negativities and limitations.
Only once we have accepted that we have a problem and that its source is within our own mind can we put forth the requisite honest effort to overcome the problem.
Never blame others for your weaknesses. Never run and hide from them. If we can keep an open heart, accept responsibility for our own faults and put in earnest effort with an attitude of graciousness, we can overcome any negativity or limitation.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

My journey with Amma!

683. Om sobhana-sulabha-gatyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is attained through a bright and easy path

She takes me on journeys, She walks me through cross roads. She puts me in places where I wonder how to go on. She asks of me questions, the answers to which I don't know. She presents situations from which I wonder how to walk away. She makes me question my beliefs and wonder at my own ability. She throws me into spirals from which I wonder if I will ever be able to extricate myself. She forces me to journey into the mind and wander lonely through its many by lanes.
And just when I sit back and wonder:"How can Amma do this to me?", She'll pull out the reason She put me through this. And then I realise that it was all for the better. For my betterment. For my progress in my spiritual journey. Some days I can't see the reason anywhere on the horizon. But I know it's there lurking somewhere. Because the minute I lose hope, She will show me the lit path. And then the journeys, cross roads, places, questions, situations, spirals all make absolute sense!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A state of bliss!

682. Om subha-karyai namah: I bow down to Amma who does good.

Some days it is too over whelming to write one's own thoughts, Some days my relationship with Amma is too personal to pen. It's such a deep bond that I find it almost painful to share. So instead, I will put down some quotes by Amma.
"Children, spirituality is nothing but giving up and then taking back. Spirituality is to unburden everything and then take the burden back. But this time the burden is no more a burden. To put it in another way: don’t take up the burden until you feel that it is weightless. Yes, when you have completely emptied yourself of the inner burden, you take it back—you carry the burden of the world. But now you won’t feel any heaviness. On the contrary, you will feel a tremendous amount of joy springing forth from deep within, even while carrying the burden of the world. Previously, it was real suffering, but now there is no suffering at all, because your mind is fully at rest, and therefore, you do not feel it to be a burden anymore. Even though you still perform actions, you are involved and at the same time not involved. You start seeing things from an entirely different angle. You play a role, but you never identify with it. You remain outside. No matter what you are doing, you always feel blissful."

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Amma: my God!

681. Om sukharadhyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is easily worshipped

So, so easily worshipped. She makes no demands on our time. She's absolutely ALWAYS there for us. She whispers Her presence, saying that everything will be alright! What we think is intuition is, for me, Amma letting us know something important. Praying to Amma isn't like anything I have done before. There is nothign ritualistic about it. Each prayer makes sense to me. Amma says that when we cry with heartfelt love for our deity, that is prayer by itself. Her advice is always practical and follow-able. When we go to Amma for darshan, everything seems so easy. It feels like home. Like we're in the arms of our ever loving Mother. Amma is the bestest God in the world and I'm just so thrilled that She is my God!
"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 engaged 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! 

Only at Amma's feet!

680. Om bhavabhava-vivarjitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is beyond being and non-being.

I may have posted this before but I need this today:
‘No matter who causes you grief, take your complaints to the meditation room, where your real friend is. In addition to your husband or wife, you should have a friend — and that friend should be God. Even if your husband or wife makes you unhappy, tell that to God, and not to anyone else. If your neighbor picks a fight with you, go to the meditation room and complain, ‘Why did you let him treat me like that? Weren’t you with me?’ Open your heart and tell God everything. Then it becomes a satsang.’

Every complaint, every thought, every fear. Only at Amma's feet does anything make sense. Amma is my true friend because She is always there for me. She won't carry tales to anyone. When I relate my problems to Her, Amma won't laugh behind my back. She'll listen and help me along. Let's finish our problems at the meditation room. Let's find our energy at Amma's feet. And once rejuvenated with Amma's compassion, we can rise up to walk again!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma's army of spiritual seekers!

679. Om brhat-senayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has a vast army

"The river (of God's grace) is constantly flowing. We construct a dam, then we complain that we don't get any water. We are the ones who made the dam. We will experience God's constantly flowing grace when the dam of ignorance and ego is removed.": AMMA
One of the best things about Amma's programmes is the camaraderie between everyone. Every person in that room has one goal and one goal alone: to ensure that the programme goes off well and everyone has a great darshan with Amma. And towards that goal everyone works as a unit, as Amma's army of loving children. There are no dams of ignorance or ego. Everyone is helpful, happy. Everyone casts their own problems aside (because in Amma's presence no problem exists!) and looks outwards towards others. People find time to connect with themselves. The atmosphere is such a highly spiritually charged and happy one! It's the BESTEST place to be. Some great friendships are forged under Amma's watchful care. For me, absolutely everything that happens during those days, everyone I meet during those days, is to be treasured. It is important. Because anything that happens under Amma's guidance, is to be recognised and embraced. We are all part of Amma's spiritual army with a common goal.
Now, if only we could work so well and so selflessly every other day of the year!
Om Amriteswariye namah!

Peace. Calm. Amma!

678. Om bhasa-rupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of language

Some guided meditation and all I could fix my thoughts on, was Amma. I thought of a grassy knoll, a beautiful stream and Amma. A lovely mountain and birds chirping. And Amma. Peace, calm. And Amma. Because everything beautiful centers around Amma. Because meditation is really, for me, all about connecting with Amma. And while now my mind may still be whirling about in turbulence, one day I will be able to focus entirely on Amma and find my much needed peace at Her feet!
“Meditation is remembrance of God, constant and loving remembrance. Consider Him as your beloved or just consider yourself as His child. Or consider Him as your father or mother. Simply try to think of Him just as we think of our father or mother or beloved. How does a lover remember his beloved? Certainly not by sitting in lotus posture. The remembrance simply happens in him while he is lying down, walking or sitting on the banks of a river, or it may happen while he is at work. It does not matter where he is or what he is doing. Likewise, remember your beloved deity whenever you can no matter where you are or what you are doing.”: AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!