Missing You, Amma!

738. Om lasya-priyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is fond of the lasya dance

My humble pranams to Amma on the day of Guru Purnima. Our loving Mother reaches out and changes our lives every day. In this lifetime we have all been touched by an angel no less! Every day should really be Guru Purnima because I doubt we can go even one day by not having adequate gratitude towards our Master. I received a beautiful message from Lalitha chechi today which read: "The best offerings to our Guru is selfless good deeds and pure good thoughts." As Swamiji reminded us, Amma doesn't want anything from us except our love. Our pure hearts. And when we do selfless good deeds, we cleanse our hearts. We make it the perfect abode for Amma.

I miss You, Amma! I wish You were here right now so I could lose myself in that all forgiving and all accepting embrace. I wish I could just sit by Your side and feel the ultimate safety and security under my Guru. You are my master, my teacher, my guide. And I miss Your presence sorely. I know You are always there but I am yet to grasp many truths. Please allow me the grace to learn these so I may become a better person with time. On this day I offer my past, present and future at Your divine feet. As You desire, so shall it be.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Forgetting the past!

737. Om mukti-rupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of liberation

I just love Amma's words. How often we dwell in that graveyard called our past and inadvertently, we dig our own graves there. Thankfully for us, we have the grace of our Mother who is here to help us live in the moment, in the now and who helps us forget our past and move ahead!
"For a human being to be transformed and to transcend all imperfections and limitations, the past has to die. Everyone has the capacity to do this, provided they have the right determination. Forget who you were or what you may have done in the past. Focus on what you would like to be; and then, while you are doing whatever is necessary to attain the goal, let go of the future as well. Who or what you may have been until now is of little importance. The past can be compared to a graveyard; and it wouldn’t be wise to live in such a place, would it? Forget your past. Remember it only when you really need to do so, but don’t settle down in it."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Zero waste and a better future!

736. Om mukti-dayai namah: I bow down to Amma who gives Liberation

I know how much Amma tells us to respect Mother earth and now when I read this, it just makes me realise how much Amma is doing to make the world a better place for all of us. Amritapuri is being made into a zero waste space. We're all being told to become more responsible for this place we call home!
"In one of her talks, Amma said that, because plastic is so prevalent in the world nowadays, birds are even starting to use waste plastic to build their nests! Also, in some of the more polluted areas of the Pacific Ocean, marine animals easily mistake plastic for food, which often leads to death because it cannot be digested. And the huge “garbage patch” in the Pacific ocean is a sad legacy of our lack of wisdom and foresight in dealing with our waste. Amma teaches that each of us, by being more thoughtful about what we purchase and throw away, can make a big difference.
Under Amma’s guidance, the Plastic Project has branched out to teaching the knitting, weaving and crocheting skills to local women.
By recycling plastic into desirable goods, we not only prevent some plastic from polluting the natural environment and raise money for good causes, but most importantly we raise awareness about the plastic problem. This project has really opened eyes of many to what is possible with a little bit of imagination!"

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Our mantras!

735. Om mithya-jagad-adhisthanayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the basis of the illusory universe.

Recently Swamiji spoke about how Amma gives Her devotees mantras and how very rarely we end up using it. It is in fact such a powerful tool Amma has handed over to us and yet we do not realise the true value of this. We whine and worry but rarely do we actually use the power given to us. We probably get lost in the thought that these are mere words! It's like the divine weapon given to us to safeguard ourselves from ourselves...and others. To wear that security net around ourselves to prevent our ego from doing the dance of death on our humility and innocence. And so we need to...we HAVE to remember to chant our mantra everyday. Here's the thought for the day by Amma:
"Children, when Amma gives you a mantra, She sows a seed of spirituality within you. She transmits a part of Herself into your heart. But you have to work on it. You have to nurture that seed by meditating, praying, and chanting your mantra regularly, without fail. You have to be totally committed. The natural way to get yogurt is by adding a spoonful of yogurt to warm milk. Having added the culture, you let it stand for some time, and thus, all the milk is transformed into yogurt. In the same way, Amma has transmitted part of Herself into you. Now you have to ‘let the milk stand’—you have to attain a state of inward stillness by constantly repeating your mantra and doing other spiritual practices. Your entire being will thus be transformed and you will then realize your divine nature."

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Meditation's methodology!

734.  Om natesvaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the wife of Natesha (Lord of Dance, Shiva)

Another day when I find a nugget of wisdom and am happy to share!:
Question: Can meditation be harmful? It is said that a person’s head becomes heated when he meditates.
Amma: It is always better to be taught by a Guru how to meditate. Meditation is like a tonic. A tonic nourishes the body. The tonic comes with certain instructions. If you just ignore the instructions and swallow the whole tonic, it can be dangerous. Most tonics should be taken only according to a doctor’s instructions. Similarly, we should meditate according to the instructions of a Spiritual Master. The Guru first makes an assessment of your mental and physical disposition before prescribing the form of sadhana that is most suitable for you. Some people can meditate for any length of time without any problem. But this is not the case with everyone. Some people, in their initial enthusiasm, will meditate or do japa continuously for long hours, without following any rules of regulations. They do this out of a sudden urge. But it will make them lose their sleep and their head will get heated. This happens because they are meditating more than the body can tolerate.
Everyone has a limited capacity, depending on the state of their mind and body. If 500 people are crammed into a vehicle that can seat only 100, the vehicle won’t be able to run. And if we put double the amount of grain allowed into a mixer, it will overheat and become damaged; it may even burn up. Similarly, if you, in a surge of initial enthusiasm, do japa and meditation indiscriminately for long hours, your head may get heated and many other problems may arise. That is why it is advised that one should learn these practices from a Satguru.
We often hear people say, “We are God; everything is within us.” But those are just words. It doesn’t come from experience. The capacity of each instrument is limited. A 10-watt bulb cannot give the light of a 100-watt bulb. Spiritual practices have to be done according to the capacity of the body and mind. You have to be careful so that you don’t exceed the limit.
If you buy a new car, you shouldn’t drive it at the maximum speed at the outset. Only gradually should the speed be increased. Some restrictions have to be followed; otherwise the car will get damaged and become useless. It is the same with sadhana. A beginner shouldn’t meditate and do japa excessively, foregoing sleep in the process. Meditation, japa, physical work and studying the scriptures should all be done gradually in a regulated way.
Some people are prone to mental illness. If they meditate too much, their body will get overheated and this will enhance the agitation of their mind. They should be advised to do mainly physical work. If their attention is channelled towards physical work, it will help to reduce their mental agitation. Being engaged in work, their mind will wander less and can be controlled. If they are allowed to sit in meditation without doing any physical work, their problems will only become worse. But if their illness isn’t serious, they can meditation for 10 to 15 minutes a day — that will be enough for them.
Thus there are many types of people with different natures. Each individual has to be given different instructions. If you learn how to do spiritual practices like meditation just by reading books, you will not know what restrictions are required specifically for you.
Suppose we go to the house and there is a big dog outside. We will call the owner of the house from outside and wait until he has come and tied the dog up, so that it cannot harm us. But if we don’t have any patience and just open the gate and try to enter, the dog will bite us. Similarly, it could be dangerous if we just go ahead with our spiritual practices, without accepting the advice of a wise, experienced person.
A spiritual aspirant is on a journey through a forest full of cruel, ferocious animals. He needs the help of a guide who knows the path through the forest. Isn’t it best to have someone with us who can tell us, “There’s danger ahead. Be careful! Don’t go that way; go this way instead?”
It is useless to blame God when we suffer the consequences of acting on our own whim. A person under the influence of alcohol was driving a car. The car went out of control and hit a pedestrian. When the police arrested the driver, he said, “Sir, it wasn’t my fault that the car hit that person! The petrol is to blame!” We are doing much the same thing if we blame God for the dangers that we face owing to our own lack of caution.
There is a dharma (right conduct) for everything, and we should move in accordance with that dharma. Meditation has its own methodology. The spiritual masters have laid down the rules and methods for each type of practice. One should choose the type of spiritual practices that are most suitable only after taking into consideration the physical and mental propensities of the aspirant. The same method will not suit everyone.
Anybody can learn a theory. However, to be successful in the practical tests you need the assistance of a learned instructor, because it is difficult to master it on your own. In the same way, the seeker needs a Guru who can guide him or her on the spiritual path.

Heaven on earth!

733. Om nandi-vidyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the deity worshipped by the mantra (vidya) of Nandi

I'm so proud Amma was invited to speak at the international Protection of the Planet day by the french President. And Amma loves nature and has made us aware of the love and respect we must have for Mother nature. Here are some lines from Amma's speech:
“Amma grew up in a very poor fishing village. People there lived off daily wages. They rarely got to eat everyday. I used to go to neighbouring houses to collect food scraps to feed our cows. One day I went to a house for this purpose. They had eleven children. They were all lying in the lap of their mother. The mother said that they didn’t have anything to eat the whole day. I asked for the reason. She said her husband could not find any work and therefore could not buy any food. I asked why she could not borrow some money and buy food. She said her husband walked 10 kilometers to borrow money but didn’t have any luck. On the way back, it was a full moon and he saw turtles coming offshore to lay eggs. He waited for them to go back into the ocean after laying their eggs.
From among the hundred eggs or so he took about half, brought them home, boiled them and fed the kids. Each got two to three eggs.
Then one of his children asked why he did not take all the eggs.
The father said, “If I lost all my children, how would I feel? If l lost only one of you, at least the rest of you would be there to console me. The turtles will be affected the same way. And if I take all the eggs, the turtles will be extinct very soon.”
“The father was thinking about the survival of the turtle family even when he was going through hard times. This was the nature of our forefathers. Nowadays, we export these turtles for money and meat.
“When man cuts a tree, he is actually making his own coffin. It is not enough to plant one tree for each one he cuts. He may have to plant at least 50 trees or more. It is said that about 5 million people get cancer from polluted air.
“During my younger days, we used cow dung to cure cuts and wounds. Now if we use cow dung, the wounds will become septic. What was medicine in the past has become poison.
“Nothing is inconsequential in nature. Both an engine and a screw are important in an airplane. The plane will not fly if there is a problem with either. It is from pollination by honeybees that we get fruits and vegetables. The bees would fly out as far as three kilometers to collect pollen and return. Now the use of pesticides has affected their memory to do so.
“People have to plant flowering trees and also install beehives. Thousands of Amma’s children are doing this, but more children should get involved and plant more trees and beehives with focus and sincerity.
“Our own mother may carry us on her lap for five years or so. But Mother Earth will tolerate all our abuses and take care of us for our entire lifespan. We cannot forget the Mother who sustains us for all our life, who sustains all of life. We cannot forget our responsibility towards her.
“When fire breaks out in a ten-story building, the person living on the first floor cries out for help. The person living on the tenth floor says that it is not his problem. But it soon will become his problem too. He does not realize that.
“Amma always says that there is harmony in the universe. Everything in the universe is interconnected. The universe is a net held by each of us. When there is movement in the corner of a net held by four people, it will reflect everywhere. All actions we perform knowingly or unknowingly, alone or as a group is being reflected in the corners of the universe. It will not work if we wait for others to change. Even if they do not change, we should be willing to change. We should see what we can do.
“Just like we grandly celebrate Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, we should respect and worship Mother Earth at least one day. Everyone in the world should plant tree saplings on that day.
“Those who have previously built a 3,000-square-foot house and want to build in the future, should build one that is 1,500 square feet. Those who want to build a 1,000-square-foot home should bring it down to 500 square feet. We can save that many trees, water, electricity and other resources. We do not have to destroy so many trees. Carpooling can save fuel. Thus we can bring about changes one step at a time.
“We can write with a pen costing $1,000 and also $100. The letters will be clear. We can use what is necessary and with the excess, help the poor and needy....Carpooling, nurturing honeybees, planting trees, cleaning the environment, waste management and growing vegetables were recommended many years ago and Amma’s children are doing that. If we all get together and do it with more focus, we will be able to transform this earth into heaven. For that, we should first create heaven within ourselves. I pray to the Supreme to grace us with the blessings to do so.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Impermanence and detachment!

732. Om nama-parayana-pritayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is pleased by the repetition of Her names.

I got these from the amritapuri.org archives. The below excerpt refers to the mantra Asato ma Sad Gamaya:
"Once, when discussing these mantras, Amma said the first step in attaining the knowledge for which one is praying when they chant these mantras is satsang: listening to spiritual talks, reading spiritual books and being in the company of spiritual seekers and, of most importantly, spiritual masters. "We need to continuously be fed the knowledge that our true nature is the Atma and not the body mind and intellect," Amma said. Through satsang, our attachment to the asat gradually lessens. "Slowly as you understand that everything in the world—all worldly relationship, all worldly things—are ever-changing and impermanent, your attitude towards the world changes. We gain detachment." As we become more and more detached, our desires also naturally decrease, because we know that the things of the world are impermanent and cannot bring us lasting happiness. As the desires decrease, the mind becomes less and less agitated. It obtains serenity, stillness, peace. Then, with this stilled, subtle, penetrating mind we can finally come to realize our true nature."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Mind awareness!

731. Om priyankaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who grants what is dear to Her devotees

Today I ask my Mother to grant me power over anger. And here are Amma's words:
“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.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Pure love!

730. Om prema-rupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is pure love.

I found this article on Amma. And the love She has for everyone. And about Her priceless hugs. It perfectly encapsulates everything we know about Amma and Her unending river of love!:
"It is this very pure love itself which fuels the incredible success of Amma’s charitable work, which is staggering. It is her love that motivates thousands that she embraces to wake up into action, service. Her organization raised $46 million in tsunami relief funding, feeds over 2 million people a year in India, provides free housing, health services, and lifetime stipends for the poor, has established 53 schools for needy children and those with speech and hearing defects, programs to end suicide, free meditation classes for prisoners, setting up orphanages and hospices…the list is endless. And (very close to my heart), she established the Green Friends program in 2001 to help protect our environment, with initiatives like planting 100,000 trees a year and providing sustainability education. In 2005, Amma’s organization, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, was given special consultative status by the United Nations.
Yes! This is one person! In the words of one of my all-time major heroes, Dr. Jane Goodall, who presented Amma with the 2002 Gandhi-King Award for Non-violence said, “She stands here in front of us. God’s love in a human body.”
Since yesterday, I have had Amma constantly on my mind. It is as if since we touched hearts, we are ever- connected. I think one of her brilliant silent statements, as she proceeds to hug people week after week and year after year, is that the simple act of pure love…and giving a hug!, can be so powerful that we don’t even realize sometimes how we can help lift someone up, reinspire someone to pursue their dreams or help others, or believe again in love and the inextricable human connection.
Sometimes we might feel self conscious about hugging, even touching people. I am used to touching people all day long as a yoga instructor, but I realize that this is so not the case with many of us. When we hug we can really embrace and pass love, and a silent wish for the other persons’ well being and peace. Amma’s philosophy of living a life of non-duality, of seeing ourselves more and more in others, would definitely transform the whole world into a more loving place if everyone adopted it.

Amma is a beautiful example to all of us!! So let’s… smile at a stranger, consciously send love whenever we do hug someone, and remember that truly….we are all connected."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Mother nature!

729. Om ananda-kalikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the bud of bliss

There is an inseparable bond between man and nature. For man, there cannot be an existence removed from nature. However, because of his thoughtless actions, the equilibrium in nature is getting disturbed; the pulse of human life is becoming erratic, too. Air and water have become polluted. Rivers are drying up. Seasons arrive unseasonably. New diseases are spreading. If things continue this way, the human race is in for a monumental catastrophe.
There is an underlying order to everything in nature. There is a place in creation for all creatures. The forest, river and mountain all have their dharma (natural duty). Nature has provided sustenance for all created beings. It has its own ways of recycling and reusing natural waste, thus preserving life. We don't need to do anything to maintain the beauty of forests, rivers and mountains.
However, when human beings systematically plunder natural wealth for selfish reasons, the natural order gets disturbed. Nature's face becomes disfigured. Along with other creatures, human beings, too, will have to face the consequences...
...If we are not ready to change, nature will teach us. The only thing is, we may not be able to bear the brunt of the teaching. Mother Nature has blessed humankind with her bounty. But if we forget our responsibilities, if we give free rein to our desires, nature will retaliate. Nature's boons will turn into curses...
We cannot delay anymore. We must make the right decisions and embark on the right course of actions.
- See more at: http://amma.org/teachings/harmony-nature#sthash.AgCuS0WK.dpuf

There is an inseparable bond between man and nature. For man, there cannot be an existence removed from nature. However, because of his thoughtless actions, the equilibrium in nature is getting disturbed; the pulse of human life is becoming erratic, too. Air and water have become polluted. Rivers are drying up. Seasons arrive unseasonably. New diseases are spreading. If things continue this way, the human race is in for a monumental catastrophe.
There is an underlying order to everything in nature. There is a place in creation for all creatures. The forest, river and mountain all have their dharma (natural duty). Nature has provided sustenance for all created beings. It has its own ways of recycling and reusing natural waste, thus preserving life. We don't need to do anything to maintain the beauty of forests, rivers and mountains.
However, when human beings systematically plunder natural wealth for selfish reasons, the natural order gets disturbed. Nature's face becomes disfigured. Along with other creatures, human beings, too, will have to face the consequences...
...If we are not ready to change, nature will teach us. The only thing is, we may not be able to bear the brunt of the teaching. Mother Nature has blessed humankind with her bounty. But if we forget our responsibilities, if we give free rein to our desires, nature will retaliate. Nature's boons will turn into curses...
We cannot delay anymore. We must make the right decisions and embark on the right course of actions.
- See more at: http://amma.org/teachings/harmony-nature#sthash.AgCuS0WK.dpuf

 Amma on respecting nature:
“Amma grew up in a very poor fishing village. People there lived off daily wages. They rarely got to eat everyday. I used to go to neighbouring houses to collect food scraps to feed our cows. One day I went to a house for this purpose. They had eleven children. They were all lying in the lap of their mother. The mother said that they didn’t have anything to eat the whole day. I asked for the reason. She said her husband could not find any work and therefore could not buy any food. I asked why she could not borrow some money and buy food. She said her husband walked 10 kilometers to borrow money but didn’t have any luck. On the way back, it was a full moon and he saw turtles coming offshore to lay eggs. He waited for them to go back into the ocean after laying their eggs.
From among the hundred eggs or so he took about half, brought them home, boiled them and fed the kids. Each got two to three eggs.
Then one of his children asked why he did not take all the eggs.
The father said, “If I lost all my children, how would I feel? If l lost only one of you, at least the rest of you would be there to console me. The turtles will be affected the same way. And if I take all the eggs, the turtles will be extinct very soon.”
“The father was thinking about the survival of the turtle family even when he was going through hard times. This was the nature of our forefathers. Nowadays, we export these turtles for money and meat.
“When man cuts a tree, he is actually making his own coffin. It is not enough to plant one tree for each one he cuts. He may have to plant at least 50 trees or more. It is said that about 5 million people get cancer from polluted air.
“During my younger days, we used cow dung to cure cuts and wounds. Now if we use cow dung, the wounds will become septic. What was medicine in the past has become poison.
“Nothing is inconsequential in nature. Both an engine and a screw are important in an airplane. The plane will not fly if there is a problem with either. It is from pollination by honeybees that we get fruits and vegetables. The bees would fly out as far as three kilometers to collect pollen and return. Now the use of pesticides has affected their memory to do so.
“People have to plant flowering trees and also install beehives. Thousands of Amma’s children are doing this, but more children should get involved and plant more trees and beehives with focus and sincerity.
“Our own mother may carry us on her lap for five years or so. But Mother Earth will tolerate all our abuses and take care of us for our entire lifespan. We cannot forget the Mother who sustains us for all our life, who sustains all of life. We cannot forget our responsibility towards her.
“When fire breaks out in a ten-story building, the person living on the first floor cries out for help. The person living on the tenth floor says that it is not his problem. But it soon will become his problem too. He does not realize that.
“Amma always says that there is harmony in the universe. Everything in the universe is interconnected. The universe is a net held by each of us. When there is movement in the corner of a net held by four people, it will reflect everywhere. All actions we perform knowingly or unknowingly, alone or as a group is being reflected in the corners of the universe. It will not work if we wait for others to change. Even if they do not change, we should be willing to change. We should see what we can do.
“Just like we grandly celebrate Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, we should respect and worship Mother Earth at least one day. Everyone in the world should plant tree saplings on that day."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

In Harmony with Nature

An Excerpt from Immortal Bliss: Issue 3:2011

Amma's Message

There is an inseparable bond between man and nature. For man, there cannot be an existence removed from nature. However, because of his thoughtless actions, the equilibrium in nature is getting disturbed; the pulse of human life is becoming erratic, too. Air and water have become polluted. Rivers are drying up. Seasons arrive unseasonably. New diseases are spreading. If things continue this way, the human race is in for a monumental catastrophe.
There is an underlying order to everything in natu

- See more at: http://amma.org/teachings/harmony-nature#sthash.9YgUQzRJ.dpuf

We cannot delay anymore. We must make the right decisions and embark on the right course of actions. - See more at: http://amma.org/teachings/harmony-nature#sthash.AgCuS0WK.dpuf

There is an inseparable bond between man and nature. For man, there cannot be an existence removed from nature. However, because of his thoughtless actions, the equilibrium in nature is getting disturbed; the pulse of human life is becoming erratic, too. Air and water have become polluted. Rivers are drying up. Seasons arrive unseasonably. New diseases are spreading. If things continue this way, the human race is in for a monumental catastrophe.
There is an underlying order to everything in nature. There is a place in creation for all creatures. The forest, river and mountain all have their dharma (natural duty). Nature has provided sustenance for all created beings. It has its own ways of recycling and reusing natural waste, thus preserving life. We don't need to do anything to maintain the beauty of forests, rivers and mountains.
However, when human beings systematically plunder natural wealth for selfish reasons, the natural order gets disturbed. Nature's face becomes disfigured. Along with other creatures, human beings, too, will have to face the consequences...
...If we are not ready to change, nature will teach us. The only thing is, we may not be able to bear the brunt of the teaching. Mother Nature has blessed humankind with her bounty. But if we forget our responsibilities, if we give free rein to our desires, nature will retaliate. Nature's boons will turn into curses...
We cannot delay anymore. We must make the right decisions and embark on the right course of actions.
- See more at: http://amma.org/teachings/harmony-nature#sthash.oQbDphcD.dpuf

There is an inseparable bond between man and nature. For man, there cannot be an existence removed from nature. However, because of his thoughtless actions, the equilibrium in nature is getting disturbed; the pulse of human life is becoming erratic, too. Air and water have become polluted. Rivers are drying up. Seasons arrive unseasonably. New diseases are spreading. If things continue this way, the human race is in for a monumental catastrophe.
There is an underlying order to everything in nature. There is a place in creation for all creatures. The forest, river and mountain all have their dharma (natural duty). Nature has provided sustenance for all created beings. It has its own ways of recycling and reusing natural waste, thus preserving life. We don't need to do anything to maintain the beauty of forests, rivers and mountains.
However, when human beings systematically plunder natural wealth for selfish reasons, the natural order gets disturbed. Nature's face becomes disfigured. Along with other creatures, human beings, too, will have to face the consequences...
...If we are not ready to change, nature will teach us. The only thing is, we may not be able to bear the brunt of the teaching. Mother Nature has blessed humankind with her bounty. But if we forget our responsibilities, if we give free rein to our desires, nature will retaliate. Nature's boons will turn into curses...
We cannot delay anymore. We must make the right decisions and embark on the right course of actions.
- See more at: http://amma.org/teachings/harmony-nature#sthash.oQbDphcD.dpuf

A precious darshan!

728. Om cit-kalayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the Consciousness in Brahman

A little over a year ago, I was in New York, attending Amma's programme. I was truly so blessed to have had the opportunity to do so. It was brilliant being in New York and seeing Amma. I've always wanted to attend a retreat at San Ramon. Maybe some day this will happen. Till then, I'll have to content myself with just looking at the many pictures of Amma's programmes there. Every meeting with Amma becomes such a precious memory for us. I tuck away every memory of my darshan with Her, for future use. We're lucky to get one darshan a year. Imagine the bliss with 2! This year I've got my Amma-darshan fix...but I'll be thrilled to get another hug. Just one more embrace that'll make all the problems fall away; that'll make me feel secure again. Thank You Amma, for allowing me to be a part of Your life; for choosing me as Your devotee. Thank You, in absolute gratitude for always showing me the way. For always being there for me. Thank You!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

With a prayer!

727. Om siva-jnana-pradayinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who bestows the knowledge of Shiva.

Amma on how we should pray: “Contemplate on God as your creator, protector and the final abode to where you will return. Try to feel God with your heart; try to feel God’s presence, grace, compassion and love. Open your heart and pray, ‘O Lord, my creator, protector, and final resting place, guide me to Your light and love. Fill my heart with Your presence. I’ve been told that I am Your child, but I am totally ignorant of my existence in You. My most beloved Lord, I do not know how to worship You, or how to please You or meditate on Your form. I have not studied the scriptures; I know not how to glorify You. O Compassionate One, show me the right path so that I can return to my real abode which is nothing but You.’ ”

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

About the past and love!

726. Om sanakadi-samaradhyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is worshipped by Sanaka and other sages

Two priceless quotes by Amma:
'Children, whenever you go through a difficult time in life, think to yourselves: ‘I don’t expect any love from others, because I am not someone who needs to be loved by others. I am Love itself. I am an inexhaustible source of love, who will always give love, and nothing but love, to everyone who comes to me.’
'The mind, or the past, is not the problem; the problem lies in your identification with the mind, with your past. The unintelligent attachment, the feeling of ‘I and mine,’ is the problem. Once you learn the art of withdrawing your attachment and being a witness, then something changes in the way you see everything.'

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The collective prayer!

725. Om daksina-murti-rupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of Dakshinamurti (Shiva, the original Guru)

I recently went to the Shivan temple and saw the priest doing an entire prayer to the idol of Dakshinamurti. They had decorated the idol with garlands made of 108 chick peas and just the peace on the face of the idol was enough to have me standing there and listening to all the prayers. I have passed the idol many times but that day was something very special. I walked away with some much needed peace. I felt Amma's presence and knew that She was there for me. Removing obstacles and helping me realise that the path would only get better. I guess there is a reason we go to temples. To feel the vibration of collective prayer and take away that lingering feeling of hope.  Amma has this to say about group prayer: “Group chanting and prayer is very powerful. It can change anything. The lost harmony of the human mind can be restored only through a selfless attitude supported by prayer, meditation and chanting of mantras.”

I still remember the idol that gave me so much peace and connected me with Amma. But then I feel Amma's presence at temples, churches, everywhere. Thank You Amma, for being in my life.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

On optimism!

724. Om sarva-tantresyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the goddess of all tantras

I found this absolutely brilliant quote by Amma on optimism, on this blog:
"Amma knows it isn't easy to always be optimistic. You may ask, how is it possible to be optimistic in the face of the many hardships and sorrows in life? It is true that it's difficult - but by being pessimistic you move towards even greater despair and darkness. All your strength and clarity of mind gets dissipated, and in the darkness of pessimism you feel abandoned and isolated. Optimism is the light of God. It is a form of grace which allows you to be much more perceptive and to look at life with greater clarity.

Life and God are one and the same. You are God's child. God would never close all the doors around you. His unlimited love and compassion would not allow Him to be that cruel. God always keeps more than one door open. They may look as if they are closed, but they have, in fact, been left slightly ajar. Just a mild knock and they'll give way."

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

With love and respect!

723.  Om svatantrayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is free from all limitations.

A question and answer about marriage. A must read.

Question: Why is there no real love in married life? What causes the conflicts and the friction?
Amma: There is a serious lack of understanding between the husband and wife. In most cases the couple won’t even make an attempt to understand each other. For the development of a true relationship to take place, a basic understanding of human nature, the nature of men and women, is essential. Men are mostly intellectually centred, while women tend to be more emotional. They dwell in two different centers, along two parallel lines. No real meeting takes place within them. How, then, can there be any love between the two? Their different natures should be understood and accepted, and each one, both husband and wife, should make a conscious effort to reach out to the other’s feelings, to the heart, and then try to work out their problems with this understanding as their foundation. They shouldn’t try to control each other. They shouldn’t say to each other, “I say yes, and therefore you should also say yes.”

~

Listen with love and concern
“It is very rare to find a truly loving relationship. The love between a married couple is usually only skin deep. If one of them says “yes,” the other will make it a point to say “no.” 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! 

Amma: my revolutionary Guru!

722. Om guru-priyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is beloved of the gurus

I was telling a friend about Amma today. She hadn't heard of Amma and so asked me to describe Her. I told Her Amma was a revolutionary Guru who had helped women feel comfortable about being women. That Amma was possibly the first female priest to consecrate a temple. That female devotees could easily pray to Amma even if they were menstruating. That Amma was a powerhouse of energy that balanced the male and female energy. I don't wish to know about patriarchy or matriarchy. All I know (and am happy to know!) is that Amma helps us find the inner shakti in each of us. Amma-archy. That's all I wish to follow.
"In reality, the key to woman’s liberty lies in her own hands. In order to realize this, women need determination, forbearance and constant effort. On our part, we need to provide them with a little encouragement and guidance. If provided with the right opportunities, any woman can become a role-model for society.”: AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Watchful, always!

721. Om komalangyai namah: I bow down to Amma who has beautiful limbs

Amma has always compared anger to a double edged sword. It hurts the one who holds it and the one who it is directed against. One of the most destructive emotions in the world, anger can never benefit us in any way. Here is Amma's message about anger:
"The anger at the surface of the mind can be compared to a tree. The cause of the anger is like the unseen root of the tree lying hidden beneath the soil. All the strength of the tree is derived from the root. If you want to destroy the tree, you just have to uproot it. Once the root is destroyed, the tree will automatically die. In a similar way, once you become aware of the negativity within you, you should practice introspection and search for the root of that negativity. Just as the tree exists because of the root, the negativity within you, whatever it may be, exists because of its powerful cause lying deep within the mind. Investigate and find that root. As you discover the cause behind the negativity, it disappears, never to come back again. This is possible only by being watchful."

Hope Amma gives us the grace to always be watchful and remove this deep rooted negativity from our lives.

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

To change!

720. Om guhyakaradhyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is worshipped by guhyaks (kind of devas)

This is a post in amritapuri.org from 2003 but relevant every day of the year! Amma tells a story:

There was once an old man who was looking back on his life. He sat in a tea shop with his friends, telling them his story. ‘When I was a young man, I was arrogant and thought I knew it all. I felt I could do anything, and wanted to change everyone. I would pray to God to give me the strength to change the world. When I reached middle age, I awoke one morning and realised that my life was half over. I had done nothing, and I hadn’t changed anyone. So, I prayed to God to give me the strength to change those who were close to me since they needed it so much. But now I am old and my prayer is very simple: ‘God, please give me the strength to change at least myself.’ ”
“Children, don’t try to change the world or other people before you are able to change yourself. If you try to change others without changing your own attitudes, it will not have any effect. Change yourself, the world around you will change.”

May Amma give me the courage to change myself.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

About calming the mind!

719. Om ganambayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the mother of Shiva's attendants

Amma on anger:

Imagine that while we are in a crowd a stone hits us and we get injured. Instead of trying to catch the culprit, we should first attend to the wound and apply medicine to it. If we chase the assailant instead, we will expose the wound to dirt and germs. It will then take longer to heal. Furthermore, even if we catch someone and beat him or scold him, we may later come to realize that we’ve caught the wrong person. It may turn out that the stone hit us by accident. And even if we have the real culprit, beating him will not heal our wound or alleviate our pain. This is how it is with anger. It is like a wound. Our immediate response should be to heal it. Therefore, in such moments, we should try to remain like a witness. If we identify with our negative thoughts and get caught up in them, we will soon find ourselves speaking and acting upon them. This will eventually lead us to trouble. If we succumb to our anger, we will soon realize that it is much more harmful to us than it is to the person upon which we direct it.

 

Amma is reminded of the story about a bus conductor. One day, at one of his stops, he saw a new face—a burly, seven-foot-tall man. The man stepped up into the bus and took a seat. When the conductor asked him for the fare, he said, “Kesavankutty doesn’t need a ticket.” The puny conductor looked closely at the man. Overcome with fear, he decided not to ask him a second time. He looked like a gang leader. Without saying anything the conductor returned to his seat. The next day the same thing happened again. The man got into the bus at the same stop and when asked to buy a ticket, he said, “Kesavankutty doesn’t need a ticket.” Inside, the conductor was boiling. He wanted to teach this brute a lesson! The conductor could think of nothing else. His mental peace was destroyed. Every day the man would get into the bus and the same scene repeat itself.

 

And each time it did, the conductor would become more and more tense and angry. He couldn’t even speak to his wife or his children due to the restlessness of his mind. Finally, he decided that enough was enough. He had to do something. The problem was that he was so puny. He decided to approach a karate teacher. His whole life became focused on karate. He even took leave from work to hone his skills. He did nothing but study karate and other martial arts. By the time he resumed work he was confident that he could take the seven-footer.

 

On his very first day, the hulk was there at the stop. As usual, the conductor issued him a ticket, and as usual came the familiar reply, “Kesavankutty doesn’t need a ticket.” But this time, the conductor shouted, “No! No way! You have to buy a ticket. If you don’t, this bus isn’t going to move an inch!”

 

The seven-footer then said, “Excuse me, Kesavankutty doesn’t need a ticket. I have a free pass.” He then pulled out a bus pass, identifying himself as a high official of the department of transportation, someone entitled to travel for free. Who was the loser here? How many days’ leave did the conductor lose? How much time and money did he waste on karate lessons? How much tension did he suffer? Furthermore, the peace in his home was also destroyed. Out of all of this, he gained nothing.

 

This is how it is with anger. You lose everything and gain nothing. We should always remember this. When you feel yourself becoming angry, don’t suppress it or it will eventually explode, but don’t instantly react either. Try to calm the mind down as much as possible. Then evaluate the situation in the light of wisdom. If we can do this, we can avoid a lot of disasters in life spawned from anger.

 

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Relaxation and letting go!

718. Om mahyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the Goddess Earth.

The best thing I could have read today (Amma's words!):
"Drop all your regrets of the past and relax. Relaxation will help you acquire more strength and vitality. Relaxation is a technique through which you can catch a glimpse of your real nature, the infinite power source of your existence. Learn to be relaxed during times of stress and strain. Learn to stand aside and just watch the negative thoughts, the hurt feelings and the mental agony you are going through. As this happens, withdraw your cooperation and your involvement with the stress and the agony. Once you learn this technique, you will realize that the tension, burdens and negativity you are carrying belong to the mind; they don’t belong to the inner Self, your true being."

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Real beauty!

717. Om madhumatyai namah: I bow down to Amma whose nature is as sweet as honey.

This is why I think my Mother is the most beautiful person in the world: (an article by Amma!) 
'Children, everywhere we look, we see people trying to enhance their physical beauty. Amma often thinks how good the world could be if people tried to enhance their internal beauty in a similar way. What do we mean by internal beauty? To clarify this Amma will tell a story.
A man once gave his son a photograph and told him, “Son, today we are going to see the man in the photograph. He is a very beautiful person.” The son looked at the picture and asked, “How can you call this man beautiful? He looks quite ugly in this picture.” The father said, “No son, come with me to see him. Then you will understand.” When they reached the place, the man was consoling some people who had come to share their grief with him. He wiped their tears and comforted them. Then he went to serve food to some poor orphans. After that, he went to a nearby slum and distributed medicine to some sick people. Seeing the man doing all these good deeds, the boy said, “Father, he is such a good man. I don’t feel like leaving him.” His father replied, “Yes son, didn’t I say we were coming to see a beautiful person?”
We usually give our bodies good exercise. But we fail to exercise our heart. The way to exercise our heart is to console the distressed. The beauty of our eyes is not in the eye make-up we wear, but in our compassionate glance and in seeing only the good in others. The beauty of our hands lies not in the ornaments we wear, but in the good deeds we do. Our ears become beautiful not when we wear pretty earrings, but when we lend an ear to the sorrows of others. When we cultivate this attitude, our hearts will become beautiful even without our knowledge. In fact, real beauty is the beauty of the heart.
Even the most beautiful woman in the world will look ugly if she develops an allergic reaction. She wears the best make-up and highly fashionable clothes. Whatever she may wear, even if it is just a rag, people see beauty in it and admire her. But even if the entire world acknowledges her beauty, she does not believe in it herself and her self-confidence does not last. She is always plagued by the fear that her beauty will fade. That is why she spends more and more time in make-up. Those who are really confident about their beauty will not do that. Real beauty is within. Only when we have this will we have self-confidence and peace.
Real beauty lies in good actions, compassionate looks, and helping others. The foundation for this is love. According to Amma, everything around us is God. We should not limit ourselves to a God-concept that sits high above in the heavens, or stands aside holding a flute. God is the epitome of beauty, because He is the embodiment of love. So we should try to bring that love into our lives and make it our inner beauty.
There is a famous song in praise of Lord Krishna, “Adharam Madhuram, Nayanam Madhuram, Hasitam Madhuram, Hridayam Madhuram, Gamanam Madhuram...” etc., describing the sweetness and beauty in every mood and action of the Lord. It ends by saying how everything about the Lord is exceedingly sweet and how the Lord renders sweetness to everything—“Mathuradhipate Akhilam Madhuram”. The Lord is the embodiment of love. Love is sweet and beautiful. Due to the beauty in Lord Krishna’s heart, everything became beautiful, every action became beautiful.
In God’s creation, there is only beauty at all times. It is in our creation that there is ugliness. God dwells wherever there is love and compassion. When we become compassionate, the beauty within us will awaken. Others will see beauty in us and we will see beauty in others. It is this beauty—this love and compassion—that we need to awaken within us.'

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Our good actions!

716. Om mayayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is illusion.

A riveting satsang by Swamiji who spoke about reincarnation. His talk was simple: everything is cyclic. When there is birth, there will be death. When there is death, there will be rebirth. We have assumed this human form about 8.7 billion lives. After the human form is the form of God. But we operate from the level of the lowest consciousness which prevents us from seeing everything as being in a single state. This is what Mahatmas are capable of. They operate on the highest levels of consciousness. There is no duality for them. Everything and every one is one. Amma, as a child, would hug people and animals and trees because She saw them all as being a part of Her. We cannot make that distinction. And to move from the lower levels to the higher ones, we need to move on the strength of our good actions. Every thought and action directly translates into our karma. And the one thing death cannot take from us is the result of our good actions. So in everything we do, we must strive to do as much good as we can.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Sanatana Dharma and self knowledge!

715. Om bhagaradhyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is worshipped in the Sun's disc

During a satsang, Amma had this to say about Sanatana Dharma:
"The relationship between man, Nature and God—Sanatana Dharma is the culture that saw this relationship in its entirety. Hindu Dharma offers the world principles and ideals of goodness and betterment for all beings. These have been handed down to us through the generations as the experiences of our rishis. Sanatana Dharma, in reality, is not a religion. It is the sum total of all the principles, pathways of spiritual practice and customs leading to the moral and spiritual upliftment of everyone.
Dharma, artha and kama—all are accepted. However we are also reminded that moksha—or Self-knowledge—is the real goal of life. Hindu Dharma’s foundation is the expansive vision of seeing and worshipping out True Self in all beings, in the earth, the sky, the wind, the ocean and the whole of nature.
One of the unique features of Hinduism is to help every person rise by going down to his level. People are of different samskaras—mental tendencies. Each person should be guided according to their samskara. For example, some patients may be given injections, while others are given tablets. People may go to a doctor complaining that they have stomachache, but the doctor doesn’t give the same medicine to each and every person. The stomachache could be due to indigestion, it could be due to appendicitis or it could be due to an ulcer or even cancer. The doctor must write the prescription according to the needs of the patient. Similarly, one should be advised to follow a particular spiritual path only after we’ve taken into consideration their physical and mental constitution and samskara. That is how the different paths of spiritual practices came into existence in Hinduism."

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Being pure!

714. Om kulotirrnayai namah: I bow down to Amma who transcends senses

Just attended a pretty awesome Saraswati Puja conducted by Swamiji. It was simple and effective. The children did it wholeheartedly as did the adults. And Swamiji explained the concept of praying to the Goddess Saraswati so well. Traditionally meant only for students, Swamiji said that in actuality we should always remain child-like, whatever our age. That purity, that innocence, the feeling that we are always beginners is what will erase the ego. Amma is 100% pure and so we find in Amma every virtue that is attributed to the Gods. During navratri, the first three days are dedicated to Goddess Durga to whom we pray for purity. Once purity is granted, we pray for the next three days to Goddess Lakshmi who then rewards us with abundance. And when we are thus satisfied, comes the turn of Goddess Saraswati who bestows knowledge on us. As Swamiji reminded us once again, we are all intelligent beings but lack the understanding of how best to use our intellect.

May we always have the intelligence to use our intellect well and work towards becoming purer beings.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Universal Consciousness!

713. Om guru-mandala-rupinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who embodies in Herself the lineage of Gurus.

I have been intrigued by the story of how Amma cured Datan ever since I heard it. So I was happy to read this piece by one of the Swamiji's from the Matruvani archives of the amritapuri site:
Once I asked Amma how She could lick the wounds of Dattan, the leper? The reply She gave really astounded me. What Amma said was the greatest truth. Amma asked me, "If there happens to be a wound on your hand that's infected, what will you do? Will you cut off your hand?" I said, "No." Amma asked, "Why?" I said, "Because it's my hand. How can I cut off my own hand? I will try and cure it." Then Amma said, "Likewise, I am not different from that leper. I am he."
See the total identification. This is why we say that the Mahatmas have cosmic consciousness. They don't have the feeling of individual consciousness like you or me. When Amma said that She is not different from that leper, She was uttering the highest truth. A divine person is defined as a person who is able to see his own Self in everybody, and everybody in his own Self. Amma sees Her own Self in everybody. Nobody is different from Her. That is why Amma is able to be so compassionate. She loves everybody as Her won Self.
But we cannot do this. I can love my own children, but I don't necessarily love my neighbour's children. I am confined to this body, but Amma is not like that. Mahatmas are always tuned to the universal consciousness, and can see that consciousness in everything. This is so perfectly clear in Amma's life and in Her words. When Amma gives darshan, we can see that She doesn't show any distinction. Whether it is a handsome or ugly man, Amma doesn't show any difference. When She sees a handicapped or suffering person, you can see more of Her love and compassion. The scriptures say that such Masters are like the spring season. In the winter it becomes cold and damp, the trees look dead with all their leaves gone and everybody stays inside the house. In some parts of the world, the winter season is so long that the people become very depressed. When the spring season comes, everything gets a new life. The trees grow new leaves and the birds start singing happily. The great divine Masters are like this. Do you know the reason why spring comes? There is no reason. That is it's nature. Likewise, overflowing compassion is the nature of divine beings -- there is no reason for it. That is their nature. Just as it is our nature to dislike others or to be selfish, it is their nature to be compassionate.

My Mother is supremely compassionate. And I sincerely hope that one day all of us can begin to feel this universal consciousness and be more compassionate towards each other!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Letting go!

712. Om yai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the symbol I.

More on decoding ego...and this is a story told by Amma:
There was a cowherd boy who took his cows to the meadows every morning and brought them back to the cowshed at the end of the day. One evening, as he was tying the cows up for the night, the boy found that one of them was missing her rope. He feared that she might run away, but it was too late to go and buy a new rope. The boy didn’t know what to do, so he went to a wise man who lived nearby and sought his advice. The wise man told the boy to pretend to tie the cow, and make sure that the cow saw him doing it. The boy did as the wise man suggested and pretended to tie the cow. The next morning the boy discovered that the cow had remained still throughout the night. He untied all the cows as usual, and they all went outside. He was about to go to the meadows when he noticed that the cow with the missing rope was still in the cowshed. She was standing on the same spot where she had been all night. He tried to coax her to join the herd, but she wouldn’t budge. The boy was perplexed. He went back to the wise man who said, “The cow still thinks she is tied up. Go back and pretend to untie her.” The boy did as he was told, and the cow happily left the cowshed. This is what the guru does with the ego of the disciple. The guru helps untie that which was never there. Like the cow, due to our ignorance, we believe that we are bound by the ego when, in fact, we are completely free.
 Thankfully for us, we have the presence of Amma in our lives and so can, somewhere along this spiritual journey, let go of this terrible monster and be free of this bondage!
Om Amriteswariye namah!

Teaching us to let go!

711. Om sadhune namah: I bow down to Amma who possesses equanimity

I chanced upon this interesting article on Amma and Her thoughts on ego: 
Mata Amritanandamayi’s guidance for the seeker of liberation is simple and absolute: Serve God and surrender the ego and all its desires. She says, as many of the most revered saints and sages throughout history have also proclaimed, “Contentment ensues from egolessness. And egolessness comes from devotion, love and utter surrender to the Supreme Lord.”
In Ammachi’s teachings, the role of the guru is to “break the ego of the disciple” so that “they can know reality.” She warns them of the dangers of the ego, saying: “Blindness of the eyes is bearable and can be managed. . . . You can still have a loving and compassionate heart. But when you are blinded by the ego, you are completely blind. . . . The blindness carried by the ego pushes you into complete darkness.”
Ammachi believes that the path to liberation is a path of humility and obedience, and that it is only by bowing down to the guru that the disciple can keep his or her ego in check. Long-term students readily tell stories of hardships and tests, of the “ego bashing” and “ego rebellion” that they experience at the feet of their beloved guru. They speak frequently and respectfully of the tough schedules, physical discomfort and strict discipline that have tested them more than a little. “It is not always easy being with Mother,” they say, “but she helps to speed up our karma.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

About ego and laughter!

710. Om sampradayesvaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the guardian of sacred traditions.

Where are You, Amma? Somewhere You are making a difference to so many lives. Wish I was in that space right now. The below is a post from www.amritapuri.org dating back to 2002. It's an article about a road trip with Amma: (I absolutely love Amma's answer about laughter!)
Swami Amritaswarupananda asked Amma “Is all the pushing and pulling out of love, or out of one’s ego to get the closest to you?” Mother answered Swamiji in Malayalam.  Westerners waited eagerly for Mother’s response to be translated into English.This was a question, which the majority of devotees wanted answered.
Swamiji translated Mother’s words saying “The girls would probably sit on mother if they could.” One brahmachari asked Mother if his pushing to always be by Amma’s side was inspired by devotion or ego. Mother then asked him to answer. He believed that if you go close to Amma just to sit and see Her, then it is not ego. Amma replied, “If it is out of love to get close to me then it is not ego.”
Amma then spoke about the true devotee’s love for the master. “If one loves a true master, this will mean sorrow. If we fall in love with the master it is like falling in love with the sun, or the moon. This is because the master does not belong to anyone. Due to our ego, we believe that Amma is only our own, and this will undoubtedly lead to sorrow on the outside, but inside it builds the fire of tapas (heat), which burns the ego. The master, or the Mahatma works with the seeker until his/her impurities are burned away.”
Amma continued saying, “When we fall in love with an Avatar we will go beyond the body consciousness. With this fire of love, we can cook sweet pudding to offer at the feet of the Supreme. However, the love we have for fleeting objects just keeps burning and no good comes of it. Outside love is attachment, internal love is detachment. Amma, however, is attached to Her children, but it is an internal attachment.”
Mother’s sweet words were followed by the chanting of the 15th Chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita, which Amma always has us chant before eating. Then someone handed Mother a large plate of food, and She called us up individually to receive prasad.
After we all took Mother’s prasad, one of the ashram residents did some humorous impersonations of other fellow residents. Mother was roaring with laughter at how the girl was imitating the characteristics of each person.
All laughed so hard, even those she was imitating were laughing.
When the laughing subsided one person said she did not think it was nice to make fun of others like this. Mother responded by saying, “Laughter is good for our hearts. That daughter’s intentions were not to make fun of those people, but to make us all laugh. Seriousness is a disease, and we should try to leave it and allow our selves to laugh more. Laughter is good for the health. People have a 500 kg weight in their bellies that is almost impossible to move. Laughing the way we did — from our hearts — is the best way to open up.”

This is perfect advice for most of us, from our darling Amma!
Om Amriteswariye namah! 

On being fearless!

709. Om sadasiva-pativratayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is Sadashiva's devoted wife.

When I miss Amma, She sends Her emissary. So Swamiji came to visit and it was, as always, so, so brilliant! His prayers, his bhajan made me feel such a deep connection with Amma. And he spoke about fear. Why do we have fear? When we identify ourselves with our physical body, then fear arises. It's a lack of confidence in our selves. When our connection with our Guru and the cosmos is lost, that's when fear rears its ugly head. When we are totally in sync with our Guru, then we have nothing to fear. We are asked to do spiritual practices so that we can strengthen our ties with the universe. Our thoughts today become our reality tomorrow. So we have the power to change our future. And if we are masters of our own future, then why fear anything at all?

When Swamiji puts it so beautifully, it almost sounds simple. And yet that's possibly what it is. Really very simple and easy to follow. Something to chew on...and change!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

My guide, always!

708. Om sarvopadhi-vinirmuktayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is free from all limitations

Not in the mood to write much today except think about how much I miss Amma. Michael's status said that he was hours away from meeting Amma and I can't help but feel jealous. But then again, Amma always tells us not to rely so heavily on Her physical presence because She is always with us. I just need to feel the silence around me to realise Amma is actually with me. I may not understand the route today but She can see the bigger picture. If Amma has mapped my life out for me, it's all going to be just fine. And whatever happens, will happen only because Amma has willed it so.

Om Amriteswariye namah!