Spirituality, the real wealth!

769. Om yajna-rupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of sacrifice

An article from amritapuri.org about living under the Guru's presence, and giving:
Regarding giving, the Bhagavad Gita says, “Giving simply because it is right to give, without thought of return, at a proper time, in the proper circumstances, and to a worthy person, is enlightened giving. Giving with regrets or with the expectation of receiving some favour or of getting something in return is selfish giving.” Two quotes from Buddhism show how enlightened beings give. “Enlightened beings are magnanimous givers, bestowing whatever they have with equanimity, without regret, without hoping for reward, without seeking honour, without coveting material benefits, but only to rescue and safeguard all living beings.” And: “‘If I give this, what shall I have to enjoy?’ – Such selfish thinking is the way of the demons; ‘If I enjoy this, what s
hall I have to give?’ – Such selfless thinking is a quality of the gods.” All of these descriptions seem to describe Amma perfectly. Through Her example, Amma shows us the proper attitude of giving.
Only someone who has something can truly give to another. Naturally, the greater his wealth, the more capacity he will have to give. But Amma says, “Spirituality is the real wealth. It is the inner wealth that helps us to renounce all outer wealth, through an understanding of the eaninglessness of external riches. Spirituality is the wealth that helps us to become ‘wealthier than the wealthiest.’ It is the realisation that God alone, the Self alone, is the real wealth.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Towards our spiritual development!

768. Om dyuti-dharayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is full of light and splendor, who has an aura of light.

Spiritual practices by householders, as recommended by Amma:
“My children, slowly try to change your life. Out of 30 days in a month, at least spend two days for your spiritual development. Try to change your bad habits by gradually replacing them with good thoughts and actions. Every day before going to bed, recollect the day’s activities and try to discriminate between the good and bad. Repent on the bad thoughts and actions. Make a strong determination to abstain from them the following day. The next day, do the same. Before going to bed, make a comparative study of the actions which you did that day and the previous day and see the differences. Pray to the Lord to bestow enough mental strength to fight against the negative tendencies. Surrender everything at His feet. Have compassion for ailing humanity. Do charity for righteous purposes. Real charity or renunciation is giving up your dearest things. Actually, it is said that the mind should be offered to the Supreme. But the mind is immersed in money and other such worldly possessions. So offering money for righteous things is equal to offering our mind. Such actions will make your mind more and more expansive. Expansiveness is God. Let not your wealth be used only for fulfilling your desires and those of your family members. Let at least a small portion of it be used for the benefit of the world, which in turn will purify you.”

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Amma: a pure vessel of God's love!

767. Om ojovatyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is full of vitality

I have attempted 766 times, through my own words and by reproducing Amma's thoughts on varied subjects, just how divine I think Amma is. The article written below by Kelly, is a really well written piece that captures exactly how we should think of Amma. Please do go to the original piece and read all of it. It's long but well worth the read: 
"The way I see Mother Amma is as a human being who fully embodies the mother energy sorely needed on this planet today. She embodies the divine feminine and not just on the surface. She fully is the divine feminine, which we all have within us, yet she does not experience the same separation or doubts and fears that many of us do in our lifetimes. I see her as someone who came to uplift humanity at a time when many are beginning to awaken to who they really are. She acts as a conduit to trigger people into self realisation. A pure vessel for God's love.
Now, I am not a religious person. My spirituality is expansive in that I take what feels right for me from many different paths. I have found that limiting myself merely limits the ability for change within me. So I take on the teachings of Buddhism, Advaita, Christianity, Paganism and so forth. All aspects of the same source, all different ways of reflecting God Consciousness on this planet today. Mother Amma deeply resonates with my own womanly need to embrace the feminine within me; to rediscover the nurturing aspect that I have been lacking in my life. Everyone has a mother but not everyone has that mother love feeling within and Mother Amma brings this out in me, and for this I am eternally grateful....

Mother Amma is a vehicle to show what is possible for a human being. She reflects compassion, love and the spirit of radiant quality that is available for every human being from within. If people choose to worship Amma without question and lose their own inner message, this is when things get out of balance. So long as people see Amma as a reflection of the eternal light in us all, we can all learn a lot from Amma.

No guru, no teacher is better or less than any other human being. We all take what we need, and for me Amma teaches giving and service better than any teacher I have come across. She encourages us to see our fellow humans within us and that nothing is separate.

Amma bases her teachings on selfless love and continues to serve this planet in a phenomenal way through her darshan and her charitable contribution work."

 

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma's onam message of hope!

766. Om japa-puspa-nibhakrtyai namah: I bow down to Amma whose body is like the hibiscus flower.

From Amma's onam message:
"All of us are experiencing our own little pains and sorrows in life. Nevertheless, amidst all these, we still usher in Onam with joy. How is it possible? Happiness is a decision. If we so decide, we can create an empire of happiness. This is because happiness is our true nature. The lamp of happiness is ever aflame in our hearts. We must take care not to block this light with the closed curtain of our desires....Onam celebrates the memory of a past golden age. We also have the hope that such a golden age will return in the future. However, what happens when we get into the celebratory mood of Onam? We forget both the past and the future and live completely in the moment. In fact, life exists only in the present moment. The present moment is our only wealth. We should strive to properly utilize it, with awareness and alertness. Whenever we do this, the spirit of Onam will immediately awaken within us. Any memories of the past we have should awaken only positivity in the present. This means that we should try to remember only positive things people have done for us. Remember how they may have encouraged us or helped us. Try to draw energy from such memories and live in the present moment. What is essential is to make the present moment meaningful. If we do this, our life will naturally be filled with new sprouts, flower buds, blossoms and fruits. Happiness and prosperity will pervade. The spirit of Onam will be there for us every day."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Patience, love and change!

765. Om suddhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the purest

These are some excerpts from a conversation Amma had with a Finnish minister, in 2000.

“If you have patience, then you’ll also have love. Patience leads to love. If you forcefully open the petals of a bud, you won’t be able to enjoy its beauty and fragrance. Only when it blossoms by following its natural course, will the beauty and fragrance of a flower unfold. Today people live to work rather than work for a living.
They have forgotten their true goal in life. Subsequently they have forgotten their dharma. There is no communication between hearts, there is no sharing. Having lost contact with other’s hearts, we become totally isolated. But in truth we are not isolated islands, we are links that form one chain.”
“The heart does not talk, it is the intellect that does all the talking. All dealings are at the intellectual level. We have become like machines; our very lives have become mechanical. Life has lost its naturalness – like a garland of plastic flowers. There is no heart in life anymore. Only when hearts come together does true life blossom. Amma doesn’t say that the approach of the intellect is not necessary; it is also necessary. But the intellect is like a pair of scissors – it can only cut. Whilst the heart is like a needle and thread – it mends, it brings together. Both the scissors and the needle are required; with the scissors you cut, with the needle you stitch – This is how you can make a garland or clothes….”
“Changing the world is like trying to straighten a dog’s tail. However much you may try, you won’t succeed. But although the tail won’t straighten, if you keep trying every day, at least you will put on some muscle. Similarly, even though it is difficult to make a change, our effort to do so in itself brings positive results. It will help us change. Without waiting for others to change, if we change ourselves first, that will make a difference. Instead of worrying about results, focus on doing our best in what we are engaged in.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Receptive to God's grade!

764. Om svargapavargadayai namah: I bow down to Amma who bestows heaven and liberation

During a christmas programme in Amritapuri, Amma spoke thus to all Her devotees:

Amma recollected the words of Jesus, “Love thy neighbour as thyself, and explained that only when you see others as your own true self will real love flow towards the whole of Creation.
Elaborating, Amma said, “All are joined by the thread of love. Love knows no barriers, such as caste, creed, religion or nation. We are all like different beads joined by the thread of love. Love has no boundaries. Love is the essence of all religions. The awareness level is very low in all of us at present, and festivals like Christmas must help us to regain this awareness. Such occasions have to be used to rekindle love within us.
“Awareness is needed for this. We have to wake up. To realize one’s true nature, the Divine within us, we have to transcend the ego, and this comes through surrender towards God. As you become more and more humble, you become more and more receptive to God’s grace. The attitude that ‘I am just a mere instruments in God’s hands’, that it is God’s strength and not my own that does everything, should always be maintained.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The way ahead!

763. Om trigunatmikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the essence of the three gunas.

I guess I need to learn and relearn this lesson over and over again and thus am sharing it here:
"Taste every moment as you go forward, children. Surrender everything to God, or greet all circumstances with a smile. Forget the past and the future, and deal with what is happening in this moment, with alertness. If you fall, get up and go forward with enthusiasm. Consider that the fall was meant to make you more alert.": AMMA

Tough as it is, I guess it's a practical and well thought off advice. What else can one do except accept the circumstance and see every possible lesson in it so that it never, ever happens to us again. Amma advices us to not just move forward but do so with 'enthusiasm'. Which means we must never give up hope just because we have fallen once. We should move forward in the hope that this was a gentle knock to make us more alert and aware of our present.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Belonging to God!

762. Om tryambakayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has three eyes.

Following yesterday's blog post, here are more thoughts by Amma on raising children:
Your children are not your real companions
“The children whom you rear are not your real companions. Once the daughter is married, her mother’s place is second to her husband’s. For the husband as well, the wife comes first and then only his mother. All of them will get off at their respective bus stops along the road of life. Therefore, everything should be entrusted to one’s beloved deity. Your children also belong to God. What power does a servant have in the master’s house? He will be satisfied with whatever is given by the master. The master makes the decisions and asks the servant to execute them. He has no right to question. Similarly, we are the servants and God is the Master. He is the one who gives the remuneration, the fruit; so let us work sincerely and be content with what He, the Master, gives. The real Self, the essence, should be known. Children, all power belongs to God, not to us. We are puppets in His hands. If we work with the attitude of surrender, He will protect us.”

Our children: a gift from Amma!

761. Om subhagayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the seat of all prosperity

One of the interpretations I have read of this mantra is that children are a gift from Her grace. This comes from the many meanings of the word 'bhaga'...one of which is the womb. My daughter most certainly is Amma's gift to me. She's my precious daily reminder that Amma truly loves me!

Here is Amma's advice on bringing up children:

“When your children indulge in mischief, explain things to them lovingly. Childhood is the foundation of life. If we don’t pay attention to our children and show them love and affection, they may go astray. Parents should remember to be especially loving towards their children when they are very young, just as you would water a tender, young plant. Once the children are grown and have found jobs, the parents should entrust them with the family responsibilities, and retire to an ashram life and do sadhana (spiritual practices) in solitude. Purify the mind through service. It is unwise to cling to your home and children until your last breath. When the children are grown up, the desire to see your grandchildren and to help with their upbringing will become strong. All living beings on earth manage to grow and survive, don’t they? They are not waiting for help. Leave your children in God’s hands. That is what loving parents should do. That is true love.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Service as a sadhana!

760. Om tri-varga-datryai namah: I bow down to Amma who bestows the three goals of life

Amma on selfless service:
“The beauty and charm of selfless love and service should not die away from the face of this earth. The world should know that a life of dedication is possible, that a life inspired by love and service to humanity is possible.”
“Behind all great and unforgettable events is the heart. Love and a selfless attitude underlie all truly great deeds. Behind any good cause, you will find somebody who has renounced everything and dedicated his or her life to it.”
“Children, it is doubt and fear that has torn us away from true joy and immortality. However, that lost, forgotten joy can be regained if we just make the effort to be selfless. Immortality, which is our true state, can be rediscovered through the attitude of selfless love and selfless action. ”
“Do your work and perform your duties with all your heart. Try to work selflessly with love. Pour yourself into whatever you do. Then you will feel and experience beauty and love in every field of work. Love and beauty are within you. Try to express them through your actions and you will definitely touch the very source of bliss.”
“Selfless service and repeating your mantra is enough for attaining the goal. If these are lacking, however much penance you do, you will not be able to attain the goal. If you do spiritual practices without performing selfless actions, it will be like building a house without any doors, or a house that doesn’t have a path to enter. Be courageous. Do not be idle.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma's hugs!

759. Om visva-dharinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who supports the universe.

Excerpts from an article on Amma and Her hugs:
"Timothy Conway, Ph.D., author of the book Women of Power and Grace and expert on spiritual figures, describes Amma as 'one of the most glorious lights to appear in the history of religion. Just her stamina – embracing these millions of people one by one, day after day, without a break, all over the world – is some kind of divine gift. No mere human resources could accomplish this.'
Hers is an unconditional love which expresses itself through the unique vehicle of Her darshan: being ushered into the awesome presence of a Master, the sheer power of Her gaze, the indescribable sweetness of Her smile, the hug that ensconces one in eternity, the earthy voice whispering words of assurance, the gentle nuzzle on the cheek, and the gift of prasad.

Each person’s darshan is a fresh experience because Amma Herself is ever fresh – spontaneous. Amma listens to our spoken words and unspoken thoughts, hugs the devotees and whispers a word or two in their ears. She knows exactly our need of the moment. With a pause here, a glimpse there, She instils moments of transformation. This is the testimony of thousands.
Hours pass and thousands are seen. On Her birthday celebrations, Amma has given darshan for twenty-two hours at a stretch with barely a break. She departs, Her shoulder stained with the marks of Her toil, Her cheek dark from hours of kissing, but She is still fresh as ever, Her eyes aglow with the radiant light of the Soul."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Nature!

758. Om sarva-lokesyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the ruler of all worlds.

Yet another important lesson from Amma. Amma's words on having gratitude towards nature: Our lives are inextricably dependant on nature; even a small change will affect our lives on this planet.  Similarly mans thoughts and actions will have an affect on Nature.  If the balance in Nature is lost the harmony of human life will also be lost, and visa versa.
One factor that connects a human being with Nature is the innate innocence within man......Faith in God is the best way to sustain this childlike innocence in man.
He who has faith and devotion to God, which in term stems from his innate innocence, beholds God in everything, in every tree and animal, in every aspect of Nature.  This attitude enables him to live in perfect harmony, in tune with Nature.  The never ending stream of love that flows from a true believer towards the entire Creation will have a soothing effect on Nature.  This love is the best protection of Nature.
It is when our selfishness increases that we begin to lose our innocence. When this happens man becomes estranged from nature and begins to exploit her.  Man doesn’t know what terrible threat he has become to Her.  By harming Nature, he is paving the way for his own destruction. 
As mans intellect and scientific knowledge grow, he should not forget the feelings of his heart, which enable him to live in accordance with Nature and Her fundamental laws. (Man and nature M.A Mission Trust. p11)

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Being Amma's children!

757. Om ksaraksaratmikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of both the perishable and imperishable atman.

Many moons ago I had met someone who said some silly things about Amma and I remember getting angry. But later that day I felt terrible. It was Amma's way of telling me I shouldn't have reacted that way. I have met a few people for whom the magic of Amma doesn't seem to work. And I always wonder how it is that they have been untouched by the sheer divine pull of Amma. Like gravity almost!
Just look at any Amma centre anywhere in the world. Hundreds of devotees, young and old, are dedicated to some seva activity. Through the world at every minute, one devotee of Amma's is definitely being selfless and looking to help someone. What a massive wave of compassion Amma has spread throughout the world. I am so glad I'm part of Amma's growing devotee base. I'm so glad I am Amma's child. She has helped me grow. She has taught me the valuable lesson of using our time for the benefit of others. Truly blessed are we!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Staying positive!

756. Om canda-mundasura-nisudinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who killed Canda, Munda and other asuras.

“Become aware of the negative tendencies in you, and weaken them through cultivating good thoughts, rather than fighting with them.”
How often we tackle our negative mindset by fighting our thoughts. Instead, Amma presents us with such a simple solution. Ignore these thoughts and weaken them. Concentrate on the good thoughts instead and thus strengthen these. Most times we wallow in the waters of negativity and refuse to see the positives. For some twisted reason, negative thoughts come to us so easily. They wrap our minds and guide our thoughts. It's an uphill task to really pull out positive thoughts. I raise my hat to those with an optimistic bent of mind. Many a times have I tried to build my optimism though faith. In fact my spiritual journey has been rooted in this quest. I fail miserably more often than not. And every prayer is the same: please let me see the glass half full. It's a battle, a task but one day Amma's grace will see me through!


Om Ariteswariye namah!

Peace and prayer!

755. Om candikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who owes no debt.

Today I said a simple prayer. "Amma, if You love me, it's going to be ok." Well, I stuck a condition to it and yet Amma granted me my wish. The power of prayer!
I read the following on this website. These are Amma's thoughts and request for world peace and prayer:
"All of nature is agitated. We need both effort and prayer to soothe the agitations. Only Divine Grace can lift the dark clouds of negativities.
Please chant Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (May all beings be happy and peaceful) 5 minutes upon waking and 5 minutes before bed to help reduce the agitation in nature. You can do this right upon awaking, just sitting up in bed, and while lying down to go to sleep at night. (5 minutes winds up being about 108 repetitions done at a normal cadence). Whatever you can do is good, at least once a day even, but morning and evening is better.
Please pray for world leaders to have patience and use their words carefully. With world leaders, one angry word can lead to a war. Prayer is very powerful. Sometime in the past a meteor or missile was about to hit the Earth and all prayed that it fall into the ocean and it did fall into the ocean. Such is the power of prayer.
Please make a very firm resolve: “I will not say anything hurtful or negative to anyone”... and think carefully many times before even uttering a word. There is a great deal of negative vibrations in the atmosphere and we shouldn't use negative speech at this time, especially, even towards our enemies. Amma wants all of Her children to speak lovingly in these bad times and be careful when we speak and to take a vow (firm resolve) to be discriminating when choosing our words.
Pray that everyone has the power of will to be patient, compassionate and loving. Pray for Divine Grace to lift negativity and darkness and create peace. Send peace to the entire creation, even our enemies, and pray that there be Peace, Light and Love everywhere."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

On walking meditation!

754. Om aparnayai namah: I bow down to Amma who owes no debt

An article from the amritapuri archives on walking meditation:
"Each day you will find the brahmacharis at Amritapuri slowly walking in single file around the perimeter of the bhajan hall. Some have their eyes fixed on the ground, some let malas of rudraksha or rosewood slowly pass through their fingers, others move with their eyes half-closed, clearly focusing on something deep within. All are practicing different forms of walking meditation.
When Amma was a young girl, in order to set an example for others to follow, She would say Her mantra, “Amma’ Amma’ Amma’,” with each step—even going as far as to take a step backwards if She ever forgot.
It is also believed that Sri Buddha taught his disciples a form of walking meditation, as in his discourse “Satipatthana Sutta,” he said, “A monk while walking knows “I am walking.'” The walking meditation associated with Lord Buddha involves focusing on the movement of one’s own body to the exclusion of all else, to fully abide in one’s walking.
In essence, both meditations are the same. They are methods of bringing the one-pointedness of meditation into our daily life, methods of cultivating what Amma calls ” bodha” (awareness) and the Buddha called “sati” (mindfulness). After all, we mustn’t limit our spiritual practices to the meditation hall. The point of spiritual life is to come to abide in the sahaja samadhi of Amma —where one perceives God or Brahman pervading everything within and without, eyes opened or closed.
In the beginning it takes a lot of effort to chant the mantra with each step or breath, as Amma did. But if this practice is maintained, eventually the mantra will come on its own accord, without any effort on our part. Amma says the mantra will continue to be chanted, even when we are sleeping. One way to attain this is through associating the mantra with a physical action that we do all the time such as walking or breathing.
Focusing our mind on our physical movements can revolutionise the way we go about our day. Upon practicing this type of meditation many realise an unto-for-noticed beauty in his or her movements. The experience of walking can become like that of a graceful dance the role of the sole on the ground, the shift in weight from one leg to another. If one concentrates, their entire manner of walking will be transformed perfected, literally from foot to head.
With both of these forms of walking meditation, our thoughts become less and less, and a profound peace ensues. The mind now silenced, we can begin to take in the world through which we are moving with a deep awareness — the trees, the buildings, the clouds, the flowers in the garden, the bees collecting nectar’. We can begin to perceive things about these objects that we’ve never before noticed their uniqueness, their beauty, the mystic perfection with which they’ve been woven and relate to one another. A new world is thus opened up to us. Going even deeper, we can come to experience the underlying unity of all the objects of this creation the pure existence, or ” is-ness,” that is their substratum.
The more awareness we are able to bring to our working day, the deeper our awareness will be when we sit for meditation. This is because we are no longer spending what we’ve worked so hard to earn when we were seated with our eyes closed. In fact, it is just the opposite we are continuing to ” earn” it with eyes open.
We walk all the time. It is something we take for granted. But try “practicing” walking, and see where it leads you."
Om Amriteswariye namah!

Such a change!

753. Om mahasanayai namah: I bow down to Amma who eats everything that is great.

I found this on the Amritapuri.org site. And whenever I read about the difference Amma makes in a young person's life. my respect and awe of Amma goes up million-fold. What a beautiful place Amma is making this world! How much hope She is giving these young people to hold on to and live a full ife!
Five young survivors of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake who have been receiving Embracing the World scholarships since then wrote a letter to Amma after graduating from high school this summer. They wrote:
“Dear Amma,
We would like to thank you for allowing us to graduate, because without your financial support this journey might not have been possible, because our country’s social and political situation sometimes doesn’t give us the chance to have dreams, but with this great support we are able to dream and dream big. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us to complete our journey, we guarantee you it will not be in vain.

Once again thank you for everything from the bottom of our hearts!”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Making the world a better place!

752. Om maha-grasayai namah: I bow down to Amma who devours everything great or who is the great devourer

I find it really incredible how certain people are unable to see the divinity in Amma...or when they question Her methods. Especially when they are unable to feel some magic electric current when they go for a hug. All I know is that Amma has created such an amazing transformation in so many lives! I read this particular account of a young volunteer...and even if one life has been touched positively (something that we selfish souls hardly ever bother to do), then that's made the world a better place right there!:
Sami, 24, France: A Steward for the Environment
"Amma inspires me on a personal level, as well as in the relationships I have with others. I have Down’s Syndrome. Amma’s dedication to youth — all youth — helps me with my disability by providing a community which accepts me for who I am, treats me with dignity, compassion and respect, and supports me so that I can help AYUDH achieve its goals, such as being stewards for the environment. In turn, this helps me to accept how I am so I can face my disability and be a better person. For me, AYUDH represents the importance of being with others, and of living and acting in a community which is dedicated to diversity, empowerment and respect. AYUDH is a huge source of joy! And it exists thanks to Amma.
"Amma’s commitment to the environment inspires me to respect nature by planting trees, reducing waste or even collecting other people’s waste in different cleanup activities. These initiatives are also very important for AYUDH youth — respecting the environment, biodiversity and natural communities are values we learn thanks to Amma's teachings, and put in practice together at different AYUDH Europe events."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma's magnetic aura!

751. Om maha-kalyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the great Kali

I read this beautiful story by one of Amma's devotees and just had to share. I absolutely love the bit about the magnetic field of energy emanating from the aura...of Amma!!
"It was a hot and humid July day in Toronto a few years ago and Amma was visiting for the first time.  The famous ‘hugging saint’ of India, reputed to be an incarnation of the great Goddess Kali, has reportedly hugged 27 million people in the world.   27 million! How does one person hug 27 million people in a lifetime??  My friend Elizabeth and I decided this was our chance to see what Amma was all about.
(Amma casts a wide and palpable Samadhi.  Several days before I went to see her I felt a very different, very high vibration as I meditated.   As I sat with it, I felt like I was receiving Shakti and then I realized that Amma had just arrived in town.  I was already tapping into her field even before I was in her presence.  It didn’t matter that we were in a city of 4 million people.  It didn’t matter that she was clear across town from where I was.  I knew I was feeling her.  Or maybe Her.  It was extraordinary.)
The event was being held in a hotel in Mississauga and we were warned to get there early as many people would be there.  I didn’t quite know what to expect but was surprised when we arrived around 6 p.m. to see long lines of people snaking throughout the parking lot.  We were given tickets and told to listen out for our numbers to be called throughout the evening.
The air was abuzz with a sparkly, joyful feeling.  Everyone around was happy and excited to be seeing Amma.  It felt like we’d stumbled into a serene, cosmic party with fairy dust sprinkled everywhere.
The line moved out of the parking lot and into one of the hotel ballrooms.  At this first staging area we were able to sit on the floor, joining a few hundred others.  After 3 hours or so we were moved into another ballroom where we were fed some delicious Indian vegetarian food.  This ballroom had a jumbo screen showing the happenings in the main event ballroom where Amma had finally arrived.  We watched as all of the people in the main ballroom bowed their heads as she passed.    Sanskrit devotional songs to the Divine Mother blared over the loud speakers and we all joined in the chanting.  Amma was dressed all in white with flowers in her hair.  She was tiny and a posse of escorts and assistants flanked her at all sides.
When we finally moved into the main ballroom it must have been around 1 a.m.  People were seated in back rows and moved up the rows as their numbers were called.  All night the chanting went on.  I drank some coffee but the buzz from the shakti was like a natural caffeine high, keeping everyone energized.
At 5.30 a.m., we made it to the front of the room where people were shown how to get on their knees and approach Amma one by one.  I had to take my glasses off.  No glasses were allowed near the hugging saint. I approached the stage on my knees, crept up the few steps and waited my turn for my hug.  The force field around the stage was truly like nothing I’d ever felt before – like a giant magnetic field of energy emanating from the aura of this little Indian woman.
Finally, it was my turn and my heart was beating loudly when I reached her on my knees.  She grabbed me around my head, pulling my ear to her mouth.  She whispered the words: “MA, MA, MA, MA, MA, MA, MA,” right into my ear and then thrust some Hershey kisses into my hand.
In seconds it was over and I was being escorted off the stage.  In shock.
Blissed out and in shock, Elizabeth and I stumbled out of the hotel ballroom and drove home as dawn was breaking over the eastern horizon of Lake Ontario.  Laughing and singing all the way home.  We had made it.  We had endured the all-night love-fest that is Amma and triumphantly received our hugs – a cosmic, indescribable, happy, divine hug.  I reached home, took a quick shower and went to work, blessed by Ma Kali Herself.  Jai Ma!"

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Ageing and maturity!

750. Om mahesvaryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the Supreme Goddess

Amma talks about ageing Vs maturity...and how to make the world a better place in this article:

"Today, there are many paths for entertainment and pleasure. However, heartfelt smiles and kind words have become extremely scarce. Most young people today are unable to differentiate between love and lust. Lust now comes wearing the mask of love. In today’s world, even the smile has become like an expensive ornament to be bought and sold. There are even schools where you can be trained how to smile. But such institutions are unable to provide the peace and solace that naturally comes with a heartfelt soothing word or a smile saturated with true love.

I am reminded of a story. A man was standing in the middle of a bridge, staring down at a swiftly flowing river. He had experienced a lot of bitterness and failure, and had begun to hate life itself. He wondered if he could kill himself by jumping from the bridge. The next moment another thought crossed his mind: “Throughout my entire life, why has no one ever helped me? Is this right? Let’s see the next person. If he smiles at me or gives me an encouraging word, then I will believe there is such a thing as goodness in this world and that things will improve. If not, I will end my life by jumping into the river.”

How this story ends is up to each of us. We should ask ourselves: “If I were the next person to pass him, what would I do?” A smile, a kind word… We never know… such small gestures could literally save someone’s life.

There are people who cannot even afford a single meal a day. Others are crushed by unbearable personal problems. It’s a pity that others do not console these people or provide them with the strength to persevere. Our forefathers were not like this. The heartfelt bond that used to connect human beings is disintegrating. People who’ve lost hope in this way take refuge in suicide. My children must understand that suicide is never a solution. Even if life’s hardships make us feel like this, we must rule out that option. Amma has seen the children left behind by such desperate acts. At least thinking of these children, parents should refrain from taking such a decision. The orphans left behind by suicide wander aimlessly, without education or proper food. Seeing so many children orphaned and left without support in this way, Amma started a program to provide them quality education.

Many children approach Amma and say, “In this life we haven’t done anything wrong, yet we are struggling just to get by. Our neighbours, on the other hand, are constantly doing wrong. They don’t even pray, and yet they are thriving. We have lost faith in God.” Children, you shouldn’t think like this. Some people, in their previous lives, have deposited a large amount of good deeds into the bank of karma. So until their remaining karmic savings are not exhausted, they will experience prosperity and comfort. However, others come into this life like those who have taken a loan. They now have to repay their loans. So, they will have to experience the results of their prarabdha karma [fated experiences coming as a result of past deeds] in this life time till those loans are repaid. So, it is because of all these factors that some experience joy and others difficulties in life. However life doesn’t simply end like that. Karma is cyclic. Even death is not a complete annihilation. It is only like putting a period mark at the end of a sentence. Just as we continue writing, life continues. Understanding this, we shouldn’t succumb to depression. During our life, there will always be a mix of pleasure and pain. Life is like the pendulum of the clock. It swings from pain, only to come to pleasure. Establishing an equilibrium in the midst of life’s swinging pendulum is the purpose of spirituality.

Our mind is like an old clock. In order to keep going, it has to be periodically wound. We regularly need to give our minds satsang [association with spiritually oriented people, books or discourses]. Only then will viveka [discriminative thinking] arise in our mind.

There are two kinds of growth in life: aging and maturity. The former doesn’t require much effort. It happens even to animals. But the second kind of growth is unique to human beings. It is this kind of growth that leads us to immortality. It is an internal transformation. Spiritual knowledge is what illumines this path for us. If we attain growth and maturity through spiritual understanding, we will never think of ending our life. From the strength of spiritual knowledge, we must develop this maturity."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Nachiketa's story!

749. Om mrtyu-daru-kutharikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the axe that cuts down the tree of death.

Amma recounts the famous story of Nachiketa and death: (from: http://www.amritapuri.org/4805/death-hours.aum)
"The basic story of the Upanishad is that Nachiketha’s father is performing a sacrifice that requires him to give away all of his possessions. However, he is only giving away useless things – like old, sick and dry cows. Observing this improper action, Nachiketha, an intelligent boy, understands that his father is incurring sin instead of merit by such false charity. He pesters his father with the question, “To whom shall you give me?” To which his father replies at last, in anger, “I give you to death!” Being a good and obedient son, Nachiketha soon starts on his journey.
However, upon his arrival at the home of death, he finds that the Lord of Death -Yama – is not there. Naciketa waits for three days and nights without food or sleep. When Yama finally returns, he makes amends by offering Nachiketha three boons. Nachiketha’s first asks for appeasement of the anger of his father, then for the secret of attaining heaven and finally the ultimate question: “What happens after death? Is there a soul surviving death, or is it total annihilation?” After testing the quality of the disciple, Yama finally imparts the great teaching to him.
Sitting under the tree, Her children huddled around Her; Amma said that it was the compassionate heart of Nachiketha that made him a fit recipient of the ultimate knowledge. Amma said that when he challenged his father, he was doing so out of compassion. Nachiketha did not want his father to receive the negative karmic repercussions of giving things of no value in charity. In fact, a dried-up cow is only a burden for a poor man who receives it, as he has to feed the cow also in addition to his family.
Thus, the sacrifice, instead of bringing the merit was only adding up the demerit of false show of charity to his father. The second boon that Nachiketha asks is also not for himself, but for the society,which again shows his compassion towards his fellow beings. Amma said, “When you totally forget yourself in your act of compassion, that is the death of your ego. Then you become a true disciple.”
Swamiji then went on to explain that the meaning behind Yama not being home when Nachiketha comes calling is that if one bravely goes looking for death, they’ll find that death is not there."

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

In a dream!

748. Om roga-parvata-dambholaye namah: I bow down to Amma who is the thunderbolt that shatters the mountain of disease.

This is yet another instance of Amma magically touching someone's life (from an article in Matruvani by Swami Amritatmananda):
The scene was Amma's ashram in San Ramon. In the evening while the bhajans were being sung, a young African-American woman was sitting in the front row, intently gazing at Mother. The expressions on her face as she gazed at Amma caught my attention. Alternating expressions of both bliss and sorrow played on her face. Much to my surprise, Amma then began to sing the bhajan Sri Lalitambike. Usually She doesn't sing this type of song in foreign countries.
Just after Amma had started singing this bhajan, the young woman started sobbing loudly, wailing like a tiny toddler. The people who were sitting around her tried to console her, but it only brought forth louder moans. When the bhajans were over and the darshan began, Amma immediately called the woman for darshan. She fell into Amma's lap crying loudly. Amma made her sit next to Her for nearly an hour, and the woman was soon calm and peaceful.
It was the first time that this young woman had met Amma. The day before, one of her friends had shown her a photo of Amma and had told her that Amma was an Indian saint. She told her that many people felt a great sense of inner peace after receiving Amma's darshan, that Amma was now in San Ramon and that she was going to see Her the next day. But when the woman was invited to accompany her friend, she refused.
That night she had a vivid dream. In her own words: 'I was lying in a garden. A woman came up to me. Her face was not clearly visible. She placed me in her lap and started singing in a language that was totally unfamiliar to me. I lost my earthly mother when I was so young that I can't even remember her. This woman's soothing presence and her lilting song suffused me with the warmth of motherly love. Even though I couldn't understand her song, my mind was permeated with her divine voice and the enchanting tune. When I awoke in the morning, the memory of the woman's voice and her song still sounded in my ears and I experienced a feeling of bliss. Suddenly it occurred to me that there was a connection between my dream and the photo of the lady saint that my friend had shown me the day before. I immediately phoned my friend and told her that I wanted to go with her and meet that woman saint from India.
Thus it was that I found myself there. As I sat before Mother, listening to Her singing, I felt that Her voice was so familiar to me. I felt as though I was transported to another world of existence. When Mother began to sing the song Sri Lalitambike, I had a feeling that this was the song I had heard in the dream. At first I wasn't sure, but as I continued to listen intently, I knew without a doubt that this was the very song I had heard. I was convinced that Mother was the divine woman I had met in the dream. When I realized this, and understood how much grace and compassion Mother had bestowed on me, a person who until now had been a sinner without any human virtues to speak of, I couldn't control myself and I cried loudly. When the bhajans were over, Amma called me to Her and whispered in my ear, "My darling daughter, you are Amma's very own. Amma has been waiting for you."
'I felt as though I was being immersed in an ocean of affection. I can't remember what happened after that. I just fell into Amma's lap like a baby.'

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Happiness is also a decision!

747. Om bhakta-citta-keki-ghanaghanayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is like the cloud that gladdens the peacocks for Her devotees' hearts.

Once again a day wherein I am unable to think. A day where I wonder where Amma is and if She really is looking out for me. What tests You put us through, Amma...and yet, You are the fountain of optimism, from which I have the good fortune to take a sip! 
The words below were spoken by Amma to the survivors of the terrible tsunami in Japan:
"You have just been through painful experiences, and you have yet to come out of that shock. The situation is such that no words can give you peace. Amma is here just to part take in the grief that you are going through. There are certain situations in life where you cannot do anything but accept. This is one of those situations. If you ask a musician where the music is coming from, he would say ‘its from my fingers, or from my throat, or from my heart’. If you operate the finger, the throat or the heart you will not find music. Actually music is coming from beyond. We have to understand the limitations of our actions, and the place of God’s Grace in our life. Keeping faith in that power, my children, pray for the Grace. Like any other decision, happiness is also a decision. Have a resolve, let any thing happen, I will be happy, I will be courageous. Without losing the self-confidence or faith in God, move forward”.
Happiness is also a decision!!
Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Loving all of nature!

746.  Om bhagyabdhi-candrikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the full moon to the ocean of good fortune

 I totally and absolutely love the above picture. Look at the love Amma has for this lucky doggy and look at the smile and adoration on the doggy's face! Given below are Amma's thoughts on why we should embrace nature and have the same love for all living beings as we would show towards human beings:

"Anyone who has the courage to overcome the limitations of the mind will attain the state of universal motherhood. This is a love and compassion felt not only towards one’s own child, but also towards all people, animals, plants, rocks and rivers. It is a love extended to all of nature and all beings. to one in whom the state of true motherhood has awakened, all creatures are her children. this awakening of love, this motherhood, is Divine Love. This is God."
"The life force that pulsates in the trees, plants, and animals is the same life force that pulsates within us. The same life energy that gives us the power to speak and to sing, is the power behind the song of the bird and the roar of the lion. The same consciousness that flows in and through every human being, lends its power to the movement of the wind, to the flow of the river, and to the light of the sun. How can there be any sense of difference once this subtle principle is understood?"
"Life is filled with God’s light, but only through optimism will you experience that light. Look at the optimism of Nature. Nothing can stop it. Every aspect of Nature tirelessly contributes its share to life. The participation of a little bird, an animal, a tree, or a flower is always complete. No matter what the hardships, they continue to try, wholeheartedly."   

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Detached and devoted!

745. Om jara-dhvanta-ravi-prabhayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the sunlight that dispels the darkness of old age.

Today I pray for my sister's little puppy who needs Amma's blessings and Her healing. He's only a little 7 month old tyke and may he get better super soon. Here's a beautiful story about the ashram dog, Tumban: (the picture above though is of Bhakti, a dog who is, like Tumban, totally dedicated to Amma!)
"Often, during darshan, Tumban comes to Amma: she greets him and feeds him. He’ll then lie there next to her for a while. Amazingly, Tumban never accepts any food from anyone except Amma herself or the person assigned for feeding him… His favorite food? Chappatis with butter!
Tumban definitely enjoys a very special relation with Amma. When darshan ends and Amma stands up, one can see him rushing towards her in the midst of the crowds to accompany her to her room.  He is said to get jealous if Amma showers more attention on the little kids that get next to her too…
One night at bhajan, Tumban appeared on the ramp below the stage. He walked back and forth in front of Amma wagging his tail. Finally, he stopped in front of her and looked at her expectantly, his tail oscillating rapidly. She smiled at him, and motioned him to come on stage. In one graceful leap, he landed at her feet and curled up. Amma told everyone how well behaved and correct his behavior was. He had waited for an invitation before presuming to come on stage!
When Swamiji placed Amma’s songbook on the music stand next to him, Tumban lost his composure and looking around, jumped back off the stage. Everyone groaned. It had been so cute to see him there.
Later in the bhajan, Tumban returned, jumped back up and took his place. This time he stayed for the rest of bhajans. In fact, he didn’t even move during arathi. He was not disturbed by the revolving flame. When Amma showered flower petals on the brahmachari doing the arati, a few petals fell on him, and he remained curled up at Amma’s feet. The light of the flame was flickering on his smooth coat. Was he awake or in the midst of a beautiful dream? When arathi is done to Amma, in a sense, it is also done to the One, to all Creation. Although one does not normally do arathi to dogs, it seemed totally right to watch this other form of creation receiving arathi along with Amma!
Tumban is an ideal ashramite, combining sincerity and regularity to the spiritual routine of the ashram, obedience and devotion to the Guru. He comes regularly to morning archana, alternating between the women’s side and the men’s side, as the groups do archana separately. He unfailingly attends the Upanishad classes and Ramayana discussions in the temple; participates in the meditation every Tuesday, and sometimes even goes up for his Prasad lunch. Tumban also attends the webcasts of Amma’s Devi Bhava when she is on tour! He has been supplied with his own asana for all these occasions. Amma has praised Tumban for being detached and devoted to the ashram and ashram dharma."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

It's all God's will!

744. Om daurbhagya-tula-vatulayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the gale that drives away the cotton wisps of misfortune.

I met a friend after 4 years and amidst all the catching up, realised we had both sought shelter within the mantras of the Lalita Sahasranamam. I told her about this blog and she told me how some days she chanted the mantras over and over again. What power lies hidden within these mantras! The power to heal and console even when one gets accused of something low down; even when one is in the very darkest abyss. For the past few months I have been saying it almost like a routine. But today I wished to break that and said it with a bit more concentration. Hopefully, soon I can bring back the detailed attention I have paid to it in the past. On that note, I look into the matruvani archives and find something said by Amma which is a perfect thought for a day that has made me think, consider and wonder.
"There is no point in becoming despondent brooding over what has befallen us. What’s over is over. Strive to proceed carefully from now onwards. Understand that happiness and sorrow are the nature of the world. It is like the oscillation of the clock’s pendulum – happiness, then sorrow; happiness, then sorrow. The very momentum gained in moving towards happiness takes it to the other end, that of sorrow, and vice versa. The principle that teaches us how to accept both these states with equanimity is spirituality. To acquire equanimity, we need to have surrender towards God. We should neither leap up to the sky in times of success, nor sink like a wrecked ship in times of defeat. When success comes our way, we should regard it as God’s grace and thus strengthen our attitude of surrender. When we fail, we should reflect upon and understand the reasons for failure, and strive again with renewed enthusiasm. Only if we fail after trying several times to the best of our abilities may we accept defeat, taking it as God’s will."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Training anger!

743.Om paparanya-davanalayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is like wild fire to the forest of sins.

Amma's thoughts on anger...and a good story to go with that!
"A physical wound caused by you may heal, but a wound caused by angry words would take quite a long time to heal. One approach to expressing anger could be to treat the target person of your anger as your own child. With our child, even though we may get angry, the anger would not be venomous not would it last long.
  
"Another approach is to consciously delay our response when we are provoked. Instead of reacting with anger on face, we can write down our feelings and emotions in a piece of paper. That would really prove to be a good emotional outlet for us and we may feel far less relieved by doing so. Once our initial and immediate reaction is curtailed, we get an opportunity to cool down and then review the matter in a more objective manner. At that point of time, we may not really feel the same intensity of anger and we could even appreciate the offender's action."

Amma narrated the following story to explain this:

"Once a famous professor gave a lecture at a gathering. The next day, he received a letter from one of his audience. It mentioned that what the professor lectured that day had a few mistakes and adivised the professor to avoid such mistakes in his next lectures.

"The professor became very angry. He felt 'I am such a knowledgeable and experienced person in this field; I am so much respected and people throng to my lectures to hear what I say; how dare this person find fault with me! What an arrogance! No. I cannot allow this to happen'.

"The professor thought of filing a defamation suite against this person; he even wanted to engage thugs and give a physical beating to that critic!

He took a piece of paper and wrote a very strongly worded reply to the person. Unfortunately, before he could post it, the time for that day's mail was over. The professor kept that letter beside his bed so that he can remember to post it early next morning.

Next morning, when he woke up, he felt like reading his letter once before posting it. After going through it, the professor felt that the letter was too harsh; he sat down to rewrite it to make it more sober. As he was about to post it, he thought "If my mind could change so much over a day, why not I postpone sending this letter for another day and make a fresh review tomorrow?" He retained the letter on his table.

The next day, the professorre read the letter that he had received from the critic and also his re-written reply. He now felt "Oh! The mistakes that this person found in my lecture are true indeed; why should I write negatively to him then? I should actually be thankful to him for bringing my slips to my notice". He sat down to write a fresh letter thanking the person for pointing out his mistakes; he invited the person for lunch in a restaurant as he wished to meet him in person.

The other person obliged. It was actually a woman and as they met and talked to each other they developed liking for each other. Soon, it blossomed into love; the professor proposed to her and she accepted; soon they got married!"


Om Amriteswariye namah!

The perfect gift!

742. Om bhava-dava-sudha-vrstyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the rain of nectar falling on the forest fire of worldly existence.

It isn't Amma's birthday but a brilliant article about ego:
"Every year, when Amma’s birthday comes round, many of Her children may wonder what birthday gift they could buy Her. For such is the custom, is it not? Before we actually do any birthday shopping, let us not forget the fact that Amma has no birthday. What we call Amma’s birthday is just the day She incarnated in this particular form. The all-pervading, eternal reality assumed a form and accepted a name out of extreme compassion. We commemorate that auspicious occasion of Her incarnation as Her birthday.
Usually, before buying a birthday present for our dear ones, we will take a few factors into consideration:

1. We must choose a gift that he/she does not possess. 2. Our offering must be unique. 3. The one to whom we are offering the gift must be reminded of us whenever he or she looks at it.

One may wonder, "In fact, everything is within Amma. So how could we choose a gift for Her that She doesn’t already possess?" Well, there are a few things that Amma does not have. She does not have any of the negative qualities such as ego, anger and hatred. Can we offer Amma the topper in this list — our ego — on Her birthday? For one thing, it certainly fulfils all the above-mentioned conditions. For another, Amma is actually waiting to receive this "gift" from us.
Surrendering our ego is easier said than done. For most, it is a life-long labour. The parasite that is our ego has clung so much to our sense of self that we cannot easily distinguish between it and the Self. Also, it is a multi-faceted personality, like 10-headed Ravana. Identifying the ego is the first positive step we can take towards offering the ego to Amma.
Some of us may feel, "I am a good child of Amma. I don’t have much of an ego. I am fine." But the Guru will not allow this false perception to linger for long. Consider an analogy: a child with an infection on its back may not know about it; he or she will only complain if there is some pain. To clear the infection, the doctor may have to perform a surgery, whether or not the child likes the idea. Similarly, Amma has to "operate" on us to remove the infection of our ego. When doing so, She may not choose to administer anaesthesia....
In one of the major Upanishads, it is said that a seeker who desires to be a disciple must approach the Guru with humility, and offer him or her a bundle of samhit (twigs offered in the sacrificial fire). This gesture symbolises the disciple’s resolute determination to offer himself or herself to the Guru, in much the same way as the samhit burns itself up in the sacrificial fire.
The ego is the gift that a Satguru wants us to offer. Offering anything else would be like taking a glass of water from the ocean and pouring it back into the ocean. If we are not ready to offer our ego to Amma, She will not let us hold on to it for long. Rather than letting Her prise it away from us, would it not be better to surrender our ego to Amma?"

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The strength of women!

741. Om rambhadi-vanditayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is adored by the celestial damsels such as Rambha

An article on Amma's thoughts about women (10 important things about women):
"The greatest strength of women lies in their innate motherhood, in their creative, life-giving power. And this power can help women to bring about a far more significant change in society than men could ever accomplish. In truth, no external power can possibly obstruct woman or her innate qualities of motherhood — qualities such as love, empathy, and patience. It is she, and she alone, who has to awaken herself. A woman’s mind is the only real barrier that prevents this from happening.
The limitations women think they have are not real. Women need to muster the strength to overcome those imagined limitations.The right circumstances and support of others will certainly help women to awaken and arise. But this alone is not enough unless they draw inspiration from those circumstances and find strength within themselves. Real power and strength don’t come from the outside; they are to be found within. And courage is an attribute of the mind; it is not a quality of the body. Which eye is more important, the left or the right? Both are equally important. It is the same with the status of men and women in society. Both should be aware of their unique responsibilities, or dharma. Men and women have to support one another.

Women and men are equal in Amma’s eyes.

Anyone — woman or man — who has the courage to overcome the limitations of the mind can attain the state of universal motherhood. The qualities of motherhood are a woman’s birthright. The love of awakened motherhood is a love and compassion felt not only towards one’s own children, but towards all people, animals and plants, rocks and rivers — a love extended to all of nature, to all beings. Women are not inferior to men on the basis of intellectual power or ability. Women have the willpower and creative energy to do any type of work. Whatever the form of action, women can attain extraordinary heights, and this is true especially on the spiritual path. Women have the purity of mind and intellectual capacity to achieve this. But, whatever they undertake, the beginning should be positive. If the beginning is good, the middle and the end will automatically be good, provided one has patience, faith, and love. In today’s world, everything is being contaminated and made unnatural. In this environment, woman should take extra care that her qualities of motherhood — her essential nature as a woman — don’t become contaminated and distorted. Yet, whether you are a woman or a man, your real humanity will come to light only when the feminine and masculine qualities within you are balanced.

It is thus, through the influence she has on her child, that a mother influences the future of the world. A woman who has awakened her “motherhood” brings heaven to earth wherever she is. Let us remember that real leadership is not to dominate or to control, but to serve others with love and compassion, and to inspire women and men alike through the example of our lives."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma: highest form of humility!

740. Om lajjayai namah: I bow down to Amma who exists as modesty in living beings.

This is excerpts from an article by Swami Amritagitananda, from the Amritapuri archives:
"The Bible says: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Amma is a perfect example of the highest form of humility. In her talks She repeatedly stresses the importance of bowing down and having a humble attitude.....To Amma, humility is natural. She cannot be otherwise, for it is Her nature. She is humble because She sees herself everywhere. That pure vision is what we should develop: the attitude that everything is a form of God. Then we can serve Him with humility in our hearts, thinking of everything as His: I'm taking care of His garden, His car, etc.
Only someone like Amma can show real humility. Only a rich person can show true humility, having the attitude that all of his or her wealth belongs to God; for what appears to be humility in a poor person is often false humility. Amma has so many institutions, so much manpower and so many resources, and yet She never feels that any of this belongs to Her. It is all for the benefit of the world. Such is the supreme humility of Amma: that not even Her own life belongs to Her but is, at every moment, an offering to the world."

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

The word of the Guru..!

739. Om laya-karyai namah: I bow down to Amma who causes absorption

This is from last year's talk given by Amma on the occasion of Guru Poornima:
“The Guru tattwa (Guru principle) is eternal. Gurus lived these ideals in their lives. The disciples observed this and tried to live those ideals in their lives as well. God and the Guru are one. However, the Guru principle that elevates the soul to the state of liberation is beyond the divine principle. There is nothing whatsoever that the Guru needs to gain or do. He guides the disciple out of compassion alone. The disciple has innumerable weaknesses and tendencies. It takes boundless patience to lead such a disciple. Sacrifice and austerity are ever ablaze in the Guru’s life. Every word from such Gurus is scripture. Their very life is scripture. They are also the ones who impart vitality to the scriptures.
“Spirituality starts with compassion and ends in compassion. When we put a stone in a pond, ripples radiate from the stone and touch the shore. They then come back and reach the center. It begins with the center and ends with the center- the bindu. This central point is Love. ”

Om Amriteswariye namah!