770. Om priya-vratayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is fond of vows.
An article from Matruvani about Amma's thoughts on spirituality and God's grace..
"Spirituality is not confined simply to sitting and meditating; it also includes the way we behave towards other people. Without making the right effort, if we go on praying, "Give me grace give me grace," Amma says we won't get it.
Amma tells a very funny story about this. There was a great devotee of the Lord who was very poor. One day a strange idea came to him. He thought, "I want to be rich." So from that day onwards he started to pray to God, "O Lord, please make me rich." In his city they had a monthly lottery. The man would pray, "O Lord, with Your grace, this month I will win the first prize." But when the lottery was drawn, he didn't even get the last prize, never mind first prize. He was a little bit sad, but he thought, "Next month there will be another drawing, so hopefully I'll win that one." When the next drawing came, again he didn't win anything. He started to get upset, but kept praying. Several months went by and still he didn't win anything. One day he became very angry and started shouting at God, "Lord, why don't you hear me? Can't you hear my prayers?" Then, all of a sudden, he heard God's voice say, "My son, of course I know your problems and can hear your prayers, and I am very eager to help you. But you could at least buy a lottery ticket?"
Likewise, if we simply go on praying, "O Lord, please give me Your grace," it's not going to work. We always pray for grace but we never put forth the positive effort required, which Amma says is a must. Without God's grace, the world cannot become fragrant. It cannot become complete and full."
Om Amriteswariye namah!
"Spirituality is not confined simply to sitting and meditating; it also includes the way we behave towards other people. Without making the right effort, if we go on praying, "Give me grace give me grace," Amma says we won't get it.
Amma tells a very funny story about this. There was a great devotee of the Lord who was very poor. One day a strange idea came to him. He thought, "I want to be rich." So from that day onwards he started to pray to God, "O Lord, please make me rich." In his city they had a monthly lottery. The man would pray, "O Lord, with Your grace, this month I will win the first prize." But when the lottery was drawn, he didn't even get the last prize, never mind first prize. He was a little bit sad, but he thought, "Next month there will be another drawing, so hopefully I'll win that one." When the next drawing came, again he didn't win anything. He started to get upset, but kept praying. Several months went by and still he didn't win anything. One day he became very angry and started shouting at God, "Lord, why don't you hear me? Can't you hear my prayers?" Then, all of a sudden, he heard God's voice say, "My son, of course I know your problems and can hear your prayers, and I am very eager to help you. But you could at least buy a lottery ticket?"
Likewise, if we simply go on praying, "O Lord, please give me Your grace," it's not going to work. We always pray for grace but we never put forth the positive effort required, which Amma says is a must. Without God's grace, the world cannot become fragrant. It cannot become complete and full."
Om Amriteswariye namah!
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