Being one with Amma!

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

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

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Real faith..!

828. Om ajnayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is divine commandment Herself

If only we could all follow this path...
"Real faith is faith in one's own Self. Even when we believe in an external deity or God or Goddess, we are believing in our own Self because that God or Guru is our own Self. If faith is only in an external object or deity, that faith cannot uplift us. With real faith, the worshipper or the devotee will have the understanding or awareness of the all-pervasive, omniscient and omnipotent nature of his Guru or Beloved Deity. Mother has neither told the brahmacharin children to have faith in a God sitting up above in the skies on a golden throne nor in Mother. Have faith in yourself. Try to know who you are. That is sufficient.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

God's grace!

827. Om pracandayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is full of awe-inspiring wrath.

If you do the work, you will get the wages. God will not simply give something to someone without their working for it. Self-effort and grace are interdependent. If tapas (spiritual discipline) is performed sincerely, you will see God’s grace flowing to you. Sitting behind closed doors and saying, “The sun is not giving me any light” is silly. Open the door and the light will come in. Likewise, open the doors of your heart by removing egotistic thoughts and by developing qualities such as love and humility. That takes effort. God’s grace flows in a never ending stream. You have to prepare your mind to become a suitable instrument and then receive it.: AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Bringing peace and happiness!

826. Om prasavitryai namah: I bow down to Amma who is Mother of the universe.

This is what the world will realise one day, about the invaluable contribution of Amma towards this universe: (Taken from this article)
"On the final morning of Amma’s visit to Barcelona, a delegation of Tibetan Lamas from, ‘Casa del Tibet’ came for darshan. One of them offered these words: “In today’s world in which we are living, we need to have a closer communication between all philosophies and religions.  We have to come together more and unite.  This is what is missing in the modern world…I am hoping and wishing for a long life for Amma and that she continues doing her work to bring about peace and happiness in this world…We want to thank you for all this work you are doing.”

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The all-pervading Self!

825.  Om budharcitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is worshipped by the wise.

"Suppose somebody is talking to us in an angry tone. We should listen to everything with patience. We shouldn’t feel angry at him. Anger comes when we think that we are the body. No anger or hatred will be felt when we are thinking, “I am not this body, I am the Supreme Self.” Who is there to be angry at then? There is only one Self and it is all-pervading. It is in everyone. We must understand perfectly that we are not the body but the Atman. All this together forms sraddha. Using discrimination is sraddha. Faith and detachment are the signs of sraddha.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Surrender for peace!

824. Om bahu-rupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has a multitude of forms

"Surrender removes all fear and tension. Surrender leads one to peace and bliss. Where there is surrender there is no fear, and vice versa. Where there is surrender there is love and compassion, whereas fear results in hatred and enmity. But to surrender one needs a lot of courage, the courage to give up oneself. It demands a daring attitude to sacrifice one’s ego. Surrender means welcoming and accepting everything without the least feeling of sorrow or disappointment.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Nature of life!

823. Om jananyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the Mother

My Mother. To whom I have reached out and cried to, for relief. For some reason, my Mother doesn't seem to be listening but this is something Amma has said and within the folds of Her words, I will have to find my truth:
"Ups and downs are the very nature of life. It is not the incident but how we confront it that is most important. Incidents by themselves cannot influence us. If we are mentally weak, their effect will be worse than if we are strong and well-controlled. The wise ones quickly overcome such situations. A wise man may also feel sad, but quickly realizes that it is all a play, that it is the nature of life. If you go on worrying, it will dissipate a lot of your energy and will make you inactive.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The past...!

822. Om brahmane namah: I bow down to Amma who is Brahman.

A gentle reminder, once again!: 
"What is past is past. If you fret about it, you will lose whatever strength you have now. Right now, make a firm decision that you will not make such mistakes again. That is what is necessary. Then your pure actions will cleanse your mind. Your desire to be good in thought and deed, and your effort in that direction, show the purity of your mind. At the time of your earlier actions, you didn't know that they were wrong; but now that you know they were wrong, you are trying to turn away from them. That is enough."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Faith in self!

821. Om brahmanyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the tail that is Brahman; the support for all.

I'm blown by this quote of Amma's. Only because I have been questioning and wondering and when I chanced upon this, it made things a shade clearer:
"You do not have to believe in Mother or in a God who resides up above in the sky on a golden throne. It is enough if you have faith in you. If you don't have faith in you then there is not much to gain even if you believe in God. Faith in God is to strengthen your faith in you, the faith in your own Self. This is, in other words, called Self-confidence, confidence in your own Self."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Faith to cross obstacles!

820. Om satyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is Reality, the eternal Being.

"Faith in the Guru will always protect as a mother does. Faith that your Guru is omniscient, omnipotent and all-pervading is what is needed. This kind of faith will give you mental strength and power to cross over all obstacles that might arise on your spiritual path. Spiritual beings are the ones who have to guide the world. They should not be weak-minded. They should be like lion cubs, not like sheep."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Reaching out...!

819. Om sarvantar-yaminyai namah: I bow down to Amma who dwells inside all.

Exactly what we should be doing this diwali:
"Try to lead a happy life with what you have. If you have more, give it to the poor and needy. For example, if you have twenty sarees, why can’t you give at least two of them to those who don’t even have one good saree? Sometimes rich people will purchase two or three sarees a day and then nicely arrange them in their closet. Every morning they will look at them and feel happy about their great achievement. Children, just think for a moment. Is this the right way to live? Thousands of people are thrown in the midst of poverty and starvation while we go on enjoying. If all are God’s children, then the poor are also His children. If so, they are our brothers and sisters who came from the womb of the same Mother. Instead of creating more and more negativity by trying to fulfill desires, why can’t you help the poor?": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Love and compassion!

818. Om satya-rupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is Truth itself

"In today’s world, people experience two types of poverty: the poverty caused by lack of food, clothing and shelter, and the poverty caused by lack of love and compassion. Of these two, the second type needs to be considered first because if we have love and compassion in our hearts, then we will wholeheartedly serve those who suffer from lack of food, clothing and shelter.”  – Amma

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A better understanding of our master!

817. Om satya-vratayai namah: I bow down to Amma who abides firmly in truth.

A message, as if Amma knew...
"In the early stages, attachment to the Guru’s external form is good, but the disciple should not observe the Guru’s actions and try to judge him or her. In most cases the disciple becomes too attached to the Guru’s external form and forgets the Guru’s all-pervasive nature. Attachment to the Guru’s form with a firm awareness of his omniscience and all-pervasive nature is the perfect attitude. If there is attachment without proper awareness of the Guru’s infinite nature, the disciple can fall an easy victim to all kinds of negative tendencies. Devotion to the Guru backed with the understanding of his higher nature is real devotion."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Intense sadhana...from sorrow!

816. Om muni-manasa-hamsikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the swan in the Manasa lake of the mind of sages

While looking for a reason...
"It is not possible to get closer to God if there is no sorrow of any kind. Therefore, God will create some kind of difficulties through Mother. Having heated the iron in the fire, the ironsmith beats it. It is not possible to beat it into a shape without heating it up properly. Reformation won’t happen if the iron thinks, “I will not allow myself to be heated in the fire.” The Guru will create obstacles and sorrows for the disciple. The disciple should overcome all that with intense sadhana. Spirituality is not for idle people. The difficulties of the subtle level are hard compared to the sorrows of the external world. There is nothing to fear for one who dedicates everything to a Satguru.": AMMA

Om Amriteswariye namah!

A poem anout Amma!

815. Om anitya-trptayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is satisfied even by our perishable offerings.

A poem I found about Amma 
Lips combine
To say,“Amma”, the Mother Divine.
Amma – the sweetest word the first alphabet can provide
And the tongue safely rests inside!
Amma
Is sweet ambrosia.
O! she sees!
And my sorrows cease.
Her face
Reveals the divinest grace.
Her touches rinse
All my brutal sins.
O! she kisses and embraces!
I’m changed, I confess.
Then, she whispered something in my ear
It was so soft that my heart alone could hear!
It is a lesson
No father cares to teach his son.
It is a skill
A master is yet to teach his pupil.
It is an art
No educational system is fit to impart.
It is a position
That demands no university qualification.
It is an opportunity
That is never going to be easy.
It is a vocation
Where none can decide the remuneration.
It is a quality
Even the wise men envy.
It is a legacy
That no forefather has passed to his progeny.
It is a wealth
That is not owned by stealth.
It is a treasure
Beyond measure.
It is a fortune
That dances not with the rich man’s tune.
It is so priceless
That any price assigned makes its value less.
It is a noble virtue
Practised by very few.
It is a burden
For the weak-minded men.
It is a wish
Even the greatest yogins are yet to accomplish.
It is a want
A pleased God is yet to grant.
It is so human
That no Gods can attain but men!
It is as easy as easy can be!
It is as hard as hard can be!
Now let me reveal
The words Amma made me feel
What she beautifully said
What my heart at once responded
Was composed of only a few words, not many!
Ah! it was a new Vedic hymn to me.
She only said: “Serve mankind
With a selfless mind”.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

God within all of us!

814.  Om amurtayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has no definite form

From a 2005 article in www.amritapuri.org
"When Amma stopped for lunch at the Coimbatore campus of Amrita University on her way to Nagapattinam, she started off by asking people to tell jokes. “Whether we smile or cry, life is still going to keep passing by, so why not smile,” Amma said.
After a few jokes were told—some bringing forth laughter, others groans—one of Amma’s American devotees stood up. “Do you want to know how to make God laugh?” she asked. “Tell Her your plans.”
Half groans, half laughs.
Amma said, “God smiles when He sees someone crying because of their identification with another person’s suffering and then reaching out to console and comfort them.”
An eight-year-old boy named Eknath then came forward and told a quite intricate joke involving an ant and an elephant getting into an accident while riding a motorcycle. Why was only the elephant hurt? 'Because the ant was wearing a helmet.'
Again half groans, half laughter.
Another eight-year-old boy, Ramu, then asked Amma, “Why are you God?”
“Because you are a fool,” Amma sweetly replied. Then in order to help Ramu understand his foolishness, Amma asked him a question of her own: “Where is God?”
Ramu pointed up to the sky.
“No, inside,” Amma said. “God is inside of you.” And then pointing to the 400 or so people circled around her, “God is inside each and every one of these people here. We should serve everyone, seeing them all as embodiments of God.”
Amma then asked the boy to explain his concept of God.
“God created the world and all the people,” Ramu said.
“The world is not God’s creation,” Amma replied. “It is your creation.”
Amma’s sutram one of the highest truths shot forward with the compactness and swiftness of an arrow struck the hearts of everyone assembled. A thousand pundits can speak such a truth and it will never have the impact that comes from hearing it directly from the mouth of a Satguru, one who speaks from their direct experience.
Voluminous works like the Yoga Vasishtha and in-depth commentaries like Sri Gaudapada’s Mandukya Karika have been composed in order to illumine this raw truth: the fact that the entire universe is indeed nothing but a projection of the mind. As such, Ramu stood perplexed. Then, staring up into the infinity held within Amma’s eyes, he finally—without confidence—said, 'Amma is joking.' "
 How many of us think exactly like 8 yr old Ramu. We wonder at what Amma is saying and are unable to understand Her leelas! 
Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Action and meditation!

813. Om murtayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has forms.

Amma on action and meditation:
"Tapas alone is not enough; you need action also. Soap alone is not enough to wash your clothes; you need to "agitate" or beat the clothes clean. To overcome the circumstances, karma (action) is essential. We should be able to remember God constantly, whatever we are doing, and not just when we sit for meditation. Further, selfless action will help develop the purity needed for meditation. Action is also necessary to test the progress we have made in meditation. On the other hand, without meditation, selfless action is not possible. The actions of a man who does tapas have a power of their own; they benefit everyone."
How beautifully Amma tells us that it isn't enough for us to just sit in a place, eyes shut and meditate. We also need to do the selfless service that the hours of quiet reflection have taught us. 
Om Amriteswariye namah!

The enemy within!

812. Om para-mantra-vibhedinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who breaks the spells of the evil mantras of the enemies

 

For months I used to say this mantra and imagine Amma protecting me from varied enemies. Today I find the enemy is within. I have bitterness. And a lack of understanding. May Amma grant me the grace to fight these.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Empowering women!

811. Om pasa-hantryai namah: I bow down to Amma who destroys the bonds.

A report on the women empowerment village workshops held during Amma's birthday celebrations:
"As part of Amma’s 62nd Birthday Celebration, hundreds of women (and few men) from adopted villages across India came to Amritapuri. Many are enrolled in “Women Empowerment: Sanitation Project” vocational classes in their home villages.
Taking advantage of the training facilities and skilled instructors at Amritapuri, additional workshops were offered in subjects such as Block Printing on Fabric, Tile Installation, Soap Making and Packaging, and Basic Carpentry.
Video presentations covered the basic details, then the women got to work with the tools themselves, gaining valuable “hands on” experience.
Skilled female instructors served as powerful role models for these young ladies."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Beautiful Amma!

810. Om pasa-hastayai namah: I bow down to Amma who holds a noose in Her hands

Some days, the thoughts are stuck, as tears...

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Holding on...!

809. Om parat-parayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the most supreme of the supreme ones

Just need some hand holding, Amma...

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Her flow of charity!

808. Om paramanave namah: I bow down to Amma who is the subtlest particle.

Enough said.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Through the dark and the bright!

807. Om parasmai-dhamne namah: I bow down to Amma who is the supreme abode

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

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Happiness!

806. Om parasmai-jyotise namah: I bow down to Amma who is the supreme light
  

 

Not feeling too well and so will leave it as this picture...Amma's dance of happiness and love.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Stillness!

805. Om puskareksanayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has eyes like lotus petals

Amma's advice on meditation:

"To make the mind meditate by force is like pushing a hollow log under water. It will shoot up to the surface as soon as you remove your hand. The same is the case with the mind. If you force it to do something, it will revert to its original nature as soon as possible. That is the nature of the mind. Mere suppression or force will not help. You should slowly try to conquer the mind by giving it new ideas, and cultivating good habits in the place of old and bad ones. Control the mind by using discriminative thinking. Anyhow, in the beginning stages of meditation, you will have to sit and apply a little force. Otherwise it is difficult to teach patience to the body and mind. Once you start getting a taste for meditation, to sit will not be difficult and slowly it will become spontaneous. Until then you must strive hard."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

From sorrow to sadhana!

804. Om puskarayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is complete; to Her who gives nourishment to all.

Finally it all makes sense!:
"It is not possible to get closer to God if there is no sorrow of any kind. Therefore, God will create some kind of difficulties through Mother. Having heated the iron in the fire, the ironsmith beats it. It is not possible to beat it into a shape without heating it up properly. Reformation won’t happen if the iron thinks, “I will not allow myself to be heated in the fire.” The Guru will create obstacles and sorrows for the disciple. The disciple should overcome all that with intense sadhana. Spirituality is not for idle people. The difficulties of the subtle level are hard compared to the sorrows of the external world. There is nothing to fear for one who dedicates everything to a Satguru."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Worshipping Amma!

803. Om pujyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is worthy of worship by all

From an apt article in the Guardian,  in 2008:

Amma is in greater demand now than at any other time in her spiritual career. Perhaps her popularity says more about us than it does about her. It's so rare to have someone look you straight in the eye and hold you unconditionally in their arms that it can become a religious experience for some people. You don't need to learn yoga or Sanskrit or study any kind of ancient text to be part of Amma's religion, you just need to be able to receive a hug. In a world where public figures are lofty and removed from ordinary people, she looks accessible, approachable and touchable. That's the secret of her success.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Patience and ego!

802. Om puratanayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is ancient

Amma, on patience and ego:
"Patience is the one quality that is needed from beginning to end in spiritual life. The shell around the seed has to break before the tree can emerge. Similarly, you have to get rid of the ego before you can know Reality. The guru will devise many tests to see whether the disciple has come to him out of a temporary surge of enthusiasm or out of real love for the Goal."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Pure mind!

801. Om pustayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is always full of vigor, nourishmnet

Amma on eating correctly and purity of mind:

"Diet has a great deal of influence on our character. Children, you should take care to eat only simple, fresh, vegetarian food (sattvic food). The nature of the mind is determined by the subtle essence of the food we eat. Pure food creates a pure mind. Without forsaking the taste of the tongue, the taste of the heart cannot be enjoyed.
Never overeat. Half the stomach should be for food, a quarter for liquid, and the remaining portion for the movement of air. The less food you eat, the more mental control you will have. Do not sleep or meditate immediately after eating; if you do, you won't be able to digest the food properly. Always mentally repeat your mantra while you eat. This will purify the food and your mind at the same time."

Om Amriteswariye namah!

About women and motherhood!

800. Om rasa-sevadhaye namah: I bow down to Amma who is the treasurehouse of rasa (bliss of Brahman)

Amma on women and motherhood:
"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."

Om Amriteswariye namah!