Amma's wise words!

260. Om suptayai namah: I bow down to Amma who assumes the form of the jiva experiencing deep sleep

I read this in Amma's website and it's like a question I have asked for a long time has been answered: "If you can see goodness everywhere, then there is no need for chanting mantras, doing puja, or any other form of spiritual practice. You don’t need anything.

If you see that someone has fallen into a ditch and you say, “He is Brahman, the ditch is Brahman” and keep on walking, then there is something wrong with your understanding. If you really see him as Brahman, you will help him out. Compassion will arise within you.

If someone scolds you, mocks you, gets angry at you, you must invoke that knowledge and discriminate “I am not the body. I am not the mind. Who is there separate from me with whom to become angry?” and maintain your equanimity. If you can do that, then that is sufficient.

Until then, we need to continue doing spiritual practices and other observances that will help us purify the mind.

Children, we need nitya-anitya vivekam—the ability to discern between what is permanent and what is temporary. At the same time we need practicality. This is why it is important to study the scriptures.

Once there was man who learned from his guru that everything is Brahman. One day he and his brother were walking when a dog charged toward them. The brother ran, but the man stood firm. His brother said, “Hey! Run! It’s a rabid dog!” The man still didn’t move. The dog bit him. The next day he complained to his guru, “Hey, you told me that everything is Brahman. I thought, ‘I am Brahman, the dog is Brahman. Why should I run?’ But still I got bit.” The guru responded, “Why couldn’t you see your brother who was instructing you to run as Brahman as well?”

Until you have proper insight, you need to put in effort to purify your mind, you need to discriminate neti neti—“Not this, not this.” You need to study the scriptures.

Speak good always, do good always, think good always. Stay away from bad influences. This is how we should live our life."

I find Amma's concept of neti-neti so powerful. There are times I walk about trying to set things right for other people without proper discrimination. I haven't gauged who the recipient of my goodness is. And this is where I need to assess and practice neti-neti. Thank you Amma for showing me the way - once again!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma and faith!

258. Om svapantyai namah: I bow down to Amma who assumes the form of the jiva in the dream state

One day when I sit down somewhere and look back on my life, I know the defining moment of all things to come would have been the day my father decided to take us all to Vallickavu to meet this Guru he had heard of. Amma. After that, even though the journey has been slow and my faith has every once in a while been shaken, I know I am under Amma's umbrella of protection. Not even an umbrella, but Her canopy of grace. Whether it is in the waking or dream state, Amma is always there for each of us who believes in Her and has the faith in Her. "Viswasam tannenne rakshikyu". It is faith that will save us. That will help us cross the many difficult bridges we so often encounter. That will make us realise the folly of our ways and correct it. It is faith that will make us look at experiences as the road we have taken for the betterment of our future. Amma has Her own methods. And one of them is to put us on paths that will cleanse us. Acknowledging that, is the first step towards faith. May Amma shower me with the grace to realise this wonderful truth!

Om Amriteswariye namah!   

Amma: our very soul!

259. Om taijasatmikayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the soul of the jiva in the dream state

To me, Amma is the soul in every state. But it's wonderful that Amma is the soul of the jiva in the dream state. There is a murkiness connected to a dream state. It's like a space we aren't too clear about where dreams and nightmares visit. So if Amma is pervading that space, it is wonderful because even in our subconscious level, Amma is present. She is always there to guide us and show us the right path. Even in a dream state, Amma is gently nudging us to get onto the right path. She is ensuring that even when our eyes are shut, our minds are still receptive to the higher levels of spirituality. Amma is there to help us go through life accumulating the least amount of Karma. Amma is there to make this journey enjoyable. Yes, we have worries and troubles and enemies but in the great balance of life, against all of these negativities stands Amma, balancing everything out and teaching us that Her divinity will see us through. All we need to do, is stay on the right path. Isn't it wonderful that all our Mother wants is for Her children to stay honest and good?

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Cleansing ourselves for Amma!

257. Om jagarinyai namah: I bow down to Amma who assumes the form of the jiva who is in the waking state

Just as tears wash away pain and the rain washes away accumulated muck, so also Amma's mere presence washes away all of our prarabhda karmas. Just being in Amma's presence helps us cleanse ourselves. Amma's divinity is the essence of the goodness meant to be in the world. It's the sum total of all the goodness there possibly ever can be in this world. As we exult with joy when Amma gives us a hug, it really is all our negativity washing away and leaving us. The filth that we have accumulated in our mind finds a way out. Amma opens the taps so that the dirty stagnant water of materialism and greed can find an outlet. Finally, after the filth has gone, the clear water runs. And this clear water is Amma's ever loving presence.

Some days when the burden of everyday life gets too much, I need to take a pause and reflect deeply on Amma. Who is Amma? Why is She here? What do I mean to Her? All these questions whirl about in my head. They answer themselves when in Amma's presence. Swamiji said yesterday that reading Amma's life story is equal to reading the scriptures. And why not? For all of divinity lies very much at the feet of our Holy Mother!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Total surrender!

256. Om visva-rupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who has the whole universe as Her form

At the MA centre today, Swamiji said some beautiful things about Amma. Simple fact: Obviously we feel at deep peace and feel intense happiness when in Amma's presence, which is why we are willing to undertake long journeys or stand in long queues to meet Amma. The bigger truth Swamiji said hit home even more: when we are told to surrender everything at Amma's feet, it does not mean surrender to Her our house, wealth and belongings. It means we must realise that absolutely every experience, while propelled by our prarabdhas, come to us only because Amma has willed it so. Because Amma sees it is necessary for our growth.I have read this thought before but hearing Swamiji say it made it all the more powerful. I find that like Gibran said, it is a truth that nothing is ours. Even our children aren't ours. For us, Amma's children, everything that comes to us is from Amma. A gift. Our family, our possessions. The food we eat, the car we drive, the talent that we have. And just like that when Amma sends an experience our way, it is because we need that lesson in our lives. Amma is the all pervading universe for us. She is the path we have chosen; She is our past, present and future. In all, our entire life should be lived as a dedication to the finest, most beautiful Mother in this world.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

United in Amma's love!

255. Om dharmadharma-vivarjitayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is devoid of (transcends) both virtue and vice

We battle with the many vicissitudes of life on an everyday basis. Every minute there's a graph of emotions and behaviours that we chart. So also for virtues and vices in our life. Depending on situations  and people, we play up our virtues or vices. We present differing sides of ourselves depending on where we are and who we are with. And yet Amma, who meets over 6-7000 people a day never shows any other side of Herself except the love She feels for each one of us. Over the past few weeks, I heard the actor Mohanlal speak about Amma. And I realized how many celebrities must go to Amma. Yet when we go to Amma, She makes us feel important. Like a celebrity. She will receive us well, embrace us with all Her heart and shower us with Her grace. The same goes for the person in front of you and behind you. There is no extra love for the rich or no extra pat for the actor. Amma has a sameness in Her that is beautiful to see. As Her children, we know we are not being judged on anything: none of the many superficial ladders life has given us. A Mother is hugging us and She has transcended any prejudice, any virtue or vice. For Her, we are one. United in Her Love!

Om Amriteswariye namah! 

Amma's true power of Love!

254. Om dhyana-dhyatr-dhyeya-rupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who shines as meditation, meditator and the object of meditation

Can there be a better person we can meditate upon than Amma? Amma is the ultimate symbol of the goodness in this world. Amma is hope. Amma is the silver lining. Amma is the belief that the higher power of the world will set everything right. Amma is the reason we know that the sun that has set will rise tomorrow morning. Amma is the reason the sun shines every morning. Today what we are seeing of Amma is but an infinitesimal portion of Her true powers. We know Amma can remember people in a crowd but I think the real truth is that Amma can see inside each of us every second of every day. The phrase that "She lives within each of us" isn't just some divine symbolism. It is the truth. There's a part of Amma within each of our hearts. And this is what we must meditate upon and think about when we give in to our vices. Putting any negativity in our hearts is akin to throwing negativity in Amma's way. May we always have the grace to see the true might of Amma!

Om Amriteswariye namah!