The lessons You teach!

321. Om kamyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is to be desired

For all the any things I do not understand about this world, thank you Amma for You are teaching me a lesson. It is a valuable lesson no doubt and someday I will look back at this period and see exactly what You were hoping for me to learn. But be gentle Dear mother because I am just a child still learning. I do not know how to hold unshakeable faith. I do not know how to stay strong in the midst of all adversities. I do not know how to face the turbulence. I tell myself I am strong but perhaps I haven't built the foundation of my faith strong enough. Perhaps I haven't cemented it with adequate amounts of love? Please give me the grace to do so, Amma. Your love, compassion and grace is desired by all of Your loving children.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Devotion and faith!

320. Om ramana-lampatayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is devoted to the Lord of Her heart, Lord Shiva

Showing us the way yet again, Amma shows Her devotion to Lord Shiva much the same as we should be devoted to Her. But devotion and faith are tricky customers. When the going is good, we find it easy to follow. Our faith stays alive only because of the happiness. When the going gets difficult, the faith stays strong only out of fear. And then when nothing seems to be working, faith slowly begins to bow out of the spiritual equation. Amma is testing us and teaching us to believe. If only there was a magic wand with which we could see the light at the end of the tunnel and thus hold on to our faith. And then again, maybe that's the whole point of faith: to be kept alive in the most difficult of situations. Like a flickering oil lamp at an altar.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The divinity that lies within!

319. Om ramayai namah: I bow down to Amma who gives delight

At the crossroads that I am at right now, I am questioning my spirituality. Given everything that is happening, I am asking myself about my faith. I have been wondering why Amma hasn't helped. Why is Amma silent? And then the answer came to me just like that. Amma always says that divinity lies in each of us. We have to find the answers to life's many questions ourselves. We have to spiritually empower ourselves to answer the tough questions and the tough crossroads we place ourselves in! The answers have to come from within. And it can only come when the mind is clear of all negativity. It can only come when we realise that we are the crossroads we are at because this is exactly where we are supposed to be, for our own growth. And thus will flow Amma's grace.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Your grace will see me through!

318. Om raksasa-ghnyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the slayer of the entire race of demons

If this be true, You will remove evil from the world, Amma. Exactly as You say, if it is our karma to suffer, then it is Your dharma to help. I have asked for help repeatedly. Please help me, Amma. Please do not test me so. You slay the evil all around the world and I know in Your powerful arms lie the weapon to remove the evil and the devilishness of this world.

My faith is being sorely tested. You have given me a big and dark cross to bear. I don't have the energy today but hopefully Your grace will see me through.

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, the provider and protector!

317. Om raksa-karyai namah: I bow down to Amma who is the protector

Amma is the ultimate protector of all Her children, ensuring their safety and well being. Amma's grace means being under Amma's unquestionable protection. It's the feeling of being wrapped lovingly in Amma's beautiful white robes. She is always here to protect and care for us. I read this beautiful story about a devotee and his faith in Amma: (This is a post from 2010)

"Last Wednesday, I took a road trip with a group of friends to Richmond Hill, 3 miles north of Toronto, Canada. The journey started well and, despite the heavy rains and fog that came late evening, we made it safely to our first rest stop/hotel for the night. The next morning, we had breakfast, gathered our things, said a prayer and left the hotel focused on completing our drive as we wanted to attend a spiritual retreat/event with Amma.

All went well until we had a harrowing rear right tire blow-out on the highway at I-190W (370.2 point/65mph). Even with the tips I learned from Rich and from the road safety guides on what to do here and here, the car spun around twice veering treacherously close to the guide rails that separate oncoming traffic, my companions said it spun a few more times, before I was able to steady the steering wheel and calmly get it off the road to the right shoulder. We were saved by God’s grace; a divine motherly grace helped me use the right tips as a prayerful calm pervaded the car and a steady presence guided us through it all.

There was definitely tremendous grace and divine protection as time stopped, on-coming traffic slowed down and stopped, and nary a 12-18 wheeler was in sight. Keep in mind that I-190 is a very busy highway and there had been steady traffic for miles. As grace would have it, once we pulled over to the right shoulder, the traffic suddenly picked right back up and several 12-18 wheelers whizzed by; reminding us how fortunate we were. The miraculous outcome was not lost on any of us as we uttered words of gratitude."

The steady presence is there in all our lives. We just need to recognize it, place our ultimate faith in Her and then sit back and watch the miracle of life unfold! 

Om Amriteswariye namah!

Amma, the universe's miracle!

316. Om rati-priyayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is fond of Rati; who is served by Rati

Rati, the Hindu Goddess of Love. Amma, the foundation of love in this universe. Even skeptics of Gurus realise Amma isn't just another Guru. We call Her Guru because Amma is humility personified. Amma is actually the very Goddess of Love, of the Universe. She isn't just the one who shows us the path to salvation; She is Salvation. She isn't just the one who puts us on the path to virtues - Amma is the sum total of all the world's virtues Herself. Let us never take Amma's presence in our lives for granted. We are blessed because of whatever reason (I hate the word Karma!) and have been born as Amma's children. She is powerful and mighty in Her spirituality. Forget the fact that physically Amma challenges all human endurance boundaries. Just the fact that Amma is capable of so much unconditional love, for each of us (and we're looking at a number in thousands!) irrespective of color and creed, is a miracle. A miracle that we are all happily a part of!

Om Amriteswariye namah!

The Goddess of Love!

315. Om rati-rupayai namah: I bow down to Amma who is in the form of Rati, the wife of Kama

Wouldn't Amma naturally be Rati, the wife of the God of Love? For Amma is love in the purest form. What is Amma's darshan but a expression of Her unconditional love towards us? She not only holds this for us, irrespective of caste, age, color, social standing. She's the same towards nature. The way Amma serves the world, no one has served the world before this. In Her over riding humility lies the deepest trenches of compassion and love. In a world marred by boundaries, Amma creates Her own world where everyone has one master and one servant. Amma considers Herself a servant to each of Her children, serving us. She is the Greatest Spiritual Master that has ever walked this earth. We are so blessed to be part of Amma's world. May She always teach us subtle lessons of love in Her own undemanding way.

Om Amriteswariye namah!