28 August 2010
M. A. Center, San Ramon, USA
In India, and especially in Amritapuri, every day is a festival. Indeed, the months of August and September are filled with holidays and celebrations to be enjoyed by all.

Here at M.A. Center, over two hundred devotees came from around the region this past Saturday to celebrate Onam, the traditional Kerala festival marking the return on the legendary king Mahabali. They were greeted by a beautiful pookkalam decorating the entrance to the Main Temple. Inside, Br. Dayamrita gave satsang followed by a humorous play about a Malayalam family living in the Bay Area who had forgotten the annual tradition. A visit by an elderly relative from India set them straight by suggesting that they visit M.A. Center where she told them they would find the true meaning of Onam.

Afterwards, Br. Dayamrita led everyone in singing bhajans – ending with a rousing Amrita Vahini.
Finally, everyone was treated to a delicious traditional Kerala dinner.
- Sri Pati

Amritapuri Ashram

A heaven right here on earth
Managed by a goddess, since birth
Righteous but tender are her ways
Inspiring is her gaze
Through her simple embrace
And in the beauty of her grace
People are brought to their knees
Under her wings their hearts unfreeze
Reassured that they are protected
In her hugs, their fears deflected

Always present whether in body or soul
Service and love are her goal
Helping the needy is her mission
Ridding the world of its great depression
All this place is her blessing
May it be forever growing

– Charbel, Lebanon

8 Aug 2010

Every day, with Amma, is so very beautiful. Yesterday was the second day of Darshan after the USA Japan programs. Amma spent long days starting at 11am until 2am the next day spending time with each person who had come.

Yesterday evening turned lively as Amma called in for Amrita University students. Amma’s interaction with her student children is really touching. Amma asked the whole stage to be emptied for her students to sit. Many of the students were new and hence as they sat behind after seeing Amma, they saw her with a new tinge of amazement, their child-like curiosity leading them to tell where they were from and asking the bramhacharins whether Amma does this so regularly.

Amma was so loving asking if they feel comfortable in the campus, do they study well and so on. A boy came to her and showed her the face. The young student had previously prayed in the past that he wanted some beard(facial hair) since it did not grow fast on him. Reminding him the episode, Amma said “Oh you now have hairs on your chin”. The boy said “Amma even that is your Grace!” Amma broke into laughter saying “He says even this is my Grace!”

Then there was another student who came well-dressed with a new shirt. Amma teased saying “Oh you are dressing so well since you want girls to ogle at you. Wait come here.” She started readjusting his shirt. The boy meekly replied “i had that thought previously but not now” referring to the publicity he was getting being in Amma’s presence.

Amma would ask students whether they study enough. She would be happy to hear comments on achievements from her children.

It was around 10pm and Swamiji was singing Bhajans. Beside Amma there was this young boy, Eknath, of 12-14 years from Michigan. He was looking everywhere around in amazement. Amma suddenly turned towards him and asked him in English “”Eknath, Eknath” followed by “are you ok?”. The boy started looking all around to guess where that came from. He then looked at Amma and said “I’m very ok!”. Then Amma asked him “Don’t you want to dance?” It seems during Amma’s tour Eknath would dance whenever he heard Bhajans. Looking at Amma and smiling, Eknath replied “Yes, but i want to dance with YOU”. Amma spontaneously remarked “Endammae”, which in Malayalam closely translates to the shock-surprise remark like in Italian “Mamma Mia”! Everyone around laughed hearing this beautiful conversation.

Lot more of nicer things happened and with Amma this list is endless. The celebration continues. What a Grace indeed!

shyam

On Mondays and Fridays Amma has regularly been going to the beach and leading meditation and question and answer sessions. Monday the 16th, however, it had been raining heavily. So, we were surprised when we heard the familiar three bells announcing that Amma was coming out to join us. But where? In the bhajan hall under a tin roof reverberating with raindrops we discovered.

Amma was accompanied, as usual, by Siddarth who sat by her side. When another little boy came up and got a kiss from Amma, Siddarth clearly wanted to be sure he got his share of attention and cuddled up to Amma! Toward the end of the Q and A, little tots from all over the world began to slip through the crowded hall toward Amma. Blond, brunette, male, female, Eastern and Western, they all were attracted to Amma like filings to a magnet. They surrounded Amma, sitting on her peetham, at her feet and standing by her side.

At the end of the Q and A, Amma asked Siddarth to sing, Mayyaji. This was a particularly poignant moment, as he was about to leave India to return to America to start school.

O Mother, I need you. I need you every moment…Only you can make me smile. I need you. I need you with me.
Amma kept encouraging him to sing faster and he followed Amma’s instructions exactly. After that, Amma walked up the middle ramp to the stage for bhajans.

- Rita

Of Amma’s 108 names, #48 is “Om devi-sadyas-tirodhana-tapa-vyathita-cetase namah” meaning “Adorations to Amma who became very sorrowful on the Divine Mother’s sudden disappearance”.

After spending many weeks with your North American children, Amma, you have left us and returned to your children at home who have been missing you desperately. While your departure at the end of each tour city was never sudden…how lovingly you prepared us at the end by showering us with petals and gazing upon each of us as we walked past the stage…you have still left thousands of your children despondent and longing for your presence. Sure, we have returned to our ‘real’ lives, going to work and school, taking care of family matters, paying bills and meeting with friends. Yet all the while we know deep down inside that something is wrong, something very important is missing.

What is missing is the opportunity to be in the presence of a living Goddess. To be in the hall with you, watch your beaming smile and your big-eyed amazed look when someone did something naughty or amusing. We are missing the opportunity to hear you call out ‘Krsna Krsna Krsna” or “ma ma ma MA MAA MAAA!!!”. We are missing your playful leelas and even the not so fun ones that you sent our way to remind us of who was really in charge. Like the North Star, our thoughts were always pointed towards your altar in the hall no matter where on the premises we were. We knew that whether we went for darshan that day or not, you were carrying us, giving us the strength and energy to do seva and keep going with only a few hours of sleep. And then, before we knew it, in a final petal-drenched Amma Amma Taye, it was all over. The festive atmosphere ended when you walked out of the hall. No more Swamis or bramhacharins singing bhajans, no more tour-staff sisters and brothers preparing delicious meals with love and devotion, no Amma shop to scout for the lastest great picture of you, no taking a break from seva to sit and watch you for a few minutes and come away fully refreshed.

I can tell myself that you live in my heart. I can tell myself you are only but a mantra japa away. I can watch every video of you I can find or read every word anyone has written about you. But in the end my heart knows better. It has tasted the bliss of being in your arms. It has gotten a glimpse of how life can be in the presence of Creator of the Universe. It knows that it will only be happy again when I am at your feet gazing at your enchanting smile. The ache in the hearts of the Gopis as they said good bye to their Beloved Krishna…yes, my heart now knows this ache. The tears that flowed down their cheeks…my eyes have cried them. Beloved Amma, how does one console such an aching heart? Dearest Amma, how does one deal with the sorrow of your disappearance? Kotha Tumi Jonani?

- Vinodini

Kobe, July 30, 2010:
Amma was wearing a beautiful Teal color saree. The color combination appeared to be that of a Kimono (Japanese traditional garment), apt for the Devi Bhava in Japan!
Swami Amritaswarupananda sang an old Malayalam bhajan “Tarapadangalae…” The lyric of this bhajan has a nice meaning:
“O stars, can’t you please come down? Mother is here to sing a lullaby to you. She is the stream of never-ending Love and She is the shade-giving tree for seeking minds.

O cool, gentle breeze, who comes slowly humming silent songs in the night, what did you whisper sweetly in my ears? Is it the sweet stories of my Mother?

The sun and moon slowly rise and set in the blue sky everyday (above the dark clouds). Don’t you have the desire to see my Mother who has given this divine splendor to you?”
Amma took a group photo with all the sevites from Kobe as well. Amma mentioned that some sevites in Japan have been doing seva for the past 10 years, but have never come for darshan!
After five days of programs in Japan, Amma left for Amritapuri.
- Sudhakar