7 April 2011 It was the night of the seventh of April, and I had just fallen asleep in our tent. We were camping along with hundreds of other volunteers on the lawn of a local university, which had been transformed into the headquarters for the relief efforts in Ishinomaki. Half an hour before […]
6 April 2011 On the third day, we were asked to aid Otschi-Cho, in the prefecture of Iwate. An IVUSA staff member who is very experienced in disaster relief joined me and two other students. Just like Minami-Sanriku, Otsuchi-Cho seemed to have vanished. When we arrived at Otsuchi-Cho Town Assembly Hall, there were many volunteers […]
5 April, 2011 On the second day, the IVUSA representative, a staff member, two students and I paid a visit to a town called Minami-Sanriku. There, we picked up various required supplies, like soap, shampoo and toothbrushes. We also took 20 cases of vegetable juice and cough drops, as many of the volunteers had developed […]
On the fourth of April, we had returned to Ishinomaki. There were 51 volunteers this time—28 IVUSA (International Volunteer Student Association) members and 20 students from Kokushikan University Sports Medicine Department. After we arrived, we set up a large tent to use as our head office and one for cooking. Next to them, we set […]
I spent most of Friday, April 15th, in collecting all the needed items for the disaster relief work. We bought food, work gloves, and masks to protect against infection and potential radiation. We also had to buy a cheap tent and took a few thin sleeping bags from the Tokyo ashram, as that was all […]
With due respect and adoration, I want to take an oath to protect my Mother Nature… We are turning the planet into a wasteland, destroying wildlife, contaminating Nature’s food chain… Thus, ruining the beauty of our planet… She takes away all our burden… I don’t want to be a exploiter, among other exploiters… I don’t […]
Question 176: Amma says: “When we pray for others, the entire universe prays for us.” How do you explain/understand this? Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).
8 April 2011 – Ernakulam The Brahmasthanam area is abuzz with devotees, most of them are young and in uniforms – Amma’s college students from Ernakulam. Whether it is their love for Amma or Amma’s love for them, the scriptures have said in no uncertain terms, “Even a moment’s association with a mahatma can confer […]
Faith that you are listening to my deep longing, and will answer my prayers… Faith that you are gazing at me, re-binding me in your love every moment… Faith that you are hearing me, making me remember your words and bring to me tears of joy… Faith that emerges in me Faith […]