Amma says: “The predominant tendency of the ego is to seek as much attention as possible. The ego thrives on this.” How do you understand this?

Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).

I was watching the trees between the Ashram buildings and backwaters. The white birds had gone, and the black birds that go a little late had also gone. Not one in sight. I was staring at the coconut tree tops at my nose level.

I could hear at least half a dozen birds singing. Like in a mountain valley. A few kinds of tiny warbling birds warbling different notes like in a symphony; the parrot colored short tailed sparrow- like bird that sings during spring season only; the long tailed brindled big bird with gruff voice, and so on. Curiously, none of them was visible.

Soon i saw some white wings flapping here and there. On a closer look, a wonderful world revealed before my eyes. They were the herons, with nests in each and every coconut tree! Dozens and dozens of them!
Herons are grey-green in color, unattractive and unobtrusive when they are sitting; but when they fly, their big white wings open wide, and they become conspicuous.

Going close to the nearest tree i saw: they have pretty blue beaks with black tips: natural adaptation for the fishing birds. Their eggs also of the same sea blue hue. Also, these herons have a very gentle voice. Sometimes three tufts of hair show on the back of their necks.

Though the birds are quite big, their nests are small, just meant for their eggs, with space just enough for the brooding mother’s tummy! And it is a well known fact that birds build only to breed their young ones. Nature is their guide. A great lesson in economy and utility for humans to learn.
When herons sit inside of the coconut treetops, with their face and beaks jutting out, they look like one of the tree’s growths.

I zoomed out my sight. The herons were in a playful mood, flying from one frond only to perch on another. The space between the trees was all theirs alone.

Indeed their tribe was increasing in multiple proportions!

- Sandhya

Amma said: “While carrying responsibilities, never forget to smile.” How do you understand this?

Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).

One day, as we were returning from the field, we saw a man in the back waters use a long bamboo to try and free a five feet snake entangled in a fishing net. This happens often in the fishing village.

We kept watching the scene as the man kept pulling on the net and the snake trying to pull away. The more the snake tried, the more entangled it got and the net strangled its throat. The man got tired and gave up. The net and the snake floated away in the water.

We walked away in disappointment. I mentioned to our gopis and gopas that it was a ‘chera’ snake whose diet is mostly rats and that it was non-poisonous.

As soon as I said this, one of the gopis(a French woman) ran back to the backwater canal, took the same bamboo pole and pulled the fishing net to the shore. She grabbed the snake and tried to free it, but it was well entangled.

A boy came over and handed her a shaving blade. She started to cut the nylon thread around the snake’s mouth. At first, the snake struggled but, it soon realized that she was trying to help.
So the snake relaxed and lay limp.

By now, a crowd of 50 people had gathered. People were snapping pictures on their cell phones. Kids were yelling ‘Discovery channel’ on seeing the sight.

She kept cutting the nylon threads where they had tightly fused into the body. Slowly the snake realized that it was free. Then, it quietly slid out of the net and glided into the back waters.

Everyone clapped, and the man who had tried to free the snake in the first place came forward and thanked her.

We came back with our cows to the Ashram, happy with the turn of events. I silently thanked Amma that after all, the snake was non-poisonous. As I am no snake expert, I was not too sure about the snakes antecedents.

- Lakshman

Anyone who has ever travelled with Amma on any portion of her world tour knows that long distances are covered over relatively short periods of time, on the ‘days off’ between all night programs. More often than not, Amma travels with the rest of the tour group by road. For most people who make these long trips by road, often covering over 1000km in a day, the rides are both the highlight and lowlight for the tour. Lowlight because very few people look forward to getting on a bus for 16+ hours or so after being up all night and knowing they have to set up for the next program upon arrival. But no matter how grueling or unpleasant the ride, Amma makes these trips the highlights when she stops with the group and breaks the journey with a spontaneous picnic somewhere in nature.

For many years, Amma and the group had to fly from place to place in Australia because of the order of the cities Amma visited and the fact that the distances were simply too great to make the trip in one day. Two years ago on the last Australian tour, Amma expressed her desire to the organizers that they arrange the next tour in such a way Amma and the entire group could travel by road. So this year the tour was arranged accordingly and for the first time Amma is doing the Australian tour by road and everyone travelling was hoping there would be an opportunity to stop with Amma.

On the first drive from Melbourne to Sydney Amma had wanted to stop, but the buses left late and were far behind and those of us who were involved with arranging all the logistics of making the stop happen, failed in doing so. Amma had stopped in a nice place and waited for hours for everyone until it became dark and started raining and there was too much distance left to cover before the next day’s program. So to the disappointment of the tour group, there was no stop with Amma on the first trip.

So for the next trip from Sydney to Brisbane everyone made their best effort to make sure all the details were ironed out before the drive. The route was planned carefully, everyone packed up the hall as fast as possible at the end of the program to be ready to leave right away, etc. But there was one small thing that was beyond our efforts. For the entire two days of programs in Sydney it rained heavily, almost nonstop. I had checked the weather forecast the night before the trip and it didn’t look good- 80% chance of thunderstorms all along our route. We also needed Mother Nature’s to play her part.

For the first 600km of the journey we drove along the coast with ominous dark clouds hovering above us…but it never started to rain. Finally we reached a spot of the coast with several good possibilities for a stop and a few of us went on a reconnaissance mission to find the ideal place for Amma to stop with the group. A beautiful, empty and secluded beach was decided upon and before the buses arrived, the food was prepared, sound system set up and all made ready for afternoon picnic. Soon after, the buses arrived and all came to sit with Amma on the sand. It was an amazing scene to see Amma sitting there a short distance from the waves with so few people around her. Even Mother Nature seemed to appreciate the scene and for the first time in the day the clouds began to part and the sun shined down. Just as Amma began to pass out plates of food to everyone a rainbow appeared over ocean.

Once all the humans received their prasad, a few seagulls came a landed a short distance from where the group was sitting. Amma instructed the person who prepared the food to make a plate for them as well. All looked on as he walked over and left a plate of pasta for them in the sand. Amma watched intently, smiling, as they also ate her prasad.

Amma then asked for someone to share some jokes or stories with a spiritual message.Then she wanted to go into the ocean. As she walked towards the waves, knelt down on the ground, reverently touched the earth, and started moving the sand around with her hands. She picked out tiny white shells, and made small mounds of sand. Then she stood up, and began walking into the waves. As she stepped in to the water, she became quite concerned about the children in the group. She asked all the moms in the group to hold onto their kids, and made sure everyone around her could swim.

As the water started breaking over her legs, Amma became very playful. Everyone hiked up his or her pant legs or skirts and stood knee-deep in the water with Amma, waiting for the next wave to rush forth. Each time a wave brushed over them, all screamed and laughed like a little kids with Amma. For several minutes Amma stood there, wave after wave soaking everyone, laughing and playing like kids. Each wave seemed to get bigger and bigger than the one before it as if the ocean couldn’t resist getting closer and closer to Amma.

After a few minutes, she turned stepped a few feet back from the waves and asked everyone to stand in a big circle and join her in singing Bandalo, clapping hands with the person next to them. Although Amma kept asking everyone to widen the circle so that everyone could see, people seemed to have a hard time following instructions. Like the waves a few minutes before, everyone wanted to be as close to Amma as possible.

After that bhajan, Amma turned once again to face the ocean, and started to sing “Shrishtiyum Niye.” Her mood changed from very playful and childlike to very deep and inward. As she sang, she stretched her arms out towards the ocean and up towards the sky and her eyes rolled back. When the song finished, everyone was still and silent. Even the waves seemed to have shrunk back and quieted their roar to hear Amma sing to them.

Then Amma sat down again at the waves’ edge meditated in silence. As the meditation continued, tears started to stream down from Amma’s closed eyes. After a long time, she opened her eyes, wiped away her tears, and bent forward to prostrate. She placed her head on the sand, and bowed fully to the ocean before she got up to leave.

Just as she walked back to the camper the sun began to set and for the first time in the day a few raindrops started to fall. There were still more than 400km left to drive till the group reached Brisbane and since Mother Nature had held back the rain all day, seemingly waiting for Amma to finish her picnic, she completely let loose the rest of the way. It then rained very heavily from the moment Amma left the beach until she arrived in Brisbane.

The stop definitely ended up being the highlight for all those travelling with Amma. Afterwards many of those that were there said it felt like a dream to be at the beach eating, singing and playing with Amma. It was such an amazing surreal experience that few could really express the bliss they felt afterwards. The scriptures tell us that we are living in Maya, in illusion, in a dream and we need to wake up and experience the bliss that is our true nature. For most of us there this may have been one of the rare moments that we were actually awake and experiencing reality as it should be, as it should always be.

-Gautam

Amma said: “A real mistake humans have committed is the inability to differentiate between needs and luxuries.”
How do you understand this?

Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).

Amma’s wish for many birds to hatch and grow in Amritapuri is getting realized: we have enjoyed spotting dozens of other nests in the trees around the ashram buildings…

priyan

The egret chicks have hatched

Zooming in...

The baby crow tries to stand, showing his wings...

Almost looking like an adult crow, he is preparing to hop out of the nest soon.

I first met Amma in Australia in 2010. Last year I was lucky enough to join the adventurous North Indian tour which was a great experience. With a longing and curiosity in my heart, I returned to India again this year to visit Amma. After discovering that there was no tour schedule, I have ended up being with Amma at Amritapuri.

Here, in Amma’s own home place, it feels like time expands in the moment. So many different people come together in a big hot pot to act out roles in God’s divine play. I may not necessarily speak with everyone, but it feels like we are connected and are here to help each other learn lessons (without even knowing it!) thanks to the hands of The master.

What I love about being near Amma, is the intensity of the learning that takes place in her presence. Lessons are being taught constantly in every moment, with every breath, word and action. It’s like little by little, more perspectives are revealed to this game of life. With my eyes I am learning by watching Amma’s grace, unconditional love and compassion. With my ears, her every word is food for the soul. In my body, I feel sensations, vibrations and energized, and in my heart I feel love. Pure Love.

On an even more subtle level, I know inner work is taking place with Amma’s help.

Amritapuri has been the perfect playground for me to immerse myself in spiritual practices. Every inch of these sacred grounds provides an opportunity for sadhana. Whether it is chanting, seva, bhajans, meditation on the beach, yoga, satsang, Upanishads classes, music classes, Sanskrit classes etc. there is something for every spiritual aspirant! There hasn’t been a dull moment since I arrived and I feel so grateful to be in this environment. Amma provides everything here for everyone and it is incomprehensible the infinite giving to all her children.

As expected, it didn’t take long for my vasanas to surface after I arrived at Amritapuri. Three days actually… And while there have been many moments of sheer bliss and joy, I can’t deny the times of utter confusion and frustration I have felt as I work on my vasanas. There have been days I have cried with joy, been ecstatic with gratitude, and had moments of frustration, feeling like I want to scream, bury my head in the sand and throw my mind out the window. In such moments, I can gratefully say I still feel Amma’s love and support in my heart.

It is on these days the coconut man appears with coconuts (I consider this Amma’s prasad as I love coconuts!), or I share a wonderful moment with Amma singing in the rain on beach, or playing at Holi festival. Mother reminds me in these moments to be happy, celebrate life and have fun. Other times, it may be Amma’s glance and I realize that she is there, thinking of me, and here to help me on my journey. It is this constant residing love that keeps me inspired in the moments when I feel temporarily caught up in my emotions.

One little lesson I have learned while being here is a very simple one. One can only expect that wherever Amma is, there are people… and lots of them! This makes it easy for many situations to come about to challenge us, test us and give us insight into ourselves.

One day Amma was giving darshan as usual. I was part of the sardine can situation where we all squeeze into a limited space on stage to be close to Amma. All personal space goes out the window. On this day, I assumed my position as allocated by the stage monitor. I really enjoy sitting with Amma (of course), being close to her makes meditation so easy and I love sinking into deep meditation and feeling her divine love through every cell of my body. I often sit there with my eyes closed, pretending that I am invisible hoping that no one turns up for the next sitting, or that no one will notice me and let me sit there for longer times. Sometimes it works well, sometimes not so well! On this day I was sitting enjoying my connection with Amma’s divine energy, feeling peaceful and content. Suddenly I was at the receiving end of a devotee behind me who scowled “Can you move and give me some space?” with a huff and a puff and a very cross expression on her face.

I was startled from my loved up, peaceful state, and in this moment physically felt a pang in my chest from the tone and anger in her voice. As sensitive as it seems, I felt hurt by the harshness of these words. I felt like a naughty little child being told off for doing something wrong. Without saying a word, I adjusted my position, as much as possible.

A couple of seconds later it occurred to me that this command, this tone of voice was something similar to the way I can talk to my siblings when they do something that has bothered me. As I reflected, I felt terrible for the times I had spoken in this harsh manner. I also realized that this situation was a mirror of behavior which was also in me.

At that moment, I made a vow to myself never to speak to anyone like that again. To be at the receiving end of this situation physically hurt and to know that I could make someone feel like this did not feel nice. I realized the importance of words, but more importantly how we say words and the effect that this can have on people. I created an intention to always speak from the heart with kindness, love and compassion. Like Amma is showing us everyday, perform ALL actions with awareness, love and compassion. A simple expression of words can have a big impact on our own and others’ experiences.

I smiled at myself, closed my eyes and sank back into Amma’s love. I was grateful for this simple, yet valuable lesson.

Amma is in Singapore now, and I anticipate things will be a lot quieter in the ashram. Even so, I know the lessons will continue with love, grace and guidance even in her physical absence. I feel happy that I have collated a multitude of heart warming moments since I have been here to keep me inspired as I keep working on my vasanas!

Om Amriteshwarayai Namaha

Yew Ling, Australia, 32

If everything is God’s Will, is it not then also God who makes us commit mistakes? What is your opinion?

Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).

For the past weeks or so, I had been keeping an eye on a crows’ nest right outside my room. I had noticed recently that the mother was not continuously sitting in the nest anymore, so I observed the nest more closely and found that a single chick had hatched and that he was starting, from time to time, to show his head, beak fully open, hoping/asking for more food from his caring parents. With some patience, I managed to take a few good shots of his actions…

The baby crow

Later, inspired by Amma’s words, a resident of the ashram took me to the place near the Ecology Department that many, many sea birds had recently made their own home. They all come here – various species of herons, egrets, sea ducks, etc. – to spend the night, making lots of noise each day around sunset…
I had visited the place a few times in the last few weeks and enjoyed the wonderful views of all the birds flocking in at sunset from all directions. A real sanctuary…
This time we visited it before the birds were due to return from their day’s fishing activities, and my guide showed me with great enthusiasm the nests of various species and some newly hatched chicks hiding at the base of the coconut trees’ large branches.

Below is a selection of the snaps that I succeeded in taking. Hoping that you will enjoy them!

Priyan

A beautiful egret fixes her nest

Always ready to defend the precious eggs!

This picture of a pond heron was taken about 3/4 weeks earlier... (see below)

3/4 weeks later (see above), these 2 youngsters can stand on their own on the branches next to the nest

My baby crow neighbor is always hungry...

Feathers have not formed yet, but the eyes and beak are very clear