Seeing off Amma
Seeing off Amma – the episode of last minute Grace
It was just a few days ago that Amma had left Amritapuri for the Japan-US tour. To describe the emotion filled days before Amma’s departure for the tour is not so easy. Many eyes seem lost as they seeked her to fill up every ounce of memory before that embodiment of Love leaves on the US tour to see her children there. Amma is an embodiment of that very Universal motherhood. It is so wonderful to lose hours just gazing at that Mother.
The tour days mean many of us will miss Amma’s physical presence for the next 7-9 weeks. Just two days before the trip, Amma had sweetly spent time with us all in the swimming pool which left us floating in immense joy. Then came the final day, the day of departure. Amma was supposed to leave at 6am so many of us had gathered outside her room at 04:30am. There was a small crowd, some scattered in prayerful silence, others in joyful expectation, some chatting while others painfully sad-however all with one eager goal, to see Amma that morning. Even Archana was speeding up so as to meet up Mother. One by one the other wagons including those of Swamis and tour members travelling with Amma left the Ashram premises. The steps near Amma’s room saw multitudes of ashramites gathering to catch a glimpse of the Mother. A car was ready and waiting for the journey to Thiruvananthapuram airport. Suddenly a shout and then, a bout of yells “Amma Amma Amma…”. It was our Amma, she had just stepped out of the room and when everyone expected her to come down the stairs and get into the car, she did something wonderful.. Amma walked into the temple to give a last-minute Satsang. People filed in to sit close to Amma as is done every Tuesday.
It was a unique Monday morning. Amma started her discourse lovingly mentioning about how she wants a photo of all her children with their faces up so she could keep it with her while traveling. It was more like Amma misses us…than we miss her. Amma mentioned the importance of Seva and regular spiritual practices. Titbits of advices flew to all corners touching various aspects of the many children around her. Amma drew examples from her life telling how beautiful is Nature and how ideal it served as a teacher. She talked about love, compassion, righteousness, spiritual practices in her won unique simple way covering many aspects of the Sanskrit words prema, dharma and sadhana. Just minutes before the journey, it was her reminder of what we should follow as everyday practices while seeking the Grace of the Divine Mother. The tune of every word seemed leading us to do better for ourselves and the world. Through her simple words, Amma insisted that we go ahead in our Sadhana. Amma’s concern was that of the Mother- a loving mom who has sent her only child abroad for doctoral research. She insisted that we remain patient and put in more efforts in our daily practices. As Amma’s face carried the most enchanting smile, her eyes and words spoke of the deep concern for her children as they walked their steep road of spiritual advancement.
The smile of Amma is more than the description by any known set of words. As the warmth of that smile engulfed us in its loving embrace, Amma got up and started walking towards the car that was parked in front of the temple. After one more look at the morning gathering, Amma boarded her car and the last set of tour wagons started off towards the airport.
Such is our Amma. How much we miss her already!
— shyam
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lovely …
how beautiful! Amma is just so Beautiful,so Compassionate, Amma our most perfect Mother, the most loving in this universe..how can we ever ever thank Amma enough for Her endless love that we are all floating in. Thank You AMME for coming to us.
THE PARAM ATMA AMMA FULLY KNOW HER ATMA CHILDREN! SHE IS SARVESWARE, SARVASHAKTI SWARUPINI AMME, THE MOTHER, FATHER, GURU, GOD, THE NATURE, LOVE, PURITY, COMPASSION FOR ALL, IN EQUANMITY! THANK THEE FOR ALL, PRAYING TO THEE, PLEASE KEEP GUIDING ALL THY ATMA CHILDREN ALWAYS, AND HELP TO REACH THE FINAL DESTINATION, PARAM ATMA!
beautiful….thanku what a beautiful way to start the day…. om amriteshwaryai namah!!!
The inner Amma – how fair is it for you to miss her ‘already’, when some of us rarely get to see her. Who is more blessed? Ultimately Amma is within us…Still I wish I could spend more time in her physical presence…lucky you!
Beautifully explained…
remembering how she sang the bhajans on that morning an then getting up saying’It’s time !’…
missing Amma , missing Swamji…
i feel like left out alone in jungle.
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Beautiful Post!!!But you all are lucky since you have this seperation only when Amma leaves Amritapuri. Some of us get rare chance to see Her , not even once in an year.But every moment we can feel HER since SHE is within us ,guiding us always…Please do not leave us unattended evenwhen YOU are far away from us physically…
thoughtful of you to share
i need every single reminder
thank you
You are so lucky to have Amma with you for many months at a time. Many devotees only see Her once a year, or less, and so they are always missing Her Presence. You should be very, very grateful to have Amma with you for so much of the time. It is very hard to stay on the path when your Guru is unavailable for 363 days of the year!
Though I am residing far away from Ashram I feel sad when
AMMA is on tour and not in Amritapuri. Like many devotees mentioned, I get darshan of AMMA only once in a year. Still I get thrilled when AMMA is back in Amritapuri, especially when I go through the blogs regarding preparation of devotees and Ashramites in Ashram in anticipation of AMMA’s arrival.
i am very happy after reading this message, i felt that i was near amma eventhough i am staying in bangalore.
AMMA’s tours are a much needed breather for all of us who stay far away from India. Some of us are not so lucky to be with Her or get the opportunity to practice the spiritual life.
And besides, staying away from AMMA will also yield valuable introspection time. Am actually dreading the day AMMA decides to stop the tours.
We all miss Amma whenever She goes on tours, but very touching to know that our beloved Amma too misses Her children. This is the greatness of God, of our Amma. Inspite of being established in the One Supreme Consciousness, Amma is happy to take the role of a Mother who misses Her children !! Amma you are simply Great !!
Sweet, sweet words from Amma to her children. As I read, she was charging me also, to do better for all the world as we tend to our spiritual practices. Such a loving display of a Mother’s tenderness to her children – pictures and surprise satsang.
I was there on that day, and must say it was really a wonderful moment, feeling that our most compassionate Mother would still take time for Her children, when She should have left already. We’ve been blessed once more by Her Divine presence, before the departure. I must say that I’ve been lost for two days after that, but Amritapuri is such a great place, filled with such spiritual energy, that I managed to feel Her finally, even though She wasn’t there physically anymore. I’m of those children barely seing Her, but with Her grace I could visit Her home and spend one month there. I can attest that even when She’s not there, Her presence is really still strong and makes everything easier. I wish to get back soon, with Her grace!