We left Spain in the afternoon; following the Rhone River to the North up through France and into Germany, where the river was the same, but the name was now the Rhine. Another reminder that water is the same, though called by many different names and so as Amma says, the Truth is One, called by many names. Alas, we passed through the magnificent scenery in the dark. We could only remember the past trips when we enjoyed spectacular castles and fall foliage along the riverbanks.

Arriving at the German ashram at 4:30a.m., we stumbled up the steps. One of our group took a wrong turn in the dark and fell into a pool in the yard. She took it well and later joked to Amma that she had gotten abishekam and had been wishing for purification, but hadn’t planned on getting it unexpectedly in the freezing cold water. Amma thought this was hilarious and of course, the devotee considered that the dunking might have been worth the fun with Amma!

Later in the day, we roused and started to explore the very lovely ashram. Some of us were staying in two charming houses, side by side, and linked by brick walkways and cascading streams and pools, one of which had been the nemesis of the devotee the night before. Amma was staying in the house next to ours, and we remarked that a bush was flowering in the month of November in her yard!

The main ashram was just up the hill. One can walk through the woods, over a footbridge spanning a ravine and stroll up through the pastures to reach the ashram on top of the hill. The property was originally a horse farm and special training school for horses and riders. Part of the property is still used in this way.

As we reached the top of the hill we could enjoy a lovely view of the town below and hillsides still green with the summer’s grass. A recently built pool, surrounded by gardens, nestled below a new hall which was being prepared for inauguration by Amma later in the afternoon.

As the clouds darkened and the wind picked up, we took refuge in the hall for archana and bhajans. As twilight fell, we began to sing, Ayi ye Guru Maharani. Come Mother, come. Unified by this prayer of the heart, we sang, “Come Mother. Give us refuge. Protect us. Come, Mother come. And she came.
She asked Swamiji to light the lamp to inaugurate the hall and then began to sing bhajans. What bhajans they were! From the very first bhajan, Sree Ramachandra, Amma’s mood was very deep and all were deeply moved by her sublime state. Those who knew the songs sang along, others closed their eyes and went inside, and some were just transfixed and in awe of Amma’s transcendent state. She continued with Amme Ulakam, Uttama Premattin and Kannende Kalocha. At the end of each bhajans, tears were streaming down Amma’s face. Nature responded and a gentle rain fell on the lawns, pastures and gardens outside.

After a few moments of silence at the end of the bhajans, Amma looked around and said that there were many of the German satsang members missing. It was explained that most had to be at the hall to set up for the program that would begin in a few hours. Amma expressed her sadness that they weren’t there. She mentioned their absence several times and sent prasad to them at the hall. It really seemed that the evening had lost some of its luster for Amma knowing that some of her children were not sharing this special time with her. Often on tour stops in India, she will tell us to remember the ones who were left behind before we eat our prasad meals. She always wants us to remember those who are sad not be with Amma and not take our chances with her for granted. It seems she wants us to remember their pain while enjoying our happiness. In fact, it really seemed that Amma was as much with those far away in the Manheim hall as with us.

As Amma distributed plates of pasta for everyone, little Siddarth entertained us by telling Amma’s life story! He remembered all the main points and details and Amma would often stop passing plates and just look at him in amazement, as if she had never heard this story before. It was one of those “too cute” moments.

We couldn’t linger this evening as we still had to drive to Manheim and set up the bookstore and the cook tents. Throwing us one last glowing smile, Amma slowly walked out of the hall and drove through the rainy night, over the hills and through the quaint villages with their lace curtained windows glowing in the dark. Soon the devotees at the hall would have their share of “Uttama Prematin”.

“That love can be described by none. It is beyond words. Then how can I hope to speak about it? I can only bow down again and again with tears in my eyes.”

Rta
From Germany, Europe Yatra 2010