28 Dec 2011 —
Question
Q195: Spiritual 2011?
Question 195:
“Looking back at 2011, to what extent do you feel that you used it positively for your spiritual progress?”
Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).
Whenever got free time, tried to read books related to spirituality. Though miles apart from Amma’s physical body, tried to keep in touch with Amma thro’ tv programmes, bhajans, web page and YouTube which surely lifted my spirituality. Finding peace inside me because of spirituality and happy about that….
Perhaps I’ve gone back to where I started from with the realisation that I’m nothing that I thought was real… clearing the canvas for the painting!
2011 was an important year for me in my 14 years of association with Amma. Amma had given a great opportunity to move ahead in life. The most boring thing I felt was to chant the Sahasranamam namavali and Ashtotaram, but after Amma’s Ahmedabad visit in March 11, I got the motivation to chant it as a daily chore. Besides this being a part of Amala Bharatam team during the visit changed my outlook towards environment. Probably whenever I find a waste in my office I clean it myself and my colleagues too follow it.
Besides the most important learning I got to know is that when you love someone, you must not conquer love, you must expect the happiness of other person and be happy in their happiness. Sacrifice is the other form of love. I find these are most significant changes in my life.
2011 was a year of Test…. but every situation and experience was like a chapter in a text book…there was mystery, tears, pain, sorrow,sacrifice finally acceptance…learnt a lot…those close to God have to go through….to vanish the “I” in us is to win..”Pain is Temporary Victory is Forever”…Victory is to get “AMMA”
Regular meditation has helped me absorb all aspects of life as they are ought to be. Only meditation can help us to perceive the higher dimensions of life. Amma’s presence (visible as well as invisible) can work wonders. All these things happened to me in 2011 an I am hopeful this phenomenon continues in the coming times also.
I constantly tried to look within and understand the dynamics of life. With the help of the divine teachings and Japa and meditation and selfless service to the poor and needy I have gained some level of inner preparedness to continue my journey. Amma’s Grace has been the principal ingredient for my improvement. I use my aloneness to intensify my prayer and even cry out loudly or dance in bliss when I feel so. Yes, now my awareness has grown considerably. Strange I now longer crave for Amma’s physical presence knowing that she is so illusive, I try to be with her in all situations circumstances and places. Not easy but it will happen! Amma Ki Jai! Durga Saranam Mama!
I was very short-tempered and used to react angrily, but by Amma’s grace, in 2011, I have mellowed down .Now I dont react but I respond to accusations and arguments if any. Thanks to Beloved Amma, I have got over my anger to some extent.
The effort to attain perfection is there but i feel that i have to do a lot more. There are distractions galore and i feel that anger , fear still hovered around me during the larger part of 2011 . Shraddha , more and more Shraddha is required to attain perfection. I pray to our beloved Amma to make her son more alert at all times of the day.
2011 is important to me because it is the 25th year of blessings since I met Amma. This year mentally and intellectually I could utilise it better but in the physical level could not do much Sadhana because of lethargy. My sincere prayer to Amma is that I should be able to offer my unselfish actions incessantly. I pray for physical health and mental strength.
I am nothing and my Divine AMMA only knows about me she can only tell where do I stand. AMMA Sharnam. Happy New Year to every one
Both challenges and joys sprinkled my spiritual journey in 2011. When sorrow brought me to my knees, I changed my thought to “Love God with all my might.” This transformed the feeling of pain into relief. When joy and ease filled my day, I repeated, “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.” Daily, I reminded myself of my connection to the Divine and this feeling of co-creation empowered me with love and compassion. I chanted my manta when I walked, typed on the computer keyboard and felt afraid. It took my mind to a better feeling place. I also dreamed that Amma told me that she would hold my hand and walk side by side with me, “Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.” Her Guidance and Grace healed and sustained me in 2011.
Well! This question is very important to ask oneself so that the spiritual progress can be very rapid and accident and disease free for 2012. By AMMA’s grace, all my defects were revealed as the pure lake water reflects the Sun’s rays. Surely, I will take all measures and remove my defects that ensuring blissful spiritual journey. (Ananda-amritha-ayanam)
Thanks for asking this question. It forced me to look back and ask myself whether i truly imbibed the lesson in every event. Lesson learned from most events were of acceptance which reminded me what Amma said, not to swim against powerful currents, that can only wear me out. Looking back there were missed opportunities, hence I didn’t use 2011 to the full extent positively for spiritual growth. Since the year is not over yet, will try my best for next 3 days not to miss anymore.
Not sure, only Amma knows. Did I walk in/with beauty, above, around, below and within? Not always. Accepting I am not the doer. Placed myself in uncomfortable situations to learn. Learned more of what uplifts me and what brings me down. Learned that walking away and running away are two different things, one involves discrimination,the other fear. Returned to using a gift Amma gave me, although challenging, found joy and peace. Affirmed that I am happier giving than receiving. Although, have discovered I am uncomfortable receiving because I feel guilty,like it belongs to someone else who has more needs. Suprised, when I finally fell to my knees, and touched those beautiful feet was told, “ok, now rise and fight”??? with LOVE!!!!need more work! Forgive, only/always a child.
i awake now every morning and remember who i am. And again before i sleep i remind this body of the ‘Truth’ of what it is. In between these times i stay a close as this body can in Living ‘The Great Point of View’ that the ‘MASTER’ reveals in every moment in every breath. A simple way, in the feeling of True ‘LOVE’. Unconditional ‘LOVE’.
For me too 2011 was a year of test. In each test i failed miserably, i didn’t knew why Amma is testing me like this, but now i know she was saving me from a great danger, and at the very end of the test i think, i won Amma’s heart. I LOVE YOU AMMA. And i hope, 2012 will be a year that showers Amma’s grace to everyone. Aum Namah Shivaya.
I am developing a mind to dedicate everything I have to ‘Lotus feet’ and live like His dasa who stands last in Que.
You can only see how much you progressed and at what time after Enlightenment. Before this we are still confused and have inacruate judgemnt You can only see how much you progressed and at what times after Enlightenment. Before this we are still confused and have inaccurate judgment. Anything you think about progress, or lack thereof, will likely be wrong. Swamiji says that Enlightenment is both gradual and sudden. It only takes an instance for us to go Beyond, for complete absorption to take place and Nirvikalpa Samadhi to occur. But until that happens be will feel that we are progressing either slower of faster because we are in the mind-created world of dualities. Also, Amma Herself says that only the Guru knows when this will happen.
Have tried hard to remember Amma’s instructions of seeing Her in all, and serve Her by serving others…She created the opportunity for me to serve others so that slowly my tainted heart could be purified. I love You, Amma….Please help me to enshrine you in my heart forever…please bless me with humility to serve others selflessly…please take away my mind and ego…that is all I have to give you…
2011 was a tough year for me and included tears, failures and one good thing that I got married to the man who has always supports me on my spiritual path.I hope Ammma blesses me with more wisdom in 2012 that I take better decisions and do ńot run after things which were never supposed to be mine. AMMMA please bless us with your love and grace..Cant survive without you
In one minute looking back, I can only think of the unlimited grace Amma has showered me this whole year. I think, my devotion entered into new realms of thoughts and realizations which I have never entered in previously. It was exciting. I don’t know whether this has decreased my devotion, so come year, I should put more focus in to devotion as well. I pray Amma for giving me more devotion. nothing else.
I began putting on a chant CD every day–sometimes more than once. I therefore have the archana playing every day in my home. I am hoping it is true that just having it to listen to, though I do other things during it, is beneficial. That is a big difference. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.
having darshan and hug from amma @ dearborn in 2011. 🙂
I kept trying to do spiritual practices, to trick myself to find time and space to do any of them; for me it is a slow process of commitment. And I have gotten less destructive to myself that I don’t follow through as I imagine I should.
Amma is teaching me in gentle though powerful ways and I am more aware of that. Thank you for this question.
It feels as if spiritual energy has become quite overwhelming in 2011.Eagerness and readiness have grown in crescendo as if in order to reach a turning point. True? False? The days to come will answer that.
I could not achieve my target in 2011. But visited as many temples. Regarding meditation and Japa, my progress is less. I pray Amma to give her grace to do more sadhana in 2012.
Lot of changes during last year 2011. i met amma lst decemeber since then i did lot of spritual practice, luckly i got matra first time i met, feel so lucky . i did lot reading about amma’s books .. but still lot to be done in this year this can only happen by the blessing of amma..
As AMMA so often says, the next moment is not within one’s grasp. She inspires us to be positive at all times, so i feel, with the passage of time, i have more or less learnt the difficult art of accepting everything as AMMA’s grace.The year 2011 came to a close with a lot of apprehensions about the following year, but our Beloved AMMA allayed all fears about 2012 saying that we, Her children should resolve to be happy in spirit, no matter what calamity befalls us. AMMA, i, your child assure u of my adherence to Your weighty words of wisdom.
2011 was a special year. A lot of milestones were achieved in this year, and all through the Grace of AMMA! Each time my faith in AMMA was strengthened and I have managed to maintain my positive outlook. Though I have not had Amma’s Darshan, I look forward to it. As of now, I know and am happy that AMMA is the main driving force to steer us in the right direction, to achieve spiritual energy in the midst of our daily materialistic pursuits!
Really speaking i don’t know how to measure my spiritual progress within a year.But one thing is sure that whatever i used it is positively only. i never try for a negative approach.I think my most beloved Amma and my most beloved , know my internal change. i hope that there is not much change is there in the out side out look. .
Esse ano foi um ano desafiador. Mas venci muitos obstáculos pela fé, meditação e a pratica de fazer o bem. Rever posturas e pensamentos e fazer muitas orações. São grata Amma, por toda sua energia amorosa!