Month: September 2006
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Two Prayers
I’m a left liberal academic from the USA who never dreamed I would ever be at a school where the day starts with the chanting of prayers, an act that is at the source of intense American political and cultural tension. At Amma’s University, however, the 8:30 AM prayers come from the heart of Sanatana
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Amma came early
I was sitting outside my room above the bhajan hall when I saw some white saris moving at the speed of light towards the stage which usually of course means that Amma is coming or going somewhere. My sisters, the brahmacharinis have a sixth sense of some sort, I feel. Amma was arriving for bhajans
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Damayanthi Amma
Swamiji is pushing Damayanthi Amma, the mother of our beloved Amma, through the ashram grounds to darshan. Dhyanamrita 4 Sep 06
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Life is a celebration
it’s Onam. all over Kerala people are joyously celebrating Onam. children… they spend their days plucking flowers and running around after dragon flies, arranging the courtyard with flowers… with new dresses they swing on the trees… here also in the ashram we have one swing next to amma’s room. almost all the swamis have used
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Orphaned in this world?
Again Amma was greeted by the cheerful sound of Her children from the Parippally Orphanage. The whole front of the hall was teeming with little ones who are so full of enthusiasm when they come to Amritapuri to see their own Amma. Jai Gopalaka Jay Hitakari Arundu Cholluvan Omkara Swararupini Tirumukham Darshanam (Tamil) Kannir Katalukal
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Onam present
A cat gave birth to two kittens and is happily settled in one of the brahmachari dormitories. This reminds me of something that Amma says about devotion. Devotion is of two types. One is like that of baby monkey and one like that of a kitten. A kitten is happy wherever the mother places it.
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Spiritual name
It is nineteen years since I first met Amma. On that occasion, in Paris, we all asked her for a mantra, which she freely gave; but having a spiritual name was never an issue for us. I was from time to time bothered by being unable to explain my Christian name (Anthony), which can be
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Evening Amritapuri
Just as every day is a celebration with Amma at Amritapuri, the sky adds a colorful backdrop for every evening.