Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
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How to get the glance of Guru
10 jan 2009, amritpauri amma was coming after the bhajans from the stage, back to her room. many are lined on both sides with stretching hands to touch amma. amma tried to touch people standing on either side by stretching her hands on both sides, spreading like wings of a bird. just touching amma is enough? no. many are not able to touch amma. for some people, they wants amma’s attention. hundreds are waiting for her glance. what can they do? they may do anything for that. some calling out ‘amma, amma’, others blowing kisses…. if every one is doing…
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The Art of a Master
Three days before Amma left for the South India tour, She surprised us on a quiet Friday by coming down from her room for an afternoon of rice threshing seva. Apparently the ashram has some farm land and this was the first harvest. I was lucky enough to be there to see her demonstrating and teaching bramarcharinis and western devotees. She stood surrounded by large mounds of hay and many devotees who were lifting the hay and trying to shake and bang it on benches to release the rice grains from the hay. There was a lot of ‘whack, whack,…
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A Polishing Walk
Some of Amma’s children have very unique ways of reaching Amma’s arms. One of them is Andrzei Makowski, a 61 year old retired police officer from Poland, who just walked 7000 kilometers by foot to reach Amritapuri. “I like challenges and risk in life,” says Andrzei, “I came to India four times before, but sitting in the plane for ten hours is very boring.” This is why on September 7th 2007 Andrzei set out with a 25kg backpack on his shoulders, a compass and map in his hand and a picture of Amma in his pocket to go on what…
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Devotees Dream Day
Yesterday was a devotees dream day. First Amma came out to thresh rice with everyone, which was great fun. After that she took everyone to the beach for meditation, after which it was time for bhajans, which were very special. The songs were: Hare Murare Bhramarame Vandikyunnen Kannane Kanan Om Namah Shivaya Vilvattal Arcittom Jai Jai Kali Ma 10.1.2009 Vishwanath
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Sankranti with Amma
9 Jan 2009, Amritapuri The northern Solstice begins from 14th January. Every occasion in the sky makes a thing happen on Earth. And so it is a celebration on Earth. This one is for us a time to offer respects to Sun, the source of all life. By his northward journey the sun is making it an auspicious period of time for those who will depart from the world. And for those who will live on it is the harvest time. Sankranti is so many things put together. We in Amritapuri celebrated our part of Sankranti on a day when…
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the cuckoo has started again
7 jan 2009, amritapuri the new year is not only for human beings. it has been a week now, since the cuckoo at the ashram has started ‘kooing’. the other day, at night, one boy who read my previous blog asked me whether i have perfected my ‘kooing’. interestingly, in the morning of that same day, for the first time in this year, i heard the ‘kooing’ of cuckoos. yesterday evening when amma was going for evening bhajans, they were singing all along. it must be really wonderful to sing for Amma, that too following her throughout India. on behalf…
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Eagle Play
Tonight before the bhajans the eagle was flying around on the stage and causing everyone to dive for cover. Her behavior doesn’t actually seem aggressive but, maybe somehow playful in a bit crude sort of way. I admit it can be a bit intimidating when you see her dive at you with full force, claws outstretched. After flying around trying to claw at everyone’s hair she finally settled on the Amma’s microphone and sat there for a while staring at me deeply in the eyes. I was trying to fathom what she wanted or what her intent was, but could…
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Gratitude
Listening to Amma’s bhajans has the effect of filling me with gratitude. After all these years with Amma I feel they are an essential part of my life and will probably always remain so. They have some essence that really helps to purify and bring clarity to the mind. I often feel that even more than meditation and other practices, since the bhajans appeal to every aspect of one’s personality and help to turn the ordinary in us towards the Divine. On some days the bhajans are especially potent and tonight was one of those. Songs sung by Amma: Govardhanadhara…
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Belonging to Amma
2 Jan 09 It was a blissful way to start a new year- with a feeling of belongingness to the Divine Mother. It was a small, intimate moment with Amma during my darshan on New Year’s Eve that made me feel very special. The moment was so wonderful because even though I have had so many similar moments with Amma, every new time is a unique experience in itself. I was in front of Amma on 31st December, and she drew me into her arms and held me so tight that I could feel her elbows on my back while…