Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
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Little Yogis
14 Dec 2007, Amritapuri The bhajans tonight were pure bliss combining old and new ones nicely. Etrayo Nalayi never leaves me cold and Parinamamiyalatta is also a gem. Behind Amma were some children as usual and at some point they were playing a game in which they assumed various yogic meditation postures. One older girl kept adjusting a little boy’s posture until she was satisfied like a true yoga teacher with her disciple. She was especially vigilant that the boy’s spinal chord was kept straight without slumping. Can we say that we have similar awareness during the day? Amma has…
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Endless Compassion
13 Dec 2007, Amritapuri Yesterday and today Amma has been giving public darshan for a fairly large crowd and that just after coming back from such a long tour. Then on the coming Saturday Amma will depart for a small Kerala tour. The schedule is just overwhelming, something I really cannot comprehend and I guess none of us can. Well, Amma’s Love doesn’t seem to know any limits and like She has said once one is connected to the Infinite source there is an inexhaustible supply of energy. Still this is only an explanation to make us comprehend something that…
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Synchronicity
13 Dec 2007, Amritapuri One of the things I love about being near Amma is how synchronistically things happen. A primary goal for my trip to the ashram this year is to spend time with Meenamba learning about her project of turning plastic bags into baskets, asanas and other items (link). If I could learn how to make the items here then I would be able to teach other devotees how to do it when I return to the U.S. While I had not forgotten that goal, I had not acted on it yet. Yesterday, out of the blue, during…
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Tuesday Prasad
Today was meditation day. It is so nice to sit together with everybody and enjoy the Tuesday Prasad in Amma’s presence. It is an essential part of life here in Amritapuri. I remember the first time I arrived here on a Tuesday and Amma was distributing the food up on the green roof. She looked at me and showed me a place to sit close by. I was in bliss and remember feeling like I was born again eating that blessed food in Her holy presence. The bhajans tonight were: Krishna Govinda Gopala Ram Hari Oru Nalum Piriyatto Jivitamennum Sankara…
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Back To Life
10 December 2007, Amritapuri Amma is back in Amritapuri and so is the Divine in the form of music. Tonight’s bhajans were the first here in two months. And it really felt like coming out of a winter storm and melting down in front of a cozy fireplace. One will maybe understand this analogy better knowing that after visiting a some European cities with Amma, I spent some time in Finland and it was quite winterly there indeed. I arrived in Amritapuri one day ahead of Amma with the place already vibrant with the anticipation of reunion. I was a…
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First Sight.
10 Dec 2007, Amritapuri Last night, when Amma arrived, there were so many people crowded around Her, as She walked to Her room, that many couldn’t see no matter how hard they tried. Even when Amma was on the stairwell to Her room, you had to be on your tippy-toes and in just the right place to see anything at all. So tonight, when Amma came out for Bhajans, there She was, in full view on the stage. During Amma’s Europe/US tour, there were a few International visitors staying in Amritapuri who hadn’t yet met Amma. I couldn’t help but…
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Amma is home
Amma’s home! The last few days the ashram residents have been busy thoroughly cleaning the ashram grounds. The excitement has been palpable. Most have not seen her since she left for Europe in October. During the afternoon, rumors about her arrival time abounded…. 6:00? 6:30? 7:00? 8:00? Around 5:30 p.m. I noticed the brahmacharinis were gathering near Amma’s house so I decided to join them. Amidst a reverent silence everyone chanted Sri Lalita Sahasranama Stotram. Afterwards some of the girls led bhajans. This was my idea of heaven! A young boy, perhaps 7 or 8, led some bhajans also…. later…
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Back Home
“Namah Sivayah Makale!” – Live 7:15pm 9 December 2007 For two months, we heard Amma’s voice say this over the web cast. Tonight, Amma said these same words to Her Children in Amritapuri – this time from the top of the stairs leading to Her room. Our beloved Amma is back home. – Sri Pati
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Why Wonder About Colour
Why Wonder About Amma’s Sari Color? Some may ask ‘Why do we care what color sari Amma is wearing?’ On Devi Bhava day, and especially after the puja, when Amma goes inside the Mandapam, one can hear many people in the hall – people of all ages – trying to guess the color. To the person who may have never met Amma, or for someone who has never seen Devi Bhava, this game may seem unrelated to spirituality and even somewhat childish. But it is this very child-like play that gives the game its spiritual aspect. For many of us,…