Category: Darshan
meeting amma and experiences
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generations of love
amma’s kozhikode program is always special. usually, amma gives annaprasham (first feeding) and does vidyarambham (initiation into writing and the alphabet) at the end of the program. this time, two children that came for the ceremony were very interesting. one baby, amardeep, was brought to receive his first solid food from amma. it was a poignant moment, as his mother was given her first food from amma as a baby herself—23 years ago. a second child, sanvika, who was brought for initiation into writing. her mother, who brought her to amma, was herself initiated into writing by amma…also 23 years…
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The real Sannyasi
Last week during darshan, I remained at Amma’s side for some time. It wasn’t long before a middle-aged woman came for darshan. She was from central Kerala. It was her first time meeting Amma. She told Amma that early this year her husband had been fishing around 3:00 a.m., casting his net from the boat, when he suddenly had a stroke and fell into the mud of the shallow waters. In tears, she explained that he had become stuck in the mud and drowned. She said she didn’t know what to do. Their eldest child, who was in his mid-twenties…
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Sunrise at the Santa Fe Ashram
At five in the morning, a small group armed with flashlights to light her way, waited to greet Amma at her ashram in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Amma hadn’t been here for many years. The programs had outgrown the tent on the land and had moved to urban hotels. For the last years the programs had been held in a city over an hour away to the south and west and Amma had not been able to come here. This year she would be able to spend the night at the Schmidt’s residence, adjacent to the Santa Fe ashram and…
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Safe in Amma’s Arms
A survivor of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake shares her experience My name is Laxmi. As a child, I lived with my family in Gujarat. On January 26, 2001, an earthquake hit our lives. I saw our apartment collapse right before my eyes. I could only see dust and debris everywhere. I heard a lot of people moaning and saw them running in search of their beloved ones. I was also among them, searching for my mother and my elder brother. Both of them were trapped in our apartment, which was then nothing but bricks and rubble. On that day itself,…
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Why don’t you stay close to me?
It was a beautiful Tuesday. As a person looking into setting up the audio setups every Tuesday, i had noted so many Amma’s children setting up a meditation spot near Amma’s peedam (seat). I had been tempted to set a position by putting up the meditation mat but had refrained many a times. A few weeks ago, i went up early in the morning and placed a mat close to where Amma would sit and offer Satsang. However, as the time got closer, setting up the audio systems took up the focus and hence became busy. A western devotee came…
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My first darshan…
The first time I met Amma was after a 3.5 hour drive to Seattle. I had a severe migraine at the time, however I was determined to reach Her. I had a dream of Amma previously that made me intent to see Her. I dreamt I was coming off of a plane and was in the line of people walking down the aisle. I felt Her, and looked to my left. She smiled at me and looked in my eyes. She was walking with others to board the plane. I felt this deep connection to Her after the dream. When…
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Into Amma’s web of Love
Seeing 2 missed calls from Senthil, I was wondering what the urgency was, as he is the CEO of an International firm, lives in Srilanka. I got through to him to hear an excited voice at the other end telling me, “Guess whom I met in the airport lounge today? AMMA!!.” I couldn’t believe my ears. And he continued… “She was alone and it was as though she was waiting for me! She gave me a lovely hug. I told her I dont speak Malayalam and she told me its alright,’tamizhile pesalam‘, (I will speak in Tamil).” “Amma told me…
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Ammas Therapy
Recently a group of visitors spent the day at Amrita Niketan, Amma’s orphanage and boarding school for disadvantaged children in Parippally. They met many children and heard of the sad stories of their experiences before coming to the Niketan. Alcoholism, acute poverty, domestic violence, and suicides previously had been a part of many children’s everyday experiences. The question that almost always comes up at this point is: what kind of psychological therapy do the children receive? This is the typical Western way to look at matters. It is expected by many that the children would need intense long term counseling…
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I have found the face
It is the saga of expressing how the people from all walks of life get influenced by Love. Love doesn’t discriminate between haves and have-not’s, between castes, creed, religion, language, status or position in the society. The teachings and actions of Amma exemplify this universal truth. This is the story of Dr. Jyothi – an encounter with Love has changed her entire approach to life, a single glance of Love in living form transformed her completely. This is the saga of how Love in a living form can transform a human being completely from the roots. “I was here last…