Category: interesting

selected posts because its interesting

Call of Nature – call for Awareness!

Amma always reminds us how important it is to have awareness in each and every action of ours.
The following incident reminded me just how important it is to put Amma’s advice into practice in everyday life.

It was during a spiritual programme with one of Amma’s disciples in Dublin, Ireland. It was my duty to pass around the wireless microphone to people in the audience who wanted to ask questions.

As the session went on I suddenly felt the urgent call of Nature. I figured that in between two questions, while the response was going on, I could easily sneak away to the bathroom, do my business and be back in time for the next question, without anyone noticing it.

I thought this was a great idea. But before I sneaked away I made sure to switch off the microphone and slid it into my pocket. The bathroom was right next to the event hall, so I could perfectly hear what was going on next door. I was very happy that my plan worked out so well. While I was relaxing and releasing I could hear the speech continuing. But then, all of a sudden – the hall fell silent. To my surprise the answer was too short for me to even finish “number one”. In a rush I quickly washed my hands, grabbed the microphone and ran back into the hall.

As so often in spiritual life, the things we want to keep secret the most soon become known to everyone.
I burst into the hall with the microphone in my wet hands and very casually – as if nothing has happened – asked who would want to ask the next question. Obviously the situation was a bit embarrassing, so people smiled at me in a big way. However, as the programme went on I sensed that there was something in the air, and I could not quite figure what it was. People kept on giggling and looking at me in amusement and wonder. I was thinking to myself ‘well, I understand that it was funny that I came in late, but was it really THAT funny?’

Only after the programme was over, when I went to the bathroom once more, I realised what really had happened. Upon seeing me in the bathroom, the guy next to me started laughing, saying: “Hi – here you are again, but this time without the microphone switched on!!!” I was shocked – while sliding the microphone into my pocket I must have accidentally flipped on the switch so that the whole audience could hear the sound of tender rainfall while listening to the spiritual discourse. And that was followed by the sound of a strong waterfall – while I was washing my hands.

At first I was kind of embarrassed by this realisation, but very soon a feeling a deep gratitude welled up inside of me. I was thinking to myself: Thank you, God, for not having had to attend to “number two” – I think the sound of rolling thunder would really have been too much for a spiritual programme. Imagine – you decide to spend an inspiring evening with spiritual insights about purity and love, but what you get to hear is a symphony of the most elemential expressions of the human body.

This incident made me realise how important it is to be alert and aware in every single action of mine. Even though I was very cautious to switch off the microphone before running to the bathroom, I lacked the same kind of shraddha (alertness) while sliding it into my pocket. If even the tiny switch of a microphone can cause so much of amusement, think of the consequences that our words and actions can have, if done without the proper awareness.

We need to remember that awareness, as all of spirituality, is not a part-time business. No matter where we are and what we are doing, it is this awareness that will bring beauty and completeness to each one of our actions.

– Nath

2 Apr 2014
Fabric Painting Classes

Out of all of Amma’s relief programs in Uttarakhand, the Vocational Training Centers have been the instant success story. Standardized curriculum from Amachi Labs, delivered by laptop made it possible to implement the classes so quickly. This week I attended the final session of the Fabric Painting Class in Guptakashi. This was the second batch of 20 students to complete the course there.

The ladies were obviously enthusiastic about what they had learned and lined up to show off their finished products.

Some were for their own use and some were working samples to show local shopkeepers.

Fabric Painting is also being offered in our Ukimath and Augustiamuni Centers. The next Guptakashi Class will be Basic Computer Literacy. I believe all 20 seats are already spoken for.

– Scotti

28 Mar 2014
Is it Rishi back?

My name is Rishi

“Please don’t pet or feed dogs and animals”. It is a sign that you will see when you visit Amritapuri. Yes, we do love and care for animals, but the ashram is not a place for animal care. By not feeding and petting them we make them understand that it is not a place where they are encouraged to build their needed attachments/family security.

But during her childhood and teenage years, Amma did have a best-friend dog, which would stay by her side at all times. A big black and white dog, which would faithfully protect her when she meditated by the ocean at night, and would carry food for her in the morning. This special black and white dog was Amma’s closest companion for many years.

If you had visited the ashram from the late eighties till 6 or 7 years ago, you would maybe remember ‘Kaiser’, Amma’s father’s dog. Kaiser lived a long life, and during his times no other dog would dare enter the ashram premises. Patrolling his territory 24 hours a day, he kept a watch on keeping away any unwanted presence. Boosted with self-confidence, his territory had expanded to part of the Vallickavu village. He would hop up on one of the jetty boats to mark his territories on the other side, and hop up back on another boat to come back when he wished to! Even when he got old and weak and walked slow, Kaiser kept up faithfully with his duties.

Shortly after Kaiser’s passing away, a young puppy showed up one day at the ashram and quickly made his way to become the ashram’s watchdog and a friend of Amma. Tumban has been a well-known figure in Amritapuri for the last 5 years or so, and is always seen by her side during meditation times.
A couple of years later, a female dog imposed her presence around Amma too, as a Tumban helper. Maybe because she looked so much like Tumban, people confused her with him. Bhakti slowly became a regular visitor to Amma’s own room, and forced Tumban to share his special status. When Tumban got into a serious fight with outside male dogs few months ago, suffering serious injuries, his self-confidence and ardour were broken, so Bhakti took over now the leading role as the ashram’s territory main protector. She surely does an excellent and vigilant job… and has the most endearing eyes when she meets one of us, her human ‘family members’.

Rishi with Bhakti

Last December, one good day, a young puppy that had been born at the Ayurveda beach walked coolly to the ashram and headed straight for Amma’s room!! A black and white puppy!!! He did that for the next few days. When Amma saw him, she asked that he be allowed to come regularly to the room and very soon, the little cute being considered that Amma’s room was his too and decided to spend the nights there…

Amma named him “Rishi”. An ashramite, familiar with raising dogs has been assigned the duty to take care of Rishi, and she has disciplined him to visit Amma’s room only at given times. Rishi has a very gentle temperament. He is never bothered by what is happening around him. His attention is fully absorbed by what he is sniffing and discovering at a particular moment. A perfect example of living in the moment, with presence and innocence! Bhakti has accepted Rishi’s presence with love and patience. Tumban has mixed feelings. He ‘tolerates’ Rishi’s unconsciousness but just to some extent. If Rishi takes too much freedom in trying to get Tumban’s attention and play, Tumban needs to send a brief growl or bark to make himself understood. Rishi immediately backs off. Nothing is a problem for him: there are tons of other games and discoveries to indulge in, every moment…

Rishi is at ease home…

When we left for the 2-week Kerala tour in February, Rishi was still just a cute endearing puppy, so we were all surprised when we came back and saw that he had grown so much!! He had become a young adult dog! At first sight, many thought that it was another dog. Not cute little Rishi. Now, of course he still behaves as a mega-curious and happy puppy, but he is going to be a big size dog for sure.

The question is: Is Amma’s childhood big black and white dog back?
Is it who Rishi really is?

– Priyan

Taking a rest

Making friends with an ashram cow

14 Mar 2014
The Old-New Kalari

The Old Kalari (or Krishna’s Temple) is probably the most precious and special place in Amritapuri… Everyone that visits the ashram makes it a point to visit this unique and blessed small place, either to participate in the pujas conducted there or just to sit and meditate for some time.

Many years ago, when larger and larger number of people started coming daily to meet her and be in her presence, Amma’s father had no other place to offer her for meeting the visitors and early devotees but the small cowshed right next to the family house… The cows would simply be moved, and Amma would sit in the open shed to meet people and give darshan. Later, the cowshed was divided in two parts: The front was for Amma to use permanently, and the back for the cows… A short wall separated the two parts, and Amma used to touch and pet the cows every now and then while meeting people.

The Old Kalari – Early 80ies.

With time, a cement floor was added to the shed, along with walls, a thatched roof and a front door. Thus, the cowshed had the look of a hut from around 1980 onwards. Later, a veranda was built in front of it for bhajan times, prasad lunch serving and meditation (The ‘veranda’ still exists to day, now hosting the pujas’ fire place).

The Kalari in the mid-80ies (with the veranda).

Eventually the thatched hut became the ‘Temple’, the one place fully dedicated for Amma to use, also named the Krishna Temple as a statue of Krishna was displayed above the door. For many years, the Krishna temple was ‘The Ashram’, utilized by Amma to give darshan, host the Devi and Krishna bhavas, sing bhajans and meditate with and meet people. Only when the space became too small to allow devotees a clear view of Amma during darshan, another bigger hut was built close to the Krishna Temple for Amma to use for darshans (around 1986 – that hut doesn’t exist anymore).

A few more years passed, and the Kali temple (main ashram building at the entrance of Amritapuri) started to take shape. As soon as the main floor was becoming usable (1992), Amma started holding darshan and bhajans in it.
Since 10 years now, shifting yet again from a smaller place to a bigger one, Amma is almost exclusively using the big auditorium to meet people.

The Kalari in 2013 (with other structures around it)

Whoever has visited the ashram in the last 20 years remembers walking through a narrow pathway by the Kali temple’s side to reach the Kalari, which was part of a wider structure having two other rooms (doors) to its right and left.

The nice surprise for those coming back to Amritapuri from this December onwards was that these two rooms have now been removed, creating a new wide clear space around the Kalari. This was Amma’s thoughtful request… A refreshing sight to enjoy…

The Kalari in 2014 (with open space around, like the old days)

Puja preformed at the Kalari in February 2014

The Old Kalari is back, standing on its own with empty space around!
The Old-New-Renewed Kalari, where it all started close to forty years ago!

– Priyan

4 Mar 2014
Child’s Play

Today is Sunday. On Sunday children around the world usually like to enjoy their day off from school and relax…but not the children of Batwadi Sonar. As soon as the Japanese students showed up to do seva this morning, all the village kids were waiting for them. Most of the kids got to help a bit yesterday after school, but today they wanted to be there right from the start.

The kids jumped right in and began carrying sacks of sand, running and laughing up the hill to their village. Those too little to carry a sack on their own found another kid or Japanese student to help them. Then they would race to the top empty their load and run back down to get another sack. While watching them its hard not to remember Amma’s story of the squirrel helping in his own small way to build the bridge to Lanka with Hanuman’s army.

During a short water break all the village kids were given a name tag that showed their name in English and Japanese. The kids were thrilled to show off their Japanese name tags to each other and hear the students call them by name.

All the Japanese students are having so much fun working with these kids…kids living in a small hamlet in a Himalayan valley, without the luxurious distractions of internet, television or mobile phones…kids who cannot think of anything they would rather do on their day off than run up and down a hill all day carrying heavy bags of sand…kids who are inspiring us all with their smiles and joy…kids who are reminding us that where there is love, there is no effort.

– Gautam

25 Feb 2014
Preparing the path where there is no road….

After major flash flooding devastated many of the himalayan valleys in Uttarakhand, Amma pledged to rebuild 500 homes in the area. The first phase of that work is going on in and around the village of Chandrapuri in the district of Rudraprayag, on the way up to Kedarnath. A week from now 73 Japanese university students will spend their semester break helping construct houses and to rebuild the lives of people who were struck by this tragedy last summer. Since volunteers have been teaming up with Embracing the World and coming to India to help build homes for those in need.

This year’s project is probably the most ambitious considering the effort it will take just to bring the students to the disaster area. I am here now at the site with other ashram volunteers. Others have been here for months as Amma sent people here immediately after the disaster for the initial relief work. But Vivek and I specifically came here to make all the arrangements for the Japanese students and help prepare their path to a place with no road…well that depends on what your definition of a road is.

Our journey up here took several legs: Amritapuri to Cochin, Cochin to Delhi, Delhi to Dehra Dun, Dehra Dun to Rishikesh, and then finally Rishikesh to Chandrapuri. Up until Rishikesh all was smooth and easy, with uneventful flights and smooth roads. It easy to take the convenience of modern travel for granted since we have become so used to moving from one spot on the globe to another with very little effort, but when you travel somewhere remote or that has just been hit by a major disaster you feel every kilometer of the trip.

Ganga deep in a valley as the road climbs

Leaving Rishikesh, we took National Highway 58 heading north, following the Ganga back uphill to its source. It was a glorious warm, sunny day with breathtaking views as the road mirrored the twists and turns of the Ganga, sometimes just a few meters above the beautiful emerald waters and sometimes climbing hundreds of meters high above its banks. Many parts of the drive are not for the faint of heart as there are countless blind hairpin turns that leave just a few cm of space between the steep mountain, the oncoming bus, your tires and a long way down.

The highway is completely gone and we have to take turns using a one way temporary road

About two hours into the drive you get your first glimpse of the majestic snow capped Himalayas and it is hard not to be inspired by the sight of the source of all this flowing water. Soon after we reached the town of Devprayag and the Ganga heads off to the West and our road keeps following the Alakananda river north. The deeper we got into the mountains, the steeper the valleys and the damage from flooding became more obvious. Since the valleys are so steep, most villages are built right alongside the river and were thus more affected by the flash floods. When we passed through Srinagar, we saw several large buildings along the riverside that looked like they had just been pushed straight down into the mud like toys by some giant hand. The buildings were still standing but submerged under several meters of dried mud leaving only the rooftops and upper floors visible.

Typical sight in this area; half the highway has fallen into the river

After the town of Rudraprayag the Alakananda river continues to the east but now we turn off onto National Highway 109 following the Mandakini river further north. At this point the term ‘highway’ becomes very generous; the more appropriate name would be: road, and in several places even half or a fraction of a road. In many places you can see the guard railing from the highway just hanging in space as part of the road has just vanished, consumed by the flood waters. In other places the road has completely gone and temporary one way dirt roads right alongside the river are the only way to continue. Rodeo bull riders have had smoother rides than traveling down these roads; you just have to hold on to something to keep yourself from bouncing all over the car. When we finally arrived in the evening and got out of the car it felt like we had just been tumbled around in a washing machine. The 150km leg of our trip took a bit more than 7 hours and never a dull moment. Either we were amazed at the pristine beauty of the Himalayan peaks above us and holy rivers flowing below us, utterly terrified we might soon be tumbling into one of those rivers, or saddened and in awe of the destructive force that those rivers unleashed on these communities several months ago.

Some houses came with in cm of falling into the raging waters, while their neighbours were not as fortunate

Despite the pathetic conditions of the roads in this region, life still goes on. The local people have no choice; no other way. There are no trains up here, no airports…just the same broken road for all the trucks, buses, jeeps, bicycles, donkeys, people walking, troops of monkeys, etc. It’s amazing to see the normal flow of traffic make their way up and down these mountains when the only way in and out is barely there. Next week, 3 buses of Japanese students will make this same journey and I am sure it will be as memorable to them as it was to us.

– Gautam

16 Feb 2014
Vocational Education and Training at Uttarakhand

An important part of Amma’s rehabilitation work in Uttarakhand is the Vocational Training Program. It is off to a great start. Three centers have already been inaugurated — in Ukhimath, Gupthkashi, and Agastyamuni — and local trainers have been hired. Each center will offer economic empowerment through Computerized Vocational Education and Training programs (CVET) and social-democratic empowerment through Life Enrichment Education (LEE).

Fabric Painting is the first program and a batch of 20 students is underway at each center. During the first session students were asked to make a simple drawing to evaluate their skills. The results were amazing as most have done mehandi, the traditional art of painting the hands with henna. In later sessions they will learn basic color techniques and then moved on to real practical sessions.

Laksmi came to an introductory session and decided the painting would be much too hard for her to learn. Persuaded to try, she is making beautiful designs after only 10 classes. More important, she has gained the self confidence to try new things.

Other classes in jewelry making, computer fundamentals, and spoken English will be offered as soon as the Hindi translations are completed.

– Scotti

29 Jan 2014
The future home

To prepare for the MLA’s visit and the assembly of the villagers, Br. Premamrita was up most of the night building a scale model of the house to display. It was done with such care and love.

The scale model was a big hit, with many seeing for the first time what their future home would be like. Some women had tears in their eyes as they looked through the windows. This would be their future home. The men, who observe our progress at the site each day, discussed every detail.

– Scotti

20 Jan 2014
Back at Amritapuri

Back at Amritapuri, the Europe tour now becomes a beautiful memory and not a day to day adventure. Other lucky people are still on tour with Amma in the USA. However, it is also lucky to be at Amma’s ashram where there is construction everywhere for new housing. Looks like a lot more people are coming to Amritapuri to visit and live, both short and long term! And everywhere there is cleaning, paint and refurbishing to greet Amma and the hoards of people that are already beginning to arrive for the holiday season.
There is fresh light sand covering the usual local grey sand, thanks to the amazing appearance of a white sandy beach on the other side of the rocks at the beachside Ayurvedic building. Yes, it’s true. It began as a small stretch of sand at low tide and just kept growing until now we have a full fledged Mediterranean looking beach! (But still no swimming due to dangerous rip tides and currents). However, it is a wonderful place to walk, mediate in morning and evening and the source for the beautiful clean white sand now covering the ashram grounds. Alas, Amma has warned us that the beach is not permanent and will likely disappear with the next big storm. This is not a phenomenon unique to us, but all up and down the coast of Kerala, beaches are appearing and and disappearing unpredictably.

The other day there was a puja for the inauguration of the new vermi (worm) composting unit. This project has been going on for years, but now has been scaled up due to the demand for the rich soil produced by the worms from our food waste. This reminded me of the emphasis on all kinds of environmental and ecological initiatives that I saw in every country in Europe. There were so many displays and ideas. Here are a few.

Again in Holland the stage and hall decorations were made from recycled milk cartons. You would never imagine that milk cartons could be the source for these lovely flower decorations. The only things that had to be purchased were a few large staples and gold paint! Amma was very, very pleased at these low cost, recycled decorations as she stresses that she does not want much money spent on such things and prefers it to be allocated to ETW for education and humanitarian relief. We could see that the same stage decorations were used this year as last in most places, and only the minimum of fresh flowers were used.

In Milano there was a fascinating art exhibition based on the Indeed campaign. There were paintings or sculptures created for each of the six vows people can take and a table next to the exhibition informed people and gave them a chance to sign up. A lovely tulsi plant graced the table.
Here are some photos of my personal favs. I loved the big tree which was birdhouse, cum hall decoration. The recycled plastic water bottle planters are always a hit. There were also some very lovely paintings.

Another interesting thing that I saw at the Milano program was the Tisaneria and Herborvoria. In the giant room set aside for dining, which was barely big enough with this huge crowd, there was a café (Tisaneria) for drinking tisane (herbal teas). Tisanes are herbal teas very popular in Europe and an integral part of each country’s traditions. Tisanes are used daily for digestion, a sleeping aid, for illness or just for enjoyment of their unique and subtle flavours. The Tisanera gave visitors the chance to order one of a variety of teas and sip it in a café-like atmosphere with their friends. The tables had attractive tablecloths and a very happy and healthy looking tulsi plant as the centerpiece. (In fact, there was tulsi everywhere on the Etour this year. The plant seems to be able to thrive anywhere in the world with enough TLC).

Next to the tea café was the Herborvoria where you could buy fresh ingredients to make your own herbal teas. They did a thriving business and by the last day were sold out of many plants. The AYUDH table was also busy educating people about organic gardening and selling heirloom organic seeds. GreenFriends had to constantly restock their tulsi tea and tulsi seeds for growing your own tulsi.

We can see a growing awareness in the general public all over the world about healthy food, waste management, and environmental conservation. Amma’s devotees are tireless in propagating Amma’s message on these fronts. And it is slowly working, one person at a time. We can already see a difference in India after the ABC (Amala Bharatam Campaign for a clean India) launched 3 years ago. What governments can’t do, Amma and her people CAN DO. And we are doing it, one step at a time, one person at a time for ourselves and for the whole world.

Rta S
Back at Amritapuri

25 Nov 2013