Category: interesting

selected posts because its interesting

Vyasa met Amma in 1982 – II

Vyasa (USA) visited Amma in Amritapuri in 1982. This is part 2 of Vyasa’s interview by Priyan. (Read part 1)

Q: “What are some special moments with Amma that you remember from these days?”
A: “Well, Amma was literally with us all the time. She ate with us, fed us, meditated with us, sang bhajans with us. I fell sick once and she came to check on me in my hut regularly, showing caring, concern and at the same time She made me feel that after all, the sickness of the body was not that important! Bhajans took place right outside the cowshed.
“I remember asking her once, still intrigued by the bhavas: “Is Devi real?” She answered with a smile: “She is as real as you are!”. The goal for all of us back then was ‘Self Realization”, so everyone did maximum practices to get closer to this goal. About this, I asked Amma once: “When will I know that I have become realized?” She answered: “When you realize that you are none other than me!”
On another occasion I asked her about the Hatha Yoga practices that I was trying to keep daily. She didn’t give it any importance, making me feel that she feared that they could bring forth and encourage yet another identity that the ego would enjoy holding, with pride! As soon as realized this aspect, she added that it was OK that I keep doing my yoga. But now I had become aware not to allow the ego to make an identity out of it. She warned me once also, not to start pranayama practices unless it is with a Realized teacher.
One time too, as we were walking near a Tulasi plant, she pointed at it and said that she once lived a whole year simply on Tulasi leaves!! She added laughing: ‘But don’t try to do it yourself, you won’t be able to survive…”

Q: “In those days, did you or anyone ever imagine that this place could become what it is today?”
A: “Absolutely not! The focus then was just on doing spiritual practices, mainly meditation and devotional singing, spending maximum time with Amma, with the goal of attaining God Realization without any distractions. Even seva was considered as a way, an excuse for the ego to disrupt the practices. I can say that the change happened as Amma felt the need to make us feel more compassion for others, serving them and thus being less self-centred. Everything just came at its right time, as she must have planned it… But I would have never thought that her mission amongst us would include having big charitable work, institutions, etc. Those high building rising right here now, are like a dream reality compared to the olden days.”
Vyasa stopped for a moment, and added:
“But from 1987 onwards, I mean when She started with Her world tours, I could see that she would have a presence in ‘The World’ and that it was going to expand. Still, all this is a true miracle, as in 1982-83, the few who lived with Her had barely the needed to get fed. For example, seeing the pitiful conditions of the kitchen utensils and plates, cups and spoons that we were using were, I went to Oachira one day with a couple of ‘hut boys’ (as the brahmacharis were called) and I was happy to offer a whole set of new stainless plates, cups, spoons and cooking vessels.
“What I remember the most from that trip to Oachira though, is that on our way back in the taxi, one of the brahmacharis informed me that last night, Amma told him that it would be good if we got some new kitchen utensils. This completely blew my mind of, as I felt that Amma had the power to invade my mind and thoughts and make me go buy all this!! I felt that she was more in control over my mind than I myself do!! I was shaken by this thought…”

Q: “So, how long did you stay here on that first visit?”
A: “Three months. Initially, my intention was to stay at least for 3 years, but I did not create illusions to pretend that I didn’t still have attachments to various things in the world. And I was particularly missing my young boy whom I had left in Santa Fe. So I stayed from August to October 1982, then flew back home.”
“My daily connection to Amma remained very strong. I had brought with me photos of Her, bhajans cassettes and a video, which I started showing around while sharing my experience. One person, who was immediately and irresistibly touched by Amma was a young woman living in my neighbourhood. She actually came with me back to India few months later and is since known as Kusuma. She helped prepare Amma’s first visit to the USA in 1987. So, when I was back the second time to Amma in 1983 I was accompanied by Kusuma and Kristin my teen-age daughter.”

Q: “Were there changes to the place during your absence?”
A: “Well, there were a few more huts built and a few more people living with Amma. The ashram was now legally registered with the government. Also, the cowshed had been put down and was now replaced by a more solid cement structure, which is exactly what the Kalari is today, with a cement floor and cement walls.”

Q: “You seem particularly centred on the Kalari. Any particular special memories related to it?”
A: “Of course many. Today, it is the only place that remains as it was back then. It is the place where I got my mantra diksha (initiation) from Amma. I remember it was the 2^nd October 1982. The same day that Rao (Swami Amritatmananda) got it! I remember the date, because after my initiation I went to my hut and Nealu took a photo of me with a calendar showing the date hanging right behind me. In the morning I had asked Amma for a mantra. She agreed and said she would do it after the Krishna and Devi Bhavas. She instructed me to take a shower before the start of the Bhavas. According to the tradition I took a shower with the clothes on. Then She said that I should prepare a plate of fruits and just sit and wait behind the cowshed till the very end and She’ll send someone to call me. I was in a very elevated state. Amma received me in the cowshed, with just one of the brahmacharis with us. She made me sit on the peetham (Her chair) and whispered the mantra in my right ear, while the brahmachari closed my left ear….”

Q: “What about the photos that you took inside this temple? Those oldest photos existing today of Amma’s Krishna and Devi bhavas?”
A: “Well, this was truly unique and very precious. Nealu knew that it was not appropriate for him to take the photos. So, he pushed me to just carry the camera, go inside the temple during the bhavas, and take photos! I did. No one was pleased with this; but Amma didn’t show that this bothered Her. I started clicking and clicking, each time daring to get closer to Amma, and trying various angles. Sometimes I was just 2 feet away from her!!
“Some of the most special photos are those of Amma giving darshan to Dattan the leper and licking his wounds. These well-known photos were taken by me. I remember that in 1983, I was once in Oachira and heard someone calling me. I turned back and it took me a moment to realize that it was Dattan. His wounds were fully healed, the skin was dry and parts of his face had regenerated.
“As everyone was uncomfortable with me taking the photos, I took once the opportunity to ask Amma whether it was a problem that I did it and if I should stop. Her answer was striking: ‘In this, do whatever you feel, but don’t hesitate!’

Q: how did u get your name?
A: “Another time, as we were casually gathered around her, some brahmacharis were saying that they had difficulties pronouncing my name (Gregory). Amma said: ‘Then from now on he will be Vyasa…’ This is how I got my name!”

Q: “Vyasa, the last matter we want to hear from you about is the kaimanis (hand cymbals). I heard that you have been making them for the ashram and for Amma since many years.”
A: “Yes, correct. This is the whole story: During my first visits here, when listening to the bhajans, I felt that everything was perfectly in tune, except for the kaimanis, which seemed out of tune. I took a set of them with me to the US and tried to fix this. It was a very refined work, so I began to study bell metals and bell physics, and decided to try to make new kaimanis myself. After further research I found the correct metal blend needed and the best proportions to use, and I taught myself how to make models and started casting them (putting the metal in molds). When done, I worked on fine tuning them to get the ideal sounds. From then on, each year when Amma visited the US, I had improved new sets of kaimanis to give to the swamis. Amma has a pair that I made for her too. She carries it around the world with Her. Every time She uses it, She reminds those around about ‘Vyasa’, the american old-time devotee who learned how to make them. She often adds that I was the first american to travel all the way from the US to meet Her in India!!
“Right now, while I am at Amritapuri, I am teaching the musicians here how to improve the sound and quality of the Kaimanis that they use, and eventually how to make them.”

Q: “Having visited Amma here 31 years ago, what do you have to say about the occasion we are celebrating this year: Amma’s 60^th Birthday?”
A: “I think all this doesn’t mean anything to Her. She is happy just because people use this occasion to be themselves happy… Actually, I see clearly that the real Amma is still the very same. I mean that one can still get the exact same spiritual benefit from coming to Her, provided he/she opens up properly. She still gives and gives and gives very generously… She did it before to 20/50 people and now to Millions; and still She is the same, unaffected by the numbers or by any other consideration.
“She still finds the best ways to reach the deeper layers in each one and make us learn and growth spiritually. She is unique. She was so in 1982, when I met Her first and She was just 29 years old, and still is today as She is turning 60!!!”

The end.

17 Sep 2013
Vyasa met Amma in 1982

Interview by Priyan

Vyasa (Gregory Mc Farland, USA) has been a devotee of Amma for 31 years now! He is visiting Amritapuri for a month, to be with Amma for her 60^th Birthday Celebrations. Even though since Her 1st world tour in 1987, he meets Amma every year when She visits the USA, it has now been 18 years since he came to Amritapuri… I fixed a meeting with him to ask him to share his memories from his earliest visits to Amma back in 1982 and 1983…

“In 1979, I was living in Santa Fe (New Mexico), when a friend who knew of my interest in Buddhism and Zen Buddhism, told me of a young spiritual seeker who lived in India following the Hindu tradition, and was visiting his family in Santa Fe for a short time. This is how I met Neal (Swami Paramatmananda). He hadn’t met Amma yet but had been doing very strict sadhana in Tiruvanamalai serving Swami Ratnamji who had been a personal attendant to Ramana Maharshi himself. His knowledge of the Hindu scriptures was impressive and he very obviously was a serious sadhak who was imposing on himself strict discipline and practices, despite his frail health condition. I enjoyed interacting with him until he returned back to India shortly afterwards.”

Vyasa continued:
“About 3 years later, I met a cousin of Nealu at a grocery store and he informed me that Nealu was back for a visit. I of course was interested in meeting him again. When I saw him, I was shocked at a major change that had occurred to him. He was now more loving, warm and sweet. He soon shared with me his most recent experiences and I started to understand the reason for this change. With great enthusiasm and liveliness, Nealu told me that he had met this great Indian young woman in Kerala, who is a Mahatma. That She had become his guru and that he now lived by Her side. He showed me photos of Amma and played an audio cassette of Her singing. As I was discovering bits and bytes about Amma, I was getting a clear conviction that I had to go to India at the earliest to meet this lady and maybe stay there for good!
“Nealu was traveling back in 3 weeks, and it didn’t seem possible and reasonable for me to accompany him: I was living with my wife and young son, had a job and responsibilities. I still needed a passport and a visa and had to deal with some property. Still, like magic, everything cleared out on time and without obstacles and I was able to join Nealu on his next trip to India, to Amma… It was August 1982.”

Q: “Vyasa, could you describe this first visit to Amma?”
A: “Our plane landed in Madras, and I remember being completely exhausted by the travel, especially that Nealu was very sick and weak to the extent that I was wondering whether he would really make it with me to Kerala! He had brought with him a lot of things. This held at the airport customs for hours. Finally when we were ‘released’, all we could do was get a hotel and rest for a couple of days in Madras, before taking a flight to Trivandrum. From there we took a taxi to Vallickavu. When we reached, the heat, heavy humidity and discomforts of the ride had completely worn me down. I remember Amma coming to meet us outside and giving me a first hugging darshan. But I was too tired to feel in it any special spiritual energy.
“I remember having barely had the time to settle in with Nealu in his hut and take a brief rest that I was told that a big event was to start shortly. Crowds started to flock to the place: It was Krishna Bhava!”

Q: “How did this place look back then?”
A: “The place consisted of a cowshed standing next to Amma’s parents’ house where Amma used to give darshan and hold the Krishna and Devi Bhavas. A short distance from the cowshed, were 2 rows of thatched huts, forming an L shape. I stayed with Nealu in one of these huts. Amma had a hut where she met people sometimes during the day; and the other huts were used by the 12 other seekers who stayed with Amma. All around were coconut groves, swamps, backwaters and open areas where we would wash or help with some household activities. The ashram was not officially established, so Amma’s father had just allowed them to stay in these huts next to the house.

Q: “Could you tell us more about that first Krishna/Devi Bhava night with Amma?”
A: “A totally fantastic and mysterious experience! It was way too much for me to comprehend or explain to myself. Maybe it would have been easier to land on planet Mars! And as soon as the beaming and all-shaking Krishna was gone, Devi replaced him with Her crown and special garments!! It was an experience far beyond what any reading or others stories could prepare you for. Nealu had spoken to me about the bhavas, but this live/life experience was way more than the mind and intellect could process.
“During these days I remember that we often discussed among ourselves whether Amma was just channeling Krishna and Devi during the bhavas, mimicking them, being possessed by them, or simply being fully them… I concluded after my first bhavas that Amma was none other than the Goddess Devi Herself, the historical Krishna himself. Nealu had done studies of the scriptures to prove this, and it was very convincing.
“I believe about 300 to 600 devotees would come to the bhavas, which took place 3 days a week! Barely time for me to rest from these repeated all-night sleepless events.”

… Continue with part 2 of the interview …

15 Sep 2013
MAM Relief team reaches Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand Relief Work

29 Jun 2013, Uttarakhand

People from many parts of India and the World had been asking….. When are you going to Uttarakhand? Devotees knew that is there was a need Amma would respond. And Amma did respond and at the perfect time. It is only now that the roads have opened up for people to get to some point close to the affected areas.

On our way to relief operation

In Uttarkashi, roads had been washed away so many parts, villages were inaccessible, though there was not much loss of life or property as compared to Kedarnath. In and around Kedarnath villages had been wiped out, many lives lost and people rendered homeless and bereft. So it was to this place that we were told to go to.

As soon as instructions were received from Amma, it was like someone had disturbed a hornets nest – everyone was running around trying to put together some workable plan, based on our very meager knowledge of ground conditions at that time. But in a single day, with Amma’s Grace doctors from AIMS had already reached Delhi, well-equipped ambulances and the telemedicine bus had already set out from Kochi,
and we had managed to get in touch with the local administration, who welcomed us with open arms.

We are in Srinagar
We left Delhi today morning. An advance team to see and evaluate situations first hand, before the rest of the team and equipment arrived. We are now in Srinagar, just about 30km from Rudraprayag, which could be our base camp for the coming days. It is only tomorrow or in the coming days that we will get some idea of the devastation. But one thing is clear – it would have been beyond our imagination. In a day it had rained 47cms!!

As we were travelling we stopped at one place where we could take pictures. We went down close to the churning, roaring waters. For a second I did not connect what I had seen as I was climbing down to the river. River sand well above the present level of this swirling mass – 25 to 30feet above the present level(which is higher than normal)! Imagine the volume of water that would have washed down the mountains, taking everything in its path mercilessly.

Mother Nature’s imbalance
But maybe it is not merciless. Mother Nature had been whispering to us over time that we should change our ways as we were out of balance and so were creating an imbalance in Nature. We did not hear. Then Mother talked in a louder voice, we still did not hear. Now She is shouting out Her message to Her – the floods and devastation in India, Floods in Europe, so many parts of the world facing strange
unforeseen weather. But Mother is doing this out of compassion so that we do not pave the way for our own destruction. Maybe we will start heeding it this time. But there is a point – we assume that the balance of Nature is lost because of external factors, but it is more because we have lost our internal balance that Nature is responding so. If we work to restore that then Nature will regain balance.

An opportunity to serve
As for our team – each person looks on this as a golden opportunity to serve, and lend a helping hand to those who have lost all. In the coming days, if possible, after setting up basic facilities here, we plan to try to trek to some village(for roads are not there beyond a point) to see first hand what the people, our people, have gone through.

– Mukesh

30 Jun 2013
Earth is More Beautiful than Heaven

“Earth is more beautiful than heaven.” Amma gave this teaching in every country across Europe. An interesting topic to ponder, as most of us have been taught the opposite! What could be the things on earth that are more beautiful than heaven? As we drove across Europe, the landscape certainly came to mind. The rolling green hills of England, the russet autumn vineyards of France, the shimmering golden leaves on hills of Germany, the olive groves of Spain… The drive from Manheim to Milano through the Alps really made us think that we had arrived in heaven. Lakes, clouds, mountains, mist merged in a flowing symphony of nature at its most mystical and profound.
Then there is human beauty. People are at their most beautiful around Amma. The faces of people coming to Amma are full of light and joy. But more importantly we see the beauty of the conscious choice that only humans can make: to put others before themselves, to serve others rather than rest and relax.

Amma’s program is full of beautiful young children of every colour and culture. They meditate, pray and play and are seen helping in the bookstore and the snack bar. Some lucky children even travel with Amma and get to bask in the affection of the whole tour group!
We hear heavenly music every day. What singing is more heavenly than Amma’s? And additionally we hear the Swamis powerful voices, melting with devotion, the enthusiastic local satsang and tour groups… Until the final “Amma Amma Taye”.

How beautiful are the flowers! A beautiful array of plants and flowers decorate the hall. Some fortunate flowers become garlands for the devotees to offer to Amma. Thousands of translucent pink, white, red, yellow and peach rose petals are lucky enough to be folded over a sweet and held in Amma’s hand as she gives the devotees Prasad. Translucent rose petals are showered on families, infants, mantra recipients, newly married, and finally on everyone still standing at the end of the all night Devi Bhavas.

The food is heavenly, cooked with mantra and love. In Manheim, 108 divinely delicious cakes were made by the devotees and blessed by Amma. The staff rooms fed the tour group around the clock and the food service for the attendees continued until past the end, yet the servers continued to be cheerful and attentive. Even the toilets are beautiful on tour, decorated with hearts and flowers, ivy, leaves, incense and candles.

We had the chance to sing and dance across Europe with Amma, as we did our bit of “squirrel seva” to create the programs. Indeed, Europe Tour 2012 was a little bit of heaven on earth! It is easy to see that the earth is as beautiful as heaven when with Amma. Now, our task is to learn how to see that the earth is as beautiful as heaven when not physically with Amma.

Malpensa, Italy — Europe Yatra 2012
Rta

15 Nov 2012
Fry day

19 May 2012, Amritapuri

After the bhajan ended Amma marched straight down the ramp with a determined look. It was FRY day. In front of her were set up 8 dosa grills and 3 large vats for frying French fries. Amma immediately started cutting, herself, the 10 kilos of potatoes before her. She cut the potatoes as if this were her profession, finishing it off in a matter of minutes, before throwing them into the boiling oil. Adding some salt water to the oil for the finishing touch Amma started off a magical night. As soon as her batch was finished the ashramites continued making the rest of the fries and dosas to feed the capacity crowd in the hall. An hour later everyone would have their food, but the story had begun weeks ago.

Some weeks back while helping to move bricks from a construction site{news}, in the wee hours of the night, Amma had mentioned that she wanted to give French fries to the residents. This set off countless rumors on how and when it would be done. Finally the day before Amma was to leave for her Japan – America Yatra, the ashram was in full action for the night’s festivities.

How to make enough fries to feed the whole ashram and its visitors and have them piping hot on their plate? It’s started before sun up that day with the washing of 100s of kilos of potatoes. Then continued with more than a 200 ashramites participating in chopping them small enough to be cooked fast. And then hours of pre-frying so as not to take forever to cook while Amma was serving. And then when the work was done, it could easily be seen that we had not made enough. And everything started again to make double what we had already made. The washing, the cutting, the lifting, the running, everything was nonstop action on this day. And no bad moods could be found. Everyone was in a joyous and festive mood. And when all was said and done, we had just enough to feed everyone. And everyone was satisfied.

And, to end the party, Amma sang Bandallo, and everyone cried out, Victory to the Mother!

– Sreejith

23 May 2012
Seven women plumbers

Seven women, in grey working coats worn over their sarees, moving among others during lunch time in the big hall of the ashram have drawn the attention of many. “Who are they, those smiling women? They seem to be very much at home here.” Ashram people ask each other. Western residents seem to have known them already. They say, “They are the first batch of women plumbers, trained in the University.”

Amrita University has a course in which artisans are taught trades such as plumbing through computer technology. These women have successfully completed three month training, and are now apprentices. The buildings under construction and repairs in the old flats here provide ample training opportunities.

The seven women in the age group of 31 to 49 years, all from nearby Karunagapally area, members of AmritaSREE group (Amrita, Self Reliance Education and Employment) chose to undergo this novel training; like in all AmritaSREE trainings, they would also be provided with job opportunities.

All of them have gone to school till 8th std, some went to college but failed to get a degree. All are married, with children; some of their children have completed graduation. One of them, Usha, has a grandchild too.

On the International Women’s day I went to meet them at their working places.

One of them said she is now enthusiastic to learn moped riding; she could come for work in 20 minutes instead of changing 3 buses in one and half hours. This confidence came to her because she was now ‘computer literate’.

Another observed how, thanks to gadgets like grinders and washing machines, women don’t have any hard work to do at homes. Now she feels proud her hand is not delicate like before, but strong and rough. She showed me her palm. “However, plumbing is not very ‘hard manual’ labour,“ she quickly added. “Transporting material and chipping are tough. It is hard to chip cement; that is like chipping stone. Rest is all OK.”

Sometimes when there is no elevator, carrying porcelain sinks up to top floors etc would make it hard, especially in hot summer; but that’s not a big thing, another explained.

“There have been men plumbers on the site before. How do you see yourself in relation to them?” I asked.
One of them said, “We know more things than we need to for a job, since we learnt it systematically.”
Another said, “Sometimes they are wonderstruck when they hear us referring to things by their names and by specifications…!”

No job is menial. Amma trains Her children to have the readiness to do any work, starting from toilet cleaning. Now with computerised training Amma has made plumbing a highly dignified profession.
I remember that Amma was very happy when they came to Her with their certificates. She exclaimed “Here is My army of women plumbers!”
– Sandhya

8 Mar 2012
“I Work through Your Hands”

This season Delhi’s winters were extremely cold. But then many people like the winter. Someone told me a few days ago that these are the days when they have special types of sweets to eat and anyway there is more of an appetite in winters. But the winters are pleasant for those who have a warm home, clothes to ward off the cold and food to fill the stomach. Some don’t. There are many people who live on the sidewalks, under bridges, in parks. For them the winter can be cruel. To live out in the cold, without warm clothing or even adequate food – for those unfortunate people winters can even be fatal. So Delhi AYUDH decided to help in small meaningful ways. Devi is portrayed as having a thousand hands – for it is our hands that God works through.

Sunday morning the Delhi AYUDH members gathered at the ashram in Vasant Kunj. Vegetables and other ingredients were purchased from the market, the gas stoves were set up, and the cooking vessels made ready. The vegetables were washed and chopped and the dough kneaded. None of us were regular cooks at home. But we all applied our selves and slowly puris and aloo ki subzi came into being! Creation!

We sang bhajans as we worked. The food was packed in individual packets and then we left the ashram for the distribution. Our people had already scouted some areas. Wherever we saw the needy on the roads, we stopped by and gave away the food packets and new blankets.

All the food was thus distributed in different areas under the flyovers, on roads, in streets.

At the end everyone felt very peaceful and satisfied . But the only thought in my mind was to return home and have food. I was hungry (as if others were not!)!!

I reached home. Sat for dinner with the plate in my hands. I was about to begin eating…just then my eyes stopped at the chappati in my plate. I paused and looked at it for a few moments. I have never looked at the chappati this way before. My mind flashed back to all the scenes we had seen during the day.

People scavenging for food in trash bins. Children who did not have woolens to wear in this cold weather… in fact, they had barely any clothes on. People who did not have a hand or leg or an eye. For whom each day is a struggle to make the ends meet. Little babies crying for food but their parents helplessly looking at them. And even yelling at them to stop crying. People jostling to get one packet of food. That single packet of food meant so much to them…may be that was their only meal for the day or may be for many days to come?

And here I was sitting with a plate full of food, under a roof, with more warm clothing than was needed to protect me from the cold.

Such is the state of this world we have wrought. Where countless people go to bed on empty stomachs, thousands and thousands of people cry for food and many die of hunger each day.

We are extremely fortunate of be blessed by Amma. Amma has taken care of not just our basic needs – food, clothing and shelter, but given us a lot more. She has blessed us with respectable lives.

I have learnt to be grateful for not just food but for all that I have. Learning to shift the focus from ”what I do not have” to ”what I have”. Now I have understood the essence of ‘eat to live and not live to eat’.

Amma has been kind to us to give all that we need. It’s our duty then to be responsible and do good for society in whatever way we can. Little drops of water make the mighty ocean. Our little efforts too will definitely make a difference and help to make this world a better place!

AYUDH Delhi is grateful to Amma for having given us the opportunity and strength to serve the needy and to be her helping hands!

Thank You, Amma!

Tanu for AYUDH Delhi

P.S. Over the winter months – AYUDH Delhi has distributed blankets and food many times to the poor and homeless.

[Show as slideshow]

14 Feb 2012
Vision Camp at UttarKashi

Cataract removal and Lens implant Camp
Amma had instructed that we should have medical camps in our new Uttarkashi camp. As per these instructions we had a camp earlier where a group of doctors and para-medics visited many villages holding camps there and ultimately conducted a general medical camp in our ashram.

In collaboration with the Society for Prevention of Blindness, we planned to conduct cataract removal operations, the screening for the same being done in our Uttarkashi ashram.

It was a first time for us. A group of 12 volunteers from Delhi set out with whatever we could carry. We had already arranged for two Trax vehicles to go around to different villages and spread awareness about the camps. The intention had been to initially have the screening done at our ashram and after a few days conduct the operations at the District Hospital. It was with this idea that we had arranged the schedule of doctors and others.

BUT when we reached Uttarkashi we got such a different picture that all our plans went for a toss. We were told by the local medical authorities and some other people who provide medical services gratis that the local people would not come twice – if we did not get them on their first visit they would just melt back to their villages and a good percentage would not return. Then there was a mad scramble to rearrange everything – the surgeons and their teams, the local volunteers, arrangements for accommodating the screened patients and their by-standers, transport arrangements from the ashram to the accommodation and from there to the hospital and back, arrangements to host thousands of people who would come for the screening – food and seating arrangements, painting and plumbing work at the ashram – and on top of all this work we had to spare people who would visit distant villages to identify patients if they could, or just to inform people of the camp.

We had all of three days to finish all of this work!! And being an ashram project we were spending where we obviously had to but were trying all to save money where we could. The idea being that we could use the saved money for some other needy people. Wandering all day long in local villages, some times without food and then coming back to the ashram to bathe and do bhajans and then have dinner and then again start work – scraping painting and making the ashram ready to receive so many people.

But where there is a ‘will’ oops Where there is Love or Amma, there is always a way. Many ways in fact. Obviously we had to work hard and try to garner resources from wherever we could, but Amma arranged it so that we had everything we needed. Many people came forward to help.

So on the day of the screening everything was ready – the volunteers had been primed – announcements were being made on a mic about the arrangements and the system we were following. Everybody was given tokens and they were called according to their token numbers. Many Sannyasins from local ashrams (everyone knew Amma, most had met Amma too) came to help – some to help cook food, some to register the patients(the government requires details of patients), some to help the really old to move from one room to the other. One sannyasi took it upon himself to set up a tea stall(free) right outside the Operation Theater – he was serving tea, coffee and snacks. So any of the doctors or technicians or volunteers could have a hot beverage and something to munch. And it was needed too – as the doctors used to operate till 2am or so. They were used to this grueling routine.

The screening and operations went on for 3 days. After an additional day of observation and ensuring that everyone was ok – the doctors let the patients leave with instructions on do’s and dont’s. Arrangements had been made with the local medical superintendent to further examine the patients and provide them with spectacles.

Ultimately 103 patients who had been screened and operated on were able to see clearly again. Most of the patients were very old. It was such a pleasure to see a smile on their faces as the bandages were removed and they were able to see clearly again. There was not even a single complication. All Amma’s Grace. On the whole it was a moving experience to restore sight to the blind.

May Amma remove our spiritual blindness too.

– Nijamrita

[Show as slideshow]

14 Feb 2012
Amma sent us to Sabarimala

It was Amma who sent us to Sabarimala.

Well, we all know it. You may wonder why I am saying it.

I am saying it with double emphasis, with gratitude. I will say once again that it was indeed Amma who sent us.

The young brahmacharies were apprehensive about our ability and health. They didn’t dare to encourage our enthusiasm. Instead of working and being of help, would we become a burden to them? – a practical problem! But Amma’s decision alone prevails.

We were shown a place for cleaning. It was a mound of waste. The spot was close to our place of stay. The organizing brahmachari thought it was an ideal place for us, as we didn’t need to walk up and down the steps or the valley… And, for all the four days we could be sitting and picking things from that mound!

But when She is the doer, She is the Switch, whose calculations will stand? Those senior women worked like smart machines, in unbelievable speed and with such expertise that the same day it was almost done. By next afternoon it was really done!

Then we asked for more work. We were shown two areas to clean. Even that was soon done.

Though archana was only at 5-30, women would rise at 4-00, get ready and wait eagerly for archana time to near. There would be no trace of tiredness from previous day’s climbing or work. In the afternoon, from 2-30 itself, they would begin the countdown for 3-00 as our next schedule began at 3-00! “Why don’t we be lying down till the call comes?” Such a thought didn’t seem to exist in the air!

If it was not Amma’s design then why did some of the things work out so meticulously? Tula month is a rainy month. But believe me, every day, only during our lunch break would it rain. And the second day it rained even after our break time, but our place of work was under the roofs of the aravana sales counter hall and the long walk-way before the entrance to the temple. So we could do the work even though it was raining.

Most of these women had visited Sabarimala earlier as pilgrims. That was decades ago when they were below ten years of age; some of them had done it after they were 50, and that was before coming to Ashram. They were full of nice feelings for the place, as it is a place of pilgrimage for those who do rigorous austerities for up to 41 days. Imagine the purity of the vibrations in the surroundings! Most of these women did not have any curiosity to see the shrine or any enthusiasm to go sightseeing; but they were happy to go as Amma’s children to such a holy place, in order to make it clean as well. Their bags were light with bare necessities. They didn’t even carry as much as snacks, which people normally do, saying, “in case of emergency!” Amma will feed us, was their faith. An attitude which is very rare with present day people of the world!

On the other hand they looked around appreciating nature’s bounty and beauty. They showed each other the plants and trees of the jungle, birds and creatures like snakes lizard etc. listened to the songs of the birds and so on.

A lady, who ran temperature till the eve of the journey, remained as undeterred as ever. She was slow but didn’t collapse. She was held aloft by Amma’s remembrance as she sang under her breath, “Amme Sharanam! Amme Sharanam!”

When some devotees picked her bag to carry to the destination, she only said, “Amma sent that young boy to help me!”

While some women were sitting for a while during climbing up, a group of Amma’s young boys passed by singing Amma’s ‘Hari bol Hari bol!’ Soon the women got up to go, saying they were fresh and ready!

One remembered, sitting in the yard in front of the holy 18 steps, as we were waiting to get into food line, how her father and husband came there every year till they met Amma, and how, since then, they see Lord Ayyappa in Amma, how one of them continued to do such a yatra but now it was to Amritapuri, offering the holy coconut to Amma. She said Amma receives it in all earnestness on Her own head!

Another lady, 73 years of age, had come twice till now, but there was a sankalpa inside her to make it a third time. She had given it up to Amma, never prayed or aspired for it. She has been totally with Amma and ashram life. Now Amma had sent her! ”Amma has sent me but with different irumudi (of cleaning materials) and a different duty. I have nothing to ask for. I have only to do what is expected of me by Amma.”

A handful of western devotees were in the group. Asked how they felt about it, the woman from Portugal who spoke very little English was in tears of bliss and gratitude. Another said, “What has Sabarimala, a Kerala pilgrimage place, to do with me? Same thing as what Amma has to do with my country in Europe or America or Kenya! It is all one planet. That’s why Amma goes cleaning up hearts and places, and praying Lokah Samastah sukhino bhavantu! So am I here in Sabarimala!”

The 75 year old US woman who was always cheerful wore saree for bhajans just as she does in Amritapuri!

Then, after we returned, we asked each other, “How are you?” We only received smiles as reply, and, a frank, “Very well!” soon added with, “Amma’s Grace!”

Definitely Amma’s Grace. Or else, is it possible that none of us 58 women had even as much as a scratch on skin or a sprain in limb? Let alone any health hazard!

– Sandhya

13 Nov 2011