Category: WithAmma
travelling with amma
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Beautiful New Mexico
21-25 June 2009 The programs in Albuquerque New Mexico consisted of one surprise after another. First there was the last public evening at the end when Amma sang Khol Darvaza. Then the first retreat night, as the darshan line trickled down to the last few, everyone rushed forward expecting a repeat of the previous evening. Playfully, Amma smiled and said that She would sing tomorrow night. With that sweet promise, we all went to bed, only to wake up for a cultural treat that began the morning program. Even before Amma arrived for darshan, an announcement was made saying that…
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arms outstretched in bliss
Tues 23 Jun Tonight was the first night of the Albuquerque retreat. Amma sang a new English bhajan – “In This World of Change”. Amritapriya played harmonium and sang lead with Amma. It was very sweet. Amma sang: Sri Gananayaka Sundar Hai Nayana Tere Kanivotu Kattarulitaname In This World of Change Iswar Parameshvara Markanda Madhurya Shristiyum Niye (in Spanish) Amma Amma Taye At the end of Shristiyum Niye, instead of ‘Devi….. Devi…… Devi’, Amma sang ‘Devi….. Devi….. Madre Divina’ and the crowd repeated back. This happened twice. The last round, Amma just sang Madre Divina, Her arms outstretched in bliss.…
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The next Mata Rani?
22 Jun 2009 Tonight was the last public program in New Mexico – the Retreat starts tomorrow. During the evening program, archana had just finished and it seemed like darshan was going to end soon. Ramanand took the stage to perhaps sing a few bhajans. It was going to be an unusually early night – 2am. But then something happened. There was a mad scramble. Amma had asked for a microphone. Then a harmonium. Then tablas. All were moved near Amma. She was going to sing! People ran in from the hallway, friends contacted their roommates who had gone to…
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Converting into Meditation
18 June 2009 On the Second retreat evening, Amma held the meditation and question and answer session outside. The hotel is right next to the LA Airport and also a very busy intersection, so it was quite noisy. Amma playfully noted that we should hear all the noise as ‘Ma and Om’ (referring to the meditation that is done just after Amma enters the hall for darshan). Bhajans were Sri Gananayaka Murali Vale Pyare Kanha Anandanmrita Rupini Sankara Siva Sankara Manasa Vacha (in Spanish) Sri Rama Namamu Nammavararu Namagilla Jai Ma Ambe Murali Vale Pyare Kanha is a new Krishna…
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Retreat day in LA
17 Jun 2009 Tonight is the first night of the LA Retreat. Br. Dayamrita gave the satsang. Amma sang: Dayakaro Tum Manasa Chora Radha Krishna Kanivotu Katturulitaname Mayyaji Menu Tu Chaide Vilvattal Archittom Ambe Galinu Jai Jagadambe Durge Ma Vilvattal Archittom is another Siva Bhajan from 2008. At the end is the verse: Siva Siva Sankara Gauri Manohara Charanam Sharanam Sarvesa Oh Shiva, Shankara, who is adored by Gauri (Parvathi), Lord of All, I take refuge at Your feet. Shankar Los Angeles – USA
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twirles in unison
16 June 2009 Tonight’s bhajans were included the other new Siva Bhajan: Iswara Parameshwara. It’s one of the more upbeat of the new bhajans with a rousing repetition of Siva Siva Hara Hara that transforms into Sankara Abhayankara at the end. Beautiful bhajan. The stage decorations are a wonderful collage of red, pink, and orange pastels decorated with hanging Chinese-style lanterns. Swami Poornamrita and Swami Pranavamrita have been adding their flute and mrdangam (drum) to each bhajan – especially to Arati where Swami Poornamirta lends a sweet introduction. The hall was standing room only with a large crowd listening just…
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Los Angeles Bhajans
15 June 2009 Monday was the first day of programs in LA. In the evening Amma gave satsang. Bhajans: Sri Gananayaka Murali Vale Pyare Kanha Albhuta Charitre Sankara Siva Sankara Shristiyum Niye (Spanish) Ammana Divya Padambujagalige Nannu Chusi Ma Talli Ambe Jagadambe Each night, Amma includes a bhajan dedicated to Lord Shiva. Traditionally, it’s been Om Namah Sivayah, but this year, Amma has been singing two new Siva bhajans. They are Sankar Siva Sankara and Isvar Paramesvara. Sankara Siva Sankara: O Siva Sankara! O Man, do not waste your time seeking gold and wealth. Only the Lord who resides in…
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Life is a search
Life is a Search, a constant search. Search for something one knows not. There is a deep urge to search. But one does not know what one is seeking for. Whatever we get is not going to give us any satisfaction. Everything looks beautiful from a distance. From the earth, the moon looks very beautiful. Poets are singing about the beauty of the moon. They might get disappointed if they happen to be there on the Moon. Those who have reached the moon, say that Earth is much more beautiful. The same thing happens in the case of lovers. Once…
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Retreat and Devi Bhava
13 Jun 2009 Devi Bhava just ended about 45 minutes ago. Amma wore a beautiful maroon sari with gold decorations and trim. Friday was the second day of the retreat. Amma held a Q&A session outside. It was quite cold and actually started drizzling briefly just as Amma sat down on the peetham (which was covered). She looked up at the sky with a concerned face and said that she had asked Dayamrita earlier to ask everyone whether they would want the Q&A to be inside or outside given the cool windy weather (no rain was insight)- and she would…