Category: WithAmma
travelling with amma
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Amma in Blue
29 November 2008 San Ramon Swamji was singing Jai Jai Satguru when the curtains opened at 9:10pm. Amma was absolutely stunning in a sky blue sari. Her face was beaming – a very peaceful and content beam. Swamini waived the camphor flame while we all sang Arati and darshan began. Those who ventured down to the dining hall for dinner found the Ashram shrouded in a fine mist. Fog had settled down on the Ashram – yet inside Amma had begun lifting the fog of maya from all her children – one by one, hug by hug. During the evening,…
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Thanksgiving with Amma
27 November 2008 San Ramon The second day of retreat in San Ramon fell on Thanksgiving. A day to give thanks for life, for food, for good health, for friends, family, and our livelihoods. But what a wonderful way to give thanks! How blessed are we to have Amma in our lives and to be able to spend this time with her. The day began with the skies still overcast. The ground was still wet and puddles were all around. But as the day progressed, the sun poked out from behind the low clouds. It wasn’t too cold. A number…
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First Day of Retreat – San Ramon
26 November 2008 San Ramon The San Ramon Retreat began. During the day, a light steady rain fell – which was badly needed – but which made things a bit messy around the Ashram. Many of us quickly found out that our sneakers or shoes had previously-unnoticed holes which were now making our socks and feet a bit damp. Even though there was no morning program, much work had to be done to prepare for the retreat. Early arrivals headed to the kitchen tent to help chop veggies and prepare dinner. The bakery was in full force preparing cakes and…
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Rocketting to the ceiling
Tuesday evening almost felt like Devi Bhava. The hall was so crowded for the last public program before the retreat that the ‘spinners’ (dancers who always congregate on the balcony) had to dance standing in place. There was not a spare spot to sit or stand – every available space seemed to be occupied. This is November in San Ramon – where everyone on this side of the Mississippi (and then some) gather to see Amma. Tonights Bhajans: Kripa Ho Teri Gopala Govinda Krishna Vasudeva Adbutha Charitre Ammana Divya Pahi Pahi Vilvittal Archittom Mat Bhavani Maheshi Ambe Evening darshan ended…
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Waiting for a glance
The second morning of programs in San Ramon began with skies filled with fog typical of the Bay Area. Early risers were in the kitchen helping to chop veggies for lunch or dinner. At around 10:20am, as has been tradition for many years, an announcement was made in the kitchen that Amma would be passing by shortly on her way to the hall. so we all lined up along the roadway to see her drive by. Clapping hands, singing bhajans, dozens of people rushed out of the kitchen for a quick glimpse. This scene repeated again when Amma left the…
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Jupiter and Venus
23 November 2008 San Ramon The San Ramon Asram was packed with visitors – many coming for the first time to receive Amma’s embrace. At approximately 10am, Amma arrived at the hall and began giving darshan after a brief meditation. Though the morning was crisp, the sky was clear and the day quickly warmed up as the sun rose higher. Typically, this is rainy season in the San Francisco Bay Area, but we have been blessed (some say) with dry weather. Hopefully it will stay this way until after Amma leaves for Michigan. Morning darshan ended around 4:30pm. The crowd…
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Preparation in San Ramon
Amma arrived at the San Ramon Ashram around 6pm Saturday evening after traveling from Europe where her six week tour just ended. For the past month or so, the San Ramon Ashram has been buzzing with activity. Sevites from all over the Bay Area and the US have been helping to clean the grounds, make repairs, and ensure that the thousands of visitors expected over the next 6 days will have a wonderful experience. Tour staff, exhausted and hungry from the long trip, are just now filling up on a delicious meal lovingly prepared by local devotees. Many are…
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With Amma at the Spanish ashram
Few days ago, I had the chance to be with the group of devotees when Amma visited the new ashram in Barcelona. Amma asked us to remember all those who weren’t able to be with us. So I am passing on this story of a wonderful occasion with Amma. The tour group had traveled from The Netherlands to Barcelona on a 20 hour drive. Because of the long journey, an extra day was built into the schedule. When we arrived in Barcelona, we were informed that in the afternoon we would be visiting the new Spanish ashram to be with…
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Come Back, Come Back
During Amma’s visit to London this week I was helping out on the Meet and Greet stand in the entrance hall at Alexandra Palace. At the end of the first day’s session, as people started lining up to see Amma leave for her afternoon break, an elderly lady, who had just arrived at the venue, came up to me and asked whether she could have darshan from Amma, who she had never seen before. I explained that the afternoon session was now ending and that she could see Amma if she waited till the evening. She seemed rather upset and…