Category: WithAmma
travelling with amma
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The “Great Expander” in Munich
When Amma danced out of the hall the last day, we expected that would be the dance experience in Munich. How wrong we were! Amma called the Munich devotees and staff to gather at an organizer’s house the night before we left for Paris. A tent had been set up outside the full glass windows on one side of the house for the overflow crowd which gave them a good view of Amma. But that was not enough for Amma and she kept trying to find some way that we could all be in the same room, but even Amma,…
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Comings and Goings in Munich
One of the joys of the Europe tour is the glimpses of the unique and beautiful culture of each country. Each country has its unique way of welcoming Amma. Munich is always one of the most stunning. In Munich, Amma stays in a room on the second story of the venue and comes and goes along a catwalk, clearly visible to everyone in the hall. Or rather, she glides like a swan over the heads of the mesmerized devotees Each entrance and exit was eagerly awaited, as this was such a unique opportunity to clearly see Amma, unobstructed by cameramen…
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Breaking down the walls with Amma in Berlin
Berlin- The Europe Tour 2012 started in Berlin, a city of deep historical and cultural roots and associations. For many years, the Berliners came to Amma, asking her in heartfelt and humorous ways to come to their city. (news) One memorable year, a six footer dressed as a bear danced up to Amma during darshan in another German city and delivered an “engraved invitation” to her. And now, as Amma finally had agreed, she, the tour group and the devotees were ensconced in a great Velodrome built for the Berlin Olympics. On the way, we had passed the remains of…
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Next bout of Grace
This Amma season in Amritapuri was much more than what i wrote last time. Last Tuesday, from the memorable quick darshan, in which Amma didn’t miss to see each one in the eye and whisper our exclusive love code word in our ears, up to the Prasad distribution was one flow of the grace. Next bout of Grace was when Amma came down for evening bhajans. Amma sang songs in many languages of the country, reaching and touching many many hearts. Meantime all over the ashram two questions were heard floating about: At what time is Amma leaving? Is Amma…
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How She Celebrated Her Birthday!
On the morning of Amma’s 59th Birthday tens of thousands of people surged into the great hall that was constructed for the occasion on the Amrita University grounds across from Amritapuri. This outdoor venue consisted of an enormous tin roof the size of two big football fields. Flowers of all colors adorned the length of the hall, and the stage was shining bright with decor and live flowers. Despite the colossal size of the hall there was barely an inch to move. Rivers of humans flowed this way and that way and thousands of plastic chairs were side by side…
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Amma is going to sing!
The experienced devotees watch for signs: a stirring among the musicians, gathering of cameramen, a flurry at the sound system…the intent and intense begin to jockey for position, the closer the better. Unfortunately, this usually leads to the same savvy and experienced folks scoring the “best” spots near Amma at practically every venue. However, Amma has her ways, and practically anyone can be catapulted into the perfect spot to experience Amma’s divine bliss in song. However, the real “perfect spot” has little to do with proximity, but tuning of the mind and heart. After the excellent view from the place…
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In the land of Lincoln with Amma
The lush farmland of Northern Illinois glowed hazily in the slanting light of the setting sun as we drove from our hotel to the M.A. Center of Chicago. Tonight, June 30, 2012, the Center, located in rural Elburn, was being officially inaugurated by Amma and the Honorable Patrick Quinn, Govenour of Illinois as well as other local officials. An attractive reddish trapezoidal sculpture cum signpost beckoned us up the curving driveway under classic American maple trees to the huge main hall of the Center. Directed by a bevy of orange jacketed devotee parking attendants, we joined several hundred other parked…
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Unity in the Land of Enchantment
All year long they wait. Devotees from the Southwest and others from all over the country and abroad who have heard about, or experienced the magic of Amma in New Mexico, (whose state motto is “Land of Enchantment”), wait for those few days in June when Amma arrives. However, the devotees don’t just wait. They begin preparing in the autumn with the launch of the program guide advertising sales, and organizational meetings begin in January before the June program. This may seem like a very early start, especially considering the lightening speed with which the programs are organized in India. …
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Sleepless in Seattle
We were “Sleepless in Seattle,” but not like the popular film of the ‘90’s by that name. We were mostly “sleepless” with Amma in Seattle as she launched the 2012 North American Tour- the commencement of 7 weeks of a grand celebration and spiritual festival. The program was located at the Bellevue Hyatt Regency, a comfortable and spacious venue in the heart of Seattle techie land. Right across the street, Microsoft was also in the process of launching its new Windows program, but as far reaching as Microsoft’s influence may be, could it hold a candle to the “program” that…