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At the Melbourne Ashram
10 April 2008 This past Thursday, Amma’s divine presence soaked deep into our hearts as we sat outside at her feet for the first time in the Australian Ashram in Melbourne. We had all been longing for this moment since Guru Purnima 2006 when we were given approval to purchase the property. The gathering began at 1:30pm in the afternoon. Devi Bhava had finished earlier that morning – around 6am. As Amma sat outside facing the east, the hot sun shone brightly and soon the cooling clouds came to shade us all. Then Amma served us a plate of Prasad…
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Q53: Poet, philosopher or scientist?
Question 53: “Who do you find more affinity with: poets, philosophers or scientists? Why?” – To post your answer, click on ‘Add Comment’. Please, contemplate on the question first, and make your answer clear.
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Mata Rani Down Under
Towards the end of the morning program on the first day of retreat, Amma said that she would dance after darshan. Eager devotees gathered around as the last person came to receive Amma’s hug. Then, a circle was formed, and Amma stood up to dance. But the musicians didn’t know what bhajan to play. Then…..apparently, people in the crowd started to call out ‘Mata Rani’…. And so it was. The musicians started to play, and Amma gracefully began to dance – making a full circle around the crowd of gazing devotees. When the time came for ‘Mata Rani Ki….’ Amma…
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Racing along the razors edge
Amma arrived at Melbourne international Airport on April 3rd around 1pm after holding programmes in Singapore and Malaysia. A hundred or so people were on hand at the airport gate to greet Amma – an unusual scene for this American – where only ticket holders are allowed past security and to the gate. Amma was garlanded, a small pada puja was performed, and then Amma gave everyone brief darshan in the form of a kiss. Amma then walked through the terminal to the sidewalk where her car was waiting to take her to the home where she would rest before…
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Thank You
1 April 2008 — Mines Exhibition and Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Amma’s programs in Malaysia are huge—some of the biggest outside India. This year more than 20,000 people came. As such, Amma decided to give darshan as she does on her India tours, with people coming to her standing as opposed to kneeling. One of my sevas was to help usher people out of Amma’s arms upon conclusion of their darshan. One night, a group of about 50 children came for darshan. These were the same children who, upon Amma’s arrival, had lined her pathway to the dais, holding…
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Twinkling Eyes
On the last afternoon during the Singapore programmes, a group of 30+ devotees from the Philippines came for darshan, holding signs asking Amma to come to their country. They had flown all the way from the Philippines just for the programmes. That they had come such a distance is not so remarkable in Amma’s world—so many make such pilgrimages to see Amma. What made this group so different was that the majority of them had never met Amma before!During the past two years, Swami Ramakrishnananda and Br. Shantamrita have been visiting the Philippines, holding retreats with satsang and bhajans, even…
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The Mother of Fish
Meenamba, the Mother of fish Her name is Meenamba which means ‘Mother of fish‘. She is an Amritapuri resident from the West. I saw Meenamba in the breakfast line the other day, and greeted her with a casual “Good morning! How are you?” She looked back, as her face lit up, and answered: “It’s amazing that you asked me this, right now. Something incredible happened to me earlier this morning! It is really unbelievable!” We took our food and I stood with her for a few minutes as she was sharing with great excitement the amazing event that she had…
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Seek happiness from within
10 minutes with…: Seek happiness from within, says Amma Amritanandamayi Devi believes one can get only traces of happiness by looking at the exterior. 2008/04/01 She is known as the ‘hugging saint’ the world over. Amritanandamayi Devi or simply ‘Amma’ of Kerala, whose hugs are treasured by many, is in Kuala Lumpur. DHARSHINI BALAN speaks to the globe-trotter on her signature style which has won followers everywhere. Q: How extensive are your charitable activities in Malaysia? A: There is a lot being done in Malaysia. The Amriteswari Foundation of Malaysia (AFM) has set up three community centres at Enggang Apartments…
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night queen
7 apr 2008, amritapuri the queen has appeared near the ashram kitchen in the middle of the night. she was wearing white and spreading an aroma around. slowly people smelled, heard.. came to visit her. she is not one, but two. epiphyllum oxypetalum is her official name. yes, two white flowers have bloomed by the ashram kitchen. the leaf is hanging down from the sunshade. the flower has come out through the side of a leaf. the green leaves and the white flowers are fresh and clean after the evening rain. i tell you she is simply beautiful. nishagandhi, the…
