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Namah Sivayah Makale!
12 Nov 2007 Amritapuri The Puja finishes, and Amma heads inside the Mandapam. Then we wait… We shuffle around so that we can all fit in the view of the camera that is transmitting our images to Amma, who is in Manheim. After maybe 7 minutes, word comes, ‘Amma’s Calling!’ We shout out ‘Ammeeeeeeee!’ The Brahmacharis and Brahmacharinis all call out for Amma’s attention. We wait for a reply. ‘Ammeeeeeee!,’ we shout again. And again. Then, over the competing ‘Ammeeeees’, a beautiful voice is heard……..”Namah Sivayah Makale!” Amma is there! Our joy is expressed by even louder shouts of ‘Ammeeeee!’…
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Happy Diwali
9 Nov 2007, Amritapuri Yesterday afternoon, it was Ice Cream and Devi Bhava. Last night, it was sweets with dinner, followed by fireworks. Deepavali was being celebrated in full regal in Amritapuri. Right after dinner, all gathered in front of the Temple and began lighting sparklers, crackers, and bottle rockets. People were watching from the balconies of every floor of the flats. Cheers echoed each time a cracker exploded, or a bottle rocket successfully shot up in the air and burst into bright colors. All the while, Mother Nature had been having her own Deepavali celebration. As soon as the…
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Army Camp at Raiwala
In between Haridwar and Rishikesh is the little town of Raiwala. Surrounded by the forests of the Rajaji National Park, it is quiet and serene. When we got down from our train there we found an army officer standing with a placard bearing our name and to our surprise he spoke to us in Malayalam! Raiwala is home to a section of the artillery – most of the units which are stationed there are from the south, so we found lots of Malayalees there. A unit from Punjab was also stationed there. In almost all the classes, there were people…
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CISF, New Delhi
IAM Meditation Class held at the CISF Head Quarters in New Delhi The IAM class started on a cold Delhi morning. The first day, all the Jawans came in their P.T. clothes – shorts and a tee shirt – but they seemed to be suffering from the cold so we asked them to come in casual clothing for the next day. Even though the weather was unfavorable, they were so happy with the meditation that when one of their senior officers came at the end of the class to lead them to their next area of duty, all of them…
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Warmth in the Freezing Desert
IAM Meditation classes conducted at Leh (Ladakh) for ITBP 9 Nov 2007 As we crossed Zozila Pass, we were struck by the sudden and sharp contrast in landscape – from the dazzlingly colorful Kashmir Valley, to the dry, barren and cold Ladakh (the second coldest inhabited place in the world). As a hub along the ancient Silk Route and at the crossroads of Central Asia – Ladakh has managed to maintain its distinct Buddhist culture mainly due to its inaccessibility. This is the ‘cold desert’ – as Ladakh is called – and makes up for the world’s most difficult terrain…
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Q18: Best bhajan?
Question 18: “What is your favorite Amma bhajan? Why?” – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
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Ice Cream was there!
At around 1:45pm, while watching the last hour of Devi Bhava darshan, a few of the Brahmacharis appeared on stage carrying trays. Yes, it was ice cream! Little cups and little wooden spoons were passed out to everyone. Not surprisingly, there seemed to be an unusually large number of Brahmacharis appearing. Perhaps it was the timing of the broadcast that allowed them to break away from their seva. We felt like little kids as we sat there. No one was eating yet. The temptation was there, but most of us were silently wanting to offer some to Amma once She called from inside the…
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Did you get ice cream?
“Did you get ice cream?” Tonight is the start of Diwali. While chatting with us in the Mandapam, Amma asked us if we all had ice-cream as part of the celebrations. (We hadn’t yet – it’s supposed to come tomorrow). “We are able to see you and talk to you – that itself is ice-cream,” responded one Brahmachari to much laughter. Fuchsia, pink, rose-red, who could tell? When Amma came out for Darshan, not even our on-site web-cam contact could venture a guess. Doesn’t matter anyway. To all of us, Amma looks beautiful in any sari. She who is the…
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baby’s day out
6 nov 2007, amritapuri today, Visrut is attracting the attention of the ashramites — the 2-day-old baby. yes, he was born in the ashram. every one adores him. yesterday he started walking of his own. he walked walked and walked. went out of his home, came to the front of the ashram. all the while his mother was freaking out — she was tied up with something else. Visrut went to the kalari and walked through the passage to the girls’ computer room. he started knocking at the glass door. hearing the sound the bris. came out took him inside.…
