-
The sprouting of the seed
Never, not in this lifetime did I ever picture myself rising before dawn to a cold bucket shower, sporting the occasional sari, mentally offering flower petals at the feet of the Divine Mother, chanting Ma-Om with “each cell of my being dancing in Divine Bliss” around the tropical palms of a little fishing village in India! Going on nearly 20 years of “knowing” Amma, receiving Her blessed darshan each year since I was five years old, it has been a surprising journey discovering how spirituality has finally bloomed in my life. Though the seed was planted in me early, growing…
-
Is it Rishi back?
“Please don’t pet or feed dogs and animals”. It is a sign that you will see when you visit Amritapuri. Yes, we do love and care for animals, but the ashram is not a place for animal care. By not feeding and petting them we make them understand that it is not a place where they are encouraged to build their needed attachments/family security. But during her childhood and teenage years, Amma did have a best-friend dog, which would stay by her side at all times. A big black and white dog, which would faithfully protect her when she meditated…
-
Gratitude
Serenity comes only with surrender, trusting all is ultimately one. Duality is merely a pretender, playing on life’s stage with light; (it’s fun)! Illusion is composed of form and gender, planets, moon and stars, and blazing sun. But death compacts us all with cosmic blender- when atoms merge, apparent form’s undone. Though sure of this, I sometimes still forget, but then you’re there to pull the veils aside, revealing views that teach me not to let my focus on pure consciousness slip-slide away and hide the truth that’s firmly set, yet can be falsified by stubborn tide when Mind is…
-
Interacting with Her Orphan Children
For a moment, it appeared Amma would be pulled off the stage! We had stopped at one of Amma’s orphanages for a late lunch on our way from Palakkad to Trivandrum, and Amma was saying goodbye to the children. They were excited, shouting and crowding towards Amma with hands outstretched upwards to reach her… In turn, she had bent forward at the waist and was reaching down to each one of them with a look of immense love and joy on her face. Her broad smile seemed blissful as several small hands tugged at her arms, while others stroked her…
-
Your Gaze
When your gaze enters mine rivers of radiance run through my veins My heart blooms – a flower whose fragrance is light Sudden showers of power flood mind and memory like monsoon rain time stops only LOVE exists Reality reveals the world is a field of luminous bliss I do not know how or when that furtive curtain falls back in and our seeming separation makes me crave your gaze again to glimpse infinity. – by Rama Devi Nina (USA)
-
Witnessing…
The sun shining bright The air getting warm and light The birds singing cheerfully The bees dancing playfully The trees wearing colored lace The greens swaying with grace The flowers opening their perfumed heart All living creatures having a new start The day staying up late The sky kissing its mate The moon smiling at Mother Earth While she enjoys her rebirth For what is happening, only love can bring And to my heart, Your Divine Love is spring. – by Nisrine (Lebanon)
-
Thy Plays
O! AMMA, the Embodiment of Pure Unconditional Love Om Avyaja Karuna Poora Pooritha Thy plays remove the hidden sorrows, Even as the wind dispels thick clouds. Thou art the Universal Father and Mother, Whose unconditional love flows perinnially, Even to the most insignificant creature, Embracing all, Thou art the Purifier verily. O! AMMA, the Embodiment of Pure Unconditional Love Om Bhavanamathra Samthusta Hridayini Thy plays remove the hidden sorrows, Even as the wind dispels thick clouds. Thy divine austere life shows the way to all, To find fulfillment in sacrifice and service, Forsaking filthy sensual desires that create hatred, And…
-
Amma the computer technician
If each soul was born, with an internal ‘spirit computer’, then my Guru would be the one, who overhauls my operating system, and upgrades software, with appropriate updates She gives periodic memory boosts as well When my system crashes she gets it running smoothly again– always A master technician in the arena of soul the Guru is Grace personified Sometimes it hurts… tweaks pokes purifying fires rearranging wires deleting desires… My mind gets tired! But all I have to do is keep my power turned on and allow surgical intervention (as needed) After the repair job’s complete it’s neat how…
-
The Old-New Kalari
The Old Kalari (or Krishna’s Temple) is probably the most precious and special place in Amritapuri… Everyone that visits the ashram makes it a point to visit this unique and blessed small place, either to participate in the pujas conducted there or just to sit and meditate for some time. Many years ago, when larger and larger number of people started coming daily to meet her and be in her presence, Amma’s father had no other place to offer her for meeting the visitors and early devotees but the small cowshed right next to the family house… The cows would…
