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Takkalee at Lou Paradou
After the massive Toulon program, Amma drove to her ashram near the historic town Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume where Mary Magdelene is said to be buried. The ashram building was once an old mill and a river flows behind it and a stream under it, which once powered the mill wheel. A small waterfall is within view down
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A few words about bathrooms
Normally one would not write a post about bathrooms. But then, we aren’t usually talking about “Amma” bathrooms! The facilities at Amma’s programs are amazingly decorated. It is a joy to enter them. Each city and country has a different flavor. In Switzerland, the decorations were vines and autumn flowers. In Berlin, lovely paper hearts,
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Kozhakatta Bhava
During Devi Bhava in Berlin a devotee brought Amma a traditional Indian sweet, kozhakatta. It is a healthy sweet made of steamed rice flour with coconut and sweetening inside. (Many of us were first introduced to this sweet in Calcutta, when Amma spontaneously made them herself for the tour group and local volunteers.) Amma showed
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Garland
I do see her eyes of grace. I graze in her eyes with urge. Cosmic dream rests there. I delve in her mystic mystery. I come across her subtle smile. All creatures move around her holding her hands of compassion. Possessive; all we fight for attention, drawing you to foment our wounds. You embrace all
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A Deepavali offering
A birth at Thy Lotus Feet, Mother, grant Thy child a birth at Thy Lotus Feet, To fearlessly live in Thy gracious spiritual light, Forsaking the sensual pleasures, living in Thy compassion Embellished with the jewels of discrimination and dispassion Mother, grant Thy child a birth at Thy Lotus Feet, To joyously live in Thy
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Beautifying one’s existence is happiness
It was a nice evening at Berlin and many devotees had queued in for the second program of the day. There were claps after every Bhajan and a pin drop silence during the guided meditation. Amma’s Darshan had started and lines were not very small. The hall was the Velodrome, a big arena with a
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Amma’s Munich visit
Amma’s Munich children welcomed Her for a three day program on October 12, which marked Amma’s 26th visit to the city. Munich, the capital of Bavaria and the third largest city in Germany, derives its name from the Old High German place name of ‘Munichen,’ which means ‘By the monks’ place.’ Amma’s entrance to the
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People’s Program at the People’s Palace
Amma’s London program was held at the Alexandra Palace. High above the city, on a landscaped hill, the Palace is one of the most unique venues on the Europe tour. First opened as “The People’s Palace” in 1873, Alexandra Palace provided the Victorians with a beautiful event centre for entertainment, education and recreation. For Amma’s
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It’s a Joy
The expresso and pastry bar is a popular spot at Amma’s European programs. In Munich, the lines never seemed to end as the crowd quaffed lattes, expressos and cappuccinos the whole day long. From 9 am onward, every time I passed by, I saw the same crew hard at work, hour after hour. One day
