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Come Quickly
Last night in ABQ, as it appeared that Devi Bhava was almost ending, and while helping to bring tour luggage outside where they were building the pallets, someone came out with a handful of tokens saying that Amma had called staff for darshan yet again. As far as this writer can recall, Amma has never called staff more than once in any given US city (if at all, on any given tour), so we were all surprised and a few of us asked again to confirm. When the answer came back ‘yes’, a multifaceted conflict arose: “I already had darshan…
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Standing at the Cutting Edge
Albuquerque – 2nd evening of retreat – 2013 America Yatra Sometimes one has to take a step back from the edge to look around at the surroundings and take in the experience and scenes before getting lost in absolute bliss. It took a lot of effort this evening, because Amma has been doing all she can this tour to take us over that edge and into that other realm. Tonight was the second night of the retreat in ABQ, and Amma, in her infinite ways of surprising us, sang yet again for the third straight night, ending this evening by…
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Bhakti is Her Name!
A couple of years ago when Amma called a young female dog ‘Bhakti’, some wondered: how appropriate can such a spiritual poetic name be for a mere stray dog!? ‘Tumban’, the name of the other ashram male dog, was an OK name; Tumban is a comic character in Malayalam lore. Bhakti (or devotion) is a spiritual ideal, a spiritual path Amma prescribes for multitudes round the world, how could a dog assume this as its name!? Some ashramites are given this spiritual name too. Then we reminded ourselves and each other: Amma knows best. And today we understand more clearly:…
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Like filings to the magnet
The days of Amma’s Seattle program unfolded all too quickly. The skies cleared for a few hours every day and many attendees took short walks around the parks and streets where pink, red and white azaleas bloomed. The population of this part of Seattle is thirty per cent Asian and the ethnic mix was noticeable as attendees included devotees of Indian, Chinese, Korean and Japanese origin, giving the program a particularly international flavor. The public program and retreat included many of our “fav” things. Question and answer with Amma, meditating with her and receiving our Prasad dinner from her hand…
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Toddle with Master
Holding her finger tips my spirits rose. I clung on to her hand as a dream walker. While floating as a butterfly by wings of emotions, disbelief faltered my steps. She guided me to the porch of her love. Seeing many hands waiting for her grace, she swiftly released mine, stretched her hands to the crowd. I felt a sudden disconnection, a vacuum. I kissed my hand where she held me. A sweet aroma of her perfume filled my nostrils. I swung into ecstasy along by her side. Still in disbelief I pinched my body; No I was not dreaming…
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Family Reunion in Seattle
Many of us watched the progression of the Tokyo Devi Bhava on Chimes on Amritapuri.org. This was the last program in Japan before Amma would fly to Seattle and set foot on the North American continent once again. Excitement was mounting as most people had been waiting a year to see Amma again and others were planning to meet her for the first time. Some devotees have expressed that they can actually feel a shift of energy when Amma arrives in the USA. A small group of us flew from the Amma Center of New Mexico to Seattle on a…
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A Speck of Dust
Ma, the moments of despair are e’er caused by lust, The Guru as Self in Thy form directs all who are lost. So dreadful is the enemy lust, surpassing the fiercest, Yet the saviour is a mere speck of dust at Thy Lotus Feet. So deluded was I that I took my enemy to be a friend, Wandering in the gardens of pleasures like a fiend, Ignoring Thee, the most lovable One, the dearest friend. Tormenting the innocent and being cruel like a fiend. Ma, the moments of despair are e’er caused by lust, The Guru as Self in Thy…
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Q224: Success & failures?
Question 224: Amma says: “The attitude ‘I will only accept success’ is wrong. Learn to also accept the responsibility of failures.” How do you understand this? Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).
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I know not
Ma, I know not why the nature has three Gunas, Bound to these fetters, a Jiva roams in varied wombs. But I know, Thou art there everywhere to carry us, Helping to rejoice and celebrate all days of our lives. Ma, I know not why there are the Sun, the Earth and planets, Bound by the Universal Force, Prana, held safely in Thy arms. But I know, Thou art there always everywhere to care us, Helping to rejoice and celebrate even in the midst of sorrows. Ma, I know not why there are countless Universes, Confounding the little human intellect…
