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Q203: God’s Will?
Question 203: If everything is God’s Will, is it not then also God who makes us commit mistakes? What is your opinion? Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).
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Hatching in Amritapuri
The other day, while walking to the beach for the afternoon meditation, Amma heard some birds singing. While enjoying their melodies and chirping, she said to the ashramites walking with her: “ Amma had the wish to one day see many birds make Amritapuri their home. She had a wish that many birds build their nests here and many chicks hatch and fill the surroundings with their chirping and singing…” “It seems that this wish is materializing now! Many birds are here now… They leave after the morning archana and come back for the evening bhajans!!” she added with a…
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Sober up with Love
One evening in early March, as Amma sat giving darshan on the stage and Swamiji sang the evening bhajans, a strange scene unfolded in front of the temple. A western man walking up to the International Office and asked for—or rather, demanded—accommodation. By default, the doors of Amritapuri are open to everyone. But in this man’s case, I hesitated. He seemed quite aggressive, and his face bore the marks of physical combat. Beyond that, he was reeking of alcohol and obviously somewhat intoxicated. As he was filling out his registration form, I sat down next to him and suggested that…
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Q202: Hard or soft?
Question 202: Amma says: “Be hard like a diamond on the outside, but soft like a lotus inside.” How do you understand this? Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).
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shyam ke ye leela ko dekh
8 mar 2012, amrtapuri early in the day it was very much in the air that amma may play holi. when? no one knew. i saw some devotees walking around with some colour powder. so it was obvious that something might happen. but when? no one knew. remember? back in 2007, in mysore, one devotee took powder hiding under her sari while going for darshan and she she took out the powder and smeared it on amma’s cheek. she gave amma the rest of the bowl. then amma started smearing golden yellow colour on everyone who was coming for darshan.…
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Kanha He Ek? Gopi Anek!
Will she or won’t she? That was the question on everyone’s minds on Holi. Most years Amma has been in North India on this day, but this year it was a darshan day at Amritapuri. Would she play Holi with us? Darshan was coming to a close and there was a Pada Puja at the end. As the puja ended, it seemed that Amma might just stand up and leave. But some devotees showed Amma a pichkkari and some coloured powders and her interest was clearly aroused. She asked for the musicians to play “Ayi He Holi”. “Ayi he holi…
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Kanha Ek, Gopi Anek
8 Mar 2012, Amritapuri I had a great Holi. Even though we said that we should not celebrate Holi on our campus since we did not want students throwing color on each other in the classrooms. Nevertheless I got my share of holi- when the Chancellor of the university doused me with color as I hid behind Her chair 🙂 I had gone near Amma in order for her to bless two research proposals that were written by the Electrical Engineering Department. I saw our Vice Chancellor near Amma’s chair so I walked up and squeezed myself near him and…
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Seven women plumbers
Seven women, in grey working coats worn over their sarees, moving among others during lunch time in the big hall of the ashram have drawn the attention of many. “Who are they, those smiling women? They seem to be very much at home here.” Ashram people ask each other. Western residents seem to have known them already. They say, “They are the first batch of women plumbers, trained in the University.” Amrita University has a course in which artisans are taught trades such as plumbing through computer technology. These women have successfully completed three month training, and are now apprentices.…
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Amma began Holi play?
It was a cloudy morning in Amritapuri. Amma came out of her house early for a few special group photographs with recent graduates of Biotech school of Amrita University. After the photographs had been taken in front of Her house, Amma looked up at all of the people standing on the back of the temple balcony, waiting for Her to enter, and asked, “Why has everything been set up inside the temple? I am going there !! (the main hall for giving darshan)” She promptly turned and walked towards the main hall. Immediately everybody panicked because nothing whatsoever was setup…
