-
Into the land of destruction
I spent most of Friday, April 15th, in collecting all the needed items for the disaster relief work. We bought food, work gloves, and masks to protect against infection and potential radiation. We also had to buy a cheap tent and took a few thin sleeping bags from the Tokyo ashram, as that was all we had. We knew it would be colder in the disaster area, but never imagined exactly how cold it really was. There were 3 of us: Nath Hoshi, Santosh Miyazawa, and myself. By the time we left the city, it was almost 9 pm, and…
-
Protecting Mother Nature…
With due respect and adoration, I want to take an oath to protect my Mother Nature… We are turning the planet into a wasteland, destroying wildlife, contaminating Nature’s food chain… Thus, ruining the beauty of our planet… She takes away all our burden… I don’t want to be a exploiter, among other exploiters… I don’t want to exploit… at least, by not wasting light, water, electricity… It feels sad that we tear up the seas, and use up the trees all in the name of progress… Future generation will not have natural gifts left to enjoy… They will be paupers…
-
Q176: Praying for others?
Question 176: Amma says: “When we pray for others, the entire universe prays for us.” How do you explain/understand this? Please make your answer brief and clear (maximum 5 or 6 lines).
-
The arrival at Ernakulam
8 April 2011 – Ernakulam The Brahmasthanam area is abuzz with devotees, most of them are young and in uniforms – Amma’s college students from Ernakulam. Whether it is their love for Amma or Amma’s love for them, the scriptures have said in no uncertain terms, “Even a moment’s association with a mahatma can confer liberation… a mahatma can bestow blessings by a mere glance, thought, word or touch.” The only question making the rounds in the crowd, for a long time this evening (8th April) of Amma’s program eve is ” What time Amma will reach?’, for nobody knows…
-
Faith
Faith that you are listening to my deep longing, and will answer my prayers… Faith that you are gazing at me, re-binding me in your love every moment… Faith that you are hearing me, making me remember your words and bring to me tears of joy… Faith that emerges in me Faith that grows in me You are the one riding on a lion… Please help me offer you my mind. Faith that you are watching over me, helping me face all situations… by Anagha sharan
-
Q175: Invisible Soul?
Question 175: “The soul (Atman) can’t be seen. So, why give so much importance to something invisible?” Please make your answer clear and brief (maximum 5 or 6 lines).
-
A learning that transforms
Day Four: 31 March 2011 Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture The final day. Again we split up into two teams: clean-up and cooking. Outside its windy, raining and so cold. The cooking team sets up our kitchen tent in front of the supermarket near the residential area where many people stay in the upstairs level of houses. We have been told that no other group has cooked for these people yet. So we cook as much as we can—soup with lots of vegetables for 1,500 people. While the rest of the team cooks, five of us go door to door and visit…
-
All I can do is walk up
Day Three: 30 March 2011 Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture Today we all go to the peninsula where lots of villages were washed away by the tsunami. The area near the port has a very strong smell, like something rotten. We stop by a small shelter for about 80 refugees. We give them boxes of long sleeve shirts, pants, some medicines, toilet kits, and snacks, and we ask them what else they need. They say they want notebooks and pens; they want to make to-do lists for what they need to do to get back to normal life. They need footwear—both sandals,…
-
Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture
Day Two: 29 March 2011 Up early again. We split up into two groups. One group will work to clear rubble and help clean up damaged houses and public areas. The second group will cook food for people staying in a junior high school that has been converted into a shelter for about 900 refugees. People are also living in the neighboring houses; they need help, too. Today I am with the cooking group. There is a place where the SDF provides drinking water from a giant tanker. We go down to get some water for cooking rice. The SDF…
