24 – 25 May 2008, Kobe, Japan<\/p>\n
It is said that to show a sign of reverence one must look up upon that which is to be honored.\u00a0 Upon seeing the set-up of the Kobe Home Stadium program, that was my first thought.\u00a0 How could we all sit above and look down on our Beloved Amma with reverence?\u00a0\u00a0 Aren\u2019t we supposed to gaze up at Her, not down?<\/p>\n
The program was set in a sports stadium.\u00a0 The stage was set upon the edge of a soccer field.\u00a0 With only a small walkway of about 8-feet separating the stage from a set of bleachers that looked down onto it.\u00a0 Amma entered through a tunnel that let out onto the kshetra (field).\u00a0 The bookstore was on the mezzanine level behind the first block of bleachers.\u00a0 The darshan line entered from the sidelines.\u00a0 It was all quite a sight to behold!<\/p>\n
The Japanese have a way of innovation that is truly unique to them.\u00a0 And in Japanese style, they were able to erase any of my preconceived notions about what is \u201cright\u201d and what is \u201cwrong\u201d.\u00a0 Through their most humble, devoted actions they showed Amma that it didn\u2019t matter where She was sitting.\u00a0 Their dedication and love for Her came through in every hard working step.<\/p>\n
Upon our arrival in Kobe we found that all of the set up from the stage, bookshop and staff accommodation had already been completed.\u00a0 Early on the second morning, the management of the stadium decided to open the retractable roof to let the natural grass on the soccer field \u201cget some air\u201d!\u00a0\u00a0 Upon realizing this, the Japanese hosts quickly dashed out before Amma came for darshan to clean up the rain-drenched stage.\u00a0 While Br. Shantamrita urgently pleaded for us to get out of bed and help the local devotees, they had already removed the old and laid down brand new dry carpet for Amma\u2019s arrival that day.<\/p>\n
Reverence is all that poured out from these hard-working, gentle souls hearts in dedication to our Beloved Amma.\u00a0 And no matter how hard they were working they would still slip out a sweet hello or smile to all of us guests.\u00a0 The darshans were slow and very sweet.\u00a0 Amma showered so much love back onto these children.\u00a0 In a country where emotion is not worn of the faces of its people, before Amma this all changed.\u00a0 Men, as well as women became like innocent children in their Mother\u2019s arms.\u00a0 They laughed, cried and came to Her with a deep sense of humility that felt unmatched anywhere else in the world.<\/p>\n
On Devi Bhava night, Amma was bedecked in a beautiful Kali red sari with extensive gold inlay and encrusted with shimmering rhinestones.\u00a0 When it came time for the end, Amma showered flower petals on everyone.\u00a0 When the line ended, we rushed up to the stage to sit at Her feet.\u00a0 To my surprise the floor below the stage was empty.\u00a0 For a moment, I wasn\u2019t even sure if I was supposed to be there!\u00a0 Then suddenly, Amma started waving for everyone to come down and fill in this floor space below Her.\u00a0 They systematically emptied the bleachers and even directed the people to walk across the stage in front of Her in order to have them sit down on the floor below Her.\u00a0 By the end, the whole stadium was sitting down at Her feet.\u00a0 There each and every one of us sat, gazing up, in deep reverence to our Beloved Guru.<\/p>\n
Om Amriteswaryai Namah<\/p>\n
Nirmala and Yadu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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