AMMA SAYS - STORIES & JOKES

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OM AMRITESWARYAI NAMAH

 

AMMA SAYS - STORY

 

A Meeting with Death at Twilight Hours

 

21 February 2002, On the way to Hyderabad - North India Tour

 

The sun had all but completely set. Glowing like embers, it hung

just above the horizon. Amma emerged from Her camper. She looked to

the West and waved excitedly at the departing sun - seemingly

overjoyed at having caught the last opportunity to say goodbye to a

friend.

 

Amma then walked to the field's lone tree, where Her children were

waiting, and took Her seat. "The sun has set," She said in

Malayalam. To which one brahmachari softly replied, "Yes, but our

sun has risen."

 

With the twilight hours, descended the silence. "Meditation?" Amma

asked. A brahmachari smiled and said, "Open-eyed meditation."

Indeed, it seemed to be the thought on everyone's mind. How could

one close their eyes in the physical presence of the object of

meditation?

 

"OK, OK," Amma said, "Some closed-eye meditation. Some open ..."

With that, Amma's eyes closed and the group sat in silence. Those

who kept their eyes open saw Amma's hands casually forming a mudra

as they rested in Her lap.

 

After a while, Amma called Swamiji to come sit by Her side and told

him to pose questions for Her children to answer. He soon asked a

question about the Kathopanishad, wherein a young boy named

Naciketas travels to the lord of Death and asks, what happens after

one dies. The Upanishad depicts Death as a great Master. Swamiji

wanted to know why.

 

Several answers were offered before Amma began speaking at length.

Indeed, under that small tree, it seemed the perfect setting for

such teachings - the traditional location for the imparting of

knowledge. As the Kathopanishad is one of the most known Upanishads,

many great Masters have composed commentaries on it. Still Amma's

teaching was from an entirely different perspective and wholly

fitting for the Mother of Compassion.

 

As Swamiji translated Amma's words into English, recounting the

story of Naciketas' journey, Amma seemed to be listening as rapt as

a child hearing a fairy tale. At the same time, it seemed as if his

words were bringing forth distant memories, perhaps of Her

witnessing this drama firsthand ages ago.

 

The basic story of the Upanishad is the Nachiketas' father is

performing a sacrifice that requires him to give away all of his

possessions. However, he is only giving away useless things - like

old, sick and dry cows. Observing this improper action, Naciketas,

an intelligent boy, understands that his father is incurring sin

instead of merit by such false charity. He pesters his father with

the question, "To whom shall you give me?" To which his father

replies at last, in anger, "I give you to Death!" Being a good and

obedient son, Naciketas soon starts on his journey.

 

However, upon his arrival at the home of death, he finds that the

Lord of Death - Yama - is not there. Naciketas waits for three days

and nights without food and sleep. When Yama finally returns, he

makes amends by offering Nachiketas three boons. Naciketas first

asks for appeasement of the anger of his father, then for the secret

of attaining heaven and finally the ultimate question: "What happens

after death? Is there a soul surviving death, or is it total

annihilation?" After testing the quality of the disciple, Yama

finally imparts the great teaching to him.

 

Sitting under the tree, Her children huddled around Her; Amma said

that it was the compassionate heart of Naciketas that made him a fit

recipient of the ultimate knowledge. Amma said that when he

challenged his father, he was doing so out of compassion. Naciketas

did not want his father to receive the negative karmic repercussions

of giving things of no value in charity. In fact, a dried-up cow is

only a burden for a poor man who receives it, as he has to feed the

cow also in addition to his family.

 

Thus, the sacrifice, instead of bringing the merit was only adding

up the demerit of false show of charity to his father. The second

boon that Naciketas asks is also not for himself, but for the

society, which again shows his compassion towards his fellow beings.

Amma said, "When you totally forget yourself in your act of

compassion that is the death of your ego. Then you become a true

disciple."

 

Swamiji then went on to explain that the meanting behind Yama not

being home when Naciketas comes calling is that if one bravely goes

looking for death, they'll find that death is not there.

 

At this time, one of the devotees began to ask another question.

Amma said that was enough for the day - "One relishes the food most

when it is just enough to satiate the hunger."

 

It was now night and a long journey still lay ahead.

::

AMMA SHARANAM