Saga of Barcelona (Satsang)

[Guest guest]

Namah Shivaya everyone,

 

For those of you who are interested, here is a run down of the MA Center's

satsang on 8/28.

 

Before the satsang, we chanted the 1,000 names of the Divine Mother. Pairs of

devotees used votive candles, flower petals & incense sticks placed in banana

slices for worship during archana. I learned not to blow out the incense, but

rather to wave it in the air. The items used seemed to aid concentration &

devotion while chanting. I believe it was when we chanted, "Om lokah ...," that

Br. Dayamrita (Br. D.) said to feel peace going out from our hearts. This was a

very effective approach.

 

Following is a summary of what Br. D. said. I sincerely pray that I do his

words justice, and welcome any feedback from devotees who were at last

Saturday's MA Center satsang. It was difficult for me to take and translate

these notes, since as you'll see, they consist of a myriad of details. I most

likely made some mistakes about the events and their sequences, but hope this

will give you a sense of what transpired, none-the-less. I apologize in advance

for any mistakes or omissions. I could use a lesson in short hand!

 

 

Great saints are an integral part of Onam, so that we recall our true nature.

Each day should be a festival, as it is when Amma is here. We have the good

fortune to understand the meaning of a festival. While others may think it

means drinking, etc ... A festival is the presence of a great saint, or Amma.

Pray our lives are a festival each day. Happy Onam.

 

Question: Please share your personal experiences with Amma in Barcelona.

 

Answer: Br. D. said the experiences included nice and not so nice ones, which

he was keeping for a later satsang. Then he graciously obliged by relaying a

complex series of events. He said the trip to Barcelona wasn't a nightmare, but

equal to that in a spiritual sense.

 

For background information, Amma is one of the international trustees or

advisers for the Parliament of World Religions. The idea for Barcelona

initially came up in Europe when the main organizer wrote to Amma requesting

that She attend the meeting. Ten invitation letters were sent to Br. D., to

which Amma responded with a definite, "No, not going." It wasn't until the

chief organizer personally invited Amma during Her European tour, that Amma

said, "Let me try." But, She still wasn't 100% definite about it.

 

Br. D. felt ashamed that when Amma arrived in the U.S., a D.C. program venue

hadn't been established, despite ten people standing on their heads looking for

a site. He asked Amma if he should leave space open in the closely woven summer

tour schedule for Barcelona. She responded, "No need, not going."

 

A couple of days later, Amma told Br. D. to sign the contract for Barcelona. He

waited until L.A. to finish the technical details, sign and fax the contract to

the hotel. That night Amma called to ask if he sent the contract, then She

asked, "Who told you to do that?" Br. D. said he has learned that in front of

the Guru, never try to score, but always be the loser. Br. D. Apologized to

Amma. Then Amma said, "I want to go to Barcelona. Should I or should I not?

Ask Rob." Rob said, "Yes, definitely." So, the plan was for Amma to open on

the first day and give the closing speech on the last day in Barcelona.

 

Amma gave instructions to cancel the contract for the U.S. hotels. Br. D called

Jay who said that was not possible. Br. D. stuck with Amma's instructions and

said, "Yes, we will postpone the meeting, we're revoking the contract." Jay

made some calls and later said, "Yes, it is possible to cancel the contract."

 

Br. D. began working out the details. The dates between Chicago, Barcelona and

N.Y. were perfectly aligned. Amma said to make sure the D.C. program was

canceled, and 100 phone calls were made to inform people that the D.C. program

was indeed canceled. Br. D. told Amma that the program was canceled, to which

She responded, "Who told you to cancel the program?" Br. D. then apologized to

Amma.

 

The new schedule was to go to D.C. after Toronto, which the D.C. organizers said

was a beautiful plan. Amma said to look for airline tickets and price them.

Br. D. found a good price and everything was so perfect, that he understood why

they had been unable to locate a hall for the D.C. program.

 

The next day a devotee learned at the Spanish consulate in L.A. that Amma would

have to wait two weeks for Her Visa documents, and that She must get them from

India! So, the D.C. tour was reinstated. Br. D. again worked on securing a

hall, but the dates weren't working out. That evening Amma requested the

Parliament of World Religions to send a letter regarding Her need for a Visa.

It must have been effective, because the next day the Spanish consulate said,

"Yes, of course we'll give you a Visa."

 

Amma said that everyone must travel together, so they needed 30 airline tickets.

The program was on the 14th., yet no seats were found for the 13th. The N.Y.

program was on the 16th. I think Amma said something about returning on the

14th., so as not to be away from India for so much time, since She must take

care of things there. They begged for hotel space, but it was taken. Finally,

it was decided that if Amma returned on the 14th., it would be a killer for

them. Also, they must take Amma's body into account and they could not have

that. No seats were available on the 14th. on any airline, so they scrambled.

The next day a travel agent called with 30 seats on a small airline, Air

Fortune.

 

The last night in Chicago, Br. D checked with Amma, who said, "Yes, I'm going."

Then She left for Barcelona. Br. D. wasn't sure if Amma was going until She was

actually on the plane. At noon Amma prepared and polished the speech. She

hadn't slept because of the speech and wouldn't allow the others to sleep

either. Amma talked about the speech. They called it Barcelona Fever.

 

I think the D.C. organizer was grateful that Amma didn't keep one of the dates

for the program, because he ended up being sick at that time.

 

At the Parliament of World Religions, Amma's presence had the greatest impact of

the entire week. She gave the speech and returned to the U.S. the following

morning. It was worth it even for those few hours. Amma gave darshan until 4

or 5AM, and then served food. At 9AM She caught a plane back to the U.S.

 

Being with a master is like living in the present ... no dullness, suspense,

sorrow and hair raising experiences.

 

Afterward the Q & A session, there was an awards ceremony for academic

accomplishments, ranging from preschool graduations to a Masters degree in

Qigong. A speaker said that Amma wants us to use our God given talents. That

the recipients would always have a home at the MA Center. And, that when

they're wondering who they are, we'll remind them of their true, eternal

natures. As a way to thank Amma for helping them though their studies, they

bowed before Amma's chair and offered Her flower petals.

 

The winning Pookkalam showed the hugging Amma emblem, surrounded by symbols of

various religions, depicting their unity.

 

May we all learn from Br. D.'s example of obedience and humbleness towards our

Guru. And, may the next satsang be simpler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Om Namah Shivaya

 

Dear Sweta,

 

thank you for this posting. The difficulties you had in making these

notes into a good post are clearly evident. It was not easy and I

greatly appreciate your efforts and work.

 

As a devotee who experienced trouble because of the play around the

changing Wash. D.C. tour dates, I am grateful to know the divine

drama behind that.

 

Your words:

" May we all learn from Br. D.'s example of obedience and

humbleness towards our Guru."

 

Thank you Sweta, for giving us the opportunity to learn from

Br.Dayamrita's example of surrender, through your post.

 

"And, may the next satsang be simpler."

( I hope so and wish it for you)

 

Your work in relaying to us news from the satsang helps 2 devotees

in Iceland ( not near any physical satsang group) to feel closer to

Amma. Thank you. JAI MA !

 

In Amma's Love,

Sarama J.

 

 

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