Tsunami relief efforts update

[Guest guest]

Tsunami relief efforts update

 

Br. Dayamrita Chaitanya

January 5, 2005

 

Aum Amriteswaryai Namah

 

Many have been mystified by Amma's announcement pledging one billion

Rupees (23 million USD) toward Tsunami relief aid. People have reacted

differently and one question seems to remain in everyone's mind - "How

can Amma make a pledge of such magnitude?"

 

Obviously Amma is not like any of us, who might make a statement

without thinking through the execution, promising something which

cannot be fulfilled or taking advantage of a situation for personal

gain of wealth or fame. Amma who still lives in a small room in

Amritapuri Ashram, who sleeps very little and eats sparingly, needs no

money. In regards to her name and fame, it is impossible even to

imagine the magnitude of the fame she has achieved – certainly over

and beyond what an ordinary individual can ever hope to attain.

Through her compassionate gestures, wise suggestions, timely spiritual

advice and the thousands of blessings she has bestowed upon the people

who have come to her, her name has already been inscribed in the

hearts of millions all over the world. Such people who have

experienced her empathy, understanding and spiritual counseling can

never erase these memories from their hearts.

 

Why then, did Amma make this announcement? Amma herself described to

me that she had never seen such mass suffering before. Many villagers

whom she knew died in the calamity. Most of the remaining villagers

lost everything including their houses and belongings. Many have lost

their relatives- their grief is unfathomable for a person who has not

gone through such a tragedy. The dead did suffer, but those who are

left alive are suffering even more. When Amma talked to me, she

described that many of the women and children did not even have proper

clothing or underclothes to wear and her compassion was so

overwhelming that she herself started stitching undergarments for

these women and children. This was in the time left over after giving

guidance to government officials, ashram residents and visitors with

regard to concerted relief efforts and following many sleepless

nights. Amma has been the perfect role model of how a human being

should be, like the candle giving out light to others while melting

itself.

 

It is true that a person cannot do this by herself or himself. But

Amma has inspired thousands around the globe to perform selfless

service through her own example. The ashram residents are no

exception. They were able to take care of visitors, cook food for the

tens of thousands at the tsunami shelters, work in hospitals, print

books and do their many other activities without a break in their

daily spiritual practice. Many a time they had to sacrifice their food

and sleep. Even as late as last Tuesday, the residents did not get any

lunch. Since the food was distributed to the relief camps, there was

none left over!

 

Amma's followers and devotees too set a remarkable example. Many who

work long hours earning a livelihood come back home to do `Seva' or

Selfless service, which is the real joy in their lives. Most of the

weekends are spent at their nearest Amma Center or at home, working

for a selfless cause. They do not indulge in the pleasures that

ordinary people do. They save their money and make donations for a

worthy cause, dedicated by Amma's example. Today the Ashram and its

efforts run on the sweat and blood of such people who have spent their

entire lifetime serving Amma and emulating her example. Thus when

someone gives the ashram a donation of say $1, it is magnified into

$10 worth of effort and result, thanks to the selflessness of the

people involved in such projects. The benefit is not only received by

the recipient of this benefit but also by the donor and the person who

puts the effort of selfless service into it. This is the way that the

Math can build houses, hospitals and schools without incurring a huge

expense. Today what Amma has as her wealth are her followers whom she

considers as her own children. Amma's followers or disciples have the

courage, strength and confidence imparted to them by Amma to move

forward during dark times such as this. They shine as beacons of light

during the times of darkness.

 

Many people who heard the pledge announcement asked me if this was

realistic. If one looks at what Amma has done in the past- her track

record, so to speak- one would say that all what Amma has done alone

is realistic. During some other such disasters many individuals and

organizations gave out plenty of promises. Most of them have not

become a reality. One of the best examples is in Gujarat where an

earthquake hit four years ago. Though Amma did not make any promises

then, she reconstructed three villages, built 2500 homes and today the

villages adopted by Amma stand out as role models for others. Many of

us have personally witnessed how many a time when Amma promises to

adopt a project or wants something done, it surely gets completed.

Though some may feel it to be a wonderful dream at the time of

initiation, the project comes to fruition in a few years.

 

Amma has said that some of the money would come from different funds

that she had set aside for distribution. This is from the widow's

pension scheme and also the money kept aside for the project for the

rehabilitation of prostitutes. These projects may suffer a temporary

delay. But Amma feels that since the relief efforts are the urgent

need of the hour, other projects can wait. As for the rest of the

money, Amma has said that God will provide for it. Amma ended saying

that she has the strength of the dedication, self-sacrifice, surrender

and humility of her children. With this she will certainly be able to

fulfill the needs of the Tsunami victims and make this pledge a reality.

 

Thank you all.

 

Namah Sivaya,

Dayamrita