Ashram News

[Guest guest]

>From Sri Pati:

 

Namah Sivayah Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

(e-mail started on Wednesday March 23, 2005 and added to on subsequent

days). Its Wednesday, March 23rd and Im in my room liberating mosquitoes

from their current jivas and listening to Amma singing bhajans downstairs.

Happy Spring to everyone back home! We are starting to feel the heat of the

encroaching summer season (April/May) and people are getting lethargic.

Additionally, many long-term residents and renunciates are leaving for home

to work or to the US to prepare for the US Tour (which apparently is still

on for those of you waiting in anticipation).

 

The Seva Desk is starting to feel the effect of the exodus as people who

occupied key seva roles are departing and need replacement and fewer and

fewer people are arriving to take their place. Every morning, I go around

to each table and ask people if they would like to help with veggie

chopping, laddu rolling (the sweet prasad that Amma sometimes gives out), or

dish washing. Its a great way to meet people, but also a great way for

them to avoid you. I already know who to not ask, and who are the yes

people. Some are great at putting on stone faces I go to the table, and

they dont even have the courage to say sorry, not today they just look

away blankly and try to pretend that Im not there. One person in

particular seemed to be putting so much effort into maintaining his stone

face and avoiding eye contact that it he seemed to be frozen in fear and

couldnt even breathe! Others see me coming and jokingly turn away. Ive

learned not to take this personally. I feel like I have to wear a sign

saying Its ok to say no

 

The first batch of swimming students graduated on Sunday. Originally,

they were going to get certificates of completion, as Amma said ok, but then

She said no, so none were given out. A new group started today (Wed) and

its so wonderful to see them eager to learn. The malayalam word for look

or watch is NOKU and many are saying this vying for our attention.

I recognized immediately that they make more progress when given personal

attention which is difficult because there are many more children than

teachers. But even if we cant go one-on-one, if we at least acknowledge

that they are doing good, or correct, the impact is immediate. I learned

to say Nallathu (I hope this is right) which means Good. They are such a

wonderful group during the day, I often see them around the ashram and

they are always coming up to say hi. At some point, I hope to take

Malayalam lessons. The children correct me from time to time, but the

language barrier still makes it difficult to communicate - and we have

Brahamacharinis translating for us.

 

What is interesting is that since Indians are generally shorter than

Westerners, most of the boys look like they are 7-9 years old, when they are

really 10-13. I have to remind myself of this constantly as I have a

tendency to treat them like younger kids.

 

Some Ashram News:

 

- Ive heard that Amma is planning to build a walking bridge over the back

waters to Vallikavu. Apparently some work on the land-based foundations

has already started, but I havent seen much evidence of this.

 

- Ive heard rumors of Amma starting an organic farm in Vallikavu. Im

thinking that its on land that is behind the Engineering School. When I

went there a few weeks back, I recall seeing a huge clearing and I was

wondering what it was for perhaps this is where it will be. I cant wait!

 

- Sunday, some westerners took a short trip north on the Beach Road to

inaugurate the laying of a foundation stone for a village of new homes. They

left at about 8 and returned by noon. Apparently it was a sweet trip by

bus, and then by boat. The notice was put up only in the A/B/D flat at

the last minute, so few of us knew or had time to prepare. I had seva to

do.

 

- The director of the French film Darshan was at the Ashram last week. I

talked briefly with him. Its going to be in the Cannes Film Festival in

May! The first 30 minutes are about Ammas life early vintage films

included. The second is on tour with Her during last years North Indian

Tour. Then the last 30 minutes are at Amritavarsham. Were all hoping

there will be a showing here at the Ashram.

 

- I also heard that Born Into Brothels (which recently won an Academy

Award for Best Foreign Documentary) isnt being shown at the Ashram or in

India to protect the women who appear in the film.

 

-Gil got a name but I wont say here and let him tell everyone either

via e-mail or in person when he returns (update: Gil left earlier this

morning sad, but completely full of Ammas Grace She has said his name

many many times out-loud first when he submitted a question and secondly

just out of the blue when She confused his name for someone elses question.

He will be missed here but I look forward to future visits by him and

everyone else from the West.

 

- there was a huge rain storm the other night no thunder or lightning

but rained torrents from 11:30 pm to 2:30am. A taste of the monsoon season

in June/July.

 

- There are wooden boats being built near the boat jetty next to the

swimming pool. Im guessing that these are to replace ones destroyed in the

local villages. Its neat to see them materialize over the days. The

workers dont have electric saws which would accelerate the process. Not

sure if its a cost issue or not and I havent asked.

 

I was reflecting with Swamini Krishnamrita that weve been so blessed that

Amma has been at the Ashram for over a month straight and will remain here

until the US Tour (with a short 3 day trip to Tricchur in Kerala April

9-11th for a Brahmastanam installation). Amma has been coming down for

satsang on Mondays, Tuesdays (for meditation), and again on Fridays. Each

time, She pulls one or two questions from a clipboard (they had been

previously submitted in Malayalam) and gives an answer. So weve been

blessed with lots of teachings

 

Gil (whose new name I wont say), submitted a question about anger in the US

especially referring to anger hes seen by mothers to their children in NY

and also referred to the moving Bowling for Columbine. Amma said that

children should not be given toy guns to play with. She said that She is

waiting for the day when all weapons of mass destruction will be destroyed

or put in a museum for education (this received applause from everyone).

 

Amma said that parents should show love to their children as this gives them

strength. Young children are very impressionable. Those who receive love

will learn how to give love. (I thought to ask what about those of us who

are already grown and did not receive this love a devotee friend later

gave an answer that we hold on to Ammas feet!).

 

Amma also said that if we feel anger today, we should go for a long walk or

take our pillow and punch it (Ive heard Amma tell people in the past that

its ok to even punch your Amma doll as She can take it!)

 

Gils question was around 12:30pm on Monday which was still Sunday evening.

Apparently later that day (Monday in the US) a child in Minnesota went to

his school on an Indian Reservation and shot 25 and killed 7 or 8. When

news of this reached us, many knew that it was Amma who inspired the

question even though the question proceeded what happened.

 

One other devotee asked a question about what to do when they have to leave

the Ashram and are missing Amma. Amma said that we should reflect on all

the sweet times we had with Her which will help dispel our longing. We

should hold on to these like precious gems and take them out from time to

time and polish them. She told a story about the Gopis and Krishna when

Krishna went away the Gopis constantly thought about Krishna. At the end

of the Q&A session, Amma sang a bhajan I hadnt heard Krishna Krishna

Radha Krishna. I immediately noticed that She appeared to be more jubilant

while singing - this was underscored as She increased the speed and

intensity and continued for four or five faster repetitions with hands

clapping louder and louder (normally its just one or two) before ending.

 

Last week, Amma sang Mahishauramardini Stotram during Bhajans. She started

out to sing it like She did on the Chants CD (where the melody sung for the

first two lines repeats again on the next two lines before continuing), but

She stopped and started again this time with the melody flowing straight

through. Before starting, She commented that this is what is sung every

morning after Archana. The next morning, I think more than double the

Brahmacharis appeared for Archana, some equipped with Tablas and Tambourines

and it was quite intense (when I first arrived, it was just a lone harmonium

I since joined in with kaymines). As the week proceeded, the musicians

have remained, but I think the rest of the temporary attendees have gone

back to sleep! I have to admit that my first attempt at going to Archana

lasted one week as I was having trouble sleeping during the night and

getting up was difficult. But Santoshs mother Prana said that Amma says

that much grace is flowing during this time and most of us are either

sleeping or in the toilet which was quite convincing and Ive been going

ever since. I feel quite refreshed after going but I still go to sleep

for an hour afterwards before my 8:30am seva starts. (I know that Amma says

that going to sleep after spiritual practice is counterproductive - but

Prana said that Amma understands that this might be necessary).

 

Gil leaves Saturday. Kavya is still here for a few more weeks. Meenamba

arranged for us to sing Honey Bhajan for Amma earlier Wed. Meenamba has

been singing it in her room on occasion and a few westernwomen residents and

renunciates have come to love it and have requested it on many occasions.

(on the trip to Sri Lanka, Kripa Prana even asked me to sing it on the bus

ride I humbly declined as its Meenambas voice that makes it sweet plus

I was afraid Id forget the words on the spot.) .

 

Not much more to say today. Until then, may you all have fond Amma

gem-stones to take out an polish from time to time!

 

In Ammas Love and Light,

 

Reporting from Amritapuri,

 

Sri Pati