Excerpts from Amma's 2005 Onam Message

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We Can Create a World Like Mahabali's

Excerpts from Amma's 2005 Onam Message

 

15 September 2005 -- Amritapuri

 

There is a saying in Malayalam: Maveli nadu vaneedam

kaalam manushar ellavarum onnu pole. ["During the time

when Mahabali ruled, everybody lived as one."] The

rule of Mahabali is seen as a beautiful example of

good governance. We need to understand what is meant

by saying "Everybody lived as one." Does it mean that

all the subjects had the same weight, the same height,

the same talents, the same intellectual capacity, the

same strength? No, such a thing can never happen. In

God's creation, not even two blades of grass are the

same, much less two human beings, the most evolved in

God's creation. In Mahabali's time, all the citizens

were steadfast in dharma. There was no stealing, no

cheating or betrayal of trust, not even a trace of

lying—this is what is meant by, "Everyone lived as

one." When a ruler and people are living dharmic

lives, then everything in the three worlds becomes

their own.

 

 

But in such circumstances, there comes the opportunity

for the ego--the sense of "I" and "mine"--to slowly

raise its head. It is this ego that led kings like

Duryodhana, Kamsa and Jarasandha to destruction. All

other negativities can be removed by one's earnest

effort. But to remove the ego, one needs to bow one's

head down before a Guru. The attitude and feeling of

"I" must go.

 

To remove the disciple's sense of "I" and "mine" and

bestow immortality, God himself assumes a human form

and comes down to Earth. That is why it is said that

Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a brahmachari called

Vamana and approached Mahabali. Though being the

supreme ruler of all the worlds and the greatest

master, Lord Vishnu came to Mahabali as a poor student

asking for alms. Real Gurus are always exemplars of

humility and self-sacrifice.

 

Mahabali thought that the Earth, the heavens and the

netherworlds were all in his control. He believed that

he had the power to give anything to anyone. But he

could not even give three steps of land to Vamana. The

heart that is obscured by the clouds of ego cannot see

the sun of knowledge. The wind of the Guru's grace has

to blow the clouds away.

 

Even though we know that the ego is so dangerous, why

are we not able to renounce it? Because the ego always

appears to us as our trustworthy protector. Just as a

thief may approach us as a friend and then steal all

of our wealth without our knowledge, so too the ego

steals our happiness and contentment. Appearing as if

it is trying to protect us, it takes us prisoner. Only

the Guru can awaken us from the sleep of the ego.

 

It is said that Mahabali comes on the day of Onam to

visit his subjects. This also means that, at least on

the day of Onam, he wishes to see everybody leading a

dharmic life. Sharing our possessions with

others--this is the spirit behind the Onam

celebrations.

 

When we see something wrong, we immediately pass a

mental judgment. We may even get ready to punish the

person. But we should try to understand the

circumstances that made the person do the wrong thing.

If we are able to do that, there will always be

compassion within us. We have a duty towards society.

We are always thinking about our rights but forget our

responsibilities.

 

It is because we have the faith that on the day of

Onam that the Lord will visit us to share our feast

that we first serve food on a banana leaf and keep it

near the lamp, offering it to the Lord. All that we

consider as our own will be taken by time. Whatever we

give, considering it as the Lord's, will be returned

to us many times over.

 

Pookkalams [the flower-petal decorations for Onam]

represent the unity of hearts. The unity of hearts is

the beauty of society. Each flower has a beauty of its

own, but when they come together their beauty

multiplies. This is the true celebration of Onam. May

all our actions be an offering to the Lord. The real

devotee is concerned with the happiness of others, not

of himself. He does not desire anything. Let the

flowers that we have used to make pookkalams to

welcome the Lord be the flowers of love and

compassion. May the new clothes that we wear on Onam

be the resolve to lead life with an understanding of

dharma and the remembrance of the Lord. May the

different games and dances in which we participate

during the Onam season make us happy and others happy

as well. Just as we forget the differences of caste

and religion while taking part in such festivities,

may the spirit of brotherhood always reside within us.

In that way, let us become united, full of love and

bliss, and go beyond all differences and become one at

heart.

 

You may wonder if the kingdom of Mahabali ever

existed, or if there ever was such a ruler. Even for

someone to have imagined such a world--a world without

theft, cheating or gossip, where everyone lived as

one--is in itself a miracle. If you all are

determined, you can create such a world. We can put an

end to looting, killing, cheating and other forms of

violence. Our world has enough resources to do so, but

we are not using them correctly.

 

Amma feels that there may be people in the remote

villages of Kerala who even today, on Onam, are going

without eating one single meal. Let them also receive

food and not starve--this is Amma's desire. As there

still are starving people in the world, you must

cultivate an attitude to serve them. Amma believes

that her children will come forward to help others.

Let there be love, affection and service in your

words, thoughts and actions. May you become the light

of the world. May grace protect you all. With this

prayer, Amma offers her words to the Paramatman.