Michigan Retreat

[Guest guest]

Hello!

Being with Amma allowed me to have 4 nights of no sleep yet feeling

totally energized the entire time...BUT now I am home and that energy

sure disappears without Amma!! I'm preparing to hit the sack and get

a real night's sleep to return to work tomorrow. I had worried about

missing work to attend but She easily answered this child's lingering

questions I had in my mind. Being with God was priceless!

 

Retreat: $280

Airline Tickets: $150

Food: $15

BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF MY GURU, AVATAR, GOD IN HUMAN FORM, MY AMMA:

PRICELESS

 

When I am away from Amma, questions form in my mind. I always think I

will join the question line, then I am with Her and poof! They are

extinguished. They become meaningless. However, the question and

answer session was the best one I have ever heard. I have only

attended 3 retreats but it was very enlightening. Perhaps we can put

together this information for everyone who was unable to attend. I

will try to do that as much as possible if anyone wants to hear them.

I am not a note taker but I know some do this so that might be nice

to share. One question was: " Amma, forgive me for being so direct.

But usually Amma is sweet, kind and loving and gives this beautiful

hug. But other times She is not so nice and will not even look at

you. How can we bring out the more loving aspects of Amma?" This of

course made us roar with laughter. (Isn't Amma always loving?) She

said we should act as a child and grab Her, shake Her and ask, "Why

didn't you look at me?!" She also said She has so many things going

on, that She knows many times Her children leave darshan feeling sad.

She is giving mantra, answering questions or helping a crying

devotee. There is more to this but my fatigue is setting in! I can

try to add the information later if anyone is interested. Another

devotee asked four questions! It had to do with God and consciousness

and how it is all related. More on this later too.

 

I had the joy of doing so many things around Amma. I work with

special need teens so those with special needs especially make my

heart swell. I was wanting to help more in this area on Her tour and

programs. There were several teens with special needs-cerebral palsy

and autism. One was receiving darshan while I was on assistant lap

and my heart just swelled. An explosion of Amma's fragrance enveloped

me while she gave him darshan. This happened several times.

 

I was doing assistant lap for THREE hours! I only gave it up because

my hip and knee were killing me. I wish I had a 20 yr old body for

some of this seva. I also was able to participate in the puja (pata

puja??) I don't know how to spell it... I held a pot with water for

Amma to bless which 2 members of our Satsang decorated.

 

I was so nervous!! I fought back and forth over doing it. My Satsang

told me they wanted me to do it. Then I thought no, that wasn't fair

for me to do it. One member asked why I couldn't accept it as a gift.

Good question as I had a dream about doing it. I wanted to

participate in this so much. I decided to do it and my hands kept

sweating due to my nervousness. I had to set it down several times.

Finally I got a grip on myself and just felt happy and honored to

hold this vessel for my beloved guru. Why wouldn't I want to do this

to honor my Amma? Of course I would! My greatest joy was when She

walked over to me and after lovingly gazing at me, kissed me and gave

me darshan.

 

There is so much more. Everything else seems so meaningless after

being with Amma. It's hard to stay focused on my other worldly tasks

at hand-like work and housecleaning!

 

I used to cry all the time around Amma. Now I feel so much happiness

and bliss that I don't feel I can contain it. I shed a few tears but

hardly any. Even with leaving I just feel Her divine presence so

strongly now that there is nothing but total joy.

 

Jai jai ma,

adriane

[Guest guest]

Namah Shivaya.

 

Like Adriane, this child is more than ready for bed after this past few

sleepless but bliss filled days.

Quick report:

 

1100 people at the retreat.

around 4000 at DB

 

>From our list were:

 

Bala

Keval

Georgeson (so glad you introduced yourself and so sorry I couldn¹t have a

real visit.)

Iswari

Adriane

Suprithi (who served so tirelessly and so cheerfully)

Rick Archer

who have I missed?

 

Sunday morning someone offered Amma some new fallen snow which got passed

around as a sweet and unique prasad.

 

Amma wore a turquoise blue or maybe peacock would be closer. It had more

blue than green. Decorated with silver (right ?)

 

I said goodbye to Bala this morning after Devi Bhava. I first met him at the

MI retreat 5 years ago. He told me I could tell you that Amma has given him

permission to move to Amritapuri. He and Madhu will be leaving in early

December. I asked him to write us every now and then.

 

You are love.

premarupa

Aum Amriteshvaryai Namah