Amma's satsang on the occasion of the President of India's handing over of 500 tsunami houses constructed by the Ashram

[Guest guest]

"Real prayer is wiping the tears of the distressed"

 

Amma's satsang on the occasion of the President of

India's handing over of 500 tsunami houses constructed

by the Ashram.

 

18 December 2005, Amritapuri

 

Amma is happy to take part in this function of handing

over the houses to the children who lost everything in

the tsunami tragedy. Amma doesn’t feel that she is the

one giving these houses. By the grace of the

Paramatman, Amma and her children were able to render

at least some service to the suffering.

 

We are not isolated islands. We are all links of the

same chain. All of our actions—whether done

intentionally or unintentionally—have an effect on

others. If we hold back from changing until others

change first, no change will ever take place. But if

we are ready to change first, it will effect a change

in others as well.

 

What has taken place in this village is a perfect

demonstration of this truth. Since the tsunami struck,

through the current day, the Ashram children have been

fully engaged in the construction of houses. Seeing

their hard work, initially about 10 villagers joined

in, soon it became 20, then 100 and, as of late, more

than 1000 children from the surrounding villages have

been taking part in the construction seva.

 

Women, men and youngsters—followers of all political

ideologies and religions—have been happily working

hand-in-hand, united in heart. When Amma sees this,

her eyes and heart overflow. In this world where

selfishness prevails, to see such selfless children is

a delight for the eye. It is proof that the world has

not totally forgotten the language of compassion and

selflessness. It is through the mirror of selfless

service that human beings are able to behold their own

true beauty.

 

We might not be able to stop natural disasters like

the tsunami from taking place. Though they bring the

darkness of sorrow, we should try to light the lamp of

optimistic faith. Situations in life might not always

turn out in our favour. But we should try to live our

life like a river that always flows on regardless of

the obstacles before it. Our vision of life should

inspire us to live this way. The awareness that God’s

power is always there supporting us will help us to

move forward.

 

There are certain situations in life that we simply

cannot change. But regardless of the situation, we

always have the freedom to choose how to respond. If

we have the correct attitude, we will be able to

progress without breaking down, no matter how

difficult a situation may be. If we have the attitude

of surrender, we will understand that there is nothing

in life to reject. We will have the attitude of

acceptance alone. If plants are able to grow from

manure and give fragrant flowers in return, if the

civet cat and the musk deer can spread sweet

fragrances, why can’t we transform our lives into

flowers that are eternally full and fragrant? Why

can’t we become like a never-fading rainbow, eternally

bring joy to one and all?

 

Our Rishis taught us to love and serve the world,

seeing everything as God. Real service is the power

that sustains this world. When human beings serve

nature, nature serves human beings. When human beings

serve the flora and fauna, they serve humankind in

return. In life, we should have the attitude of trying

to understand and respect each other’s feelings.

Through selfless service, we should be able to

construct a bridge of love that will bring all of us

together.

 

Real prayer is wiping the tears of the distressed. If

there is no shoulder for the sorrowful to lay their

heads upon, it would be the greatest darkness.

 

Once the different parts of the body were arguing over

which one was the most important. The hand said, “If I

weren’t here to do all the hard work, then how would

all of you be able to eat?” The eyes said, “If it

weren’t for me, even the greatest man would fall into

every hole or ditch.” The tongue said, “After the body

dies, all of you will be no more. Only the words that

I have uttered will remain.” The argument continued on

like this till it became a huge fight. Finally, they

had to take the argument to God.

 

God said, “All of you are definitely very important.

However, the most important part is the shoulder.”

 

All the body parts were stunned. “The shoulder? He

didn’t even mention any of his abilities while we were

arguing! So, how did you suddenly feel that he is the

greatest?”

 

God said, “When a person cries, the only place he can

rest his head is on someone’s shoulder. The shoulder

is the greatest because he gives comfort to the

sorrowful.”

 

Today we are shouldering the burden of our prarabdha,

of our past actions. Let us offer them to the

Paramatman. And let us take up the spirit of

self-sacrifice.

 

May the rest of the lives of the children who suffered

so much due to the tsunami be filled with peace and

happiness.

 

Let us pray together for the peace of all the beings

in creation.

 

 

And if you want to read the above in Malayalam

http://www.amritapuri.org/teachings/message/500message-amma.pdf

 

Keval