such significance . . .

[Guest guest]

From Matruvani July 1998 by Swamiji Amritaswarupananda Puri

 

" Let me tell you about a few incidents that illustrate Amma's love and

compassion towards all creatures, no matter how insignificant they may

seem.

 

During the last world tour, when Amma was staying in Seattle, She

returned to the house at about 3:30 one morning, after having given

darshan for many hours. As Amma walked along the garden path towards the

door, She suddenly jumped back saying that She had trodden on something.

She bent down and found a snail that She had touched with Her foot, and

which was slightly injured. " Oh no! " She exclaimed. " Poor thing! " She

picked it up and held it in Her cupped hands. Looking sadly at the

little snail, She said, " This poor creature's mate will be looking for

him soon. She will be very worried, wondering what has happened to him. "

Amma continued to gaze at the snail in Her hands for several minutes.

She then closed Her eyes, touched the snail to Her forehead, and then

She kissed it. She gently put it down beneath a plant and put a few

protective leaves around it before She went into the house. . .

 

I remember a very moving incident. Some years ago, a few brahmacharis

uprooted a young mango tree on the Ashram grounds and transplanted it

somewhere else.

 

Unfortunately, the tree was in a state of shock from being moved, and

the brahmacharis neglected it so that it wilted away and died. One day

Amma happened to come across the dead tree. When She saw it Her face was

filled with pain. She bent down and kissed the tree. She was like a

mother with a badly hurt child. Tears were streaming down Her face. Amma

said: " Children, please do not destroy life like this. You should always

remember that everything is filled with consciousness and life. There is

no such thing as mere matter -- only consciousness exists. God dwells in

everything; not only in people. God is in the mountains, the rivers and

the trees, in the birds and the animals, in the clouds and the sun and

the moon and the stars -- in both the sentient and the insentient. How

can a person who understands this kill and destroy? "

 

A few days later, the brahmacharis were astonished to discover that the

tree had come back to life and was beginning to sprout new leaves.

Amma's divine touch and Her love had awakened the dead tree. Not only

does love transform, it can bring the dead back to life. Such is the

power of Amma's Love. . . .

 

A few years ago, when Amma was in Singapore, She visited an old-age

home. There was an old man of Chinese descent living there, whose entire

body was covered with infected sores. He was hideous to look at. As he

watched Amma embracing all the people around him, he had a look of

despair on his face. After some time, Amma turned to him and gazed at

him with great love. He turned his head away and tried to ignore Her. He

looked frightened and deeply embarrassed, as if he was convinced that

Amma wouldn't want to touch him because he was too repulsive. Amma came

up to him and put Her arms around him. She held him close to Her and

caressed him, treating him as if he were the most adorable child on

earth. The old man broke down and sobbed like a child in Her arms. . . .

.. .

 

Though Amma is one with God, She worships every being in creation as a

manifestation of God, whether it be a human being, an animal or a little

tree. What greater example of love could there possibly be? " . . .