to Pranada about tokens and seeing Amma

[Guest guest]

Dear Pranada ~ I weep as I read your words. It has been so hard ... I

haven't seen Amma since 1998, and have had a lot of grief about it. I'm not sure

I

was even aware of it until I read your post; then the floodgates opened.

Actually, knowing that there are more and more people coming to Amma's programs

and events, I thought the token system made sense for most people. I just felt

fearful that I would not be able to handle it, but you have allayed my fears

with your thorough information. I am copying it to print out for my Amma

folder, so I will have it at my fingertips when She comes to Boston. (I'm sure

Boston is one of the big ones.)

 

Part of my fear is based on the fact that my illnesses and symptoms are not

visible; they are internal. Yet it is almost impossible for me to crouch, much

less kneel. I would need total help to stand back up and would be as dead

weight on whomever helped me. So you have my utmost thanks for being so

thorough. Is there a place in the Ammachi space about tours, so

your

information could be put there also.

 

Again, my heart overflows with thanks to you and to my beloved Mother, Amma.

Linda

 

 

 

In a message dated 10/24/2008 6:58:17 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

Ammachi writes:

 

In terms of the token system, please do not worry. Amma does not

want anyone to miss Her darshan due to health concerns. This is how

the token flow system works in a nutshell: people arriving at the

program are met by greeters (wearing red scarves or " May I Help "

badges). People with physical limitations, health conditions, small

children, and suchlike that would make it impossible for them to

wait several hours for Amma's darshan can indicate this to the

greeters, who will then seat them in the queue for " assisted

darshan " , which used to be called " priority " . (The sevites for

assisted darshan wear blue scarves.)

Tokens are given out with priority to newcomers or those who have

not already gotten darshan during that tour, and they are numbered

in sequence. The numbers are posted in the hall and the regular

darshan line sevites (green scarves) cannot admit people into the

darshan line if their token number has not yet been posted. However,

the assisted darshan sevites do have the authority to let people

into the line quickly even if they are holding a later token. You

don't have to explain or prove anything to them, just tell them what

your limits are in terms of how long you can physically remain in

the hall and what assistance you may require in terms of getting

into and out of Amma's arms (eg, no kneeling, having someone's arm

to lean on as you walk up to Her, being in a wheelchair, etc).

I think that some longtime devotees with severe disabilities will

arrange not to even come to the hall until close to the end of the

morning darshan. This has been the case with those who are bedridden

or severely paralyzed. They will be wheeled close to Amma, and after

Amma finishes giving darshan to everyone else, She will get up from

Her chair and give darshan to these people before She leaves the

hall.

 

I know I've thrown a lot of info and color codes and whatnot at you.

Don't worry about retaining it all. If you only retain one thing,

let it be this: tell the greeters you require assisted darshan, and

if at ANY time once Amma's darshan has begun you feel you simply do

not have the reserves to wait any longer, do not hesitate to

approach a sevite. People wearing blue scarves or " May I Help " are

the best bet, but no matter who you talk to, they should be able to

help you find someone to get you into the line as quickly as

possible. Amma loves you and does not want you to go without getting

Her darshan.

 

I am not speaking as any official representative on this score, and

if there are inaccuracies in how I have depicted the token flow

system, the fault is mine. I only speak from my experience of

coordinating darshan line entry in Toronto (that's where I live).

Anytime you see someone with a May I Help badge, they know best.

 

In response to some of your other recent questions, I do not know of

an electronic version of Matruvani. It and Immortal Bliss are still

being published in hard copy. However, you can get a lot

electronically these days. You can to Amritavani, an

email newsletter, at https://amritavani.com// . There are

regular postings of Amma's and the ashram's activities at

http://blogs.amritapuri.org/ and you can even follow an almost hour-

by-hour report of Amma's activities and whereabouts at

http://twitter.com/amritapuri .

 

 

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