An interview with Amma in
'The Indian Express' newspaper,
during Amma's visit to Pune ( 13th to 16th March 2001)
by Vinita Deshmukh
Her motherly looks belie her sharp and remarkably delightful
wisdom of a guru, that is deeply embedded in her. Just like
a mother, she hugs you so tight that the invisible wall between
the guru and disciple crumbles like ninepins instantly. She
pours her heart to reveal self-knowledge with such simplicity,
that it captures the imagination of evan those who might not
have been initiated into spiritualism or may have no attitude
or aptitude for spirituality.
She is Mata Amritandamayi, the spiritual leader who has
her base at Vallickavu in Kerala and Mata Amritandamayi ashrams
spread across the length and breadth of the country. Pune
boasts of one such ashram at Nigdi. Amma, as she is fondly
called, is presently on visit to the city, for discourse.
The most admirable feature of Amma is that, she speaks only
in Malayli, but language has been no barrier between her and
her disciples, considering that they come from all parts of
the world. When this writer spoke to her, the answers came
in Malayalam, but her brilliant disciple translated them into
English, within seconds, in an amazingly professional manner.
Excerpts from an interview
How can one harmoniously blend spirituality
with materialism?
There is no such difference between spirituality
and materialism. Spirituality teaches us how to
live in this materialistic world. A person who
knows how to swim, delightfully goes into the
ocean and the one who does not know how to swim
drowns. Just like that, a person who has realised
the changing nature of the world can lead a happier
life, while the person who is not aware of its
ups and downs will become more sorrowful, filled
with a lot of fear and worry.
Life is like the pendulum of a clock. When it
swings at one end, it does not stop there - instead
it gains momentum and swings to the other side.
Mind is just the same - it swings between happiness
and unhappiness. It is only when the pendulum
is at the centre that it becomes still. Similarly,
our equilibrium can be maintained when are minds
are still and this can be achieved when we can
balance our lives between spirituality and materialism.
It's then, that we are not trapped between happiness
and unhappiness. Seeking 100 percent happiness
from the outside world is like trying to roll
the sky and carry it under the armpits.
In today's materialistic world, if one person
in the society is observing spiritual values,
nobody wants to follow his footsteps. However,
the person with an inner attitude and experience
is sure to be more joyful amidst the thousands
in the society who are caught in the whirlpool
of materialism.
How does one achieve self-knowledge through
formal education or value education at home?
Information technology is a big leap in science
and has made the whole world into a small family,
literally bringing it under one umbrella. However,
at the same time, hearts have narrowed down to
the extent that we refuse to accept and recognise
the talents of others. The modern education system
is like cutting the feet to fit into the shoes.
Children are taught education for living, but
not education for life. We have developed the
intellectual world where heads have grown, but
the hearts have dried up. I don't have a grudge
against "modern science" or "progress",
but there should be a beautiful blend between
both-that is, between spiritualism and materialism.
Spirituality is an art, which teaches you to
live the entire life in perfection. It is management
of your life and parents, as well as educational
institutes should teach this value added aspect.
Can one gain inner knowledge and peace of
mind by hearing discourses by masters or by visiting
places of worship?
Once in a while it's ok to visit a place of worship
for your personal peace of mind. However, when
you go out of your country, several doubts are
raised regarding our places of worship. Like why
do we worship a monkey god or an elephant god?
Most of us have no inkling about the subtle significance
and when we approach the priest of the temple,
he too would probably have no clue. That, we should
transform from being monkeys to perfect human
beings, that we should posses the amazing quality
of an elephant's trunk which can pick up a needle
with the utmost dexterity, as well as ferociously
uproot a tree, that, we must learn the art of
listening as portrayed symbolically through the
big ears of the elephant god is knowledge that
is alien to most of us. Similarly, parents too
are not in a position to impart spiritual knowledge.
Therefore, the only perfect people are the genuine
spiritual masters who have attained mastery in
the search of ultimate truth. A temple priest
is like a KG schoolteacher who can only show the
picture of a parrot and identify it. You can take
birth in a temple, but you cannot die there. You
have to grow inside and outside. Once you have
grown inwardly and outwardly, every place will
be like a temple. Spiritual masters, who are genuine,
carry the inner experience of Godhood and share
with thousands around them. They guide you through
their rich and wise experiences.
Describe the role of the parents today?
Parents help children only in the outer knowledge,
making them outwardly ambitious for which they
create the necessary situation. But they have
forgotten to teach the children how to live life.
When you walk on grass, a path is easily carved,
but even if you walk on a rocky path 100 times,
it is difficult to carve a path. Hence, it is
important that parents mould their children when
young.
What children see of their parents these days
is the latter's obsession with accumulating wealth
and not in developing inner richness. Thus they
grow up with the opinion that it is only wealth
that matters in life. Such children grow up with
no control over their emotions and thoughts and
can go astray.
Should women be career-person?
Women must study, work, and be self-sufficient.
But in the process, her responsibilities have
increased a lot since she continues to manage
the home front too. However she progresses, a
woman should not forget that she has been endowed
with a special gift from God-and that is, motherhood.
She must be able to discharge this duty with equal
dexterity along with her work-which comes with
utmost patience. If she forgets the responsibility
of motherhood and gives priority to other matters,
then the harmonious functioning of society will
be affected.
Economically India may not be worthy, but its
only worth is love, much of which comes through
the heart of the mother. If that love disappears,
then it will be a complete disintegration of the
family and society. Already a family has become
an island.
Very importantly, a woman may adorn man-like qualities
for the sake of her work, but inside her heart
she should preserve her femininity, which is what
makes her very special in society.
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