Swimming beyond

18 May 2012, Amritapuri

A few days ago, Amma had indicated that she would stay with her children at the swimming pool. The Darshan on Thursday finished late at 6:30 am after Amma having sat 21 hours, on Friday. So few assumed Amma would come to the pool. But just after Bhajans, around 8:30 pm, Amma came to the swimming pool. The first session was with the girls and the second was with the boys.

Sitting at the deep-end of the pool, Amma would push swimmers into the water after spending a loving few seconds with each one. To some, she would ask if they knew swimming. To others, it varied from jokes to spiritual insights. Amma would cheer like a little child as she would receive a splash of water. For every person, she checked if they knew swimming, would ask for the protective ring and would ask trained swimmers to hold as she would nudge them lovingly. Even some senior Swamis dived getting a loving nudge from Amma. The whole swimming pool area was surrounded by smiling faces. At the end Amma sang a bhajan “He giridhara gopala.” She asked all to take a dip in the pool chanting “Ma” and come up with chanting “Om”. Amma left the pool at quarter-past eleven, she touched everyone as she walked. Ashram elephants, Ram and Lakshmi even enjoyed the thrill as Amma fed them on her way back to the room.
– Kannadi