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Darshan isn’t really over

Santa Fe, 29 June 2001 Darshan may seem to be over when Mother stands up from Her chair. But it isn’t, exactly. Most night darshan programs end with Her calling all those who haven’t come to Her lap that day to stand close as She walks out of the hall-so that She can hand each […]

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Smelling rose to quit smoking

June,Los Angeles Have you tried and failed to stop smoking?Try this: when you think of having a smoke, smell a lovely fresh rose. A few days ago in Los Angeles, one of Mother’s sons came for darshan with a lovely fresh scent on his breath. But Amma was not fooled: “Have you been smoking?” “Yes. […]

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Dancing with God

Saturday, June 23, Los Angeles Where God dances there the lovers of God will be. An Incarnation is the Divine Itself. And so when Mother dances, the Divine dances, and we dance with Her. This dancing tends to happen if the morning darshan program on the second day, a retreat, ends early enough. Suddenly the […]

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Get ready for surprise!

Amma’s RetreatsSaturday, June 23, Los Angeles Looking at the schedules published for Amma’s retreats, you might mistakenly think they are all alike. They are not. On the first evening, many people are seeing Amma for the first time this tour and their longings of previous months are being fulfilled. There are even some who are […]

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From LA

LA , 21 June, 2001 Big Kiss in LA A little fellow and his mother brought Mother a giant pink foil wrapped Hershey’s Kiss, almost bigger than the boy himself! Mother delighted all watchers when She suddenly raised the Kiss and set it on Her own Head-it was so big it “sheltered” the child as […]

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Amma: Beyond caste

San Ramon, 20 June 2001 At the end of the first Devi Bhava in San Ramon, Mother helped a young boy take a big step towards manhood when She initiated him into the Gayatri mantra and placed over his shoulder the Sacred Thread. This ceremony is often done by a boy’s father, or a priest; […]

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Let them feed each other

San Ramon, 14 June 2001 Near the end of Wednesday night’s darshan program—say, 2:30 in the morning — a dignified looking gentleman came for darshan, spoke a little with Amma, and left. Suddenly She was gesturing and calling him back. It seems he is affiliated with AIMS, and was heading home soon. Could She pass […]

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Cultural

The Living Upanishad

The Upanishads are the most revered texts of Sanatana Dharma, the Eternal Wisdom, which represents the essence of Life. The most sublime philosophy concerning the nature of Reality is expressed in these Upanishads. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Upanishad is “to sit down near” or “to sit Totally (with complete attention) near the […]

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Unrelenting Compassion

8 June 2001 San Ramon On the cover of the CD that Jason gave Mother a couple of years ago was the picture of a slim, hauntingly handsome young man. There was something ethereal in his innocent face. He held an electric guitar. He was a rock guitarist. His songs had titles like “Primal” and […]

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But who hugs Amma?

Friday, 7 June A reporter from the local CBS TV station has come to cover the story of “the Hugging Saint”. After asking Amma to talk a little about Her childhood, and to explain why She hugs everyone, the reporter asked Her: “But Amma, who hugs YOU?” She laughed delightedly, and then answered: “The whole […]