Category: Around Amma 2001

  • Amma: Beyond caste

    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;…

  • Let them feed each other

    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…

  • Unrelenting Compassion

    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…

  • But who hugs Amma?

    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…

  • Walking darshan

    6 June, San Ramon “Like a deer caught in headlamps,” Sue said. That’s how she felt: frozen, unable to move, stunned. But the comparison shouldn’t be carried too far: she was not about to be shot by a hunter, nor run over by a speeding car. It’s just that, all unexpected, Mother walked by. It…

  • We can not learn real knowledge at school

    Amma’s 2001 visit to Japan Renowned Professor Nara, emeritus of well-known National University of Foreign Studies in Tokyo, and engaged in many public service activities, gave an introductory speech about Amma and Indian spirituality. Although this was the first time Professor Nara met with Amma, he immediately realized Amma’s extraordinary nature. In his talk, he…

  • Amma’s rituals – with lotuses

    30,May, 2001 Generally as a religion matures, its rituals become fixed and unvarying. This preserves something fine from the early times; it also tends to breed mechanical repetition and to block the heart’s natural tendency to respond with newness and freshness. Ritual can be the death or the life of religious practices. We are blessed…

  • Amma, Healing the Heart of the World

    An American devotee, Judith Cornell, has written a biography of Amma for mainstream publication throughout the world. In addition, Judith will be on a very highly rated and very highly watched TV news/talk show in the US called “The Today Show” on 10 July, to talk about the book and Mother. ‘Amma, Healing the Heart…

  • Mother’s vacation

    23 May, 2001 A Wednesday in the middle of May was the last day Mother gave public darshan at Amritapuri before this year’s Japan/USA Tour. That was the day She started at around ten and finished only at the end of evening bhajans. There was still a week left before Her departure. What did She…

  • She is still whispering

    She is still whispering

    16 May, 2001, Amritapuri Today, the 16th of May, is the last scheduled public darshan before Mother leaves for the six-week US Tour. Mother came to the temple shortly after ten in the morning, and it is now nearly seven in the evening, bhajans should be in full swing, but they aren’t, for still the…