Category: Around Amma

  • Patience leads to Love

    6 – 7 October 2000, Helsinki, We were a total of 40 devotees receiving Amma at the airport. When She arrived, She gave us a long beautiful darshan. Although all the travelling group was tired after 48 hours of travel, Amma was fresh like a rose – as always. We felt Amma’s visit this year…

  • Darshan to the Snakes

    4 October 2000, Colombo En route to Finland, the first stop before the European portion of Mother’s winter tour was a layover in Colombo, Sri Lanka. That’s where the snakes had darshan!The members of the tour group had gathered at the beach and were waiting for Amma to come to meditate with Her, when suddenly…

  • ‘What time will She arrive?’

    30 September 2000, Amritapuri Amma’s plane from Dubai was due to land in Trivandrum at 3:30 p.m., we calculate that it will take three hours for Her to arrive at the ashram, that is, by 6:30 p.m. Just to be sure, residents start lining up by 4 p.m.! At 5 p.m. they begin to chant…

  • Shower of Love in the Arabian desert

    26th of September, 2000 “Should Amma go to Dubai? Is it really necessary? Isn’t it dangerous to go to a country where there is no religious freedom?” These were some of the doubts and questions expressed by the devotees when they heard about Amma’s decision to go to Dubai. Amma’s parents were also extremely concerned…

  • Amma in Dubai

    26th of September, 2000 Welcome Speech by Sheik Ahmed Lutfi, Director Finance Ministry, Dubai “Dear friends, I am immensely delighted to welcome Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi Devi to Dubai. Amma has demonstrated by Her very life that human hearts can be won by pure and selfless love. If only all humanity can have this attitude…

  • Darshan in mid air

    26th of September, 2000 Scene 1: The stage of this drama is set in mid air, inside the aircraft. The Air India flight to Dubai has just taken off. The flight attendants are preparing to serve the passengers soft drinks. Suddenly, all the passengers get up from their seats, one by one, and move towards…

  • She just won’t leave!

    24 September 2000, Amritapuri Amma’s last scheduled darshan at the ashram for the next two months. Crowds of devotees, eager to have Amma’s darshan before Her long absence, have been arriving in the ashram since the previous night. By 11 a.m. the temple is packed to capacity. Amma comes at 11:15 a.m., bows to the…

  • She did what She always does

    20 September 2000, Amritapuri, Amma’s Birthday When there are fifty thousand or more devotees in Amritapuri to celebrate Amma’s birthday, ‘living with Amma’ has a new meaning. It no longer means you sit with Her for meditation and satsang in the morning, as normally happens three days a week; nor does it mean you sit…

  • Amma and Ram

    15 September 2000, Amritapuri Mother comes down the spiral steps from the temple, and Ram is standing, facing Her as She walks across the yard. She draws abreast of him, calls out, ‘Ram!’ and stretches Her hand towards his trunk, which is already reaching towards Her. More like a puppy than an elephant, he follows…

  • Preparations for Amma’s birthday

    14 September 2000, Amritapuri The ashram is buzzing with activity, as preparations are being made for Amma’s birthday celebrations next month. Dust has been flying everywhere as the central ashram building, housing the temple and offices, and which provides accommodation to many, is being readied for a fresh coat of paint. The ‘dining hall’ at…