• Janmashtami – Krishna’s birthday

    Janmashtami – Krishna’s birthday

    As always on Sri Krishna’s birthday, today was a day of great festivity at Amritapuri. The celebrations began at three o’clock in the afternoon with a parade to the local Krishna temple. The procession was headed up by some of the ashramite children costumed for the day and carrying an ashram banner, followed closely by

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  • How to face the challenges of life

    Ordinarily, we face our experiences in three ways. We try to run away from situations, we try to change the situations believing that our problems will be solved in that way, or we bear the circumstances while cursing our lot. Running away from a situation will not help us to avoid our problems because, if

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  • Translate mantra into our lives

    Benedictory Address delivered by Amma on the occasion of Her 45th Birthday Celebrations, 1998 Salutations to all of you, the embodiments of the Self, the embodiments of love. As my children have gathered here today, let us first of all chant the mantra “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu.” Every one should join in this. “Lokah Samastah

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  • Onam celebrations

    Onam at Amritapuri was a day of many surprises. In the morning, Amma announced that She would hold the morning darshan program in the new hall where only bhajans and Devi Bhava darshan are usually held. Talking to the devotees present, Amma said, “You have been able to see the ashram as your own home.

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  • Pure dance

    31 August 2001, Amritapuri It is natural to feel a bit reserved among strangers or in big crowds. And when you are in an ashram, you would imagine that you would have to behave with a certain decorum. But when the Guru Herself tells you to drop your shyness and embarrassment, stand up and dance…

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  • Onam at their home

    31 August, 2001, Amritapuri Onam at Amritapuri was a day of many surprises. In the morning, Amma announced that She would hold the morning darshan program in the new hall where only bhajans and Devi Bhava darshan are usually held. Talking to the devotees present, Amma said, “You have been able to see the ashram

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  • Want Rice?

    Want Rice?

    21 August 2001, Amritapuri A Real-Life Allegory Watch! A little boy arrives in front of Mother’s table. She has finished serving Tuesday lunch to everyone else in the temple. She asks him, “Rice?” No particular response. So She takes a plate of rice and curry and holds it out to him. He shakes his head

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  • A mere pigeon?

    A mere pigeon?

    16 August 2001, Amritapuri Last Tuesday, a mangled bird lay nestled on Amma’s lap while She meditated. No, not exactly Her lap. Mother sat in the half-lotus position, with Her right Foot on Her left thigh, sole upturned, as She usually does for meditation. When a little girl brought the wounded bird, Mother (Who had

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  • Kali In the kitchen

    Kali In the kitchen

    13 August 2001, AmritapuriThere was an eager crowd waiting for Mother after bhajans; that’s when She feeds and plays with Ram. But Ram was not to be seen. When Mother came, instead of walking to Her room, She took a left turn and strode into the big, new “industrial” kitchen. It was time for one

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  • Payasam for Pachyderm

    11 July 2001, Amritapuri Amma is not one of those people who say one thing and do another. You can count on it: if She tells Her children to do things a certain way, She will follow Her own directives. She models what She teaches. Take this evening when She was playing with Ram after

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