On Saturday, July 13, Amma began her tour stop in Southern California with an all-day public program at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, Orange County. People from all walks of life gathered in immense numbers, drawn together by Amma’s radiant love and compassion.
During the four days of programs, Amma led meditation, prayers for world peace, and bhajan sessions. As she embraced all who arrived in the form of her darshan, local devotees expressed their devotion and gratitude through musical performances.
Brahmacharini Amrita Chaitanya shared about her life with Amma in an introductory talk. She explained how the Guru is not a limited individual, but a guiding principle that teaches us all the time. We lack clarity regarding the obstacles that block our spiritual growth, so through the ages, masters from all faiths have lived among us to compassionately guide us to liberation.
“A person going to darshan had a question for Amma: ‘Amma, could you give me some advice regarding my spiritual practices?’ Without a moment of hesitation, Amma replied in Malayalam: ‘lokattinu upadravam cheyyaatta etu pravrittiyum saadhanayaanu’ – Any action that doesn’t harm the world is a sadhana,” said Bri Amrita.
She continued that Amma teaches the fundamental harm that underlies all other harms is that of seeing ourselves as separate from others, the world, and ultimately, the divine. For Amma, it is not possible to harm anyone in any way, because she is free of this sense of separation. In her vision, the whole world is a unified experience.
Said Bri Amrita, “It is our ego that creates this separation. This is the source of fear, anger, jealousy, selfishness through both inferiority and superiority complexes. It is the source of all suffering. Therefore, any behaviour that nourishes the ego actually harms us – and through that, harms the world that we are an inseparable part of. Freeing ourselves of this harm is the greatest gift we can offer the world.”
During another program, Brahmachari Chidanandamrita Chaitanya addressed the gathering. He continued to express the same theme – that Amma is teaching us how to go beyond the intellect and find the state of eternal happiness. It is a childlike innocence deep within us all that is God.
“When our heart gets overwhelmed with love, logic fails. I have often felt that there is only one quality that distinguishes Amma from us. If we can assimilate that one quality, we can also become Amma. Yes. We can all become Amma. That one quality we need to develop is unconditional love,” he said.
“Amma is not teaching anything that is difficult to follow. She wants us all to enjoy the heaven that we are all carrying within us. Amma says the real heaven or hell is not a realm we will go to after death. It is in fact dependent on our mind.
“If the mind views the world with compassion and selfless love, wherever we are will be converted into a heaven. If it views the world through a filter of selfishness and hatred, no matter how beautiful a place we may find ourselves in, it will become a hell for us. So, we can create Heaven on Earth right now, here, through our kind words and compassionate actions.”
Br Chidanandamrita concluded saying that as long as we put in effort, Amma will find a way to help us progress on the spiritual path. Even a little chanting, a little meditation, and a little yoga will lead us to greater heights of consciousness.
Amma’s programs in Irvine finished early morning on July 17th. Her next tour stop is Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Find out more – us.amma.org/tour
