Guest guest Posted December 26, 2002 Report Share Posted December 26, 2002 >From today's Times of India. Scroll down to paragraph #6 for Amma quote. Jai Ma! Keval ===================================== http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/comp/articleshow?artid=32487868 SPEAKING TREE Implicit Faith in a Supreme Power SUREKHA MOHAN [ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2002 12:01:10 AM ] Carried away by the triumphs of science, many people repudiate God’s existence. They dispute anything which is not empirically verifiable. But as former president S Radhakrishnan said: ‘‘Science looks at the periphery, at the outside of things, the variety and multiplicity of the universe. The centre of being from which all these things come, from which they arise — that must be felt by solitary meditation.’’ For me, the sun, the stars and the vast mysteries of the universe imply that there is a power which extends beyond the confines of the earth. The moon’s regular cadence through our skies, the tidal dance of the oceans, the cyclical seasons and the inevitability of day and night carry His imprint. Whenever I see snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls and the varied flora and fauna spread all over the earth, my heart bubbles over with gratitude for the Creator as it does when I see a baby gurgle or hear a child’s innocent prattle. Man’s life shows that he is no more than a puppet in God’s hands. While he can strive to fulfil his dreams, no man, howsoever powerful, can escape the tyranny of time. In fact, this world is perpetually being devoured by death. Civilisations, nations and works of art surface, swim for a while and sink. As Shakespeare pointed out, we are all actors — the world is but a stage. God is the director and when our role exhausts, He calls us back. No life can be full of only happiness. Sorrow, too, has its place in God’s scheme of things. Mata Amritanandamayi says: ‘‘There is a time for everything. At certain times in our lives, everything we start ends in failure. There is no point in collapsing when that happens. Have faith in God. He is our sole refuge and will show us a way out.’’ Referring to wealth, position and relatives, she says: ‘‘Only God lasts forever. Everything else will be gone — today or tomorrow.’’ When people ask her why God gives them sorrow, she says: ‘‘If a thorn pricks our foot when we walk, we step more carefully. We may thus escape falling into a ditch which may be just ahead.’’ She adds: ‘‘ Consider the past as a cancelled cheque. There is no point brooding over it. Even the mahatmas have endured suffering despite being in a position to avoid it.’’ Christ allowed himself to be crucified to teach others the greatness of sacrifice. Rama, Krishna and Guru Tegh Bahadur underwent suffering to set an example on how to face adverse circumstances. Paramahansa Yogananda said: ‘‘Your trials did not come to punish you, but to awaken you — to make you realise that you are a part of Spirit and that just behind the spark of your life is the flame of infinity.’’ Whenever calamity strikes, people tend to ask why they are being put through such tests in life. ‘‘Why me?’’ is the question which bothers them. They don’t seem to care as much if it happens to others. Mata Amritanandamayi, however, urges people to put others before themselves. According to her, happiness and sorrow can be classified into two kinds. ‘‘When we don’t get what we want, we feel sad but when others get what they wish, our sadness is even greater. Similarly, we are happy when we succeed in something but we are happier when others fail.’’ Terming this kind of depravity of the mind as a kind of terminal illness, she says that unless we change this attitude, no amount of meditation will help us get God’s grace. ‘‘A pot which contained something sour has to be cleaned thoroughly before we can pour milk into it. Similarly, to get God’s grace, we should pray for a heart that rejoices in the happiness of others and empathises with their sorrows,’’ says Mata Amritanandamayi. Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2002 Report Share Posted December 26, 2002 Thank you so much, Keval! I appreciate this. In Amma, Jyotsna --- Mike Brooker <patria1818 wrote: > From today's Times of India. Scroll down to > paragraph > #6 for Amma quote. > > Jai Ma! > > Keval > ===================================== > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/comp/articleshow?artid=32487868 > > SPEAKING TREE > Implicit Faith in a Supreme Power > SUREKHA MOHAN > > [ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2002 12:01:10 AM ] > > Carried away by the triumphs of science, many people > repudiate God’s existence. They dispute anything > which > is not empirically verifiable. But as former > president > S Radhakrishnan said: ‘‘Science looks at the > periphery, at the outside of things, the variety and > multiplicity of the universe. The centre of being > from > which all these things come, from which they arise — > that must be felt by solitary meditation.’’ > > For me, the sun, the stars and the vast mysteries of > the universe imply that there is a power which > extends > beyond the confines of the earth. The moon’s > regular > cadence through our skies, the tidal dance of the > oceans, the cyclical seasons and the inevitability > of > day and night carry His imprint. > > Whenever I see snow-capped mountains, cascading > waterfalls and the varied flora and fauna spread all > over the earth, my heart bubbles over with gratitude > for the Creator as it does when I see a baby gurgle > or > hear a child’s innocent prattle. > > Man’s life shows that he is no more than a puppet in > God’s hands. While he can strive to fulfil his > dreams, > no man, howsoever powerful, can escape the tyranny > of > time. In fact, this world is perpetually being > devoured by death. Civilisations, nations and works > of > art surface, swim for a while and sink. > > As Shakespeare pointed out, we are all actors — the > world is but a stage. God is the director and when > our > role exhausts, He calls us back. No life can be full > of only happiness. Sorrow, too, has its place in > God’s > scheme of things. > > Mata Amritanandamayi says: ‘‘There is a time for > everything. At certain times in our lives, > everything > we start ends in failure. There is no point in > collapsing when that happens. Have faith in God. He > is > our sole refuge and will show us a way out.’’ > > Referring to wealth, position and relatives, she > says: > ‘‘Only God lasts forever. Everything else will be > gone > — today or tomorrow.’’ When people ask her why God > gives them sorrow, she says: ‘‘If a thorn pricks our > foot when we walk, we step more carefully. We may > thus > escape falling into a ditch which may be just > ahead.’’ > > > She adds: ‘‘ Consider the past as a cancelled > cheque. > There is no point brooding over it. Even the > mahatmas > have endured suffering despite being in a position > to > avoid it.’’ Christ allowed himself to be crucified > to > teach others the greatness of sacrifice. Rama, > Krishna > and Guru Tegh Bahadur underwent suffering to set an > example on how to face adverse circumstances. > > Paramahansa Yogananda said: ‘‘Your trials did not > come > to punish you, but to awaken you — to make you > realise > that you are a part of Spirit and that just behind > the > spark of your life is the flame of infinity.’’ > Whenever calamity strikes, people tend to ask why > they > are being put through such tests in life. ‘‘Why > me?’’ > is the question which bothers them. They don’t seem > to > care as much if it happens to others. Mata > Amritanandamayi, however, urges people to put others > before themselves. According to her, happiness and > sorrow can be classified into two kinds. ‘‘When we > don’t get what we want, we feel sad but when others > get what they wish, our sadness is even greater. > Similarly, we are happy when we succeed in something > but we are happier when others fail.’’ Terming this > kind of depravity of the mind as a kind of terminal > illness, she says that unless we change this > attitude, > no amount of meditation will help us get God’s > grace. > > ‘‘A pot which contained something sour has to be > cleaned thoroughly before we can pour milk into it. > Similarly, to get God’s grace, we should pray for a > heart that rejoices in the happiness of others and > empathises with their sorrows,’’ says Mata > Amritanandamayi. > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up > now. > http://mailplus. > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha! > > Ammachi > > > Your use of is subject to > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 27, 2002 Report Share Posted December 27, 2002 Namah Shivaya dear Keval, > Thank you so much, Keval! I appreciate this. So does this child! Am fwding it to my satsang group. And it's timing is perfect as I really needed Amma's counsel this morning. Thanks for being her instrument. In Her Grace, premarupa Aum Amriteshvaryai Namah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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