Guest guest Posted June 16, 2003 Report Share Posted June 16, 2003 Om Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu! I wanted to tell everyone about my wonderful experience taking my fiance and my grandmother to recieve Amma's darshan in Seattle last week. My grandmother is very weak from several health problems, but after introducing her to Amma a few months ago by way of a book, "Path of the Mother" by Savitri Bess, she told me how dearly she wished she could get a hug before she left her body. Since Gram lives in Seattle and I live in LA, I had to go through a few hoops to get time off of work, and the financial resources for the long-over-due visit home. But it all came together at the last minute, and as an added bonus, several of my best friends from high school happened to be in town that very week, entirely by coincidence (or maybe not, Amma)!! The final hurdle was that the only day we could see Amma was Sunday night, but since the last ferry back to the island where my Gram lives leaves at ten (a one-hour trip from the locataion of the program) we didn't think we'd be able to make it without having to sleep on the ferry dock, something Gram is really not capable of handling. She has great difficulty walking, standing and just moving around in general, and the trip was quite difficult for her, even though she wanted her hug so badly. So we went anyway, thinking how nice it would be just to see Mother's smile in person, even if we would not be able to stay for a hug. After the meditation and puja, they started setting up for the Devi Bhava. I approached a member of the Seattle Satsang, and explained our predicament. We knew Gram wouldn't be able to get on her knees, and we were doubtful if she could even make it up the special access ramp. But this man told me to take Gram and my fiance over to a special seating area. It was already past eight, and my heart sank as I remembered waiting eight hours last year for my hug here in LA. Then the curtain drew back, and there was Devi herself. I swear I saw her look at the three of us several times with an expression that demanded patience, and though the night was passing swiftly, we stayed just to be in her presence. At ten to nine I started to help Gram up to leave, we had to race back to the ferry! But someone ran down from the stage suddenly and said, "You can go now, let me help you." My fiance and I helped Gram slowly inch her way up the ramp to the stage, where we waited for the family before us. Amma was holding about five small children in her lap and she was giggling like a five year old! She looked straight into my eyes again, that deep, penetrating stare of recognition that exists only between God and God's children, and I thought, who cares if we miss the ferry boat? I wanted my Grandmother to have that experience more than anything in the world. Finally we helped Gram into Amma's arms. She had to stand and bend down, but Amma reached up and kissed and held her, saying, "Daughter, Daughter..." Everyone on the stage seemed to be holding Gram up so that she could rest in this beautiful moment of her life. For me, I saw the two most important women in my life embrace and for a moment I could not distinguish Amma from Gram, from my fiance, from myself, from the flower petals she pressed into our hands. Gram's hug was the most beautiful sight to behold... Then she held my fiance, who was also recieving his first darshan, and then me. She clasped our hands together and kissed them, and gave Gram a packet of sacred ash. Everyone rushed to help Gram off the stage as carefully as possible, they were so compassionate and understanding. We were so grateful and madly thanking everyone as we rushed to get everbody's shoes on and into the car and to the freeway. We got to the ferry at 10:08, prepared to sleep on the dock with poor Gram, who had faded into a peaceful slumber in the back seat. But by some divine grace, we made it onto the boat just as they were lowering the gate! Amma always manages to come to those who call her from their hearts. Many thanks to the Seattle Satsang, and everyone who so patiently and lovingly served Gram's prayer. Hope this little story warms somebody's heart today. Jai Jai Ma Brianna SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2003 Report Share Posted June 18, 2003 Dear Brianna, thank you very much for the story; and yes, it did warm the hearts of two devotees here in Iceland. We are happy for your good fortune and the Grace that was showered over you, Gram and your fiancé. All Glory to our Compassionate Divine Mother, Sara Ammachi, Brianna Mosteller <rubyrapunzel> wrote: > Om Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu! > > I wanted to tell everyone about my wonderful > experience taking my fiance and my grandmother to > recieve Amma's darshan in Seattle last week. > > My grandmother is very weak from several health > problems, but after introducing her to Amma a few > months ago by way of a book, "Path of the Mother" by > Savitri Bess, she told me how dearly she wished she > could get a hug before she left her body. Since Gram > lives in Seattle and I live in LA, I had to go through > a few hoops to get time off of work, and the financial > resources for the long-over-due visit home. But it all > came together at the last minute, and as an added > bonus, several of my best friends from high school > happened to be in town that very week, entirely by > coincidence (or maybe not, Amma)!! > > The final hurdle was that the only day we could see > Amma was Sunday night, but since the last ferry back > to the island where my Gram lives leaves at ten (a > one-hour trip from the locataion of the program) we > didn't think we'd be able to make it without having to > sleep on the ferry dock, something Gram is really not > capable of handling. She has great difficulty walking, > standing and just moving around in general, and the > trip was quite difficult for her, even though she > wanted her hug so badly. > > So we went anyway, thinking how nice it would be just > to see Mother's smile in person, even if we would not > be able to stay for a hug. > > After the meditation and puja, they started setting up > for the Devi Bhava. I approached a member of the > Seattle Satsang, and explained our predicament. We > knew Gram wouldn't be able to get on her knees, and we > were doubtful if she could even make it up the special > access ramp. But this man told me to take Gram and my > fiance over to a special seating area. It was already > past eight, and my heart sank as I remembered waiting > eight hours last year for my hug here in LA. > > Then the curtain drew back, and there was Devi > herself. I swear I saw her look at the three of us > several times with an expression that demanded > patience, and though the night was passing swiftly, we > stayed just to be in her presence. At ten to nine I > started to help Gram up to leave, we had to race back > to the ferry! But someone ran down from the stage > suddenly and said, "You can go now, let me help you." > > My fiance and I helped Gram slowly inch her way up the > ramp to the stage, where we waited for the family > before us. Amma was holding about five small children > in her lap and she was giggling like a five year old! > She looked straight into my eyes again, that deep, > penetrating stare of recognition that exists only > between God and God's children, and I thought, who > cares if we miss the ferry boat? I wanted my > Grandmother to have that experience more than anything > in the world. > > Finally we helped Gram into Amma's arms. She had to > stand and bend down, but Amma reached up and kissed > and held her, saying, "Daughter, Daughter..." Everyone > on the stage seemed to be holding Gram up so that she > could rest in this beautiful moment of her life. For > me, I saw the two most important women in my life > embrace and for a moment I could not distinguish Amma > from Gram, from my fiance, from myself, from the > flower petals she pressed into our hands. Gram's hug > was the most beautiful sight to behold... > > Then she held my fiance, who was also recieving his > first darshan, and then me. She clasped our hands > together and kissed them, and gave Gram a packet of > sacred ash. Everyone rushed to help Gram off the stage > as carefully as possible, they were so compassionate > and understanding. We were so grateful and madly > thanking everyone as we rushed to get everbody's shoes > on and into the car and to the freeway. > > We got to the ferry at 10:08, prepared to sleep on the > dock with poor Gram, who had faded into a peaceful > slumber in the back seat. But by some divine grace, we > made it onto the boat just as they were lowering the > gate! > > Amma always manages to come to those who call her from > their hearts. Many thanks to the Seattle Satsang, and > everyone who so patiently and lovingly served Gram's > prayer. Hope this little story warms somebody's heart > today. > > Jai Jai Ma > Brianna > > > > SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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