Amma Stories Summer 2003

[Guest guest]

Hi again, As I write I guess Amma is wending her way

back home to India. I am feeling lonesome for her and

yet I know she is with me today and so I am not too

sad.

 

After traveling to Chicago I came back to Ann Arbor

and worked a few days and then I was off again to New

York by plane. My sister had arranged buddy passes

for me so I was on standby. Early Saturday morning

the 19th, I boarded my plane for Chicago and then from

Chicago to New York. Everything went perfectly and I

arrived in New York around 1pm. As I emerged from the

airport I was immediately struck by the noise and the

amount of hustle-bustle.

 

I boarded a bus for the city - Amma was in Manhattan.

I got off at Grand Central station and was reminded of

so many movies I have seen that feature parts of New

York City. I decided to board the subway from Grand

Central to the Manhattan Center but didn't know what

subway to board so I went to the Station Master's

office to see what way to go.

 

I asked the Station Master if he knew where the

Manhattan Center was, he smiled broadly and replied,

"Oh yes, I used to go there to dance!" and he did a

two-step right there behind his counter. He told me

the train to board and wished me well. I went down

into the subway. It was very hot, and of coarse I

boarded the first train I saw, which was the wrong

train, but luckily it was only a short shuttle that

just went back and forth on the same track a little

ways.

 

So I rode that three times and finally figured out

that it wasn't going anywhere. Then I found another

train and was on my way. There were all kinds of

people on the train. All colors and languages and all

going somewhere. I wasn't afraid at all. No one

seemed menacing or crazy like in the movies.

 

When I got off the subway at 42nd street I emerged

into the sun and so many people! Horns were honking

and cars were speeding and people walking. It was hot

and smelly and wonderful.

 

I had to ask again where to go and people were very

helpful. The skyscrapers were very tall and I saw the

Empire State Building and remembered King Kong

climbing up there in the movie. I had movie

flashbacks all weekend that were so funny to me. I

tried not to walk with my mouth open, but it was hard

not to stare with my mouth open. I tried to look like

a New Yorker, kind of stern, not unhappy, purposeful -

instead of a gawking tourist.

 

Anyway, I finally found the Manhattan Center. I

immediately recognized people I knew and felt at home.

The Manhattan Center is a huge, really huge, place.

There is a little foyer when you walk in, where the

shoes were put on shelves, and then an entrance into

the hall. The bookstore was set up right inside under

a low ceiling and then the ceiling went up, way up.

It was like an opera house with two balconies and

seats on the side in boxes. Long black curtains rose

up from the floor down in front on the stage area that

must have been four or five stories high! Because of

the ceiling height, the noise of the crowd rose up and

was not distracting like it is in small halls.

 

I felt so at home and so peaceful being there with

Amma. I immediately sat and just stared at her for

awhile. I had stashed my luggage behind the stage

area earlier and was just resting for a long time. No

obligations, no worries, just me and Amma at last.

 

Amma was already giving darshan since it was after

2pm.

 

After some time, I went to the seva desk to see if I

could get to the kitchen to chop veggies. I like

chopping veggies. I found out that the cooking was

being done at a culinary school off site. At that

time, there was no shuttle set up yet, so I wouldn't

be able to go until the next day, so I signed up. I

went back to sit and gaze at Amma.

 

I learned from Prema that most of the people in the

darshan line that morning were new! The count was

over 1300 and all new people. The whole weekend

priority was given to newcomers. There were so many

newcomers all weekend.

 

Amma finished darshan and left the hall and I was able

to work with Prema to get ready for the next program.

After some time, Amma returned and I got to watch the

puja which was done up on stage. The people blessed

with performing the pada puja were all nervous and

eager to do everything right as usual. It was

beautiful. Amma greeted us with her customary bow and

I was able to sit quite close. She looked around at

all the people and smiled so lovingly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Om Namashivaya - In Amma's service,

 

Supriti Omenka Nnadi