Guest guest Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 Namah Shivaya. Pranams to Sara for getting me going with this first report despite reentry challenges. And pranams to all of you who were with us in spirit. The parade leela. At the Ashram we were invited to sign up to represent countries not otherwise represented. Each country needed 3 people and we were told it was important just to carry love and peace on behalf of each country. So I signed up on the "to be assigned list", curious to see where Amma would put me. In retrospect I wish I'd signed up for Irag, as only 2 people signed up. But it turns out Amma had other plans for me. Checking the list in Cochin, I thought I'd been assigned Seychelles Islands and spent a couple of days trying to find out more about them. Went to great effort (more of that leela in another report) to get to the program in time for the parade only to discover that it was the Prema from Montreal assigned the Islands and my name was nowhere to be found. All around me people were donning costumes and the place was a mixture of grade school drama night and burgeoning spiritual excitement. The Austrailain Aborigines were here, a woman with coconut shells and grass skirt there, a thousand dollar norwegian costume here, my son looking stately in an african get up. The energy was becoming more electric by the moment. And I stood there amidst it crying forlornly to Amma, asking Her how she could be excluding me from this when my heart was so ready for it. Suddenly I spotted Sara, looking a little overwhelmed. By Amma's grace, I went to her and became involved in helping her and Asa store their bags, get the water and light. They were worried about the heat and the beautiful but heavy costumes Asa had made. (my friend wearing the Nowrway costume had a similar problem--it was heavy black wool) The person designated to carry the flag for Iceland had not yet appeared so Sara and Asa asked if I would. Suddenly Amma had put me in the parade, and my friends friends provided me with a blue cape and a red, white and blue sash. After getting our flag, water and light, we made our way into the line up waiting area, surrounded by Ireland, Irag and other countries. We were way behind schedule. 2 other people joined our group. One carried one of the beautiful Indian style umbrellas (like over Amma at Devi Bhava), then behind him was a young Indian woman carrying a wooden sign with the name of our country. So there were almost 10000 people in the parade! It was dotted with the beautiful umbrellas and colorful flags and spiced by 600 people in a wild array of costumes. I caught a glimpse of the Tewa dancers from New Mexico just ahead of us. As we began to move out into the parade route around the stadium, they began to play a recording of a beautiful vocal arrangement of Om Lokaha, which was played throughout the parade. Suddenly I could barely keep back the tears. >From the time I started tuning into the subtler aspects of this event way back at the Chicago program, I felt like I was born to do this. And as we moved into the parade, that feeling arose so strongly that I could barely keep going. The route around the outside of the huge stadium was really long and it was lined with thousands of people. I was totally unprepared for the response we were getting, which was full of enthusiasm! Eventually I realized: What could be more exotic in this place than ICELAND?!!!! (Remember with what delight Amma played in the snow in MI a few years ago?) So, as Sara reports, people got so excited and called out "Om Namah Shivaya", inviting our response and it became one big call and response as we moved along. And by Her grace, the sky was hazy for the parade. Thank you Sara and Asa and thousands and thousands of brothers and sisters who joined this play last Friday afternoon. Pranams at Amma's lotus feet. Only She knows what actually happened there. In Her grace, premarupa Aum Amriteshvaryai Namah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 Thanks for the report, Kenna. Please post more of them. There were a lot of interesting articles on the website, but all of them had a uniform tone, and it is good to read others' reports. The website (and press, too, I believe) reported that representatives from 191 countries were present, and I was surprised at the time. I don't think it should have been reported as such, given that such was not the case. Nandu Ammachi, Kenna <kenna@m...> wrote: > Namah Shivaya. > > Pranams to Sara for getting me going with this first report despite reentry > challenges. > And pranams to all of you who were with us in spirit. > > > The parade leela. > > At the Ashram we were invited to sign up to represent countries not > otherwise represented. Each country needed 3 people and we were told it was > important just to carry love and peace on behalf of each country. So I > signed up on the "to be assigned list", curious to see where Amma would put > me. > In retrospect I wish I'd signed up for Irag, as only 2 people signed up. > But it turns out Amma had other plans for me. > Checking the list in Cochin, I thought I'd been assigned Seychelles Islands > and spent a couple of days trying to find out more about them. > Went to great effort (more of that leela in another report) to get to the > program in time for the parade only to discover that it was the Prema from > Montreal assigned the Islands and my name was nowhere to be found. All > around me people were donning costumes and the place was a mixture of grade > school drama night and burgeoning spiritual excitement. The Austrailain > Aborigines were here, a woman with coconut shells and grass skirt there, a > thousand dollar norwegian costume here, my son looking stately in an african > get up. The energy was becoming more electric by the moment. And I stood > there amidst it crying forlornly to Amma, asking Her how she could be > excluding me from this when my heart was so ready for it. > > Suddenly I spotted Sara, looking a little overwhelmed. By Amma's grace, I > went to her and became involved in helping her and Asa store their bags, get > the water and light. They were worried about the heat and the beautiful but > heavy costumes Asa had made. (my friend wearing the Nowrway costume had a > similar problem--it was heavy black wool) The person designated to carry the > flag for Iceland had not yet appeared so Sara and Asa asked if I would. > Suddenly Amma had put me in the parade, and my friends friends provided me > with a blue cape and a red, white and blue sash. > > After getting our flag, water and light, we made our way into the line up > waiting area, surrounded by Ireland, Irag and other countries. We were way > behind schedule. 2 other people joined our group. > One carried one of the beautiful Indian style umbrellas (like over Amma at > Devi Bhava), then behind him was a young Indian woman carrying a wooden sign > with the name of our country. > > So there were almost 10000 people in the parade! It was dotted with the > beautiful umbrellas and colorful flags and spiced by 600 people in a wild > array of costumes. I caught a glimpse of the Tewa dancers from New Mexico > just ahead of us. > > As we began to move out into the parade route around the stadium, they began > to play a recording of a beautiful vocal arrangement of Om Lokaha, which was > played throughout the parade. Suddenly I could barely keep back the tears. > From the time I started tuning into the subtler aspects of this event way > back at the Chicago program, I felt like I was born to do this. And as we > moved into the parade, that feeling arose so strongly that I could barely > keep going. > > The route around the outside of the huge stadium was really long and it was > lined with thousands of people. I was totally unprepared for the response we > were getting, which was full of enthusiasm! Eventually I realized: What > could be more exotic in this place than ICELAND?!!!! (Remember with what > delight Amma played in the snow in MI a few years ago?) So, as Sara reports, > people got so excited and called out "Om Namah Shivaya", inviting our > response and it became one big call and response as we moved along. > > And by Her grace, the sky was hazy for the parade. > > Thank you Sara and Asa and thousands and thousands of brothers and sisters > who joined this play last Friday afternoon. > > Pranams at Amma's lotus feet. > Only She knows what actually happened there. > > In Her grace, > premarupa > Aum Amriteshvaryai Namah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 Nandu, I tend to agree with you. It is easily misunderstood that "representatives" of each country are not from those countries, only "representing" them for this occasion. Jyotsna --- vallathnkumar <vallathn wrote: > Thanks for the report, Kenna. Please post more of > them. There were > a lot of interesting articles on the website, but > all of them > had a uniform tone, and it is good to read others' > reports. > > The website (and press, too, I believe) reported > that representatives > from 191 countries were present, and I was surprised > at the time. > I don't think it should have been reported as such, > given that > such was not the case. > > Nandu > > Ammachi, Kenna <kenna@m...> > wrote: > > Namah Shivaya. > > > > Pranams to Sara for getting me going with this > first report despite > reentry > > challenges. > > And pranams to all of you who were with us in > spirit. > > > > > > The parade leela. > > > > At the Ashram we were invited to sign up to > represent countries not > > otherwise represented. Each country needed 3 > people and we were > told it was > > important just to carry love and peace on behalf > of each country. > So I > > signed up on the "to be assigned list", curious to > see where Amma > would put > > me. > > In retrospect I wish I'd signed up for Irag, as > only 2 people > signed up. > > But it turns out Amma had other plans for me. > > Checking the list in Cochin, I thought I'd been > assigned Seychelles > Islands > > and spent a couple of days trying to find out more > about them. > > Went to great effort (more of that leela in > another report) to get > to the > > program in time for the parade only to discover > that it was the > Prema from > > Montreal assigned the Islands and my name was > nowhere to be found. > All > > around me people were donning costumes and the > place was a mixture > of grade > > school drama night and burgeoning spiritual > excitement. The > Austrailain > > Aborigines were here, a woman with coconut shells > and grass skirt > there, a > > thousand dollar norwegian costume here, my son > looking stately in > an african > > get up. The energy was becoming more electric by > the moment. And I > stood > > there amidst it crying forlornly to Amma, asking > Her how she could > be > > excluding me from this when my heart was so ready > for it. > > > > Suddenly I spotted Sara, looking a little > overwhelmed. By Amma's > grace, I > > went to her and became involved in helping her and > Asa store their > bags, get > > the water and light. They were worried about the > heat and the > beautiful but > > heavy costumes Asa had made. (my friend wearing > the Nowrway costume > had a > > similar problem--it was heavy black wool) The > person designated to > carry the > > flag for Iceland had not yet appeared so Sara and > Asa asked if I > would. > > Suddenly Amma had put me in the parade, and my > friends friends > provided me > > with a blue cape and a red, white and blue sash. > > > > After getting our flag, water and light, we made > our way into the > line up > > waiting area, surrounded by Ireland, Irag and > other countries. We > were way > > behind schedule. 2 other people joined our group. > > One carried one of the beautiful Indian style > umbrellas (like over > Amma at > > Devi Bhava), then behind him was a young Indian > woman carrying a > wooden sign > > with the name of our country. > > > > So there were almost 10000 people in the parade! > It was dotted with > the > > beautiful umbrellas and colorful flags and spiced > by 600 people > in a wild > > array of costumes. I caught a glimpse of the Tewa > dancers from New > Mexico > > just ahead of us. > > > > As we began to move out into the parade route > around the stadium, > they began > > to play a recording of a beautiful vocal > arrangement of Om Lokaha, > which was > > played throughout the parade. Suddenly I could > barely keep back the > tears. > > From the time I started tuning into the subtler > aspects of this > event way > > back at the Chicago program, I felt like I was > born to do this. And > as we > > moved into the parade, that feeling arose so > strongly that I could > barely > > keep going. > > > > The route around the outside of the huge stadium > was really long > and it was > > lined with thousands of people. I was totally > unprepared for the > response we > > were getting, which was full of enthusiasm! > Eventually I realized: > What > > could be more exotic in this place than > ICELAND?!!!! (Remember with > what > > delight Amma played in the snow in MI a few years > ago?) So, as Sara > reports, > > people got so excited and called out "Om Namah > Shivaya", inviting > our > > response and it became one big call and response > as we moved along. > > > > And by Her grace, the sky was hazy for the parade. > > > > Thank you Sara and Asa and thousands and thousands > of brothers and > sisters > > who joined this play last Friday afternoon. > > > > Pranams at Amma's lotus feet. > > Only She knows what actually happened there. > > > > In Her grace, > > premarupa > > Aum Amriteshvaryai Namah > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 > > The website (and press, too, I believe) reported > that representatives > from 191 countries were present, and I was surprised > at the time. > I don't think it should have been reported as such, > given that > such was not the case. > I also questioned that 191 figure (i.e. all 191 UN member states), given that there are a billion people in China who have never heard about Amma, and the charter members of the Axis of Evil (Iran, Iraq, North Korea) likely do not have any Amma devotees among their citizens. I also doubt that any Pakistanis or Afghanis were in attendance. I would guess that there were actually devotees from no more than 25 or 30 countries, most of them first-world. The parade of nations reminded me of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, in which the teams from each country enter the stadium behind their flag and placard bearing the country's name. The only thing missing was a torch relay, but there were plenty of arati lamps to make up for the lack of an Olympic torch. How soon will a video of Amritavarsham be available. In time for the summer 2004 tour, I hope. (if not in time for the November tour) Keval The New with improved product search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2003 Report Share Posted October 1, 2003 > I also questioned that 191 figure (i.e. all 191 UN > member states), given that there are a billion people > in China who have never heard about Amma, and the > charter members of the Axis of Evil (Iran, Iraq, North > Korea) likely do not have any Amma devotees among > their citizens. I also doubt that any Pakistanis or > Afghanis were in attendance. I would guess that there > were actually devotees from no more than 25 or 30 > countries, most of them first-world. > Though there may not be direct representatives from China, Iran, Iraq and other countries you have mentioned, there are many from these countries currently settled in US, UK, Malaysia etc who have met Amma. I guess many of the countries in the parade were covered that way. Ravi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 Ammachi, Mike Brooker <patria1818> wrote: > > > > The website (and press, too, I believe) reported > > that representatives > > from 191 countries were present, and I was surprised > > at the time. > > I don't think it should have been reported as such, > > given that > > such was not the case. > > > I also doubt that any Pakistanis or > Afghanis were in attendance. I would guess that there > were actually devotees from no more than 25 or 30 > countries, most of them first-world. Women from Pakistan were in attendance. They came as part of the women's movement program (I forget the exact term used by the sponsors), but not sure if they "paraded". Manoj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 This report is heart warming and I thank you Premarupa. That the nations of the world would be represented, in whatever fashion, by individuals "carrying love and peace" in their hearts is heavenly. The wonderful responses of those in line to those in the parade are what will save our dear little planet. One being greeting another with warmth, acceptance, and welcome can melt away all differences and barriers. Jai Ma! Omana Ammachi, Kenna <kenna@m...> wrote: > Namah Shivaya. > > Pranams to Sara for getting me going with this first report despite reentry > challenges. > And pranams to all of you who were with us in spirit. > > > The parade leela. > > At the Ashram we were invited to sign up to represent countries not > otherwise represented. Each country needed 3 people and we were told it was > important just to carry love and peace on behalf of each country. So I > signed up on the "to be assigned list", curious to see where Amma would put > me. > In retrospect I wish I'd signed up for Irag, as only 2 people signed up. > But it turns out Amma had other plans for me. > Checking the list in Cochin, I thought I'd been assigned Seychelles Islands > and spent a couple of days trying to find out more about them. > Went to great effort (more of that leela in another report) to get to the > program in time for the parade only to discover that it was the Prema from > Montreal assigned the Islands and my name was nowhere to be found. All > around me people were donning costumes and the place was a mixture of grade > school drama night and burgeoning spiritual excitement. The Austrailain > Aborigines were here, a woman with coconut shells and grass skirt there, a > thousand dollar norwegian costume here, my son looking stately in an african > get up. The energy was becoming more electric by the moment. And I stood > there amidst it crying forlornly to Amma, asking Her how she could be > excluding me from this when my heart was so ready for it. > > Suddenly I spotted Sara, looking a little overwhelmed. By Amma's grace, I > went to her and became involved in helping her and Asa store their bags, get > the water and light. They were worried about the heat and the beautiful but > heavy costumes Asa had made. (my friend wearing the Nowrway costume had a > similar problem--it was heavy black wool) The person designated to carry the > flag for Iceland had not yet appeared so Sara and Asa asked if I would. > Suddenly Amma had put me in the parade, and my friends friends provided me > with a blue cape and a red, white and blue sash. > > After getting our flag, water and light, we made our way into the line up > waiting area, surrounded by Ireland, Irag and other countries. We were way > behind schedule. 2 other people joined our group. > One carried one of the beautiful Indian style umbrellas (like over Amma at > Devi Bhava), then behind him was a young Indian woman carrying a wooden sign > with the name of our country. > > So there were almost 10000 people in the parade! It was dotted with the > beautiful umbrellas and colorful flags and spiced by 600 people in a wild > array of costumes. I caught a glimpse of the Tewa dancers from New Mexico > just ahead of us. > > As we began to move out into the parade route around the stadium, they began > to play a recording of a beautiful vocal arrangement of Om Lokaha, which was > played throughout the parade. Suddenly I could barely keep back the tears. > From the time I started tuning into the subtler aspects of this event way > back at the Chicago program, I felt like I was born to do this. And as we > moved into the parade, that feeling arose so strongly that I could barely > keep going. > > The route around the outside of the huge stadium was really long and it was > lined with thousands of people. I was totally unprepared for the response we > were getting, which was full of enthusiasm! Eventually I realized: What > could be more exotic in this place than ICELAND?!!!! (Remember with what > delight Amma played in the snow in MI a few years ago?) So, as Sara reports, > people got so excited and called out "Om Namah Shivaya", inviting our > response and it became one big call and response as we moved along. > > And by Her grace, the sky was hazy for the parade. > > Thank you Sara and Asa and thousands and thousands of brothers and sisters > who joined this play last Friday afternoon. > > Pranams at Amma's lotus feet. > Only She knows what actually happened there. > > In Her grace, > premarupa > Aum Amriteshvaryai Namah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 Namah Shivaya, > The website (and press, too, I believe) reported that representatives > from 191 countries were present, and I was surprised at the time. > I don't think it should have been reported as such, given that > such was not the case. In all fairness to the gap between the vision and what could be done: the organizers put enormous effort into getting as many representatives as possible. for example, Swami Ramakrishnanada personally communicated with people to help them get there. The effort to get 8 Incan dancers there (since they had to fly through US, US would only grant visa to one was an incredible leela. I had good fortune to meet the one woman who did get visa) In fact, visa issues prevent a lot of travel these days. Some of it was communication. There may have been representatives from countries who didn't know about the parade. It was as usual a case of a few sevites with so much to do. That it came off as well as it did is due to Amma's grace. couple more sweet details: met a woman from Argentina whose birthday was the same as Amma's. And witnessed a man from the middle east in typical garb helping his son dress so they could be in the parade. Very touching. there were people working so hard to get costumes ready. Saprithi and others did a great job with the African costumes. It was not a perfect thing. And yet it was phenomenal! In Amma's grace, premarupa Aum Amriteshvaryai Namah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2003 Report Share Posted October 5, 2003 Ammachi, Mike Brooker <patria1818> wrote: > I also questioned that 191 figure (i.e. all 191 UN > member states), given that there are a billion people > in China who have never heard about Amma, and the > charter members of the Axis of Evil (Iran, Iraq, North > Korea) likely do not have any Amma devotees among > their citizens. I also doubt that any Pakistanis or > Afghanis were in attendance. I would guess that there > were actually devotees from no more than 25 or 30 > countries, most of them first-world. Om Namah Shivaya, Just returned from Amritapuri...the entire event for me in Cochin and Amritapuri was one of pure grace! I wanted to mention that one of the keynote speakers on the Women's forum was Pakistani. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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