Ammas 46th bday message - part 1

February 18, 2005

Namah Shivaya

For those who have not had a chance to read this . (taken from Matruvani)

Aum Amriteswariyai Namah

Vipin

Amma's 46th Birthday Message, part one

My children, you have reached here after travelling long distances and

undergoing many hardships. You must be tired, and most of you have not

had proper sleep. And now there are not enough seats for everyone to

sit properly. Please bear with it a little longer. Please be patient.

Children, try to calm your mind by observing silence for two minutes.

Then repeat the following mantra: "Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu."

(May all beings in all worlds be happy.)

Then pray like this, "O all pervading Lord of the Universe -- please

come to my hands -- please come to my eyes -- please stay in my

tongue. Please reside in my heart. Please transform me, let me become

one with youâ€¦."This is the age of speeches and discourses everywhere.

Religious discourses, cultural discourses, political speeches,

discourses against religions -- speeches galore -- in fact everyone

has to talk, to speak on so many topics. Everyone feels that he/she

has the right to talk on any topic under the sun. This reminds me of a

child who said, "We have a professor and he is very great." When she

was asked why he was considered so great, she replied, "He can talk

for hours fluently on any topic. He can talk for five hours and more

even if he's given a small, insignificant topic."

On hearing this, another child said, "So what? Your professor can talk

for five hours only if you give him a topic. We have a neighbour and

you need not give him any subject, he can talk for days even without

any topic."

Today this is what most of the talks have degenerated into. What we

really need is action, not mere speeches. We need to practise and show

others through our actions what we want to convey through words.

Today, however, many things are confined to words alone. They are not

reflected in life. Nevertheless, a good word and a good deed both

merit rewards. They never go in vain. This reminds me of a certain

incident in the Mahabharata.

It was the time when Dronacharya used to teach the Kaurava and Pandava

princes. The first lesson was on 'Patience'. One day, the Guru called

all his disciples and asked them to recite all the lessons that they

had learnt. Each one of them could repeat their lessons by heart.

Finally, it was Yudhishtira's turn. Surprisingly, Yudhishtira could

recite only one line. "Have you studied only this much?" thundered the

Guru. Yudhishtira replied in a very faltering tone, "Forgive me, O

Guru. I have somehow succeeded in learning the first lesson. But I

have not been successful in mastering the second lesson."

Dronacharya was beside himself with rage, for in academic matters he

had pinned all his hopes on Yudhishtira. All the others had memorised

entire lessons, whereas Yudhishtira could quote only two lines!

Dronacharya could not control his anger and beat Yudhishtira

mercilessly till the stick broke. Even then, the smile and the

pleasantness on Yudhishtira's face did not fade away. He remained the

same. On seeing this, Dronacharya calmed down. Very lovingly he told

Yudhishtira, "Son, you are a prince. You can get me imprisoned if you

so desire. You can punish me. Yet you have not resorted to any of

these things. You did not get angry at all. Is there anyone as patient

as you in this world? You are truly great, my child." All this time,

the palm leaf on which the lesson was written was lying there.

Dronacharya saw that what was written on it was, 'Never give up

patience' and the second line was, 'Always speak the truth'.

When Dronacharya looked at Yudhishtira's face again, he saw the lines

from the palm leaf reflected in Yudhishtira's eyes. He clasped both

his hands and broke down. He said, "Yudhishtira, when I was teaching

all of you, I was merely repeating the words. The other students also

just repeated the same words, parrot-like! Whereas, in reality, you

alone have mastered it in the true sense. You are really remarkable!

Child, even after teaching for all these years I could not imbibe even

one line. I could not control my anger, I could not be patient, I

could not forgive." When Yudhishtira heard Dronacharya speak thus with

tears in his eyes he confessed, "Forgive me Guru, but I was angry with

you." Dronacharya realised that his disciple had mastered the second

lesson as well. For, there are very few people who don't get carried

away when they hear their own praise. Even if they are seething

inside, they won't reveal their anger. Whereas Yudhishtira did not

hesitate to speak the truth. That means that Yudhishtira had learnt

the second lesson as well. Learning becomes perfect only when the

lessons are translated into life. The true disciple is one who

endeavours to do this.

Patience is essential in our lives as well. The very foundation of

life is patience. If you try to open a bud by stretching it or pulling

it open, you cannot know and enjoy its beauty and fragrance. You can

do so only if you allow the bud to unfold itself naturally. Likewise,

you need to have patience to enjoy the beauty of life. The prime

requisite for all those who wish to make their lives happy and

pleasant is also patience.

In a certain village all the people lived in unity and harmony. This

was possible for them because of a certain model family that lived in

that village. If there was a quarrel anywhere, someone would say,

"Look at that lady. See how peacefully and harmoniously she stays with

her husband. Can you hear any sound or noise from their house? What

love! Learn from them!" When they heard this, whoever was quarrelling

would calm down and there would be peace. So the entire village lived

in peace and contentment. Soon, it was time to celebrate the thirtieth

wedding anniversary of that couple. Everyone gathered for the

elaborate and grand celebrations. Members of the press also gathered

there, for they also had heard a lot about this special couple. They

asked the couple, "What is the secret of your happy married life? You

have never quarrelled even once with your husband, who is reported to

have been a short-tempered fellow. There is no one here in this

village who does not praise you. You are the inspiration, the role

model for the entire village. What is the secret? Please tell us."

The wife replied, "There is no great secret or formula. On the third

day after our marriage we went for a picnic. We had taken a donkey

along with us to carry our bags and food. On route, the donkey missed

its footing and slipped and fell. My husband did not like it at all.

He twisted the donkey's ear and said, "This is the first warning. Be

careful. OK â€¦"

We reloaded the bags and the packets on the donkey's back and resumed

our journey. After some distance, the donkey slipped and fell down

again having hit a stone. My husband was very angry. He caught hold of

both the ears of the donkey in a very rough manner and shouted, "This

is the second warning. You be very careful. Beware. OK â€¦"

He helped the donkey to get up. Our journey continued. We had to cross

three hills to reach our destination. The first two hills we managed

without any problem. As we were halfway through the third hill, the

donkey collapsed. My husband could not control his anger. He took out

his gun and shot the donkey. I could not bear it. I was quite upset at

the death of the donkey. I said, "What have you done! It is only a

dumb animal. Have you done the right thing? Oh God ..." On hearing

this, my husband turned to me, caught hold of my ears and thundered,

"Be very careful. This is the first warning. OK â€¦" Immediately I

remembered the fate of the donkey. This is the secret of our success."

Even though the patience in the above story is born out of fear, it is

nevertheless significant. We will pick up a diamond even if it is

found in dung. We don't reject it because of that. Its value is

priceless - so also patience - its value also is priceless.

February 19, 2005

I found this last story frightening! The man threatened the life of his

wife! That is not okay!

In a message dated 2/19/2005 2:42:20 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,

Ammachi writes: