Guest guest Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 Amritavani #104 Eng ~ the eVoice of Amma, MAM,India @ Amritapuri.org Ôm Amriteswaryai Namah Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Amritapuri, India eVoice:- nº 104 Contents of this Amritavani 16th July 2004 Ø - Amma's Words:- Lasting Solution for Modern-Day Conflicts Ø - Around Amma:- Rainbow is So Beautiful Because Ø - Kathamritam :- Firewood & Matchbox Updates - Mothersite - Ø Itinerary - Mahayatra- Ø Satsang Amma's Words Lasting Solution for Modern-Day Conflicts Excerpts from Amma's Keynote Address at the Parliament of World's Religions 2004, Barcelona Our God-given abilities are a treasure, meant for ourselves as well as for the entire world. This wealth should not be misused, creating a burden for us and for the world. The greatest tragedy in life is not death; the greatest tragedy takes place when our talents and capabilities are under utilized and allowed to rust while we are living. When we use the wealth obtained from nature, it diminishes; but when we use the wealth of our inner capabilities, it increases. But, are we using our abilities properly? What has always been the aim of humanity? Where has human society always yearned to reach? Has it not always been everyone's goal to obtain as much happiness and contentment as possible in both our personal lives and in society? But where do we stand today? Most of us move from one mistake to another, which only makes our problems worse. Every country has tried increasing its power in politics, the military, weaponry, economics, science and technology. Is there anything we have yet to test and explore? We are all so focused on those areas. Having tried these methods for so long, have we achieved any real peace or contentment? No. Time has proven that these methods alone cannot secure us contentment. Only if spiritual power-with which we have never before experimented-grows alongside all those different areas, can we attain the peace and contentment we are seeking. ** In reality, there is only one difference between people in wealthy countries and poor countries: while people in wealthy countries are crying in air-conditioned rooms and palatial mansions, the people of poor countries are crying on the dirt floors of their huts. Sorrow and suffering are becoming the hallmark of many countries. It is senseless to blame all these on religion alone. A major cause of these problems is the interpretation people have given to religion and spirituality. ** When our telephone is out of order, we call the telephone company to repair it; when our cable TV fails to receive programs clearly, the cable company helps us; and when our Internet connection is not working, the Internet company fixes it. In a similar way, spirituality is the means to restore our inner connection with the Divine. The science of spirituality puts the 'remote control' of our mind back into our hands. ** Viewing religion externally creates more and more division. We need to see and understand the inside, the essence of religion, from a spiritual perspective. Only then will the feeling of division come to an end. Where there is division, there cannot be any real spiritual experience; and where there is spiritual experience, there can be no division-only unity and love. Religious leaders should be prepared to work on the basis of this knowledge, and make their followers aware of these truths. The problem arises when we say, " Our religion is right; yours is wrong. " This is like saying, " My mother is good; yours is a prostitute! " Love and compassion are the very essence of all religions. Where, then, is the need for us to compete unnecessarily? ** There is much diversity in Sanatana Dharma, India's ancient spiritual tradition. Every person is unique. Everyone has a different mental constitution. The seers provided us with a multitude of paths, so that each individual can choose the way most suitable for him or her. All locks cannot be opened with the same key, nor does everyone use the same type of clothing or food. This diversity holds equally true for spirituality-the same path will not be suitable for everyone. ** Communication through machines has even made people in far off places seem very close. Yet, in the absence of communication between hearts, even those who are physically close to us seem very far away. ** True religious leaders love and worship the whole Creation, seeing it as God Consciousness. They see the unity in diversity. But nowadays, many religious leaders misinterpret the words and experiences of the ancient Seers and Prophets, exploiting weak-minded people. Religion and spirituality are the keys to open our hearts and see everyone with compassion. But, blinded by our selfishness, our minds have lost their proper judgment and our vision has become distorted. Using the same key meant to open our hearts, our indiscriminate mindset is locking it shut. ** Society is comprised of individuals. It is the conflict in the individual mind that manifests as war. When individuals change, society will automatically change. To wage wars, we spend billions of dollars and engage countless people. Think of how much attention and intense effort go into that process! If we were to use even a fraction of this money and effort for the sake of world peace, we could definitely bring about peace and harmony in this world. Every country spends huge amounts on building security systems. But the greatest security of all is to absorb the spiritual principles and live accordingly. We have forgotten this. Amma is alarmed to see the direction in which the world is heading. If, in the future, there is a Third World War, let it not be a war between countries, but rather a war against our common enemy, poverty. ** In today's world, people experience two types of poverty: the poverty caused by lack of food, clothing and shelter; and the poverty caused by lack of love and compassion. ** It is not the era we live in, but the compassionate hearts that will bring about a change in society. Religions should be able to create more compassionate hearts. This should be the main objective of religion and spirituality. ** The body will perish whether we work or sit idle. Therefore, instead of rusting away without doing anything for society, it is better to wear oneself away in the pursuit of good actions. ** God is not a limited individual, who sits alone up in the clouds on a golden throne. God is the pure Consciousness that dwells within everything. We need to understand this truth, and thereby learn to accept and to love everyone equally. ** If we have at least a little compassion in our hearts, we should commit ourselves to working overtime an extra half hour a day for the sake of those who are suffering-this is Amma's request. Amma believes that in this way a solution for all the sorrow and poverty in the world will be revealed. ** May the tree of our life be firmly rooted in the soil of love; Let good deeds be the leaves on that tree; May words of kindness form its flowers; May peace be its fruits. Let us grow and unfold as one family, united in love so that we may rejoice and celebrate our oneness in a world where peace and contentment prevail. May divine grace bless us to attain this. *********** click here to read the complete speech --- This above speech may be reproduced in part or full in the print or electronic media only with the explicit permission of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Amritapuri, Kollam, India 690525. If you have received permission to reproduce the speech, please acknowledge explicitly that (a) the excerpt is from Amma's keynote address at the closing Plenary Session of the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona; (b) the copyright for the speech belongs to the Mata Amritanandamayi Math; and © the full text of the speech may be read at http://www.amritapuri.org/amma/in/cpwr/keynote.htm __________ Kathamritam Firewood & Matchbox There were once four men who had gone to attend a religious conference and had to pass the night together on an island. It was a bitter-cold night. Each traveler carried a matchbox and a small bundle of firewood in his pack-but each one thought that he was the only one who had firewood and matches. The first man thought, " Judging from the medallion around that man's neck, I would say he is from some other religion. If I start a fire, he will also benefit from its warmth. Why should I use my wood to warm him? " The second man thought, " That person is from the country that has always fought against us. I wouldn't dream of using my wood to make him comfortable! " The third man looked at one of the others and thought, " I know this guy. He belongs to a sect that always creates problems in my religion. I'm not going to use up my wood for his sake! " The last man thought, " This guy has a different skin colour than mine, and I hate that! There's no way I'm going to use my wood for him! " In the end, not one of them was willing to light his wood to warm the others, and so, by morning they all froze to death. Similarly, we quarrel in the name of religion, caste, nation, and colour, without showing any compassion towards our fellow beings. Religion and spirituality form the path that helps transform the anger within us into compassion, our hatred into love, our lustful thoughts into divine thoughts, and our jealousy into sympathy. Yet, in our present deluded mental state, most of us do not understand this. -- from Amma's keynote address at the Parliament of World's Religions 2004, Barcelona, Spain. __________ Around Amma The Rainbow Was So Beautiful Because ... July13, Parliament of World's Religions 2004, Barcelona, Spain Amma first graced the platform of the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1993. A hundred years before, the same platform in Chicago had catapulted Swami Vivekananda and Sanatana Dharma into international renown. A century later, Amma captured the limelight and hearts with Her luminous presence and illumining words. (news) " Every other speaker treated the subject of religion and spirituality as if they were two disparate entities. However, Amma's powerful words struck deep into the centre of religion and spirituality, effacing the contradictions, bridging the gap and effecting a harmonious blend of both, thus unfolding their very essence. It was one of the most significant and powerful speeches. " So commented an observer at the 1993 Chicago Parliament. Providence was not content to crown Amma with glory just once. It chose the 2004 Parliament to reveal to the world, yet again, Her divine wisdom. Coincidentally, Amma was in Chicago as part of Her Summer U.S. Tour when She left for Barcelona, the venue of this year's Parliament. It is easy to see Amma as the torchbearer carrying the message of love and compassion to the next plateau in inter-religious dialogue. Amma had been eagerly sought-after as a speaker for the closing plenary of this year's Parliament, organized by the Council of the Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR), the Universal Forum of Cultures-Barcelona 2004, and the UNESCO Centre of Catalonia. Said the Parliament's Chair of Trustees, Rev. Dr. William E. Lesher, " Amma is a very important religious leader and we are very honoured to have Her here as the keynote speaker during our closing ceremony. Amma is very loving, She exudes love and affection for human life and She does it in such a way that people understand the message that She brings. " The Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Felix Martin, saw in Amma the " foundations of the future world we are committed to make. " More than 3,000 people-including official delegates as well as Amma's Spanish and other European devotees-crammed into the auditorium, which had a seating capacity of 600, to see and listen to Amma. When She walked onto the stage, loud cheers arose from the packed auditorium. Sharing the dais with Amma at the Edifici Forum auditorium were Rev. Dr. Raimón Panikkar, a respected philosopher from Catalonia, and Mr. Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO. Amma's speech in Malayalam was translated simultaneously into English and Spanish. Amma's keynote address was based on the theme, " Pathways to Peace-the Wisdom of Listening, the Power of Commitment. " In Her 15-minute speech, She pointed that out that only spirituality could bring about peace and contentment in our lives. The message of love, Amma reminded, is the common essence of all religions. She also pleaded with all to dedicate themselves to fighting against poverty, the greatest enemy of humanity. Her speech was followed by thunderous applause and a standing ovation. A boy from the Zoroastrian faith came up to Amma and offered Her two white lilies. After the closing ceremony, Amma was led to tent that the Sikh community had fashioned after a Gurudwara. Here, Amma did what She always done: shower love and compassion on others. As Amma gave darshan to thousands of attendees-including officials, delegates and devotees from Spain and other parts of Europe-Her disciples started singing bhajans. " Amma is the greatest living saint on this planet. I've met many Masters, but in Amma, I see a combination of unconditional love, ferocious determination and an indomitable spirit. Her example is peerless, " said Andrew Cohen, teacher of Advaita and founder of 'What is Enlightenment?' magazine. While giving darshan, Amma was concerned that Her children would be hungry. She asked some of the devotee volunteers from Europe to prepare some food. When She finished darshan at 1:00 a.m., She went straight to where the food had been kept, and asked the volunteers to start serving it. She Herself handed out the prasad to Her children. Amma served fast, but kept an eye on the amount of food in each plate, as there was a limited quantity. In some cases, She asked that more food be put into some of the plates, and in others, She asked them to reduce the quantity a little. Always the Mother, Amma did not stop until everyone had received prasad, including the 40 who had accompanied Her from Chicago. Not a single morsel of food was wasted. When Amma left the premises of the Forum Convention Centre, it was not to rest, but to prepare for Her flight to Washington, where She would continue with the Summer U.S. Tour. As always, Amma made an indelible mark in the hearts of those present. More than Her words, perhaps, Her sheer presence had driven home the thrust of Her speech: " The rainbow was so beautiful because it forgot about itself and lived for the sake of others. " __________ Mothersite Amritapuri.org Updates a.. Wage a War Against Our Common Enemy Report on Amma's speech b.. 27 Photos from Barcelona c.. The servant of The Servant Sikh Guru Nanak asked his followers three things: to meditate on the Lord, to earn an honest living and to share their earnings with the rest of the world. d.. 11 Photos of Amma from New Mexico & LA e.. Highpoints: Guru Purnima in New Mexico For a true disciple, worship of the Guru's feet is Not a once-a-year-affair, but his or her entire life. f.. eLearning Class room launched Amrita University taking the lead __________ Mahayatra Itinerary Amma's USA Tour Schedule a.. New York Sat. - Sun. July 17 - 18 Public Programs at 10:00 am & 7:30 pm Monday July 19 Public Programs at 10:00 am Monday July 19 Devi Bhava at 6:30 pm Boston, Massachusetts Wednesday July 21 Public Programs at 10:00 am & 7:30 pm Smithsfield, Rhode Island Thurs. - Sat July 22 - 24 Retreat Saturday. July 24 Devi Bhava 6:30 pm Toronto Monday July 26 Public Program at 7:30 pm Tuesday July 27 - Thursday 29 Retreat Thursday July 29 Devi Bhava at 6:30 pm For details on all other programme, please visit Mahayatra __________ Ôm Namah Shivaya eDharma Mothersite Copyright© MAM -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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