Fwd: Excerpts from Amma Interview ....

[Guest guest]

GuruRatings , " adithya_comming "

<adithya_comming> wrote:

 

 

 

........

 

>> You have been described variously

as god, godly avatar, a religious

leader and a spiritual guru.

 

I have long ago given myself to the

world. I am what people want to see me

as. I don't worry too much about what

they see me as. (Laughs.)

 

 

>> But still? Which would you say is

the correct description? Do you see

yourself as god, and the people as your

devotees?

 

I see them the same way I see my face

in the mirror. The same way I see

myself. God? Well, I don't believe in a

god who sits across the skies, in

heaven. My gods are these people

[devotees]. I believe in loving them

and serving them. If they see me as

god, well, perhaps it could be because

that is their vision of god.

 

 

>> What is your advise to them? The

gist of your teachings?

 

God is compassion and love. Compassion

and love -- those are the two things

the world needs. There are many people

who don't get love. As for compassion,

is there any person in this world who

has not sinned? That's what Christ also

said, isn't it? To me, compassion is

forgiving, compassion is giving people

even when you think, they don't deserve.

 

........

 

 

 

>> Here, as I watch you hugging

people, I also see them bursting into

tears... Could you explain what it is

about your embrace that makes people

react so?

 

Love is the essence of every human

being, son. When it touches them, when

the goodness in them is touched, it can

overflow -- as tears.

 

Today's world is becoming more selfish

in nature. Everyone wants to get. Not

give. Only when you sow can you reap.

Without giving, you cannot take. People

need to understand that.

 

Embracing symbolizes giving. It's

loving, and love is what there is a

shortfall of in the world. Embracing

also symbolizes motherhood, the mother

from whom you took birth.

 

My embraces are aimed at that, to

waken the spirit of giving in people.

Amma's embraces are not a drama, son

(laughs). It is not purely physical,

but aimed to touch you inside.

 

 

>> To what extend do you think your

embraces will help the ills of the

world?

 

I don't say I can do it 100 per cent.

Attempting to change the world

[completely] is like-- pattiyude vaalu

kuzhalilittal nuvarumo [can you

straighten the curved tail of a dog]?

But society takes birth from people.

So by affecting individuals you can

make changes in the society and,

through it, in the world. You cannot

change it, but you can make changes.

The fight in individual minds is

responsible for the wars. So if you can

touch people, you can touch the world.

(Smiles.)

 

........

 

 

 

>> There is also the belief that you

are an avatar of Goddess Durga.

 

That's what people say. That's their

belief. I don't worry too much about

these things. To Amma, to love and

serve is more important. What people

say, or think of me, that is theirs to

hold. I do not want to worry about it

too much. Today them may call me god,

tomorrow they may call me the devil.

 

 

 

>> What is your stand on religion?

 

Religion is necessary despite the fact

people are only ready to die for it,

not live for it. It provides a certain

safety, like a fence. But you shouldn't

just stay inside that fence always.

That will be like getting into a boat

to cross the river and then, once you

reach the other end, not getting down.

Or like pointing to a fruit on a tree

but doing nothing else. Your hunger

won't be appeased by just pointing at

it. Only if you climb the tree, pluck

the fruit and eat it, you will be

satisfied. Same way, religion is only

the vehicle. To attain god, you need to

act.

 

 

>> Does that mean you consider all

religion good?

 

Yes. Compassion and love are taught by

all religions. Christ said that, didn't

he? He didn't create Christianity,

people created it.

 

 

.......

 

 

>> That's another thing. You are

reputed to meet people the whole day

long into the evenings, managing with

just two hours of sleep. What do you do

to relax?

 

I am always free. Mind should be free,

and mine is always free.

 

 

 

>> And where do you get the energy to

go on like this, day after day, month

after month, year after year?

 

 

Mine is a direct connection to

electricity, son, not battery.

[Laughs]. I don't depend for light on

the candle. I depend on the sun -- and

the sun can never stop glowing.

 

 

........

 

>> You have many critics.

 

Critics will be there. But they are

not there now the way they were when

the avatars of gods were born -- like

Christ, or Ram or Krishna. So many

people were killed before their birth,

and so many were killed even when they

were living. So, that will always be

there. And criticism should be there.

The easiest way to destroy a nation is

to not criticize the prime minister.

Only when criticism comes will the

flaws be highlighted. I am not angry

with them. There will always be

differences of view.

 

 

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