Amma's thoughts on summer 2004 in Pondicherry

[Guest guest]

Divine Member of the Gitananda Yoga family,

The weather this summer has been unbelievable – like a gift of the

Divine. Surely, South India must be as close to " heaven on earth " as

one can possibly come. In Hindu Society, it is believed that the mind

of man affects Nature, and of course, vice versa. The strong

relationship is clearly seen and respected. Hence, the ancients

believed that as long as the King ruled wisely and the subjects lived

in decency and harmony in his Kingdom, that there would be plentiful

rains and abundance of harvest. Droughts and other natural

catastrophes were seen as an indication of lack of " Dharmic living "

in the Kingdom. There is much truth in this! In our epics, the Rishis

and poets often described Nature as " acting in sympathy " with the

heroine or hero. For example, when Shakuntla's husband Dushyanth

denied her as a wife, all the trees " drooped their branches " and the

flowers " wilted'. When Rama and Sita were exiled to the forest, all

the animals stood around silently and sadly. I have often found the

trees, the flowers, the sun, the wind and the skies in the Ashram

sympathetic to my mood and situation – after all, our " eyes " are made

of the same " essential stuff " as the sun; our ears, the sky; our skin

(touch) the wind; our taste, the waters; our smell, the earth. All

our five senses have a deep psychic connection to one of the

elements. Hence, what we feel will be " felt also " by the environment!

See the poor, polluted, ravished state of the earth and five elements

today! Does it not reflect back the chaos, greed, ignorance and

hatred in the human heart? This is why, the wonderful weather this

summer here in Pondy is as though Nature is saying, " You're doing a

good job! Keep it up! " We have had plentiful, refreshing rains. Cool,

delightful breezes! Soft, sensitive sun! It hardly seems like summer!

I rejoice in my little hut – paradise – garden on the roof and thank

the Guru daily for creating a " heaven on earth " .

I pray we have the strength to maintain it.

Affectionately in Yoga,

Amma