Ammas Chakra Meditation Retreats 3 & 4
November
15 - 26, 2004
Meditation
in the home is special. Meditation in the temple is one hundred
times greater. Greater than these two is meditation in a sacred
place such as Penusila Kshetra, which is sanctified by the presence
of sacred trees, Garudachala mountains and holy people such
as Vishwamitra, Kanva Rishi and Amma herself, as such places
are vibrant with spiritual energy.
This
year's Chakra Meditation Retreat began in the auspicious month
of Kartika masa in the pristine setting of the Penusila
Ashram near the Garudachala mountains. Many of the participants
had personal problems in their lives, but came for the retreat
with great faith and enthusiasm. We were received with a lot
of love and care by the ashramites . Amma had taken
great care in providing us good food and comfortable accommodations.
The
next morning Amma gave diksha, initiation, to all the
sadhakas. She empowered the diksha thread
by performing Ganesha puja so that our practices
would go smoothly without any obstacles or hindrance. Amma emphasized
the importance of maintaining silence throughout our stay. She
said that when we practice meditation with silence and inwardness,
we will realize the value of words.
The
daily program started with meditation early in the morning followed
by chanting of mantras under Amma's guidance. During
the day, we had more meditations, which were interspersed with
inspiring discourses from Amma. And on some days we would go
to the Lalitambika Trishakti Pitha Temple and chant many stotras
with Amma. After our afternoon meditation Amma sometimes
served us morsels of rice on jackfruit leaves with her own hands.
She called it jnana prasada, blessings to gain
true knowledge.
In
addition to talking in detail about chakras in the
body and techniques to cleanse them, Amma inspired the sadhakas
by describing the effect of certain bijaksharas
such as ka, ga, and sa,
on our body. She also discussed the effect of colors and gems
on our body.
In
the Upanishads the preyo marga refers to
the illusory path of worldly knowledge and untruth. S reyo
marga is the spiritual path leading to Brahma jnana, knowledge of the Absolute. Sreyo marga,
in spite of its challenges, bestows us with abundant merits.
Some pigeons do not want to come out of the cage while other
pigeons fly out of the door. Similarly some people want to stay
in the cage of the body, mind and intellect but, Amma said,
you are all like the pigeons who want to fly out of the cage!
Atman
is one, near and far, within and without, animate and
inanimate. This Atman is indestructible, indivisible
and all-pervasive. Atman is beyond words, feelings
and everything. We are flooded by Atman which is beyond
description. Atman is eternal, without beginning or
end. Sreyo marga is the only way to know that Atman
. Amma said to sincerely and regularly practice meditation
together with the practice of silence everyday. It will lead
you to the peak of purity, which is desirelessness. Chakra
cleansing meditation is part of Sri Vidya . It
was practiced by the ancient rishis . As we practice
this, our sadhana becomes smoother. Chakra
meditation burns the karmic bondages. Karmic
bondages in the form of subtle seeds/thoughts are obstructing
our experience of oneness and the Divine. But sitting in silence
and focusing our attention burns these subtle atom-size thoughts.
We need intensity in our sadhana . Uninterrupted meditation
will give inner peace and joy in your inner life. Your love
will be like a fountain full of understanding towards family
members.
Every
evening Amma gave an inspirational discourse under the starry
sky out in her courtyard. She would sing a few bhajans,
enchanting everyone with her melodious voice. On some days there
were some local devotees who spoke of their personal experiences,
which were sweet. Every night we looked forward to the beautiful
arati being waved to the tune of Mahishasura Mardhini. The male and female sadhakas took turns on
alternate days in doing the arati. At the end of it
all, every night we took a long time to part from Amma, and
did so reluctantly. As Amma retired for the day, everyone's
eyes overflowing with love would be fixed on her until the last
glimpse. Amma once laughed and said, This is not attachment,
children. This is cosmic flood of love!
Om
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti!
Jai
Karunamayi!
