Amma’s visit to Fairfield
13
to 15 June 2005
Brighter
Than a Million Suns
During
the discourse in Fairfield, Amma held her hand over her heart
and said to the crowd of attentive seekers, “Inside each one
of us is light that is brighter than a million suns.
That is the unimaginable power” that each person has to realize
and live in this life. “It is a very special boon to
be given a human birth,” to be able to follow the spiritual
life and seek the Divine.
All
of us could feel the quietness and grace settling inside us,
and the gentle tapping of Mother's loving hand waking us from
any hint of sleepiness that may have crept into our lives.
She enlivened sadhana beyond our normal daily meditations.
“Silence is meditation; Self-inquiry is meditation; listening
to the words of the holy people is meditation.”
We
knew intuitively she embodied what she spoke. Amma's
words resonated love and wisdom like mantras , transforming
us within, without our having to do anything. That is
the gift that Amma blessed all of us with on her three days
in Fairfield.
The
power of her attention was evident even before she arrived in
Fairfield. One volunteer, who was preparing signs and
garlands for the event, felt the significance of who she was
doing this work for, and was drawn to offer all as a prayer.
She could feel herself and her home purifying.
“It was very humbling.” Later, after Amma arrived, during
the Ganesha Homa, as waves of energy lifted through this volunteer's
body, she felt Ganesha blessing her. Amma chanted a special
prayer for Lord Ganesha, looked directly at her and smiled,
that knowing smile of the Mother that slips silently under the
crowd of people, and finds its personal home right in the center
of your heart.
Even
this volunteer's ten-year-old twin granddaughters appreciated
the “magic.” Mesmerized like so many others in the crowd,
they could feel Amma looking right at them and smiling.
“Grandma, can Amma read minds?”
They
were not alone in their wonder. When asked about seeing
Amma for the first time, a woman lit up with a huge smile, “It
was wonderful. I'm in love.”
For
those who have seen Amma each year she has visited Fairfield,
the power of her soothing grace and love keep getting more astounding,
particularly during these times in the world, when as Amma says,
“there is so much commotion.” All relaxed so fully in
her attention. Like the story of Kalki, coming at the
end of Kali Yuga to help a troubled Earth, on blessing day,
Amma lead us on a peace march to the accompaniment of a white
horse provided by one of the devotees. As we walked along
the country road bordering the hall, the sounds of squealing
hogs being brought to auction quieted with each step.
By the end of the march, there was only the muffle of hooves
and footsteps, and the graceful flow of silence. A large
crowd of people quietly waited their turn to share their personal
lives with Mother. In the evening, when we had returned
to our homes to rest for the homa next day, Amma blessed
even the white horse with a ride. And Swami joined in
the chance to relax, “like John Wayne” riding into the sunset.
By
the time Amma arrived for the homa at Devaloka, known
as “Tom's Barn,”
she
had personally showered each devotee with such love that we
were radiating with energy. We chanted and meditated
around the havan kund inside the old wooden
barn. And the blessings from Mother continued to
overflow. Along with the shakti generated by
the purity from the homa , and the protection of the
agni raksha Amma placed over our ajna
chakra , kumkum that she manifested
from Her feet during the car ride to the homa , was
distributed in tiny foil packets. We guarded them like
precious lockets, shining in our speechless amazement under
the simplicity and naturalness flowing through the summer air.
And Amma moved on, our last image of her (at an
Iowa farm) sitting on a wooden tree swing, gently rocking back
and forth with the delight of a small girl, smiling brighter
than a million suns.
Om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
Om
shanti shanti shantihi
Jai
Karunamayi!
Submitted
by : Fairfield devotees
