Amma's 2006 New Year's Message
Embodiments of Divine Souls, Amma's Most Beloved Children,
I love you millions and millions of times, billions and billions of times, countless gazillions of times! I am sending my motherly love and affection to all of my children throughout the world for a bright and prosperous 2006.
Children, in the year 2006, Amma wants to see all of her children living in the world with happiness and contentment. This contentment will not come from enjoyment of material pleasures-this is not our destiny. Our destiny is the attainment of Truth. In meditation alone are we able to experience brahmananda, supreme bliss. The experience of brahmananda fills us with paripurna shanti, absolute and complete peace. When we are established in brahmananda, we ourselves become liberated souls. So children, meditation is the only path that leads to akhanda ananda, the unending supreme and expansive bliss.
Meditation is the ladder which connects you to the Divine. It gives you an inseparable connection with Supreme Consciousness. It fills you with peace and divine light, which then surrounds you wherever you go. So first of all, you must fill your own heart with peace. Regular meditation purifies you and grants paripurna shanti, perfect peace. And when you are established in the kingdom of peace, your heart becomes a temple for the Divine. So we need to seek true shanti, eternal peace, and this is to be found in meditation only. Every human being needs to become a peacemaker.
So where does peace begin? Peace begins with the individual. A meditator who is content with his own inner Self, who does not criticize others, and who has control over his mind, thoughts and attitudes is at peace. Meditation destroys all misery and unhappiness and brings you everlasting peace and happiness. Peace is Truth; it is eternal. We need to be established in eternal peace.
Shanti itself is life, and a life without peace is meaningless. No matter how much wealth we possess, no matter how much we earn, no matter how large and luxurious our homes are, no matter how many cars we own-none of these material possessions can give us shanti. So long as we are full of restlessness and commotion, so long as we are ruled by ahamkara, the ego, it is impossible for us to attain ananda. Ananda is that true and lasting happiness.
Meditation heals the mind, purifies it and makes it silent. It is our thoughts which cause all our problems and difficulties in life. They lead us away from the path of dharma and spirituality. So long as we listen to the mind, we will always be separated from the path of peace and righteousness. Instead of listening to the mind, we must learn to listen to our heart, our inner Self.
Liberation comes to us through meditation. We need liberation from our I-ness-this is our problem. This selfishness is not the problem of this birth alone. For innumerable lifetimes, we have been limiting ourselves to this little mortal frame, and this is our true problem. The body is just a dress for the soul, the supreme Self. Our Self is all-pervasive and divisionless; it is avinashi, eternal and indestructible power.
So my dear children, meditate every day. Do not waste your time. Eat sattvic food and do not speak unnecessary words. Speak very little, and cultivate good friendships. Then you will progress on the spiritual path. My dear children, if you have an intense longing in your heart for oneness with the Supreme, you will surely attain it.
May you all attain Self-Realization in this birth itself. May you always be in peace, prosperity and good health; may all your family members also be in peace, prosperity and good health. May the future be bright for all of you. May there always be peace in our beautiful world. I love you so much, children!
Om shantih shantih shantihi
"Mother listens to, and answers all your prayers. Let the prayer come from the bottom