Amma's Divine Discourse at the World Peace Forum in Vancouver, BC
The World Peace Forum was conducted at the University of British Columbia over several days on many subjects related to promoting peace. Gathered in Vancouver, a city of peace with a tradition of citizens' peace actions, 5000 people came together from all over Canada, North, South and Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Eurasia, the Middle East and Europe.
Participants included youth, women, elected leaders (mayors, councillors and parliamentarians), environmentalists, people of different faiths, teachers, academics and peace educators, trade unionists, health professionals, First Nations/indigenous people, elders, war veterans/war resisters, refugees and internally-displaced people, co-operativists and ethical business leaders, peace advocates and NGO activists, discussing peace-related themes.
Amma was invited to come to the conference and speak on the topic of "Finding True Peace Within". In addition, the World Peace Forum organization interviewed Amma for its conference DVD which, when completed, will be available to order through the organization's website at www.worldpeaceforum.ca.
AMMA'S MESSAGE
Amma spoke softly and gave an inspiring message of peace:
PEACE IS ETERNAL, ABSOLUTE CONSCIOUSNESS
Peace is eternal, absolute consciousness. It is only inside you, it is not externally available. Everyone can attain peace, you can attain it inside yourself, and then you can realize it externally in the world. Then you can become a peacemaker in society. One can also attain peace through selfless seva (service to others). This kind of selfless service is one of the greatest gifts to the world.
THE PEACE WE EXPERIENCE WITHIN IS THE BOUNDLESS SELF
All faiths are travelling to the same end -- toward peace. The cosmos is within our body, and is actually in the form of our body. When we go deep inside we experience the realization of Self, of boundless peace. The boundless peace we experience is the boundless Self, and when we experience that boundless Self we can then see it in all creation, and in all the universe. Then we can love everyone like we love our self.
HOMAS DISPEL POLLUTION
Pollution is so sad. Mother Earth is giving us so much, we must take care of Her. Homas purify the pollution created, but there are not enough homas being conducted every day in the world. The smoke from a homa clears the pollution.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUALITY IN OUR LIVES
Also, many people are living with negative thoughts and vibrations in their environment. Such negative environment makes people so unhappy in their lives. Spiritual mantras have the power to change the environment, to change the vibration in the environment and change lives to bring greater peace and happiness. Spirituality gives total contentment, purity, and makes all of one's activities selfless because of the contentment attained in the heart. We can share this with everyone because we have first attained it in our heart. When we experience light and devotion in our hearts, we can share this peace with others.
THE WORLD NEEDS PEACE SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE
Amma's mission is world peace. All the people in this world are part of Her. If we can take the funds and resources we spend on war and use this to benefit people we can go far to help the poor. We can use these funds to provide education, medication, shelter and food for the extremely poor.
UNDERSTANDING ACHIEVED THROUGH MEDITATION HELPS US TO EXPERIENCE UNIVERSAL LOVE
People are caught in rajasic and tamasic natures (lower natures) and need more prayer, meditation and proper sattvic food to help attain a sattvic state (peaceful state of mind). We must eradicate the enemies of peace inside our minds and in our lives, then our real nature can come out. Many people are not taking time to study the mind, and this does harm to society. It is through meditation that we study the mind, we can understand about the mind, and then our deeper understanding can come up - Violence in your nature becomes peace, greed becomes selfless giving, selfishness becomes love. Then, when we want to do something about our home, Mother Earth, our family, we are one family, we can then love all like we love our family. There are no boundaries but love.
AMMA EXPECTS UNITY IN THIS WORLD
Then we can totally eradicate all wars from the planet. Through wars we are polluting Mother Earth, families are crying, it is the cause for commotion in our society. All leaders must come together, Amma expects unity in our world, we must all work together for peace. Children, Amma expects peace in our world, not national boundaries. Amma feels the whole world is our family. One-ness - the final experience of spirituality, Sanatana Dharma. the universe is Brahma, and Brahma is the entire Self.
Amma wants to see us all as one family in the world.
Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi
