Children, love can accomplish anything and everything. Love
can cure diseases. Love can heal wounded hearts and transform human minds.
Knowledge devoid of devotion is like chewing stones.
Children, we must first plant the seeds of love, peace and
patience within ourselves. The key to world peace is within every individual
residing on this planet. Peace is not just the absence of war and conflict; it
goes well beyond that. Simply transferring the world’s nuclear weapons to a
museum will not in itself bring about world peace. The nuclear weapons of the
mind must first be eliminated.
Mata Amritanandamayi on the Hindu concept of Shraddha
The meaning of ‘shraddha’ is to be constantly aware. But
this is only possible when you are relaxed. A tense, agitated person, who is
constantly thinking about his failures in life, cannot be watchful, nor can he
be fully aware of the present moment. It is the same with a person who keeps
dreaming about the future. Both of these moods will make you inert; you lose
your creativity and cannot be productive. Relaxation, however, will enhance
your awareness and bring out your real being. Only a relaxed person can be ever
watchful and aware.
Children, the whole of spirituality can be put into one
word, and that is shraddha (loving faith and alertness). Shraddha is the
unconditional faith the disciple has in the words of the Master or in the
scriptural dictums. The Master's words are in full accord with the words of the
scriptures. In fact, a true Master's words are verily the scriptures. A
disciple who is endowed with such faith will be constantly watchful of his mind
and thoughts. So in that sense shraddha is also watchfulness. The meaning of
shraddha is to be constantly aware. But this is only possible when you are
relaxed.
Mata Amritanandamayi Thoughts on Dealing with Crisis Like Economic Recession
Remain happy and confident irrespective of threats like
global economic recession and terrorism. When there are restrictions and challenges
that life becomes beautiful and effective. We should start looking into
ourselves. Spirituality is looking into the ‘ultimate’ within oneself. In these
difficult times of economic recession and terrorism, we should not give up.
We should be brave and confident. Such crises should be
considered as opportunities to deal with new situations.
There are two types of education in life.
The first is for the activities of life and to eke out a
living. The second, is one that we have throughout our life, that’s spiritual
education.
Education also brings in culture and helps in dealing with
crises.
We need to strengthen the three types of relationships to
tide over crisis. The first one is between human beings; the second is between
human beings and nature and finally, the relationship between human beings and
God. These relationships are becoming weak nowadays.
As a result, love is not being spread around the world. We
are actually going away from ourselves now.
Spirituality is significant only when you are in this world.
Spirituality that we cannot attain in this world cannot be attained after life
also.
Mata Amritanandamayi
(Source : Excerpts from the Satsang conducted on 17th April,
2009 at Kochi in Kerala)