Prayers answered
Excerpted from the 2007 2nd quarter issue
of the Immortal Bliss magazine
Last November, the monk in charge of Anbu Illam (Old Age Home established
for destitute elderly people by the M.A.Math) went to Madurai in
TamilNadu, India. He went there to attend the hundredth medical
camp conducted by the branch ashram there. He took with him a bag
containing bare essentials, about 300 Indian Rupees and the key
to the locker in the Old Age Home, Anbu Illam.
When the Medical Camp ended, the monk looked for the bag he had
left in one corner of the hall. He picked it up and opened it. To
his dismay, he found that his wallet was missing. It contained the
cash and the key to the locker at the old-age home. Anxiety gripped
his heart. He didn't mind the loss of 300 rupees. What upset him
was that he had lost the key to the locker, which contained cash.
Without the cash, he would not be able to buy food and provisions
for the elderly residents of the home. At present, there were provisions
for only the next two days. He did not have a single cent with him.
Feeling utterly despondent, he fervently prayed to Amma to help
him out of his predicament.
He returned to the old-age home and tried to pry open the locker
with the tools he had, but failed. He called the blacksmith, but
he did not turn up. The monk became anxious, knowing that the food
and provisions would last for only the next two days. He went to
Amma's room and prayed to her for help.
That night, Amma appeared in a dream to a devotee who was living
about three of four kilometers away from Anbu Illam. In a voice
tinged with sorrow, she told this devotee, " I need money!"
The devotee got up with a start. The dream and Amma's words were
fresh in her mind. However, she didn't understand it. Why did Amma
need money, and why would she turn to her for funds? Dismissing
the dream, she went back to sleep. As soon as she fell asleep, Amma
appeared to her again. This time, Amma said more emphatically, "
Get up! I need money!"
The devotee woke up immediately. She knew that the dream was not
just a figment of her imagination. She prayed to Amma, " Forgive
me, Mother. I want to obey you but I have no idea how to do so.
Please guide me."
It was about four o'clock in the morning. She did not go back
to sleep. She got up and kept 500 rupees in front of Amma's photo.
She had been planning for some time to donate that sum to the ashram
in Amritapuri. Not knowing when she would go there, she decided
instead to donate it to the old-age home.
Later that morning, she called up the monk in charge of Anbu Illam
and told him about the dream she had had. To her shock, the monk's
voice became choked with emotion. He then explained why, narrating
what had happened the day before. Hearing this story, the devotee
could not help crying. She was so touched by Amma's concern for
her children and how she had answered his heart-felt prayers. Both
of them realized that Amma was looking after Anbu Illam and the
residents there. The devotee was also overjoyed that Amma has enabled
her to become a humble instrument in her hands.
- from the 2007 2nd quarter issue of the immortal bliss magazine
|
Amma
International
Forum