Amma the CEO - The Chief Enlightened Overseer

- Swami Amritswarupananda

Amma’s physical body is 50 years old now. With a deep sigh, I am trying to convince myself that 24 years have passed since Amma found me. Moving back to the recesses of my heart, I sometimes recall the old days, when the entire ashram stood on a tiny piece of land.

Surrounded by backwaters on three sides, the property contained only a few structures then. In addition to Amma’s parental home and the small temple where Amma gave darshan there were two covered shelters, a small one alongside the temple for bhajan singers and a slightly bigger one for visitors. Everything remains so vivid in my memory, so precious and unforgettable.

What a dignified journey from there to where Amma stands now! What else can I call it but a great wonder, a journey of immense sacrifice and infinite love.

“ After 24 years of close association with Amma, you must understand her so well,” some people say to me. Most expect me to agree, to give them a big “yes”. However, my answer is a big” yes and a big no”

Please don’t look at me with that frown on our face. I am not exaggerating at all. Whether you believe it or not, that is the truth.

“But why both yes and no? What do you mean by that?”
I, myself don’t know what it means. But I also don’t know how to answer the question differently.

If I say, “ I do not know Amma,” that is incorrect because I feel as close to her as I do my own heart. On the other hand, if I say,” Yes, I know her so well.” That too is wrong because I do not know who she really is.

Amma is the greatest miracle that has ever happened in my life. Now I want to proclaim to the entire world that I do not want another miracle- because I haven’t experienced this one enough. As I keep marveling at the infinite power and wisdom that remain hidden behind Amma’s diminutive form, her presence evokes an unquenchable thirst, an intense longing within me to know her more.

I have no doubt that anyone who comes in contact with Amma-if they view her with a non-judgmental attitude -will have the same opinion as mine.

What will I get from Amma? Of course, in this world, where everything revolves more around taking than giving, it is quite understandable that people want to know what they will get from Amma. Okay, let us think in the same line. What does Amma give?Amma gives everything.

“Be specific! I don’t have a house. Will she give a house?”
She will.

“ I am sick and don’t have enough money to undergo the necessary treatment. Can Amma help?
Absolutely.

“I cannot afford my son’s education. What can Amma do for me?”
Plenty.

Amma only knows how to give. This giver of givers doesn't take anything except our darkness, pain and sorrow. In return Amma offers the light of pure love and peace. To put it in another way, Amma gives life . She gives more life. More life means a deeper life, a deeper understanding of life, a life rooted in higher values.

Twenty years ago, for Amma's 30th birthday celebrations, we invited a very popular political leader to inaugurate the function. When we expressed our desire to invite him, Amma clearly said, " He won't come."

One devotee who was also a politician said, " He will come. I will bring him." Amma smiled and said, " No son, He won't come."Taking it as a personal challenge the devotee went ahead and invited the leader.

We made elaborate arrangements to receive the political icon. However, as predicted by Amma, he didn't come. We were terribly disappointed and angry. certainly, it was a big blow to the ego of the devotee who had boasted that he would bring the political leader. Feeling fraught, together, we went to Amma's hut. She was completely calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

The devotee told Amma, " I am sorry, Amma. I should have listened to you." We, the ashram residents, did not spare the political leader. We criticized his irresponsible and inconsiderate behavior.

Amma stopped us, saying, " No, children, it is wrong to speak like that. It doesn't suit you, who desire to be spiritual aspirants. You are emotionally down; therefore you are unable to see the whole picture. There must be other aspects to the incident. You don't understand. That is why you speak this way. Don't be too judgmental, as none of you have any idea about that son's (the political leader's) situation."

Amma's face lit up with her natural smile and she continued, " Children, remaining under the strong grip of the mind and the concepts created by it, most people are too reactive when things go wrong. Whether someone is a politician or something else, he or she has an ego, weaknesses and limitations. Don't expect too much from others. Look, children, your eyes can only see the coming and going, the changing outside situations of life. For Amma, this is just another tiny bubble in the infinite space of time.

Amma is here to teach you the joy of detachment, not to push you into the darkness and pain of attachment. For Amma, this is just another passing experience, one which is already in the past. So forget about it and see what you can do in the present."

This piece of advise and Amma's peaceful presence instantly lifted the clouds of negative feelings from our minds, and we left with hearts filled with love and gratitude.

Amma says, "In order for knowledge to unfold within, we should allow love to enter our hearts."

" Do what you want in life and become what you wish. But learn to keep a distance between you and your actions internally." Ofcourse, the inspiring power behind this message from Amma is pure, unconditional love. From this arises the capacity to smile in all situations of life, both in failure and success.

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