Life's Perfect Recipe
Indian Express
-- Vineet Deshmukh
March 2001
Her motherly looks belie her sharp and remarkably delightful wisdom
of a guru, that is deeply embedded in her. Just like a mother, she
hugs you so tight that the invisible wall between the guru and disciple
crumbles like ninepins instantly. She pours her heart to reveal
self-knowledge with such simplicity, that it captures the imagination
of even those who might not have been initiated into spiritualism
or may have no attitude or aptitude for spirituality.
She is Mata Amritandamayi, the spiritual leader who has her base
at Vallickavu in Kerala and Mata Amritandamayi ashrams spread across
the length and breadth of the country. Pune boasts of one such ashram
at Nigdi. Amma, as she is fondly called, is presently on visit to
the city, for discourse. The most admirable feature of Amma is that,
she speaks only in Malayli, but language has been no barrier between
her and her disciples, considering that they come from all parts
of the world. When this writer spoke to her, the answers came in
Malayalam, but her brilliant disciple translated them into English,
within seconds, in an amazingly professional manner. Excerpts from
an interview
Question: How can one harmoniously blend spirituality with
materialism?
There is no such difference between spirituality and materialism.
Spirituality teaches us how to live in this materialistic world.
A person who knows how to swim, delightfully goes into the ocean
and the one who does not know how to swim drowns. Just like that,
a person who has realised the changing nature of the world can lead
a happier life, while the person who is not aware of its ups and
downs will become more sorrowful, filled with a lot of fear and
worry.
Life is like the pendulum of a clock. When it swings at one end,
it does not stop there - instead it gains momentum and swings to
the other side. Mind is just the same - it swings between happiness
and unhappiness. It is only when the pendulum is at the centre that
it becomes still. Similarly, our equilibrium can be maintained when
are minds are still and this can be achieved when we can balance
our lives between spirituality and materialism. It's then, that
we are not trapped between happiness and unhappiness. Seeking 100
percent happiness from the outside world is like trying to roll
the sky and carry it under the armpits.
In today's materialistic world, if one person in the society is
observing spiritual values, nobody wants to follow his footsteps.
However, the person with an inner attitude and experience is sure
to be more joyful amidst the thousands in the society who are caught
in the whirlpool of materialism.
Question: How does one achieve self-knowledge through formal
education or value education at home?
Information technology is a big leap in science and has made the
whole world into a small family, literally bringing it under one
umbrella. However, at the same time, hearts have narrowed down to
the extent that we refuse to accept and recognise the talents of
others. The modern education system is like cutting the feet to
fit into the shoes. Children are taught education for living, but
not education for life. We have developed the intellectual world
where heads have grown, but the hearts have dried up. I don't have
a grudge against "modern science" or "progress",
but there should be a beautiful blend between both-that is, between
spiritualism and materialism.
Spirituality is an art, which teaches you to live the entire life
in perfection. It is management of your life and parents, as well
as educational institutes should teach this value added aspect.
Question: Can one gain inner knowledge and peace of mind
by hearing discourses by masters or by visiting places of worship?
Once in a while it's ok to visit a place of worship for your personal
peace of mind. However, when you go out of your country, several
doubts are raised regarding our places of worship. Like why do we
worship a monkey god or an elephant god? Most of us have no inkling
about the subtle significance and when we approach the priest of
the temple, he too would probably have no clue. That, we should
transform from being monkeys to perfect human beings, that we should
posses the amazing quality of an elephant's trunk which can pick
up a needle with the utmost dexterity, as well as ferociously uproot
a tree, that, we must learn the art of listening as portrayed symbolically
through the big ears of the elephant god is knowledge that is alien
to most of us. Similarly, parents too are not in a position to impart
spiritual knowledge.
Therefore, the only perfect people are the genuine spiritual masters
who have attained mastery in the search of ultimate truth. A temple
priest is like a KG schoolteacher who can only show the picture
of a parrot and identify it. You can take birth in a temple, but
you cannot die there. You have to grow inside and outside. Once
you have grown inwardly and outwardly, every place will be like
a temple. Spiritual masters, who are genuine, carry the inner experience
of Godhood and share with thousands around them. They guide you
through their rich and wise experiences.
Question: Describe the role of the parents today?
Parents help children only in the outer knowledge, making them
outwardly ambitious for which they create the necessary situation.
But they have forgotten to teach the children how to live life.
When you walk on grass, a path is easily carved, but even if you
walk on a rocky path 100 times, it is difficult to carve a path.
Hence, it is important that parents mould their children when young.
What children see of their parents these days is the latter's obsession
with accumulating wealth and not in developing inner richness. Thus
they grow up with the opinion that it is only wealth that matters
in life. Such children grow up with no control over their emotions
and thoughts and can go astray.
Question: Should women be career-persons?
Women must study, work, and be self-sufficient. But in the process,
her responsibilities have increased a lot since she continues to
manage the home front too. However she progresses, a woman should
not forget that she has been endowed with a special gift from God-and
that is, motherhood. She must be able to discharge this duty with
equal dexterity along with her work-which comes with utmost patience.
If she forgets the responsibility of motherhood and gives priority
to other matters, then the harmonious functioning of society will
be affected.
Economically India may not be worthy, but its only worth is love,
much of which comes through the heart of the mother. If that love
disappears, then it will be a complete disintegration of the family
and society. Already a family has become an island.
Very importantly, a woman may adorn man-like qualities for the
sake of her work, but inside her heart she should preserve her femininity,
which is what makes her very special in society.
|
About
Amma
In
the Media