San Ramon, California

Bright and sunny, the first day of darshan at San Ramon was much like Amma Herself. The hall, which was beautifully decorated with garlands and flowers was now lit up by happy faces in anticipation of Amma's arrival. Amma arrived to the chanting of "Om Amriteshwaryai Namaha" and Her loving eyes flitted like butterflies, seeking out every expectant face in the crowd.

As darshan went on, a little girl in the crowd waited in line with her mother. Owing to some health problems Amma had asked her to stay away from dairy products and fried foods a year ago. When her father visited Amritapuri before Amma's U. S. tour, she had asked him to check with Amma whether she could eat a few things she liked, mentioning them by name. When her turn for darshan came, Amma caught hold of the girl and asked her about the foods she wanted to eat. The girl slowly recollected her list counting them off on her fingers. But Amma, Her eyes twinkling said "There was one more thing, there was one more…. What was that last one?" "Oh yes" said the little one, "Ice-cream!" And Amma burst out laughing, much to the delight of all.

Many of us go to Amma with our heavy hearts hoping to unburden ourselves on Her lap. As we walk away after a few tongue-tied words, we often experience a sense of the insignificance of our personal problem on the face of the multitude of concerns that come to Her and we wonder if She really heard us. Amma often says that no one's problem is too insignificant to Her. Experiences like this prove Her words and show us the attention She pays even to a small child's words. All we need to do is to surrender our cold fears and worries to Her and in their place receive from Her the warmth of peace and acceptance.