Amma in Perth - Australia tour begins

Amma arrived in Perth, the first stop on her Australian tour, late afternoon on March 31st. She had left for Perth from Calcutta, which was the last stop of her Indian tour. For the past two months, Amma had traveled all over India, conducting programs in over twenty Indian cities, hugging hundreds of thousands of people. Still, there was no trace of fatigue on her face, as she alighted the plane and walked eagerly to receive the group of devotees who were waiting for her. This was Amma’s first visit to Perth, and this group had been working hard for several months to make it happen.

The program was arranged at a beautiful setting by the harbor. Amma arrived at 10:00 a.m. for the morning program. After a brief guided meditation, Amma began receiving people into her arms. Even though this was a week day morning, over a thousand people had gathered to receive her darshan. Since this was Amma’s first visit to this serene, peaceful city, most people were meeting Amma for the first time. So many more souls touched, the seed of spirituality planted in their hearts. Amma never stops giving.

The evening program started at 7:30 p.m. with one of Amma’s senior lady disciples, Swamini Krishnamrita Prana’s satsang. Swamini recalled Dr. Jane Goodall’s description of Amma as being one of the most befitting descriptions of Amma that she has ever heard. When presenting the Gandhi – King award to Amma, Dr. Jane Goodall had introduced Amma as “the very embodiment of goodness” and as “God’s love in a human body.” Swamini emphasized how Amma’s pure and untainted love flows to all beings in creation, touching one and all. Later, in her satsang also, Amma spoke about the importance of love.

During bhajans, one could see people closing their eyes and swaying blissfully to the rhythm of the music. Even though the words may have been in languages unfamiliar to most Australians, clearly the music touched their hearts. Amma says that in our current times (the kali yuga), devotional singing is one of the most effective ways to achieve concentration. Later, several people remarked that even though they did not really understand the language, they felt the love and the divinity in the music. It’s true. Pure love, God’s love knows no barriers of language. It reaches out to one and all.

The volunteers in different areas of the program worked all through the day. Well. For one thing their stamina is amazing and for another they wear a pleasant smile on their face in spite of having as much as 2 hours of sleep. When asked how they are able to do it, they answered, “ Well, just watching Amma and being in her presence is enough. Sometimes we miss being in her midst as we have stuff to do, but we love to help out in our own small way.” Maybe Amma heard this volunteer’s yearning that day.

Darshan finally ended at 2:30 a.m. After having hugged so many of her children, instead of heading straight out of the hall, Amma first went to the snacks counter, much to the delight of the volunteer there. This volunteer had been unable to leave her station due to her seva, so it was perhaps in response to her silent prayers that Amma walked by there. Amma stood for a moment, took a sweet from the counter, and also shared it with her children gathered around. Nothing is too small, or too insignificant for Amma. Nothing escapes her notice either. Amma headed out of the hall. And thus ended the first day on the 2004 Australian tour.