"How are all the people going to fit in the hall?" was the question of the day, when the organizers and staff arrived at the hall. This year, the program was to be held at a new venue in London, a small basketball gym. Perhaps it was Amma's Grace that made the walls expand, because as the crowds poured in, there somehow seemed to be enough space. The hall was staffed with security guards who were to monitor the flow of people into the hall since only a small number were allowed inside at a time. They were big burly men wearing black security jackets who tallied every person who entered the hall in order to keep count. However, by Devi Bhava night, the same staff was seen going to darshan and carrying the buckets of flower petals around for Amma. It was sweet to see these big security guards carrying tiny buckets of rose petals to the stage. "I like Amma", one commented, "She's really nice".

On the second day evening, one of Amma's sons Sachin was saying goodbye to Amma since he was leaving the tour early due to family commitments. Amma put a sweet in his mouth and for some reason it fell out of his mouth, by mistake. Feeling sad, he commented, "Oh this is my prarabdha karma (due to my past actions)". Amma immediately pulled Sachin forward and took a pen in her hand and began to write on his shirt. She worked her way up the collar writing something with great care. She wrote in Malayalam, "It is your prarabhdam. Don't be sad". Maybe this was Amma's sweet and loving way of reminding us that one should not be sad and grieve about the past actions, and the prarabdha karma that follows. One has to face it and endure it, with a brave heart and surrender to God.

The European tour was drawing to an end. After a month and a half of hectic travel, it was hard to imagine the tour was going to end soon. From London it was a 20 hour bus journey to Milano where eager Italian devotees were waiting to see Amma. Since it was the first time Amma visited Milano, there were huge crowds of newcomers who came to meet the "Madre Divine" (Divine Mother). The venue was an ice rink that was tactfully decorated so the ice was covered. Amma was as beautiful and radiant as ever, although the darshan went into the wee hours of the morning.

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Amma in the west

Meeting Amma

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