As is the tradition in Amritapuri, Christmas was celebrated in grand style on Sunday, with more than 1,600 visitors from more nearly 100 countries, and more than 600 participants of a national AYUDH India summit also here for the festivities.
During Amma’s darshan in the afternoon, groups of international residents and visitors sang Christmas carols to the delight of all, infusing the atmosphere with an air of festivity and joy.
After Amma’s darshan concluded around 11:00 pm, Amma came down to sit among the devotees to enjoy the annual Christmas musical, written and performed by Amma’s international children. More than 120 people came together to create the performance, entitled, “Walking Beside Us,” featuring an original script, music and lyrics, dance choreography, extensive hand-painted sets, hand-made costumes, elaborate lighting and special effects. This year’s performance was all the more impressive in that it featured many children in leading roles. The children performed with confidence and skill in tightly choreographed scenes. This year’s play was conceived as the story of Christmas told through the eyes of little children.
The Christmas festivities concluded with Amma leading the entire assembled crowd in two bhajans (Only Love is our guiding light in English and Jai Mata Di Jaykar bulavo in Punjabi) calls of Mata Rani Ki Jai and a group prayer for world peace with the chanting Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. Finally Amma personally blessed tray after tray of a chocolate Christmas cake – enough for each person at the festivities to get a piece, and ending the holiday with a tangible sweetness that had imbued each moment of the day.
When most people talk about Christmas, they talk about the great time they had with their family, the delicious dishes and sweets they prepared, and the gifts they received. Hardly anyone speaks about the prayers they offered, the spiritual practices they did, or the efforts they put towards bringing Jesus’ teachings into action. In truth, these would comprise the real Christmas celebration. Amma is not saying that the other celebrations are not needed, just that Christmas only gains its true meaning when we use it to reflect on the life and teachings of Christ and to evaluate our spiritual progress. Real love for the Lord occurs when we imbibe these ideals for which he stood, for they help us to realize the Kingdom of Heaven within ourselves and transform our life into an offering of service to humanity.
Be it Sri Krishna, Sri Rama or Jesus Christ, they all had to undergo a lot of challenges in life. However, they boldly faced them without breaking down. Moreover, they converted every obstacle into a stepping stone. This was their greatness. They showed us through their lives that if we are putting sincere effort towards a higher goal, no force in this world can stop us. Even after thousands of years, their lives still inspire us and fill us with strength.
Holidays like Christmas create opportunities for us to practice the ideal of sharing and caring. All the blessings we have received in life are not only due to our own efforts. Our success is also due to the help, prayers and blessings given to us by all those who love us. We are indebted to them. We should always remember this. Christmas is a good opportunity to express our gratitude towards such people. As we progress on the spiritual path, we should occasionally remember with gratitude all those who have helped us along our journey. If there are people who have troubled us, we must develop the ability to forgive and forget. Such an attitude is like fuel that will take us a long way forward.
The Christmas tree is a symbol of the tree of life. Just as the Christmas tree has so many ornaments hung on it, this human life of ours has also been blessed with many gifts—such as the faculty of discrimination, love, compassion and the ability to forgive. It is up to us to make the best use of these gifts. On top of the Christmas tree is a big star. This star represents the goal of human life, which is to realize our oneness with God. Using our God-given faculties, we need to attain this goal.
The seeds of spirituality lying within start sprouting when we water them with the waters of compassion. Children, we should be able to find some space in our hearts for others as well. May my children be able to achieve this.
Amma offers her children to the Paramatma. Amma wishes all her children a very Merry Christmas!
Christmas awakens vibration of goodness, hope and compassion in the human heart, just as the birth anniversaries of other great incarnations and realized beings do. This day reminds us of what it is that that the human heart should be comprised—not with selfishness and hatred, but with devotion to God and love towards our fellow beings. Our thoughts and actions should become so permeated with goodness that they come to illuminate the divinity that resides within us. Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, Buddha and Jesus Christ lived on this earth thousands of years ago, but they have left their indelible footprints in human hearts. If we wish to reach the shores of everlasting peace and happiness, all we have to do is follow the path they showed us.
Footprints imprinted upon the earth are soon to fade and disappear, but footprints formed in the heart remain. This is why we remember the lives of mahatmas long after they leave their physical bodies. Their lives and teachings are very practical; they serve to remind us about the purpose of human life. Their lives were not for themselves, but for the good of the world. When we remember their lives, it awakens our own innate goodness. It helps us to become compassionate towards our fellow beings; it helps us to overcome selfishness and anger. We find ourselves aspiring to become more loving. It prompts us to repent when we become angry—to pray for the ability to forgive.
One may ask, “Don’t we also remember people those who did evil deeds?” Yes, but when we think of them, we are not uplifted as we are when we remember those who were embodiments of goodness. Thinking of the lives of mahatmas is like visiting a perfume factory. Your clothes become fragrant without any effort. Dwelling upon the lives of the wicked, on the other hand, is like visiting a charcoal factory; our clothes become sooty even if we don’t touch the charcoal directly.
Throughout his life Jesus Christ demonstrated deep compassion and humility. Normally people respect others only if they belong to a reputed family. Otherwise they will not give them much respect. We see others through the lens of our ego. However, in spirituality, we accept others with out any preconceived notions. Wherever there is goodness, we need to accept it. That is what great masters teach us.
Not only that, Jesus did not live like a king, as many expected him to, but as one among the people, as the servant of all. Therefore, he was easily accessible to the poor and deprived. However high our status in life is, we should have the expansiveness to see everyone as equal. That, in fact, is an exalted state. If we cannot attain it, then at least we should be able to be able to view them without anger and hatred. We live in times when mutual brotherhood is lost and everyone is thinking of what one can grab from the other. It may be hard to see everyone as equal, but when we understand spirituality, we will be able to achieve this vision.
Currently, we depend on others for our happiness. Because of that dependency, we are losing the experience of true freedom. We miss the experience of knowing our True Self because of this attachment to the ego. No matter how hard we row a boat that is tied to the shore, it will not move forward one inch. Similarly if we want to move forward in spirituality, we need to renounce the notions of “I” and “mine.” We need to understand that we are just instruments in the hands of the Divine, and that it is the Divine power that is allowing us to do things.
We can control things only to some extent. Beyond that it is Divine grace that makes things happen. We need to put in efforts with an attitude of surrender. Even when we win a competition, we need to bend our head and bow down to receive the medal. Humility is the key that opens the heart.
The goal of every mahatma’s life is to guide others to find the heaven within themselves. They show us that good actions bring us closer to God. Through his life, Jesus Christ taught the world that society rewards a spiritual seeker only with a crown of thorns. All mahatmas have had to face many challenges throughout their life, but because they had the experience of the Truth, nothing could stop them.
If you are a smoker, give your family the present of quitting smoking this Christmas. With the money that you save by giving up this habit, you can help a needy person. It also protects your health. If you are an alcoholic, get help to stop in the name of love for your family. The family will be so happy and your health will not deteriorate as well. If you are an overeater, stop eating excess food and start the habit of eating lesser portions of more nutritious food. This will make us less dull and improve our health.
Such presents that come out of sacrifice bring unending joy. Amma does not say that we should not send greeting cards and gifts or do other such things. It may give our loved ones fond memories. But the real gifts are the actions we do that truly benefit others. This is the right way to celebrate Christmas.
May the spirit of Christmas inspire my children to fly high into the world of peace and joy. May grace bless you always.
On December 24th, 2014 – Christmas Eve – the ashram celebrated Christmas in the presence of our beloved Amma by presenting the stories of St. Francis of Assisi and two of his closest companions – Priest Sylvester and St. Claire.
More than 170 ashram residents and visitors from more than 15 countries across the world worked together to perform this musical theatre piece “The Lord’s Prayer”, which included an original script, music and lyrics, dance choreography, extensive hand-painted sets, hand-made costumes, and hand-made marionettes.
This labor of love told excerpts from the lives of these three figures, framed within the context of an individual’s experience with prayer, and how prayer carries us along the spiritual path. They are examples of how an “ordinary” person can leave behind a life based on material prosperity in search of a life centered on God; a life devoted to developing humility, compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love.
The production evoked lines of the original Lord’s Prayer as a refrain, highlighting the truth that the fundamental aspects of prayer have been unchanged through the centuries; we still pray for wisdom and guidance along the spiritual path, and for the grace and strength to persevere in the face of life’s obstacles.
The 90-minute production was performed as an offering to Amma and a live audience of several thousand people on the ashram’s main stage. The audience sat spellbound throughout, rapt by the beautiful choreography of dramatic, heartfelt performances, soul-stirring song and dance, and technical and artistic feats including a three-story stage as well as lifelike birds in flight. In the finale, the audience let out a collective sigh of joy and delight as Amma’s oft-visualized prayer that the world be showered with white flowers of peace was brought to life, with thousands of lifelike imitation flowers showered down onto the performers and the audience’s front rows from the rafters above the stage, more than four stories into the air. As the performers took their final bow, the audience rose to their feet and offered a standing ovation and cheers of appreciation.
God is said to be the embodiment of infinite divine qualities. He is beyond word and thought. It is through the lives of mahatmas that one directly experiences the divinity of God. The specialty of mahatmas is that they practice what they preach. In this regard, Jesus Christ was no different. He was the embodiment of self-sacrifice, love, knowledge and spiritual experience. Christ’s life itself was his message.
When we look at the lives of great like Sri Krishna and Jesus, we see that there were many evil powers that tried to harm them. There is a spiritual lesson in this: When spiritual knowledge—which can be equated to the divine child—is about to take birth, one’s selfish and materialistic tendencies will try to stop it. Only if one puts forth sincere effort with alertness and care will they attain Self-knowledge. If oil is poured over a spark, the spark will be extinguished. However, once the spark becomes a huge fire, no matter how much oil you pour on it, it will not be extinguished; the oil will be consumed by the fire. Similarly, when spiritual awareness is just beginning to expand within us, all of our negative tendencies and thoughts will try to block it. However, when one is established in Self-knowledge, there will be no place for materialistic tendencies and negativities. All great gurus take birth with the goal of removing the darkness of ignorance and adharma [unrighteousness] from the minds of humankind and spreading the light of knowledge.
Jesus’ birth reveals another profound spiritual principle. Jesus wasn’t born in a grand palace. He was born in a humble place—in a corner of a stable. His parents were not wealthy or learned. They had nothing to call their own, except their own mental purity. Moreover, other than a few blessed individuals, very few people knew about his birth. The teaching we should take from this is that spiritual awakening comes to those seekers who are humble and patient. Empty yourself of ego and I shall come and rest within—this is the essence of the Lord’s message.
If we take Sri Krishna’s life, we see that he was born in the jail where the wicked Kamsa had imprisoned his parents, Vasudeva and Devaki. The jail represents spiritual ignorance, and Krishna’s birth represents the birth of Self-knowledge, which breaks open the prison doors and frees us. While in jail, Devaki and Vasudeva prayed intensely to the Paramatman. This led to the birth of Lord Krishna. Love has no boundaries and can never be imprisoned behind walls. Even though ostensibly we are all free, we are still trapped in the jails of our ignorant minds. On the other hand, even if a mahatma is put in real jail, internally he is ever free. The external world can never bind a mahatma. Even though mahatmas may live in the world, they are detached from it, like butter floating on water.
When true surrender dawns within, we will awaken and arise. Our state today is that we have knowledge but lack awareness. We may see things, yet we don’t really see them. We may hear things, but we don’t really listen. The reason for this is that our mind is never present in what we see and hear. There is a bhajan that goes, “O Lord, I have come with folded hands before you. Please, listen to me.” The real meaning here is that it is we who—through the heightened awareness of prayer—need to see and listen. Currently our mind is never in the present; it is always wandering this way and that. Although God is within us, we are not in God. Many things in the world bind our mind. To bring the mind back to God, prayer can be extremely useful.
If you were to fall into a deep pit and there were no one around to pull you out, imagine the intensity with which you would call out for help. Such intensity should be there in our prayers. We should call out to the Divine from the bottom of our heart, with a child like innocence. Prayer, chanting one’s mantra and meditation are different ways to awaken the Divine within us.
If we extend our arm outwards and hold a thick book, we may be able to manage to hold it there for five minutes or so. If we force ourselves to hold it like that for an hour, our hand will ache terribly. If we are forced to hold it the whole day, then someone will have to call an ambulance. It is the same way with our sorrow. We need to unburden ourselves of our sorrows, leaving them at the feet of the Divine through heartfelt prayer.
In olden days there would be slabs of stone along the roadside that would be supported by pillars. People carrying huge sacks on their heads or shoulders could place their loads on these slabs and rest for a while. Many of us are shouldering such heavy loads within—more than we can really manage. When we enter the puja room to pray, it is an opportunity to unburden ourselves of this weight.
Let your hearts melt in prayer. Praying with intensity is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, just as the wax fuels the flame as it melts, intense prayer awakens our devotion and love.
Crying for God is one of the ways to grow closer to the Divine. There are numerous ways to reach the top of a mountain. One person may climb the steps. Another may be pulled up in a basket. Some may scale the rocks… We cannot say that one way is better than another. This is why there are so many spiritual practices enumerated in Sanatana Dharma. If a restaurant has just one dish, not everyone will enjoy it. If a shoe store were to sell only one size of shoe, very few people will be able to buy shoes there. Similarly, no one can say one path is better than another.
When Devaki and Vasudeva or Mary and Joseph prayed intensely with surrender, understanding that they had nowhere but to the Lord to go for help, then the divine child was born to them. That divinity is there within each one of us, but we are currently unable to see it because our hearts are closed. It is like we are sitting in a boarded-up room and complaining that we are unable to experience the sunlight. If one shines a light in the eyes of a blind man, will he see anything? If someone holds a fragrant flower or sprays perfume under the nose of someone with nasal congestion, will he experience the fragrance? Our heart has to open. When a flower is still in the bud stage, one cannot enjoy its beauty and fragrance. Only when it blossoms can that be experienced.
By birth, human beings are children of the universe, but they can be reborn as the children of God as well. This rebirth happens when we completely die to our ego. When the last trace of ego vanishes, that is when the real birth of our identity as the Supreme Self takes place within us. This is not something that is to be experienced after we die. We have to die to the ego, before we really die.
It’s not easy to transcend the ego. When Self-knowledge dawns within, the ego automatically disappears. Ego is like darkness. Darkness is not a something that can be removed. However, when you shine light, it automatically disappears. To bring in the light of Self-knowledge, one needs to engage themselves constantly in sravanam, mananam and nididhyasanam—learning the spiritual teachings, clearing one’s doubts regarding them and then dwelling in those truths.
Our ego has become strong because of our identification to our status and position, and it’s not easy to overcome this attachment. When someone praises us, we easily fall prey to the ego. On the other hand, even if we hear that our true nature is the Supreme Self 10,000 times, it still fails to truly sink in.
As Christmas approaches, decorations light up most of the towns and cities, and shops are filled with customers buying Christmas presents for themselves and their near and dear ones. But amidst all this, the focus should not shift from the eternal to the ephemeral. As we enjoy the creation, let us also remember the Creator. If a friend sends you some chocolates, you can enjoy them and at the same time remember your friend as well. In a similar way, we need to keep our focus on the Creator.
Let us try to speak words with a selfless attitude. Words have a lot of power. One wrong word can drive someone to suicide and one right word can save someone as well. There are people who come to Amma and say, “Such and such a person said this to me. I’ve decided to end my life. I’ve even decided the date. What is the point in living in such a world? I loved him and helped him so selflessly. But what I got in return was the exact opposite.” When Amma spends time talking to them and consoling them, they change their decision and go back relieved. What is it that Amma is giving but a few heartfelt words?
We need to perform good actions. This will make us befitting to receive God’s grace. When we flow towards others, God flows towards us. Many people say, “I’ve done so many years of spiritual practices and seva, but what have I got in return?” This is not the right attitude. It should be, “At least I was able to do this many spiritual practices. At least I could do this much service to the world.” If we sow a seed, it may or may not sprout. If it doesn’t sprout, we will have to sow it again. But with good actions it’s never like that. The impressions of our good actions never go away. They are like fixed deposits and will always stay with us. They are not like businesses where we have to start all over again if we incur losses.
The spirit of Christmas is sharing and caring. Let us not just be focused on our lives alone. Let us look around a little and see the needs of others as well. Even if you are able to help just one person, then you have made a difference. If my children can do this, that would be the real Christmas celebration.
The birth of the Lord should take place in our hearts. Let us decorate the manger of our hearts with good thoughts, sweet words and compassionate actions. May the Paramatman rest there always. May grace bless everyone. Amma wishes her children a very Merry Christmas.
* Extracted from the message Amma delivered in Amritapuri Ashram, 25 December 2014.
Christmas Eve was truly special this year. The main hall was filled with people from all over the world. Amma’s arrival to the hall started the festivities. Devotees from all over the world performed an original musical about the birth of Jesus Christ. The play told the story through the life of Saphira, a servant of King Herod, who met with the three wise men from the East who had come to see Jesus’s birth.
Amma sat surrounded with everyone around her but had two tiny tots on her lap on one side and an old French devotee dressed as Santa Claus on the other side. Amma would sway with the two tots when music was played. As the drama finished the multiple actors who wore life-sized camel and donkey suits got made their way to Amma for prasad. Classical dances on Meerabhai’s song dedicated to Lord Hari followed the drama.
After the performances, Amma shared her Christmas message, on practicing the teachings from the life and activities of Mahatmas. Amma emphasized that Christmas is the message of compassion. Each sadhak should see God’s embodiment in the Guru and enlightenment as the awakening of the “I” within. Amma said that return of Christ must not be considered external. Ego and selfishness need to be removed and accepting God within is our true goal. Our innocent heart is the true manger. Amma reminded everyone that heaven is in a seed within all of us and that enthusiasm should never be lost while on the spiritual path. Amma added that each aspect of nature teaches us such lessons and while buildings walls outside it is important not to build within our minds. As with Christmas gifts, we should open our true inner gifts and share them with the world. Like the shining star, we should not forget the goal indicating the path ahead of us. Amma said that while we remember and plan a celebration we should not forget the real reason of such celebrations. Only with a positive mind and innocence can we see the message of the Masters. Opening our hearts and awakening our inner child is the message that we need to remember. Moving from innocence to Innocence is the journey of true spiritual life, Amma reminded all.
Amma then led two bhajans to wrap up the celebrations. As the bhajans were ending, Amma continued by chanting ‘Lokah Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu’ for a few minutes. Finally the traditional Christmas cakes were then distributed to one and all taking us into a sweet Christmas morning.
Christmas Eve 2012 in Amritapuri was celebrated in full style. All around the Ashram one encounters sights and sounds reflective of the Holiday Season. At the base of Amma’s home, a beautifully decorated Xmas tree stands filled with festive ornaments, including a small Nativity scene, and the staircase leading up to Her room is adorned with holiday symbols. Around 10pm, Amma arrived to a packed main hall to watch a cast of 150+ from all around the globe perform in a play called ‘God is Able’.
The curtains opened to a preacher proclaiming to his flock that God is Able to do All Things. The play then went on to demonstrate this truth through three separate stories. The first was the story of how God parted the Red Sea for Moses and the Hebrews to pass without harm as they were being chased by Pharaoh and his army. The second story also came from the Bible: a young woman, suffering from a paralyzing affliction, is healed simply by touching Jesus’ robe. The last scene focused on a young homeless boy who had stolen bread to feed his hungry friends. He was brought to trial, but the charges were dropped by a sudden change of heart by the shop owner. In all cases, faith that God is Able to do all things carried the main characters through their trials and tribulations.
in need of a blessing.
of all you have to give.
You are Able to do All Things.
“The star and tinsel of Christmas, the cake we cut and distribute, and the gifts we exchange enhance the festivity and beauty of the occasion. But all these are external customs. All these do not make Christmas complete. What we have to do is to build a home for Christ in our hearts, with our prayers as its pillars, the sacrifice we practice as its roof. We have to make the bed of the Lord with our compassion. The food we prepare for him should be Love,” Amma reminded all. Her message was displayed on large screens in seven languages [English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Finnish, and Russian].
Amma then brought down the house with ecstatic singing. Many were on their feet dancing – Indians and Westerners alike. While Amma herself didn’t dance, her hands were clapping and arms moving with so much bliss and energy. It went on for about 1/2 hour, after which Amma led all in chanting Lokah Samastha Sukinau Bhavantu before blessing the Xmas cake which was distributed to all.
On Christmas Day a group from Amma Fiji visited the Happy Home Orphanage in town of Domain. There they met five boys who had no family home to return to and were spending Christmas Day with a few dedicated staff. They were provided with new school bags, snacks, and items for personal hygiene. Additionally the devotees provided a rice cooker and financial support for the orphanage.
Christmas Eve was celebrated this past Saturday with Amma giving darshan on stage in the Main Hall throughout the day and well past midnight. Thousands of devotees from across India and around the world had come to Amritapuri on their holiday break to be with Amma during this special time of year.
In the middle of the main hall, a makeshift stage had been erected. In what has become an annual event, International guests and residents were going to perform a play. For the past month, they had been rehearsing practically every day for the chance to perform for Amma. Huge screens were set up so that everyone could see, with the words translated into Malayalam.
Just after 9pm, the Christmas play began, ‘A Revelation.’ The play followed the life of Mr. Joe Egoman, who had been spending his entire life in the full clutches of his self image and ego. Eventually he was fortunate enough to meet Amma and try and turn his life around.
Shortly after midnight, Amma’s Christmas message was broadcasted on the large screen while Amma was giving darshan on the stage. Amma said, “There is one thing Amma feels it is important to emphasise:In the same way you celebrate the birthdays of these Mahatmas, with so much care and enthusiasm, you should demonstrate the same care and enthusiasm in putting into practice their teachings in each and every moment of your life. It is said that Christ resurrected three days after he was crucified. The body is comprised of the five elements. It can be cut, injured and destroyed by weapons. However, just like Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: ‘The Atma or the self cannot be cut by weapons. Fire cannot burn it. Water cannot wet it. The wind cannot dry it. ”It was never born and never dies. It is eternal and indestructible. ‘” Christ’s body was crucified. but his had no effect upon the Atma. If we understand that ‘My nature is that of Atma’, then there is no death.
The message was translated in to English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Finnish.
Afterwards, trays of Christmas cake were brought up to Amma for her to bless. The cake prasad was then distributed to everyone.
Darshan ended around 3am Christmas morning.
The Bala Kendra (children’s group) in Switzerland (Kindertreff Ziegelhütte) sang and played Christmas carols for elderly people in a retirement home near the Amma Center in Germany. The old people were very moved by the concert and applauded enthusiastically at the end. They very much appreciated, that these young people came to sweeten their holiday season. It was an inspiring experience for all of them.