Everything and then Some...

Feb 26, 2009

Aum Amriteshwaryai Namah,

Working at the cash register for the Western Canteen every day for breakfast is a wonderful seva to do. You get to see people right away in the morning after they have either meditated with the sun rise and/or done Archana.

Dealing with the Indian money is disgusting though...it's really dirty so I am constantly washing my hands here (moreso than in the West).

I had my second Malayalam class today and the teacher was a little annoyed with me as she could tell that I didn't do any studying last night at all. I guess somethings will never change. There really isn't a lot of time to practise what I've learned as the days are so rich with things to do here.

Today I changed all of the US money (cash) that I brought with me, had a Malayalam class, bought a mini travelling size harmonium (which I had seen and couldn't resist), signed up for an astrology reading scheduled on Saturday morning, went and sat with Mother, did prashad seva, and watched (up close) a most beautiful Pada Puja (honouring of the Feet of the Guru by bathing them in different materials such as milk, ghee, water, etc.) This Indian couple approached Amma toward the end of Darshan today and did this entire ritual with so much love and devotion, it was mesmerizing. After performing the Pada Puja they adorned Her with 22K gold anklets, bracelets, earrings, rings, necklaces and a most beautiful gem studded Krishna crown. They then wrapped a red and gold sari around Her.

This entire witnessing made me cry my eyes out. They fed Her prashad that was obviously homemade. It was a kind of Sikh prashad with cashews. Amma was hilarious and totally like Krishna. She literally picked through the prashad and pulled out ALL of the cashews and ate them Herself. Then She scooped out little by little the prashad and handed in directly into the hands of the nearby devotees. By Amma's Grace, I was right by Her shoulder (behind the videographer) and was able to reach my hand out and receive some of the blessed offering.

Bhajans followed this experience with Amma, but She did not come out for bhajans. Swami just led the bhajans and they were nice. Amma must have been quite tired by this time and retired to Her room.

After bhajans, I had dinner (masala dosa and neyroast) - my new favourite meal for dinner at the Ashram, which is only served when Amma is here so I'd better get my full share in as quickly as possible. This was in celebration of Prachetas' going away. He is leaving tomorrow for Kovallum and then leaves on Monday for Nevada City, CA.

It just blows my mind away how Amma fulfills every need. I am blessed a million times over and I can truly feel it. My mind has never once considered what I am going to do when I get back home for work. I am just not concerned by it in the least. I know that Amma will take care of all those minor details.

I should go now and do some studying before bed so that I don't get reprimanded again tomorrow. It's 11pm here now and only 9:30am PST.

Aum Namah Shivaya...I will write again soon.