Abundant Grace

March 7, 2009

Aum Amriteshwaryai Namah...

So...after my breakfast seva, I was making my way to the ECO Store to get some natural bug repellant (as recommended by many for the tours). I am trying to get myself ready with the necessary things for the Tour.

On my way back to my room, Gireesh Swami (head priest in the Kalari) saw me and hailed me down stating that I should come now (11:30am) to the other side of the backwaters and he will arrange a car for me to travel to the Program in.

I asked why so early if the Program isn't until 6pm. He said that we will travel with Amma and She will go to an ashram first in Thiruvalla before the Program.

I quickly went to my room and collected the few things that I needed and proceeded to the other side of the bridge, only to be ushered to the veranda of Amma's sister's home. This is where Amma's Mother and sisters live. I was able to get some pictures with Amma's sisters (who were very sweet and served us prashad upon arriving at their home).

I then sat in the front seat of a nicely air conditioned vehicle with 4 Swamis from the Kalari in the back seat. There was a sticker on the front windshield which said "VIP Gate - I" and "VIP Parking - I".

I didn't expect to travel in Amma's caravan to the Program but apparently She wanted me to.

The driver "Bala" put on a CD and the very first bhajan on the CD was "Jai Jai Satguru Maharani" (which is the bhajan that I would really like to learn while I am here so that we can offer it to Amma in Seattle). The second bhajan was "Govinda Gopala Hari Hari".

Well, if there was any doubts in mind (which there were many) that they had made a mistake and that I should not bein this car, I now knew that I was in the right car as these bhajans just sealed the deal for me!

"Sundar Hai Nayana Tere" was the next bhajan on the CD. It's a Hindi bhajan that both Jim and I really love a lot. Jim was brought into my consciousness almost immediately after this bhajan starting playingon the CD player.

Amma came over the Amrita Setu (bridge) shortly thereafter with droves and droves of people following Her.

The car immediately in front of the car that I was in had the senior Swamis in it. We made our way quite briskly to Thiruvalla where Amma went into this little house and rested in there, while we all sat under an outdoor hut under fans and rested up for the evening as we knew it was going to be a long one.

We left the "Thiruvalla Ashram" just after 6pm and arrived at the Stadium where the Program was being held. It was packed with Indians. There must have been at least 100,000 people there if not more. My claustrophobia was feeling quite active and I just had to sit for a bit and meditate on Amma's Divine Face and remember why I was here and what my seva was for the night.

I was on face wiping seva. I had to wipe the faces of all the men who were approaching Amma for Darshan as it was very hot and dirty. The stadium was out in the open with dirt grounds below us so everyone's face was filthy and it was my job to ensure that the men's faces were as clean of this as possible as they receive their Darshan.

It's really an amazing seva to do. To witness people's energy as they are in a completely vulnerable state going up to the Divine Mother for Darshan is a very sweet blessing. In the east, it's considered an act of great kindness and humility to wipe someone's face as they approach the Divine Mother. It would be the equivalent of washing people's feet as they enter a temple. It's a very priviledged and rewarding seva to offer.

Many men thanked me with a lot of Love in their hearts for having served them in that capacity. Little children with such glee and twinkles in their eyes would approach and greet me with the resounding "Aum Namah Shivaya" with beaming smiles on their faces. This was al enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Mother arranged ALL of this for me with complete ease and no hurdles to jump through at all. Seeing each of these people whether they were poor, rich, healthy, ill, disabled, timid, powerful, shy...it was like I was seeing Amma in front of me each time. While I was fairly close to Mother on the ramp leading up to Her peetham (platform), She was crowed with people and there was really no seeing Her through all those people and sevites. For me, the next best thing (which may even be better - I know Amma would say so) was to see Amma with each expectant face that passed me on the ramp. What a huge blessing - my heart is beginning to open wider and wider as I continue on this journey at the Lotus Feet of Amma.

Sarala, who is a woman taking Malayalam classes with me (she started ust before me), is the Supervisor of the face wiping seva. She was pleased with my ability to do the job at the Program in Thiruvalla and has requested that I do it again on the abbreviated North India tour. My response, of course, was that it would be my great good fortune, honour and priviledge to serve in that capacity again.

I am noticing that the sevas that Amma has me doing (both cashiering at the Ashram Western Canteen and Face Wiping on tour) puts me in touch physically with the public alot. She is having me look into the faces and eyes of all of these glorious beings who are all extensions of Her. So...in essence, I am having so many Darshans on a daily basis. I may not be in Mother's embrace as often as some would think I should be while here at the Ashram, but the Darshans of the beings that come to Amma is quite spectacular and Mother's Abundant Grace!

The Program went on until about 7am (but I left at about 4am as my driver was leaving). Amma rested for some time and then made 5 house visits before returning to the Ashram.

I returned to the Ashram by 5am and went straight to bed as I needed to sleep. I slept so deeply and peacefully like a still pond with lotus flowers resting on top.

Aum Amriteshwaryai Namah...