Contents Vol. 28, No. 8 True Freedom 4 Following Amma 9 Swami Amritageetananda Puri Mental Equipoise 15 Br. Vivekamrita Chaitanya, India Are We Gopis in the Making? 21 Br. Chandrasekhar, India Clinging to Her for Life 26 Aparna V.K., India The Gift of Byse 31 Resya Reghu, India Lilas Around Amma 35 Govardhana-giridhari 39 Rajani Menon, India Some articles use the masculine pronoun when referring to God, in keeping with convention and to avoid the clumsiness of constructions such as ‘He or She’ or ‘Him or Her.’ Printed and Published by Swami Jnanamritananda Puri on behalf of M.A. Mission Trust, Amritapuri P.O., Kollam, Kerala 690 546, India. Printed at Amrita Offset Printers, Amritapuri P.O., Kollam, Kerala 690 546, India. Published at M.A. Math, Amritapuri P.O., Kollam, Kerala 690 546, India. Phone: (0476) 289 6278/7578/6399. Matruvani Office Phone: 08589003341 | Editor: Br. Brahmamrita Chaitanya Subscription (Indian): 1 year: `50 | 3 years: `125 | 5 years: `200 | 15 years: `500 Subscription (overseas): 1 year: US$15 | Life (15 years): US$150 Letters and Submissions: [email protected] March 2017 3 AMMA’S MESSAGE True Freedom Question: Amma has been travelling throughout India and countries abroad for many years. During this period, what changes have taken place in Europe and the USA? Amma: Children, Amma does not distinguish between India, America and Europe. The children here and the children there are all my children. However, there are cultural differences between the people in India and those in the West. The natural environment, financial state and emotional maturity shape the culture of people. One could say that there are differences at this level. Vehicles in India keep to the left, whereas those in the US keep to the right. There are cultural differences like these, too. However, the nature of love and peace is the same everywhere. Political boundaries cannot change it. The milk of cows — whether in India, the US or Europe — is white. The nature of fire is the same, whether in the East or the West. Honey is sweet, wherever it may be. The experience of peace is also the same everywhere. Lan- guage, creed or caste can never stand in the way of expe- riencing love and peace. These alone bind Amma to her children, no matter where she goes. Amma only looks at that. March 2017 5 In the light of the experi- They are leaving material ence gained over the years, life and turning towards spir- Amma would say that the ituality. Westerners have start- spiritual thirst of people in ed learning about and assimi- Europe and the US has in- lating Indian culture. In con- creased. The people there trast, Indians have become have all kinds of freedom. more steeped in materialism Dark skin can be lightened. and ever more eager to imitate Light skin can be tanned. A Westerners. We swallow what woman can become a man and Westerners have spat out, con- vice versa. Wrinkles caused sidering it great, whereas they by ageing can be smoothed have rejected materialism, re- out surgically. One could dye alizing that one can never find part of one’s hair blue, an- contentment through it. We other part yellow, and yet pay scant regard to eternal another, red. In fact, one can values, whereas they long to dye one’s hair in any colour. A integrate those precious values woman can marry another into their lives. woman, and a man, another Westerners try to under- man. One can migrate from stand what they are told. The city to city. One can wear children here (in India) are clothes any way one likes. But intelligent but find it difficult despite all these liberties, they to accept something even when still suffer and feel disillu- they have become aware of its sioned. From this, they under- truth. (Amma is not saying stood that true freedom is not that everyone here is like that.) outer but inner freedom; that Westerners aren’t like that. it is to be discovered within Once they have realized the oneself. This inspires them to truth of something, they accept turn within, transforming it without hesitation. One them into spiritual enthusiasts. could say that this attitude is 6 Matruvani Dark skin can be lightened and vice versa. A woman can become a man and vice versa. A woman can marry another woman, and a man, another man. Wrinkles caused by ageing can be smoothed out surgically. One can migrate. One can wear clothes any way one likes. But despite all these liberties, people still suffer. From this, they understood that true freedom is not outer but inner freedom. one reason behind their mate- and then they stand firm in rial progress. their faith. But our lifestyle is India’s real asset is her cul- just the opposite. A child sees ture. However, people here his father doing the ritual walk are not making any effort to around the shrine. He holds understand it. They don’t his father’s hand and accompa- delve deep enough. Their faith nies him on the circumambula- is confined to the temple and tion. When the son grows up, can barely withstand the on- he trains his son to do the same slaughts of others’ words. thing. However, they don’t Their faith does not take deep think about why they are doing root. Therefore, people here it or of the benefits of doing so. must be prepared to learn We have reached a situation in about the scientific basis of which, to learn about Indian our culture. culture, we have to read books Westerners believe some- that Westerners have written. thing after they have studied it, March 2017 7 Amma in Malaysia, Singapore & Australia April 3: Penang, Malaysia (evening public program) Setia Spice Arena, Bayan Baru, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang April 6 – 8: Singapore Marina Bay Sands, Expo & Convention Centre, Hall E, Basement 2, 10 Bay- front Avenue, S018956 April 11 – 15: Melbourne, Australia Ladbrokes Park (Sandown), 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 Public Programs April 11: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; April 12: 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Retreat April 13 – 15 (by pre-registration only) Devi Bhava April 15: 7 p.m. April 17 – 18: Sydney, Australia Sydney Boys High School, Cleveland St, Moore Park, NSW 2021 Public Programs April 17: 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. April 18: 10 a.m. & 7 pm (Devi Bhava) April 20: Brisbane, Australia Croatian Community Centre, 164 Dunn Rd, Rocklea, Brisbane QLD 4106 Public Programs April 20: 10 a.m. & 7.30pm April 21 – 23: Gold Coast, Australia Gold Coast Recreation Centre, 1525 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach QLD 4221 Retreat April 21 – 23 (by pre-registration only) Public Program April 23: 7 p.m. (Devi Bhava) 8 Matruvani SATSANG Following Amma by swami amritageetananda puri aster Gudo was the spiritual teacher of a Japanese Memperor. Very simple by nature, Gudo used to go from place to place, visiting temples and monasteries. One rainy evening, his sandals tore, and so, he went to the house of a cobbler. The cobbler was away, but his wife welcomed Gudo, gave him a new pair of sandals, some food and a place to stay for the night. Within a short time, Gudo realized that the cobbler’s family was not happy. The cobbler’s wife and her mother told him March 2017 9 that the cobbler drank too much, Master agreed. Together, they and would fight with them and started the journey back to even turn violent when he re- Gudo’s monastery. After they turned home. Gudo asked them had covered a few kilometres, for a dish of fish and meat and Gudo asked the cobbler to re- a bottle of wine, and then asked turn. The cobbler said, “Please them to go to sleep. let me accompany you a while After midnight, the cobbler longer.” This happened again came home fully drunk. He and again. The cobbler never started bellowing for food. turned back. He followed the Gudo calmly told him, “Here Master to his monastery and is the food and drink your wife became one of his greatest kept for you. Please have it and disciples. Japanese Zen mas- go to sleep.” The surprised cob- ters say that, among the many bler did as he was told and lineages of Zen masters, one of went to sleep. the best is the lineage of Mu- When he woke up in the nan, the man who never turned morning, he was sober. He back! apologized to Gudo for his If we really want to follow rude behaviour. The Master Amma, let us follow the exam- then advised him not to waste ple of Munan. Let us never his life in sensual indulgence, turn back, but turn our backs but to seek permanent peace on the ignorant and irrespon- and joy within. Chastened, the sible ways in which we lived cobbler fell at Gudo’s feet and and wasted our life before thanked him for showing him coming to Amma. the right way. There is another practice When Gudo was leaving, mentioned in the scriptures for the cobbler said, “Please let me seekers of the eternal life. It is walk with you for some dis- called ‘simha avalokana tance. I’ll carry your bag.” The nyaya’ — ‘looking back to leap 10 Matruvani ahead.’ This maxim is inspired past was, we will never want by the lion’s habit of walking to turn back! Lines from a some distance, stopping, turn- bhajan come to mind: ing back and then continuing poya kaalam to walk.