Master’s Birthday

January 5, 2008 Link Amma's Grace

Dearest Friends and Family,
Today is the birthday of the great Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, who shone in the Western skies of California, USA for over 30 years. Happy Birthday dear Master, in the hearts of all of You! What follows is Amma’s message for all of us this year. Link doesn’t think the translation is very good, but we don’t have access to the Malayalam. I got this from the Student Newspaper at Link’s college. In general we have found that her words go through a depressing amount of editing. She speaks in earthy metaphor, which never makes it to translation…Anyhow, here goes:

Amma’s New Year Message 2008

We are all very happy that another new year is upon us. Happiness is good for the health of the body and the nind. Our goal is to always be happy. Everyone should always be happy and rejoicing – just like a small child. That is Amma’s desire.
Human beings are the happiest in childhood. But the time considered as ‘childhood’ is ever decreasing. Previously, one was considered a child until he was 8 or 9. But today the innocence and pleasantness associated with childhood is fading faster and faster. Childhood these days is filled with seriousness and tension. Just imagine a world of human beings utterly devoid of happiness and the world that they inhabit. That will be a real hell when our desires are fulfilled, when things go according to our plans, we experience happiness – but it is only temporary. But in the phrase “New Year,“ there is a hint regarding the secret of true happiness. What is it that is always new? Is it our body? Or our emotions? Or our intelligence? Or our house, wealth, friends and relatives, position, fame? No, none of these. What is ever new is love. Therefore, Prema varsham , the incessant showering of love , is what makes the new year “new” and full of happiness.
Many people celebrate the New Year by setting up fireworks or celebrating in the ballroom of a beautifully decorated 5 star hotel, exchanging New Year greetings and dancing and singing, fully intoxicated. A large percentage of people then return to their homes or tension filled office, without retaining the tiniest amount of happiness or peace. What then, is the point of the happiness experienced at any time and anyplace – in family life, social life, at work and in the mind? That should be our goal. To attain this, our minds should be full of love.
May this New Year fill our hearts with love and gratitude. When we express a desire and it does not get fulfilled, we start questioning life and why it has not met our expectations. We become depressed. But there is no law that all our desires should be fulfilled. We should understand that life gives us what we need and not necessarily what we want. It follows its own wisdom which is often incomprehensible to our gross mind. We should learn to accept situations in life. The attitude of acceptance is secret to happiness.
As we enter 2008 let us pray together, “O Paramatman, (Supreme Soul) let there be no wars, violence or natural disasters this year. Let there be no death due to starvation or lack of medical care. Let there be no children who are unable to continue their studies due to poverty. Let the music of peace and harmony be heard everywhere. Just as we decorate our houses and surroundings with lights, let our heart remain effulgent throughout the year with love and compassion. END Of Amma’s message.
We hope you have a womderful and meaningful year filled with Love.
Loving you, KAL