Christmas and New Year in Amritapuri!

Christmas eve morning, the ashram was decorated with dark palm fronds that looked like pine boughs and the spirit of Christmas was subtle but sweet in the tropical breeze.

Though Amma was not home yet, a feeling of festivity and family sharing was in the air- for our very large world family. Like Amma’s welcoming arms, her ashram opens its doors as home to everyone. For many, their favorite time to come home is for the Christmas and New Year Holidays, as is the tradition in the Western culture. Some only get the chance to come visit Mother during the holiday season due to work and school requirements. But we all have one thing in common- the longing to realize, express and share the genuine meaning of Christmas by focusing on its spiritual aspects more than the material which has all but swallowed the spirit of Christmas for most of us.

Though she already volunteers eight or more hours a day in the kitchen and had hardly any help her as most visitors and residents were on tour with Amma, the young girl who cooks delicious Western-style meals for thousands of us every day was outdoing herself by preparing an elaborate inspired Christmas eve dinner complete with pumpkin pie, stuffing and eggnog.

Amma is known to go where the love flows. When her camper pulled in from another arduous North Kerala tour after back to back international tours, she went to the kitchen to see who was cooking and if they needed any help before heading to her room, We were all surprised to hear Amma still wanted to proceed with the Christmas program that has become somewhat of an ashram tradition by now. She said it was our love and devotion for Jesus that inspired her.

Amma reminded us why we are really celebrating Christmas- that is to invite the birth of Baby Jesus within our own hearts. Never missing a beat, rather than resting her first day home after months of endless darshan days, Mother came out to spent our holiday with us.

After sitting with us through the play performed by the residents about finding Jesus within, she shared empowering words on the real meaning of Christmas being about selflessness. She then, assisted by Santa Claus, served us all Christmas chocolate cake.

For so many of us, getting to be with a selfless example of love on the Holy night of Christmas eve fulfilled our dreams for this holiday.

The New Years atmosphere was just as festive, though the atmosphere around Amma is always like a celebration. In fact since Amma was not giving darshan, there were even a few thousand less people here.

Though in India, the New Year begins in April, Amma humored her western children by celebrating this day with us on again what many of us felt could have been her one rest day.

Long-time residents performed a jazzy gospel dance on Awakening based on Amma’s poem Awaken Children. Newer visitors and some residents performed some of the Bharatnatyam (South Indian classical dance) we studied for three days at the ashram. Students from Amma’s engineering and medical colleges impeccably performed classical and folk Indian music and dance. The girls from her orphanage played drums and cymbals with horns, Amma played along with her small cymbals and a fire dancer from France had everyone, including Amma, at the edge of their seats. All the performances were full of celebratory sentiments of love and appreciation for life, for Mother and for the large family we have inherited as her children. .

Amma spoke briefly but poignantly about the significance of Happy New Year.

Amma said we are all happy the New Year is upon us- our goal is to always be happy, Everyone should be happy- like a small child. This is Amma’s only desire. We must ask ourselves if we are able to forget everything and laugh in joy even in difficult circumstances. Life gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want. Learning to accept situations in life is the secret to happiness

When our desires are fulfilled, when things go according to our plans, we experience happiness—but it is only temporary.

Real happiness is something that can be experienced at any time and in any place—in family life, social life, at work and in the mind. That should be our goal. To attain this, our mind should be full of love.

What is always new?

LOVE! Love is what makes the New Year new. Ask anyone what they want in life and they will say Happiness. However our words and actions sometimes seem to drive it away. This is because we are acting from the wrong center, our bodies and minds- not the bindu, or center, of compassion. Real happiness is something that can be experienced any time and any place. For this our mind should be filled with love. Rather than just thinking of our own pleasure, once in awhile we should take time to think of the suffering others. Even a single compassionate glance could give them so much solace.

As we entered 2008, Amma guided us in prayer, “O Supreme Truth, 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.”

Thousands of hearts seemed to come into harmony as one heart exploding with the joy tempered by compassion.

It was a New Year’s Party like no other.

- Laksmi Keyes

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