Work as Worship - A Report from Finland, October 11 - 12, 2003

The Finnish people came in large numbers to be in the warm embrace of Amma. A local Finnish admirer of Amma reported that the number of people coming to Amma’s programs have been increasing in leaps and bounds every year. Amma was featured in the most widely circulated newspaper in Finland and was also in the main news broadcasted on Television. The hall was packed with many smiling faces and some in deep meditation. On the whole the atmosphere was joyful.

During darshan, Amma was talking about a Finnish lady who had just come to Amma for a hug. This lady named Vandana, had an earnest desire to support Amma’s humanitarian activities. At first she had felt that she could not contribute much as she wasn't economically sound. As Vandana was helping in the bookstore, she noticed that the bookstore needed a large number of plastic bags for its customers. Since the proceeds from the bookstore fund Amma’s multiple humanitarian activities, she felt that she could save the bookstore some expenditure by contributing plastic bags. These savings on the extra expenses, would in turn benefit many poor people. Vandana then decided to collect plastic bags needed for the following year's tour.

The whole of the following year Vandana collected plastic bags. Finally she had a huge pile and when Amma came to Finland this year, she donated those to the bookstore. As Vandana was taking Amma’s darshan, Amma mentioned to the person who was standing next to her, “This daughter had been meditating a lot last year.” Vandana did not understand the profound meaning of Amma’s words. She asked the person to whom Amma spoke to translate her words. This person, though translated Amma’s words, did not understand also what Amma had said. So they decided to ask Amma herself.

Smiling at Vandana Amma said, “Every time she collected a plastic bag she was thinking of Amma. That is indeed a form of spiritual practice.” Vandana performed a spiritual practice that benefited her as well as Amma’s humanitarian activities that offers solace to thousands of people. That is indeed the glory of selfless-service and service to the Guru is not different from meditation.