A Simple Lesson in Karma Yoga

Munich
October, 2005

As Amma walked out of the program hall towards her room yesterday, she was playfully greeting us with high-fives. A devotee then mentioned to Amma that two whole pots of tea had been made in excess in the kitchen. On hearing that, Amma gave a very disapproving look.

The news traveled quickly to the kitchen staff. On hearing it, Rishi, the young American in charge of making the tea became anxious. However, even before he had heard about this response of Amma's, he had already remembered her instructions to avoid waste from previous occasions, and had served the excess tea to the people as they exited the hall.

Today, Radhika, one of our tour staff members told Amma that Rishi was feeling too nervous to see her. Amma responded with motherly affection: "I am not upset, my dear. We should remember that just as we cannot create anything, we do not have the right to destroy anything either. For example, if we want to fill up a huge pit with sand and gravel, we may have to break down a hill. In the same manner, all that we contribute to the society we claim as our own is like taking from nature's bounty and offering it back to nature. Thus, we are not creating anything new, only borrowing from nature's resources, which should be used for the good of the world. That indeed is one aspect of Karma Yoga.

"With my own eyes I have seen so much suffering. When we waste something, we are depriving someone else of it. It is unbearable for Mother to see food and other things being wasted."

Later when we were talking to Rishi, he remarked "in America our first instinct is to trash excess down the drain. Amma has really taught me the value of the resources we have and our duty to conserve it for the good of the world."

Amma sent this message to Rishi through us: "Tell my son Rishi that I want to give him a handshake for his sincere efforts to avoid waste."

- European Tour Update