Globalization fails to connect our hearts and minds - Amma's birthday message

Globalization fails to connect our hearts and minds « Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi @ amritapuri.org: "

Delivering her 57th Birthday Address, Amma spoke about how despite the connectivity created via globalization, the world is still suffering. “Where have we gone wrong?” Amma asked those assembled. “By connecting the external aspects, the entire world is being reduced to a small village. However we’ve failed to pay enough attention to uniting the inner aspects, to connecting all of our hearts and minds.” Amma also spoke on the importance of cultivating respect for Mother Nature, the perils of alcohol and drug abuse, the need for abidance in dharma, the role of meditation and many other topics.

Amma delivered this speech at her home base in Kerala. But she might as well have said it on the floor of the 49th Congress in Castoropolis. By voicing opposition to globalization, the Amrita-led Positive Possibilities coalition has found some common ground with the Patria-first SRM and the Diet Coke Party gang who slammed free trade and globalization all through the 2010 election campaign.

Video Blog Sept 23, 2010 Parvati Trek to North Pole (Arctic Bay)

Not quite the North Pole, but about as far north as you can get in Canada and still have internet access.

Back to work in Congress

After the post-inaugural summer recess, Congress is back in session. The First Session, 49th Congress (1·XLIX 2010-11) kicked off yesterday and will sit until June 2011. Patria's 2010 election transition is now complete. The 49th Congress was elected on April 17, inaugurated on June 30, and finally gets down to official business on Sept. 20, the two-day Special Session on July 1 and 2 notwithstanding. Almost as fast a turnaround as the US Congress election cycle.

The struggling economy is high on the new Congress' order paper. The recession is over. Allegedly ended in June 2009. But it still feels like a recession in Patria and in many of the First World macronations. A double-dip recession is still a very real possibility.

Today, Sept. 21, has been designated by the UN as the International Day of Peace. As one of Parvati's songs goes, "if I want peace in the world I know it begins with me".

Go North! For healing the planet. For Amma's love.

As the First Session of the 49th Congress is about to get down to business after the post-inaugural summer recess, three dear friends of Patria, Parvati, Rishi and Sunanda, are journeying to the North Magnetic Pole in Canada's far north (about 200 km from the actual North Pole at 90ºN). They are making this trek in order to create awareness about the environmental devastation there - particularly the melting polar ice caps - and the effect that this is having on all of us.



Parvati, Rishi and Sunanda are going to the North Pole to help create awareness and to do some prayers for the restoration of the health of Mother Earth. Their mission is based on the fact that we can create positive change. It is not doom and gloom and focused on the negative. The approach is hope-based. Positive possibilities all the way.

If you are a devotee of Amma (in Patria, aka the Hon. Member from the Precinct of Arboria, House Leader of the Amrita Party), note that they have passed the word along to Amma via Dayamrita Swami and she has given her blessing. :) They will be celebrating Amma's 57th birthday on Sept. 27 way up north.

To learn more, and to follow their journey, please visit Parvati's web site.

The following is a press release from Rishi:

Canadian Musical Artist and Yoga Teacher First to Perform at the North Pole

Toronto, Ontario - Sept 16, 2010

*** For Immediate Release ***

Parvati, a Canadian musical artist and yoga instructor, is taking a courageous journey to the most northern Canadian soil: a small, desolate island in the Arctic Ocean known as Ward Hunt Island. The location is just kilometres from the Magnetic North Pole and 200 kilometres from 90 degrees North.

Parvati’s mission is to bring awareness to the urgent ecological effect of melting polar ice caps. Charged with purity of heart, clear intention, and the willingness to serve, Parvati will become the first artist to ever perform this far North. There she will offer her songs to help raise awareness of just how quickly the ice caps are disappearing and the devastating effect this is having on the entire planet.

Born in Montreal and now living in Toronto, Parvati is an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, performer and producer of electronic dance pop. Her music celebrates the gift of life and her debut album and multimedia show, Yoga in the Nightclub, has had people from Toronto to Berlin shaking to its joyful rhythms. After a summer of increased signs of environmental distress, Parvati decided to postpone her Canadian tour to trek to the North Pole. She says she simply cannot turn away from the effects climate change is having.

“I feel the global ecological crisis is a wake up call for us all, a call to awaken I AM consciousness, the magnificence of who we are,” says Parvati.”The planet reflects how we collectively treat ourselves, each other and our environment. A collective is only as strong as its individuals. If we want to change our environment, we need to transform ourselves.”

Parvati will be joined on the trip by Satish Sikha (www.ourearth-wewill.com), another environmental activist. In Resolute, Canada’s most remote city, Satish will unveil the world’s longest piece of woven silk. Each segment is signed by a celebrity, politican or international dignitary who shares their thoughts on climate change.

Parvati leaves Toronto on September 23, 2010 to meet with city council in Iqaluit andperform for school children in Nunavut. She will sing at the top of the world on September 26th.

The timing of Parvati’s trip is significant. Recent news reports that many ice shelves in Greenland and Canada have cracked. At the end of August, NASA reported an ice crack on Ward Hunt Island that is 40 metres deep and the size of Bermuda. Meanwhile, the sea ice levels are at an unprecedented low land as such wreaking havoc on our fragile ecosystem.

More information about Parvati’s trip is available at www.parvati.ca.

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For more information, interview arrangements, video, or photographs, please contact: Rishi Gerald - 416-890-5878

2010-11: the push for "Premyatra II"

One of the major initiatives in the 49th Congress, referenced in the Inaugural Address, is the call for a Premyatra (literally "pilgrimage of love") to India:

Now the conch summons us again. Not a call to battle but a call to be open to the positive possibilities of a new Premyatra. A call to take up non-violent arms in order to defeat the economic obstacles and social limitations preventing a second pilgrimage to the birthplace of Sanatan Dharma, particularly to the Amritapuri and Penusila ashrams and temple towns of Tamil Nadu.

While the 45th Congress Indian yatra of 1995 focused on North India, particularly the Kripalu lineage temple of Kayavarohan and the Malav ashram in Gujarat, the 49th Congress journey would be completely in South India, and would book-end Karunamayi's ashram in Penusila, Andhra Pradesh (or possibly Amma K.'s Bangalore ashram) and Amritapuri (Ammachi's home base in Kerala) with visits to Madurai, Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari in between, as well as a few days hanging out in Madras...ERRRR!!!..Chennai.

Can this happen? The debate, as well as the bill to authorize funding, will appear on the Order Paper when the First Session convenes in September. But at this point it seems like a pipe dream with too many obstacles to overcome. Maybe a more realistic possibility would be late 2011 or early 2012 rather than during the 2010-11 First Session of Congress.

If you think returning to India for about a month and spending some time at both Amma's ashrams is a worthwhile pursuit, and an expansive positive possibility to boot, e-mail your Congressman. That would be me!

49th Congress. 49th freakin' Congress!

On June 30, 2010 at 2359 UTC/7:59 PM local time (the inauguration ceremony was held in the evening, rather than the traditional 12 noon), the 49th Congress of the Inner Realm of Patria was sworn into office on the steps of the Capitol in Castoropolis.

Read the full text of the 49th Congress Inaugural Address.

On July 1, in a Special Session of the newly inaugurated Congress, Amma Karunamayi delivered the Speech from the Throne. (technically not the Inaugural Address, which was delivered on the evening of June 30 after the official oath-taking and may be read at the above link). The following is the transcription of Karunamayi's address to Congress.

Inaugural “Speech from the Throne” by Amma Karunamayi

July 1, 2010

Om Gam Ganapataye Namah. Amma’s blessings to you all. I love you so much, my sweet children. I love you, babies, millions, billions and gazillions of times. I love Patria so much.

[Amma K. spent some time discussing the benefits of regular meditation practice, the energy contained in the various chakras, how the human brain viewed in cross-section resembles Lord Ganesha, e.g. the trunk is like the brain stem, and how Mother Lakshmi’s four arms resemble the four chambers of the human heart.]

Children, think twice, no, not twice, 10 times, 100 times before speaking. Keep your speech sweet and gentle. Your words and thoughts must always contain the sweetness of kindness and compassion. Be humble always.

[Amma K. shared her experiences at the 2009 Parliament of Religions in Melbourne, Australia, where she was one of the keynote speakers representing Hinduism.]

Embodiment of Divine Souls, my beloved children, true knowledge is truth only. Omkara is the world of power and divine truth. Truth is spiritual food for aspirants. Inner spiritual strength comes from sadhana and silence. Those who meditate daily will get tremendous power.

"I"ness is bondage. This is ignorance. This "I"ness is illusion. It is born from ignorance. Illusion always springs separation. Difference is nothing but duality only. Through meditation, destroy the ignorance by the sword of your knowledge. Ignorance generates desires, hate and fear. Ignorance always obstructs the true vision. Children, destroy ignorance today with silent meditation. Experience your true Self by your silent practice. Body, senses and mind are part of the nature. The Self is absolute consciousness, identification with supreme self is the highest experience in life. Life has no bliss in the finite. There is no sorrow in the infinite. Bliss is only in the infinite. Sorrows and pains are only in finite. Everything that is related with the material world is imperfect. Absolute alone is perfect. The forms are not in the real, but the real is in all of the forms.

A real yogi is unchanging, non dual, atman or soul. Visible universe and the mind seem to be changing. Atman only is changeless, imperishable. Everything in this world decays and takes birth but to die. But supreme Self, Brahman alone is immutable, undecaying, birthless and deathless. Brahman is infinitely pure, ever free, perfect and indestructible. The Self is ever free, nothing can bind it.

Immortality is the birthright of all. I am not this body; I am all pervading immortal soul. This is true wisdom. Deep is the supreme silence. Peace of the soul is infinite and immeasurable. Know thyself. Children, realize Brahman and attain immortal bliss.

Children, there is a strong desire in all of your hearts for freedom, independence and eternal happiness. Wisdom is the greatest weapon. It surely saves meditators from worldly ills.

Divine love of Wisdom, as an ideal of perfection burns brightly in the heart of all. Real truth vibrates in the heart. This total world is the body of consciousness. World is the essence of Brahman. Entire world, all the living beings they get light and power from the truth. The knowledge of atma comes when you are aware of your own innermost self. Children, do not apply reasoning to what is unthinkable. The kingdom of bliss is your heart only. We all are one; the one Divine Light. Vedas speak of oneness of divine consciousness.

Upanishads' essence is essential unity of all religions. Inner Wisdom is real gold. A man of an inner wisdom can transform the earth into liberation. The perennial fountain of nectar flows in the heart of a Brahman Jnani. Moksha or wisdom is the ultimate goal of a yogi. After attaining wisdom, there is no rebirth.

My Children, you are nothing but the truth only. Truth is pure spirit. The nature of truth is peace and bliss. The self-effulgent truth destroys all sorrows and all pains. It is impossible for self to hate self. A knower of self becomes master of all worlds. Worldly reasoning cannot lead to spiritual truth. There is an unchanging entity in everyone's heart, who is silent witness of three states namely dreaming, waking and sleeping. Identify with this "witness" and then end life mundane.

Children, meditate in order to reach your goal of perfection. All is Brahman, fearlessness is the fruit of wisdom. Inner freedom is immortality. Root yourself in your Atman. All miseries will come to an end. So children, deep, deep in the ocean of bliss, in Samadhi only you attain illumination you have Brahmic supreme consciousness. You will see God in all living beings.

With motherly love in the new 49th Congress, your Amma has not come this day as your guru or as Speaker of the House, but as your own mother. I love you, babies.

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The first act of the new Congress, after the above Inaugural Address, Speech from the Throne, divvying up cabinet positions, and other bits of administrivia during the two-day Special Session, is to adjourn until September. The First Session of the 49th Congress (1·XLIX 2010-11) will convene on Sept. 20, 2010.

With the new Congress having been sworn in, and the 2010 election campaign having ended, note that the title of this blog has been changed to reflect Patria's mandate for Positive Possibilities.

Inauguration Day 2010

Four more years for Amma. The re-elected House Leader of the Amrita Party of Patria begins her new term of office by waving the flag.


The Hon. Member from the Precinct of Arboria about to take the oath of office. "I do solemnly swear that I will...support and defend the Constitution of Patria...and will to the best of my abilities, preserve, protect and defend the Inner Realm of Patria...against all enemies both foreign and domestic. So help me God". Bhagavad Gita used for the 49th Congress inaugural ceremony is Gandhi's translation and commentary ("The Gita According to Gandhi").