Preparations are in full swing for Amma’s 2009 visit to Singapore from 28 March to 30 March 2009. In keeping with tradition, the Singapore programme will have a theme and this year’s theme is Boundless Compassion.

Amma first came to this multi-cultural island in 1987. Over the years, an increasingly large number of people have come to receive Amma’s darshan, to listen to Her words of wisdom and to be inspired by Her ever-growing spectrum of humanitarian and welfare projects. This year, Singapore devotees feel extremely lucky to be blessed with this surprise visit by Amma and are extremely grateful for the opportunity to welcome Amma once again.

Despite learning of the possibility of a visit to Singapore only last week, volunteers have immersed themselves in preparations from securing a venue to printing programmes to creating a commemorative Souvenir Magazine. The atmosphere at the MA Centre is abuzz with energy and exhilaration as volunteers work tirelessly against time to ensure that Boundless Compassion is a meaningful and memorable event for all, especially for their beloved Amma.

Devotees are undoubtedly eagerly looking forward to being in Amma’s physical presence again. Amma’s presence and Her darshan will be a reprieve from the current hardship and uncertainty in the world, and, importantly, will be a timely reminder to all to love with Boundless Compassion.

The eager wait for AMMA’s Singapore children saw fulfillment, when our Most Beautiful, Beloved Mother AMMA set foot in Singapore around 7am this morning. AMMA as usual, was glowing! Her face showed no signs of fatigue or hurry to rest after the marathon Darshan at Bangalore followed by an overnight flight to Singapore.

AMMA had come for Her children who were longing for a glimpse of Her Form and it seemed like nothing else mattered to AMMA except these moments of joyous reunion with Her children.

Although it had been a long night for many involved in the arrangements of the programme, AMMA’s Bright & Beautiful Smile and Her Overwhelming Love swept us all away into a blissful zone of hope, happiness and vigor. Over a hundred devotees lined up as AMMA walked past each one of us ….a Smile, a Touch, a Hug, a Look …all infinite blessings in different forms from our AMMA to awaken in our hearts and minds the spirit of selflessness to serve the thousands of Her children in Singapore who will line up for hours to find solace in AMMA’s arms in the next 3 days. Our Mother is here at last!

Like a man walking on one foot being focused on only that, human beings are focused only on money. Amma says we should know the state of our mind and control it, not let the mind control us. We always seem to do things that please the mind and our minds are never happy or contented.

Amma says that there should be beauty in our thoughts and actions. We need to become aware of the Supreme Power behind all our actions. Amma says the vibrations of good thoughts are very important, now more than ever before. But fighting has become the nature of today’s society. How then can nature cooperate with humans?

God will never forsake us. All we need to do is surrender. To achieve peace and harmony in life, our life should be guided by principles. Our pursuits should be rooted in ‘dharma’.

Amma says that we should be careful about the education of children and the environment in which they grow. The importance of love and compassion must be taught. Teach children to be courageous and to develop proper values. Teach them to give and receive love. Parents should be good role models.

We all have to experience the fruit of our accumulated actions (karma). Those who come into this life with accumulated merit will experience happiness and prosperity in this life, while those who experience sorrows in this life are paying back for their negative actions to the bank of karma.

Amma had arrived in Singapore. The eagerness and excitement of the many devotees and the divine attraction of Amma and Her widescale humanitarian efforts had drawn Her children by the thousands. As early as 6am, Suntec City saw the “BIG Family” from all walks of life gathered together to collect tokens to receive darshan from their treasured Amma. The beautiful rays of the sun brought in added energy to one and all as the crowd waited patiently for Amma’s arrival.

Four hours later, the air was filled with pious bliss and spiritual chants as the Amrita Balakendram children welcomed Amma as she entered the hall for the first session of Boundless Compassion. An enthusiastic and talented dance troupe also performed a spectacular Dragon Dance for Amma.

Amma started the morning programme with meditation. In unison, the devotees repeated the sacred syllable “Om”, bringing tranquillity to the restless minds in the hall.

And finally, it was time!! By then, the volunteers had realised that they had grossly underestimated their space allocation against the head count present in the hall. With some quick and crafty fixes however, there was soon comfortable seating for all. Amma busied Herself with what She loves most- hugging the continuous stream of devotees with Her tireless arms.

Excerpts from Amma’s Satsang – March 29th Evening>br> Amma says we worry too much of the past, present and future. Worry will not help us. What is required is self surrender and prayer for divine grace to see us through difficult times. Once a man kept running up and down in a train as soon as the train started moving. When asked the man replied ”you don’t understand I have to get home as soon as I can” Amma says this is the state of whether we laugh or cry days will pass by. Laughter is the music of the soul and we should live life spreading this laughter around us. What is the relevance of spirituality in this world?

Amma says whatever we can do, can only be done in this birth. There are two types of education One is the Education for livelihood and the other Education for life. Goal of education is not to make us machines but to create useful people in this world. But the greed for money is fast making man into a machine that has forgotten to enjoy the happiness in simple things in life. Education for life is spirituality. While living in this world we should understand the nature of the world and that is the goal of spirituality. A person who does not know how to swim will find swimming in the ocean a terrifying experience. similarly a person who does not understand the temporary nature of life will be shaken by the ups and downs of life. Now our love is confined to ourselves, our families and friends. Because of the greed for money and power relationships are disintegrating. Nature and god are being exploited. We are becoming estranged from our true selves Once a man was seen repeating “ Someone please take me home” . A passer-by who felt sorry for him says “I will help you – tell me where your home is and I will take u” but the man continued “take me home” An onlooker who was watching the scene tells the passer-by “ he is home cant u see he is drunk?” We are all in same situation.

Although the source of eternal happiness is within us we are constantly searching for happiness outside. Amma says we are not a candle but the sun itself, we are not helpless creatures, we are the courageous lion. Amma says We all have infinite love within all of us. We all have infinite potential within us. When we understand this the external search for happiness comes to an end. Amma says in bad times we blame god when reality is that we all have the capability to overcome every situation. Problems are to make us stronger. Once a mother was walking with her baby – a man gave her a ride. Both mother and baby were shivering and getting colder and more frozen. Suddenly the man opened the door and pushed the lady out and drove away with the baby. The lady ran behind the car frantic to get her baby. Suddenly the man stopped the car. The lady screamed for help from passing people to help her get her baby from this monster. People rushed to the screaming lady wanting to hit and punish the man. The man said “Please listen to me – I knew tha lady would die from the intense cold and there was nothing I could do to stop it. So I pushed her out and when she started to run after her baby the cold slowly left the body and she became fine. I pushed her out only to help her stay alive”. Life gives us problems to pay back the loan of bad karma from our previous birth and to make us understand the nature of this life and progress towards our goal.

Some people say I pray I go to temples but I still have problems my neighbor does bother to go to temples he does not pray but he is still happy. Amma says some come with loans of bad karma of their previous life to this world whereas some come with deposits of good karma from their previous life. Until their good karma is exhausted they will have a good life. During bad times Amma says we should hold on stronger than ever to the Lords Feet. There are numerous factors that can influence the actions we perform. It is Gods grace that makes our actions perfect and complete. We need the grace of God in everything we do. For every action to produce the desired result we need Gods grace Amma says our bodies have grown in size in height and breath but not our minds are becoming narrower. Good thoughts are the food for the mind. If we can perform actions with a still mind the actions will be without selfish motive and such an action will be perfect. A man lost his diamond ring. He could not eat or drink. Amma says such should be our longing to know God. Having got this precious human birth we should waste it on the pittance of worldly pleasures.

Amma says those who pray for others are the closest to God. The gopis love for Lord Krishna was deep and intense. Anything that reminded them of the Lord they kept as treasures which they shared to remember the Lord. But there were feelings of jealousy and competition between the gopis that tainted the purity of their love. Once the Lord played his flute on the banks of the river and hearing the beautiful strains of his flute the came running holding bits and pieces of the Lord’s belongings. Krishna said “Why don’t u throw all these things you keep of mine” and the gopis replied “How can we – these are things that remind us of you. Thn the Lord reminded them “I have only touched these things once or twice but I have held each of you so many times and yet why are you unable to see me in each other?” Even the love between a husband and wife these days is tinged with competition and ego. Once a man goes to a doctor to treat his headaches. Doctor tells the man “you have brain cancer” Man laughs. Doctor is shocked and asks the man why he is laughing. The man said “my wife always says I have no brain. Altleast now I can go and tell my wife that I have a brain that is why I got brain cancer”.

Amma says the wealth of spiritual wisdom can help bridge this ego and distance between the husband and wife. We should be grateful to nature and to all the people around us. Amma says we should have gratitude in life because everything in nature has contributed to our life. Amma says it is not what we have received but what we can give that is the true achievement of life Love has no complaints love is ever complete love brings newness to everything. When true love awakens in a person he becomes divine. To invoke this divine love within us is the goal of this human birth