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Mata Amritanandamayi

Mata Amritanandamayi Quotes

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Famous Mata Amritanandamayi Quotes

“If the goal is to realize the Supreme Being, you should become egoless. That requires self-effort. The sadhak should work hard. He should pray sincerely for the removal of the negative tendencies. This prayer is not to achieve anything or to fulfill any desires. It is to go beyond all achievements. It is to transcend all desires.”

IfsShouldSelfHardDesireGoalRealizingPrayerEffortAchieveHard WorkPrayingAchievementNegativeExcellenceSupremeTendenciesSincerelyRemovalSupreme Being
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“It should be for satsang that we go to spiritual centers. By going there, people who are involved in the world can attain peace and concentration. The concentration gained when one goes there cannot be achieved if one sits at home. Even though the breeze blows everywhere, coolness will be felt more if we sit in the shade of a tree. In the same way, although God is all-pervading, this presence will clearly shine in certain places more than others. That is the greatness of satsang. Satsang is the best thing for spiritual advancement.”

PeopleIfsWorldWayShouldHomeSpiritualCertainFeltTreeGreatnessInvolvedShiningBlowDevotionBest ThingsConcentrationShadeBreezeAdvancementCoolnessSatsang
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“There is no short cut to God; sadhana must be performed regularly and with devotion. It is our own effort which will enable us to experience the grace of God which is being showered on us all the time. Therefore, whatever spare time you get, use it to seek God. If you create peace in your own heart by doing sadhana, then that will have a positive effect on your family, your work and so on. The peace and love of God will overflow out of your heart and encourage others to move on the right path.”

IfsHeartUseMovingEffortPathGraceCuttingEffectsAnd LoveDevotionGods WillGod LoveOur FamilySparesGrace Of GodRight PathPeace And LoveOverflowSpare TimeShort Cuts
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“Life is like a garden. Quite naturally, leaves wither and flowers fade. Only if we clear the decay of the past then and there can we really enjoy the beauty of the new leaves and flowers. Likewise, we must clear the murkiness of the past bad experiences from our minds. Life is remembrance in forgetfulness. Forgive what ought to be forgiven; forget what ought to be forgotten. Let us embrace life with renewed vigor. We should be able to face every moment of life with renewed expectation, like a freshly blossomed flower.”

IfsShouldMindMomentsAblePastFacesLife IsEnjoyForgetClearFlowerOughtExpectationsGardenEmbraceForgivingForgottenFadesDecayForgivenRemembranceLife Is LikeForgetfulnessVigorMoments Of LifeBad ExperiencesEmbrace LifeLeaves And Flowers
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“Changing the world is like trying to straighten a dog's tail. However much you may try, you won't succeed. But although the tail won't straighten, if you keep trying every day, at least you will put on some muscle. Similarly, even though it is difficult to make a change, our effort to do so in itself brings positive results. It will help us change. Without waiting for others to change,if we change ourselves first, that will make a difference. Instead of worrying about results, focus on doing our best in what we are engaged in.”

IfsWorldTryingFirstsMayHelpingActionWaitingDifficultDifferencesResultsEffortWorryFocusDogSucceedEngagedChanging The WorldMusclesMaking A DifferenceTailsMaking ChangesKeep TryingPositive Results
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“The heart sends blood to every cell of the body, and in this way the cells are nourished. The same blood then flows back to the heart. If the flow is obstructed, the person will die. We need to learn this process of give and take from the heart. For the benefit of others, and also for ourselves, we should have the attitude of caring and sharing. We are all links in the chain of life. If one link is weakened, it will affect the strength of the whole chain.”

IfsWayNeedsGivingShouldHeartPersonsWholeBodyDiesProcessAttitudeBloodBenefitsFlowShould HaveCaringChainsCellsLinksGive And Take
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“Society is made up of individuals. The thoughts and actions of each individual influence the culture of that society. Instead of waiting for others to improve, we should try to improve ourselves. Once our attitude has changed, we will be able to perceive goodness throughout world. If there is a positive change in us, it will also be reflected in others. It is only what we give that we can hope to get back.”

IfsWorldGivingShouldTryingMadeAbleActionCultureIndividualWaitingAttitudeInfluenceChangedGoodnessPerceiveGet BackPositive ChangeThoughts And Actions
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“Instead of "I love you," it would be better to say "I am love-I am the embodiment of Pure Love." Remove the I and you, and you will find that there is only Love. It is as if Love is imprisoned between the I and you. Remove the I and you, for they are unreal; they are self-imposed walls that don't exist. The gulf between I and you is the ego. When the ego is removed the distance disappears and the I and you also disappear. They merge to become one - and that is Love.”

IfsLoveSelfWould BeLove IsLove YouWallPureEgoDistanceDisappearRemoveUnrealOnly LoveEmbodimentPure Love
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“Children, when we go to the temple, do not hurry to have darshan, then make some offering and return home in a hurry. We should stand there patiently in silence for some time and try to visualize the beloved deity in our hearts. If possible, we should sit down and meditate. At each step, remember to do japa. Amma doesn't say that the offerings and worship are not necessary, but of all the offerings we make, what the Lord wants most is our hearts!”

IfsWantShouldTryingHeartChildrenHomeRememberSpiritualSilenceLordStepsReturnWorshipDown AndBelovedTemplesSpiritual LifeOfferingDeitiesAmma
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“Children, we may go to the temple, reverently circumambulate the sanctum sanctorum and put our offering in the charity box, but on our way out if we kick the beggar at the door, where is our devotion? Compassion towards the poor is our duty to God. Mother is not saying that we should give money to every beggar that sits in front of a temple, but do not despise them. Pray for them as well. When we hate others, it is our own mind that becomes impure. Equality of vision is God.”

IfsWayGivingShouldMindWellsMayChildrenSpiritualMotherHatePoorCompassionVisionDoorsFrontsDutyPrayingCharityBoxesDevotionKicksTemplesDespiseSpiritual LifeOfferingBeggarDuty To God
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“Isn't it human beings who impart vitality to the image in the temple? If no one sculpts the stone, it doesn't become an image. If no one installs it in the temple, it does not acquire any sanctity. If no worship is done, it does not acquire any power. Without human effort there cannot be any temples. What is wrong then in saying that we should view great masters as equal to God? Temples installed by such spiritual masters have a special energy of their own.”

IfsShouldHumansDoeDoneSpiritualEnergyHuman BeingsViewsEffortSpecialMastersEqualWorshipStonesAcquireTemplesSpiritual LifeVitalitySanctityImpartSpiritual Masters
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“In today's world, people experience two types of poverty: the poverty caused by lack of food, clothing and shelter, and the poverty caused by lack of love and compassion. Of these two, the second type needs to be considered first because if we have love and compassion in our hearts, then we will wholeheartedly serve those who suffer from lack of food, clothing and shelter.”

PeopleIfsWorldNeedsFirstsHeartTwoTodaySufferingCompassionPovertyTypeClothingsShelterLove And CompassionWholeheartedlyToday's WorldLack Of Love
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“Children, daily practice of yoga or sun salutations (surya-namaskara) is very good for health and for spiritual practice. Lack of proper exercise is the cause of many of today's diseases. If we can get somewhere in time on foot, always walk instead of taking a vehicle. It is good exercise. Only if we have to go far should we depend on vehicles. Use a bicycle, whenever possible. This will save money, too.”

IfsShouldChildrenUseTodaySpiritualCausesWalksPracticeSunMeditationFeetDependsExerciseDiseaseYogaVery GoodVehicleBicycleSaving MoneySpiritual PracticeSalutationsGood ExerciseSomewhere In Time
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“What meaning do our lives have if we cannot set aside at least one hour a day out of 24 for thinking about God? Think how many hours we spend reading the newspaper, gossiping and doing various useless acts! Children we can definitely set aside an hour for sadhana if we really want it. That is our real wealth. If we cannot spare a whole hour at a stretch, keep apart half an hour in the morning and again in the evening.”

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“Children, we should consider every name as the name of our beloved deity. Imagine that He is the one that appears in all the different forms. If our beloved deity is Krishna, then while chanting the names of the Divine Mother, imagine that Krishna has come before us as Devi. We should not think that since we are chanting Devi's names, Krishna might not like it. These differences exist only in our world, not in His.”

IfsThinkingWorldShouldChildrenDifferentMightFormMotherNamesDifferencesMeditationImagineDivineBelovedOur WorldImagine ThatDeitiesKrishnaChantingDivine Mother
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“Do not get up immediately at the end of the archana. The beloved deity should be brought from the seat in front of us back into our hearts and re-installed there. Seeing the form of the deity seated in the heart, meditate for a little longer. If it is possible, it is good to sing 2 or 3 kirtans. After taking an injection, a patient is asked to rest for a few minutes to let the medicine spread throughout the body. Similarly, to obtain the full benefit of the mantras, we should keep the mind calm for a while after worship.”

IfsShouldMindHeartLittlesEndsBodyFormMeditationSeeingMinutesFrontsBenefitsWorshipMedicinePatientCalmSpreadGet UpBelovedSeatsDeitiesMantrasInjectionKirtan
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“No matter who causes you grief, take your complaints to the meditation room, where your real friend is. In addition to your husband or wife, you should have a friend - and that friend should be God. Even if your husband or wife makes you unhappy, tell that to God, and not to anyone else. If your neighbor picks a fight with you, go to the meditation room and complain, 'Why did you let him treat me like that? Weren't you with me?' Open your heart and tell God everything. Then it becomes a satsang.”

IfsShouldHeartRealMatterFightingCausesRoomsGriefMeditationWifeRelationshipHusbandPicksShould HaveTreatsNeighborComplainingUnhappyComplaintsReal FriendsYour HusbandOpen Your HeartSatsang
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“Children, not a grain of the food we eat is made purely by our own effort. What comes to us in the form of food is the work of others, the bounty of Nature and God's compassion. Even if we have millions of dollars, we still need food to satisfy our hunger. Can we eat dollars? Therefore, never eat anything without first praying with humility.”

IfsNeedsFirstsChildrenMadeStillsFormEffortCompassionMillionsFoodHumilityPrayingDollarsHungerGrainBountyGod And Nature
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“Do not use intoxicants of any sort. We who should be serving the world should not ruin our health by smoking and drinking. The money we waste on these things can be used for so many useful things. With the money we smoke away, we can buy an artificial leg for one who has lost a leg, pay for an eye operation for someone with a cataract, or buy a wheelchair for a polio victim. Or, if nothing else, we can buy some spiritual books for the local library.”

IfsWorldShouldBookUseEyeSpiritualUsedLostPayFoodWasteVictimDrinkingLibraryLegsLocalsRuinsSmokeOperationsSmokingServingArtificialWheelchairsPolioUseful ThingsSmoking And Drinking
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