Quotessence
Home / Authors / Mata Amritanandamayi
Mata Amritanandamayi

Mata Amritanandamayi Quotes

Spiritual leader

Filter quotes by topic

AllSpiritualShouldMeditationSpiritual LifeIfsMindChildrenWorldHeartLoveNeedsGivingMantrasRelationshipAbleActionBodyPeopleTryingGuru

Famous Mata Amritanandamayi Quotes

“There is a lot of difference between offering a garland of flowers bought from a shop and one that we make out of flowers picked from our home garden. When we plant the flowers, water them, pick the flowers, make the garland and take it to the temple, thoughts of God alone live in our minds. The Lord accepts anything offered to Him with intense Love. When we buy a garland at a store and place it on the deity it is only a ceremonial act while the other is a garland of pure devotion and an act of love.”

MindHomeSpiritualWaterDifferencesAcceptingLordFlowerPurePicksGardenPlantStoresDevotionIntenseShopsTemplesSpiritual LifeOfferingDeitiesMake OutActs Of LoveGarlandsIntense Love
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“Children, we are told to make an offering at the temple or at the feet of the guru, not because the Lord or guru is in need of wealth or anything else. Real offering is the act of surrendering the mind and the intellect. How can it be done? We cannot offer our minds as they are, but only the things to which our minds are attached. Today our minds are greatly attached to money and other worldly things. By placing such thoughts at the feet of the Lord, we are offering Him our heart. This is the principle behind giving charities.”

NeedsGivingMindHeartChildrenRealDoneTodaySpiritualWealthBehindsLordPrinciplesFeetOffersCharityIntellectTemplesSpiritual LifeOfferingWorldlyGuruGiving To CharityWorldly Things
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“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
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“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
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“Many priests and employees at temples work for pay. No one should judge religion on the basis of the shortcomings of such workers. We should frame suitable rules and regulations for preventing them from falling prey to material temptations. The true guiding spirits of religion are those who engage in selfless service while dedicating their entire lives to attaining the vision of God.”

ShouldSpiritualSpiritFallPayVisionJudgingMaterialsBasesWorkersTemptationEmployeeTemplesPriestsSpiritual LifeSelflessRegulationPreyShortcomingsSuitablePreventingSelfless ServiceRules And Regulations
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“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
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“Renovating temples does not mean building great gate towers or receptacles for offerings. What we should focus on is the regular conduct of worship according to tradition, regular satsang, devotional singing, and so forth. Our devotion and faith give life to temples, not rituals and ceremonies. Children, we should remember this when we are involved in temple matters.”

GivingShouldMeanChildrenDoeMatterRememberSpiritualFocusBuildingInvolvedWorshipSingingTraditionDevotionTemplesGatesRitualSpiritual LifeOfferingTowersCeremonyDevotionalSatsang
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“It is never a good practice to continue to sleep after sunrise. We should not think of staying in bed once we are awake; it increases laziness and dullness. Those who cannot decrease the amount of sleep quickly may do it in gradual stages. Those who do regular spiritual practice do not need much sleep.”

ThinkingNeedsShouldMaySpiritualSleepPracticeMeditationStageAmountBedIncreaseAwakeStayingLazinessSunriseDecreaseSpiritual PracticeDullness
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“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
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“Writing a diary every evening before going to bed is a good habit. We can record in the diary how much time we have devoted to our spiritual practice. The diary should be written in a way that helps us see our mistakes and correct them. It should not be a mere document of other peoples' faults or our daily transactions.”

WayShouldWritingHelpingSpiritualMistakePracticeRecordsMeditationWrittenHabitBedFaultsMereEveningDevotedDocumentsDiariesTransactionsSpiritual PracticeGood Habits
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“Children, set aside at least half an hour in the morning and in the evening for spiritual practices. After bathing in the morning, a family should sit together and worship. Archana may be performed by chanting the 108 or 1000 Names of Devi or our chosen deity. We can also chant our mantra, meditate or sing hymns at this time.”

ShouldMayChildrenTogetherSpiritualNamesHoursHalfPracticeMorningMeditationWorshipChosenEveningDeitiesMantrasHymnsSpiritual PracticeBathingChanting
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“You can lead a truly spiritual life while remaining a householder. You will be able to enjoy the bliss of the Self, but your mind has to be on God all the time. Then you can easily attain bliss. A mother bird will be thinking of the young ones in the nest, even when she is out looking for food. Similarly, you have to keep your mind on God, while engaged in all worldly actions. The important thing is to be completely dedicated to God or the Guru. Once you have that dedication, the goal will not be far away.”

ThinkingMindImportantSelfAbleActionSpiritualYoungMotherEnjoyGoalRelationshipBirdImportant ThingsBlissEngagedDedicatedSpiritual LifeDedicationFar AwayWorldlyGuruNestsYoung Ones
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“Children, those who are unmarried should conserve their vital energy by maintaining celibacy. To turn what we gain by this in to ojas (vitality), we also need to do spiritual practice. With increase in ojas, our intelligence, memory, health and beauty will also increase. We will gain lasting mental quietude.”

NeedsShouldChildrenSpiritualTurnsEnergyMemoriesPracticeRelationshipGainsIncreaseLastingVitalityMaintainingSpiritual PracticeCelibacyUnmarriedHealth And Beauty
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“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
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“With the exception of very few who have gained higher spiritual tendencies in prior lives, Self-realization is not possible for anyone without the blessings of a guru. Think of the guru as the manifestation of God in this world. Take even the most insignificant word of the guru as an order and obey it. That is the real service to the guru. There is no greater austerity. The guru's blessings flow automatically to any obedient disciple. That is the real service to the guru.”

ThinkingWorldRealSelfSpiritualOrderGreaterThis WorldHigherBlessingFlowSelf RealizationTendenciesRealizationManifestationExceptionDiscipleInsignificantGuruObedientAusterity
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image

“Children, we can grow spiritually only if we see the guru as the manifestation of God. We should not accept anyone as guru before we are fully convinced personally that he is authentic and truthful. Once we choose someone as guru, we should surrender completely to him. Only then will spiritual development be possible. Devotion to the guru means total surrender to him.”

IfsShouldMeanChildrenSpiritualGrowsAcceptingDevelopmentConvincedSurrenderDevotionManifestationTruthfulGuruSpiritual Development
Author:Mata Amritanandamayi
Create image