Amma's Christmas Message 2001

Jesus taught universal love and compassion, to love and serve others as we love ourselves. This equanimity of vision comes when we are able to see everyone as our own Self. That is what Jesus meant when he said that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. To understand the real essence of the teachings of Mahatmas, one has to delve into the depths. When one points to a fruit, it is for us to see the direction in which the hand is pointing and then make efforts to pluck the fruit and taste it. It would be foolish if we were to cling to the pointing finger instead.

All religions preach love, compassion, tolerance, renunciation, patience and such sublime qualities. But without understanding the teachings in depth, what we see in today's world are people fighting with each other in the name of religion. There are people who try to destroy the faiths of others using any means, just to increase the followers of their own religion. This really shows that such narrow-minded people have not understood anything about their religion at all.

Rather than competing and fighting with each other in the name of religion, what is needed is the clear understanding of the lofty ideals of one's religion. Putting these ideals into practice will bring peace and well-being to the whole world.

The one whose legs rush to help the suffering ones, whose hands yearn to give solace to the sorrowful, whose eyes shed tears of compassion, whose ears listen to the woes of the distressed, and whose words bring solace to those in pain, that person is the true lover of God. Indeed, that person is God.

Christ is resurrected in the hearts of devotees who have such an expansiveness. Even after leaving the body, Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Lord Jesus, all are resurrected. All live forever in the hearts of their devotees.

Such devotees are real blessings to the world. They create heaven wherever they are. Even if they are put in hell, they will transform it into heaven.

Let us each try to resurrect the Lord in our own hearts. This is the message of Christmas.

Amma prays to the Paramatman that Her children cultivate this expansive state of mind in which the flowers of Love and Compassion are always in bloom.