“One should have the conviction that God is one’s only real relative. Children, you should know that eventually all other relations and worldly objects will give nothing but sorrow. Let your bond be with God alone. This does not mean that you should abandon your wife and children, or that you should see them as strangers. Take good care of them, but know that the only lasting relative you have is God. All others will leave you today or tomorrow; therefore, always take refuge in Him. Think that the difficulties in life are for your own good, then there will be peace and bliss in the family.”
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“Don’t regret that you couldn’t become a brahmachari, or that you can’t be with Amma all the time. You children are all like the leaves on a plant. Some leaves are close to the flower, and others are far away from it, but all the leaves belong to the same plant. Likewise, all are Amma’s children; don’t doubt that one bit. Don’t feel sorry that you can’t enjoy Amma’s physical presence by not being with Her. You can also reach the ultimate goal some day.”
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If desires are not controlled, they will control you
“Children, this world is created by the Lord for you to enjoy. No spiritual Master or scriptural text has ever said that everyone should give up all kinds of worldly enjoyments and engage in constant remembrance of God. No one has said that everyone should change their residences and live in ashrams and become sannyasis. As Mother said before, there are people who can do it and who are determined to do it. Let them follow their path. But there is a way for others also to become closer to God. That is possible by slowly preparing the mind for that final leap while leading a normal life in this world.”
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Question: What is the way to overcome desires so that we householders can get closer to God?
Amma: The only way is to understand that each and every object that you desire is riddled with pain. If the desires are not controlled now, later they will control you, and eventually they will swallow you. Mother doesn’t say that you must give up all desires. You can enjoy them, but don’t think that this life is only for that. Strong determination is needed.
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“While driving one must obey traffic rules and regulations. If not, accidents will occur. Not only you, but others will suffer if an accident happens. Likewise, while driving the vehicle of life along the road of this world, you have to adhere to certain laws, certain do’s and don’ts. It is these rules and regulations that the Gurus and the scriptures talk about. If you follow them, you can avoid danger and will be safe both in your personal life and social life. However, conflicts and calamities will arise in both areas of your life if you break these rules and regulations through overindulgence and other undisciplined ways.
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Women and Men
“A woman should be respected and her feelings should be given proper consideration. Her maternal qualities should be recognised and she should be given a higher, well-deserved position in society, along with men. At the same time, she should know that the greatest gift God has bestowed on her is the gift of motherhood, the right to give birth and to raise a child with the proper care, love and affection. It is a unique gift, and it is hers alone.”
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“Why has God given women this wonderful gift? Because they alone have the capacity to express such qualities as love, compassion, caring and patience, in all its fullness and beauty. Every woman should know this and try to comprehend the significance of this blessing.”
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“In India men often think they have the right to control women, and that a woman should never be ahead of a man in any way. This is clearly the wrong attitude, which is due to the lack of proper understanding of the culture that was founded by the ancient saints and seers.”
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“It is mostly in Western society that women are forgetting their feminine qualities. In the name of equality, many women are disregarding this most priceless blessing they have been given. In the West, as opposed to Indian society, women are more aggressive and less yielding. As Western women try to catch up with men in all areas of life, they do not realise that they are sacrificing an essential part of their nature. The result of this is total chaos and confusion, both in the outer and inner life. Amma is not saying that a woman shouldn’t do the same things that men do — she can and she should, and women have an immense inner power — but it should never be done at the cost of sacrificing her essential being. Going against Nature is destructive; it is dangerous for the person in question as well as for society as a whole.”
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