31 Dec 2024 – 1 Jan 2025, Amritapuri Ashram – New Year Celebrations
People from across the globe gathered at Amritapuri Ashram to celebrate and welcome the New Year. The vibrant festivities featured enchanting cultural performances, blending tradition and modernity through music and dance.
Members of AYUDH from 28 countries joined the celebrations, marking the conclusion of their three-day international conference, ‘A Meeting of Hearts’, which brought together over 250 representatives. Performances included tribal music, a captivating tabla solo, classical dances, a Sanskrit skit by ashram children, and many other displays of creativity and unity.
Amma delivered her New Year message, inspiring reflection and offering guidance:
“The arrival of something new always brings happiness. So, with hope, enthusiasm, and joy, we welcome the New Year. Let us step into it with optimism and awareness. True joy comes from discovering the inner self, whose beauty and newness never fade. If we can glimpse this inner love, life will remain ever fresh and sorrow will not disturb us.”
” The arrival of something new always brings happiness. So, with hope, enthusiasm and joy, we welcome the new year. Amma wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new year that brings happiness to all. In the grand passage of time, each new year marks a significant milestone. Recognising the importance of this day, let us step into the new year with optimism and awareness. “
“Anything new is always a source of excitement. So, the mind is always eager to acquire new things. However, the novelty and appeal of material possessions and external relationships will eventually fade—today or tomorrow. Soon, the mind begins chasing something else. It can be said that throughout life, humans are running an eternal race, leaving behind the old to pursue the new. Amidst this race, people seldom find the time or heart to genuinely pay attention to others or to look at them with love and patience. Their sole focus is on running the race and winning. Once we join this race, it becomes very hard to stop. Knowingly or unknowingly, we are all participants.”
“We need to realize that the newness and beauty of the inner self will never diminish. If we can experience even a glimpse of the infinite beauty of love, we will not collapse in the face of life’s challenges. Sorrow and boredom will not trouble us. Our life will remain new and fresh always, every day.”
“Many people today live without the slightest discernment regarding what truly holds value in life and what does not. Confusing desires with needs, they find themselves endlessly chasing after fleeting desires. Like a moth drawn to a flame, flying to its death out of ignorance, we too often fail to understand what is genuinely beneficial for us and what is not. This failure stems from the absence of discernment, which should be rooted in a solid value system. Developing this discernment is essential to differentiate between “needs” and “desires,” as desires are inherently endless and insatiable.”
Building upon these reflections, Amma then offered practical insights. Amma believes it would be beneficial if my children incorporated a few suggestions into your daily lives:
- Set aside at least one day a week to observe silence. This practice benefits both your body and mind.
- Carry out your daily routines, such as brushing your teeth, bathing and eating, with mindfulness and awareness.
- Everyone has made mistakes at some point. Take time to reflect on the mistakes you’ve made, sincerely repent for them and pray for grace to prevent repeating them in the future.
- Except for those paralysed by illness, everyone should remain engaged in some activity. Staying active contributes to better mental health.
- Never lose an opportunity to do seva. If there is no opportunity to engage in seva at your workplace, set aside a portion of what you earn and use it to help others selflessly.
- Students should make it a habit to read from the life-stories of Mahātmās for at least half an hour once a week. This will help in their journey to imbibe values and discover one’s True Self.
- Strive to practice moderation and self-control in daily interactions. It is very hard to bring the mind under control. Thus, follow a disciplined routine.
- Practice humility. Humility is the booster rocket that enables the mind to break free from the gravitational pull of all negativities and attachments and soar to great heights.
- Patience is a fundamental quality we must have. Patience comes from paying close attention, and vice versa. They are like two sides of a coin.
- We should not only express gratitude through our words but also through our actions.
We should make the most of the opportunities we have been given to make this human birth truly meaningful. Our lives gain true meaning when we are guided by a higher ideal. Amma wishes that her children, enriched with discernment and compassion, become shining role models for the world. May the new year pave the way towards this vision” Amma concluded.
The celebrations concluded with Amma leading prayers for world peace, singing blissful bhajans, and distributing payasam to all.
-Kannadi
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