About this episode
Sri Karunamayi is revered in India as an embodiment of Divine Motherly Love, due to the love and affection that she showers liberally on all people, animals, and even plants, the spiritual knowledge and guidance that she gives freely to all of humanity, and the humanitarian works that she has undertaken. “Amma” as she is affectionately called by her followers, is simply the Telugu word for “mother”- Telugu being Amma’s native language. Born in 1958 in South India, Sri Karunamayi spent a childhood immersed in an atmosphere of prayer and worship created by her deeply spiritual parents. Both of her parents had received visions indicating that Sri Karunamayi was not an ordinary child, and her astrological chart indicated that she would dedicate her life to serving humanity. Naturally inclined towards charity as a child, Sri Karunamayi, or “Amma,” would often give away food and clothes to whomever needed them. As she grew into a young woman, Amma felt an inner urge to begin spending more and more time in the family worship room, immersed in prayer and meditation. As she was now a first-year college student, she was forced to make time for meditation by reducing the time she spent sleeping. As her meditations deepened and intensified, she also began reducing her intake of food. These meditation sessions grew in length until one day Amma locked herself inside a room of the house and remained there in meditation for a month. Though her family members were perplexed, they did not dare to disturb her, having witnessed the profundity of her meditations before. When she finally emerged, she seemed like a different person to her family members. Though she still showed the same sweet affection to which they were accustomed, her demeanor now expressed a more impersonal, universal love. Determined to fulfill the sacred purpose of her life, Amma gently told her mother that it was time for her to go into seclusion in the sacred Penusila Forest, to meditate there in solitude. Always respectful of her daughter’s divine nature, and trusting completely in God, Amma’s mother did not try to stop her from going. Amma never felt that these meditations were done for her own sake, as she was following the example of India’s ancient Vedic sages, who meditated for hundreds of years in order to discover the best teachings for all of mankind. Through Amma’s austerities, she determined which of the Vedic teachings and practices would be of greatest benefit to people living in this difficult modern age. After performing such intense tapasya for over 10 years, Amma decided that it was time to share her knowledge with all those who thirsted for true spirituality, wherever they may live in the world. Emerging from her seclusion in the sacred Penusila Forest, Amma began giving public discourses on various aspects of Sanatana Dharma, India’s ancient spirituality, and conducting sacred ceremonies to promote world peace and universal well-being. At this time, Amma also began Her work on serving humanity in the eradication of poverty, providing free medical care & housing for the disadvantaged, stopping child labour through free schooling and mentorship programs, and supplying water treatment facilities to those impoverished communities that have been severely affected from toxic water resources. After performing such intense tapasya for over 10 years, Amma moved to a more urban area to share her knowledge with all those who thirsted for spirituality, wherever they may live in the world. In 1995, Amma began reaching out to the world, beginning with the US, where She offers yearly public programs. During these programs Amma gives teachings and blessings, holds meditation retreats, and performs sacred fire ceremonies for the benefit of all of humankind & the world. Website: karunamayi.in Books: Sri Karunamayi a Biography Blessed Souls I the Teachings of Sri Karunamayi (I) Sri Suktam with Samputita Sri Suktam YOGA IS UNION - The Yoga of Amma Sri Karunamayi Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 4/13/2015 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Amma Sri Karunamayi 00:02:23 - The Mother of the Universe and the Challenges in Society 00:05:00 - Inner Transformations in Preparation 00:07:40 - The Importance of Physical Presence and Love 00:09:51 - The Mechanics of Spiritual Transmission 00:12:23 - The Importance of Spiritual Awakening 00:14:43 - The Awakening of Spirituality 00:16:54 - Vasudhaika Kutumbam (One Family) 00:19:14 - Controlling Negativity Through Spirituality 00:21:17 - The Blossoming of Heart-Oriented Qualities 00:23:43 - Protecting Animals and the Environment 00:25:57 - Recognizing an Avatar on Earth 00:28:11 - Appreciating Divine Beings and Feeling Love 00:30:22 - Burning the Curtains of Ego and Selfishness 00:32:28 - Learning Meditation from Amma 00:34:24 - Miracles and the Natural Order of Things 00:36:25 - Seva: Service as a Spiritual Practice 00:38:28 - The Importance of Seva (Service) 00:40:34 - Raising Collective Awareness of Love and Positivity 00:42:42 - Cultivating Patience and Tolerance 00:45:03 - The Sri Lalita Sahasranama Mahayagyam Celebration 00:47:27 - The Power of Mantra Recitation 00:49:26 - Pouring of Holy Rivers' Waters 00:51:31 - The Power of Spiritual Mechanisms 00:53:27 - The Power of Women and the Lalita Sahasranama Mahayagna 00:55:51 - Empowering Women to Stand Strong 00:57:59 - The Rise of Feminine Collective Consciousness 01:00:11 - The Eternal Nature of Individual Souls 01:02:17 - Spiritual Maturity and Awakening 01:04:31 - Attaining the Absolute Bliss 01:06:39 - Website and Contact Information