Whoever we are and wherever we are in the world, we all face challenges. Our lives don't always unfold according to our plans or to our liking. Many factors are beyond our con-trol, sometimes leading to feelings of helplessness, stress, and lack of self-worth. We may experience a sense of isolation, feeling disconnected from the world around us. While most of us yearn for peace of mind and contentment, we may find ourselves grappling with anxiety, anger, or hurt. Moreover, we may react to these situations in a way that worsens our difficulties.
It is here that spirituality comes to our rescue. Over millennia, great masters-such as Mata Amritanadamayi Devi, whom we affectionately call Amma-have guided us to apply the teachings of spirituality in our daily lives. By doing so, we not only find inner fulfillment but also contribute towards building a better world in harmony with nature. We don't need to live in an ashram or have a strict meditation schedule to put these lessons into practice, but rather a sincere willingness to implement changes in our perspective and in how we interact with the world.
The message at the heart of Amma's life and teachings is expressed through sūrya-bimba-nyāya-the example of the Sun's reflections:
drg-ekā sarva-bhūteşu bhāti dṛśyairanekavat jala-bhājana-bhedena mayūkha-srag-vibhedavat The Self reflected in all beings is one. It is because of the objects in which it is reflected that it appears as many-like how the one Sun, adorned with a garland of sunbeams, appears to be many when reflected in various pots of water.d wallet bus inamnοτίνης Amma explains, "The Creator and creation are one. If we place 100 pots of water out in the sunlight, we will see a reflection of the Sun in each and every pot. But, in reality, there are not 100 suns; there is only one Sun. Likewise, the consciousness within all of us is the same. Understanding this, just as one hand spontaneously reaches out to soothe the other hand when it is in pain, may we all console and support others as we would our own Self.
Amma's teachings embody the values of Sanatana Dhar-ma, the ancient spiritual wisdom of India. Sanatana means "everlasting," and dharma comes from the Sanskrit root dhr, which denotes "to hold together" or "to sustain." So, Sanatana Dharma can be understood as "the eternal way to live." As Amma says, "Sanatana Dharma, in reality, is not a religion. It is the sum total of all the principles, pathways of spiritual practice, and customs leading to the spiritual upliftment of everyone.
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