Read

May/June 2002 Spirituality
Power of Women

 (From a discourse by Amma, reported by Swamiji.)

Jai Karunamayi! Amma’s discourse touched upon a very sensitive matter, concerning the lives of women.

Swami Vivekananda had traveled the world, and after coming home from the U.S. he traveled the length and breadth of India. Afterward, journalists asked him: "What do you think about the women here in the country, and what can you tell us about them?" Amma said, "The answer interested me a lot." Swami Vivekananda's reply was, "Why do we need to discuss the women? They are very powerful. They have their problems, but they also have the power to solve them..."

Amma said that every woman is nothing but the manifestation of Divine Mother. Amma sang, "Ya Devi, sarva bhuteshu, shakti rupena samsthita..." Divine Mother is in all women. No doubt women have problems and struggles, but they have to find the cause for them. Sometimes women may magnify their problems or make a mess of them. But we can solve any problem once we find the cause for it. All problems come and go like cyclones. The weather people predict winds and severity. But afterward, the strong winds lessen and pressure weakens. Within two or three days, the winds die down. The cyclone doesn't stay forever. It is likewise with our problems. We can face them, if we have the willpower. When we try to solve them, they become weakened.

In ancient times, women were marvelous, intelligent and capable of doing wonders. Amma says that if man has created wonderful things in the world, women have created all of these men! All great holy people have been molded by their mothers. Swami Vivekananda said that wherever women are respected--Gods and Goddesses reside in that home. If the woman in the house is not happy, there is a lot of commotion.

The energy of woman has to be utilized in the right way. Sri Rama valued Sabari, a tribal woman. He became her guest. He even took the food, which she had already tasted, and ate it. Normally, no one will do this. So why did Lord Rama do it? It was because of her bhakti [loving devotion]. When one drinks this kind of bhakti one's life becomes drenched with nectar.

Lord Buddha had many followers who would listen to his words. One of these, a woman named Amrapaali was said to be unchaste. She got attracted to Buddha's teachings, but some of his disciples didn't like this. However, Lord Buddha was gracious and kind-hearted. He blessed her and changed her life. She became his follower. This is what happens to us when we associate with spiritual people.

Some spiritual people and priests don't like women studying the Vedas. Some even say women shouldn't read the Bhagavad Gita! During Navarathri celebrations, we have many people coming to our ashram, Mother said. They are astonished when they hear the devotees also chanting so melodiously and so well, and they ask a lot of questions. Where have they learned? Have they been initiated? And so on. The reason why people say these things is that they have no real knowledge about the scriptures and are jealous of others or don't like them to come up in life. The Divine who has created everything doesn't discriminate between high or low, rich or poor. Everyone is equal in the eyes of God.

Mother came back once again to our problems. We must find the cause for them in order to get the solution. She gave the example of fire. It can be used in different ways--for cooking or for warmth. But it can also burn a house. There are many fires in spiritual life such as krodhaagni, the fire of anger, Hunger is also a fire. Another fire is yogaagni, which awakens the kundalini. Fire can be utilized in many ways.

In the same way, women are really powerful with their kundalini energy. We must utilize this power. People may say otherwise, but this isn't true. We may have a lot of commotion in the house, but the woman must handle it peacefully. Otherwise, there will be no peace in the entire house. Whatever problems you have, be bold and courageous. You can be very strong. We shouldn't be shaken for every small thing.

Let all people, regardless of gender, be happy, have auspiciousness and visva shanti. There must be inner progress and development.

That is Amma's message. Thank you.

Amma will be making her sixth visit to Portland from June 20th to July 7^th, 2002. All public programs are free, except the meditation retreat to which all are welcome. For further information, please call Gayatri or Bharat at 503-591-0984, E-Mail: Bharatyoga@attbi.com or visit her web site at www.karunamayi.org, which also has additional photographs and excerpts from her teachings.