sri anandamayi ma (sri anondomoyi ma or anandamoyi ma; 30 april 1896 – 27 august 1982) was a enlightened mystic and guru from bangladesh. sri anandamayi ma was also called as dakshayani, vimala, kamala, “mother of shahbag” and manush kali (living kali).
paramhansa yogananda wrote about her in his “autobiography of a yogi”. when paramahansa yogananda met anandamayi ma and asked her about her life, she answered:
“father, there is little to tell.” she spread her graceful hands in a deprecatory gesture. “my consciousness has never associated itself with this temporary body. before i came on this earth, father, ‘i was the same.’ as a little girl, ‘i was the same.’ i grew into womanhood, but still ‘i was the same.’ when the family in which i had been born made arrangements to have this body married, ‘i was the same.’ …ย and, father, in front of you now, ‘i am the same.’ ever afterward, though the dance of creation change[s] around me in the hall of eternity, ‘i shall be the same.'”
swami sivananda (divine life society) described her as “the most perfect flower the indian soil has produced.”
during her life, thousands of people got attracted to sri anandamayi ma who saw her not only as a teacher and guru, but as a manifestation of god, or devi. she didn’t spoke much but used to answer seekers query. according to her one should live a honest life full of love and devotion. one should treat everybody with love. the life cannot be separate from religion and one should try to live a religious life. in short ‘work as worship’. do your work with sincerity, totality and with joy.
to know more about sri anandamayi ma please check this anandamayi website or read the book “life and teachings of sri anandamayi ma” by alexander lipski.
sriย ananandamayi ma quotes:
1.ย only actions that kindle man’s divine nature are worthy of the name of actions
2. he alone knows to whom he will reveal himself under which form. by what path and in what manner he attracts any particular man to himself with great force is incomprehensible to the human intellect. the path differs indeed for different pilgrims.
3. it is the craze for wealth that binds people. to be in bondage means to destroy yourself.
4. my consciousness has never associated itself with this temporary body. before i came on this earth โi was the sameโ. as a little girl โi was the sameโ. โฆโฆโฆ. ever afterward, though the dance of creation change around me, in the hall of eternity โi shall be the sameโ.
5. enquire: โwho am i?โ and you will find the answer. look at a tree: from one seed arises a huge tree; from it comes numerous seeds, each one of which in its turn grows into a tree. no two fruits are alike. yet it is one life that throbs in every particle of the tree. so, it is the same atman (soul) everywhere.
6. grace is all the time showering like the rain; one should do a little bit of spiritual practice just in order that one is able to grasp it. the little bit of power you have โ employ that! read the sacred texts, take his name, do chanting โ as much as you have power to do, go on doing. after that, he is there to do all that is to be done. the stomach does not get filled if the morsel of food is only put into the mouth.
7. if you just place yourself under the protection of a guru, then the path which is most suitable for you will by itself open up to you.
8. joys and sorrows are time-born and cannot last. therefore, do not be perturbed by these. the greater the difficulties and obstructions, the more intense will be your endeavour to cling to his feet and the more will your prayer increase from within. and when the time is ripe, you will gain mastery over this power.
9. always bear this in mind: everything is in godโs hands, and you are his tool to be used by him as he pleases. try to grasp the significance of โall is hisโ. and you will immediately feel free from all burdens. what will be the result of your surrender to him? none will seem alien, all will be your very own self.
10. verily, this body is also an utensil for puja (worship); do remember that this is an utensil for puja, and do try to utilize it only for the purpose of puja, and only then will you see that even the inside is becoming clean.
11. the individual suffers because he perceives duality. find the one everywhere and in everything and there will be an end to pain and suffering.
12. suffering is sent to remind you to turn your thoughts towards that which is real – to god who will give you solace.
13. i find one vast garden spread out all over the universe.
all plants, all human beings, all higher mind bodies
are about in this garden in various ways ,
each has his own uniqueness and beauty.
their presence and variety give me great delight.
every one of you adds with his
special feature to the glory of the garden.
14. whenever you possibly can, sustain the flow of a sacred name. to repeat his name is to be in his presence. if you associate with the supreme friend, he will reveal his true being to you.
15. who is it that loves and who that suffers?
he alone stages a play with himself.
the individual suffers because he perceives duality.
find the one everywhere and in everything
and there will be an end to pain and suffering.
16. god is within everyone, but man goes out in search of him. this is what constitutes god’s play and god’s creation.
17. god is without form, without quality
as well as with form and quality.
watch and see with what endless variety of beautiful forms
he plays the play of his maya with himself alone.
the lila of the all pervading one goes on
and on in this way in infinite diversity.
he is without beginning and without end.
he is the whole and also the part.
the whole and part together make up real perfection.
18. as you love your own body, so regard everyone as equal to your own body. when the supreme experience supervenes, everyone’s service is revealed as one’s own service. call it a bird, an insect, an animal or a man, call it by any name you please, one serves one’s own self in every one of them.