Amma writes to U.S. prisoners

Darling children,

Amma knows your hearts, which are longing to see the vast sky and the beautiful earth beneath it, decorated by the warm rays of the sun, the cool moonlight and all of nature. Your minds must be longing to get just a glimpse of your friends and family. Your only friends right now must be your memories – the good and bad memories that days gone by have bestowed to you. One moment a handful of good memories gives you peace and happiness; the next moment, the guilt about mistakes you knowingly or unknowingly committed in an cursed moment might prick your conscience.

My children, we should remember that the capacity to remain happy in all circumstances is within all of us. Due to a wrong notion, we believe that only the objects of the external world can give us happiness. We remain unaware of the truth that the source of this happiness is actually within us. This misconception makes us depend more and more on the external objects, rather than seeking the real happiness, which indeed is our very own nature.

Suppose a dog finds a bone and begins chewing on it. The bone wears and tears away the dog’s own gums until they begin to bleed. But the dog, tasting the blood, thinks that it is coming from the bone. He doesn’t realize that the blood is actually coming from his own gums. So he chews more and more vigorously, relishing the taste of the blood. In the same way, we, too, believe that happiness comes from external objects. We should find strength and happiness within and become more independent.

It is the law of any country that wrongdoing should be met with punishment. But there are also innocent people who are caught in the mysterious ways of fate and are being punished. Either way, my children, you should remember that these are all opportunities given by God to you, and to anyone who is traveling down the wrong path to reflect and mend their ways. The past experiences and the punishment that followed may be seen as the dark period of your life. But the lessons we can learn during these times are priceless. As we go through the heat of these experiences, if we can dive deep into their intensity, we will find many pearls.

These are the precious gems that will illuminate your future. If you can find these gems, the mistakes committed in the past and the punishment received will gain a new dimension that you have not known before. This, indeed, is the sky-like inner expansiveness of knowledge and awareness, the capacity to imbibe and understand the sorrows and mental agony of others, and the maturity and strength to hold them close to you and console them with love and compassion.

Blessed are you, my children, if you can utilize the experiences you are going through right now to achieve this expansiveness. Above all this, you must pray for God’s Grace. Amma lovingly prays to the Supreme Self for her darling children to attain inner strength, peace and happiness.

All for now...

Om Namah Shivaya
With affectionate kisses,

Amma

This letter was sent to close to 400 US inmates with a copy of the booklet called Embracing the World. It tells about Amma, her teaching and her many humanitarian activities. The first reply from an inmate in New York State said

“Never have I witnessed such unselfish and heartfelt love and giving as Amma has displayed. ....The houses built, fishing boats delivered, schools founded -- I was dumbstruck! I gazed at my little cell and my cherished mundane property and felt ashamed.

Another inmate wrote..

‘What have I done to help the souls in this world?’ I thought. Me, an able-bodied, healthy young man, [am] only concerned with my petty wants and needs. God has not put me here for selfishness.

.Yet another inmate said..

... I must prepare myself to make a difference, contribute to easing the suffering and poverty in the world. Thank you for sharing such an important awakening with me.”

Please join our beloved Amma in being a spiritual friend to your brothers and sisters who are incarcerated.

Please contact circle.of.love.inside@gmail.com and introductory information will be sent to you.