In Vedic Astrology the Moon is called manas, or mind, as it signifies our psychological make-up and the type of emotional filter through which we engage with life. The Moon also signifies our lunar impulses and our Mother. It’s house/sign placement and the planetary influences upon it in the horoscope shows where we are “at home” and where we keep going back to, often even if it no longer serves us well.
My most unexpected meeting with Amma, the renowned Indian spiritual master known as the “Hugging Saint” leads me to believe what the Yoga Masters say is so true: “When the disciple is ready, the Guru appears.” In fact, Amma appeared in my life several years before I met her physical form.
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“Many ask Amma, what a human being’s real dharma, or duty is. The goal of human life is to know oneself. We should know the answers to the questions, 'Who am I? What is my real nature?' This is our ultimate duty.” ~AmmaRead More
The Sanskrit word Prasad means a blessing, or gift that has been divinely invested. It is usually an edible sweet or fruit that is offered at all Hindu spiritual gatherings to represent the pure and divine state of the holy person or place, which has the potential to bless our life and fulfill our wishes. Indeed, anything that an enlightened master touches becomes Prasad, as the object is believed to be infused with divine vibrations.
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For Amma the state of oneness with all of creation is not a philosophy or a spiritual principle to follow – itsimply is the only way she knows how to be. From her simplest day to day exchanges with people to her huge charitable projects, she brings no sense of “I” or “me” into the equation.
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One of my favorite Zen stories is the one about a Buddhist scholar who goes to study with a Zen master. He expresses his sincerity about wanting to learn from the master but then proceeds to ramble on about how many spiritual books he has studied and meditation techniques he has mastered. The master listens patiently and then offers the scholar some tea. He continues to pour tea into the scholar’s cup until it is overflowing. “Stop, stop! The cup is full, what are you doing”, the scholar yells? The master replies, “you are like this cup, you are so full of spiritual ideas about the Buddha’s way, there is nothing I can teach you”.
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