How quickly this year has passed – as this is the end of year newsletter we have been reflecting on the year just passed.  2008 has been filled with much activity in the Amma calendar.  

We have been visited by RemaDevi who accredited 6 new Sydney IAM meditation instructors as well as teaching the IAM meditation course and conducting a satsang.  Its always so enriching to be visited by one of Amma’s long time western renunciates and RemaDevi inspired so many of us to sit in meditation. IAM meditation courses have been taught by our local teachers both here and in New Zealand. Find out more about Amma's IAM - Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique, click here >

Teachers are available to teach the IAM meditation to small and large groups, both in the full extended version, the youth version and the corporate version. Please contact us if you would like a course taught to people that you know. If you haven’t already attended an IAM meditation course or would just like to refresh your practice please come along to the course being held in December. See the calendar for details

This year Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri toured prior to Amma’s tour, his time with us brings Amma so present.  Click here to view photos from the Tour >

Then of course in April Amma came to Australia!
Amma visited and inaugurated the ashram in Melbourne and since that time much work has been done there to put in a permanent water supply and expand the gardens.  More locally, this was the first year we had used Sydney Boys High as a venue and it was a delight to have Amma somewhere more central.  The tour was a great success and so many of you helped in its preparations and delivery.

If you were there at the end of the program you would have heard one of Amma’s Swamis saying that: “Amma cannot express in words her gratitude for the selfless service that Her children perform.” Nothing seems to make her happier than seeing us working in service.  

During the 2008 tour Amma asked us to look for an ashram in Sydney.  Amma said to look for a property with 1 to 2 acres of land.   If you have any suggestions or would like to help in any way then please get in touch. At the moment we need to explore all the possibilities that are available.  We will keep you informed if there are any developments.

Then only 4 short months later we were blessed to have Swami Shantamrita in Sydney. For the first time we were able to have a homa performed, and even though the evening was very cold a large number of people were present and took part in this auspicious puja. View photos from the tour >




This year too has seen the inauguration of AYUDH in Australia. This is for people under 30 who are interested in personal development, social services and environmental protection. If you are interested in being involved please find more information about this on the Amma Australia website. Click here for details >

Amma has been continuing to stress the importance of the environment and to that end Green Friends is of vital importance to our local environment and our global one, activities like tree planting, reviving local areas and cleaning up the environment have been some of the things we have been involved with this year.  In June Amma was asking us to each plant our own vegetables as a way of making the planet more sustainable.  This is an easy thing to do and even if you don’t have a garden you can certainly plant edible things in pots. We encourage you to get involved in the green friends project.   Click here for more details >

Throughout the year Amma’s kitchen has continued to flourish and many thanks go to all the regular and occasional volunteers that keep this great work happening. Not only the people that cook and serve but also to those that are unable to come in person but manage to donate food and money to support this ongoing work.  There have been many of you that have helped with stalls and markets and other fund raising events, these along with the money collected at fund raising dinners make it possible to bring Amma to Australia and support the many charitable works carried out by the organization.
Click here to visit the Amma's Kitchen page >

Thanks too to all who come to satsang.  Our satsangs have been well attended and we so enjoy the atmosphere that is created when a group comes together to chant and meditate.  During the past year many of you have hosted fund raising dinners where not only do we have satsang but enjoy a vegetarian feast as well.  Please do attend the Christmas satsang in December and share the joy of the combination of chanting and carols along with Christmas festivities. Its a lovely opportunity for us to end the year together in Amma’s energy. See the calendar for details

This year we were saddened too by the passing of Kate and Marina and we send our love to their families.   We take this opportunity to wish a continued recovery to full health to Veena.

Next year we are hopeful that we will be hosting more Swamis and other visitors from overseas and invite you to participate with us.  Any suggestions you have for ways that we can improve or add to what goes on in Sydney are most welcome.

We wish you and your family and friends a merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!

Amma’s Birthday
This year in Sydney, Amma’s birthday was celebrated at Alexandria Town Hall.  Over seventy devotees attended the celebration satsang and were treated to several performances.  Thank you to the Vrindavan and Green Gourmet for their donations of a dinner for two at their respective restaurants.

At Amritapuri Amma’s birthday was celebrated by over 100,000 devotees and well wishers from all around the country and the world. In Swami Amritaswrupananda welcoming address he stated the following in regard to Amma’s birthday:

“For most of us, the anniversaries of our births are days when we want the world to orient back towards us, but this is not how it is with Amma. She uses the occasion to direct everyone’s attention to the poor and suffering. We say, ‘Oh, Amma, it’s your birthday!’ and Amma says ‘Think of the farmer’s committing suicide. Think of those in Bihar without food and shelter. Think of the depressed and lonely.’ It is a teaching: Birth—true birth—takes place only when we place others before ourselves. This is Amma’s message. Take the whole world into your heart and become free.”

Amma arrived on stage at 9am sharp for the various speeches and presentations. Then Amma proceeded to give darshan which concluded at 9am the next morning. Amma was on stage continuously for 24 hours!

IAM Meditation Course
Firstly our apologies for the IAM course for October being postponed.

There will be an IAM course on the weekend of the 6th and 7th of December.  The Sunday is available as a refresher course for those that have previously done the course.

See the calendar for details

 

Christmas Satsang
We will be having our traditional Christmas satsang at Robyn and Steve’s place at Middle Cove. Dinner will be provided and a suggested donation of $10 is requested to cover costs. Children are free and it is suggested for parents to bring a present for your child which will then be given out by Santa. We always start with our usual selection of Amma bhajans, and then we sing Christmas carols for the second half of satsang.  See the calendar for details

ARCHANA
(Worship through the repetition of the names of God)
Amma has always given great importance to the chanting of the Sri Lalita Sahasranama (the thousand names of Devi).  It is one of the most sacred texts for the worship of the Absolute as the Mother of the Universe, rich in meaning.

Amma says that when the Lalita Sahasranama is chanted daily, with devotion, all obstacles are removed towards the path to liberation. The power gained by this archana cannot be achieved by any “priest or mantravadin in a thousand years of worship”.

Chanting of the Lalita Sahasranama on a regular basis can lead to material and spiritual benefits, such as:

• Prosperity to family and peace to the world
• Removal of the effects of past mistakes
• An awakening of the energy in every nerve of the body
• Provision of the basic necessities, including food
• Reduction in the intensity of suffering

Amma emphasises that the main purpose, however, of chanting the Thousand Names of Devi is “to awaken the divine essence in ourselves, not to propitiate some divinity up above”. She says that when we chant each mantra of the Lalita Sahasranama, that quality is awakened in us (for example, Sri Matre Namah, the first mantra: Salutations to the Mother, nurtures in us the qualities of patience and forgiveness).

“Each of the thousand names is as important as the mantras in the Upanishads. When we chant them we are unconsciously elevated to a more expansive nature. The Sahasranama is for elevating us from the culture of a housefly to divine. That is true satsang.”

In order to provide an opportunity to practice together and gain confidence in the chanting of the Sahasranama, archana is held on the first Sunday of each month at Sagar and Veena’s (Marsfield). See the calendar for details

Om Amriteshwaryai Namah

Amma’s Kitchen
We serve a free breakfast each Saturday and a free vegetarian dinner one Sunday a month to homeless people from the premises of the Wayside Chapel in King Cross. If you are interested in helping serve or providing a meal please email Sangeeta. Learn more about Amma’s Kitchen >

Fundraising Dinners
Every month we have a fundraising dinner at various people's houses all over Sydney. This is a major form of fundraising and a good opportunity to get together socially. The satsang begins at 6.30pm and dinner is served around 8pm. If anyone would like to host a fundraising dinner please contact the center on 9590 7935.

Raising Funds with Chocolate
Tulsi from the Sydney satsang has devised a scheme for raising funds to support Amma's various charities.  This involves selling a box of Cadbury chocolate bars. If anyone would like to help out with this please contact Tulsi on 9922 6350 or tulsi@optus.com.au

Any Fund Raising Ideas?
All our fundraising efforts go towards funding the next tour and to Amma’s various charitable works.  If you have any ideas and would like to contribute to fundraising in any way then please get in touch with the centre on 9590 7935.

“May my children be messengers of love and peace in the world.”  SATSANG EVENTS: NOV - DEC 2008 Satsang Saturday  1 Nov 7.15pm – 9.15pm Free program 48 Holmwood Street Newtown Dayal and Jenny 9590 7935 Lalita Sahasranama Sunday 2 Nov. 10am – 11.30am 7/7 Brunton Place Marsfield Sagar and Veena 9876 1259 Satsang Saturday 8 Nov 7.15pm – 9.15pm Free program 7/2 Birriga Road Bellevue Hill Sangeeta 9365 2084 Fundraising Dinner 15 Nov.  6.30pm – 8pm 48 Roach Street Arncliffe Vikasita and John 9599 0949 Satsang Sunday 23 Nov 5.30pm – 7.30pm Light dinner provided. Suggested don. $5 7/7 Brunton Place Marsfield Sagar and Veena 9876 1259 IAM Meditation Course 6 & 7 Dec. Sat. 9am – 5pm Sun. 9am – 12.30 pm Donation $50 The Gunyah 335 Old South Head Rd Watson’s Bay Debie Delaney 9327 4138 Satsang Saturday 6 Dec 7.15pm – 9.15pm Free program 48 Holmwood Street Newtown Dayal and Jenny 9590 7935 Lalita Sahasranama Sunday 7 Dec 10am – 11.30am 7/7 Brunton Place Marsfield Sagar and Veena 9876 1259 Satsang Saturday 13 Dec 7.15pm – 9.15pm Free program 7/2 Birriga Road Bellevue Hill Sangeeta 9365 2084 Christmas Satsang &  Fundraising Dinner 20 Dec.  6.30pm – 8pm Suggested donation $10 12 Glenroy Street Middle Cove Robyn 9417 7840 No Marsfield Satsang on the 28th Dec due to the Xmas Holiday period We look forward to seeing you at a satsang or fundraising dinner soon! Download Sydney Calendar: Sydney Calendar (PDF) Newsletter Subscription To receive the regular paper newsletter: please send your name, address and phone number to MA Centre, PO Box 1331, Strawberry Hills, 2010, plus $10 (for a year) to cover mail & printing costs.  Otherwise you will only receive the newsletter for Amma's Sydney Tour.  To receive the newsletter by email: please forward your email address with request to receive the newsletter to sydney@ammaaustralia.org.au Donations We are very grateful for any donations to Amma's Australian tour or Her charitable works.  These can be sent to Amrita Limited PO Box 1331, Strawberry Hills, 2010. Please make cheques payable to Amrita Limited.

Sydney MA Centre
If you have any questions, or would like to help in any way, please call us
02 9590 7935 or email sydney@ammaaustralia.org.au

Amma's Products

You can purchase books, tapes and DVDs at the satsangs. You can
also purchase a selection of these products from Adyar Bookshop, York St in the city.

Sharing your stories
It is always good to share our experiences with Amma. If you would like to contribute an
experience please forward it to our email address: sydney@ammaaustralia.org.au

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