Amma's Circle of Love Letters

In early July, I found out about Amma’s Circle of Love Letters. It is a program whereby “volunteers write uplifting letters to people who are in need of reassurance.” I wrote to the Director hoping to both write letters and receive them.

This is what I wrote as to why letters would be welcome, “I am undergoing treatment for cancer, homeschooling my children, caring for my mother who has dementia, and trying to decide whether to do a bone marrow transplant. The transplant would involve being in the hospital for an extended period of time and not being able to see my children. I met Ammaji for the first time in Michigan in 2007 and received my mantra from her at a retreat a few years later. My spiritual background otherwise is love. I would really appreciate weekly letters as I go through this patch.”

The very kind woman wrote back. “We would be so happy to write to you… I feel like your life is far to busy for you to become a weekly writer… It is really ok for you just to receive.”

Just to receive. I sat with that, received the wisdom, shed some tears, and said yes please.

The first 8 letters I opened when they arrived - weeping on receiving such love and support from strangers/ourselves. Then life became busier and I started stacking the envelopes on a shelf. Envelopes arrived with handwritten hearts, stickers saying “You are capable of amazing things,” sketches of palm trees, stamps from Martinique, Eire (Ireland), postmarks from California, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Maine, Missouri, blue pen, pink crayons, sparkle pens, hearts dotting the “i” in Corinna, on and on. For the last 5 weeks I have watched the collection grow and grow - savoring the moment when I could open them - like presents under the Christmas Tree.

And yesterday I did.

There is so much kindness and love in this world. I am so grateful to Amma. Thank you thank you Amma. Thank you for your example of a life lived in love - LOVE. Thank you for showing us how to manifest love everywhere. Thank you for your children multiplying love with words on pages and stamps on envelopes.

Thank you Catherine, Ling, Ainblerene, Julia, M., Bani, Bruna, Rochelle, K., Molly, Cindy, Delroy, Allia, Smitha, Cynthia, Laura, Semira, Gomathy, Tess, Jen, Laura, Stephen, Eileen, Catherine, Khaled, Mary, and Sivamayi. Thank you for taking time out of your lives to extend a hand to a fellow traveler.

Thank you for your words of kindness, hope, and peace. Here are a few of my favorite excerpts in the spirit of expanding this Circle of Love bigger and bigger and BIGGEST - that we all may be bathed in the love of strangers/ourselves.

Whatever you decide to do, I think it’s important to remember you’re worth it. I am asking for Love to carry you through everything before you, knowing that Amma/Love is with you! May you know how much you are loved and cared for by God.

Amma says, “The feeling closest to our True Self is love. Our lives are meant to be born in love and to live in love. Love has no end. It is eternal and connects every aspect of creation - human beings with each other, with Nature and with God.” It is our very essence…. When you are suffering and trying to cope with treatment and after care remember that this cancer is not all that you are. Your essence is pure love.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” - Helen Keller. I think you are on that adventure and loved and guided by the Divine.

May your days be bright. I pray that the Universe showers you with ease, joy, and laughters.

You are a very super strong woman and a super mother and I am sure you will overcome the difficulties you are going through.

Take care of your immediate needs and don’t be afraid to ask for help! (People do love to assist.) Try to meditate to keep your mind calm and on God’s infinite love.

Life is worth fighting for, so that you can use it for the highest good.

When I am going through rough patches in life, and start worrying a lot, I find it helpful to hold on tight to my mantra and chant repeatedly, who heartedly for as long as I can, as often as I can. This somehow enables me to transform my anxiety or worry into positive energy and calm sets in. It works wonders. A mantra given by a guru like Amma is imbued with lots of spiritual power. May you find strength using it.

Once I read this story Divine Mother told to her children. Two men went to the rich king asking for food because they were very hungry. He gave each one of them a seed. One man ate the seed, but the other decided to plant (it) instead. He felt hungry for a while but one the seed turned into a plant producing fruits, the man was able to not only to feed himself, but the other poor people in his village… if the bone marrow transplant is the best choice for you, maybe you could consider it a seed… All mazes have an end.

You probably know the “footprints in the sand” poem [I didn’t], I was reflecting on this. I pray that the divine carries you through this phase. “One night I had a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it…’I don’t understand that when I needed you the most, you would leave me.’ He whispered, ‘My precious child, I love you and will never leave you. Never, ever during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.’

I am glad that you reached out to the Circle as a was to receive more of Amma’s blessings and to keep always in your mind that her giant love binds us all.

I am glad I reached out as well. Thank you for this, my amazing life.