Amma posted an article which was printed in the New Indian Express paper,
regarding the Delhi tragedy. She spoke on this subject at her satsang just
before leaving on the N. India tour.
http://newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/spirituality/article1407336.ece
Women, break your shackles and awaken
By Mata Amritanandamayi06th January 2013 12:00 AM
Amma wishes to express her deep sorrow about the recent trend of men in our
country to trample women underfoot as pleasure-giving objects, with no
consideration of human values. Is this country that taught unique and divine
thoughts such as worshipping God as Mother, seeing God Consciousness in
everything and showing tolerance to the world, now becoming a land of asuric,
demonic minds? The latest atrocity was the most brutal physical and emotional
abuse that a young girl in Delhi had to go through, which finally claimed her
life.
No one can question the reality of motherhood—that man is created from woman.
Yet those who refuse to come out of the cocoon of their narrow minds will never
be able to comprehend this—you cannot explain light to those who only know
darkness.
Who should awaken woman? What obstructs her awakening? The truth is that no
external power can possibly obstruct woman or her innate qualities of
motherhood—qualities such as love, empathy and patience. It is she—she
alone—who has to awaken herself. A woman’s mind is the only real barrier that
prevents this from happening.
The rules and superstitious beliefs that degrade women, continue to prevail in
most countries. The primitive customs invented by men to exploit and subjugate
women remain alive to this day. Women and their minds have become entangled in
the cobweb of those customs.
An elephant can uproot huge trees with its trunk. When an elephant living in
captivity is still a calf, it is tethered to a tree with a strong rope. The
calf elephant tries with all its might to break the rope. When its efforts
prove futile, it finally gives up. Later, when the same elephant is fully
grown, it can be tethered to any small tree with a thin rope. It could easily
free itself by uprooting the tree or breaking the rope. But because its mind
has been conditioned by its prior experiences, it does not make the slightest
attempt to break free.
This is what is happening to women. The infinite potential inherent in man and
woman is the same. If women really want to, they can easily break the shackles
of the rules and conditioning that society has imposed on them.
A woman’s greatest strength lies in her innate motherhood, in her creative,
life-giving power. This power can help women bring about a far more significant
change in society than men can ever accomplish. In today’s world, where
everything is being contaminated and made unnatural, women should take extra
care that her qualities of motherhood—her essential nature as a woman—don’t
become contaminated and distorted. Yet, whether woman or man, one’s real
humanity comes to light only when the feminine and masculine qualities within
one are balanced.
India has had such a great legacy of women who have contributed to all spheres
of development in society; may it be warriors, teachers, spiritual luminaries,
musicians or social workers. Though not acknowledged enough in our history
books or in the social media, their contribution has been prolific. This legacy
has to continue and grow with time.
The forthcoming age should be dedicated to awakening universal motherhood.
Women everywhere have to actualise the qualities of motherhood within
themselves. This is the only way to realise our dream of peace and harmony. And
it can be done! It is entirely up to us. Let us remember that real leadership
is not to dominate or to control, but to serve others with love and compassion,
and to inspire women and men alike through the example of our lives.
Let us all pray that cruel minds, which denigrate women, be transformed. May
the Paramatma help them to follow our rich tradition, and respect the women of
this country and all other countries.
The writer is a world renowned spiritual leader
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The more Love you give, the more your heart is filled with Love.
Love is like a never ending stream. -Amma
