First, I will share how I was introduced to Amrita Yoga. I was among the first of the current Beginner Teachers of Amrita Yoga.
At that time, I was staying at Amritapuri and enjoying teaching Japanese to students at Amrita University. It was fun, and life was filled with love and humor. One day, out of the blue, Amma told me that I should learn and teach Amrita Yoga.
From then on, I diligently attended the retreats at Amritapuri and loved being a student. I would often think, “I can always be a beginner.” By remaining a beginner, I thought I could escape having to teach.
Amma was very compassionate toward me. During the two-week retreat, students would go for darshan together, one after another. Each time, I would go with the other participants, positioning myself between Amma and them. Amma was always very loving. I would end up receiving a lot of Her attention, which I deeply cherished.
After a few years, the main instructors at Amritapuri asked me if I would teach the daily classes at the ashram. I refused and quietly managed to escape teaching once again. At that time, I had no idea of Amma’s plan for me.
During one of the tours, Amma told me to travel to Japan and start teaching Amrita Yoga. I found this overwhelming and asked my instructors to help me. They did their best, but I still felt tense about teaching. Finally, I gave my first class—and people loved it. I felt deeply relieved. With Amma’s compassion, love, and guidance, Amrita Yoga is now gradually spreading to many parts of Japan.
The Amrita Yoga Beginner Sequence is now being taught in many places across Japan. It is generally conducted as a five-hour session, followed by puja, seva, and satsang. This year, Amrita Yoga was taught in cities including Osaka, Niigata, Sendai, and Shinjuku.
I remember Osaka most fondly. I am originally from Kyoto, which is close to Osaka, so I always feel at home there. The class was, as usual, fun and full of joyful laughter. People in Osaka have a wonderful sense of humor, and they especially enjoy laughing together. Osaka is the second-largest city in Japan and the main city in the western part of the country. The retreat was held in a small district hall with Japanese-style tatami mats.
Sendai was the next place. When I arrived at Sendai railway station from Tokyo, joyful memories of Amma came flooding back to me. Three years earlier, Amma had been in that very same station. It is one of my most unforgettable memories.
Instead of going west to Osaka, where the next program was to take place, Amma suddenly decided to visit the tsunami-affected area in Sendai, which was in the opposite direction. Amma’s compassion is immeasurable, immense, and unconditional. She could not ignore the suffering of those affected by the tragedy of the tsunami. Amma wanted to wipe the tears of the many suffering people in Sendai.
In Japan, we sometimes “smile on our face but cry in our heart.” In the refugee camps, as soon as people rested in Amma’s arms, they burst into tears.
Amma walked through the camp, giving darshan and love to each person one by one. Then Amma went to the ocean to pray for the departed souls and for those who remained. Amma bowed down to Mother Earth and Mother Ocean and offered flowers of love into the waves. The waves of the sea seemed to spread like a hand to receive the flowers from Amma, who is the universe itself. This was among the most unforgettable and touching moments of my life.
I drove Amma’s vehicle from Tokyo to Sendai. To be honest, I was so scared to drive Amma at that time. Amma’s decision to visit the tsunami-affected area was very sudden and completely unexpected. When I was asked to drive Amma, it was just past midnight at the Tokyo program, and I had just had a strong espresso to stay awake through the night. Swamiji told me to go to bed immediately, but my heart was beating fast. I was wide awake from the coffee and from nervousness about driving Amma.
I went up to Amma and told Her how nervous and tense I felt. Amma gave me a big smile and said, “You? Nervous? No! Don’t worry!” Then She whispered into my ear, “My darling son,” in English, Malayalam, and Japanese—very loudly and for a long time.
After that, the tension miraculously disappeared, and I slept for some time. Later, I drove Amma from the relief camps to Sendai railway station. During the drive, Amma’s compassionate smile and Her sweet voice calling me “darling son” in three different languages stayed with me and made me smile. All the tension I had felt turned into joy. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I was driving. When you overcome fear, great joy is waiting for you.
It is so fortunate that we have someone like Amma, who knows us better than we know ourselves. Faith in our beloved Amma gives us the confidence that we can do what She asks of us. I did not believe that I could teach Amrita Yoga, perform puja, or do homa. But because Amma told me to do it, I had faith that She could use me as an instrument to serve others and the world.
Now I simply do my best and leave the rest to Amma. It works very well. People are happy, and that makes me happy. It is so beautiful. Life is quite simple: do not resist; accept whatever comes with a smile.
Amma is teaching me how to be happy: share happiness, and more happiness will come.
Since it was a long distance from Sendai to Osaka—about 900 kilometers—Amma took the bullet train. It felt strange and beautiful to see Amma walking in such a public place as the railway station. When we reached the station, Amma got down from the camper to take the train. Amma gave so much love to the driver who had to drive all the way back to Osaka. Amma even held my hand all the way to the platform of the busy station.
All the memories of the relief work we did in the tsunami-affected area came back very clearly. The city has recovered very quickly, but I heard that many people are still living in temporary shelters. Even though people may smile on the outside, deep inside there is still pain and sorrow.
I began the class in Sendai by sharing these memories of Amma’s visit and Her unconditional love. This also helped me explain the importance of maintaining a healthy body and mind in order to serve the world and other people. Only then can we experience greater joy through helping others.
Every day is a new arrival of God’s love for all of us. In Amrita Yoga classes here in Japan, we remember God’s love and share many moments of laughter, togetherness, and joy.
I offer my gratitude for having Amma in my life—to show me the path, to awaken the confidence within me to walk that path, and to guide me toward the goal.