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Story
behind Amma Sanctuary and the Ariven Community Ihc [Please note: We are not a formal part of Ammachi's organization. Amma is our inspiration and the driving force of our vision.]
First, what has
inspired the creation of the
sanctuary (the Amma sanctuary)
We journey in our life as in compartments of
reality, though each reality links together much
like our past lives come together in this life. Each
reality finally leads us to the purpose of why we
are here on planet Earth as
inspired blessings. This has been Nandhi's
experience that is shared.
As a child living in South India, it would
pain Nandhi to see and feel the cry of cows, bulls
and buffalos squashed together in trucks headed to
slaughterhouses- and not being able to do anything
about it. It was also frustrating to see vast wasted
land with thorn trees and bushes just unused when
millions were starving. Nandhi felt bad to eat food
knowing that there were hungry children who just did
not have that one meal a day. One of his favorite
fantasy that would run in his mind over and over
again and each time a newer little fold to that
dream was- saving the life of all these animals that
were discarded, having huge farms to grow food and
feeding the hungry. This fantasy sort of fell
asleep through the years of 'growing' up.
The next part of the story: The Three Sages:
Years later, after waking up through a death
experience, the only thing that mattered was to be
with God. Nandhi would undertake
intense pilgrimages to caves, sacred shrines and the
ancient spiritual centers in the wilderness of
India. These were Nandhi's years as an
ascetic, a saddhu. One of Nandhi's favorite place
to visit was the Mamara
Guhai (also called the Mango Tree cave,
the foothills of Thiruvannamalai) where Sri
Ramana Maharishi had been meditating for over six
years.
On a particularly intense pilgrimage, Nandhi received the ultimate blessing- to know his purpose. He had been sleeping in this cave and he was woken up by a Sage who lived in this cave saying, "My guru who has not spoken for over 20 years and his other two friends, who too have not spoken for many years have come to our cave. They intend to do a pilgrimage by foot all the way to the Himalayas starting tomorrow. You can ask them anything though you will have your reply perhaps written down- if they wish to answer". This was like a prayer being answered as for Nandhi did have a big question that needed an answer in the form of guidance.
After prostrating and paying the respects to the
three Sages, Nandhi sat before them and said,
"Divine Beings, when I am here, everything is
peaceful and love. When back in human reality and
the marketplace of survival, it is war. What is my
'yoga' there? The hatha yoga , puja and meditation I
practice here just does not seem right and in tune
with the stressful situation there. Guide me
please!". There was silence. Just a blank stare from
all three of them. Nandhi said, "Here is a pen and
paper for you write your thoughts". Suddenly, one of
the three sages said, "What use is our silence if it
cannot help humanity. Let me speak. Let me represent
my other two friends.". With this, he began
speaking- shattering the silence he had observed for
many years. It was a flow of energy rather than
words alone and although grasped by the intellect,
the mind tuned inwards to a meditative space of loud
silence. Some of these guiding energies have, later,
been incorporated in Nandhi's teachings of yoga,
called Kalangi Yoga. (www.nandhi.com/events.htm)
The Sage, after the stream of wisdom outburst then
said, "We are happy to be with a noble soul. We wish
to bless you. Ask us for anything!" Nandhi said,
"Swamy, you will not give me what I ask for,
therefore, please do not have me ask you for it".
The Sages smiled thinking Nandhi did not believe in
them. The Sage who spoke
then mentioned, "Our thoughts
are concentrated and one pointed
and therefore, anything is possible. Tomorrow
we undertake a pilgrimage through India's most
sacred shrines all the way to Himalayas
by foot. Our
blessings are potent. Please go ahead and mention
what your heart desires and it will be yours".
Nandhi said, "Then, please give me the wisdom behind all
your silence and prayers". After a few minutes of
quiet, the sages glowed with smiles. The Sage said,
"You have asked us for just what is the only
valuable treasure that is worth an entire human
life and its effort. Come and sit closer and absorb our prayers".
Nandhi graciously received their blessings.
After a while, the Sage mentioned, "Now we would
like to give you our gift- a gift to humanity
through you. The ancient intent of all masters of
higher consciousness is "SAIVAM VETRI". May you be
vibrant in this intent of Oneness that uplifts
humanity's collective consciousness!".
Saivam means awake to oneness and in literal sense
means, a being a vegetarian. Vetri means victory.
This blessing woke up Nandhi's childhood dream.
Nandhi began to realize why he was here on Mother
Earth. From that moment onwards,
Nandhi knew began to see the grand vision unfold as
the need to bring together conscious beings all over
planet earth and set into momentum the hallmark of
this century, the Ariven.
This incident started transforming Nandhi from a wandering saddhu to then becoming a yogi-visionary. Nandhi felt the tantric truth of being the Spirit and having the human experience as inspired duty of what needs be done as to be at the evolving end of grace.
Meeting Amma and the affirmation of what needs be done:
Shortly after the blessings of the three sages of
Thiruvannamalai, Ammachi was traveling
through Nandhi's hometown, Sivakasi and she was
staying in Nandhi's parents house. Nandhi's parents,
had a lot to complain to Amma about Nandhi. They
told Ammachi, "Please put sense into this
his
head. He has forgotten responsibilities. He wanders
from one pilgrimage to another. His business has
collapsed and instead of being ashamed, he seems
happy and he foolishly spends
his little money on feeding
people. We think he has
gone mad". Ammachi smiled and held
Nandhi to her lap saying, "Son of Siva, just
keep doing
whatever you are doing.
Do it from your heart!".
These words had a huge effect on Nandhi that
validated the inner most desire.
Nandhi then told Amma about his dream of Amma Sanctuary in a few words. Ammachi said, "Just do it. Amma is with you." These words of empowerment meant everything to Nandhi. Ammachi's inspiration has lead the first sanctuary to be called Amma Sanctuary.
Soon afterwards, Nandhi, found himself in California
with each day a little step of
building the foundation.
Slowly, the unfolding ancient intent of "Saivam Vetri"
enabled Nandhi to learn new skills, create an online
business that could support the vision, build a
global network of conscious friends, and as a
musician, artist and yogi, teach the greatest wisdom
of the enlightened- the wisdom of compassion and the
need for action.
Today, Amma Sanctuary emerges as just what a Mother is- a home for thousands of old animals saved from slaughter and cared for with love while enabling a giant organic farm that feeds 50% of its vegetarian produce to the poor and needy while the other half sustains a global vegetarian diet.
Why
a sanctuary as a spiritual project?
"Ari" is an ancient Tamil word that means "to know".
Ariven means, the one who is awake. This is the age
of higher consciousness with mass awakenings. After
waking up to realizing we are the spirit having the
human experience we are in touch with the reality
described in all religious texts, as the "I Am". In
this realization is the oneness of life, reality,
karma and dharma. As awake, we realize the joys of
being in the receiving end of grace. In coming
together as a community of the awake, we not only
enable compassion and sharing on global scales but
also lift our civilization to the next level of
consciousness. As spiritual beings inspired in the
action, we journey beyond the "I Am" to "What If",
i.e, transform humanity through our intent as
action.
..and how are you
choosing the animals for the sanctuary?
Imagine making an ox carry heavy load everyday
under the hot sun nearly all its life and when old
age shows signs, it is sold off. Soon it lands in a
slaughterhouse. Likewise, the cows that are milked
until their yield of milk does not justify the food
expense- and sent to a slaughterhouse
on the premise of just 'being sold off'. Our
sanctuary is primarily for animals used by humanity
that would otherwise end in slaughterhouses. Our
sanctuary will be the little "thank you" we as human
race could express to the selfless animals who have
been milked and toiled for
us all its life.
Details of Amma Sanctuary, the debut project of Ariven Community IHC Click here! Click here to Join/learn more!
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