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GreenFriends™ events

GreenFriends™ Event in Derby

Date: Sunday 5 February 2012
Time: 10.30am- 3pm

Activities will include 108 names, silent Mantra Meditation Walk in the beautiful Darley Park, feedback from the recycling team at Amma's programme, and making paper bags from recycled newspaper for use in local shops. Lunch will be provided.

Please contact Jane 07989 595483 jane_obyrne@yahoo.co.uk for more details. Also, if you read any broadsheet newpaper (e.g., The Daily Telegraph, Guardian) please bring copies with you for the paper-bag making.

News

GreenFriends™ Walk along London Canal - report

Must confess I was apprehensive, slightly akward, inappropriately over-excited! My first Amma event! Is my smile too wide? Is my pitch too high? What if they think I speak too fast? What if they judge me if my tattoos show? But only one as ignorant as I could summon such thoughts. I saw them from a distance, they turned around and smiled, and I thought Amma!

The wisdom reflected, the love perceived, and I didn't even know their names! Just like that, they made me fit in. I recognised Amma in all, I heard her in their kind words, I felt her in their prompt amicable acceptance. And I knew I belonged.

Off we were on our green walk through the stony trails of Regents Park. The sun was shy, the wind was crisp, the rain decided to walk along! But every step was Amma, sheer jubilation! The pigeons Amma, the stream Amma, the rain Amma, the grass Amma, the sand Amma, the wind Amma. We were soaked in Amma. Such soul-touching, humbling, overwhelming love. So simple, yet so ecstatic. Leaving me quenched yet discontent, mesmerising as ever, my Ma!

The spread for the potluck left me astonised, the food beyond savoury! After all, isn't it always so with Amma? We took asylum under some shade in the children's playground. With stomachs sated, bhajans began! With an orchestra of rain drops we sang along. Singing Radha Raman it was time to conclude our event. I remember thinking, "Must I say a Goodbye already?" but before I could voice my thoughts, I heard a "See you soon". Such Love! As transparent, as pure as Mother Nature! Yup, I have friends, my Green Walk Friends, and I can't wait to do it all over again :) - Ankita Pagrut

Hedge Fun: Multi-faith planting in Sheffield Report

One weekend in January some Amma devotees took part in a multi-faith tree-planting event in Sheffield. A group of about 15 people of all faiths worked together harmoniously and joyfully to plant 10 yards of ‘edible’ hedge, made up of hazel, elderberry and rosehip.

We planted the hedge at the local Children’s Centre and thought about how this would help the children understand that food comes from nature, not supermarkets! It was great to be out in the fresh air, working together, all contributing according to our own level of skill and ability, and enthusiasm.

We discussed why planting trees was a worthwhile thing to do and some of the reasons we came up with were to: filter pollution from the air, help recycle water, prevent soil loss, create shade, give shelter from wind and rain, provide homes for animals and make food for humans and wildlife.

We ended our planting session with a multi-faith blessing, a reflection on the elements and their part in the process, and a prayer that the children would benefit and grow in respect for Nature through their contact with this humble hedge! - Jane O'Byrne

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This GreenFriends site has been created in order to support the GreenFriends initiative of Mata Amritanandamayi Math in the UK. We seek to reawaken awareness of the unity between Nature and Humanity and to cultivate an attitude of love and reverence for Mother Nature: http://www.greenfriends.org.uk