"Children, one of our priorities should be to preserve nature. We must put an end to the practice of destroying the environment for money, for our selfish short-term needs. Each family should grow trees and plants in their yard. When the ancient sages enjoined that we should worship the trees, they were teaching the world the necessity of preserving and protecting nature. Our traditional practices of growing flowering plants and lighting oil lamps serve to purify the atmosphere." - Amma

“Everything is pervaded by Consciousness. It is that Consciousness which sustains the world and all the creatures in it. To worship everything, seeing God in all, is what religion advises. Such an attitude teaches us to love Nature. None of us would consciously injure our own body, because we know it would be painful. Similarly, we will feel the pain of other people to be our own when the realization dawns within us that everything is pervaded by one and the same Consciousness. Compassion will arise, and we will sincerely wish to help and protect all. In that state, we won’t feel like plucking even a leaf unnecessarily. We will pick a flower only on the last day of its existence, before it falls from the stem. We will consider it as very harmful to the plant, and to Nature, if the flower is plucked on its very first day due to our greediness.

Looking at Nature and observing its selfless way of giving, we can become aware of our own limitations. That will help to develop devotion and self-surrender to God. Thus, Nature helps us to become closer to God and teaches us to truly worship Him. In reality, Nature is nothing but God’s visible form which we can behold and experience through our senses. Indeed, by loving and serving Nature, we are worshipping God Himself.

Just as Nature creates the favorable circumstances for a coconut to become a coconut tree, and for a seed to transform itself into a huge fruit tree, Nature creates the necessary circumstances through which the individual soul can reach the Supreme Being and merge in eternal union with Him. A sincere Truth-seeker, or a true believer, cannot harm Nature because he or she sees Nature as God — he doesn’t experience Nature as being separate from himself. He is the real lover of Nature.”- Amma

The Spiritual Significance of Tulasi

The sacred medicinal plant revered as an incarnation of the Goddess. There are numerous legends throughout the ancient scriptures of India that describe how the Goddess manifested on earth in the form of the Tulasi plant for the benefit of all creation. This divine plant has been honored for thousands of years and is given a respectful place in countless homes and temples.

Tulasi is a key component of Ayurvedic medicine. Today, an ever-growing body of scientific evidence is proving the vast range of Tulasi’s medicinal attributes that have been recognized and utilized since ancient times. Tulasi protects against and reduces stress, enhances stamina and endurance, increases the body’s efficient use of oxygen, slows the aging process and provides a rich supply of anti-oxidants. These numerous properties support the body’s natural capacity to maintain a state of well-being and vitality. Tulasi is used in the treatment of countless common ailments such as cold, fever, flu, and headache. Tulasi offers remarkable curative and preventative properties in regards to many degenerative disorders such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and neurological dementia.

Along with respect for its medicinal uses, Tulasi is revered as a purifier of inner negativity as well. Traditionally, ceremonial worship is considered incomplete without the presence of Tulasi leaves. In India, devotees garland Amma daily with beautiful Tulasi-malas from plants they have grown with love and reverence in their own homes.

Amma says that Tulasi is one of the symbols of self-sacrifice. This blessed plant offers Her entire being; Her leaves, flowers, seeds and stems for worship and as medicine. She teaches us that even the most humble plant is an embodiment of Divinity, and through self-sacrifice we can truly become close to God.