Amma; interpreting and finding meaning in life

[Jitendra Hydonus]

“People have given life many different meanings and interpretations. ‘Life is like an ocean,’ ‘Life is like a poem,’ ‘Life is like a flowing river,’ ‘Life is a long journey,’ ‘Life is like a dream.’ We compare life to so many things.

“Yet, we rarely hear people say, ‘Life is humility,’ ‘Life is patience,’ ‘Life is tolerance,’ ‘Life is open-mindedness,’ ‘Life is renunciation.’ One thing is clear—life is a mystery too deep to be measured by our small intellect. Our tiny body, arms, and legs are just not enough to swim across the great ocean of life.”
Amma explained that life is, in fact, infinite, and true fulfillment comes only when we align ourselves with that infinity. Be it spiritual or material, this is the only way to attain lasting peace and happiness.
“Lamenting over our losses in life, we forget the greatest gain of all—that which we need to attain in this birth: love. To make as much profit as possible is the goal of a businessperson. Thus, the biggest loss one can face in business is to lose all one’s capital and become a pauper.
“Similarly, the greatest gain that one can achieve in life is true love. And the biggest loss that can happen to anyone is the absence of love. One’s real life savings is love. If that is lost, one becomes a pauper in the truest sense. Therefore, we should try to fill the treasure chest of our hearts with more and more love, reaping the real wealth from this life.”