'Natural disasters, a way of teaching lesson to us'

The rule of a country is the law, while the rule of universe is righteousness, said Mata Amritanandamayi, fondly referred as ‘Amma’ by her devotees.

She was delivering a discourse as a part of ‘Amritasangama 2019’, organised on the premises of Amrita Vidyalaya here, on Friday.

Dharma is the rule of the God which everyone has to follow for the spiritual enlightenment. In the present circumstances, it is our duty to protect nature. As a result of man’s greed, air, water and soil have been polluted, she said.

“We should take good care of nature, plant saplings and prevent overuse of chemical fertilisers. Natural disasters are always a way of teaching a lesson to us. It can take only a moment for nature to take back everything it has bestowed upon us. Therefore, one should stop plundering natural resources,” Amma appealed to the people.

She lamented that humanity had taken a backseat in the fast-paced lifestyle today. “Excessive desire for technology creates many illusions which is separating us from humanity. As a result, emotions, like anxiety and hatred, are haunting our minds.”

Amma, distributed working capital to Amritashree
self- help groups, 40 wheelchairs to physically challenged, Vidyamrita Scholarships to
22 students, 30 sewing machines to women beneficiaries and ‘Soukhyam’ eco-friendly and reusable sanitary napkins, made from plantain yarn and cotton, to girl students.

She also initiated the work of constructing toilets and cloak rooms at Sulthan
Bathery and Tannirbavi Beach for the benefit of tourists under ‘Amala Bharatam’
programme. Sandhya Pai, editor of a Taranga weekly magazine, released ‘Amritasangama’, a souvenir, on the occasion.

Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Members of Legislative Assembly D Vedavyas Kamath and Dr Y Bharat Shetty, former minister J Krishna Palemar, Corporation Bank MD and CEO P V Bharati, Karnataka Bank General Manager B Chandrashekhar, MRPL Senior Group General Manager (HR) B H V Prasad and others were present.