Dear children, in the past, men had the freedom and license to do anything, as they were the only ones working. Because control over finances and other matters was in their hands, they exercised an authority that imprisoned women. Then they went about their affairs holding the key in their hands.
The Changing Times
But now the situation has changed. Even if locked in, women are opening the doors from the inside and breaking free. The reason is that today, women are educated, have jobs, and the means to stand on their own two feet. Men need to realize that times have changed; they should not only clear the path but also create space for women to progress.
The Power of Feminine Qualities
Motherhood, or the innate feminine qualities in women, has remarkable transformative power, possibly even greater than that of men. This means that there is no greater strength than love, compassion, patience, and forbearance, which are the true riches women possess. These virtues are not a weakness, but real power and immeasurable positive energy. Therefore, women do not need to blindly imitate men, as is often seen in Western culture, to demonstrate their inner strength. Instead, they simply need to access their own inner potential and break free from the chains of their past conditioning. Women irrationally copying men’s ways is like a lioness trying to become a tiger!
An African Example
Amma has heard of an incident regarding a war in an African country. Countless men died in this war. Although women made up 70 percent of the population, they did not lose courage from their loss. They did not give up their original culture or turn into copycats. Steadfast in their traditions, they united in solidarity. Individually and in groups, they started small businesses. They raised both their own children and the orphans. Before long, the women found themselves remarkably empowered, and their overall situation radically improved.
Complementing Each Other
Men and women should stop playing the blame game and complement each other rather than contradict each other by discovering their own dharmas. Such courageous women have lived in every age and broken out from the cages that were imposed upon them to start revolutions. Indian princesses like Rani Padmini, Hathi Rani, Mirabai, and Jhansi Rani were such symbols of valor and purity. Similar jewels of womanhood have existed in other countries too. Some examples are Florence Nightingale, Joan of Arc, and Harriet Tubman.
The Bird with Two Wings
Like the two wings of a bird, women and men are of equal value. For without the two in perfect balance, humanity cannot progress. Those who desire peace and happiness in the global community should change their attitude now, in this very moment. There is no point in delaying, because putting it off means peace is not your priority.
About the Author
Amma, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. Compassion in action. Those three words capture the life of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. Her every single breath is dedicated to selflessly loving and serving those who are suffering. Known simply as Amma, she is a spiritual master and humanitarian who leads solutions for the urgent and complicated challenges our world is facing. Amma was born in 1953 in an impoverished fishing village in Kerala. Even as a young girl, she began embracing others to help relieve them of their pain. Today, she has held more than four crore people in her arms across India, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Drying countless tears, Amma has initiated work in disaster relief, food, shelter, education, gender equality, and environmental conservation in more than 50 countries. In India, she has also established Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University) as a compassion-driven research institution and Amrita Hospitals to make advanced healthcare accessible to all and provide free treatment for the poor.
