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from the author, 19 May 2001
Dear
Tamil Nation, I am an author of a just published book entitled "Mother
of All" about my experiences with a remarkable holy woman of India, Anasuya
Devi. Her life-story is unusual in the annals of world spirituality
revealing a uniquely feminine approach to spiritual enlightenment. "Mother
of All" is the account of the life and thought of one of the most unusual
woman teachers of the twentieth century. Mother Anasuya Devi of Jillellamudi
village South India was a renowned, if controversial, figure who shocked
Hindu traditionalists by teaching that the world is real and not an illusion
or maya as is commonly held. She insisted that the earth itself, and not
some transcendent divinity, is the highest God. Mother's biography-
especially her early years which were marked by extraordinary visions,
miracles and terse Zen-like teachings on the oneness of matter and spirit--
has been compared to the life of Christ. She had tens of thousands of
devotees in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu...
from a review by Dimitri Drivas:
" I have read this book before in the original Indian edition. This new
edition by Blue Dove Press is a definite improvement. The book is a true
work of love by the author, Richard Schiffman, who is a devotee of
Jillellamudi Mother and spent several years with her. I too am her devotee
as well as one of Sathya Sai Baba's. The inspiration for my looking her way
- for which I am eternally grateful - came principally from Richard's
wonderful book. In the past, I have given and lent copies to others on the
spiritual path. Many of them were extremely devoted to their gurus and
reluctant to read about other holy beings. Nevertheless, literally everyone
who read this book was truly inspired, and many insisted that their friends
read "Mother of All" as well. Books with this kind of power and ability to
transmit the love of God are rare and should be treasured.
I have had several remarkable personal experiences with Mother including
being put into a state of bliss lasting over three hours resulting from just
a half a second glance at one of her photographs. Jillellamudi Mother,
though not well known even in India, seems to have been an Avatar of Adi
Shakti, the primordial creative power - truly, the Divine Mother and the
mother of us all. To say that such a being is rare is an understatement, and
not to find out more about her would be unwise. To be able to look her way
with love and an open heart would be a great blessing. Many high souls have
said that the path to God realization always goes through the Divine Mother.
That's why this book is such a gift to the seeker.
Even though I have never seen Mother in the flesh, when I think of her or
see her picture, I feel tremendous longing and tears come to my eyes. With
her, teachings and practice don't matter. Of course, it is a good thing to
know her life story, but her very being engenders tremendous love - no real
need for details. I feel she is my true mother and always has been. Spend a
little time thinking of her or concentrating on her picture and you can't
help but feel the love which she so perfectly embodies. We are all her
children.
There is no better introduction to the Jillellamudi Mother than Richard
Schiffman's book, and few books give such heartfelt glimpses into how
wonderful the Divine Mother aspect of the Godhead can be."
