Much is being said, written, and celebrated on International Women’s Day. I personally feel a tinge of sadness, for women still must travel a long road before being recognized and treated as equals to men.
Traveling the road, and attaining the goal, is critical to the world — not just to women.
I think of a speech given to the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders by Mata Amritanandamayi (commonly known as Amma, or Mother) in Geneva in 2002. In the speech, Amma addressed the pressing need for women to arise and bring their strength, compassion, patience, selflessness, and love into their individual lives and into the world, for their own benefit, and for the benefit of humanity.
Women are the power and the very foundation of our existence in the world. When women lose touch with their real selves, the harmony of the world ceases to exist, and destruction sets in. It is therefore crucial that women everywhere make every effort to rediscover their fundamental nature, for only then can we save this world.
The fundamental qualities of women, says Amma, are love, compassion, and patience; these must be balanced internally as well as in the world with the courage, discrimination, and detachment of men, so women don’t become immobilized by their gentle, good natures. Men and women must be respected and treated as equals, neither one greater or lesser.
Amma also says modern education and thinking must be balanced with spirituality in order for women — and the world — to progress.
Women in countries where materialism is predominant should awaken to spirituality. And women in countries where they are forced to remain inside the narrow walls of religious tradition should awaken to modern thinking.
The strength of women and the fluid qualities of that strength are emphasized in Amma’s 2002 speech and in a related speech given to the 2008 Global Peace Initiative of Women conference in Jaipur, India.
The inner strength of women flows like a river. If the current of a river encounters a mountain, the river will flow around it. If there is a cluster of rocks, the river will flow through them. Sometimes, it may flow under or over them. Similarly, feminine strength has the capacity to move toward the goal, overcoming any obstacle it encounters.
As women know, and men are beginning to understand, the role of women is critical and pivotal in bringing positive change and balance to a world enmeshed in conflict. Amma states this directly:
Today, when competition and anger are the norm everywhere, it is the patience and tolerance of women that create whatever harmony there is in the world.
On International Women’s Day, we women must remember, honor, and express our inherent qualities and strength. More importantly, we must do so every day, so that each day becomes International Women’s Day.
Printed copies of the 2002 speech The Awakening of Universal Motherhood and the 2008 speech The Infinite Potential of Women can be ordered here.
