World-Renowned Humanitarian and Spiritual Leader...
Amma Visits LA in June
By Nancy J. Murray
Sri
Mata Amritanandamayi, dubbed as
the “Hugging Saint” by international media, will be returning to
Los Angeles from
June 16-20 at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport.
“Amma” as she is affectionately called, is a world-renowned humanitarian and
spiritual leader from
India whose mission over the past three decades has been to spread love
and compassion and better the lives of the poor and suffering. Amma, 53, has
hugged more than 21 million people throughout the world to date, and she is not
stopping any time soon.
The Washington Post has compared Amma to Gandhi and Mother Theresa. Her
outstanding contributions to the world community have been recognized through
awards such as the United Nation’s Gandhi-King award, whose recipients also
include
Bill Clinton and
Nelson Mandela. Her non-profit organization, M.A. Center, representing
multiple charities in
India and elsewhere, presented $1 million to support the victims of
Hurricane Katrina (Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund organized by former U.S. Presidents
Bill Clinton and
George H.W Bush).
Amma has traveled to the USA since 1987 spreading her message and embracing
millions. She first included
Los Angeles in her world tour in 1988, where she received several hundred
seekers who recognized her unique presence at what were then at the Presbyterian
Conference grounds in Temescal
Canyon Park in Pacific Palisades. In those early days, gatherings were
small and intimate. Today, her tremendous energy allows her to receive 175,000
people in 19 hours in
India.
Amma’s officers and organizers periodically encourage Amma to take more rest
from her multiple worldwide tours, but Amma will not hear of it. Regarded as a
living saint by many, her boundless energy and fervent commitment to relieve
mankind’s suffering come from an unobstructed flow of divine love and a
consciousness anchored in a state of oneness. Her events sometimes stretch long
into the morning of the following day to the consternation of her volunteer
staff. Amma remains as fresh as the rose petals she showers upon her admirers –
not moving from her chair.
The
Los Angeles program is a gathering at which individuals will spend time
with Amritanandamayi. A Sanskrit term, “Darshan” means to have an audience in
the presence of a holy person.” The multi-day program typically attracts 4,000
to 9,000 people daily to receive a hug and hear her simple message of love. Over
the years, many have cried their pains away and been comforted on Amma’s bosom
in a soothing, warm motherly embrace. Amma gently wipes away the tears, and many
visitors to her lap experience a lifting of cares and worries.
Ammachi was a keynote speaker at the “Parliament of World Religions” convened
every 100 years, which last took place in
Chicago in 1993. Her address stressed the new urgency for religious
principles to permeate our lives. “The language of religion is the language of
love. But it is a language the modern world has forgotten. This is the basic
cause behind all the problems that exist in the present day world. Today, we
know only limited selfish love. Transformation of this limited love into Divine
love is the goal of religion. Within the fullness of true love blossoms the
beautiful, fragrant flower of compassion.
Amma stresses that calming the mind is the first step in finding lasting inner
peace.
“There is one Truth that shines through all of creation. Rivers and
mountains, plants and animals, the sun, the moon and the stars, you and I…all
are expressions of this one Reality. It is by assimilating this truth in our
lives, and thus gaining a deeper understanding, that we can discover the
inherent beauty of diversity. When we work together as a global family, not
merely belonging to a particular race, religion or nation, then peace and
happiness will once again prevail on this earth, which is drenched with the
tears of division and conflict.”
— Amma
from a speech delivered to the
United Nations
Free public programs will be held starting at 10 a.m. and
7:30 p.m. on June 16 and 17. A final free program will be offered
on June 20 beginning at 7 p.m. A retreat will be held at the Hilton
on June 18, 19 and 20 (pre-registration required). For more information,
please visit
www.amma.org For more local LA information, visit:
www.amma/org/la or
call
(323) 469-1247
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