Amma news in Jamaica

Living Hindu saint embraces thousands
published: Thursday | September 7, 2006

Do you need a hug? How about 75,000 hugs in less than a day? A bit much? Well, if you're Amma, the living Hindu saint of hugs, then it's all in a day's work.

Amma, which means 'divine mother', is the nickname given to 52-year-old Mata Amritanandamayi, who though born in extreme poverty in the slums of southern India, now presides over a network of schools, orphanages and hospitals.

A living deity

In India, Mata is considered a living deity and about 10,000 people a day travel miles to line up for hours to get a hug from her.

According to a recent USA Today article, Amma has hugged an estimated 27 million people in her lifetime. On her birthday last year, she hugged 75,000 persons.

But what's so special about Amma's hugs anyway?

Well, her followers say that her hugs are more tender and loving than anybody else's. They say that a hug from Amma is like being in the presence of God. Quite intense for a simple hug, but 27 million people can't all be wrong!

www.jamaica-gleaner.com

because i know She Knows

This was my second meeting with Amma. I had gone to the Chicago
O'hare International Airport to receive her, as had many others that
day. In the last one year, I had already heard many powerful stories
about Amma that clearly pointed to her being a Self-realized saint, no
less than God Himself! While a part of me was quite convinced of
Amma's greatness, the other part wanted to 'test' her in some small,
simple way.

As Amma came out of the gate and started walking out with a sizable
retinue of hers, I too began following her, managing to stay several
steps behind and to her side. Then, began my test: Mentally, I began
calling "Ammmma... Ammmma... Ammmma..." The objective of the test was
to establish whether or not the supposedly omniscient Amma can
demonstrate that she can, at minimum, hear my calls. Suddenly, Amma
turned, slowed down just a wee bit and smilingly looked at me.
Walking, as I came within an arm's reach of hers, Amma wrapped her arm
around my neck, pulled me closer, kissed my cheek, and kept walking
with her arm still around until finally letting me go a few feet
later!

Though this whole episode did not last more than a minute, it was
quite an experience! Can any modern physicist demonstrate or even
explain this phenomenon, I thought.

While I felt there was no need for testing Amma any further, Amma on
Her own has since then given me not one but several indications of Her
divinity. I seek Her guidance in not only big and spiritual matters
but also in small and mundane ones... because I know She knows.

-Nikhil.

Amma has proved

Amma is the pure, blessed One.
Look at any photo from the old days
when she was 'just a teenage girl Ha!'
and a photo from this year and look
at the eyes in both photos.

See what I mean!
Nothing has changed, nothing.
Amma is pure beyond words.
Amma is ever-changeless.
She is the One.

It is almost scary to realize that
this perfect, blessed One in an instant
could crush the entire cosmos, all the universes of all time.
Yet Amma shows us a simple, small, sweet lady in white who wouldn't hurt a fly, and only cares to help all.

Amma doesn't care about the rules.
Yet she knows every thing about you and I.
This blessed one knows everything and even knows things you and I have forgotten or are simply deep in hiding from shame and pain.
Amma knows all.

I just felt like sharing what is on my mind most of the time.

Meditation is Life.
It can also be when I sit cross-legged and close my eyes.
But Amma has proved to me over and over Meditation is how one walks through waking life.

Om Amma!

Chetan Graham, India
12 June 2006

it happened years back

Om Namah Shivaya..
Its nice to see an Ashram diary Blog site.. where all the thoughts are
put together.

This happened many years back.. My parents were getting ready to meet
someone... & I heard them speaking about this Lady who blesses people &
that it might worth be a visit.. I wanted to go along as I was very
curious to know whom they were going to meet (as I always am ) but they
didnt let me come then..However, They went to meet Her again the next
day !! but this time I was there too !!
As far as I could remember it was in a house, this Lady in White was
sitting there .. Hugging people, smiling , the atmosphere was very
pleasant .. But I was more intrested in the candy that she gives, now
that interested me (Like how Ram-Elephant ; is when he sees biscuit in
Amma's Hand) !! As my turn came SHE hugged me too and yes I got the
candy !!
But little did I realize then, how this Lady, Our beloved Amma is going
to touch my life .... Everything changed.. The impact was tremendous but
smooth & gradual..She became a part of my life .. I remember only
that time of my life after I met HER everything before that seemed very
insignificant !! The way She guided me through my childhood,school,
college to job to marriage to till this date.. everyday was an
experience.The Roller Coaster Begun !!

Its now 16yrs since I met Amma, I am 25 yrs old, working for a reputable
firm (With Amma's grace)... I can never imagine how I would have made
till this if it was not for Amma... I would love to share my experience
with you all...

"Amma ki chaya me mera safar "

Ever in surrender to Amma

8th Aug 2006
-Shyan Jai

A real reason to go

I am proofing a book for my friend Laura,who met Amma in the eighties and told me that if I had any opportunity to see her I should. I went to Albuquerque June 26 to the Hyatt Regency, where Amma was giving darshan, and now I want to realize my dream since childhood of going to India, because now I have a real reason to go.

Athea Marcos Amir
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
9 July 2006