Sunday March 30, 2008

True comfort is being in the loving arms of Amma.

SUNDAY WITH T.SELVA

I WRITE his week’s column with deep enthusiasm because the world’s renowned mother of love and compassion will be in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow offering her healing hugs to people.

Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, better known as Amma (mother), has embraced over 28 million people worldwide over the past three decades and many who have been held by her returned feeling relieved, cured, happy and peaceful.

All embracing: Amma does not preach any religion but thousands of strangers are at ease in her presence.

The amazing feat is that she stays wherever she is offered lodging, asks for nothing, eats little and spends up to 22 hours a day, rarely moving from a seat, hugging, praying for and blessing those who come to her.

I would like to share my experience with readers on Amma because I was moved by her selfless service and unconditional love when I first met her in 2001.

The meeting made me decide to seek answers to the unseen and unknown powers of leaders like Amma and I went on a journey, which took me to nine cities around the world six years ago.

My travels to meet her took me to Brisbane, Sydney, Tokyo, New York, Zurich, Geneva, Kerala and Singapore, apart from Kuala Lumpur.

Each trip was a mini adventure in itself as each connected me to hundreds of individuals who, in one way or another, helped me to appreciate life in its various hues.

The two-year journey allowed me to meet many people who shared their stories and experiences about Amma and they are convinced that she is somewhat special.

She does not preach any religion but thousands of strangers are at ease in her presence.

The United Nations recognised her as an extraordinary spiritual leader and awarded her the prestigious Gandhi-King Award for Non- violence.

A frequently asked question is what is it about her that attracts so many people to her and what can one experience from her hug.

Some broke down and cried, some left beaming while others walked away looking somewhat dissatisfied or glum.

When I got my first hug in Singapore, I was overwhelmed by a strong energy force. My mind was totally blank for several seconds and it took me a while to compose myself.

All she said as she hugged me was, “My darling child, my darling child, my darling child.”

Amma’s method of blessing her followers, besides her hug, includes giving sweets, chocolates, flowers, fruits and sacred ash.

During my travels, I had an opportunity to interview her in New York and asked her why she has been described as a god.

Amma said that, a long time ago, she had given herself to the world.

“I am what people want to see me as. I don’t worry too much about what they see me as,” she said.

Asked how did the hugging start, she said: “People used to come and tell Amma their troubles. They would cry and I would wipe their tears away.

“When they fell weeping on my lap, I would hug them. Then the next person too wanted it and so the habit picked up.”

Amma said many people burst into tears when they embrace her because love is the essence of every human being and when the goodness in them is touched it can overflow as tears.

According to her, embracing symbolises giving and loving and there is a shortfall of love in the world.

“My embraces are aimed at awakening the spirit of giving in people and it is not a drama.

“It is purely physical but aimed at touching you inside,” said Amma.

She said she realised she had a special gift when she was five years old and that she used to pray intensely.

Amma was born in Kerala, India, in 1953 into a poor fisherman’s family. At the age of nine, her schooling ended when she was obliged to help with family chores.

As a youth, Amma’s reputation went beyond her village and she began to attract a large following who sought to be near her and to receive her blessings.

Despite the admiration she has garnered, Amma also has to face traditional society, including members of her own family, who fiercely condemned her unconventional behaviour, particularly when she was a young woman.

Some people threw stones at her, attempted to poison her and even stabbed her but she survived the attacks without wavering from her purpose.

At one point of her life, she withdrew deep within, isolating herself from everyone and everything, and became immersed in the inner bliss of God-consciousness.

It was then that she realised her life was meant to offer solace to a suffering humanity.

Till today, Amma’s behaviour remains mysterious to her family who now supports her self-sacrificing deeds and to her followers she is known as the living saint.

My travels ended with me writing a book titled Journey with Amma, which records people’s experiences and my study of her and donating all proceeds from the sale of book to her charitable activities.

I am now convinced that life is not meant to be a suffering and we should not become victims of our problems.

We should take charge of our lives as the choices in life are boundless.

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T. Selva, The Star’s Sunday Metro Editor, feels what the world needs now is love and it can be found in Amma’s therapeutic hugs.

The Star.com