Media on Amma

From the media during Sw. Amritaswarupandaji’s visit
‘Gulf Daily News’, Bahrain January 14th, 2001

The essence of spirituality is love, says a visiting Indian spiritual leader. Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s vice-president Swami Amritaswarupananda said growth in love can be experienced only through a “heart to heart” relationship.

“When you meet someone, make sure it is is not just an external act. It should be a process of heart meeting heart,” he told Indian school students yesterday. “When two rivers meet they become one. True love will always help people to experience that feeling of oneness.”

Swami Amritaswarupananda is the first disciple of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), who has thousands of followers spreading the message of love and peace across the globe. Talking about the importance of establishing a strong bond of love with God, he said that there are intense moments in everyone’s life when one goes through some painful experiences or emotional or intellectual suffering. “God is the only light you can turn to during those critical moments. But you have to establish a relationship with God long before you reach such points,” said Swami Amritaswarupananda. “People should realise that the most important growth in a person’s life is his inner growth and not physical or intellectual growth.”

Swami Amritaswarupananda also advised parents to lend their ears to their young children. “Many parents try to ignore their little ones when they talk about their dream world,” he continued. “A feeling of being ignored in the young mind will adversely effect their growth. And when they grow up, they naturally try to hide serious things from their parents.”

Indian School chairman Dr. A. Kamaruddin welcomed the guest. Swami Amritaswarupananda also spoke on the topic of love at the Thattai Hindu Mercantile Community Hall in Manama.

M.A. Math, with its headquarters in Amritapuri, Kollam, Kerala, is engaged in various philanthropic activities around the world. Its charitable, educational, and humanitarian services are provided through its centres all over India and other parts of the world. Besides running several orphanages, educational institutions and homes for the destitute, it runs one of India’s top speciality hospitals in Cochin, Kerala.