A Little Divine Wisdom About “Saving the World”
There is a very famous “spiritual teacher” named Mata Amrityanandamayi (better known as “Ammachi”). Before the Covid-19 pandemic, she would spend the better part of the year travelling around the world giving talks, singing devotional songs and blessing those who came to attend her free programs with a “hug” (it’s easy to see why she would have had to stop doing that…) Her hugs became quite famous. She would, in fact, remain in a stadium with 20,000 people and not leave until each person had received one of her divine embraces (generally without a break). It was widely reported that, all tolled, she had hugged over 30,000,000 worldwide.
She also became famous as an humanitarian. Her global network of local and regional charitable organizations, currently active in more than 40 countries is called (not surprisingly) “Embracing the World” . A list of her honors and awards is below.
I once told a priest I had befriended about Amma, and although he had nothing but suspicion regarding Indian “gurus”, he couldn’t quite get his mind around the sheer numbers. So, he was sufficiently curious enough about why so many people would want to be hugged by her, that he actually got up early one morning, and accompanied me to the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. This was where over 20,000 people used to come each year to experience Ammachi’s blessing (I also once went with the Dean of the Columbia School of Journalism, who had a grand old time. But that’s a whole other story).
While waiting for the blessing, Amma’s organization played a very powerful film about her (which I’m told was created by a follower who also happened to be the head of marketing for Microsoft). It showed her non -touring life, which is a genuinely superhuman, non-stop, schedule of helping others and relieving whatever suffering she finds in the world; from building free homes (tens of thousands of them), to simply shoveling garbage for 10 hours to rid some section of India of excessive waste, and on and on and on. My priest friend was mesmerized. At one point, he leaned over to me and said, “You know, 48 hours ago she wasn’t even on my radar. Now, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. This is Christ’s teachings in action.”
We had left early enough that morning to be one of the first in line for a blessing and, after Ammachi hugged the priest (she also whispers mantras in your ear during the hug), he stood up, but couldn’t move. One is supposed to immediately get up and make room for the next person when finished. But he just stood there, immobile. Amma smiled and invited him to get yet another hug (itself highly unusual). And, as soon as the priest left the stage, he made a beeline for the bookstall, where he immediately purchase a picture of her. When I asked him why he hadn’t left the stage after the first hug, he simply said that it had been so long since someone had hugged him, he was so moved… he couldn’t move. And then added, “She did something to me… Oh, a good thing. But something in me has changed.” He went on to have at least one very remarkable experience related to her afterwards, which I’ll have to leave for another time. But had become a definite fan for life.
I guess I’m relating all of this just to try and establish Ammachi’s reputation and genuine spiritual greatness.
Now, it’s is all leading up to a talk given by a monk who lives in Ammachi’s ashram in San Ramon, Calif. He, ironically, had met Amma while part of a documentary film crew, which actually intended to expose her as a fake.
I guess this particular fellow was unconvinced…
In any event, one of the things that the monk shared with us was his first meeting with her. At that point in his life, he was so distressed by what he saw as the condition and state of mankind, his first question was, quite naturally, “What can I do to change the terrible shape the world is in?”
And Amma’s reply (coming from someone who’s entire life is devoted to alleviating human suffering) was this:
“The world is already perfect. Any fault you see in it is your own.”
I’m not going to even try and make some kind of “authoritative” sounding sense of her statement. I don’t feel qualified. Perhaps readers might want to offer their own take on it. But, my best guess is if one takes the whole concept of “projection”, in the psychological and philosophical sense, to its ultimate conclusion, one probably would find oneself right where she says we are.
The world is God’s Creation. Our perception of it is entirely our own.
Awards and Honors
New York, USA, 28 September 2015
Fashion4Development “Medal of Honor” (New York, 2015)
Paris, France, 21 July 2015 Amma was invited for the daylong function by the Special Envoy for the Protection of the Planet in the Summit of Conscience for the Climate in Paris, organized by French President Francois Hollande.
New York, USA, 8 July 2015 Delivers the keynote address at the United Nation’s first Academic Impact conference on technology and sustainable development.
Los Angeles, USA, 14 June 2015 Honoured with a Golden Goody Award (Oscar for Social Good) for her Worldwide Humanitarian Charities.
Vatican, Rome, 5 December 2014 With Pope Francis, Participates in Interfaith Declaration to End Modern Slavery organized by Global Freedom Network at the Vatican.
Amritapuri Ashram, India, 4 September 2014 Balagokulam, an organization promoting Hindu cultural education since the 1970s, bestowed its 18th annual Krishna Janmashtami Award upon Amma at Amritapuri Ashram.
The Huffington Post, New York, USA, 8 March 2014 Chosen as one among the 50 most powerful women religious leaders by The Huffington Post.
Kochi, India, 26 April 2014 Bestowed with the Kavithilakam Pandit Karuppan Award at Kochi.
Michigan, USA, 27 September 2013 Awarded proclamation on behalf of the State of Michigan to Amma commemorating Amma’s 60th birthday, the official proclamation describes Amma as a true citizen of the world and recognizes Amma’s charitable works worldwide.
Thiruvananthapuram, India, 23 April 2013 Awarded first Vishwaretna Purskar (Gem of the World Award) by Hindu Parliament at Thiruvananthapuram.
New Delhi, India, 11 January 2013 Inaugurated the Swami Vivekananda Sarda Shati Samaroh, the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi.
Watkins’, London, England, February 2012 Amma featured in the Watkins’ list of the top 100 most spiritually influential living people in the world. The February 2012 issue (Number 29) of Watkins Mind Body Spirit quarterly magazine ranks the world’s top 100 most spiritually influential living people.
Shanghai, China, 29–30 November 2012 Delivers speech “Coexistence & Engagement Between Cultures” at the United Nations Alliance of Civilization in Shanghai. Amma was the only spiritual/religious leader invited to the conference.
New York, USA, 25 May 2010 The State University of New York awards Amma an honorary doctorate in humane letters at its Buffalo campus.
New Delhi, India, 1 December 2009 Amma inaugurates the Vivekananda International Foundation.
Kozhikode, India, 14 February 2009 Amma was presented with Junior Chamber International’s highest honor, the ‘Shanti Swaroop’ peace award by Vallabh Das, Chairman of the Junior Chamber International Peace Award Foundation at Kozhikode.
London, England, 27 October 2008 Amma receives the Mahavir Mahatma Award.
Jaipur, India, 7 March 2008 Amma is a keynote speaker at the Summit of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.
Paris, France, 12 October 2007 Amma is awarded the Prix Cine’ma Ve’rite’ for her humanitarian activities and work for peace at the Cinema Verite Film Festival.
New York, USA, 2 May 2006 Amma receives the James Parks Morton Interfaith Award in New York.
Pune, India, 31 January 2006 Amma receives the Philosopher Saint Sri Jnaneswara World Peace Prize.
Los Angeles, USA, 21 June 2005 Los Angeles County presents award to Amma for her outstanding humanitarian contributions, efforts and compassionate love that she has shared and continues to share with the tsunami victims in India & Sri Lanka.
Kochi, India, 23 February 2005 Amma receives Centenary Legendary Award of the Rotary Club International.
Barcelona, Spain, 13 July 2004 Amma delivers a keynote address at the 2004 Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Geneva, Switzerland, 7 October 2002 The World Movement for Nonviolence confers upon Amma the Gandhi-King Award for Non-violence at the UN in Geneva.
Geneva, Switzerland, 7 October 2002 Amma is the keynote speaker at the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious & Spiritual Leaders at the UN, Geneva.
New York, USA, 29 August 2000 Amma is a keynote speaker at the Millennium World Peace Summit, UN General Assembly.
Chicago, USA, 1998 Amma receives the Care & Share International Humanitarian of the Year Award.
New York, USA, 21 October 1995 Amma addresses the Interfaith Celebrations at the 50th anniversary of the UN.
Chicago, USA, 3 September 1993 Amma addresses the Parliament of the World’s Religions’ 100th Anniversary, where is she named President of the Hindu Faith.
Chicago, USA, 3 September 1993 Amma receives the “Hindu of the year award — Hindu Renaissance Award” from Hinduism Today.
