AMMA, Celebrated Humanitarian and “Hugging Saint” to Receive Thousands in Los Angeles, June 21-25, 2005
AMMA, a world-renowned Humanitarian and Spiritual Leader from India is coming to LA in June 2005 for two free public spiritual programs to raise money for Tsunami victims in India and other charitable activities. Her intense love of the Divine has transformed millions and she has been honored by several international organizations for her Selfless Service for the poor.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 17, 2005 -- Reputed as a tireless humanitarian,
Mata Amritanandamayi, better known as “Amma” or “Ammachi,” visits the Southlands
from June 21-25, where she will receive thousands with her blessing–a healing
embrace. Free public programs take place at the Hilton LAX Airport, 5711 W.
Century Blvd.
Considered a living Saint in her homeland, Amma, 51, has
quietly gained an extraordinary reputation over the last 30 years as a result of
the extensive charity institutions she has established, and for her personal
outreach. Sleeping merely a couple hours per day, she teaches by the constant
example of her own life, emphasizing selfless social service.
Following
the deadly tsunami which killed thousands in India and throughout Asia, Amma’s
disaster relief pledge of one billion rupees ($23 million) made international
headlines such as The New York Times, ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings, and
BBC News.
Under Amma’s direction, within the first ten hours of the
tsunami strike, 15,000 people had been evacuated and fed, 3,000 were sheltered,
and medical teams and ambulances had begun treating throngs. Today, as part of a
vast volunteer crisis response program, 20,000 are fed daily, 3,000 earthquake
resistant homes are in final stages of construction, 15,000 household starter
kit grants (living stipends) have been granted, and 500 orphaned children have
been adopted, as well as ten entire villages.
“She has been compared to
Mother Teresa and Mohandas K. Gandhi who devoted their lives to the poor.”
-Washington Post
At the U.N. in Geneva, Amma was recognized with the
Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence, an award previously given only to Kofi
Annan, Nelson Mandela, and Dr. Jane Goodall.
Free Public Programs at
Hilton Los Angeles Airport: Darshan.
It is expected that thousands will visit
Amma for her darshan programs in Los Angeles. Darshan is a Sanskrit term
describing “audience in the presence of a holy person”. In a radical departure
from Indian tradition (particularly for a woman), Amma’s darshan consists of a
long tender embrace. She has been doing this, as a natural expression of love,
since she was a teen. It is estimated that Amma has given over 25 million hugs
in her life. In India, vast crowds usually assemble to the point where Amma may
individually receive and hug over 35,000 people in one day, sitting
continuously. She will never turn anyone away, nor charge any money.
Humanitarian Institutions: “Compassion to the poor is our duty to
God”
In addition to Amma’s individual/personal outreach, she has inspired
thousands around the world to volunteer their time and services on behalf of the
needy. Three distinct groups of institutions have been created: 1) direct aid to
the poor; 2) educational institutions designed to help the underprivileged help
themselves.
Direct aid activities are wide-reaching and include disaster
relief (Gujarat Earthquake, Tsunami) hospitals, clinics, hospices, women’s
shelters, orphanages, monthly pensions for widows, and the building of 100,000
homes for the poor, just to name a few. For example, the 800-bed Amrita
Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) hospital in South India offers
state-of-the-art medical treatment including open-heart surgery, neurosurgery,
and organ transplants—free of charge to the needy.
Secondly, a vast
network of elementary, secondary, vocational, and graduate schools ranging from
remote tribal classrooms to advanced vocational certification has been built
under Amma’s supervision. Within a short time, the engineering, computer
sciences, and medical college have come to be regarded as some of the very best
in India. And thirdly, a government joint project called Green Friends, has
enthused thousands of youth to eco-awareness and the planting of hundreds of
thousands of tree saplings on an annual basis.
Mother’s Kitchen
In an
effort to extend Amma’s example of volunteerism in North America, numerous
charitable projects have been launched, the first being “Mother’s Kitchen,” a
soup kitchen project for inner city poor. Since beginning in Oakland, CA in
1996, the success of this initiative has expanded to 40 cities in the U.S.,
including Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara, wherein local volunteers
caringly prepare and serve thousands of meals on a weekly basis.
Unity
of all great religions
Though born into the Hindu faith, Amma steadfastly
supports all great religions, encouraging aspirants to go deeper in their own
traditional path. “There is no harm in having many religions and faiths”, she
says, “but it is harmful to think they are different, and that one faith is
higher and another lower.” In her speech at the U.N., Amma described the real
source of historical world conflict as “lack of awareness of our true nature”.
Personal History
Born in 1953, the daughter of a poor fisherman in
the Kerala backwaters (a remote coastal area in South India along the Arabian
Sea), Amma has heeded the call to help others since early childhood. At the age
of ten, her schooling ended as she was forced into full time family chores.
Though treated as a “household slave”, Amma dwelt in constant remembrance of God
and never complained, although she adamantly refused to be married-off by her
family.
As a young mystic, she began to attract crowds
drawn to her God-intoxicated states. In the early phases of her life, she
confronted a traditional Indian society, who vehemently condemned her
unconventional behavior. (In India, the notion of a young holy woman hugging
strangers is so unorthodox that one member of her own family attempted to kill
her. Amma did not waver in her compassionate approach, and eventually former
detractors became supporters. Amma is recognized as the first major spiritual
figure in India to allow women to serve as temple priests, challenging the
male-dominated tradition.
Recognition in the West:
In 1993 Amma was a
selected President at the Centenary Parliament of World Religions in Chicago and
in 1995 was a keynote speaker at the United Nations 50th Anniversary
Commemoration. At the invitation of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Amma
addressed the U.N. at The Millennium World Peace Summit, in 2000 as part of a
select delegation of “preeminent religious and spiritual leaders”, In 2002, Amma
was greeted by a standing ovation at the U.N. in Geneva, upon being awarded the
Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence, presented by Dr, Jane Goodall. At, the 2004
Parliament of The World’s Religions in Barcelona, Amma gave the closing plenary
address. The opening addresses were programmed with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi.
Program Schedule:
Free
public programs will take place beginning at 10am: Hilton Los Angeles Airport,
5711 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA –with a quick meditation and darshan,
which runs to mid-late afternoon.
Evening Sessions begin at 7:30PM, with
a talk, and music led by Amma. Darshan begins around 9:30PM and goes late into
the night; Amma will not leave until everyone who wishes to receive her personal
blessing has been received.
Exceptionally, an intimate Retreat with Amma
(pre-registration is required) will take place June 23-25 followed by a final
free public program beginning at 6:30pm on the 25th of June. For retreat
registration visit www.amma.org
Contact: Bhavesh (Bob) Pandya 1-510-326-6225 e-mail protected from spam
bots or Rob Sidon, Tel: 415-505-1410 e-mail protected from spam bots All Program
Information: M.A. Center: (510) 537-9417, or locally at (310)-226-6979 Website:
www.amma.org
Amma is
available for interviews during public programs; please call Rob Sidon
In
a time when newswires are dominated by stories of crime and war, it is inspiring
to know there are stories of distinguished spiritual leaders such as the Dalai
Lama, and the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who remind us of what is beautiful
and deep about the human spirit.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb251825.htm