Reputed as a tireless humanitarian, Mata Amritanandamayi, better known as “Amma” or “Ammachi,” visits the Boston area offering free public programs between July 13-16 as part of a 10-city U.S. Tour, where she will receive thousands with her blessing–a healing embrace. Two free public programs will take place at the Best  Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Rd. West, in Marlborough on July 13th.

Considered a living Saint in her homeland of India, Amma (56) has gained an extraordinary reputation over the last 30 years as a result of her extensive charitable institutions and for her personal outreach. The recipient of numerous humanitarian awards, Amma who sleeps merely a couple hours per day, teaches by the example of her own life, dedicated to selfless social service. Though Amma does not particularly espouse a particular religion, she has been grouped among the twelve most influential religious leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI, the Dalai Lama, the Grand Rabbi of Jerusalem, the Grand Ayatollah, and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Amma is the only woman of the group. 

“Mata Amritanandamayi…is fast becoming a world-renowned spiritual leader like Mother Teresa or Mohandas Gandhi.” -Reuters News

Boston Area Free Public Programs: Darshan.
It is expected that Amma will receive thousands for darshan, a Sanskrit term describing “audience in the presence of a holy person”.  In a significant departure from ancient tradition particularly as a woman, Amma’s darshan consists of a tender embrace.  She has been doing this as a natural expression of compassion since she was a teen.  It is estimated that Amma has given over 30 million hugs in her life. In India, vast crowds usually assemble to the point where Amma may individually receive and hug over 40,000 people in a continuous sitting.  She will never turn anyone away, nor charge any money. The press has dubbed her “The Hugging Saint”.

Humanitarian Institutions:    “Compassion to the poor is our duty to God”
With official NGO status granted by the United Nations, Amma oversees a vast network of volunteer humanitarian activities of three distinct types: 1) direct aid to the needy, 2) educational institutions designed to help the underprivileged learn to help themselves, and 3) social programs that serve broader society and the environment. The list of endeavors is remarkably long, ranging from 1300-bed charitable hospitals, to the building of over 100,000 homes for the poor, to orphanages, pensions for widows, hospices, a wide array of subsidized schools, to Green Friends, an environmental youth program wherein over 150,000 tree saplings are planted annually. Charitable activities are created rapidly around the world by volunteers. For more information, visit www.Amma.org.

Amma emerged as a leading figure in disaster relief, following the devastating earthquakes that rocked the Gujarat regions of India, where three razed villages were entirely rebuilt. In 2004, her efforts towards Tsunami Relief made international headlines as over $50 million has been contributed to that cause. In the U.S., a million dollar donation was given to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Relief has gone also equally to help the Peru earthquake as well as to relief from Cyclone Aila (Bengal), as well as to the serious flood disasters in Bihar, Mumbai and Karnataka.

**In response to the deadly hurricane in Haiti, Amma is actively overseeing the creation of a charitable orphanage in the suburbs of Port au Prince. Several containers of hospital supplies have been shipped to Haiti.**

Epidemic of Farmer Suicides: Amma pledged $46 million to help tackle an alarming trend of suicides afflicting indebted farmers in parts of India. Caught in a vicious cycle of failing (genetically engineered) crops and aggressive moneylenders, thousands of farmers each year resort to suicide. In many cases, before taking their own lives, the farmer will also eliminate his entire family in a desperate attempt to shield them from the shame and harassment of debt collectors.  “Suicide is never a way out; counseling and education could really help them [the farmers] get through to the other side”, says Amma.

Personal History
Born in 1953, the daughter of a poor fisherman in the Indian state of Kerala, Amma has heeded the call to help others since early childhood.  At the age of ten, her schooling ended abruptly as she was forced into arduous family chores. Though frequently mistreated, it is said that Amma dwelt in constant remembrance of God and never complained, except when she adamantly refused her family’s attempts to arrange her marriage.
 
A rare mystic at young age, Amma began to attract crowds drawn to her God-intoxicated states and compassionate outreach. Confronting traditional religious culture, Amma drew criticism for her unconventional behavior, as there is no precedent of a single woman—even a holy woman—embracing strangers. But Amma did not waver from her approach, and eventually former detractors became supporters. In later years Amma countered (male-dominated) religious custom in India by allowing women to serve as priests in the temples. “Women too love God”, Amma refuted.

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”.

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 roaring standing ovation at the U.N. in Geneva upon being recognized with the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence, an award previously given to Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, and Dr, Jane Goodall.
Amma was the closing plenary at the 2004 Parliament of The World’s Religions in Barcelona, and in recognition of her efforts in disaster relief, received the James Parks Morton Award along with Nobel Laureate Mohamed El Baradei, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, and actor-activist Richard Gere. This award had previously been given to Bishop Desmond Tutu, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and President Bill Clinton.

Amma has received various commendations from U.S. cities as well as honorary university doctorates.

Program Information: The free programs will be held at Best  Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Rd. West, in Marlborough on July 13 at 10am and 7:30pm. Exceptionally, an intimate Retreat with Amma (pre-registration is required.) follows on July 14-16, to conclude the tour. A final free public program begins at 7pm on July 16.

PRESS CONTACT: Rob Sidon, (Volunteer Press Liaison to Amma), Tel: 415-505-1410 for all coverage/interview queries. robsidon@yahoo.com WEBSITE: www.amma.org

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, Mahatma Gandhi, and the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who remind us of what is beautiful and deep about the human spirit.

|