| The first time I enter the concert hall I am greeted by | | | | generous no matter what the situation was. Since her |
| an explosion of sensory input, Indian music fills the | | | | teens she would enter trance like states for hours at a |
| room, hundreds of people are milling about and there is | | | | time. As a young woman she would spend sleepless |
| a small marketplace at the back of the hall with | | | | nights after a full days work to chant and meditate. In |
| devotees selling a wide variety of spiritual products to | | | | time villagers began to take notice that there was |
| eager buyers. All the activity reminds me of the | | | | something special in the young woman and her |
| fabulous chaos of India and for a moment I forget I am | | | | popularity began to spread. Within a few years, |
| actually at the Manhattan Center in the middle of NYC. | | | | Amritanandamayi went from servant of her own |
| Everyone is gathered for one purpose, to have a | | | | modest family in South India to one of the most |
| chance to be in the in the presence of what many | | | | recognized and prominent saints of India today. |
| consider a living saint. | | | | While waiting for darshan, videos on the big screens |
| I find myself once again visiting the "hugging saint" | | | | recount some of the philanthropic work Ammachi has |
| Amritanandamayi, Ammachi or Amma as she is also | | | | established. The scope of her charitable work is |
| called. Being familiar with the environment I feel at | | | | impressive. Some of the projects, mostly in India, |
| home but I am curious as to what my friend Bill, who I | | | | include three hospitals, orphanages, a hospice, a |
| brought for the first time and who is not familiar with | | | | University, and GreenFriends-an organization to protect |
| anything similar to this, will experience. | | | | the environment. |
| The evening starts with a simple program. Amma | | | | Along with other contemporary women saints in India, |
| speaks of the virtues of unconditional love and | | | | Ammachi has led a revolution in equality. Being a |
| generosity, leads a group with the chanting of bhajans | | | | woman is still not easy in conservative India and the |
| or devotional songs and guides us for a short | | | | spiritual leader drew criticism in the beginning by |
| meditation. The hall is surprisingly quiet considering it is a | | | | embracing everyone who came to her, including men |
| full house, but it is not to last for long. Once the | | | | of all ages. Amma was the first to consecrate female |
| program ends, darshan is announced. The Sanskrit | | | | priests in India, and her teachings stress the equality of |
| word darshan means, "to see" and it is most | | | | all human beings. In her address to the United Nations in |
| commonly used as having the vision of the divine. In | | | | 2002 she said: "Which eye is more important, the left |
| this case darshan includes the practice of patience, a | | | | or the right? Both are equally important. It is the same |
| lot of it, since most people will wait for several hours to | | | | with the status of men and women in society... Men |
| embrace Amma. I am told that around 3000 people will | | | | and women have to support one another. Only in this |
| get a hug that night since there are a limited number of | | | | way can we maintain the harmony of the world" |
| tickets distributed. The following night is a special night | | | | It is 3 a.m. We have been waiting for over seven |
| called Devi bhava where no one is turned down, and | | | | hours and it is finally our turn to meet Amma for a hug. |
| more than 4000 people are expected to attend. A | | | | I am filled with anticipation and can't believe my friend |
| small crowd compared to darshans in India where | | | | Bill patiently waited for so long. What will he experience |
| gatherings of over 25,000 are not uncommon. | | | | I wonder? After getting his embrace ahead of me, his |
| I wonder how it is possible for a human being to greet | | | | face looks flushed and a little disoriented though |
| so many people. I walk towards the front of the hall to | | | | beaming with a smile. As I approach, my mind is racing: |
| watch. There is a lot of activity around Amma and it is | | | | Should I say something? How long should the embrace |
| hard to see, but I occasionally get glimpses of her | | | | last? Then she hugs me firmly, I feel my face on her |
| smiling and hugging each person that comes forward. | | | | chest and my hands around her waist. My mind is still |
| She seems full of energy and greets every individual | | | | racing. Embarrassed, I ask myself: Is this appropriate? |
| with utmost attention and care, with a wide smile. | | | | When is a good moment to pull back? And suddenly |
| There are no rests, no restroom breaks, for many | | | | as Amma rocks me with brisk but gentle movements |
| hours on end. Where does her energy come from? I | | | | and whispers to my ear, MA, MA, MA, my mind stops. I |
| wonder. | | | | feel at peace as I am being enveloped by.... |
| Mata Amritanandamayi was born in South India on | | | | nothingness, It is like holding a vast vessel of emptiness |
| 1953 with the name Sudhamani. Biographers describe | | | | but paradoxically it is completely alive, loving and |
| her early life as challenging but stress Sudhamani's | | | | vibrant. |
| remarkable ability to remain at ease, joyful and | | | | |