Recently I went with my Husband to meet Amma, the Hugging Saint. I was so excited to see her and to feel her energy. I have been completely in awe of Amma who has hugged 22million people around the globe by expressing her dharma as compassion to all beings and facilitating humanitarian projects on a planetary scale.
The event was held in a large conference room at a sporting centre, and was her first stop on a tour of Australia. I didn't know that Amma has been coming to Australia for 30yrs, and I had no idea what an experience of seeing Amma would be like. There were easily 5000 or more people gathered to see her.
From her website, 'Amma teaches renunciation, but only in the midst of a lifetime of refusing to consider her own comfort. Amma teaches Advaita, but not without her every breath bearing testament to her inability to see any man, woman or child as different from her own Self.' Advaita or Non-duality teaches, 'when your experience of reality becomes more subtle, you discover that everything is just different expressions of one field of nondual Being.'
Amma began life in a humble home, she was birthed in silence, and began meditating seriously at a very early age. Amma drew followers and began teaching in a humble a cow shed by her parents house, where her devotees slept until they built a Kali Temple. Kali is a Goddess, the remover of the illusion of ego and demonstration of Motherly Love. Amma has devoted her life to living in close alliance with God or the God essence within and denying the small comforts of personhood in favour of expressing the grace and love of the essence of the universe. Amma's teachings are incredibly potent.
The atmosphere when Amma and her devotees entered the building singing and in saffron robes was electric. Eager adults and children clapped her onto the stage area, where she began beautiful Kirtan chanting with her devotees, with drums and instruments and laughter. She began to call to God to enter her being through her singing, and she laughed, and shed tears of devotion. People all around where closed eyed and swaying with the call to God.
After singing and dharma talks about how to be good human beings and to live well, it was time for those who wanted a hug to line up. And of course everyone wanted a hug, and we lined up until 2am in the morning. Then it was our turn, we walked up to the stage area and one by one with many volunteers we were taken to her seat and put into her arms. She smelled like Lily of the Valley, her garments were soft and her embrace was firm and supportive. She whispered chants into our ears, and held us a little longer. She gently rocked a little, whispered and held my husband and I in a couple cuddle.
The feeling was, purity. gentleness, oneness, inclusion, connection, compassion in action, maturity. Both my Husband and I were released by Amma and helped to stand and moved away by the volunteers. We looked back and saw her smiling, as another person was put into her embrace. We knew that something wonderful had just happened.
As we left, we noticed we smelled like her and her perfume was in the car on the way home. The next day I noticed I was calmer, I was smiling for no reason. I felt no mental health illness but rather a lightness of being that was very fulfilling. I felt genuinely touched by Amma's life, which she has lived in serving and helping others. It was a privilege, an honour, a important moment in my life to see her and witness her depth of practice which includes a love for all beings. Amma was awe-inspiring, and holds a special place in my heart and my practice. If you get the chance to see her and experience her, don't hold back. Its an experience you won't forget....
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