Love can heal all wounds: Amma (Times of India)

[Guest guest]

Love can heal all wounds: Amma

ANANTHA KRISHNAN M

 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2003

02:17:32 PM ]

 

 

BANGALORE: Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, popularly

known as Amma in India and the Hugging Saint

elsewhere, is turning 50 on September 27.

 

Having mesmerised the entire world with her torrential

love and unique style of spiritual preaching and

hugging, today she's the only hope for millions of her

devotees. Despite her extremely busy schedule

sandwiched between her birthday celebrations and daily

darshans, Amma found time for an exclusive interview

for The Times of India. "Love is the only medicine

that can heal the wounds of the world. Love is the

very foundation, beauty and fulfillment of life."

Excerpts:

 

What's your mission all about?

 

To become an offering to society. As long as there is

enough strength in these hands to reach out to those

who come to Her, to place Her hand on a crying persons

shoulder, Amma will continue to give darshan. To

lovingly caress people, to console and wipe their

tears until the end of this mortal frame. This is

Amma's wish.

 

When you look back, what's that kept you so focussed

doing the same kind of job? Did you get bored any

time?

 

Love for humanity and the entire creation. Boredom

happens only when there is no love. Pure love makes

everything ever fresh and ever new.

 

Are you confident that the social reformation you have

taken up will wipe out poverty from the country?

 

I make no claims. Living in the present is my life and

message. One may exhale and never inhale again. When

there is no guarantee even for the next breath, is it

not meaningless to proclaim such things? However, Amma

is here to help suffering people, and She will

continue doing that without expecting and claiming

anything.

 

You have said that spirituality is the basis of

everything in life. How relevant is it in the modern

world?

 

Spirituality is the most relevant factor in modern

society. It is not different from real life. Just as

we take management classes to become good and

successful managers in the outside world, spiritual

principles teach us how to manage our inner life

successfully.

 

There are two types of education; education for living

and education for life. We only take care of the first

and ignore the latter. Our educational system helps us

to earn a living by becoming a doctor, engineer,

professional and so forth. Nevertheless, education for

life, which is spirituality, is not even the last item

in the list.

 

Western media portray you as a Hugging Saint. What's

special about this unique way of blessing your

devotees?

 

There is nothing unique about it. It is a simple,

straightforward and least complex way to tell

everyone, Amma loves you as her own self.

 

The present generation is caught between many

uncertainties? What solution you have for them?

 

Self-confidence. It gives a conviction that arises

from deep within. This will help them realise the

immense potential within, which remains untapped.

 

What formulae would you derive to improve the

condition of Indian women?

 

Creating a balance between masculine and feminine

qualities within her. Motherly love is shakthi

(power). Women being the pivot of society and family,

she must realise the power of motherhood. Women have

to find their courage.

 

Courage is an attribute of the mind; it is not a

quality of the body. Women have the power to fight

against the social rules that prevent their progress.

This is Amma's own experience.

 

 

Who are the people that have influenced your life the

most?

 

I always considered the entire creation as my guru.

Even an ant has taught me lessons.

 

You have travelled all over the world. What's so

special about our country?

 

All countries and all cultures are unique. But India

is the spiritual heart of the world.

 

India's biggest problem today is lack of religious

harmony. As a spiritual head, what do you have in

store for to solve our problems?

 

Religion is not a problem. Wrong understanding of

religion is the problem. There are two parts to a

religion, the outer and the inner. The outer is

intellectual and the inner is spiritual. Most

religions are stuck with the outer.

 

The essential spiritual principle, which is the inside

of all religions, alone will bring peace and harmony

between religions and in society. All religious

leaders should work towards this goal.

 

You are turning 50 on September 27. What's your

birthday message?

 

As far as I am concerned, birthdays are not special

days. This is a gathering for world peace and harmony.

My message to everyone everywhere is love and serve

selflessly.

 

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