RIPPLE NEWS
A LIFE-CHANGING EMBRACE If you attend one of Amma’s programs, one of the first things you will notice is that people come to Amma from all religions and all walks of life. Some have been walking the spiritual path for decades, others have never picked up a spiritual book in their lives. Some come because they are suffering mentally, physically or materially, and they hope Amma can help them. Some are simply curious. Perhaps they have seen Amma in the newspaper or on TV, and they want to see for themselves what this “Hugging Saint” thing is all about. Regardless of why they have come, many
describe experiencing a feeling of radiant and unconditional love in Amma’s presence. Some are moved to tears and feel a cleansing of old wounds, others experience profound peace and even joy. Regardless of people’s different backgrounds or cultures, the experiences of the heart show us how similar we all are – how we are all seeking love and a direct experience of our own true nature.
THE STORIES OF PEOPLE who have met Amma are incredibly powerful, and provide an insight into the way in which Amma is able to deeply affect so many people and open so many hearts:
“After Amma’s hug, I slowly noticed
a change in my thinking. I started to ask myself new questions like: ‘What happens to old people who have no money and no one to care for them? How do the poor care for themselves and their families? If I had a lot of money, would that make me happy?’ I hate to admit it, but at the time these were new questions for me – I’d never bothered to give these things much thought because I was always so focused on myself. I soon realised that my constant effort to be ‘more’ and ‘better’ was only so I could feel loved. Yet, through her simple embrace Amma filled my heart up with love without asking me for anything in return. She had given it freely and somehow made me feel like I was inherently deserving of this love, just for being me. Only after I felt truly and unconditionally loved in this manner was I able to shift my focus a little bit away from myself.” – Julie Cairns, Sydney, Australia “She seemed so full of sweetness. She
was really giving her best to every person. I watched as Amma took a drunken old man full of bruises and smelling like a sewer into her arms as if he were her precious baby. Next she whispered some wisdom into the ear of an ancient granny in a wheel chair, who started crying and laughing at the same time. She played with little kids as if she knew them from birth.” – Sami Vaha– Herttua, Helsinki, Finland “Even though the hug itself was over
too fast and I had been so very nervous, I felt Amma’s warmth and a feeling of safety and security. After the hug, I sat with others
planted inside me has begun to sprout. I know that a long road lies ahead before the petals of my heart can fully open in love but I trust that Amma’s guidance and protection will show the way.” – Manuela Ceresola, Milan, Italy “When I approached Amma to receive
her darshan (hug), I felt her look penetrate my entire being. As if I could not hide any feelings or thoughts from her. Amma embraced me and I felt so deeply loved.” – Maria Isabel Harker, Bogota, Columbia “Amma was slowly taking people into
her arms and holding them. She radiated a tangible joy, freshness and energy. To my surprise, tears started rolling down my cheeks. This was not the sort of thing I normally did and I could not understand why I was crying. Later, I realised that it was because I was witnessing something beautiful…almost too beautiful to bear.” – Michael Sofroniou, Stratford upon Avon, UK “Slowly I started to wake up to a feeling
of peace and happiness that I had not known in years. I knew that Amma knew what I was searching for. I also knew that she could guide me there. I had never been so sure in my entire life of anything like this Truth.” – Ann Louise Feron, Sweden “I have learned from Amma through her
teachings and from her own example that it is not enough to sit in a particular posture and meditate in order to grow spiritually. Of course meditation is necessary to find peace of mind, but we cannot stay isolated, forgetting others. We also need to serve… and share Amma’s love and compassion with others.” – Patricio Hernandez Perez, Pampola, Spain “Earlier my understanding of these
beside her. I looked at how she hugged people, whispered into their ears, smiled at them, accepting everybody with the same love. It touched me so deeply that I was suddenly overcome by strong emotional feelings and burst into tears. I had never felt worthy enough to be loved. I couldn’t stop crying. After a long time, when I finally did stop, there was such a feeling of inner purification. I felt great strength and peace inside, quite unlike anything I had ever experienced before.” – Susanne Hill, Red Cross Volunteer, Lithuania “Words can be twisted in many ways,
but a direct experience, a divine touch from inside says all that there is to say. I am grateful to Amma for setting straight my mind and heart.” – Hans de Beer, Netherlands “I felt overwhelmed to realise what a great saint Amma was. She sat there, hour after hour, sweetly hugging everyone with the same love and compassion, without stopping for even a few minutes, It was
the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I understood that to really know God, one had to be able to love everyone like that, and it was not as easy as described in books.” – Berta Petasny, Buenos Aires, Argentina “Seeing her receive people, one by one,
given me much, much more than just that. I a
I am slowly learning many lessons in love and life. PerhP haps the
sl lear and life. Per aps the little seed that Amma
without a spark of hesitation and with so much love, as if they were her very own children, my heart started aching. My mother had passed away when I was eight years old and I had always longed for a mother’s love, a love that was unconditional and that accepted me the way I was, no matter how many mistakes I made.” – Susanne Wecker- Shivshankar, Munich, Germany “I have now had Amma’s darshan (hug) two times. My asthma has slowly healed but that is not the major transformation that Amma has brought about in me. I am grateful for Amma’s hug of love that returned my breath, the very symbol of life, but Amma has me
things had been purely intellectual. I do not believe that the understanding was genuine; perhaps I would just echo words from books. Now after receiving Amma’s hug, I understood with my heart, without anybody having to explain anything to me. I had read that nothing was impossible for a person established in the Self. I now saw that. Amma had given me so much simply with her hug.” – Gabriel Lombardi, Buenos Aires, Argentina “Meeting Amma has changed my life
immensely. Over time I understood that it is the small, small stones…of rage, guilt, longing, pain, nostalgia…that form the great wall in our hearts that imprison the inner child. We trip over these stones every day in our ignorance. The greatest blessing we receive from Amma is that she offers to take these stones from us.” – Cristina Rodriguez, Barcelona, Spain “In that moment of Amma’s hug, a
feeling of wonderment, love and awe were branded into my heart. I do not know how to explain it in any other way. The feelings of warmth, strength, and unwavering support were tattooed on my inner being. From that day on, the terrible disruption, confusion and turmoil in my life began to ease.” – Jill O’Carroll, Vancouver, Canada
ammaaustralia.org.au Gold Coast
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
April 24th 7pm Outrigger Hotel Surfer’s Paradise
GOLD COAST RETREAT
April 22nd - 24th
Amma will be touring Australia in April 2012, and is to visit Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and
the Gold Coast. For more information on her 2012 Australian tour, visit
www.ammaaustralia.org.au
april 2012 25
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