A D V E RT ISE R NEWS & REV I EWS
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33 Million and Counting…India’s “Hugging Saint”
hrough her extraordinary acts of love and self-sacrifice, Mata Amritanandamayi, or ‘Amma’ as she
is more commonly known, has endeared herself to millions around the world. Tenderly embracing everyone who comes
to her, holding them in her loving embrace, Amma shares her boundless love with all – regardless of their beliefs, their status or why they have come to her. In this simple yet powerful way, Amma is
transforming the lives of countless people, helping their hearts to blossom, one embrace at a time. In the past 40 years, Amma has physically hugged an estimated 33 million people from all parts of the world. It’s kind of her full-time job! And now, it’s Australia’s turn…
Amma will be here for a two city tour of Australia in April 2015, and will visit Sydney and Melbourne for a series of free public programs and a retreat. For more information on her 2015 Australian tour, visit
www.ammaaustralia.org.au. Amma last visited Australia in 2012, for a hugely successful four city tour of the East
54 APRIL 2015
Coast. Thousands turned out to listen to Amma’s inspiring talks and to get in line for one of her amazing hugs.
COMPASSION IN ACTION So what is Amma on about, apart from the healing power of a good hug? Amma’s teachings are universal. Whenever she is asked about her religion, she replies “My religion is love.” Amma does not ask anyone to believe
in God or to change their faith, but only to inquire into their own real nature and to believe in themselves. Amma’s tireless spirit of dedication to
uplifting others has culminated in a vast network of charitable projects in India and around the world, under the global banner of ‘Emracing the World’. For this work Amma has been honoured with a number of international awards including the prestigious Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence (2002), the James Parks Morton Interfaith Award (2006) and the Cinema Verite Award (2007) for humanitarian and human rights work. Recently, in December
humanitarian work, visit www.
embracingtheworld.org
A LIFE-CHANGING EMBRACE If you attend one of Amma’s free 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
2014, Amma joined Pope Francis and 10 other global spiritual leaders from a range of faiths to sign the Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery. For more information on Amma’s
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