Amma - Love in Action
People keep asking me who is good example for Feminine Leadership and this week one of my favorite examples of what Feminine Leadership is about is having her birthday. It is Amma or in her full name Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi.
‘Amma’ as she is known all over the world today, has inspired and started countless humanitarian services. She has earned international recognition for her outstanding contributions to the world community. She is recognized as an extraordinary spiritual leader by the United Nations and by the people all over the world.
Amma’s compassion crosses all barriers of nationality, race, caste and religion. She has initiated a vast network of charitable activities, which is drawing attention throughout the world.
At the root of these services lies Amma’s teaching that the Divine exists in everything - in every person, plant and animal. Perceiving this unity is the essence of spirituality and the means by which to end all suffering. It is through this simple, yet powerful message that Amma is transforming our world, one embrace at a time. In the past 33 years, Amma has physically embraced more than 24 million people.
Since 1993, Amma has been increasingly recognized by the international community as a treasured repository of practical spiritual wisdom, who has the capacity to guide the world towards a better, brighter future. She has been a featured speaker at the United Nations on three occasions, most recently when She was presented with the 2002 Gandhi-King Award for Non-violence. Presenting the award, Dr. Jane Goodall referred to Amma as “God’s love in a human body.”
Amma says, “My sole mission is to love and serve one and all.” Amma’s only wish is that her hands should always be on someone’s shoulder, reassuring and caressing them and wiping their tears, even while breathing her last.
“Love is the foundation of a happy life. Knowingly or unknowingly we are forgetting this truth.” Amma on several occasions has said that it is important not only to feel love but also to express it.
“After all, love is our true nature. When we do not express love in our words and actions it is like honey hidden in a rock. It is of no use to anyone” she says.
This mutual sharing and expressing of love should begin at home between married couples and between parents and children. Only then will there be peace and harmony at home and in the society.”
This Saturday is Amma’s 55th birthday – on this day it will be a good day for all of us to practice some of her teaching.
