A video

Here is a video :)

Children, love the poor wholeheartedly. Go to their level. Believe that it is your dharma, your God-given duty to love and serve the poor. No matter how rich we are, as long as we are not prepared to be compassionate towards the poor, we are truly living in utter poverty. Such people are the true destitutes in the eyes of God. It is no use lighting a lamp before God and making offerings in the temple if you do not care to provide some light to the unlit hovels of the poor. We should love them and we should serve them. Without this, no amount of meditation we may do will bestow on us the bliss of meditation. It is kindness and service to others that imparts the sweetness of meditation.

Amma's life is her message. In other words, Amma does not teach anything that she herself does not practice. Living from moment to moment in a constant state of supreme happiness, Amma warmly embraces thousands of people day after day, wiping their tears, giving them her divine guidance and offering solace to all who come to her. Amma recommends the path of selfless-service through the example of her own life.

Amma says, "The beauty and charm of selfless love and service should not die away from the face of the earth. The world should know that a life of dedication is possible, that a life inspired by love and service to humanity is possible.

Meditation and studying the scriptures are like two sides of a coin. The engraving on that coin is selfless service, and that is what gives it its real value. Our compassion and acts of selflessness take us to the deeper truths. Through selfless action we can eradicate the ego that conceals the Self. Detached, selfless action leads to liberation. Such action is not just work; it is karma yoga."

Amma always points out that the purpose of one's life is to realize who we really are. She says, "By realizing our own Self we become full, with nothing more to gain in life. Life becomes perfect."

To attain this goal, Amma says that no particular path or spiritual practice can be recommended for all. "Just as a doctor gives different dosages or even different medications to patients with the same ailment according to their constitution, so does a Spiritual Master prescribe different methods to different people to reach the same goal. Spirituality is the practical science of life. Apart from taking us to the ultimate goal of Self-realization it also teaches us the nature of the world, and how to understand life and live fully in the best way possible."

However, Amma says that the path of devotion and selfless-service is the safest and most conducive path for many people.

--Amma--

About 50 children came to spend the Christmas holidays with Amma. She likes them to come for darshan everyday and often asks them about their lives, reassuring any children who are feeling sad. This year, after some of the girls had danced for Amma during the cultural program, Amma saw that one little girl was crying. Amma took the child on her lap. The girl was sobbing, "I have no mother, Amma! No one is there for me." Amma playfully tied her own sari to the girl's dress and said, "Now you have someone. See I am always there for you".

Years ago, Amma had reassured another girl called Lakshmi in a similar manner. Lakshmi had watched her mother commit suicide in front of a train, and had been brought to the orphanage in its early years by foster parents. Lakshmi said that from then on she felt that Amma took care of everything for her. After leaving school Lakshmi continues at the orphanage, assisting the care givers and then went to help at Amma's hospice. In her own words, "Amma is bringing me up without lack of anything. I grew up begging, now Amma, is providing me with all my food and clothing." Recently Lakshmi was blessed with a much longed for beautiful wedding. It was arranged by Amma; She herself took Lakshmi, her daughter and beautiful bride, into the temple for the marriage. It was one of the most touching events.

During their Christmas visit the children were allowed to go to the seashore to relax in the evening sun and play on the rocks. The children say it is very special event for them to come to Amritapuri. One girl expressed the feelings for all her sisters: "We are happy seeing Amma every day. We love her very much." The children are very much at home at the ashram, and like to join in the activities. The girls often join the older ladies in the kitchen to hear their songs and sing with them while they chop vegetables.

Brahmachari Vijayamrita, the orphanage director, commented: "This year the Math has built an extension over the kitchen where the girls can practice dance and music. There is also a new medical treatment room. Behind the school we have constructed a playground that provides much needed extra space. After school activities continue with classical dance, classical music, panchavadhyam (temple music), tabla (drumming) and computers. The lessons are all free and guided by experts. One group of girls is studying panchavadhyam. Amma is very keen that they do this. Actually it is unheard of elsewhere for girls to play panchavadhyam. Only boys normally study this traditional music. This year both boys and girls played at Amma's birthday celebration.

The children still win first prizes in many competitions, group song, patriotic song, panchavadhyam and light music. The students that finish schooling either go for higher education or work in Amma's institutions. One very special accolade came to 18-year-old Nanjan, who, on completing the upper school, won acceptance into the University's school of Engineering. "He came to us eight years ago from a very poor village in the adivasi (tribal) community of Attapadi. He is our first adivasi boy to go to the university" said Br. Vijayamrita.

Erna Kerremens, from Belgium, has been involved with seva (or selfless service) for 15 years but has never visited India until this December. Recently she visited the orphanage, keen to experience first-hand what she had only seen before in photos and reports. She said:

"From the very first moment, I felt warmly received by the children. They were very disciplined, but in a sweet way. Some of the girls came into my room. We started talking, and spontaneously the children started doing my hair with their own combs! Usually I worry about cleanliness but here I was not afraid at all because they were so sweet.

Then one of the boys came in with a huge stamp collection. He wanted me to write the names of the famous people on the stamps. I had brought more with me to give to the children and when I gave them to him, all the other boys joined in the pleasure of seeing his collection grow They were not jealous at all. I felt immediately part of them. It made me want to stay longer. I saw how the older ones took care of the younger ones. Its their duty, but they like to do it. I was very touched. Mother's love is there; you really feel it. With the brahmacharinis caring for the children, giving them so much love, I feel their love alone will change the children's lives, and probably that of their children."

Early Life

Early life
Mata Amritanandamayi Devi was born Sudhamani Idamannel in the small village of Parayakadavu (now partially known as Amritapuri), near Kollam, Kerala in 1953 [5]. Sudhamani was born to a fishing family of the Arayan caste. Her schooling ended when she was nine, and she began to take care of her younger siblings and the family domestic work full-time. She is known to the world as the "hugging mother". She hugs people and passes on to them `energy'. Reportedly she has hugged and healed some 26 million people all over the world as part of her mission.

For Amma, removing the sorrows of others is as natural as drying the tears from her own eyes. The happiness of others, this is Amma’s happiness. The security of others, this is Amma’s security. The rest of others, this is Amma’s rest. This is Amma’s vision. And it is this vision that Amma’s life is dedicated to awakening in mankind.
-AMMA-