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Social activities in the spirit of Amma
(Mata Amritananda Mayi)
"We can never close our eyes to the
world in the name of spirituality.”
Self-realization is the ability to see
ourselves in all beings. This is the third eye through which you
see, even while your two eyes are wide open. We should be able to
love and serve others, seeing ourselves in them. This is the
fulfillment of spiritual practice." - Amma
Amma's empathy was such that the pain of
others was unbearable to her. As Jane Goodall, the award winning
primatologist, in her introductory speech before presenting the
Gandhi-King award to Amma said, "Though just a child, she began to
contemplate the question of suffering. And so powerfully did she
feel the presence of God within her that she wanted to reach out and
comfort and uplift those who were less fortunate than she."
In many ways, it was then that Amma's
mission began. She would share her food with the starving, and she
would bathe and clothe the elderly who had no one to look after
them. She was often punished for giving away her own family's food
and belongings to the poor, but her compassion was such that nothing
could deter her.
Today, Amma's Humanitarian activities
has grown into a huge network branching out into all areas like
social, medical, educational, environmental and spiritual. The list
is endless and growing on a daily basis.
Helping the Poor and Needy
When the M.A Math was first established
in the early eighties, the primary charitable activity was feeding
the poor at Amritapuri center. M.A Math continues with that
activity, feeding over 50,000 poor people through various centers
each month, and has also expanded into other areas of need. In
addition to food for these people, satsangs, retreats, bhajans and
chanting, pujas, and spiritual discourses are regularly offered at
branch ashrams and other locations. Hundreds of children, women and
other deserving persons receive free clothes, educational aids,
scholarships and uniforms every year.
Other fields in which M.A Math regularly
participates include blood donation campaigns, natural healing
classes, visiting patients at hospitals, asylums, and jails,
anti-drug, tobacco and intoxicants campaigns, providing tuition and
moral education for children, free legal consultation etc.
In response to the earthquake that
devastated the Lathur District in Maharashtra, M.A Math contributed
a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs (~US $12,500) towards reconstruction of houses
and other relief work. Every year, food and clothing are given to
the tribal colonies that are affected by monsoon floods and
landslides. Helping the poor and needy continues to be the
cornerstone for M.A Math's selfless service ideals.
Mother's Kitchen - in the West
Real devotion to God is to be
compassionate towards the poor and the suffering. Feed those who are
hungry, help the destitute, console those who are sad, give relief
to those in pain, be charitable towards everyone. This is Mother’s
message to you.
---Amma
Mother's Kitchen Project is active in 39
cities, feeding the poor and homeless. Organized and supported
entirely by Amma devotees, meals are being served in 24 U. S. states
and 2 in Canada. |
