Archive for the “Amma” CategoryIt’s just a hug. So why take a long drive? Why endure the crowds? It’s just a hug. [This is the third in a three-part series about my first visit to see the Mata Amritanandamayima, also known as the "Hugging Guru" or "Hugging Saint". Be sure to read parts I and II.]  [This is part II of a three-part series. Be sure to read part I.]
When my family and I arrived at the temple at the Mata Amritanandamayi’s ashram in San Ramon, a member greeted us and asked if we were first timers. We said yes, then she placed colored dots on our clothing as an indication of our “status”. There is definitely an effort to make newcomers feel welcome and to make sure that the first experience is a good one. It was just supposed to be an interesting outing, something you do on a Sunday afternoon with your family - maybe a little something different. But when my family agreed to indulge Dad on Father’s day by going to see a Hindu woman who is known for giving free hugs, no one had any idea what they were in for - including myself. I was working on a post about my experiences visiting a Hindu saint known as Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma, and I realized that first I needed to address the reasons for making such visits. Well, as I opened the Sunday newspaper today, an article in the main section jumped out at me, “Trying to Explain a Brush with the Divine“, and it provided a good introduction to explaining the effects that some spiritual people have on others, especially when they are considered to be self-realized, or enlightened. You can read the entire article at the link, but here are some key excerpts: |
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