Meeting Amma is an extraordinary opportunity for to experience Amma’s unique personal blessing (in the form of a hug), and the profound spiritual deepening that spontaneously occurs in Amma’s presence.
WHO IS AMMA?
Amma is best described by what she does. Amma is a 58 year-old Indian woman who has spent her life working tirelessly to alleviate human suffering both in India and around the world.
Amma has initiated a staggering array of aid and relief efforts over the last 30 years – in India Amma’s charitable organisation has built houses, schools, hospitals and hospices, provides pensions for the destitute, takes care of orphans, helps the victims of earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters, as well as feeding and supporting poor and homeless members of society in many countries around the world.
Amma’s charitable organization, known as the M.A. Math, donated an incredible US$43 million in relief for the 2004 Asian Tsunami, the single largest pledge by any non-government organization, and also donated US$1 million in aid for victims of hurricane Katrina. More recently, Amma’s organisation has sent a team of relief workers to Haiti. The M.A. Math has been awarded ‘Special Consultative Status’ by the United Nations due to its amazingly effective disaster response record.
In 2002, Amma’s selfless service to humanity was recognised by the international community when Amma was awarded the prestigious Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence at the UN Headquarters in Geneva. When she was handed the Prize by its previous recipient, the renowned primatologist Dr Jane Goodall, she was described by Dr Goodall as “God’s Love in a human body”.
Amma has travelled the world for the past 22 years to provide inspiration and to impart her blessing to people of all races, religions and walks of life. Amma’s unique gift is to personally hug everyone who comes to see her. It is estimated she has now hugged over 31 million people worldwide, regularly spending over 18 hours a day and sometimes hugging in excess of 20,000 people in a single session.
Amma’s hugs are like the hugs of no other. For many people, receiving such a hug is a profoundly transformational experience. Through this simple act, Amma clearly demonstrates her message to the world: the need for love, compassion, and the acceptance of all beings in the world as our spiritual brothers and sisters. Amma refuses to charge admission to her public programs. Perhaps that’s because she wants her gifts to be truly unconditional!
In addition to free public programs, Amma will be holding residential retreats in the Gold Coast and Melbourne. Retreats represent an extremely valuable opportunity to spend some intensive time in Amma’s healing presence over the course of a few days, away from the distractions of everyday life. The retreat program includes meditation, yoga, chanting, spiritual discourses and plenty of hugs from Amma. Pre-registration for retreats is essential.
More info: www.ammaaustralia.org.au
Brisbane – FREE Public Programs
Saturday April 21 – 10am & 7.30pm
RNA Exhibition Grounds
Walter Burnett Building
Gregory Tce, Fortitude Valley
No bookings required for FREE public programs.
Enquiries (07) 3715 8278
Gold Coast – FREE Public Program
Tuesday April 24 – Devi Bhava (World Peace Program) 7pm
Outrigger Hotel Surfers Paradise
View Avenue, Surfers Paradise
No bookings required for FREE public programs.
Gold Coast Retreat April 22-24
(by pre-registration only – online www.ammaaustralia.org.au)
Enquiries (07) 5598 2928
