Amma (also known as Mata Amritanandamayi) is a worldrenowned humanitarian and spiritual leader from India. For the better part of her 63 years, she has committed herself to the greater good by establishing a network of charities known as Embracing the World. Among her targeted projects are disaster relief, hospitals and the Amrita University, all of which are aimed at uplifting society’s neediest. But it is her compassionate, loving embrace—to date she has hugged over 36 million people worldwide—for which she is best known and loved. New Mexico is a longtime stop of Amma’s, alongside major cities in Europe, Australia, India and North America. She has made a point to visit our great state since the late 1980s. This June, Amma will be at the Hilton Buffalo Thunder for three public programs and a retreat.
Embracing the World
One Hug at a Time By Emmaly Wiederholt Photos courtesy MAM Amritapuri.org
Most of us enjoy a good hug; it affirms our humanity on a basic level, allowing one person to value another through embrace. Friends and family are always deserving of a good hug, but complete strangers? Imagine someone who has made it her life work to hug as many people as possible. Such a person exists, and her name is Amma.
“Amma’s programs are a celebration. To receive darshan (a hug) from Amma is a blissful experience,” says Jagrati McGrath. “I feel a deep sense of peace and love that is all-pervading. Even observing Amma as she hugs people for long hours is incredibly moving for me. Everyone is welcome, from all different faiths, cultures and walks of life.” Jagrati first met Amma in 1997, before relocating to Santa Fe in 2000 to work and be part of the Amma Center of New Mexico. Yes, Amma has a center here in New Mexico dedicated to spreading her selfless teachings. The ashram (similar to a monastery) is located just outside Santa Fe off Old Santa Fe Trail. Built on the property of Steve and Cathi Schmidt, the couple became devotees of Amma after her initial visit to New Mexico in 1987. The spiritual center, which offers weekly services, opened in 1993, and the ashram, where several people live and worship, was completed in 1996. The Schmidts originally hosted Amma’s visits to New Mexico, but Amma soon drew crowds much too large for the property to manage. La Fonda hosted Amma’s visits for a while, before she outgrew that venue as well. Albuquerque’s Marriot Pyramid North
took up the mantle before Hilton’s Buffalo Thunder became the venue of choice three years ago for its size and accommodations. In addition to free public programs, Amma also hosts a retreat at Buffalo Thunder, one of three total held in North America. “Amma leads by example. Observing her love and compassion in action has inspired me to give back in my own community,” reflects Jagrati. “It is joyful to be involved in selfless activities, whether that’s cleaning up trash along the Santa Fe River, participating in the Amma Center of New Mexico’s Burrito Project, which feeds over 100 people in need each week, or volunteering to help with the many activities around hosting Amma’s visit to Santa Fe in June.”
To learn more, visit Amma.org.