Introduction

.....The divinely beautiful, dark Indian holy woman lovingly known by millions around the world as Amma, the Hugging Saint , Mother of Compassion, and Mata Amritanandamayi, Mother of Immortal Bliss , is one of the most extraordinary forces healing our planet today.

......Born in 1953, in a poor fishing village on the tropical coast of Kerala, South India, Amma's first sound is said to have been not a cry but a laugh. She was an intensely spiritual child who spontaneously meditated and composed songs to God. Though remarkably gifted, she had to leave school at age nine when her mother became ill, and she took over the care of the family. Joyful and energetic, Sudhamani, as she was called, worked from dawn till midnight to feed and clothe her brothers and sisters, and care for the animals. At night she poured out her heart in prayer and song and dance. Unable to bear seeing old people and children go hungry, she gave away family food and possessions--for which she was harshly reprimanded and beaten. But her acts of compassion continued, until finally her family threw her out of the house.

......Under the coconut palms Sudhamani lived in ecstasy, conversing with Mother Sea, hugging the trees, kissing the flowers, and rarely sleeping, eating only the milk brought by a cow, the rice delivered by a dog, and the fish dropped into her lap by an eagle. At age twenty-two, she experienced a brilliantly luminous, spinning red globe approaching her; out of it emerged the glorious form of the Divine Mother, crowned and smiling with love. The young woman's whole being rushed toward Her vibrating with the mantra, Amma, Amma, Amma (Mother, Mother, Mother). From this time on, Amma saw everything as divine. Eventually, the Goddess reappeared and, dazzling like a thousand suns, merged into her totally, revealing the purpose of her life: to worship God in the hearts of all beings, and to relieve the suffering of humanity.

......Today Amma devotes every moment to loving and serving others. Several times a week, in cities around the world, she receives people for darshan, wearing a simple white sari, or on special occasions dressed as the Divine Mother in a gorgeous colorful sari and crown. All day and all night, Amma receives people by the thousands--sometimes tens of thousands--hugging and blessing each one individually, answering their questions and wiping away their tears. Regardless of a person's race, health, wealth, education, religion or lack of it--each is accepted with the same fierce motherly tenderness. So far, she has embraced over thirty million people.

......Out of her compassion Amma has created a vast network of charitable activities for the poor and suffering. In India she has established many innovative temples with female as well as male priests, and dozens of schools to further the integral development of creativity, academics and character. The Holy Mother has created colleges of medicine, pharmacology, engineering, management, and computer science, as well an outstanding vocational training center. Hospitals and clinics have been built, along with cancer and AIDS hospices, orphanages, and residences for the elderly. Amma and her foundation have established legal support for the poor, housing projects for the homeless, earthquake reconstruction for devastated villages, pensions for destitute women, rehabilitation for prostitutes, and large-scale food and clothing programs. She has inspired the creation of the Mata Amritanandamayi University, the Amrita Arts and Cultural Center, the internationally renowned Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, giving state-of-the art treatment to the very poor, as well as Amrita Ayurvedic Research Center, specializing in traditional Indian medicine. She has inaugurated a spiritually oriented television station, and numerous spiritual centers around the world that teach the principles and practice of Universal Love , or Universal Motherhood .

......In this Age of Doubt, the miraculous life of Amma is a heart-rendingly inspirational example of real love, beauty, sacrifice, and consciousness. "The radiant smile and total sincerity in Amma's interaction with every single person, continuously for hours," wrote one of many stunned reporters, "is astounding; the experiences of this day will remain forever etched in my memory." So moved was the President of India by Amma's work that he donated most of his annual salary. Several North American cities have honored her with special commendations . She has been invited to address the Parliament of World Religions, and Interfaith Celebrations in honor of the United Nations 50 th Anniversary. At the United Nations she addressed the Millennium World Peace Summit of World Religious Leaders, and the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders, where she received the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence.

......When Amma speaks--whether in public talks, interviews with the press, dialogues with students, personal letters, or hymns to God--it is generally in Malayalam, the beautiful mother tongue of the traditionally matriarchal Land of Kerala. Her words are transcribed and translated into English (as well as many other languages) by a variety of devoted followers, most frequently Swami Amritaswarupananda, the editor of a nine-volume series entitled Awaken, Children!: Dialogues with Sri Mata Amritanandamayi. From his books and others, from the M.A. Center magazine, Immortal Bliss, as well as the biographical video, River of Love, are derived the quotations in this book. Passages have been selected to represent Amma's core teachings, re-translated from the original translations, organized for accessibility and arranged for daily contemplation.

......Like her love, Amma's words flow directly from the heart. Her speech is direct; and just as she wastes not a moment when she acts, she wastes not a word when she speaks. Her words are profound, often piercing, and sometimes deceptively simple. A short passage may contain truth sufficient for a lifetime. In this confused and turbulent world of ours, agitated by fear and animosity, marked by self-centeredness and violence, and starved for the all-embracing wisdom of the Mother, Amma's words come as healing balm. Speaking directly to each of us as our own mother, as our teacher, and as the voice of our own higher Self, her words have the power to awaken, nurture and guide us toward that truth which already lives within us all. "Love is the supreme Reality," she writes, "this is the message Mother sends you in the language of the heart."

......Offered here with humility are the inspired teachings of a modern-day saint who will undoubtedly come to be known as one of the truly great spiritual leaders of all time, a woman whose life is the very incarnation of compassion. As Amma mothers the world, may we all learn to follow her extraordinary example of Love and Service.

-- Janine Canan, MD