Special Hugs
The Hindu teacher Amma hugs 9000 people in a sports hall in Barcelona.
The Vanguard- 04:15 - 08/11/2001
Maria-Paz Lopez
Barcelona
Judging by the 9000 people that over 3 days time have waited in
line, this suffering population must be in great need of hugs. They
got their fill from the Hindu teacher Amma, whose ministry consists
exactly of this: transmit a message of universal love through a
hug. "The loss of family values has made the people become
egoistic, people are like islands, there is a lack of faith, life
has become a battle," says Amma in Malayalam, one of the 179
languages and thousands of dialects that are spoken in India, while
a disciple translates her words into English.
Pilgrims in India
Even though I spoke, she didn't stop hugging, in the Mar Bella
sports hall, the barefooted on the green turf, sympathizers and
followers of her teachings that have come from all over Spain waiting
in line to be hugged by this 48 year old Indian lady, with her youthful
face and easy smile, who is giving out her 'special' hugs in Barcelona
for the third time. "She has hugged me two times, and I feel
a great appreciation and happiness, she is a great human being that
doesn't leave anyone without a hug," says Enrique, a 48 year
old artist from Barcelona who prefers not to give his last name.
He considers himself a devotee of Sai Baba, another Hindu teacher
that according to his followers possesses the same unique divinity
that is present in Amma.
The "realized master" Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the
full name of Amma, receives pilgrims in search of loving hugs for
hours at a time in her "ashram" (monastery) in Amritapuri,
in the Indian state of Kerala. She is a "realized master,"
the highest state of saintliness in life, because she has been accepted
thus by other "realized masters" in India, convinced that
Amma has experienced union with the divine. Up to 25,000 pilgrims
a day arrive at her "ashram" in India and she hugs them
in sessions of more than 10 hours, claims a disciple.
When this reporter, kneeling, makes use of her right to a hug,
she finds her face buried on a soft shoulder as she is slowly rocked
to a rhythmic "na-na-na-na" while the master caressed
her back. During the experience, that lasts about 15 seconds, Amma
hands a candy and a rose petal to each person she hugs. The ritual
has gone on repeating itself until an estimated 9000 people were
hugged over 3 days.
Whoever follows her teachings, based on love and compassion as
a way to overcome problems, has no reason to give up their own religion,
explains Amma. "I would never ask anyone to abandon their religion
and their faith, because we all are very rooted in our own. To have
peace, everyone should practice their own religion, because in reality
they are all one. It's like honey, that's always sweet. or fire,
that always burns."
VIVIR EN BARCELONA
Abrazos magistrales
La maestra hinduista Amma abraza a 9.000 personas en un polideportivo
de Barcelona
La Vanguardia - 04.15 horas - 08/11/2001
MARÍA-PAZ LÓPEZ
Barcelona
Muy necesitada de abrazos debe de andar esta sufrida población
autóctona a juzgar por los 9.000 que, durante tres días,
guardando cola pero gratis, ha dado a diestro y siniestro la maestra
hinduista Amma, cuyo ministerio consiste justamente en eso: transmitir
un mensaje de amor universal a través del abrazo. "La
crisis de los valores familiares ha hecho que la gente se vuelva
egoísta, las personas son como islas, falta fe, la vida se
ha vuelto una lucha", diagnostica Amma en malayalam, uno de
los 179 idiomas y mil dialectos que se hablan en India, mientras
un discípulo vierte sus palabras al inglés.
Peregrinos en India
Aunque hable, no deja de abrazar, y en el pabellón de la
Mar Bella, descalzos sobre la moqueta verde, simpatizantes y seguidores
de sus enseñanzas venidos de toda España aguardan
su turno para ser abrazados por esta dama india de 48 años,
rostro aniñado y fácil sonrisa, que reparte en Barcelona
sus magistrales abrazos por tercera vez. "A mí me ha
abrazado dos veces, y se siente un gran agradecimiento y contento,
es un gran ser humano que no deja a nadie sin abrazo", dice
Enrique, un dibujante barcelonés de 48 años que prefiere
no dar su apellido. Se declara devoto de Sai-Baba, otro maestro
hinduista en el que, según sus seguidores, se encarna la
misma divinidad única que está presente en Amma.
La "maestra realizada" Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, nombre
completo de Amma, recibe durante horas en su "ashram"
(monasterio) de Amritapuri, en el estado indio de Kerala, a peregrinos
en busca de abrazos amorosos. Es "maestra realizada",
el más alto grado de santidad en vida, porque como tal la
han aceptado los otros "maestros realizados" de India,
convencidos de que Amma ha experimentado la unión con la
divinidad. A su "ashram" Llegan hasta 25.000 peregrinos
en un solo día y ella los abraza en sesiones de más
de diez horas, proclama el discípulo.
Cuando esta cronista, arrodillada, hace uso de su derecho al abrazo,
ve su propio rostro sepultado en un seno blando y se siente mecer
acunada por un "na-na-na-na" rítmico, mientras
la maestra le acaricia la espalda. Tras la experiencia, que dura
unos 15 segundos, Amma desliza en la mano del abrazado un caramelo
de goma y un pétalo de rosa. El ritual se ha ido repitiendo
hasta alcanzar la cifra estimada de 9.000 abrazos en tres días.
Quienes comulgan con su magisterio, basado en el amor y la compasión
como método de abordar los problemas, no tienen por qué
abjurar de su religión anterior, explica Amma. "Jamás
pediría a una persona que abandonase su religión y
su fe, porque todos estamos muy enraizados en la nuestra -sostiene-.
Para alcanzar la paz, cada uno debe practicar su propia religión,
porque en realidad todas son una unidad. Es como la miel, que siempre
es dulce, o el fuego, que arde siempre."
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