Amma in Ireland

[Guest guest]

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2004/1115/674616561HMHUG.html

 

'Hugging saint' embraces up to 10,000 at RDS over two

days

 

The Nobel Peace Prize winner Mr John Hume and Mr Colm

O'Gorman of the One in Four support group for

survivors of child abuse were both at the RDS in

Ballsbridge in Dublin yesterday as Amma, India's

"hugging saint", dispensed free hugs to all-comers.

Tim O'Brien reports.

 

Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known as Amma, sat for two

days in the Industries Hall in the RDS offering hugs

to an estimated crowd of up to 10,000.

 

Grandparents, small children and even young men in

"Aussie Rules" football jerseys queued to spend a few

seconds clasped to Amma's breast, many of them coming

away visibly moved by the experience.

 

As people queued on their knees in the central aisle

of the hall, many holding flowers, small gifts or

photographs for Amma to bless, many more sat serenely

on the floor, legs crossed and fingertips touching,

some meditating, some simply smiling sweetly at those

around them.

 

Indian music was played from a stage behind Amma and

the walls were decorated with paper flowers as the

helpers, mostly dressed in white robes, beamed a

welcome to all visitors.

 

The welcome and admission were free. Asked if she was

happy with the large turnout - she was sitting until

the early hours of this morning - Amma said her

happiness came from inside.

 

"If I say I am happy with a big crowd, does that mean

I am less happy with a smaller crowd?

 

"No, I am happy inside, happy with all who come."

 

As those who received her hugs stood up, faces

flushed, Amma spoke over her shoulder to reporters,

alternately hugging and giving gifts of apples and

sweets.

 

We reporters then found ourselves individually pressed

forward for what seemed to be a very, very long hug

indeed.

 

There was, for this reporter, no great experience of

the "essence of true fulfilment and unconditional

love", as reportedly experienced by others.

 

But as we left we were found to be smiling.

 

And it was not such a bad day.

 

 

© The Irish Times

 

 

But did she sing a bhajan in Gaelic?

 

Keval

 

 

 

 

 

 

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