Algemeen Dagblad

Thousands in line for Hugging Mother

The holy Amma travels around the whole world to impart love to people. Yesterday and today thousands of Dutch let themselves be hugged by India's 'Hugging Mother'.

Den Bosch - The sports centre has been transformed into an Indian temple. Where on weekends basketball players dunk the ball in the basket and the audience goes out of their minds massively, there is now an apparent silence. The traditional Indian music seems to fade away as soon as it comes out of the speakers, only when you listen carefully you notice it's still quite loud. As custom goes, everyone walks in one's socks. Most people have found a place where they meditate or admire Amma, minute after minute, hour after hour. In the rear the holy woman sits on a small dais. In front of her is a long line of people who long for an intimate embrace. The preparation for this special moment is usually done in silence. The hug bewilders some, there are even people who cry quietly when they leave Amma. The chairman of Friends of Amma in the Netherlands, Dirk Overlaet, warns in advance. Meeting her can bring about a lot: sometimes grief comes up, sometimes bliss or strength, sometimes just nothing, as with himself the first time. Actually one should go as an innocent child and just wait and see what happens, he thinks.

Love for 2000 people

Kneeling down I join the line. Amma is giving her unconditional love ten meters in front of me to the other visitors. She made this her life mission. "What I do is just what a mother does when she picks up her crying child to comfort it," she once said. But Amma travels around the whole world for this, all year round. She does not know what breaks are; she rests when they drive her from one place to another. This way she can impart love to as many people as possible. The first day in Den Bosch the counter goes well over 2000.

She is an intriguing woman. In India she has set up a hospital where the poor get free treatment and where those who need to pay less only pay a fraction of the actual costs. She has houses built for the homeless; she is responsible for an orphanage, several educational institutions and has adopted two villages that she helps to rebuild after an earthquake. The necessary funds come from collected donations.

Next to me a young woman is sitting with a bouquet in her hand. She smiles friendly but also a bit nervous. For the first time in her life she will have an encounter with Amma. She introduces herself as Marinka, a refugee from former Yugoslavia, and she thinks it's terrific that I am open to Amma. She herself has been intensely spiritually active for three years. Ever since her brother's death, she says spontaneously. He was tortured and died before he could make the escape to the west. Thanks to Amma's wise lessons she has been able to forgive the wrongdoers, because Amma teaches Marinka to have love for everyone. "Probably the torturers were not yet developed enough and they didn't know any better," says Marinka smiling.

The line moves up slowly. A hug from Amma appears to be more than a quick peck. Sometimes she presses two people against her, but only when they belong together. Everybody gets individual attention, along with a broad smile, without exception. Amma really wants the best for everyone, even for the 700th who comes to her in the same day.

It's Marinka's turn. Kneels down she puts her head on Amma's right shoulder. That is easy because this Queen of Love is just small. After 20 seconds she gets up again and walks away radiantly. Then it's my turn. Amma smiles and presses me against her chest. She holds one hand on my back; with the other hand she caresses my face. She whispers something into my ear, gives me a tender kiss, again she whispers something into my ear and gives me another kiss. Then she looks me in the face and repeats her words in English: My darling son, she says soothing. She opens my hand and places a rose petal and a sweet in it. Then she closes my hand carefully.

A few minutes after me comes a young bloke with his girlfriend and newly born son Shanti, which means 'peace' in Sanskrit. Amma first hugs the baby, then the parents. Shanti cries a little, his father cries with him. The reasons he tells me soon after: "Because Amma helped him straightaway to relinquish the negative burden from former lives," he answers. He lovingly strokes me on my back. "It's great you are here as well", he whispers. "Thanks".

Picture 1: Amma kisses an admirer.

Picture 2: A hug from Amma can bring about a lot: grief, bliss or strength. The 'Hugging Mother' from India travels around the whole world to give love. Yesterday she was in Den Bosch.

By Orkun Akinci