Münchner Merkur, 31.10.03

Local newspaper for the city of Munich, Germany

Heart and arms wide open

Spiritual leader Amma in Munich Arena

One smells the scent of incense and the whole atmosphere is filled with a quiet but friendly sounding murmur from the thousand people in the hall. In the background you hear Indian songs. Young and old people, mothers with babies and small children, they all have come to the Munich arena to meet a particular woman: Mata Amritanandamayi. But most of them just call her Amma. She will attract more then ten thousand followers through Saturday at the Olympiapark hall.

Amma, a tiny, dark skinned 50 year-old woman, is considered to be one of the most important spiritual personalities worldwide. Three years ago she spoke at the general gathering of the United Nations; in 2002 she was honored with the Gandhi/King Award for Non-violence. However, she doesn’t think of herself as a political leader. She rather wants to be understood as an embodiment of universal motherly love.  Amma doesn‘t preach in a big way. What she does is rather practical. She embraces human beings. And that is the reason why they all came. Young and old, woman and man, they all want a hug.

For example, Werner Thurner who is a free-lance computer worker and says that there is not even a trace of esoteric inclination in him. He helps out in the kitchen for free – like most of the 110 people in Amma’s Troup! He says he has known this lady for 17 years and what she does is just ‘absolutely crazy’.

You get a glimpse of what happens when you look into peoples’ faces just before and right after the few seconds they have been in contact with Amma. Many have tears in their eyes. Many, after having been embraced, rest silently for hours, meditating in the hall. “You have to experience her charisma”, says Werner Thurner.

Life was not made easy for this Indian woman. She grew up under great difficulties in Kerala, southern India. At the early age of nine, she had responsibility for her seven brothers and sisters. Even as a small girl she had the talent to comfort people and listen to the worries of her neighbors. “They cried and I embraced them, then the next neighbor wanted the same, and that’s how the whole thing started”, explains the 50 year old.

According to her press speaker every year 250,000 people gather for her meetings in the USA, Japan or Europe. But Amma doesn‘t have missionary aspirations. Distinctions between Christians, Moslems, or other religions don’t matter to her. For her the divine principle is the all-inclusive principle of motherly love.

Amma has founded a clinic and an orphanage. And because she lays great emphasis on education – especially for young girls – she openened a computer-school in Kerala. These projects are financed by donations.

On Saturday alone, when everyone has the day off, Amma and her Team are expecting 6000 followers to come to the Munich arena. The visit is free, all you have to bring with you is patience. It’s really worth it, because Amma will embrace every single person.