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Naperville hosts holy woman full of love

By Sarah Fowler Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted 7/13/03

Andrew Bryce's spiritual quest took him from retreats in California to monasteries in Thailand and Burma to the Indian Himalayas before he felt complete.

"I felt there was something missing that I couldn't fully (find). ... I got to a place in my meditation where I realized I couldn't go any further on my own," said Bryce, who has been traveling for several years and plans to settle in California soon.

His quest ended when he met the South Indian holy woman Mata Amritanandamayi, known as Amma, in the Himalayas in 2000. He said he found himself drawn to her message of love and compassion.

"I think a lot of religious and spiritual leaders talk about spiritual principles ... but there's very few human beings that ever fully embrace this spiritual consciousness and are completely free of all traces of ego," he said.

Bryce and a few friends are traveling with Amritanandamayi on a 10-city summer tour of the United States, which came to Naperville this weekend.

The three-day visit, which organizers expect to draw up to 5,000 people, opened Saturday at the Holiday Inn-Select with a brief meditation followed by a few hours of darshan, a Sanskrit word for an audience with a holy person.

Hundreds of devotees gathered in the large ballroom, many dressed in traditional Indian garb, to chant as Amritanandamayi made her entrance. The guru led a meditation and then began greeting guests with her signature hug and a blessing.

Through a translator, Amritanandamayi said her teachings are not meant for followers of any particular religion and said the only creed she promotes is love for other people.

"In every single religion that's the fundamental principle," she said. "Just as honey is sweet and fire is hot wherever you take it ... love and compassion are the same for the entire world."

Nancy Cook and Roberta Spencer, who came from South Bend, Ind., to see Amma, said that although they come from a Catholic background, they both find the holy woman's teachings compelling.

"I guess I believe different people's belief systems call people to greatness in different ways, and I think this is a great woman," Spencer said. "She challenges people to look at life in different ways. You can't do that without challenging yourself and looking inside yourself."

Cook said she's been impressed with Amritanandamayi's humanitarian efforts, which have included founding orphanages, helping the hungry, caring for the elderly and promoting education in India.

"It's complete, selfless service. (It's) all the things that are good and are common in all of our traditions, Cook said. "I think that's what people are connecting to, and that's what I'm connecting to."

Aurora resident Santosh Kumar, who helped organize the visit, said he became a follower 15 years ago because he was drawn to Amma's teachings and life of service.

"If you look at (her) life, it is one of total sacrifice," he said. "She doesn't really ask for anything. ... She just keeps on giving."

Bryce said he and his friends plan to complete the rest of Amma's tour, which continues today and Monday in Naperville and goes through late July.

"I'm trying to learn love," he said. "I feel like I'm just a little spark and she's a huge fire. The closer I stay to her, the bigger I'll burn."