Amma will start her Europe Yatra on October 11. She will visit 9 countries and will hold programs in 11 different cities which will include Satsang, Bhajan, Meditation and Darshan.
October 11-13: M.A Center, Germany October 15-16: Houten, Netherlands October 18-20: Winterthur, Switzerland October 22-23: Copenhagen, Denmark October 25-27: Chalons, France October 29-30: Munich, Germany November 01-02: London, UK November 04-06: Marseille, France November 09-11: Milan, Italy November 13-14: Helsinki, Finland November 16-18: Granollers, Spain
14-16 November 2018Sandown Racecourse, Esher, United Kingdom The final leg of Amma’s 2018 European Tour saw devotees from all over the United Kingdom, and many from all over Europe, come together to spend a final few days in Amma’s presence. For the UK devotees, there was also a palpable anticipation in the air, for after the final Devi Bhava darshan, at long last, the dream of Amma’s UK children would be fulfilled as she visited new Amma center in Bromley, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. Amma was welcomed to the United Kingdom by the Mayor of the Borough of Elmbridge, Councillor Shweta Kapadia; acclaimed actress Luisa Bradshaw White.
Mayor Kapadia remarked, “People everywhere need to come together, and it is only through understanding each other that we can do this. We all truly do need to embrace the world as Amma has taught us. Together with her compassion and service to humanity, her vision for social reform, her life and work have inspired thousands of people around the world. We are therefore honored that Amma-ji has chosen to come to us here in Elmbridge.”
Ms. Bradshaw White shared with the audience the impact Amma has had on her life. “I’ve been coming to see Amma for 14 years. I remember not knowing what to expect the first year, but had the most heart-opening experience just walking into the hall. This was before her hug—the hug where you just fall into her embrace. The hug where she seems to know your whole life story. The compassion in her eyes. The love in her heart. This is Amma. This is the most love I’ve ever felt. I am her child. In this very materialistic and sometimes scary world, she is the calm amidst the storm – gently reminding us to have love in our hearts, and that materialistic things are not in important. Thank you Amma. Thank you for coming all this way to open our hearts.”
In her final address of her 2018 European Tour, Amma reminded the audience that there is light within each of us that can never be extinguished. “Goodness is the manifestation of God within us all. It is our true wealth. We must not let anyone steal this from us. We should never allow any other person’s words or actions to erase the words that God has written in our hearts.”
As Amma moved on to the next stop on her journey – the Abu Dhabi Interfaith Summit to Protect Child Dignity in the Digital World – it was these words that her children would carry with them into their daily lives and the year ahead, spreading the light of Amma’s love and compassion far beyond those who she was able to physically take into her arms.
After the London programme, Amma blessed the new Mata Amritanandamayi Center, UK, with Her visit. Though the last programme ended around 10 am, Amma served dinner, sang bhajans and meditated with all those present at the Center, the very same evening. It was a grand finale to Amma’s European Tour 2018
Amma’s program in the Milano region of Italy is always marked by a special enthusiasm. It is indeed to a sight to behold the way Amma is welcomed by the crowds as she enters the program hall. The Milano program was attended not only by devotees from all over Italy, but also by large contingents from Greece, Russia and Serbia. The Greek devotees shared their joy at being in Amma’s presence with an exuberant performance of traditional Greek music that brought the entire crowd to their feet.
Amma was welcomed to Italy by Mr. Emanuele Antonelli, Mayor and President of the Province; On. Manlio di Stefano Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and Italian delegate to the Council of Europe; Angelo Branduardi, renowned Italian folk singer; and Italian television presenter Victoria Cabello.
Mayor Antonelli remarked, “Meeting Amma is always very emotional. Her embrace surprises us every time, consoles us and envelops us with her sweetness, her generosity, her spirituality. Every time we realize that we really needed it. Her embrace is a simple yet complex gesture. Practical and and symbolic at the same time. A gesture that frees us from our egoism and invites us to open our arms and ourselves to others, overcoming barriers, prejudices, embarrassment and difficulties in order to meet one another.”
The Undersecretary of State reflected, “In my opinion the darshan is in itself two things: when we are in her arms it conveys a sense of protection and the hope of being able during this moment of protection to get in touch with our inner self and with our inner emotions. It’s exactly this sense of protection given by the embrace that I would like to last even after these days with the hope that no one will be left behind, in our country, in the rest of the whole world because it is what it nourishes us with what we really need, a protection given to us and to the 38 million people that Amma has embraced in the past decades.”
Mr. Branduardi mused, “This was a new experience for me and I’m leaving as a new person.”
Ms. Cabello shared, “I knew about Amma because I am a very curious person always looking everywhere and this search at some point brought me to her through some people who had talked to me about her. Then I read, I studied, and I tried to understand how a woman could really move mountains, could change the world through an embrace. And yes, I will start to cry now, because reading was much different from the experience of being here, in the presence of Amma where even the amount of love in this hall is too much in every square meter and I think that this authentic emotional wave that envelops us, overwhelms us, takes us, and takes us somewhere else, it takes us deep inside ourselves.”
Ms. Cabello was not the only with tears in her eyes. For many of Amma’s children, her last stop on the continent was the last place they would see Amma until next year, and they bid her a tearful farewell at the end of the three days of programs in Busto Arsizio.
For her part, Amma urged her children to be steadfast in their commitment to the spiritual path: “We should not lend an ear to words that may turn us away from the path to our goal. While moving towards the goal we may encounter many obstacles. Many people may discourage us but, we must move forward, ignoring them. It may take 30 years to push a large boulder up a steep hill, however it takes only a single push to undo all our years of hard work. Likewise, it may take years to overcome our negativities and channel our thoughts towards higher emotions, but a single negative person can pollute our mind and urge us to squander all our hard effort.”
Amma’s programs in the South of France are some of the largest outside India. Even before sunrise, one can see long lines encircling the Omega Zenith stadium. More than anything else, one is struck by the patience and love imbuing every aspect of the event. On the one side, Amma displays such selfless patience and love in tirelessly embracing one after another, no matter how many come. At the same time, the devotees wait with such patience and acceptance, happy to receive Amma’s blessing no matter how long it takes. Their devotion is truly a sight to behold.
In her address, Amma spoke about the importance of ensuring one is seeing situations and circumstances with clarity: “Vision is not what we see externally through our physical eyes. It is the perception born from our understanding of life and situations. This vision should be pure and without blemish. The solutions to most of our internal and external problems lie in removing our incorrect vision or wrong perspective. It is our duty to make efforts towards this end.”
On the final evening of Amma’s programs, the packed stadium had a surprise in store for Amma – as she took the stage, with a cry of “Happy Diwali Amma!”, the entire crowd turned on the lights of their mobile phones, creating a beautiful spectacle in celebration of the festival of lights and calling to mind Amma’s invitation to us all: “If all of us can light the lamp of faith and love in our hearts and walk forward together, then we definitely can bring about a change in society.”
Seeing the stadium illuminated with thousands upon thousands of points of light, it was not hard to imagine that change rippling out through society, the darkness of ignorance is being dispelled by the countless lights, shining together, flickering with hope borne out of patience, and love expressed as compassion.
2-3 November, M.A.Center, Brombachtal, Germany – Europe Yatra 2018
Amma’s program at M.A. Center Germany has become an annual pilgrimage destination for Amma’s devotees all over Europe, and this year was no exception. The ashram center, located in an idyllic setting amid beautiful rolling hills, provided the perfect ambience for the program. Arriving at the center from Munich, Amma took time the evening before her programs began to serve prasad and spend time with all the local volunteers, saying to their delight, “Guten appetit!” (enjoy your meal) before they began their dinner.
Welcoming Amma to the region, Mr. Willi Kredel, mayor of Brombachtal said: “Having such a remarkable personality like Amma here in Brombachtal makes us incredibly proud. And like every year, it is absolutely astonishing to see so many people here along with Amma, who all wish to do something good for society. This is truly rare in today’s world. If there is anything that we can do to support Amma from the side of the municipality we are more than happy to do so.”
Mrs. Pratibha Parkar, the Honorable Consul General of India to Germany (Frankfurt) was also on hand to welcome Amma. Mrs Parker said: “Amma’s embrace and her love are a real manifestation of the ancient Indian principle of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ – seeing the world as one family. This is so important nowadays. As children, we all consider the arms of our mother to be the safest place in the world. But as we grow older we lose that sense of trust. To me, Amma embodies the true form of motherhood: we feel secure when she embraces us. I feel so honored to welcome Amma here today.”
During the function, Amma also handed over EU Youth pass Certificates to 12 graduates from the Social Impact Leadership program, run by AYUDH Europe. The youth from Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain have completed a yearlong training in leadership, project management and mindfulness. They attended three high-level seminars in Berlin (Germany), Athens (Greece) and Bilbao (Spain) and implemented one social project per country group.
Fittingly, Amma spoke about the value of believing in oneself. “Children, never lose your self -confidence. It is like a booster rocket. It helps us break free from the bondage and impurities of the mind and allows us to soar to the heights of spirituality. It is like fuel giving us the power to forge ahead.”
It was not only human beings but the horses living on the ranch who enjoyed Amma’s darshan this year, as she took time out to lovingly feed them. As the horses ate from Amma’s own hands, one could feel all of the surrounding nature blossoming in the light of Amma’s presence – a natural beauty imbued with the fragrance of peace, love and compassion that follows Amma wherever she goes.
30-31 October – Munich, Germany, Europe Yatra 2018
This was Amma’s first visit to Starnberg in the Bavarian region of Germany. The program was held in the Biberkor Montessori School.
Amma was welcomed to Germany by the Indian Consul General Shri. Sugandh Rajaram; Rupert Monn, Mayor of Starnberg; actor, director and TV personality Sebastian Goder, as well as the director and owner of the Montessori Biberkor school.
In welcoming Amma, Shri. Rajaram remarked, “Amma, as we all have experienced, is another word for compassion – compassion to bring the whole world together, surpassing the boundaries of nations, societies, gender, even age – teaching us all to live together, to love each other, and to live for each other. Amma has been the true torchbearer of this ethos of Indian civilization, where the whole world is regarded as one family. Amma has taken this ethos to the whole world – to all of humanity.”
Mayor Monn expressed his gratitude for Amma’s having come to Starnberg, and expressed his wish that her visit would leave a lasting impression in the hearts of all those attending. “Dear Amma, I am thrilled at the sight of all people who made a pilgrimage here because of you. Amma gives the gift of love to every single person, she animates us to do the same and to make the world better and more peaceful, step by step, and to alleviate suffering. Your visit, dear Amma, will go down in the history of our town. For the numerous visitors, I hope that you will honor Amma’s wish – providing humanitarian help and loving our neighbours – and spread it in the world.”
Mr Goder exhorted the crowd to draw hope and inspiration from Amma’s visit. “Amma, you are truly the ambassador of the treasure we are longing for so much: love and peace. Amma fills the heart of those meeting her with love and peace. No wonder that so many people all over the world wait all year long to finally be in Amma’s presence. Amma helps people to find the true source of love and peace because this source is nowhere else than within us. So let us feel it and above all, pass it on. With Amma’s inspiration, we can succeed. Let us make the world the wonderful place it has always been.”
Amma’s visit was well covered by the media, including the newspapers Suddeutsche Zeitung, BILD Zeitung and Starnberger Merkur, as well as national television and radio stations.
Amma’s programs in Munich are always marked by spellbinding classical musical performances, and this year was no exception. Being in the heart of Bavaria, this year also saw a number of traditional folk music performances.
As a part of AYUDH’s Trees for Peace campaign, Amma blessed saplings, which were handed by the local dignitaries over to local AYUDH members.
In her own remarks to the crowd, Amma issued a call for us all to take the high road, relying on the goodness that already dwells within every human being. “Don’t let the inner negativities cover all your inner goodness. You have even more love than anger within. You have to awaken that love. Each moment is precious because each second a new creation is occurring. What is this new creation? A kind word, a compassionate glance, a loving smile, a good deed—all these give new life to those around us.”
23-24 October, Copenhagen, Denmark — Europe Yatra 2018
After years of patiently waiting, the dreams of countless well-wishers of Amma came true – Amma would come to Denmark for the first time. As Amma stepped out of her vehicle after a 14-hour drive from Winterthur, Switzerland, hundreds of her Danish children had gathered late into the night to welcome her as she first touched Danish soil.
Looking at them, Amma said, “It is your love and affection that has brought me here – it was such a force that I was drawn to come.”
Amma’s first-ever program in Denmark was held in Brondby Hallen, the acclaimed sports arena. As it was her first visit to the country, even the day before the programs, no one knew how many people might be coming. But even before Amma arrived on the first morning of her programs, the question was no longer whether people would come, but whether the arena could accommodate everyone who had come to receive Amma’s embrace. Brondby Hallen was transformed into a temple of love and peace.
During the formal program on the first evening, Amma was welcomed to Denmark by Member of Parliament and priest, Ms Ulla Sandbaek and the Indian Ambassador to Denmark, Mr Ajit Gupte.
Mr. Ajit Gupte said, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Amma on her first visit to Denmark. She has been telling me that the Danish people have been inviting her to Denmark for many years and your love and affection has brought her here. I’m delighted to see the large turnout, because in Denmark gathering thousands of people, is much more difficult than gathering thousands of people in India. I´m sure all of you will be spiritually uplifted from being with Amma.”
Ms Sandbaek said, “A couple of weeks ago the Danish Parliament resumed its works after the summer break. When I prepared this speech, I imagined what it would have been like, if Amma had been the one to give the opening speech of the new session of the Parliament’s work. It would have been so wonderful if every member of Parliament could have just listened to her and just being in her presence. What a difference it would have made to Denmark. Amma talks of compassion and love. Indeed, her actions speak louder than her words.”
At the end of the formal event, the Danish people, all in unison and beautiful harmony, together sang a traditional Danish song to Amma, their joy at Amma’s presence imbuing the song with a new meaning:
The sun is rising in the east,
It gilds the heavens wide,
And scatters light on the mountain crest,
On shore and countryside.
It rises from the valley bright,
Where Paradise once lay,
And bringeth life, and joy and light
To all upon its way.
As the song came to a close, thousands of Danish flags appeared in the audience and waved with gratitude and celebration.
“Seeing all of you seated here—as children of one mother, with minds that have become as one—Amma’s heart is filled with joy. Like the evident external beauty of a peacock displaying its plume and the subtle internal beauty created by the call of a nightingale, may my children’s lives be filled with the beauty of both the external and the internal. May you all be blessed with joy and peace.”
Despite the fact that it was Amma’s first ever program in Denmark, the program was very well organized, buoyed by the tireless efforts of Amma’s Danish children. More than half of the volunteers who worked day and night to organize the program had never met her in person and would receive Amma’s embrace for the first time during her visit.
Amma’s visit was also well covered in the Danish media, including by Politiken, one of the top media outlets in the country.
As Amma’s programs concluded and she left for the next stop on her tour, just one prayer was written on the hearts of all the devotees in Denmark – “Amma, please return next year.”
19-21 October, Winterthur, Switzerland, – Europe Yatra 2018
Amma arrived at Eulach Hallen, Winterthur to a grand welcome by the Swiss devotees, accompanied by the traditional Swiss alpenhorn and clanging of the traditional Swiss cowbells. Upon her arrival, Amma served a prasad dinner to all the gathered volunteers and devotees.
Being the Maha Navami day, Amma spoke that evening about the importance of Navaratri, highlighting the fact that only when the ego is obliterated can one attain real fulfilment in life. The sword of the Divine Mother represents the Knowledge which slays the ego, represented by the head of the demon. Amma explained that darkness is not an object that can be removed; rather, when you bring in light, it automatically disappears. In a similar way, as you bring in the light of knowledge in your life, all ignorance will vanish and you can revel in the presence of the Divine Mother in your heart all the time.
On the first morning of her programs, following the morning meditation, as per tradition on Vijaya Dashami, Amma led the initiation into writing, by tracing the letters Om Hari Sri Ganapataye Namah in a plate of rice. By video conference, her children in Amritapuri and other centres all over the world also participated and Amma interacted with them directly, initiating them from afar and calling to mind her declaration, “Where there is love, distance is not a barrier.” The love exchanged between Amma and her children all over the world as she gently guided them in the traditional invocation of Lord Ganapati’s blessings was palpable in every corner of the program hall.
Amma was welcomed to Switzerland by Nik Gugger, member of Swiss Parliament and social entrepreneur; India’s Ambassador to Switzerland Sibi George; and Prof. Dr Michel Carton, former director of the Development Studies Institute in Geneva, former executive director and now senior advisor of NORRAG.
Mr. Sibi George said, “I am delighted and happy that one of the greatest daughters of India is with us today. As a diplomat of India for the last 25 years, I have seen Amma connecting the East and the West through her message of love and peace. Today, through her life and mission, Amma teaches the world that serving humanity is indeed serving God.”
As NORRAG had recently facilitated a collaboration between Amrita University and the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa in a pilot project to provide vocational training to underserved populations in South Africa, Prof. Dr. Carton expressed appreciation for Amma’s commitment to guiding academia toward fighting poverty: “I wish to express my thanks to you Amma for your humanitarian engagement and compassion. This is manifested not only in the field but also through the applied research and action for the human and socio-economic development of your university, which illustrates your approach toward research and universities.” Prof. Carton closed his speech by quoting Amma directly: “Today, universities and their researchers are ranked mainly based on the amount of funding they receive or the number of papers they publish and their intellectual calibre. Along with this, we should take into consideration how much we have been able to use their research to serve the lowest and most vulnerable strata of society. In our approach to sustainable development, we should not forget that it is by strengthening the people at the base of the pyramid that the entire edifice of society becomes healthy and strong.”
Reflecting on Amma’s significance for Swiss society, Gugger said, “Amma achieves that which is very important to me: she reaches people from different cultures, religions and social layers. She touches people through her message of selfless, non-judgmental love. Not only that – through her far-reaching charitable projects, she supports hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, and inspires them… Amma said very aptly – and I think this is very important for all of us tonight – ‘In today’s world, people have hot heads and cold hearts.’ The head is hot because it is full of egoistic desires and aggressive thoughts. The heart is ice-cold because the warming love is missing. What we need is the opposite. We need a cold head with clear thoughts and a heart filled with compassion for our neighbours. We have to learn to develop unconditional love for every human being. Through Amma’s inspiration and God’s grace, we can succeed.”
16-17 October, Houten, Netherlands – Europe Yatra 2018
Amma’s presence attracted people from all parts of the country as well as the neighbouring countries of Belgium and Luxembourg. The Expo Houten venue had been overflowing on both days of Amma’s visit to the Netherlands.
Amma was welcomed to the Netherlands by India’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Venu Rajamony. Mr Rajamony began by inviting the assembled crowd to themselves welcome Amma with a round of applause. The crowd used the opportunity to express their appreciation for Amma, with applause that seemed as it would only end if they were asked to stop.
Ambassador Rajamony, declared, “I come here as the Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, but in reality, I come here as just a child at the feet of Amma, come to bask in her love and to be hugged by her just as all of you… In Kerala we have a song that goes, ‘Is there a God bigger than Mother? Is there a temple bigger than Mother? It is a life of sacrifice which cannot be erased by time. Mothers are the gods that appear in life and blood before us.’ This song applies to all mothers, but especially to Amma, the mother of humanity.”
The ambassador continued, “Friends, we live in difficult times. War, conflict, discrimination, exploitation, poverty, ignorance, hatred, xenophobia, religious hatred – all these have not been eliminated from this world. The world has been struggling, again and again, to get rid of these problems, but we have not succeeded. It is people like Amma, who are ambassadors of love, messengers of peace, who give unconditional love to whoever comes to them, who spread the message of unity of all religions – it is they who uphold the moral compass of society. It is the duty of each and every one of us to strengthen her hands in every manner possible – to come together and work to build a world truly free of violence.”
Amma was also welcomed to the Netherlands by world champion boxer, kickboxer, acclaimed actress and coach Lucia Rijker, who shared “Amma embraces you unconditionally and selflessly. Something which is not easy to do for a normal human being and Amma is my example in this. How she embraces us all and lets us in, irrespective of who we are, where or what we are, how much money and success we have, or how troubled our heart is. Thank you Amma for always making the effort to make those tiring journeys and spend all those hours pushing us back into our heart, and helping us remember where our heart is, in this troubled world.”
In her own remarks, Amma spoke about the importance of maintaining mastery of the mind, rather than becoming a slave to its desires. “The mind is a good servant, not a good master. As our attachment towards external objects grows, our mental strength weakens. We may think our attachment is minimal and insignificant. But as our attachment towards an object grows, we soon find that we are being reduced to a beggar before these attachments. The object of our attachment becomes our master.”
The devotees of Belgium brought Amma a special gift – in honour of Amma’s home state of Kerala, they performed the traditional Kerala dance kai kotti kali, dressed in traditional garb. Their loving offering put on display for all to see and feel the truth that Amma’s love transcends all boundaries, and that Amma is fostering a new, universal culture of spiritual values.
Devotees from all over the United Kingdom, Europe and even further afield flocked Ireland for her programs in Ireland this year, held at Dublin’s Citywest Convention Centre. Amma was welcomed to Ireland by a host of government officials, including Ms Frances Fitzgerald, Ireland’s Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation; Ms Josepha Madigan, Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht; Mr Sean Crowe, Member of Parliament; Mayor – Cllr. Mark Ward, South Dublin County Council; and Mayor – Cllr. Ossian Smyth.
Ms Madigan spoke about the universality of Amma’s teachings: “Throughout Amma’s life, her focus has been on uplifting the poor and easing the plight of those who are suffering. No matter what your religious beliefs are, or whether you have none at all, these aspirations are the very basic threads of humanity. Oscar Romero once said, ‘Aspire not to have more, but to be more,’ and I think Amma, you embody this.”
Mr Ward expressed gratitude on behalf of all those assembled for Amma’s having accepted again the devotees’ invitation to visit Ireland. “It’s an absolute joy to welcome Amma. We are all very happy that Amma has included Ireland in her very busy schedule. Her message of love, compassion and selfless service is a message we need to hear and put in our practice in our daily lives. Thank you Amma for blessing our community, our county and our country.”
Meanwhile, Ms Fitzgerald noted that while the politicians present represented different political philosophies, there was at least one thing they could all agree on: “Many different politics are represented here tonight, but we are united in welcoming Amma to Dublin and to Ireland. Amma’s initiative to build toilets throughout India is very powerful in terms of human dignity, and safety, and respect for the individual… Amma has done a huge amount of work in empowering women and building an inclusive society. Amma shows us there is no limit to human endeavour and what we can do to change the world, and I think everyone here tonight wants to follow Amma’s example in doing that.”
In her speech, Amma spoke about the importance of not over-valuing financial wealth over spiritual and human values: “If we reject values and centre our mind and thoughts only on money, all our love will become fake. Moreover, we will have a business-minded mentality towards everything. Earn money to live; don’t live to earn money.”
Two new books were released during Amma’s visit to Ireland: Light of the Heart, a memoir of living with Amma by Anna Dreier (Prabha); and Waves of Grace, a collection of devotees’ experiences with Amma.
Like every year when Amma visits, the Irish people offered vibrant performances of traditional music, drawing on a rich heritage and ancient culture.
