News
Humanitarian work progresses

Tsunami Relief Work: The press is long gone and the world’s attention has largely shifted, but the disastrous effects of the Southeast Asia tsunami continue to reverberate in the lives of the untold thousands who lost family, home and livelihood. Amma’s mission, the M.A. Math, continues to provide relief on many fronts as the long, challenging process of restructuring lives and families continues.

On January 31, 2006 the M.A.Math gave financial aid of Rs 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 to every tsunami-affected family in Kerala. It also provided Rs. 50,000 to the families of the six fishermen who drowned off the coast of Alappad Panchayat in the tragic boating accident of late December 2005.

Twenty-seven sewing machines were given to the tailoring graduates from the free vocational training program of the M.A.Math.

In Nagappatinam, Tamilnadu currently about 1050 tsunami homes are being constructed along with amenities like roads, community halls, child care, and rainwater-harvesting systems. The M.A. Math plans to complete these houses within six months.

The M.A. Math’s disaster relief outreach is international with the construction of approximately 120 homes throughout Sri Lanka. As per the Govt. of Sri Lanka's guidelines, the Math is building 3-storey homes, each with a total of 530 square feet.

While M.A.Math under the guidance and inspiration of Amma touches the lives of thousands through its organizational reach, Amma continues to touch the lives of thousands one at a time, as described by one of her disciples:

After the tsunami, Amma was walking from one house of the tsunami victims to the next, consoling and offering help. In one house there was a young girl, still a child herself, but left with the task of bringing up two baby sisters. They had lost their father, their only support, to the killer wave. Their mother had died a while ago. Amma held the children to her bosom and said " Daughter, you have Amma, don't you? Do not grieve. Isn't Amma your very own?" Not willing to part with Amma they clung to her asking, " Amma can we come with you?" Amma replied with utmost tenderness of a loving mother, "Yes, children. you can indeed come with me." Having regained the hope to live, the little kids stood close to Amma; a small smile lit up their faces. Amma took them along with her.

To help orphaned children such as these, Amma has established orphanages whose staff includes mothers who lost their children in the tsunami. Inspired by Amma and counseled by her, tsunami victims who lost their children have also adopted orphaned children.

Amma receives international award: On 31 January 2006, Amma was awarded the Sant Jnaneshwara World Peace Prize. The organizers of the World Peace Conference-2006 have chosen to confer the first Philosopher Saint Shri Jnaneshwara World Peace Prize on most revered Amma for promotion of world peace, harmony, and universal brotherhood.

Experience with Amma
The Trek of the Soul - By Sw. Purnamritananda

Most people like to exhibit even their smallest talents before everyone. Mahatmas, however, usually like to hide their greatness from others, even while mingling closely with people. In truth, the whole of what we manage to glimpse of a Mahatma is only that small portion of his divinity that he allows to overflow from his ever-brimming vessel.

The question then arises, "Why do Mahatmas behave in such a way, disguising themselves as ordinary people, concealing their real glory?" Read more

Briefly excerpted from " The 1995 edition of The Immortal Bliss magazine."

Satsang of the Month
Congratulations to Michigan satsang for their great contribution to society!

The Amma Center of Michigan Youth Group: The Amma Center of Michigan youth group varies in age from 4 to 30 and consists of 22 active members - 13 of them in their teens or below.

Some of the activities that we do are given below:

1) Adopt a Highway (MDOT Project) - We applied for a permit to pick up litter on highway for 2 miles in July 2005. The permit was approved in Jan 2006 and we have been scheduled three times a year to pick up litter on I-94 between US-12 and Platt Rd. A sign saying "Adopted by the Amma Center of Michigan Youth Wing" signs will be at the two ends of the 2-mile road. The first date is in April.

2) Delivering meals to Senior Citizens (Motor Meals of Ann Arbor Project) - We deliver meals to senior citizens on the first and third Saturdays. We started this in July 2005 with just two of us delivering meals in Ann Arbor. We will be continuing it this year and plan to deliver meals in other areas with more interested volunteers.

3) Mother's Kitchen (The Staples Family Center) - We sponsor, cook, prepare and serve meals at The Staples Family Center every fourth Saturday of the month. We do request help from the adults with the cooking but are trying to learn to cook so that we can do it by ourselves and give them a break.

4) Penny Drive - A Penny Drive is conducted once in 3 months. Youngsters earn money by doing good deeds (kindness jar concept - a penny for a kind deed), sponsored usually by family and friends, or by collecting loose change found under sofa cushions, collecting and returning soda bottles etc.

More are listed here

Gems to Treasure
Prayer of Saint Francis of Assissi

O Divine Master
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood,
as to understand;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that
we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born
to Eternal life.

Appeared in the "1995 Edition of The Immortal Bliss magazine."

Events & Satsangs
Events and satsangs across North America.

Mid-winter Retreat in the San Ramon ashram in California, Feb 19, 2006 - Thanks to Bri. Ramaa Devi for conducting such a rejuvenating retreat during this long winter. More feedback on this great retreat in our next issue.

We warmly welcome the Bellingham and the Tacoma satsangs in Washington State.

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