San Ramon, California

The enchantment that Amma holds for one and all is a phenomenon that is beyond our realm of understanding - to be perceived only through the direct experience of realized souls like Herself. Even those that meet Her for the first time undergo instant changes in their personality that is beyond any rationale.

There is the story of the young girl from India who had come on a short software project to the Bay Area leaving behind her near and dear ones. While she was in the Bay Area, she met a few acquaintances that did selfless service at the San Ramon ashram. Although she had met never Amma before or knew what Amma was like, due to the contact she had made with the volunteers coming to the ashram, slowly she started getting involved in many of the ashram projects. The few hours of seva increased steadily and she began spending many long nights at the ashram working. Her dedication was amazing especially for a person that had not seen Amma before. Finally the time came for her to return, and that time coincided with Amma's visit to the San Ramon ashram this summer. Meeting Amma for the first time in a long, sweet darshan, she went through a complete transformation as she found herself longing to spend more time with Amma and feeling extremely sad to leave. Just a few days earlier, she was joyfully waiting to return home and reunite with her family after many months of separation. But now, tearfully taking leave, she begged Amma to give her more opportunities for service wherever fate happened to take her.

Such is the attraction of Amma that brings about, an endearing softness in the core of the heart unknown to oneself, shifting the perspective from the center of the self and inspiring in ordinary souls a desire to serve the larger humanity.