In her message, Amma explains that to selflessly serve all people, without bias, is the true aim of any revolution – and only the power of love can truly achieve this. The images interspersed capture a few of the humanitarian initiatives through which Amma is living by her words. Compassion in action.
“For more than 65 years, Amma has been listening to her children’s grief, their small joys, their complaints and their laments. Amma intimately knows the depth of their heartaches and the pain behind their tears.
Fear is the main obstacle standing in the way. It robs us of our ability to harness our strengths and talents. But there is a special power within that can help us overcome fear—love. Love gives us the strength to push aside every obstacle and move forward.”
Amma at Amrita Hospital, Kochi. Across India, 6.45m people have been given ₹860 crore ($90m) in free healthcare.
As soon as the Indian Ocean Tsunami struck in 2004, Amma began relief efforts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Today, ₹713 crore ($74m) has been delivered in disaster relief worldwide.
Amma welcomed to a village in Gujarat. Amma’s initiatives have reached more than 2800 villages across rural India.
“Everything in creation is a wonder. And the greatest wonder of all is the human being. This is because humankind has the unique ability to think deeply, to discern right from wrong, and to act accordingly. When this sense of discernment awakens, a new dawn will break.
The world is like a flower. Each nation is a petal. If one petal is infested, does it not affect all the other petals? Does not the disease destroy the life and beauty of the flower? Is it not the duty of each one of us to protect and preserve the beauty and fragrance of this one world flower from being destroyed?”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amma gave the Ashram’s women self-help groups aid worth more than ₹85 crores ($9m). The Amrita SREE initiative started in 2005 and today, there are 15,000 SHGs with 2,50,000 members.
Amma welcomed in Hyderabad where the Ashram built apartment blocks for more than 1,000 families who lived in slums. Overall, her house building project has constructed more than 48,000 homes in over 80 locations across India and Sri Lanka.
In 2008, Amma travelled to Washim in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region where villages were devastated by farmer suicide. She began distribution of scholarships so families could afford to send their children to school. Today, the initiative has reached more than 55,000 children in India, Haiti, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, and Canada.
“Together we are a power, an undefeatable power. When we work together, hand in hand with love, it is not just one life force, but the life energy of countless people that flows in harmony, unimpeded. From that constant stream of unity, real progress will take place, and we will see the birth of peace.
If that is sincerely the goal, then there is only one path forward: we must usher in a revolution of love.
Any revolution, regardless of its form or leaders, should strive for positive transformation based on dharma. To selflessly serve the people without bias is the true aim of any revolution. Only the power of love can truly achieve this.”
Meditation at the beach in Amritapuri. 7.4m people worldwide have participated in Amma’s yoga and meditation techniques.
During her 50th birthday in 2003, Amma planted a banyan tree and gave it waters that were brought from rivers across the globe. Today, Ashram volunteers have planted more than 6m trees worldwide.
“This revolution should happen first in the individual mind. From there, it must spread to one’s home and community. The rest will happen spontaneously. If that goal is reached, our dreams of a noble world family will be fulfilled in a meaningful way.
This human life is meant to be born in love, to be lived in love and to eventually end in love. In truth, there is no end to pure love. Love connects every being in creation. Whether humans or animals, it is the power of love that binds a child to its mother and a mother to her child.”
Women in rural Rajasthan building toilets – a male-dominated trade – to make their village open defecation free.
Amma has dedicated ₹200 crore ($27m) to construction of toilets in rural India. In 2017, 12 villages were declared Open Defecation Free by the Govt of Indian with President Ram Nath Kovind presenting the certificates.
“Love is the inner expression and compassion is its outer expression. If we could transform compassion from a mere word into a path of action, we would be able to solve 90% of the world’s humanitarian problems.
If only our minds, eyes, ears and hands could genuinely understand and feel the sorrow and pain of others. How many suicides could have been avoided? How many people could have received food, clothing, and shelter? How many conflicts in the name of money, fame and position could have been avoided?”
In Indpur, Himachal Pradesh, the community stands proud that their women and girls are saved from the difficult task of fetching safe drinking water for their families. The village was among the first to have Amrita University’s Jivamritam Water Filtration System installed.
President Ram Nath Kovind also launched Amma’s Jivamritam project – ₹100 crore ($13.5m) committed to building safe drinking water systems in 5,000 villages across rural India.
“Whether or not God exists might be a source of debate. However, no rational person can ever say that suffering humanity does not exist. We can see suffering with our own eyes. Amma considers service to such people to be worship of God.
When the full moon rises, the Earth is freed from the darkness of night. Similarly, may the light of love, compassion, and selflessness dispel the darkness of selfishness, hatred, and conflict covering humankind. May a beautiful new dawn of goodness shine. May the light of truth and dharma illuminate the hearts of all.”
The scriptures and Mahātmās of all religions say that God is love. It is also correct to say that love is God.
Amma
