Amma in LA - Fall 2019

Amma's 2019 Fall Tour started with excitement and energy at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA. There were five-days of programs including a special retreat filled with sacred moments of darshan, meditation, satsang (spiritual talk) and bhajans (devotional songs).

Located in the heart of the entertainment and tourist district of Los Angeles, the venue complex is at the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. and is home to such famous landmarks as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Grumman Theater, and the Ray Dolby Theater - site of the annual Motion Picture Academy Awards.

At the start of the first program, Rick Nahmias, Founder and Executive Director of Food Forward, a nonprofit in Los Angeles, garlanded Amma.

Redondo Beach District 1 Council Member, Mr. Nils Nehrenheim, also attended one of the programs and garlanded Amma.  On behalf of Bill Brand, Honorable Mayor of Redondo Beach, Mr. Nils spoke to the gathered crowd and presented Amma with a letter of commendation. "We in Redondo Beach are so very grateful to be chosen to have the MA Center in our little beachside community. The building has significant cultural history and could have been something mundane if anyone else had bought it.  We thank you every day that you saw the inner beauty to preserve that building.  The love and cultivation that you brought bleeds over into the community every day. We notice that."

The first two public programs went well into the night with Amma finishing after midnight.  At the end of each program, Amma sang a few bhajans and then requested everyone to clap their hands and laugh like a three-year-old.  The crowd responded back with great laughter and joy.

At one of the gatherings, Amma reiterated the importance of expanding one’s heart. “Amma’s vision is one of forgiveness, mutual understanding and love. Only action based on such an expansive vision can carry humankind to both spiritual and material heights.”

During the retreat, there were many cultural programs from various satsangs from Northern and Southern California. Children of San Ramon's Bala Kendra group sang bhajans, followed by a dance medley by AYUDH (the Youth Group) and Bay Area devotees.  Then, in a brief ceremony perfectly fitting for Hollywood, members of the LA satsang presented Amma with their own special Academy Award for 'Mother of the Universe.'

Devi Bhava was held on the last evening and included a special prayer for world peace.