Amma receives the 2002 Gandhi-King award
Amma Receives the 2002 Gandhi-King
Award for Non-violence at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. 
Amma was the keynote speaker at The Global Peace Initiative
of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders, at the United Nations
in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference was held in October 2002,
and was an initiative of The United Nations' Millennium World Peace
Summit, at which Amma spoke in August 2000.
In what conference organizer Dena Merriam called "the most
important ceremony of this event," Amma was presented with
the 2002 Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence at the United Nations
General Assembly Hall (Palais Des Nations) in Geneva in recognition
of her lifelong work in furthering the principles of non-violence.
The three previous recipients of the award were Nelson Mandela,
Kofi Annan, and the world-renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall.
Dr. Goodall presented the award to Amma. Bawa Jain (Secretary-General
of both The Millennium World Peace Summit and The World Council
of Religions) and His Excellency Mr. Sergio Vleira De Mello, UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights were also on stage with Ms. Goodall
to bestow this prestigious award.
Dr. Goodall had this to say: "I feel it’s a great honor
to share a platform with a woman who is so remarkable, and who is
the very embodiment of goodness... She believes that God does not
discriminate between the sexes, and I believe that she stands here
in front of us, God’s love in a human body.”
In her acceptance speech, Amma praised the work of both Mahatma
Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "This award is in the
name of two great beings who fearlessly devoted their lives towards
the cause of peace, harmony and equality. Amma accepts this award
on behalf of all those who pray and work for peace the world over.
May this be an inspiration for people everywhere to redouble their
efforts in bringing peace to our planet."
Amma's keynote address, entitled "Awaken the Universal Motherhood,"
addressed gender issues directly and profoundly in the context of
spirituality and society as a whole: "No authentic religion
belittles or denigrates women. For those who have realized God,
there is no difference between male and female. The realized ones
have equal vision. If anywhere in the world there exist rules that
prevent women from enjoying their rightful freedom, rules that obstruct
their progress in society, then those are not God's commandments,
but are born out of the selfishness of men.
"Which eye is more important, the left or the right? Both
are equally important. It is the same with the status of men and
women in society. Both should be aware of their unique responsibilities,
or dharma. Men and women have to support one another. Only in this
way can we maintain the harmony of the world. When men and women
become powers that complement each other, and move together with
co-operation and mutual respect, they will attain perfection."
Also during the conference, Amma gave interviews to One Voice International,
during which she comforted a New York firefighter who was present
during the September 11 tragedy, and the Christian Broadcasting
Corporation. She also led the prayers for world peace at English
Garden Lake Park, located in the heart of Geneva. In her peace message
after the prayers, she said, “What everyone needs is peace.
But a majority want to be king. No one wants to be a servant. How
can there be peace then? Won’t there only be war and conflict?
A true servant is the real king. Isn't the milk from the black cow,
the white cow and the brown cow white? Similarly, the essence in
every person is the same. Peace and contentment are the same for
everyone. Those who desire them should work together.”
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