Amma Officially Welcomed to Los Angeles

(June 24)

This morning Amma began her yearly programs here in Los Angeles, CA, USA. But before Amma could begin to receive her children, she was officially honored by representatives of the Los Angeles County, its Board of Supervisors, and the city of Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and its constituency of 10 million people were represented by Susan Nissman, senior field deputy for District Supervisor Zev Yaroslavski. Ms. Nissman officially welcomed Amma, and presented her with a Commendation "For her humanitarian endeavors throughout the world … In recognition of dedicated service to the affairs of the community and for the civic pride demonstrated by numerous contributions for the benefit of all citizens of Los Angeles County and the world." Ms. Nissman additionally honored Amma by adding that her "constituency is colorless … and she makes no judgement in terms of healing, and her good works." Next, Amma was honored by Sherri Adams, field deputy for City Councilman Dennis P. Zine for the Woodland Hills District of LA. She presented Amma, with an official Certificate of Welcome to Los Angeles. On the certificate, the full name of this city was given as: "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora, La Reina de Los Angeles," which literally translates to mean that Amma was being welcomed to "The community of our Lady, the Queen of the Angels."

In reception of the honors, Amma said that this official welcome by the City and County "was an expression of love and compassion and … showed the broad-heartedness of Los Angeles…"

She added that "love is overflowing everywhere, nothing can obstruct love, and there are no barriers for love…There is no key that can lock love inside, because love overflows, crossing all limitations, all barriers."

Los Angeles, June 26, 2003

Amma's darshan manifests an unchanging quality regardless of whether the program is in sunny Los Angeles or snowy Michigan, and regardless of what is happening on the stage behind her or around her. While this morning's darshan was going on, the well-known Hindustani singer Lakshmi Shankar was singing on the stage. She had Amma's darshan (for the first time) before beginning her performance. Her entire selection of songs, rendered in her sweet voice, was devotional in theme. Lakshmi Shankar was the music composer of the movie 'Gandhi', and her last bhajan today was Mahatma Gandhi's favorite, the moving Vaishnava Janato, describing the compassionate and lofty character of a worshipper of Vishnu.

Her tabla accompanist, Ustad Tariq Khan, finished up with a percussion solo that enchanted everyone with the variety of tonal variations and drumming styles that he produced on the tabla. "It was a blessing to play here," Ustad Tariq Khan said. "It was like a puja, and I really enjoyed it." The San Diego satsang sang melodiously in the afternoon.