Glimpses into the New York Programs

The New York Satsang members who greeted the public at Amma's program in New York City's Manhattan Center on 34th Street, said that more than 5,000 new people lined the streets outside the hall to get tokens for a hug from Amma. Since there was little or no publicity before the tour, the unusually large numbers of first-timers on Saturday, the first day of the program, had learned about Amma from friends and acquaintances. By Sunday and Monday more new visitors were attracted to meet Amma after reading articles in the New York Times and the New York Daily News or from watching local TV coverage on ABC, NBC, and CBS.

As I walked into the program hall and spent several hours there, I recorded some of these interesting incidents around Amma.

Mother calls her children
One newcomer, Savee Beitarry, said that a friend of hers had encouraged her to meet Amma. Meanwhile Savee's husband was taken ill. During her husband's stay in the hospital, Savee completely forgot about Amma's presence in New York. As a result Savee missed the programs on Saturday and Sunday, but woke up on Monday morning with a dream that she didn't understand at first. She dreamed of a woman in a white sari, a woman with a beautiful and radiant smile who stood on a huge ship. In the dream Savee had to wait a long time to get a hug from this woman in white. After Savee woke up and ate breakfast, she took time for a few quiet moments. While she relaxed, all at once a thought ran through her mind that said, "Your dream was about Ammachi." With that, Savee leapt up, quickly ironed a white blouse, and jumped on a subway train to the Manhattan Center where she waited a long time for a hug. Savee was so delighted with her experience with Amma she returned in the evening program.

Now, can I have my hug Mother?
During the Monday evening program, a young man, a newcomer with an early token, got in line for darshan and somehow accidentally merged into the prasad-giving line. When someone comes to meet Amma for the first time, often they easily feel the energy of being completely at home, a sensation generated by simply being in Amma's tender motherly presence. So this man must have felt so comfortable and natural in the situation, that he didn't even wonder about why he was handing candies and petals to Amma. In fact, the honor of giving prasad is usually reserved for local satsang members or staff members who have been working long hours to make the programs run smoothly. Most devotees treasure the few moments as an unforgettable intimate time with their guru. This young man who inadvertently found himself giving prasad was puzzled after sitting next to Amma. He looked around and then asked an attendant, "What do I do now? How do I get my hug?" The attendant laughed, and helped the young man to Amma's lap.

Am I not your mother?
One devotee, not new to Amma, was shy about coming close to Amma. Amma asked the woman what the problem was. The devotee said, "Amma I feel a bit nervous when I come near you." Her response was understandable because many people feel intimidated by the fact that Amma is all-knowing. Often they feel like an open book in Amma's presence. Though Amma is very simple, when we are with her we get a glimpse of her gigantic spiritual stature. However, since she is an embodiment of Universal Mother's love, we are able to cross all barriers of feeling unworthy or small by just being her child. After the devotee told Amma why she was hesitant, Amma asked, "Are you scared of going near your biological mother?" The devotee replied without pause, "No" So Amma asked, "Then why are you nervous about coming near me? Am I not your own mother?" At that point, the devotee just stared at Amma and smiled, looking very satisfied with Amma's reply.

The greatest example
In the midst of the throngs of New Yorkers lining up to receive Amma's hugs during darshan, someone asked an old-timer devotee what attracted her to Amma. The woman replied, "What inspires me most is the amount of good that is done to so many people." Taking cue that she meant that she was impressed with Amma's vast network of humanitarian projects the interviewer then asked, " So which humanitarian project you like the most?” The woman responded, “Amma's hug is the greatest humanitarian work in my opinion. I believe that her embrace gives the inspiration and her example the strength for all other humanitarian work which spreads the message of love and compassion.”

- Savitri Bess