A REVOLUTION OF LOVE

Whether or not God exists might be a source of debate, but no rational person can ever say that suffering humanity does not exist. — Amma

The undefeatable power of compassion

I never think about my birthday. It is my children who wish to come together on this day to light lamps of love and devotion. But this is not the time for celebrations. This year, as humankind faces increasing crises, my wish is that it be a day of seva, shining a ray of hope for others. Across the world, my children are gathering to feed the poor, conduct public cleanup drives, plant trees, and meditate for world peace. Their selfless service is what makes me happy.

Once as a little girl, I was collecting food scraps from neighbouring homes and came upon an elderly woman lying alone in her hut. She was too weak to move, with no one to care for her. She was starving. The sight of that woman’s suffering struck me like a lightning bolt. I ran home to gather food and clothing and brought them to her. As I fed her, she wept with gratitude.

At that moment, I understood something very clearly: God is not some distant figure sitting on a throne in the sky. God dwells in every being. Serving a suffering person is serving God. Wiping that elderly woman’s tears became my purpose. From that point, nothing could hold me back.

Today, I have embraced more than 4 crore people across the world, but this did not begin intentionally. As a little girl, when I saw people crying, I just wiped away their tears. When they continued to weep, I embraced them and patted their backs. If they were still distressed, I let them lie in my lap to comfort them. Their sorrow became my sorrow. Their happiness became my happiness.

There are two types of poverty in the world. The first type is due to the lack of food, clothing, and shelter. The second type is the poverty oflove and compassion. We need to deal with the second type of poverty first. When our hearts are filled with love and compassion, we will wholeheartedly help those who lack food, clothing, and shelter.

Whether or not God exists might be a source of debate, but no rational person can ever say that suffering humanity does not exist. We can see their suffering with our own eyes. Service to such people is worship of God.  Let  us  pray that  this self-sacrificing attitude awakens in hearts across the world. May we come to realise that the waters of love, compassion, selflessness, and sacrifice have not dried up in human hearts.

We must not let this world become a desert. We must not let love and compassion evaporate. If that happens, there will no longer be any human beings here. This beautiful world will become a forest filled with human animals.

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 prevented? How many people could have been protected from exploitation and trafficking? How many wars in the name of power and money could have been avoided?

By calling out to God, we are planting the seeds of love. Even if only one flower blossoms in a desert, isn’t it a beautiful sight? If one tree grows there, won’t it give some shade? Sincere prayer is selfless love.

United in this love, we can become an undefeatable power. When we work together, hand in hand with compassion, 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 a world of peace.

If that is sincerely our goal, then there is only one path forward: we must usher in a revolution of love. It is a revolution that should happen first in the individual mind. From there, it must expand 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.

To this day, as long as there is enough strength to reach out to those who come to me, to place my hand on a crying person’s shoulder, I will continue to embrace people. To lovingly caress them, to console and wipe their tears until the end of this mortal frame - this is my wish.

Today marks the 73rd birthday of Amma, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, a global spiritual master and humanitarian born in a poor fishing village in Keralam

AMMA’S

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT

64.6 lakh

people given Rs 898 crore in free healthcare

48,000

homes built for those without one

2.5 lakh

women in 15,000 self-help groups

4.2 lakh

students reached with digital tutoring

55,000

rural children granted scholarships

2800

villages adopted across India

74 lakh

global participants in yoga & meditation

60 lakh

trees planted across the world