Ammachi - Full Expression Of Generosity And Love

The first time I enter the concert hall I am greeted by an explosion of sensory input, Indian music fills the room, hundreds of people are milling about and there is a small marketplace at the back of the hall with devotees selling a wide variety of spiritual products to eager buyers. All the activity reminds me of the fabulous chaos of india and for a moment I forget I am actually at the manhattan Center in the middle of nyc. Everyone is gathered for one purpose, to have a chance to be in the in the presence of what many consider a living saint.

I find myself once again visiting the hugging saint Amritanandamayi, Ammachi or Amma as she is also called. Being familiar with the environment I feel at home but I am curious as to what my friend Bill, who I brought for the first time and who is not familiar with anything similar to this, will experience.

The evening starts with a simple program. Amma speaks of the virtues of unconditional love and generosity, leads a group with the chanting of bhajans or devotional songs and guides us for a short meditation. The hall is surprisingly quiet considering it is a full house, but it is not to last for long. Once the program ends, darshan is announced. The sanskrit word darshan means, to see and it is most commonly used as having the vision of the divine. In this case darshan includes the practice of patience, a lot of it, since most people will wait for several hours to embrace Amma. I am told that around 3000 people will get a hug that night since there are a limited number of tickets distributed. The following night is a special night called Devi bhava where no one is turned down, and more than 4000 people are expected to attend. A small crowd compared to darshans in india where gatherings of over 25,000 are not uncommon.

I wonder how it is possible for a human being to greet so many people. I walk towards the front of the hall to watch. There is a lot of activity around Amma and it is hard to see, but I occasionally get glimpses of her smiling and hugging each person that comes forward. She seems full of energy and greets every individual with utmost attention and care, with a wide smile. There are no rests, no restroom breaks, for many hours on end. Where does her energy come from? I wonder.

Mata Amritanandamayi was born in South india on 1953 with the name Sudhamani. Biographers describe her early life as challenging but stress Sudhamanis remarkable ability to remain at ease, joyful and generous no matter what the situation was. Since her teens she would enter trance like states for hours at a time. As a young woman she would spend sleepless nights after a full days work to chant and meditate. In time villagers began to take notice that there was something special in the young woman and her popularity began to spread. Within a few years, Amritanandamayi went from servant of her own modest family in South india to one of the most recognized and prominent saints of india today.

While waiting for darshan, videos on the big screens recount some of the philanthropic work Ammachi has established. The scope of her charitable work is impressive. Some of the projects, mostly in india, include three hospitals, orphanages, a hospice, a University, and GreenFriendsan organization to protect the environment.

Along with other contemporary women saints in india, Ammachi has led a revolution in equality. Being a woman is still not easy in conservative india and the spiritual leader drew criticism in the beginning by embracing everyone who came to her, including men of all ages. Amma was the first to consecrate female priests in india, and her teachings stress the equality of all human beings. In her address to the United Nations in 2002 she said: 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 Men and women have to support one another. Only in this way can we maintain the harmony of the world

It is 3 a.m. We have been waiting for over seven hours and it is finally our turn to meet Amma for a hug. I am filled with anticipation and cant believe my friend Bill patiently waited for so long. What will he experience I wonder? After getting his embrace ahead of me, his face looks flushed and a little disoriented though beaming with a smile. As I approach, my mind is racing: Should I say something? How long should the embrace last? Then she hugs me firmly, I feel my face on her chest and my hands around her waist. My mind is still racing. Embarrassed, I ask myself: Is this appropriate? When is a good moment to pull back? And suddenly as Amma rocks me with brisk but gentle movements and whispers to my ear, MA, MA, MA, my mind stops. I feel at peace as I am being enveloped by. nothingness, It is like holding a vast vessel of emptiness but paradoxically it is completely alive, loving and vibrant.

As I sit down, feeling little euphoric and energized, Bill narrates his experience, which is uncannily similar to what I felt. And over time I sense the meeting touched my friend and myself deeply, and was a catalyst to some clear and wonderful transformation. The mystical wisdom reminds us how we are all interconnected and like a pebble hitting a pond, every action one takes ripples out and affects everyone around us. It is estimated that Amma has hugged over 12 million people all over the world; thinking of this I am humbled and awed, and I feel such respect for her, her people and everyone else who through their being and actions are making this world a divine place to be.

Vidura Barrios www.innersplendor.com

Vidura Barrios is the president and founder of Inner Splendor Media, music label that produces high quality content for yoga, meditation and relaxation. Releases by inner splendor include Chanting Om, Tibetan Singing Bowl and Classical Indian flute by the popular series music for Deep Meditation. Vidura has contributed to various publications including Fit yoga, Latina and NY times magazines. To learn more about Inner Splendor please visit http://www.innersplendor.com and http://www.apsari.com

Yoga Cl Mandeville Louisiana

Hurricane Wilma Willfully Washes out Western World Weather Records

The twenty-second named hurricane of the Season hurricane Wilma is a Whopper and is going to break all the records. hurricane season 2005 has already wreaked havoc on the weary Western world weather records. The meteorologists were quite certain what the 2005 season would bring. Another huge and chaotic weather breaking reality; however few realized it would be this wicked.

hurricane Katrina and hurricane Rita became the third and fifth most powerful atlantic hurricanes in US history as Category Fives. The 2004 Hurricane Season was also extremely bad with four hurricanes hitting florida in 30 days, five total Hurricane strikes on the State of florida in 2004. hurricane Season 2005 wasted no time in its push to break the records and even got an early jump on the season by two-weeks. hurricane Season 2005 is now predicted to last two-weeks additional meaning it extended the projected hurricane Season by an entire month.

As if all this is not enough for the weary Western world, hurricane Wilma is the last named storm before we hit the Greek Alphabet and she has ditched Fred Flintstone, Betty and Barney Rubble to do some wicked work of her own as she wreaks havoc on our civilization. Think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, washington

Power Yoga

Orange County California Hotels

The thought of a vacation is sufficient to lift spirits. The difficult part is deciding upon a vacation and finding a destination that everyone agrees on. It could be a family get-together, honeymoon or a weekend trip. holidays provide a perfect platform to refresh and de-stress from anxiety and daily routines. The perfect holiday destination is any one of the many Orange County california Hotels. They offer luxury amidst sports recreation, theme parks and scenic beauty. Orange County california Hotels have something for every visitor. It is advisable to make advanced reservations at these hotels.

The fun zone includes camping, local attractions, beaches, the nightlife, children's zone and Orange County parks. There is an unquestionable connection between the ocean and the Orange County. Visitors and residents are drawn to the beaches. There is a long coastline that offers magnificent view and a broad spectrum of sun and sand. The architectural marvels, inland are mesmerizing.

There are numerous fashion-setting stores and boutiques, within the malls. There are restaurants, cafes and microbreweries to cater to every taste. Orange County provides an amazing number of places to visit. There are museums, theatres, jazz operas and exclusive art showrooms.

Many hotels in Orange County provide tourists with all-inclusive packages, to increase their goodwill. These packages attract the visitors and they look forward to a good holiday. People intending to visit Orange County have a variety of all-inclusive packages to choose from. Usually the choices available depend on the preferred mode of transport, accommodation option and the budget. Similarly all-inclusive packages differ according to the season they are designed for. When planning a holiday in Orange County, it is always advisable to search online and go through all the facilities that are included in the various packages. this helps in deciding the Orange County hotel.

California Hotels provides detailed information on California Hotels, Los Angeles california Hotels, San Diego california Hotels, Anaheim california Hotels and more. california Hotels is affiliated with California Spa Vacations.

Kid Yoga And Shiatsu Mats