what brings 30,000 people a weekend to a spiritual center in india?
Mata Amritanandamayi is known as the “hugging guru.” Some days, she will sit for up to 20 hours straight as tens of thousands of devotees line up to feel her embrace and hear her whisper motherly advice.
Mata Amritanandamayi, aka the “hugging guru,” embraces everyone she meets in an effort to spread love and healing.
Followers come from all over the world to Amma’s ashram, or spiritual center, in Kerala, South India, to get a hug; many choose to stay.
“There are two types of poverty in the world, financial poverty and the poverty of love; the second is more important,” says Amritanandamayi, who goes by Amma, which means “mother.”
we read so much about what’s being done in the world; how much money is being given here — or there — and that is not a bad thing.
but there is a poverty of love that is world-wide in its spread. even in our iPod loving, “TiVo LOST for me, I have to meet my coworkers for $12 martini-nite, but email me what happens-i’ll get it on my blackberry” kind of society…we are so emotionally and spiritually impoverished.
how can you show love this week? how can you serve?
more importantly,
will you?
Comments
19 responses to “the poverty of love”
Where would we begin? The scale of it all is crippling. But I will CHOOSE to love…now.
“TiVo LOST for me, I have to meet my coworkers for $12 martini-nite, but email me what happens-i’ll get it on my blackberry”
Anne,
That’s profoundly true.
And profoundly sad.
I think we begin by those around us…our coworks, our children, our spouses. Let it spread out from there.
I will hand out hugs this weekend, and I will do so liberally. It will be my little part of squashing out love poverty.
Do something good for someone else in “the name of Jesus.”
Anne, thanks for the thoughts. I’d love to see those who follow Jesus become more like him in having a serving mindset. It’s not, “when can I serve,” but “okay, who’s next?”
It really is sad how difficult it can be for some to show love to people (me included on some days). Even a simple “How are you….really?” is too much of an effort now days. Time to slow down and think…”who’s next?” (Good thought, Shawn)
Great thoughts everyone.
Shawn – I’d like to see it happen even to “who’s now?”
I want to say everyone around us.
Our human side would judge the woman in filth as the drug addict or better a waste to society. But quickly change our attitude when somone is dressed in Armani.
When someone asks us for change we quickly glare!!!
Sometimes yeah people take advantage. But sometimes it’s for real.
Ouch for me!! i just did that at the grocery store. I wish I could go back.
Anne:
What you said nailed it. HOW / WILL. I think all too often we know HOW to serve / love but the question then becomes WILL we?
Will we when it is not convenient?
Will we when it means sacrifice?
Will we simply because there is a need?
Will we when no one else is looking?
A few years ago my wife and I started, what we thought would be, a fun little local project called http://www.GiftOfKindness.com. We starting doing intentional acts of kindness (often anonymous) in our community and leaving small biz card sized cards that encouraged the recipient to “pass it on.” We’d mow the lawn of elderly and leave a card. Buy a meal for someone behind us at Burger King and have the cashier give them a card. We’d go downtown with our kids and spend time talking with homeless and buying them a meal… giving them a card. We’d stand on busy street corners holding big signs that just said “Be Kind” or “Slow Down” or “Smile.” Just a few examples.
I’m not sharing this to say “look what we did” but to say look how small these gestures were. Simple, common acts. I had no idea that a few years later than something so small would catch on so big. Our site, just by pure viral effect and people actually doing it and passing it on, now gets over 800 people requesting these cards each week. It’s crazy. People from not just the USA but all over the world.
So to wrap this back into the post… I think many times we just need to act. It doesn’t always have to be huge. It can be small. Small acts beget big returns. A simple smile can change someone’s day. A hug can change a life.
This week, I’m going to love people by calling them instead of texting them. And then I’m going to ask how they’re doing. And then I’m going to listen.
Start with those closest to us…spouse, children, family…go serve your co-workers…
Then maybe do a random act of love…
Who knows whether this has any impact, but I just try to make a habit of being friendly, and not being in a hurry. Greet people; ask them how they’re doing, and listen when they respond.
Being intentional about not being in a hurry has opened up several opportunities for conversations with people that I wouldn’t get the chance to talk with otherwise. People in line at the grocery store, whatever.
Great post Anne! I am not sure how to respond just yet, I want to have it sink in and truly become part of my DNA…the whole unconditional love thing is one of those things we always talk about and we always great ideas, but rarely practice unless it is convenient or beneficial to do so. I am trying to stop that cycle in my own life. Thank you for the post.
I think being aware of showing a bit of love everywhere we go. Saying hi or striking up a conversation at the store, making cookies for the guys cutting down your trees (yup, did that one this week!), taking the time to walk across the backyard to a neighbor, shooting an email or text “just thinking of you”….thanks for this post…I think I’ll do something right now…
will i …
that’s a great question.
@Anne – my point exactly. We’re saying “who’s next” because we just took care of who’s now. We’re active, not preparing to act.
My “big” project was to actually look cashiers in the eye at gas stations, grocery stores, wherever and to smile and say thank you in a purposeful voice. Amazing to see the difference in their disposition. And teach your kids to look people in the eye.
I attended The Village last Sunday night and I sat in the far back (far from the normal place I sit where is in the front) after serving as an usher.
The lady next to me was so moved by the service, she had tears in her eyes. I just leaned over and hugged her.
I was on my way home when I thumped myself in the head for not thinking about praying for her right there on the spot.
Lord, please help me to take full advantage of the opportunities that are set before us.
2 kinds of Poverty- Love and Financial. WoW. Dead On.
2010: Let’s start a revolution of love (again) but, this time with a missional mission….and, the love of Jesus.
.-= Reese?s last blog ..Favorite Day, Ever #1 =-.