Spiritual leader and humanitarian Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (aka Amma), is internationally known as the "Hugging Saint".This simple woman from Kerala, India is affectionately known as Amma (meaning mother), has offered her compassion to the world through her darshan, or blessing, by giving maternal hugs.
For the past 30 years, Amma has traveled all over the world, and has embraced more than 27 million people.
This Hindu spiritual leader and guru has initiated a vast network of charitable activities, that include hospitals, educational institutions, disaster relief programs and free homes for the poor, orphanages.
Her global network of charitable projects called "Embracing The World" has provided free medical care to more than 2.6 million people and built over 45,000 homes for the homeless.
Amma's Words Of Love And Spiritual Wisdom
Now, lets go through Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi's words of love and spiritual wisdom taken from her books and speeches:
“My religion is love.” - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Amma's Pearls Of Wisdom Mata Amritanandamayi, Translated From Malayalam By Embracing the World, Compiled By Valérie Servant, Harper Collins, 2017, Amma: Love In Action)
"Our entire lives should become a festival! Spirituality teaches us the way to accomplish this." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Amma's Pearls Of Wisdom Mata Amritanandamayi, Translated From Malayalam By Embracing the World, Compiled By Valérie Servant, Harper Collins, 2017, January 1-Living With Joy)
"Real peace and happiness can be experienced only when the pendulum of the mind stops swinging altogether." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Amma's Pearls Of Wisdom Mata Amritanandamayi, Translated From Malayalam By Embracing the World, Compiled By Valérie Servant, Harper Collins, 2017, January 3 – Stop The Pendulum Of The Mind)
"...the world can become good only if the mind of the individual becomes good." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Amma's Pearls Of Wisdom Mata Amritanandamayi, Translated From Malayalam By Embracing the World, Compiled By Valérie Servant, Harper Collins, 2017, January 6 – May We Become Insatiable Seekers)
"...we are leading an almost unconscious life." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Amma's Pearls Of Wisdom Mata Amritanandamayi, Translated From Malayalam By Embracing the World, Compiled By Valérie Servant, Harper Collins, 2017, January 11 – Developing Our Consciousness)
"Expectation is the cause of all suffering." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Amma's Pearls Of Wisdom Mata Amritanandamayi, Translated From Malayalam By Embracing the World, Compiled By Valérie Servant, Harper Collins, 2017, January 12 – Expect Nothing)
"...when the spiritual and material aspects of life are in balance, like the two wings of a bird, can there be harmony in society." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Amma's Pearls Of Wisdom Mata Amritanandamayi, Translated From Malayalam By Embracing the World, Compiled By Valérie Servant, Harper Collins, 2017, January 14 – Balancing The Material And The Spiritual)
"There is only one Truth. That Truth always shines within all of us." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Amma's Pearls Of Wisdom Mata Amritanandamayi, Translated From Malayalam By Embracing the World, Compiled By Valérie Servant, Harper Collins, 2017, January 16 – Immutable Truth)
"The strength and nourishment that love can give our souls is even more potent than the nourishing power of a mother’s milk for a baby." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(The Timeless Path: A Step-By-Step Guide To Spiritual Evolution By Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri, Amma, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2009, Ch. One: Why People Come To Amma, p.15)
"We should try to see everyone as God" - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(The Timeless Path: A Step-By-Step Guide To Spiritual Evolution By Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri, Amma, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2009, Ch. Six: Expanding Our Vision, p.103)
"...when true knowledge awakens, the darkness of ignorance disappears." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(The Timeless Path: A Step-By-Step Guide To Spiritual Evolution By Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri, Amma, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2009, Ch. Nine: Removing The Root Of Sorrow, p.155)
"There are two types of education: education for livelihood and education for life." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Address Upon Receiving The Doctorate Of Humane Letters From The State University Of New York, Buffalo, May 25, 2010)
"Spirituality has nothing to do with blind faith; it is the principle of awareness that dispels darkness." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Faith By Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.2)
"It is the faith and devotion of people, not rituals or ceremonies that fill temples with spiritual energy." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Faith By Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.4)
"Faith is needed when rational thought fails." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Faith By Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.7)
"Beauty lies in faith, and faith dwells in the heart." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Faith By Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.14)
"Some people say, 'God is just a belief,' but in truth, Divinity is within the heart of each one of us." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Faith By Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.18)
"Even if we believe in an external God, in actuality this God is inside of us; it is our own true Self." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Faith By Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.20)
"Optimism is the light of God. It is a form of grace, which allows you to look at life with greater clarity." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Faith By Amma (Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.23)
"Spirituality is awakening to one's true nature." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Understanding And Collaboration Between Religions:An Address By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Translated By Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, Acceptance Speech By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, At The Interfaith Center Of New York, The Rubin Museum Of Art, May, 2, 2006, New York City, p.15)
"...if we fail to absorb the spiritual principles, religion will be nothing more than blind faith, shackling us." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Understanding And Collaboration Between Religions: An Address By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Translated By Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, Acceptance Speech By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, At The Interfaith Center Of New York, The Rubin Museum Of Art, May, 2, 2006, New York City, p.15)
"The unity of hearts is what brings about religious unity." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Understanding And Collaboration Between Religions:An Address By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Translated By Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, Acceptance Speech By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, At The Interfaith Center Of New York, The Rubin Museum Of Art, May, 2, 2006, New York City, p.15)
"When we awaken to our true essence, there is no 'I' or 'you' - everything is God." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(The Eternal Truth By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Compiled By Swami Jnanamritananda Puri, English Translation By Dr. M. N. Namboodiri, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.5)
"All doors cannot be opened with the same key. In a similar way, to open our minds we need different keys to fit our different samskaras and level of understanding." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(The Eternal Truth By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Compiled By Swami Jnanamritananda Puri, English Translation By Dr. M. N. Namboodiri, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.11)
"Once you transcend the mind, you cannot die. Meditation and spiritual practices give you the power and courage to smile at death." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Awaken Children! Dialogue With Sri Mata Amritanandamayi, Volume 6, Adaptation & Translation By Swami Amritaswarupananda, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, Ch. 1, The Art Of Dying, p.21)
"...beware, your actions in the present determine your future." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Awaken Children! Dialogue With Sri Mata Amritanandamayi, Volume 6, Adaptation & Translation By Swami Amritaswarupananda, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, Ch. 3, The Theory Of Karma, Wednesday, 22 August, 1984, p.71)
"All your problems arise because you don't stand firm within yourSelf." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Eternal Wisdom: Upadeshamritam, Volume 2, Compiled By Swami Jnanamritananda Puri, English Translation From The Original Malayalam By Dr. M. N. Namboodiri, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, Lawyers In Search Of Justice, p.132)
"...there is no difference between the Creator and creation, just as there is no difference between the ocean and its waves." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(May Peace And Happiness Prevail: Keynote Address By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, The Closing Plenary Session Of The Parliament Of World's Religions, Barcelona, Spain, July 13, 2004, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2004, p.33)
"If the desires are not controlled now, later they will control you." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Bliss By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, India: Amrita Books, 2015, p.32)
(The quote is also found in: Awaken, Children: Dialogues with Sri Sri Mata Amritanandamayi, Volume 1, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 1992, p.127)
"Most people are craving for attachment, not real love." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Love By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.2)
"Compassion is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Love By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.6)
"When the love that is within you expresses itself in external activities, you will experience true happiness." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Love By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.15)
"When a child smiles, whether it is the child of your friend or of a foe, you cannot help but smile back because the child's love is so pure and innocent." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Love By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.20)
"Pure love is like a beautiful flower with an irresistible fragrance." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Love By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.20)
"Love is the breath of the soul. It is our life force." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Love By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.21)
"Be like the honeybee that gathers the nectar of love wherever it goes. Seek the goodness that is found in everyone and everything." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(108 Quotes On Love By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, p.80)
"Live in the world like a flock of birds unattached to anything and ready to fly away at any moment." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(Torrential Love By Swamini Krishnamrita Prana, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, Ch. 12, Challenges On The Path, p. 153)
"Whether we are aware of it or not, the real purpose of life is to realize the divinity within." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(From Amma's Heart: Conversation With Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Translated And Written By Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, Purpose Of Life, p.15)
"Religion is not limited to the words of the scriptures. It is a way of life. Its beauty and charm are expressed in the love and compassion of those who live in accordance with its precepts." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(May Your Hearts Blossom: An Address By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, At The Parliament Of The World's Religions, Chicago, 3 September 1993, Translated By Swami Amritaswarupananda, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, May Your Hearts Blossom, p.43)
“You cannot taste the sweetness of honey by licking a piece of paper on which the word ‘honey’ has been written. Likewise, the principles described in the religious texts must be contemplated, meditated upon, and finally realized." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(May Your Hearts Blossom: An Address By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, At The Parliament Of The World's Religions, Chicago, 3 September 1993, Translated By Swami Amritaswarupananda, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, May Your Hearts Blossom, p.43)
"Contentment and happiness depend solely on the mind, not on external objects or circumstances." - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
(May Your Hearts Blossom: An Address By Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, At The Parliament Of The World's Religions, Chicago, 3 September 1993, Translated By Swami Amritaswarupananda, India: Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, 2014, May Your Hearts Blossom, p.25)
If you want to learn more about Amma and her works, go over to these two sites:
Site 1
Site 2