Amma, the Hugging Saint, in SoCal (7/13)

Amma in Los Angeles (Irvine, Orange County) - Summer 2024 | amma.org

Does hugging trees help them like it helps me?

Amma (India's Mata Amritanandamayi) is world famous for her compassion, distributing free hugs around the world. She has hugged more people than anyone else in the world. She is on a campaign wishing, "May all beings everywhere be happy," the Buddha's own sentiments of universal loving-kindness (metta).

• Joining the line: Tokens, tokens, get your free love tokens

How to join the hug line | amma.org

She is on an annual tour and is coming to Southern California to meet anyone in need of a blessing. It is good to see such beings [as have attained samadhi, which in Buddhism refers to anyone who has mastered the meditative absorptions, which would make them "saints" in most of the world's religions, including Hinduism, but very much excluding Buddhism.

A "saint" or arhat in Buddhism is anyone who has reach stream entry or beyond through insight or vipassana. Only this higher seeing uproots the defilements and liberates one, whereas the absorptions merely temporarily suppress them and make one seem saintly for the time being.

Ancient Vedic seers (rishis) inherited by Hinduism

Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen monk, uses his arm.

This distinction was one of the great contributions of the Buddha to the Dharmic religions and spirituality in ancient India.] Nevertheless, it is still good and a blessing to see beings who have gained samadhi. This may include Amma, who has done so many wonderful and selfless things that it is possible she has gained super-consciousness.

Amma in Los Angeles [actually neighboring Orange County] - Summer 2024 | amma.org

The FREE programs on July 13 and July 16 include inspirational music, meditation, spiritual discourse, and personal blessings. See us.amma.org/macla for more details or contact (310) 295-1852.

Amma is also conducting a retreat between July 14-16, 2024. It will also be held at the site of the free hugs:

• Hyatt Regency
• 17900 Jamboree Road
• Irvine, California, 92614
• Info: us.amma.org

Free to RSVP:

• 

  Kill a bird for Thanksgiving? Crazy.

  Disclosure Project: Visit to see Amma, the Hugging Hindu Saint, Irvine (FREE), Sat, Jul 13, 2024, 11:00 AM | Meetup
• Nature Center: Visit to see Amma, the Hugging Hindu Saint, Irvine (FREE), Sat, Jul 13, 2024, 11:00 AM | Meetup
• PasaDharma: Visit to see Amma, the Hugging Hindu Saint, Irvine (FREE), Sat, Jul 13, 2024, 11:00 AM | Meetup

Holy Mother (Amma Sri Karunamayi) in LA

Wisdom Quarterly; KarunaMayi.org

This is an introduction to Amma Sri Karunamayi, revered in India as a manifestation of the Divine Mother. She travels the world teaching meditation and promoting world peace and unity among all people and religions. Amma has many charitable missions which she supports in India and encourages us all to participate in our home countries by volunteering and engaging in charity of all kinds.

• Amma in Los Angeles, March 31-April 7, 2013
• (213) 268-2260 or email LosAngeles@Karunamayi.org
• March 31: Sri Ashta Lakshmi Temple, North Hollywood (puja)
• April 4: AHIAH Center for Spiritual Living (darshan)
• April 5: AHIAH, Pasadena (Saraswati mantra diksha)
• April 6: Angelus Mountain Center (meditation)
• April 7: Sri Ashta Lakshmi (Homa Sacred Fire Ceremony)

Amma Sri Karunamayi 2011 Tour

Santa Clara, CA	Friday	July 1		TANA Conference
(408) 252-1607	Saturday	July 2	1:30 pm - 2 pm	TANA Conference - Spiritual Discourse
	Sunday	July 3	8:30 am - 11am	TANA Conference - Lalita Sahasranama Puja ~ Register here to perform the puja
Ojai/Ventura, CA	Tuesday	July 5	7 pm	Spiritual Discourse/Darshan
(805) 633-0108	Wednesday	July 6	10am - 1:30pm	Individual Blessings/Saraswati Diksha*
Ventura@Karunamayi.org
Los Angeles, CA	Thursday	July 7	7 pm	Spiritual Discourse/Darshan
(213) 457-4364	Friday	July 8	10am - 1:30pm	Individual Blessings/Saraswati Diksha*
LosAngeles@Karunamayi.org	Saturday	July 9	8 am - 6 pm	One Day Meditation Retreat
	Sunday	July 10	9 am - 1 pm	Homa - Sacred Fire Ceremony
San Francisco - Guru Purnima Retreat and Celebration	Friday	July 15	8am - 4:30pm	Guru Purnima Retreat
(408) 252-1607 (510) 565-4486 (510) 209-8697	Friday	July 15	6 pm	Guru Purnima Celebration
GuruPurnima@Karunamayi.org	Saturday	July 16	6 am - 6 pm	Guru Purnima Retreat
	Sunday	July 17	6 am - 10 am 10 am - 1 pm	Guru Purnima Retreat Guru Purnima Retreat Homa
Seattle, WA	Thursday	July 21	7:00 pm	Spiritual Discourse/Darshan
(425) 337-2940	Friday	July 22	10am - 1:30pm	Individual Blessings/Saraswati Diksha*
Seattle@Karunamayi.org	Saturday	July 23	8 am - 6 pm	One Day Meditation Retreat
	Sunday	July 24	9 am - 1 pm	Homa - Sacred Fire Ceremony
* Due to the large number of people attending these programs, individuals arriving after 1:30 pm are not guaranteed an Individual Blessing with Amma. During these programs, Sri Karunamayi will be offering Sri Saraswati Mantra Diksha (initiation) to students ages 4 to 24. For more information, please click here. Tour schedule is subject to change.

"Hugging Saint" Hugs Los Angeles

Indian spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, "Amma," is referred to as a saint by followers and is a widely respected humanitarian (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty).

(CBS2.com) The self-proclaimed "Hugging Saint" known as Amma is in town to spread love to Angelenos. Amma hugs people for 30 seconds and whispers chants in their ears, often moving them to tears. She has given nearly 30 million hugs all over the world. Thousands of people are flocking to the Hilton Los Angeles Airport to see her. For more information, visit Amma. Source

India's Hugging Saint

Listen Now (American Public Media)

"Hugging saint" embraces business vendors too
Thousands are expected to show up to get a hug from Indian spiritual leader Amma in New York. April Dembosky reports souvenir vendors won't be far behind. More»

• Why hasn't the stimulus trickled down?
• Swedes push for climate change