ALL YOU NEED IS: Love, a hug and the Eightfold Path

“My religion is Kindness”—The Dalai Lama

“My religion is Love.”—Amma

Everyone’s heard of The Dalai Lama, but have you ever heard of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi? She is better known to the world as Amma (mother), “The Hugging Saint.” Amma has given darshan—a deep loving hug—to more than thirty million people… think about that! During three days last week here in New York City, she must’ve hugged another couple thousand. In sessions that last 15 hours (or more) straight, Amma doesn’t get up, or eat, or drink. She just gives beautiful deep hugs. Long hugs, longer hugs, one at a time, two at a time. And to hug Amma is like hugging an Ocean of Love. Hard to get your arms around, but built for hugging. She is without a doubt the best hugger there has ever been.

It’s difficult in our culture to give one’s self over so completely to love as a strategy for living. To make love itself the single overarching motivation for everything we do. Some might touch on it dedicating themselves to their families and friends (with great success), but usually we have more important things to do that seem to require something more than acting solely out of love; something that seems more practical.

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