Love should start within, says Amma

Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) addressed thousands of devotees on Wednesday at Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt during her two-day visit to the city as part of her annual India tour which started in January.

More than 5,000 sarees were distributed to needy women. It was also announced that a new Amrita Charitable Clinic and Amrita Vidyalayam (school) will be opened in Bengaluru.  Two books on Amma’s sayings, translated into Kannada, were launched at the event.

Addressing her devotees, Amma said, “The first ripple of love emerges from within us. When a pebble is dropped into a still pond, the first little ripple forms around the pebble itself. Gradually, the circle of that ripple expands until it reaches the shore. In the same way, love should start within. If we are able to purify the love inherent in us, it will gradually expand to encompass the entire world.”

D V Sadananda Gowda, Union minister for statistics and programme implementation, R V Deshpande, minister for large, medium industries and infrastructure development, H K Patil, minister for rural development and panchayat raj, M Krishnappa, minister for housing and chief secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia were present at the event.

Sadananda Gowda said, “Amma shows the path to inner peace and contentment. Her blessings give us strength and inspire us to become good human beings.”

Amritanandamayi expressed concern about environmental protection and said that solutions can be found by walking along the path shown by ancestors.