Embracing The World

A Humanitarian Like No Other

Amma has been my spiritual teacher since 2008. She comes to Canada once a year in July and hugs thousands of people. I think she is one of may highly evolved beings on the planet at this time. It’s always so amazing to be in her presence. Here are some things that her organization, EMBRACING THE WORLD does for our planet.

Food

Through the many branches located throughout the world, Embracing the World feeds more than 10 million poor people in India every year. After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, they provided over 6 million free meals to disaster survivors. In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina swept through the United States, more than 100 North American members of Embracing the World offered support to those in need by donating truckloads of food, clothing, school supplies and medical care. They also donated 1-millIon dollars by way of handing over the cheque to then president, Bill Clinton to be used to help the survivors of hurricane Katrina.

Health Care

Embracing the World has opened up many health facilities in India. They conduct free health camps in remote, improvised areas for free. They have also opened up hospitals in India where care is given for free. Medical camps in Kenya have also been established.

Education

1 in 3 children worldwide never sets food in a classroom. Education has proven to be the most effective means of eliminating endemic poverty. Embracing the World has opened several schools in India. One of them is called Amrita University, which offers more than 150 undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs.

Environment

Scientists agree that climate change is real, and that it is human made. If humanity is to prosper in the long run, change is needed. Embracing the World is a member of the United Nations Billion Tree Campaign, where they have already planted over 1 million trees globally since 2001. Through on-line courses and local training programs Embracing the World offers courses, which teach how to grow vegetables in any location possible. They also distribute seeds to remote places in India. Recycling centers in India have been established to create a “zero waste” approach towards material resources.

Amma Center in Canada

There are two branches of Embracing the World in Canada. One is in Georgetown, Ontario and the other is in Quebec. Truth vegan belts donates 1% of online sales to the Georgetown branch, a beautiful fourteen acre property of cultivated land which Embracing the World leases out to local farmers. The chemical fertilizer- and pesticide-free food grown is made into meals and donated to soup kitchens in Ontario. This branch also offers care for the elderly and teaches Amma’s I AM meditation.

Who is Amma?

Amma (real name Mātā Amṛtānandamayī) was born and raised in India. As a child she felt pulled to help those in need. She used to steal scraps of food and give them to those who were starving. Feeling outraged about the inequalities, she embarked on a journey of embracing everyone in need no matter what the cost. At the early age of 9, people were in awe of her passion to help others in need and already started calling her “Amma”, which means “mother”. Amma is also known as the ‘hugging saint’ or ‘hugging guru’ because she embraces anyone and everyone regardless of race, religion, sex or belief system. She has been known to give hugs for over 24 hours, straight, without taking a break. Amma comes to Toronto once per year and offers a 3-day spiritual retreat. This Amma will be in Toronto from July 10-13. One of Truth vegan belts’ top selling belts is named “Seva”, which means “selfless service” in Sanskrit. The name was inspired after I discovered Amma and attended my first Amma retreat in Toronto in 2008 where one must perform seva in the form of serving or preparing food at the retreat. Amma is one amazing human. If you ever get a chance to see her, do!

Yours in health, consciousness, and cool fashion, this is Renia Pruchnicki of Truth! Live Your Truth, and Respect Others’!