Kathuamma sat with an emotionless face wearing wearing a violet blouse and was wrapped by a dirty cloth. In her late 70s and looking deathly pale, she could not stand up properly.  Next to her sat her 50-year old mentally challenged son.

Asked whether she had any food, “Nothing is there” came the reply.
“Break fast?”  “No”
“Yesterday?” “No”
“When did you last have food?”  “One week ago” she mumbled weakly.
 â€œWhat was it?” Kathuamma replied “Some raw onions.”
 â€œWhere did you get those?”
“My son brought leftovers of a marriage party.”

The above interview was conducted by volunteers from M.A. Math, the Indian chapter of the international charitable organization, Embracing the World. The volunteers had been going door to door in Kathuamma's village, looking for the most needy recipients of the Math's Amrita Kuteeram project to give free homes to the poor.  Kathuamma was immediately given food by the volunteers and today is being helped by M.A. Math in various ways including being placed at the top of the housing list.

Founded by Mata Amritanadamayi Devi, also known as Amma, Embracing the World (ETW) at present feeds more than two million people annually throughout India. ETW also distributes uncooked rice, milk and other staples to deeply impoverished communities. In the first six months after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, ETW provided more than six million free meals to disaster victims, as well as more than 185 tons of uncooked rice to help the victims make ends meet.

What does the work of an Indian woman clad in a simple white sari from a remote fishing village have to do with those living in one of the wealthiest nations of the world? It turns out that in the United States, one in eight Americans (more than 35 million) don't have dependable, consistent access to food due to limited money and resources, and nearly 60 percent of Americans between the ages of 25 and 75 fall below the poverty line at least one year.

Groups of volunteers all around the US have been inspired by Amma's message and her work of caring for the disadvantaged.  They gather in shelters and soup kitchens on a regular basis under the name “Mother's Kitchen” and presently serve 73,000 meals a year to the homeless and hungry in 40 cities throughout North America.

At the Unitarian church in Harvard Square, on a hot summer Tuesday evening, gourmet meals donated by a local five star hotel were being served by Mother's Kitchen volunteers to over a hundred guests. Plates of delicious and nutritious food were being served with big smiles and playful banter. Many of the guests have been coming here every Tuesday for many years and are now familiar to the volunteers. Some of them live on the streets around Harvard square and the city, while others are elderly or families living on limited incomes. Dinner is followed by dessert and ice cream donated by a national grocery chain. Some volunteers stay to do dishes while others clean the tables and hall. As much as these weekly gatherings nourish the bodies of guests, selflessly serving those in need nourishes the souls of the ETW volunteers. “Sometimes I feel a little selfish for coming” said volunteer Vinodini Gupta. “I feel like I get so much more in return than I give, especially when I see the change in the guests from the time they arrive to the time they leave. Knowing that my small time contribution is making a difference in the lives of people who otherwise may not have had a meal that day gives me a great sense of purpose”.

Pam Reich who currently coordinates the team of Mother's Kitchen volunteers started out helping in small ways. Until getting involved in Mother's Kitchen she hadn't realized that something had been missing in her life. “Doing seva (selfless service) was like exercise for my heart muscle. The more seva I did, the more I realized I could do...the stronger my ability to give became”.

Local ETW volunteers also participate in tree plantings, growing organic vegetables for donation to shelters and community clean-up projects. Over the years they have held fundraisers to support relief efforts after the Bihar floods, the earthquake in Haiti and most recently the earthquake in Japan. Some of them met Amma 25 years ago, when she came to Boston during her first US tour, and some have met her as recently as a year ago. They come from all walks of life, ages, ethnic backgrounds and vocations. But the one thing they all have in common is their enthusiasm for Amma's upcoming visit to the Boston area next week. Being around Amma is like a joyous celebration, a gathering of friends and family that you didn't know you had.

Many people come to an Amma program to receive her hugs, or personal blessing, a practice for which she has been dubbed “the Hugging Saint” by the international media. In a radical departure from Indian tradition (particularly for a woman), Amma’s  darshan consists of a long tender embrace.  She has been doing this, as a natural expression of love since she was a teen.  It is estimated that Amma has given over 30 million hugs in her life. In India, vast crowds usually assemble to the point where Amma may individually receive and hug over 30,000 people in one day, sitting continuously.  She will never turn anyone away, nor charge any money.

Amma says, “ My sole mission is to love and serve one and all. Amma's only wish is that her hands should always be on someone's shoulder, consoling and caressing them and wiping their tears, even while breathing her last.”

Amma, the world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader from India, will visit Boston July 10th-13th. Millions worldwide have been inspired by her message of love and equality for all. You are invited to meet Amma and receive her individual, loving embrace. Free Public Programs are being held at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough at 10am and 7.30pm on July 10th and at 7pm on July 13th at the Best Western in Marlborough. Programs include inspirational music, meditation, spiritual discourse, and personal blessings.

Numbered tokens for individual blessings are distributed 1 hour before the program. Due to the large number of people attending each program, those with tokens may have to wait awhile before their number range is posted.

For more information on Amma visit  please visit http://www.ammanewengland.org/blog/ammatour-boston-home or call 781-519-2297

For more information on Amma's charitable activities please visit http://embracingtheworld.org/. 

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