“If it is one man’s karma to suffer, isn’t it our dharma (duty) to help ease his suffering and pain?” AMMA
In March 2011, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake, the most powerful one ever recorded in Japan, struck the coast of Tohoku, claiming more than 10,000 lives and leaving damage and destruction in its wake.
During Amma’s programmes in Tokyo in July that year, many people from tsunami-affected areas came to seek solace and guidance from Amma. A number of them wept in Her arms as they shared their grief with Her. People expressed their concern over radiation threats. Some of them were anxious to know if their children and the next generation of their family members would be safe with the radiation and constant natural calamities that haunt Japan. Seeing the grief and the pain of the people, Amma decided to visit the disaster area and one of the relief camps.
Amma embraced and consoled each resident, offering them Her shoulder on which they unburdened their sorrows. Amma’s face reflected their grief; tears were flowing from their eyes and also from Hers. Knowing that the residents had lost everything, Amma presented household items for their material support to help improve their life at the centre.
Amma also announced a donation of one million US dollars towards the relief and rehabilitation of Japanese disaster victims, particularly for the education of children who lost both their parents in the disaster.
The donation was made by Mata Amritanandamayi Center (MA Center) USA along with Amma’s global charitable network, known as ‘Embracing The World’, formed more than 25 years ago when the administrators of a local orphanage confessed to Amma that they were out of funds. They told Amma that before long, they would have no choice but to turn the children out on the street. Amma diverted the money that had been saved to build Her ashram’s first prayer hall and used it to assume care of the orphans. With this, Embracing the World was born.
Throughout Her life, Amma has embraced and comforted more than 38 million people. When asked where She gets the energy to help so many people while also building and running a massive humanitarian organisation, Amma answers: “Where there is true love, everything is effortless.”
WATCH:Sources: https://www.amritapuri.org/13143/accept.aum https://www.amritapuri.org/in/disaster-relief/tsunami2004 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tōhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami
