Mata Amritanandamayi’s Ashram opens in Cumming, GA
(Left) Planting a gingko tree at the new Center as a symbol of planting seeds of wisdom, as the ancient gingko is known for its beneficial effects on memory and brain function.
On Saturday, December 3, 2016, the Mata Amritanandamayi Center Atlanta was officially inaugurated at 4946 Shiloh Road, Cumming, Georgia, by Amma’s senior monastic disciples: Swami Dayamrita (Executive Director, M. A. Centers North America), Swami Shantamrita (Midwest M. A. Centers) and Br. Ramanand (East Coast M. A. Centers).
The event began with the planting of a gingko tree (symbolic of the planting of the seeds of wisdom, as the ancient gingko is known for its beneficial effects on memory and brain function) accompanied by chants. A processional lighting of 100 lamps by satsang families followed the tree-planting event. The M. A. Center’s monastic disciples then each spoke on the importance of an ashram as a physical center in which to help seekers find their spiritual center, as well as a center for community service through outreach programs. The program ended with devotional singing led by musicians from M. A. Centers throughout the United States and concluded with lunch served to all out on the pavilion that overlooks the 3+ acres of land.
The M. A. Center Atlanta is an extension of Mata Amritanandamayi Math and Embracing the World®; it intends to continue to expand the humanitarian projects that are underway; initiatives such as cooking for children’s shelters, working with seniors, planting organic gardens, cleaning up parks and river areas, and other local community service projects. The Center’s members are from literally every major religion, ethnicity, tradition and culture, coming together as a diverse family to embody the core principles of selfless service and selfless love.
In the past 39 years, Mata Amritanandamayi (known worldwide as Amma, a renowned spiritual and UN-recognized humanitarian leader), has physically embraced more than 36 million people from all around the world. Her tireless spirit of dedication to uplifting others has inspired a vast network of charitable activities through which people are discovering the sense of peace that comes from selflessly serving others.
Embracing the World® (www.embracingtheworld.org) is the global network of local and regional charitable organizations and projects that grew out of the India-based Mata Amritanandamayi Math (M. A. Center headquarters). Currently active in more than 40 countries around the world, Embracing the World exists to help alleviate the burden of the world’s poor through helping to meet each of their five basic needs: food, shelter, education, healthcare, and livelihood—wherever and whenever possible.
All who are associated with Amma believe that having their basic needs met is the fundamental right of any human being, and that it is the responsibility of each of us to strive hard to ensure that one day, every human being can live in dignity, safety, security, and peace. It is also our duty to be mindful stewards of the earth and its resources and to not only practice but also help educate on Sustainability. Amma teaches that everyone, rich or poor, has the power to make a difference in the life of another, and that no selfless gesture is insignificant. Rather, it is the selfless actions we perform for one another that hold the keys to true peace: peace in the individual, peace in the community, and peace among diverse cultures, nations, and faiths.
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M. A. Centers worldwide contribute to this humanitarian effort by inspiring people to serve selflessly in the building of a better world. And now Atlanta has its own Center that welcomes everyone to join in cultivating an even better community.
Meet the inspiration: Amma’s 30th U.S. Summer Tour in June 2017 will include Atlanta (see http://amma.org/atlanta).
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