India’s renowned spiritual leader Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi–known among her followers as Amma or Mother–endorsed the Earth Charter at a public event attended by over 2,000 people on July 8, 2009 in New York City.
On this occasion, Steven Rockefeller, Earth Charter International Council co-chair, introduced the Earth Charter and presented a copy of the Earth Charter to Amma. She and Mr. Rockefeller then signed a statement endorsing the Earth Charter and pledging ongoing support for the global partnership for a just, sustainable and peaceful world.
The major theme of Amma’s spiritual teaching and social work is “Embracing the World.” Whenever she is asked about her religion she replies: “My religion is love.” Amma is the leader and founder of M.A. Math, one of the largest humanitarian organizations in India, providing education, medical care, disaster relief, co
mmunity development and environmental protection with a special concern for the very poor. Amma has millions of followers in India and in many other regions of the world. She is especially well known for her practice of expressing a boundless love for all people by tenderly embracing everyone who comes to her. It is reported that she has embraced in this way more than 28 million people. In her teaching, Amma emphasizes universal spiritual and ethical values. She often comments on the interdependence of all life and the need for a more loving relationship between people and nature: “Nature is like a huge flower garden. The animals, birds, trees, plants and people are the garden’s fully blossomed flowers of diverse colors. The beauty of this garden is complete only when all of these exist as a unity, thereby spreading the vibrations of love and oneness. May all our minds become one in love. Let us work together to prevent these diverse flowers from withering away, so that the garden may remain eternally beautiful.”
You can find a short video of the event in the following link in You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDn66eLmAxE
For more information about Amma’s organizations, please visit:
http://www.amma.org/