A Hug from the "Hugging Saint"
Yesterday I got hugged by Amma, popularly known worldwide as the "Hugging Saint." You've probably seen her mentioned in a Psychology Today article. If not, look her up - http://www.amma.org/amma/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mata_Amritanandamayi
I wish I could say that shock waves passed through my body when she hugged me, or that my life flashed before my eyes, or something particularly dramatic. It was strangely comforting, and she did seem to genuinely care about every single person that she met, but it wasn't as moving as I'd expected it to be. There's a great deal of criticism surrounding her, as I discovered when I looked her up afterwards. This blog - http://cultofthehuggingsaint.com/ - freaked me out with what it said about her, to be honest. I think either view is too extreme - she's not an embodiment of the Hindu goddess Kali (in my opinion), nor is she an evil extortionist.
I'm lucky to have met her though - people queue for DAYS just to be hugged by her. She's currently in Kenya opening up a school, which she says she will always support with "Love." (I hope she is aware that schools also need money).
A Level revision is still taking place. I have stuck post-its all around my room with quotes for English, and am making gigantic revision posters for History and Maths. History is still the bane of my existence.
I wish I could say that shock waves passed through my body when she hugged me, or that my life flashed before my eyes, or something particularly dramatic. It was strangely comforting, and she did seem to genuinely care about every single person that she met, but it wasn't as moving as I'd expected it to be. There's a great deal of criticism surrounding her, as I discovered when I looked her up afterwards. This blog - http://cultofthehuggingsaint.com/ - freaked me out with what it said about her, to be honest. I think either view is too extreme - she's not an embodiment of the Hindu goddess Kali (in my opinion), nor is she an evil extortionist.
I'm lucky to have met her though - people queue for DAYS just to be hugged by her. She's currently in Kenya opening up a school, which she says she will always support with "Love." (I hope she is aware that schools also need money).
A Level revision is still taking place. I have stuck post-its all around my room with quotes for English, and am making gigantic revision posters for History and Maths. History is still the bane of my existence.