tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73524837525937499402024-03-12T16:58:55.470-07:00Embezzling The World<i>Embracing the people is the best way to Embezzle The World</i>Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-53429007786283293612022-11-28T14:23:00.000-08:002022-11-28T14:23:00.212-08:00"Sexual assault is part of the healing process"<p>This story is disgusting. Devotees blinded by denial will call it karma that gross minded people cannot understand. Sane people will call it a crime. It's the story of Adhyatma Adhyatma Amithananda, one of the very first disciples, part of Amma's inner circle. Back in the eighties his name was Chandru.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>He led so many westerners right at Mata Amritanandamayi's feet : <a href="https://gailtredwell.com/" target="_blank">Gail Tredwell</a> from Australia, <a href="https://theammaempire.com/" target="_blank">Sarvatma</a> from France, Nealu from America, Madhu from Reunion Island... Respected Sanskrit teatcher, worshipping a holy spiritual guide, granting the yellow robe to worthy devotees. What could go wrong?</p><p>Well. According to some rumors, he was fond of young women despite his vows as a celibate monk.The younger the better. It was said that he had impregnated some of them. They had no choice but having an abortion done. The gossip whispered that Amma knew about his misconduct but did nothing special about it. It had to be about baseless rumors. Amma's swamis cannot be so evil.</p><p>Yet.</p><p>In 2010 <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/swami-gets-life-for-raping-girl-1433792" target="_blank">Adhyatma Adhyatma Amithananda</a> landed in South Africa, willing to spread spirituality in this country. He met a family who's little girl was suffering from severe epilepsy. Prayers performed by such a holy man must necessarily improve her health condition.</p><p>Given this article's title, we guess what happened next. He raped the 12 year old ill girl, telling her that "sexual assault is part of the healing process". Too scared to talk, her secret has been disclosed beacause her family noticed a deep bite on her neck, after a "prayer session". Although the <a href="https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2012/11_12/2012_11_20_Nair_PriestRapes.htm" target="_blank">police found nude images</a> of the poor girl on his computer, the godman claimed his innocence!</p><p>He got a 25 year sentence in jail. But his family, friends and devotees in India paid for all justice fees. What does it mean? He is serving time in Africa. How would it be in India? Would he be free instead? Can any holy man do any thing and get away with it?</p>Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-54058231150012733692022-11-28T12:53:00.002-08:002022-11-28T12:57:09.936-08:00The Amma Empire<p>Jacques Albohair, aka <b>Sarvatma</b> / Ganga, who belonged to the initial inner circle of disciples in the early eighties, was Amma's first European representative and translator. His recent publication "<i>The Amma Empire</i>" provides a captivating insider testimony of his fourteen years as an early disciple and of the development of the organisation from the simple "family business" to the "global empire" it has become today.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>
He delivers a detailed investigative analysis of the philosophy, the ethics, the communication, the practices and the reality of this sprawling organisation. He reveals the corruption and deception at the heart of the Amrita-system covering a wide range of fields: economic, fiscal, charitable, educational, sanitary, land and real-estate, ethical and spiritual, in words and deeds. He demonstrates how the guru herself is at the origin of the omnipresent ambiguities and doublespeak. The author’s close and intimate personal experience combined with quality testimony, documented evidence and a wealth of sources is nothing short of an eye-opener.</p><p>
His critical review of the official biography, thanks to his hindsight and experience, is especially enlightening as it lays bare in simple and clear terms the reality of the person, her evolution and realisations.</p><p>
As a lover of India and a believer of its ancient wisdom, he broadens the debate by clarifying common misunderstandings on some of the founding principles of Hinduism, and explores the criteria of the real spiritual master, of a healthy master-disciple relationship and the means to empower oneself when regaining one’s autonomy.</p><p>
His book caters as well to admirers of India, to cult critics and to devotees in search of answers. In the wake of<a href="https://gailtredwell.com/" target="_blank"> Gail Tredwell’s testimony</a>, Amma’s former personal assistant for twenty years, “Holy Hell – A Memoir of Faith, Devotion and Pure Madness” published in 2013, this is the second major critical insider testimony on Amma and her movement.</p><p>
The book exists now in 5 languages, English, French, German, Italian and Malayalam and is available from Amazon. The following page will give you the direct links to the publications in paperback and Kindle version: <a href="https://theammaempire.com/books/" target="_blank">https://theammaempire.com/books/</a>.</p><p>
The Malayalam version is available for free and can be downloaded here: <a href="https://theammaempire.com/archives/tae-book-download/" target="_blank">https://theammaempire.com/archives/tae-book-download/</a>. Feel free to circulate it among your friends.</p><p>
Dedicated website cum blog <a href="https://theammaempire.com/" target="_blank">https://theammaempire.com/</a> in 4 languages for updates and info. Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theammaempire" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/theammaempire </a></p>Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-28503590973647346852020-12-18T14:46:00.000-08:002020-12-18T14:46:20.099-08:00Human after all?<p>An information received from a reliable source is currently spreading among Mata Amritanandamayi’s devotees. Yet this story still <b>needs to be verified</b>. We chose to share it, hoping to get more details to confirm or refute the facts.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>It is said that Amma left her Amritapuri ashram under a veil of secrecy one fine night of December 2020, creating a story for the residents to not wonder nor worry about her absence. She arrived at AIMS at 1 AM, probably to avoid being seen by other patients. The hospital registered her under the name “Addi Lakshmi”.</p>
<p>Her uterus was removed by robotic surgery. The caregivers determined that she also needed angioplasty, most likely due to complications from three decades of diabetes.</p>
<p>She was discharged only two days after and all records were destroyed on the hospital computers.</p>
<p>This story makes sense because it only takes a few hours to performs <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327154" target="_blank">angioplasty</a>. Patients recover very fast, some can leave the hospital a few hours after the operation. Same thing for <a href="https://www.virtua.org/articles/what-to-expect-from-a-robotic-hysterectomy" target="_blank">robotic hysterectomy</a>, overnight observation is enought to ensure that the operation is successful. Moreover this technique requires a small nursing staff, this can help to keep the secret.</p>
<p>Why the need for secrecy? Surely her followers would only shower her with love and care. They know that sitting for hours to hug people is straining for the body. They must be grateful for her sacrifice. Is she afraid they will loose faith in her? Are not lies and deception more harmful to faith than transparency and acknowledging that she is human? Is she worried they will consider her less divine?</p>
<p>Indeed she is supposed to be some kind of invincible goddess or at least a supernatural human. When asked how she can stand to sit for hours, she often talks about the <a href="https://www.amritapuri.org/10137/connect-god.aum" target="_blank">divine battery</a> she is plugged in while the rest of us only suck on the ego’s feeble one. Her direct connection to God is supposed to give her infinite power. She often preaches about saints like Branthan, who was so totally surrendered to God that he didn’t care about curing the <a href="https://hinduismwayoflife.com/2019/04/27/ammas-stories-on-avatars-mahatmas-saints-2/" target="_blank">elephantiasis on his leg</a>. Such stories are meant for the devotees to change their way of life, to become oblivious of material life and melt with God.</p>
<p>These stories and legends are inspiring but what about reality? Amma was once said to be able to <a href="https://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2013/12/superhuman.html" target="_blank">remove Manglik curse</a>. According to her closest disciples, she <a href="https://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-real-power-of-devotees.html" target="_blank">cured Dattan from leprosy</a>. But nowadays she asks God to <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/newsindia/may-god-protect-us-through-him-mata-amritanandamayi-amma-wishes-pm-modi-on-raksha-bandhan/ar-BB17uOm1" target="_blank">make prime minister Narendra Modi strong</a> enough to protect India from Covid19. 68 foreigners had to be <a href="https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/coronavirus/news/kerala-43-foreigners-quarantined-at-amritanandamayi-math/articleshow/74830157.cms" target="_blank">quarantined in Amritapuri</a> due to contamination suspicion in March 2020. The ashramites are still locked and now deprived from darshan because of social distancing rules. Maybe knowing that their guru needs (and seeks) surgical operation could shatter their cracking faith. </p><p>Where is all the divine magic she has been advertising for decades? She must abide by a human government after claiming that she was one with God. Human laws required her to stop hugging and she obeyed. If she must rely on human surgeons to save her own life then what is left?</p>Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-36996949233366443722020-12-16T17:20:00.004-08:002020-12-17T07:03:40.136-08:00Techno-Compassion in Action<p>In 2014 Amma took part in a global faith leaders summit, along with Pope Francis in Vatican City. She vowed to help <a href="https://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/12/join-us-to-end-modern-slavery.html" target="_blank">ending slavery and human trafficking</a> in the world by 2020. Here we are. Four years later. It’s 2020 now. What has she done to tackle this human atrocity?</p>
<a name='more'></a><p>Amritapuri's official website offers nothing else but <a href="https://www.amritapuri.org/on/slavery" target="_blank">a single article</a> about this subject. It was posted on December 2014, one day before her commitment act at the Vatican summit. What happened next?</p><p>We have found this on the internet :</p><p><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.amritacreate.TraffickingAware" target="_blank">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.amritacreate.TraffickingAware</a></p><p>This is an app developped by AmritaCREATE, the Amrita University IT lab. Anyone can download this software from Google Play Store. It’s a kind of video game to raise human trafficking awareness. An Android smartphone is required. It doesn't seem to be available for IPhones. This software was probably released in 2015, one year after the Vatican summit.</p><p>Let’s remember that according to some estimations, there may be <a href="https://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-genesis-of-end-slavery-religious.html" target="_blank">13 million modern slaves in India</a>. There are countless NGO’s initiatives and apps. In 2018, Vodafone, BT, Microsoft, Amazon and Nokia, launched a collaborative effort because the UN wishes to end slavery by 2030. They have found <a href="https://www.techrepublic.com/article/anti-human-trafficking-apps-increase-awareness-and-action-from-churches-to-truck-stops/" target="_blank">200 apps dealing with human trafficking</a>. Of course Amma’s one is not listed. The reason is obvious. It doesn’t offer any useful functionality. A mere game is not relevant at all. Who will download it and play in order to be ready the day when he or she might be caught in a scam?</p><p>Here we are. Year 2020. By reason of the recent wars and political conflicts, human trafficking is worse than ever. Can Mata Amritanandamayi pride herself on the job done? A smartphone game? The <a href="https://www.amrita.edu/news/amrita-create-develops-interactive-software-human-trafficking" target="_blank">TraffickingAware app</a> was uploaded to Google Play Store in 2019, one year before the deadline chosen at the Vatican summit. 50 users have downloaded the software so far.</p><p>Meanwhile, the same AmritaCREATE IT lab was at UNESCO MLW2019 event in Paris. This international gathering was dedicated to Artificial Intelligence in education. According to Dr. Nedungadi from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, online platform <a href="https://www.amrita.edu/news/amritacreate-unesco-mlw2019-artificial-intelligence-sustainable-development" target="_blank">Amrita Learning has over 65,000 registered users</a>. That is a lot more users than 50!</p><p>65,000 versus 50. Do these two scores a reflect the organization’s priorities? It seems like Technology, especially Information Technology, is absolutely everywhere. Indeed most “Amrita” websites are aimed at science, business and computing. Don't wonder. Don’t think. Don’t believe. See for yourself :</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amritatech.com/" target="_blank">Amrita Technologies</a> : it is a unit of Amrita Enterprises Private Limited (AEPL), the private company which runs Amrita TV. It sells Amma's books, Amma's ayurvedic products and provides professional softwares related to robotics, Internet Of Things, healthcare, Business Intelligence, education... Their customers are big corporations, including <a href="http://amritarobotics.com/about.html" target="_blank">Amma's hospitals</a> and universities.<br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://vlab.amrita.edu/" target="_blank">V Lab</a> : virtual labs at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. Most brand new innovations to come are advertised here</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.vlab.co.in/participating-institute-amrita-vishwa-vidyapeetham" target="_blank">V Lab India</a> : students from the whole country can use these virtual labs<br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amrita.edu/research/centers" target="_blank">Research Centers</a> : biotechnology, cyber-security, engineering, green-technologies, humanitarian-robotics, learning-technologies, management, medical-sciences, nanoscience, social-sciences-women-empowerment, wireless... Even the fields related to humanitarian activities are connected to science and technology</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amrita.academia.edu/" target="_blank">Amrita Academia</a> : Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University includes more than 300 departments, most of them are dedicated to science and technology</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amritacreate.org/" target="_blank">Amrita CREATE</a> : Center for REsearch in Advanced Technology for Education. This entity is often involved in humanitarian actions but technology is never too far with Amma</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://cyber.amrita.edu" target="_blank">Cyber Amrita</a> : cyber threat has become a major issue for big corporations. Amma's university must act accordingly</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amritaelearning.org/" target="_blank">Amrita Learning</a> : a mobile phone or a computer is all we need to get properly educated nowadays. Be ready to say goodbye to old fashioned human teatchers</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://aview.in/" target="_blank">A-View</a> : we already know Skype, Zoom, Teams... This is A-View. The video conferencing tool designed for you by Amma's IT labs</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amrita.olabs.edu.in/" target="_blank">Amrita OLabs</a> : online labs funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Given the name of the public institution, we can easily guess what these labs teach<br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://amritarobotics.com/" target="_blank">Amrita Robotics</a> : young children from age 11 to 17 must learn how to build a robot if they want to thrive in a highly competitive world</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://amritaibs.com/" target="_blank">AIBS</a> : Amrita Internet of thing and Bigdata Solutions. Is it a private company? Maybe but the website footer advertises Amma's birthday and the contact page map shows that this enterprise is located next to Amritapuri ashram</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://amritad2.in/" target="_blank">AD2</a> : Amrita Dynamic Dashboard. Indeed big data needs big softwares. Maybe it's a private company then it has been created by Cyber Amrita and it is hosted by Amma's university</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://abdf.in" target="_blank">ABDF</a> : Amrita Big Data Framework. Indeed business
intelligence also needs big softwares. This company also belongs to
Cyber Amrita and it is equally located in the compounds of Amma's university</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amritahyd.org/" target="_blank">Amritahyd</a> : a training institute run by Amrita Technologies (thus AEPL), teaching technologies like Linux, Red Hat advanced courses, Cloud, Python, DevOps... If it's a private company, independant from Amma's organization, then why is their office located in the Mata Amritanandamayi Math of Secunderabad?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO-92Ws9h0ZKJoOBZ066sf5ZHApnQ6RWLAzqdSXJ-olGGN7Gvq63v5-1z7u-aAoMEt_CeF84sPI5wEZZI2h-zjQBS-BzeVuZCPKeaEaH5Hi0TkkX0ZemUGajzEkau4yBIh632oxETCLgq/s413/amritahyd.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="413" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO-92Ws9h0ZKJoOBZ066sf5ZHApnQ6RWLAzqdSXJ-olGGN7Gvq63v5-1z7u-aAoMEt_CeF84sPI5wEZZI2h-zjQBS-BzeVuZCPKeaEaH5Hi0TkkX0ZemUGajzEkau4yBIh632oxETCLgq/w200-h154/amritahyd.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amritacbtpractice.in" target="_blank"><br />Amrita CBT</a> : if you want to become the best Java programmer ever then Amma offers all you need to practice online for free</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amritamedical.com/" target="_blank">Amrita HIS</a> : the Health Information Suite tested, approved and widely used by Amma's hospital (AIMS) is available for any other healthcare institution. This softwares and services bundle are certainely not free of charge</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://amritahealth.com/" target="_blank">Amrita Health</a> : another website to advertise AIMS Hospital Information Suite, which seems to be another name for Health Information Suite, both having the same acronym (HIS)</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://amritaphr.com/" target="_blank">Amrita PHR</a> : the Personal Health Record seems to store patients medical information in a digital Cloud, so that they can be accessed anytime, anywhere, from any device. According to the contact page, Amrita Technologies is located in Amritapuri. Yet this company is supposed to belong to AEPL which is said to be private and independant from Amma's organization</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://amritaconsultancy.com/" target="_blank">Amrita Consultancy</a> : this website seems to gather all technological products and services related to healthcare</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amritatbi.com/" target="_blank">Amrita TBI</a> : stands for Technnology Business Incubator. You have a promising idea? You need help to fund your tech startup? They can provide you with counsel and money. According to the website footer they are inspired by Amma and located in her universities. According to Pitchfork they have incubated <a href="https://pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/111101-77" target="_blank">26 companies</a> so far.</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amrita.edu/center/entrepreneurship" target="_blank">ACE</a> : entrepreneurs who need assistance can lean on Amrita Center for Entrepreneurship.</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4203768/" target="_blank">TAE</a> : The Amrita Entrepreneurs (TAE) group doesn't have a dedicated website, only a LinkedIn profile</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.yesamrita.com/" target="_blank">YES Amrita</a> : Young Entrepreneurs Society is the place to be for future entrepreneurs. You can follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/yesamrita" target="_blank">Facebook</a> but <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yes.amrita/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> is far more interesting. The pictures below for intance are so expressive. One immediately understands that YES Amrita has been inspired by compassion and molded by divine love.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL7rgveGE6cV7S1fuTWF_GQChNksr9RmDEKDJhtkmYbi0Wqc3QKWgijl9Tbpze9xh_4cHeM1N1QHBRqhkIAvnmYQJx7Pz39u6aRfjmVLx1a7pbP2wSo5MDSp7iVRoZfFvXfRz40K5wWC2/s623/goldfishark.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="623" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL7rgveGE6cV7S1fuTWF_GQChNksr9RmDEKDJhtkmYbi0Wqc3QKWgijl9Tbpze9xh_4cHeM1N1QHBRqhkIAvnmYQJx7Pz39u6aRfjmVLx1a7pbP2wSo5MDSp7iVRoZfFvXfRz40K5wWC2/w200-h97/goldfishark.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><br />So much technology. Have we drifted far away from the initial subject? In fact this article started with human trafficking issues. Yes, we have drifted as far as the organization did. M.A Math was initially about spiritual enfoldment. No need to dig too deep to see that it has become a science and technology business empire. Technology is absolutely everywhere.</p><p>Looking for spirituality? Rely on technology! Download the <a href="https://app.amma.org/">Official Amma App for Mobile Phones - Android & iOS</a>. Meditation, yoga and pujas are nice but don't forget to follow your guru on Facebook and Twitter.</p><p>A virus called Sars-Cov-2 is said to be roaming the world, taking innocent lives. Feeling moved? Looking forward to save humanity? Do something challenging. <a href="https://www.amrita.edu/event/amrita-covid-19-challenge-2020" target="_blank">Provide technology</a>!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcHAq_xcQM5RpUXDUzLpj6MbYPZBxA7DW1BgRlqsid3Q6DEPr-8IkgWiSF02U6QdFlPyDxXsiT1sNzQ9bLn8YChUyDKe6VwJMLhbf8ChYqvb9UT_f9G5bAAKILHDnUXLZ9p63P5JUHEjp/s1128/covid19challenge.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1128" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcHAq_xcQM5RpUXDUzLpj6MbYPZBxA7DW1BgRlqsid3Q6DEPr-8IkgWiSF02U6QdFlPyDxXsiT1sNzQ9bLn8YChUyDKe6VwJMLhbf8ChYqvb9UT_f9G5bAAKILHDnUXLZ9p63P5JUHEjp/w200-h108/covid19challenge.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Follow you guru's footsteps. She gracefully showered us with the <a href="https://amritaworld.org/education/amrita-develops-fly-med-system-using-hybrid-drone-system-to-deliver-medical-aid-during-emergencies/" target="_blank">drone system</a> to deliver items, <a href="https://amritaworld.org/education/low-cost-ventilator-designed-by-amrita-school-of-engineering-amritapuri-campus/" target="_blank">low cost ventilator</a> although it has been proven that they are useless for Covid-19 is a blood illness not a respiratory one, <a href="https://amritaworld.org/healthcare/hacks-for-frontline-health-workers-on-war-against-covid-from-amrita-hospital/" target="_blank">face shields and masks</a> for health workers, more <a href="https://amritaworld.org/education/low-cost-amrita-nano-masks-to-prevent-coronavirus-spread/" target="_blank">masks with nanofilter</a> membrane, very <a href="https://amritaworld.org/education/amrita-engineering-students-develops-low-cost-face-masks-to-fight-against-covid-19/" target="_blank">weird (ridiculous?) masks</a> because covering our nose and shutting our mouth seems to be the best solution that Amma can offer to us, a <a href="https://amritaworld.org/disaster-relief/pandemix-a-mobile-app-for-local-shopping-of-essentials/" target="_blank">social distancing</a> app that helps you do your shopping without taking the risk to come accross any living soul, <a href="https://amritaworld.org/education/low-cost-remote-bed-side-monitor-to-fight-covid-pandemic/" target="_blank">remote bed-side monitors</a> even if it means that patients are deprived from human loving contact...</p><p>Ironically the Covid-19 lockdown enables the organization to get a lot more digital. Indeed visitors who usually come for darshan don't need to provide anything. So Amma has been facing anonymous crowds for all these years. But the 2020 tour in western countries has been postponed. People can still connect with their guru every saturday thanks to <a href="https://live.amma.org/" target="_blank">online events</a>. They need to register! So the Indian ashram will be able to collect thousands (millions?) of email addresses and personal data from devotees and friends worldwide.</p><p>It would be so surprising that Amma could build a GAFAM-like empire when she barely knows how to use a computer. What kind of decision is she still allowed to make regarding the organization? What does CEO Mata Amritanandamayi really know about "her" institution nowadays? All manners of "goldfishes" must be stabbing each others daily to become the "shark" ruling the "AmritaTech ocean".</p><p>Where did she get the money to build all of this? As ex-devotees we don't remember ever donating for any of that. We remind ourselves of the moving brochures showing pictures of kids eating rice, young women smiling meekly, old men looking quietly in our eyes. But we have no recollection of young businessmen in suit and tie, followed by the slogan : "<i>Help him become a shark who rules the ocean. Please donate</i>".</p><p>How can she tours western countries, begging for money supposedly to feed the poor, educate them and provide them with healthcare, when her country is planning to <a href="https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/2019/09/21/India-will-send-man-to-space-by-Dec-2021-ISRO-chief-K-Sivan.html" target="_blank">send a man to the moon</a> after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/sep/09/india-moon-mission-vikram-lunar-lander-found-on-surface" target="_blank">launching a module</a> there?</p>Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-19466928437237358082020-07-23T17:37:00.002-07:002020-07-24T17:00:47.774-07:00Covid-19 - Amma needs our helpThis year 2020 is very special. The world has been hit by a pandemic. Extreme political decisions have been made to fight its progression. We all know about the famous Covid-19 lockdown that has changed so many lives worldwide. As Mata Amritanandamayi is overwhelmed with compassion, she had to play her part too. But apparently things unfolded in a strange way.<br />
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On April 13 The Mata Amritanandamayi Math announced that it was <a href="https://www.amritapuri.org/79916/20corona13.aum" target="_blank">donating $1.7 Million</a> to those who were facing hardship due to the illness and its consequences. Everything seems to be fine, so what’s wrong?<br />
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Well, the problem is that according to an American devotee who posted an link on Facebook in April 2020, Amma had to borrow the money from a bank to provide Covid-19 relief. She had to take a $1.7 Million loan. How come that she cannot fund her charities on her own? How can she be broke when millions of devotees and followers donate worldwide for that specific purpose? The post says that Mata Amritanandamayi now needs our help to repay the loan. Tax deductible donation must be sent to the Amma Center in the USA.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3viT8jpm89a23p0LlSKYHPdGyTqMT8K5FKRYMZ0i86dM6gjdmZwqffx7unb5tEg8uq_Imuc2dpfJ8LFZ9VJ2Kf5AqWJRpVpwoWwfGWoc4Xzntaxd4JdHO8QtaJZFACIckkLpz1t2wNmO/s1600/loan_covid19-2020-07-18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="591" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3viT8jpm89a23p0LlSKYHPdGyTqMT8K5FKRYMZ0i86dM6gjdmZwqffx7unb5tEg8uq_Imuc2dpfJ8LFZ9VJ2Kf5AqWJRpVpwoWwfGWoc4Xzntaxd4JdHO8QtaJZFACIckkLpz1t2wNmO/s200/loan_covid19-2020-07-18.png" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
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Let’s try to understand what is going on.</div>
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Because of the lockdown Amma couldn’t complete her 2020 world tour. She may have toured from January to February 8 only. Is she consequently lacking funds? Yet it seems like her organization has stashed impressive savings in a bank somewhere in the world. In fact <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/08/fanciful-fcra.html" target="_blank">FCRA</a> 2011-2012 reveals that M.A. Math received $3.4 Million of bank interest that year. You can check for yourself.</div>
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Browse to <a href="https://fcraonline.nic.in/fc3_amount.aspx">https://fcraonline.nic.in/fc3_amount.aspx</a> and fill the form like this.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBuer71py0WTP2U3Mb1xK-t6YlCgp8phfSYac0BHCmdf5ti7-e3WwxK5Mw0lbBkyyxzQO-M8KpvWFSKqrNVW4iSce344ijg76poaF_5hwlyjmr73dVqw43jHkbZ0u-C28K6VycRbUQY4Z/s1600/fcra_form.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="678" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBuer71py0WTP2U3Mb1xK-t6YlCgp8phfSYac0BHCmdf5ti7-e3WwxK5Mw0lbBkyyxzQO-M8KpvWFSKqrNVW4iSce344ijg76poaF_5hwlyjmr73dVqw43jHkbZ0u-C28K6VycRbUQY4Z/s200/fcra_form.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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Then submit the form. Find “Mata Amritanandmayi Math” in the NGOs list (number 052930183). Click on the link entitled “View” on the right of the page. Allow popup window in your browser and there you are, looking at all foreign donations declared by the organization to the Indian government for the year 2011-2012. The figures are given in rupees, the bank interests lie among them. According to some estimations, the Math may probably have <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2013/12/amma-only-gives-10-foreign-donations-to.html" target="_blank">invested hundreds of Million</a> in order to earn such an amount. Why requesting 1 Million when at least 3 pour in each year?</div>
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Another detail raises a few doubts. We know now that the donations are not just meant for charities. A significant part is invested in universities and particularly research labs. What do the figures reveal about that? This <a href="https://amritaworld.org/research/" target="_blank">Amrita World</a> article dedicated to the labs claims that : “<i>Amrita has received over US $5 Billion in research funding from national and international agencies</i>”. Indeed adding the various figures mentioned shows that at least 260 Crores have been used by the labs. That’s roughly $35 Million. How come that the M.A. Math can easily find $35 Million to run its scientific centers while failing to gather $1.7 Million for its charitable activities?</div>
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There seems to be some kind of misunderstanding here. Feel free to “help” her. Feel equally free to ask yourself some questions.</div>
Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-88298238615371667072020-02-10T14:50:00.001-08:002020-02-10T14:50:33.832-08:00Smothering Kerala's EnvironmentDuring the celebration of her 66th birthday in September 2019 in Amritapuri, Mata Amritanandamayi addressed her audience with a major subject. Ecology is a core value to Embracing The World.<br />
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Indeed her speech was all about how important it is to <a href="https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/280919/amma-gives-green-talk-on-66th-birthday.html" target="_blank">respect and protect nature</a> :<br />
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"We are the children of that revered Mother Nature. She only ever had love and compassion for us. We, on the other hand, have just stomped all over her and kicked her in the chest. Now that loving mother has fallen ill and is exhausted"</blockquote>
She is right. Climate change is a warning. We should reconsider the way we live before it's too late. Enough with talks. Let's act. Amma has been environmentally conscious for so long. Why not follow her lead?<br />
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At this point, the Huffington Post prompts us to think twice before <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/mata-amritanandamayi-crz-violation-alappad-kollam-kerala_in_5e33f61ac5b6f26233277114" target="_blank">doing as Amma does</a> because<br />
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"her math stands as a much-criticised symbol of rampant illegal construction"</blockquote>
Her ashram, which is said to be smothering Kerala's environment, has repeatedly violated the Coastal Regulation Zone rules which are meant to protect marine ecosystems. The high buildings are now considered a great threat to the environment, in addition to being illegal and lacking land ownership documents. Without proper declaration, tax cannot be collected so Amma's Math owes the state of Kerala millions of rupees.<br />
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But after all that's no surprise. In 2015, <a href="http://asu.thehoot.org/media-watch/media-practice/reporting-or-covering-up-9028" target="_blank">villagers held a protest</a> against one of her engineering college in Kollam, which used to release its sewage water right into the village. Is this supposed to show us how she defines "respect"?<br />
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Amma is loud about environment issues but she doesn't necessarily do as she says. I seems that she preaches to act otherwise. Gullible devotees listen to her but they don't check the facts.Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-12531931181827921902019-11-02T19:03:00.002-07:002019-11-06T14:39:22.666-08:00Amma's first biography - Death Of SubhganThere is only one biography telling Amma's story from childhood to success. It overflows with miracles and wonders. There was a previous version, less magical, unavailable nowadays.<br />
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A puzzling video has been posted on the Internet and shared on ex-amma group. It quotes what seems to be extracts from Mata Amritanandamayi's first biography written by someone called M. Ramachandran. It tells about the way the older brother of young Sudhamani supposedly died. According to the official story he killed himself but this biography tells about more dramatic events.<br />
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The allegations are extremely serious. We don't know if they are true or false. We forward this piece of information for our readers to make up their own mind.<br />
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It is entitled : <b>Death Of Subhgan</b> by Kannan Sivaram</div>
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<br />Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-55628529052209073462019-11-02T18:46:00.000-07:002019-11-02T19:07:58.350-07:00One more deathAfter <a href="https://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/08/compassionate-schools.html" target="_blank">Arati in 2009 and Jitendra Sai 2012</a> another name is hitting the news headlines in India. His name was Sri Harsha, 4th year Electronics and Communication Engineering student at the Amrita School of Engineering in Bengaluru. With two placement processes in progress, he was confident in securing a job after his graduation.<br />
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But things went wrong when the warden of the hostel he was living in refused to fix a water shortage problem on September 23 2019. Hostel accomodation is expensive yet many have been complaining about the food quality for years. It's hard to know if they are right. But what kind of institution is able to <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/apathy-and-simmering-anger-events-led-amrita-college-student-harsha-s-death-111147" target="_blank">deprive 1,600 students of water for several days</a> and tell them that they should be <b>ashamed to complain</b> about it? Well Amrita Campus is.<br />
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The day after <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-crime/student-jumps-to-death-after-being-expelled-over-strike-770137.html" target="_blank">hundreds of students staged a protest</a>. They went on rampage breaking windscreens, windows, buses... The school decided to inquire in order to identify the vandals.<br />
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Sri Harsha who is described as a shy, sensitive, dedicated and hard working man has been accused of damaging a CCTV camera in the hostel. Although his friends kept on telling that he was innocent, the school suspended him for a year. He allegedly killed himself by jumping from the seventh floor of a campus building while his father was waiting for him in front of the college. The reaction of the school's management is impossible to comprehend. They immediately decided to <b>wipe the scene clean</b>. All bloodstains had disappeared before the police came. Why was is so urgent?<br />
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Anyway <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/amrita-student-suicide-10-staff-members-booked-allegedly-tampering-crime-scene-111057" target="_blank">10 staff members have been booked</a> for tempering with evidence and abetment to suicide. So strange that one of them had previously been involved in another suicide case. When Jitendra Sai hanged himself in 2012, Lecturer Rakesh SG prevented his classmates from helping the dying student. This is the second time that this man has to face legal charges for the same reason. Students die, he remains.<br />
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More students went on strike after this tragic death. They asked for Chancelor Mata Amritanandamayi herself to come and address the issue. As far as we know she never answered their request.<br />
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After 4 days of protest following Harsha's death, the school officials finally agreed to talk to the students. In vain. Most requests aiming at making the college a safer place were denied. The dean only promised to provide them with proper food and <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/amrita-college-suicide-college-shut-till-november-4-students-forced-end-protest-111162" target="_blank">24 hour water supply</a>. Amazing. When you pay Rs 85,000 fees for board ($1,200) do you really need to beg for something as basic as water? Is it a favor or an option to drink and wash daily?<br />
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Amma. Goddess of Compassion. Pouring peace and love in whatever she does. It works well with her devotees blinded by faith but her students shed blood and tears.<br />
<br />Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-41905457532440898122019-01-29T12:22:00.004-08:002019-01-29T12:22:44.737-08:00Women disempowermentFor many years Mata Amritanandamayi has claimed to be the champion of women empowerment. Why ruining her PR so openly?<br />
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Women empowerment is extensively promoted on her websites and flyers. According to this video, the only Indian's UNESCO chair on gender equality and women empowerment belongs to Amrita university.<br />
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Amma's PR must deal with that subject because she is a Godwoman aiming at teaching us right from wrong so all eyes are wide opened on her to know what is best, especially for women in society.<br />
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The video says that she is proud of "ordaining women as priests with equal position" but <a href="https://youngfeminists.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/menstruating-goddesses/" target="_blank">Meena Kandasamy</a> reminds us of a little detail :<br />
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"New age religious sects haven’t updated their views on menstruation either: Mata Amritanandamayi’s sect runs temples where <b>two women</b> are appointed as priests to a single temple “so that each can keep away for four days in a month, during their menstruation.” (I am unaware of what will happen when the two women’s cycles begin to sync.)"</blockquote>
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Amma considers that women are equal to men as long as they don't menstruate. It seems like God hates the very bodily function that he has himself created to secure the reproduction of human species. At least that's what men say. They also say that menstruating age women are not allowed to set foot into the Sabarimala temple out of respect to the celibate nature of the deity. Yet menses are not a threat for celibacy, it's rather a factor of pregnancy. So keeping women away from the temple is a mean to avoid... Who knows?<br />
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Anyway in September 2018, a judgement of the Supreme Court of India ruled that all pilgrims should be allowed entrance to Sabarimala for any exception placed on women because of biological differences violates the Constitution. Crowds of believers held a protest as usual to oppose the verdict. Some women attempted to enter Sabarimala under the threats of physical assault. Two of them finally succeeded in entering the temple on 2 January 2019. The holy place was thus closed and reopened after purification rituals.<br />
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Crowds crippled with divine fear and holy anger can be dangerous. The ashram of reformist Kerala monk Swami Sandeepananda Giri faced an <a href="https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/gita-exponent-who-angered-sangh-parivar/cid/1672884" target="_blank">arson attack</a> in October 2018. He was supporting the end of the ban on women of childbearing age from entering the Sabarimala temple. It seems to be the reason for the attack.<br />
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What about Mata Amritanandamayi. What does the champion of women empowerment think about this Sabarimala temple issue? She is a prominent Godwoman therefore journalists were eager to ask her the question. <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/mata-amritanandamayi-declines-comment-on-womens-entry-into-sabarimala-1466793" target="_blank">She answered</a> :<br />
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"she was “<b>not an authority</b>” to say anything related to “rituals, customs and tradition”" </blockquote>
She also said :<br />
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"“Let the people decide on matters like this”"</blockquote>
Amazing. What happens when the spiritual guide follows the spiritual seekers? The guide is supposed to know the plan whereas the seeker is lost, trying to find his way. Nevertheless appointing priestesses in her own temple shows that she is an authority inside her own premises but not outside.<br />
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Things got worse in January 2019. She did a <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/show-strength-ayyappa-bhakta-sangamam-sanyasis-and-right-wing-leaders-come-together-95373" target="_blank">questionable move</a> :<br />
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"the programme, put together by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, was inaugurated by spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi. A rally taken out by hundreds of men and women across the city, joined the gathering. This is also the first time that sanyasis and spiritual leaders have come together in such a large number to support the <b>fight against entry of women</b> of all ages into Sabarimala"</blockquote>
Let's put the stress under the fact that the authority that once failed her is fully re-established when she chooses to protect patriarchal traditions and to fight against women.<br />
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Some people consider this to be a mistake because <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/mixing-religion-politics-what-ayyappa-bhakta-sangamam-aimed-do-95465" target="_blank">mixing politics and religion</a> is not such a good idea :<br />
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"On Sunday, Kodiyeri argued that there was no logic to the claim that Ayyappa's celibacy would be threatened by young women visiting the temple, an issue in which <b>Amritanandamayi is supporting the Hindu right wing</b>"</blockquote>
Amma's devotees keep on saying that she has nothing to do with politics. Are they so blind that they cannot understand what anyone in this world can clearly see :<br />
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"Why did she participate in this event? Amritanada Matham should operate beyond political (be apolitical). There are people of different political beliefs who are followers of Amritanandamayi. There are many believers in Kerala who are her followers. But this RSS's Karma Samithi programme in which Amritanandamayi is participating is not one that respects the faith of even these followers."</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/mata-amritanandamayi-should-not-have-took-part-sabarimala-meet-cm-pinarayi-95732" target="_blank">Kerala Chief Minister</a> goes a little further :<br />
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"Discussing the rally, Pinarayi Vijayan said that Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma’s participation in the right-wing rally had tainted her image.<br />
“There are people inside and outside Kerala who believe and admire Amritanandamayi. Even <b>they have not liked her sharing such a stage</b>”"</blockquote>
Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-4789645140857020842018-12-19T14:44:00.002-08:002018-12-19T14:44:40.537-08:00Environmental scandal cover up<div>
Amma says she is an open book with nothing to hide from public eyes. Isn't it easy to make such claim when one is sure that journalists are scared to publish
criticism?</div>
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It seems like we don't know what is actually going on around her businesses. For instance, according to an article found on the internet, a <a href="http://asu.thehoot.org/media-watch/media-practice/reporting-or-covering-up-9028" target="_blank">major protest against one of Amritanandamayi's educational institutions</a> has been completely discarded by all media.<br />
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Indeed, in November 2015 villagers in Kollam district held a protest for six days! They were angry because the college run by Amma used to get rid of its sewage water in the village! Some protesters even started a hunger strike. The police helps the godwoman whenever she is in trouble. So once again innocent villagers simply fighting for their life have been arrested.<br />
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The college authorities finally made a few promises to end the strike. What happened next? No way to know. All media remained silent about the whole story and there's a good reason for that. Amma is supposed to be an environmental champion, she pretends to protect nature and to care about others. Such scandal doesn't fit the narrative.Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-54283098114123100022018-12-19T13:21:00.003-08:002018-12-19T13:58:23.462-08:00Police over food complain<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.28cm;">
Many customers complain
on the internet about the services provided by Amritanandamayi’s
educational institutions. Food is often said to
be awful at the school’s mess.</div>
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One may say that teenagers who
are away from home are likely to miss the way their mother used to
cook. So is the food really so bad? It's hard to know what is really going on.</div>
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Anyway the anger
sometimes grows out of control.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.28cm;">
It happened in March
2018 at Amrita College of Engineering in Vallikkavu. Students
claiming that the food was "<i>not fit for human consumption</i>" held a protest. Rumors say that <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/amrita-college-closed-after-protest-over-hostel-food/articleshow/63409738.cms" target="_blank">worms were found is the food</a>.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.28cm;">
The officials answered
that it was set up. Many students would like to leave the compounds
of the college to eat outside but they are not allowed to. So they
supposedly play all kinds of nasty tricks to put the blame on the
food. Are they kept inside for security reasons or is is just another
profit issue? The students have to pay for the food and the fees are said to
be quite expensive. Letting them eat anywhere else would be a
financial loss for Amma's institutions.</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.28cm;">
Anyway, the police had
to come to the rescue once again for the violence was escalating. The
officials were required to shut the school down. The images speak for themselves.</div>
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Yet this is not the first
time. A blood-stained plaster had supposedly been found in a
dish in November 2017. The police had to come again.</div>
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Last but not least, the worms came back in October 2018 in <a href="https://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/amrita-university-pathetic-quality-of-mess-food-c730524.html" target="_blank">Amrita University</a>, next to Amritapuri Ashram :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The food is 'eatable' only once in a blue moon. they're providing the students with ashram food.( mayb they're using the students' money to provide food for ashram-mates too)"</blockquote>
Maybe the food is the same for both the University and the Ashram but the difference is huge. No one will ever see a devotee complaining about anything. Everything Amma does is either perfect or designed on purpose for the spiritual upliftment of her children. A worm in the food would thus be like a kind of grace, something for the spiritual seeker to learn a lesson.<br />
<br />
The students are not devotees though. They pay a lot for services and they expect them to be genuine. As the authorities don't really listen, violence rose again.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"everything turned violent, students lost control and started breaking furniture and broke the glass of the mess van thinking that at least after that there will be a solution. The students were there till midnight 12 am "</blockquote>
According to the end of the article, suspension is now threatening those who partook to the protest.<br />
<br />
<br />
Nurse protest. Parents
protest. Students protest. Police each time. She pretends that she is
aiming at spreading love, how come that she is surrounded by such
violence?</div>
Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-3857903178709132322018-03-07T20:20:00.000-08:002018-03-08T12:49:18.219-08:00Food FascismWhat is "Food Fascism" ? It sounds like a joke but the truth is far from being funny<br />
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Journalist Ariel Sophia Bardi has written an article in the Los Angeles Review of Books to report the program held at Marriott hotel near Washington DC as part of Amma's summer US tour 2017. It is surprisingly entitled <a href="https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-soft-nationalism-of-amma-indias-hugging-saint" target="_blank">The Soft Nationalism of Amma, India’s Hugging Saint</a>.<br />
<br />
We are glad to see a western based media finally acknowledging this fact which is no secret for the Indians :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Amma, along with self-styled saints like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who founded the controversy-courting Art of Living Foundation and was praised last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have arguably contributed to a rising tide of Hindu nationalism and a <b>growing intolerance toward non-Hindu faiths</b>"</blockquote>
We have been making this claim through many posts over the past years. This quote from Meera Nanda says it all :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"While using the language of universalism, tolerance, good health, and peace, they very clearly propagate a world view of India as a Hindu nation, <b>Hinduism as a superior religion</b>, and the need to make India (indeed the whole world) more Hindu"</blockquote>
<br />
Is there anything wrong about promoting one's religion? In theory all religions put forward universal concepts like peace, love and unity but we know too well that sometimes it actually leads to violence and India doesn't escape the rule. Who could have guessed for instance that one fine day the vegetarian diet would become a matter of death?<br />
<br />
Although her former assistant Gail Tredwell states that she used to privately cook her <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2013/12/fish-n-love.html" target="_blank">fish twice a day</a>, Amma publicly hails vegetarianism. All foreign ashrams affiliated to hers are strictly vegetarian. Her friend Narendra Modi went further and called for a ban on beef soon after his election as Prime Minister of India, hence the expression "Food Fascism".<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The crackdown on beef-eaters — chief among them Muslims, Christians, and low-caste Dalits — has led to an outbreak of so-called “cow vigilantism,” where cattle traders have been <b>slaughtered </b>by lynch mobs"</blockquote>
Killing humans to protect animals in the name of God? Such a strange way to respect life in all forms and to see the divine in others. Cattle traders are not the only ones, <a href="https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/a-brief-history-of-india-s-war-on-cow-slaughter-and-how-people-have-reacted-to-it-322757.html" target="_blank">consumers are targeted</a> as well, dairy farmers can be suspected and punished. The increasing violence of self appointed cow vigilantes combined with economical issues led India's Supreme Court to temporarily suspend the beef ban in July 2017. Yet troubles remain and <a href="https://sputniknews.com/asia/201802011061251668-cow-violence-irks-top-court/" target="_blank">mob lynching over beef eating allegations</a> has become the norm in some parts of India while many Hindus protesting that vegetarian terrorism take the street to shout "Not In My Name".<br />
<br />
What about Mata Amritanandamayi? She helped Narendra Modi with his <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2013/12/nationalist-flavor.html" target="_blank">election campaign</a>. She sometimes <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2017/11/speech-at-rss-abps-2017.html" target="_blank">blesses Sangh Parivar</a> congresses. She often <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/08/why-is-she-awarded-by-rss.html" target="_blank">rewards Hindutva</a> thinkers. She played a role in the rise of Hindu nationalism. Has she anything special to say about food fascism? Can't we expect a few words from a prominent leader to address fundamentalist violence?<br />
<br />Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-89903571992126162292017-11-01T20:15:00.000-07:002017-11-01T20:18:38.968-07:00Speech at RSS ABPS-2017When we say that Mata Amritanandamayi has strong ties with the Hindu nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) her devotees argue that we are lying. They say that Amma welcomes everyone in her Ashram, she is not closer to any specific political party. If it is so then can they explain why she has made a speech at an RSS conference?<br />
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The event is called Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (APBS). Amma was there on the 21st of March 2017 in Coimbatore. Her speech is published on RSS official website, it is entitled <a href="http://samvada.org/2017/news/amma-speech-rss-abps/" target="_blank">When Bharat Awakens, the World Will Awaken</a>. Given the fact that "Bharat" means "India" what are we supposed to understand? Let's a take a closer look at her speech.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Bharat is a land of spiritual radiance"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Bharat is the universal mother"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"When Bharat awakens, the world will awaken"</blockquote>
Does she mean that India is the Goddess of all other countries?<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Way before the word ‘modern’ was invented, India and Indians were modernised"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Economics, mathematics, astrology, warfare, medicine, chemistry, physics, psychology, sociology, grammar…. there is no branch of knowledge that was not born here"</blockquote>
That is pure Hindutva propaganda. They claim that India has discovered absolutely everything in the past, all foreign scientists worldwide have merely stolen from Indians ones.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"the lost glory, nobility and renown will be restored"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Bharat will once again regain its glory and shine as brightly as the sun" </blockquote>
Does she mean "Make India great again" like Narendra Modi does? Is she a spiritual or a political leader? "Make America great again", "Make Russia great again", "Make China great again"... Many political leaders are talking about the long gone greatness of their country. Do they realize that the greatness was fueled by slavery, child labor and poor people exploitation? Is the wise guru aware that the past glory was a curse for human rights?<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Those suffering in the world need our help. Most of them are in villages"</blockquote>
Finally, a little bit of compassion in the midst of all nostalgic nationalism. What is her plan to ease the suffering of villagers?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We should be equipped to give people the knowledge of our spiritual culture. <b>Our religion</b>, our culture is our mother. We must no longer allow others to call our mother a prostitute. We must give people the right knowledge about our scriptural texts"</blockquote>
Religious propaganda is her answer. Let's put the stress under something important in her quote. When Western journalists ask what her religion is, she answers : "<i>My religion is love</i>". She claims something else here : Hinduism is her actual religion.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The places of worship of <b>other religions</b> teach religious texts. They also have schools, colleges and other institutions for this specific purpose. Those who receive training there then go out to propagate the teachings of their religion. In contrast, there is nothing of this sort in Hinduism"</blockquote>
Is she up again for the same old religious war? Other dogmas are spreading in India therefore Hinduism must strike back?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We must implement measures to ensure that a part of the temples’ earnings is used for propagating dharma"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"In the same way, it is true that temples foster devotion and faith in the masses. At the same time, these will become fruitful only with knowledge"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"With the help of philanthropists, we must create special courses for teaching the Hindu scriptures"</blockquote>
<div>
What kind of plan is that? It sounds like religious expansion. Is she targeting only India or the rest of the world as well?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
When we say that Amma is tied to RSS, her Western devotees make fun of us. Yet, the pictures show that she was sitting right next to Mohan Madhukar Bhagwat who is the <a href="http://samvada.org/2017/news-digest/amma-at-abps/" target="_blank">current chief of RSS</a>. Her four swamis were also there, wearing their red robe, sitting on the right side of the stage. The same pictures have been posted on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/swayamsevaks/posts/1464271280353714" target="_blank">RSS Facebook page</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mata Amritanandamayi and her main disciples attending a major nationalist meeting, blessing the delegates, delivering a nationalist speech. What more do the devotees need to open their eyes?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What about this video where a former RSS leader claims that Mata Amritanandamayi is part of a religious mafia? We are not fluent in Malayalam so this is the rough automatic google translation of the video's presentation : </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"TR Somashekharan, a former Buddhist editor of the RSS, is said to be spiritual mafias like Mata Amritanandamayi, Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Steps need to be taken not only against black money officials but also to stop these mafia. Somashekharan told the MediaWatch that the state leadership's work is not in the right direction."</blockquote>
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Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-52228401120982559932017-10-27T21:59:00.001-07:002020-12-16T17:26:17.978-08:00God or Guns (or both) ?Mata Amritanandamayi is a spiritual teacher, a guru, a saint, a wise woman, a guide who leads truth-seekers on the righteous path. According to her God takes care of everything, God protects us, we must rely on God only.<br />
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So let's first take a look at what she teaches to her young students for instance. The video below is available on Amrita Campus Youtube channel. It has been made by Graphics Design students to celebrate the Indian Independance Day in August 2015. Given the title "Unity In Diversity" we expect something about global peace, love and harmony but to our big surprise the video starts with guns and soldiers. In fact we feel like the plot is indeed about coming together but not as humans rather as Indians fighting against the rest of the world.<br />
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Strength and might associated with the Indian flag are everywhere. At 03:07 a tough boy with an Indian flag painted on his cheek and a rudraksha dangling around his neck is wrestling against another one wearing a beard. Are we supposed to infer that the defeated challenger is a Muslim? Ghandi used to be non-violent. Is it relevant to display his picture right after showing soldiers with guns? At 01:54 a young man is wearing a Manchester T-Shirt. Is there a meaning or is it just a glitch in the middle of this nationalist symphony? Anyway the story ends with a big surprise.<br />
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It seems like Mata Amritanandamayi's <span style="text-align: center;">heartfelt support often goes to the army. In 2015</span> the university held it's first <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2015/06/go-and-kill-for-peace-and-love.html" target="_blank">Armed Forces Forum</a> (AFF) for her students to get a chance to meet and interact with experts from the defence services. We guess that they had recruitment plans in mind.<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">From 2007 to 2009 Amma's Brahmacharis taught IAM meditation to </span><a href="https://www.amritapuri.org/2167/military.aum" target="_blank">2.5 million military personnel</a> in order to help them reduce their stress level. Meditating to find God can be arguable. What about meditating to kill humans?<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">In January 2017 Amrita University met with <a href="https://www.amritapuri.org/on/indian-army" target="_blank">Indian Army</a> to develop all kinds of technical solutions. </span>Professor Shantanu Bhowmick, who is head of aerospace engineering in Coimbatore's Amrita University, has thus designed a <a href="https://amritanews.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/this-professors-bulletproof-jackets-designed-for-the-indian-army-could-save-%E2%82%B9-20000-crores/" target="_blank">lightweight bulletproof jacket</a>. It is strange that all articles talking about this subject mention that he has dedicated his invention to Subhas Chandra Bose, who tried during World War II to rid India of British rule with the help of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. M. Bose raised an army of 4500 Indian men in Germany. They had to swear the following allegiance to their leader :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I swear by God this holy oath that I will obey the leader of the German race and state, Adolf Hitler, as the commander of the German armed forces in the fight for India, whose leader is Subhas Chandra Bose"</blockquote>
Amrita Hospital has recently signed a agreement with <a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/indian-hospital-to-treat-bangladesh-armed-forces-personnel/684273/" target="_blank">Bangladesh Armed Force</a> (BAF) to treat the military personnel. Why helping this specific country? Is it because since February 2016 Bangladesh is considering dropping Islam as state religion to become secular? Is it because Bangladesh Army fights the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in joint military operations with Myanmar at Burmese border?<br />
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Now Amma is protected round the clock by <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2017/05/amma-has-commando-security-team.html" target="_blank">40 trained commandos</a> supposedly because communist terrorists are looking forward to kill her. What's next ? Why is the hugging saint so keen on men with guns?<br />
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Violence is currently preying upon the world. Individuals gone wild and shameless leaders go on unleashing their irrational wrath upon innocent people. Dear Amma, is it wise to promote violence as a reasonable solution to conflicts between humans? Men have been making war for thousands of years. Aren't you supposed to show us another way as a woman? Are you sincere when you talk about wold peace, divine love and universal harmony?Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-76916867523487275062017-10-05T20:31:00.002-07:002017-10-05T20:32:51.752-07:00Professor Tamsin Bradley's point of viewMata Amritanandamayi is proud to display her "Scientific Hall of Fame". Indeed many Indian and foreign researchers are lauding her international efforts in improving the world. But some of them have a different point of view and she won't ever mention them.<br />
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<a href="https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/tamsin-bradley(be4f6a8f-5567-4362-abba-630b64ebda3e).html" target="_blank">Professor Tamsin Bradley</a> from the University of Portsmouth England is one of the non-compliant scientists. She is an applied anthropologist who focuses on the relations between religion and gender in developing countries. Therefore it is not a big surprise that she has to deal with violence related to dowry, rape and genital mutilation. She has published various contributions, some of which talk about Mata Amritanandamayi.<br />
<br />
For instance her publication called <a href="https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/the-politicisation-of-mothering-in-hindu-missions(d08ccc1d-3288-4c2f-be3e-1f6782ba9c0b).html" target="_blank">The politicisation of mothering in Hindu missions</a> has an extremely meaningful title. On the one hand we have often focused on the events showing that Amma is closer to right-wing politicians than she pretends. On the other hand she claims to be the ultimate global mother, performing impressive hugathon for dozens of hours. As a result, a topic that mingles politics with mothering must mention Amma's mission. That is exactly what the introduction of Professor Tamsin Bradley's article is about :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"This article compares and contrasts the religious discourses of three large trans-national Hindu organisations: the Ramakrishna Mission, the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, and <b>Guru Mata Amritanandamayi Mission</b> ... despite the centrality of a spiritual message each organisation pursues a less obvious political and gender shaped vision of the world ... religious concepts such as <b>love and compassion</b> are projected through and conflated with notions of <b>women as mothers</b>. The gendered ideologies pursued by each organisation are politicised in that they entail rigorous pursuit of a specific vision of how India and the world should be ..."</blockquote>
What she says reminds us of a few posts we have previously written. The assignment of strict stereotyped roles to each gender is outlined in <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/01/etw-iii-boyhood.html" target="_blank">Boyhood</a> and <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/01/etw-ii-motherhood.html" target="_blank">Motherhood</a>. An overview of her connection to nationalist parties is given in posts like <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2015/04/showing-off-with-rss.html" target="_blank">Showing off with RSS</a>, <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/08/why-is-she-awarded-by-rss.html" target="_blank">Awarded by RSS</a>, <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/03/sangh-parivar-support-denied.html" target="_blank">Sangh Parivar support</a> or <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/02/bharatiya-vichara-kendra-support.html" target="_blank">Bharatiya Vichara Kendra support</a>.<br />
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We are pleased that at least someone else has a similar point of view. Indeed from the outside Amma promotes peace, love and compassion. But what about a "mother" who <b>strains her body</b> to serve and cuddle her countless children without ever complaining? Are all women really supposed to follow her lead? They are fed up because they have already been doing this for centuries. Why do women have to always sacrifice themselves? Isn't it unfair to suffer again and again to have the right to be worthy of consideration? Isn't it possible to think about a kinder way of life? Why does Mata Amritanandamayi pretends to change the world when she merely stages what we have been witnessing worldwide for ages? It seems like we are not the only ones to think that despite the deceiving appearances, Amma strongly enforces patriarchy.<br />
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<br />
In a book called <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=PY0AAwAAQBAJ&rdid=book-PY0AAwAAQBAJ&rdot=1&source=gbs_vpt_read&pcampaignid=books_booksearch_viewport" target="_blank">Religion and Gender in the Developing World</a> Professor Tamsin Bradley speaks more in detail about these issues and many others, like the schools for instance. The following quote is very interesting, it comes from page 81 :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"... the school day begins with prayers directed towards central guru ... the organization's educational dimension seemed to be of the <b>highest priority</b>. The huge investment in school buildings contrasted starkly with the somewhat paltry amount of welfare the organization supports - feeding the poor once a day in a nearby slum and supporting travelling clinic once a month. This rather undermines Guru Mata Amritanandamayi's underlying teaching, which lay particular stress importance of serving those who are less fortunate than oneself ... The scale of the school development is perhaps because it is through educating the next generation of Guru Mata Amritanandamayi devotees that the organization's future can be assured"</blockquote>
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We totally agree with Professor Tamsin Bradley point of view. Why does ETW run a lot of huge educational institutions, ranging from primary school to universities? Nearly <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2015/01/fcra-2013-2014-069.html" target="_blank">half of the donations</a> are used to build or maintain the many schools. According to some estimations, the organization is likely to thus <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/01/follow-money-part-2.html" target="_blank">generate annual revenues of $80,000,000</a> but is it just a matter of money? We think that there is something more. The students are required to worship Mata Amritanandamayi daily, it is not an option. Some of them hate that spiritual pressure but others are hooked by the devotional atmosphere. The latter are likely to <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/07/brainwahsing-for-dummies.html" target="_blank">become devotees</a> at the end of their curriculum. If it is true then it is very convenient for ETW because high education means high level position in private companies and public administrations, thus extending the lobbying opportunities.<br />
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Once again we ask the same question. Is Amma's influence in society spreading because of her supposed spiritual gifts? Or can we assume that the devotional emotions are a mean to get free funding and free labor in order to unfairly pull well known economical levers?Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-18545766883146469782017-05-17T14:54:00.000-07:002017-10-27T21:59:41.262-07:00Amma has commando security teamCan you imagine Amma giving darshan with heavily armed soldiers standing right behind her chair?<br />
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The Indian governement has decided to grant 'Z' category security cover to Mata Amritanandamayi. Is it because of her political commitment with the right-wing party? Who knows? Anyway she seems to be threatened and it doesn't appear to be for religious reasons.<br />
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How will she succeed in keeping the compassionate atmosphere during her program with a warlike background? How do the devotees experience the hug with so many <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/40-trained-cprf-commandoes-to-guard-to-kerala-based-spiritual-leader-mata-amritanandamayi/story-poFFzFMGAPqwVdi3zGLFMJ.html" target="_blank">tooled up commandos</a> running about her ashram with nervous trigger fingers?<br />
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"two dozen security personnel will be guarding her round the clock"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Amritanandamayi, 64, and her ashram in Kerala will be guarded by 40 CRPF personnel, a para-military force fighting Naxalites in central India and militancy in Kashmir"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"the commandos will provide proximate security to the spiritual leader, who will also have two escort vehicles in her convoy when she travels"</blockquote>
We wish we could find such pictures online to figure out what is going on. We guess that she won't allow the whole world to witness such disavowal. Indeed, in January 2015 <a href="https://www.amritapuri.org/19606/15non-hindus.aum" target="_blank">Amma said</a> :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"God doesn’t need any protection from human beings"</blockquote>
As far as we know commandos are human. We guess that she will use the same old argument : she is not afraid,
she doesn't do that for herself, she accepted the security cover only
"at the request of her devotees".<br />
<br />
But what about the spectacular demonstrations that are told in her biography? Whenever someone tried to hurt her she would foresee the assaulter's intention then expose him, disable him or melt his heart him just by looking in his eyes with a smile. Why not performing these feats again nowadays? <br />
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She repeats over and over that a true spiritual seeker must rely on God. We
must confide in the Divine for every big and little thing. Can't she do the same so that we can firmly follow the Guru's footsteps?<br />
<br />
Now we wonder. Some people believe that she watches over her devotees even when they are miles away from her. How
can she protect her devotees if she is not able to protect herself?Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-968894280815028692017-03-07T16:47:00.000-08:002017-03-07T16:47:11.245-08:00Festival of crueltyAmma displays impressive compassion daily. We would like to know what unfolds behind the curtain. Sometimes we stumble across clues that can offer a glimpse into the dark side, stories of <b>treason</b><br />
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A rumor came to our careful ears last summer. Is it true that <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/UNA-seeks-probe-into-rape-of-nurse/articleshow/52707343.cms" target="_blank">a nurse was <b>raped</b> at AIMS</a> by a Swami in June 2016? Is it true that the hospital held the victim against her will to silence her and control the media damages? It is so hard to discriminate between malicious rumors and true facts. Anyway the United Nurses Association (UNA) has refered the case to the competent authority for investigation. Their petition has been ignored. No probe, no inquiry, nothing.<br />
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It is a little bit scary to realize that whatever happens in her institution, no probe ever takes place. Whether financial, social or political, any wrongdoing suspicion is simply swept aside, swiftly replaced by blind faith in her all-pervasive compassion. The Amrita Corporation seems to be blessed with neverending innocence.<br />
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<br />
Anyway, if you are a
devotee or an ex-devotee then you are surely used to these kind of moving scenes. She loves humans, she loves animals, she loves plants... She loves everything. She is lovingly feeding her elephants to celebrate Onam festival.<br />
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So why selling her old "beloved" friend?</div>
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The very one she used to feed with her own hand!</div>
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Indeed since February 2017 the Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KeralaSufferingElephants/posts/1410637405644869" target="_blank">Kerala Suffering Elephants</a> is calling for action against the Mata Amritanandamayi Math :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The elephant Raman under the custody of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math has been transferred illegally to the Uttoly Group in Thrissur. A spiritual leader who preaches compassion for all living beings has in the first place had two elephants in captivity and now has sold it to a group where he will undergo further abuse. The mahout in the picture is the inventor of the infamous capture belt – a <b><span style="color: red;">spiked belt</span></b> used to control elephants"</blockquote>
The petition <a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/fr/takeaction/947/406/266/" target="_blank">Send Raman, illegally transferred (with cruel capture belt, trained for festivals by bullhook) back to the Math!</a> has already collected almost 2000 signatures. Just like numberless calls did before, this text also asks for the traditional inquiry against Amma. We bet that it will follow all the previous requests and be silently flushed down the divine drain.<br />
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Strange to learn that "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sangita-iyer/kerala-elephant-abuse_b_8892158.html" target="_blank">Kerala has been blacklisted as one of the two most notorious states in India for elephant abuse</a>". The unfortunate animals are trained using cruel means, in order to entertain the crowds during religious festival (like Onam?). Forced into parades and arduous strength demonstration, starved or deprived of water to repress their musth tendencies, they sometimes run amok, hurting themselves and killing people.<br />
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Love and respect for all living beings? As regards elephants, Amma is no exception on Earth. She acts like any careless Keralan temple manager. Let's hope that Raman won't have to shed too many tears before being allowed to enjoy a peaceful life.Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-79932964363154115512016-08-02T15:25:00.001-07:002020-08-27T18:03:55.060-07:00Angry parents? Arrested parents!Amrita Vidyalayam schools has been racked by turmoil in June. Unsurprisingly, the reason is money. As one could expect, police came to the rescue. What happened?<br />
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The 12th of June 2016 <a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Parents-stage-protest-against-school-fee-hike/2016/06/12/article3478444.ece" target="_blank">parents staged protest against</a> fees hike in Hyderabad. The private schools collect exorbitant amounts, many children are forced to give up on education, the state government is reluctant to regulate. Maybe not reluctant but rather powerless according to Srikant whose children are studying in Amrita Vidyalaya :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"When we complained to senior officials they shamelessly said that the school managements are powerful and they cannot take any action against them"</blockquote>
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Mata Amritanandamayi's institutions have a very simple way to <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Parents-protest-against-fee-hike-at-Tarnaka-school/articleshow/52789065.cms" target="_blank">get rid of those who can't afford fees hikes</a>. They issue transfer certificate, 27 students were kicked out of school by such notice. Such behavior is not very compassionate to say the least. Aravinda Jata, chairperson of the Joint Action Committee for School Fee Regulation (JAC-SFR) is not optimistic about the issue :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The school is not ready to take back the students until and unless the parents apologize. The school management is very adamant about it and is acting like a commercial institution"</blockquote>
<br />
The protest has been going for a whole year by now. It is easy to understand why the parents are so angry :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Earlier the annual fee was in the range of Rs 10,000 for primary sections. Now<b> </b>it has been doubled. For higher classes it is in the range of `40,000 per annum. We raised our voice against the fee hike and stated in no uncertain terms that we will not pay the enhanced fee"</blockquote>
The <b>fees have doubled</b>! What would any of us do in a situation like this? You child starts studying in a school. Then comes the management telling you that next year you will need to double you education bugdet whether you like it or not, whether you can or can't. Let's listen to the explanation given by a management representative :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The fee we charge is the lowest among most CBSE schools in the city. Their actions are not justified because they did not pay the entire fee amount in the last year"</blockquote>
This answer is extremely <b>shameful</b> because Mata Amritanandamayi collects donations in Western countries to fund her schools. Many volunteers work for free in her institutions. Charging lower fees is what we expect from her in return. Most Western devotees even believe that her schools are <b>free charitable institutions</b> built only to express her compassion in action.<br />
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Taking a closer look we can see that the protest over fees hikes has been going on for many years. In 2013 angry parents <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/complaint-against-amrita-vidyalaya/article4780925.ece" target="_blank">complained against Amrita Vidyalayam</a>. Anyway parents protesting this year have been arrested by the police by the end of June.<br />
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More people have been arrested in July. Does "divine justice" make any sense when a "divine incarnation" resorts to human law enforcers to solve her issues?</div>
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Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-79722475494778456342016-05-31T17:52:00.001-07:002017-03-07T14:44:55.018-08:00Blessing for saleWhen Mata Amritanandamayi tours around the world, various traditional ceremonies are performed during each program. Any faithful devotee is eager to partake to such tribute. How to be part of the chosen ones?<br />
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Washing Amma's feet, putting a flower Mala around her neck, waving the burning camphor before her... These are precious opportunities to get closer to the Goddess, at least physically. The rules to be granted such honors necessarily vary according to the country. Anyway, touching a divine being must be the greatest blessing one can expect to lift one's spirit.<br />
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In 2016 Singapore had a very original idea : why not granting the ble$$ing to those who can afford it?<br />
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If you visit the internet page for the <a href="http://www.amma.org.sg/amma-visit-2016/" target="_blank">2016 Singapore Tour</a> today then you won't see anything unusual. The "Event Sponsor" section gives the internet user the possibility to donate thousands of dollars, there is nothing special about that. But before the tour, an additional link was available to explain all the benefits to be showered upon the generous donors. All "read more" links have now been removed.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vEnWyscmV6BluX6pb0PKmzPwrVcB5knUCcYiuBWgH45udph14mlmir0rAG4rkh7Dd-PmBZSUVfAZ3xnOIRaNp6dTOl3XnFl_xqIO5AnAji7z-d8ycomtjYcIZSsXSkxseHsAmJRpatyN/s1600/readmore_singapore2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vEnWyscmV6BluX6pb0PKmzPwrVcB5knUCcYiuBWgH45udph14mlmir0rAG4rkh7Dd-PmBZSUVfAZ3xnOIRaNp6dTOl3XnFl_xqIO5AnAji7z-d8ycomtjYcIZSsXSkxseHsAmJRpatyN/s320/readmore_singapore2016.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to enlarge</td></tr>
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Fortunately we have saved the <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9WZKacY06_DcmNaV0NwNl8za0E" target="_blank">original page as a pdf</a> so that anyone can see the rewards bestowed upon the happy wealthy few. Let's have for instance an overview of Category A donors, those who can afford to donate $15,000 :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...receive and garland Amma when She is on stage...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
...invited to participate in one of the ceremonies on stage...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
...invited to distribute some of the bursaries to selected students... </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
...complimentary 1-page colour advertisement...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
...a booth would be provided for the Programme Sponsor’s volunteers to publicise their activities/events...</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
...advertisements on TV monitors set up at the Programme venue (i.e. the Food serving area) acknowledging the Programme Sponsor for the entire duration of the Programme..."</blockquote>
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It seems to us that "Blessing for sale" is not a widespread rule, at least not in Western countries. Anyway Amma monitors very closely how her programs are organized. As a result, she must have agreed with that way of doing things. In India we can often see VIPs with her on stage during her programs. Do they also have to "donate" thousands of dollars to be selected?<br />
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We keep on wondering about the spiritual teachings that she preaches : death of the ego, caring less about the material aspect of life, seeking the inner Guru, looking for God inside, stop worrying about worldly issues, giving up on selfishness, <b>giving without expecting anything in return </b>... Isn't she pushing her wealthiest devotees away from the path that she promotes?Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-43213701470701637452016-04-12T15:30:00.000-07:002016-04-12T15:30:15.968-07:00Murder is forgivableSome people are currently hitting the newspapers headline because they spread violence in the world in the name of God. Maybe it's high time that we realized that all religions can potentially lead to the same kind of extremes.<br />
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How does this subject connect to Amritanandamayi? She hugs huge crowds supposedly to pour divine love upon the masses. How can such a soft act bring about anything harmful? The answer lies precisely in our heart.<br />
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When we are driven by strong emotions we become able to move mountains and cross oceans. If we drift too far away from reality then we can incidentally fall into delusion and believe that killing human beings is worthwhile.<br />
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American actor <a href="http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150109/entertainment-hollywood/article/russell-brand-meets-mata-amritanandamayi" target="_blank">Russell Brand illustrates that point</a> in an interview given in 2015 to Deccan Chronicle.<br />
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First comes emotion :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"a distilled <b>maternal warmth</b> that hummed with <b>infantile comfort</b>"</blockquote>
Then comes the abusive reasoning :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Such is the positive impact of Amma’s work that if I found out she’d </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">murdered someone</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, I’d think it’s </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">forgivable</span>"</blockquote>
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He asserts the same thing <a href="http://www.russellbrand.com/amma/" target="_blank">on his blog</a> phrased differently. He is not the only one. Many devotees think this way and it is obvious that they really mean it.<br />
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Mata Amritanandamayi's account books are scandalous. She charges huge fees in her educational and health institutions. Her former assistant has delivered a disturbing testimonial. She is very close to right wing politicians. At most 10% of the foreign donation are spent in charitable projects. Suspicious deaths occured in her ahsram... Her devotees don't seem to care about any of this. Just like Russell Brand does, they emphasize the "good" things she has done to condone the bad things.<br />
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Will they care if she ever murders someone openly? Mata Amritanandamayi is often compared to Sai Baba. Most of his devotees remained faithfull when he was accused of rape and murder. We can infer that her followers are likely to do the same, especially when they say it loud and clear.Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-69287505412704418682016-01-17T16:12:00.003-08:002020-12-16T17:21:49.983-08:00Better than AIMSMata Amritanandamayi has built the Amrita Institute of Medical Science (AIMS) out of compassion for poor people who couldn't afford for super-specialty health care. Good news, she is planning to build <a href="http://metrovaartha.com/en/2015/06/13/amritanandamayi-math-to-set-up-super-specialty-hospital-in-haryana/" target="_blank">one more hospital</a>.<br />
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This brand new establishment will be located in Haryana, fitted with <b>2000 beds</b>, an intensive care unit, a research center, a medical college and a nursing school. In fact it is exactly like AIMS with a few differences.<br />
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First of all it seems like this new hospital be bigger than the AIMS and its 1450 beds. We wonder if the figures accurate when we see that AIMS spreads over 125 acres, while the Haryana hospital will be allocated an area of 76.345 acres.<br />
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Secondly, the <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/10/is-there-puppeteer.html" target="_blank">USA are deeply involved in AIMS</a>, it's confusing because they seem to be its true founders. Besides <a href="http://www.aimshospital.org/explore-more/directors-message" target="_blank">Ron Gottsegen</a> has been working there as the administrative director since the very beginning. Things seem to be otherwise with this new hospital of Haryana. It seem to be a 100% Indian project with no American devotee involved.<br />
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Thirdly, the word "poor" is lacking in the newspaper article. What is the purpose the project?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"the proposed super specialty hospital and medical college in private sector will strengthen the existing para medical facilities and will serve not only urban population of Faridabad-Ballabhgarh Urban Complex rather it will serve the rural population of hinter land of Faridabad and Palwal districts and adjoining area of Haryana as well as Utter Pradesh.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Setting up of such reputed Institute will further accelerate the planned urban development of Faridabad. Besides, this project will generate substantial employment opportunities in this area on one hand and on the other promote biochemical and medical instruments industries"</blockquote>
No more poor people. No more helping. No more saving the world. It is only about economic and scientific development. It is about biochemical industries among other goals.<br />
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At the end of the article, the journalist finds it important to remind us that the Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) is both "an international charitable organization aimed at spiritual and material upliftment of humankind" and "a Center of Excellence for research in areas such as nano-technology, bio-technology, haptics, security systems, wireless sensors". Indeed the "material upliftment of humankind" through technology becomes more and more obvious for the general public.<br />
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AIMS is sometimes nicknamed "the crown jewel of Amma's institution". This new hospital is designed to be bigger than AIMS, so we guess that Amma is craving for bigger jewels. We can also wonder if the Indians are fed up to depend on the Americans and eager to set up business on their own without having to maintain a hypocritical humanitarian cover to please Western devotees.<br />
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One information is missing. How much will it cost? Needless to repeat that the donations are meant (in theory) for humanitarian projects, for given the great success of her last world tour, we assume that devotees enjoy to be fooled.Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-78700898229986098362015-12-03T16:10:00.000-08:002015-12-04T16:21:59.252-08:00Tuition Fees in USDWe do our best to deliver accurate information on this blog but it's not easy when it's about money. Most amounts are in rupees. We divide the number by 60 to give approximate sum in dollars. But this time we have found a very interesting document.<br />
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It gives Amrita Schools tuition fees for Non Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin. So if you were born abroad within an Indian family, this is what you will have to pay to be allowed to study in an Amrita institution. No need make any currency conversion because all fees are in US Dollar.<br />
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Feel free to browse : <a href="http://spotidoc.com/doc/344325/fee-structure">http://spotidoc.com/doc/344325/fee-structure</a><br />
Feel free to download : <a href="https://www.amrita.edu/sites/default/files/tuition-fee-nri.pdf">https://www.amrita.edu/sites/default/files/tuition-fee-nri.pdf</a><br />
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We cannot help giving a screenshot of the most impressive row :<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggx6SM8Gg9V9Rh2mWpN4irC6ZoczCtX_hYYL9UjiHpNxk3LdbEAIukNRhV3DPJUn8-oasmeaO8WQa1gvtQiUwTgwYEqazZFKmrePgwq0sQeRCONjDlRxlaHSjQHE2yWx_ajbdzMC8jZWS0/s1600/amrita_nri_fee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggx6SM8Gg9V9Rh2mWpN4irC6ZoczCtX_hYYL9UjiHpNxk3LdbEAIukNRhV3DPJUn8-oasmeaO8WQa1gvtQiUwTgwYEqazZFKmrePgwq0sQeRCONjDlRxlaHSjQHE2yWx_ajbdzMC8jZWS0/s400/amrita_nri_fee.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">MBBS courses <b>$144,000</b> !</span></div>
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If you wonder what the little star refers to then you can read the caption at the end of the document :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"*MBBS : Total fee of USD 144000 <b>to be paid in three instalments</b>. First (at the time of admission) - USD 74000, Second (at the begining of second year) - USD 35000, third (at the begining of third year) - USD 35000"</blockquote>
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Are there still some devotees left on earth who wish to pretend that Amma uses our donations to educate poor people in India ?Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-49376472574880604372015-11-19T16:15:00.001-08:002015-11-19T16:15:43.721-08:00A matter of blind beliefsWe have found a <a href="http://www.godubai.com/gulftoday/articlearc.asp?AID=26786&Section=Asia" target="_blank">suprising interview from Mata Amritanandamayi</a>. At the end of an article praising her effort following the 2004 tsunami, she says things that don't really match with the glorious aura of a divine incarnation.<br />
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To begin with, this statement should destroy for good a blind belief that is deeply rooted in her Western devotees heart :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The Math is also prepared to provide <b>free education</b> to those children who have lost <b>both parents</b> in the calamity"</blockquote>
So, Amma herself acknowledges that her educational institutions are not free at all. Students must pay to study in the schools that she has built with our donations. She can sometimes be prepared to welcome a few of them for free. But "prepared" doesn't mean "determined". Did the Mata Amritanandamayi Math really offered free education to these children? We don't know. One thing is sure : she doesn't intend to help the children who have lost only one parent in the calamity. The least we can say is that her generosity is not as unconditional as her love.<br />
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The next statement scatters another myth fuelled by her devotees :<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Asked why <b>she could not predict</b> the calamity, she said she was only an ordinary human being"</blockquote>
A lot of devotees think that she can foresee the future. Saying that she can see the future would require her to explain why she remains always silent, letting deliberately thousands of people die worldwide. She has chosen to say the truth. She is not able to predict anything. Will the devotees hold on to their fantasies in spite of their guru's own statement? She was in Paris in October 2015 and 130 people were killed during a terrorist attack a month later in that same city. Will the devotees grip on to their deluded belief in spite of the facts?<br />
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She is just human but maybe she is gifted with outstanding qualities. Wisdom for instance often fits spiritual guides. What kind of wise words can she offer to comfort the world after an awful calamity such as a tsunami?<br />
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"She said she <b>believed</b> the natural calamities were triggered by overexploitation of nature because of <b>population explosion</b>"</blockquote>
"Population explosion"? Aren't greed and negligence usually held responsible for the damages caused to the environment? The most polluting lands are not necessarily the most populated ones.<br />
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In fact Amma says that she "believed", so she is only sharing her personal theory. Yet. Althought she is not sure about the causes, she has a radical cure to prevent any disaster to ever occur again :<br />
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"Nature's fury can be expected anytime. <b>Birth control is the only solution</b>"</blockquote>
Preventing the people from making too many babies is the "only" way to solve all environmental problems? Why infantilizing people with such an authoritarian solution? Why not emphasizing awareness and the sense of responsibility? Why not prompting us to grow a little bit and learn to make the right choices daily? What about alternative sources of energy, sustainable developement, wastes recycling, avoiding overconsumption?<br />
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Does she know what she is talking about or she is blindly delivering baseless belief? This last quote is likely to help us make our mind :</div>
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"I personally went to the coastline and led the relief activities though woman venturing into the sea is believed to be <b>bad omen</b>"</blockquote>
Is this enlightened empowering wisdom or crude disempowering superstition? Should we ask all women sailing the seven seas to immediately head home because they could bring bad luck to the world?<br />
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Amma's UNO speeches are carefully crafted but when she speaks for herself that's a different story. It seems like both devotees and guru are led by blind beliefs.<br />
Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-70779476000670132852015-10-06T15:55:00.003-07:002015-10-12T13:24:29.508-07:00Circling down the drain?Mata Amritanandamayi is always looking forward to help in any way. In a great action of compassion she has decided to give several millions of dollars to the Indian governement. What for?<br />
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On September 11 2015 Mata Amritanandamayi personally blessed and gave a huge cheque to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The amount of Rs 100 crore is <a href="http://www.newsmobile.in/articles/2015/09/12/mata-amritanandamayi-donates-rs-100-crore-to-swachh-bharat/" target="_blank">worth $15 million</a>. Let's be clear from the start, this is not political corruption :<br />
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"spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi said she was not warming up to the BJP or any other political party and her only wish is to establish dharma"</blockquote>
How does she intend to restore Dharma on Earth? <br />
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"The money was donated for the construction of toilets under the Namami Gange and <b>Swachh Bharat</b> programmes."</blockquote>
Has she also made the same kind of donation to the Indian government when Mahmohan Singh from the Congress Party (the enemy of BJP) launched a <a href="http://qz.com/324877/is-narendra-modi-losing-the-battle-of-toilets-to-manmohan-singh/" target="_blank">similar sanitation project</a>? We cannot find any information along these lines.<br />
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Anyway, a few days later she made <a href="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-09-27/news/66929582_1_100-crore-clean-ganga-math-premises" target="_blank">exactly the same gift to the state of Kerala</a> in order to celebrate her 62nd birthday :<br />
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"Mata Amritanandamayi Math today offered an identical amount for construction of toilets and sanitation works in Kerala"</blockquote>
Giving $30 million in a single month, that's a lot! It almost reaches the $46 million that she has pledged in 2 years for the 2004 tsunami relief effort. Following any natural disaster she usually gives approximately $1 million. What is so essential about building toilets?<br />
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In facts, this toilets project called "Swachh Bharat" reminds of another story. In October 2014, the spokesperson of MAM disclosed what Amma had in store for the <a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2014/11/28/Amritanandamayi-Math-Setting-up-Toilets-for-Poor-in-Odisha/article2544253.ece" target="_blank">villagers in Odisha</a> :<br />
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"Our aim is to enable them construct, install and maintain toilets in their own communities"</blockquote>
In order to do that, women from Bhoi Sahi village are taught masonry, plumbing and electrical wiring. They must be able to build toilets in their own home. This charitable project spreads at a large scale :<br />
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"We have already placed an order with the new plumbers to build <b>3,000 toilets</b> in the district. We will pay them <b>Rs 10,000</b> per toilet for their efforts"</blockquote>
Rs 10,000 to poor women for each new toilet. That is really compassionate. The devotees should send their donation to support such a helpful initiative.<br />
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But let's remember that teaching plumbing and masonry to poor women is part of another charitable project, mentored by Ammachi Labs, <a href="https://www.amrita.edu/news/united-nations-democracy-fund-visits-ammachi-labs" target="_blank">funded by the United Nations</a> (UN). <b>3,000 women</b> are supposed to be thus trained.<br />
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Let's also remember this : <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-government-to-hike-grants-for-construction-of-toilets-nitin-gadkari-2013845" target="_blank">Government to hike grants for construction of toilets</a>. Indeed, ending open defecation in India is not Amma's idea, it is a plan set up by the government. A plan requires means, especially financial ones. Paying people to build their own toilets was part of the plan :<br />
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"Rural households without sanitation facilities will get <b>Rs 15,000</b> each for constructing toilets"</blockquote>
It is time to link the data each to the others. <br />
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1) The governement grants Rs 15,000 to people who build toilets if their area lacks sanitation facilities. It would be impossible to handle the people individually, therefore the overall project management is assigned to NGOs. The Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) is one of them, so it gets Rs 15,000 each time that a construction is completed, in order to compensate the benevolent workers.<br />
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2) MAM doesn't resort to people who have skills in plumbing and masonry. It has decided to teach these techniques to 3,000 women. MAM plans to build 3,000 toilets. Is it a coincidence? Each woman gets Rs 10,000 (instead of Rs 15,000?) as wages. How much does MAM gets from the UN to train them?<br />
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3) MAM has just given $30 million to build more toilets along river Ganges and accross Kerala. If this new phase of the government plan unfolds like the previous ones then the money will be distributed to various NGOs, including MAM!<br />
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Are we mistaking or is money circling down a profitable drain?Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352483752593749940.post-2582785901999219692015-08-26T16:31:00.000-07:002015-11-10T04:54:31.948-08:00Unoticed ashram answer to Holy HellAfter the release of Gail Tredwell's book, many media commented the various reactions. The article from India Today entitled <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mata-amritanandamayi-holy-hell-a-memoir-of-faith-devotion-and-pure-madness-gail-tredwell/1/346141.html" target="_blank">Embraced By Scandal</a> is slightly different from the others.<br />
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At the end of this article, journalist M.G.Radhakrishnan has quoted a few excerpts from the book, but the most interesting parts are in the middle.<br />
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To begin with, this article acnowledge what Amritapuri has always denied. There is indeed a kind of e-taskforce, working hard to constantly whitewash Amma's online reputation :<br />
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"Amritanandamayi's followers are <b>busy fighting a digital war</b> after the e-version of Tredwell's book"</blockquote>
We already knew that Kerala police was busy, chasing the people who would critisizing her on social media. Now we learn that they have also targetted another kind of individuals :<br />
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"...after the e-version of Tredwell's book went viral on social media, Kerala Police is <b>chasing netizens who had uploaded and shared it</b>"</blockquote>
Should we assume that reading a book is a crime in Kerala?<br />
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Nevermind. In this article we also have something rare. Balu answers personally to the rape accusations brought against him :<br />
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"<b>A livid Amritaswaroopananda</b>, the second-in-command at MAM and Amma's closest disciple, told INDIA TODAY, 'Her charges and language are too vulgar and barbaric for me to respond. <b>Wearing this holy robe</b>, I don't want to stoop to that level.'"</blockquote>
Now that is a strange answer. Has he ever been told that the cloth does not make the monk? Should we assume that any human being wearing a specific outfit is necessarily honest? In a nutshell he answers that he refuses to answer.<br />
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MAM's Public Relations Officer Brahmachari Raju also gives strange explanations about Gail Tredwell :<br />
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"All the charges are a creations of her unstable mind. She is manic depressive <b>and is a cancer patient</b>"</blockquote>
Should we assume that having a cancer means the one is a liar? By the way Gail Tredwell is not a cancer patient. According to her book, some doctors let her have medication, thinking that she had a cancer, which has proven to be a wrong diagnosis.<br />
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The end of the article is a bit ironic. Indeed, Amma herself claims :<br />
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"If we had the millions that they allege, I would have already wiped out poverty, both in India and the world"</blockquote>
But the journalist corrects her statement as follows :<br />
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"<b>The Math is not exactly poor</b>. Besides considerable real estate in several cities and towns across India ... Amid all the din, it is still business as usual at the Math..."</blockquote>
Aside from the non-answers given by her disciple, we are tempted to assume that Amma is not so realistic. She is said to have <a href="http://embezzlingtheworld.blogspot.com/2014/02/poor-answer-from-swiss-amma-center.html" target="_blank">"saved" $300 million in a foreign bank</a> for the rainy days. Does she really think that this amount is enought to wipe out poverty in the whole world? According to the statistics there are almost 2 billion people living in poverty. Does she sincerely believe that granting $0.15 to each of them will significantly improve their life?Mata Amritasatyamayihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611941457794876573noreply@blogger.com