Western Renunciate - Originally posted on ex-amma - 18 January 2010
"I feel so relieved to finally be free from this 7 year long damaging dependency with Mata Amritanandamayi and her organization. Although the depths of my devotion were seemingly bottomless, and I would have done anything to gain her favor, somehow I have managed to extract myself from this bona fide cult masquerading as a charitable organization. I am relieved to know that others too are waking up from the intricate web of subterfuge. I struggled for the last two years trying to imagine life without the guru, and I know how hard it is to undo the neural connections linking Amma to every aspect of thought. I understand why for some it will be extremely difficult or downright impossible to break the bonds of this mind controlling sect. The truth about the Hugging Saint and the ancient manipulative techniques she employs, along with the scandals her devotees have orchestrated will sober up the more astute among us. But the hordes of unsuspecting, innocent, guileless infants having divorced their real parents and lives, in order to clutch full-time to their Amma dolls, with mantras for pacifiers, while jockeying for Amma's mere glance, I feel really sorry for. Nothing can help them because the elaborate programming won't allow any thoughts contrary to that of Amma being god."
Indian Renunciate - Originally posted on ex-amma - 20 January 2010
"...Just to give a glimpse of the other face of her, during my last few months. I had a health issue and had to go to AIMS and we were supposed to seek her permission. She was emphatic, in replying that "I don't
know anything about u" and in a total indifferent tone. To hear it from a person, whom you TRUST as mother, guru and god at a very stressful time in your life is not easy. As you don't have anyone else to hold on to.
There is so much to go on. May be some other time, as reliving those experience by narrating it is also painful at times. It just makes me feel betrayed and it hurts beyond words and I want to move on. All of her immediate family members have become very rich with no clear and justifiable source of income to substantiate. No one dares to speak anything against her family members inside the ashram.
I know lot of the insiders are contemplating about coming out now, but don't have the confidence - thinking about, being able to get a job, acceptance of the society etc. Needless to say, transition is
know anything about u" and in a total indifferent tone. To hear it from a person, whom you TRUST as mother, guru and god at a very stressful time in your life is not easy. As you don't have anyone else to hold on to.
There is so much to go on. May be some other time, as reliving those experience by narrating it is also painful at times. It just makes me feel betrayed and it hurts beyond words and I want to move on. All of her immediate family members have become very rich with no clear and justifiable source of income to substantiate. No one dares to speak anything against her family members inside the ashram.
I know lot of the insiders are contemplating about coming out now, but don't have the confidence - thinking about, being able to get a job, acceptance of the society etc. Needless to say, transition is
painful....."
Amma's former joint secretary - Originally posted on ex-amma - 25 August 2008
"...“My life of Twenty-Two Years as a Monastic was of never ending struggles in trying to bring the various Spiritual Ideas as Reality in my Life. While attempting to narrow down the gaps between the Ideas and Reality, I finally chose to observe my Life in Reality and had to give up the Ideas that remained unrealistic in my Life.
“Chastity was the main Idea that had failed to become Reality in my Life primarily due to the highly stimulating environment that I was put in.
“Not only in the individual level, but also in the Organization level, I have seen wide gaps when the ideas are put into practice. To narrate a few instances:
“Chastity was the main Idea that had failed to become Reality in my Life primarily due to the highly stimulating environment that I was put in.
“Not only in the individual level, but also in the Organization level, I have seen wide gaps when the ideas are put into practice. To narrate a few instances:
“1. Just before the Inauguration of the Hospital at Cochin, we had suggested Amma to declare that Hospital as a Charitable One. But Amma had firmly told us that Amma would declare it as a FREE Hospital as that being Amma’s real intention while establishing the same. Under the Indo-US Agreement, to get the complete waiver of Customs Duty for all the Medical Items to be Imported, the Ashram also has given an Irrevocable Undertaking to the Government of India that the Hospital would provide Medical Treatments at Free of Cost. But in Reality, as everyone here knows, the Ashram Hospital at Cochin is not a Free Hospital....."
Gail Tredwell - Originally posted on examma - 10 January 2013
"...Reasons why I left the Ashram
1. Loss of faith
2. Not happy for years
3. No harmony amongst seniors
4. No manners from the seniors
5. Too much politics between the seniors
6. No love between the seniors
7. I felt extremely unloved
8. And unsupported
9. And untrusted
10. Absolutely worn out on every level
11. Too much stress
12. Routine too gruelling
13. Never any concern given for physical well being nor emotions which are alsoa very important part of spirituality
14. Partiality shown between the men and women, east and west, rich and poor
15. Swamis arrogance, back stabbing, cruelty, hatred, power struggles.
16. Amma's obvious favouritism towards them
17. Giving too much money and gold to her family members and at the same timedenied Suneeti private hospitalisation.
1. Loss of faith
2. Not happy for years
3. No harmony amongst seniors
4. No manners from the seniors
5. Too much politics between the seniors
6. No love between the seniors
7. I felt extremely unloved
8. And unsupported
9. And untrusted
10. Absolutely worn out on every level
11. Too much stress
12. Routine too gruelling
13. Never any concern given for physical well being nor emotions which are alsoa very important part of spirituality
14. Partiality shown between the men and women, east and west, rich and poor
15. Swamis arrogance, back stabbing, cruelty, hatred, power struggles.
16. Amma's obvious favouritism towards them
17. Giving too much money and gold to her family members and at the same timedenied Suneeti private hospitalisation.
18. Too many secret things going on..."
Anonymous ashramite - Originally posted on Ammachi Real Free speech - 7 August 2013
"... I observed one ashramite in the process of, as she told me, forging financial records for the ashram's Ayurveda centre creating the names, dates, and payments of fictional people who received fictional Ayurveda treatments
...
I was told by a very reliable ashramite bramachari that Amma's brother was the biggest landowner in Kerala.
...
Long term residents who have plenty of money can do quite well there, since healthier food, and medicines and natural health supplements, are available for purchase. But many people, especially those with less money to spend, tend to be often sick, and haggard and anaemic-looking
...
There are signs everywhere in the merchandise stalls, on the Amma tours and at the ashram, saying that all of the money raised goes to charity. Anyone with any powers of observation who spends some time at Amritapuri will see that this is not true ..."