Embracing the human condition
Spiritual leader Mother Amma aims to prevent suicide among farmers, writes Andrea Smith
Sunday November 04 2007
What could agricultural authority Teagasc possibly have in common with the Indian "hugging saint" and spiritual leader, Mother Amma? The answer lies in their shared concern with suicide in rural communities, and among farmers in particular. ,
Worried by the rise in suicide rates in rural Ireland, Teagasc has initiated a study in collaboration with UCD which will take about 12 months to complete. Meanwhile, more than 7,500km away in India, Mata Amritanandamayi, better known as Amma, has just launched a US$44m programme to address the suicide epidemic among Indian farmers, arising from the strain of debt and crop failure.
"Amma was very concerned because there was one suicide every eight hours among farmers in Maharashtra, the third largest state, in 2006," said Brahmachari Shubamrita Chaitanya, one of Amma's closest disciples, during his recent visit to Ireland.
Huge repayments on loans taken out to buy their farms, combined with crop failures and low yields, mean that many farmers face remortgaging their houses, taking out further high-interest loans, and, in some cases, losing their land.
"And if they have a daughter getting married, or children in education, it adds great financial pressure," adds Shubamrita.
"For some, the only solution they see is to commit suicide, and sometimes they kill their wives and children as well."
According to Frank Laffey of Teagasc, suicide in rural Ireland is a sign that many young people are in distress, and lack the coping skills to deal with personal trauma, relationship difficulties and, specifically, income problems.
He believes many young farmers feel that the Celtic Tiger has passed them by, and that they are less well off economically and socially than their peers in other sectors.
In addition, declining religious faith has had an impact on rural community life, and there is less love and less giving, which leads to increasing isolation.
Amma's initiative is aimed at relieving financial, emotional and family pressure on farmers living below the poverty line.
It includes awareness campaigns and programmes, educational scholarships for 30,000 children, and vocational training for 5,000 groups of women -- who are then given the start-up capital to begin their own small home-based businesses, such as weaving.
"What is needed is social and spiritual intervention, so the farmers realise that suicide is not the way out," Amma says. "In fact, it only further aggravates the problem for the families."
Many Irish people are puzzled by the fact that more than 26 million people have queued up for hours to be embraced by Amma. While some may sneer, thousands of others claim to have been healed and uplifted by Amma's embrace. In these times of isolation, a consoling hug could be just what the doctor ordered.
"Mother really is amazing," says Shubamrita, who joined Amma's ashram (spiritual community) 19 years ago. "She will sit in one place embracing people for up to 22 hours straight, without even stopping to eat, or to attend the calls of nature.
"Each person gets the same attention, from the most ordinary layperson to the presidents of countries, and she pours so much love into each person. She listens to the problems they bring to her, and offers advice, guidance and reassurance."
Hollywood star Sharon Stone described Amma as a "remarkable angel" on October 12 when she presented her with a Cinema Verite award, celebrating the role of film in influencing important social and humanitarian issues. Amma was the subject of and inspirational force behind the film Darshan: The Embrace, made by Jan Kounen.
Amma's charitable projects include a 1,500-bed hospital providing free care for the poor, the redevelopment of slum areas, an orphanage housing 600 children, and two hospices for Aids and cancer patients.
"There is still a stigma in some parts around Aids victims, some of whom are brought to the hospice having been found lying in the street," says Shubamrita.
"The care they receive enables them to die with dignity, and to spend their final days in an atmosphere of love and compassion."
Amma's organisation has also provided 125,000 free houses for those made homeless by earthquakes and tsunamis, 50,000 free meals a month for the poor, and 15,000 monthly pensions to women who have lost their husbands, or are ill.
"Every year, Mother comes up with new projects, and she has great faith that the right people will come on board to make them work," says Shubamrita, who travels for eight months per year, making advance preparations for Amma's visits, and acting as her personal translator.
"Administrative costs are very low, and 97 per cent of money raised goes straight to the project, which creates a lot of change. She micromanages each project personally, and some days doesn't sleep at all in order to get all of her work done."
Amma will be in Ireland next week, visiting the National Show Centre in Cloghran, Co Dublin, on November 13 and 14. Amma will embrace people during the day, and a spiritual programme including teachings, meditation, Indian singing and music will take place in the evening. Admission is free, although donations towards Amma's humanitarian projects are welcome.
During the evening, Amma will sing several Indian bhajan (spiritual songs) in Irish, translated especially by the poet Cathal O Searcaigh.
"Amma is very eager to invite the Irish people to speak in their own language," says Shubamrita.
"She said that if you lose contact with the Irish language, you are in danger of losing contact with your souls."
It seems incredible that one 54-year-old woman can take care of so many broken, suicidal, destitute, poverty-stricken and ill souls, particularly on so little sleep, but Shubamrita smiles when asked to explain it.
"Mother never makes any claims, but she says that there are two kinds of machine. One that runs on batteries that need to be recharged, and others that are directly connected to the source, which means they can go on and on."
For further information and transport details, please go to www.ammaireland.org or call 01-627 6060 (6pm-9pm)
