Amma and God

Karma or grace? Why can't Mother Amma forgive sins? Only a true and loving God can do that

Amma (“Mother”) or Mata Amritanandamayi Devi is an Indian woman who has become well-known in Western countries in the past few years. She is best known for hugging many people in Finland as well as elsewhere. It has been estimated that her hugging has led her to meet 24 million people in the past 30 years. That is a huge number of people. Very few of us will meet so many people during our lifetimes.

In terms of doctrine, Amma is a Hindu. Tenets of Hinduism include reincarnation, karma and universal divinity: everyone and everything is divine. These tenets of Hinduism are clearly visible in Amma’s practices. However, Amma does not encourage anybody to change religions. Like many other Hindus, she believes that all roads are equal and lead to the same place. She teaches that a person can become one with God and the universe through all religions.

Another observation we might make about Amma is that her followers believe her to be a saint and a guru. Some even believe that she is an avatar (an incarnation of a god). There are dozens of such gurus in India, where Hinduism is the main religion. Sai Baba has been one such, almost the same type of guru as Mother Amma. Barbara Szandorowska's book "Escape From The Guru" tells how the author was involved in the Sai Baba community and how she freed herself from its grip.

WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT AMMA’S TEACHINGS?

If we have to look for good aspects in Mother Amma's teaching, the most important one is loving one's neighbors. When she teaches that love is something that society needs and that love should be expressed in all our words and actions, she is absolutely right. It cannot be denied that love is important because most of the wars and problems of mankind are caused by the lack of love. Most problems would disappear if we had more love. This is easy to understand. It does not take a lot of wisdom.

The meaning of love also appears in several passages of the Bible. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is one example, and the following words of Paul in the Letter to the Corinthians highlight the meaning of love:

- (1 Cor 13:1-13) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.

4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;

6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now stays faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Amma’s teachings about love are in no way exceptional. All major religions recognize the need for love. The teachers of all religions have understood and taught that loving your neighbor is necessary. They have not introduced any new ethics. This is ancient knowledge, widely known by people then as now. The Bible also finds an explanation for this understanding. According to it, it is because in our hearts there is a law of right and wrong. It means that we instinctively understand the importance of loving one's neighbor and what is right and wrong. This understanding is in every person, even though we can harden our hearts:

- (Rom 2:14-16) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law to themselves:

15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;

16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

HUGGING AND LAYING ON OF HANDS

One thing that is strongly associated with Amma is hugging. She is known to hug each and every one of her personal supporters. Many people go to her when they want to be hugged or when they are seeking love and peace. They believe that Amma can offer them the experience they seek. Later on, Amma may teach them meditation and give them a personal mantra and a new name. This is a common custom among Hindu gurus.

However, the thing that many do not think about when looking for experiences from gurus, spirit healers or energy healers is that they expose themselves to the action of false spirits. They do not take this possibility into account when they pass from one guru to another, or visit fortune-tellers, spirit healers and seek energy. They fail to understand that the evil spirit world can deceive us and lead us astray, just as we find described in the Second Letter to the Corinthians:

- (2 Cor 11:14,15) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

There are three ways one can be deceived by false spirits. These are:

Continuous sinning leads to the fact that a person falls into the power of deeper and deeper darkness. Especially practicing occultism (spells, automatic writing or psychography, spiritism, speaking in a trance, visiting a fortune teller, visualisation, spiritual and energy healing, telepathy, clairvoyance, astrology, palmistry, Tarot cards, occult oaths, also Mormon and Masonic oaths, hypnosis, ouija boards, etc.) and long-term passive meditation are gateways through which the devil can influence our lives. In Mother Amma's teaching, passive and introverted meditation comes to the fore. He gives meditation instruction and a mantra to each of his disciples.

Inheritance can influence our lives. People whose family includes spiritual healers, mediums or other practitioners of the occult things often inherit these “gifts”. The gifts of God are never inherited.

The laying on of hands is a matter related to spiritual healing, energy transfer and the activities of gurus - including Mother Amma. Many have been subjected to the spiritistic strain after exposing themselves to people through whom evil spirits operate.

Sometimes a person can carry a spiritistic burden without knowing about it. Problems may appear only when he turns to God. Then he can experience hard battles because the devil wants to hold on to him. For all those with an occult background, it is common. A Christian can also experience the same if he goes under the hands of a spiritualist:

Fifthly, people who earnestly and eagerly wait to be baptized with the Holy Spirit should not allow just any person to put their hands on them when they pray. Evil spirits are very contagious, like a disease that spreads like an epidemic. I have seen how unclean spirits have been transferred to people when someone who has evil spirits in him has placed his hands on them. When such a spirit settles in them, they suffer terribly until they are freed from it. If someone wants hands to be placed on him in prayer, he should always make sure that the people who do that are full of the Spirit of the Truth. (1)

WHAT AMMA CANNOT OFFER US:

FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

People turning to Hinduism and other religions usually want their sins to be forgiven. They may pray, do penance or wash themselves in the Ganges River to achieve this. People do a variety of things to find the assurance that their sins will not be an obstacle and to clear their conscience.

Amma also focuses on this in her teachings. She teaches that people can only find the truth within themselves, by turning inwards. This basic teaching of Hinduism states that if people recognise their actual state, they will be released from the cycle of reincarnation and will no longer be born on earth. This is called enlightenment.

The problem is, however, that we cannot find assurance by turning inwards or doing some spiritual exercises. We can never succeed that way, and there is a simple reason for this: all people are inclined to sin and are far from perfect. Some people may be better than others, but they are still not perfect or free from sin. They are still guilty and unable to improve their position. Gurus are in the same position as the rest of us: their religion does not help them one bit. It cannot free them or make them perfect.

This is also reflected in the following words of Jesus that He spoke to the religious people of His time. He said that none of them kept the law, meaning that none of them was perfect and free from sin. This applies to us modern people, too:

- (John 7:17-19) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law…

Rabi Maharaj, a former Hindu guru, talks about the same thing. He had previously thought that the truth could be found by turning inward, but he found himself at an impasse. Gradually, after having found the true light of God, he came to understand that he would only find sin inside, not truth. It did not take long then for him to find Jesus Christ in his life:

In those long, lonely hours, I went through the life I could remember and marveled at my blindness. How could a cow or a snake or even I be God? How could a creature create itself? How can everything be of the same divine essence? Then there would be no difference between man and object – and yet there was a difference, no matter what the god Krishna and the Vedas say. If I was of the same essence as sugarcane, then there was no fundamental difference between me and sugar cane – and that was absurd.

... I was now afraid of astral journeys and spiritual visions that I had previously rejoiced in, but I knew no other way than yoga to seek God. My religion, my upbringing, my meditation experience—everything had taught me that truth could only be found by turning inward. So I tried again. However, searching from the inside turned out to be useless. I did not find God, but I only found a nest of evilness that made me more and more convinced of the depravity of my own heart. My misery only increased, my feelings of guilt and shame became impossible to bear. (2)

KARMA OR GRACE?

We noted in the previous paragraph that people want their sins to be forgiven. To achieve this, they may pray, do penance, wash in the Ganges River, or turn inwards as taught by Amma and Hindu teachers. They do these things in order to be freed from their sins, or to become enlightened.

However, the source of “enlightenment” and forgiveness is much easier to find than this. It is not found on the inside but on the outside, by the grace of God. This means that the almighty God will give His grace to anyone who turns to Him. No amount of spiritual practice or improving one’s karma can achieve this. Such activity will only lead one to a dead end. Karma does not even include the opportunity to receive grace, and neither can Mother Amma and the gurus forgive sins because of their imperfections.

Almighty God can give us His grace, however. In an instant, He can forgive our sins and give His grace to everybody who turns to Him in their hearts. This does not have anything to do with our past or how well or badly we have lived our lives. Neither do we have to turn inwards or struggle in vain to become good enough: we can receive it all as a gift, in an instant. You should pay special attention in the words gift and grace in the verses below.

- (Eph 2:4,5) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, by grace you are saved;

- (Eph 2:8,9) For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

- (Acts 15:11) But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

- (Rom 3:24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

- (Rev 21:6) And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely.

GOD’S LOVE.

Amma's teachings often focus on two subjects: love between people and the idea that all roads are the same and lead to the same destination. The latter is clearly a Hindu teaching, even though many Hindus believe that their road is the best.

One subject that neither Amma nor Hindus teach, however, is the love of God. They do not mention that the almighty God loves us, that He has approached us, and that He wants us to come close to Him. They do not teach that the supernatural God who created the universe is interested in us and wants the best for us. Former guru Rabi Maharaj writes about this:

I stood up from my chair to ask her leave. There was no point in continuing this discussion. But she uttered the words, very quietly, that made me sit down again. “The Bible teaches that God is a God of love. I would like to share with you how I came to know Him.”

I was stunned. Never in all my years as a Hindu had I heard of a God of love! I listened to her eagerly.

“Because He loves us, he wants to draw us closer to Him.” This startled me, too. As a Hindu, I wanted to get close to God, but she was telling me that a loving God was trying to draw me nearer!

“The Bible also teaches that sin prevents us from getting close to God,” Molli continued, “and it also prevents us from knowing Him. This is why He sent Christ to die for our sins. And if we receive His forgiveness, we can know Him... ”

“Wait a minute!” I interrupted. Was she trying to convert me? I felt that I had to make some rebuttal. “I believe in karma. Whatever you sow you reap, and no one can change that. I don’t believe in forgiveness at all. It’s impossible! What’s done is done!”

“But God can do anything,” said Molli confidently. “He has a way to forgive us. Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’ Jesus is the way. Because he died for our sins, God can forgive us!” (3)

The Bible talks instead about God’s love. The Bible shows that God approached us in His love and He wants to save us. It says that His love was manifested in His Son Jesus Christ who atoned for our sins on the cross 2,000 years ago. They no longer prevent us from getting to God, and His forgiveness is available to us.

God’s love also means that we do not have to build a road or roads to God like many religions say. There is no need to improve ourselves first: we can simply accept God’s love that He already shown. This will happen when we turn to Him through Jesus Christ, His Son. This is how we can receive the forgiveness, mercy and eternal life to which He invites us. Let it become true in your life.

- (1 John 4:9,10) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

- (Rom 5:8,10) But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

MEETING GOD

Many people go to Amma or other gurus when seeking enlightenment, peace and love. They believe that Amma will give them what they seek. Later, she may teach them meditation and provide them with a personal mantra. This is a very common practice among gurus.

A much better approach, though, is to turn to the Almighty God through His Son Jesus Christ. He is much more loving than any gurus and wants to offer us eternal life. When we turn to Him with all our heart and want to repent, He will greet us lovingly, like the father greeted the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable. There is no need to try to earn salvation; we can go to God with empty hands and He will accept us. His hugs and His love are far greater than those of any person:

- (Luke 15:17-20) And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you,

19 And am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

If you want to leave your sins and find love, turn to God and Jesus Christ. See that Jesus Christ has already become the mediator for us (Hebr 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.) and when we ask Him to come into our lives, our sins will be forgiven. The following verses describe this:

- (John 5:39,40) Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.

- (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

- (1 John 5:11-13) And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.

13 These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION: Lord, Jesus, I turn to You. I confess that I have sinned against You and have not lived according to Your will. However, I want to turn away from my sins and follow You with all my heart. I also believe that my sins have been forgiven through Your atonement and I have received eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation that You have given me. Amen.

REFERENCES:

1. Yonggi Cho: Pyhä Henki ja sinä, p. 100

2. Rabindranath R. Maharaj: Gurun kuolema (Death of a Guru), p. 109,110

3. Rabindranath R. Maharaj: Gurun kuolema (Death of a Guru), p. 113,114