In the Summer of 2013 I had the unique pleasure of encountering one of the most paradigm shattering beings I have ever met: Mata Amritanandamayi, commonly known as Amma (mother) or the hugging saint. Amma is a world renowned Indian, activist and spiritual powerhouse, revered by her followers as a guru and a saint.
When I went to receive Darshan (an embrace or hug and chanting prayer), at a gathering in a hotel near the LAX airport in Los Angeles that June, I expected to experience a warm radiant and motherly love, after all “Amma” means “Mother” and her gimmick is hugging people as a kind of blessing or prayer (Darshan - a Sanskrit word meaning “to see” the divine). When I actually nelt before her and she embraced me and started to kind of murmur a chant in a language I did not know: It was almost terrifying, awe inspiring. She became a profound and deadly serious and piercing samurai, a Goddess with the power of the universe behind her, with the presence of an intensely focused general of war during the last battle, inspiring me to surrender my life for a greater purpose, to be direct and serious about my work in this world. It was as if she was telling me to get to the point of my life and really do what I came here to do, to raise the vibration and devote myself to the expression of the benevolent currents circulating through the universe and to have the compassion to be with human pain and suffering, in myself and others.
She’s the least “person like” person I have ever encountered, her tiny little round form seems not much more than the empty shell of a cicada - a localized point of reference for an immense force or divine presence that could seemingly tear her apart at the seams at any moment. It’s almost not accurate to call her human. There is almost no “person” left in her, any fibers of ego seem to have been completely obliterated and she is transmitting something of great power and intensity, both subtle and infinite. This was one of the most awesome and profound things that has ever happened to me. It is with me everyday when I sit on my cushion and close my eyes to meditate, and this is why I wish to do this painting.
I am in the process of developing a large scale painting of Amma. This is the first of 2 studies to prep for the painting, which you will receive based on your funding level. $50 for the first study $200 for the second study and $250 for the third study. Your funding will help me pay for a large scale canvas on which to do the final painting (roughly 96" x 80.5"), Paint supplies: oil ground, paint, medium, solvent, brushes etc., as well as the time, energy and supplies invested in the studies themselves. Thanks for your support!
A portion of the profit from the sale of the final painting will be donated to Amma’s Charity organization, which provides food, housing and schooling to thousands throughout the world.
to find out more about Amma go to: http://amma.org/
and: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mata_Amritanandamayi