CR Fashion Book: A Message From Amma
By Renee Hernandez
Over time the book spine of my first issue of CR Fashion Book has developed a crease marking a spot I cherish. This bookmark opens to a powerful message from Hindu spiritual leader and humanitarian Amma, also known as the “Hugging Saint” — a nickname earned by hugging and bestowing her unconditional love on people from all walks of life. While her official name is Mata Amritanandamayi, she simply goes by Amma, or “mother,” in Malayalam, her native language. Her devotees consider her "as a living incarnation of the divine-mother." What sets CRFB apart from other fashion magazines is its intellectual approach. I don’t know of any other fashion magazine proudly praising the virtues of a new path to inner beauty, do you?
Here are my favorite excerpts from "A Message From Amma, A Spiritual Leader Roadmaps the Path To Inner Beauty." I hope they provide you with the same inspiration and clarity as they do for me.
- “True happiness comes from sharing our possessions. Otherwise, both wealth and knowledge revert to mere ornaments, magnifying our mental burden. We will lack the peace of mind to appreciate what we already have. Our selfish ego will always think, If I give this away, what will be left for me to enjoy? But when we convert a selfish concern into a divine thought — such as, If I enjoy this, will I still have something left over to give? — our inner beauty will surely increase.”
- “In today’s world, people have become very health-conscious. Many of us pursue physical exercise, but most of us neglect to exercise our hearts. Exercise for the heart lies in feeling compassion for the suffering. The beauty of our eyes is not in the eyeliner applied, but in seeing others in a generous light. The beauty of our lips is not in the lipstick, but in speaking kind words. The beauty of our ears is not in the earrings, but in listening patiently to the distressed. The beauty of our hands is not in our golden rings, but in using our hands to perform the right actions.”
- “The foundation of selfless service is unadulterated love. Amma knows that it is not easy to have such a pure, loving mind, because when two people come together, it is two separate worlds that become linked. Love and service are not two — they are inextricably tied to one another, like a flower and its fragrance. True service happens when we understand the hearts of the suffering and serve them. For this, we ought to learn to see ourselves in others, and others in ourselves."
More from CR Fashion Book Issue 1: Rebirth
CR Fashion Book: A Woman's Life
By Renee Hernandez
CR Fashion Book: Elsa
By Bernie Rothschild
CR Fashion Book: High On Rebellion
By Jessica Eritou
CR Fashion Book: Hush Little Baby, Don't You Cry
By Kate Ringo Suzuki
Inside the Pages of CR
By Dara Block
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Photos of Amma-Mata Amritanandamayi by Henry Hopper and Amanda Charchian © 2012 CR Fashion Book.