Ammachi

Ammachi is an Indian guru with a small world wide following who is most renowned as the "hugging guru". Her public appearances usually allow anyone who wishes to come to the stage and have a hug with Ammachi (at least in the West). These are not perfunctory hugs but full body contact that may go on for minutes. Apart from this idiosyncrasy and her sex (despite the power of Indira Ghandi-Nehru, India is still the home of male chauvinism which is built into Hindu concepts), Ammachi is a very normal Indian guru and below are some excerpts from her teachings about the practice of meditation: "if we spend our days remembering God and chanting His name, then our families up to seven succeeding generations will benefit from it. Children, we should pray to God in total surrender, and live knowing Him. If we take refuge in God, we will attain Him and everything we need. We will not be lacking in anything. If we befriend the storekeeper at the palace kitchen, we may get a pumpkin. If we please the king instead, all the wealth in the treasury will be ours. If we get milk, we can have yogurt, buttermilk and butter as well. Likewise, if we take refuge in God, He will meet both our spiritual and material needs. Devotion to God will bring prosperity to us, to our families and to society. A sadhak (one who does spiritual practice) will not have time to indulge in gossip. He will not feel like talking to anyone in a harsh manner. Children, those who are unmarried, should conserve their vital energy by maintaining celibacy. To turn what we gain by this into ojas (vitality), we also need to do sadhana. With increase in ojas, our intelligence, memory, health and beauty will also increase. We will gain lasting mental quietude. Meditation increases our vitality and strengthens our intelligence. Our beauty is enhanced and our mental accuracy and health are improved. We gain the mental fortitude and patience to face life's problems. Children, we can grow spiritually only if we see the guru as the manifestation of God. We should not accept anyone as guru before we are fully convinced personally that he is authentic and truthful. Once we choose someone as guru, we should surrender completely to him. Only then will spiritual development be possible. Devotion to the guru means total surrender to him. With the exception of very few who have gained higher spiritual tendencies in prior lives, Self-Realization is not possible for anyone without the blessings of a guru. Those of us who are doing sadhana should take care to eat only plain, fresh, vegetarian food (sattvic food). It is good to take laxatives twice a month to have the bowels cleared thoroughly, especially for those who do sadhana. Accumulation of feces inside will hinder concentration. It will pollute the thoughts.Children, do not use intoxicants of any sort. We who should be serving the world should not ruin our health by smoking and drinking. Couples should abstain from sexual relations at least two or three days a week. Gradually try to reach a stage of celibacy most days. Avoid sexual relations on full moon and new moon days and when the wife is going through her monthly periods. Try to gather the strength to live as brother and sister after one or two children are born. This is essential for reaping the full benefit of sadhana and to make spiritual progress through mental restraint.Children conceived during the twilight hours turn out to be idiots or bad tempered. Couples should observe strict celibacy when the wife is 3-4 months pregnant. Avoid all discussions, movies and magazines that arouse worldly desires and passion. Instead, read spiritual books daily, do japa and meditation. The mother's thought waves and emotions play an important role in moulding the character of the child in her womb. Practice of pranayama (breath control) without firm abidance in celibacy may lead to complications. Practice of pranayama should be done only under the supervision of the Guru."