My Nonprofit Reviews

I first became aware of Mata Amritananda Math (M.A. Math) and it's founder, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (better known as Amma), in 1988. In the beginning my interest was more of a personal nature. Over the years, as I kept attending Amma's yearly U.S. programs I saw that here was a person who exemplified selflessness and service to others in a way I had never seen demonstrated before. Every year the charitable outreach programs have grown exponentially in a way that I can barely fathom. Amma's ability to reach and inspire thousands of people to imbibe the message of compassion and selfless service and put it into action is incredible and amazing. I have had the privilege to participate in volunteer projects of the M.A. Math, here, in the U.S., and abroad. This has provided many opportunities to witness and experience first hand the far reaching effects of the Math's mission and it's message to the world. One thing that deeply impresses me is that people from vastly differing backgrounds from around the world can come together so harmonisously and work toward a common goal for the welfare of others. One year I was able to go with the Math to Bhuj, India, where severe earthquakes had devasted entire villages. The Math adopted three of these villages and rebuilt them entirely. There was a group of Japanese students there, who were staying over a number of weeks, to help the rebuilding process. The group I was traveling with was multi-national. Then there were the villagers themselves, who had suffered such great loss. We all pitched in and helped in whatever way we could during the couple of days I was there. Who cares that we didn't all speak the same language! For some reason we were able to understand each other and get the work done. It was a language of the heart, motivated by a desire to serve in whatever way we could. Here in the U.S. I have helped with inventoring medical supplies to be shipped overseas to the Math's nonprofit super-speciality hospital, AIMS (Amrita Institute of Medical Science). This whole endeavor is done completely by volunteer effort. On any given day you can find people in the warehouse meticuously going through every inch of supplies and recording it on lists and packing it carefully in boxes to prepare for shipping. They do this of their own accord, on their own time, when perhaps they could be home doing something else. These are only two small examples. Times it by however many charitable projects the M.A. Math is involved in at any given time, add up the volunteers that help make it happen, and the figures are astounding. The fact that an organization can inspire and motivate people, not only in India, but across the globe, to give of their own time like this and instill in them a desire to serve, is awe-inspiring. On a personal level, my contact with Amma and the M.A. Math over the years has, I feel, changed me as a person, and is continuing to change me. I can no longer think of just myself. I find that on a very practical level I am able to apply this example of compassion and service and bring it in to other aspects of my life, including the workplace. It has made me more aware of the suffering of others and to be kinder and more caring. It has caused me to be more self-aware of how I conduct myself in my daily affairs. And I have learned that although we all may be from different places and speak different languages we are all intrically connected and part of one human family. Compassion and service to others has no boundaries. If I can be affected even in this small way, imagine the magnitude of this message of selfless service and the profound effect it has had on the millions of people that Amma and the M.A. Math have reached. All the M.A. Math's charitable projects are generated and sustained by volunteer efforts, both in time and in money. How is this possible? Only if the message of selfless service is being awakened in these millions of people around the globe. I have never seen an organization do this before on such a massive scale. The M.A. Math's message and mission is truly a universal one and is reflected in the vast breadth and effectiveness of it's endeavors.

More Feedback