The Travel Within:印度小故事1──Amma

離開了柏林，我又回到我印度靈性老師Amma位於南印度的Ashram（精舍，修行的地方）。每次踏足印度的土地，我也有回家的親切感。而這個Ashram對我來說，更像是一個大家庭。其實這是一個甚麼地方呢？不如先讓我簡單介紹這個Ashram（同時也是國際人道機構）的運作吧。

After leaving Berlin, I came back to the Ashram of my guru in South India.  Every time I landed on India, I got the feeling of being at home.  This Ashram is even like a big family for me.  In fact, what is this Ashram look like?  Let me briefly introduce the operation of this Ashram (it is also an international humanitarian organization).

在南印度喀拉拉邦(Kerala)的Amma Ashram。Amma Ashram is located within Kerala in South India.

Amma這個位於茂密椰子林中的Ashram名為Amritapuri（www.amritapuri.org），乃一個名為Embracing the World（www.embracingtheworld.org）的慈善組織之總部，這裡住了印度和外國的住客共三千人，而每年也有成千上萬的訪客到訪，希望在此進行個人靈性修行及提供義工服務。

Amma Ashram is among a lush coconut forest, and the Ashram name is called Amritapuri（www.amritapuri.org）, and it is also the headquarter of an international charitable organization called Embracing the World.  There are about 3000 Indian and international residents in the ashram, and it has also over tens of thousands visitors every year, aiming at doing spiritual practices and volunteering.

從Ashram往Backwaters方向看的日出美景。From the Ashram, one can see a beautiful sunrise over the Backwaters.

有別於一般國際性慈善機構，Embracing the World的大部份工作，包括行政部門，也是由世界各地的義工擔任。Ashram給予世人的印象通常是十分嚴格，前來的人一般十分成熟。有別於此，Amritapuri中一個十分明顯的現象是來這裡作短暫生活的人大部份也十分年青，甚至還有不少年青家庭帶著還在學步的兒女來訪，是以這裡的氣氛也相對輕鬆。

Unlike most of the international charitable organization, most of the departments in ETW, including administration, are run by volunteers from all over the world.  Usually, the impression of an ashram to others is very strict and visitors are always very mature.  However, it is very obvious that most of the people who come to stay at Amritapuri are very young, there are even many families who brought along their young children.  As a result, the atmosphere here is relatively more relaxed.

  

是甚麼東西促使我常常回到這裡呢？是甚麼東西吸引世界各地不同階層和年齡的人來呢？由於我本身對第二個問題很有興趣，因此我決定跟一些Ashram的朋友聊聊天，並發掘當中有趣和具啟發性的故事。

What drive me back here again and again?  What attract people from all over the world with different ages and backgrounds to here?  As I was also curious about the second question, so I decided to talk with some of the Ashram people, in order to find out more interesting and inspirational stories.

在叙述他們的故事前，不如讓我先介紹Amma是一個甚麼樣的老師。

Before telling their stories, let me first introduce who is Amma.

她曾作出以下的祈許：

She has a wish:

每個人最少有一晚，可以在沒有恐懼中入睡；

Everyone in the world should sleep without fear,

At least for one night;

每個人最少有一日，可以吃得飽足；

Everyone in the world should eat to their fill,

At least for one day;   

最少有一日，世上沒有暴力，無人會受到傷害；

There should be one day when there is no violence,

No one is injured, no one is harmed;

最少有一日，無論老幼，均能無私地為貧窮和有需要的人服務；

All people young and old, should serve the poor and needy,

At least for one day serve selflessly;

這是Amma的夢想，Amma的祈許：

This is my dream, this is my prayer,

愛是答案，愛是道。

Love is the answer, love is the way.

Amma於過去三十六年已於全球擁抱超過三千一百萬人，她日日夜夜地奉獻其生命，以向世人給予慈愛，就如她常說：「我希望我的生命就如一支香，通過燃燒自己，向世界發放芬芳直至最後一刻。我希望我能夠在為他人擦拭眼淚，和撫慰伏在我肩膀上的人時吐出我最後一口氣。」而她常常不眠不休地連續二十二個小時給予擁抱的紀錄亦為人津津樂道。

Amma has embraced over 31 million people in the past 36 years.  She dedicates literally every day of Her life to consoling suffering people all over the world.  Just like what she always says, ‘I want My life to be like an incense stick that burns itself out giving fragrance to the world. I want to breathe My last while wiping somebody’s tears and consoling them on My shoulder.’  She has been known to give darshan for over 22 hours without interruption.

正在給予擁抱的Amma。Amma who is hugging others.

Embracing the World就是在Amma無分疆界、種族、社會地位和宗教的慈愛下衍生出的一個全球人道倡議網絡。其工作範疇包括救災、教育、醫療、環保等。如年前發生之日本海嘯，他們便是最早派出第一隊救援隊伍的人道機構，他們也捐出七百八十萬港元予受災最嚴重的宮城縣作為兒童福利和教育基金。

Amma’s boundless compassion, regardless of people’s ethnicity, social status, or religion, has taken the form of a growing international network of humanitarian initiatives known collectively as Embracing the World(ETW).  Its work includes disaster relief, education, health care and environmental protection etc.  For example in the Japan tsunami a few years ago, ETW was the first group of organization to send its volunteers to the affected areas.  ETW also donated one million USD to one of the most devasted area Miyagi to set up a Children Well-being and Education Funds.