The hall in Rijswijk, Netherlands was a vast sky of sparkling stars
Amma has completed her 40 day European Tour, the first since 2019. For 40 days, she visited 10 cities in 8 countries. Tens of thousands of people came to the programs, each seeking her Divine Blessing.
“The hall in Rijswijk, Netherlands looked like a vast sky of sparkling stars as Amma arrived for the final stop of her 2025 Europe Yatra. In a profound expression of happiness, thousands of people waved their mobile phones to express the light of her love in their lives. Amma responded with an oil lamp, creating a moment of shared radiance.
From November 24 to 25, devotees from across the continent arrived for a final embrace in Amma’s arms. It is a time when their countries face great challenges, including security threats like the Russia-Ukraine war, economic uncertainty, and managing the flow of migrants and asylum seekers.
But Amma inspired hope. A representative of the devotees in the Netherlands adorned her with a garland made of delicate paper cranes. As a global symbol of peace, it was offered to express gratitude for her tireless efforts in spreading harmony and joy across the world.”
You can see the video of the final programs in The Hague here:
I recently found this beautiful rendering from The Mindfulness Bell, about Thich Nhat Hanh’s visit to the USA in Fall, 1995. The original article is in the link below.
I was fortunate to be able to spend the day with Thay and Sister Chan Khong– also known as SisterTrue Emptiness—at Jack Kornfield’s Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin County, California. It was “A Day of MIndfulness” and 2,200 people were led in a beautiful mindfulness meditation.
Thay, Sister Chan Khong, and ten monks and nuns from Plum Village arrived in Los Angeles on September 10 to begin a month-long tour of North America. Their first week was in southern California, dedicated to the Vietnamese community—a four-day retreat near San Bernardino and a Sunday public lecture in Santa Ana. On Monday, September 18, Jim Fauss and Arnie Kotler met Thay and the Plum Village entourage at the San Francisco Airport. Jim drove the ten monks and nuns to Camp Swig, an hour away, while Arnie showed Thay and Sister Chan Khong to the Aiport Hotel, where, after a short rest, Thay met with Alix Madrigal of the San Francisco Chronicle for an interview about the just-published Living Buddha, Living Christ. The interview was warm and convivial, and Ms. Madrigal’s report is reprinted in the pages that follow.
Thay arrived at Camp Swig, a beautiful, rustic summer camp in the Santa Cruz mountains, surrounded by redwoods and live oaks, in time for dinner, and then joined the 550 retreatants in the camp assembly hall to chant an invocation of Kwan Yin’s name, joined by the Plum Village monks and nuns. Thay then lovingly introduced each monk and each nun, followed by an orientation talk by Sister Chan Khong, Sister Jina, and Arnie on mindful breathing, walking, eating, and bowing. During the four-day retreat, Thay expounded on the Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing, as well as teachings on the four mantras (see “True Presence,” page one) and a beautiful story about a young man named David and an angel named Angelina. The retreat went seamlessly well thanks to the lovely presence of the monks and nuns and the gentle guidance of many members of the Order of Interbeing.
On Saturday, September 23, Thay led a Day of Mindfulness at Spirit Rock Meditation Center north of San Francisco, for 2,200 people. From Sunday through Wednesday, Thay and the Plum Village disciples led a Day of Mindfulness and retreat for the Vietnamese community at Kim Son Monastery near San Jose. On Tuesday, September 26, Thay gave a public lecture to nearly 4,000 people at the Berkeley Community Theater. The evening began with Betsy Rose singing “Breathing In, Breathing Out” and “In My Two Hands,” and, following Wes Nisker’s joyful introduction, Thay and the monks and nuns again invoked the name of Kwan Yin. Thay offered the four mantras and the newly printed “mantra T-shirts” were made available to reinforce the practice.
On Wednesday, Thay and Sister Chan Khong went to the Fairmount Hotel in San Francisco, where Thay was to participate in several panel discussions and give a keynote address for the State of the World Forum, hosted by Mikhail Gorbachev. On September 17, USA Weekend reported, “Next week in San Francisco, when Margaret Thatcher, Vaclav Havel, and George Bush meet at the State of the World Forum, they’ll be addressed by a diminutive Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, who has gained a large following among Americans. Official events include a half day of practicing ‘mindfulness,’ the heart of Buddhist meditation.” In his opening remarks, President Gorbachev expressed particular appreciation “that Thich Nhat Hanh and other spiritual leaders are present at the Forum.” Joan Halifax presents an account of the conference on the page that follows. Before leaving San Francisco, Thay was interviewed by Michael Toms of New Dimensions Radio, Jerry Brown on a live, call-in radio broadcast, and Ram Dass, for future TV broadcast.
On Tuesday, October 3, Thay et al. flew to Newark and went by van to Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, to lead a 4-day retreat for 800 people on “The Buddha’s Teachings on Love.” On Monday, October 9, Thay lectured to a standing room only crowd of 3,000 people at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in New York City, organized by the New York Community of Mindfulness. Three days later he lectured at the Washington, D.C. Hebrew Congregation to 2,200 people, organized by the Washington Mindfulness Community. At both of these East Coast lectures, as in Berkeley, a palpable silence filled the room, where practitioners and non-practitioners alike basked in the Dharma, so beautifully presented by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
After a meeting with State Department officials, an interview by Pythia Peay of the Religion News Service, and a lecture in Vietnamese in Arlington, Virginia, Thay and his monks and nuns flew back to France on October 17, preparing for a well-deserved rest before beginning the winter practice period at Plum Village.
Honoring the memory of Thich Nhat Hanh, his teachings on mindfulness and peace, as well as his international Sangha...
Many scholars and writers have tried to explain to spiritual seekers exactly what spiritual enlightenment is.
In this profound quote from spiritual leader and humanitarian, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, “Amma the Hugging Saint,” she explains why it cannot be told, but only experienced.
Amma says,”
“Can you explain the beauty of a flower, or describe the sweetness of sugar? So how can the beauty of the Infinite be described? It has to be experienced.” — Amma
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and HH The Dalai Lama
I have had the honor and privilege of spending time with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in his Bangalore, India ashram, The Art of Living International Center.
I was there in early 1993 during an International Silence Program. Two of my roommates were from Holland, the others from the USA.
We had a wonderful time being in silence for 7 days. Gurudev led us in “Hollow and Empty” meditations where we emptied out all that was inside us and allowed ourselves to become hollow so the Divine Light could enter in.
We traveled into the City of Bangalore for a special Satsang and met Gurudev’s parents, Vishalakshi Amma and Pitaji. Of course, his dear sister, Bhanu Didi was also present, along with her family.
At that time, the ashram was small and barely developed with just a few Kutirs ( small cottages), a thatched hut for our daily meditations, and a larger hall for the evening Satsangs. There was a small kitchen where we ate the most delicious Indian food.
I will always remember my International Art of Living Family and the lifelong friends I have made during my time with them.
Jai Guru Dev, Happy Birthday Gurudev, May 13, 2025!
In the mid 1990’s, I attended a wonderful event with Thich Nhat Hanh at Jack Kornfield’s Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin County, California.
It was “A Day of MIndfulness.” Thich Nhat Hanh and Sister True Emptiness led us in an enlightening meditation of mindfulness. One of the highlights was when each of the over 1,000 participants was presented with an apple, organically grown in Oregon, wrapped in special paper.
Thay, as his students and followers referred to him,–a term of respect for a revered teacher– quietly and gently spoke, in his soft voice, leading us to be truly focused and mindful as we carefully unwrapped our apple, set aside the paper, and took one delicious bite at a time, chewing slowly, tasting the sweetness and juice of the apple. All the while engaged, totally in the moment, with each action we were taking. A mindfulness exercise I have not forgotten, to this day.
Thay was the embodiment of love, compassion and true mindfulness as he took each step of his life. He taught us that Peace is in Every Step.
May you go about your day, your week, your entire life, mindful of every action, of every step, while you become Peace, become Love and become True Compassion.
The annual nNew Year’s Eve programs were held at the Amritapuri Ashram, ushering in the new year, 2025. There were cultural performances watched by ashram residents and visitors fror all over the world.
Amma singing after the performances
In her New Year’s message Amma said, “Our lives gain true meaning when we are guided by a higher ideal. Amma wishes that her children, enriched with discernment and compassion, become shining role models for the world. May the new year pave the way towards this vision,” she shared.
Amma blessing the prasad she distributed to everyone
You can read about it here and see photos and a video of the event:
Amma told her devotees, “The novelty of external possessions fades, but the beauty of the inner self remains eternal. With discernment and compassion, let us become role models for the world.”
Amma blesses the Christmas cake, Amritapuri Ashram
We were delighted to find that Amma broadcasted LIVE the annual Christmas program from her Amritapuri Ashram in South India today!
We were treated to traditional Indian dances and some wonderful skits put on by the ashram residents. We could see Amma sitting in her chair in the middle of the hall watching the program, while surrounded by all the little children who live at the ashram, or who are visiting.
At the end of the program, Amma sang some rousing bhajans, ending with the grand finale of Mata Rani Ki Jai–with everyone standing and calling out in unison, Jai!
It was a wonderful occasion and thousands of international visitors are now staying at the ashram for the holidays.
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