PURE INHERENT LOVE CAN BRIDGE ALL DIFFERENCES

Amma, your life has been a testament to the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world as one family.

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How do you foster the feeling of unity in diversity among millions, and what steps do you believe are most effective in bridging divides? The deep feeling of love alone can bring people's hearts together. Despite all man-made divisions, everyone has a crying child inside—a child longing for pure love. Even after leaving the mother's womb, regardless of age, nationality, language, religious beliefs, or culture, we still carry that desperate and helpless child within us. Love is an innate quality present in all living beings. The physical expressions of love are just a tiny fraction of the immense wellspring of love within us. Love exists on multiple levels, like the rungs of a ladder. Even the love fuelled by selfish motives, which we see in the world, shouldn't be dismissed. The key is to avoid getting stuck at that level. Keep ascending and don't stop until you've reached love's highest peak. As your inherent love becomes more purified, it assumes a transcendental nature. Only this kind of love will serve as a bridge to connect all differences.

Many people struggle to move beyond the “us versus them” mindset. What everyday practices do you recommend for building genuine connection, regardless of background?

There are no quick-fix solutions. People's minds are so conditioned that breaking free requires determination rooted in compassion. Each person has a self-created image of themselves, and their ego feels hurt when others don't appreciate or acknowledge that image. The fundamental problem is the ego. This is an age where ego rules the world.