Day 2 – Global Peace Initiative of Women
Making Way for the Feminine
Last night I tossed and turned. I awoke every few hours hoping it was time to get ready for the morning lectures of the peace conference. After my alarm blared, my morning ritual was rushed as I tried to find a driver to take me to the Clarks Amer Hotel. Unable to reach any of the typical drivers I like to hire, I worried I’d be late to the conference. Then with a quick rush out of the front door, Giri and Sadan said they’d found a ride for me. Giri’s guru, also one of India’s most worshipped spiritual leaders, Swami Dayananda Saraswati was staying at the home-stay and had an open seat in one of his cars. He was also going to the conference. Her Swami was to speak during a panel discussion about feminine spirit and “oneness.” So I hitched a ride with Swamiji and his entourage.
As we drove to the conference, I rode in a car with two of the Swami’s disciples. One of the two orange-robed nuns joked about how this was the first time they have led Swamiji, “We usually follow him,” she said with a chuckle. When we arrived at the hotel the nuns requested that we drive onto the hotel garden grounds because of the difficulty he has walking. The hotel staff was unable to heed the request and said they had a wheelchair waiting for him. “He will not use a wheelchair,” they said. At this point, I took my leave as the Swami also made his way down to the meeting tent with his previous entourage and his added one of hotel staff. Throughout the whole conference he was taken care of by devoted followers. People fanned him with conference programs, shaded him with an umbrella and brought him water. At 76 years old, with over four decades of being a spiritual teacher, Swami is not only well cared for — he is revered.
Our first group meeting introduced us to the founding principles of the Global Peace Initiative of Women and the goals of the summit. The task of communicating differences among women from all around the world and bringing them together seemed like a challenging task at first, but the organizers used inclusive and supportive vocabulary to promote understanding across cultures and religions. The terms “oneness,” “unity” and “holistic” became buzz words to build the “global community.” Foremost, during this day of inspirational words, the concept of the feminine spirit was defined. Across diverse cultures, female spiritual leaders are marginalized despite women’s ability to learn, grow, teach and have faith just like any man. Most compelling was the emphasis of the power and compassion of the feminine spirit, the creation of all human kind. Women’s ability to mother a child became a symbol within the discussion, calling on her need to take care of the world’s people. Yet, speakers repeatedly emphasized the necessity for balance, not an eradication of masculinity or what they deemed as more masculine qualities.
These words were not balloons filled with air that float away and pop. The delegates of the conference – women rabbis, doctors, pastors, professors, gurus, foundation directors, etc. — provided evidence of women’s absence in leadership roles, government decision making and other power positions in society. According to Sister Joan, co-chair of GPIW, out of the 189 countries represented in the United Nations, only nine ambassadors are women. In the war in Iraq, 93% of deaths are civilians and most are women and children, she said. But it was the male dominated government who started and have continued to support this war. As each woman spoke through the microphone, I could hear how important these voices are to the world. Women have much to offer that is ignored. In all religions it is the feminine that creates, nurtures and embraces life. Why keep her from deciding the fate of her children? As women nodded their heads across the tent, a ripple of agreement united us in a our mission: How do we transform our desire for change into action?
Next to the warmth of the morning sun, the most striking element of the day was the presence of Her Holiness Sri Mata Amritanandamay Devi, or “Amma, Mother of All.” Amma spoke before the women dressed all in white. Hundreds of her white swathed disciples filled the tent around us as she spoke, “Woman is not weak and should never be considered so, but her natural compassion and sympathy have too often been misinterpreted as weakness.” In her speech she later said, “courageous women have lived in every age and broken out from the cages that were imposed on them to start revolutions.” She named Indian princesses like Rani Padmini and other examples like Harriet Tubman. The force with which she spoke impacted the audience in many ways. Some wept. Others stared in awe. Many agreed with Amma’s words:
“The integrity, beauty and fragrance of future society should be expressed through mothers. The mother is the first teacher. As such, she is the one who can influence a child the most. Whatever the mother does, the child will imbibe. A mother’s breast milk does more than nourish the baby’s body. It also develops the baby’s mind, intellect and heart. Similarly, the life values a mother transmits to her child is strength and courage in the future.”
Amma’s address was translated in English through electronic headsets to the crowd. She gave insight into issues surrounding gender and war. Her wisdom shook in the bodies of all who were inspired and touched by her. What I didn’t realize, is that Amma is known for truly getting in touch with people. She ritually hugs thousands of people at a time to pass love on to as many as she can.
However, receiving a hug from Amma can be tricky. After her speech, throngs of people surrounded her hoping to get the positive energy she sought to bestow. Marilyn, a friend of Dori’s from California was near Amma and was being pushed away by eager devotees. Amma reached across the others and embraced Marilyn. Immediately Marilyn wept. The power of Amma, the Mother is unique and special.
Here is Amma hugging a woman after her GPIW speech. Marilyn, Dori’s friend from California is in the background.
Here is Amma kissing and blessing a woman. Now she must pass it on to someone else.
As the hot morning became afternoon, women offered their perspectives and suggestions. Panels discussed the notion of peace and ancient concepts of the feminine. Swamiji talked about balance and cooperation between men and women (I’ll write more about this next time). Later, we shared circle discussions about leadership and heard women’s stories of suffering and strength. By the end of the day I felt weak with emotional fatigue, but inside confidence and motivation blossomed within me. After a balanced day with two spiritual leaders from India – a man and a woman – spring had offic
ially arrived again. I felt ready to transform the world and share these women’s stories to create better ones for our future.
