Amma says, “The whole world is like a flower. Each petal represents a nation. If one petal is infested with pests, all the other petals soon will be affected as well. Then the beauty of the whole flower will suffer. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to protect and nurture this flower. Therefore, all nations should advance together, hand in hand, sharing and adopting each others’ worthy contributions and examples.”

As such, for the peace, wellbeing and harmony of all nations, we must adopt the ancient Indian ethos of vasudhaiva kuṭaṁbakam—viewing the entire world as one big family.

Amma says people from all nations and religions become victims to the ravaging effects of human enslavement and experience extreme abuse and suffering. Their physical and mental pain does not differentiate between language, race or skin colour. These victims are just a single group of humans, struggling against the clutches of endless sorrow and emotional suppression.

The human mind has created many divisions in the name of religion, caste, language and national boundaries. Let us try to create a bridge of all-encompassing pure love to break down these self-created walls.

Amma says, “The essence of all religions is love, compassion and recognising the underlying divinity that serves as a substratum to this world and human existence. However, tragically, many people are overly focused on external traditions, which vary from religion to religion. In doing so, they are forgetting the essence. This is why the diverse religions, which were originally meant to foster peace and unity, have become instruments of war and conflict. If everyone were to adhere to the essential principles of their religion, without being overly concerned about its external aspects, then religion could become a pathway to world peace.”

Amma says, “Like our two eyes, men and women are equal. Could one ever say that the left eye is more important than the right? Or the right more than the left? Men and women are meant to complement one another—to function in harmony and cooperation. Only when their essential equality is appreciated and they treat one another with mutual love and respect will society attain peace and prosperity.”

In Amma’s vision, all of creation is a manifestation of the one True Self. Spirituality is the path of grasping and assimilating this ultimate truth. When one realizes that everyone is an expression of themselves, then they will reach out to help the poor and suffering with the same clarity with which they currently reserve for their own limited self and immediate family. In Amma’s words, “It is like how when our left hand is injured, our right hand immediately comes to its aid—to caress it and apply medicine if needed. This is because it does not see the left hand as different from itself. If we have spiritual understanding, this is how we will react when we see others suffering.”

As Amma says, “Mother Earth is serving us—the sun, the moon and the stars all serve us. What can we do in return for their selfless service?” This profound statement reflects the interconnectedness of all life on Earth. Amma’s advocacy for sustainable development resonates with the belief that we must reciprocate the gifts nature is bestowing upon us.

Thus, in Amma’s view, we have to mitigate climate change and ensure our social-outreach programs foster equality. It is only when we recognize our responsibility to Nature that we begin paving paths toward a harmonious future. It is acting with compassion that ensures a legacy of wellbeing for generations to come.

“There are two types of education,” Amma says, “education for earning a living and education for life. When we study in college, striving to become a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer, that is education for a living. But education for life requires an understanding of the essential principles of spirituality; it is about gaining a deeper understanding of the world, our minds, our emotions and ourselves.” Amma feels that in today’s world, importance is only being given to the former. But we have to ensure our children receive both types of education.

“The creation and the Creator are not two,” Amma says. “Just as all golden jewelry is nothing but gold, just as all earthen pots are essentially nothing but clay, just as every wave is basically water, so too it is the Creator that has become this world.”

Amma says it was because of this outlook of viewing the creation as God’s manifest form that in ancient times there was no specific need for environmental preservation. Protecting Nature was part of worshiping God and life itself. The Creator was seen through the creation, loving, worshiping and protecting Nature as the visible form of God. We should try to reawaken this attitude.

Amma says the younger generation possesses tremendous energy, and if that energy is properly channeled, they can perform wonders; they can even change the world. However, in the modern world where universal values such as compassion, service-mindedness, honesty, humility and patience are waning, and the use of drugs and alcohol are on the rise, far too many young people are perishing without ever even beginning to fulfill their potential. What our youth require today is strong role models who can guide them to becoming the shining lights of goodness, universal values and positive change they are destined to become.

In Amma’s view, a good leader will always lead by example—becoming one with the people, understanding their hearts and approaching their problems with compassion. See the pain of others as your own pain’ see their joy as your joy. Thus, it is only when we have the attitude of a humble servant that we can become a true leader.