photo by Jesslee Cuizon
I’ve been blessed to be the recipient of many good hugs over the years. I find there is no other form of physical expression more genuine than a hug. You hug when you feel happy. You hug when you feel sad. Hugs are not dependent on mood or time. A hug may come during a period of happiness or in a period of despair.

The friendliest people I know give hugs often.

So if a hug is the ultimate representation of affection, compassion and empathy, then how does it feel to be hugged by someone who’s hugged more than 30 million people?

Enter Amma.

Yesterday, I received my first hug from Amma. For those unfamiliar with Amma, her official website Amma.org is a good place to start.

Sri Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma for short) has been touring the world to give free hugs for over 40 years. According to her biography, Amma left school at the age of nine to tend to her Mother’s illness by doing the heavy household chores and making it her full-time job. As she went from house to house to collect food for the family cows, she saw how much suffering there was in her village as well as in the neighboring communities and reached out to lend a helping hand. She fed, bathed, and comforted those in need despite being scolded by her family.

Her random embraces brought comfort to all with sorrow. She did this without question or judgment, and sought nothing in return.

Over the years, a devout spiritual following came to live by Amma and that number continued to grow to become what it is today: a world wide humanitarian and charitable organization called Embracing The World.

This is how a hugging empire was built.

I have known about Amma for many years and knew that she came into my home town of Toronto every so often to give out free hugs. To me, it felt strange receiving a hug from a complete stranger, especially from a spiritual icon. I have nothing against hugging, but was it really worth waiting in line for one? The answer will depend on people’s motives, but for me the answer was no.

However, this time I decided to go, mainly for the experience and because I could say I did something I was opposed to in the past. So I put aside my ego and went for it.

The experience itself is the reason to do all things – not the reward. In my case, that certainly rings true. I wasn’t expecting a life altering experience or for a miracle cure-all for my problems.

As I stood in line to get my free hug, many others stood and watched from the sidelines, eagerly awaiting to get theirs. Some of them becoming extremely emotional.

However, unlike those people you see on television infomercials who go into fits of convulsions as a televangelist proclaims they are now free of their sins, the people waiting in line for an Amma hug aren’t waiting for salvation. They are looking for unconditional love and support, as well as a great hug.

The hug itself lasted anywhere from 10 seconds to several minutes, depending on the person. Amma embraced me like she would any other, and chanted something indecipherable into my ears as I surrendered into her embrace. Afterwards I was given a Hershey’s Kiss and was led to an area where I could rest for a few minutes. Although I did not stay, in hindsight, maybe I should have since I was feeling quite light hearted.

- If anyone reading this is in the Toronto area and is even remotely curious about receiving their own Amma hug, I fully recommend taking the plunge. She is giving away free hugs again on Thursday July 22 at the Sheraton Centre. More information along with directions are provided on her Canadian website, the Amma Foundation of Canada.

You will receive a lettered token (called a Darshan) and must line up in the queue according to when your token letter is called.

I received my Darshan token at 10:00 in the morning, and got my hug at 2:30 in the afternoon. This was by far the longest i’ve waited for a hug.

I saw car plates in the hotel parking lot from as far as New Mexico. They came here just to have a chance to see Amma. I was even approached by an Italian man who told me he was an avid follower of hers for 30 years. The amount of world travelers in attendance was astounding.

For some, it is a lifetime experience that only comes once. For others, it means achieving higher spiritual awareness.

For me, I got exactly what I came for. A really cool hug.