
Arogya - Gift of Life (Heart Surgery)
On Sunday November 2nd, 2008, an Arogya function was held at the Sri Narayani Peedam. The function was held to give a gift of life to children needing heart surgery.
Sri Sakthi Amma presented 150 children with financial aid to take care of the medical expenses for their much needed heart surgery. The chief guest was Justice A. K. Ganguly, Chief Justice of Chennai High Court. Other dignitaries who participated in the function were Mr. Visu, Film Director, Dr. Mitch Gaynor, Oncologist from U.S.A., Ms. Peggy Dulany, Philantrophist from U.S.A, Dr. Alicia Delreal, U.S.A. and Mr. Panneer Selvam, Secretary of the Indian Medical Council.
During the function Beloved Amma gave a discourse calling on the Government to include spirituality as part of the curriculum.
Here is an excerpt of Amma's discourse, followed by part of the speech given by the chief guest that was published in "The Hindu" newspaper of India.
The managing trustee of the "Om Sakthi Narayani Siddar Peedam Charitable Trust" and head of the Sri Narayani Peedam, Thirumalaikodi. Sri Sakthi Amma, has urged Tamil Nadu and other state governments to include spirituality as a subject in schools.
Amma was delivering the benedictory address at the valedictory function of the Arogya scheme (to give 320 children the gift of life - part of the 32nd Jayanthi celebrations) which provides financial assistance to underprivileged children to meet their expenses for their critical heart surgery.
Sri Sakthi Amma said that Spirituality was the way to reach God and a way to make people realize their inner power, and influence them to serve others. Knowledge and wisdom alone are not enough in life. Even a terrorist has knowledge and wisdom which he uses for making bombs. But only when this knowledge is combined with love it can change to a form of service to others.
Many people have knowledge but spirituality alone can inculcate the trait of love for others. If a society has to be peaceful we need people with knowledge combined with love, Amma said. Spirituality would guide people in all their activities throughout their lives only when it is taught from childhood.
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Moral science classes that taught spirituality to children at school have been discontinued and the time is being used for doing other subjects. Spreading spirituality was not only the job of the spiritual organizations; the governments too had to do its share.
Spirituality encompassed moral lessons contained in all religions whether it was Hinduism, Christianity or Islam; all religions preached love and altruism and emphasized the rule that a person should not harm others. If the state governments include spirituality as a subject in the schools it would benefit the entire society.
The chief guest, Mr. A. K. Gangully, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, said that human life was the most precious form of life on earth and protecting it and giving aid to the sick and needy was the most important duty of every person. Spirituality was the essence of India and service the greatest form of religion.