The 13 Resolutions From Amma

Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, is revered as one of our time’s most significant spiritual leaders, embodying compassion, selflessness, and unconditional love. Her website is Amma.org. Often called "the hugging saint," Amma is known for her amazing mission of embracing the world with love and kindness. Through her simple yet raw act of giving hugs, Amma has personally consoled and uplifted millions of people, transcending cultural, religious, and geographic boundaries. Her darshan (spiritual embrace) is not just a physical gesture but an embodiment of divine love, bringing healing and transformation to countless lives. Amma's message is one of universal compassion, service to humanity, and a reminder of our innate potential for love. Born into a humble fisherman's family in a remote village in Kerala, India, Amma showed signs of spiritual realization from a very young age. She would spend long hours in meditation, often lost in deep communion with the divine. By the time she was a teenager, her intense spiritual experiences culminated in her realization of the oneness of all creation-a state of enlightenment. Despite initial opposition and struggles, Amma devoted her life to uplifting others, seeing divinity in every person she meets. Her teachings, grounded in the Advaita Vedanta tradition, emphasize that we are not separate individuals but interconnected souls, and her life itself is proof of the truth that love and service are the highest spiritual practices. Amma’s global humanitarian work through her organization, Embracing the World, touches nearly every aspect of human life. From building hospitals, schools, and orphanages to providing disaster relief, her mission is expansive and deeply rooted in compassion. Amma is committed to alleviating the suffering of the poor and marginalized, and she believes in the life-changing power of selfless service. Her vision of a world united by love is not just a distant ideal but a living reality that she works tirelessly to create through her countless charitable projects. Amma's amazing life of service and her embodiment of divine love inspire millions to walk the path of love, compassion, and spiritual awakening. Here are Her 13 Resolutions to help us live a pure and peaceful life: “1. The first resolution is to firmly establish the truth in your mind that you are not this perishable body. When the conviction "I am the Supreme Self expressed in this body" becomes deeply rooted, we can transcend all limitations.

The second resolution is to establish the truth that no one is separate from you. Think we are all one. Even if we cannot love everyone, we must try at least not to hate or be angry with anyone. We must resolve to accept them at their own level.
The third resolution is that you will remain calm and not become agitated when life does not go as you expect. Develop the attitude of accepting everything that comes to you. Enjoy the uncertainty of life.
The fourth resolution is to have a goal in life. Keeping that goal in mind, focus your attention on the present moment.
The fifth resolution is always to think positively. Recognize that it is the internal world we create that becomes our external world.
The sixth resolution is to be careful with your words when you interact with others. Listen to what comes out of your mouth when you speak.
The seventh resolution is to reiterate positive resolves in your mind. Try to do actions with a prayerful attitude.
The eighth resolution is to set aside a sizeable portion of time for meditation and mindful silence. These will help develop your inner strength.
The ninth resolution is to try to forgive the mistakes of others. Along with this, try to forgive your own mistakes and correct them.
The tenth resolution is to observe your own mind and introspect. Just as we brush our teeth daily we must also try to keep our minds clean.
The eleventh resolution is to pay attention to your physical well-being. Exercise in moderation and eat moderately at regular times. Make a firm decision to practice this.
The twelfth resolution is to abandon self-criticism and love yourself.
The thirteenth resolution is to see others as manifestations of God whenever possible and love them accordingly, so developing the basic qualities of humility and patience.

May my children be able to live a Blessed life like this. I remember the first time I sat in Amma’s presence, feeling her hug wrap around more than just my body. Years of tech hustle had left me wired and numb, a tight knot in my chest that wouldn’t loosen. Then, with one embrace, something inside shifted - a release deep in my nervous system, like a breath held too long finally escaping. It wasn’t magic. It was raw human connection, carried through the body and the heart. One of my clients once came to me drenched in grief, stuck in a loop of anger and heartbreak so thick it felt like they might drown. We worked with breath and shaking - no fluff, just the body doing what it needed to do to get out of that desperate fog. I kept thinking of Amma’s hugs - how they meet you exactly where you are, tough and tender all at once. That’s what I offer. Grounded presence, fierce patience, and a way back to feeling again. Amma” Amma is a striking soul I have followed as my guru since 1990. She is loving and pure - and Her darshans (hugs) provide a unique, healing, and earth-shaking experience. If you can travel to see Amma, either in the US, Europe, or back in her home ashram in Kerala India, it will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. Visit Amma.org to learn more. There are other articles about Amma here on my website. Search on the Articles page.

The Resolution Trap

Let's be honest. Most spiritual resolutions are just the ego dressing up in yoga pants. It's another self-improvement project, another way to feel 'better than' or 'more spiritual than' before. I've seen it for over 35 years in my devotion to Amma. People make these grand vows on New Year's, feeling pious and full of light. By February, the resolve has dissolved, and they're left with a subtle layer of spiritual shame. The problem isn't the resolution; it's the source. If the vow comes from a place of 'I should be better,' it's doomed. It's just more striving, more judgment. Bear with me.The real work isn't about adding a new spiritual habit; it's about excavating the resistance to the love that's already here. These resolutions from a true Master like Amma are not a to-do list for the ego. They are pointers, invitations to a deeper inquiry. They are asking, 'What in you resists this state of being?' That's the real practice.

Rose quartz is the stone of unconditional love, keep one close when you are doing heart work. *(paid link)*

Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now remains one of the most important spiritual books of our time. *(paid link)* Look, I've read thousands of spiritual texts over the years, and most of them are either too academic or too fluffy. Tolle hits this sweet spot where he's intellectually rigorous but doesn't make you feel like you need a PhD to get it. The guy suffered through severe depression and anxiety until he had this breakthrough at 29 ~ and that real-world pain comes through in his writing. Are you with me? He's not some monk who figured it out in a cave. He's a dude who was ready to end it all, then stumbled into something that actually works.

The Bhagavad Gita is not just a scripture, it is a manual for living with courage and clarity. *(paid link)*

I always recommend investing in a quality meditation cushion, your body will thank you for it. Look, I spent years sitting cross-legged on hardwood floors thinking I was being "authentic" or some shit. Know what I mean? My knees screamed. My back turned into a pretzel. After twenty minutes, I'd be so focused on my physical discomfort that any chance of actual meditation went straight out the window. A decent cushion isn't about luxury ~ it's about removing the obstacles between you and the practice. When your ass isn't numb and your spine can actually hold itself up, suddenly you can focus on what matters. *(paid link)*

Embodying a Single Vow

Instead of trying to swallow all thirteen resolutions whole, what if you chose one? Just one. And you didn't just 'practice' it, you allowed it to dismantle you. For years, I wrestled with the idea of unconditional love. I thought it meant being a doormat, smiling while people betrayed me. My mind created a thousand arguments against it. I know, I know.But in my work with clients, and in my own dark nights of the soul, I saw the truth. Unconditional love wasn't an action; it was a state of being. It meant loving the part of myself that was furious, the part that was terrified, the part that felt betrayed. It meant holding all of it without judgment. The moment I stopped 'trying' to love unconditionally and started allowing love to hold my own brokenness, the entire game changed. The resolution wasn't a goal to achieve; it was a space to inhabit. That's the difference between a spiritual checklist and true transformation.