After Sherene told me that Amma was going to be in town, holding all-nighter Darshan at the Manhattan Center, I was intrigued. Now I’m embarrassed to admit I knew next to nothing about the hugging saint who drew a stunning amount of New Yorkers and travelers to her programs. There was quite a line during the day so I took a number and went downstairs for the delicious vegetarian Indian food, and about an hour later, took off.

After the 2nd Draft Reading Series, while the group went for drinks, I could only think of the music, the colors, and smells of incense and spices wafting through that 34th Street convention hall. So I left the Lower East Side, thinking it would be way easier to get to see Amma–and catch one of those famous hugs–late at night.

Nope! The lines were around the block and the fire marshal was holding court along with the saint. I could cut the line with my token from earlier in the day, but the place was a bustling marketplace with even more energy than during the day. At two in the morning, the numbers were still on J-1 (I was in the “W” group) so Amma might have gotten to me *maybe* around sunrise!

I went home to bed. Apparently she rarely takes breaks to eat, sleep, or do any of those human things. It is simply beyond comprehension, a stunning event to observe.