Dr. Amma!

On May 25, 2010 the Hon. Member from the Precinct of Arboria and House Leader of the Amrita Party in the 49th Congress-elect received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the State University of New York at Buffalo. “Through her leadership of Amrita University, as well as through her humanitarian work, Chancellor Amma exemplifies the value of international collaboration and dedicated public service in the global arena,” said UB President John B. Simpson. “Her personal example and leadership demonstrate the critical importance of international and cross-cultural cooperation, exchange and dialogue, and it is in that spirit we honor Amma with the conferral of the SUNY Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters.”

In her address after accepting the degree, Amma said “Spirituality is not religious study. Spiritual education is a training that helps us to truly understand ourselves. It gives us strength and helps us comprehend the deeper realms of knowledge...Knowledge is like a river. Its nature is to constantly flow. Wherever it can flow, it does so, nourishing culture. On the other hand, the same knowledge, if devoid of values becomes a source of destruction for the world. When values and knowledge become one,there can be no more powerful instrument for the welfare of humankind. Today, physicists have even begun investigating the possibility that the essential substratum of the manifest universe and the individual are one and the same. We are standing on the threshold of a new era wherein material science and spirituality will move forward hand in hand...It is Amma’s prayer that we develop the expansive-mindedness to embrace both scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom. We can no longer afford to see these two streams of knowledge as flowing in opposite directions. In truth, they compliment one another. If we merge these streams, we will find that we are able to create a mighty river—a river whose waters can remove suffering and spread life to all of humanity.”

New plates for 49th Congress

(Click on plate to view larger image)

Every four years, along with the new Congress, a new passenger car license plate is issued. The 2010 base plate design features a scene from the Devi Mahatmyam: Hanuman, Durga and Kali leading the Devi army into battle with the demon Mahishasura. The slogan at the bottom of the plate Narayani Namo'stute is also taken from the Devi Mahatmyam.

New for 2010: the serial numbers on these plates are printed flat, rather than being embossed. This is actually a cheaper method of producing plates than the traditional hydraulic press, and has been adopted by several U.S. states.

The sample plate above is actually a general issue, not a vanity. The serial number LSN 623 can be taken as a reference to the 623rd name of the Divine Mother in the Lalita Sahasranama: Om Kevalayai Namah (Salutations to the Devi who is the absolute, who is complete, independent and without any attributes).

Note that all plates are permanent, and remain with the owner when the vehicle is sold or scrapped. You will still see older 1998, 2002 and 2006 base plates on vehicles in Patria. To view more license plates, including diplomatic and consular plates, visit Patria's miscellany page.