Judith Cornell (1941–2010)

A compelling biography of the Hindu saint Amma, who travels the world hugging people. Amma's life is love, she gives love to everyone she encounters. She is widely respected for her humanitarian activities. Her commitments range from helping impoverished women in India, building a state-of-the-art hospital in Cochin, India (AIMS) to fundraising for disaster relief. Fundraising is by donations and through merchandise and food sales at her events, which are free.
Judith Cornell tells the story of Amma's humble beginnings in a poor remote village in southern India, where she was rejected by her family because her skin was too dark. Having only a fourth-grade education, Amma proves, by her monumental accomplishments, that real knowledge comes from within. Amma doesn't encourage anyone to become Hindu, but to go deeper in religion and spirituality. The author travels with Amma on the 1999 North Indian Tour, an experience she describes as spiritual boot camp, and discovers that Amma is one of India's most illustrious sages.
Cornell about Amma: "Time and again, she has demonstrated through her comportment and numerous charities the true humility of an enlightened master."… (mer)

Stunning full-color art demonstrates pioneering techniques in how to use the ancient sacred symbol of the mandala as a potent tool for transformation and self-healing. Based on Cornell's popular workshops, the book teaches you how to draw or paint mandalas in a meditative state to manifest creative energy and optimism and reconnect us to our essential Being. Cornell includes meditations, lists of art materials, specific exercises for healing, and fascinating history on the use of mandalas in the Navajo, Tibetan, and other indigenous cultures. This anniversary editions contains a CD with meditations set to music and guided exercises to help you access healing symbols and colors, activate healing energies for radiant health, and use the mandala to heal relationships.… (mer)

Judith Cornell's well-structured course offers a satisfying combination of basics and exercises that serve to stimulate and encourage individual creativity. With a Ph.D. in art and philosophy, artist-writer-educator Cornell has combined her fields of interest in constructing an art study suitable for beginners, but with something to contribute also for those whose study of art may be more advanced. The book's exercises guide the student through the basics of composition, painting, drawing, and creating with color pencils. Cornell's aim, however, goes beyond teaching the basics of art. The structure of the exercises include meditation techniques designed to enhance creativity. Emphasis is placed on learning to use values from light to dark to create compositions that vibrate with light. I worked about three quarters of this book. The section of exercises with various drawing pencils yielded some really interesting abstracts. I really enjoyed this and think it would be a great group activity.… (mer)