About
Follow Us!
Posts by Madhusudan:
A key to good diet is no diet
April 6th, 2012
‘You don’t quite need food for energy’, I couldn’t believe this when Raghu said this. Raghu and Nisha, had left their successful career in US to come back to India to do organic farming with their 5 yr old son. currently they are also doing naturopathy and I found so much wisdom in their words and way of life. “Disease is simply dis – ease”, Raghu further shared, “so whenever you fall ill simply fast (with liquids ) , because your body knows how to heal itself”. So I fasted for 3 days and been on fruit diet in dinner for last one week and never felt so better.
Grass is greener at my side
April 4th, 2012
‘Attend to the soil and your soul would be nourished’. Spending time with Raghu, Nisha and Aum, an incredible family who sold their house in America and came back to India to do organic farming.
Smile it forward :)
February 10th, 2012
Few days back we were tagged with a big basket of best quality sweets, at least 5 kgs of it. Everyone knows I love sweets and they bring a big smile on my face but co-incidentally this last week I am on a Ayurvedic diet and which means I cannot eat any sweets for at least 2 weeks. It was interesting to observe my own emotions and cravings in this situation. What do you do when you are suddenly showered with abundance, I realized you have to flow it forward. A few of us together packed those sweets in small packets and tagged several others on a wednesday evening meditation. As I was packing them one sweet at a time all my initial craving for them slowly seemed to melt away, knowing they will bring a smile on someone’s face. This was the first time I had my sweets without tasting it and it’s flavor, I will remember all my life 
Anandwan
January 27th, 2012
Journey within, from Chris to Krishna
December 19th, 2011
Sharing updates from Christopher:
After a year in India and 11 months in the field at a leprosy community (otherwise known as the Loving Community)—a place that has become like home and its members like family—my visa is about to expire and it’s time to go toKenya to continue the journey with new faces, new children, and a new culture. I take off on the 20th, time is quickly running out, so this will not be the usual update that goes in to great detail. Rather, I’m going to share and comment on some photos from two very recent programs I helped launch that should communicate all I would in a more exhaustive update.
This year’s work was all about ‘fertilizing the soil.’ Because of the family-like relationships I formed, my consistent and ongoing presence at the community, and the trust that has been created here—it is now easier to initiatenew… in the form of programs, ideas, etc. Though that sounds simple, in terms of community development—and especially in the context of a relatively financially poor one set in its ways—this is the hardest and most important part of the process. It’s the foundation.
You might imagine that an outsider coming in to a community all of a sudden with all the answers, all the right resources, etc. purporting to know what is best, is likely going to fail. If life is basically OK for you and you are comfortable with your daily routine, why start eating spinach just because somebody says it’s good for you?
It takes time, it takes care, it takes patience. Just like caring for any living being.
A slice of smile
December 15th, 2011
As I entered the Smile Store today, I found two youngest volunteers, Asha (6yrs) and Shilpa (3yrs) helping clean the place. Entire day these children had spent rag-picking and were clearly little afraid but our other volunteers Siddhi and Dhara were talking to them and making them feel at home. They washed their hands, combed their hair and gave some bangles and toys from the store. When I asked them if they were hungry, they nodded in silence. Today being thursday, a small group of volunteers skip their afternoon lunch and support ‘Tyag Nu Tiffin’ project by fasting. I offered my lunch box to them and with love they accepted. As I watched them eat in silence, I thought to myself “can I love them as I would love my own daughter ?”, “what does it take to connect with another human being ?”. It was a small moment but it opened my heart in a big way. Feeling gratitude for all that we have and all that we can share.
Full circle
December 8th, 2011
10 years ago, among a small circle of friends on a wednesday evening is where my journey to life of service started. Harshida Aunty and Dinesh Uncle also lovingly called as Charity Focus Mom & Dad hosted these evenings. Now they have been doing this for more than 14 years, keeping their hearts and doors open. Every week in their home in California, random friends and strangers would walk in and sit for an hour of silence followed by circle of sharing and then dinner in silence. As I sat in that circle I felt my heart opening up and deep down I knew I was not the same person. I felt I founded an extended family and it felt like arriving home. Deeply inspired and to share it forward, me and my wife decided to host wednesday evenings, when we returned to India. Every wednesday would be magical and a pure gift to ourselves and community we belonged. So last wednesday it really felt life came full circle when Uncle and Aunty attended the meditation in our home in Ahmedabad. When I asked them ” How it felt to open their house for 14 years for strangers and making food for thousands of people?” with a smile they replied “It’s a blessing to have this opportunity to serve”
Life truly is blessed with such noble friends.
Stories for change
November 20th, 2011
Having a wonderful retreat with mass media students from Baroda. Sharing power of stories and using it for social transformation
Servant of Peace
August 29th, 2011
Meet Gopaldada, a true mystic and servant of humanity. An 86-year-young teacher, singer, activist, and philosopher, he was born in a small village of Gujarat, India called Unjha. Although he was brought up within a large traditional Gujarati family, he was never interested in pursuing a profession in business. From the beginning, he was attuned to nature and living outdoors. At the age of 16, when he was a young student, he was very inspired by Gandhiji and that led him to work with Vinoba Bhave, a disciple of Gandhiji at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, India.
He worked with Vinobaji as a Shanti Sainik (Servant of Peace) and for the Bhoodan Movement, which encouraged the volunteer gifting by wealthy landowners a percentage of land to their low caste landless laborers.
Gopaldada continues to support Vinobaji’s ideas about Gram Swaraj (village self-rule), a pivotal concept in Gandhiji’s philosophy to encourage a positive change in our society.
In spite of difficult circumstances, he started his own Balwadi (preschool) with no finances. He taught children through songs, stories, and by encouraging them to lead cleanliness projects—not charging anyone a penny.
His joyous laughter, his clear thinking, his simplicity, and his energy are infectious and inspirational not only to humanity, but to all of nature’s creatures. He attracts love and simplicity wherever he goes.
Even today, he travels from village to village passing along the message of Gram Swaraj. You will see him take a broom and clean the village roads, or sitting and discussing issues with village elders.
GopalDada and the Peacock
Don’t be surprised if you see this young man going to the balwadis and dancing amongst children and teachers, singing: “Avo wala reet bataun jeev vun kem! (Come, dear ones, I will show you how to live life)”.
Special Wednesdays
July 28th, 2011
Life is indeed like a box of chocolates when it comes to wednesday evenings. Each one unwraps new gifts and surprises. Our attendees include people from different ages, from our 4 month old daughter to 92 year old grandfather, we always had special guests and more special stories. This wednesday when we opened our eyes after meditation we found a tray full of fresh boiled corn and a box of hand made chocolates…life is indeed sweet with so much love.