The focus of the retreat was on creating deep connections through personal presentations. Each participant gave a 7-minute “spirited talk” in which they shared their personal journeys. Some prepared powerpoints, some ad-libbed, everyone shared from the heart. Shagun shared about the richness of sharing personal journeys:

Three particular themes emerged that linked many of the sharings:

1. Allowing for spaces where service and compassion can fill
2. Imparting culture and values to others around us
3. Being compassionate in the face of exploitation

Siddharth, who has been reflecting a lot on ‘spaces’ recently shared this.

I come away from Madurai, with an intention of creating more spaces through the simple process of inner engineering

We closed the retreat with a circle of sharing on each of our intentions as we left the space. In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, we thought of evoking the sharings through a different framing: What *don’t* you know as you take the next step of your service journey? Some interesting and heartfelt responses followed, Ragu noted each of them:

1. It is easier to stick to our values and practices when we are in a service mode.
   I don’t know how to keep the same level of commitment when something personal is at stake and am being exploited.
2. I don’t know how I should treat and deal with money.
3. I am often hard on myself. I don’t know how to maintain a fine balance in holding a space.
4. What is the difference between security and sustainability? I am scared of money. I don’t know how much to let go.
5. How do I see all as one. I’d like to treat everyone the same but don’t know how.
6. Not knowing the next moment, yet I have to plan. I don’t know how.
7. I don’t know what is the one thing that I want to commit my life to.
8. I don’t know if 100% clarity is possible in being in relationship with others. I feel I need this to fully help others.
9. What does it mean to be a good leader? I can lead myself well, but I don’t know if that is enough to lead others too.
10. I don’t know how an organization can create a “circle of love” that nurtures the values of the organization
    as it brings in a new generation of people who cannot directly feel the original cause and vision.
11. I don’t know how to consistently relate to everyone I engage with in the organization with the same level of care.
12. I don’t know how to balance all my interests and especially be able to serve my family with
    the same passion as I serve others (as I tend to take my family for granted).
13. I don’t know how to be spontaneous in an institution.
14. My life is chaotic. I don’t know how to find an order in it.
15. I have an abundance of opportunities in my life. I don’t know what I should commit to or whether to wait for divine inspiration.
16. I don’t know how to pass on the gifts given to me by my elders to my peers and my next generation.
17. I don’t know how to deal with exploitation with compassion so that no one is a loser.

A deep bow of gratitude to all of the Moved By Madurai participants for sharing their time and presence. A special thanks to our of lovely hosts Deepa, Divhya, Vara Aunty, Bala Uncle, and the rest of the Aravind team.

‘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.

“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time.  But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” (Lila Watson, from Indicorps website)

Since I have been back from India, many people have asked me one question that has been difficult to answer.  “What did you do while you were there?”  How do I answer this? Throughout the indescribable five weeks that I spent with the Manav Sadhna community at the Gandhi Ashram, I did a lot of being and very little actual doing.  As I have been reflecting on this, I’ve experienced various reactions, ranging from guilt for not doing anything that created tangible results to utter joy from the simplicity of just being.  I wasn’t sure how to process these contradictory emotions.  Recently, a few friends sat down with me and compassionately forced me to think through these feelings (you know who you areJ).  The conversation, guided by deep and present listening, led me to question the standard measuring stick we often apply to our contributions and I’m realizing more everyday that heart-led being creates infinite and immeasurably more ripples than mind-led doing.  This is not to say that we do nothing and just sit back and observe.  Rather, I believe heart-led being is what ultimately creates a doing that is not driven by ego or ambition, but instead, by purity of intention.  And this is what allows for co-creative forces to organically coalesce, contributing to the greater good in distinct, yet equally valuable ways.

So, in a nutshell, I guess this is how I would answer the question that prompted all of this pondering to begin with!  And what ripples have this heart-led being created since I have been back? Infinite and immeasurable ones….and they are still being createdJ.  But this personal reflection has more to do with the being I experienced while in India.  How was I being?  A lot of it was through my heart’s friend, Raghubhai.

“Everyone makes me a hero but I always strive to make myself zero…this is the only way that I can truly connect with people at the heart level.”

Raghubhai has been called many things. Shravan. Love Warrior. Noble Friend. All of these names are fitting, yet no names or words can really capture Raghubhai’s spirit.  For years, he has devoted his time to acting sort of like a “meals on wheels”.  He personally delivers tiffins (Indian lunch boxes) to elderly individuals in the slums that rely on the sympathy of their neighbors for nutritious food.  Raghubhai began serving in this way through the help of a single donation that has replicated itself ever since (mainly through anonymous, unsolicited donations).

After reading all of this, you might be surprised to learn that Raghubhai does all of this without the assistance of his legs.  He lost the ability to walk after contracting polio at the age of three.  But with a smile that lights up the entire street, Raghubhai pedals a hand operated tricycle to maneuver through Ahmedabad’s busy city roads and through the narrow slum alleyways.  In the front of his tricycle, he is able to squeeze in 14 steel tiffins, each with three tiers of food containers.  At the entrance of each tiny room, he hops off his tricycle and walks on his hands to greet each person.  Raghubhai personally delivers these tiffins so that he can spend quality time with each person, hear their struggles, and support them in other ways if possible.  Because his amazing spirit brings out the generosity in everyone around him, nearby neighbors volunteer themselves to carry the tiffins and walk along with Raghubhai through the alleyways.  If you tried to praise Raghubhai’s compassion, his response would be that he is just an instrument through which God is serving those that are most in need.

When I first heard about him through friends that have volunteered at Manav Sadhna, my heart went out to him and I thought, “Wow, what an amazing person…I can’t believe he cannot walk.”  After meeting and delivering tiffins with him, my thoughts have transformed.  Raghubhai’s bright spirit and infinite kindness creates ripples of compassion everywhere he goes.  These ripples manifest themselves externally and internally.  It seems that everyone that crosses his path is inspired to serve with him and something inside is changed by the end of the day.  It might be a quiet and subtle shift but it is a shift nonetheless.  And it seems that this shift spills into everything else in our lives…at least this is what being with Raghubhai has created for me.

I feel that, actually I know, that I went to India in search of spiritual love and belonging.  I desperately wanted to find my purpose and my place.  I wanted to make a tangible contribution that would allow me to feel like my life, my existence mattered.  Almost immediately upon arriving, I grappled with the ethos of Manav Sadhna, which is to create and contribute by being rather than focusing on doing.  How could I just be when I only had five weeks to do?  Would I leave India not having accomplished anything?  What would bemy contribution???  I was excited to meet Raghubhai during my second week…finally, I could help him to deliver food and I could fall asleep happy, knowing that I had done something.  But as I spent more and more time with him, and Raghubhai became my friend, delivering food was just icing on the cake.  What I looked forward to more than anything else was just being with him.  Being in his presence expanded my heart and opened my eyes.  The analysis paralysis of my mind took a break for once.  I didn’t know whether I was being or doing or both but it didn’t matter because I was so content!

As the weeks raced by me and the time for returning to my life in DC approached, fear crept into me.  How could I possibly return in the middle of winter to a city that seems to thrive off of never ending “happy hours” and conversations that revolve around that dreaded question, “What do you do (in your profession)?”  I felt myself clinging to the people and environment around me.  I became convinced that I couldn’t leave. So much so that when I got to the airport, I learned that my domestic flight to Delhi had been canceled, causing me to miss my connecting international flight (Signs from the universe or my stupidity for flying on Air India?)!

Arriving back at the airport in Washington Dulles was tough. All I wanted to do was to get on the next flight back to India.  But the very next day I somehow crawled out of bed and went to work. Nothing had changed….yet everything had changed.  As I have gone about my work/life routine over the past month, I’ve noticed a subtle shift taking place in my outlook, which of course spills into my interactions and decisions.  The more present that I am in my interactions with anyone, judgments and presumptions (even subconscious ones) are replaced by love and acceptance.  Perhaps just being with Raghubhai has helped to create more of a being spirit in my life back here.

One of my most heartwarming memories with Raghubhai was during one of my last nights in Ahemedabad. He had just been gifted a three wheel scooter by a team of love warriors so that he could perform his work more quickly and easily.  (Pedaling a heavy tiffen laden tricycle with your hands is no joke, which I quickly realized the few times I shared a seat with him.)  So there I was sitting on the back of his scooter, zooming through the busy night streets on our way to Seva Cafe, the car lights behind us a blurry mist, and he started singing a spiritual song at the top of his lungs.  Raghubhai has been gifted with a beautiful voice (scroll to the bottom in the “comments” section) perhaps because God knew he would use it to bring light to others.  I looked up at the vast sky above us and smiled in gratitude to the universe.

Reflecting on that evening now as well as Raghubhai’s angelic voice, I am also reminded of a recent note that my friend Rahul Pardasani posted in reference to him.  It was taken from the writings of Kahlil Gibran’s, “The Prophet”, and it said:

“And you receivers… and you are all receivers… assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.

Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;

For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the freehearted earth for mother, and God for father.”

The gratitude that each person feels when they cross paths with Raghubhai has inspired many to fast on Thursdays and donate the money that would have gone towards their lunch or dinner towards Raghubhai’s tiffin fund.  “Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings.”

When I asked Raghubhai about his views on spirituality, he shared with me that he sees God in everyone.  Perhaps this is how he was able to see the need in the elderly when everyone else had forgotten.  Perhaps this is how he is able to bring hope and unity into the homes of families that are experiencing terrible difficulties.  Delivering tiffins by day, Raghubhai also delivers holy tulsi plants by evening.  These plants have a deep symbolic meaning in Hindu tradition and they are meant to bring peace and harmony into our environment.  He sings a special prayer with each plant that is delivered.  After the completion of the tulsi ceremony I felt the beauty of his voice lingering in the air, touching everyone with love.

While growing up as a boy in a small rural town, Raghubhai spent evenings listening to lectures from the Bhagavad Gita.  Something that resonated with him was the teaching about attachment and service.  Do not get attached to the fruits of your labor.  This is what creates expectations and takes away from the purity of your original intention.

“My world has changed ever since I came to Manav Sadhna. From the people here, I started thinking positive all the time.  No matter if I am doing something small, I do my best to help someone by giving compassion and love.  I used to second guess my open emotions and wondered, “Should I show them my love?” But now I love openly. No matter what is happening in the world, I want to continue doing good work.  I can’t become Jayeshbhai but I can learn from his thoughts and his actions and try to be like him.  I pray to continue learning and growing.  He came forward from his karma and I want to come forward from my good karma, from my love.  Everyone makes me a hero but I always strive to make myself zero…this is the only way that I can truly connect with people at the heart level.”

Cultivating selfless, pure love is a journey over many lifetimes.  When I become lost along my path, I know I can always reflect on Raghubhai’s life as a guiding light.

Ekatva has been such an organic journey. Each day for the past few years, a family of 7 Staff Members from Gandhi Ashram-based NGO, Manav Sadhna, have made the EKATVA pilgrimage a reality for our 16 children.  Whether supporting and managing the children’s health, education, emotional ups and downs, family relations and problems, and as important, the full creative production of the EKATVA show, the Manav Sadhna Staff and EKATVA Family members have been behind each day, each interaction, each step.

Now with the tour coming to fruition, and for children who have rarely ever left their homes, without such a family there is no way that such a journey can become a reality. For this we share and celebrate the love and journey of our EKATVA leaders and children’s caretakers. Meet the Ekatva Family members : Sirish Bhai, Jagat Bhai, Naina ben and others.

Read complete post here

I love my community. Being in contact with Manav Sadhna provides a richness to daily life that complements regular work in a perfect way. There is always something or other going on; a gathering at Seva Cafe, a volunteer visiting from this place, a group to interact with from that. Last month we hosted Teach for India, a powerful gathering where we heard stories from fellows who spent a day and a night in Ahmedabad with no wallet or cell phone, just Rs.50. Later we hosted Jagriti Yatra, a group of 450 social entrepreneurs. We broke them up into groups and had them interact with specific projects (each group had a name like ‘compassion’, ‘oneness’; Jayeshbhai’s group was called ‘love’). Nimo and I facilitated one group and it was really wonderful sharing our journeys and about what made MS special. What a privilege to be interfacing and influencing and creating ripples with India’s changemakers of tomorrow.

Read complete post here

We had the honour of interacting with these guests over a couple of days, including a beautiful evening at ESI Sughad. It all started off with Pavi and Suchi sharing their 5 year journey in understanding the Aravind Eye Care story. In spite of all the numbers that rolled out – 32 million eye tests, close to 4 million eye operations, this was clearly not a story of statistics. It was a humble journey of an effort rooted in compassion. The story of a retired 58 yr old Dr. V who set out with an intention of performing eye surgeries using just 11 beds. 35 years and 21 eye doctors in the family later, we now witness the world’s largest eye care institute that allowed people to ‘pay if they can afford to’ and receive the best treatment possible. The most powerful moment came when they read out an entry from the journal of Dr. V. After all those decades of service it read:

“Attachment to your village, your hospital, your state or country – that must go. You must live in your soul and face the universal consciousness. To see all as one. To have this vision and work with strength and wisdom all over the world. To give sight to all.”

Swami Viditanandji followed up with a simple definition of service – anything that manifests as a result of Love and Compassion in your heart. What is most important, is to serve with our hands, with a simple connection to what is being built at every step. Enough of the planning, service is time to do, and to feel. To serve with a sense of offering is the greatest gift we can receive. To ‘offer’ is to be ‘human’.

Swami Swatantranandji spoke about the sustainability of our service. It is of two kinds he said – internal and external. The internal service can be equated to the roots of a plant, while the leaves and flowers that blossom, are a manifestation of this. There is no either – or. They must exist together, or else it is unsustainable. He added that this is a time for us to constantly look within – and that is our greatest service to ourselves.

Prof. Shariq added his insights into the importance of a community and environment. We are all connected to one another through time via ancestors, and through space via a universal consciousness. If we work on it, he said, the time for a global humanitarian community would not be far away. Through his ‘Swagyan’ program – a structured discussion via Skype with students across the worlds in diverse backgrounds, his research helps identify the critical factors that go into creating an eco-system. His understandng is that ‘Swagyan’ or Self Understanding is the most powerful tool for creating any form of service environments.

At a powerful dinner in silence that followed, you could see that everyone had enough to chew on, and reflect. We often talk of the sustainability and impact of the work we are constantly doing. This night provided us insight into what exactly is sustainable service. Diverse speakers with diverse subjects came together to share stories about one simple fact – it is internal work that is constantly creating the most sustainable, impactful and beautiful manifestations of service.

~ To know yourself is to know the universe ~

For more pictures, click here!

We began our preparations two weeks before her arrival on Feb 1st. There was so much excitement in the house. Who to call, what to cook, how will we organize our little living room into an abundant space for meditation, reflection and kindness. Just how will all work out? Right in the middle of this hustle bustle, we hear someone speak to us in an almost whisper.

“Meghna ben, can i make a small request?”

“Yes sure”, i replied.

“I would like to make something little for everyone that Wednesday. I would like to make cabbage parathas.”

“Aarti Ben, there will be almost 40 people. Besides, it’s you who always cooks for all the people that sit in silence every Wednesday”.

“Yes sure, but as you know i just got my gas connection and i would like to cook it in my house, on my brand new gas stove.”

This left me speechless.

Aarti Ben has been a part of our family since the last two years. This has been the first ever job of her life. A mother of two children, she comes from a very low financial background. Before she started helping us, her husband was alcoholic and jobless, had an almost open roofed house (2 walls, a muddy floor and a plastic sheet to cover the top as a shade) and completely dependent on neighbors and well wishers for food for her little children. Times were tough. But she worked hard. Slowly and steadily she saved money over two years, got her floor tiled, and managed to get a tin roof for her house. Just recently she managed to get a new gas connection which costs almost Rs 5000. Until then she would cook on a wood burner, which takes almost an hour to heat up. Not to mention that the smoke is harmful when inhaled.

I requested her to take all the raw materials from our house. “But then that won’t be my offering right?” she said. Again, i’m left speechless. If this weren’t enough, as the days got closer, she said, “I’m going to make kheer (rice pudding) as well”.

And so, that’s exactly how it happened. We had volunteers pour in to help set up the atmosphere for one of the most special wednesday’s of 2012.  Sheetal and Neerad helped us with organic cutlery logistics, Anar ben gave her artistic touch to one of the best flower hearts with an Aum in the middle and Aarti Ben had her special feast contribution, just how she’d wanted to do it.

The Wednesday became even more special since we had the blessings of Pavi’s parents and sister Deepa, all who have been so closely associated with Aravind Eye Care. Pavi’s sharing of the stories with Dr. V and the dream to give eyesight to millions for free touched everyone so deeply that even today after a week, people are still in awe and speechless on how someone at this stage of life, can think about giving so selflessly to others. A dream that is still fully thriving and in action right up to their third generation.  And to top it up, it even becomes a case study for the top most business schools all over India! She also shared some very beautiful insights on kindness, compassion and suffering through the exemplary journey of Dr. V. A journey, that cannot be put into words. Pavi’s recent contribution (Infinite Vision – the book) to this dream is a priceless gift to the world into the lessons of love and compassion in so many degrees and dimensions.

For the first time, the full house of some 40+ guests stayed back way into the night, just to get more words of wisdom into Dr.V’s stories. So much so that some volunteers had to literally force people into calling it a day At the end, when we shared with Pavi about Aarti Ben’s contribution and story, so moved was one volunteer, that she decided to tag Aarti Ben, with a brand new saree And the ripples of love kept continuing!

Through these circles of silence life feels so blessed to be able to witness and welcome all the goodness there is.

What a wonderful wednesday

Attaching the entire audio of the talk:

For 5 months, it’s been a beautiful process to observe how coordinators from the Deepkiran family, our gruhmatas and volunteers are getting involved to serve the food. The idea was so appealing that everyone managed to help in-between their working hours.
Starting from managing time for collecting the required amount of breads from food factory to distributing and serving them to little kiddies, we received all the required support and it’s been done effortlessly. I had been spending some time with the kids and with Gruhmatas to learn about them. Gruhmatas have been staying at Aashram away from their families and nurturing ashramashala children for more than 6-7 yrs. I was moved by their dedication and unconditional love. Each time after interacting with kids, I was all smiles to see them relish every bite of food while they shared it with their friends.

It was beautiful to see it all connect again, when Jigneshbhai and Binaben visited the Teacher Training College last week and shared their love with the children. Jigneshbhai shared his insights behind their work, their philosophy and what inspires them. At that time it became difficult to figure out, who was the recipient of giving- Deepkiran Foods, the recipient of joy or the kids the recipient of bread. The beauty of this project was more well explained by one volunteer when he said, “It’s the bread of God being served to our inspiring children.” Truly symbolizes ‘Alakhno Rotlo’.

My hearty gratitude to each one who is helping us execute this wonderful idea

As part of his service in Ahmedabad, Chris Lowman spent close to one year volunteering with Manav Sadhna. As he now moves on to another continent, it is interesting to observe what gets carried with him. Invariably it’s the smallest things that you wouldn’t really notice while in this environment in the Gandhi Ashram. If you think about your life and what has got you to this point of reading this text, you will realize that the smallest things have also created the greatest transformation in your life. It serves as a reminder to me to never forget their importance, for it is all that matters in the long run.

When I think about scalability and the impact of our work on the larger world I often neglect the simpler things. Perhaps it’s a curse as an intellectual to expect an intelligent idea to solve the world’s problems as opposed to simple, yet consistent thought and action.

Vinobha Bhave said something very beautiful on this matter:

“The work of a people’s revolution always occurs in a single location. It is the wind that carries it far and wide. During the Bhoodan Movement, I always walked, creating local leaders and not a central leadership. In fact it was not even local leadership, but local service.

The Buddha spent his life walking from Prayag to Gaya, speaking only in Pali. All he had were a few thoughts, but he spent his life living in line with these thoughts and they were worthy. That is why they have spread all over the world and are discussed even today.”

As I watch another picture of Chris planting a tree outside the Community Centre in Nairobi, and naming it ‘Rose’, I can’t help but think about a pure thought that is flowing across the world, transforming those who surrender to it.

~ We can do no great things, only small things with great love ~

We worked for over three and a half hours and packaged over 1100 warm meals for the elderly, veterans, and young children Anand and his friend Scott who came with us, both have autism. Some of the tasks were a bit harder for them, but the kitchen members were so kind in encouraging and coaching them. Standing in the heat of the kitchen without break for 3 hours to package the meals was hard for them undoubtedly but Scott and Anand didn’t even think of giving up. It was also a very multi-racial kitchen, one that makes you love America — nearly every race you can imagine was included — Caucasians, African Americans, Mexicans, Philipinos, Indians — you name it! All working together.

We were working alongside staff members at the kitchen and some prisoners are part of a rehabilitation program. I knew Anand and Scott would at first be a little nervous around the prisoners, but at the end Anand said, “It didn’t even matter who as a prisoner and who wasn’t. I couldn’t even tell.” When Anand had to take a break to go to the restroom, he returned and was having difficulty putting on his plastic apron. (Since it was plastic it was hard for Anand to open and separate and also to tie). One prisoner so gently and compassionately helped Anand put the apron on it. It was a beautiful and powerful moment to witness.

Anyone can be gentle. Anyone can give service. Anything can be service.

When I asked Anand and Scott at the end how they felt about the day, Scott said “I felt like I was serving others and it felt great. Lately I’ve only been focusing on myself and I wanted to do something for others.” The power of that statement?

One month ago Scott lost his mother to ALS. As a teenager with autistm, Scott really needed his mother in this world. But still in his heartfelt reflection of giving the first words that came out of his mouth were that over the past month, when coping with his mother’s lost as best as he can understand given his autism, he had been focusing on himself too much! What courageous and selfless inspiration. He also thanked me for inviting him with Anand.

When I asked Anand how he felt about the prisoners he said he felt good about it and learned that anyone can serve. Every day since we served, Anand has been positive, compassionate, and in touch with his emotions in a way that is usually very very difficult for him. Sometimes, Anand has a lot of difficulty controlling his anger. Only last week he had really hit me in the evening time as I was teaching him because of something he was upset about. But that day, you could tell Anand was able to feel the spirit of compassion and caring.

That’s not always so easy for Anand because of his autism, and I know not all lessons and all days will end feeling like success.But for me, it is because of the memory of the days like the Houston Food Bank, that I know the process of working with Anand is always one that is successful and one that I will never give up on and one that has shaped the fiber of my character. And I can’t help but think it was Ishwar Kaka’s spirit that helped craft the entire day so beautifully. It will be a gift for me always.

At the end of the day, we gifted the kitchen some quotes on posters we had hand-made. They wanted to put them in the kitchen immediately but safety regulations required them to be laminated first. Anand also wrote in his power point presentation that this day of service was dedicated in loving memory of Ishwar Kaka. “Ishwar Kaka (also known as ‘the toilet man’) was an inspiring social activist. He fought untouchability by building thousands of low-cost toilets throughout rural India.”

(The author of this post Aditi Chokshi is currently a student at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. She has been an inspiration to so many people who’s lives have been transformed through her selfless spirit of service and immense love for all human kind.)

The day arrived when I lived up to my promise of visiting him. I was very excited to go there as birds and animals have always fascinated me but my excitement was only a miniscule percentage of Nikunjs’. The entire family was there to greet me – Grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, uncles and aunts and all their nephews and nieces. My first reaction was Oh my god! After the introductions we had tea and snacks and then left for the bird sanctuary. Nikunj’s knowledge of the birds and flora fauna is amazing. His love for birds started when he was a little boy and would often spend hours and hours looking at them and try to know more about them. Often when ornithologists visited Khijadiya, he would come spend a lot of time talking to them and listen to their stories. He learnt English when he started his graduation. He is one of the four in a population of 1600 in the entire village to have studied so much. Thereafter, he started reading more and more about birds their background, breeding, migratory pattern and so on. Much to my surprise this amazing destination has only one forest officer and just one guide who can only converse in Gujarati. Nikunj is the only person at Khijadiya sanctuary, who can converse in more than 3 languages and speaks decent English. He has helped several tourists from all over the world.

But what completely took me by surprise was when we heard the staff at the bird sanctuary telling their friends – See he is Nikunj and he takes acts as a guide for free and they started laughing as if he is doing a foolish act. I then asked Nikunj, what inspired you to do this and he had the most simple and amazing reply. I love birds and I love khijadiya – my birth place. I want everyone in the world to know of this beautiful place. The phenomenal combination of salt water on one side and sweet water on the other attracts maximum variety of birds from all over the world. He says, I don’t charge money because I do it for my love for birds. If they offer I accept gladly but I never ask. I want to help spread the message that this sanctuary has some of the most amazing variety of migratory birds and one of the best in the country. He has no intention to set up a tourist company or anything like that. He just lives in the present, enjoying with birds by his side and helping tourists from all over the world to know more about this beautiful place.

During the entire day, He took me to all the favourite spots, his farm, served me home cooked food and showed me all the different variety of birds we could spot. He has left in my mind an indelible impression of simplicity, honesty and true love for nature. He is pursuing his CS in Rajkot, so whenever he has his vacations or some spare reading time, he heads home in search of new birds that would have migrated from far off lands. I would never forget the warmth, eagerness to learn and share, deep sense of attachment to nature and his love for birds. Not to forget some of the best photographs I could take with his help, some of which I have attached with this blog. He breathes gift economy each day and the best part is that he is not even aware of it.

At 2 in the afternoon – on a wednesday, while people in Ahmedabad are taking it easy, shops shut for the owners afternoon nap, my friends Neerad and Sheetal spot a 20 something year old boy smiling and singing away in his own world, while sparkling his owners car “The reason i say sparkle is because he did it with such concentration, cleaning the smallest of spots with a microscopic view, as if polishing a diamond” said Neerad. They were quick enough to notice the enthusiasm in his being. Surprised at this, they started chatting with him. And he immediately responded by saying “i love cleaning cars” Thats it! How amazing to be accepting something without reasoning it in anyway. His simplicity floored them, and they immediately requested him if he could clean their car. He was so excited! It was like a child with more toys to play

Neerad and Sheetal came home quickly with this little story of theirs and pointed me to the boy below our apartment cleaning their car. We were soon to add on another car for his enjoyment. It wasn’t so much about us getting our cars cleaned. It was more of the fact that he enjoyed it so much, that we wanted to step up the happiness for him.

And while we were still feeling good about our little act of kindness – and that ‘giving’ feeling, he decided to blow us by his act of service! A couple hours later he came home to give us the keys. I humbly thanked him and offered him some money as gratitude. He waved his hands in the air and said “i can’t take this. I just love cleaning cars!!” He quickly dissolved the ego of ‘giving’ inside me with his simplicity. Absolutely bowled by his reaction i tried to convince him to accept my offerring. But he suddenly started to ‘run’. He got into the elevator and left – and i found myself following him 2 floors down by steps to bring him back up, promising him that i won’t give him money. Rather i just wanted him to have a conversation with me. After a few minutes of this crazy adventure, i managed to bring him back home. I started asking him about his name, where he came from, what he did, et all. His name was Akash and belonged to a small village near Ahmedabad. He worked for one of our neighbors downstairs and lived with them in their other apartment in a nearby area. I was so touched by his humility. I thanked him for his gesture and introduced myself as a volunteer of service at the Gandhi Ashram, inviting him to interact with our community and friends. I took down his number and asked him if he could visit us again. Not knowing how to react, like a little child he responded that he could only come after the 16th since his owners were travelling

Before i could say something else, he started to run again! And i found myself following him again – to come back just one last time. I quickly run inside and get a bag of pistachios for him to share with his family. Thankfully he accepted them With the sweetest smile on his face and mine, we parted knowing that we would meet again.

In that moment, i didn’t know who was the giver and the receiver. As Nipun would say ‘Give, Receive, Dance’. Truly, all i could do was Smile and Dance!!

One of the members of the retreat held with him a few thoughts by Vinobha Bhave that provided an invisible direction over the next few days. “These words would have come to Vinobha at the appropriate time for his journey.”, he said, “Just like a flashlight, these thoughts have come to us. It is not important whose thoughts they are, but for now it is our duty to use them to find our way ahead as Ladders, not Leaders.” Here are some of those words.

“

It has always been said that extraordinary thoughts in the heart of any one person is the plan of the divine. Tradition states that just thoughts are not enough, the capacity to lead is also important. Today we challenge this tradition. We aspire to create a network of friends. Our faith in the divine tells us that we will be successful in seeking a process that will end this era of leadership.

There are some words that give inspiration to all of humanity, enabling them to achieve tremendous feats. Each era receives one word at a time. Just like ‘Quit India’ enabled all of India to achieve its independence. ‘Collective Service’ is one such phrase that has vast and profound meanings. Earlier, we had phenomenal leaders, but the days of leadership are over. That does not mean that we won’t be blessed with gifted people; in fact I think there will be people with even more potential than before and this is essential for the progress of humanity. But they will be so great that they will not assume the role of leaders. They will live as one with the people. Their beauty will lie in the fact that they will blend with society and work.

The universe has constantly sent men who will show humanity the way, but it has now decided that it will send us thoughts. Everyone will evaluate them, take decisions and together proceed ahead. The concept of humanity following one single person is out-dated. Social workers are too busy doing work and don’t do any in-depth thinking. That is why they do not adapt thoughts to their own context. They say that they are ‘Gandhian thinkers’ and work in line with ‘Gandhian principles’. The concept should not remain Gandhiji’s but should become their own. Only then will our internal faith build. If we make concepts our own, only then will enthusiasm build and we will have unanimous elation.

The beauty of the Bhoodan movement was that there was no pan-India leadership, because the Bhoodan Movement moved on its own feet. Even Buddha was not an all India leader. He travelled from Allahabad to Bodh Gaya speaking only Pali. But his thought was worthy of propagation and his life was led in accordance with this thought. Therefore, it spread across the world. The work for a ‘People’s revolution’ also takes place in one location, but travels across the world with the wind. Since I am also on a walking pilgrimage, the leadership is also local.  In fact, it is not local leadership, but local service. And because we approach people as their servants, they donate land. Our strength lies in the fact that we are servants of our own selves, our own Gurus. The sparkling divinity in each person’s heart can be unearthed only when we approach them with this pure devotion.

I’m not interested in the grandeur of a full moon; I prefer being enraptured by the darkness of a moonless night. For in it we notice the countless stars in the sky. The stars that seem small are sometimes larger than the brightest star. They are all decorating the sky yet maintain their independence without the harsh light of the moon.

”

Vinobha Bhave, In Maitri Magazine, 12 Nov 2011.

‘Sabras’ was more than a collection of twenty individuals. It was about an aggregation of diverse thought processes that have now dispersed like grains of salt adding flavour to the world wherever they go. It is important that we facilitate its dispersion as effectively as we facilitated its aggregation, and that is why we share our thoughts.

This continued for a couple days, until one night we both realised that we weren’t running a ‘Seva Cafe’ anymore. It had become a regular restaurant in its functioning. It was at that moment that the two of us decided to abandon the excel files and run on something unthinkable for us – ‘Faith’.

What if we began blindly trusting every person that walked into our space. Would it be possible to sustain ourselves if we believed that there lay a goodness within every guest? We weren’t sure then, but we were willing to see what happens. For the next few days, we decided to work with this mindset.

Everytime a judgmental thought arose in our minds, we decided to not feed it. Lets love all, serve all and interact with everyone in the same manner is what we thought. After all, we were just a platform to exchange diverse thought and nothing more.

The universe has a tendency to send just the right person to you at the right time. The next day, we saw the ‘Chai-wallah’ from across the street-market walk into the space with his wife and 7 year old son. We knew him from our earlier interactions.

Immediately, the mind started to work. Lahar and I looked at each other and decided to experiment with our new outlook. We spoke with him for about 15 minutes, explaining the concept with as much love as possible. We soon realized that this was the first time for them in a restaurant. A ‘proper’ sit-down meal with cutlery and tablemats, complete with cordial service. What an opportunity i thought, to be able to provide this environment to someone.

Renewed with positivity, we continued interacting with others. About half an hour passed by and I was meekly tapped on the shoulder. I turned around and looked down to see the seven year old boy with his outstretched hands, offering me a pile of tablemats and cutlery. On inquiring, I realized he had decided to clear up the adjacent tables after the guests left. He had observed some of our international volunteers that night and decided to take up the initiative himself.

Whatever concerns I had about our new outlook stopped – my heart opened and it all started making sense. That night, the family may not have paid a ‘large’ amount for the meal, but it was valued perfectly by them, and that is all we can ask for. I then realized that ‘value’ does not lie in the meal, or restaurant, but in the person who is receiving it based on where he is in his journey. Someone from Mumbai may value this meal differently from someone across the street, but they are both perfectly valid ‘values’.

I’m not sure if that boy will turn out to be a better son or brother or father after this experience, but at that point of time it was our duty to continue serving and providing environments to all who entered. Some might respond tremendously and some just a little. But it was up to us to continue serving unquestioningly. Just trust that the seeds will flourish. Just have faith in our actions without questioning the results. Don’t try to be an organization, just an environment. After all, it is this philosophy that has kept Seva Cafe going for more than 6 years, serving close to 85,000 meals.

Love all, Serve All

A month ago, we received an email from Jagriti Yatra, a team that organizes a 15 day journey for budding social entrepreneurs from 26 Indian states and 23 countries across the world. The pilgrimage takes them across 9000km and 15 locations all aboard one custom-made train.

Immediately, we had all sorts of questions racing through our mind. The eco-system based in and around Sabarmati Ashram wasn’t exactly a social enterprise. Also, the essence of people’s work here lay in doing small things as opposed to statistics. How were we to address an audience as large as this?

One of our volunteers immediately stepped in to point out – this was an opportunity to share our thought with 450 receptive people. That is all. Just be yourself and trust your philosophy – do small things and decentralize as much as possible! ‘Engage’, and don’t ‘address’ the visitors.

And on the 7^th of January, 2012 we welcomed the Yatris. All 450 of them.

Yatris in the All-Religion Prayer

The PTC girls lead the All-Religion Prayer

Amrutbhai Mody speaks

To start things off, the girls from the Primary Teachers Training College welcomed the audience with an all religion prayer by the banks of the Sabarmati, bathed in the winter morning sun. Amrutbhai Mody who has walked for 14 years as part of Vinobha Bhave’s Land Gift Movement and is now the director of the Gandhi Smarak Sanghralay addressed the audience with a brief introduction to the Ashram and how it stands today.

We then broke the 450 strong audience into 10 groups with 2-3 speakers each. Each group was led by people whose work and background was diverse. But there were common factors binding them all – their work was a manifestation of their own internal journey, it was decentralized and it had grown organically.

Dev from Indicorps shares his journey with a group

Over the course of the next hour, each group was engaged into a discussion about each person’s lives and what they do on a daily basis. Flowers, smile cards and little acts of kindness were discussed and immediately you could see people opening up. There were no laptops, PowerPoint presentations or brochures. Not even visiting cards. Only an open heart sharing what it believed in.

Anarben spoke about Gramshree and women empowerment, Virenbhai for Manav Sadhna and the children of Ahmedabad, Nimesh about Ekatva, Vandanadidi explained Craftroots and the Earn ‘N’ Learn program. Devendrabhai spoke about his dedication to the Safai Vidyalaya and the Nandini Van, Lahar about experiments at Moved By Love and Seva Café, Neil shared the idea behind Awaaz De, Dev described what service meant at Indicorps, while Jayeshbhai shared the role of compassion in his work.

Concepts like faith, purity and love were discussed as opposed to statistics and charts. Some were moved to tears while others observed in disbelief. Whatever it was, it differed from what they had witnessed so far in the Yatra.

Ekatva kids perform

We wound things up with a short performance by the Ekatva kids at the Ashram-shaala, and the energy flowed like a monsoon torrent out of a flood gate. Everyone joined in as we ended with the Jagriti Yatra Anthem.

About 20 individuals with their roots in the Sabarmati Ashram opened their hearts that day without any hesitation. As one of them mentioned, their “duty is not only to work, but also to share their journey along the way with whoever is interested”.

The ‘impact’ of such an event is hard to estimate, but we were honoured to share our thought with 450 other individuals. However it may manifest, we were certain that they would carry these ripples of positive thought into wherever they might go. And that is all we can hope, for that is the way of love.

~ We can do no great things, only only small things with great love ~