WE vs. EVERYONE

A great discussion took place today at prarthna.

Our daily prayer is the following:

Sathe Ramiye, Sathe Jamiye, Sathe Kariye Saara Kam.

We play together, we eat together, we do good work together.

Kayama Rahejo APANI Sathe,

God may you always be by OUR side

Gata, Gata Vasuta Shri Bhagvan.

God you are in every small particle in this great universe.

Ohm, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

Peace, Peace, Peace.

There are actually two ways the second line is said:

“God may you always be by OUR side”

OR

“God may you always be by EVERYONE’S side”

Today after prayer, Krishna asked out loud, “Sir, why do we say “God may you always be by everyone’s side” and everyone at school says “God may you always be by OUR side”.

What a great question, I thought to myself.  Jayeshbhai actually brought this change to our attention 3 months ago. We used to say ‘our’, but since he suggested the rightful change, over the past three months we changed it to ‘everyone’s’.

Going from me, my and ours to yours, ours and everyone’s is a big shift in thinking and living. Moving from self-centered to others-centered; moving from a national anthem to a global anthem; from human beings to all matter, from one belief to all beliefs. To see God in everyone and everything is EKATVA, is Oneness.

The discussion didn’t get so deep. It was enough just to explain that we should not just think of ourselves, but more importantly think of everyone, including strangers and people we don’t know. That’s just the right thing to do. The kids agreed J

Love All Serve All. 

In Meditation We Trust

Today was a special day for us. We came to Darpana for practice today. And as usual we get their about a half hour early so that we can do our group prayer, meditation and sharing before the teacher, Kishore Sir, gets their.

As we finish prayer and silence into meditation its always a unique experience. I lead our meditation by suggesting different things for the kids to do each time. Today I suggested, while all our eyes were closed, for all of us to take notice of any specific sound in the environment, whether it be in the room, outside, of nature or machine, anything. And try to keep your focus on that sound for the next minute or two. If your mind wanders away from that sound, no worries. Once you realize it has wandered just bring it back. Then we will share all our respective sounds that we connected with after meditation is complete.

But something was different this time. For the first time, over the many months that we have been doing prayer and meditation, I didn’t feel this internal tension that the kids are restless during meditation. For some reason or another, something in the air, felt like the kids were comfortable in this space of silence.

After meditation was complete and everyone shared their sounds, it just felt right to ask the kids about how they were feeling about meditation. From the many months which we have been religiously practicing, 2 times a day (before and after practice), 6 days a week, have they notice a difference in how they are feeling in this space of silence. The majority of the kids were excited to respond and really shared their comfort and joy in the meditation process. I really wanted to encourage it being okay, if someone was not comfortable and so finally Guddi responded saying that she feels really impatient still in the process. Then Krishna followed up saying that she used to feel really impatient and restless as well, but now doesn’t feel that way.

The question was asked (a question we have previously discussed in depth), ‘why do we do meditation’? To bring peace to our minds and our bodies. To train and exercise our minds. To take out bad thoughts. To quiet the mind and body that is constantly running all day. To just listen without judgement.

Bharat then shared how he just can not find a peace of mind. He said he has a lot of anger inside of him. We continued on a in-depth discussion, as a group, about Bharat’s anger and why it might be there, and what are some potential roads to easing that anger and bringing a little more positive energy and peace.

Its beautiful, that we were at dance class today, but that meditation felt like the more powerful experience of the day.

Love.

Our Spirited Father, Ishwar Dada

Our love and prayers are flowing towards Ishwar Dada, our founding father in the path of spirituality and selfless service. Ishwar Dada is the inspiration behind many of our local NGO’s here in Ahmedabad, including Manav Sadhna, Environmental Sanitation Institute, Gramshree, Seva Café, Harijan Sevak Trust and more. He’s truly the inspiration behind Jayeshbhai, Virenbhai and Anar Didi, that ones that have selflessly paved a unique path for hundreds and hundreds of beautiful souls on the path of service and thousands upon thousands of souls who are receiving their direct or indirect love daily.

Today we skipped practice. Ishwar Dada is tremendously ill in the hospital with a variety of complications so we wanted to bring our love and energy to him and the Sanjeevini  Hospital that he is staying at.

The plan was simple ;>

Make a big card for Ishwar Dada, with all the children’s handprints on it. Jagatbhai beautifully to the rescue. 

Walk to the hospital in dedication and prayer for Ishwar Dada’s health. The walk was a humble ode to his life. Ishwar Dada is known as Dr. Toilet, for he dedicated over 50 years of his life to work that most people considered only for untouchables, sanitation and cleaning. So Dharmaji carried a big plastic bag and the rest of us picked up all possible trash that we could find along our path to the hospital.

We also passed out chicki ladoo’s to many along our way, in celebration of Nitesh’s birthday. Many people along the sides of the road were observing us with curiosity.

All along, Madhuji was so beautifully capturing the moments with his camera. Thank you Madhuji!

Once we arrived to the hospital, we went straight up to the rooftop, where many of the nurses and staff followed us up, curious as to what we were doing, all 20 of us. We explained and they smiled. Madhu and Mam studios had arranged for spreading love throughout the hospital with yellow and white roses. The roses were provided as a result of children savings from AkshayPatra Savings Bottles made by MAM Studios and Earn n’ Learn kids. What a beautiful circle of giving. Our kids partnered with varying nurses at the hospital and went on to share the roses with patients and loved ones in the hospital.

We then all sat down together on the rooftop to write a heartfelt message on the card to Ishwar Dada and then all the kids signed it. While this was going on, we somehow managed to carry the printer and a laptop with us on our walk to the hospital so that we could print and cut out all the photos that were being taken by Madhuji and paste them on Ishwar Dada’s card during that very moment. The card was finally done. Nitesh, our birthday boy and Dipmala were sent downstairs to deliver the card to Ishwar Dada’s room. We did not want to bother him as he’s in critical condition, but it eventually turned out that Jayeshbhai invited all the children to share their glows and joy with Ishwar Dada for a short time.

Ishwar Dada is a true blessing;  a true spirit of God if we were to envision one. Amidst the 18 punctures in his body, various illnesses and infections, diabetes, 4 days without sleep, as he cannot lie down otherwise his breathing is blocked, and troubled breathing, he has attended to all his guests, shared loving advice and blessings with all and never complained once, but rather accepted his situation as what it should be and how it is, nothing more, nothing less. 

We were blessed to share this evening in spirit and love with him. And continue to feel and pray his health returns.

Love.