About Me
I'm joining Service Space because ... I am moved by love, moved by the love of so many visible and invisible forces working relentlessly to serve each other... and Service Space is a place that provides a pollination platform to these forces while facilitating heart to heart connections !
A good day to me is when ... whenever I am fully present with friends, family, strangers, beings and surrounding, when I practice Guna Darshnam (observe and absorb virtues) and that brings immense goodness :)
My hero in life is ..._/\_
My favorite book is ...Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Siddhartha, Books by Vinoba Bhave i.e. Moved by love, Sun our friend, Geeta by Vinoba
One thing I'm grateful for is ... Life :) It's beautiful :)
Welcome Home !!!
Feb 08, 2020, 1 comments, 9 smiles
Welcome home !!!
“आप मेरे घर चलिये “, come to my home, she invited with grace!
We were at the bank of Narmada, waiting for a boatman to take us across to Kabirvad. But we got late and there could be no boat for return journey. We were spending time at the banks and there this group of children came running, their school got over and they were to go home across the river. The same boat that we were thinking to go, which we couldn’t, the children settled in, as this boat will take them home. In our conversation, they learnt that we intended to go to the other side but can’t, understanding our intentions the elder girl offered us - “come to my home, welcome home!!!”
I was jaw dropped, she doesn’t know anything about us, not even our names (we didn’t even exchange our names) and with her magnanimous heart ... Read Full Story
Seeds Of Silence And Ripples In TCS
Jul 16, 2019, 2 comments, 8 smiles
93+ Associates of TCS sat in golden silence for 30 minutes on international Yoga day (21 June). To me, it is one of the most memorable day of my 12+ years in TCS. As we often speak, we don't know the ripples of even a single individual sitting in silence for even a minute, for sure I don't know where the ripple of this collective silence was planted. However, I have good fortune of having known few incredible individuals who with their consistency planted seeds of this experience.
It was a co-creation of many individuals who brought flowers, decorated the space pouring in fragrance of their sweat, created
a beautiful rangoli keeping charkha in center, many individuals even got their mats to offer for unknown individuals, our Meghnaji offered the speaking bowl we use at Awakin Ahmedabad while Pratyush shared insights about setting the intentions in the beginning and more ... Read Full Story
Gandhian Sculptor Kanti Kaka- Life Is A Game
Jan 08, 2019, 10 comments, 19 smiles
Kanti Patel, world-renowned Gandhian sculptor, passed away today. He is most known for the bronze statue of Gandhi in Union Square, New York -- but his spirit touched so many of us.
"Do you fear death?" Jayeshbhai once asked him. And his response was, "Death is my noble friend." Then, he quoted Sankaracharya:
" अङ्गं गलितं पलितं मुण्डं दशनविहीनं जातं तुण्डम् । वृद्धो याति गृहीत्वा दण्डं तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापिण्डम् ॥
(Rough translation: If we don't mature into the wisdom of letting go, old age becomes a great burden. Then, only death can save us. Whenever I close my eyes, however, I see my dear friend death.")
More than 70 years back, Kanti Dada spent few days with Gandhi-ji and made a live sketch of him. As he was working on the sketch, Gandhi-ji was holding a meeting in Wardha ashram with national leaders, and Kanti-Dada muttered that presence of so many people was ... Read Full Story
Celebrating Birthday :)
Nov 21, 2018, 7 smiles
Today morning, Two elderly people (who earn by ragpicking) were going for their day long job to collect rag for their earning. On asking how much would they earn, they responded 100 rupees in total (for both for whole day). Jayesh bhai invited our family FROM Gramshree to contribute 5/10 rupees and collected 200 rupees and gifted to these elderly people. They were joyous receiving not just money, but dignity of being identified and loved, so did all the family `member`s of Gramshree. They also shared that, with this offering for next two days they won't have to go for the ragpicking. JB took this opportunity to wish Anandi baa On her birthday, who seeds love and compassion!
Later in Leelapur village 250+ elderly women went through eye check up and received glasses and a sari as a token of love. When they would have headache, not realising it’s because of week eyesight, they would take pill and forget. Now they won’t have to do the same. The joy on faces with glasses (through shining eyes) is a gift in itself :)
Laddering Love
Jun 04, 2018, 10 smiles
Viranti dada (80+ years) is a monk who stays in Kabir Ashram where he nurtures plants,trees and noble intentions with immense love. Whenever he feels like meeting Jayesh bhai (another gardener at our Maitri Space), he walks down to ESI without any announcement even he has a cellphone. And every time he visits ESI, he finds Jayesh bhai as if he knows of Viranti Dada's visit as well.
In one such visit during Gandhi 3.0 retreat, Viranti Dada shared his graceful presence, only this time with Jayesh bhai (JB) we had many others including Uncle Bruce. JB introduced Dada and shared about the heart to heart connection they have. He also spoke about the magnanimous generosity Viranti dada has, in the farm /Ashram he would climb trees to fetch fruits so that he can share with visitors. Once he fell down from the tree and broke his arm, yet he ... Read Full Story
Dustbins Of Love : Dil Ka Dubba
Dec 10, 2017, 4 comments, 8 smiles
Yesterday was Imam Saheb's death anniversary, he came with Gandhiji from South Africa renouncing his established business and decided to settle in Sabarmati Ashram serving for the freedom movement. To give homage to Imam saheb, remembering the incredible work he did for communal harmony and for promoting Khadi, Jayesh bhai along with other residents of Gandhi Ashram visited Imam Manzil and also went to his graveyard and offered prayers and flowers.
On the way back Jayesh bhai met an old friend Dil Khush bhai, hisbname literally means happy heart. Jayesh bhai asked DilKhush to come with him and have a cup of tea, and they visited the tea stall opposite Gandhi Ashram.
Dil Khush' profession is to mend old tin cans into dustbins and even in the process he uses the waste tin sheets to make dust pans. His love to make best out of waste could be the core of his ... Read Full Story
Nanu Maa : Alipta And Aatmiya
Nov 22, 2017, 4 comments, 9 smiles
Nanu Maa, an elderly women whose generosity reaches far and wide since years experienced by many known and unknown brothers and sisters.
Recently, she fell sick and learning about her poor health, Jayesh bhai rushed to her with few of us to ensure her well beings and needs. Witnessing the interaction, I felt it to be a sheer exchange of blessings.
She was bed ridden for few days and even after that she ensured all the visitors receive water and are seated properly. She shared how she was inspired few years back with her limited resources she offered food to two children and how universe responded to her with abundance by receiving a pension she was expected from government but had forgotten. Ever since that incident she eats only after feeding children. Many of us know how generously she offered her home to Jayeshbhai, Virenbhai and Anar ben so that after ... Read Full Story
