About Me
I'm joining Service Space because ... it creates the best platform for inner transformation which is the only way for true outer change
A good day to me is when ... I am mindful and observe
My hero in life is ...www.servicespace.org
My favorite book is ...The 40 Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
One thing I'm grateful for is ... I am serving and laughing!!!!
Often Times Transforming Ourselves Seems So ...
Mar 10, 2021, 2 comments, 10 smiles
Often times transforming ourselves seems so daunting or perhaps the idea of making an impact/change in the world seems too hard. One of the values I love about ServiceSpace has always been to focus on the small because it is with time and patience the small can be incredibly impactful (especially vs. the alternative of doing nothing at all). I came across this image that reminded me of that. Thank you ServiceSpace community for the constant inspiration, random acts of kindness, gift economy way of living, laddership way of leading, and for constantly reminding us of the power of the small!
Nuggets From Lobsang Phuntsok's Call
Oct 28, 2018, 1 comments, 8 smiles
On Saturday, October 20th, we had the privilege of hosting Awakin Call with Lobsang Phuntsok.
Everyone is an invited guest of the universe, Lobsang Phunstock tells the children of his community. But the message he received as a child was that he was an uninvited guest of the universe -- unwanted, abandoned at birth by his mother -- until his grandparents found him and sent him to monastery to free him from disturbing emotions. He eventually became one of 10 Buddhist monks selected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to travel to the West to teach Buddhism. Now, he runs Jhamtse Gatsal Children’s Community for children in his ancestral region of India. Not calling the place an orphanage or a charity, even for fundraising, Lobsang does not want to market the children’s adversity, or to label them, as he is still challenged by the labels he received as a child. And ... Read Full Story
Nuggets From Ron Epstein's Call
Sep 15, 2018, 2 comments, 9 smiles
This past Saturday, we had the privilege of hosting Awakin Call with Ron Epstein.
Ron Epstein, Ph.D., is a Buddhist scholar and practitioner. A prolific writer, translator, ethicist and activist regarding the modern application of Buddhism and Buddhist ethics, he is author of the recent book, Responsible Living: Explorations in Applied Buddhist Ethics--Environment, Animals, GMOs, and Digital Media (March 2018). Dr. Epstein is a graduate of Harvard University, the University of Washington, and UC Berkeley. Born in Kentucky to a Jewish family, he turned to Buddhism in the 1960s and found himself living in the same run-down apartment building in San Francisco as a Chinese monk, Master Hsuan Hua, who turned out to be a contributing figure in bringing Chinese Buddhism to the United States in the 20th century. And so at the age of 24, Epstein commenced his life-long study and practice of Buddhism with the Venerable Master Hua, and ... Read Full Story
Nuggets From Terry Patten's Call
Jul 28, 2018, 1 comments, 4 smiles
This Saturday, we had the privilege of hosting Awakin Call with Terry Patten.
Terry Patten has long been a leading voice for facing, examining, and healing our global crisis through the marriage of higher consciousness and activism. He co-wrote Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint, which offers a framework for "waking up" and growing in awareness through time-tested ancient and modern scientifically validated practices. As a community builder, he founded Bay Area Integral, where people engage in conscious inquiry and find community in the San Francisco area. Terry's new book, A New Republic of the Heart: An Ethos for Revolutionaries, offers more integral approaches to activism, and has been hailed as "a stunning marriage of wild heart and cool mind," and for "combining brilliant social commentary along with a step-by-step blueprint for catalyzing whole-system change from the inside out."
We'll post the transcript of the call soon, but till then, some of ... Read Full Story
Dillan Returns To Awakin Circle -- And Speaks About
Jun 14, 2018, 1 comments, 14 smiles
[I remember Neil and Dillan's Excellent Summer Adventure from several summers ago. Then, they graduated high school, went to college and are soon graduating college too! They both recently came back home and joined an Awakin Circle. What a joy to read about Dillan's share (below) in the circle, on Pablo Neruda's poem!]
It's been probably like five years since I've been here, since the days of my summer internship. It feels like a very, very long time. And it feels really good to be back.
This afternoon, I called Neil and I was like, "Hey, did you read, did you read the passage for this week?" And he said no, and he's like, 'Do you want me to send it to you?" I'm like, "I have it in front of my face." So then I hung up and I took some time to read it and I was thinking about the ... Read Full Story
Myron Eshowsky: A Deeper Listening
Mar 28, 2018, 4 smiles
This week's Awakin Call guest: 'Myron Eshowsky: A Deeper ListeningReflection questions: What is the role of deep listening in your life -- deep listening of yourself and of others? Are you holding the voice of others long enough to hear your own, and vice versa? In your own journey, what tools and practices spur you to listen to the pain, and to that which is being called forth beyond the pain?
Inspiring Link
Feb 21, 2018, 4 comments, 28 smiles
The scale of the problem of Youth crime is a growing concern. Many young offenders are also victims of broken homes, poverty, and domestic violence. They have complex emotional needs which require a balance of welfare and justice models. How can the society contribute to therapeutic inclusion and intervention philosophy, for greater reduction in recidivism compared with punitive approaches? What started out as a small volunteering project turned into so much for Sachi Maniar, who started Project Ashiyana in 2013. In the years since, she has worked to help and improve the lives of all the children at Umkerhadi children’s home, to help them learn, grow, and realize their full potential despite the conditions they have found themselves in. This talk was given at a TEDx event in Mumbai. We are very proud of the work Sachi does and are grateful she is a vibrant and active contributor to the ServiceSpace global community.
Aarti Kuber: Healing Through Acceptance And Forgiveness
Feb 21, 2018, 3 smiles
This week's Awakin Call guest: 'Aarti Kuber: Healing Through Acceptance And ForgivenessReflection questions: Have you compassionately addressed persons in your life who have wronged or violated you? What role did those encounters have in your healing and life journey?
Ann Medlock: Sticking Her Neck Out For Democracy
Jan 10, 2018, 1 smiles
This week's Awakin Call guest: 'Ann Medlock: Sticking Her Neck Out For DemocracyReflection questions: Our guest this week believes in the inefficacy of compassion without action, and the need for people to be willing to stick their necks out. What has inspired you to take action in your life and stick your neck out in the face of others' suffering?
Vishesh And Anuj's Musical Offering
Sep 05, 2014, 3 comments, 8 smiles
Wednesday before last, one of our interns -- Vishesh -- made a gratitude offering to the Awakin Circle in Santa Clara. He played the guitar (that he's been playing for over a decade!), as Anuj sang Gandhi's favorite prayer. What a beautiful combination.
And yes, we just got a hold of the bootleg copy:
