Glimpses Of Pilgrim Life Posted by Nicole Huguenin, Oct 21 2017 Few years back, Ann Sieben, commonly known as Winter Pilgrim was on an Awakin Call. Since that time, I've had the honor of being of service to her every time she slows her steps and regroups. Often, over hour long coffees, Ann will sneak in a story or two from past pilgrimages between the curation of walking routes and other tasks needed to prepare for long journeys on foot. These stories have profoundly shifted my life and how I am of service to others and we've talked numerous times about the best way to share them never really landing on a way until this past summer. After 10 years on foot with near 30,000 miles of steps taken she found herself with a few weeks open weeks and wrote out some of those stories while sequestered in an attic in a Quebec convent. She has no desire to publish them but ... Read Full Story

A Mindful Families Retreat, December 2018 Posted by Suchitra Shenoy, Oct 19 2017 A child brings so much joy. So much laughter and unexpected insight into the little truths of life. There is also, nothing like having a child to bring things tumbling down – sleep, time with spouse or friends, your energy at work, fitness, and any efforts towards community-building, service or meditation. As parents, we want to nurture values of generosity, kindness, ethics and much else in our children and our families, but often just getting everyone to eat a meal, making it to school and work, bed and bath-time, can seem like a victory. Have you struggled with any of this? Would you like to delve deeper into the world of values and see how to weave it into the rhythm of our lives? We hope to do this at a Mindful Families Retreat in December 2018, in Ahmedabad. How can we, as parents within ServiceSpace, tackle some of these issues? Here are ... Read Full Story

Laddership News: Laddership News: Gratitude For Noble Posted by Jane Murray, Oct 15 2017 This month's 'Laddership Newsletter' was just posted online. Autumn kicks off with two firsts: The first edition of Harpal's Kindness Times magazine, and the first in a series of interviews with laddership alum. Gratitude as subject and object and the deep connections it creates is the theme this month.

Anuj's Unexpected Restaurant Encounter Posted by Audrey Lin, Oct 12 2017 [At last night's Awakin Circle, we were moved by this sweet story Anuj shared.] In this world, there is so much window shopping for love these days. There are products, there are services -- everything has a tag on it -- and in some way, they're calling what you generate out of it "value". And they equate it to money, but they talk about love or the value that they provide. I was thinking about how we have commercialized love in certain ways, and it's very hard to see without having that training. I think it's a part-mind and part-heart exercise ... There's a certain amount of training that almost feels like how someone trains in an art form, because creativity comes from the heart. From the love. I was thinking about how a musician has to train for years to get a really good ear for listening. At the beginning you may ... Read Full Story

Karma Kitchen In Poland! Posted by Nipun Mehta, Oct 04 2017 Many months ago, Jin Wei, a Buddhist monk, set the intention of starting a Karma Kitchen in the country of his birth -- Poland! Particularly with a four-pack posse of ServiceSpace veterans coming together for a delegation with Rev. Heng Sure, he asked around for restaurants who might be willing to give a try. Didn't get a lot of traction. Then, somehow, he ended up on a phone call with Ela. They didn't know each other, and she didn't know about Karma Kitchen, but within a minute of their conversation, she says, "Let's do it at my restaurant." "Really? Are you sure?" Jin Wei thought in his mind. Before he could say anything, Ela followed up with her response: "Yes, I'm sure. Let's do it." And so it was. Oct 1st, 11AM to 4PM. Krakow, Poland. Karma Kitchen is on. Another monastic, Jin He, designed a brilliant poster that hung on ... Read Full Story

First Awakin Circle In Austria! Posted by Christina Lendorfer, Oct 04 2017 After Gandhi 3.0 retreat, I held a quiet wish to host an Awakin Circle in my hometown of Vienna one day. And that wish came true last week when Nipun, Hermann, Katzi, Alma and I reunited for our first Awakin Circle in Austria! It was pure magic. I can not only feel but see the difference in the mindset of the people who were touched by our evening together. We rented out a local space that could host a circle, and maxed it out with thirty-five people. Some were friends, some were yoga students, some were from Dream Academy, some were just brought by serendipity -- like the most famous Austrian entrepreneur, Heini Staudinger, and a young politician running for parliament. We started with an hour of silence. Most of the attendees had never meditated in their life. After the hour, we did a quick circle with everyone sharing how they were feeling. ... Read Full Story

In Light Of The Latest Mass ... Posted by Yoo-Mi Lee, Oct 02 2017 In light of the latest mass shooting in Las Vegas, wanted to share this pledge on the video "I Trust You." I pledge to keep working to prevent gun violence. I pledge to continue walking down the street with an expectant smile on my face, hoping that others will see friendliness in my face and respond in kind. ~ Mary Lewis Grow

Three Months In Europe Posted by Zilong Wang, Oct 02 2017 Thanks to the hospitality of dear friends, I am now writing from a balcony on the Asian side of Istanbul, looking across the Bosphorus Strait toward Europe. It's so close that one could swim over. Some say, "East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet". Here, the twins are not only meeting, but have also been learning to live together for centuries, through low and high, in grief and praise. It is quite a fitting and striking setting to reflect upon the past three months of journeying through continental Europe. Between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox, the pilgrimage has led me across Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. I spent about 3 to 4 weeks in each of these countries, knocking on strangers' doors, listening to their life stories, trying to wash their dishes, picking up the languages and cultures, cycling on well-paved roads, avoiding the grasshoppers ... Read Full Story

Moved By Love: Celebrating Gandhi Posted by Shaalini Srinivasan, Oct 02 2017 Latest issue of 'Moved By Love' newsletter is themed Celebrating Gandhi. Earlier this year, we hosted a very special gathering - Gandhi 3.0. Here, Gandhi stands for the age-old principle of leading with inner transformation and 3.0 represents the many-to-many networks popularized by the modern-day Internet. Gandhi 3.0 is a bridge from the Internet to the Inner-Net:) There are so many stories, reflections and ripples that emerged from the retreat that we cannot even attempt to 'curate'. On Gandhi Jayanti, we are bringing out a special newsletter with a few pearls from that big ocean of wisdom and maitri.

Yesterday I Was At Wendy Johnson’s ... Posted by Anne Veh, Oct 01 2017 Yesterday I was at Wendy Johnson’s garden sale (Wendy is one of the founders of the Organic Farm and Garden Project at Green Gulch Zen Center) and I was sharing with her about our Kindness Circles. Earlier this summer I had participated in a “seed blessing ceremony” in Wendy's garden and she had gifted us “peace rocks” gathered by an elder in Mill Valley. I brought several of the peace rocks to our Kindness Circle at SF Waldorf HS in August, and shared the story with the students. Wendy loved hearing the student's reflections and the activity of writing an intention for the year. Right on the spot, she invited me to share this story at today’s "Harvest Ceremony" in her garden. So I brought the student intentions with me and everyone at the ceremony, gathered under the apple and pear trees in the garden, held the bowl and showered their ... Read Full Story

Walking Into Stillness Sharings: Hampstead Heath Posted by Nisha Mothilal, Oct 01 2017 A wonderful day out spent with 17 noble friends connecting with an inner stillness through nature and meditation. We were blessed with a sunny day at the start of autumn. Here are 3 sharings from the day. Sharing by Tejal Doshi I was eagerly awaiting my second "Walking into Stillness" after a very memorable and positive first experience a few weeks back. Surrounded by the beautiful pastures of Hampstead Heath we began the walking meditation; focusing on imbibing the energies from the nature into the mindful activity. As we wondered deeper, trying to concentrate on the soles of our feet, the external hullabaloo became more and more distant. The sounds of people chattering, dogs barking, children squealing seemed to get fainter as I strived to internalise my focus. Before we knew it, we were seated in a secluded spot continuing the stillness. This was followed by a guided session, led beautifully by Nisha, ... Read Full Story

Journey Of Karma Kitchen (pune) As It Unfolds Posted by Vinit Gujarathi, Sep 30 2017 Inspired by the good will tribe's 48 magical hours , Hotel Palavi opened up their space for letting us host Karma Kitchen for the second time in 2 months. Magic really happens when their is effortless dance between giving and receiving, and we experienced this magic unfold at Karma Kitchen Pune as volunteers reflected that in serving the guests, they received so much. The restaurant space was so magically transformed that not only the guests and volunteers, but also each one of the restaurant staff also had a big smiles on their face during whole time when we were there and we wondered that the only place we have seen this happen is in Seva Cafe, one of us also wondered if this is Seva cafe in the making? :) Second part of the giving-receiving dance came into picture when we realized that, since last 2 Karma kitchens a few guests wait after ... Read Full Story

Warming Up For Karma Kitchen Poland! Posted by khushmita Sanghvi, Sep 28 2017 A photo worth cherishing, as we don the Karma Kitchen aprons during the warm-up of our Sunday event! (Yes, that's Rev. Heng Sure in the middle. :))

'Operation Smile' In Poland :) Posted by Audrey Lin, Sep 27 2017 Signs in Polish, from Left to Right: "You are super!" "Be Happy" "Smile" "Smile" [more photos] Over the last week, few of us have been in Poland, with Rev Heng Sure, Jin Wei, and a crew of monastics and laypeople from their community. Couple days back, we were visiting Warsaw's Old City, and at the remembrance of a friend's birthday, thought we'd spend the afternoon spreading extra smiles in our friend's spirit. :) Hopping on the train, we asked our Polish friends for translations of words like, "Smile," "Be Happy," "Have a Nice Day" and "You're Great!" and started writing them out on paper. With that in the air, the energy was already infectious. Along the way, we had bunch of chocolates and Polish(!) smile cards to give away. While waiting at the subway platform, one of us offered an elderly woman a chocolate and a smile card. She smiled and refused. Then, ... Read Full Story

A Pilgrim's Interfaith Journey: Anuj Pandey Posted by Aryae Coopersmith, Sep 25 2017 Oct. 15 Interfaith Spiritual Travelers Circle Anuj Kumar Pandey has been a monk, a protestant Christian brother, a martial artist, a musician, story teller, Silicon Valley tech worker, ServiceSpace volunteer working behind the scenes with the technology that carries voices of the community, devoted spiritual traveler on the Sufi path, and humble spiritual friend to many. We’re inviting Anuj to share the story of his pilgrimage from his village town in India to the Awakin Circles in the Bay Area, and anchor the October 15 Spiritual Travelers Circle. Please join us on the videoconference for a conversation with Anuj about the spiritual journey! Sunday, October 15, 2017, 9:00 - 10:30 AM Pacific Time. Learn more and RSVP

This Came In My Email Today ... Posted by Mia Tagano, Sep 22 2017 This came in my email today - beautiful and stunning- uplifting as tears flow. Subject: Volunteers from Japan to help in CDMX Earthquake. From a friend - Arrived into Mexico City airport this afternoon and in the baggage claim a huge team of Japanese rescuers all in orange jumpsuits, serious and determined, ready to get to work, with their mounds of equipment, and the most moving moment, forgive me for crying, when one Mexican man began clapping and wordlessly the entire airport area joined in slow rhythms and all one could hear was the sound of human hands in solidarity and with profound gratitude for this human to human gift, clapping in unison for 5 minutes. And the Japanese men bowed their heads. Profound beyond words.

Beautiful And Simple Responses From Our ... Posted by Mia Tagano, Sep 21 2017 Beautiful and Simple responses from our Karmatube facebook community to the question - "What made you happy today? Not who, but what made you happy?" • My son coming home and sharing with me what they're discussing in his Jr. College class (he usually doesn't do this!) • Seeing my mum come out of hospital • Babysitting my granddaughter Aaroo • Opening my eyes • Having a hug with my daughter • Prayer • Accomplishment at work • Appreciation • Rain made me thrilled • Decluttering my cupboard • Being grateful

Values Are Caught Not Taught: Lessons From My Posted by Trishna Shah, Sep 21 2017 When my first-born child was only a few weeks old, we went to the hospital together to pay forward a beautiful gift that we had received to share with another little baby. Just months after she learned how to walk, we started doing little acts of kindness together consciously and had a lovely time sharing love with others in little ways. She's grown up having pay-it-forward birthday parties with friends, including mostly recently her 4th birthday and 5th birthday. When my second daughter was a toddler, she was already a really giving person naturally. She would happily give someone her favourite food or toy in an instant, a decision that came as a reaction from her heart and she never let her head get in the way. Recently, the younger one has developed an awareness of "mine" and having "more," which is relatively normal at this age. In response, I've ... Read Full Story

Laddership News: Laddership News: Intuition, Creativity Posted by Jane Murray, Sep 17 2017 This month's 'Laddership Newsletter' was just posted online. Alfred Tolle and Melissa Stephens bring us their stories from different sides of the world. In sharing their perspectives with depth and humour they remind us that laddership may take many forms but its spirit - service - is always the same.

Moments Of Sharing And Deep Lessons With "strangers" Posted by Maria Jain, Sep 16 2017 Dear Servicespace family, here's a little story I wanted to share with you. About a month ago, I moved from Helsinki to New York City and recently, two places in particular have been landscapes of meaningful encounters for me. The first one is a bench here in our neighborhood, under a concrete ledge of a building that houses a post office and a grocery store, and looks towards a small park and apartment buildings and behind them, the great flow of the East River. The second landscape is a Midtown Manhattan rooftop, in the hem of the Empire State Building herself. As I walked one day in landscape #1, I was wished a blessed day by a man who sat there, in his hand a paper cup with some change in it. I smiled at him, took steps forward, then had the feeling that I should turn back. "Hey, how you doing, what ... Read Full Story