KindSpring Weekly: Spotlight On Kindness: United We Posted by Ameeta Martin, Mar 26 2019 Latest issue of 'KindSpring Weekly' newsletter is themed Spotlight On Kindness: United We Stand. For every individual's act of hate or division, thousands and millions more come together in unity. There is much to be hopeful for when we see people come together -- both in joy to help an 8-year-old chess prodigy, and in times of sorrow, as after the tragic NZ mosque massacre. As shown below by the homeless family of the chess prodigy, hope and kindness can be infinite. - Ameeta

London April Update: Awakins, Kindful Kids, Jai Jagat Posted by Trishna Shah, Mar 25 2019 April 2019 - London Gatherings We look forward to seeing you at upcoming Awakin Circles along with a Kindful Kids Circle, where we've got some fun plans to explore the theme, "Empathy Begins at Home", with parents and children together. This week, we also have an inspiring guest in town from the Gandhi Ashram visiting Ani's Awakin Circle on Wednesday and giving a talk in Edgware on Thursday -- see below for more info. Save the date -- Sunday, June 16th -- when our dear friend Nimo is bringing 17 children from the slums of India to share their labour-of-love dance/drama show, Jai Jagat ("One Earth Family")! More info below... Awakin Circles: Harrow, Mill Hill, Shoreditch, Pimlico Each month, you're invited to join Awakin Circles at locations around London, where we meditate for the first hour, engage in a circle of sharing based on a reading, and conclude with a home-cooked vegetarian dinner together. Weds, ... Read Full Story

Nuggets From Ajay Dahiya's Call Posted by Aryae Coopersmith, Mar 23 2019 Saturday March 23 we had the privilege of hosting Awakin Call with Ajay Dahiya. Ajay Dahiya is Executive Director of The Pollination Project, which makes worldwide daily seed grants – 365 days per year – to inspiring grassroots leaders who would not likely qualify for funding from other foundations or institutions. Once supported by the Pollination Project, grantees often are able to leverage their seed grant into more funding, media attention and more. Ajay was born in Surrey, England, to a working-class immigrant family. From early on in his life he felt a deep spiritual calling that moved him to become ordained as a monastic in his late teens. As a monk for eight years, Ajay served diverse teams across the globe. After transitioning out of monastic life, he went on to hold leadership positions in various mission-driven organizations. An entrepreneur in all that he does, Ajay strives to realize a healthy, equal ... Read Full Story

Arun Dada @ Awakin Santa Clara! A Mini Earthquake. :) Posted by Helen Kimura, Mar 21 2019 [On Tuesday night, about fifteen of us came together to chop veggies for our local Awakin Circle. Well, except Sandy, who was busy making lemon cake. :) And last night, the whole community got to meet the remarkable wise elder that all of us had heard so much about. His gentle smile alone melted so many of us. He reminds me of the beauty I see and feel when I’m out alone in nature -- that ultimate unconditional, loving presence and equanimity. Of course, it’s not just his presence, but the stories he shared that allowed me to feel the depth of devotion-led-service! I will forever remember his formula of service = effort divided by ego. What a wise one ... one that you definitely don’t need a college degree to figure out :-) Thank you all for creating and holding the space for so many transformations. Jamie described it ... Read Full Story

River Of Hope Summit Brings The World To California Posted by Ann Osborne, Mar 21 2019 [I'm delighted to be part of a caravan of about dozen ServiceSpacers heading to the River of Hope Summit next week! Article below by Melissa Mendonca, in enjoy Magazine shares more context of this special gathering.] This month brings together a confluence of minds and metaphors as peace-builders from around the world, gathered by Redding’s Euphrates Institute, merge at the Sacramento River to share ideas, inspiration and best practices that will, in the words of Euphrates founder and CEO Janessa Gans Wilder, “turn the ‘other’ into a brother.” “It’s the first time we’re all going to be all together since 2011,” Wilder says of the River of Hope Euphrates Summit which will be held March 27-29 at the McConnell Foundation’s Lema Ranch. The Euphrates Institute engages more than 30 chapters in 15 countries in grassroots peace building, and will host members from as far away as Democratic Republic of Congo, India, ... Read Full Story

Uganda Magic Continues! Posted by Melissa Stephens, Mar 21 2019 OK, OK, OK.....breathe, Melissa, breathe. So, I am in charge of putting together all of our assemblies and fundraisers. In the spring, we have always held a fundraiser for Pennies for Patients which raises change for cancer patients. Of course, this is a noble cause. However, we started it years ago because our principal's son was diagnosed. Well, he retired, and we have a new principal. So, I was hoping to find a different charity. Since I am so heartbroken over our immigrant situation, I knew I wanted to do something with that. Then, my amazing friend, who is our librarian, had us all read the book, "Refugee" as a school back in December. It's the story of three refugees (Cuba, Nazi Germany, and Syria) whose stories all end up intertwining. She told me about an organization in the East Bay who works with refugees and newcomers. I contacted them, told them ... Read Full Story

When Two People Walk Posted by Jignasha Pandya, Mar 20 2019 It’s been three months since Swara and Trupti started their pilgrimage. In my recent conversation with them, they told me how after walking for about 1400 km, they now feel like they are learning to walk. They also feel that when they come back to the starting point they might actually feel ready for the pilgrimage and this was just pre-prep to the actual pilgrimage. Looks like we never feel we are ready :) For me it has been an interesting process to be a witness to some of the ripples of this pilgrimage. A friend decided to eat once a day till S and T return from their pilgrimage, one friend decides to work on his physical health and looses 17 kg in two months so that at some point he can go and serve them, yet another friend decides to walk in the spirit of pilgrimage every alternate weekend. ... Read Full Story

Amazing Grace...on So Many Levels Posted by Melissa Stephens, Mar 19 2019 Ok, folks...I have the most magical story ever!!! So, settled in with a cup of chai (or coffee...or wine...or whatevs!) cuz this is life-changing for me, and it all began with ServiceSpace! I could go all the way back to reading about Nipun and Karma Kitchen in a "Energy for Dummies" type book, but that would get really long. So, I will start with the Awakin Call that I was blessed to be a part of in January. Audrey forwarded me an email from a woman named Grace (pictured in orange above) who said she would like to get in contact with me because she had also been sexually assaulted as a girl and perhaps I could help her move forward. Well, I was just blown away that a beautiful sister in Uganda felt like I could help, so I emailed her that day! I heard back from her and discovered that ... Read Full Story

KindSpring Weekly: Spotlight On Kindness: Love Your Posted by Ameeta Martin, Mar 19 2019 Latest issue of 'KindSpring Weekly' newsletter is themed Spotlight On Kindness: Love Your Enemies. The Chinese symbol for crisis is composed of 2 characters - one represents danger and the other represents opportunity. The Dalai Lama makes a case below for how these polarized times contain "the seeds for personal excellence and spiritual advancement...The solution lies in understanding the appropriate way to disagree with others, even when we are treated with hatred." - Ameeta

Becoming A Blessing Posted by Prakhar Bhartiya, Mar 18 2019 Rachel Naomi has been a great inspiration for me. Her talk below inspired me to make a point and not just see good in others but express it out loud-softly to other person. Sharing the beautiful poem by John Denver, sung by Rachel in the video :) It's in everyone of us To be wise Find your heart Open up both your eyes, We can all know everything Without ever knowing why, It's in everyone of us By and by It's in everyone of us I just remembered It's like I been sleeping for years, I'm not awake as I can be But my seeing is better, I can see Through the tears, I've been realising that, I bought this ticket And watching only half of the show, There is scenery and lights And a cast of thousands, Who all know What I know, And it's good That it's so It's in everyone of us To be wise Find your heart Open up both your eyes, We can all know everything Without ever knowing why, It's in everyone of us By and by, It's in everyone of us By and by.

King Of Kindness -- Profile Of Vinoba Bhave Posted by Bradley Stoll, Mar 17 2019 [In preparation for Arun Dada's visit, and his airport pick-up today, :) I was reading up on his mentor, Vinoba Bhave. Below is a profoundly inspiring profile by Mark Shepard, reprinted from this page, that all of you might enjoy as well. Originally excerpted and adapted from the book Gandhi Today: A Report on Mahatma Gandhi’s Successors.] All revolutions are spiritual at the source. All my activities have the sole purpose of achieving a union of hearts. --Vinoba Jai jagat!—Victory to the world! --Vinoba Once India gained its independence, that nation’s leaders did not take long to abandon Mahatma Gandhi’s principles. Nonviolence gave way to the use of India’s armed forces. Perhaps even worse, the new leaders discarded Gandhi’s vision of a decentralized society—a society based on autonomous, self-reliant villages. These leaders spurred a rush toward a strong central government and an industrial economy as found in the West. Yet Gandhi’s vision was not abandoned ... Read Full Story

Laddership News: Laddership News: Quiet Power Of Posted by Jane Murray, Mar 17 2019 This month's 'Laddership Newsletter' was just posted online. Spring arrives quietly, without fanfare, and yet it is dramatically transformational of the winter landscape - external and internal. This month's stories remind us of the similar quiet power of helpfulness: it's such an ordinary word, hiding unimaginable power in it.

Aristotle On Three Kinds Of Friendships Posted by Navin Amarasuriya, Mar 16 2019 Read this on another website -- and thought is quite relevant to many things ServiceSpace stands for ... In Book VIII of “The Nichomachean Ethics”, Aristotle makes reference to three kinds of friendship. 1) The first is friendship based on utility, where both people derive some benefit from each other. Aristotle describes a friendship of utility as shallow, “easily dissolved” or for the old. He views them as such because this type of friendship is easily broken and based on something that is brought to the relationship by the other person. Aristotle uses the example of trade and argues that friendships of utility are often between opposite people, in order to maximize this trade 2) The second is friendship based on pleasure, where both people are drawn to the other’s wit, good looks, or other pleasant qualities. Aristotle says that riendship of pleasure is normally built between the young as passions and pleasures are ... Read Full Story

Nuggets From Tsering Gellek's Call Posted by Kozo Hattori, Mar 16 2019 Last Saturday, we had the privilege of hosting Awakin Call with Tsering Gellek. Tsering Gellek works to preserve sacred Buddhist art, artifacts and culture throughout Asia in order to promote human dignity, tolerance and global engagement. She is director of the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute founded by her father, Tarthang Tulku, a Tibetan Buddhist monk. She is a self-proclaimed bridge builder between cultures and time periods. From her first major projects directing the installation of large peace bells at the most significant Buddhist holy sites throughout India and Nepal, to being the first female director to lead the renovation of Nepal’s oldest monument, the Swayambhu Stupa, to her current role developing programs with universities and centers of learning around the world, and to harness the power of sharing between the East and the West, Tsering investigates how the past can “support the possibility of adapting to the present moment, and more ... Read Full Story

Nuggets From Reverend F.W. King's Call Posted by LuAnn Cooley, Mar 14 2019 Last Saturday, we had the privilege of hosting Awakin Call with Reverend F.W. King of The Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church. The Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church has been a presence in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades. The church was founded in 1969 by Franzo King and his wife, Marina King four years after hearing John Coltrane perform at the San Francisco Jazz Workshop. King had been a fan of Coltrane until that night, which he and Marina describe as a “sound baptism.” He then became a disciple. Coltrane was performing, “A Love Supreme,” a seven-years in the making personal testament to God. In the late 1950’s Coltrane nearly overdosed on heroin, which forced his departure from the Miles Davis Quintet and inspired him to write this devotion to God. After hearing Coltrane that night, King left believing that Coltrane was more than a musician. He ... Read Full Story

A Quote I Was Reminded Of... Posted by Kozo Hattori, Mar 14 2019 At last night's Awakin Circle, reflections on the passage, Three Qualities of Holiness, reminded me of this quote:

Interview With Nipun In Heartfulness Magazine Posted by Vasco Gaspar, Mar 13 2019 [The blossoming connection between Heartfulness and ServiceSpace is treat to witness. During a visit to Kanha last year, Heartfulness Magazine did a spontaneous interview with Nipun, right after one his talks to 1500 meditation teachers. Part 1 of that interview was published in January, and Part 2 was just released. It looks particularly beautiful in the print edition. Below is are both of the transcripts combined. Hope you enjoy!] NIPUN MEHTA is one of the founders of ServiceSpace, Karma Kitchen, DailyGood, KindSpring and other organizations that successfully work within the Gift Ecology. From a young age, he was inspired by the need to serve others. Early role models like J. Krishnamurti, Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and Goenka further fuelled that urge so that it has blossomed into a life of joyful, cheerful service. He was the recipient of the Dalai Lama’s Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award in 2014, and appointed to President ... Read Full Story

KindSpring Weekly: Spotlight On Kindness: The Butterfly Posted by Ameeta Martin, Mar 12 2019 Latest issue of 'KindSpring Weekly' newsletter is themed Spotlight On Kindness: The Butterfly Effect . As our global problems become increasingly complex, it's easy to feel defeated. But ripples from even small shifts within our dynamic interconnected system (The Butterfly Effect below), can trigger tsunamis of change. Although a single act may seem inconsequential, we don't know how things will unfold and the impact can be far beyond the limits of our imaginations. #smallisgreat! - Ameeta

Conversation With My Son After Awakin Teens :) Posted by Pragalbha Doshi, Mar 11 2019 During carpool conversations to the "New Story" Retreat in January, a few of us all realized we were the parents of teens. On the drive home, Seema, Helen and I wondered how we could pay-forward the space we'd experienced, and share these values with our teens in a meaningful way. Yesterday, 30 of us gathered for our first Awakin Teens Circle. I feel so blessed and full in my heart! We split up into two circles -- one for teens, and one for parents. Remarkable storyteller, Brian Conroy, led the teens in a bunch of group activities and conversations around the theme: "obstacles to happiness and values that contribute to happiness." All the parents circled up in a separate room, and had an Awakin Circle-style period of stillness, reading, and circle of sharing reflections. At the end, we all convened for a 'handshake telephone' activity that Maya and Aum led, which showed us ... Read Full Story

May I Help You? Posted by Meghna Banker, Mar 11 2019 [In a Laddership Circle last month, a dozen of us had a thoughtful-provoking dialogue around the topic of scale and ripples, where Naren shared this stunning story below!] My dad was visiting us in the U.S. from India, and on the cold, winter mornings, he takes a walk. He's been a walker all his life. He's now 86 years old, and still gets up at 4:30AM and walks two miles. So he walks, and because it's cold, he walks in the mall. One time, he saw that there was a desk at the mall, where volunteers sit down to help. They simply see a board which says: "May I help you?" For him, it was a new concept, coming from India for the first time. Something resonates in him. That was almost 20 years ago. As soon as he returns to India, he makes a small cardboard sign, which says: "May I help you?" ... Read Full Story