Passing It On Posted by Jyoti , Jul 03 2018 For the past several months, a young lady has attended poetry circles at my home, and the heartfelt conversations about poems have led to a friendship between us. Recently, as we were discussing something about the inequalities in this world, she expressed her frustration and helplessness in a manner that led me to spontaneously throw out a suggestion that we could do something, maybe cook lunch and take it to those near us who happen to be homeless. Her initial reaction was to say don’t sign me up for anything, but as the weekend approached, she followed up to ask if I was serious. I had wanted to do this for a while and only needed a companion. We agreed to do it. As we made plans, she asked why we couldn't we just buy some food to give away. I told her I want to offer home-cooked food, as they ... Read Full Story

KindSpring Weekly: Spotlight On Kindness: The Heart Of Posted by Ameeta Martin, Jul 03 2018 Latest issue of 'KindSpring Weekly' newsletter is themed Spotlight On Kindness: The Heart Of Our Union. In celebrating 4th of July, let us recall that democracy is simply a framework for government that is continually brought to life by the inner habits of the heart of citizens of each generation. Freedom is ultimately an inside job. And that job occurs inside our hearts. Let us renew the inner work of self-rule (of ourselves and our communities) to form a more perfect union of hearts. - Preeta

First Awakin Circle At Markhof - A Second Circle In Posted by Alma Gall, Jul 03 2018 Deeply inspired by Nipun’s last visit to Vienna in April, Sophie and I thought it would be wonderful to be able to offer an Awakin Circle which is central, as the Awakin Circle Donaustadt organised by Christine and Heide takes place at the outskirts of Vienna. When we brainstormed about a suitable place, immediately “Markhof” came to mind, which is located in the heart of Vienna. This Co-learning and Co-working space is all about community-building in an inspiring atmosphere - a beautiful location indeed, at which also Vienna’s first Karma Kitchen was held. Stefan, one of the co-managers of Markhof, was not only willing to host us, but he also he offered us the most beautiful room in all of their facilities! On the 14th of June, we were more than happy to welcome over 20 people into the circle - they all came from different backgrounds - some family members, ... Read Full Story

Karma Kitchen Nepal: Everybody Can Serve! Posted by Sushil Adhikari, Jul 02 2018 Last Saturday, on June 23, we hosted the first Karma Kitchen in Kathmandu (Nepal) with 107 guests getting a first-hand experience of generosity. All the guests were so amazed by the big heart of the volunteers -- who were all physically disabled, myself included. With the ripple of excitement and happy surprises, from 2PM to 7PM, we offered everyone a very unique experiment in generosity by promoting the spirit of "pay it forward." Our theme was "Everybody Can Serve". It was a day filled with the spirit of inclusive volunteerism. Our inspiring crew of volunteers helped diners understand what "pay it forward" meant and how to get the chain of giving going. We even had the Karma Kitchen website loaded on our laptop to share more! We built great friendships and connections throughout the day. The food was deliciously cooked and served with caring love. All the guests felt a pulse of blissfulness ... Read Full Story

Moved By Love: The Joy Of Giving Posted by Shaalini Srinivasan, Jul 02 2018 Latest issue of 'Moved By Love' newsletter is themed The Joy Of Giving. The Joy of Giving is at its best when it is Unconditional and Universal. This month's newsletter is dedicated to those who make others smile wide - from being a clown with ailing children, to going deep on a journey of stories of childhood friendship, to making that paper boat again.

Two Months In Asia: Way Of Happiness Posted by Zilong Wang, Jul 02 2018 There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. -- Thich Nhat Hanh In May and June, the Journey has led me through Bhutan, Thailand, China, and Japan, spending from 1 to 3 weeks in each country. None of it was my "plan". I had not intended to travel abroad since returning to China in February. But as karma ripens, the journey continues, even if not on a bicycle :) The cycling part of the pilgrimage might be complete, because now the pilgrim feels ready to walk. Here are some reflections from the past two months. Peace Pole near Punakha Dzong in Bhutan ​Bhutan: Gross National Happiness Dear friends connected me to a team of Chinese and international change-makers trying to apply the principles of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness to China, especially in the field of education and business. In May, I joined them for a three-week study trip through Bhutan, serving as translator. Visiting the mystical ... Read Full Story

What Is Nipunesque? Posted by Jyoti , Jun 28 2018 An off the cuff remark made by Bonnie Rose during her talk at the Awakin circle stuck with me. She said "You guys are quite radical. It is very Nipunesque" referring to something she had solved, perhaps by thinking about: What would Nipun do? I am still thinking about "What is Nipunesque?" Smile, for no reason at all. Give, just because one can. In a world of mistrust and fear Be courageous enough to be kind. Listen, really intently. Remember it all. Celebrate joys. Trust, to amplify them. Notice every act of kindness anyone does. And thank them for it. Tell others about it. Out the quietly kind ones. Believe there are many. Gather and connect them. At home and abroad, In person and virtually, Virtuously. Tell stories. Laugh. Sit in Silence. Welcome strangers. Stay open and curious. Do the dishes. Work tirelessly. There is a lot of work to be done. Involve whoever wants to work, But expect nothing. Hug often, and don't forget the key: Practice random acts of kindness. There is a whole lot more if I ... Read Full Story

It’s Already Happening! Posted by Sabine Admine, Jun 27 2018 Yesterday I arrived from a weekly Awakin in the neighboring town that rather turned out to be a two day long heartwarming gathering. Today I woke up and wondered: ‘How can I share this uplifting mood and happiness that was merrily reverberating in every cell?’ Blood donation it was! So, I went to the nearby village where the health center welcomed donors this very afternoon and did the procedure. Leaving the center, I met a sister who attended our first Awakin last week in Palencia. She expressed how excited and inspired she was that, as a primary school teacher, she improvised a silent circle with her pupils as the final event of the study year. With a moment of silence, reflections, sharing, gratefulness and homemade delicacies, school kids were farewelled ‘divinely’, as commented her daughter who was also present in both; the first Awakin Circle and the circle in the farewell. Such a beautiful amplification! :)

KindSpring Weekly: Spotlight On Kindness: The Extra Posted by Ameeta Martin, Jun 26 2018 Latest issue of 'KindSpring Weekly' newsletter is themed Spotlight On Kindness: The Extra Mile. Some "simple" acts of kindness aren't so simple or easy. Featured this week are people going literally the extra mile. After pushing a woman in a wheelchair nearly a mile, Bilal Quintyne said, "I would not go home until she was home. Period." Kindness can sometimes feel hard, and be inconvenient, but it's always worth it. Thanks to all kindness angels going the extra mile. It matters. - Jane

Nuggets From Bonnie Rose's Call Posted by Preeta Bansal, Jun 25 2018 Last Saturday, we had the privilege of hosting our weekly Awakin Call with Bonnie Rose. As a former registered nurse, actress, and opera singer, Bonnie Rose's career trajectory has been anything but run-of-the-mill, but through it all her life's purpose has stayed constant. Bonnie lives through love: being love, sharing love, and serving love. Currently the Senior Minister at the Ventura Center for Spiritual Living, Bonnie has dedicated herself to a ministry with roots in the Transcendentalist Movement of the 1830s, believing "that the universe is spiritual and has intelligence, purpose, beauty, and order." It honors all the world’s great spiritual teachings and all paths to God -- "whether we call it God, Spirit, Energy, or Universal Intelligence." She and her congregation believe that through study and spiritual practice, each of us can come to understand our oneness with this in-dwelling Divine Presence, because all people, places, and things emanate from ... Read Full Story

Tea Leaves And Epiphytes... Posted by Richard Whittaker, Jun 24 2018 I got a last-minute invite to join a small circle of individuals who were going to meet the next morning at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery. It was good timing. At 9am I joined Rev. Heng Sure, Nipun, Audrey, Rev. Bonnie Rose from Ventura, Janessa Wilder (former CIA analyst and founder of the Euphrates Institute), Fran Faraz, (director of Peace Studies at Golden West College in SoCal), Sally Mahe, (one of the founders of United Religions Initiative, now with 900+ chapters in 105 countries!) and Jin Wei Bhikshu, the monk from Poland. Things got rolling pretty quickly and picked up energy from there. Rev. Heng added some fuel in the form of tea. Sitting at one end of the table, he was carefully setting out 10 cups. He held up a silvery bag to get our attention and announced, “This is a very special tea! A rare dragonwell that has never been ... Read Full Story

World Cup @ Karma Kitchen Surat! Posted by Parag Shah, Jun 24 2018 We just completed our 12th Karma Kitchen in Surat and the theme was Football World Cup.:) The only difference was that everyone who participated were winners!! The decor and the spirit behind it was very inspiring, evoking a one-world consciousness. And we were fully sold out for the day. Every month is a different volunteer crew, and each month's crew was highlighted. Our appetizing menu and much more ... One thing that stood out to me was -- in life, as well as football game, eventually we all run out of time. Let's make the most of our playing time. :)

Why Small Acts Of Kindness -- Not Big :) Posted by Rachana Bhangaokar, Jun 23 2018 [Last November, we held a Volunteer + T circle at my home in Baroda, with local anchors who are engaged in many labor of love projects. Below is the edited transcript of Nipun-bhai's thoughts based on his experience. At some point, we’ll share the rich Q&A that followed as well. :)] All of us have one very important practice in common -- do small acts of kindness. But why not big, gigantic acts of service that help the maximum number of people? It’s important to look deeply into the nuances of a small act. When we serve anyone in anyway, like whoever did this beautiful artwork in the center of our circle, we are saying to ourselves, “I am doing this for someone else.” In that moment, we are shifting our consciousness from "me" to "we". It's a tremendous shift. If our brain is a forest of many neural paths, these “we” moments build ... Read Full Story

From Gandhi 3.0 To Deep U Posted by Vasco Gaspar, Jun 22 2018 Dear friends, My heart is full as I write this email in deep appreciation for all of you. Yesterday we finished the first official edition of the Deep U program, a 3-day retreat of Awareness-Based Human Flourishing. I feel that the program is the "coming together" of everything I've been learning, gathering and integrating in the last 12 years (Mindfulness, Heartfulness, Theory U, Social Presencing Theatre, etc.). After Gandhi 3.0 retreat, it became clear that one ingredient that could be deepened in our world today: a huuuuge amount of selfless Love and giftivism! Like the one we have been experiencing and receiving through this ServiceSpace beautiful ecosystem. But a question was present: how to give selflessly what you've been cultivating in the last decade? The Laddership Circle was the "catalyst" that helped us refine the design and experiment the concept in these last three days. After "digesting" all our Laddership experience and also after many ... Read Full Story

A Karma Kitchen Experiment In NYC! Posted by Ebony Gustave, Jun 21 2018 Living in NYC, people tend to be in a bubble of isolation. New Yorkers have a reputation for an individualistic drive and not having an open heart. There's a layer of thickness they feel the need to uphold for protection. In a city so densely populated, a lot of us have a strong desire for community that hasn't been fulfilled. But what happens when New Yorkers think of beings other than themselves? The owner of a restaurant in Brooklyn, was gracious enough to open his doors on June 11th to do an experiment in generosity. I was so eager to share the gift of nourishment to the community that I decided to coordinate the first Karma Kitchen in Brooklyn in just two weeks. The host restaurant gives a vibe that you've been welcomed into the home of a friend or family member. They specialize in slow cooked, live, vegan food. Most restaurants ... Read Full Story

Sacred Imperfection, A Talk By Bonnie Rose Posted by Anuj Pandey, Jun 21 2018 [Below is the transcript of a talk that Rev. Bonnie Rose delivered at our Awakin Circle in Santa Clara last night.] I think I am going to speak about 'Sacred Imperfection' today. I was sitting here meditating, thinking why did I pick something so hard? :) It occurred to me that my whole life, particularly as a minister, there's been a lot of pressure to be a certain way my whole life. I've been trying to get it right and finally be perfect enough to be a really good minister. And what I've discovered in the last couple of years as I've grown more and meditated more deeply -- also through a lot of the values that I've practiced because of ServiceSpace -- that a lot of the secret of my success is failure. Which is odd. It's a paradox. And actually getting it wrong is as good as getting it right ... Read Full Story

Embodied Connection Of Being Held Posted by Jyoti , Jun 20 2018 After a specially powerful opening of the Santa Clara Awakin circle with a new sister sharing her journey of being held by strangers, we listened to each other in the circle of sharing. As usual, there were other newcomers, two of whom were visiting all the way from China, Zilong's parents. When it was her turn to share, Zilong's mother said that she feels the warmth of everyone's shared stories and has a lot to say, but with a hesitancy over her English, she will simply appreciate the warmth and smiles. The lady sitting next to her immediately volunteered to translate from Chinese to English, so she could share fluently in Chinese. What are the odds that these two just happened to be sitting next to each other, to be able to spontaneously connect? At the end of dinner, Zilong's mother said to me that she understood my share had something ... Read Full Story

KindSpring Weekly: Spotlight On Kindness: Kindness In Posted by Ameeta Martin, Jun 19 2018 Latest issue of 'KindSpring Weekly' newsletter is themed Spotlight On Kindness: Kindness In Marriage. Research shows that kindness "glues couples together." In our featured article below, "kindness (along with emotional stability) is the most important predictor of satisfaction and stability in a marriage. Kindness makes each partner feel cared for, understood, and validated - feel loved." Kill them with kindness! - Ameeta

Karma Kitchen In The Park Comes To Life In Toronto Posted by Thu Nguyen, Jun 19 2018 It's impossible to contain the AWE for what blossomed in Toronto this past Saturday at our first Karma Kitchen Picnic! Our team of amazing 10 volunteers teamed up with our friends at Building Roots threw a community picnic right outside the Moss Park Market. We made fresh banh mi sandwiches, salads, watermelon and ran out within an hour, and also managed to add secret menu items like Augie's Ice Pops, cookies, tangerines, bananas, coffee and run out of it all as well before the end of the second hour :) Not only were guests well fed, we even had The Classy Wrecks, a live local band uplift our spirits all afternoon, an HeArt and bracelet making, and a hula hooping area for kids, impromptu scavenger hunt and plenty of smiles, hugs and gifts. What happened was simply MAGIC. Moss Park is a really special neighbourhood in an increasingly gentrified and unaffordable Toronto. It's got ... Read Full Story

HeArt Circle On: The Child Within Posted by Trupti Pandya, Jun 19 2018 As I sit near the window, I see the clouds arriving. The child inside me is waiting to be drenched in the first rains, splash my feet in the puddle, make some paper boats and let it flow with the water. This Sunday, at HeArt circle, a bunch of us came together to cherish that child within each one of us waiting to dance, sing, love, paint, smile and break free. As children, we all had our own small world of imagination and fantasies that we might have created with our own little hands with broken twigs or a torn cloth. Today we wanted to bring our childhood on canvas especially about the wonderment that each one of us held as children. Karan shared how he was a good student in his college days but what made him worry was his drawing exam. Inspite of his anxiety towards art and craft it ... Read Full Story