Thursday, March 4, 2010
Helping Each Other
Sometimes we run into something and we think it is cool. We have no idea how we are going to use it in sabha or in a talk, but we know it is cool and we wait to find a way. The video below falls into that category. We showed it to some of our guest posters and they had one word to describe it - "wow." We think you will agree. How can we use it though? We leave it to the collective intelligence of our astute readers to let us know - we will update accordingly.
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This is a powerful video that can use this in sabha when we are talking about seva, selflessness, or doing things without expectations. It really shows the power of community.
ReplyDeleteLots of ways...
ReplyDelete1) RAOK make all of us feel a little bit of happiness. That happiness is what we all strive to be in a constant state of. Bapa is in a state of that happiness all the time because he is constantly showering kindness and caring upon his devotees.
- OR -
What's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for you that they haven't actually HAD to? Parents raised you? Sure. Think harder though. Think of a random act of kindness. Now think about the random act of kindness Bapa has given us. We couldn't begin to put a price value on what he has given us.
2) Prachar - we should try our best to make satsangis feel welcome at the mandir by going out of our ways to be nice to them in any way possible; not trying to brush the responsibility off onto someone else because we want to hang out with our friends.
3) Our samp needs to be strong enough that when any one of us asks for help "moving a car" - we all show up and pitch in.
When seeing this video, prasang that comes to mind is "Celebration through Service" (Portrait of Inspiration), where Swamishri picked up daatan sticks on his 51st birthday. Swami lives for Seva.
ReplyDeleteAnother way that this connection to a larger sense of community and our scriptures is Vasudhaiv Kutumbhakam, the world world as one family.
"In the joy of others lies our own" - Bapa's motto.
ReplyDeleteAlso, happiness is not gained by wealth or possessions. It is the sang of the Satpurush that gives us happiness. The feeling we have when we watch this video, is the same feeling we have when we are with Bapa, but more. With Bapa we experience bliss.
This can so easily be tied into a discussion of Gadhada I-10, Krutaghni Sevakram. These students are showing appreciation and gratitude for everything a college student has to go through. When is the last time we appreciated how much perfect strangers have to go through when we get angry standing in a line at the bank, with a customer rep on the phone, or with the lady that rear-ended you on her way to work.
ReplyDeleteThere's a presentation in two weeks on Shriji Maharaj's reasons for incarnation. What underlies all six reasons is compassion. All of us have at some point or another asked, "Why did Maharaj give all of his laabh to haribhakto in Gujarat and not become a more impactful historical figure?" These kids could have sent the money they collected to Haiti or Oxfam. But they decided to use it locally to make people's lives better. It doesn't matter where you do it...as long as you do it with the right spirit.
Bapa's compassion for us is a lot like this -- we don't necessarily deserve it, but when we get it we're overjoyed. And it makes us think about how lucky we are. But we, like most of these K-State kids did, will probably forget about it in a week or a month. The key is retaining that prapti no vichar...that appreciation for Bapa's random acts of kindness on us.
This video is definitely powerful.Ghandi said it best in his quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world".
ReplyDeleteWe talk about having better sabhas; we think about ways to make presentations stickier and we discuss ways of reaching out to others, etc. This video forces each of us to ask ourselves: "What we I done lately to be part of a bright future for BAPS?" It reminds us to take our words and thoughts into the realm of action.
1. The most intriguing thing here is collective altruism. Yogi bapa said samp is infectious. Similarly, "doing good" is also. Enhance this "tribal" culture amongst ourselves.
ReplyDelete2. Importance of continued repeated acts of kindness. It isnt enough that we do something good once..or twice..(helping someone, being there, etc)... but continually. Transform it into a principle in our lives - as it is such in Swami's.
There are a few things that come to mind when watching this video:
ReplyDelete--Satsang related: selflessness in service (seva) will give you an ultimate feeling of happiness. that is a goal we can all work towards on a higher level.
--life related: anyone has the power to make a difference. age/status/gender should not be a boundary. we're all capable of amazing things but the goal is to find that capability and make a difference.
Very motivating video.
These are also people that don't really have any real connection with one another. What about the haribhakto at the mandir? Are we willing to go to the same extent for those sitting in our sabhas? If we are then i'm sure the effort that we put forth to make our sabhas stickier will come more naturally with time.
ReplyDeleteHelping people is fun and infectious...we control the environment of our community/mandir...it to can be fun and about helping each other if we act that way purposefully...swamishri acts purposefully and intensely when he speaks to hari bhakto or reads their letters...also, sampark is just about being good to people...be kind and they'll remember...the KS kids didn't help someone and then ask them to join...they helped and trusted that the person would remember and hoped that they too would give back...
ReplyDelete