Society today has problems. Economic and emotional depressions, terrorism, climate change, racism, crime, disappearing resources, increased consumerism and poverty to name but a few. As a modern thinker you know that the only way to overcome these obstacles is to change the way society thinks and acts as a whole. You know what the ideas and solutions for change are, but your voice alone goes unheard, you need a stage upon which to educate the masses. That stage is the Book for Change. A book compiled by men and women just like yourself, dedicated to opening the hearts and minds of all who read it, changing our outlook on life for a better humanity.
This is your opportunity to become one of today's new breed of thinkers, the chance for you to get published and present you ideas to the world. Visit TheBookForChange.com to get involved!
SIP is a project of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK
Showing posts with label Sonal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sonal. Show all posts
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Time
On Tuesday 16th July I experienced a couple of hours of panic-driven madness. I was working on the logistics of one of my projects, which by the way is a samiti promotional video, and I was quite content with the plan I’d laid out for myself for that evening. It soon transpired that this plan of mine was not to be, for one of the key links in the chain had fallen through. In my anxiety I could not think clearly, but in the end I blundered into making a new, rather flawed plan. Having literally missed the train, I spent ages lamenting the failure of the evening and the fact that the targets I had set for myself would not be met. And running round my brain were those odious words, “should’ve", "would’ve", "could’ve”. What a waste of time! Thinking about it now, in my present state of relative level-mindedness, it is starting to dawn on me just how often time is ill-used. From the beginning of this Sangh Internship Programme we had been supplied with bounteous tasks to get done, which on paper seems ridiculous and frankly impossible to achieve in so short a time period. Having said so, by taking into consideration my behaviour of the Tuesday just gone, I can see that though I was putting a lot of effort into the work, I was actually getting very little done. Instead of acknowledging that nothing more could be done for that one task and moving on to the next, I wasted time faffing about- I just couldn’t let go! Writing this now, I am reminded of what Eknath Ranade writes in Sadhana of Service:
“Life is a gymnasium where you have to display the best that you possess within the short time allotted to you.”
Whether its a hundred years, fifty years, one year, or even a month, the time we have when we have the capacity to work is precious, and not a moment should go by when you simply think that “there’s always tomorrow…”
“Life is a gymnasium where you have to display the best that you possess within the short time allotted to you.”
Whether its a hundred years, fifty years, one year, or even a month, the time we have when we have the capacity to work is precious, and not a moment should go by when you simply think that “there’s always tomorrow…”
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
SIP: Day 1
Four individuals were we; a mix of friends, strangers, some familiar names and familiar faces. Whatever our relationships at the beginning of abhyaas varg C, by the end of the first day a mutual understanding of who we were and what we may be doing started to become apparent.
Day 1, Karyalay, Leicester.
The first activity was done in the mind of:
"Leave the place in a better state than that in which you found it." And so began Safai, as would be the norm for the next few days. This was followed by prathna and meditation. Excellent!
After a breakfast of everything you'd expect to find in a well balanced meal (toast, tea, pizza, cereal) we assembled for the first session: choice. We all sat waiting, eager to know what thought provoking issues would emerge from the first session, as Dipvandana and Dharmesh stood facing us.
“Welcome to SIP" said they, more or less, and then they left the room. No instructions, no explanation, nothing. Initially we sat, rooted to our chairs anticipating their imminent return... but alas! They did not come! And so we were left to our own devices. In the room was a table laden with bits and bobs; books, articles, DVDs, and some board games, including monopoly... and so we decided to play, just until they came back, mind you! We played, not strictly in accordance with the rules, for one hour, with still no sign to suggest that we had not been abandoned. It was then that it dawned on us that a game of monopoly would not be much to show for an hour and that something must be done. Janak checked on his laptop, revealing to us all that the first session was entitled CHOICE. With this in mind, we did choose to get something constructive done. Having been assigned two projects each, we worked and talked about ideas and potential avenues leading from our projects. All in all we had about 2.5-3hours. During a lunch that followed, we were asked "why do we think session 1 was designed the way it was?" It was only then that we began to see how those three hours reflected how we use our free time in our day to day life. When no one from school/university/work is telling us what to do, how do we organise our time and make the maximum use of it? How do we get the drive to get off the sofa and work without external instruction? Leaving us on our own without any push in any direction was a clear message from the SIP organisers that during the course of this programme, we will not be instructed or mothered. Rather that the drive to act and to do has to come from yourself. Organising the time you have and deciding how to spend it is vital; this way you can still meet with friends and do other things that you want to do.
After lunch and a bit of time for general replenishment, we began session 2: conditional sewa. Dipvandana and Dharmesh decided to stay fro the entire course of this session which we were very glad of. This session looked at a number of issues/topics/questions:
“How far are we willing to go to find a solution?"
Too often we are very quick to react to a problem, whether it be the weather, what we see on the news, traffic etc. What has to happen for us to get out of this cycle of simply criticising? Creating potential solutions as ways of combating the problems is a much more useful way of spending time.
“Be thankful to every poor person in the world; they enable us to serve."
This statement is something I have never considered. With it comes humility, a quality that allows us to see and appreciate this relationship of give and take; how you are receiving and growing in the service you are giving. Their state of poverty gives you an avenue for personal and spiritual growth.
“If you have come here to help me then you may leave BUT if your liberation is bound with mine then we may work together.”
"Service is the rent we pay for our space on this Earth"
We as British citizens are amongst the richest 2% of people in the world. But what is it that we have done to deserve it? What have we done to enjoy this Earth? We don’t make much of a sacrifice to enjoy the fruits of this life, and we cannot see anything unjust in this relationship of taking so much from Mother Earth. It is the service we do that must balance all that we have received.
The evening’s dinner plans were to be at different venues. We were all to go to different shakha households and spend the evening, from 18:30-22:00. Amidst the normal bustle of evening activities we were to find out as much as possible about our respective hosts. Later on that night, we re-adjourned for feedback. Listening to the different family stories of their past gives a fragment of understanding other peoples lives.
It was decided later on that night that all four of us were to follow a topic each in current affairs during the course of the month, ensuring that we withhold personal judgment. In this way a solid understanding can be gained.
The day ended with some meditation that strangely seemed to drift into sleep- it had been a long day!
Day 1, Karyalay, Leicester.
The first activity was done in the mind of:
"Leave the place in a better state than that in which you found it." And so began Safai, as would be the norm for the next few days. This was followed by prathna and meditation. Excellent!
After a breakfast of everything you'd expect to find in a well balanced meal (toast, tea, pizza, cereal) we assembled for the first session: choice. We all sat waiting, eager to know what thought provoking issues would emerge from the first session, as Dipvandana and Dharmesh stood facing us.
“Welcome to SIP" said they, more or less, and then they left the room. No instructions, no explanation, nothing. Initially we sat, rooted to our chairs anticipating their imminent return... but alas! They did not come! And so we were left to our own devices. In the room was a table laden with bits and bobs; books, articles, DVDs, and some board games, including monopoly... and so we decided to play, just until they came back, mind you! We played, not strictly in accordance with the rules, for one hour, with still no sign to suggest that we had not been abandoned. It was then that it dawned on us that a game of monopoly would not be much to show for an hour and that something must be done. Janak checked on his laptop, revealing to us all that the first session was entitled CHOICE. With this in mind, we did choose to get something constructive done. Having been assigned two projects each, we worked and talked about ideas and potential avenues leading from our projects. All in all we had about 2.5-3hours. During a lunch that followed, we were asked "why do we think session 1 was designed the way it was?" It was only then that we began to see how those three hours reflected how we use our free time in our day to day life. When no one from school/university/work is telling us what to do, how do we organise our time and make the maximum use of it? How do we get the drive to get off the sofa and work without external instruction? Leaving us on our own without any push in any direction was a clear message from the SIP organisers that during the course of this programme, we will not be instructed or mothered. Rather that the drive to act and to do has to come from yourself. Organising the time you have and deciding how to spend it is vital; this way you can still meet with friends and do other things that you want to do.
After lunch and a bit of time for general replenishment, we began session 2: conditional sewa. Dipvandana and Dharmesh decided to stay fro the entire course of this session which we were very glad of. This session looked at a number of issues/topics/questions:
“How far are we willing to go to find a solution?"
Too often we are very quick to react to a problem, whether it be the weather, what we see on the news, traffic etc. What has to happen for us to get out of this cycle of simply criticising? Creating potential solutions as ways of combating the problems is a much more useful way of spending time.
“Be thankful to every poor person in the world; they enable us to serve."
This statement is something I have never considered. With it comes humility, a quality that allows us to see and appreciate this relationship of give and take; how you are receiving and growing in the service you are giving. Their state of poverty gives you an avenue for personal and spiritual growth.
“If you have come here to help me then you may leave BUT if your liberation is bound with mine then we may work together.”
"Service is the rent we pay for our space on this Earth"
We as British citizens are amongst the richest 2% of people in the world. But what is it that we have done to deserve it? What have we done to enjoy this Earth? We don’t make much of a sacrifice to enjoy the fruits of this life, and we cannot see anything unjust in this relationship of taking so much from Mother Earth. It is the service we do that must balance all that we have received.
The evening’s dinner plans were to be at different venues. We were all to go to different shakha households and spend the evening, from 18:30-22:00. Amidst the normal bustle of evening activities we were to find out as much as possible about our respective hosts. Later on that night, we re-adjourned for feedback. Listening to the different family stories of their past gives a fragment of understanding other peoples lives.
It was decided later on that night that all four of us were to follow a topic each in current affairs during the course of the month, ensuring that we withhold personal judgment. In this way a solid understanding can be gained.
The day ended with some meditation that strangely seemed to drift into sleep- it had been a long day!
Book Review: Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
I picked up this book in Borders. It wasn't the book I'd chosen for this week, but I thought I could have a flick through. I ended up reading the entire book there. Sat in the coffee shop with a mug of peppermint tea, completely engrossed, occasionally nibbling on my home made egg mayo sandwich, with occasional furtive glances towards anyone watching...
This is a magical book. A book where omens are real, where signs can be interpreted in the movement of hawks swirling in the sky, and a kiss can be carried from across the dessert on the wings of the wind! This is exactly how Paulo Coelho makes you feel; you want to use poetic, floaty language- it's brilliant!
The story is of a young boy on a journey to realising and fulfilling his destiny. Along the way he learns the universal language, faces tremendous obstacles, falls in love and is sought out by an alchemist who helps him realise what was within him all along.
Coelho writes of deep spiritual concepts in simplistic yet beautiful language which makes this novel so very accesible.
"And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to acheive it."
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