Seva is an expression of one's inner love.
In Seva there is no 'I'. Seva is your inner attitude - not the action.
Inside your body, in your heart, have this attitude -
'I am here, available.'
- His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Working alongside many selfless individuals on seva with the DKP Team and Art of Living in the past month has opened up for me a whole new dimension in the meaning of seva and the spirit of volunteerism. The social sector in Singapore often talks about instilling a sense of volunteerism in people and especially students. We talked about it in seminars and even instituted compulsory volunteer hours which students must chalk up to pass their grades. But like all virtues, volunteerism is caught rather than taught. We learn the deepest through being touched experientially and emotionally by another being.
The best teachers of volunteerism are the volunteers and their stories - motivation, experiences, social impacts and how these pieces fit into their bigger life puzzle. They bring to life the significance of why there is no higher honor than service to others. Seva means Selfless Service.
Many of the sevaks (those who do seva) we met are not drawing any monetary benefits while some are receiving just very small amount of stipend. Some juggle full time jobs (for making a living) with their after-office seva (for making a difference in others). Some simply let go of everything (career or business) to embark on a life of seva with Guruji - many of these are among the brightest from IIT and high flying professionals. Some are so young (below 20s) but they are impressively mature in their sense of service!
While the young sevaks have little qualification or experience to fall back on, they have a heart so committed to their mission to serve and help that they would bravely take on astronomical challenges, often without any idea of the ‘how’. Their sense of purpose basically propels them forward and often they learn and innovate naturally on the fly, trying and keep on trying different ways to get things done. Such strong faith and devotion keeps that smile hanging on their faces and that joy in their hearts, regardless how difficult or insurmountable a task seems to be at hand. Almost all the initiatives that they undertake are so huge to me. They are encouraging school dropouts in the slum areas to go back to school; they are helping illiterate women in the slum to learn livelihood skills like sewing, money management and starting small businesses. These sevaks are taking upon themselves to help the ultra poor to break out of the poverty cycle.
Have they prior experience of how to do it? Have they the necessary qualifications to take on this feat? No. But with this spirit of seva in their heart, I know they can accomplish anything and more.
It strengthens my knowing that not knowing the ‘how’ is really not that important. Having a ‘why’ so strong and having faith in purpose is so key to accomplishing anything, big or small.
Often, and more often than we would imagine, having a strong leader (like Guruji) to offer himself/herself for others to lean on till they are ready to fly on their own is critical. And such a leader is not one who is appointed or promoted, but one who emerges naturally through his/her own flowering from within. Such a leader can be anyone, young or old, professional or otherwise, but one who authentically knows at a deep level his/her own being, vision and destination. For such a person naturally shines a light, without shout or whistle, so attractive that others will be inspired to being more of themselves through the course that they set forth together in any platform (business or social).
May your own light shine and light up the path for others through Seva.
The Divine Karnataka Project: 'WHY DKP' Corporate Fund Raising Strategy
We have had a tremendous seva experience working with the DKP Team over the past month. Given our corporate, marketing, and CSR experiences, we took on the task to develop a strategy for raising funds from the corporate sector. In order to do that, we went to many slums and rural villages to observe the different social transformation initiatives, interacted with the DKP teams of leaders and Yuvacharyas, interviewed the beneficiaries comprising children, youth, women, etc. Jin does the interviewing, Robyn and Alvin do the photo shooting. We then extract the essence, copy write out the best of stories, pick the best shots, and stir-fry them creatively into a 4-page marketing collateral and a 20-min presentation. We also designed a corporate funding strategy that maps out the critical steps for a superior Donor Relationship Management process.
You are cordially invited to download the "Why DKP in 4-Page" and "Why DKP in 20min" presentation, and share them with your friends (especially potential corporate sponsors). Donation, private or corporate, is welcome to help DKP scale up and sustain all its initiatives to uplift over half a million lives in the slums and rural villages across Karnataka in India.
Download "WHY DKP" and help spread the word !
Why DKP in 4-Page
This is a 4-page infosheet (pdf) that captures the essence of the Divine Karnataka Project, introduces some of its key social transformation initiatives and highlights stories of lives changed for the better. It is used as a marketing collateral to be printed and mailed out to prospective corporate CEOs/MDs along with an appeal letter. Objective is to secure a meeting in person for a "Why DKP in 20min" presentation.
All photos were taken by us and are of real people being helped by DKP.
This is a 20min presentation (pdf) that tells that story and vision of DKP, the social impacts on the beneficiaries since July 2009, the people behind the efforts, and the many ongoing upliftment initiatives worthy of support by the corporate sector. It also lists the Return-on-Donation benefits to donors.
The presentation will be given by selected presenters from the DKP Donor Relation Team to prospective corporate sponsors/donors.
3 Apr 2011 - Last Sat evening, there were fireworks and cheering deep into the night after India beat Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup. On this leisure Sunday, we decided to venture into the heart of Bangalore city and visit the Bangalore Palace.
The Bangalore Palace is a beautiful dwelling of the past Maharaja and their families. The tour was of DIY fashion as the visitor would pay for an auto-voice with earphone that plays pre-recorded stories as he walks through the 21 destinations, guided by signage.
Alvin and Jin at the grand spiral staircase
The grand high-ceiling reception hall
Hunting was a popular hobby during the time of the Maharaja. There were photos showing the shooting of tigers and elephants. The design of this palace was inspired by many European styles. The above bench showed Spanish design.
The palace architectural design seems to have borrowed a mixed of ideas across Europe.
Robyn fired the canon on her Daddy! Luckily, he was quick and muscled enough to stop the canon ball.
We walked by the Cubbon Park and visited the Industrial and Technology Museum. Robyn really enjoyed the interactive exhibits in there.
Outside, we saw a rice puff hawker who uses a charcoal pot to keep the rice puff hot and crispy.