Corazon De Vida Fundraiser for Casa De Paz (orphanage in Mexico)

February 18th, 2009

This last December, Be the Cause volunteers went on an adventure to Mexico to help out at an orphanage.

First of all, this wasn’t like some previous service vacations…where we travelled to South Africa and Sri Lanka…and got to have a 2nd summer! :) My guess is it was cold…brrrr.

I’ve seen pictures from this service vacay and the pictures of the kids and the volunteers are absolutely precious!

Much like the pictures…the event at Vegan Village this last Saturday night (Valentine’s Day) was precious as well. It’s no accident that this event fell on Valentine’s day night…a day of heartful surrendering and embrace.

And no, I’m not always sold on Valentine’s day because of the hallmark card celebrations that come from it…and more consumerism…but it does have its charm. Some people would say if you’re with someone in relationship, it’s glorious, but I don’t necessarily believe that is the case. Every relationship can have it’s tough spots…nothing is always “coming up roses”. What is special about Valentine’s Day actually to me…is the commitment to love…even on this day when love is all around-basically in your face! It really should be like this all year round (I could do without some of the annoying balloons and such popping up everywhere)…but it is an opportunity to love unconditionally or at least try to…and do one’s best at sending out some vibes of heartfulness…and sometimes we boycott V day all together, but the next one always is a surprise. And thus is life…a surpise…and something to embrace.

What I loved about this event though is it was titled: “Reviving the heart..”. And right now I’m thinking about children…they don’t really put walls up against love…or Valentine’s Day. They give from their heart…even if they don’t receive back what they want…and this is what this Valentine’s day at “Vegan Village” reminded me of…

There’s an innocence we all have inside us about love…

It’s not sarcastic, downtrodden, or disappointed..

In actuality==the true feelings of love are very pure and soulful…like a flower in nature, a smile of a child.

I really was happy how this event focused on that heartfulness and when every volunteer from trip went up to the stage to talk about the service vacation…to Mexico, this innocence was reflected in their faces. All I saw was hope, excitement, and radiance :)

The evening consisted of a Vegan Buffet, poetry, musical performances, and volunteer/community sharing.

There also was dancing upstairs to live DJ which of course was fun, but the heart of the evening for me…as far as the connection to the service vacation was when the sharing about the trip took place. I was going to make it to this event–no doubt about it. I carpooled with friends from South County and although it was quite a bit of driving and we arrived an hour after event began, I was overjoyed to be there with my volunteer friends/family.

I’m always mystified…how these service projects unite everyone on such a deep, global level. It is truly inspiring and for this I am so thankful.

A salute to Corazon De Vida volunteers for making the trek to Mexico one day after Christmas/holidays, and celebrating and making yourself present for the children. They need us and we need them. This world is smiling…for all the efforts, and love you sent out to these special ones! :)

Posted in Mexico Service Vacation | No Comments »

Houston Delivers

February 5th, 2009

On Thursday, January 22nd, Be the Cause volunteers in the Houston area dropped off Toiletries and Hygiene items to the Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston program (HHH). The drive began towards the beginning of December and simply by getting the words out to their friends, putting up boxes around the Baylor College of Medicine and posting the collection sites on the web, supplies started to come in.

From what was donated, HHH was able to distribute 90 Hygiene Kits.

Below is a letter from the Director of Volunteer Services at HHH and a few pictures of the items.

Dear Maushmi,

How wonderful of Be the Cause to do a “Toiletries+++ “collection for Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston again this year– the third year! I am so sorry that we didn’t have our camera available when you and Naz delivered everything. We did come up with one for Friday afternoon, though, when three of our wonderful volunteers responded to my call to come help get everything packed into kits and boxed, labeled and placed so that our providers can have easy access to get the things out for our patients as soon as needed.

We made up about 90 hygiene kits with a wide variety of items. As a few of the items ran out, we turned to packing and labeling things by type to be visible and usable for single item selection in the clinic storage areas. I sent an e-mail to all of our providers to let them know what bounty is to be found. Just from my limited observation point, I am already aware of numerous things being put into the hands of our patients. We are ALL so appreciative!

I have included a couple of photos of the volunteers assembling hygiene kits Friday afternoon. Thank you for making this possible!

Sincerely,
Cherie

lots-of-stuff-for-kits-jan-09

michaelcwterriaaron-jan-09

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the first time volunteering at seva café

January 20th, 2009

I had the privilege of being part of the Seva Café in 2007 as a guest. Sadly it was just the one time and that was the last day of Seva Café’s run at the Royal Cup Café. I was disappointed to have discovered that I missed out on months of serving, interacting, being a part of and witnessing incredible & genuine moments. Is this what had been happening here all along? How could I have not known the depth and intensity of what goes on here? Not too mention the fun.

This past Sunday morning I awoke with great anticipation. On my drive to Zephyr’s, thoughts of what volunteer role I would be assigned in our collective ran through my head. I told myself that it didn’t matter and I was happy with however I could contribute. When I got there, we decided to have the volunteer orientation a bit later so we could allow time for all of the volunteers to arrive. In the meanwhile, we started preparing. Still I couldn’t let go of the mystery I had built up inside my head, when will we know what we are doing for the night? When do we find out? (I had missed the email sent out earlier with the volunteer assignments).

All of a sudden it didn’t matter because somehow we all naturally fell into a flow in preparing the food; washing, cutting, chopping, finding, moving, storing. It was so organic. I was amazed at how people who hadn’t met before that night and had never been to the restaurant or Seva Café, so seamlessly moved together. Without any awareness of it, I let go of my previous thoughts.

In the kitchen I met another volunteer. We instantly bonded over travel stories, our passions, and tacky jewelry. We couldn’t stop talking. During the volunteer orientation we discovered that we would both be washing dishes that night. We shared with each other the therapeutic and almost meditative state washing dishes allows us to experience. We were told that another volunteer was on their way and that this person would also be standing alongside us washing dishes.

We went into the kitchen and started preparing. As the used plates, cups, and silverware were being brought into the kitchen by our fellow volunteers, a new person also showed up in the kitchen. We assumed he was the other volunteer who would also help to wash the dishes. So we shoved an apron in his hands and explained to him the flow we had adopted in washing the dishes. We engaged in conversation. He imparted some of his dishwashing secrets & tricks learned from his days of working at Little Cesar’s. Things ran smoothly for the rest of the night and we all had a good time together.

At the end of the night, we pushed a few tables together in the restaurant, and thanks to the dedicated BTC volunteers, had a festive meal awaiting us. As we all sat together sharing food, the volunteer who had showed up in the kitchen to wash the dishes sat in his chair drinking a glass of water. We offered to pass him along a plate of food, but he said it was okay, he wasn’t hungry. He then told us that he had heard about Seva Café earlier that day and decided to show up for a meal. Someone then asked him, so you weren’t here to volunteer? He said no. We all laughed. Then someone else asked, how did you end up in the kitchen and why didn’t you say something? He said, when things like that happen I just roll with it. We were all amused.

The next morning this guy was on my mind. I wondered if he knew the affect he had made on us that night. I knew for me, being aware and present in each moment is something I am constantly striving for, whether it is while I am doing the most mundane of activities or having a conversation with a person. Here was this guy who walked into a space not knowing anyone, looking forward to sitting down and nourishing himself, and somehow he got shuffled into the kitchen, washing dishes for 4 hours!  This guy was a testament to living in the moment. Although he had come to eat, he only had water when we had all gathered at the end of the night. I had to be honest with myself that morning, would I have done the same? Would I have volunteered when my intention was to be a guest? Would I have said something?

That night I saw the difference a group of strangers could make, I made new friends, I witnessed pure acts of selflessness, I saw the restaurant go from empty to at capacity, and I left energized & happy that I was somehow able to be a part of it all. There is no telling what will happen the next time I volunteer at Seva Café.

 

 

Posted in Seva Cafe | 2 Comments »

Just an appetizer

January 19th, 2009

This is just the appetizer said Virenbhai as he addressed the 20 plus volunteers cramped in the Seva Cafe kitchen. This is just the beginning. We must keep moving forward to create more meaningful projects and to continue serving others. The main dish, he stated, still awaits us.

In that anticipation he lit a fire that got many of us thinking: What else could we be doing to serve others; How else can we help to make this world a better place?

Virenbhai’s visit in that sense was just a reminder of what life could have in store for us. He only spent a few hours with us, but even so, he has left a deep change stirring within.

Virenbhai, for those of you that aren’t familiar, co-founded an organization 20 years ago that now cares for 6000 children every day, runs over 50 projects and does it all with one governing principle: that to lovingly care for others is our nature and our duty. This principle is so ingrained in the staff and the volunteers that even the recipients of their good work get indoctrinated with it. The organization is now literally being run by those who once benefited from it, because they now too realize that they must continue this circle of giving.

This love for service is apparent in all that Virenbhai does. A few minutes at the Seva Cafe and he immediately rushed to the kitchen to start washing dishes. I literally had to pull him away to introduce him to some of the guests.

Despite his busy schedule, between getting awards at the King Institute in Stanford and visiting family in Chicago, he took the time to visit us. His visit was more a gift than a tour, he even brought kites so that we could get a taste of the Kite Festival from his home town of Ahmadabad, Gujarat. As we flew the kites in the afternoon a few kids in the nearby park curiously came up to us. Virenbhai happily greeted them and sent them on their way with new gifts. A brother and sister held hands as they ran off. Their new kites flinging behind them in anticipation of flights yet to come. A hand made necklace bearing the faces of Gandhi and King dangled between the two as they held in tightly in their joined palms. A picturesque moment as the sun began to fade and dip ahead of them. All we saw as we stared in their direction was a brighter future.

For those of you that helped make his trip happen, thank you. More on Manav Sadhna, the organization that Virenbhai helped start: www.manavsadhna.org.

Posted in India, Seva Cafe | 2 Comments »

Seva Cafe Comments

January 14th, 2009

love notes left by visitors

Seva Cafe,
Thank you for a nourishing and delicious meal. It’s a beautiful experiment you have going on here. I will be back to volunteer and participate.

It touches me that there are kind hearted people who want to simply enjoy the act of caring for others…
I appreciate, am humbled, enjoy the emotion, the
dedication, the time, the thought, the sacrifice,
and the act of deciding to be a part of something
that is outside of caring for your own needs.
I thank you, I applaud you, I appreciate you, I hope
you are given back beyond your giving, not for the
reason of getting what you put into it, because that
would be for a selfish purpose, but for the reason of
feeling full in your accomplishments in your own
choices and fulfillment in who you are.

The waitress, Thu Trang, was very welcoming. We stumbled on this by fate. This is amazing. What a difference you make in the community!

Hey! Thanks for your love & generosity! You are the people who make Long Beach beautiful! Much appreciation & respect.
With thanks, Jared James Garcia

I’m grateful for these times, for the lessons I’ve learned, for the love I’ve experienced, & for a healthy beating heart that allows me to love. I’m grateful for hope & hopeful for another day to be grateful.

Be open….
Open your eyes, your soul, your heart to the world
it will accept you.

Ambition is greater than pessimism. Stop creating grief &
start a Seva

I am visiting from Sacramento but I used to live here and volunteered at the very first Seva (Royal Cup). Thanks for being. Long Beach is lucky to have this effort.

Let go of the river’s edge and allow love to be your guide.
In other words…go with the flow. What we resist persists
-Non-Attachment-

This is one of the most coolest, unique experiments my family & I have ever been in! I loved everything about it! We all did! This is a wonderful experience, just like what Jesus said, “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.” I want to apologize on behalf of my family; we were not aware the donations were cash only, and I know the amount is not sufficient. Thank you so much for the wonderful atmosphere and service.” -The Coronado Family

I am going to give as much as I can next time I come, you all have been so amazing (as always)… I will continue to tell good people about you because it is always good to know about amazing organizations such as yours.
Be the change…it’s all about the choices we make.

Don’t wait for circumstances to change to let yourself be happy.

Food came out fast :)
Salad is super delicioso!
BTC is nice and cheesy!
Lasagna is better than Olive Garden!
Our sever, Amy, was the BEST!!
Great idea, everyone was super nice!

You are all beautiful people with beautiful hearts. Keep doing what you do…it is greatly appreciated.

I had a wonderful experience at Seva Cafe, It’s nice to know that there are some good loving people left in the world. I hope and prey that this idea catches hold and spreads throughout the country, and maybe more people will begin to realize that things aren’t so bad if you take time to love, care for and share with your fellow man.

O! That night whose breath I hear!
To feel
that altogether
still - peace - chaos -
rapture!
Crackling and flowing, the fire of change,
Forever!
O! To know that love is love;
ravine
of love and night!
-Unknown

This is beautiful.

Posted in Seva Cafe | 1 Comment »

San Diego

January 8th, 2009

It was only two days, but it felt like everyone I met was family.

We went straight to the temple where I was supposed to talk for an hour and a half on the merits of serving others. Somehow the words found their way from this neo-cortex, through the microphone, through gas and dust, onto ears and into hearts. I shared stories about the beginnings of Be the Cause. I told them my own story which somehow was also their story. We were all searching for something deeper in our lives and somehow we were all led to this same moment. I shared with them the stories I had heard, of a universe so vast that it was incredible and yet its magnificence didn’t trump the size of our own tiny little hearts.

In moments I could feel myself tearing up as I remembered the story of a little homeless boy we met one night in India. At times when I looked up, I found that my tears were somehow falling off the face of someone else. At times we all laughed simply because the words that were coming out seemed so ridiculous.

A few aunties took copious notes, but I knew that what I was saying was already known to them, and more importantly was already written in their hearts: That all we need is the courage to give, and in that moment the entire universe opens up for us.

Afterwards they asked questions. About my life. About how certain projects came together. Someone asked about finances, someone always does. Someone asked about happiness, and yes I admitted, it can be cultivated.

She came up to me afterwards stating that for a moment she felt she wasn’t alone. She cried for a moment standing there with me, I felt it too, that kinship, that togetherness, that love in the room. It made me a little strong and a little weak at the same time standing there in that temple. A little honored and also a little unworthy to be receiving such emotion.

A few of my new friends wanted to sit in silence so that we could end the afternoon the same way we started it. Fifteen minutes rolled by and it seemed as if more was shared in those silent moments than in the hours prior.

Later that night, when a few of my new friends decided to drop by after dinner, I would discover that they were serving much more than they had led me to believe. We discussed ongoing projects and brainstormed new ways of getting people engaged. We planned for the next day, where a repeat performance was requested for a younger audience.

The next day, I sat in front of kids and adults alike. The stories and the accompanying jokes seemed to work a second time around. Even the QnA felt similar, except this time the questions were more personal. I realized that every family is the same, they are all concerned about my marital status. Being single has allowed me some freedom, sure, but sharing stories of my married couple friends that do more together than separate quickly brought the point home: wherever you are, however you are, you can serve.

The drive home was rejuvenating. I felt as if I was leaving home to return home. Thank you San Diego. If anyone is interested in connecting with the Jain Community of San Diego please send me an email.

Posted in Be the Cause General | 3 Comments »

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