Who Blesses Whom Posted by Rahul Mehta, Dec 13 2020 This morning, on Awakin Talks call (Giving Money, Time and Self) , Amit Chandra shared this story of what he witnessed while being around His Holiness the Dalai Lama Around 2018, HH the Dalai Lama was in Mumbai for teachings at Somaiya Vidyavihar. After his teachings, he gave a talk to a small group of us at another venue Kitab Khaana. After this talk, he came out of Kitaab Khana to get into his car waiting outside the venue. Although not many people knew that he was going to be in that part of the town, a small crowd gathered to get his blessings. As he slowly walked towards his car, an old homeless lady, seemingly in her 80s, hastily came running towards HH the Dalai Lama to get his blessings. She must have been 200 meters away when she saw him and hence literally made a dash. The protocol officer and staff ... Read Full Story

Coming Home To Our Heart Posted by Ani , Dec 05 2020 When we were planning for last week’s London Virtual retreat, we chose the title and theme “Embracing Life’s Unexpected Gifts”. It was an experiment that invited deeper ways of personal and collective transformation during these uncertain times. But how can a virtual space hold that energy in the ways held by an in-person retreat? How do we create a virtual safe space with people who do not know one another? How do we create the connection with others without being able to touch their hand in a comforting gesture? How do we create the ambience - without warm welcome hugs - or intricate mandalas or soul filled music? How do we send angels to sprinkle anonymous tags of kindness? These were questions we were exploring as we put our heads, hands and hearts into offering a hybrid, online and offline retreat, which had been inspired by our Moved By Love ... Read Full Story

"When Love Lifts Us": London Virtual Retreat Posted by Trishna Shah, Dec 03 2020 "I once asked a bird, 'How is it that you fly in this gravity of darkness?' The bird responded, 'Love lifts me.'" - Hafiz In the midst of a global pandemic and lockdown in London, 31 noble friends opened their hearts and their complete beings by immersing themselves in a reflective process together during a 5-day Virtual Retreat. What a joy it was to serve as mirrors for each other's journeys through these 5 days, to bear witness to the reflections, insights and shifts that were unfolding organically, offering words of encouragement and support to our noble friends along the way. The final "Live Retreat" Day, last Sunday, was a culmination of days of deep inner work we collectively undertook that began at the Opening Circle, as we embarked on "A Journey Together", a pilgrimage without any seeking. Krishnamurti's words offered an open invitation to dive into our hearts: "If we could take ... Read Full Story

Is Priceless Pricing About Cost Or Relationship? Posted by Colin Johnson, Nov 25 2020 Is "Priceless Pricing" about Cost or Relationship? In Brief Recap We just finished the first two week Priceless Pricing Pod. I felt moved to share some of the thoughts that this experience has triggered. The format of the pod was as follows. Each of over forty participants received a prompt every other day that involves learning, practice and sharing a written reflection. The following day, we read the reflections of everyone else. Then the two-day cycle repeated with a different prompt. There is a kick-off call at the beginning of the first week. We met again on a call over the weekend half-way through. We met one last time on the third Sunday for a wrap-up call. ServiceSpace hosted this mini-pod on the topic of Priceless Pricing in rapid response to strong interest that emerged from the community in these last six months. We held three simultaneous Laddership Circles in the spring. Discussions ... Read Full Story

Dufresne's Story Posted by Kerri Lake, Nov 22 2020 A friend of mine was looking to buy a horse that could be a backyard buddy, a friend to their current quarter horse mare and new member of the family. She didn't want to spend a lot of money, so I suggested we go to the local monthly horse auction to see if we might rescue one of the horses from a potential death sentence. For those of you who are unfamiliar with horse auctions, many times the meat buyers end up taking the unwanted animals at low prices. There are always horses there who have plenty of life left and just need someone to show up and recognize their value, see their heart, and offer them a space where they can just be a loved horse. We found a few older horses who seemed to be dumped at the auction but still had life left and love to give. My friend ... Read Full Story

The Farmer, Butcher, And Two Broken Wings Posted by Harshida Mehta, Nov 21 2020 In our Awakin Circle this Wednesday, we were grateful to be joined by the author of this week's passage, Brian Conroy. :) In his genuine way, Brian graciously captivated us with parables, like this one: The Farmer, Butcher, and Two Broken Wings Well, there was once a farmer who loved all living things. And one day as he was walking along, he saw a sparrow with a broken wing. Feeling sorry for the bird, he carefully picked it up and carried it home. At home, he made a nest for the bird out of grasses and straw, and he gave the bird water and food, and he nursed it tenderly. Under the farmers care, each day, the sparrow got stronger and stronger. After a few weeks, the sparrow was healthy and its wing was healed and it was able to fly again. So the next day the farmer brought the sparrow out to his ... Read Full Story

The Giving Temple Posted by Amritha Mandagondi, Nov 19 2020 Last evening at Awakin Santa Clara, we had the ever shining Brian Conroy lead us into questions on intention, giving and more... One of those moments reminded me of a story that our father shared when my brother and I were in high school. I'm not a great writer or a storyteller like our friend, Brian, so I digged online to find the story that was spelled for me to share with you here...I'm going to call it, "The Giving Temple": "There was a man who cleared one hundred acres of forest and made it into a farmland. His two sons helped him and they became prosperous. When the man was dying, he called his two sons and told them that the land should never be divided, but the produce should be taken equally, fifty percent, by each son. Accordingly, they went by their father’s word. One of the brothers got married ... Read Full Story

Caring For Ourselves By Tending To The World Posted by Randall Amster, Nov 16 2020 [In a recent Pod, I was reminded of this experience and this reflection came up for me. If ever there was a time to deeply consider how we balance the self with all else, it's right now!] A few years ago I was on a road trip to visit old friends in New York. Entering the highway, I saw smoke out of the corner of my eye, immediately identifying the source as a vehicle that had slipped off the other side of the road. Instinctively, I pulled over and ran across four lanes of traffic, leaving my own car running with the door open. Arriving at the scene, the other car had rolled over and two men were trapped in it, and the vehicle was smoldering. Another motorist had stopped to help, and then another. Without many words between us, we managed to pry the window out of the passenger door, ... Read Full Story

Much Deeper Listening, Without Language Posted by Brinda Govindan, Nov 13 2020 [In a recent pod, we reflected on Four Types of Listening, and below is what came to mind for me.] I am not sure I have ever experienced the fourth stage of stage of generative listening, as I seem to be mostly in the first two stages and sometimes in the third. But two experiences come to mind, and they both involve language (or rather, not knowing the language). In one, an elderly gentleman whom I'd see every week at the soup kitchen just wanted to stay and chat with me in Spanish. He had a lot to say and it seemed really important that I bear witness to his torrent of expression. I understood almost nothing of what he said, but I felt the immense grace of being with him in that moment. Once I realized that it didn't matter if I understood his words, something lifted away from me and ... Read Full Story

Mia's Softer Eyes Posted by Smita Navare, Nov 13 2020 [In our Sacred Space Pod last month, Mia shared this beautiful reflection below.] Before I go to bed at night, I take out my contacts or take off my glasses. In that moment, the world becomes a blur - I must trust my memory as I walk to the bed or pull the covers down. In the morning, I literally can not see a thing, until I put my glasses on. When I do, there is a moment as my eyes adjust and the world comes into focus; in that moment, I feel such gratitude. What if I did not have the means to see more clearly? When I come to the forest, I do not first see the details of the trees, I see the forest, like a wave of green and brown. As my eyes adjust, I begin to focus more closely. I begin to see the individual trees, then ... Read Full Story

Power Of Prayer: Circle With Maki, Rika & Yuka Posted by Sachi Maniar , Nov 11 2020 This month in our community anchors circle we took a deep dive into the theme of 'Power of Prayer' and it was the most blissful, amazing, sacred, soul touching circle. With lot of gratitude in my heart for the Saionji family, I pray, I am able to capture the essence of it in this blog. "Prayer is not seen with the eyes. That is why people who have awakened to their spirituality must go first, filling every corner of their life with prayer. Through their actions, their way of life, and their personality, others will awaken, too." -- Masahisa Goi ‘PRAYER’ a word that can sometimes be so charged and heavy and come with all its pre-existing ideas and notions based on our personal experiences and family traditions. For me, it has always meant that moment when I could truly connect with self or rather ‘surrender’ to the higher design. It were ... Read Full Story

Money And Intangibles Based In Love Posted by Audrey Lin, Nov 10 2020 [Below is a stunning story from Ruth, on her experience receiving a priceless gift, that surfaced in the Priceless Pricing Pod that began this week.] 
Paradoxically, my most priceless gift involves a gift of money. 

The year my husband and I divorced, our daughter entered college and our son exited into the world. Despite the fact that my position at the college where I had worked almost twenty years contributed toward children’s college tuition as a benefit (one of the reasons I had stayed easily in high satisfaction work that paid a low salary), my daughter's first comprehensive college bill was a larger amount than my entire yearly salary! In the emotional turmoil of our divorce, my husband had opted not to pay any college expenses because both children were over 18, so legally he did not have to provide college funds. No amount of my normal creativity, organization and determination partnered ... Read Full Story

Image Of The Week Artist? Posted by Nipun Mehta, Nov 09 2020 On one blog post, I read a comment by a relatively new volunteer: "Typically, the more I dive into an organization, the less there is that I want to uncover. :) ServiceSpace has been the opposite experience. The deeper I dive, the more rabbit holes I uncover. And the roots are so intricate and beyond comprehension, that in the very process of stumbling into it, I somehow see a bit more of myself. Or perhaps a bit less of myself. It's almost mysterious, if you know what I mean. :)" Awakin Readings illustrate this so elegantly. Having a newsletter in today's era isn't all that interesting -- just more content in an already information-overloaded palette. :) Yet, Awakin emails "feel" different. Sure, it's ad-free. Sure, some people have been receiving it every week for a couple of decades. Sure, Somik and I screen the readings each week to ensure a meta ... Read Full Story

Wealth That Integrates Gross And Subtle Forms Of Value Posted by David Bullón, Nov 06 2020 In preparing for the Priceless Pricing Pod that is starting this weekend, i decided to capture some of what I have been reflecting on about how our concept of wealth can integrate gross and subtle forms of value. When I landed my first job after college in 2005, I found myself fully immersed for the first time in the logic of the prevalent financial system. I was working in a company that makes stuff and bought into the idea that if I could use my skills to add value to this company then it would exchange my work for money, and I could use that money to buy the stuff needed to live a happy and healthy life. I was invited to open an investment account to save for retirement. The idea was that if I could add enough value to make more money than I needed to live, then I ... Read Full Story

A Package With Six Or More Faces Posted by Nisha Srinivasan, Nov 03 2020 In last month's Sacred Space Pod, we were invited to reflect: "What's an act of kindness you'll never forget?" This response spontaneously surfaced for me: Yesterday, I had to send a parcel and went to the parcel office. The lady ahead of me was standing in way that blocked the entrance/exit. My parcel was a bit heavy and for a moment, I was a bit annoyed that though she could see me, I had to verbally ask her to move so I could enter and join the queue. Her turn came to deposit the parcel and she was short of change. While she was scrambling, I offered her that change. She was surprised but took it and turned back and flashed a huge smile. And when she left, she called out my attention and said a hearty, loud, cheerful, "Thank You" that made everyone, including the cashier, smile. The story begins again for ... Read Full Story

A Six Year Promise Posted by Kerri Lake, Nov 02 2020 [As we ready for an upcoming Laddership Pod on the theme of "Priceless Pricing," I was recently reminded of this experience that transformed my relationship to money.] In 2012 I bought a one-way ticket to Kauai, Hawaii, from California. I knew nobody, I had no place to stay, no income and no idea what I was doing! I arrived on-island with $144 to my name, leaving my car (and a $500 payment) back in San Jose, California. The first night I was there, all I wanted was a hot shower. So, I spent $100 of my $144 on a hotel room so I could shower. The next day I woke up and started living. I was still living for survival though. I used my abilities to create opportunities for work. I met people, said no to some invitations, yes to others. By many acts of magic and divine intervention, I stayed on ... Read Full Story

A Young Nun And An Old Lemon Tree Posted by Khang Nguyen, Nov 01 2020 [In last month's Sacred Space Pod, one of the themes we dove into was on "love and power" and I was reminded of this experience.] In the monastery which I come back to every now and then, there's a young nun who's only a year older than I am. After dropping out of different colleges several times, ordaining in another tradition and then joining this particular lineage, she fully dedicated herself to living a life as best she can. She quietly listened to the grievances of everyone in the monastery, and always took on the jobs that few people wanted, always being the last to clean up the sinks, sort out the trash, etc. I've seen her gently patted someone's hands away, so that she can remove the dregs from the sink drain, or pick out snails from the trash bins, with her bare fingers, leaving the lighter job for all of ... Read Full Story

A Prayer Bag At Gun Point Posted by Mia Tagano, Nov 01 2020 Recently, while reading ArunDada's story in a "Sacred Space" Pod last month, I was reminded of an experience I had in 2010 -- ten years ago. (Amazing because it doesn't feel so long ago.) I had spent the day with my favorite Buddhist nun, Jun anjusan -- a woman who has walked all over the world for peace -- starting in 1978 when she walked across the USA. I have had the honor of walking with her in Japan and to sacred burial sites as well as nuclear testing sites in California. She is one of the most humble teachers I know with the strength and clarity of a cheetah; her voice is almost tiny but can move mountains. One day after a long day of fasting and prayer on the UC Berkeley campus near the Anthropology Department where Native American bones were being held, Jun anjusan and I were ... Read Full Story

Giving Away Your World To Share Smiles:)) Posted by Trupti Pandya, Oct 30 2020 Yesterday while I was leaving for work, I saw an old grandma sitting under the shade of an almond tree at the start of our lane. She was short, had boy-cut hair, a faint smile with no teeth, and a few wrinkles near her eyes :) I stopped and asked her if she was hungry as it was almost lunchtime; she mumbled something I failed to understand. Meanwhile, she showed me her empty water bottle, so I went to Mayank’s home to refill the bottle. Mayank is one of the kids who makes sure to chop the vegetables before every Awakin circle. Mayank’s father gave me a clean bottle of freshwater. Just then, seeing me, Mayank came to inquire about where I was going. I told him that I am going to the office but stopped to get some water for the old grandma. With a mix of innocence and mischief in ... Read Full Story

Pandemic Blessings Posted by Ana Valdes, Oct 15 2020 Manila, Philippines. Vicente is our neighbor, he has a poultry farm. He said he had a lot of broken eggs that were being thrown away, and did we have any use for them. Since they were broken, he put them in plastic bags and scrambled them, so that they would be easy to freeze. He asked us, his neighbors, if we wanted to use them. Some of our neighbors used them for baking. I knew my sister and some friends were doing feeding programs for the underprivileged. So we connected Vicente and my sister, and friends...and voila. Vicente gives us 400 frozen eggs a week. And we make breakfast. Then my sister met another man who also owned another poultry farm, and she asked him if he had broken eggs in his poultry. So he began giving 600 eggs a week. We found other donors for the meat, rice, and somehow we have been able to feed so many people weekly. Children, adults, front-liners...Blessings! The pandemic has many blessings! Here is a picture of the frozen eggs.