Bubbles And Ripples
ServiceSpace
--Jyoti
2 minute read
Sep 25, 2016

 

Amongst the many good things I brought home from last Wednesday's Awakin circle in Santa Clara, a tangible one was a bit of home made yogurt to use as a starter to make yogurt at home. As I enjoyed my homemade yogurt this morning, I smiled at the story of it.

As is the common practice here in America, I used to get my yogurt in plastic containers from the grocery store, even though I knew how easy it was to make it at home, as almost everyone in India does. Then one day, I attended my first Awakin circle, followed by the lovingly served delicious homemade meal prepared by Harshida didi. One taste of the yummy homemade yogurt served with the meal, destroyed my lazy satisfaction with my store-bought yogurt at home.

Soon after, I asked Harshida didi for a starter so I could make my own yogurt at home. My friend and neighbor Pradeep tasted the yogurt at my home, and asked for a starter so he could make yogurt at his home too. Then, I read Shiv and Deepa's yogurt story. They had no idea that that what started in their home was also brewing changes in other homes. If ever my yogurt making was interrupted, I could walk over to get a starter from Pradeep's, and now when he is away on his travels, get a starter again from Harshida didi.

The tangible yogurt mirrors the more subtle practices from my experience of Awakin circle, that of sitting for meditation. Keeping the practice alive takes daily practice, that is strengthened in community. When the practice is interrupted, it can be restarted, sometimes with a little help from a friend. It does me good. It grows and spreads touching different aspects of daily life. It nourishes. It also feels good. It is simple. It connects me to others who cherish the same things. It has beneficial (for all) side effects, like reducing avoidable waste. The invisible bubbles cause ripples beyond what any of us can see or comprehend. Indeed the story of Awakin circles spreading across the globe is not too different from this.
  

 

Posted by Jyoti on Sep 25, 2016


2 Past Reflections