Flashback: 15th August 2009. Hire High School playground, near Parvati hills, Pune.
I am invited to address the students and teachers at the school’s Independence Day celebrations…
I have never given a speech in front of such a huge audience my life before, so obviously I have no idea how’s it going to be! Well in the Art of Living we are told to be natural, and feel at home with everyone everywhere you go. So I decide to follow the knowledge and just air the thoughts that come in my mind at that time. I don’t remember exactly what I spoke there on that day; but hardly did I realize that it was the beginning of a long relationship between us, the volunteers of the Art of Living foundation and the children in the school, who hail from the largest slum in Pune – Janata vasahat…
Move ahead to end of year 2010…
The school principal, who was very skeptical about our efforts in the beginning, has mellowed down a lot. This amazing transformation in his attitude is the result of him witnessing the change in the students post the mega bal-chetana-shivirs that we conducted at their campus. Today one of the school teachers has become an Art of Living instructor and another well on her way becoming one. Our team has been instrumental in raising funds to aid the less fortunate one among the students with footwear, school bags, and uniforms… and now efforts are on to cover the kids with sweaters from the chilly winter breezes that flow across the Parvati hills that the students cross everyday to reach the school.
A lot needs to be done yet. The journey is long, but our hearts are full of hope and enthusiasm… drawn from the love and wisdom of our Pujya Gurudev His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji. May the world see a day when every fortunate one in this world understands his or her responsibility to share what they have got with the less fortunate ones… and experience the joys of giving… and finding the purpose of their life while doing so!
Amen.
1 comment:
super like!
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