To Ananthasree on Seva Ideas

[Guest guest]

Ananthasree wrote:

 

Can anyone offer ideas for seva that one may perform individually,

especially if they live in an area without a satsang or soup kitchens etc.??

Any

creative ideas for getting meals to people in need or possibly starting

something

up in your own community? For example, can a Mothers Kitchen be started in an

area where there is only one devotee, and how would that be done?

 

Any examples of one person orchestrating a program or making a difference

will be

appreciated.

 

 

Dear Ananthasree,

 

I have always believed that one person can make a difference. This was my

axiom as a grassroots organizer when I worked for cause oriented groups in DC.

When I came to Silver City, I knew I was too ill to drive the 5 hours to

Albuquerque, where the closest satsang is. I prayed for three years. Then

somehow

I was moved to just try and start a satsang here. I made some flyers and put

them out in a few places (the health food coop is a great place, if you have

one). I got an immediate response from a woman, who I now consider to be the

coordinator of the group because after attending a few sessions, I became too

ill to make the trip to her home in the dark. But they have continued along,

quite without me, which makes me very happy.

 

For me coordinating the prayer list is another example of something one

could do, and since I have had to joy of coordinating it for a whole year, I am

ready at any time to turn it over to anyone who wants the opportunity to do

this for the digest. (I am not asking because I really am quite happy to do it,

and, as I have said before, it is one of the few things I am actually able to

do.)

 

If you want to help do something like delivering food or meals to the poor,

elderly or infirm,

I would suggest finding your local social services office. If you have

trouble finding them, then contact the local community mental health clinic ~

the

people at these places usually know where the resources are. There might be a

"meals on wheels" program you could be part of. If there isn't you might

offer to help get one started.

 

Even if you drop a coin into a Salvation Army bucket, you are doing selfless

service. Praying for others is selfless service. Any kind of praying or

meditating is selfless service, I believe, because though you reap the benefits

yourself, you are also contributing to the over all peace and balance of the

world.

 

If you live in an area where it gets very cold, put a couple of bird feeders

out. Amma's children are not all human.

 

You might also consider volunteering at the local hospital, or hospice if

there is one in your town. There are people who have no one who visits them, or

if they do, the visits are few and the time is short. Most hospitals have

programs for people who want to volunteer.

 

Or, if your local school system has a mentor program, or if there is a Big

Brothers or Big Sisters program in your area, you could be a friend to a child.

If all you do is spend time with one child, a child who may be hungry for

love, who may be abused, we can never know, you will have done a great deal.

 

I could probably come up with some more ideas, but I'll leave these for now.

Let us know what you decide. It would be really great to come up with a

"factsheet" that could be sent to people like you and me, who are isolated from

other devotees, that would address "What One Person Can Do." Keep us posted on

what you try out, and perhaps I'll begin working on the factsheet. : )

This is the kind of seva I love and can do. Jai Ma ~ Linda