A classic cheerful song from the 50's, this week's Maitri Tunes is dedicated to the beautiful pilgrims amongst us who set out to spread smiles and love in their own humble yet magical ways.
Click below to listen (you can also download here):
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For a friend's birthday last year, Vinit and his friend went to volunteer with the Meals on Wheels folks, where volunteers cook together, go out on the streets, connect with the homeless and lovingly serve them a meal. As he served the food and saw the smiles on the faces of the recepients, he felt deeply nourished, and this led to the birth of beautiful Service Sundays.
Vinit decided to save all the food coupons that he received from his work place for lunch, and instead buy groceries with which he could cook for around 20 people every Sunday. Since he did'nt know how to cook he asked his maid to teach him to prepare simple yet wholesome pulao (flavoured rice with veggies).
In the beginning, he was alone in his experiments and his first few attempts at cooking did'nt turn out all that well. He would somehow find the courage to still go out and apologetically serve the meals to the poor. However, he would always be met with smiles and gratitude by all he fed.
Slowly, word got around and 2-3 friends started joining him every sunday in his volunteer work and the food started improving gradually. Over time, the "boys" have come up with a few beautiful practices to deepen their experience.
"After preparing the meals, we pray for the well-being of all in the Universe chanting "Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu". Then we go out walking on the streets looking for anyone who would receive our humble offering. We like to spend a minute or two with each person to acknowledge their presence and hopefully make a heart connect. After serving around 20 folks, the volunteers regroup at home, sit in a circle and share their aha moments and insights."
"There have been times when we have been moved by the generosity of the poor. Once we were serving food and there was this homeless man in tattered clothes eating wada-pav on the street. I thought maybe this won’t be enough so we went upto him and asked ''Are you hungry? We have food for you!’' and he replied ’'Please go ahead brother, I am done for the day!'’. Inspite of his apparent poverty, he was a king who felt it right in his heart to pay forward this meal to someone else who might be hungry.
Sometimes, the offerings have also been rudely refused which do hurt the volunteer spirits. Yet, these experiences help us realise the wisdom Gibran's quote "Be grateful to the receivers, for who would you give to if there was no one to receive". ​
This sunday, we were pleasantly surprised as 10 friends came for service. As we all silently ate the left overs post our sharing, we were moved when one volunteer shared that "This meal contains the love of so many hearts and hands, it reminds me of my mother's cooking."
Kisi ki muskurahato pe ho nisar,
Kisi ka dard mil sake toh le udhar,
Kisi ke waste ho tere dil me pyar,
Jeena issika nam hai.​
Maana apni jeb se fakir hain,
Phir bhi yaro dil ke hum amir hain.
Maana apni jeb se fakir hain,
Phir bhi yaro dil ke hum amir hain.
Mite jo pyar ke liye woh zindagi,
Jale bahar ke liye woh zindagi
Kisi ko ho naa ho hame toh aitbar, jeena isika nam hai.
Rishta dil se dil ke aitbar kaa,
Zinda hai hameen se nam pyar kaa.
Ke mar ke bhi kisiko yaad aayenge,
Kisi ke aansuo me muskurayenge,
Kahega phool har kali se bar bar,
Jeena issi kaa nam hai.
Translation:
To offer yourself to someone for smiles,
To share someone’s grief,
To have love in your heart for someone,
This is what life is all about.
Granted, we are poor, by the standard of our pockets.
Even so, we are rich at heart .
Perish for love that is Life,
Crave for spring that is life,
This we believe, though others may not,
That this is what life is all about.
Relationship between the heart and the hearts trust,
The name of love lives on because of us.
Even if we die, we will be remembered by someone,
That we will smile through someone’s tears,
A flower will tell a bud, on and on,
That this is what life is all about!!!
