Be the change you wish to see in the world

Be the change you wish to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi 

You don’t have to run a marathon to save the world.  Small acts of charity can make a huge difference in our lives and those of others. 

When life has become so mechanical in the mad rush for money, when relationships are becoming meaningless, when the ‘I love you’ is most of the time from the lips than from the heart, when life by itself is so uncertain, it is these little acts of kindness that gives us true joy and fulfillment – and not the pile of clothes in our wardrobe or the other material things we own.

Many of us in government, corporates, schools and colleges would have recently observed ‘Daan Utsav’  – the joy of giving week.  Ever thought about making this a regular feature in your life and not observe it just once a year?  And it is not at all difficult if we cut down on some of our routine ‘celebrations’.  If there is a will, there is more than one way.

In apartment complexes where almost every day, there is one birthday celebration or the other, the kids and the parents start preparing atleast a week in advance - inviting friends, neighbours, organizing games, selecting the huge cake, choosing gifts for the other children attending the party, and ofcourse, buying lots and lots of food and drink. 

As always, children don't eat all the food that is served, and most of it is thrown into the garbage.

When millions in our country go without even one square meal a day, it is painful to see food being thrown away.  Birthday celebrations are indeed very special when it comes to our children, but in residential complexes when people of different lifestyle and status reside, these celebrations I think are becoming more of a status symbol -  an ugly display of one's ego and wealth.

What a waste of time and money!  Alternately, why don’t you celebrate the occasion by sharing your joy with the less privileged children. Maybe visit a home for such children and distribute sweets and cakes to the kids there – after all, they don’t get this luxury everyday like we do! Teach your children to give. There is so much pleasure when you can make someone else happy.

Unfortunately, birthdays celebrations of elders are no different either, and in corporates, these events have unfortunately taken a different dimension in the recent years – I would be extremely grateful if someone can enlighten me on from where this silly ritual of smearing cake on each others face came from!  Was this also aped from the West, or is it something unique to us Indians alone? I find this crazy, bizarre and complete nonsense. 

I really don’t understand this -  why waste a wonderful cake by applying it on someone’s face? Is this how we value food? Habits die hard – but I really think we must introspect and see if we should be really continuing this stupid trend.

While we are on the subject, there is one other thing that I would request readers to ponder over – the blowing out of candles on the cake.

Hindus worship Agni as the omniscient God.  Our daily worship starts with the lighting of the lamp. All auspicious functions, religious as well as social, start with the lighting of the lamp. This custom has deep intellectual and spiritual significance. Light signifies knowledge -  all our activities should be governed by the light of knowledge, especially the knowledge of dharma. By this knowledge, ignorance or darkness is dispelled. 

Therefore, blowing out of a lamp/candle is considered inauspicious. To blow it out with our breath is considered even more disrespectful. At home, after the pooja, don’t we put out the lamp by placing a flower over it?

There is yet something else that we can cut down to help those who are not as privileged as we are - the office team outings over lunch/dinner. Just imagine - we spend thousands of rupees on just one meal; what if we cut down on atleast one of the numerous get-together's and give the money to charity instead?

To cultivate the habit of sharing and caring and making it a part of our life, there is a simple method. Start putting aside a small sum at the start of each month, and utilise it the best way you can think of – remember you can even buy 4 bars of bathing soap for Rs:100/= and give it to a home for street children – a child will use it for an entire month. When you make this a routine month after month, you will find so much of inner joy and satisfaction that cannot be described in words.

We have an obligation to give back to the society – so let us start making a difference to the life of someone around us. With Deepavali round the corner, it is a great time to commence this noble mission. May the Almightly give us all the wisdom to live life by sharing and caring for our fellow citizens.

To quote the great Sage of Kanchi, the God who lived amongst our midst in this century and continues to bless millions of his devotees from His Brindavan:

“The gift of speech should be employed only for doing good to others and repeating the Lord's name. Similarly our physical strength should be utilised for serving others. Our wealth, barring a portion we are obliged to leave to our children, should be utilised for noble and charitable purposes. In this way, we can convert our material resources and the power of our mind, speech, and body, into Dharma, the currency note of Isvara, which is legal tender in all the worlds under His command, and for all times. Dharma alone protects us in this life and accompanies the soul in its onward march, after it casts off its covering we call body”.

Best Wishes for a Very Happy Deepavali!

Cheers!