Incubator of compassionate action.

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As a young lawyer in South Africa, after being thrown out of the train for his skin color, Gandhi spent the night at the train station shivering with cold and intensely struggling with his reaction. Rather curiously, he later called it "the most creative night of my life". A unique kind of "soul force" awoke in him, that would lead him to conclude that "in a gentle way, you can shake the world."

On Jan 13th, we're coming together to rekindle that spirit at the Gandhi Ashram -- and you're invited to join us virtually: RSVP For 'Stories of Soul Force' Evening

It will feature a performance by kids studying at the Ashram, global luminaries who are attending the concurrent "Gandhi 3.0" retreat, inspiring singers and storytellers, alongside a few surprises that aim to ignite this subtle but significant force of compassion.

In this shared context, guest listeners are held with just as much reverence as guest speakers – in the hopes that we can all co-create a collective prayer that is "deepcast" to all life. Among the live listeners will be a nun of 53 years, a farmer from Vietnam, social entrepreneurs from Brazil, an investment banker on Wall Street, global celebrities, an author from Austria, an indigenous elder from Australia, a Hollywood actress, two monks who have taken Boddhisattva vows, story-teller from Kenya, a mystic who works with terminally-ill kids and couple hundred others from wide-ranging sectors of society, all resonating with a simple organizing principle: "We are not merely what we do, but who we become by what we do." That, like Einstein said, if problems can't be solved at the level of consciousness that created them, perhaps we can come together like a flock of starlings and plant seeds for a new field.

To join us virtually: RSVP For 'Stories of Soul Force' Evening

Vinoba Bhave, Gandhi's successor in India, shared an almost prophetic quote many decades ago:

"To progress, society doesn't need 'leaders' anymore. This doesn't mean that we won't have great men amidst us. I think great men will come and they will be vital for progress of humanity, but they will be so great that they will refuse to take up this position of leadership. [...] When we will all see our role in society as servants, we will all light up the sky together like countless stars on a dark night. Don't think of society as the sky on a full moon night. The moon's harsh light blinds us to the true and humble work of the stars. But on a moonless night, the true servants shine forth, as though they are connected invisibly in this vast and infinite cosmos."

Thank you, all, for being stars.

 

 

 

P.S.

For the last two months, we have been hosting many in-person retreats, events and circles with thousands of people across India. Below is a photo from our most recent retreat, where participants from different sectors of society (education, business, government, nonprofit, community and media) came together to explore how our service innovations can be led by a balanced synergy of hands, head and heart:




 

 

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