December 2016
Today, someone took the watch off their wrist and handed it to me. It was a very nice watch. It reminded me of another story. Few years ago, in one of these circles, a gentleman opens up and says, "In this field of love, I realize that it makes no sense to be attached -- to…
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We finished an energizing " Startup Service " retreat, with 40 friends from around India. About 20 people shared a startup intention, we collectively whittled it down to 8 ideas, and split into teams for 3 days. On the last day, we presented to a "celebrity" panel. …
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I had lunch with Shivji-bhai. An accountant by trade, Gandhian by practice, and Vipassana meditator by heart. He was like the right-hand man of Goenka-ji , and saw him every week for the last 5 years of his life. "My life has been guided by three people -- the Jain monks who…
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I spoke at one of the largest "Chartered Accountant" firms in the country today. Lots of bright, young folks crammed into a standing-room only setting. By the end of the hour, the room was spellbound as I spoke about the service journey, and especially emphasizing "…
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I met Sister Lucy at last year's NGO retreat -- and was very moved by her love. We've shared a special connection since then, and we again at this year's retreat and then recently at Awakin Talks . Sister Lucy is lovingly called the "Mother Teresa of Pune". …
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Tonight, we held an Awakin Circle of sorts, with about 30 committed volunteers in Bombay. They are all doing beautiful work, and navigating their own edges. Our circle of sharing focused on the questions that people were holding. Like: Can guilt be a basis for service?…
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In Bombay today, I surprised everyone by dressing up in a shirt. :) At a very sweetly orchestrated event (including a fancy invite, below!), with about 150 leaders, I shared some stories about service and inner transformation -- and a Boddhisattva approach . Among the audience,…
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In Bombay, there are many Awakin Circles and each has its own community. Today, all of them came together for an event in a school auditorium -- Awakin Talks. Organized by the inimitable Sachi Maniar and a local gang of a dozen volunteers, the event was downright awesome. With Rahul as…
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At the airport today, Gitanjali came by for a heart to heart chat. I always tease her about all her awards -- from receiving the " Amazing Indian " award, to being on the cover of the Femina magazine, and so on. :) In her inspired work on G.B. road in Delhi, she has…
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SOIL stands for School of Inspired Leadership . This morning, I spoke to the students about Laddership, then held a circle with 20 local business leaders, and then engaged in a local student-run Karma Kitchen. In his introduction, Anil Sachdev (the founder of SOIL) spoke about his…
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