Sevalaya: "Love all, Serve all" (Friday May 21st-Sunday May 23rd)

Friends, I'm sorry for the long delay in blog postings, I don’t have very good internet at the Sevalaya. I’m going to bring them all up to date in the next couple of days. And from the beginning:

The roads on the way to the Sevalaya are bumpy, to say the least. The guest house we are staying in is way different than I thought it would be. The toilet is on the ground, and our beds are metal with a thin pad. It's not a 5 star hotel, but really, who cares? I'll get used to it fast. The only hard part is the heat, and the fact that the "coolers" for our room, are more like fans that just blow hot around. Needless to say, I only slept 2 hours the first night. The plus: the shower is only cold
water and entirely refreshing. Although, by the time you are out of the shower, you are already sweating again.

Time feels slower in India. Days feel like weeks (maybe just for now anyways). I think the real problem is two deadly words: JET LAG. Despite the lack of sleep, the Sevalaya is great...

The Sevalaya (http://www.sevalaya.org/home.html) is one of the most amazing places I’ve had the opportunity to visit. The Sevalaya is registered as a multifaceted organization, and do just about everything, as well as being engaged in activities for the welfare of the poor and deprived. They run the only free unaided school in the area and because of this they have eradicated child labor in 17 of the surrounding villages), they have a free medical center, a free craft center, a library (people can check books out for the whole year), a goshala to shelter dry and milk yielding cows, and an old age home for senior citizens that have been abandoned by their families. On top of all of this, they have an orphanage that houses, feeds, clothes, and educates about 180 children coming from all sorts of backgrounds; all abandonment of some sort (abandoned, death of parents, trafficking, child labor, etc.). They also teach a 6 month sewing class for people who want to learn a new trade, they rent out their main hall for events (we saw a birthday party going on there one night), and they host environmental programs open to the public, and their modern steam kitchen is run completely off solar power. Gopi gave us a tour of the place the day after we arrived.

Their mission is inspiring. I was struck by the sign at the front gates (see picture). The Sevalaya renders its services without any distinction of caste, creed, religion, language, gender, nationality, etc. The children in the destitute children's home and the school are brought up in an atmosphere free from such prejudices. Inspiration for the organization and the value system of which the Sevalaya operates comes from three famous men: Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mahakavi Bharathi. The Sevalaya was founded by Mr. V. Muralidharan and his friends in May of 1988. It is a privilege to share the same space as Mr. Muralidharan. He is one of the most humble and inspiring men I’ve ever met. His devotion to service has challenged my way of looking at the world entirely. When asked where his idea to start the Sevalaya came from, he responded, “I conceptualized it when I was 11 years old.” ELEVEN YEARS OLD. How many of us can say that we were that passionate about something at 11? It made me think: what am I doing with my life? How have I served? In the end of my life, how will my story make a difference? I think I’ll be transformed by the time I return home.

I thought I'd add this picture too: in the airport, the second the lens cap was off, it fogged up. this might give you an idea of how hot/humid it is.




Saturday and Sunday the crew got acquainted and settled in. We had the opportunity to visit a temple one night, and went to lunch at a sculptors house (Shrini). He lives in a big home with his extended family, and they are an amazing bunch of artists. They pretty much do everything: sheet metal, sculpture and bronze casting, fashion design, painting, concept pieces, architecture, etc. Shrini owns his own company and makes his own pastels and paints. We had delicious food and chatted for awhile before heading back to the Sevalaya.

OH! And no big deal….saw two HUGE king cobras dancing outside of the house I’m staying in. (Sorry…no pictures...they move too quick). I look for them every day so I can photograph them. No luck so far.

Anyways, here’s a few snaps from the day:



Manu (cutest boy on the planet) showing me his artwork.

Pudja (18 years old) is an amazing painter! She just finished her first year in art school.

One of Shrini's pieces. Love this.



Shrini's sculpture.

Faces.

Krudhika!

Babar Ju

Michelle took a blurry picture of me scrunched in the car on the way back.

Kingfisher: Shrini's favorite Indian beer.

Me, Michelle, Erin, Krudhika, Sobrisami, Ankita, Manu

We drink water in style.