Reaching Out

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

Om Try-Ambakam Yajaamahe
Sugandhim Pusstti-Vardhanam
Urvaarukam-Iva Bandhanaan
Mrtyor-Mukssiiya Maa-[A]mrtaat ||

Great Lord, now especially, count all your Children and don't miss a single part. Take all those lost under your protective shelter, and bring safe shelter to those with none, as you shelter those survivors at your great Temple.  Remove their fear and suffering, the world needs no more; bring them Peace and Bliss, and guide those who are lost gently to their next destination.

I have been told so many times by wise people I thank for some kindness that it is not them but Bhagavan who gives it.  But what they deny in turning the Thanks away from themselves is that Bhagavan often works through US.  Through Seva, and through respect and kindness paid to others and oneself, among other ways.

Through Seva.  In places or situations I cannot directly step in and help, I am a big fan of fundraising for good, vetted charities that work effectively and with as little over-head as possible so that most of the moneys reach the people in need.  My last post was such a one.  This post is for links for vetted charities to help those in Nepal and other areas affected by the Earthquake.

By "vetted" I mean the structure of the charity is transparent and has been researched to assure there is no corruption, as much money goes to helping the recipients of the charity, and the methods of helping are effective.

This is a video from an online acquaintance of mine, Anil.  We call him our Chhota Bhai, He is a sweet person, he glows.  He is from Nepal, and thankfully his family is safe so far.  He has started his own fund with a friend and is going to buy food then travel to Nepal from Delhi with supplies to feed people.  Here is his Link to his fund:

https://fundly.com/food-for-nepal-earthquakes-survivors

 

Other good places you can help out:

•  The Seva Foundation

• The UN's Efforts in Nepal

• The Red Cross in Nepal

•  Paytm in India - for those in India who would like to donate

Here is an article with 7 more:
http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-25/how-help-nepal-7-vetted-charities-doing-relief-work-following-earthquake

Direct links to the 7 they recommend:

• AmeriCares
• Care
• DirectRelief 
• GlobalGiving
• International Relief Teams
• Operation USA
• World Help

Please, if you have your family, and you and they are sleeping in some form of bed and shelter tonight,  if you are certain of your own meals tomorrow...  Donate and help someone who suddenly has lost most or all of these things, and just before Monsoon.  Especially if you can't be there to help directly, giving money to those who can and will use it well, is a great way to help out.

Om,
We Worship the Three-Eyed One,
Who is Pristine Spiritual Essence and Who Nourishes all beings.
May He sever our Bondage of Samsara, like a Cucumber from its vine,
and thus Liberate us from Death, for the sake of Immortality.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

Giving Back

இன்னா திரக்கப் படுதல் இரந்தவர்

 இன்முகங் காணு மளவு

"Feeling compassion is not a pleasant feeling,

till the needy person gets a smile on his face."

~Thirukkural 224                    

The first Hibiscus of 2015 has opened in our home, bringing the blessings of Sri Ganapati and Spring.

This is just a brief update, mainly to plug for a fundraiser I'm participating in.  You see, 4 years ago my cousin, (more like a neice), was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the age of 14.  We will call her Vanaja.  Her mother, my cousin on my father's side and very much like a sister to me, (let's call her Manisha) is a single mother of two and she often struggles to make ends meet.  The cost of treatment, even with insurance, was staggering and while Vanaja was in treatment a parent or guardian was required to be present in case of emergency most of the time.  Treatment periods were months long, and as a single mother Manisha couldn't keep a job, care for her other child and still be there at the Hospital all the time.  Of course this is where Family comes in, but Family cannot make legal healthcare decisions on the spot that a parent is able to, and so we were only of so much help.

One might wonder where the Father was.  He was and is battling the heavy fruits of his own Karma, and hasn't been in any kind of mental state with which to care for or support his Family since long before any of this happened.

Having been there for this, and having seen all the families in the ward alongside Vanaja, I had a unique perspective on the singular and unique stresses cancer brings to a family when it is a Child who is affected.  Families can be torn apart by this, and even if they survive the experience and the treatment is successful, they are left irrevocably changed.  It is a very long and often dark road, watching children and infants suffer this disease - particularly your own.

My own family and all the ones there benefited from programs to bring some light, laughter and morale to the patients and their families.  Things as small as ice cream parties for children not allowed to leave the ward because their immune system is too compromised, or big as helping cover some of the costs for financially struggling families; even programs like "Make A Wish" allowing the children to have one dream come true at no cost to the family.  These things are so very important, not only because good morale is important to healing and hope, but also to give some good memories together in the middle of it all.

My family benefited from these programs, and I wish to do something to give back.  So, I have joined in a fundraiser event for one of the key foundations that fund these programs.  I don't know who reads my posts, though I know there are one or two.  I hope that any who do read might help me to give back, either by sponsoring me directly at my personal fundraiser page, or perhaps by passing my link on to friends and family who might be able to sponsor me.  FaceBook, email, Twitter, whatever, please, pass it on, and if you can afford even a few dollars to add to the pool, it would be so welcome. 

Two weeks ago, Vanaja was declared 'Cancer Free'.  It isn't a definitive cure, but it's a huge victory.  She has become one of the most beautiful and graceful people I am blessed to know.

~Love, Light and Blessings

  Om Shivaya Namaha 

Rudraksha

"Whatever it is that I may offer You,

is from You already.

So I offer simply my love

to You, who are Love already."

-Shail Gulhati

Some very recent events have left my mind unsettled and probably have some significance to the posts I was working on before the Holidays.  So while I meditate on these things and work to calm my thoughts, I thought I might write about something I have found great joy and peace in over the last year, and have intended to write about for some time.  Perhaps I might not be able to get it all in one post, but I will at least make a start.

During the Fall of 2013, as I began to learn about Shaivism and practice meditation again, I found myself wanting a mala for Japa.  This wasn't the first time, I had looked at some of the stores we went to while in India, but at the time nothing struck me.  Most of the stores we went to were tourist and government stores, so I'm pretty certain I hadn't seen a Rudraksha mala anywhere - they are distinctive enough that it's very likely I'd at least remember seeing one, but realistically I have to admit that possibly I just don't remember seeing any.

Back home a month or so later, I began looking online.  It didn't take me long to think of looking up what was traditional for Shaivites to use.  I learned about Rudraksha, the various kinds and faces, and the fairly big problem of counterfeiting.  I began looking for a place to buy a mala and be sure what I was getting was real.  There are a lot of sellers on Amazon who sell malas and some who claim the malas are 'Certified', but I held back from buying one because it was nearly the Holidays, money was tight and any we had was meant for gifts and for a trip to see family; among other reasons.  Meanwhile I kept learning and reading about the Beads, about how to judge authenticity and about their various uses and lore.  I was still trying to decide what to do when we returned from our annual trip for FL and our friends and Neighbors returned from their trip home to Mumbai.  They had brought back a Rudraksha mala for me, of 5 to 6mm beads.  My first Rudraksha mala, I still wear it almost all the time.

I took my time and continued to keep learning about these beads and the trees they came from.  I was drawn to the beauty of the Nepal variety of beads and found everything about them fascinating.  I learned about the Tree's natural tolerances and the mineral qualities of the fruits and seeds, the holistic uses of the seeds. The more I learned the more amazed I became by this amazing Tree and the natural jewels it produces, and the more I was drawn to somehow find a way to get an authentic mala of Nepal beads.

Of course, the only certified Nepal bead malas you can find online are very expensive, even the most basic ones, and that's assuming any of the vendors are really trustworthy - and I still don't know how trustworthy even american sellers are.  The problem with buying online is not being able to judge quality or authenticity until the product arrives - and many sellers abroad don't seem to take returns.  So I defaulted to something I often find myself doing: Want to be sure what you get is real and/or good work, and is worth your money?  Want to very likely save money while you're at it?  Do it yourself.  I began looking for a vendor who might sell the fruits.

I had found one person who might be able to help me, and was about to contact him/her, when Shivaratri began to come closer and my focus shifted to the possibility of finding Bel Leaves to offer Shiva.  I had looked before and found nothing, had asked at a few Temples and at a couple of groceries, but no one seemed to know.  So one Monday morning, I asked Sri Shiva, and asked every day after.  Perhaps it was coincidence, but the timing was very convenient. Within days I found a seller who had not only Bel Leaves, but all kinds of flowers, leaves, fruits and other Puja items.  This vendor focuses on selling certified Rudraksha in custom jewelry, and also in general purpose jewelry and malas, but also happened to sell the dried fruits of the  Nepal variety seeds.  

I was blessed to not only receive  puja items I had been seeking for some time, but because I wasn't aware of the amount in each package, I ended up with way more than I could use and was able to share with some of my friends who hadn't known where to buy them but had wished they did.

Last Maha Shivaratri was when I cleaned my first Rudraksha beads.  I initially intended to make myself a mala of 5-faced beads, but soon found inspiration to make items for others instead.  I have found the process of cleaning the beads relaxing, calming, focusing, and generally therapeutic, and watching each bead emerge as a singular, unique jewel is a beautiful thing.  So, I've continued to work with them, not only as part of my daily sadhana but also to pursue the inspirations I've had.  Each time I finish one, I find a new one.  I am hoping to be able to grow my own Tree, and as of today I have a hope that I will be able to work with these natural treasures and spread their beauty and gifts, for the measure of this life and any others after.

Lest this post become too long, I'm going to end it here.  There will be more on Rudraksha to come though, as I want to share the knowledge I've gained on the cleaning, care and stringing of these beads.

~Namaste