What starts out being a project to help others, becomes another way for life to bring joy to you. The Goddess of the World says, ‘don’t think you can help my children. That task is mine to administer as I please and you will never understand my ways for I am the chaos and order of Nature, in all her beauty. But for having that wish, I bless you again and again’.
This is NOT a post about prospects for this year’s Chianti producers. It’s to celebrate my first ever year of trying to fundraise. I’ve learned a lot. What have I learned?
Don’t treat your friends like oranges, from whom you can periodically squeeze out some more money.
Talking of fruit, don’t be attached to the fruits of your actions. It’s hard not to, but such is the path of karma yoga. The lesson learned will vastly increase the joy in one’s life. What starts out being a project to help others, becomes another way for life to bring joy to you. The Goddess of the World says, ‘don’t think you can help my children. That task is mine to administer as I please and you will never understand my ways for I am the chaos and order of Nature, in all her beauty. But for having that wish, I will bless you again and again’.
If you can hang in with that last bit, it’s an instant cure to ‘shining white knight’ syndrome; the belief that you can go and single-handedly effect change in the areas of hardship in the world.
It’s action that matters. That’s all. Words (like these) count for nothing, except to shape and refine the direction for action. ‘Sharing’ sound bytes on social media shows good intent and has been the means to generate change for the better, no doubt. But it’s useless without action. Doing something.
the Banks exist to increase misery in the world… they will do everything they can to ensure that they, the Banks, profit from anyone’s attempt to help their sisters and brothers. They are snakes, feigning interest in your story whilst looking for more ways to rob you.
Lastly, the Banks exist to increase misery in the world. And most importantly, if you’re a fundraiser trying to transfer funds to Africa, they get very protective about money laundering. I suppose they think that’s their prerogative. They will do everything they can to ensure that they, the Banks, profit from anyone’s attempt to help their sisters and brothers. They are snakes, feigning interest in your story whilst looking for more ways to rob you.
So I have enough funds in place to get Ketty through first year at Magwero School for the Deaf, and for Alice to get to visit a couple of times each term. And the foundation for starting next year’s saving. When I started out in March this year, I had nothing but a plan. Now I have fruition, beautiful. I’m about to go out to Africa to spend three months with my friends, and to do some painting and artwork with Ketty, before she goes for her first school term in January. Thanks to all who contributed. Not just for your money, more for your goodwill, your trust that something good is happening here.
It’s been a Good Year.
Love, Tony
Bravo God bless.
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🙂 Thanks so much Yassy
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I am proud of what you do. I can only pray.
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Your goodwill and prayers are a great gift, thanks so much. 🙂
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my Best wishes to Ketty and you Tony.
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Thanks so much Vikas.
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I want to ask some guidance from you Tony.
I am in a field job (marketing). Everyday while i head back to my home i find an old man on my way.
He must be some 68-69 years.
most of the time he keeps walking alongside of the road looking at the ground for something and sometimes he keeps picking grains like corn or wheat at the road side.
two days ago i felt like i must stop near him while he was picking corn grains on the road with his hands, bare foot. i stopped my motor bike near him but he did not bother looking at me. then feeling that he might be hungry i put our a 100 Rupee note and gave it to him. Finding that note he gave such a beautiful smile to me that i can not describe. then he at once stood up and started walking the other direction.
yesterday i again gave him a 100 Rupees. I asked him if he ate the other day or not but he do not answer. he just takes the money and leaves.
seeing him in this condition is quite painful for me.
I want to help him and others like him. but i do not have the resources and still i am trying to find my aim in life.
Being moved by such incidences sometimes my mind is diverted from my aim. But some times i put my aim prior to anything else and become mean in some way.
What shall i do ?
i asked my mother today morning that i want to give one old winter jacket of mine to him. and she said that she will also look for some old clothes of my father which i can give to that old man.
I know one thing that I can not and will not sacrifice my aim for anything.
But for the same reason i ask for forgiveness from God that i am mean and i can not help the needy.
I feel guilty.
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My dear Vikas, you ask my opinion, firstly I think that guilt is an unhealthy thing for us. Some religious teachers like us to feel guilt… weird. I have received advice in the past, to take care of yourself first, then take care of others. If you don’t follow your dreams, then how can you help others if that is your wish. First, be happy if possible. Then give from the heart, not from guilt, or from someone else’s rules or advice. We don’t give. That which creates and sustains us gives all. How beautiful. When we try to give, we are given that understanding in return. We share because we are all brothers and sisters. The incomparable poet Kahlil Gibran says we should ‘give, as yonder myrtle gives it’s fragrance…’ That is without thought of the right or wrong, just for the joy of serving Life itself, in the form of someone needy.
That’s lovely what you do here. That old man could be me! haha so I would be very happy (not so many years ago I was preparing to go and sleep rough on the streets as fate had dealt me what I saw as a sorry blow and I had nothing; I got rescued by someone’s generosity). In England we have the problem that some homeless people use the money we give for drugs and alcohol, further harming themselves. It’s too difficult to make the judgement so I just trust my instinct on the day as to whether to give or not.
And look how you’ve involved your Mother in these acts of kindness. Beautiful for her also.
I don’t know about ….. how much, how often, to whom should we give. I just go with…what’s in front of you, that’s achievable. If you give him your motor bike how will you get to work tomorrow!! Haha sorry I jest 🙂 but this is a light subject not a ponderous one. (Me, I’d be interested to find out his story..but I’m a devious person who likes subterfuge & finding things out).
We cannot help everyone. I hope the world order changes, but remember that there is something which created all this and sustains it….I feel my primary job is to become in harmony with that, as much as I am able, and stop trying to be a god myself.
kindest wishes to you Vikas
T 🙂
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Hmm. Right.
We should as a part of the brotherhood be available to the needy and still not let the pride dominate our minds. Instead we should be happy in the feeling that what I do is actually not done by me but by the one who created us all.
And yes, till you are not available for your dreams and happiness, it’s hard for you to be available for others.
It is always a good time to time talk to you Tony. Thank you . Have a good time.
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There’s a lot on Karma yoga in the Bhagavad Gita, I’m sure you know, Vikas. Also Gibran’s ‘The Prophet’ is beautiful reading on this and other subjects.
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This is amazing, Tony! My best wishes 🙂
~Aqsa
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Thanks so much Aqsa! I will still be following a few blogs from Africa, yours included, and will post here occasionally. kindest wishes, Tony
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Excellent Tony! Love how you describe karma yoga and the part about how Mother Nature feels about us trying to ‘help her out’ so to speak. Coincidentally I’ve been thinking about doing karma yoga myself lately and helping underprivileged children. Hopefully I will be lucky enough to be able to help, for being able to help is a real blessing 🙂
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Thanks Shruti. There’s an awful lot of kids suffering around the world now thanks to the madness that seems to be with us in so many guises. With my great wisdom (!!) of one year trying… but also the years leading up to, I’ve learned a few things. For sure there are vampires out there in the guise of volunteer agencies taking most of the money given by ‘voluntourists’. Forgive me… I don’t know you well enough to be offering advice but I hate people who feed on others’ misery. Feel free to talk to me more on the subject… though I am no expert 🙂
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It’s down to your perseverance, hard work and compassion that the powers above have rewarded you with what you had hoped for- well done on raising enough funds, I knew you’d do it! I’ll be praying and sending good thoughts to you and Ketty and your friends out in Zambia. 😉
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Thanks Bry. Er… a certain person has also stuck with me in this venture through all my crazy moods when I refused to learn any of those lessons (except the bank one.. remember ‘bucks & angst’ !). You’ve given me support and encouragement and not abandoned ship when I’ve been ready to… though you’ve had every reason to. You’re a delight to work with and to be with Bry, thanks so much for being the other half of Ulingana.
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its my pleasure to be part of Ulingana- #chooselove
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All the best of what you can … little girl.
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