{"id":16557,"date":"2017-05-04T19:30:21","date_gmt":"2017-05-05T02:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/?p=16557"},"modified":"2017-05-04T19:30:44","modified_gmt":"2017-05-05T02:30:44","slug":"voluntary-work-by-dr-raghavendra-rao","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/voluntary-work-by-dr-raghavendra-rao\/","title":{"rendered":"Voluntary Work: By Dr. Raghavendra Rao"},"content":{"rendered":"

@Siliconeer #Siliconeer #Fiction #DrRaghavendraRao #Literature \u2013 In a college in Massachusetts State the undergraduate students who chose to major in Oriental Philosophy, attended lectures by Swami Gnaneswar at his Ashram in Boston.<\/p>\n

\n

Swami Gnaneswar was well known for his knowledge of Hindu philosophical doctrines and had authored several books on the subject. His commentary on Shankara\u2019s Vivekachudamani had brought him accolades from scholars. It had become a standard treatise for postgraduate students pursuing Advaita philosophy. No wonder the College requested Swami to deliver lectures for the students registered in the Indian philosophy course.<\/p>\n

In addition to attending lectures, the students were required to participate in voluntary work. The Ashram had a kitchen area which was kept clean generally by the disciples of Swami but when students were present, they took over the job. They distributed the prasadam, <\/i>food items such as, curd bath, pickles, spicy tamarind rice and sweets that were offered to God Shiva earlier, to devotees for a nominal price in Styrofoam boxes. The students also volunteered to clean the premises, printed Ashram activity pamphlets and explained the visitors whatever little they knew of the symbolism involved in Indian Gods. All these activities earned the undergraduates the required credits. Mostly, students from India preferred the program because they were familiar with the Ashram system.<\/p>\n

The first day, Aishwarya and her classmates drove to the Ashram in her red Honda Civic. She wore an embroidered Georgette straight-cut salwar suit<\/i> in Beige with rose-colored dupatta,<\/i> which made her exquisitely beautiful. Her parents were doctors and she was used to a comfortable life because whatever she wanted, her parents bought it. A maid attended to her daily needs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

That morning, the students listened to a lecture by Swami Gnaneswar on the topic, \u201cselfless action,\u201d which Aishwarya barely understood. Then they moved to the kitchen area to pack the food items. The area was warm and the pungent smell of spices was overpowering. While she worked, Aishwarya drank plenty of cool water. Unable to bear the warmth, she came out of the kitchen. Outside, the sun beat up mercilessly. Then she saw a woman walking by, clad in a white sari and wearing a rudraksha<\/i> mala<\/i> on her neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cMadam, I\u2019m Aishwarya. My friends and I, college students, are working hard from morning until now and are damn tired,\u201d she said to the woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cNamaste, Aishwarya Ji. How can I assist you?\u201d the woman replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are volunteers and are exhausted. So, don\u2019t you think you should provide some refreshments for us? May be some snacks or coffee? That\u2019s the least you can do for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Brahmacharini Pavitra, Aishwarya Ji. I\u2019ll notify Swami Gnaneswar about it forthwith. Meanwhile shall I get you a glass of cool water?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Pavitra. I had plenty of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease go to the kitchen and rest. I\u2019ll be right back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pavitra walked away briskly towards a hall. In a few minutes, she came back with a glass of lime juice. \u201cAishwarya Ji, Swami Gnaneswar desires to meet you. Please step this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swami sat in padmasana<\/i> posture on a bamboo mat at one end of the hall in front of an idol of dancing Shiva. A soothing faint hum of \u201cOm\u201d percolated from a speaker in a corner. The room was warm since there was no air conditioning or fan.<\/p>\n

\u201cAishwarya, please sit down on the mat. I know you are upset and tired. Please take a few deep breaths and relax.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon Aishwarya felt comfortable. Meanwhile Brahmacharini Pavitra came in carrying two paper plates of Tamarind rice, sambar, a small cup of curds and lime pickle. Spicy radish sambar<\/i> aroma pervaded the room immediately.<\/p>\n

Swami placed a plate in front of Aishwarya. \u201cPlease join me for lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aishwarya hesitated. Various thoughts raced in her mind. \u201cWhy this special attention for me alone? Will he scold me for asking for refreshments? Will my credits be affected because of my behavior?\u201d She wiped her sweating forehead with a napkin.<\/p>\n

Swami chanted a prayer thanking God for the lunch and said, \u201cAishwarya, this is not an examination. You\u2019re hungry. Please eat your lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As they ate, he conversed. \u201cWe run this Ashram on a no-frills policy. We get remuneration from donations, selling food items to the devotees and from daily puja services. I am compensated by the University. We spend the collected money for conducting the annual health fair, offering scholarships to poor students, helping families in calamities and in assisting seniors. We maintain the priests who perform the puja to God Shiva. Practically we don\u2019t have money left over to provide food, snacks or beverages to students or volunteers. They can bring or buy food here. I pay for my lunch and dinner here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSwami, I realize it now. I\u2019m sorry, I was rough with Pavitra Ji. Thank you for the lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAishwarya. You signed up for voluntary work. Do you know what it means?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSwami, no. This is the first time I ever volunteered. I never thought about it deeply.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVoluntary work is an altruistic activity where an individual or group offers their service to benefit another person or organization. The mere joy of helping others without any compensation is its reward. No financial or any other type of gain is expected. This is Karma Yoga<\/i> of Bhagavad Gita. Here is an English version for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStudy Bhagavad Gita. Ponder over what the shlokas<\/i> mean. Try to live up to its teachings. Well, you may go now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pavitra Ji removed the plates and cleaned the area. Aishwarya apologized to Pavitra, then wrote a check for a thousand dollars. She placed it at the feet of Swami.<\/p>\n

\u201cAishwarya, you are a student and dependent on your parents. This is not your money. I won\u2019t accept the check. Take it back.\u201d Swami smiled. \u201cKeep coming to Ashram and do voluntary work wholeheartedly. That itself is a huge donation for us. Service to people is service to Paramatma<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aishwarya fell on Gnaneswar\u2019s feet out of deep respect. \u201cSwami, you taught me a lot today. You are a real Guru.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

@Siliconeer #Siliconeer #Fiction #DrRaghavendraRao #Literature \u2013 In a college in Massachusetts State the undergraduate students who chose to major in Oriental Philosophy, attended lectures by Swami Gnaneswar at his Ashram in Boston. Swami Gnaneswar was well known for his knowledge of Hindu philosophical doctrines and had authored several books on the subject. His commentary on…<\/p>\n

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