Conversations Today
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Conversations Today Your journal about the world of NGOs and Social Enterprises RNI No.TNENG/2013/52428 | Volume 2 | Issue 5 | May 2014 | 12 Pages | For Free Circulation Only| www.msdstrust.org Cover Story - Pg 6 Service for the soul About Shivanjali Trust and its activities Published by P.N.Subramanian on behalf of Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani, Alumni Talk Profile Chit Chat 391/1, Venkatachalapathi Nagar, Alapakkam, Pg 3 Pg 9 Pg 12 Chennai - 600 116 and printed by him at Published by: Mr. P. N. Subramanian JUST for a CHANGE “There is a strong tradition in India Express Press, Express Gardens, No.29, Second Helping Them Move on behalf of Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani, Siri efforts to sensitise youth to to volunteer and help people in Main Road, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Independently 391/1, Venkatachalapathi Nagar, Alapakkam, give back to the society About Mukti and its services for particular communities.” Chennai - 600 058. Chennai -600 116. Phone: 044-42805365. the physically challenged An interview with Mr. Alan Kay Editor Editor: Marie: Marie Banu Banu J Co-founder of Social Audit Network, Phone : 044-42805365 UK 2 Focus Conversations Today • May 2014 From the Inner Abundance – Positive Energy Way he Positive Energy journey brings such as renewal, restfulness, energizing, gratefulness, humility, and learning. various experiences our way. A state Abundance in the four energy dimensions translates into: Editor Tof Abundance is one of them. However, we experience this differently from the typical worldly ways. The dictionary meaning of abundance is Dear Friend, ‘large/great quantity, plenty, loads, wealth’. All these words are typically understood as The idea of social ‘having or possessing’ something of value in accountability has gained plenty. Therefore, people attempt to create abundance in their lives by hoarding wealth. credence all over the world. Some people create wealth through hard Business enterprises have to work and then hoard it for later, others resort take social needs into account to grabbing or stealing wealth to create and being socially conscious abundance. This form of wealth creation and should be their raison d’être. hoarding, are actions that arise out of fear and insecurity - fear of the future. Businesses need a moral In the Positive Energy path, abundance compass in addition to its takes on a different experiential meaning. practical reliance on measures Abundance ceases to mean ‘having or of profit and loss. The bottom possessing’ plenty of wealth. Abundance to line is that a good business the Positive Energy seeker is ‘knowing’ that delivers excellent products whenever s/he needs, whatever s/he needs, as Struggle with abundance happens when one’s energy is engaged in reinforcing much as s/he needs, s/he shall have access to limitations and lack. and services, but a great it. This comes from a strong connection with business does all that and also the universal energy, of which s/he is a part. strives to make the world a This experience of connectedness and better place. Respecting oneness makes the universe our wealth and stakeholders beyond all things in it, become shared resources. Abundance in Positive Energy terms is the shareholders, contributing to awareness that I’m a spiritual being living in the economic, social and a material world. Then, one has access to the environmental development pure energy that a spiritual being possesses. of the communities in which it In turn, then one becomes less compulsive in operates, conscientious daily life as abundance stops being associated with material possessions. stewardship, respecting Unlike the abundant wealth of worldly human dignity, etc. are a few existence, this form of abundance is principles businesses need to renewable, fair, nourishing, and fulfilling. It adapt and report. creates contentment in every instant. There As CSR has become are no comparisons, no competitiveness, no jealousy, no hatred, no yearning – it is a state mandatory to larger of ultimate freedom and deliverance. It Corporates, working and releases the positive energy seeker to live to Limiting Beliefs reporting on social change their fullest, in pursuit of their spiritual path. A powerful ritual that attunes one to abundance and consistently addresses limiting ideas will contribute largely to This state of abundance is liberating - it sets beliefs is writing a gratitude journal—which brings to the conscious mind things that the socio-economic us free to live life in the present moment, in are going well in life. We need to learn to be grateful for the abundance we already development of India. Let us complete mindfulness. Every moment then have. That is what makes it grow and multiply. When we live in gratitude, we becomes fulfilling and joyful. There are no experience abundance and support of the universe, and we actively contribute to the hope and pray that this regrets from the past, no fears of the future, abundance of the universe too. attempt would facilitate no guilt, no anxieties, no shackles that bind Here’s how you can easily incorporate this practice into your life. India in becoming a super us to worries. • Cultivate a spirit of gratitude: Be conscious and mindful of the blessings – big power by 2020. Abundance, then, is not a physical state, and small – that surround you. We hope that the stories of but a state of being, of existence. This is a • Write down at least three things that you are grateful for everyday: Either at the natural state that becomes us, when in the beginning or end of each day, write down every thing that you’re grateful for. changemakers featured in this Positive Energy path. This form of spiritual These questions are helpful to get you into the habit of experiencing gratitude- edition will surely inspire expansion brings many more experiences, --What am I thankful for in this moment? What’s working for my good right many CSRs to evolve now? interesting strategies. —Latha Suresh & Yours Energetically Marie Banu Dr. Bhulakshmi V and Ms. Bhuvaneshwari Ravi are trainers and facilitators of the Positive Energy (PE) program. They are spiritual seekers with a vision of transforming their own energy state from surviving to being. In this journey they have gathered deep insights and are continuously working towards creating a pathway for more seekers. With years of exposure to spiritual practices like yoga, reiki, and personal development interventions like coaching, the authors are working in the Organization Development and Leadership Development space. This intervention is offered by GapSkills Learning Solutions Pvt. Ltd is being offered to corporates and schools. You can contact them at [email protected] to design a customized intervention for your organization or join the PE open program - www.gapskills.com. Conversations Today • May 2014 Alumni Talk 3 JUST for a CHANGE ost of us have gone through NSS days and some would have also Mbeen in scouts and guides teams during school and college days. A sense of social responsibility inculcated during these days may or may not find the direction needed to evolve constructively. But, Siri’s engagement in simple activities has helped her identify what she had wanted to do, at just the right age. Siri is a typical Hyderabad girl, who started visiting orphanages with friends during her school days, as the first Youth Service Captain of her school club. She did her Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (Honours) from Loyola Academy. Her association with orphanages continued during college days too. “Orphanages have managed to raise money to sustain themselves. There was food, infrastructure, medical help, etc. But, they all lacked one thing in common—‘man power’. In one of the orphanages I visited, the ratio of caretakers to inhabitants was 1:50. Consequently, the personal touch was missing and the inmates yearned for someone who can spend quality time with them,” explains Siri. She adds saying: “We had no money. All we could offer was human resource. We were 2000 students in our college and one group of students can’t do it alone every day. So, we started motivating others to also chip in. The team grew bigger day by day. Each one of us spent an hour at one of the orphanages in our college’s neighbourhood every day. This made a world of difference to the children living here. Most of the times, they just wanted to therefore joined the CSIM course to seek which will add value to the work they can It is not unknown that 70% of India is play with us.” professional guidance. At that point in do together at Just Change. “I became still rural. The students were able to Siri and team did not realize that such time, I was also working for a start-up more curious about rural India after identify needs in a distance of just 1 km work would require a formal set up, until company. Therefore, CSIM’s weekend completing CSIM’s course and got from the city of Hyderabad. As one goes they began to seek support on behalf of course worked best for me. The pattern and qualified for the ICICI fellowship in 2010, farther from the comfort of cities, we get to these orphanages from well-wishers and structure of the course was very apt for which is a two year long experiential meet the ocean of needs. Although she was community members. “When we tried to beginners in the social sector. The trainers learning programme where candidates are able to put her perspectives in place, she raise funds, the first question we had to face knew the innards of this sector, and were placed with organisations in rural areas. I wanted to experience first-hand about rural was if we belonged to a registered well informed.