Five of us met at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It was April’s Fools Day and we were to play the fool that day, giving away stuff for free to folks who think that nothing is free.

We decided that as we approached people on the streets, we would in fact approach our own fears and judgments. The goal was to penetrate through that fear, and to view the shoppers as our own brothers and sisters, so that instead of things, we would actually give a little piece of ourselves to them. … and hopefully that little piece of love would have a journey of its own.

Every time we were asked why we were doing this, we decided that we would give the honest answer that was true in that moment:
Sometimes we gave because we wished to ripple compassion out in the world.
Sometimes we gave because we wanted to face our own insecurities.
Sometimes we gave because we have received so much.
Sometimes we gave because it made sense.
Sometimes we gave because it made no sense at all.
Sometimes we give because it is the only choice we have.

– Sukh

Here is what other had to share about their experience:

From Srikanth Sridharan:
On April 1st, 2005 I had the pleasure of participating in somewhat of a social experiment with a group of compassionate individuals who share a common interest in serving others. It was a Saturday morning and the sun was out shining brightly as it usually does in Southern California. Preparing the food baskets, the feeling amongst us was that spreading compassion on Rodeo Drive was probably more of a daunting task than doing the same in a low-income downtown neighborhood. What would people say? How would they react to our shouts of “free candy!” and “random acts of kindness today!” Well, at least for the shoppers of Rodeo Drive it didn’t seem to be something that they would normally expect – an April Fool’s joke perhaps?

As Sukh and I made our way through the posh Beverly Hills locale, the reaction to our compassion was mixed at best. Many were quite polite in refusing, stating that they were on a diet and already had their fill of sugar for the morning. Some foreign tourists were quite terrified to say the least! We even had two bouncer types clad in navy-blue pinstriped suits politely pull us aside and order us to vacate the premises immediately. Interestingly enough, the job seemed to get easier as we veered off Rodeo, almost as if a huge barrier of fear had been lifted. Well, we did encounter quite a few strangers who were absolutely delighted that something like this could be happening in their neighborhood. How can I forget the writer from NY, who out of curiosity stopped to chat with us and then openly shared his views on war, helping others, and changing the world!

At the end of it all, Sukh and I were both curious to see how the girls had fared in their exploits. A social experiment within a social experiment! To no one’s surprise, they fared much better than we did. Well, through all our adventures it was a unique experience and the key was accepting the fact that even if we hadn’t always succeeded, the seed of compassion was planted in so many shoppers’ minds that morning. Maybe, just maybe they will pay it forward sometime.

From Manuri
I had a blast. I started off by meeting 2 wonderful BTCers for the first time. I was excited to give things away than ask for things. Later I realized that I am asking for something: a moment of their time to take a snack. Almost every other person we came across gave us that moment to show our kindness. I totally understood the ones who didn’t stop. I’ve been in their shoes many times.

Of course we had to use the word “free” a lot before anyone stop. Some were very skeptical. Some felt very uncomfortable to taking things for free. I realized how much people are use to living in a world of exchange of tangible items. So, some tried to force money on us. That’s when we pulled out the smile cards and said, “we are spreading smiles, it’s random acts of kindness day”. Then I saw a little relief and a smile. Some asked, “Come oooon…Really! Why?” I said what rolled out of my tongue at the moment “we are trying to show compassion, you think we can change the world with compassion?” It was amazing to hear and see the positive responses of people, a bow, invitations, donations (which we gracefully didn’t accept), stories of their experiences. The best thing was their genuine smile that came out so naturally. I think we pushed our limits by going up to security guards & cops.

Even though we crossed so many different people from all over the world, I didn’t see them any different than my own family. Not everyone’s personalities/moods are the same, some moody, some happy, some cranky, some just weird :). But I saw humanity in every single person. The difference was that some take a moment to express that side and some don’t. Those who do are the ones that make everyone’s day even more beautiful.

From Kristeen Singh
I definitely didn’t want to do the compassion cell on Rodeo Drive. I felt like we should give the cookies, candies, granola bars to those that really needed the food… Hmm, but then I began to realize that it was my fears and insecurities that were preventing me from giving on Rodeo Drive and I was looking for an excuse not to attend the compassion cell. But as I become open to showing generosity and to be giving without any expectation of anything in return, it was just amazing to see how inspired people were to be given to. It wasn’t even about the food, but about the act of love. We were selling the concept of giving…why? Because giving is really receiving. The greatest gift I have ever received is the one I gave away.

From Reshma Gajjar
I showed up to Rodeo Drive not really sure what to expect. I only looked forward to the comfort i knew i would find in the friends who would be joining me. We decided from a conversation at a coffeeshop that one of the obvious problems in this world is the lack of compassion. So we met up on Rodeo drive to hand out treats and offer people random acts of kindness. Why Rodeo drive? Well its not always about helping those in need…and then those who are already involved in service already get this mentality. Its about reachng out to others as a brother or sister to bring people together and hopefully the compassion would be contagious or planting a seed that would spawn thought. The reactions i got were very positive, of course there were people who rightfully assumed we were part of a business, group or need for a donation and walked a little faster by us. But the people that took time to wait just a little longer found that we wanted nothing but a smile. Overall, most were pleasantly suprised, a handful excited for the free snacks and then there were the few that thought what we were doing was wonderful and such a good idea.

(Not inspired by Dancing with the Stars)
A Compassion Cell in Orange County on March 12th.

As I wrapped my arms around this woman of 81 years, I felt right at home. We swayed from side to side, not too fast as the workers of the Center had told me that her bones were fragile. She hadn’t danced for over 20 years, but she remembers that she used to love it. Her skin was soft and warm.

She recalls stories to me about how she used to go to all the parties and knew all the latest dance steps. Now, we just move from side to side. Her life is confined to the company of other elders at the senior center, and the workers we pay to take care of our parents.

Every now and then they get some entertainment. They play bingo weekly, go for walks, and because of some random occurrence, today a volunteer group dropped by with some ballroom music.

At first everyone was apprehensive, so we decided to let the music take over. It was like boys meeting girls. Everyone wondering who was going to make the first move. This time it was youth meets concealed youth, memory meets experience, action meets values, internal meets external.

As this 81 year old woman, who lost her husband a couple of years ago, wraps her arms around me, I know that in this one dance, we both are okay.

Just as things start to quiet down, Ben pulls out his Moroccan music and actually starts Belly Dancing. Watching an adult Moroccan male with a belly dancing skirt swing his hips is an experience that passes but only once in a lifetime. Ben endures through the embarrassment just to bring joy into the lives of a few ladies. Struck by his selflessness, we all take turns wearing the belly dancing skirt. Finally one of the oldest ladies in the center takes us up on the dance-off. She throws on the skirt and shows us that 90 year old hips can still shake.

Momentary pleasure as their journey continues to plough forward towards the unknown. … but for us, the memory will live a little longer.

A Compassion Cell in Los Angeles on March 4th

Things just work out sometimes. On Saturday, we were serving lunch to 60 women at the Women’s Homeless Shelter in Los Angeles. On Friday, volunteers were coming over to prepare the lunches. On Wednesday, we had no idea where the supplies were coming from.

Wednesday afternoon, my good friend Nirali came over and asked about the supplies. Having no idea how it would work out, but knowing quite well that whatever needed to happen would happen, we decided to sit on it.

After sitting in silence for one hour we opened the front door and on the table outside we found 25 loafs of bread, just sitting there, waiting.

To this day, we do not know who left them. Not even the neighbors saw who had dropped them off.

What is powerful about this story is how the good intentions of this secret do-gooder have rippled out into so many people. I shared the bread story with another friend and she instantaneous asked me to come to her office. When I arrived she handed me a check for $100 saying that she wanted to be a part of this holy bread. Another friend said the bread had literally dropped from heaven 🙂

Hours later we were at a grocery store shopping for the remaining supplies and volunteers were literally fighting over the shopping bill.

I shared all of this with our tax accountant, and he too was baffled. He now considers us the anti-thesis of every organization he has ever come into contact with. Most organizations fight to keep money coming in. An anonymous gift of bread is forcing us to give more away.

The ripple effect of this one person’s generosity continues to expand every time this story is shared. I can’t imagine the goodness that this one person carried in their heart to have their one simple action touch so many people. It is impacting me again, as I am writing this.

Friday night came, we celebrated the bread and all the goodness that surrounded it. As we chopped up vegetables and sliced onions, there was joy in the room. The dance of receiving and giving overwhelmed us completely.

Saturday afternoon, we finally served lunch to the women of the shelter. They were grateful to have had a nutritious meal, we were grateful to have had the opportunity to serve. The magic of service became a part of us all.

As my friend, Nirali, sat down to share a meal with the residents of the shelter, she was taken back by the hostility of one of the women. Living on the streets can impact people in many ways. Sometimes it seems like a systematic break down of one own human-ness. I guess Nirali did the only thing she could, remain human. After a few moments, the woman actually thanked Nirali for what she was doing, and expressed that the world needed more people like Nirali out there. Maybe goodness exists in everyone, or maybe it was just the bread talking.

Sukh

On December 17th, sixteen of us will embark on a 2 1/2 week journey to discover India. We go to understand ourselves and to witness the capability of our collective humanity. We will be volunteering at an organization called Manav Sadhna, which literally translated from Sanskrit means: Service to Humanity. Hopefully the journey will lead us inward.

What Manav Sadhna does to its community is virtually impossible. Housed at the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, they coordinate hundreds of projects and provide relief to thousands of people. Their projects include Education, Health, Welfare for Women, Earthquake Rehabilitation and even a theatrical production that allowed children from the slums to perform all over the world. They do this with so much humility that it becomes difficult to fathom that it even happens at all. With Gandhian principles in mind, I guess somehow, someway, the love from Manav Sadhna finds a way to make it all come together.

One week before we depart, we got together to ask ourselves what it all means. One thing is apparant, our original plans of service have already been thwarted. We thought we were going to do service for Manav Sadhna, instead they are already doing service for us. They have lined up many projects and many opportunites for us to grow and learn in the coming weeks. By taking time to prepare for our trip, they are showing us that service doesn’t begin when you land in another country, it can begin in any moment, as long as we allow our minds and hearts to remain open.

Most of us are still unsure of what is in store. Partly because with any adventure you can never know the journey that lies ahead, but mostly because our friend Nirali, who is organizing our activities there, is keeping everything a secret. 🙂 (although me and Bharti have had a sneak peak at what’s coming)

From what we know so far, there will be a lot of love, a lot of laughter, and a lot of work!!!

We will keep this blog updated with news, information, and inights as they become apparant to us. For more information on our itenirary visit our wiki page:
http://www.bethecause.org/wiki/index.php?title=India_Plans

— Read about last year’s trip to South Africa
— … and see the pictures

On Saturday, June 18th, the Baha’is of Aliso Viejo presented Be the Cause with an award for its work on uniting individuals in the common goal of service. It was a most awkward feeling.

I stood with a crystal award in my hand, smiling like a little boy at the podium. Faces stared back at me waiting for a recollection of our four year journey. But that did not happen. Instead, I stated as proudly as I could that none of this had anything to do with us.

The true recipient of this award was neither an organization, nor an individual, but rather a silent emotion that moves us all to action. It is that compassion within us that forces us to create new organizations, inspires us to help others and calls us back to our true nature. Compassion exists in all of us.

So we accepted the award, not only on behalf of Be the Cause volunteers, but also on behalf of everyone in that room, and everyone reading this newsletter. Thank you to all of you for having Compassion in your hearts and to the Baha’is for their continued dedication to make the world a better place.

May you and I truly unite in our love for humanity and in our compassion for each other.

See pictures from the event

Sukh

Hello All,

Looks like BTC is getting an award for our work in uniting individuals and organizations in the goal of service. Sounds like BTC to me!

For all those local to Aliso Viejo, California, it would be great if you can attend so that we can receive this award as a community.

Congratulations to all of you for making this happen. Many times I am asked for the secret of our success, to me it has always been as simple as a four letter word: LOVE. In truth, all we really are is just a network of individuals who care deeply enough about the planet to make a difference.

LOVE,
Sukh

BIG THANKS to the Baha’i community for continuing to highlight the work of the many organizations that are doing amazing work.

—–Original Message—–
To: Sukh – Be The Cause
Subject: Models of Unity Award

Baha’i Faith of Aliso Viejo
P.O. Box 2157, Laguna Hills, CA 92654-2157

May 5, 2005

Dear Sukh:

As you may know, Be The Cause was recently nominated to receive a “Models of Unity” award. I am pleased to inform you that have been selected to receive this award, and I would like to invite you to attend the 8th Annual Models of Unity Award Ceremony hosted by the Baha’is of Aliso Viejo on June 18, 2005, where your organization will be honored for its uniting individuals and organizations in the common goal of service.

A “Model of Unity” is defined as any successful effort, whether intentional or not, which demonstrates the process of inter-group unity. Awardees include individuals, groups, or organizations. Efforts to bring people together are aimed at a neighborhood or an entire group, city or region. Past awardees include city and county legislators, community, religious and business leaders, as well as outstanding individuals.

Baha’is are concerned about the prominence of publicity about inter-group conflict and are convinced that examples of inter-group harmony, peaceful coexistence and unity are common, yet less well known. The Models of Unity awards project was conceived as a small step in redressing this imbalance.

We would like to invite you to accept the award at the Models of Unity Awards Ceremony that will take place Saturday, June 18, 2005 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at the Aliso Viejo Public Library. If you agree to accept this award, I will send you several invitations so that you may invite your colleagues, friends and family to the event. We will be serving light refreshments after the program which will include opening remarks, the presentation of awards, and some brief entertainment.

We hope we will have the honor of your presence on June 18th. Please call me at your earliest convenience to let us know if you would like to accept this award. My home number is 949/831-8212. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely yours,

Teri A. Knoll-Binaei
Representing the Baha’i Faith of Aliso Viejo

Most folks from Be the Cause know that I don’t necessarily plan all my talks. But for this evening in Africa, because of the complexity of the continent, I thought it would be good to prepare something. I felt that the audience should know how poverty, women’s rights, health care, HIV/AIDS, corruption, culture and education all tie in together. So at 2:00 in the afternoon when I should have been getting ready to leave, I decided to go for a walk to think about what I would say. I thought to myself, I have to talk about third-world debt and how some African countries accumulated an exuberant amount of debt through unfair practices… and how crippling it is for these countries to now repay these loans back. I thought, I have to talk about Bono from U2 and how inspiring his work with one.org is. I thought to myself, I have to talk about Be the Cause and how a simple act of kindness three years ago has rippled far out into the community.

So as I’m thinking of what to say, I make a turn on my block and a woman comes to approach me. Then she turns away, and then approaches me again. She asks me “Are you busy right now?”. I obviously reply that I am free, after all the event is only in a few hours. She proceeds to tell me that her husband is lying on the floor of their house and cannot get up. He has been lying there for two hours and just got back from the hospital after a heart attack a few days ago. The husband is not allowing his wife to call the paramedics.

As I followed her into the house I thought to myself, anything can happen, I don’t even know who these people are. In that moment, I decided that whatever belonged to me, I would give away freely to these people.

Sure enough, as we walked into the bedroom, her husband lay there on the floor. I could tell he was embarrassed as the only article of clothing he wore was a pair of boxers. His wife grabbed him from one side, I from another. Struggling, we were able to place the upper half of his body on the side of the bed. We then went for his legs and somehow twisted and maneuvered until he was finally safe in his bed.

As I left the house, I thought to myself, finally I have a story to tell. I walked around the block recounting the experience I had just had when the woman approached me again. This time all she said was a sincere “Thank You”. She proceed to ask me if I was friends with her neighbor “Mary Ann”. I knew Mary Ann and had walked with her before… it was in that moment that I realized that this experience on my block in sunny Southern California was related to the continent of Africa 9000 miles away.

In Kenya, several months ago, when a few of us were volunteering at a Medical Clinic, we were asked to give a presentation on who we were and what we were going to do in Kenya. At the presentation, we made it clear that we did not have anything to offer the people of Africa, but had much more to learn. In the rural town of Mbita, Kenya, all the locals knew each other by name, they left their doors unlocked and their kids roamed the streets with no fear. Many times we would find children playing in the streets with no adult supervision.

During that presentation, we confessed that in America, we did not even know the names of our neighbors.

This afternoon, around my block, a neighbor now knows me.

If we do not think of our neighbors as one of us, then we cannot help them. If we do not think of the people of Africa as one of us, then we cannot help them.

With the words of U2: “We’re one, but we’re not the same. We get to carry each other. Carry each other. One”.

Sukh

A few weeks ago, Stacey and I spent 10 days at a silent retreat doing what most call ‘meditation’. The retreat had over 100 participants, all whom had decided to observe how their own thoughts shape their lives, and ultimately shape the entire planet.

During my periods of silence, my thoughts passed over many of the people that I have been fortunate enough to know. I recognized how beautiful and unique each individual is. Some people give the warmest hugs, others have the kindest hearts, and some have unending energy to help others. For some their strength comes from their calmness, others make us laugh, and some just make us smile 🙂

I hope to gather all these good qualities that I notice, incorporate them into my life and have them transform who I am. In return, I hope to offer these same good qualities back to everyone I know, so that everyone can see how truly great we all are. A thought arose wondering if there was anything original that I had to offer. Thankfully, I found nothing. Every gift that I have to give already exists.

But reflection is not only about positive thoughts; it is about understanding reality as it exists. As beautiful as the planets, stars and oceans are, sometimes Tsunamis occur. As beautiful as our lives are, sometimes storms naturally occur. I felt ashamed for choices I had made for my own self benefit that in-turn had harmed others. In the Jain tradition, once a year after the holiday of ‘Paryushana’ they practice ‘Micchami Dukkadum’ that seeks forgiveness. I apologize to the entire universe, and everything in it, for any harm that I may have caused other beings, intentionally or unintentionally.

In a following thought, I saw a vision of the webpage for the upcoming Compassion Cells. I thought about how the Compassion Cells are one of the purest forms of service I have ever come across. In the last 3 years, we have taken an illusive concept like ‘Compassion’ and turned it into a physical reality that has impacted many countless lives, including my own. This Compassion Cell in Orange County has been the bloodline for Be the Cause, mainly due to the relentless efforts of one volunteer, Jeska 🙂

Now, the Compassion Cells are sprouting a life of their own. Melisa started our first Compassion Cell in Los Angeles County on Friday March 25th and one of the participants actually got her picture in the Los Angeles Times. Maushmi is getting a Compassion Cell rolling in Houston, Texas and we still have Orange County on the map.

Needless to say, I am profoundly grateful for the compassion that surrounds me, and for the company I keep.

Thank you for coming along with me on my journey, and for taking me along on yours. I know our paths are different, and yet I believe they are the same.

Adventures in service (and silence),

–Sukh 🙂

February is a month of love. Just ask cupid, Hallmark incorporated, and any volunteer you know. To celebrate this month, we did exactly what those in love do: act selflessly, give generously and do good. They say that service is love made visible… and what better way to celebrate this month, then to serve with complete dedication.

After collecting, packing and shipping over 3,000 stuffed animals to Sri Lanka for Tsunami Relief Aid, we began to realize the awesome power that this ‘Love’ beholds. It can turn any of our lives around, makes us do things we would never dream of, and forces us to give away our entire lives. In that experience, poets say there is more joy than dreamed of.

Within that power, I also realized the potential of like-minded committed individuals. Some of us were in South Africa, then some went on to Kenya, one left for India and our website was redesigned, the Tsunami stuffed animal drive was organized, and more people began to care for the earth. I am not sure how it all comes together, but then I’m not sure if I have ever known. I wonder if the world is really changing, or if it is just my view that’s changed.

With the spirit of compassion close to our hearts, we embark on new journeys. Our first Compassion Cell in Los Angeles County will happen on Good Friday. We now have volunteers registering from all places near and far. We begin planning for the Fourth Annual Walk for Hope. The only magic to all this is that same Love. It is beyond time and location. It is everywhere within us, and everywhere around us. The possibilities of that power are still infinite.

With never enough words to express my gratitude to all of you for making our love somehow become visible.

Love,
Sukh

It was the lady that wasn’t participating at all that made me realize how important this event truly was. We were busy preparing for this month’s Compassion Cell in our usual fashion: organizing last minute supplies, moving chairs around and making the necessary signs to direct people to our area. This month’s Compassion Cell brought Orange County volunteers to the Sunrise Senior Living Home to engage in true acts of selfless service. Our goal was to prepare valentine arts and crafts with the residents and give them our unconditional friendship for a few hours. In the end it wasn’t the activities at all, but rather this one elderly woman who taught me what friendship was all about.

We were moving chairs from the television room into the overcrowded banquet room to create more places to sit. We were walking briskly so that we could spend as much time as possible with the residents. As we walked past her I noticed her discontent with our actions. Fortunately she was not shy and she quickly expressed her unhappiness to both me and Amit. Amit and I took one look at one another and knew instantaneously that our Compassion Cell had begun. We set the chairs down and finally began to listen. She expressed how things change so quickly, without any warning and without any communication. No-one had taken the time to explain why we were there, or why the chairs were being moved. The moving of the chairs was just one more incident of unwanted change in her life. Staying in a ‘Senior Living Center’, we can only imagine the changes that she has had to deal with… the chairs were only a symbol of that very change.

She was intelligent, far more than what I had expected. She conversed fluently and matter-of-factly. She said that she would join us, only if she was inspired to do so. She spoke bitterly about recent incidents, and yet laughed at our comical jokes. In short, she was like many of my own friends.

Later on, when I finally saw her in the banquet room participating in the same arts and crafts as the others, she had a huge smile on her face. I could tell that we had somehow given her some sense of belonging and comfort during our brief stay. It was in that moment, that I too smiled.

In fact many of the residents seemed delighted during the activities and expressed a deep sense of gratitude for our stay. As we would thank them for the opportunity to come into their homes, they would in turn thank us for spending our time with them.

Along with making the valentines crafts for the residents, Alfred took photographs with a polaroid camera, and BTC volunteer Sonja rocked the house with some amazing opera singing. All of us were blown away by this young girl’s talent. After Sonja dropped her talent on the scene, Joshua, a slightly younger BTC volunteer rocked the audience on his clarinet.

As usual, after the Compassion Cell we all shared our experiences with one another. A new volunteer expressed that she had gained much more from the residents than she had given. As the saying goes, the more you give, the more you receive.

In the spirit of friendship,

Sukh