Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action and selfless service, is taking the conscious attitude of community service a step further. It is going beyond give and take and into a higher spiritual state - a state of actively cultivating unconditional love.
In opening up our home and offering weekly kirtan gatherings, this act of service has taken shape and taught me not only to give selflessly, as an active member of our community, but also to reach out and share the joy, the burdens, and responsibilities that go along with that role.
To be part of a community means to start becoming involved in the giving. This is the beginning stages of devotional cultivation and an important step in moving forward, allowing for our own personal growth and spiritual development.
At the Bhakti Yoga Shack on Kauai, we provide ample opportunity for Sadhana Bhakti - service in action. Over the last 5 years, we have given freely from our hearts and kitchen as an offering of love to Krishna (God) for the greater good of our community - sometimes only collecting $5 total in donations for a $60 meal. Now I’ve often thought if this were a business that we were running, it wouldn’t be a good one. However, as an offering of love, it makes for the perfect opportunity for our community to get involved in the giving and greatly benefit from the kind act of selfless service.
As individuals, we need to become more conscious and realize that there are always costs involved in creating nice environments for community members to come together. We can see these costs as a burden to simply pass on to others - or we can approach them with wisdom and thus understand them as an opportunity to deepen our relationships with each other and with the Divine. If we want to fully experience the joy of creating community, we need to be involved in the giving, at least as much as we are in receiving. Creating community is creating relationships - and healthy relationships involve both giving and receiving from our hearts, with our hands, and also with whatever else is needed. If only one person is giving in a relationship, the relationship cannot flourish - and the participants cannot experience the amazing richness, warmth and meaningful connection that is only possible through loving exchange.
We invite you to join community and become part of this offering - whether that is in the form of giving of your time and energy in preparing a nice dish for the community dinner, or helping with cleaning or repairs on the property, or giving a monetary donation. This act of freely giving, not only creates a vibrant community, but it bonds us together as supportive, caring, and responsible individuals.
By holding hands, joining together in service, we allow ourselves the wonderful opportunity of personal growth and reconnection with the Divine. Loving service in action brings about inner peace and true happiness of the heart.
Yes, we will keep giving and serving unconditionally until we have no more left to give, and until we take our last breath and sing our last song - but not without sharing our voice, our breath, our heart, and encouraging you to join us in growing a healthy and vibrant community.
Radha dasi & Gopal das
How can you help?
Monetary Donations - Paypal [email protected]
or send check or money order to Radha PO Box 111 Anahola HI 96703
Service in action – many hands makes light work. contact us to find out ways you can help.
Lovingly prepare and bring a nice vegan dish (enough for 40 people) for the community dinner.
www.bhaktiyogashack.com
#sadhana #kauai #kirtan #bhakti #yoga #shack #meditation #seva #selfless #retreat #hawaii #Radha #gopal #donation #community #bhaktiyoga #yogateachertraining #yogaretreat #yogateacher #asana #namaste #bhaktifest #kirtancamp #devotion #hanalei #anahola