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| What Can I Give | | In giving you receive happiness I am happy to participate in the inauguration of Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Sree Narayana Mission Singapore. When I think of Sree Narayana Guru, I am reminded of his famous teaching "which be the religion, it suffices, if it makes a better man". I congratulate the efforts taken by the past and the present office bearers of Sree Narayana Mission who have built a robust mechanism for helping the needy senior citizens for boarding and lodging and financial support to needy students. I am impressed with the philosophy of this Home "giving care with love and dignity to residents". My greetings to the office bearers, members and the inmates of Sree Narayana Mission Singapore during the Diamond Jubilee Celebration.. When I am in this noble environment, I would like to discuss on the topic "what can I give?" | |
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| Purpose of human life | | The purpose of human life is beautifully described in "Bhagawat Gita". In the battle scene, where Arjuna was hesitating to fight against his own kith and kin in Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna showed Arjuna a vision of Vrindavan where the whole garden was blossoming with beautiful flowers and fragrance and the flowers attracting honeybee. It was an enchanting scene. In another vision of the garden all the flowers which blossomed in the morning had now fallen on the ground. Lord Krishna says to Arjuna, "See the flower, how generously it offers beauty, fragrance and honey. It gives to all, gives freely its essence. When its work is done, it falls away quietly. Try to be like the flower, unassuming despite all its qualities". Lord Krishna conveys this message to the humanity. | |
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| | Now I would like to recall, the advice of Gandhiji's mother to her son. "Son, in your entire life time, if you can save or better someone's life, your birth as a human being and your life is a success. You have the blessing of the Almighty God". | |
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| | This advice had a deep and lasting impact on Gandhiji and he continuously worked to better the lives of human race as a whole in different parts of the country. I am sure, all people assembled here are determined to better some one's life every day. | |
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| The Banyan Experience | | When I see the work of Sree Narayana Mission, I am reminded of the noble work done by The Banyan, a Chennai (India) based organization that cares for and rehabilitates homeless women with mental illness found in the streets of Chennai.. At its home, Adaikalam, The Banyan provides the women a safe shelter, care, medical attention, and a supportive environment to enable them to recover and to take responsibility for their lives again. The Banyan also supports the women's return to their families and communities and when this is not possible, supports the women in setting up new lives for themselves. Over the past 12 years, The Banyan has reached out to over 1500 women and reunited around 900 women with their families all over India. At Delhi, the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) in partnership with Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan is working on a similar mission and providing treatment and rehabilitation support to mentally ill women in Delhi. | |
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| Radiating message on Giving | | When I think of "giving", I am reminded of His Holiness Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamiji of Sree Siddaganga Math of Tumkur (Karnataka, India) who is an example of spreading the message of "giving". He has been on a tireless mission of socio-economic development and eradication of inequalities in education. He saw education and alleviation of hunger among the masses as an effective means to enrich human capacity which in turn would contribute to national reconstruction. His Holiness Swamiji has followed the footprints of his Guru of providing free boarding home to the students which is now serving the needs of over 8,000 students. In addition, 2000 pilgrims and visitors in the Math are also provided food every day. During the last seven decades Swamiji is the founder of over hundred and twenty five educational institutions ranging from nursery to institutions of technology, pure science, arts, management, vocational training and performing arts. | |
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| | During the 100th birthday of His Holiness Sree Sree Shivakumara Swamiji - a message of "Giving" came to my mind celebrating his contribution, which I would like to share with you: | |
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| | Radiating message on Giving
"O my fellow citizens,
In giving, you receive happiness,
In Body and Soul.
You have everything to give.
If you have knowledge, share it.
If you have resources, share it with the needy.
Use your mind and heart,
To remove the pain of the suffering,
And, cheer the sad hearts.
In giving, you receive happiness.
Almighty will bless all your actions." | |
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| Bringing dignity to society | | In 2006 and July 2008, I visited Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab (India) and saw the marvelous development which has taken place on the river Kali Bein. I was delighted to see the rejuvenated Kali Bein, the place where the revered Sikh Guru Gurunanak Devji is said to have received enlightenment. Over the years this rivulet had turned into weed choked drain. Now, the river is clean due to the efforts of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, a priest in a Gurudwara temple and his team. Babaji had organized people's participation in stopping the massive flow of sewage into the Bein and cleaned 160 km long polluted and choked rivulet within the last five years by deploying on an average 3,000 kar sevaks (volunteer pilgrims) per day. Today one can see the flow of clean water in this rivulet released from the Tarkina Barrage by the government. The revival of the rivulet has recharged the water table as the hand pumps that had become dry for the past 4 decades are now pumping out water. Also, I saw speed boats running on the river. The 3 kms stretch which I physically saw was a beautiful site to watch with nice bathing ghats, tree orchards on the bank of the river and well laid out roads parallel to the river. I also saw the great happiness of giving on the faces of the volunteers who had physically participated in this task. | |
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| Diamond Jubilee project of Sree Narayana Mission | | Senior citizens have lot of experience in going through rough weather and pleasant ones. The greatest asset for senior citizens is the confidence in themselves and a young and ever cheerful mind. I saw a home where 50 senior citizens and 50 orphans live together. They emotionally support each other, their thinking capacity and health conditions have been very good. As you are caring for senior citizens, I have a suggestion. Senior citizens are valuable resources enriched with experience, love and affection. In addition to their needs, physical comfort and health care, their spirits can be kept high if they are able to spend time in conversation with younger generation and participate in some activities with them. If a project of this nature is created, it would be mutually beneficial. Younger generation must be made aware that senior citizens have unique experience which will be valuable to the next generation. This could be the major Diamond Jubilee project. | |
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| Conclusion | | So far I have discussed about "giving", I wish to share another important characteristics which should be imbibed by all human beings. Righteousness of the heart of the human being leads to a perfect life of an enlightened citizen. This is beautifully explained in ascent and descent phase of human life by Confucius. He states that "People who desired to have a clear moral harmony in the world, would first order their national life; those who desire to order their national life would first regulate their home life; those who desire to regulate their home life would first cultivate their personal lives; those who desired to cultivate their personal lives set their heart to righteousness, would first make their wills sincere; those who desire to make their wills sincere would first arrive at understanding; understanding comes from the exploration of knowledge of things. When the knowledge of things is gained, then understanding is reached; when understanding is reached, then the will is sincere; when the will is sincere then the heart is righteous; when the heart is righteous then the personal life is cultivated; when the personal life is cultivated, then the home life is regulated; when the home life is regulated, then the national life is orderly; when the national life is orderly then the world is at peace. From the Emperor down to the common man, the cultivation of the righteous life is the foundation for all." | |
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| | What a beautiful environment, I have witnessed in Sree Narayana Mission Singapore. My greetings to all the members Sree Narayana Mission success in their mission of serving the needy with care and compassion.
May God bless you.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
27.08.2008 | |
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