In our daily life, we find volunteers
everywhere. Perhaps we would have missed identifying or just observing them. To
recollect some real-life examples: the youngster who helps to carry the grocery
bags or the one who assists to climb the stairs. The one who got out the vehicle
to untangle traffic or stops behind the car to provide road-side assistance, in
banks helping to fill out a form or just simply lending a pen at the
post-office? These are moments wherein individuals momentarily rise to
occasions, just to help. On the other hand, we also find volunteers who
regularly put in their time and effort towards causes they support, ones that are
close to their hearts, their beliefs. Tree plantation drives, public places
cleaning, directing the queues in places of worship, the folks who cook or
serve in old-age homes…..and there are many more such examples.
So, what is the idea behind volunteering? Why
should one do it? And what are the qualities one ought to possess to volunteer?
Here are some thoughts centred around it.
Generally accepted and a simple definition
of volunteerism is the practice of working for a social cause without having
any monetary expectations whatsoever. But for many of those who volunteer
regularly, it is also about the cause. More often, a volunteer’s journey begins
with a cause for which one is truly committed. It’s a deep-seated conviction, strung
from the heart. It is also a view that occasionally an inner urge to transform
initiates the idea to volunteer. Mahatma Gandhi had put it beautifully.
He said, ‘The best way to find yourself is to loose yourself in the service of
others’. Isn’t it the case that something which is self-initiated and
self-propelled is bound to last beyond the lure of immediate incentives and the
novelty of doing something new? Shri Aurobindo has said ‘The joy of
service and the joy of inner growth through work is the sufficient recompense
of the selfless worker’. It is important here to underline the idea of
selflessness. In his writings on the Bagavad Gita (The Song of the
Lord), Shri Vinobha Bhave provides us with the idea of feelings in the
heart behind every action stating that otherwise even nursing the sick can be a
dreary affair.
As a part-time volunteer myself, some of the
learnings and thoughts for my fellow partners. The list below isn’t
comprehensive, neither does it carry any chronological significance.
- A volunteer commits to work with an intent to learn and transform oneself. Attitudes, prejudices could be overcome during the process of volunteering.
- Volunteers would get tested under different circumstances. In all cases, service should always get precedence, so much so that one would be expected to rise above their personal inconveniences.
- Serving all with love, favoring none, confront none and acceptance of deficiencies is a part of the learning process of a volunteer.
- Volunteers would go the extra mile when in service. Empathy and respect for others are ideals cherished by a volunteer.
- ‘Anonymity in service’ an idea provided by *Daaji is the foundation of a volunteer’s character. No medals, no recognition – just the intent to serve ad serve heartily.
Would it be much in asking?
We often hear, there is joy in giving. I
can tell you, there exists a possibility to bring about inner-change through
volunteering. And what would the change be? Evenness in temperament, being calm
& composed in adverse circumstances and development of large-heartedness
are some of the changes one can experience in a short span of time. In the Bagavad
Gita (The Song of the Lord), Lord Krishna says; ‘Work is the means
for purification of the mind’. And service rendered in devotion and without
expectations has the ability to soar the spirits. To all our fellow volunteers,
may we work harder and work heartfully. And to all who are considering to
volunteer, well, it is always good to start. It is worth a try.
* Teacher of meditation, Shri Kamlesh D.
Patel, affectionately known as Daaji, is the Global guide of the Heartfulness
Institute. Heartfulness is a simple practice of meditation that connects each
of us with the light and love in our hearts. To know more visit www.heartfulness.org or www.daaji.org
2 comments:
Very well written in that the spirit of the volunteer in being selfless and yet motivated towards the cause has been well articulated.
The benefits of volunteering, especially to our own Self is very well expounded in this blog. One can easily discern that the writings comes from the heart and is backed by years of experience in volunteering.
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