Be the Cause – Page 28 – Make a Difference

Seva Cafe Comments

Posted on 1/14/2009

love notes left by visitors

Seva Cafe,
Thank you for a nourishing and delicious meal. It’s a beautiful experiment you have going on here. I will be back to volunteer and participate.

It touches me that there are kind hearted people who want to simply enjoy the act of caring for others…
I appreciate, am humbled, enjoy the emotion, the
dedication, the time, the thought, the sacrifice,
and the act of deciding to be a part of something
that is outside of caring for your own needs.
I thank you, I applaud you, I appreciate you, I hope
you are given back beyond your giving, not for the
reason of getting what you put into it, because that
would be for a selfish purpose, but for the reason of
feeling full in your accomplishments in your own
choices and fulfillment in who you are.

The waitress, Thu Trang, was very welcoming. We stumbled on this by fate. This is amazing. What a difference you make in the community!

Hey! Thanks for your love & generosity! You are the people who make Long Beach beautiful! Much appreciation & respect.
With thanks, Jared James Garcia

I’m grateful for these times, for the lessons I’ve learned, for the love I’ve experienced, & for a healthy beating heart that allows me to love. I’m grateful for hope & hopeful for another day to be grateful.

Be open….
Open your eyes, your soul, your heart to the world
it will accept you.

Ambition is greater than pessimism. Stop creating grief &
start a Seva

I am visiting from Sacramento but I used to live here and volunteered at the very first Seva (Royal Cup). Thanks for being. Long Beach is lucky to have this effort.

Let go of the river’s edge and allow love to be your guide.
In other words…go with the flow. What we resist persists
-Non-Attachment-

This is one of the most coolest, unique experiments my family & I have ever been in! I loved everything about it! We all did! This is a wonderful experience, just like what Jesus said, “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.” I want to apologize on behalf of my family; we were not aware the donations were cash only, and I know the amount is not sufficient. Thank you so much for the wonderful atmosphere and service.” -The Coronado Family

I am going to give as much as I can next time I come, you all have been so amazing (as always)… I will continue to tell good people about you because it is always good to know about amazing organizations such as yours.
Be the change…it’s all about the choices we make.

Don’t wait for circumstances to change to let yourself be happy.

Food came out fast :)
Salad is super delicioso!
BTC is nice and cheesy!
Lasagna is better than Olive Garden!
Our sever, Amy, was the BEST!!
Great idea, everyone was super nice!

You are all beautiful people with beautiful hearts. Keep doing what you do…it is greatly appreciated.

I had a wonderful experience at Seva Cafe, It’s nice to know that there are some good loving people left in the world. I hope and prey that this idea catches hold and spreads throughout the country, and maybe more people will begin to realize that things aren’t so bad if you take time to love, care for and share with your fellow man.

O! That night whose breath I hear!
To feel
that altogether
still – peace – chaos –
rapture!
Crackling and flowing, the fire of change,
Forever!
O! To know that love is love;
ravine
of love and night!
-Unknown

This is beautiful.

San Diego

It was only two days, but it felt like everyone I met was family.

We went straight to the temple where I was supposed to talk for an hour and a half on the merits of serving others. Somehow the words found their way from this neo-cortex, through the microphone, through gas and dust, onto ears and into hearts. I shared stories about the beginnings of Be the Cause. I told them my own story which somehow was also their story. We were all searching for something deeper in our lives and somehow we were all led to this same moment. I shared with them the stories I had heard, of a universe so vast that it was incredible and yet its magnificence didn’t trump the size of our own tiny little hearts.

In moments I could feel myself tearing up as I remembered the story of a little homeless boy we met one night in India. At times when I looked up, I found that my tears were somehow falling off the face of someone else. At times we all laughed simply because the words that were coming out seemed so ridiculous.

A few aunties took copious notes, but I knew that what I was saying was already known to them, and more importantly was already written in their hearts: That all we need is the courage to give, and in that moment the entire universe opens up for us.

Afterwards they asked questions. About my life. About how certain projects came together. Someone asked about finances, someone always does. Someone asked about happiness, and yes I admitted, it can be cultivated.

She came up to me afterwards stating that for a moment she felt she wasn’t alone. She cried for a moment standing there with me, I felt it too, that kinship, that togetherness, that love in the room. It made me a little strong and a little weak at the same time standing there in that temple. A little honored and also a little unworthy to be receiving such emotion.

A few of my new friends wanted to sit in silence so that we could end the afternoon the same way we started it. Fifteen minutes rolled by and it seemed as if more was shared in those silent moments than in the hours prior.

Later that night, when a few of my new friends decided to drop by after dinner, I would discover that they were serving much more than they had led me to believe. We discussed ongoing projects and brainstormed new ways of getting people engaged. We planned for the next day, where a repeat performance was requested for a younger audience.

The next day, I sat in front of kids and adults alike. The stories and the accompanying jokes seemed to work a second time around. Even the QnA felt similar, except this time the questions were more personal. I realized that every family is the same, they are all concerned about my marital status. Being single has allowed me some freedom, sure, but sharing stories of my married couple friends that do more together than separate quickly brought the point home: wherever you are, however you are, you can serve.

The drive home was rejuvenating. I felt as if I was leaving home to return home. Thank you San Diego. If anyone is interested in connecting with the Jain Community of San Diego please send me an email.