Our project of making seva a sadhana is entering into the third year. The idea is to make work a means of self-purification and an experience of worshipping God. And the best way to do this is to engage in charitable deeds - in terms of money, time or effort - along with chanting of mantras. We have taken Sri Ganesa, remover of hurdles, as our chosen Deity, for offering prostrations and adorations and to route our charity donations. You all have been chanting Ganesa Gayatri daily while making your financial offerings for the poor. I am sure you feel richer and nobler for that discipline.
Your hard earned money is well spent. The Sambodh Foundation and Seva Society are engaged, with the leadership of Alka and Naveen Budhraja in a massive drinking water project in Sattal, in the Himalayan state of Uttaranchal. The inhabitants of Sattal village, a hundred percent scheduled caste village (about forty families and two hundred and fifty members), are mostly illiterate, 70 percent suffering from tuberculosis and living on subsistent income in one room shanties. But their most pressing problem is drinking water. They have to fetch water from mountain springs, that too walking a distance of five to eight kilometres. Most of them don't even think of taking a bath, and they wear dirty stinking clothes. Their level of poverty is abysmal and apalling. It is our bounden duty to bring immediate help to these voicelessly suffering people.
Your Foundation is doing precisely that. Through many failed attempts, finally we have literally struck water. This well has abundant supply of underground springs. We feel confident that this well will be able to supply drinking water to all in the village. Now we have to lay the infrstructure to draw and reach running water to every house in the village. Your continued support, financially and through prayers will help us see through and sustain this project. The time for empty words are over, we have to reach this people substantially. They are Daridra Narayanas, God in the form of suffering folks. They have the power to bless and curse, especially in a democracy.
I am sure that with Ganesa blessings you all had a glorious 2004 and in 2005 may Lord Ganesa shower you and your family with blessings in terms of prosperity and peace.
Love,
Swami Bodhananda
7 February 2005
Tiruvananthapuram