In the land of Punjab, a bright green paradise that wakes with bird calls and rolling fog, there is a small town built around the kindness of a man. The center of this town is a gurudwara, a Sikh temple, that is now known around the world. It is built in the memory of a person who lived a life of philanthropy and charity and changed the lives of millions around him.
This man, known affectionately as “baba,” a word for a father figure, passed away approximately 50 years ago. During his life, he rejected worldly possessions and simply volunteered. He traveled far and wide by the traditional means of cattle and carriage, lived a meager and unboastful life and spent all day, every day building schools, caring for the ill, helping children in poverty. Any good deed he could find, he would do it.
His life passed quietly and without much publicity. He just woke up every day, found something he could do for another and did it, not waiting for gratitude or recognition. Just imagine… an entire life dedicated to the service of others. 365 days, year and year again, dedicated to humanity with no pursuit of self-gain. The sheer reach of his charity is like trying to imagine the size of the sun – his rays of brightness spread everywhere, an impossible stretch to measure.
After he passed, the surrounding area felt his absence strongly and surely. An entire population of people rallied in his stead, drawn to the positivity and depth he had left behind. They gathered and built the gurudwara in his honor. And in his honor, from that gurudwara, they work to this day to continue his legacy of charity and philanthropy.
My father-in-law, a regal man with a turban and long white beard, spends almost every day volunteering there. His village in India neighbors this town and this center of peace and giving is about a 10 minute drive from his home there. Now, in retirement, he loves to spend his days there giving back to the place he believes has given him his entire life. Two of his sons, both professional soccer players now, started their soccer journey on the field build on these grounds. This place is a center for young but poor soccer loving children everywhere. They come here to learn the sport, develop their skills and use this training to further their family and careers, all for free.
When we were in India last year, we were fortunate enough to be in town for the annual festival. The town throws one of the largest festivals in the area annually for the barsi, or death anniversary, of Baba. They pitch colorful tents and make copious amounts of food, all served for free to everyone who is hungry in the area. And they celebrate an environment built around charity. They celebrate giving. Over 20,000 people come to pray in this spirit.
Witnessing this reminded me of the sheer and unlimited spread of doing good. Once upon a time, a long time ago, a man lived who spent his entire life giving. And when he passed, without asking, his legacy carried on. This legacy has turned into a self-propagated system for giving that will live on, in his name, indefinitely giving even though he is no longer here to give himself.
So it made me think:
What can come from all the good that you do?
When you give selflessly, asking nothing in return, you unleash a power from within yourself that has the power to self-propagate and give far beyond your reach. Someone did good. Someone else built a village around that person and his value of giving. He died and someone built a gurudwara in that same spirit of giving. And now thousands of people are still doing good in his name.
So, in conclusion of this blog which commemorates my family’s trip to learn more about where we come from, I challenge you… what spark can you create today which leaves the world a better place when you are gone tomorrow? What can you do with this life of yours which will continue goodness in this world?
What, my friend, will be your legacy?
This man, known affectionately as “baba,” a word for a father figure, passed away approximately 50 years ago. During his life, he rejected worldly possessions and simply volunteered. He traveled far and wide by the traditional means of cattle and carriage, lived a meager and unboastful life and spent all day, every day building schools, caring for the ill, helping children in poverty. Any good deed he could find, he would do it.
His life passed quietly and without much publicity. He just woke up every day, found something he could do for another and did it, not waiting for gratitude or recognition. Just imagine… an entire life dedicated to the service of others. 365 days, year and year again, dedicated to humanity with no pursuit of self-gain. The sheer reach of his charity is like trying to imagine the size of the sun – his rays of brightness spread everywhere, an impossible stretch to measure.
After he passed, the surrounding area felt his absence strongly and surely. An entire population of people rallied in his stead, drawn to the positivity and depth he had left behind. They gathered and built the gurudwara in his honor. And in his honor, from that gurudwara, they work to this day to continue his legacy of charity and philanthropy.
My father-in-law, a regal man with a turban and long white beard, spends almost every day volunteering there. His village in India neighbors this town and this center of peace and giving is about a 10 minute drive from his home there. Now, in retirement, he loves to spend his days there giving back to the place he believes has given him his entire life. Two of his sons, both professional soccer players now, started their soccer journey on the field build on these grounds. This place is a center for young but poor soccer loving children everywhere. They come here to learn the sport, develop their skills and use this training to further their family and careers, all for free.
When we were in India last year, we were fortunate enough to be in town for the annual festival. The town throws one of the largest festivals in the area annually for the barsi, or death anniversary, of Baba. They pitch colorful tents and make copious amounts of food, all served for free to everyone who is hungry in the area. And they celebrate an environment built around charity. They celebrate giving. Over 20,000 people come to pray in this spirit.
Witnessing this reminded me of the sheer and unlimited spread of doing good. Once upon a time, a long time ago, a man lived who spent his entire life giving. And when he passed, without asking, his legacy carried on. This legacy has turned into a self-propagated system for giving that will live on, in his name, indefinitely giving even though he is no longer here to give himself.
So it made me think:
What can come from all the good that you do?
When you give selflessly, asking nothing in return, you unleash a power from within yourself that has the power to self-propagate and give far beyond your reach. Someone did good. Someone else built a village around that person and his value of giving. He died and someone built a gurudwara in that same spirit of giving. And now thousands of people are still doing good in his name.
So, in conclusion of this blog which commemorates my family’s trip to learn more about where we come from, I challenge you… what spark can you create today which leaves the world a better place when you are gone tomorrow? What can you do with this life of yours which will continue goodness in this world?
What, my friend, will be your legacy?