| Incubator of compassionate action. | | | | Dear Friends,
In the mid-2010s, University of Virginia researchers discovered something unsettling: when asked to sit alone with their thoughts for just 15 minutes, many students chose to give themselves electric shocks rather than face the silence. Left alone, the mind floods with regrets of the past, anxieties of the future, and the endless story of "me." To escape, we've built a civilization of distraction. Yet contemplative scientists have now proven that with practice, the restless "me-network" of the brain can quiet, and a deeper "we-network" awakens -- shifting us from the narrative self to experiential presence, from isolation to interbeing. | | | Twelve centuries ago, a Tibetan prophecy described this very threshold. As beloved elder Joanna Macy shared before her recent passing: "There comes a time when all life on Earth is in danger, and the Shambhala warriors must emerge." These warriors realize that the gravest dangers are not caused by an outside enemy or fate, but arise from our own "relationships, priorities, and habits." So armed with just two weapons, they step into training: compassion (the fuel that makes us unafraid of the world's suffering) and the wisdom of radical interdependence (knowing that even the smallest act ripples through the infinite web). "The disasters are made by the human mind," the prophecy reminds us. "They can be unmade by the human mind." | | |  On September 6th at Redwood Vihara Monastery in Northern California, a gathering of kin is unfolding in that very spirit of compassion, courage and interdependence. Join us for "Stories Along the Bodhisattva Path" -- in person or streaming from anywhere. Like the Polynesian canoe Hokule'a sustained by their "land crew's" prayers across thousands of miles of ocean, your presence matters wherever you are. This evening blooms from a retreat where unlikely constellations gather: Harvard's climate scientist breaking bread with indigenous AI pioneers, Pinterest's co-founder exploring infinite games with the neuroscientist who pioneered mindfulness research four decades ago, spiritual teachers who've touched Oprah's heart sitting with rabbis carrying Elie Wiesel's torch. ServiceSpace beloveds -- Rev. Heng Sure, Nimo, Preeta Bansal, Stephanie Nash -- alongside dozens of volunteers will be helping weaves a tapestry of stories, ideas and songs. (Locals: bonus immersion on September 8th!) | | | Across the planet, these love warriors are weaving a quiet revolution. They are anchored in small acts and invisible tilling, knowing that when stillness meets service, when mountains form grain by grain, when we choose a more infinite game, service is its own reward.
As Clarissa Pinkola Estes reminds us, we were made for these times. To sit with the discomfort of not knowing, to let our minds quiet enough to hear the deeper intelligence, to discover that what we thought was unbearable silence is actually the space where compassion and wisdom dance. The Tibetan prophecy's ending remains deliberately unwritten. When Joanna Macy was asked how the prophecy turned out, she laughed: "Not knowing is our gift. It lets brave things happen through us." | | | P.S. FEW RECENT TIDBITS ... | | Nimo, Dan, and Elli's latest music video is a grand, joyous four minutes: Takin' My Time
How banana bread became a gateway to the sacred: Saif discovers What London Taught Him About Being Human.
From Pentagon to prophecy: Former Chief of Staff to Colin Powell, Suzanne Giesemann's Awakin AI Bot went viral this month, helping algorithms channel love. :)
Paul Livingstone's sitar reminded us that beauty can also arise from ashes -- literally. After losing everything in wildfire, hours after his father's death, he sang for the New Story Pod from his RV, turning grief into grace.
Last month, Awakin Vadodara hosted two remarkable Gandhian elders in their mid-80s. Just last week, a few volunteers visited Gandhian elders in their 90s! In a room of sacred artifacts, Trupti catches the profession written on Vinoba Bhave's passport: "Service to Humanity"
In memoriam: Andrew Kassoy, B-Corp co-founder who dared to imagine compassion in capitalism, passed in June. His ripples continue.
In Fargo (yes, North Dakota!), thousands gathered for 40 events, including AI in Agriculture, TedXFargo and Startup Brew with abundant ServiceSpace features. Since 2014, Fargo has been home to local Karma Kitchen inspired food trucks, which has now grown to five. And Joe and Simone at Folkways, who host the weekly Farmers market, are busy spreading heart pins! Like Liz's daughter Sophie:
| | | | ServiceSpace is a unique incubator of volunteer-run projects that nurture a culture of generosity. We believe that small acts of service can nurture a profound inner transformation that sustains external impact. To get involved, you can subscribe to our newsletters or create an account and complete our 3-step process to volunteer. | | |
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