[Offbeat gradueringstale får stående ovationer: 2012's Baccalaureate-taler ved University of Pennsylvania var et utraditionelt valg for en Ivy League-skole. For at henvende sig til deres nyuddannede kandidater, der stræber efter blændende karrierer, valgte de en mand, der aldrig i sit voksne liv har søgt job. En mand, der ikke har arbejdet for løn i næsten et årti, og hvis selverklærede mission simpelthen er "at bringe smil til verden og stilhed i mit hjerte". Denne off-the-radar højttaler lancerede sin tale med et overraskende råd. Følger op med fire vigtige indsigter hentet fra en radikal 1000 km pilgrimsvandring gennem landsbyerne i Indien. Da han afsluttede sin enestående afslutningstale, rejste havet af kasket- og kjolestuderende sig til stående bifald. Det følgende er den fulde udskrift af foredraget af Nipun Mehta. --DailyGood Editors]
Tak til mine ærede venner, præsident Amy Gutmann, prost Vincent Price og pastor Charles Howard for at invitere mig til at dele et par overvejelser om denne glædelige lejlighed. Det er en ære og et privilegium at lykønske dig -- UPenns klasse i 2012.
Lige nu sidder hver enkelt af jer på livets bane, der er klar til start. Du er nogle af verdens mest begavede, elite og drevne universitetsuddannede – og du er unægtelig klar til at flyve. Så det, jeg nu skal sige, lyder måske lidt skørt. Jeg vil opfordre dig til ikke at flyve, men til at gå . For fire år siden gik du ind i dette vidunderlige laboratorium for videregående uddannelse. I dag, med hovedet højt, går du for at modtage dine diplomer. I morgen vil du gå ind i en verden af uendelige muligheder.
Men at gå, i vores højhastighedsverden, er desværre faldet i unåde. Selve ordet "fodgænger" bruges til at beskrive noget almindeligt og almindeligt. Alligevel har det dybe rødder at gå med intentioner. Australiens oprindelige unge går på vandreture som et overgangsritual; Indfødte amerikanske stammer udfører visionsmissioner i ørkenen; i Europa har man i århundreder gået Camino de Santiago, som strækker sig over hele Spanien. Sådanne pilgrimme sætter den ene fod foran den anden for at falde i takt med universets rytmer og deres eget hjertes kadence.
Tilbage i 2005, seks måneder inde i vores ægteskab, besluttede min kone og jeg selv at "trappe det op" og tage på en vandrepilgrimsrejse. På toppen af vores indsats med ServiceSpace spekulerede vi på, om vi havde kapaciteten til at lægge vores verdslige succes til side og søge højere sandheder. Har du nogensinde tænkt på noget og så bare vidst, at det skulle ske? Det var en af de ting. Så vi solgte alle vores store ejendele og købte en enkeltbillet til Indien. Vores plan var at tage til Mahatma Gandhis ashram, da han altid havde været en inspiration for os, og derefter gå sydpå. Mellem os to havde vi budgetteret med en dollar om dagen, mest for tilfældige udgifter - hvilket betød, at vi for vores overlevelse var helt afhængige af fremmedes venlighed. Vi spiste hvad end der blev tilbudt mad og sov hvor som helst sted blev tilbudt.
Nu må jeg sige, at sådanne ideer kommer med en advarsel: prøv ikke dette derhjemme, fordi din partner måske ikke ligefrem hilser denne form for bryllupsrejse velkommen. :-)
For os var denne vandring en pilgrimsrejse -- og vores mål var simpelthen at være i et rum, der er større end vores egoer, og at tillade den medfølelse at vejlede os i uscriptede tjenestehandlinger undervejs. Kunne vi stadig "beholde det ægte" uden vores komfortzone og vante identiteter? Det var vores udfordring.
Vi endte med at gå 1000 kilometer over tre måneder. I den periode mødte vi det allerbedste og det allerværste af den menneskelige natur - ikke bare i andre, men også i os selv .
Kort efter vi havde afsluttet pilgrimsrejsen, stillede min onkel tilfældigt spørgsmålet om en million dollars ved middagsbordet: "Så, Nipun, hvad har du lært af denne gåtur?" Jeg vidste ikke, hvor jeg skulle begynde. Men helt spontant dukkede et akronym -- WALK -- op, som omfattede de vigtigste lektioner , vi havde lært og fortsætter med at lære igen, selv den dag i dag. Når du starter den næste fase af din rejse, vil jeg gerne dele disse guldkorn med håbet om, at det også kan belyse din vej på en lille måde.
W in WALK står for Witness. Når du går, ser du bogstaveligt talt mere. Dit synsfelt er næsten 180 grader sammenlignet med 40 grader, når du rejser med 62 mph. Højere hastigheder udtværer vores perifere syn, mens gang faktisk udvider dit lærred og dramatisk flytter genstandene for din opmærksomhed. For eksempel ville vi på vores pilgrimsrejse bemærke solopgangen hver dag, og hvordan fuglene ved solnedgang ville samles til en lille fest for sig selv. I stedet for at tilføje Facebook-venner online, fik vi faktisk venner personligt, ofte over en kop varm "chai". Livet omkring os blev levende på en ny måde.
Et gåtempo er fællesskabets hastighed. Hvor høje hastigheder letter adskillelse, giver et langsommere tempo os en mulighed for at kommunikere.
Da vi krydsede landdistrikterne i Indien med en hastighed på et par kilometer i timen, blev det klart, hvor meget vi kunne lære blot ved at vidne om landsbybeboernes levevis. Hele deres mentale model er anderledes -- multiplikationen af ønsker erstattes af den grundlæggende opfyldelse af menneskelige behov. Når du ikke længere er optaget af at bede om flere og flere ting; så tager man bare hvad der er givet og giver hvad der tages. Livet er enkelt igen. En landmand forklarede os det på denne måde: "Du kan ikke få skyerne til at regne mere, du kan ikke få solen til at skinne mindre. De er bare naturens gaver - tag det eller lad det være."
Når tingene omkring dig ses som gaver, er de ikke længere et middel til et mål; de er midlet og målet. Og således vil en kohyrde passe sine dyr med en fars medfølelse, en landsbykvinde vil vente 3 timer på en forsinket bus uden et spor af vrede, et barn vil tilbringe utallige timer fascineret af stjerner i galaksen og finde sin plads i det store kosmos.
Så med nutidens moderniserede værktøjer til din rådighed, lad dig ikke zoome uvidende fra punkt A til punkt B på livets motorveje; prøv at gå på verdens bagveje, hvor du vil være vidne til en dybt uløselig forbindelse med alt levende.
A'et i WALK står for Accepter. Når du går på denne måde, placerer du dig selv i universets håndflade og ser dets realiteter på hovedet. Vi gik på toppen af sommeren, i nådesløse temperaturer, der svævede over 120 grader. Nogle gange var vi sultne, udmattede og endda frustrerede. Vores kroppe ømmede efter bare den ekstra drik vand, et par øjeblikke mere i skyggen eller bare den lille gnist af menneskelig venlighed. Mange gange modtog vi den ekstra smule, og vores hjerter ville flyde over af taknemmelighed. Men nogle gange blev vi brat afvist, og vi var nødt til at opdyrke evnen til at tage imod de gaver, der var gemt i selv de mest udfordrende øjeblikke.
Jeg husker en sådan dag, hvor vi nærmede os et rastehus langs en gold motorvej. Da tunge lastbiler susede forbi, så vi et skilt, der meddelte, at gæsterne var værter uden beregning. "Åh, vores heldige dag," tænkte vi henrykte. Jeg trådte ivrigt ind. Manden bag skrivebordet kiggede op og spurgte skarpt: "Er du her for at se templet?" Et simpelt ja fra mine læber ville øjeblikkeligt have givet os et komplet måltid og et værelse for natten. Men det ville ikke have været sandheden. Så i stedet sagde jeg: "Nå, teknisk set, nej sir. Vi er på en gående pilgrimsrejse for at blive bedre mennesker. Men vi ville være glade for at besøge templet." Temmelig brat svarede han: "Uhm, undskyld, vi kan ikke være vært for dig." Noget ved hans korte arrogance udløste en række negative følelser. Jeg ville til gengæld komme med en snild bemærkning og smække døren på vej ud. I stedet holdt jeg mit rasende ego i skak. I den tilstand af fysisk og mental udmattelse føltes det som en herkulisk opgave - men gennem den indre uro dukkede en stemme op indeni, der fortalte mig, at jeg skulle acceptere virkeligheden i dette øjeblik.
Der var en stille metamorfose i mig. Jeg gav ydmygt slip på mit forsvar, accepterede min skæbne den dag og vendte mig for at gå uden at mumle. Måske fornemmede manden bag disken dette skift i mig, fordi han lige da råbte: "Så hvad gør du egentlig igen?" Efter min korte forklaring sagde han: "Se, jeg kan ikke give dig mad eller være vært for dig, for regler er regler. Men der er toiletter ude bagved. Du kan sove uden for mandstoilettet, og din kone kan sove udenfor kvindetoilettet." Selvom han var venlig, føltes hans tilbud som salt i mine sår. Vi havde intet andet valg end at acceptere.
Den dag fastede vi, og den nat sov vi ved badeværelserne. En lille løgn kunne have givet os en opgradering, men det ville ikke have været nogen pilgrimsrejse. Da jeg lagde mig til at sove med en mur, der adskilte mig fra min kone, fik jeg dette smukke, ubudne syn af et par, der klatrede op på toppen af et bjerg fra to forskellige sider. Midtvejs gennem denne vanskelige opstigning, da manden overvejede at give op, fløj en lille spurv forbi med dette råd: "Lad være med at holde op nu, ven. Din kone er ivrig efter at se dig på toppen." Han blev ved med at klatre. Et par dage senere, da konen befandt sig på randen af at holde op, dukkede den lille spurv op med samme besked. Trin for skridt holdt deres kærlighed deres rejse hele vejen til bjergtoppen. Besøgt af denne visions rettidige ynde, fældede jeg et par taknemmelige tårer -- og denne historie blev en prøvesten ikke kun i vores forhold, men også mange andre ædle venskaber.
Så jeg opfordrer dig til at dyrke ro og acceptere alt, hvad livet kaster i dine skød – når du gør det, vil du blive velsignet med indsigten i en indre transformation, som er din til at beholde for hele tiden.
L'et i WALK står for kærlighed. Jo mere vi lærte af naturen og opbyggede en slags indre modstandskraft over for ydre omstændigheder, jo mere faldt vi ind i vores naturlige tilstand - som var at være kærlig. I vores dominerende paradigme har Hollywood snigende valgt ordet, men den kærlighed, jeg taler om her, er den slags kærlighed, der kun ved én ting - at give uden bindinger. Rent. Uselvisk.
De fleste af os tror, at for at give, skal vi først have noget at give. Problemet med det er, at når vi gør status over det, vi har, laver vi næsten altid regnskabsfejl. Oscar Wilde sagde engang: "Nu om dage kender folk prisen på alting, men værdien af ingenting." Vi har glemt, hvordan man værdsætter ting uden et prisskilt. Derfor, når vi kommer til vores mest rigelige gaver - såsom opmærksomhed, indsigt, medfølelse - forvirrer vi deres værdi, fordi de er uvurderlige.
På vores vandre pilgrimsfærd bemærkede vi, at de, der havde mindst, var bedst rustet til at ære det uvurderlige. I byer begyndte de mennesker, vi mødte, med en uudtalt forsigtighed: "Hvorfor gør du det her? Hvad vil du have mig?" På landet derimod mødte landsbyboerne os næsten altid med en åbenhjertig nysgerrighed, der lancerede direkte med: "Hej kammerat, du ser ikke lokal ud. Hvad er din historie?"
I landsbyerne blev dit værd ikke vurderet ud fra dit visitkort, dit professionelle netværk eller din løn. Den medfødte enkelhed tillod dem at elske livet og værne om alle dets forbindelser.
Ekstremt fattige landsbyboere, som ikke engang havde råd til deres egne måltider, lånte ofte mad af deres naboer for at brødføde os. Når vi forsøgte at afslå, ville de blot forklare: "For os er gæsten Gud. Dette er vores tilbud til det guddommelige i dig, som forbinder os med hinanden." Hvordan kunne man nu nægte det? Gadesælgere gav os ofte grøntsager; i et meget rørende øjeblik insisterede en armløs frugtsælger engang på at give os en skive vandmelon. Alle, uanset hvor gamle, ville være glade for at give os retninger, selv når de ikke var helt sikre på dem. :) Og jeg husker stadig kvinden, der gav os vand, da vi var ekstremt tørstige -- for senere at opdage, at hun skulle gå 10 kilometer kl. 04.00 for at få den ene spand vand. Disse mennesker vidste, hvordan de skulle give, ikke fordi de havde meget, men fordi de vidste, hvordan de skulle elske livet. De behøvede ikke nogen kredit eller forsikring om, at du nogensinde ville vende tilbage for at betale dem tilbage. Tværtimod stolede de bare på pay-it-forward-cirklen for at give.
Når du bliver levende på denne måde, vil du indse, at ægte generøsitet ikke starter, når du har noget at give, men snarere når der ikke er noget i dig, der forsøger at tage. Så jeg håber, at du vil gøre alle dine dyrebare øjeblikke til et udtryk for et kærligt liv.
Og endelig står K'et i WALK for Kend dig selv.
Vismænd har længe informeret os om, at når vi tjener andre betingelsesløst, skifter vi fra mig-til-vi og forbinder os dybere med den anden. Denne matrix af indbyrdes forbindelser giver mulighed for en dyb kvalitet af mental ro. Som en stille sø uforstyrret af bølger eller krusninger, er vi så i stand til tydeligt at se, hvem vi er, og hvordan vi kan leve i dyb harmoni med omgivelserne omkring os.
Når den ene fod går, hviler den anden. At gøre og være skal være i balance.
Vores rationelle sind ønsker med rette at sikre fremskridt, men vores intuitive sind har også brug for plads til, at det nye, ukendte og uplanlagte kan opstå. At gøre er bestemt vigtigt, men når vi ikke er opmærksomme på vores interne økosystem, bliver vi så optaget af vores planer og handlinger, at vi ikke bemærker opbygningen af mentale rester. Over tid begynder den ubevidste indre støj at forurene vores motivationer, vores etik og vores ånd. Og derfor er det afgørende at stille sindet. En melodi kan jo kun skabes med stilheden mellem tonerne.
Mens vi gik – vidnede, accepterede, elskede – blev vores vision af verden faktisk klarere. Den klarhed slørede paradoksalt nok vores tidligere skel mellem mig versus vi, indre transformation versus ydre påvirkning og egoisme versus uselviskhed. De var uløseligt forbundet. Da en fattig bonde gav mig en tomat i afskedsgave, med tårerne trillende ned ad øjnene, fik eller gav jeg så? Når jeg sad i timevis i tavs meditation, var fordelen så udelukkende min eller ville den bølge ud i verden? Da jeg løftede høstakken af en gammel mands hoved og bar den en kilometer, tjente jeg ham eller tjente jeg mig selv?
Hvilket vil sige, ikke bare gå gennem livet - vokse gennem livet. Det vil være nemt og fristende for dig at nå frem til refleksive svar - men gør det i stedet til et punkt at anerkende mystik og byde velkommen til rige spørgsmål ... spørgsmål, der skubber dig i retning af en større forståelse af denne verden og din plads i den.
Det er WALK. Og i dag, ved denne betydningsfulde milepæl i dit liv, kom du gående ind, og du vil gå ud at gå. Når du går videre ind i en verden, der i stigende grad sigter mod at bevæge dig ud over tankens hastighed, håber jeg, at I hver især vil huske vigtigheden af at rejse med omtankens hastighed. Jeg håber, at du vil tage dig tid til at se vores storslåede forbindelser. At du vil acceptere livets smukke gaver, selv når de ikke er smukke, at du vil øve dig i at elske uselvisk og stræbe efter at kende din dybeste natur.
Jeg vil slutte med en historie om min oldefar. Han var en mand med ringe rigdom, som stadig formåede at give hver eneste dag i sit liv. Hver morgen havde han et ritual om at gå en tur -- og mens han gik, fodrede han flittigt myrebakkerne langs sin vej med små knivspidser hvedemel. Det er nu en handling af mikrogenerøsitet så lille, at den kan virke fuldstændig ubetydelig i universets store skema. Hvordan betyder det noget? Det betyder noget, at det ændrede ham indeni. Og min oldefars godhed formede mine bedsteforældres verdensbillede, som igen påvirkede deres børns – mine forældres. I dag er disse myrer og myrebakkerne væk, men min oldefars ånd er meget indlejret i alle mine handlinger og deres fremtidige krusninger. Det er netop disse små, ofte usynlige, indre transformationshandlinger, der former vores væsen og bøjer buen af vores fælles skæbne.
På din gåtur, i dag og altid, ønsker jeg dig øjnene til at se myretuerne og hjertet til at fodre dem med glæde.
Må du blive velsignet. Ændre dig selv - ændre verden.
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Thank you for sharing this. May God bless you both.
Wow, amazing, simply amazing talk...you just kept me glued to this narrative as though I was hearing you live, Nipun. Your name is befitting you. It is always about how you can decipher a thought in simple yet effective way so that the recipient of the thought could not only grasp but also transmit it forward. You did that to me. I will never forget the expansion and meaning of the acronym W-A-L-K and would always get reminded whenever I walk. Wishing you all the best in your WALK of life. God bless.
Beautiful article, it was worth reading
Amazing article... When one foot walks, the other rests.I`ll take this forever!
Amazing story. Reminds me of Nanak ji. Sat naam wage guru. We need crazy people like you in this world to make it better, loving and acceptable.
This was a true gift today. An affirmation of thoughts I was pondering just this morning. On my way into work (driving, sadly rather than walking - but at a leisurely pace through a parkway, foregoing the freeway) I was thinking about walking and those that walk for a purpose such as Nipun and his wife, although at the time I was thinking of another walker's story I had just read. I thought of all the books I've read about others' pilgrimages and how my little hikes reveal to me in small ways what others learn on their longer journeys. It came to my mind that if I had the opportunity and time to walk one of these long walks, the Camino, the APT, the PCT, and IAT, I wouldn't be doing it to write a book or to change the world, but I could expect it to change my world vision. If we change our vision, such as Nipun requests, we do change the world, though, don't we?
Amazing speech nipun. It has been amazing knowing about you. It is really shaking selfish and insecure person in me and temping me to start giving - in whatever small way until it becomes a habit. Thanks for showing new way of living.
This is the most insightful and inspirational speech about the adventure of their pilgrimage in India and the lessons learned during this journey. Thank you very much for sharing with all of us.
I will always remember these four key words - Witness, Accept, Love and Know thyself. These four words are like mantra to me to remember and practice all through our day to remind myself about Nipun's insights.
Thank you.
very inspiring and thought provoking article, feel pleaure to read this .:)
Truly inspirational. However, temper your kindness with pragmatism. Feeding wheat flour to ants may be an act of micro kindness but don't try that with snakes. When bit by a cobra, most you can do is to follow the 'A' in the WALK model before turning blue.
Thanks to Nepun Mehta for enlivining each of our life's and sharing your thought with us..........it has greatly moved me and changed my life.....
i was lead here again by the new grad speech .. one of my favorite reads ever still HUGS
I feel myself blessed to read this beautiful article. Though i have read it a lot of times, each time i read it , i learn something new. Thank You :) Its one of the most amazing blogs i have read.
Thanks a lot for sharing.:)
Awe-inspiring and awesome article!!!
Thank you I will carry these thoughts on my daily walks
Nothing new in this article or speech. Its like remaking the older version of a film BUDHA back. Its becoming a fashion for the so called elite saying, " I'm also experienced the suffers". The speaker doesn't know what the real life means so its make him some difference. In B.C Gowtham Budha changed himself from a 4(WALK) incidents.
Modern education system doesn't teach for the mind growing process its only teaching for the industrial market driven process.
Nipun, Both of you are doing greatest job and very few people are devotee like both of you. Both of you have started your journey of SEVA at very young age. Thank you very much for explaining very true meaning of WALK. May God bless you for your long journey for betterment of the people around the globe.
Very productive
Day after day I become more and more certain that there is already enough wisdom out there to make us live a fulfilled and immensely happy life! :) It always boils down to the same: Be mindful, be grateful... Truly BE! And then, when you have yourself sorted out completelly, you realise that it is not about you anymore.
If you analyse the article, or any other inspiring one, you will find that all the takeaway points
can be pretty much fitted in 3-4 categories on the sorts of "mindfulness" "gratitude (take everything as a gift)" etc.). There are lots written about this (From philosophy (I am quite stoic myself :P), to modern works like the book "Flow"... Endless quotes and frameworks (Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues) etc.) Anyway, my point? We have the information! Please let's DO something about all this! There is NO justification for any of us not being fulfilled and happy. :) Let me leave you with a powerful quote on a new comment to illustrate gratitude. Don't be scared about the religious feeling it has... ignore that if you please... just take the main point, the one of gratitude:
Heaven is available to the Muslim and Jew, even to Catholic… heaven is even available to atheist… but often the atheist does not find heaven because the atheist is full of conflict, full of
pushing away. Religions are important… religions are beliefs systems that get people to faith, but faith, faith is trust in life... trust in that anything life brings you is a gift... even when it seems like it is a pile of crap. If you can trust that everything life brings you is a gift, even when it seems as though is darkness and adversity, then you will trust that even death is a gift, because after all... what does life bring everybody eventually but death... and if you can trust that even death is a gift... then surely... you will go to heaven. If you can trust that everything life brings you is a gift... if you can really chose to have faith... then you remove your heart from anxiety, from stress, form conflict... and you replace it with peace, creativity and acceptance... then you have found heaven on earth. (Brother David Steindl Rast )
Compare with a quote from your article "When the things around you are seen as gifts, they are no longer a means to an end; they are the means and the end"
Similar right? We have it sorted! Let’s do something about it!
Antonio
[Hide Full Comment]@antoniogbo
still Re-reading. Kudos Nipun for enlivening others.
GREAT........INSPIRING........ my husband introduced this to me and what....enjoyed getting shaken up.....very thought provoking.
Respected Sir,
I wish I could walk like Budhaa,Shankaracharya, SRI Gandhiji, SWAMI Vivekanandji , ACHARYA Tulsidasji or like you with an empty hand.
A courageous advanture for a person like uou.
WITH REGARDS-gdshah
Some people are brave ~ courageous ~ blissful. Nipun is among those and they pull others and show the way that generosity is possible and not linked to the wealth you own.
Really blessed after reading it and wish many will get blessed and not just inspired.
Thanks ...Gopal
This highlights the depth of simplicity. We have things so backwards.
This has been in my mind for over a month and finally I blogged on it. http://everydaygeeta.blogsp....
Thoughtful and inspiring are the words that come to mind. Thank You.
I loved this piece very true especially when he says
make it a point, instead, to acknowledge mystery and welcome rich questions ... questions that nudge you towards a greater understanding of this world and your place in it.
many of us do not know our place in this universe feeling that we are minute hence dont care less
brilliant and thoughtprovoking even at my seventies. This is what our ancestors did walking from Kanyakumari to badrinath in the himalayas and had this ennobling experience
narasimhan
Very beautiful speech that reminded me to take life easy and embrace it. I received clarity on my confusion regarding, "Accepting what is given vs Need to grow" Thank you for that. My eyes welled up in tears for the act of giving water by the lady who walked for 10 KMs to fetch water. The importance of silence was beautifully expressed in the line: "A melody, after all, can onle created with the silence in between the notes.
Am blessed to know you, Nipun, and call you a friend. Many bows...Marsha
Such profound advice can only come from a heart and mind of one who has experienced the richness of life way beyond the rat race and aggressiveness found in this materialistic world! I hope the Class of 2012 of UPENN are indeed moved to follow it!!
It is simple yet soo deep! Thank you for motivationg the future generations!
Truly inspiring. A fantastic piece, every single word coming out of deep experiences.
It tells us again the the real India lives in our villages. It reminds all of us that we can be happy by simply loving, giving, being kind, accepting life as it unfolds, and always look within.
The best line was perhaps, do not go through life, grow through life.
Hats off to Nipun and his wife.
We pray to our beloved AMMA to shower Her blessings to both of them, and pray for all success in all their endeavours.
It is absolutely beautiful, had tears of 'love' in my eyes-----
Veena Kapoor
Truly inspiring..
thanks i wont fly i will walk
Amazing article!!an eye opener to most of us who have have not realised the art of submitting,giving,receiving,unconditionally.
Just a couple of questions (without malice)...did Mr Mehta wing his way back to the safety and comfort of the US after his walk? Second, he has not written his wife's name or how she reacted to the walk. (or, are we supposed to know her only as his wife, and nothing else)?
very inspiring indeed . an eye opener for me . thanks for sharing your thoughts & experiences
Excellent work Nipun,
It proves your name............one who is Nipun in enjoying life. May God bless you to inspire people.
( Nipun can be translated as Kushal............but not very exact)
One word sums it up - Brilliant. You are a true change agent Nipun and the world desperately needs people like you to bring about spiritual transformation and peace. What a touching and inspiring experience and so beautifully articulated. I sincerely hope and pray that our politicians draw a leaf from your chapter.(wishful thinking perhaps but nonetheless)... Kudos and a big thank you for this wonderful article...
This is so enlightening
Nipun what an amazing and an inspiring message to the young generation,it has deeply touched me.
As a speech, it is touching ! However is it suitable to the audience- I would say- NO.
The young graduates who has spent their hard earned saving to be graduate - and we are teaching them not to be ambitious but be contented , not aggressive but considerate, not game changer but game player- this sounds alright after you have lived life, understood and experienced its invincibility-but not to the young graduate whom we need to encourage to go and conquer the world...
While I salute Nipuns' selflessness, his sagely advice, I strongly disagree to his teaching these to the young guys and sucking out their enthusiasm for the life yet to start.
Truly inspiring. Realised what enormous wealth I have -my mind and the ability to walk. It is absolutely fantastic that a person can have such a clear thinking while delivering a speech! Blessed are those who had the opportunity to hear / read these wonderful thoughts.
CK Chandrasekharan
What a beautiful speech! My friend Asheesh shared this with me, and I am so glad I read it. Truly an inspiration for me in my life. I recently had the honor of delivering the student keynote speech at my own MBA graduation from the Penn State Smeal College of Business, and it was centered on a story of walking as well. (If you are interested, here is the link: http://slidesha.re/KQzLRl)
You have shown the wisdom and beauty of accepting the only pace that you can take for a journey that cannot be run. Thank you!
Feed the ants. Don't just go thru life, Grow thru life. W.A.L.K. Thank you for sharing this meditation.
Amazing.....its most important to be "grounded"......bravo !
It is highly motivating. This made to ponder the inner and come out with peaceful state of mind.
Ajayakumar.P
Wow, I like the way speaker's experience is brought out. An encouraging speech!!!
wonderful!
There is much to be learned by merely breathing into the Spirit we all have within our hearts and asking to be lead. Of ourselves we can accomplish nothing. But, letting go of past and future and following that inner voice's words, directions, and feelings will lead you to insights that our hard to believe. Try it. Breath deeply within the heart and say: Of myself I can do nothing. Please guide me, give me your words, thoughts and feelings. Then without trying of thinking, just listen and follow the guidance. It seems to be leading you nowhere but trust and you will find what seems impossible.
That was an amazing speech Nipun! I always love hearing tidbits about your pilgrimmage and the wisdom in your words helps me to remember that I need to stop and enjoy my surroundings. Hope you and the wife are doing well :)
I agree that this is a fantastic article, would love to have been there to hear it in person.
I think everyone can be guilty sometimes of not taking time out to appreciate the wonderful things that fill our world, and more often or not the most simplest of things.
If we all change the way we treat ourselves and the world, eventually every person on this planet would become the happy and content person they seek to be.
Very ennobling speech. One is reminded of the Venerable Sage of Kanchi (Paramacharya) who followed the illustrious path of Adi Sankara in a walkng pilgrimage across India. He too wished to witness the nobility of the people of our countryside, who have so much to teach us. He in turn also blessed them with his compassion to help them face the harsh realities of life.
Very inspiring... Very Touching..
It is very inspiring and thought provoking.....You are truly blessed to experience thing that you only read in books. Your stupendous desire to experience the greatness of simple things in life this way is truly amazing.
That was really amazing talk. Took me a while to read it line by line but really mind blowing and inspiring.
Another comment disappeared before I replied. Well, I can't say what hurt the feelings of the Asian Culture is true or directed to them. It was meant for a short time punishments to the woman, thief and money launderer in a swift way as words and sentences would tell authorities---what?
Second reason, was to return the money to the needy beneficiaries or to the careless donors.
That is why I sympathize for looking someone who demonize a certain community who had no stakes with me. I was fool for that.
Hats off to you, Mr. Mehta! The article is simply Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing.
Beautiful. Mt Gandhi discovered. True india is found. Wish our Political leaders in India read and learn to WALK.
Thank you too.
This has come at an intersection in my life, today is the beginning of a new walk for me. Thank you
That was so beautiful. In this world when goodness is viewed sceptically ( read secret agenda), this was an endorsement on being human.
Heartwarming!! Thank you for sharing the joy and spreading the message.
W-A-L-K= witness always, like a kid
Let us walk and even own it...just need how-easiest way of making it heaven.
Fantastic article , written with utmost sincerity and honesty; two items which are becoming rarer and rarer every day in the rat race for materialistic progress and so called achievements!! An open look in to the broader throbbing world and trying to live in it with true participation can make us all Walk Taller literally and make this earth itself a heaven. Humility, compassion, optimism and belief in self and utmost modesty ; all these shine like gems in this article. I am made aware now, that I lack these and I bow my head and thank you immensely for firing my imagination with this spark to help me become a humble human being with a better heart and to lead a purposeful life. Thanks once again
Very inspiring article. Next time i take my morning walk i will remember what walk means.
I am delighted to have read the passage on W-A-L-K. I am deeply touched
Humbling !!!
Thank you too. truth is only thing I can offer...name a topic you would like.
Thank you for sharing......the world's desperate for the truth!
AMAZING !! INSPIRATIONAL !! SIMPLY GREAT !!
Well, projects are as many as stars. If people looking innocent don't appreciate then there they are. Because the work is about compassion and grounded is nature
Truly humbling and intensely inspirational!
You have epitomized the essence of our ethos and underpinned the importance of staying sanely and steadily grounded.
Thank you for shared wisdom
Thank you for sharing your story, experience and learning.
wish i had heard this talk when i graduated!! in deep gratitude for this talk...
Awesome
,it sums up what it is to be a loving christen.It is simply Christ's teachings no matter what your faith is. this should always be a reminder what life is meant to be,should we at times forget.
I walked many times and enjoyed travels but mine were planned unlike the couple.
I remember visiting my brother who is legsless and back the bus punctured one of its legs. I and two others went into the forest to see what it hosts. We came back to only find the bus left us. We walked about 4 hours in Masaai highlands and unlike other other communities, Masaai have a strict culture. We needed water badly and it already got dark. Only costume and leaves on my head and thighs, I got close to where they were celebrating on firewoods. Their leader who held a flame on his hand was impressed and I called my friends who were nearby. We were given water and milk. I don't costumes but my need of water forced me. So I learned cultures are very different where ties on some cultures are disguised. I also learned if one lives in slums he should look a slumdog like I am now. I can tomorrow be an urban dog. My experience on different cultures strengthened my ability of Human Engineering.
Though I believe I mastered Africans' way of life, I tried to see how westerners can be comforted. Some town tourists didn't return greetings as as they kept distance looking wary, so I thought I was discomforting them. I still feel that it would be great to meet one and impress. And Change is worked out. One student I once influenced his education promised me something very great 2days ago. So, I can tell priceless tags are sometimes greater than priced items. Though my facial outwards are not very interesting for first time am really honest. When I saw most people corrupted, crimed, harmful and non-punished I thought resorting and later re-correcting. Resorting for important celestial and earth change should not damage my name to open websites, social pages, create awareness against terrorism and improve social understandings which will lead religion and culture tolerance among all. Best known to adults or wise people am not doing all these things to clean my name from previous cases or because of way out of poverty. I may have made some statements telling people "here is the cash key" I may say that because of many reasons for:
1. Some people get motivations only when money involves.
2.Some people only respect when money is talked.
3.People's attentions can be gained
4.people will be productive and supportive.
Well, for me and my NGO which is the core of the changes need funds as the only way of achieving simplest change to set off. Imagine pals, I am to build a website from my store and countless people spread rumors against me saying I am an agent of Non-muslims where these accusations alone can be not only deadly but also assassinations. Still even didn't receive a penny and fewer people who would back me in case are to disbelieve me. You can then see how brave I am to disregard them and move forward. I need backings and change is here sirs and madams. This is Noor saying some truth out to wise men and women.
[Hide Full Comment]Very inspiring speech, with a great vision , the facts were simple yet thought provoking,
Hope to meet this lovely couple sometime in my life
Chandra Natarajan
Thanks
what a gift to the graduates! Bless you both.
Thank you. It is beautiful.
I've not read something as amazing as this in a long long time...u've deeply touched my heart & my sensibilities & given me new eyes with which to see the world....i salute u for having the courage to do what u wanted to & not give in to the monotony & average-ness of this materialistic world which frowns on everything new...but ur convictions have given me new hope that life can be lead from the heart....thankx again
Nipun. It is with the humble-est spirit, to thank you for your joy in sharing all that binds us together. Peace.
Dear Nipun
Thanks for sharing
Thank you Nipun, for continuing to be an inspiration, for truly making a difference in the world one step at a time, one being at a time, and in the ripples who knows how many are touched. My heart is full with gratitude at knowing you and Guri -
"It is precisely these small, often invisible, acts of inner transformation that mold the stuff of our being, and bend the arc of our shared destiny." What a beautiful commencement address. Thank you :)
thank you my friend. i'm glad to be at "one".
Thank you for sharing, inspiring and being the change. :) beautiful and touching to the soul.
Absolutely marvellous!Sets you thinking and change direction.
Deeply moving!
Very beautiful. Namaste--Peace, Love, Connection to All.
Nippun, thank you so much for posting this and sharing your journey. The Daily Good keeps me grounded, like a kite with a steady hand guiding it through the air.
Blessings, Nipun.
In 1970-71 my husband and I took a trip from Spain to India. Although we did not walk we travelled slowly getting to know the people and we were regularly invited and treated well by almost everyone. The experience changed my entire world view as I saw how some people could uncomplainingly make something out of nothing; in contrast to the attitudes of my fellow countrymen (US).
Wow.. It takes lot of courage to WALK, but the love that has filled in you couple is so true and pure.
I wish Both of you keep growing with your years together.
Thank You for being so true and kind...)
Every word is so grounded and so beautiful.