"You find the light within us. You don’t find it within politics, but you find it in us. The soul is composed of love, compassion, wisdom, peace, and joy. Those are all in us. We have our attention all on the outside things, but we haven’t looked inside. When we look inside and reflect our soul, we radiate love, we radiate compassion, we radiate the things that the world needs at this point. All we have to do is be our being, and convince others to look inside. Then we have a group that will counteract the darkness."
- Ram Dass
At the heart of the Namaspa Foundation’s work lies a spirit of generosity – both generosity in general, and what we might call ‘generosity in action.’ Generosity is deeply connected to, intertwined with, and a part of the traditional yogic principles and teachings of seva (selfless service for the benefit of others) and karma yoga (the yoga of taking heart-centered and service-inspired action). All of this is fundamental to the Namspa Foundation’s mission of bringing yoga and mindfulness, as well as yoga teacher training scholarships, to individuals, groups, and communities who might not otherwise have access, but who benefit greatly when given new opportunities. More specifically, our programs serve diverse populations, including individuals experiencing houselessness, those experiencing incarceration, youth, aging populations, and those recovering from addiction and/or trauma.
Seva, in yogic philosophy, encourages individuals to serve others without expecting anything in return – a principle that is also often valuable when one is generous or performs acts of giving. For example, through generosity and service, the Namaspa Foundation’s classes offer opportunities for participants to experience profound inner growth, as well as contribute to positive change in our communities – ultimately leading to a sense of meaningfulness and fulfillment in the Foundation’s work that transcends material outcomes or benefits.
This holiday season, as we strive to raise funds for the Namaspa Foundation’s programs, so that we can both sustain and grow our reach, we are inviting you, our community, to join us in the transformative truth that generosity, and acts of giving, can and do generate impact – both within the giver and those on the receiving end.
So let’s dive in deeper by exploring how where and how generosity shows up in yogic teachings, and how both generosity and service are deep, powerful, and sacred pathways that help us cultivate vairagya (translations: detachment, non-attachment, dispassion) and aparigraha (translations: non-grasping, non-gripping, non-greed). Aspiring for and practicing vairagya and aparigraha, as related to generosity and service, is an invitation to give without expecting anything material (e.g., monetary compensation) or non-material (e.g., recognition, other kinds of ‘rewards’) in return, and without being attached to particular outcomes.
To one part of our minds and deeper wisdom, this seems so obvious and simple! And it’s important to acknowledge we all know how to do this -- giving without attachment -- in both small and big ways and have done so many times throughout our lives. And on the other hand … well, here’s an example to demonstrate: have you ever had the experience of doing something kind or generous for a family member, friend, or your partner, and even though you thought or even intended to perform that action selflessly and without expectation of something in return, you ended up feeling disappointed or hurt? In other words, at the same time that there was selflessness, other parts felt sad that some amount of recognition, words of affirmation, or a similar kind or generous action didn’t flow back to you either at that time, or at some other time in the future?
I know I can relate to this scenario! And it seems likely we have all felt this way at times – and that’s okay, too, as it’s a part of a larger journey and path to cultivating values and principles like vairagya and aparigraha over time and with practice.
Generosity and service are beautiful ways, as a part of a journey of transformation and/or on a spiritual path, to recognize these very human and vulnerable moments inside, refrain from judging them or feeling guilty, and continuing on the journey of what it means and feels like inside to keep moving toward doing acts of giving and/or service from a place of pure intent. Eventually, and wih conscious practice, those internal/emotional ‘hiccups’ become less intense, and feelings around others ‘owing’ us something become quieter.
When one cultivates this kind of purer and purer giving over time on one’s transformational journey, experiences of empowerment, awakening, joy, and profound connection with ourselves, others, and the Divine have space to occur. In yogic teachings, this journey toward vairagya and aparigraha inherently also fosters in us qualities like compassion, patience, open heartedness, humility, and inner peace – ultimately bringing us closer to our true, pure nature.
When we make conscious choices to give generously without a constant eye toward what we may gain – or with that little, selfish ego-part of us further in the background, rather than in the driver’s seat – it also opens us and our hearts to more clearly and powerfully see the truth, depth, and profundity of the support, insights, and joy our contributions bring to others. Sometimes those impacts are more difficult to see for what they really are, or at their depths, when we are caught up in the expectations or wondering what will flow back toward us.
At this juncture in the conversation, it seems very important to name that this journey is not about making every single thing we do an act of selfless generosity and service. For example, healthy and fulfilling relationships that are mutually-nurturing and mutually-beneficial require flows of both giving and receiving. And even practices of devotion to a particular deity, the Earth, and/or the Divine require a receptivity for those larger forces one is devoted to to be able to pour love and spiritual connections in. These examples – relationships with self, others, organizations you’re connected to, God – obviously aren’t ‘one way streets’ of giving and giving only. So what we are talking about, instead, are very particular ways of cultivating spiritual values and certain experiences of generosity and service inside through intentional acts of giving.
Additionally, it’s important to recognize that generosity is not just an individual act; it is a profound part of the very foundations of community health, wellbeing, and resilience. Individual acts of generosity, multiplied by many people… this collective effort is what has the power to transform lives and communities. You may have noticed or been a part of the way a certain fabric of many or even most communities is made up of nonprofit organizations, volunteers, advocacy groups, and everyday passionate and generous people who work tirelessly and endlessly to ‘fill gaps’, such as where:
government agencies, social services, or medical systems don’t meet the needs of all citizens equally;
particular individuals, groups, and communities experience systemic disadvantages and disproportionate suffering;
and ulnerable populations are in great need of additional resources and support.
As a nonprofit, and through the support of a whole community of generosity-oriented people and groups – including volunteers, individual donors, business and corporate sponsors, and grant funding – the Namaspa Foundation is able to offer all of our classes free of charge to the individuals benefiting from our programs. With the help of our community, every class is offered with the singular goal of uplifting participants and creating a stronger, healthier community.
In other words, nothing in return, other than the sheer power and joy it is to be a part of and contributing to transforming hundreds of lives every year.
In a recent testimonial, one participant in our yoga class for women at Deschutes County Adult Jail shared: "My favorite part of these classes is the non judgemental environment, encouraging healing and flourishing experiences, regardless of situation on circumstance. The classes are incredibly appreciated. Thank you vastly."
Another participant experiencing incarceration said that the Foundation's classes "remind me to be in the now, aware of myself, and aware of my strength."
Generosity is so beautiful because it can be or come in the form of whatever someone truly has to give – whether that’s time, resources, skills, expertise or wisdom, money, or energy. Across other nonprofits the Foundation is connected with, we are in ongoing conversations and settings where people and nonprofit professionals share about how every donation is truly a gift that strengthens organizations’ abilities to forward their mission, serve people, and create positive impact and change.
Similarly, the Namspa Foundation’s ability to offer yoga, meditation, and wellness practices to individuals and groups who need them most is directly connected to the diverse forms of giving we are on the receiving end of each season and year.
Our community’s generosity fuels our ability to be generous, and thus, fuels our impact!
So, as we enter the holiday season, a time traditionally marked by giving, the Namaspa Foundation invites individuals and businesses to engage in acts of generosity that will directly impact the lives of others. By supporting our initiatives – or other nonprofits you are connected with and passionate about – you have the ability and power to directly contribute to the wellbeing of our community and to the creation of environments where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported.
Here are three meaningful ways you can practice generosity in support of the Namaspa Foundation this season:
Donate items, goods, and/or services to our online holiday auction (time sensitive, deadline in late November!): Contributing to our online auction is a great way to support the Foundation, while also showcasing your products or services to a wider audience (thousands of community members will see and shop the auction platform!). The proceeds from the auction will go directly to funding the Foundation’s programs, including continuing to offer classes at 9+ partner agency sites, as well as annually providing multiple BIPOC and financial aid scholarships for individuals to participate in NYC’s 200-hour yoga teacher training program.
Become a corporate sponsor: Corporate sponsorship offers businesses the opportunity to support a meaningful cause, while also benefiting from recognition at our events, on our social media platforms, and in other promotional materials. Sponsorship helps ensure the sustainability of our programs, providing the resources needed to reach more individuals in need.
Make a direct tax-deductible donation: The simplest way to support the Namaspa Foundation is through a direct monetary donation. Every dollar makes a difference, and donations are tax-deductible. Your generosity will help fund existing classes, future outreach and growth of our programs, and other resources that make it possible for us to bring yoga and mindfulness to those who need it most.
Generosity is a powerful tool for positive change, and when it is combined with aspects of seva as selfless service, like vairagya and aparigraha, its impact is multiplied. It creates a cycle of positive impact that strengthens the individual, the community, and the world.
In giving to the Namaspa Foundation, specifically, donors become part of a larger movement toward wellness and inclusivity. You are not simply supporting an organization. You are participating in a tradition of generosity and selfless service that has been part of yogic philosophy for centuries.
Together, let’s generate impact that reaches far beyond the holiday season – dreaming of, reaching toward, and taking meaningful action toward creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
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