A Hindu Perspective by Balliram Chadee. M.Hin.

 www.thehanumanmission.com. bally@thehanumanmission.com

or Bally 416-992-2487.

Question: Should a Hindu Volunteer? If so, why? What are the benefits?

Ans : In the advanced technological world we live today, there is apparently no shortfall of wealth, prosperity or availability of life's necessities and requirements to help all in need and even those not in need. Do you believe this? Is this a true statement or observation? Let us then today take a different view for this article. Instead of writing on a specific Hindu topic, I will turn my attention, as requested by many many readers of this article, about Volunteerism, as seen from a Hindu Perspective and why we should do it. It is ironic sometimes if not annoying many times, to see some people have much more wealth or material gains than they can honestly or truly enjoy, while others can't say where or when the next meal, snack or glass of water will be seen. You have heard this before, right? So then how is this possible? Why is this happening? How can God be fair? Am I in the wrong religion as a Hindu? Is God asleep?...all common questions we heard or asked ourselves from time to time. Yet the burning question remains; what have we, as individuals done to help someone in this world other than our own family? What can we say we have done to make this world a better place? What can we take with us upstairs to our master when it is our turn to go, to validate our presence on earth? What have we done in selfless service to man or God?

One of the primary beliefs in Hinduism is KARMA – As you sow, so shall you reap. We have heard that in the eight million, four hundred thousand living species of being, we are blessed to be born as a human. Is that true? Do you believe it? We have the intelligence or exposed to the opportunity as humans to make choices…not financial or health choices but choices in life that we can control, such as volunteering, yet many of us do nothing for anyone but expect everything from everyone. Selfless service in any religion is demanding, frustrating and thankless more often than not, yet many of us continue to do it. Why? There is really no logical explanation as I give to many people, but the results of Karma and the inner desire to help others. A spiritualist once told me “there is a difference between spirituality and stupidity ”. So then where do we draw the line on volunteering? What types of service should we volunteer? Why should we even volunteer? What are the benefits? What difference would it make? Why doesn't someone else do it? Am I required to volunteer? Should I help?

As Hindus, it is a part of our mandate to serve God and serve man, to provide service to community and society and to use our own hands for some righteous purpose. I am not advocating that you must give your life or all your wealth to charity etc, but make a difference the best way you know how and to the extent that you can logically do so and it does not even have to be in Hindu circles. We live in a mainstream Canadian setting, where we now require the same types of services as Indo - Caribbean Canadians as our Canadians friends and colleagues such as counseling, mediation, hospital chaplaincy assistance, blood donation, assistance with the handicap, elderly, supporting new immigrants etc. among the many others. If we do not volunteer or help our own community or society, who will?

 

We as Hindus have the same needs, wants, desires, crisis, disasters, illness and untimely unfortunate circumstances as other religions and other races, Hindus are not exempted. We need to understand as well as remember, it is left upon us as Hindus to propagate our religion, heritage, culture and traditions don't be naïve to think anyone else will do it for us. Going to temple once a week for whatever purpose we do it does not justify volunteering or service to man, period! Praying repeated daily helps you directly and may help others indirectly but is also not a remedy or solution, nor is it a substitution for Volunteerism. Sometimes we see during funerals or bereavement in our own Hindu community, families do not have anyone at all to share their troubles with, why? When things were good, they never helped others, shared in others troubles, volunteer to help anyone, much less community in the majority of situations. So in your times of needs, knowing you did nothing for anyone with your own hands, wealth, abilities and expertise; do you truly believe others will be there to support and help you? Think hard about this question, especially in Canada , where so many of us have very little family or friends, if any at all in some cases.

Volunteering is an opportunity to help others in need, help others who are less fortunate, help others with the skills, expertise, knowledge, ability and even wealth with which god has blessed you. However when you volunteer, do it without rewards, expectations, greed for power or fame; do it from your heart, for yourself and to make yourself feel satisfied and better as a person. This is the fundamental purpose of Volunteering and why it is beneficial for us individually to contribute so collectively we would help to sustain Sanatan Dharma being strong, help uphold each other's lives more compassionately, knowing we have each other and ultimately make Canada, our chose home the best country in the world…these are some of the benefits why YOU should VOLUNTEER! Many may disagree with these observations, and that is fair, but then I ask you, does the explanation above, the reasons demonstrated and the suggestions made for volunteering, worthy of consideration for you as a person or a s a Hindu to make a difference to someone else?

Finally, I personally believe as a young Hindu especially influenced by western forces that we must more than ever, look out for ourselves, help ourselves and help others in our own community. We as a Hindu community need to look hard at some of the other communities and the extent to which they volunteer as a network, as organizations and as a model of how they have involved their followers, members, supporters and religious followers to make a difference to Canada. Do not ever sit still and believe praying with do the job, that going to temples will change the world and that by calling yourself a Hindu would do anyone any good, because the sad reality is it would NOT. Prayer is our primary requirement as Hindus, but we live in a practical world, so we have to use the gift God has given us to help ourselves and help the less fortunate. Competition among people, businesses, religious organizations and even religious leaders, according to many of my phone calls and feedback I have received, are some of the reasons why many in our community have stopped or refuse to volunteer today. However, these should not be reasons NOT to volunteer…do what you have to do and forget the rest. If you still disagree with me, that's fine, I respect your views but as I end, think about this….if you or a member of your family was injured or severely medically damage, would you like to receive blood at the hospital? Would you like to have people join you when a member of your family dies? Would you like to know you made a difference in helping a new immigrant to Canada ? (remember yours days in trying to settle here?), would you like to do when you need a reference, a fellow community member can do it for you? Would you feel better that you can say as a Hindu, you have made a difference through volunteering? If the answer to any of theses questions is YES, then my humble attempt to share this information would have been worth the time and effort in this volunteer efforts. Thanks for your time. God Bless and please help at least one person or in one situation.