A few years ago, while working with a service organisation, a donor made an unusual and heartfelt request: she wished for her contribution to be used not for the underprivileged, but to bring joy to those who had been tirelessly serving within the organisation.
This rare sensitivity touched everyone deeply and continues to be remembered with warmth. Her intention was simple yet profound—honouring the givers, not just the receivers. That gesture remains an enduring source of inspiration.
At the Sacred Grove retreat centre, we serve the sadhaks who come for solitude and self-retreats. It is a comfort to provide a conducive ambience to those seeking solitude or wanting to connect with the words of the beloved Master. In this land of healing, service is provided to those who seek Ayurveda and Yoga therapies and treatment. ArogyaM OPD provides consultations and even medicines to those from the surrounding rural areas who opt for Ayurvedic care. At the Goshala, the cows, calves and bulls are tended with care and the plants and trees are carefully nurtured. All the caregivers synchronise their services to the best of their capacity.
June and July were especially full for the team, with all hands coming together to care for housekeeping, meals, planting, and repairs before the monsoon set in. After Janmashtami celebrations, in gratitude for their efforts, the staff are usually offered small gifts, but this time they wished instead to share some time together, away from their daily routine.
Almost before we realised it, funds were gathered, vehicles arranged, and plans made to care for the Centre in the staff’s absence. Some of the guests joined the bandwagon, and others, more familiar with Centre, stayed back and took charge. Those who stayed back took care of the visitors, milked and fed the cows, cooked and served, while those who had set out for adventure looked for wayside dhabas to eat. No one grudged their respective roles.
On August 18, 2025, the doctors, admin, housekeeping, kitchen, and goshala staff together set out for a day’s excursion to temples and a dargah in the neighbouring towns of Kadappa. The day was planned to come together, exploring places of cultural and spiritual significance.
The staff, both from Hindu and Muslim families, joined the day out, embracing it with openness and warmth. At the temples, even those clad in burkhas were welcomed without reservation, and one priest went out of his way to offer a special arati for them.
In the same spirit, the Hindu men bowed in reverence at the dargah, while the women, heads respectfully covered in keeping with the custom, participated with quiet devotion. Who says the spirit of Oneness does not exist?
Throughout the day, there was laughter, shared stories, and a sense of camaraderie that went beyond daily responsibilities. As they sat by the flow of the river Penna, absorbing both the ancient spirit of the temple and the present moments of togetherness, a young supervisor approached and said, “I have no words to express the joy I feel today.” It brought a smile, and with it the memory of the donor who had once chosen to bring joy to those who serve. This should not be labelled as social work or anything of that sort. If it needed a name at all, it could only be called pure and simple love.
