what you see here is my mind decoded through brushstrokes through colors and
through brushstrokes through colors and
through brushstrokes through colors and through textures through this visual
through textures through this visual
through textures through this visual language I connect with people around
language I connect with people around
language I connect with people around the world this is how I translate my
the world this is how I translate my
the world this is how I translate my thoughts and experiences over the years
thoughts and experiences over the years
thoughts and experiences over the years I have had the opportunity to connect
I have had the opportunity to connect
I have had the opportunity to connect with many different communities we build
with many different communities we build
with many different communities we build community these days because it is not a
community these days because it is not a
community these days because it is not a natural thing anymore we lived in
natural thing anymore we lived in
natural thing anymore we lived in smaller communities before where we each
smaller communities before where we each
smaller communities before where we each had a role we don’t have our tribe
had a role we don’t have our tribe
had a role we don’t have our tribe around us anymore so we build
around us anymore so we build
around us anymore so we build communities for different reasons I grew
communities for different reasons I grew
communities for different reasons I grew up with people who considered service to
up with people who considered service to
up with people who considered service to humanity their Dharma I grew up in a
humanity their Dharma I grew up in a
humanity their Dharma I grew up in a very very congested crowded city in
very very congested crowded city in
very very congested crowded city in Calcutta a city of 23 million where all
Calcutta a city of 23 million where all
Calcutta a city of 23 million where all of life’s despair and all of life’s
of life’s despair and all of life’s
of life’s despair and all of life’s glory stares you in the face every
glory stares you in the face every
glory stares you in the face every moment of every day there is no escape
moment of every day there is no escape
moment of every day there is no escape but in this crazy jungle we had a little
but in this crazy jungle we had a little
but in this crazy jungle we had a little sanctuary a little oasis a community
sanctuary a little oasis a community
sanctuary a little oasis a community where everyone felt welcome everyone
where everyone felt welcome everyone
where everyone felt welcome everyone felt safe we shared we loved together we
felt safe we shared we loved together we
felt safe we shared we loved together we learned together there was unconditional
learned together there was unconditional
learned together there was unconditional support for everyone who came and this
support for everyone who came and this
support for everyone who came and this is where my core beliefs and my values
is where my core beliefs and my values
is where my core beliefs and my values were formed every Saturday we got
were formed every Saturday we got
were formed every Saturday we got together young and old and peeled
together young and old and peeled
together young and old and peeled vegetables and chopped vegetables and
vegetables and chopped vegetables and
vegetables and chopped vegetables and cooked for a soup kitchen that happened
cooked for a soup kitchen that happened
cooked for a soup kitchen that happened the next morning we fed it the soup
the next morning we fed it the soup
the next morning we fed it the soup kitchens been going on now for about six
kitchens been going on now for about six
kitchens been going on now for about six more than 60 years now and it happens
more than 60 years now and it happens
more than 60 years now and it happens every Sunday morning without
every Sunday morning without
every Sunday morning without it’s it’s a way the community gets
it’s it’s a way the community gets
it’s it’s a way the community gets together and shares and feels like they
together and shares and feels like they
together and shares and feels like they belong and they’re helping and being
belong and they’re helping and being
belong and they’re helping and being part of a greater whole
part of a greater whole
part of a greater whole my father was one of the keepers of this
my father was one of the keepers of this
my father was one of the keepers of this community I feel that this quote by
community I feel that this quote by
community I feel that this quote by Rabindranath Tagore really embodied that
Rabindranath Tagore really embodied that
Rabindranath Tagore really embodied that he was a source of inspiration for me
he was a source of inspiration for me
he was a source of inspiration for me and for many others and I feel that my
and for many others and I feel that my
and for many others and I feel that my um my first vibration the thing that I
um my first vibration the thing that I
um my first vibration the thing that I vibrated and related to and resonated
vibrated and related to and resonated
vibrated and related to and resonated with began right here in this community
with began right here in this community
with began right here in this community and of course as time went on the
and of course as time went on the
and of course as time went on the ripples grew and spread and evolved on
ripples grew and spread and evolved on
ripples grew and spread and evolved on their own and slowly the lotus petals
their own and slowly the lotus petals
their own and slowly the lotus petals emerged from the noise and the confusion
emerged from the noise and the confusion
emerged from the noise and the confusion and sometimes they would shine brightly
and sometimes they would shine brightly
and sometimes they would shine brightly in their purity in essence I feel that
in their purity in essence I feel that
in their purity in essence I feel that today we live in a world where we need
today we live in a world where we need
today we live in a world where we need to build our own communities because it
to build our own communities because it
to build our own communities because it helps us to Center and balance between
helps us to Center and balance between
helps us to Center and balance between our intellectual and emotional centers
our intellectual and emotional centers
our intellectual and emotional centers we follow a very different social order
we follow a very different social order
we follow a very different social order in the working world even though as
in the working world even though as
in the working world even though as humans we care and nurture instinctively
humans we care and nurture instinctively
humans we care and nurture instinctively it doesn’t necessarily apply in our
it doesn’t necessarily apply in our
it doesn’t necessarily apply in our everyday life and I think communities
everyday life and I think communities
everyday life and I think communities help us bridge that gap I want to share
help us bridge that gap I want to share
help us bridge that gap I want to share three specific stories with you these
three specific stories with you these
three specific stories with you these are communities that have been involved
are communities that have been involved
are communities that have been involved in over time they have been part of my
in over time they have been part of my
in over time they have been part of my journey and the first one is based in
journey and the first one is based in
journey and the first one is based in the Congo deep in the heart of Africa
the Congo deep in the heart of Africa
the Congo deep in the heart of Africa and
and
and it is about two sisters who grew up as
it is about two sisters who grew up as
it is about two sisters who grew up as children of missionaries in the Congo
children of missionaries in the Congo
children of missionaries in the Congo in a place called la tombe which is a
in a place called la tombe which is a
in a place called la tombe which is a village that literally you have to
village that literally you have to
village that literally you have to travel for seven days in a dugout canoe
travel for seven days in a dugout canoe
travel for seven days in a dugout canoe on what is called the national highway
on what is called the national highway
on what is called the national highway of the Congo to get there well they had
of the Congo to get there well they had
of the Congo to get there well they had some fond memories of their childhood
some fond memories of their childhood
some fond memories of their childhood but as they returned in 2005 to visit
but as they returned in 2005 to visit
but as they returned in 2005 to visit they realized the country had been
they realized the country had been
they realized the country had been ravaged by civil war and really wanted
ravaged by civil war and really wanted
ravaged by civil war and really wanted to do something to help
to do something to help
to do something to help so they connected with two women in
so they connected with two women in
so they connected with two women in Lacombe Bay and gathered enough money to
Lacombe Bay and gathered enough money to
Lacombe Bay and gathered enough money to buy a sewing machine to sewing machines
buy a sewing machine to sewing machines
buy a sewing machine to sewing machines were sent over to let them be a sewing
were sent over to let them be a sewing
were sent over to let them be a sewing school was born income generation became
school was born income generation became
school was born income generation became a possibility and we were encouraged by
a possibility and we were encouraged by
a possibility and we were encouraged by this response and created a virtual
this response and created a virtual
this response and created a virtual community with other women based in
community with other women based in
community with other women based in America in Australia in Taiwan and the
America in Australia in Taiwan and the
America in Australia in Taiwan and the Congo and managed and supported other
Congo and managed and supported other
Congo and managed and supported other income generation and capacity-building
income generation and capacity-building
income generation and capacity-building projects like water clean water medical
projects like water clean water medical
projects like water clean water medical training experimental farm schools
training experimental farm schools
training experimental farm schools income generation for women people in
income generation for women people in
income generation for women people in northern Maine now had people in the
northern Maine now had people in the
northern Maine now had people in the outside world who were looking out for
outside world who were looking out for
outside world who were looking out for them my next story is based here in
them my next story is based here in
them my next story is based here in Taipei it’s we are cultivating a culture
Taipei it’s we are cultivating a culture
Taipei it’s we are cultivating a culture of listening it started with a chance
of listening it started with a chance
of listening it started with a chance encounter of a ripple maker from Taiwan
encounter of a ripple maker from Taiwan
encounter of a ripple maker from Taiwan and a young singer from India they
and a young singer from India they
and a young singer from India they connected and through that connection it
connected and through that connection it
connected and through that connection it sparked off a series of other beautiful
sparked off a series of other beautiful
sparked off a series of other beautiful connections that resulted in what is now
connections that resulted in what is now
connections that resulted in what is now called the Red Room the big idea is to
called the Red Room the big idea is to
called the Red Room the big idea is to create a space a safe space where we can
create a space a safe space where we can
create a space a safe space where we can nurture deep listening
nurture deep listening
nurture deep listening for ourselves and for each other as
for ourselves and for each other as
for ourselves and for each other as artists we tend to be rather abstract so
artists we tend to be rather abstract so
artists we tend to be rather abstract so it’s very hard for us to put a label on
it’s very hard for us to put a label on
it’s very hard for us to put a label on the red-room so we make it easier by
the red-room so we make it easier by
the red-room so we make it easier by creating events around art music spoken
creating events around art music spoken
creating events around art music spoken word to allow people to experience the
word to allow people to experience the
word to allow people to experience the place at their own pace what drives us
place at their own pace what drives us
place at their own pace what drives us what keeps us going is the energy that
what keeps us going is the energy that
what keeps us going is the energy that each person who walks into that space
each person who walks into that space
each person who walks into that space brings to it
brings to it
brings to it each community stew that’s made
everything that people share with us
everything that people share with us everything that they feel it’s a
everything that they feel it’s a
everything that they feel it’s a vulnerable place to be but it’s also a
vulnerable place to be but it’s also a
vulnerable place to be but it’s also a safe space to share of yourself and we
safe space to share of yourself and we
safe space to share of yourself and we look forward to every new collaboration
look forward to every new collaboration
look forward to every new collaboration to every new act of creation we look
to every new act of creation we look
to every new act of creation we look forward to every new energy that enters
forward to every new energy that enters
forward to every new energy that enters and forms and creates what happens there
one of the really good examples of how
one of the really good examples of how art can build community is what happened
art can build community is what happened
art can build community is what happened when a group of artists and musicians
when a group of artists and musicians
when a group of artists and musicians decided to respond to the devastation
decided to respond to the devastation
decided to respond to the devastation caused by Typhoon Morakot in 2009 so
caused by Typhoon Morakot in 2009 so
caused by Typhoon Morakot in 2009 so what did we do we just got together as
what did we do we just got together as
what did we do we just got together as artists and musicians and did what we
artists and musicians and did what we
artists and musicians and did what we knew how to do best we created that full
knew how to do best we created that full
knew how to do best we created that full day of live art and music we painted
day of live art and music we painted
day of live art and music we painted people could walk through the space and
people could walk through the space and
people could walk through the space and experience it they could see the process
experience it they could see the process
experience it they could see the process of creation and at the end of the day we
of creation and at the end of the day we
of creation and at the end of the day we sold the art at an auction and raised
sold the art at an auction and raised
sold the art at an auction and raised about half a million NT which is not bad
about half a million NT which is not bad
about half a million NT which is not bad considering we were just having a really
considering we were just having a really
considering we were just having a really good time doing what we knew and what
good time doing what we knew and what
good time doing what we knew and what love to do I want to move you now to
love to do I want to move you now to
love to do I want to move you now to India where I was honored to be part of
India where I was honored to be part of
India where I was honored to be part of an nationwide initiative called Don
an nationwide initiative called Don
an nationwide initiative called Don which means joy of giving it’s a
which means joy of giving it’s a
which means joy of giving it’s a festival where we connect the receivers
festival where we connect the receivers
festival where we connect the receivers with the givers again all run by
with the givers again all run by
with the givers again all run by volunteers and I want to share one
volunteers and I want to share one
volunteers and I want to share one specific story because there were so
specific story because there were so
specific story because there were so many stories and I don’t think I can go
many stories and I don’t think I can go
many stories and I don’t think I can go into many of them but one really touched
into many of them but one really touched
into many of them but one really touched my heart
my heart
my heart and that was when we approached a blind
and that was when we approached a blind
and that was when we approached a blind school school the blind off an orphanage
school school the blind off an orphanage
school school the blind off an orphanage and asked them what they would like to
and asked them what they would like to
and asked them what they would like to receive but they wanted to give instead
receive but they wanted to give instead
receive but they wanted to give instead so we connected them with senior citizen
so we connected them with senior citizen
so we connected them with senior citizen home and the children went in sang to
home and the children went in sang to
home and the children went in sang to them it was a beautiful moment the
them it was a beautiful moment the
them it was a beautiful moment the seniors were in bliss we melted just
seniors were in bliss we melted just
seniors were in bliss we melted just being there and being part of that
being there and being part of that
being there and being part of that moment what happened next
moment what happened next
moment what happened next it was just a miracle because the
it was just a miracle because the
it was just a miracle because the seniors started singing to the kids and
seniors started singing to the kids and
seniors started singing to the kids and after that they got up and wanted to
after that they got up and wanted to
after that they got up and wanted to help these children so they gave
help these children so they gave
help these children so they gave donations of money to the orphanage for
donations of money to the orphanage for
donations of money to the orphanage for tech treatment the two founders of the
tech treatment the two founders of the
tech treatment the two founders of the senior home and the Turin’s home decided
senior home and the Turin’s home decided
senior home and the Turin’s home decided to visit each other occasionally I feel
to visit each other occasionally I feel
to visit each other occasionally I feel it was the perfect community where the
it was the perfect community where the
it was the perfect community where the young and the old
young and the old
young and the old both fulfills each other’s needs it was
the gift that just kept on giving I do
the gift that just kept on giving I do believe that each of us has that place
believe that each of us has that place
believe that each of us has that place where our core beliefs can become the
where our core beliefs can become the
where our core beliefs can become the greatest gifts to someone and I believe
greatest gifts to someone and I believe
greatest gifts to someone and I believe we all have the potential to change
we all have the potential to change
we all have the potential to change lives we all have the potential to make
lives we all have the potential to make
lives we all have the potential to make each other’s lives better
I think the world needs people like me
I think the world needs people like me it needs people like you let’s not ask
it needs people like you let’s not ask
it needs people like you let’s not ask why let’s just ask how thank you for
why let’s just ask how thank you for
why let’s just ask how thank you for listening
listening
listening [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment