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Seeing the Gold

Seeing the Gold

 My Heart’s Brother • Protector • Teacher • Friend

Sanju aniyan loved to say, “When we offer our Ayurvedic therapies and medicines, Chechi, we are not adding anything new to that patient. We are only removing the rust so they can shine as bright as they really are.”

Sharing this perspective of wholeness and innate goodness brought us together and was–and will always be–the foundation of our healing work.

But two years ago today, my adopted brother – a strong, intelligent, loving and skilled man from Kerala, India named Sanju Kumar – suddenly passed away.Growing up, I always wished for an older brother. Well into my forties – I finally got one! He called me “Chechi” (Malayalam for “big sister”), and I called him “Aniyan” (Malayalam for “younger brother”). Sanju aniyan not only joined me in important work, but invited me to be a true member of his beautiful family, helped me understand and adjust to the life and ways of Kerala, and stood by my side through through thick and thin.

But two years ago today, my adopted brother – a strong, intelligent, loving and skilled man from Kerala, India named Sanju Kumar – suddenly passed away.

It’s an Indian tradition to commemorate the death anniversary of an important person or loved one. My heart and mind are filled with his memory and all that we built together, all we shared and all we learned from each other. The seven years we had together have been the richest yet.

I chose to partner with Sanju aniyan not only because of his incredible skills and experience as a traditional therapist and medicine-maker, his leadership capacity and his willingness to work hard. I chose him because he demonstrated that he knew how to relate to all people with a recognition of their wholeness.

From the very beginning, Sanju aniyan and I found our sympatico in this attitude. We aligned together in seeing all people–even in the midst of illness, poverty, confusion or a bad mood–as whole and good. We trained our eyes on the “gold” under the rust! We ran our women’s clinic–Rasa Ayurveda Traditional Healing for Women–with affection and respect for our international patients, who came to us from more than 50 countries around the globe, many with some kind of mental or physical illness.

What a satisfying and valuable endeavor we shared!

As we built our women’s Ayurveda clinic, we made our way through many obstacles. We were dizzy, sometimes, getting through all kinds of difficulties together. There were cultural differences to sort out on all sides, and enormous logistical problems to solve as we set about offering authentic, traditional care to women from all over the world at the source of Ayurveda – Kerala, south India.

At every step along our incredible journey together, Sanju aniyan brought his presence to bear, never shrinking back from moving forward. He seemed ready for every new challenge–no matter how large–if something positive could be gained. Even when we faced dramatic losses and seemingly impossible-to-recover-from set backs, he would usually say something calm and encouraging to me, like:

“Don’t worry, my sister. We can face this. We have a thousand and one ideas!”

-Sanju Kumar

Especially rare in Indian society was Aniyan’s deep dedication to the well-being of all of our clinic staff members. We respected and cared for the people who cook the food, cleaned the rooms, drove our vehicle, guarded our clinic, hauled in the vegetables and raw materials for medicine making, performed therapies for our patients – all the many duties required to operate a residential Ayurveda clinic. We cared for their health, their family concerns, and did our best to expose our day-in and day-out Rasa Ayurveda family to a variety of life-enriching experiences.

Sanju aniyan was also 100% dedicated to enjoying life! I am sure he never enjoyed life more than when he shared that enjoyment with others–always without discrimination or thought of class or economic status.

Every year at the end of our treatment season, we closed our clinic and stopped all the work to enjoy a few days of games and outings with our staff.

Take a peek at a trip we took to visit locally-rescued elephants together. Sanju aniyan is wearing a dark-blue shirt, making sure everyone is having a good time…!

Sanju aniyan will never be forgotten. His life’s good work and heart’s intentions continue to bear fruit for our learning, healing and loving.

I learned so many valuable lessons and techniques through knowing and working with Sanju aniyan, my heart’s true brother.

I remain dedicated to sharing with you, too, how to keep “removing the rust”  so the gold that you are will always shine through.

with care,

 My Heart’s Brother • Protector • Teacher • Friend

Sanju aniyan loved to say, “When we offer our Ayurvedic therapies and medicines, Chechi, we are not adding anything new to that patient. We are only removing the rust so they can shine as bright as they really are.”

Sharing this perspective of wholeness and innate goodness brought us together and was–and will always be–the foundation of our healing work.

But two years ago today, my adopted brother – a strong, intelligent, loving and skilled man from Kerala, India named Sanju Kumar – suddenly passed away.Growing up, I always wished for an older brother. Well into my forties – I finally got one! He called me “Chechi” (Malayalam for “big sister”), and I called him “Aniyan” (Malayalam for “younger brother”). Sanju aniyan not only joined me in important work, but invited me to be a true member of his beautiful family, helped me understand and adjust to the life and ways of Kerala, and stood by my side through through thick and thin.

But two years ago today, my adopted brother – a strong, intelligent, loving and skilled man from Kerala, India named Sanju Kumar – suddenly passed away.

It’s an Indian tradition to commemorate the death anniversary of an important person or loved one. My heart and mind are filled with his memory and all that we built together, all we shared and all we learned from each other. The seven years we had together have been the richest yet.

I chose to partner with Sanju aniyan not only because of his incredible skills and experience as a traditional therapist and medicine-maker, his leadership capacity and his willingness to work hard. I chose him because he demonstrated that he knew how to relate to all people with a recognition of their wholeness.

From the very beginning, Sanju aniyan and I found our sympatico in this attitude. We aligned together in seeing all people–even in the midst of illness, poverty, confusion or a bad mood–as whole and good. We trained our eyes on the “gold” under the rust! We ran our women’s clinic–Rasa Ayurveda Traditional Healing for Women–with affection and respect for our international patients, who came to us from more than 50 countries around the globe, many with some kind of mental or physical illness.

What a satisfying and valuable endeavor we shared!

As we built our women’s Ayurveda clinic, we made our way through many obstacles. We were dizzy, sometimes, getting through all kinds of difficulties together. There were cultural differences to sort out on all sides, and enormous logistical problems to solve as we set about offering authentic, traditional care to women from all over the world at the source of Ayurveda – Kerala, south India.

At every step along our incredible journey together, Sanju aniyan brought his presence to bear, never shrinking back from moving forward. He seemed ready for every new challenge–no matter how large–if something positive could be gained. Even when we faced dramatic losses and seemingly impossible-to-recover-from set backs, he would usually say something calm and encouraging to me, like:

“Don’t worry, my sister. We can face this. We have a thousand and one ideas!”

-Sanju Kumar

Especially rare in Indian society was Aniyan’s deep dedication to the well-being of all of our clinic staff members. We respected and cared for the people who cook the food, cleaned the rooms, drove our vehicle, guarded our clinic, hauled in the vegetables and raw materials for medicine making, performed therapies for our patients – all the many duties required to operate a residential Ayurveda clinic. We cared for their health, their family concerns, and did our best to expose our day-in and day-out Rasa Ayurveda family to a variety of life-enriching experiences.

Sanju aniyan was also 100% dedicated to enjoying life! I am sure he never enjoyed life more than when he shared that enjoyment with others–always without discrimination or thought of class or economic status.

Every year at the end of our treatment season, we closed our clinic and stopped all the work to enjoy a few days of games and outings with our staff.

Take a peek at a trip we took to visit locally-rescued elephants together. Sanju aniyan is wearing a dark-blue shirt, making sure everyone is having a good time…!

Sanju aniyan will never be forgotten. His life’s good work and heart’s intentions continue to bear fruit for our learning, healing and loving.

I learned so many valuable lessons and techniques through knowing and working with Sanju aniyan, my heart’s true brother.

I remain dedicated to sharing with you, too, how to keep “removing the rust”  so the gold that you are will always shine through.

with care,

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