Transforming Our Struggles Into Strength | His Holiness Radhanath Swami
Summary
TLDRSindhutai Sapkal, born into poverty in Maharashtra, India, overcame numerous hardships including an abusive marriage and social rejection. After a near-death experience, she dedicated her life to caring for orphans and the needy. Despite having no formal education, she became a mother to over 1,500 children and a symbol of hope, earning international recognition for her work. Her story is one of resilience, compassion, and the transformative power of forgiveness.
Takeaways
- π± Sindhutai Sapkal, born in poverty in Maharashtra, India, faced numerous hardships from a young age, including lack of education and early marriage.
- π£ At the age of 19, she was pregnant with her fourth child and was falsely accused of infidelity by a local exploiter, leading to a brutal attack by her husband.
- β€οΈ A cow protected her from being trampled by other animals while she was unconscious, and she promised to protect others in need, as the cow had protected her.
- ποΈ Rejected by her family and with nowhere to turn, she survived by living in a crematorium and collecting leftover offerings from funerals.
- π« Facing depression and the desire to end her life, she was stopped by the cries of a starving, crippled old man, whom she helped, realizing she had a higher purpose.
- π³ Inspired by a tree branch that continued to provide shade despite being nearly severed, she decided to help homeless and abandoned children, becoming their mother.
- π€ She used her talent for singing to beg for food and support, eventually establishing an orphanage that has cared for over 1,500 children.
- π Sindhutai Sapkal's selfless work has been recognized with numerous awards, including international honors, for her contributions to society.
- π Years later, she forgave her ex-husband, who had tried to kill her, and provided him shelter in her orphanage, demonstrating the power of compassion and forgiveness.
- π She considers the tragedies in her life as gifts that empowered her to make a difference, turning her life and the lives of many others into a beautiful journey.
Q & A
Where was Sindhutai born and what were the conditions of her village?
-Sindhutai was born in a poverty-stricken village in Maharashtra, India.
At what age was Sindhutai married and to whom?
-Sindhutai was married at the age of 9 to a man who was about 30 years old.
How many children did Sindhutai have by the time she was 19?
-By the time she was 19, Sindhutai had 3 sons.
What was the role of the local mafia in Sindhutai's village?
-The local mafia was exploiting the people of the village, especially forcing the women to work hard and paying them practically nothing.
What drastic action did Sindhutai's husband take after being lied to by the local mafia?
-Sindhutai's husband, believing the lie that she was having an affair and the unborn child was not his, repeatedly kicked her in the stomach to kill her and the child.
How did Sindhutai survive the attack by her husband?
-Sindhutai survived because a cow protected her from being trampled by the herd and chased away her in-laws when they came to ensure she was dead.
What promise did Sindhutai make to the cow that protected her?
-Sindhutai promised the cow that as it protected her in her time of need, she would protect others who are in need.
What was the turning point for Sindhutai that prevented her from committing suicide?
-The turning point was when she heard an old man crying in anguish and decided to help him instead, realizing she had a higher purpose in life.
How did Sindhutai provide for the orphaned and abandoned children she took care of?
-Sindhutai learned to sing and begged for alms with her singing, using the money to provide for the children.
What recognition did Sindhutai receive for her work with orphans?
-Sindhutai received numerous awards, both nationally and internationally, for her accomplishments in taking care of orphans and making a difference in their lives.
How did Sindhutai demonstrate forgiveness towards her ex-husband?
-When her ex-husband, who had tried to kill her, came to her orphanage in need, Sindhutai forgave him and offered him shelter, treating him as her 'eldest son'.
What did Sindhutai consider the most meaningful thing she ever did in her life?
-Sindhutai considered forgiving her ex-husband and providing him shelter as the most meaningful thing she ever did in her life.
Outlines
π± Overcoming Adversity: The Inspiring Journey of a Woman from Maharashtra
This paragraph narrates the life story of a woman born into poverty in Maharashtra, India. Despite her lack of education and being forced into marriage at a young age, she faced numerous hardships including domestic violence and abandonment. After a near-death experience, she found solace and protection under a cow, which inspired her to dedicate her life to helping others. Rejected by her family, she survived by living in a crematorium and feeding on offerings meant for the deceased. Her life took a turn when she chose not to commit suicide, instead deciding to help a crying old man, which she believed was a divine intervention. This act of kindness redefined her purpose, leading her to care for homeless and abandoned children, eventually establishing an orphanage.
π From Despair to Hope: The Transformation of a Life Through Compassion
The second paragraph continues the story, detailing how the woman, after her decision to live, began to gather homeless and abandoned children, becoming a mother figure to them. She used her talent for singing to beg for food and support, ensuring the children were cared for and protected. Her efforts were recognized, and an orphanage was built for her. Over the years, she raised approximately 1,500 children, many of whom went on to achieve success in various professions. Despite the accolades she received, including international recognition, her most fulfilling moment was when she forgave her ex-husband who had tried to kill her, offering him shelter in her orphanage. This act of forgiveness and the story of her daughter, who was born under a cow and grew up to be a medical doctor, illustrate the power of compassion and the ability to transform lives.
π The Power of Influence Beyond Affluence: A Life of Grace and Compassion
The final paragraph emphasizes the woman's philosophy of life, where she views her hardships as gifts from God that empowered her to make a difference. She believes that the power of compassion is more significant than wealth and that when combined with knowledge, strength, and skills, it can greatly enrich one's life and influence the world. The story concludes with a message of hope and inspiration, encouraging everyone to recognize their inherent value and potential to be instruments of grace and compassion, regardless of their circumstances.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Poverty-stricken
π‘Exploitation
π‘Courage
π‘Resilience
π‘Compassion
π‘Forgiveness
π‘Influence without Affluence
π‘Education
π‘Orphanage
π‘Transformation
π‘Grace
Highlights
A woman from a poverty-stricken village in Maharashtra, India, overcame significant hardships.
She had no education and was made to take care of buffaloes at the age of 8.
Married at 9 to a man 30 years older, she had three sons by the age of 19.
She stood up against a local exploiter, which led to severe consequences.
Her husband, influenced by lies, attempted to kill her and her unborn child.
Left for dead, she was protected by a cow that shielded her from other animals.
After giving birth under the cow, she pledged to protect others in need.
Rejected by her family, she survived by living in a crematorium and eating offerings to the dead.
She contemplated suicide but was inspired to live after helping a crying old man.
She took in homeless and abandoned children, becoming their mother.
Through her singing, she begged for alms to provide for the children.
Her efforts led to the establishment of an orphanage.
She has raised over 1,500 children, many of whom have become successful professionals.
She has received numerous awards for her work, including international recognition.
She forgave her ex-husband, who had tried to kill her, and offered him shelter in her old age.
She introduced her daughter, born under the cow, who is now a medical doctor.
She views her life's tragedies as gifts that empowered her to help others.
She emphasizes the power of compassion over affluence in making a difference.
She encourages everyone to be an instrument of compassion and grace.
Transcripts
I heard of one lady in brief summary she
was born in a poverty-stricken village
in Maharashtra India she never really
had any education when she was a little
girl and wanted to go to school her
family made her take care of the
Buffaloes when she was 8 years old she
was married I think actually she was 9
years old
she was married to a man who was about
30 by the time she was 19 she had 3 sons
and she was pregnant a mafia type of
person who was exploiting the people of
the village was especially making
forcing the women of the village to work
really hard and paying them practically
nothing and everyone was afraid but
sindhutai told the local collector who
was overseeing the police and that
person was stopped from what he was
doing but he was so angry he went and
told synthetized husband a lie
he said you are such a fool your wife is
having affairs with so many men in fact
the child that is within her womb is my
child not yours
I've been having sex with her if you
don't kill the child and kill her I will
kill you so the husband the girl's 19
years old he kicked her in the chest not
in the chest in the stomach repeatedly
to kill her and the child she laid
unconscious he thought she was dead so
he dragged her to a cowshed where a
whole herd of cows are being kept
thinking that people will feel that the
cows just trembler and that's how she
died so she laid there unconscious and
when she woke up she said she found one
cow standing right above her protecting
her there were all these buffaloes and
auxins and cows walking and they would
have certainly trampled her but this cow
was keeping everything away from her and
even when the in-laws came to make sure
she was dead the cow chased him away
with their horns and stood over
she came to consciousness and gave birth
to a baby girl under the cow and she
said she took a rock and cut her
umbilical cord took about 20 slices to
get free from it
and for hours and hours the cow
protected and sindhutai when she got
enough strength she embraced the cow and
promised as you protected me when I was
in great need I will protect others who
are in need it's a long story but no one
would have her back her own family
rejected her her biological family
because according to their tradition
once you're married you could never come
back home a foolish tradition as many
are these days in order to not be
exploited she was sleeping in a
crematorium with her little baby child
and she would collect wheat that people
would put around the dead bodies and
she'd mix it with water and cook it on
the debt and the fires of the dead
corpses
it became such a depressing life for her
she decided I don't want my child to
live like this so she was going to
commit suicide she went to a railway
track with her child in her arms and
laid waiting for the train to crush them
but as she was laying there she heard
someone crying in anguish so she got up
and she found an old man who was crying
out he was crippled he was very very
invalid he was crying for some food and
water so she went and begged and got him
food and water and she was thinking that
old man was the voice of God
she called Krishna she said was telling
me that I had a higher purpose in life
than to commit suicide I have something
to do something to contribute to this
world but then later in the day she was
sitting in a field wondering what am I
going to do I have nothing I have no one
how can I help anyone she was under a
tree and she saw that there was a branch
of the tree that a woodsman with an axe
had violently cut the branch was just
hanging by a single string but that
branch was giving her in her child shade
so she was thinking this is the answer
however much I have been beaten down
still I could do something for others
so she started going and finding
homeless abandoned orphan children and
she became their mother taking care of
them somehow or other she learned how to
sing really nice and she begged with her
singing and she provided for them and
somehow or other kept them safe after
some time people saw what a difference
she was making to so many people that
they built an orphanage for her over the
years she said she's had about 1,500
children over a thousand grandchildren
and she's made a tremendous difference
in her life all of her children have a
great education many are doctors and
lawyers and farmers something she never
had she's won so many awards
internationally for her accomplishments
but then she explained what the most
meaningful and fulfilling things she
ever did in life years and years later
after the President of India gave her
awards and governors of states and
international awards this really old man
came to her orphanage he was starving he
was sick he was homeless
he was asking for shelter after a few
minutes she recognized this was her
ex-husband the person who tried to
murder her maliciously she said to him
when you left me to die I was homeless
in rags now you're homeless and rags and
I have a nice place with so many people
she said the most meaningful thing in
her life as she forgave him and she said
I will give you shelter but I'm not your
wife
I'm your mother and what people would
visit the orphanage she would introduce
him this is my eldest son and sometimes
he's very naughty
she told this story
it moved me so at one place I shared
this story and somehow it was on YouTube
and in her orphanage someone showed it
to her so she wanted to meet me
so in Pune I met her and she was with a
couple other people and we spoke for
about an hour together was a wonderful
conversation and afterward there was one
lady who was sitting next to her who was
just beaming with smiles the whole time
but didn't say much of anything and when
I was just about to leave sindhutai said
I want to introduce you to this girl
she's the one who was born under the cow
she's now a medical doctor
and she's taking charge of one of our
orphanages and then she said to me I
consider all of the tragedies in my life
to have been gifts to empower me to make
a difference to others she considered it
all the grace of God she said my life
has been a road with many thorns but I
made friends with those thorns and my
life became beautiful and I could give
beauty to so many other people's lives
that's one little example of influence
without affluence the power of
compassion is far greater than anything
that money can do but when money and
knowledge and strength and skills are
built on the foundation of that
compassion then not only is our own life
enriched
beyond our comprehension but we could
make such a difference we can have such
an influence in the world each and every
one of us whoever we are because
everyone is so inherently special and
nothing and no one can take that away
from us as long as we are aware to be an
instrument of compassion an instrument
of grace is the true influence beyond
affluence thank you very much
[Applause]
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