Dear Friend,
We have so many reasons to be grateful today – for our families, our friends, our education, for food on the table, clothes to wear, a roof over our heads… the list is practically endless! Gratefulness for what we have is one of the most powerful tools for creating what is not there yet. So, if we haven’t yet cultivated this virtue, Pongal is a great time to make a start.
It’s also a time to restore relationships and join together in gratitude to our farmers for their sacrifices and hard work, and to Mother Earth for sustaining life despite the fact that we are not always good to her. As the world becomes increasingly materialistic, we lose the ability to see the miraculous blessing that she truly is. Pongal helps us understand the subtle wisdom of it all and how we are affecting our environment and the harmony of Nature, for better or worse.
Uncontrolled materialism will corrupt our soul and destroy our home – Mother Earth. Let this Pongal propel us to reflect on this. Let us pass on the age-old wisdom of this festival to a new generation that we hope will be better than we are – environmentally conscious, with a deep respect for Nature, and powerful agents of positive change.
And just as the pot overflows this Pongal, I wish that your life will overflow with everything that is good!
Iyyappan Subramaniyan
Founder, Managing Trustee
