Into the Heart of Goodness
Nipun and Guri Mehta were of a different breed even before they embarked on a pilgrimage of service to India. In 1999, they had cofounded a nonprofit organization called CharityFocus which provides nonprofits with website-building and technical assistance. More than 8,000 volunteers have been involved, but more than serving non-profits, the group sees itself as an "incubator of compassionate action by enabling everyday heroes -- people just like you and us -- with the opportunity to serve."
In January, Nipun and Guri, now married, sold their belongings and left Northern California with two handbags and one-way tickets to India. Since March, starting from the Gandhi Ashram in the northwest, they have been walking south continuously, sleeping at the homes of strangers and surviving on 25 rupees (50 cents) per day. They have walked more than 1,000 kilometers so far, and they do not know the destination or length of their journey.
While there, they are profiling inspiring people they meet "in the hopes that more goodness spreads in the world." But their chief aim is "to cultivate our own hearts, to develop our vision to see the good in all life," and to perform random acts of kindness. For instance, if someone gives Nipun something extra, like a watermelon or money, he pays it forward to someone else. The response he gets is pretty cool.
To our benefit, Nipun is writing a blog and Guri is maintaining a photo blog of their travels. It's unique to be able to follow a journey like this, and it's an experience not to be missed.