Spending time at the Golden Temple filled me with the idea that I had traveled far enough away from my life to have found myself, here in this unfamiliar distant place among strangers. Still, this was not the most powerful moment. The Temple feeds “everyone” who wants to eat and serves between 50 to 100,000 per day, making it one of the largest community kitchens in the world. This kitchen runs by individuals who volunteer to cook, clean, serve, and manage the entry points.
The menu consisted of lentils, rice, sweet rice, curry beans, and unleavened bread. About 300 of us were ushered into one of the large dining rooms, seated on mats made from woven rope, handed a metal plate and spoon, and served by men walking past with large buckets of food. A second round was offered within the 20 minutes we had to eat. We were then strongly encouraged to get up and out. An army of men then entered with mops and cleaned the floor within 5 minutes, and the next group was ushered in.
Upon exiting, we were invited into the kitchen by one of the Sikh administrators, and I was completely overwhelmed. There before me were about 100 men shoulder to shoulder feverishly washing those metal plates. The precision was like a ballet. Scraping, passing, washing, passing, drying, passing, stacking, and rolling them back out to be handed to a new group of hungry pilgrims. This was the thing that moved me most. I was filled with so much respect and humility. Seeing so many people volunteering, old and young with such selflessness made me begin to evaluate my service to others. The majesty of the Temple was amazing, but the heart, beauty, and true wonder of the place were in the humble service to others.
“In the quiet rhythm of service at the Golden Temple, I was reminded that true fulfillment lies not in grand gestures or distant adventures but in the simple act of giving. The selflessness I witnessed transcended language and culture, teaching me that our worth is often measured by our ability to serve others with humility and grace. It is not the size of the temple or the complexity of our journey that defines our impact, but the intention and presence we bring to each act of kindness. May we all find ways to serve, to lift others, and to connect with the deeper essence of humanity that unites us all.”
by David Kelton Starks
In these pages, you’ll encounter the raw and unfiltered emotions of a journey marked by resilience and triumph.
In these pages, you’ll encounter the raw and unfiltered emotions of a journey marked by resilience and triumph.
