Jyoti Lal

ACT Volunteer - Texas, USA

I currently live in Dallas, Texas, where I have resided for the past eight years after moving from Michigan. My connection with ACT Foundation began through my association with Mohanji, whom I first met briefly in 2016 in Michigan when I helped organize a satsang as a temple board member.

In 2020, during the global Power of Purity (POP) program, I experienced a profound inner awakening through meditation and the 360-degree practice. As a devoted follower of Shirdi Sai Baba, I felt divinely guided toward Mohanji during this transformative period.

Following this awakening, I naturally became fully vegan, as my body no longer accepted dairy. As I continued exploring Mohanji’s teachings, I discovered ACT Foundation USA. Since seva (selfless service) has been central to my life from childhood, connecting with ACT felt natural, meaningful, and deeply aligned with my values.

I began participating in and organizing various seva activities under ACT Foundation USA, connecting with people and contributing wherever possible. This marked the beginning of my journey with ACT, a journey that has continued to evolve and expand over time. During this phase, my perspective broadened as I explored new ways to serve society and create a meaningful impact.

One of the biggest challenges we encountered was funding. Relying solely on personal resources was not sustainable and limited the scale of our seva initiatives. This challenge prompted me to reflect on how to generate sustainable funding without continuously depending on individual contributions.

This reflection led to the idea of organizing a charity gala as a structured and sustainable fundraising approach. The event was a great success, and around the same time, we also organized blood donation drives. While we continued our food seva initiatives, I felt strongly that ACT could—and should—expand its reach to address additional community needs. This realization marked the beginning of our diversification into other service activities.

While conducting food seva in Dallas, I became more aware of the large homeless population in the area. Although shelters receive funding, direct interaction with individuals helped me develop a deeper understanding of their realities. I realized that while food is essential, it is not the only need—there are many other challenges that deserve attention and care.

When it comes to seva, I have always felt a strong connection to children, women, and the elderly. These three groups hold a special place in my heart, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility and compassion toward them. I believe there is much more that can be done, and we will continue to explore the best ways to move forward.

Among the many meaningful experiences on this journey, the most significant realization for me has been understanding the breadth of positive impact ACT Foundation can create—far beyond food seva alone. I became increasingly aware that ACT Foundation has the potential to accomplish much more than food distribution, a realization that was truly eye-opening and transformative for me.

I have been personally involved in animal rescue for many years. Whenever I come across an injured animal, such as one hurt on the road, and it is possible to help, I bring the animal home, foster and care for it, and eventually release it back into the wild. This has been a deeply personal commitment for a long time.

After connecting with ACT Foundation USA, it felt natural to bring this work under the ACT banner. Any care or support I provide to animals now forms part of my seva through ACT.

Animal welfare has always been very close to my heart and remains a cherished dream. I envision creating a safe healing space where abandoned or abused animals can be cared for, while also supporting humans who have experienced abandonment, domestic violence, or cruelty.

In this vision, humans care for animals, and through the animals’ unconditional love, both heal together. This dream continues to guide me, and I remain actively involved in animal rescue work whenever possible

From a practical standpoint, safety is the first and most important concern. The second major challenge is financial constraints. When you aim to do more and reach more people, adequate funding becomes essential. For any charitable organization, money is always a significant challenge, as resources are needed to create a larger impact and serve more individuals. I constantly reflect on how to raise sufficient funds to expand our reach and help more people effectively.

Another challenge I have faced, particularly in animal rescue, is that despite putting in tremendous effort, the animals do not always survive. Witnessing the loss of an animal repeatedly during rescue efforts can be emotionally very difficult. Seeing an animal pass away—sometimes literally in your hands—is heartbreaking.

However, I feel that on a spiritual path, such experiences are inevitable lessons. While painful, they contribute to inner growth and help shape one’s journey. 

Seva has been an integral part of my life. From my childhood memories onward, I can say that it has always been a part of who I am. It is not really about what keeps me motivated—seva defines me as a person.

For me, seva is not limited to going out and feeding people or donating to a cause. I have always believed that seva means being available in whatever capacity someone needs. If a friend needs me to listen, that too is seva. If a friend calls and says they are bored and just want to come over, sit together, and have a cup of tea, that is also seva.

Seva, to me, is not only about large-scale activities. It is about how I live my life and the attitude I carry—that I am here and available for anyone and everyone. I see this as a grace and a blessing, that Divinity has given me the opportunity to be available in this way.

So, for me, seva is not just about the activities I do, it is about who I am.

ACT has been an integral part of my life journey, a path that began in 2010—or perhaps a path that chose me. Walking largely on my own, Mohanji became a guiding presence, helping me understand my purpose and why I am here.

In many ways, Kumbh began for me even before I arrived. I received clear inner guidance that I was meant to be there, especially when I applied for the kitchen seva role. I felt fully prepared before leaving for India, guided step by step.

Once in India, I committed to the entire Kumbh program, aligning with the needs of the Mohanji Foundation India team. The seva was intense and demanding—preparing fresh meals three times a day for weeks—but it unfolded effortlessly through divine grace. The right people came together, the right team formed, and not a single meal was missed.

Only after returning and reflecting on those 48 days did I truly realize how seamlessly everything had unfolded. It felt impossible without divine intervention.

While serving so many people was deeply fulfilling, what brought me the greatest joy was the human connection—knowing the team felt cared for, respected, and happy. More than the food, it was this shared sense of love and service that made the experience truly beautiful.

When it comes to seva, animals have always been very close to my heart. I feel that I am a voice for the voiceless. This has been my nature all my life—when I see injustice, I respond instinctively, without thinking about consequences. It does not matter whether I know the person or not.

That said, I do not feel that one type of seva is more important than another. Anyone who needs help, especially those who cannot speak for themselves—animals, children, or the helpless—matters deeply to me. All forms of seva are important, but I do feel especially drawn toward those who are most vulnerable.

My vision for ACT Foundation and Peace City is clear and grounded in conscious living. Peace City is envisioned as a 100% vegan sanctuary, rooted in compassion and sustainability. While the idea of an animal sanctuary remains close to my heart, I recognize that meaningful creation requires alignment of time, energy, and life direction. At this moment, I am choosing to honor that alignment and allow the vision to unfold in the right way and at the right time.

For ACT USA, my vision is twofold. First, ACT needs a sustainable and consistent fundraising structure, possibly through a strong annual or online program. Second, ACT should establish something tangible under its own banner—such as a food pantry or animal shelter—creating a continuous and visible presence rather than only addressing needs through isolated activities. This would greatly strengthen ACT’s long-term identity and impact.

Collaboration is central to my values. I strongly believe that Mohanji platforms function best when they work in synergy rather than isolation. In Texas, I have consistently encouraged collaboration so that responsibility, visibility, and benefit are shared collectively in service of a greater purpose.

My family has seen this journey since the very beginning. My children have grown up watching me be available—to friends, relatives, strangers, and anyone in need. While there have been moments when my choices were difficult for them, over time they have understood that seva and my spiritual journey are priorities for me. Today, they respect that and support me wholeheartedly.

In Texas, we also initiated a mental health program. Initially, we conducted online sessions and worked with underserved communities through organizations like Frisco Family Services. However, we later realized the need to focus more intentionally. We decided to concentrate on women, believing that when a woman in a household is emotionally stable, it positively impacts the entire family. Eventually, this vision aligned naturally with the Women With Purpose (WWP) platform, and I chose to collaborate rather than create something separate.

For me, seva is not just an activity—it is an attitude. It is the antidote to karmic baggage and a powerful path toward liberation. If one truly wants to accelerate spiritual growth, selfless service is the key. Every action, every breath, even serving one’s own family, can be seva when done with the right intention.

If I were to describe myself, from a spiritual standpoint, I would say there is nothing to describe—I was never born, and I will never die. But from a practical perspective, my message is simple: follow your heart. The heart will never guide you toward something wrong. I have faced many challenges in life, but I have always maintained the purity of my intentions and trusted my inner guidance. That is how I have lived, and that is what I continue to share with others.

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