PORTRAIT 3
Paule
From yoga to commitment to raise funds for Karuna
It's a kind of “third life”, a time when you can think about others, pass on your knowledge and give courses for Karuna. You're giving me a useful old age.
A yoga teacher since 1993, it was in 2015, after the earthquake in Nepal, that Paule was drawn to Karuna. In 2018, the Yoga for Karuna solidarity movement, enabled Pale to launch a personal initiative to raise funds. True to her new commitment, she started her yoga students on this collective adventure. This first collection was repeated and later became an annual event.
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Today, after seven years of dedication to Karuna-Shechen, we'd like to take a look back at her experience, to better understand the profound link between yoga, mutual aid and the work of our association.
Sébastien, Director of Communications and Fundraising, and Adeline, Fundraising Officer, talked with her about her inspiring journey.
Hello Paule! Could you introduce yourself and share a bit of your story with us?
Paule: My name is Paule, I'm 72 years old. I'm a yoga teacher, so I'm professionally retired. I'm the mother of three wonderful children and grandmother of one granddaughter. I've done a lot of yoga courses, and I've had - as Matthieu would say - the good fortune to meet some great, inspiring and authentic yoga masters. I've learned a lot from them, taken courses and obtained my yoga diploma. These were truly inspiring people who gave me faith in yoga, its techniques and approach. Before devoting myself fully to yoga, I was a supervisor at a Catholic high school in Le Havre. After my retirement in 2015, I continued to pass along my love of yoga by giving evening classes. It has remained my main activity.
What does the practice of yoga bring you, both physically and on your inner journey, and how does it echo your commitment to Karuna?
Paule: For me, yoga helps me stay in shape at an advanced age. And that's something! I'm always learning, because the body and mind are limitless. There's always something to discover and practice, and it's by progressing step by step that you move forward.
But yoga doesn't stop at the body: it speaks the same language as Karuna: compassion and altruism. We're moving towards the same values as Karuna. It's a balance for oneself to better serve others.
In my life, I've worked and then retired. My children are now grown, which leaves me some time. It's a kind of “third life”, a time when you can think about others, pass on your knowledge and give courses for Karuna. You're giving me a useful old age. It's always very satisfying to know that you're making a difference.
Has this urge to act always been part of you? Did you already have other causes close to your heart, or was it the encounter between yoga and Karuna that awakened your desire to get involved in supporting humanitarian causes?
Paule: The trigger was really the earthquake in Nepal in 2015. At the time, I had just retired and had a little nest egg set aside. I'd said to my kids, “I want to do something special with it.” We talked about traveling, and then one evening they called me and said, “The three of us are going with you to Nepal.” It was decided... and eight days later, the earthquake struck.
Of course, it hit us hard. At the time, I was doing some training at a Buddhist institute in Normandy. I used to leave money for the construction of a magnificent temple. Just after the earthquake, I preferred to send the money to Nepal. That's how I started giving to Karuna. For me, Matthieu Ricard's association was a sure bet. Then, when it came to cashing my students' cheques, we talked it over and about ten of them decided to make their payments directly to Karuna. We could afford it, my classes were going well. Little by little, it became a habit.
Launched in 2018 under the name Yoga for Karuna, Action for Karuna is a solidarity fundraising movement benefiting Karuna-Shechen programs. Since its inception, it has raised over €210,000 through 471 collections and 4,854 donors, funding essential projects for the people of Nepal, India and Tibet.
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Through a variety of activities - yoga events, meditation retreats, cooking classes, workshops, sporting challenges - but also through collections organized for birthdays, weddings or in tribute to a loved one, everyone can take action on their own scale and in their own way.
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Would you also like to take action and create your own solidarity collection?
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You were one of the first to join the solidarity initiative movement launched by Karuna-Shechen in 2018. What motivated you?
Paule: It was the opportunity to do something perhaps a little more structured. And it's true that the way you did things was playful. There were collections, and we could see each other's collections on the site. It was stimulating and fun because it meant sharing with lots of people. It also meant that you could choose other fund-raisers and take part in projects other than your own. In the end, there were a hundred or so.
How did you organize your kitty and what does your fundraising for Karuna consist of?
Paule: In Le Havre, we're lucky enough to have beautiful public gardens. As it was spring, I decided to organize outdoor yoga classes, first every Saturday, then the whole weekend. Practicing outside, with the fresh air and sounds of nature, brings a whole new dimension to the session, especially when it comes to breathing. The participants loved it, and every year they ask me, “When are you going to start outdoor classes again?” The advantage is that there are no room charges, so all donations go to Karuna. It's a simple and accessible formula, and we try to repeat the experience every summer.
It's actually a collective adventure, with your students taking part. What do they think of it? How do you inspire them? How do you bring them together?
Paule: You'd have to ask them that! All my yoga classes always end with a quote from Matthieu Ricard or the Dalai-Lama. It's all about compassion, mutual aid and altruism. So I think that had a bit of an impact. I took the time to explain what had happened with the earthquake, the extent of the needs on the ground and how we could, in our own small way, provide concrete help. This gave the students a better understanding of the situation and made them feel involved in the solidarity initiative.
When a cause is just and well-supported, it naturally arouses the desire to act - and you seem to be succeeding! Since 2018, you've been organizing solidarity workshops throughout the year and have raised nearly €10,000 in 7 years. What's your secret?
Paule: Finances have changed since my yoga association lost students, dropping from 140 to 70. So we had to find new sources of income. My students came up with several ideas: one knitted sponges for the body and dishes, another made earrings, and still others created bookmarks. For my part, I made Bee Wraps, cotton cloths soaked in beeswax, which sold well. We also created lip sticks, and I made scrunchies. These small sales, added together, help to swell the kitty. Even though the items are not very expensive, between €5 and €8, people are generous and often add a supplement, which quickly increases the sum. The students keep coming up with new ideas, which diversifies the creations and keeps the momentum going.
In these seven years of solidarity courses for the benefit of Karuna, what is your best memory?
Paule: Admittedly, that's a very selfish answer, but it was when I received Matthieu's book autographed in my name. It was an immense pleasure, the icing on the cake! Even if you don't do it to get feedback when you get it, it's heartwarming, especially when it comes from Matthieu.
This year, we're hoping to breathe new life into the Action for Karuna solidarity project. What advice would you give to someone wishing to organize a fund-raising campaign for Karuna-Shechen?
Paule: My advice is to dare to do it! You have to do it, no matter how little money you bring in. Because even if you only raise a few euros, every contribution counts. If 100 people raise a little, in the end that's a lot of money. I've seen in Nepal just how much can be achieved with very little. You can do something good with very little, so every euro is precious.
We mustn't be discouraged if not everyone answers the call. It's not always possible for everyone, and that's normal.
What's more, the Karuna-Shechen team is always on hand to support you and to solve any technical problems. You're all adorable. So it's all good.
Through initiatives like Paule's, dozens of people get involved every year by organizing fundraising events to support Karuna-Shechen. Whether it's through yoga, a birthday kitty or a solidarity event, these collections make a real difference in the lives of those we support.