It was out of the Seva Foundation that the initial impetus for this book arose. The foundation, which was created as a vehicle for compassionate service, saw as one of its functions that of helping others find ways to serve, ways which would also be beneficial to the servers themselves. A book for a general audience, addressing the issues all of us face when called upon to care for one another, seemed a useful way to share the values that Seva represents.
As we began work on the book and we sought to identify issues to treat and individuals to talk to, it often seemed as if we were being sent on a treasure hunt, not knowing what wonderful person we would meet or story we would hear next. Many, many people—too many to enumerate—helped speed us along this journey. In the files of Voluntary Action Centers in several cities—agencies which place volunteers in service positions—we were able to locate a number of unsung heroes and heroines; we are indebted to these remarkable clearing houses of good works. From the greater chorus of these voices we have been able to include only the words of a few. With their agreement, we have presented their accounts without attribution in the text. Here, we all felt, was a way to evoke the universality of experience and power of common wisdom which is so central a theme in the book. A number of people even requested anonymity. But there are those, who talked to us at length and whose accounts we have included in some detail, whom we can thank publicly: William Hirscher, Marie Rapello, Mischa Avramoff, Bill Donaldson, Wavy Gravy, Patricia Lowery, Robert Louden, Charles Piera, Larry and Girija Brilliant, Raphael Flores, Peggy Dillon, and Harriet Krasnoff. The inspiration of their example has remained with us long after the time we spent together.
Much shorter excerpts have come from conferences and broadcasts in which participants did not identify themselves by name but understood they were collaborators in our work and expressed willingness to have their remarks included. We thank them, and are especially grateful to Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, and WBAI-FM in New York City, for hosting a number of particularly valuable meetings and conversations.
Lillian North assisted us by transcribing interviews and conferences. Enid Gorman was a steady source of perspective and good judgment. And to Toinette Lippe, our friend and editor, our deepest thanks for her faith in this project from the outset, her patience and emotional support, and her own very special understanding of the issues we have treated. To N. K. B., thank you.