Cindy Bickramdass: Balance is The Key to Success

The chief principle of success is balance, says multi-talented Cindy Bickramdass, accountant and present Treasurer of SWAHA Divya Ashram. Always involved in temple activities, Cindy, who has been a member of this Central centre of SWAHA since its inception. What makes her tick? How is she able to balance all the different aspects of her life so succesfully? Let’s hear from Cindy:

I am faced with many challenges as a young budding accountant at Toyota Trinidad and Tobago Limited, the least of which is being an active Hindu. At present, I hold the position of Treasurer at the Swaha Divya Ashram in Preysal. My job is one which is very demanding as well as time consuming. However, at school, nobody ever tells you what the real world is like, what challenges you have to face as a professional. Therefore there must be a balance. When I was doing ACCA, the chief principle was balance. Back then I had to balance everything: school and home, religion and studying, leisure and friends. To balance these I was given great encouragement by my family and friends but my main support was my Guru Profeesor Pt. Prakash Persad who guided me spiritually and helped me to strengthen my belief in Bhagwan.

As an extension of my religion I got involved in the cultural aspects, one of which was Classical Indian Dancing which I did for 7 years and won the 1st Swaha Swadeshi Competition. Dance aided in stress relief and concentration, which was an integral part of my academic life. When ACCA was over and I became qualified, I recognized the valuable contribution that my mandir, which was like my second home for over twelve years, gave to me and I was compelled to return this service to others at SWAHA Divya Ashram. Thus I began to spend more time getting involved in more activities to promote and encourage youths to get involved in spiritual undertakings. Some of these activities were Ramleela celebrations, Sports Day and other celebratory events.

I believe that young people have a lot to offer. They bring a fresh perspective and insight to old situations; therefore we need to invest in them. They bring new ideas and energy to what would seem to be a dull, rigid culture by incorporating modern music, lighting, sound, martial arts and costumes to our Ramleela celebrations.

Hinduism offers a life lesson which follows an exact pattern:

As a young Hindu I see that giving back to the community is a mandatory part of upholding Dharma. I know that later in life I will reap the benefits of my deeds. I will continue to be strong and active in my beliefs, extending my hand of charity to my community. However, I will also continue to pursue the highest excellence in the academic field and encourage and motivate all youths to follow in this path.