WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS?
Bindu Lanka
The foundation of Bindu Lanka’s work—whether in chaplaincy, poetry, or interfaith
service—is deeply rooted in the teachings of her Guru, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda
Swamiji. One guiding quote from her Guru continues to shape her life and values:
"Flowers are myriad - but Puja (worship) is one,
Cows are many - but milk is the same
Languages are different - but the thought is one,
Sounds are many - but the Rhythm is the same
Sadhanas (spiritual practices) are different - yet Mukti (liberation) is one,
Vedas (scriptures) are many - but Moksha (salvation) is one
Namaroopas (name and form) are different - yet God is the same,
Lights are many - yet Jyoti (radiance) is the same
Gurus appear many - yet He is only one."
This teaching reminds her daily that while our paths, cultures, and expressions may
differ, our essence and destination are shared. It is this spiritual clarity that enables her
to walk beside people of all faiths and none—with humility, compassion, and a deeply
grounded presence.
Bindu Lanka’s chaplaincy journey is one of both courage and calling. After a successful
career as a Senior HR Director, she followed an inner voice urging her toward deeper
service. She now offers spiritual and emotional care across hospitals and
organizations—both professionally and as a volunteer—extending presence, comfort,
and dignity to those in need.
She has stood with individuals in their most fragile moments—through death, trauma,
and unimaginable loss—holding sacred space for patients, families, and the clinicians
who care for them. She has listened without judgment, wept alongside the grieving, and
celebrated the triumphs of healing. Her work brings her into collaboration with law
enforcement, social workers, attorneys, medical professionals, and medical
examiners—bearing witness to the burdens they carry and the strength they summon
each day. Each encounter has deepened her leadership, expanded her emotional
capacity, and strengthened her faith in our shared humanity and the quiet,
transformative power of presence.
Poetry, for Bindu, is both a healing practice and a spiritual bridge. Through her work
with The Institute for Poetic Medicine, she helps people uncover their voice, make
meaning from pain, and begin to heal. She recently co-facilitated a session for
healthcare providers in Singapore, exploring how mindfulness and poetry can offer
clarity and comfort. She also runs purpose-and-meaning groups for children facing
eating disorders, blending chaplaincy and creative expression to help them reconnect
with hope.
Her work extends well beyond clinical settings. She has created support groups for
parents of neurodiverse children, and she is a committed interfaith advocate, believing
that our differences are sacred threads that can weave us closer, not tear us apart.
For more than two decades, she has led children’s ministry, facilitated adult study
groups, and authored spiritual education materials designed to be both inclusive and
accessible. Though she is deeply rooted in her Hindu faith, she honors and embraces all
spiritual traditions with reverence and joy.
Dallas is a city rich with untold stories—and Bindu is eager to share hers. Not for
recognition, but because she believes that storytelling is a form of healing. The more we
truly see and hear one another, the more compassionate and connected our
communities become. If being part of the “Who Are Our Neighbors?” initiative allows
her to help even one more person feel less alone, or more seen, it would be, in her
words, “the greatest gift.”
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