Seva

Some believe Seva is an act of giving and some others would say it is helping those in need, that it is service in the form of charity, volunteering, etc. That is true. But is that all there is to it? Isn't there almost always a thought involved in this process - "I am performing a seva, for the benefit of society or country".

But is that what it really is? What is the motive behind this seva? What is the intention behind this act of giving? The answers to these questions matter as much as the actual service. So then the real question is:

What is Seva?

Seva is an attitude, a mindset, a sentiment and a responsibility. It is by no means a favor that is done unto the people, the society or the country. When we perform any kind of seva:

• The underlying thought must be that I am performing my duty because I owe this to the society which is an extension of myself
  
  

• The underlying quality must be humility and humanity
  
  

• The underlying feeling must be that of a debtor who is eager to pay off his debts
  
  

A seva performed in this manner will help us realize the underlying truth –

Seva is not done unto others; it is done by the self unto the Self.

Through seva we have an opportunity to be humble and selfless. It broadens the mind, increasing its capacity to transcend the constraints placed around it by the age-old evolutionary process (samskaras). In other words, true seva helps the mind go beyond its nature. Seva, then, is a method through which we can expand the possibilities of human existence, set out on a greater psychological exploration and eventually becoming capable enough through the journey to arrive at the destination – Realization of the Self.

If the right kind of seva can lead us towards self-realization then there cannot be anything better than the seva done in the name of the Guru who holds the key in one’s journey to self-realization.

The Guru is the beacon that shines the light of knowledge and wisdom, and guides the ships lost in the vast sea of life in the darkness of ignorance. Therefore, when it comes to seva, there is no greater seva than serving the Guru.