SEVA

In traditional Indian society, work involving physical labour was considered low and relegated to the lowest castes.

By sanctifying manual labour as an honourable religious practice, the Sikh Gurus established the dignity of labour.

Not only did the Gurus sanctify it; they also institutionalized it, e.g. service in Guru ka Langar (the Guru’s community kitchen) and serving the sangat.

SEVA, from the Sanskrit root sev means to:

Serve Render obedience to Worship, Adore, Praise

"no worship is conceivable without seva" (GG, 1013).

Service rendered to humanity (i.e. God in man) is considered a form of worship.

Lekhs (Khoji) 95-97

Seva is an important part of our spiritual life, and is generally done through:

Sareerik Seva (Tun)

Seva performed with the use of your body

Washing dishes Making langar Washing clothes Sweeping Building

Mansik seva

Sharing what you have cultivated within with others in which you give

of ‘yourself’.

Some examples Teaching To help someone in need Show sympathy and empathy To read, write, teach and sing Gurbani To teach kirtan To inspire others towards sangat and

gurbani

Atmik seva Spiritual seva is beyond an ordinary human

being. Only enlightened high souls (saints) can do

this type of seva – to become guides for ordinary people and put them on a spiritual path …

Awakening their souls to an inner world where they can

transcend towards god by becoming aware of the pitfalls in life!

Gurbani guides us to be aware:Behind each type of seva there is usually a

desire, a wish or an unperceived motive Materialistic Religious Spiritual

We reap benefits of seva according to our inner

motivations

Sometimes……we

1. Do seva because others are doing it

2. Do seva because we want something in return (we bargain with god for eg. better health)

3. Do seva to get Praise

4. Do seva to get something (reward)

Gurbani warns us against this type of seva

Out of millions, hardly anyone is a servant of the Lord. All the others are mere traders.

ggs 495

Moh mumta dee seva: Attachment

Neither son, nor spouse, nor wealth shall go along with you-only the Eternal Lord.

Entangled and enmeshed in the love of false occupations, the whole world is perishing.

Important ingredient of selfless sevaWith Compassion To help the helpless

orphans, poor, homeless, widows, sick, old people animals

Gurbani enlightens us in the following way To do simran is seva To become aware is

seva To Love selflessly is

seva To give of yourself is

seva

DEVOTION & LOVE

Lekhs (Khoji) 95-97