Seva Dharma: The Spirit of Service

With my humble obeisance at the lotus feet of my beloved Guruji, I would like to pen my thoughts on Seva Dharma as taught by Him and other saints and savants. In the past 20 years of my intense association with saints and devotees of different faiths and beliefs, and through reading a lot of spiritual literature, I have come to the conclusion that Guruji’s message and discourses are the simplest to follow and practice. For a householder and medical practitioner like myself, today’s intensely busy materialistic world makes following the teachings of other saints difficult as these do not factor in the hectic schedule and lifestyle of modern-day living. I have concluded that if we follow Guruji’s teachings and remain associated with Siddhdata Ashram, we shall benefit both spiritually and materially.

The first and foremost aspect of Seva Dharma is the motive behind the seva. When we undertake to perform seva in any form—tan seva (service with the body), man seva (service with the mind), dhan seva (monetary service), or vachan seva (service through discourse/speech)—we need to ensure that the seva we are performing is devoid of any personal gain, whether it be name, fame, or monetary. Seva performed with personal agendas will seldom take a devotee very far. The motive behind seva should be to bring joy, happiness, and hope into the lives of poor, ignorant, and sorrowful devotees. Such seva, performed with a pure heart, will merit divine mercy and expedite the union of our Atman with the Parmatman.

Kainkarya Lakshan Vilakshan Moksha Bhajan is the message of the preceptor of our Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, Bhagwan Sri Ramanujacharya. In the Ashram of Guruji, we should shed our material attachments of wealth, education, or other causes of superiority complexes and consider ourselves children of the one Lord Narayan and disciples of Guruji. We should be prepared to perform any task assigned to us, no matter how low. No seva is too big or too small, but the bhav (devotion) with which it is performed makes it accepted or rejected.

Seva should be performed silently. Seva that is all show and ostentatious actually causes the death of the seva bhav, resulting in the death of the spirit of Seva Dharma.

Lord Narayan has showered endless blessings on us by giving us this precious human birth. It is only with a human form that we can perform karmas that can ultimately take us to his Vaikuntha abode, allowing us the golden opportunity to serve his lotus feet. His blessings have further enabled us to find the refuge of our beloved Guruji and his Siddhdata Ashram. Guruji himself can free us from the misery of endless cycles of repeated births and deaths. Every opportunity to serve either Guruji or Guruji’s devotees should be availed by us and performed with a pure heart to not only do seva but also pay our debt to Lord Narayan for the endless bounties he showers upon us.

Any form of reward for service rendered should not be sought after. Even a word of thanks should not be sought after. Service where one expects some recognition or praise in return does not constitute true service. Rather, such seva constitutes bartering, where one exchanges one item for another.

During the course of seva, true Guru sevaks are prepared to bear blame, rebuke, or even insults. They welcome such affronts with patience and a smile.

In the true spirit of Seva Dharma, we should serve with love, gentleness, patience, and affection. Harsh words and anger should be avoided at all times. The true sevak is so engrossed in his seva and the thought of Guruji or Lord Narayan that there is no time to think or worry about the surroundings.

We should reform ourselves first and practice what we preach. Interference in someone else’s life is only good to a point. We should not derive pleasure from someone else’s misery.

We should behold the face of Lord Narayan and Guruji in all we serve, having compassion, sympathy, and affection for all, especially the poor, the illiterate, the broken, and the miserable.

If we keep the above principles in mind while practicing Seva Dharma at the Ashram, Guru Gaddis abroad, at home, or in society at large, then we will surely be the recipients of His Divine Grace. But remember, we will be able to imbibe the above principles in our character corresponding to our faith and love for our beloved Guruji.

Jai Gurudev! Jai Sri Laxmi Narayan!!

Summary

With deep reverence and humility at the lotus feet of Guruji, the concept of Seva Dharma, as imparted by Him and other spiritual teachers, offers a simple yet profound approach to spiritual practice in the contemporary world. Over the past two decades, through close association with various saints, devotees, and extensive reading of spiritual literature, it has become evident that Guruji’s teachings stand out for their simplicity and practicality. For a busy householder and medical practitioner navigating today’s materialistic and fast-paced world, following Guruji’s guidance and remaining connected to Siddhdata Ashram provides both spiritual and material benefits.

The essence of Seva Dharma lies in the purity of intention behind the seva (service). Whether it is tan seva (service through the body), man seva (service through the mind), dhan seva (monetary service), or vachan seva (service through speech), the motive must be free from personal gain, recognition, or fame. True seva is selfless, performed with the sole aim of bringing joy, happiness, and relief to those who are suffering or in need. Such pure-hearted service attracts divine grace, facilitating the union of the individual soul (Atman) with the Supreme Soul (Parmatman). Seva should be carried out silently, without any display or desire for acknowledgment, as ostentation kills the spirit of Seva Dharma. By embracing humility and shedding material attachments, devotees can offer service with the right attitude, fulfilling their spiritual duty and receiving the blessings of Guruji and Lord Narayan.

Important Points

1. Purity of Intention: Seva must be performed selflessly, without seeking personal gain, recognition, or fame.
2. Types of Seva: Seva can be performed through the body (tan), mind (man), wealth (dhan), or speech (vachan).
3. Humility in Service: Devotees should shed material attachments and perform any assigned task, regardless of its nature.
4. Silent Service: Seva should be carried out silently, without display or seeking acknowledgment.
5. Endurance: True seva involves patience, acceptance of blame or rebuke, and the ability to serve with love and gentleness.
6. Compassion and Affection: Seva should be performed with compassion, sympathy, and affection, especially towards the poor, illiterate, and miserable.
7. Gratitude: Recognize the human form as a blessing from Lord Narayan, and use it to perform good deeds that lead to spiritual liberation.
8. Reforming Oneself: Devotees should practice what they preach, focusing on self-improvement before advising others.
9. Universal Compassion: See the face of Guruji and Lord Narayan in all beings, serving with a heart full of compassion.
10. Faith and Love: The ability to embody these principles in Seva Dharma corresponds to one’s faith and love for Guruji.