Seva
Selfless Service Volunteering
Niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ
śharīra-yātrāpi cha te na prasiddhyed akarmanaḥ
You should do day-to-day work!
The performance of day-to-day work is greater than not working.
Even for the maintenance of the body you should do day-to-day work!
It is not well-known that by not working one can live.
Yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ
tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samāchara
O Arjuna, perform the Karma with detachment, dedicating to God.
Otherwise the world is bound by Karmas.
iṣhṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ
tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ
The effulgent ones nourished by the offerings, will give you your cherished desires.
Verily, whoever enjoys the desired objects given without offering is certainly a thief.
Tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samāchara
asakto hyācharan karma param āpnoti pūruṣhaḥ
Therefore, perform your duties spontaneously with detachment;
a person attains the highest,indeed, by the duties performed with detachment.
Bhagavata Gita Ch3 Sloka 8; 9; 12; 19
Serving
Testifies to liberation
Testifies to absence of ego and vanity
Testifies to selfachievement and satisfaction
Is the symbol of disinterest and unattachment
Is the language of self-realisation
Is the life of those who reached self-realisation
Is an extension of the individual self in the cosmic self
Gives patience and understanding
Makes humble and simple
Makes perfect and untouched
Wipes out all consequences of pride and false fame
Is the fundamental nature of all people
Removes the tendency to speak lies and errors
Helps to love everybody and to treat all equally
Is not just a means, but an acchievement
Destroys sins, and grows virtues
Makes one non-violent and compassionate
Keeps humanity in balance
Makes complete
Fills life with happiness
Removes afflictions and pains
For the use of immortality, and it dispels poverty
Dispels the feeling of helplessness and perplexity
Rewards with vision and victory
Awakens the divine, which is latent in men
Does not allow a compensation or reward
Removes obstacles and experiences of pain
Shows a clear path, because it removes conflict and confusion from the mind
Keeps one always happy and peaceful
Cleans thoughts and actions
Gives courage and dispels pessimism
Does not allow disappointment
Protects against grief and worries
Is the salvation of mankind
Is the path of the self-realisation
Svàmi Sadànanda Sarasvatã
UCYL Luminary September 1973
In this tradition, spiritual aspirants are expected to volunteer and serve by doing seva.
Seva enables the aspirant to practice doing work without ego, selflessly with detachment- detached to any self gains, the results of the work, praises and appreciations and also monetary gains. Seva should be done with love, care and respect, just as only the best is offered to the most honoured guests.
By doing seva selflessly, the aspirant will clean and polish the mind and thereby cultivate a correct and better behaviour and attitude towards life. The actions which spring forth from the mind will then be better in line with spiritual teachings, slowly eliminating the conflicts between the teachings and selfish desires, and also prepare the mind to absorb new teachings; while the physical side of seva trains the body to be physically fit since modern society is increasingly sedentary, and a healthier body and purer mind will enable the sitting for meditation to feel natural.
Seva also provides the Guru the opportunity to see the competency and weaknesses of the spiritual aspirants, guiding them towards perfection in action.
Seva is required in the areas of house-keeping, maintenance, kitchen duties, gardening, legal, land planning etc.
You are welcome to volunteer whole year round and should be understood as a voluntary service to be undertaken with a selfless and spiritual intent, it is not offered as a transaction for food, accommodation or teachings.
Please refer to the Upcoming events for monthly Seva dates after Satsanga, you may bring your own vegetarian lunch.
For devotees and students who live further and wish to stay, please see retreat living.
Contact Us to express your interest. Please kindly include the length of volunteering, your profession, volunteering experiences and skill-sets.