Why must you serve?

Often, people who take responsibility do not pray, and those who pray do not take responsibility. Spirituality brings both together at the same time. This combination of prayer and responsibility has inspired a billion people across the world to embrace a global phenomenon of caring, sharing and service.

Seva (service) and spiritual practices go together. The deeper you go in meditation, the urge to share increases. When you do some seva or service, you gain a lot of merit. If you do bring some relief to others, you gain merit for yourself. If someone is happy, just know it is because they have done some seva sometime in the past. Conversely, if you are not happy now, do seva and gain more merit. It’s like raising the bank balance. The more you give the more strength will be given to you. The more we open ourselves, the more room we will have for God to fill us.

Our first and foremost commitment is to do seva in the world. When you make the service your sole purpose in life, it eliminates fear, brings focus in your mind, purposefulness in action, and long-term joy. When we do seva, it brings naturalness and human values back in society, it helps in building a society that is free from fear and depression. If you have the desire to serve and help others, you will not have to worry about anything in life; all your needs will be taken care of. Your life is not a big responsibility for the Divine. It can take care of you very well. Don’t be concerned and worried about money and other things so much. Be filled with love, be filled with gratitude, get rid of the fear in you by being in love.

Seva brings a unique high. It’s the most effective antidote to depression. The day you feel hopeless, horrible and low, get out of your room and ask people, “What can I do you for you? The service you did will bring a revolution inside you. It will change the gramophone record that goes on inside your head- “What about me?” “What about me?” Seva will reduce misery for sure. When you ask questions like why me or what about me, you get into depression. It is the lack of spirituality that throws people into depression.

Do you know what seva means? The word “service” has come from the root “seva”. Seva means being like Him. You acting like Him is called seva. Any faith in God is seva. God doesn’t expect anything.

When you do something just for the joy of it, not to get anything out of it, that is seva. God does not even want to get joy out of anything. Because He is joy Himself. The nature of consciousness is joy.

When you are happy with whatever you do, it is an expression of happiness. So seva is doing something without expecting anything in return. The more you do, the happier you are. Seeing love inside you is meditation and seeing God in the person next to you is service.

(The author is a global humanitarian leader and spiritual master who founded The Art of Living in1981. As Gurudev turns 70 and The Art of Living steps into the 45th year of making life a celebration on this planet, month long celebrations are underway at The Art of Living International Center with eminent personalities from the sphere of politics, entertainment, arts, academia and faith arriving at the center for thoughtful conversations, cultural showcases and launch of several service initiatives.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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