What is Seva

What is seva?

My definition of seva is this: When there is a need, but there is none to do it. And those who come forward to do it without expecting any kind of reward or award, and even recognition, and remain thankful for those who gave that opportunity to serve them, is Seva. Rare indeed is to find such a person. He or She or They will remain hidden, unnoticed by others. But once in a while, they were found and brought before others is only to inspire and challenge others, not even to give recognition to them, though She or He or They deserve it.

I watched a program on Sun TV (Our town’s hero, 3-2-2019, 9.30 to 10.30 pm) in which one Ambulance Mani (his name) shared how he started a free ambulance service for the people (near Pondicherry) after he lost his younger brother in an accident in which he couldn’t get help in time. The anchor at the end asked whether he will accept another ambulance if he buys and gives it to him. For this, Mani said without any hesitation, ‘no’ and giving the reason he said, ‘I can work with much zeal only if I serve with my own hard-earned money. If I get donations, then I will become lazy and my zeal will die down.’ The real climax is that when one Motorcycle was presented to him, immediately he said that he wants to give that to another disabled person in his village who was requesting Mani to help him to get one motorcycle so that he can move easily. Mani also said that he promised him that he will apply for a loan and get one for him. But now as God has given this gift he wants to present it to him. As that disabled person from his village also came for that program, he requested the anchor to come and hand over the key to the motorcycle to him which they both did.

The Indian concept of giving dana (alms) is this: Begging is mean one, but refuse to give to one who begs is the meanest one. Similarly, giving in charity to another person out of compassion is a good one, but refuse to receive is greater than that. Ambulance Mani stands an example for that. I salute Ambulance Mani and dedicate this song to him. Indeed, he is a hero not only of his town but for all of us. In spite of his debt, his seva to his parents, and also searching for a girl to marry who will cooperate with him for this kind of service, he still wants to continue this free service. What a noble soul.

Yet there is a flip side also to such seva. A more essential point in doing seva is that if my seva is in fact doing damage to the person I intend to serve, then however humbly I claim to be doing seva, it won’t be appreciated with the same spirit and attitude by the receiver. And the tragedy is that in real life, most so-called seva is done for publicity or personal satisfaction and never serves a true purpose. And those who are in need continue to suffer, in fact more than before such selfish seva was done to them. One example will suffice to prove this. People living in huts are moved to temporary shelter to construct permanent houses for them. But after the inauguration and publicity, no one pays any attention to the project. So, losing their huts and living in temporary shelter camps, their life becomes even more miserable than it had been living in huts. Instead of serving their needs, they are exploited by selfish people.

As also mentioned in discussing dana and charity, we should never do any seva to satisfy our ego or just to feel good. In such seva, we are more exploiting others who are in need, with a goal to satisfy our need. And exploitation done in any name or form is sin against God and humanity.

Revised 19-6-2024 Gurukulam