This is a timeless and very well-written article on the concept of Seva, voluntary service.
I have noticed that the concept of seva – loosely translated as “selfless, voluntary service” – is nowadays increasingly wielded as a weapon and less as what it is meant to be.
The other day, when a community volunteer was asked why she repeatedly failed to do what she had undertaken to do, why she hadn’t met her obligations fully or in a timely fashion, I was flabbergasted by the response I overheard:
“I do seva, bhenji”, she protested. “I’m not getting paid for this. I spend so many hours here, while I could easily be doing something else. I don’t have to listen to this nonsense: if you don’t want me here, say so, and I’m gone!”
It was a deft use of the very essence of seva. As a shield – a shield from criticism and from accountability.
On another occasion, I heard a fellow wield the word somewhat differently, but equally effectively.
He was addressing members of a community group. “I’m the one who can run this organization and ensure that it stays alive. I’ve done seva for three years … day and night, and weekends too. And haven’t taken a single cent for my time. How can you even think that another person should come over and run it. Others will simply run it to the ground. And, you know, I’m not going to let you do this. I’m not going to let you turn all my seva into nought!”
I felt, as I watched him through this performance, that he was wielding his seva quite deftly… as a weapon. A sword, actually. The parry and thrust was working: you could see it in the wounded look in the eyes of the audience.
Is this what seva is all about?
Am I wrong in thinking that the moment you use seva … yes, USE it … for any ulterior purpose, then it instantly ceases to be seva? If it loses its spiritual core, then all you’re left with is … a clumsy weapon.
The concept of seva, I feel, is simple and uncomplicated in Sikhi.
The very idea of seva begins with a metaphor: that of the milk-pot or vessel. Nanak says:
First, wash the vessel,
Next, disinfect it with incense.
Then, and only then, is it ready to receive the milk.
[GGS, M1, 728:1]
True. What good is the milk once it has been poured into a soiled receptacle? The dirt of the vessel taints everything that is poured into it.
The mind, like the vessel, first needs to be cleansed if one is to prepare it for things spiritual. Otherwise, all effort goes to waste. And this cleansing of the mind, the preparation, is done with the “soap” of humility.
Ismailimail 
I used to volunteer a lot when I was younger. I noticed that there are two types of volunteers: those who do it just to help people and those that do it to look good.
Inevitably, those who do it to look good attack the others because it makes them feel better. So the woman earlier who was defending herself saying it is seva was probably being questioned by the second type.
That being said, leading volunteers is just like leading a company: you have to put the right people in the right spot without losing morale. It seems to me that the person who felt they had the authority to question her does not understand this simple fact. Instead of attacking her, he might put her in a different position next time. But now he has lost her respect and she will likely not listen to him.
I think blindly doing volunteer work is not good. You must see what the purpose of your work is and you must agree with it to do a good job. You must especially not use it as a means to make yourself look good.
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@Sohail, you have interesting take on this but I believe you forgot the dynamics that even those who lead the volunteers are also volunteers!
Volunteer work should be done selflessly and that is the point of the article, I believe.
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Excerpt on “Giving” from Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet:
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things
you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
…
There are those who give little
of the much which they have-
and they give it
for recognition and their hidden desire
makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life,
and their coffer is never empty.
…
There are those who give with joy,
and their joy is their reward.
…
And there are those who give and know not
pain in giving, nor do they seek joy,
nor give with mindfulness of virtue:
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle
breathes its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God
speaks, and from behind their eyes
He smiles upon the earth.
Complete at Source: Speak to us of Giving http://tinyurl.com/c24hez
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The Prophet is a great manual for life. Good book!
@arif no I don’t think I missed it but I don’t think that person was a good leader. Also, the author should not judge others based on what s/he overheard in a conversation.
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