Seva – A flower at His Feet

“When you go into the qualifications needed for Seva, you will know that a pure heart – uncontaminated by conceit, greed, envy, hatred or competition – is essential.  Seva is the worship you offer to the God in everyone – Baba

Many believe that we need material resources to do seva (voluntary work), but Swami insists that the only qualification required is a pure heart. When one is equipped with a pure heart, all resources required for seva will be made available naturally by the grace of Swami. What is only required is the intention to do selfless service with a pure heart.

Once in Whitefield (Sathya Sai Baba’s Ashram located in the outskirts of Bangalore City), I was assigned the opportunity to serve as a sevadal ( voluntary worker) during Darshan (Divine Appearance/Vision for Devotees) for two months. The head of the sevadal told me that I should not wear white kurta (Indian-styled loose shirt) but instead I should wear only white shirt and white trousers. I had white shirts but did not have any white trousers. So I prayed to Swami as I wanted to enjoy that golden opportunity of serving God in human form! When I went back home in Bangalore, a pair of white trousers that fits me exactly – which came out of “nowhere” - was hanging on a chair in my prayer room. Hence, Swami made sure that I could carry on with the seva activities. Such a simple prayer, which to my eyes seems insignificant, but to the Lord of the universe, it was only the motive of the prayer that mattered! And He answered.

What the world needs today

Today man has lost control over his senses and is filled with pride and arrogance. The world today is torn into factions and groups that hate and hacks each other wherein no method is felt to be too cruel if the aim is to destroy one’s enemy. However, Swami reassures that “A wave of service, if sweeps over this land, catching everyone in its enthusiasm, will be able to wipe off the mounds of hatred, malice and greed that infest the world.”

Selflessness is the only way to rid the world of rampant selfishness!

Your duty to the world

Swami adds: “You have the role now, of demonstrating that all is not lost, that there are still people who believe in Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love, that acts of loving service rendered in a spirit of humility and reverence are still making people happy, and that the day when the brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God will shine bright and beautiful is dawning and drawing near”

In fact, what greater act of service to man could there be than being a good example!

Seva brings you close to God

A couple of years ago, we spent a whole night in seva to cook food to be served the following morning at Whitefield. We finished at 3 a.m. and we could hardly sleep as we had to be ready by 6 a.m.  In the morning, Swami came for His usual round of Darshan but we were not in the Darshan hall as we were waiting outside the hall to serve food. On that day, as He finished one round of Darshan, Swami left the Darshan hall where thousands of devotees were seated and came straight to our humble table and blessed the food we cooked, looked at us with so much love and for so long and we were even graced with photographs with Swami that we cherish till today. It was a testimony of Swami’s love for the humble Seva we offered at His feet. But I also felt that we become near and dear to God when we are engaged in His work, without any expectations.

“Nishkama Karma or selfless service is the fragrant flower of altruistic love. It is not to be performed for the satisfaction of the person rendering it or the person at whose bidding it is to be done. Man should regard selfless services as the purpose for which he is given life. This feeling should flow through his very nerves and blood-stream, and permeate every cell of his body. Whatever be the work we do, we should do it as an offering to God and for His pleasure” – Baba

A contribution by Brother Subheer Ramnoruth