Seva - the Lowdown : the how/why/when/where to do?

[Guest guest]

Om Shri Sai Ram

 

Before one reads, one should take note that this is some heavy stuff

coming up and requires much study.

 

Seva (selfless service) can be done in many ways. We all generally

are exposed to the physical aspect such as Grama Seva (village

upliftment), hospital visits, medical camps, feeding schemes, etc.

One gets joy out of physically participating in these activities.

Notice that these activities are bound within a certain time limit.

Example : You with a group leave for Grama Seva in the morning and

return in the evening. This is the physical type of seva. This in

itself must be done with pur intentions without seeking of reward.

 

There is another aspect to selfless service and can be done all the

time wherever u are, in whatever situation regardless of time. This

is keeping GOOD THOUGHTS ! simple as might seem, but more complex to

implement than meets the eye. Does one simply say, i shall have good

thoughts and then it simply happens. we all know this simply does not

occur. Lets investigate further.

 

What generates thoughts ? An example. One a hot day one see an advert

on TV for a cool drink. Then one gets a thought maybe to go to the

fridge and drink something cool or go buy a cool drink. What has

happened in this instance is that a sensory input (sight) generated a

thought. Then followed action.

 

another example : One is walking through the streets of Puttaparthi.

One may notice the cars honking, poor kids begging, the buffalo doing

its thing merrily and then sudeenly you hear a catchy tune or bhajan.

You think of Swami during Darshan that morning and how graceful He

looked. Again here another sensory input (Ears) generated a thought

and what followed was maybe a good feeling or such.

 

The point here is that thoughts are generated by what we take in

through our senses. We have Five of them.

1.Eyes

2.Ears

3.Nose

4.Touch

5.Tongue

 

Out of these the tongue is paramount. TO control this is to control

the other senses. You see tongue can take in and give out too. Here,

diet plays a crucial role. Very bluntly put, if one is serious on

this spiritual path with the goal of merging with God, a satwic

(pure) diet is non-negotiable. Diet here refers to all sense also.

 

Tongue : Ofcourse vegetarianism for starters. But i'm sure you've

come across some vegetarians who can act like demons :-) So, what

plays critical role here? This area of diet is extensive and is

paramount for study, experimentation and implementation by every true

sadhaka (spiritual aspirant). This is described in detail at

www.srisathyasai.org.za - click on health & diet on the left. This is

not an attempt to promote this website. It simply contains the most

researched information (both from scriptures & medical science)

geared towards spirituality. Study this.

 

So what's all this got to do with SEVA ? Simple as this brother &

sister. The Seva activity by DEFINITION is to be SELFLESS. One's

thought process needs to be in pristine check if the Seva activity is

to be of benefit. Now this is not saying, "Oh i have some negative

thoughts, i can't do Seva." No, this is a defeatist attitude.

Refining this activity on an individual basis is a challenge for all

of us. I doubt if there is a single one among us all that does not

have negative thoughts at least some of the time. But we should

aspire to have none as Swami expects nothing but excellence from us.

 

The above was written in response to a question of how to do Seva at

1. home with chores or

2. if one does not have these opportunities one feels guilty/useless.

 

I am sure many have been in this quandry.

 

1. Well at home, always do the chores with excellence. If you are

washing the dishes, wash it as if Swami where going to physically eat

of it. When cleaning your toilet, wash it as if Swami where going to

use it. You see, if these home activities where done with such

THOUGHT processes, then automatically it becomes a service activity.

 

2. Having no seva opportunities ?? With due respect, this IS the Kali

Age after all. Suffering is abound. Go FIND the opportunities. A

small story i heard to illustrate.

 

Once at Kodai-Canal (a place in India Swami has often visited) Swami

was doing some distribution of food, clothing & blankets. So all

these poor people from around the area queued up near the ashram at

Kodai to receive the distribution. Students, Teachers & Officials

were very happy towards the end of the day having served so many

people. Swami however, did not seem entirely satisfied. He signalled

to one of His drivers and soon he disapeared around the back only to

come out in His car about to go out. Well!. Many thought," Ah Swami,

after a wonderful day of Seva, is going for a relaxing evening drive.

Splendid!"

 

After some time Swami returned. Many Students had gathered around but

dared not enquire how Swami's evening drive was. So, Bhagawan in His

Mercy revealed. He said " You have served many people here today. but

what about the people who are disabled, who are destitute, who are

sick and can't move, who are not able to travel here to receive these

items. I went to seek and find them and distribute these items to

them Myself."

 

wonderful story. Swami does not waste a single utterance or action

of His. He has come to teach us.

" My Life is My Message" - have you not heard ? We need to go find

these opportunities as Swami Himself has shown us. Swami has more

recently endeared us to say, "YOUR life is MY Message." What

responsibilty we have !

 

It all starts on individual level. One should understand how the

internal administration of man works. how your mind works. why we

react, respond in different ways at different times.

 

The book every Sai devotee should STUDY is Summer Showers 1990. In

fact all Summer Showers are intense and should be studied in general.

 

(Summer Showers is generally a two-week long "concentration camp"

where Spirituality & Culture is studied by Students with them

receiving lectures from many reknowned speakers from India & the

World as well as Swami giving Divine Discourses every day!!)

 

This together with the web link (above) to the health & diet stuff is

a powerful tool for transformation. And as Swami has stated, "Without

information, there can be no transformation."

 

 

Jai Sai Ram

[Guest guest]

"sunku satya saiprakash" <saisunku

Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:55am

Re: [saibabanews] Seva - the Lowdown : the

how/why/when/where to do?

 

Om Sairam

It is a Lovely message,

Pls keeping sending such messages at your inconvenience.

Thanks.......

 

----------

 

Soumendra Bhattacharjee <soumendra_toronto

Wed Nov 17, 2004 9:44pm

Re: [saibabanews] Seva - the Lowdown : the

how/why/when/where to do?

 

Sai Ram ,

 

Wonderful explanation.

 

Swami's choicest of Blessings on you.

 

At the feet of Sai

 

Soumendra

 

 

 

 

 

 

saibabanews, "stryker108" <stryker108>

wrote:

>

> Om Shri Sai Ram

>

> Before one reads, one should take note that this is some heavy

> stuff coming up and requires much study. ..........

[Guest guest]

Thank you very much for your kindness. It was real good one. Like you have mentioned

it was a heavy stuff and I had to read it few times to fully digest the contents.

Your example of "Your life is My message" really inspired me!

Molly

 

stryker108 <stryker108 > wrote:

Om Shri Sai RamBefore one reads, one should take note that this is some heavy

stuff coming up and requires much study...........