Seva
Seva (सेवा | sevā) means to serve.
What It Means
In the worldly sense, seva refers to:
- performing actions to help others fulfill their needs or goals
In the divine sense, seva means:
to act and think in a way that is pleasing to God and Guru
Key Insight
True seva is not performed for one’s own happiness.
It is done solely to please the Master.
Physical actions alone are not sufficient —
the mind must also be aligned and surrendered.
Nature of Seva
The Vedas define the jeev (soul) as an eternal servant.
- The jeev can serve:
- God
- or Māyā
Seva is therefore the natural function of the soul.
How Seva Is Performed
Since the jeev has three instruments, seva is performed in three ways:
- Physical (body)
- Mental (mind)
- Financial (wealth)
Using body and wealth in service helps deepen the surrender of the mind.
In Context
Seva is closely connected with:
- Surrender
- Inner attitude (bhāv)
