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Recent Seva Articles
Sacred Action – Devotional Service
By Sewa Singh Khalsa “Devotional service is a part of all spiritual traditions, as it supports generosity, kindness, and compassion in the individual while providing support for the community.“ You are completely relaxed with a fluid, gentle focus as time releases its hold, and you become the essence of tranquility in motion. Is this joyful state of being the result of years of physical discipline and meditation, or is it drug-induced? Neither, it is the direct result of devotional service, also known as seva. Devotional service is a part of all spiritual traditions, as it supports generosity, kindness, and compassion in…
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Service with a Smile
By Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa Even as a waitress with grouchy customers, Shakti Parwha learned to appreciate the blessing of serving others. “If a customer is rude to you, and you talk back, you may get even; but if you don’t say anything, you get ahead of him!” I’ve never forgotten these words of Mr. Hudacek, Manager at Van de Camps, where I worked as a waitress for three years, so my then-husband could go to art school. In 1952, Van de Camps, “the largest coffee shop on the West Coast,” was located on the famous “Miracle Mile” on Wilshire…
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The Path of the Giver
By Kirpal Singh Khalsa Kirpal Singh tells us that through giving, slowly and imperceptibly, your commitment will deepen, you will grow stronger, more self-assured, and happier than you have ever been. Yogi Bhajan continually taught the fundamental spiritual truth that the more you give, the more you receive. At Summer Solstice 1996, he said that giving invokes the wealth of the Universe. “When there is a vacuum, God must fill it. I’m not saying that you are poor. But you could have more. Giving is the way of the rich—giving services, giving expertise, giving work, giving something for prayer, giving to…
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Yogi Bhajan Quotes on Giving and Seva
Yogi Bhajan talked and taught about what it means to serve selflessly, to do seva, and to give from the heart in many, many lectures over the years. Enjoy these quotes on his key teachings on seva, service, and giving. If you do not do seva—selfless service, you have just let your soul go hungry. Selfless service to others is the food of the soul.9/16/90 Inhale deep and just pray on this breath that it should give you right consciousness, righteousness in living, and selfless service towards all living beings. Exhale.5/7/74 When you do selfless service, you will be liberated. What is the biggest thing you…
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Yogi Bhajan Lecture: Pioneers in the Age of Aquarius
In this lecture excerpt from Summer Solstice, Guru Ram Das Puri, New Mexico, on June 20, 1993, Yogi Bhajan inspires us to keep up and serve humanity with love and compassion. You have come here from all the lands, and you will keep on coming here from all the lands for centuries to come. This land has its karma, and this land has its dharma to enrich you whenever you come here, as it has done for centuries. It has a practice, it has a habit, and it has blessings. It is the dwelling place of the guardian souls of…
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Yogi Bhajan Lecture: Seva is the Food of the Soul
In this lecture excerpt given in Espanola, NM on September 9, 1990, Yogi Bhajan explains how doing seva elevates your spirit. Now, why are we not successful spiritually, and why are we suffering? That’s the point in question. Well, like a beautiful house, we collect dust. Like a beautiful mind, we collect dust. Like a beautiful lamp of light, we collect dust. After five, six months your bulb needs to be cleaned. You may not do it, but if you say it is not collecting dust, that is not true. Soul is dormant; it needs to be cleansed so it…
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Yogi Bhajan Lecture: Prepare to Serve the Age of Aquarius
In these lecture excerpts given on December 20,1997 and June 21, 2001, Yogi Bhajan talks about serving from the heart to uplift humanity. Kindness knows no defeat. Caring has no end. And touching a person’s heart is the only language God knows. The most veteran, courageous, and pious act of a human is to be with another human, because we are like stars in the sky, born at one time and space, to be ourselves. All we have to do is say, “I am with you.” When you start being one with everybody, then you are actually with God, because if…
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Yogi Bhajan Lecture: Expand – Now is the Time
In this lecture excerpt from a Teachers Course in Santa Cruz, California, on March 23,1974, Yogi Bhajan says we are all responsible to serve and uplift those who need it. You must have one door of your home open where people can call on you, people can trust you, people can get help from you, people can approach you. There are many reasons why people will need to relate to you. The coming times are going to be very hard on the society as a whole. There may be 10 casualties, 50 thefts, 20 robberies, 100 rapes—all that is going on…
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