Giving Back

Giving back to society, to serve others, also named as “seva.” Sevā (also transcribed as sewa) is a fundamental idea in both modern Hinduism and Sikhism. It derives from the Sanskrit word sev-, which means “to serve.”

Seva, which is a synonym for selfless service in Hinduism, is frequently linked to karma yoga—disciplined action—and bhakti yoga—disciplined devotion. Other Sanskrit ideas like dāna (gift giving), karunā (compassion), and preman (kindness) are related to seva. Seva is also practiced as an ego-defeating spiritual discipline called Sadhana, which is important in contemporary Hinduism. This is because one of the central ideas in Hinduism is the idea of liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of births and deaths (Sasra), and sadhana is the effort one takes to strive for liberation, underlining the significance of service to others.

In Sikhism, the word seva also means “to worship, to adore, to pay homage through the act of love.” In the writings of Sikh gurus, these two meanings of seva (service and worship) have been merged. Seva is expected to be a labor of love performed without desire and intention and with humility.

Why is giving back/seva to your community so crucial?

Why is it crucial to choose a cause you care about and give your time to it? Investing time to improve your neighborhood is a fantastic way to extend your worldview. You can learn so much about how the world functions by being involved in a community and surrounding yourself with individuals committed to improving the world. Serving individuals around you gives you a unique sense of purpose that frequently shows up in other aspects of your life.

Naturally, your community needs it as well! Many of the services and activities we take advantage of in our communities would not be as accessible without volunteers. Volunteering at the local food bank or shelter benefits your community’s less fortunate neighbors. Giving back to the community where you live can help close some social, economic, and political divides.

Generosity and Good Karma in Your Life

Does it make you feel good to serve others? Does seeing another person grin joyfully at something you gave them warm your heart and satisfy your soul? Giving can have a positive impact on your life in this way.

In the long term, doing what you know to be right will produce good karma to your advantage. That doesn’t mean that everything you do needs to be done for the benefit of others, but it’s a good idea to try to avoid hurting others whenever you can and always think about how your decisions will influence those close to you. If you do, most of the time, the people in your life want to return the favor, and the Universe itself starts to act in your favor. 

Planting Seeds for Spiritual Growth

You need a certain level of self-awareness to understand your own impact on the world around you. To realize you have power over how you experience your experiences. And to see that you hold the seeds of all sorts of healing in your own hands. 

A man once said we reap what we sow. What you put out into the world will come back to you. When we planting the seed of kindness, unconditional love, generosity, you will be most likely to sowing the seeds of goodness, to reap similar rewards from life.

Giving Back Seva Opportunity:

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