I've just returned from the Siddha Yoga Meditation Center in Los Angeles where I attended a wonderful satsang (gathering of devotees) in honor of one of one of our gurus, Bhagawan Nityananda. I arrived early so I decided to study some of my Siddha Yoga texts while waiting for the program to begin. As it turns out, I didn't spend much time reading because I was offered the opportunity to do seva in the kitchen. Seva means selfless service, or volunteerism, and is considered an important spiritual practice in Siddha Yoga. It is said that you get back as much as you give when you do seva. This is true for me. Tonight I offered very little (I washed some tomatoes, wrote out menu items on a display board, and carted some dishes to the dining room) but I gained much. I know that just by freely giving of myself, even in such a small way, I had a deeper experience of the evening (the food, the chanting, the meditation...) than I would otherwise have had. There is a sense of connection, community, and belonging that is sparked by participation. The kind of participation characterized by unconditional giving. Seva was always a central component of my spiritual practices while the Santa Barbara Siddha Yoga Meditation Center was open. But since it closed in May, there has been a huge void in my life. Tonight's brief experience reminded me of that.
1 comment:
One of the things I really appreciate about spiritual paths is that while the labels differ, the basic precepts have much in common. In 12 Step, too, "service work" is a basic tool for generating a sense of self esteem and belonging.
As a very involved 12 Stepper I do a lot of service, but as a recovering codependent I make certain to balance my number of commitments so that I don't, on the whole, over give (as is my natural inclination). Others (who perhaps veer overly towards being a taker) need to work at pushing themselves to give more.
In the end, it seems that the goal of recovery / maturation / spiritual growth is to push one more into the middle, balance range where one is connected and involved. Not barely so, not excessively so, but functionally so.
Post a Comment