Guru ki Seva

Totally immersed day and night in continuous holy service of His beloved Satguru, aged Sri Guru Amar Das Ji also used to fetch a pitcher of water from the distant river Beas every night for the bath of Sri Guru Angad Sahib. While leaving Khadur Sahib, Sri Guru Amar Das Ji used to walk backwards, keeping His face towards the Guru and never turned His back towards Him. There does not exist in spiritual history such an example of total devotion to Guru.

Writes T. Sher Singh in "What is Seva"...

"The concept of seva, I feel, is simple and uncomplicated in Sikhi. The very idea of seva begins with a metaphor: that of the milk-pot or vessel. Nanak says:

First, wash the vessel, Next, disinfect it with incense.
Then, and only then, is it ready to receive the milk.
(SGGS, M1, 728:1)

One of the most moving sights I have seen in my life is something I witnessed a couple of years ago in Espanola, New Mexico. Singh Sahib Harbhajan Singh Yogi had shed his mortal coil and crowds from around the globe had arrived to celebrate his life. By the thousands. The logistics required to cater to the needs of these visitors from far and wide were stupendous.

And one of them was the need for a platoon of portable toilets which were, I'm sure, leased for the occasion. It would've been terribly easy to have also bought the services of a handful of workers who could've maintained the facilities and kept them clean at all times.

What touched me deep inside was the vision of our hosts who saw it as an unprecedented opportunity to do seva. Any time of the day or night, if you walked into the facilities, you saw a couple of the Sikhs from the Espanola sangat cleaning the toilets and water basins, or down on their hands and knees, cleaning the floor. It was arguably the cleanest spot within the endless acreage roped in for the events of the week.

And, you know, there was not a sign anywhere proclaiming, e.g., "Seva provided by the Sangat of ....." Nothing. Not a word, not a peep.

That's seva.

It's for the sheer sake of seva. It has no other goal. Even the end result is not important. You don't need a smile or a nod, a pat on the shoulder, or the gratitude of another to validate it. You simply do it, and you do it to the best of your ability, and nothing else matters.

You don't go home and note it in your diary. Or tell your family and friends. Or have it published in a newsletter in the "Acknowledgment" section. And you don't wave it in the face if you are running for election the next time around.

Here's what I've been taught and what I try to emulate .... though those who know me well could easily cite many a lapse:

Don't let the right hand know what the left hand does ...
It isn't seva if it is for the purpose of getting a tax-deductible receipt.
It isn't seva if your heart and soul aren't in it.
It isn't seva if it isn't done with honesty and integrity.
It isn't seva if you believe that mediocrity is all that is expected of you, and that you needn't do more.
It isn't seva if it's for building your resume.
It isn't seva if it is meant to be a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
It isn't seva if you need to tell others, now or later, that you did it.
It isn't seva if lack of appreciation by others, or their criticism, drives you away.
It isn't seva if you believe that it is your right to do it.
It isn't seva if you have to fight against others to do it.
It isn't seva if you snatch it away from another, to do it.
It isn't seva if you begin to believe you're the best one to do it.
And, it isn't seva if it distresses you that others take credit for what you've done.

Not too long ago, I was blessed with an opportunity to visit the Durbar Sahib in Amritsar, after an absence of more than three decades. There were so many things that added to the joy of being there.

Not the least of it was the timeless sight at all hours of the day or night, literally - even in the cold and dark hours before dawn - of men, women and children behind the counter, tending to the shoes of pilgrims. Quiet faces, moving in the shadows. Ever-so-slight, barely discernible quivering of the lips, silently accompanying the kirtan playing from the speakers around them. No small-talk. No name-tags. No meeting of the eyes, no searching for acquaintances. Just simple, purposeful, swift, efficient movements ... the queues were long.

There's always a hush around the shoe-stalls outside the main entrance, I've noticed. The only words you hear are "satnam, satnam..." and "waheguru, waheguru..." And a lot of "ji...ji...jee-o...ji ..."

I don't know how they do it. But I see them taking each pair of foot-wear as if it is a house-warming gift. Lovingly, gently, softly ... if you glance back for a split-second, as you turn away, you may even catch one in the shadows wiping the dirt off your shoes as they are placed on the shelves.

I tell you, it is there, standing on the cold wet marble, looking at this scene, that I experienced the first communion with what I had come searching for, after all these years, at the doors of the Harmander. It is the epitome of seva.

" Received from "Shabad Vichar" in the e-mail titled: "Rangle Sajjan"

Recently, at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Karsewa for Car Parking had been conducted. As you know, there is a lot of Sangat coming from outside Delhi too when Karsewa is being done on such a large scale. I observed something worth sharing with all of you.

There were four young, well built Gursikh Veers (I believe from Punjab) who were doing sewa amongst others. The first three moved quickly to and fro with the Baataas of cement on their head, as if in a hurry or perhaps competing with each other. The fourth one seemed in no hurry and there was a sense of calmness about his doing the Sewa. In the 10 minutes that I observed them, the first three carried 5 Baatas each while the fourth Veer could manage only 3. The first three often overtook and nudged the fourth Veer. Quite amazingly, the fourth Veer just smiled at them while his lips still kept murmurring "Waheguru, Waheguru!" His eyes got drenched at times with the deep spiritual love arising out of his Simran/Sewa. Tears rolled down his eyes into his beard as if dew drops of nectar falling from heaven.Though, he kept wiping them frequently so that nobody could notice.

I do not have any more words to describe such personality. I could only take a couple of verses from Guru Granth Sahib Ji to explain the same:

so jaanai jin chaakhi-aa har naam amolaa.
keemat kahee na jaa-ee-ai ki-aa kahi mukh bolaa. ||3||
He alone knows its taste, who tastes the Priceless Name of the Lord.
Its value cannot be estimated; what can I say with my mouth? ||3||

jis no aa-i-aa paraym ras tisai hee jarnay.
One who comes to savor the Lord's Love experiences it.

To this, I couldn't help asking myself, "Is sewa 'How much we do', or 'How we do it'?" "Is it the cumulative task that we have got to complete at the Gurdwara Sahib, or is it more than that?" Just ask yourself, which has got more value: the 15 Baataas done together by the first three Veers or the 3 Baataas done by the fourth Veer alone?

saa sayvaa keetee safal hai jit satgur kaa man mannay.
jaa satgur kaa man mani-aa taa paap kasamal bhannay. Fruitful and rewarding is that service, which is pleasing to the Guru's Mind. When the Mind of the True Guru is pleased, then sins and misdeeds run away.

satgur kee sayvaa safal hai jay ko karay chit laa-ay.
Fruitful is service to the True Guru, if one does so with a sincere mind.

This also reminded me of the striking contrast between Bhai Jetha Ji (later Guru Ram Daas Ji) and Bhai Rama Ji (the elder son-in-law of Guru Amar Daas Ji). Guru Amar Daas Ji gave the task of building a Tharha (platform) to both Bhai Jetha Ji and Bhai Rama Ji. So, they made the same as described by Guru Sahib. When Guru Amar Daas Ji came to inspect the same, he rejected both the constructions saying that it was not as it was intended to be and asked both to make it again. This went on for 3 times.

On the third inspection, when Guru Amar Daas Ji rejected the two constructions, Bhai Rama Ji (apparently in anger as his Ego was hurt) told Guru Amar Daas Ji that he was now old and could not remember what he instructed them to make. On the contrary, Bhai Jetha Ji still drenched in Guru Sahib's Hukam said that he was not capable of doing this Sewa unless Guru Sahib blessed him with the wisdom to do the same. To which, Guru Amar Daas Ji explained, that the Tharha was just a symbol to explain, it was not the physical construction but the cemented place for Guru that He wanted in each Sikh's heart.

Sikh Kaum is one of the cleanest, most honest and sacrificing Kaum in the whole world. This is visible by the sacrifices made by Guru Sahibs and later Sikhs from time to time. Though we know no enemy of ours, but still some mischevious people in our Society are trying to defame us by posting offending content on the internet and some silly jokes on Sikhs. This is a slap in the face of democracy and we cannot accept such insult. STOP SIKH JOKES - An Initiative by YoungSikhLeaders.org.

If you feel for the Panth, then please join the cause at http://www.causes.com/causes/474090?recruiter_id=77951387 to stop this nonsense from spreading. If you find any such offending stuff against Sikhs on the internet or any social network, please report it to [email protected]. Remember, IPC Section 295A and IT Act 2008 Section 66A allows us to take necessary steps right up to imprisonment. It's time we stop accepting such insult and exercise our constitutional rights.

According to Sikh tradition service (Seva) is regarded as supreme worship. Amar Das Sahib served his master Guru Angad Dev for twelve years wading through rain and storm. When the weaver's wife observed sarcastically 'Amru, the homeless'. Guru Angad Dev blessed the devotee instead with the title, 'A shelter for the homeless'.