Practical Selfless Service: A Sikh Perspective


Darbar Sahib Gurdwara

Formally called, ‘The Darbar Sahib’. Also known as the Golden Temple. However, it is not a temple but a Gurdwara, meaning the house of the Guru.

The word Service has evolved through history since its French origin of ‘Servis’ or Latin origin of ‘Servitium’, meaning slavery or slave. Let’s not get into the shameful connotations of past human immorality but elaborate on the word’s purgation into positive meaning through socio-political cleansing, and certainly in the moral and spiritual sense.

How does a Sikh understand what it means to be in and of service?
The term ‘service’ is called ‘Seva’ in Punjabi (the spoken language of Sikhs. The script is called Gurmukhi). The life of a Sikh is a constant seva in itself – He/she is in service to God through acceptance, in service to own self through moral growth, in service to fellow human beings through humanity. in service to all the other living beings through compassion, in service to the environment through praise for Nirankar’s creation.

Seva is at the heart of Sikhi; and the very soul of Sikh philosophy. The lesson is not a mere sermon or a doctrine but is demonstrated by every Sikh in the day to day life. The one who does not practise seva is not a true Sikh.
With this basic understanding, I’ll proceed with a few real-life examples.
In every Gurdwara (place of worship) volunteers clean the premises, cook in the free kitchen, and serve the Sangat (the congregation) with langar ( alms in the form of pure vegetarian food).
The congregation consists of many non-Sikhs too who are served with equal dedication.
Regardless of someone’s financial/political/ or social status, religion or nationality, colour or creed, everyone sits together to eat the same langar. A fine example of equality and inclusion- don’t you think?

The concept of sharing and moral-working was introduced by the first Sikh Guru. Guru Nanak’s idea of ‘Vandh Chako’ (share) and ‘Keerat Karo’ (Work hard) has since become part of Sikh culture.
People are seen getting out of a Rolls Royce and picking up a broom to sweep the corridors of the Gurudwara, or putting the apron on to cook in the kitchen, serve the sangat, clean the dishes, and even polish shoes in the ‘jodha ghar’ (the place where shoes are deposited free against a token before entering the Guru’s house- the Gurdwara). The purpose of such a proud tradition for Sikhs is not limited to service within the Gurdwaras only but augments as character building by demonstrating the lesson of humility, selflessness, pride in hard work, moral mindset, and humanitarian perspective.
So, not just a lip service but practical action.
One can’t fool the omnipresent Nirankar (the formless and the timeless Lord). Hence, seva connects the sevadar (one who serves) with God himself.   

Other services in a gurdwara include provisions like showers and rooms with bed and bedding for those who are visiting from farther afield including abroad.
All the commodities cost money. So, who provides the finances?
The Sangat (congregation) does so strictly and voluntarily.
The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan, introduced the concept of ‘Dasvandh’ which literally means the tenth part. Every Sikh is expected to participate in the service of Dasvandh by giving one-tenth of their income and time to such services as provided by the Gurdwaras. For a Sikh, the karma of Dasvandh comes as natural as any other mandatory duty in his life.

Now, let me elucidate more examples of practical karma of service amongst the Sikhs, but from outside of Gurdwara premises, where the same concepts of ‘Keerat’ (moral act), ‘Vandh Chako’ (Share),  and ‘ Dasvandh’ (1/10) still apply.

At least a few of my readers might have heard about Sikh NGOs offering service globally, whether in war times, natural disasters like floods, or Covid etc.
I refrain from calling these NGOs charities, since charity is ‘help’ and help is given to someone who the helper thinks is poorer, weaker, or more needy. Sikhs call it service to abstain from feeling any kind of superiority over a fellow human being or thinking less of someone. So, all the ten Spiritual Gurus teach a Sikh to take the role of a server/sevadar and focus on the seva itself rather than the situation in which he/she is serving. The undivided attention should be on Guru’s lesson and how best to act upon it.

Khalsa-Aid is one of these Sikh service organisations, which has taken Guru-service to many countries in their hour of need. In 2016 in the UK, the organisation served relief to people during floods and in 2019 served NHS medical workers with food during the Covid crisis. Similarly, they responded in countries like Morocco and Pakistan during earthquakes, in Gambia by providing clean water to people, in Lebanon with disability aid to refugees, in India with daily provisions and food during the farmer’s protest in 2020, and there are many more examples of service the organisation continues with.
Other Guru-service NGOs include names like, United Sikhs, offering humanitarian aid, free legal advice for civil and human rights, education of deprived children in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.
So on and so forth.
Apart from NGOs and seva in Gurdwaras, individual Sikhs too volunteer to serve humanity in crises like Covid, whether it is to facilitate free burials and cremations to the hundreds of unclaimed bodies, usually, abandoned due to lack of finances in India, or contribute to providing free oxygen cylinders to the poor families during Covid in India. So service for a Sikh is performed on the principle of ‘Dasvandh’– giving the tenth part (at least) in the service of Nirankar. It starts with giving the 10th part of 24 hours to daily prayers/ meditation and the 10th part of income for providing various services to humanity. The principle can be extended to any other service on moral grounds.

Before someone asks, why quantify service, then let me explain. Life is continuous learning and every lesson comes with a discipline; every discipline has a framework which quantifies quality. Similarly, Guru’s lesson is not a mere wordy sermon, but a practical lesson within the moral discipline of rules.
I shall also stress that ‘Dasvandh’ is the minimum level of seva defined by the Guru, not the maximum.
Seva is the reason that Sikhism is not a ritualistic or dogmatic religion, but a way of life and a spiritual humanitarianism.
Sikh means a ‘learner,’ and I so wish to learn the next chapter of service to serve the Akal (timeless) Purakh(Omnipresent and omni-doer)  by serving His most wonderful creation of living beings.

Let us join in this chain of service through the wonderful concept of ‘ Vandh Chako’,’ Keerat Karo’ and ‘Dasvandh’, from whichever spiritual and religious portal from where one may serve.

46 thoughts on “Practical Selfless Service: A Sikh Perspective”

  1. I had only read a little about the Sikhs, but only as a reference. Thanks to your article, I have a deeper understanding and, above all, the benefits that this ancient culture brings. I found the reading fascinating.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. 🙏 The concept of ONENESS of humanity has always resonated with me, and I was motivated by Sikh philosophy to explain my thoughts, based on its core principles. I am sure that every branch of spiritual tree, even in the form of a religion, has a unique way to connect with fellow lives.
      Hearty gratitude for taking the time to read my post and providing your invaluable feedback. 🙏🙏🙏🎉🎉🎉

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      1. There is nothing better than feeling good about yourself and being the master of your own destiny, guided by your own religious faith. Life is lived to the fullest with peace in your soul. Have a good week. I enjoy reading your blog.

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    1. Thank you for your time and connecting with my blog. Gratitude 🙏
      We all are connected through One to Oneness. The names of our beliefs might be different, but the undertone of spirituality is the common ground for all human beings.
      I feel privileged to connect with fellow voyagers like you, my friend. thank you for your kind words again. 🙏👍👍🎉❤

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    1. Absolutely agree with you. Love for one another is becoming sporadic, to say the least, in human society today. But every little effort in the right direction can become a collaborated massive movement. Stay blessed, stay connected, my friend.🙏🙏🎉🎉❤❤

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  14. You have a wonderful blog, inviting all to learn more about a beautiful culture and perspective. The concept of Seva is something we all need to practice at some form… “… in service to own self through moral growth, in service to fellow human beings through humanity.” A world of compassion and empathy is something to strive for. Thank you!

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      1. I recognised much in here from my childhood. There was also, then, a great emphasis put on the other person’s comfort and health and to maintain that even when it was the very last thing we wanted to do!

        Gwen.

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