“It is seva which accelerates sadhana and which illuminates the path which leads to God. “
Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, from the book Enthusiasm
It is easy, says a saying, to be saint on top of a mountain, but the truth is evident when one returns to the market place. In the path of Siddha Yoga, the practice of seva, or selfless service, allows us both to test our progress and to refine our vision of things. Working with others in a spiritual environment is a practical way to apply the teachings of Siddha Yoga.
Practicing seva involves performing everyday activities, such as cooking or cleaning, teaching, working on the computer, while remaining consciously centered on the Self. Siddha Yoga students offer their seva during retreats, meditation centers, and Siddha Yoga ashrams, translating their love into action.
In her book Sadhana of the Heart, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda said that “to serve constantly with love” is a way to dissolve the obstacles which separate us from the permanent experience of divine love. By cultivating an attitude of service, we learn to make an offering to God of any work done in our life; all aspects of our life then become forms of yoga. Eventually, we come to understand that serving mankind and serving God are exactly the same thing.