“He who feeds one hungry man is far more worthy than he who discourses on God and Heaven, and Truth and Sin for a hundred years.”
Sai Baba said seva is the essence of devotion and the best spiritual discipline. He reminded us that the real value of seva is that it reforms those that serve, and so it must be done as a spiritual disciple. Particularly, it must be done without ego and the sense of doership. Swami urges us to dedicate all acts of service to God for this will turn a simple act of service into the highest form of worship.
It becomes a form of worship when we see God in our service activities. Seva is “Narayan Seva” and by calling it this we are reminded that we are serving the Lord (Narayana) Himself, who is the resident in all hearts. This attitude in serving helps us helps us to see the unity underlying the diversity of all creation. Thus, service is the highest form of worship, it is the best way to express our love for God.
Swami said seva is the best cure for egoism, and leads to humility and happiness. The expansiveness of the heart, purity of the mind, and the holiness of the motive are all important.
Activities:
I. Rice sevas:
In May 2003, monthly sevas started with the aim of distributing 8,000 bags of rice (or 40,000 kilograms) before Bhagawan’s 80th birthday. Since then rice and other basic necessities have been distributed to the elderly, families on public assistance, single parent families, and asylum seekers who rely on the goodwill of the public and NGOs, like the Sai Organisation. Those living in the Yau Tsim Mong area and also the Sham Shui Po/Cheung Sha Wan areas are served.
In July 2005, the 8,000th bag was distributed, and with His grace this seva has continued beyond the 80th Birthday to-date. On this occasion, a specially prepared glossy information sheet in Chinese about the Sai Mission was distributed
II. Cage Home Seva:
In March 2004, a monthly seva was started to deliver rice and basic necessities and, most importantly, some loving attention to a number of elderly people who live without their families in dilapidated post-war buildings in Sham Shui Po and Cheung Sha Wan. The flats in these buildings contain only the barest amenities and many are on high floors of buildings not serviced by elevators. From 11 people, there are now 30 who receive these regular home visits.
III. Street sleeper Narayana Seva:
For many years monthly seva has been organised to offer hot vegetarian meals and Sai Seva Packets of dry items to the homeless and impoverished who live on the streets, under bridges, or in shelters on both sides of the harbour. This seva also benefits drug addicts. For the evening sevas 180 hot dinners are cooked by the Mahila and Senior Youth Girls in the TST Centre, while volunteers on Hong Kong side cook 225 hot dinners in their homes. During the breakfast sevas, 200 people are served on Kowloon side and 83 on Hong Kong side. Sometimes, clothes/blankets and other essentials are also distributed. This particular seva is offered 6 times a month by devotees on both Kowloon and Hong Kong sides. The Tsuen Wan Centre also has monthly street sleeper narayana seva. |
IV. Home for Mentally Challenged:
At the request of a social worker, in 2007 started a monthly seva at a hostel for mentally challenged adults. This seva has continued even though the Social Welfare Department has recently given up management of the home to a local NGO, but this is only because of the relationship between the residents and Sai devotees, and the trust by management in the dedication and maturity of Sai devotees. Games, food stuffs, back necessities and Christmas parties are shared with the residents, who look forward to these visits.
V. China Seva:
Every month this narayana seva is offered in Dongguan, in Guangdong province. 18 under-privileged families are visited and provided basic necessities. For them this seva is an eye-opener that people from Hong Kong visit regularly to help them in their difficulties.
VI. Mahila sevas:
Twice monthly sevas continue to bring joy to many elderly in Tai Kok Tsui and Mongkok areas. Initially games, food and a human values message were offered, but now the participants are led in Jyoti Meditation, which has been very well received. Additionally, the Mahila of the Tsuen Wan Centre there have monthly home visits to the poor where food and basic necessities are provided.
VII. Bal Vikas seva:
Children regularly visit a number of homes that have traditionally been served by the Sathya Sai Organisation. These include:
1. China Coast Community Ltd
2. Missionaries of Charity:
Mother Theresa Home of Love
3. The Little Sisters of the Poor Home
4. Sin Tin Tao Home for the Aged
In addition to these, our children visit the Gurudwara to do seva there i.e. cooking, serving langar and cleaning.
Some of our older children visit a local primary school and conduct lessons based on Human Values.
VIII. Health talks:
These are organized in the TST Centre and doctors of varying specialties are invited to speak to devotees and non-devotees on a variety of common medical ailments and known killer diseases. We have had cardiologists, neurologists, child psychologists, psychologists, gynaecologists, oncologists, dieticians, etc.
IX. Seva for the grieving:
This unique seva is offered to families of departed souls on the night of the 9th day after cremation when bhajans are sung from 10:00–11:30 p.m. Many non-devotees have asked the SSO to perform this seva and this has touched the hearts of many during their times of grief.
For any inquiries please contact the Seva Co-ordinator Ashok
Kirpalani at saiorghk@netvigator.com |
