What is Seva?



"Seva" is a Sanskrit term for "selfless service". It is an important aspect of Karma Yoga, the path of union through action. Karma Yoga does not require seclusion of oneself in some hidden cave or remote forest. Instead, it calls for action!

The Bhagavad Gita is the classical text on Karma Yoga. On the brink of the great war between the imperial dynasties of ancient India-the Pandavas and the Kauravas-Lord Krishna instructs Prince Arjuna on duty and selfless action. "Work done with selfish motives is inferior by far to the selfless service or Karma-yoga. Therefore be a Karma-yogi, O Arjuna. Those who seek the fruits of their work are verily unhappy."

We can all be Karma Yogis. You need not be able to stretch, bend, or contort your body in any way...you simply need compassion, and a desire to help others and serve a greater good.

There are many ways to do seva. Seva can begin at home, helping family members through tough times, taking care of aging parents, helping friends in need. You can further put your compassion into action by volunteering your time and resources within your community and the world at large.

Seva Within Your Community:



  • Volunteer with community organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, your local homeless shelters, animal shelters or food banks.
  • Volunteer your time at local hospitals and nursing homes, delivering meals, tending to babies in the nursery, or reading to the elderly.
  • Set up a free clinic and offer your skills to someone in need (i.e., medical, legal, tax, etc.).
  • Find a social cause that is affecting your community and help to raise awareness and raise funds to support the cause.
  • Take care of the environment. Do your part by recycling, composting, and conserving water and energy, and help pick up after others.

Seva Opportunities Around the Globe:



  • Join Off The Mat and Into The World's Global Seva Challenge and help support communities in crisis! For more info: www.offthematintotheworld.org/global-seva-challenge.html
  • Join Play It Forward (PIF) Adventures for Adventure Travel with a Moral Compass! Volunteer abroad by building a sewing room for women who have been rescued from the sex trade in Nepal, building homes or energy efficient stoves in Guatemala, improving quality of life for AIDS orphans in Tanzania, or implementing sanitation systems in Peru's Amazon Jungle before embarking on an outdoor adventure to explore the foreign landscape and culture. For more info on upcoming adventures: www.pifadventures.com
  • Participate in a medical mission abroad and help serve the population's health needs. Even if you aren't trained in the medical field, you may be able to help as a translator if you speak the local language.
  • Find a social cause that you are passionate about and volunteer your time with organizations that serve affected communities around the globe.
  • Next time you need to give a gift, give a gift of service through the Seva Foundation (www.seva.org). You can choose how to put your donation to work, as it is used to serve some of the most vulnerable communities around the world.


Looking for some inspiration?



Here are some inspiring reads that will raise your consciousness and persuade you to believe that even one person can make an incredible difference.

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder tells the story of Dr. Paul Farmer and his mission to cure infection diseases among the world's poor.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin tells the story of Greg Mortenson and his efforts to promote education, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Not For Sale by David Batstone tells the stories of victims and survivors of human trafficking, and suggests how you can join the fight to put an end to this modern-day slave trade.