SEVA Selfless Service
I have been practicing for over 20 years SEVA Selfless Service. In this writing I am telling what it is. Many Extraterrestrial Space races are Service oriented too and are Serving humanity and Cosmos.
I have been Theosophical Order of Service's Scandinavian representive and The Theosophical Order of Service (TOS) is an international humanitarian and spiritual organization founded in 1908 by Annie Besant. Its motto is, "A union of those who love in the service of all that suffers". The TOS aims to reduce suffering and promote the inner transformation of its volunteers by applying theosophical principles to various service projects, including education, animal welfare, healthcare, disaster relief, and environmental protection. Active in numerous countries, the TOS operates as a non-profit organization with volunteers supporting its mission to serve humanity and the planet.
Purpose and Mission
Reduce Suffering: The primary goal is to alleviate pain and suffering worldwide through practical action and service.
Inner Transformation: The TOS believes that through selfless service, volunteers can achieve personal spiritual growth and a purer purpose.
Promote Universal Brotherhood: The organization supports the Theosophical Society's first object by forming a nucleus of universal brotherhood without distinction of race, creed, or gender.
Activities and Focus Areas
The TOS engages in a wide range of service projects, including:
Education: Funding schools, providing study materials, and offering free coaching classes.
Health and Welfare: Organizing medical camps, supporting rehabilitation centers, and assisting disabled individuals with mobility aids.
Environmental Protection: Working on biodiversity conservation and promoting sustainable practices.
Animal Welfare: Undertaking initiatives to prevent cruelty to animals and promote vegetarianism.
Disaster Relief: Responding to natural disasters by providing aid, food, shelter, and medical support to affected communities.
Social Projects: Supporting refugees, helping malnourished children, and empowering women through various projects.
Organizational Structure
International Coordination: The TOS is closely linked to the Theosophical Society and is administered by Theosophists, though membership is not exclusive.
Autonomous Sections: Each national section operates autonomously to meet the needs of its local communities.
Volunteer-Based: The organization relies on unpaid volunteers, with funds raised from local activities and donations going directly to service projects.
Global Presence: The TOS is active in approximately 36 countries worldwide, demonstrating a global commitment to its mission.
Some campaigns what we have been doing for example...
About peace work and peacemaking in general, I would say that the conditions in the world may well stem from how much love and hate there is at any given time. In other words, which of these forces feeds in oneself and in others, through which it naturally appears in the collective consciousness. Even small, nice acts can have a greater impact on someone somewhere in the world. We have been running a campaign with a peace organization for a long time, where we make friendship bracelets by tying threads. The instructions for these bracelets say that a good thought is sent/tied to each knot, such as friendship, peace, love, etc. I gave four bracelets to one of my friends and I didn't mention what purpose they serve, because he is a skeptic. Two weeks later, my friend called and asked what the miracle was about those bracelets, since she had been experiencing all sorts of incredible luck and she clearly attributed it to the bracelets.
The campaign was originally launched to allay fears over the recent anthrax letters and has since been continued. The latest news on the subject is that a bundle of bracelets has been sent to the Peace Museum in Uzbekistan, where they are being distributed to visitors. Two Spanish gentlemen who travelled around the world (by train, ship, etc., without planes) for 79 days visited the museum and received the bracelets. They sent a letter to the peace organization I belong to, saying that they were touched to receive the friendship bracelets and that they carried them around the world and that they considered them symbols of good luck and Universal Peace. Even such small actions can have a huge impact on someone and more examples could be found.
I got together Theosophical Order of Service and baby bag association VAAKA which works in Finland for helping Russian orphaneges. Donations came from Americas Theosophical Society, Spain's Theosophical Society, England and all around the world. One woman from America was sweetheart and told that she donated the sum meant for her birthday presents to campaign.
With drawings and peace poems we also sent flower seeds to be planted around the world during campaign Plant Flowers, Not Bombs.
Im campaigns we don't take sides and we care and are concerned about the well-being of both warring parties.
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Selfless service in general means:
Selfless service is the act of providing help, kindness, or support to others without any expectation of personal gain, reward, or even appreciation. It involves prioritizing the well-being of others over one's own comfort and convenience. Examples include donating time and effort, volunteering, performing humble acts of kindness, and taking initiative to help without being asked, contributing to a better world for everyone.
Key Aspects of Selfless Service
No Expectation of Return: The core principle is giving without expecting benefits, rewards, or a sense of obligation from the recipient.
Prioritizing Others: A selfless individual places the happiness and needs of others before their own wants and comfort.
Initiative: Selfless acts often involve taking the initiative to do what needs to be done, even if not explicitly told.
Humility and Kindness: It encompasses qualities such as humility, compassion, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference.
Examples of Selfless Service
Volunteering: Donating time and energy to help those in need.
Acts of Kindness: Simple gestures like holding a door, offering a seat, or providing a thoughtful note.
Compassion: Helping the sick or hungry, or providing support for those who lack family.
Teamwork: In sports or work, this means sacrificing personal goals for the success of the group.
Benefits of Selfless Service
Personal Fulfillment: Giving freely can lead to inner satisfaction and personal growth.
Societal Improvement: It fosters stronger communities, families, and cultures.
Well-being: Research suggests that engaging in selfless service can boost mental clarity and reduce stress.
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Sevā is the concept of performing selfless service without expecting any reward. It holds significance in both Hinduism and Sikhism.
For those participating in it, sevā is an essential component of spiritual development, serving to wear down the egotism and selfishness associated with modernity.
In Hinduism, sevā is also called karma yoga, as described in the Bhagavad Gita. It is performed without any expectation of reward, serving as a path to purify one's heart and progress toward moksha. In Bhagavad Gita (3.19), it is stated: "Therefore, giving up attachment, perform actions as a matter of duty, because by working without being attached to the fruits, one attains the Supreme.
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Selfless Service: Help Others to Unlock Your Own Fulfillment
Find purpose, build resilience, and boost health by serving others unconditionally.
Selfless service is the act of helping others with no expectation of getting something in return.
The positive irony of selfless service is that giving freely transforms others’ lives and also your own.
Research shows that selfless service boosts mental clarity, reduces stress, and improves physical health.
“Selfless service” is the act of helping others without expecting anything in return—no rewards, no benefits, and no strings attached. It’s about giving with a pure heart, not making anyone feel like they owe you something.
The positive irony, however, is that selfless service isn’t just good for the world—it’s transformative for you. Research shows that service, whether through volunteering, civic engagement, or just informally helping others, improves both mental and physical health.
We often think of volunteering, for example, as something we do to “give back” or to fulfill some moral obligation. Yet, when you engage in selfless service, you’re not just improving someone else’s life—you’re rewiring your brain, nurturing your well-being, and rediscovering a sense of purpose.
One of my clients, Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of the global nonprofit Points of Light, which coordinated more than 3.8 million volunteers last year, recently described the concept of service to me like this: “Service connects us to something greater than ourselves. It not only addresses urgent societal needs but also creates meaningful connections and belonging that strengthens individuals, organizations, and communities.”
Why Service Matters
Acts of selfless service don’t just transform the lives of those we help—they profoundly impact us as well. In my book Experiential Intelligence, I explore how our life experiences, including those centered on helping and serving, shape our unique abilities and ways of thinking. Service is not just about meeting the needs of others; it’s also about unlocking our own potential by creating meaningful connections, developing empathy, and finding purpose in our shared humanity.
Psychologically speaking, humans are wired for connection. Research reveals that acts of kindness that connect us to others can significantly enhance our well-being. Engaging in behaviors that help others releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, which are associated with feelings of happiness and reduced stress. These neurochemical changes can alleviate anxiety and elevate mood, underscoring the profound impact of kindness on mental health.
Selfless service activates these chemicals in a way few other activities can. It’s like a mental and emotional reset button.
For example, service does the following:
Improves mental health: Volunteering reduces rates of depression and anxiety. Just a few hours a month can lower your stress levels and help you feel more connected to others.
Enhances your sense of purpose: When you’re part of something bigger than yourself, it’s easier to find meaning and clarity in your own life.
Fosters resilience: Helping others puts your own struggles into perspective, which can boost your ability to bounce back from challenges.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just out of sync with the world around you, there’s no better remedy than stepping out of your own bubble and serving someone else.
Selfless Service: What It Is and Why It’s Powerful
Selfless service is all about helping others with zero expectation of getting something in return. It’s not transactional. It’s transformational. The concept comes from ancient traditions, like Seva in Hinduism and Sewa in Sikhism, where serving others is seen as a path to spiritual growth. But you don’t need to belong to a particular faith or philosophy to reap its benefits.
Take a moment to imagine this: You’re delivering food to families who might otherwise go hungry. You see relief in their eyes and hear gratitude in their voices. That moment isn’t just about them—it’s about how it changes you. Suddenly, your own challenges feel smaller, you have a new perspective, and you feel the profound impact of a simple act of service.
This is what volunteers at White Pony Express (WPE), for example, live and breathe every day. WPE rescues surplus food and delivers it to people in need, powered almost entirely by volunteers. The nonprofit recognizes that volunteers don’t just help others—they are helped themselves. Through service, they find freedom and happiness. WPE refers to this as a "circle of giving" where all involved are uplifted. Lives are transformed through giving freely of time and energy so that all can share in life’s abundance. According to Eve Birge, WPE’s CEO, “Meaningful, lasting change comes from spontaneous service to others, where we see one another as members of our human family. Through service, we put love into action.”
The beauty of selfless service is that it doesn’t have to look a certain way. You don’t need to save the world or dedicate 20 hours a week. Selfless service is about showing up—whether for a neighbor, a local nonprofit, or even a stranger—and doing what you can with what you have. It can take a minute, an hour, or a day of your time. What matters is the intent and act of giving without expectations of anything in return.
Start Your Service Journey
While selfless service is about giving without expectations, it is, by its very nature, one of the best ways to get—to get clarity, perspective, and fulfillment. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a retiree, here’s what you gain:
Better relationships: Helping others strengthens social bonds, making you feel more connected to your community.
Improved self-worth: When you see the positive impact of your actions, your confidence grows.
Mental clarity: Service provides a sense of focus and gratitude that helps cut through the noise of daily life.
If you’re ready to experience the power of selfless service, three simple steps can get you started:
Find your passion: What lights you up? Whether it’s feeding the hungry, mentoring youth, or cleaning up your local park, start with something that resonates with your values.
Start small: Don’t overthink it. Even an hour a month can make a difference, for you and for others.
Make it social: Join a group or team. Volunteering with others builds community and makes the experience more enjoyable and meaningful.
And if you’re part of an organization or manage a team and are looking to inspire volunteers, focus on these three things:
Make it easy: Simplify the process of signing up and getting involved.
Show the impact: Share stories and stats about how volunteers are making a difference.
Celebrate contributions: Recognize and thank volunteers often to express appreciation, build loyalty, and keep people coming back.
Selfless service isn’t just about giving. It’s also about growing. By stepping outside of yourself and showing up for others, you create ripples of impact that can change lives, including your own. In a world that feels increasingly divided, selfless service builds bridges to others, and within oneself.
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