Day 27 • Seva Guidelines
Today, we’ll take a look at our Seva Guidelines, or Selfless Service Guidelines. These are pretty simple and straightforward—think of them as many of the same expectations you’d find in any job or work environment, but viewed through the lens of spiritual practice.
We ask all residents and work-study participants to:
Arrive on time
Pay attention to your task
Avoid unnecessary distractions (like cell phones or chatter)
Treat everyone with kindness and mutual respect
Honor the work as part of your practice—not just something to get through
Seva is an opportunity to bring awareness into motion—to notice your habits, your reactions, your willingness to engage or check out—and to begin transforming them through mindfulness and heart-centered effort.
After reading the Seva Guidelines, you’ll continue with another integrated pranayama and meditation practice. Today’s breathwork focuses on two-part breath and intra-abdominal breathing—a powerful way to stay anchored in your core and maintain awareness throughout the body. This sets the stage for a Ham Sah meditation that continues to refine your ability to sit in stillness while connected to your breath.
Karma Yoga (Seva) Guidelines
Working towards Your Enlightenment
Punctuality is crucial at the ashram; arrive a few minutes early to ensure you're ready to start on time, fostering honesty, discipline, and a positive tone for everyone.
Embrace task flexibility at the ashram as an opportunity for spiritual growth, balancing dedication and resilience with your physical abilities while maintaining a sustainable pace and open mindset.
Use the one-hour breakfast and lunch breaks to handle personal tasks and prepare for the day, ensuring you arrive at SEVA fully ready to work, just as you would in a professional setting.
Embrace seva as a spiritual practice by staying fully present and mindful during tasks, integrating spirituality into daily work, and recognizing that growth occurs through consistent effort rather than seeking immediate rewards.
Caring for ashram tools with mindfulness and responsibility reflects your commitment to the community and enhances your spiritual growth, as it’s part of the path to becoming an advanced yogi.
When interacting with neighbors during seva, identify yourself as an ashram resident, pass questions from neighbors on to your manager, avoid making promises, and report any hostile encounters to your manager.
Cultivate a positive attitude at the ashram by focusing inward, maintaining presence, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, recognizing that your attitude significantly impacts the entire community.
Keep Malasada healthy and happy by involving her in outdoor activities, engaging with her during tasks, encouraging movement, and offering daily affection.
At the ashram, balance self-motivation with priorities by seeking managerial approval before starting new projects, ensuring alignment with the ashram’s needs and long-term goals.