Focus of the Month: December 2024
written by Nora
"Change the world by changing yourself. Heal the world by healing yourself. Find a need and fulfill it. Service is the greatest form of spiritual practice. Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve, You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."
- Martin Luther King Jr.
In a big city, acts of selflessness stand out more than the most eccentric outfit or the loudest cry.
Things that are hard to picture: The bus driver actually waiting for me as I’m chasing the bus stop. The bureaucrat processing my matter even though I showed up missing one tiny signature. My lost wallet turning up in my mailbox with the cash still inside.
Wherever we look, we see a world that says watch out for yourself because nobody else will. A hustle culture that emphasized an egocentric effort towards the self, promising… exactly what?
We rarely think it through, do we? We follow the anxiety, struggling against the fear of being left behind, of missing the boat to perfect self-actualization. All the while feeling the loneliness creep in.
This might be part of the reason why you fell in love with practicing yoga in a community space - self-care under the wings of a shared shelter like our beautiful Shala in Schöneberg. While this practice might benefit you greatly and the atmosphere is welcoming, think about it: how often do you pop in and out, reserve your mat, and then get annoyed when someone puts theirs too close to yours?
Yes, your asana (posture) practice is important. But sorry, I’ll just say it - it’s not that important. If we come to class with blinders on, just there for a quick fix, we replicate a selfish hustle culture that will ultimately leave us burnt out.
“True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived.”
- Aadil Palkhivala
There's plenty of hints in the yogic text on what selfless service can look like. But honestly, while this is great inspiration, it can be overwhelming and leave us feeling guilty.
Self pity is the enemy of growth and so let me boil it down to one advice for you - practice receiving with grace when someone offers their help!
For the yoga geeks, the Sanskrit word for selfless service is seva, meaning performing an act with no intent for personal gain or even acknowledgment. "The science of transcendental knowledge has been imparted to you, O Arjuna. Now listen to the science of God-dedicated, selfless action, endowed with which you will free yourself from all Karmic bondage, or sin." (Bhagavad Gita 2.39) No effort ever goes to waste in selfless service, and there is no adverse effect. Even a little practice of this discipline protects one from the cycle of repeated birth and death.
As expressed in the Bhagavad Gita, on the battleground of life, the key is to offer the fruits of your service to God, give up any anticipation of rewards or attachment to the results, and allow your own will to become part of the divine will. Then it's not up to you how it turns out, so no worries, no fear.
In the Bhakti (devotional) tradition of yoga, the Guru will advise a disciple to perform seva to get closer to God. This may be sweeping the temple, preparing for a puja (ceremony) or feeding people.
If you want to get a taste for this traditional approach, try this:
Sweeping the temple: help a friend clear the dishes after a visit or clean someone else's mat after your yoga practice.
Preparing for a puja is a great inspiration for the festive season - who’s usually doing all the work, preparing for Christmas Eve and how could you help them?
Feeding people: maybe it's time for the feeders of the family to get fed by you! Or you find time feeding those in the cold city with a local organization.
Neem Karoli Baba (Ram Dass’ Guru) said, "You should serve everything, every creature. It is all God’s creation. Serve everyone, whether he be a thief or anything else. If he comes to you hungry, give him food. Everyone has a right to be fed." Making food is a service to god. People need food to stay alive.
There are always chances to help others, and there’s always time to do it. In our communities, we can serve by caring for those who are sick, helping in emergencies, lending a hand, joining groups, and supporting people in need. In both our work and personal lives, service can take many forms. It could be teaching yoga, being an artist, a parent, a cook, a teacher, a doctor, a scientist, a mechanic, or a janitor.
As Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, “Do your work but give the results to God, and you will be free.” This means that what matters is not just what you do but how you do it - with a spirit of service and without worrying about the outcomes.
Dedicate your next practice to someone other than yourself and observe how it changes everything. Selfless acts can inspire others to be kind.
Thank you all for your service, it creates a positive ripple effect in our community.
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