Every seva done with sympathy and skill to anyone in distress anywhere in this world is Sathya Sai seva.
108 Volunteers, Every Week
Every week, a set of 108 Sevadal volunteers — women and men from various districts of Karnataka and Bengaluru — come to the hospital on a roster to serve patients without any expectation of return. Around 15 Sevadal serve on a permanent basis and stay on campus.
They find fulfilment in the time they spend at the hospital, seeing Bhagawan in every patient. Over the years, people from all walks of life — IAS officers, retired military personnel, bankers and homemakers alike — have served here and found happiness in it.
Acts of Service
Sevadal Service in Detail
Serving on Campus
The sevadal from various districts of Karnataka come based on a roster, while sevadal from Bengaluru come as and when they can make time.
- There is a very homely accommodation provided for ladies and gents separately during their stay in the campus.
- Sri Sathya Sai Trust, Karnataka ensures that all the sevadal get all meals of the day as prasadam.
- Sevadal have special bhajans in Swami’s room on Saturday afternoon at 4 PM.
Bhagawan on Seva
On 29th of March in the year 1968, Sri Sathya Sai Baba defined what is Sathya Sai seva (selfless service) and who is a sevadal (volunteer). Completing the definition quoted above, He said:
The sevadal must be eager to serve and trained to serve, for service from those who take My name must be intelligent and sincere.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba, 29th March 1968
Avail yourself of every possible occasion to render service to the society. It need not be limited to individuals. It is important to do national service. Whenever you find that you can render help to anyone in need, offer it. Do not make distinctions between rich or poor or the deserving and the undeserving. Offer service according to the needs of the situation.
Today the needs of the poor in the rural areas are quite great. In this situation you must go out into villages, organise service activities and encourage the rural population to participate in them. The village folk should be told the importance of health and hygiene and how to keep their homes and villages clean and healthy.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba, discourse of 21st November 1988
While addressing former students of His university in Prasanthi Nilayam, Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 6th September 2009 declared “service is your birthright”.
Service in Prasanthi Nilayam is an unparalleled opportunity. Highlighting this, Baba said in a discourse to the residents of Prasanthi Nilayam on 7th July 1985:
By undertaking service activity in Prashanthi Nilayam one would have an opportunity to serve God directly. Any work done here is an offering to Swami Himself. Work has to be taken up in this spirit. One should not be idle. Whatever work is done here, should be done out of a feeling of love. You can take up whatever work is appropriate, in keeping with your aptitudes and capacity.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba, 7th July 1985