Page 170 - Sewa Dharma Network Report 18 Dec 20

THE WAY AHEAD

The Way Ahead

UNITY IN DIVERSITY: the sustainability of this “modern” world but in fact
its very being. The degradation of the environment,
The Dharmic and sewa organizations in the US unhealthy lifestyles, overconsumption and
showcase real Indian diversity – representing a overproduction, hyper-competition, the arms race,
variety of dharmas and sampradayas, languages, etc., make us wonder if the goals that the modern
cultures, arts, and service goals. They are spread world has embraced are not only sustainable but
all over the country, in every region, wherever also whether they are correct. We believe that the
there is even a small sprinkling of them. Many of following principles will help us transform the world
these organizations started small, and with limited so that life becomes sustainable for all, including all
resources, just like Sewa did, beginning in 2003. other living beings:
As the Indian Diaspora grows and the Indian- • Sarvebhavantu sukinaha: May all live happily
American presence expands we will begin to see • Vasudhaiva kutumbakam: The world is one
the advantages in scale in matters not only such as family
responding to crises, disasters, and calamities but in • Nara Sewa, Narayana Sewa: Serving humanity
our day-to-day response to the mundane challenges is serving Divinity
of social inequity. Sewa, or selfless service, has
enabled us to build and operate an organization
that relies on the work and energies of volunteers SEWA:
who seek to offer society something in return for Everyone wants to do something good, but,
the sustenance they have received from it. Dharma unfortunately, we also expect something in return
organizations are not based on monopolistic or – a personal reward, power, influence, or control.
supremacist ideas nor do they seek to change We do need to be aware of and cater to our needs
others’ beliefs. Enabling these organizations to pool so that we can indeed perform well and sustain
resources to do good work in this “karma bhoomi” ourselves. But the overweening focus on the self, on
(land of action) will ensure that they strengthen this personal/individual rights, and a first-past-the-post,
society that has offered them sustenance. winner-take-all attitude is not only unsustainable,
but we end up with a Hobbesian world that is “nasty

A SUSTAINABLE WORLD: and brutish”. Sewa, or selfless service, is not just an
antidote to bringing equity in this world but is indeed
The vast and speedy changes in the twentieth a way of transcending our individual limitations
century, leading from the industrial revolution the and finding a level of inner quietude and peace
previous two hundred years, have led to both good that reduces our craving for consumption and for
and ill effects. The good that we see include better recognition. Sewa, performed in the true spirit, and
health, longer lifespan, availability of food and water in the company and with the support of like-minded
to larger and larger numbers of human beings, organizations, will indeed transform the world.
faster and quicker travel, and so on. However, the Together we serve better!
ill effects are now so large that we fear for not only
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