Karma Yoga and Seva
Namaste
In my country all spiritual organisations (with gurus from India like Amma, Satya Sai Baba and many others) demand Karma Yoga or Seva. For example they buy a building to hold (commercial) classes. Now the memebers of the organisation are requested to renovate it. To give this renovation the spiritual touch it is called Karma Yoga and Karma Yoga is cleaning ones ego. Thus it is a kind of blackmail.
At the end it is a saving of money, since spirituality is completely commercialised. There is noting for free.
During the class attendants are requested to help in the kitchen, in the garden, to do cleaning and whatever is necessary. Karma Yoga again. Once I took an Indian to Shiva Ratri, the fee was 28 Euro plus Karma Yoga. He was aghast.
Seva is used for what Christianity calls charity or service for others. You are demanded (following Jesus) to take care of old, sick or dying people, for unprivileged or handicapped, the spectrum is vast. At the end it is also a saving of money since we pay a lot into social systems to get this done.
My point is not to criticise this.
I just want to know is this the real meaning of Karma Yoga and Seva? Or is this an adaption for the Westerners since Christianity has no other goal in life than charity and service to others ... just like Jesus.
Pranam
Dance with Shiva - live with Shiva - merge with Shiva
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