Re: True depiction of `Sewa' at Sri Harmandir Sahib (ANI via Yahoo! India News)
How do other members think of the idea that seva is a form of penance. The article starts with this statement:
`Sewa' or selfless service in Sikhism is imperative for spiritual growth. It is the highest form of penance - a means of acquiring the highest merit.
Can penance and seva be equivalent? The origin of the word penance is
ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French, from Latin paenitentia ‘repentance,’ from the verb paenitere ‘be sorry.’
(Oxford American Dictionary)
I think of penance as a way to show that we are truly remorseful for sin and wish to compensate spiritually for sins we have committed. I think of seva as something positive -- a way to progress beyond the place where we are at present. Is seva a blessing and a gift given by God, or is it a self-imposed punishment?
Am I understanding seva incorrectly?