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Sewa means ‘selfless service’. It involves helping others without any reward or personal gain. Sikhs perform sewa in a variety of ways, including to help the sangat and the local community.

Performing sewa is important because:

• It demonstrates the Sikh belief in equality and the importance of all people.
• Showing love for others shows love for Waheguru. This is because Waheguru is present in everyone, and so respecting and helping people means helping Waheguru.
• It helps Sikhs to become more gurmukh.
• It stops Sikhs from becoming manmukh, because their focus is on the needs of others rather than themselves.
• It helps Sikhs to move away from the five vices of lust, greed, anger, attachment to material possessions and pride.

One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward, shall attain his Lord and Master. (Guru Granth Sahib 286)

Types of sewa

There are three types of sewa: tan, man and dhan.

The three aspects of sewa are equally important. Sikhs try to complete all three aspects of sewa on a regular basis. However, depending on their individual circumstances, a Sikh might be able to perform one type of sewa more than the others.