Only Service Heals, by Rachel Naomi Remen

केवल सेवा स्वस्थ करती है ।

जैसे मदद करना ताकत कि अनुभूति करवाता है, वैसे ही ठीक करने में महारत ( mastery ) और विशेषज्ञता ( expertise ) कि अनुभूति होती है । दुसरी तरफ सेवा में हमें रहस्य, आत्मसमर्पण और विस्मय का अनुभव होता है । ठीक करने वाले को आकस्मिक ( casual ) होने का भ्रम होता है । एक सेवक को पता होता है के उनका उपयोग हो रहा है, और वे स्वेच्छा से किसी महान और अनिवार्य रूप से ( essentially ) अज्ञात ( unknown ) अस्तित्व कि सेवा में अपना उपयोग होने देते हैं । ठीक करना और मदद करना बहुत व्यक्तिगत प्रक्रियाएं हैं ; वे बहुत ख़ास, ठोस और विशिष्ट भी हैं । हमारे जीवन-काल में हम बहुत लोगों की मदद करते हैं और बहुत सारी चीज़ों को ठीक करते हैं, पर जब हम सेवा करते हैं, हम हमेशा एक ही वस्तु कि सेवा करते हैं । हर एक व्यक्ति जब भी सेवा करता है किसी भी काल में वह एक ही वस्तु कि सेवा करता है । हम जीवन कि पूर्णता और रहस्य के सेवक हैं ।

सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात यह है के हम बिना सेवा किये ठीक कर सकते हैं, बिना सेवा किये मदद कर सकते हैं और हम सेवा कर सकते हैं बिना मदद या ठीक करते हुए । मै तो यहाँ तक कहूँगी के मदद और ठीक करना तो प्रायः ( often ) अहंकार से प्रेरित कार्य होते हैं जबकि सेवा तो आत्मा का कार्य है । बाहर से देखने पर दोनों समान लग सकते हैं पर आतंरिक अनुभूति अलग होती है । प्रायः परिणाम भी अलग होते हैं ।

हम दूसरों के साथ साथ अपनी भी सेवा करते हैं । जो हमारा उपयोग करता है हमें शक्ति भी प्रदान करता है । समय के साथ साथ मदद और ठीक करते हुए हम थक जाते हैं । लम्बे समय के बाद हम अक्रियाशीलता ( burn out ) का अनुभव करते हैं । सेवा से नवजीवन प्राप्त होता हैं । हमारा सेवा कार्य ही हमारा अस्तित्व बनाये रखता है ।

जीवन कि पवित्रता सेवा का बुनयादी आधार है, जीवन जो एक पवित्र रहस्य है जिसका एक अज्ञात धेय्य है । जब हम सेवा करते हैं हम जानते हैं के हम जीवन और उस धेय्य के हैं । मूलतः मदद करना, ठीक करना या सेवा करना जीवन को देखने के नज़रिये हैं । जब आप मदद करते हैं आप जीवन में निर्बलता को देखते हैं, ठीक करते समय आप जीवन को टुटा हुआ देखते हैं । सेवा करते हुए आप जीवन कि पूर्णता को देखते हैं । सेवा के परिप्रेक्ष्य ( perspective ) से हम सब जुड़े हुए हैं : सारी पीड़ा मेरी पीड़ा है, सारी ख़ुशी मेरी ख़ुशी है । जीवन को देखने के ऐसे नज़रिये से सेवा का भाव सहज ही स्फुरता है ।

अंत में, ठीक करना और मदद करना किसी दवा से होने वाले इलाज़ के आधार हैं, नाकि स्वयं आपने आप प्राप्त होने वाली स्वस्थता के । बिमारी से जूझते हुए ४० वर्षों में कई लोगों ने मेरी मदद कि है और भी बहुत सरों ने मुझे ठीक करने कि कोशिश कि है मेरी पूर्णता को जाने बिना । मदद और ठीक करने कि उन सारी कोशिशों ने मुझे महतवपूर्ण और मूलभूत रूप से घायल किया । केवल सेवा स्वस्थ करती है ।

- डॉ रेचल नाओमी रेमैन के सेवा पे विचार, Noetic Sciences Review में प्रकाशित लेख से रूपांतरित ।

स्व-अन्वेषण के लिए प्रश्न :
केवल सेवा स्वस्थ करती है - इस भाव से आप कैसे जुड़ते हैं ?
क्या आप एक ऐसा निजी अनुभव जब आप को मदद करना, ठीक करना और सेवा करने के बीच का अंतर स्पष्ट हुआ, हमारे साथ बाँट सकते हैं ?
मदद और ठीक करने कि तीव्र इच्छा को नियंत्रित करते हुए हम सेवा में कैसे बढ़ सकते हैं ?

Seed Questions for Reflection

How do you relate to the notion that only service heals? Can you share a personal experience where the difference between helping, fixing and serving became clear to you? How can we resist the temptation to help and fix, and instead grow in service?

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Add Your Reflection

29 Past Reflections

shelly

May 20, 2016

fascinating distinctions of the terms: fix/help/serve. will show this to my son, a family therapist, who perhaps needs to shift his thinking so as to combat work fatigue. and the fact that it is written by none other than Rachel Naomi Remen, a favorite of his, is perfect.

Kathleen

Apr 22, 2014

As a Shiatsu Massage Therapist, are mantra is to be of service not to fix. I have to be remind many times that I cannot fix the person I am with, but to be of service to that person, were ever they are in their life.

Amy Apr 22, 2014

Presence, time, an ear, touch (both physical and spiritual), TLC of any sort . . . Just the kind of "pillow" needed for comfort sometimes. "The fix" sometimes not even possible in this lifetime.

Apr 10, 2014

Was reflecting on the nuances of the word "service" and how it has evolved for me. If you were to ask me in my early teens, service meant to "serve for ones country" in the armed forces. Qualities like sacrifice, respect, camaraderie, and discipline were displayed in the media and I wanted to embody them. Now, service means to surrender to the present moment. A quote to illustrate, "the greatest gift you can give someone is your presence."

me Apr 10, 2014

My younger son is going to be 16 in July. I use his age to recall how long it has been since I "served" a man having MS until the day he died (the Spring before Danny was born). God is so good. As I did not know how I was going to tell Mr. Bob that once my baby was born, I was hoping to pass his care on to another, God gave him a new body/Heaven just in the nick of time!
Mr. B was a VERY proud man. He had been a professional in the area of finance. He did not ask for his body to systematically stop functioning . . . but it did. At 74 young years, he was baptized to new life. Praise Jesus.
My goal in serving, is to do nothing I know one can do for oneself (fostering independence and the highest degree of dignity and respect to the one served. Beyond this, I serve. In bathing, feeding, elimination, range of motion . . . I'd weave prayer (silent) . . . thought provoking questions/conversation (to keep his mind off of the "what I can't" and more directed to the "what I can") . . .
Service is an honor.
Service is a privilege.
What ever we have to give . . . let it be given.
Present.
My family just stepped in, I have to go serve.

Raahi

Apr 9, 2014

For the past few months, I am working on connecting with "my self". I have been looking for ways to do it best, realizing that an important part of it is gratitude and forgiveness. I thought that I am progressing well on this path, till I encountered a challenge yesterday. I was struggling with my old feelings of retaliation and reacting to negative thoughts thrown at me. Wondering how to deal with it. I did not want to go back to my old ways and react and retaliate, but the words kept playing in my head, I kept feeling torn and drained. In the past I have tried in vain to help and fix the relationship and the circumstances. It was beginning to dawn on me this morning that in order to move on and not be pulled back, I need to forgive. But it is easier said than done. I remembered an advice of The Dalai Lama, that if we understand the background and situation of the person involved we can empathize with them. Once I did that, I was able to forgive and immediately felt very l... View full comment

Jagdish P Daveh Apr 9, 2014

Well said. You know the way, the path. We practice it everyday and our life journey becomes joyful and fulfilling. I am happy for you.

Jagdish

Crimsie

Apr 9, 2014

I reflect upon these words...... I feel service can be entwined with helping and fixing, how could it be any different. It depends upon the individual, and the indiviual circumstance. True, as someone who has had a chronic illness
for 19 years, there are not many who are of service, but, most just do their best.

david doane

Apr 8, 2014

The first thing I typically think of when I see something about service is Tagore's saying "I slept and dreamed that life is joy; I awoke and saw that life is service; I took action and behold that service is joy." I also thought of Ken Untner saying to the people gathered at his installation as bishop, "Hi, my name is Ken and I'll be your waiter for the next few years." He saw himself as a servant, not a prince or ruler. As I see it, to heal is to become more whole, and no one can do that for me, though we sometimes like to think it's done for us or to us, and some people like to think of themselves as having the power to heal or cure others. Someone can be present, inspiring and facilitating (which I think are a great service) -- it's for me to turn on, be open and allow for healing to happen. I think fixing implies an attitude of superiority, and it can easily be disrespectful in spite of good intentions. I see the best of service as a way ... View full comment

a Apr 8, 2014

True. Thank you!

Sanjay Mudnaney

Apr 7, 2014

I remember one day I saw an injured stray puppy on the street , he was small , frail and badly injured . I could not walk away . I picked up that little life and took it to a vet . He needed treatment for his wounds. I got him treated over the next few days . Then I put his picture up on FB and someone adopted him . He is now a healthy pup . It just happened spontaneously . I was not trying to fix anything , just connecting with an feeling the pain of that puppy , feeling his loneliness in this big world. I was serving not the puppy and healing his wounds but I was serving myself , and I was healing myself , my wounds. I was so very connected to that small life , almost feeling it within me .

Gurvir Apr 8, 2014

Great job ! You got peace , puppy got life, win win situation.

Me Apr 8, 2014

Love your story! Healing all around! TY!

pluto178

Apr 7, 2014

Sometimes we need support, we get crutches, after a time the crutches can go, we are strong again. If we are offered constant support it actually makes us weak. The stake added to a tree in the first few years of its life offers support but if you don't remove it soon enough the tree will not become flexible and able to bend with the winds. Plants and children grow strong with the help of the nursery but you are teaching them to grow strong when they stand alone. Good intentions in helping and fixing can have a great effect on your ego but make little difference to the person who needs healing. Help people to help themselves and you working in service x

Amy Apr 9, 2014

You got it! Sweet! Thank you much!

cecilia Apr 11, 2014

I also believe helping people to grow strong within them selves is the most important service you can give, like a tree as you say the support has to be removed for those branches to sway in the wind, and also for our fellow mankind to say I have been given the strength, the wise words, the love and compassion, that I now can stand alone and take the same path as my Dear Friend and teach others the same lesson. Thank you for your wisdom

Apr 7, 2014

Within the school I work, I serve children by providing support, resources and questions to assist them to think/problem solve/act/create for themselves. I am not "to give"/"to fix" for the children . . . I am "to give" with the aim to have the child help him/herself. "Spoon feeding" leads to further dependence . . . "Providing a Menu" leads to thought/independence/options/growth.

Conrad P Pritscher

Apr 5, 2014

Before I read the article I read some possible questions to answer. My 1st impression was that words have so many meanings that it makes very little difference. After reading the article I know believe with Reman that service/compassion to and with anyone and anything is what happy peaceful living is about. In my younger years I thought that if I would be of service I would get a reward later in heaven. I now find that when I am of service, the reward is immediate. I notice myself being a part of the whole when I am compassionate to anyone or anything. Thanks for the opportunity to respond. Warm and kind regards to everyone

Jagdish P Daveh Apr 5, 2014

You listen to your heart, speak from your heat and act accordingly. And that is service though it may be interpreted as help.How you view and from where it comes makes the difference. Thank for sharing with us.

With gratitude,

Jagdish

Conrad P Pritscher Apr 5, 2014

Thank you Jagdish. I appreciate your comments. We old guys, I'm 82, have much experience. Warm and kind regards. Conrad

Jagdish P Dave

Apr 4, 2014

As I was reading this writing, words of St Francis flashed in my mind: Make me an instrument of thy peace. Serving others is going beyond myself, surrendering my ego. The big I does many admirable and helpful things, fixing and helping. In this ego bound limited consciousness, the other always exists-the other separate from me. When I serve the other from my heart, the ego dissolves. The drop becomes the ocean.Peace blossoms and joy radiates. My mother's heart was always open to offer unconditional love and serve others joyfully. We felt deeply connected in her presence. I have had many heart touching memories as I was growing up. The stream of her loving presence continued until she passed away. I feel that stream in my heart even as I am nearing 90. In the Mindful parenting class that I am teaching, I posed a question to the parents attending the class: who comes to your mind who treated you special when you were a child? My answer to the question a... View full comment

Kristin Pedemonti Apr 4, 2014

Thank you Jagdish P Dave for sharing such wisdom and heart in this post. Hugs from my heart to yours. Blessings Be! Kristin

Mary Apr 8, 2014

Beautiful! This will sit with me for some time/ the rest of my time...

Kristin Pedemonti

Apr 4, 2014

As someone who serves through Story, I resonated with this post and the definitions. Thank you for offering some clarity. I have definitely both felt and seen the difference on both sides. Much of my work is in service to others; from sharing stories of compassion, kindness and understanding to build bridges between to also interviewing & gathering stories from others in the interest of breaking down stereotypes and highlighting the incredible potential that exists Everywhere. I myself have slipped into "helper" mode which depletes me and also does Not best serve the person on the receiving side; it creates an imbalance, a sort of hierarchy leaving both sides depleted. Whereas Service feels balanced and good to both. (I hope that makes sense) When we serve we are coming from something more pure, when we "help" or fix there is a certain sense of Power attached to it which is not as healthy. Thank you for pointing this out, I needed this today! HUG!

Abhishek Thakore

Apr 3, 2014

This passage is SO relevant to all of us engaged in the work of service! It has been a theme I have been grappling with - and hence the passage really resonates. For me, there are very clear clues to tell me what space am I serving from. For example, if there is an expectation of getting something back (however subtle, and how much ever in the future it arises), it tells me that my space was more transactional, though disguised as service Or, if I am grounded in some type of superiority (of intellect, experience or exposure) and then I act from that, it is actually a performance, a statement of my greatness disguised as service When I used the word 'disguised' here it doesn't necessarily mean only others - it may be disguised from myself in that I may be happily deluding myself about my serving. To me for service to be true, I need to surrender into the insignificance of the local 'me' - in that who am I to know what is the best way to 'solve' this? who am I to be able to influence or... View full comment

viral Apr 4, 2014

Thanks for sharing your insights Abhishek!

savy kaur Apr 9, 2014

Service/serving is an act of love with a difference i.e. without any expectations .It makes us smile inside .
Smiling as we serve is what i try and do
Savy Kaur

Crimsie Apr 9, 2014

I salute you aspiration......to have this smile inside as your real feeling, does it come from trying, or does it come from that moment of divinity that simply is there sometimes, For me it never is there if I try. Feel the feeling, no
matter what it is.

Bharat Apr 9, 2014

Thanks for sharing Abhishek. I was feeling same way but could not put it in words precisely. Salute to your clarity of mind.
As a proactive approach, if I ever felt disturbed, irritated or frustrated during or after serving(during the process of long term serving) it immediately awakens me! I begin to look at the event retrospectively and always result of that introspection is my ego ( "local me")! And that means I also feel that so far I have hardly served in a true manner! Thanks for giving clarity to the reading for me to understand.
I know, the day I feel pure peace and joy, will be the day I have served.
Bharat