Last weekend, during meditation in the morning, a quiet realization surfaced, one that I had often felt but never fully named. It explained why life in an ashram feels so profoundly different from life in a professional setting.
At the ashram, no task feels beneath us. Sweeping floors, washing utensils, arranging cushions—each act is embraced with ease. Instructions flow freely, regardless of seniority or experience, and are received without ego. Why? Because the intention is pure. There is no undercurrent of pride, rivalry, or self-promotion. Every action is aligned with a higher cause. In such an atmosphere, humility is not taught—it simply arises.
Contrast this with the modern workplace. Here, subtle pressure compels us to highlight our contributions, ensure visibility, and protect our standing. Even helpful guidance can trigger resistance: “Who are they to tell me this?” Beneath the surface runs a current of comparison and competition. The energy is transactional, not devotional.
The difference is not in the tasks we do but in the spirit with which we do them.
- In the ashram, work is seva: selfless service. Action itself is fulfillment.
- In the office, work is transactional: action is measured by recognition, reward, or return.
Spaces rooted in seva feel light, nourishing, and free. Spaces rooted in transaction often feel heavy, draining, and political.
Seva in the Workplace
In my own journey, I’ve noticed something striking. Whenever I bring the spirit of seva into my professional life, helping a colleague without seeking credit, listening without agenda, or quietly doing what needs to be done—I feel lighter, more energized, even joyful.
Yet over time, the workplace current pulls me back. The scoreboard of recognition, the need to prove myself, the rapid pace of corporate life—these distractions erode the spirit of giving. I slip back into the transaction.
But the truth is simple: the choice is always mine. If I hold on to the attitude of seva—even unseen, unrecognized, unpraised—my professional life transforms. Peace does not depend on how others respond, but on how I choose to serve.
Extending Seva Beyond Work
The same lesson applies in personal life. Transactional thinking creeps quietly into relationships, too:
- With family: “I did this for you, so you should…”
- With friends: silent tallies of who gives more, who cares more.
- With relatives: interactions colored by status, obligation, or recognition.
These dynamics create heaviness, just like in the office. But when approached in the spirit of seva, giving without keeping score, relationships soften. A smile offered without expecting one back, a kindness extended without seeking praise, a gesture of help given freely, all of these deepen love and dissolve burden.
When giving is pure, relationships stop being ledgers. They become living sources of joy.
Anchoring Seva in Daily Life
Because the pull of transaction is strong, I remind myself through small rituals:
- Morning Intention – Begin the day with: “Today I serve through my actions, without expectation.”
- Visual Cue – Keep a small symbol of seva nearby—a word, an image, a token—that anchors me.
- Gentle Reminder – Let a phone notification whisper: “Give without expecting.”
- Mindful Pause – Before reacting, ask: “Am I proving myself, or serving?”
- Evening Reflection – Recall one act of seva from the day, and notice its quiet joy.
These practices do not change the world outside. They change the world within.
Closing Reflection
The ashram has taught me something profound: humility and selfless giving are not tied to a place—they are tied to an attitude.
If I carry the spirit of seva into my work, my friendships, and my family, then everything transforms. Work is no longer just a career, family is no longer an obligation, and friendships are no longer transactions. They all become paths of inner peace.
The peace of the ashram is not confined by its walls. It travels with us if we choose to carry it.
To give without expectation is to discover that every moment can be sacred.