Shantiseva Instistute Meaning
The spiritual practice of Seva is karma yoga, the yoga of action that brings together service with a devotion to God Bhakti, Shanti is a Sanskrit term meaning "peace.
Tina created Shantiseva in service of the four-legged, feathered, finned ones, crawling ones, standing ones seated ones all beings everywhere be happy and free.
I learned about another form of Seva from my beloved Shyam Das. He also met Neem Karoli Baba 35 years ago and stayed in India living as a musician, a Sanskrit scholar and devotee of Krishna. In the practice of devotion to Krishna, one does “Seva” every day. Shyam Das’ Seva is a practice where you chant, meditate and cook for Krishna. I am admiring this practice, as it exemplifies selflessness. The practice is not for one’s self and perfection of state, but an offering, a transformation. He says “Seva has no sense of getting anything out of it, it is the true dharma of the heart. It is different than charity or good doing good deeds. Seva increases pure devotion”
As expressed in the Bhagavad Gita, the great conversation between Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield [of life], the key is to surrender to God the fruits of your service, to give up any expectation of rewards or attachment to the results and allow your human will to become part of the Divine Will. Then it’s not up to you how it comes out, so no worries, no anxiety. Work done with utmost love and integrity with no thought of the result is yoga, it’s a path toward the One, toward liberation.
From the Bhagavad Gita:
“The science of transcendental knowledge has been imparted to you, O Arjuna.
Now listen to the science of God-dedicated, selfless action (Seva), endowed with which you will free yourself from all Karmic bondage, or sin. (2.39)
No effort ever goes to waste in selfless service, and there is no adverse effect.
Even a little practice of this discipline protects one from the cycle of repeated birth and death”
Change the world by changing yourself.
Heal the world by healing yourself.
Find a need and fulfill it.
Service is the greatest form of spiritual practice.
Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.
You don’t have to have a college degree to serve,
You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace.
A soul generated by love.
~ Martin Luther King Jr.
The Shantiseva institute is my humble offering of giving something back to the four sacred directions, the plant medicines of the earth, and the beautiful blue planet.
Shine, Be bright, Be visible.