In Sikh thought, seva is understood as selfless service offered without any expectation of reward, recognition, or personal gain. It is a direct expression of devotion to the One God, grounded in the conviction that the Divine pervades all beings, so that to serve humanity is, in truth, to serve God. This practice is carried out in humility, with remembrance of the Divine Name, and is meant to erode the ego that separates one from others. Seva is regarded as a vital dimension of spiritual life, standing alongside meditation on God’s Name and honest living as a core discipline. Through such service, the Sikh ideal of seeking the welfare of all is made concrete in daily conduct.

Traditionally, seva is described as operating through three interrelated dimensions: body, mind, and wealth. Physical service (tan) includes tasks such as cleaning the gurdwara, cooking and serving in the langar, helping with construction or maintenance, and offering practical assistance to those in need. Mental or intellectual service (man) involves using one’s understanding and skills to teach, organize, counsel, or otherwise guide and support others. Material service (dhan) consists of sharing one’s earnings and resources, including financial contributions and practical goods, to sustain community projects and aid the poor or vulnerable. In this way, every aspect of human capacity is invited into the discipline of selfless giving.

The ethos of seva is inseparable from the Sikh commitment to equality and human dignity. Service is to be extended to all, without discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, or social status, and the institution of langar vividly embodies this principle by having all sit and eat together as equals. By engaging in such practices, social barriers are deliberately broken down, and a sense of shared humanity is cultivated. The Guru Granth Sahib emphasizes that authentic seva flows from love and devotion rather than mere obligation or the desire for spiritual merit. When undertaken in this spirit, selfless service purifies the heart, diminishes attachment to ego, and aligns the individual with the Divine will, allowing spiritual growth and social responsibility to unfold as two facets of the same path.