Only Service Heals
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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29 Past Reflections
On May 20, 2016 shelly wrote :
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.
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On Apr 22, 2014 Kathleen wrote :
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.
1 reply: Amy | Post Your Reply
On Apr 10, 2014 B2 wrote :
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."
1 reply: Me | Post Your Reply
On Apr 9, 2014 Raahi wrote :
1 reply: Jagdish | Post Your Reply
On Apr 9, 2014 Crimsie wrote :
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.
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On Apr 8, 2014 david doane wrote :
1 reply: A | Post Your Reply
On Apr 7, 2014 Sanjay Mudnaney wrote :
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 .
2 replies: Gurvir, Me | Post Your Reply
On Apr 7, 2014 pluto178 wrote :
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
2 replies: Amy, Cecilia | Post Your Reply
On Apr 7, 2014 Me wrote :
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.
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On Apr 5, 2014 Conrad P Pritscher wrote :
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
2 replies: Jagdish, Conrad | Post Your Reply
On Apr 4, 2014 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
2 replies: Kristin, Mary | Post Your Reply
On Apr 4, 2014 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
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!
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