Sewa and Simran
Seva and Simran and two aspects of Sikhi which are fundamental to a devotee of this faith; Seva, meaning work or service performed without any thought of reward or personal benefit and Simran meaning the remembrance of God by repetition or recital of His Name or Nĝm. These in union are essential for the elevation of an adherent of Sikhism.
| ਹਮਰੈ ਸਰਵਣ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਹਉ ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨ ਰਹਿ ਨ ਸਕਉ ਹਉ ਇਕ ਖਿਨ ॥
ਜੈਸੇ ਹੰਸ ਸਰਵਰ ਬਿਨ ਰਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਤੈਸੇ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਕਿਉ ਰਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਸੇਵਾ ਬਿਨ ॥੧॥ |
| Hamrai sarvaṇ simran har kīrṯan ha▫o har bin rėh na saka▫o ha▫o ik kẖin.
Jaise hans sarvar bin rėh na sakai ṯaise har jan ki▫o rahai har sevĝ bin. (1) |
| My ears hear the Lord's Kirtan, and I contemplate Him; without the Lord, I cannot live, even for an instant.
As the swan cannot live without the lake, how can the Lord's slave live without serving Him? (1) |
The importance of both these virtues is deemed necessary to attain spiritual wisdom and understanding and form one of the basic steps for the follower of the domain of Guru Nanak. The need to remember and focus on the Creator at all times is the essence of Sikhi and to serve humanity and care for others who less able than oneself is another important pillar of the message of the Sikh Gurus.
