Quakers ponder Sikh ‘service to others’
'Whilst community service is common to many religions, it is absolutely central to Sikhism.'
Chichester Quakers held an interfaith event exploring the Sikh commitment to Seva, the compassionate service to others.
Quaker Eleanor Nesbitt, an emeritus professor at Warwick University, delivered the lecture about how selfless service to others is a long tradition in Sikhism (or Sikhi, to use the Sikh name). Around forty people attended the event on 21 September, many of them Religious Education students.
Quaker Bill McMellon told the Friend: ‘Eleanor talked about how Sikhs serve free food daily at their Gurdwaras (places of worship) worldwide, serving over 50,000 people a day at the Golden Temple at Amritsar. She discussed how examples of Seva have become a frequent news item. Covid coverage from India showed (for example) Sikhs running hospitals and pharmacies and even collecting bodies for cremation. There are now many organised groups providing Seva, such as KhalsaAid and Sikh Empowerment Voluntary Association (SEVA). Whilst community service is common to many religions, it is absolutely central to Sikhism. The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh scripture, the living text, which points to a life of service. Here Seva is mentioned in terms of peace of mind and humility. Through Seva people may show their devotion to God.’
Eleanor Nesbitt is from Coventry Meeting and has forty years’ experience of teaching and researching among the Sikh community.
