Written by Kareena Terry

My YfS journey began on the 7th of August with my Orientation Day in Leicester. The focus of the day was to prepare us for the journey ahead, to meet other interns and to learn from the experiences of previous YfS interns. Hearing the stories, challenges and successes of previous interns was all I needed to truly start to feel excited about the journey on which I was about to embark, as it began to hit me that I really was about to travel alone to India for the very first time.

The day also consisted of talks on the meaning of ‘sewa’ and the concept of ‘dharma’, both of which are integral parts of Hinduism and underline the YfS process. I learnt to distinguish between the idea of ‘sewa’, meaning selfless service and the idea of charity, which I would previously have also defined as selfless service.

While both do involve helping those less fortunate than ourselves, ‘sewa’ has a greater emphasis on abandonment of the ego and a breaking down of the barrier between ‘us’ and ‘them’ when it comes to helping others. The idea of ‘charity’ often places us in a position of superiority, while performing an act of ‘sewa’ means viewing oneself as equal to all of humanity, including those who are in need.

It does not mean using one’s wealth and privilege to serve others as a means of earning status or recognition, as can often be the motive behind an act of charity, but rather abandoning such desires in order to support the ‘family’ that is all of mankind and to give something back to the world. This was a concept that stuck with me throughout my YfS experience, particularly in my work at Sanvedana Rehabilitation Centre.

The idea of ‘dharma’ was also prominent in my experience. Dharma comes from the Sanskrit word, ‘dhri’, which means to uphold, maintain, or preserve. Whilst different translations and interpretations lead to varying definitions of the word, put simply, ‘dharma’ means ‘that which upholds, maintains and allows flourishing’. I believe this ‘flourishing’ belongs to the entire universe and ‘dharma’ is the means through which this is achieved.

For me, ‘dharma’ is an individualistic concept; one person’s ‘dharma’ can differ from that of the next, and we are all here to discover and create our own ‘dharma’ to uphold and preserve the happiness of the world. With these new concepts in mind, I felt ready to embark on my journey of self-discovery, and selfless contribution to the maintenance and flourishing of the world.