Photo: Kayoko Mitsumatsu (founder of Yoga Gives Back) in India.

Sixteen years ago, I founded Yoga Gives Back (YGB). When anyone asks me, “What inspired you to found Yoga Gives Back,” I usually reply: “Hope for the future.”  I founded YGB out of a Yoga classroom in Los Angeles where, as a beginning Yoga student, I was getting so much benefit physically and mentally from the daily practice. The real bliss was profound as I walked out of the studio daily, which led me to wonder what I was going to do with my happy healthy self? I was 47, with a good profession, a great life partner in my marriage, my parents did not need care yet, etc. I felt I had everything I wanted in my life, but one thing was missing: using myself fully for a bigger purpose.

In this same year, as a documentary filmmaker working for NHK (Japan’s National Public Broadcaster), I was producing a program about Social Entrepreneurship in the US and came to learn about Dr Muhammad Yunus and the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate’s revolutionary microfinancing success in developing countries to alleviate poverty, especially empowering underserved women around the world. I became aware that $6 billion was spent on Yoga per year in the US alone (it is estimated $80 billion worldwide today), while 75 percent of the population in India still live under the poverty line, earning $2 a day. It was so shockingly lopsided.

My Yoga class was about $15 at that time (now $30 in Los Angeles), and I indulged myself with nice Yoga pants at $65. I realized that for the cost of one Yoga class in the West, you can change a life in India with microfinancing. Just $15 could provide an impoverished woman in India with funds to start her own income-earning business and end the vicious cycle of poverty and care for her children with three daily meals and education! I shared this idea with my Yoga teacher and studio owner. To my surprise, everyone supported the idea right away. Apparently, many Yoga practitioners were already looking for an opportunity to give back but there was no nonprofit organization in the Yoga community that focused on giving back to India to express our gratitude.

This was how Yoga Gives Back was born from one local Yoga studio in Los Angeles, embraced by passionate Yoga practitioners and leaders from the start.

Looking back, it is quite astonishing that YGB’s mission has spread to over 30 countries worldwide in the last 16 years, empowering more than 2,400 women and children with our own micro-loan and education programs. Over 100 top teachers and leaders of Yoga and mindfulness are now our Advisors and Ambassadors with heartfelt support for our mission, helping our fundraising efforts year after year.

When I came back from India in January 2023, I was deeply inspired— especially after a three-year separation due to the pandemic—by witnessing the real generational impact YGB is creating among the marginalized population. We now see hundreds of disadvantaged youths graduating with college degrees against all odds and becoming real role models and change makers in their communities, as well as helping their poor families.

Once abused by her husband, one woman has become the breadwinner for the family with solid income from mat-making micro-loan work which also gained her respect from her husband and community. Young girls with education were the first to help illiterate and poor farmers when COVID engulfed Indian villages in 2020. They risked their lives and bicycled into the villages to help distribute masks, medical information, as well as emergency food assistance. These girls came to be known as “Covid Warriors” and were deeply appreciated by the villagers.

These are just some incredible results of our programs and they provide the inspiration for me to continue to do our best for our mission.  We have also created deep connections with our fund recipients in India, who are now our brothers and sisters. Countless transactional relationships matured into mutual respect over the years. I am beyond grateful for this life mission which continues to guide me and inspire me to explore ways to give back for bigger and bigger impact as the need in India is unlimited.

Our future goal is to reach one million yogis to join in our global grassroots campaign. There are an estimated 300 million people enjoying Yoga practice in the world. If just a fraction—one million of them join us—we can raise much more funding to empower significantly more lives in India. Out of India’s 1.4 billion people, an estimated 50 percent or more still live below the poverty line. The pandemic and climate change hit the most vulnerable population, especially women and children, much harder economically and socially.

As a beneficiary of Yoga, this ancient wisdom from India, I believe our work is critical among the global Yoga communities so this practice does not become one-way, benefitting only the practitioner or business owners. If we believe in Yoga, unity is our goal. We need to express our gratitude with action.

As a near future goal, I challenge every Yoga practitioner to join us in our annual campaign in June, “Global Gathering for India.” It started with a hugely successful fundraiser in the first year of the pandemic as 80 global leaders and teachers from kirtan, mindfulness, and Yoga communities gathered from over 20 countries for our live three-day zoom event. As we enjoy post-pandemic personal interactions, we are inviting everyone to host just one class or tea party or whatever to fundraise for our mission anytime in June and give back as a global family. Size does not matter, but your participation truly matters!

About the Author:

Photo Credit: Dorit Thies Photography

Kayoko Mitsumatsu, prior to moving to the United States in 1992, was a producer/director for NHK Japan’s National Public Broadcaster, working on prime-time current affairs and documentary television programs and with cultural attachés at the Embassy of Japan in London. Her passion for documentary filmmaking’s ability to bridge diverse cultures and share the voices of the voiceless is rooted in a perspective gained from years of living abroad, including in Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Kayoko has been filming real stories of Yoga Gives Back’s fund recipients in India for over a decade as YGB Films, which chronicles the harsh realities of underserved women and children in India, as well as how Yoga Gives Back’s global community support has transformed many lives with real impact and hope.

Learn more the June 2023 YGB special event here: https://Yogagivesback.org/global-gathering-for-india/

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Nalanie Chellaram receives “The Mayor’s Award” from His Worship the Mayor, Christian Santos GMD.

Nalanie Chellaram, Integral Yoga master teacher and Integral Yoga Centre head, was recently honored with the “Mayor’s Award” in Gibraltar. The Mayor’s Awards scheme is given to members of the public, either individuals or groups, who had served Gibraltar in exceptional or voluntary service over a prolonged period of time. Nalanie’s partner Anand Les Roberts, as well as Nalanie’s daughter and son-in-law (Shanelle and Andrew Bacarese-Hamilton) accompanied her to the ceremony.

As Shanelle Bacarese-Hamilton said about the occasion, “So, so proud to be there to see my mum, Nalanie Chellaram, receive a Mayor’s Award last night in Gibraltar. She has dedicated her life to service, set up the integral Yoga Centre Gibraltar, and helped countless charities and individuals along the way, both in Gibraltar and all over the world. Mum, you are so incredible. Love you so very much! You inspire all of us.”

Integral Yoga International (IYI) congratulates Nalanie Chellaram on this prestigious and well-deserved recognition for her decades of humanitarian and charitable services. Nalanie is also the founder of Service in Satchidananda, the global charitable arm of IYI.

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(Photo: Prema Pleva with Swami Asokananda.)

In the 1980s, when the gay community in New York City was under siege, suffering and dying from a vicious plague yet to be named HIV, Prema Pleva was an inspiring force for Integral Yoga in New York as she welcomed and served those suffering most. In 1985, she established what was most likely the first Yoga class for people with HIV and AIDS and taught this class for 30 years before retiring some years ago (Prema is now 91!).

Prema has been an activist in this field as well as a beloved teacher at the New York Integral Yoga Institute (NYIYI), and shining example of selflessness that she provided to the NYIYI community. Prema also happens to be Swami Asokananda’s (NYIYI president and spiritual director) mother!

At a time when no one outside of the gay community in New York was responding to what was then called “the gay man’s disease,” when the colleagues, neighbors, even friends and families of those diagnosed ran in fear, Prema Pleva not only stepped up, she asked the NYIYI to step up with her.

For decades, Prema’s HIV+ Hatha classes were a place of solace, of community, acceptance and hope for those who had been handed a death notice. Because Prema loved and mothered men who had been abandoned by their own families, she was often called “Mother” by the community-at-large. As research revealed the possibility of survival, and the importance of overall health in living with HIV, her classes were no less important.

On June 6, 2021 a special celebration was held, during which Prema received the New York Integral Yoga Institute’s first “Lifetime of Service” award. Prema was honored not only for her life dedicated to service and the embodiment of the Integral Yoga teachings, but because she lifted up the entire NYIYI sangha and inspired them to do the right thing, even when it wasn’t easy.

(Photo: A screenshot captured during a PBS documentary on AIDS activism, Prema is seen wearing chains in a protest during a demonstration in New York City, circa 1980s.)

The program included testimonials about lives changed because of her selfless service and celebrated the shining example she provided to the Integral Yoga as a community. Those gathered virtually, remembered those lost, who, in their last days knew the kindness of a mother’s heart, solely thanks to Prema. Prema is a beautiful example of selflessness, stamina, consistency. As one sangha member remarked, “She inspired us to live the teaching of our teacher and founder, Swami Satchidananda: ‘What’s the use of doing anything that’s too easy? Anybody can do it. The glory comes only when you do something others can’t easily do.’”

Swami Satchidananda defined the goal of Integral Yoga as a path to “An easeful body, a peaceful mind, and a useful life.” Part of the reason the NYIYI adopted a business model of Karma Yoga teachers—offering their service without financial gain—is that this not only sets a beautiful energy and vibration in the classroom, but is also an opportunity for those teachers to practice seva, or selfless service.

The Lifetime of Service Award was established to begin a tradition of celebrating those in our community whose service spans their lifetime, makes a difference in the lives of so many others, and serves as an example and inspiration for all.

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(Photo: Mary Klipp caught on camera, by her son, during one of her “secret Karma Yoga missions.”)

Long-time Integral Yoga community member and Karma Yogi, Mary Klipp, shares her story of how she first began her Yoga journey. And, part of that journey has included a special Karma Yoga “secret mission” of cleaning up the environment. Mary’s son Joshua made this amazing video “Mom’s Secret Life of Trashing” that went viral. Completely narrated by Mary this video shares her work and is a beautiful example of her service in the world. Thank you Mary for your dedication.

My Yoga journey began with a promise I made to my son Josh’s plea to promise him to “Just try it, Mom. Just try it.” Okay, okay, I said, “I promise.”

The Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco (IYI) was just beginning to offer a new class called Gentle Yoga, for people who may have various physical problems. Josh had heard about the class and thought I’d be a good fit. I have had a paralyzed left arm after having polio when I was almost 3 years old, several years before the vaccine became available. So, in 2011 I went to IYI and met my first teacher, Jai, a pony-tailed, purple-haired gentleman. The class was quite small and included Yoga Nidra. I was immediately smitten and have never looked back!

A lifelong church-going, choir-singing Catholic, I have been a pray-er all those years, but Yoga introduced me to the practice of meditation. Certainly the church has a great history of contemplative prayer, even whole religious orders dedicated to its practice. However, I never learned, much less practiced, the actual elements of quieting the body and mind until Gentle Yoga! Yoga has, in effect, strengthened my own faith and deepened my prayer life.

I took full advantage of a number of Yoga classes on specialized techniques in practice, theory classes, and more. I have always been impressed by the kindness, gentleness, and hospitality shown to visitors. Its warm energy is actually palpable!

The benefits of Yoga practice combined with my own faith experience have been real and deep. I feel more peaceful, less anxious. I have received consistent practice in accessing a peaceful place inside of me. My respiratory ability, flexibility, stamina, balance, and overall strength—all of these areas have been maintained and improved over these years without strain, plus the additional benefit of my body’s being a “moving meditation!” Wow! In addition, I have made wonderful, supportive friends, who have taught me so much about serving with love! I am very, very grateful.

Hear about Mary’s seva in her own words in this video.

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REFOOD Almancil

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But the messages of our culture instill in us the illusion that we are all separate beings, each needing to pursue happiness as individuals. This easily leads to comparing ourselves and competing with each other for the things and achievements that seem to create a happy life. And the world economy feeds on this illusion by offering us happiness in the form of the marketplace—an endless variety of things to buy. Thus, many people find themselves living in a relentless cycle of earning and consuming that, sooner or later, leaves them feeling frustrated and incomplete, cut off from everything that really gives life meaning.

The teachings of Yoga offer a completely different paradigm. Serving others is seen as a unique spiritual path—Karma Yoga—a practice in which actions are performed with a focused mind, a caring heart, and no concern for personal gain. This intention can be incorporated into literally anything we do and it deepens as we become less dependent on the outcome of our efforts and experience a newfound freedom from tension and expectations.

What a relief it is for me to focus fully on my work projects, free of worry, knowing that agonizing over the results only diminishes my skills. Then it can be more like play. Sri Swami Satchidananda put it this way: “Do your best, leave the rest.”

Perhaps the most powerful way this practice develops is from the joy we derive from giving ourselves wholeheartedly in service to someone or some higher purpose. Many people who work in service of others find tremendous fulfillment in the act of serving, giving, or even praying for others. Such experiences go beyond theory—they enable us to feel a deep sense of connection and belonging, a purpose for living that is larger than ourselves, and the flow of love that is a natural expression of our true nature.

An equally powerful approach to seva is devotion, service as an offering to God. Since we don’t easily recognize the Divine in each other—and the idea of a spiritual consciousness is so abstract—people throughout history have found countless symbols, names, and forms to represent this ineffable Presence that dwells within everything. This form, be it a deity, spiritual principle like peace, or a picture of a saint, can help us cultivate a higher form of love. Love directed toward God in any form inspires us to feel protection and comfort, to access an ever-present Grace and inner strength, and rise above the illusion of separation.

Yoga offers techniques to cultivate this deep love, which are collectively known as Bhakti Yoga. These practices include chanting the names of the Divine to feel its Presence (kirtan), creating an altar and making heartfelt offerings (puja), and performing actions with reverence and devotion (seva).

When we perform duties as an offering to a beloved personification of the Divine, we give our very best. In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna says, “Perfection in action is Yoga.” When we strive to see ourselves as instruments of the Divine—the hands of God at work in the world—we access and allow ourselves to be guided by an inner strength, much greater than our own. We let go of our personal desires without force or denial by willingly surrendering to a Higher Will.

The intention to serve a Higher Will inevitably leads us to serving our families, neighbors, and communities. As Mother Theresa beautifully experienced and taught, we serve God by serving the Divinity in each other, in all of nature. Seva is a practice, and if we practice seeing and serving God in all, we gradually erase the imaginary boundaries we have come to believe in.

We have a new administration in the United States and people all over the world are gradually receiving the COVID vaccine. But that doesn’t mean we can sit back and let our governments take care of everything. We all need to step up and contribute to our communities in whatever way we can. Serving in such ways arises naturally from the recognition of our interdependence with all of life. Actions performed with genuine care for others are healing for our hearts, and we find joy in giving rather than looking for a reward or outcome.  This is how we really bring our Yoga practice to life.

About the Author:

Swami Ramananda is the president of the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco and a greatly respected master teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for more than 35 years. He offers practical methods for integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life. He leads beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level Yoga Teacher Training programs in San Francisco and a variety of programs in many locations in the United States, Europe, and South America. Swami Ramananda trains Yoga teachers to carry Yoga into corporate, hospital, and medical settings and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many places. He is a founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes Yoga teachers as professionals. 

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(Photo: Swami Satchidananda with the first Integral Yoga Ministers, 1980.)

The first thoughts of proposing some type of ministry for the Integral Yoga organization occurred in the winter of 1980.  My mother had been a member of the Third Order of St. Francis when she was young. This order was established by St. Francis in response to a request by the Pope to help stem the rising numbers of Europeans who were joining either of the saint’s monastic orders (the Friar Minors and the Poor Clares). There was the fear that the population of Europe would decrease to dangerously low levels. The Third Order was a non-monastic one composed of men and women, either single or married.  Meanwhile, I believed that there were many householders in our sangha that shared the same zeal as their sannyas (monastic) brothers and sisters, but had no way of formalizing their devotion and dedication. An order of ministers seemed a logical step.

After several of months pondering this idea, I mustered the courage to write to Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev). On 7 March 1980, I nervously posted the letter, fearing that perhaps I was being inappropriate or far too presumptuous. I still considered myself to be a beginner, having begun my practice of Integral Yoga only seven years before.

A few weeks later I received a reply from Sri Gurudev: “I was thinking of this myself, so I am really thrilled to have you come forward in this regard. It is really a great idea to have a ministry.” In 1979, Gurudev had helped his good friend and fellow interfaith advocate Rabbi Gelberman found the first interfaith seminary in America. In 1966, they founded, along with Br. David Steindl-Rast and a Zen roshi, the Center for Spiritual Studies. Over 15 years, Integral Yoga hosted an annual program “The Swami and the Rabbi,” with Gurudev and Rabbi Gelberman.

So, the idea of having the first Yoga-based interfaith ministry was in Gurudev’s heart and mind, something I didn’t know at the time! While I was so happy to hear his response to my suggestion, I didn’t expect what came next when he told me, “I’d like you to organize this and arrange for our first ordination this Guru Poornima.” I really couldn’t believe that I understood this directive correctly. Surely, there were many others more senior, more knowledgeable, and more in-the-know of the ways of the organization than I. I even called his secretary to confirm this. “Yes, she said, Gurudev wants you to organize this.”

(Photo: Rev. Jaganath with Swami Satchidananda, Yogaville Virginia.)

To organize a ministry meant establishing guidelines for applicants, creating an ordination ceremony, writing vows, establishing an entire tradition. I sought out the advice of several senior sannyasis and began the work. Sri Gurudev appointed a number of senior students to be on the first Ministry Board. Sri Gurudev reviewed and approved the first draft of our proposal. I thought I had fulfilled Sri Gurudev’s instructions to me. As I was living in New Jersey, a number of Board members (including myself) felt that someone who lived at the Ashram should take over and coordinate the efforts. Without consulting Gurudev, I spoke to one of the Board members who agreed to take on the responsibility of chairing the Board. However, when Sri Gurudev found out, He called me and declared “I put you in that position. You are there for a reason. You are to stay there until I say you can leave.”

Soon Gurudev asked me to come to the Ashram (then in Pomfret, Connecticut) to announce the new order. Near the end of satsang, he invited me sit next to him on the floor so that people “could just look at you.” He didn’t immediately address the ministry, but went ahead with a few other items. Several long minutes later he announced that I would explain the details of this new development. Afterward, he invited questions and soon took over the task of answering them himself. He said, among other things, that he considered the ministry to be “almost the same as sannyas. There is really only a small difference.” This was before we decided to accept single people as candidates (that option was opened up by the sincere requests of the late Rev. Subhadra Jyothi).

In the beginning, there seemed to be a hesitation in applying for this new order. For the first few weeks, no one applied. Perhaps this was because there were some who thought that Gurudev was not really “serious” about this new order, that is was going to somehow be a “made up” ministry. And maybe there were others who were interested, but were waiting to see if anyone would apply. In fact, during those first few weeks after the announcement, I had not applied myself. I had doubts that I was either worthy or senior enough for such a great blessing.

Meantime, Gurudev suggested that I work with Paraman Barsel (now Rev. Paraman), at that time the director of the Integral Yoga Institute of New York, in further developing the ministry guidelines and policies. Finally, after much soul searching I decided to apply, becoming the first official applicant. Only a day or two later, several others applied and by the time Guru Poornima in July 1980 rolled around, we had 23 candidates, 16 on the East Coast and 7 on the West Coast. The first ordination was held in Santa Barbara since Sri Gurudev was to be there for Guru Poornima. The East Coast ordination was held a week or so later.

(Photo: Swami Satchidananda conducts ordination for first group of ministers, 1980.)

At the ordination, we were given gold sashes as visible signs of our commitment. At one point, the Board felt that ministers should always wear a particular color, but Sri Gurudev said that he did not want them to stand out in that way, but to blend in to those around them. He suggested a white kimono type robe with the gold sash that became our first official ministerial robe design. At the ordination, after the puja, Gayatri Mantra and vows, Sri Gurudev patiently taught us the way to tie the sashes. It was precisely the same way that he tied the sash on his own coat. It had to be on the right side midway between the navel and the side of the body with the loop pointed to the rear. He went to each and every newly ordained minister to check and correct this. These robes at that time, by his suggestion, were fashioned after his very simple, yet elegant, overcoat.

The Integral Yoga Ministry is an interfaith ministry because interfaith understanding was foundational to Sri Gurudev’s teachings, summarized in his well-known motto: “Truth is one, paths are many.” He clarified that while it was appropriate for Integral Yoga ministers to co-officiate at ceremonies of other faiths and to add elements to any ceremonies from any tradition, ministers should not officiate as ministers of other faiths, which they aren’t.

Over the years, Sri Gurudev emphasized other important points for ministers to remember, including these:

“A minister is mainly someone available for public service. If you are not interested in public service you can be a good yogi, a good student. Otherwise, if there is not the interest to serve, why would one want to be called a minister? Because you call yourself a minister, the public will expect you to come to their homes and perform some services.

“Live up to the teachings, and be proud that you are an Integral Yogi. Let people recognize, just by even seeing you, that you are an Integral Yogi. Be more responsible for the growth of the organization. It’s not enough to be a minister. Know that this is your organization, it’s not just mine. I know that I won’t always be around always with you. I have spent enough time, so even if you are going to keep me alive for several more years, I would like to quietly sit there and watch everything growing and that everybody is taking an interest in making it grow.”

More information about the Integral Yoga Ministry here. If you are interested in more information or applying to the Integral Yoga Seminary, contact: ministry[at]integralyoga.org

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For far too long, many committed spiritual seekers I know have limited their response to sending prayers for peace, expressing their dismay to each other, and recommitting themselves to spiritual practice to establish peace in their hearts. These are all very important choices, but right now, I don’t think they are enough. These actions are invisible to the world around us—I saw a protest sign recently that read, “Silence is Violence.”

It is crucial that we sustain a regular meditation practice to touch the ground of being we all share and to awaken the natural compassion that arises in the heart when we experience this interconnection. Understood in this context, our spiritual practice is a responsibility, not simply a personal pursuit. Only then, will this sense of oneness be strong enough that it manifests in our hearts and minds as we interact in the world.

But we need not wait for some level of enlightenment to take Yoga off the cushion or mat and into the street. We can purposely practice moving, talking, and thinking with peace and compassion in our hearts.

We bring compassion into conversations when we listen deeply to another person and make a real effort to understand and respect their needs, instead of stubbornly defending our own. We can approach even those with whom we disagree with an open heart and an effort to build on the common ground we share, instead of focusing only on the differences.

At every opportunity, we must speak out against injustice when we see, hear, or witness it and be a presence of peace in moments of conflict. Even when we cannot help directly, we can offer support to those who are fighting against racism and violence. We must make our voices heard to those seeking election, so that polices that support social justice are enacted at every level of government.

 A recent message from the Interfaith Council of San Francisco articulates our intention to join with many others in supporting changes that value all peoples, regardless of race, eradicate all forms of oppression and recognize the unity behind all diversity:

“The overwhelming national response to George Floyd’s death, manifested in peaceful protests, not only honors his life, but powerfully expresses the threshold of tolerance we as Americans have reached for injustice, systematic racism and discrimination against people of color. This powerful resurgence of a long overdue civil rights movement will not be silenced until structural change is realized. We lift our voices and stand in unity and solidarity with our sisters and brothers of color in proclaiming that BLACK LIVES MATTER.” —Interfaith Council of San Francisco

For the last two months, the residents of the Integral Yoga Institute here in San Francisco have been gathering to send out prayers for all those who are suffering from the pandemic. We will continue to do so and keep equally in our prayers all those suffering from racial injustice.  And we commit to educating ourselves to uncover unintentional racism, to searching our own hearts for prejudice of any kind and to using every opportunity to promote the yogic understanding that we are all one.

Responding to Racism – A Spiritual Perspective   Sunday June 14, 7:30–9:00pm ET/4:30–6:00 pm PT

Please join us for a free panel and community discussion we will hold on Sunday, June 14, 7:30–9:00pm ET/4:30–6:00 pm PT, entitled “Responding to Racism – A Spiritual Perspective.” Integral Yoga Minister Kamala Itzel Hayward will speak on the essential role that acknowledging racism and other forms of oppression plays in the spiritual journey. Mazin Jamal Mahgoub will follow with a talk on effective activism grounded in spiritual principles. Moderated by Swami Ramananda.

About the Author:

Swami Ramananda is the president of the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco and a greatly respected master teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for more than 35 years. He offers practical methods for integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life. He leads beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level Yoga Teacher Training programs in San Francisco and a variety of programs in many locations in the United States, Europe, and South America. Swami Ramananda trains Yoga teachers to carry Yoga into corporate, hospital, and medical settings and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many places. He is a founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes Yoga teachers as professionals. 

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Karma Yoga, the path of selfless service, is a main branch of the classical Integral Yoga system. Integral Yoga founder, Swami Satchidananda, considered the spirit of Karma Yoga as foundational to the practice of Yoga. In this article, Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, captures the heart of Karma Yoga.

In recent years the question, “How can I help?” has become meaningful to many people. But perhaps there is a deeper question we might consider. Perhaps the real question is not “How can I help?” but, “How can I serve?” Serving is different from helping. Helping is based on inequality; it is not a relationship between equals. When you help you use your own strength to help those of lesser strength. If I’m attentive to what’s going on inside of me when I’m helping, I find that I’m always helping someone who’s not as strong as I am, who is needier than I am. People feel this inequality. When we help we may inadvertently take away from people more than we could ever give them; we may diminish their self-esteem, their sense of worth, integrity and wholeness.

When I help I am very aware of my own strength. But we don’t serve with our strength, we serve with ourselves. We draw from all of our experiences. Our limitations serve, our wounds serve, even our darkness can serve. The wholeness in us serves the darkness in others and the wholeness in life. Helping incurs debt. When you help someone they owe you one. But serving, like healing, is mutual. There is no debt. I am as served as the person I am serving. When I help I have a feeling of satisfaction. When I serve I have a feeling of gratitude. These are very different things.

Serving is also different from fixing. When I fix a person I perceive them as broken, and their brokenness requires me to act. When I fix I do not see the wholeness in the other person or trust the integrity of the life in them. When I serve I see and trust that wholeness. It is what I am responding to and collaborating with. There is a distance between ourselves and whatever or whomever we are fixing. Fixing is a form of judgment. All judgment creates distance, a disconnection, an experience of difference. In fixing there is an inequality of expertise that can easily become a moral distance. We cannot serve at a distance. We can only serve that to which we are profoundly connected, that which we are willing to touch. This is Mother Teresa’s basic message. We serve life not because it is broken but because it is holy.

If helping is an experience of strength, fixing is an experience of mastery and expertise. Service, on the other hand, is an experience of mystery, surrender and awe. A fixer has the illusion of being casual. A server knows that he or she is being used and has a willingness to be used in the service of something greater, something essentially unknown. Fixing and helping are very personal; they are very particular, concrete and specific. We fix and help many different things in our lifetimes, but when we serve we are always serving the same thing. Everyone who has ever served through the history of time serves the same thing. We are servers of the wholeness and mystery of life. The bottom line, of course, is that we can fix without serving. And we can help without serving. And we can serve without fixing or helping. I think I would go so far as to say that fixing and helping may often be the work of the ego, and service the work of the soul. They may look similar if you’re watching from the outside, but the inner experience is different. The outcome is often different, too.

Our service serves us as well as others. That which uses us strengthens us. Over time we burn out. Service is renewing. When we serve, our work itself will sustain us. Service rests on the basic premise that the nature of life is sacred, that life is sacred, that life is a holy mystery which has an unknown purpose. When we serve, we know that we belong to life and to that purpose. Fundamentally, helping, fixing, and service are ways of seeing life. When you help you see life as weak, when you fix, you see life as broken. When you serve, you see life as whole. For the perspective of service, we are all connected: All suffering is like my suffering and all joy is like my joy. The impulse to serve emerges naturally and inevitably from this way of seeing.

Lastly, fixing and helping are the basis of curing, but not of healing. In 40 years of chronic illness I have been helped by many people and fixed by a great many others who did not recognize my wholeness. All that fixing and helping left me wounded in some important and fundamental ways. Only service heals.

About the Author:

Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., has been counseling those with chronic and terminal illness for more than twenty years. She is co-founder and medical director of the Commonweal Cancer Help Program in Bolinas, California and is currently clinical professor of family and community medicine at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine. For more info: www.rachelremen.com

(This article is reprinted from In the Service of Life, Noetic Sciences Review, Spring 1996.)

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