Sewa: Selfless service
I can explain the importance of sewa for Sikhs in Britain today.
Sewa: Selfless service
I can explain the importance of sewa for Sikhs in Britain today.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Sikhs have many beliefs, but there are three known as 'golden rules'.
- They are to remember God constantly, earn an honest livelihood, and to share with others.
- Selfless Sewa contributes to these principles by ensuring people are never too self important to serve others.
- Sewa may be tan (physical), man (mental), or dhan (material), meaning all Sikhs are able to perform Sewa in some way.
- Examples can include serving at the Gurdwara (tan), offering counselling and advice (man) or through donations (dhan).
Keywords
Dhan - refers to material or financial service
Langar - the community or ‘free kitchen’ in a gurdwara
Man - refers to mental or emotional service
Sewa - helping others selflessly, an important Sikh value
Tan - refers to physical service
Common misconception
Sewa in Sikhi is limited to physical labour, especially tasks like cleaning the Gurdwara, cooking in the langar (community kitchen), or serving food.
Sikhi emphasises that sewa can be of three types: physical service, mental or emotional service or material and financial service.
To help you plan your year 7 religious education lesson on: Sewa: Selfless service, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 religious education lesson on: Sewa: Selfless service, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 3 religious education lessons from the Social justice: how might Sikhs promote equality? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to the correct definition.
the name given to female members of the Khalsa
the name given to male members of the Khalsa
a group of Sikhs that have a commitment to following Sikhi