NEW YORK / NEW DELHI (TIP): As the world comes to grips with a global pandemic of epic proportions, countries have taken strong measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. On March 24, a nationwide lockdown was instituted in India in an effort to protect its 1.3 billion-strong population by breaking the cycle of infection and containing the outbreak. However, as declared by Dr Tedrous Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), “these steps can have unintended consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable within a population.” In India, millions of migrant workers dependent on daily wages have been impacted. Government programs are being implemented to ensure food and essentials reach the most vulnerable at this time.

Complementing the national efforts, under the leadership and guidance of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, spiritual head of US based  Science of Spirituality (SOS)/Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission (SKRM), SOS volunteers across the country have mobilized to set up food kitchens and food drives, bringing warm meals and basic essentials to individuals in need. From Delhi to Jalandhar, Amritsar to Hyderabad, Mumbai to Dehradun, SOS volunteers, while practicing social distancing, have united to prepare and package meals and supplies at SOS Centers around the country. These packages are then distributed in collaboration with the local government authorities on a daily basis as a means of alleviating hunger within the communities. With over 3000 satellite centers around the world, and over 2000 centers in India alone, the organization’s large footprint affords it the expansive reach necessary to feed tens of thousands during these challenging times.

Service to humanity or seva, as it is known in Hindi, is a core tenet of Science of Spirituality, a worldwide spiritual organization dedicated to transforming lives through meditation. In the words of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, service is “the sweetest fruit on the tree of love.” It is an acknowledgement of the fundamental unity underlying our existence, and when carried out with kindness, compassion, and in a spirit of selflessness, such service has the power to change the world, one heart at a time.

This spirit of selflessness, kindness, and generosity has been growing around the world as individuals and communities embrace their common humanity and find creative ways to help each other at this time. So much so that when the definitive history of the coronavirus pandemic is written, it will not only relate a story of loss and despair, but also one of human unity, where we came together as a global community to meet one of the greatest challenges of our time.

For more information about Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj and Science of Spirituality, visit www.sos.org