In The Guru's Garage

The first time I wrote about this experience several years ago, I made the mistake of using a graphic title which, for months afterwards, disappointed people all over the Internet who googled a phrase about what bears do in the woods and the small rodents who sometimes invade our homes. I just mentioned it in passing to indicate how selfless the service was (seva is selfless service), and instead, in the opinion of the internet, made myself an excremental expert.

So I'll be more careful this time. I went to San Ramon with my wife Saturday and spent five hours cleaning up the garage at a home that her guru, Amma will be staying in during her American visit. This is a process that takes weeks, and involves a level of cleaning that most people would find… well, let's just say amazing and leave it at that. We washed the outsides of all the garbage cans, swept every square inch of the floor, cleaned every shelf in every cabinet, then swept and washed the floor. For a kicker, we ironed some curtains. You do this not for pride of accomplishment, or because you expect someone to say thank you, but because doing seva enriches you.

And then, just to make my weekend more interesting, I attended an Episcopal communion service on Sunday morning. I like the early service because it moves right along, yet still gives you everything, including absolution, inspiration and the body and blood of Christ. I am an ever less-nominal Episcopalian (which is to say, I go to church with increasing regularity). I even have a name tag on the name tag board!