A person serves the poor and needy, his society, country and suffering humanity at large in order to purify the heart. Through service egoism, hatred, jealousy, the idea of superiority and other negative qualities vanish. Humility, pure love, sympathy, tolerance and mercy are developed. The sense of separateness is annihilated and selfishness is eradicated. With a broad and liberal outlook on life, one begins to feel oneness and unity and realizes: ‘One in all and all in One’.
Cleansing of the heart is the main task of the aspirant in the early stages of his spiritual practice. In serving this purpose, seva really excels. It is only in the active field of seva that he has a chance for developing good qualities and removing bad traits. Therefore, seva is usually the first step prescribed by the guru to a spiritual aspirant on the path of yoga. The thick coating of mental impurities is cleared away by doing selfless service for a number of years.