In elaborating the importance of sadhana in serving Gurudeva’s work, our revered president and spiritual head, Sri Sri Swami Chidananda Giri said, “Without sadhana, service does not bear lasting fruit. And without service — unselfishness, giving of one’s self — the goal of sadhana usually remains elusive.”
Putting the above guidance into practice, over sixty YSS Youth Services volunteers from across India and Nepal came together at the YSS Dakshineswar ashram from August 19–23, 2026, to focus on sadhana, spiritual study, and group learning. This first five-day long Youth Services Leaders Retreat provided an opportunity to step away from daily activities, and dive deep into spiritual practice together.
YSS sannyasis with Youth Services volunteers at Dakshineswar ashram
Monastic-led long meditations with kirtan were a highlight. The daily shravana (group study) sessions, focused on community building and leadership, from YSS publications provided a much-needed and much-appreciated opportunity for volunteer renewal and bonding. Through strategic review meetings and agenda-setting sessions, the retreat helped volunteers develop a broader understanding of the work of Youth Services, its immediate needs, and ways they could contribute meaningfully to its various initiatives.
Deepening the Spiritual Foundation of Seva
The retreat enabled volunteers to reflect on their journey as disciples and helped clarify their deeper intentions and purposes in offering seva. By refocusing everyone’s attention on “God Alone,” the programme balanced the sharing, learning, and interaction involved in fellowship with the core spiritual goal of the YSS path.
The setting of the Dakshineswar ashram, on the banks of the Ganges, complemented this inward focus. An early-morning visit to the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, along with post-dinner storytelling, poetry and fellowship, were among the innovative experiences woven into the retreat.
Seeking Divine Mother’s blessings at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple
A Shared Sense of Purpose
Currently, about 400 Youth Services volunteers serve in various roles all over India in many initiatives, which include:
- Young Sadhak Sangams
- Online Young Sadhak Fellowships
- Children’s/Teens Summer Camps
- Online Teen Satsanga
- In-person Children’s and Teen Satsangas at Kendras and Mandalis etc.
This retreat brought together those serving in various roles— facilitators, trainers, content creators, operations leads, and programme managers. Around 20 young sadhaks from the core team of the Young Sadhak Fellowship (YSF) also participated and brought new ideas to the proceedings.
In a collaborative atmosphere, this intergenerational gathering enabled devotees to learn from one another across generations, exchange experiences, gain insights, and develop a broader understanding of what it means to serve in Youth Services, and more broadly, what it means to be a YSS volunteer. The emphasis throughout was on learning through reflection, dialogue, and shared experiences.
Eight areas of service envisaged for 2027 were presented to the attendees, so they could choose those in which they were interested or had prior experience, while also exploring where else they could contribute going forward.
Retreat Takeaways
- Volunteers felt spiritually refreshed by the meditation and retreat aspects of the programme.
- The spirit of fellowship was strengthened through shared service linkages and new friendships.
- People got a broader view of the Youth Services vision beyond particular areas of service.
- Volunteers attained a clearer understanding of seva principles.
- Some volunteers were inspired to take on greater responsibilities for Guruji’s work.
“Life Should Be Chiefly Service”
A quote from Paramahansa Yoganandaji was emphasized during the retreat, in which he said:
Life should be chiefly service. Without that ideal, the intelligence that God has given you is not reaching out toward its goal. When in service you forget the little self, you will feel the big Self of Spirit…. When you realize that life is a joyous battle of duty and at the same time a passing dream, and when you become filled with the joy of making others happy by giving them kindness and peace, in God’s eyes your life is a success.
