The Philosophy of service

Few months ago, while working as a counsellor for the youth of Delhi’s urban slums, I sat with a boy who wanted to leave school to start earning. His father was unwell, his family needed support, and he felt torn between duty and his own dream.

As he spoke, I could feel the weight of his decision pressing on him. I didn’t try to convince him either way. Instead, I asked questions, listened, and helped him see the choices in front of him more clearly. By the end of our conversation, he hadn’t solved everything—but he walked away with a little more clarity, a little more courage to take the next step.

I remember sitting quietly afterwards and realising that I, too, had been changed by that conversation. His resilience, his sense of responsibility at such a young age—it stayed with me. In serving him, I had also received something profound.

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What Service really means

This is what service means to me. It is rarely grand. It is often quiet, subtle, almost invisible. We imagine service as one person giving and the other receiving, but in reality, it is more like a circle. The one who listens gains as much as the one who speaks.

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Philosophy Across Traditions

Philosophical traditions have always reflected on this:

• The Gita speaks of action without attachment.

• Buddhism speaks of compassion that heals both giver and receiver.

• Stoicism reminds us of our shared duty as citizens of one human family.

All point toward the same truth: service is not merely an external act—it is a way of being with others.

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Counselling as Service

In counselling, service often looks like presence. To sit without judgment, to honour someone’s dignity, to give space for their truth—that is its own form of service.

And each time, both walk away changed, even if the change is quiet and unseen.

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Closing Reflection

Perhaps the philosophy of service lies here: in the recognition that we are not separate. In giving, we receive. In listening, we are heard. In healing, we are healed.

If this reflection speaks to you, and you feel the need for a space where your own questions and challenges can be heard with presence and care, I welcome you to book a counselling session with me.

Together, we can explore, reflect, and walk a little further on your journey.

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