Seva’s logo is the Buddha Eyes, also known as Wisdom Eyes, which are painted on virtually every stupa or Buddhist shrine in Nepal. These eyes look out in the four directions to symbolize the omniscience or all-seeing nature of a Buddha. Although Seva is not a religious organization, we believe in compassion in action. Our logo was derived in part from the fact that Nepal was the first country where Seva started working to restore sight and prevent blindness over 30 years ago.
Between the Buddha’s eyes where the nose would be is a curly symbol that looks like question mark. This is the Nepali character for the number 1, which symbolizes unity of all things as well as the one way to reach enlightenment—through the Buddha’s teachings. Above this is a third eye, symbolizing the all-seeing wisdom of the Buddha.
The word seva means “service” in Sanskrit. The founding of Seva was inspired by the global eradication of smallpox that took place in the mid-1970s. Seva founders who were involved in that global effort wrote, “The eradication of smallpox from the world is tangible proof that many forms of suffering can be lifted from the shoulders of the poor and oppressed.”
Seva’s vision is the elimination of preventable and treatable blindness. Although many thought that the eradication of smallpox was impossible, it became a reality. With your support, we will achieve our vision of a world in which no one suffers from blindness that could be prevented or treated.
Join us and visit www.seva.ca
