Selfless service

It is necessary for us to know why terrible, atrocious actions are committed in the world. It is basically because we are not giving selfless service filled with love, and therefore all sorts of (wrong) desires have developed in people.

Embodiments of divine love! We should not waste even a fraction of a second of valuable time. Man has forgotten the significance of divine love to which he is entitled, because he is not thinking along proper lines. Man is wasting time, indulging in talk, claiming to do things which make no sense.

Vision of Sai p 224

The river is permanently flowing, but its waters are for the benefit of others only. It seeks no reward for itself. Likewise, the tree bears fruits only to give them others, but not for its own eating. The cattle give milk only for others, it does not drink it. Thus like the river, the tree, the cattle, all of them are teaching us a lesson, how to live for others, if the river, tree and cow can exhibit such exemplary qualities of sacrifice, it is deplorable that Man, who has inherited Nobel qualities should be lacking in the spirit of sacrifice.

Such is true SEVA (service). It is selfless service, service to God. Such spirit and attitude of service you should cultivate and practice. Through this you will be able to destroy the demons of Ego and Selfishness in you. Selfless and sacred love which you put in your work and Service takes you to the very heights of Divinity.

Message to Sai Sarathi, July 1980 , p,1-2

It is misconception to think that we are serving others. We should attain the feeling that we are serving God in the form of others. We should develop confidence that God is in everyone.

When we blame others, we accumulate the fruit of their sins. This is the law of the universe; because whom you are not blaming is not someone else, but God Himself. Therefore do not blame or hurt anyone.

We should see God in every form. Only then the true acts of service will come to fruition, and you can derive joy from them. When we develop the feeling that it is good fortune to be able to serve others, and when we serve with sanctity, purity, and selflessness, only then can it be called service.

Service is not limited to serving individuals. Serving society is also service. Any action that benefits the country is service. One should experience divinity in the service. For serving, you need not have anybody’s shelter, or protection. or advice. Wherever you feel the need, serve. There is no distinction between acts of service. It is immaterial whether you are serving the poor or the rich. You should be able to serve anyone, at any place, and under any circumstances.

Vision of Sai p 230-233

God will not ask you, what service did you do? He will ask, with what motive did you do it? What was the intention that prompted it? You may weigh the service and boast of its quantity. But, God seeks quality, the quality of the heart, the purity of mind, the holiness of the motive.

Sanathana Sarathi Dec. 1981, p, 291

1. What is service? Is it doing something good for others or needy?

There is however a deeper significance in the word “service” and all should understand it. It is just not doing some service, good for others. It is just not doing some service, good though it be. Service does not simply mean doing something good for others. One should grasp the meaning of service. Thus each one of you should cultivate that attitude and spirit of service, that whatever the service you are rendering to “others” is rendered service “unto God Himself”. The service should be free from all selfish motives and you should never think of the reward for such activities (for yourself). Nor should you expect, or desire gratitude from the person you serve. Everything you do, you have to do as worship of God, without desire of expectation of reward and just as a duty and a privilege.

2. How can service help us to realise Divinity?

Through service you realise that all beings are waves of the Ocean of Divinity. No other SADHANA can bring you into the incessant contemplation of the one-ness of all living beings. You feel other’s pain as your own, you share others success as your own. To see every one else as yourself and yourself in everyone, that is the core of the SADHANA of service. Again, service makes the ego languish for want food. It makes you humble before the suffering of others and when you rush to render help, you do not calculate how high or low his social and economical status is. The hardest heart is slowly soften into the softness of butter by the opportunities that the SEVA DAL (service worker) offers. Service is prescribed as one among the nine steps towards Realisation.

Sathya Sai Speaks Vol X, p 33

3. What are the benefits of service?

Service brings out all that is great in man. It broadens the heart and widens one’s vision. It fills one with joy. It promotes unity. It proclaims the truth of the Spirit. It drives out all the evil qualities in man. It must be regarded as great spiritual discipline. You are born to serve, not to dominate. Everyone in the world is servant not a master. All relationships - of husband and wife, mother and child, the employer and employee - are based on mutual service. The world is progressing because of mutual service. If the principle of service did not operate, the world come to a halt. Do you regard an ‘officer’ as superior? It is not so. Even he is a servant. It is only when man is filled with the spirit of service that his Divine nature is revealed. He then experience the peace.

Little acts of service can confer on you great spiritual benefits, it will destroy your egoism. Pride will transform friends into enemies; it will keep even kinsmen after, it will defeat all good schemes. Service will develop in you the quality of humility. Humility will enable you to work in happy union with others. Sai Kasturi

4. I am a businessman, I do not have time for service, because I am so busy with my duties. How can I serve others?

It is mere weakness to give the silly excuse that you have no time for service because you are so busy with your duties. Cleaning streets in the villages is not the only service available to you. Discharging your duties in a righteous manner is, in itself, a service.

When a teacher is teaching his students genuinely and properly, that is service. A businessman need not sweep the streets. If he conducts his business in a moral way, that itself is service. If he does not exploit people for more profits that is service. When a person has such a selfless feeling, he automatically becomes the “servant”. One should lead one’s life to one’s own mental satisfaction. You can please SAI only by performing your duties to the fullest, serving society whenever and wherever you get the opportunity. Vision of Sai

5. Can we attain higher state of consciousness through deeds alone?

If you think that through deeds alone you can attain liberation, you are wrong. How can you attain the supremacy and sanctity of life without purity of mind? You should develop the feeling that you are performing your deeds to attain purity of heart.

Vision of Sai p 231