What is the purpose of the body that God has given us? Is it
for ‘BHOGA or living in luxury and enjoyment? Surely that is not the purpose
for which God has created us. “ Paropa
karartha midam sareeram” is the advice of our ancestors and sastras. The
purpose of the body is to help others in need and difficulties. The body is
expected to achieve ‘Dharma’ or righteousness during its life on earth. “Sareera
madyam khalu Dharma sadhanam.” The help that we render unto others in
distress and difficulties is otherwise called as SEVA or SERVICE. Human life
gets its fulfillment in rendering service without expecting any return. It
should be SELFLESS not SELFISH. Why is service to man considered very
important? Most of us think that service
to God is important. It is a mistaken belief. Service to man is service to God.
It is more valuable than service to God!
What is it that God needs? He is ever satisfied, eternal, Ananda swarupa,
and does not require the service of man. By pleasing man we please God as he
manifests in the innermost recess of hearts of all human beings and other
creatures.
Many do not understand the purpose and significance of SEVA.
In what way does it help man if it is self less? What is the return that Seva offers
to the person? Seva establishes that we are all chips of the same block, “waves
of the Ocean of Divinity.” “You feel another’s pain as your own; you share
another’s success as your own. To see everyone as yourself and yourself in
every one that is the core of the sadhana of SEVA.” declares Bhagawan Sri Sri
Satya Sai Baba in his Divine discourse.
Seva has the capacity to demolish your ego and make you humble before the
sufferings of others. “When you rush to render help, you do not calculate how
high or low his economic status is. The hardest heart is slowly softened into
the softness of butter, by the opportunity that the Seva Dal offers. Seva is
prescribed as one among the Nine Steps towards realization.” elaborates Swami (SSS
Vol 10)
What else are the benefits of Seva? It brings out all the
best in man. Man’s heart is widened and his vision broadened. Man is filled
with joy and it increases unity. All evil qualities of man are driven out. It
is a great spiritual discipline. “You are born to serve, not to dominate.
Everyone in the world is a servant, and not a master. All relationships of
husband and wife, mother and child, the employer and the employee are based on
mutual service. The world is progressing because of such mutual service. If the
principle of service did not operate, the world would come to a halt.” Says
Swami. Social service should not be for show or publicity. There will be an
urge to pose for photos at the site of service but that has to be curbed as it
is an indication of your selfishness. Seva can never reshape or reform the
world. Then what is the use of Seva or service?
The real value and the visible result is that it reshapes and reforms
the individual!
“He lives who lives for others” says Swami Vivekananda. Man should not turn
out to be a selfish creature always running after material comforts, his own
family and children. He should have a look at the suffering of countless
destitutes, orphans, dalits and the less fortunate. He should offer his helping
hand to lift them up. He should be ready to sacrifice his time and energy for
the upliftment of such people! It is only through sacrifice that man can
achieve immortality, not through his acts or progeny or wealth. There should be a meaningful effort on the
part of man to sacrifice personal comforts for the sake of society and fellow
beings. “ Na karmana na prajaya na dhanena tyagenaikena amrutatwa manasuhu”
says the Upanishad!Seva or service is considered as the essence of devotion. He
experiences that all beings are children of God and all bodies are altars where
God is installed. Whatever service is
done for the welfare of the world is ‘ Tapas’ or penance. Work done for selfish
purposes is ‘ Tamas’
Being a social animal, is it not the duty of man to pay his
debt to society that has nurtured him? He has to give back to society what he
has acquired by the use of skills and knowledge through society. Man has to
consider himself as Divine and view all others as Divine. In other words man
has to worship God in the form of man! “God
appears before him as a blind beggar, an idiot, a leper, a child, a
despot, old man, a criminal or a madman You have to look behind those veils for the Divine embodiment of
Love, Power and Wisdom the Sai and worship Him through Seva” (SSS Vol 10) Love manifests itself as service or seva. It can be “food for the hungry, solace for
the forlorn, consolation for the sick and the sufferi8ng.” A compassionate
heart is the temple of God. Swami says, “Heroes while lecturing are zeros while
putting what is said into practice! Develop compassion. Live in Love. Be Good.
Do Good and See Good. That is the way to God.” Can there be a better example of
service than that of Hanuman who is very aptly called “ Rama pada seva
durandhara? Lakshmana in the Ramayana too is an illustration of selfless
service that is rare to be seen!
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