Divine Words of wisdom by Sathya Sai Baba – On Service

1. Chant the name of the Lord and do service

x1984-11-21

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One must chant the Lord’s name while doing Seva. Chanting the Lord’s name wards away the evil thoughts. Embodiments of Love!! Doing one thing rightly is better than saying a hundred things. One must not waste time in mere words, but sanctify it with actions. The one who talks can never work. And the one who works has no time for words. Hence rather than indulging in mere words, engaging oneself in Seva while chanting the Lord’s name is the noblest of paths to follow.

2. What is Satvika Seva: Hanuman Analogy

x1984-11-21

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Swami has said the previous day about the three types of Seva namely: Satvik Seva, Rajasik Seva and Tamasik Seva. But there aren’t three different Seva. The rajasik and tamasik Seva cannot be classified as Seva. Satvik Seva alone can be termed as Seva. Satvik Seva is the Seva which is done whole heartedly and without expecting the results. Hence true Seva is the one that is goaded by a spirit of sacrifice. Seva must be regarded as God’s work. Hanuman entered Lanka. He indulged in combat with all the people who came and saw him. “Where did this monkey come from? Who has sent this distorted form? We must know his antecedents.”- These were the questions that the people of Lanka asked. They asked Hanuman, “Who are you?” Hanuman replied from deep within his heart, the Hanuman who was powerful, highly qualified and deserving person. Though being powerful and accomplished he replied very humbly that he was the servant of Rama, the king of Kosala. Such a person is the true devotee. He was not lacking either in physical strength or in mental strength or in sense control or in scholarship. Hanuman had mastered all the Vedas and the accompanying texts. But he understood in all humility that it is Seva that is the greatest. So without trumpeting his strength or accomplishments, he introduced himself humbly as the servant of the King of Kosala. How great it is to say that!! Therefore to be called as the “Sathya Sai Sevadal”, one must imbibe the qualities of Sathya Sai !! “Dal” means a petal; like a petal of lotus. A lotus has many petals. Though the petals appear to exist separately, they are all linked to the centre core. Hence in Sevadal each one is like a petal. All these petals are attached to or originated from the centre core called “Sathya Sai!! Only then the lotus can blossom out fully. When each petal is separated from the core, it cannot be called a lotus. Hence Sathya Sai Sevadal must follow the ideals and qualities of Sathya Sai. Love is the breath of Swami. Hence one must fill the heart with love. The feeling uppermost in Swami is sacrifice. Giving and giving alone is the nature of Swami. Sevadal must also strive to inculcate the quality of giving. A heart devoid of “Daya”, compassion, cannot be called a temple of God. Hence a compassionate heart is the abode of the Lord. One must fill one’s heart with compassion and be broadminded.

3. What is adopting village and how to serve villages

x1996-07-31

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Villages have been adopted. First and foremost one must understand the true meaning of adoption. The childless, adopt children. The adopted child inherits everything that belongs to the parents and not just some parts of it. Adoption cannot be divided into “half adoption” or “quarter adoption”. Likewise when a village is adopted, it is the responsibility of the organisation to provide all that the village needs. A village may need a path or road; the villagers need drinking water, lighting arrangements and health facilities because health is wealth. Unavailability of roads and other facilities makes the inhabitants of villages suffer from ill health. The children of such villages do not have proper education facilities. In such villages education facilities must be provided so that the children can get education. Arrangements must be made for health care. Steps must be taken to clean and purify the village. In addition, efforts must be made to know what the villagers require and need and provide them to alleviate their sufferings. In contrast to the above, people go to a village, do the “nagarsankeertan”, (collective singing of bhajans), and say that they have adopted the village. This does not amount to adopting. Going to a village and whitewashing the temple or the mosque in the village and saying that they have adopted the village— all this does not come under the category of adoption. Going to the villages, knowing the requirements and needs of the villagers and providing the same so that they can lead better lives is true adoption. Proper effort must be put to further the idea of providing health and education. Villagers must be aligned with the betterment activities taken up in the village and motivate them to actively participate in them. The water bodies in the village must be cleansed of the impurities so that the villagers can have pure drinking water. Various diseases spread through water. Without health, comforts bring no joy. Hence first and foremost the Sevadal must take up the responsibility of providing health care to the villages.

4. Service is the highest form of worship

x1996-06-22

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one must not look down upon Seva. Belittling Seva shows one’s petty mindedness. One must strengthen the conviction that the human birth is given for serving others. One must firmly believe that this human birth is not to be wasted merely in eating and sleeping but for sanctifying oneself by serving others till the very last breath. One must empathise with the sufferings of fellow beings and help them and give succour to the extent possible. Then alone will God install Himself in one’s heart.

5. We need to do service activities to cleanse our hearts

x1996-06-25

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One without the purity of thought cannot understand the “Paratatwa”, the principle of other, the supreme. Therefore in the beginning one may have to do actions and indulge in seva to get “chitta suddhi” the purity of mind. There is no greater Sadhana, the spiritual practise, than service. Therefore, one must regard seva as the sacred Sadhana and enter the sacred path with the goal of attaining Divinity.

6. Serve the society whole-heartedly, derive joy and get rid of your ego

x1996-06-24

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Students must not struggle for a job. What is the “udyoga”, job of a student? Yoga is the job. Students must step into the field of yoga, spiritual practise and achieve success. What is this yoga? Service is the yoga; service to the society is yoga. There is nothing nobler than service to the society. An ideal service to the society annihilates the ego. Ego ruins man. Therefore in serving the society one naturally loses one’s ego. Hence one must indulge wholeheartedly in service, with sacred thoughts and without any desire for the fruits of the service. What does one get by serving the society? Happiness, bliss is the end result of service. Is there any other result that is desirable of service?!! That bliss is the form of the divine.

7. Do service and do not waste time in mere talk

x1996-06-24

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One should not waste one’s precious time in mere words and speeches but should put to proper use by engaging in seva. The speech of the one who actively engages in seva truly inspires the listener. Only speeches without service makes one a zero and not a hero. If one wants to sanctify one self and redeem oneself of the worldly bondages then one must engage in selfless and humble service. Everyone must self introspect on a daily basis to find out whether one is performing one’s duty to one’s maximum capacity and potential and whether one is satisfied with oneself. One who is not satisfied with oneself cannot satisfy others and so self satisfaction is very essential. Self confidence leads to self satisfaction. Self sacrifice leads to self realisation. One must be ready to face the many hurdles and troubles on the path of self realisation and achieve the goal.

8. While serving others, one should leave their breathe

x1996-07-31

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Why is this body given? The human body is given to serve others. This body is bound to perish and decay one day or the other. Before the body decays, disintegrates or burns away one must sanctify one’s life by indulging in sacred activities. There have been many millionaires who have left this world, what did they take along with them? Could they take with them even an iota from the wealth that they strived to accumulate day and night? Hence earning wealth is not important, but earning good qualities is. There are many scholars and millionaires in this world. Of what use are they to the world? What work do they do? A man with heart can do true Seva. Man without a compassionate heart is like the living dead. Therefore, one must use one’s strength and energy to serve others till the very last breath. This is the primary ideal put by Swami.

9. Do service to society and do not get deluded by world

x1996-06-22

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One must consider the service done in villages as the service done to God. One must understand the truth that God lives in all beings and that it is God who permeates all. One must be ready to serve the society without selfish motives and participate in social service to earn the divine grace. For years people have been deluded by the world and are leading their lives immersed in the world, attracted by the world and ending their lives in the world. This must not be so.

10. What is Seva and how Seva instills in you courage and determination:

x1984-11-21

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The one who calls himself as “Sevak”, a servant, should always be ready to serve others but should never receive service or attention from others. On the way towards the “paratatwa”, the other world, there is a mighty, sprawling tree that blocks the path. That daunting tree is the tree of “samsara”, the tree of material, physical world. The ignoble sees the tree and turns back frightened. The noble seek ways and means to side track the tree and reach the destination. But the noblest of them, cuts the tree of samsara with the sword of detachment to go beyond. Hence the true servant must be ready to face any hurdle without getting scared or depressed. It is the ‘Seva’ that instils courage and determination in man. Through Seva man can become divine. Hence one must not look down upon Seva. To belittle Seva is an evidence of one’s petty mindedness. One must strengthen the conviction that the human birth is given for serving others. One must firmly believe that this human birth is not to be wasted merely in eating and sleeping but for serving others till the last breath. One must empathise with the sufferings of fellow beings and give succour and help them to the extent possible. Then alone will God install Himself in one’s heart.

11. Seva redeems man's life

x1984-11-21

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That which fills man with contentment is Seva, Service. Recognising the divinity in unity through service and attaining the totality of humanness was considered as the great education by the ancients. The Upanishads called the individual with totality of knowledge as “Sakshara”. The Upanishads have stated that, that individual who serves others and who is endowed with the totality of knowledge alone is qualified for the title of Sakshara.

12. Serve the poor and needy

x1996-06-24

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Embodiments of Love! Participant’s time must have been wasted for they have been sitting here for the past three to four hours. They may also be tired but no one understands their problem. Having been here for so long Swami, desires that all the participants to imbibe the qualities of sacrifice, utilise money properly for the welfare of the poor. Swami does not ask anybody of anything. Participants must help the poor people in every possible way. The poor need food and food is God; therefore food must be supplied to the poor.

13. Do service without any expectations: With analogy

x1986-11-21

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Service activities must be taken up without any expectation of the end results, with a selfless attitude and with a spirit of humility. A small example to illustrate this: One must not forget that one is essentially a worker, a ‘sevaka’. Every human being is a sevaka. There is a servant for a master, a farmer for a king; a disciple for a Guru, a preceptor, parents for a child. Parents serve the child and children serve the parents. A preceptor serves the disciple and the disciple serves the preceptor; without a disciple there is no preceptor and without a preceptor there is no disciple. Without father there cannot be a son and without son (child) a person cannot be called a father. In this context one can see and understand that everyone is a sevaka serving each other and the entire world is filled with the feeling of service. This feeling of service must be firmly established in one’s heart. ‘Paropakarartham idam sareeram!’ this body is given to serve others. What is this ‘upakara’ or service that one can render? One has to help others in the matters that one cannot do by oneself. Man must make his life worthy by indulging in such seva or service. Man attains highest positions by entertaining the feelings of service. Therefore, one should not do service expecting the results. Man develops the sense of service the day he sacrifices the fruits of action.

14. Nothing in this world is permanent

x1992-04-04

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The Vedas say, “Yad drusyam tanmasyam!” meaning all that which is being seen is sure to perish and vanish with time. Man sees different forms and names, the movable and immovable objects in the world through his physical eyes. All the things that one sees with physical eyes are bound to perish with time. Neither the one that sees nor the objects that are seen are permanent.

15. Giving talks would take you no where; Do service

x1986-11-21

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First and foremost the vain and pomp show of words and idle talk must be done away with in Sai organisations. A talkative person seldom works and a person who works seldom talks!! Therefore people who are talkative are the ones who are not working!! Mere giving of talk by mugging up facts and borrowing an instance from here and there does not amount to doing seva. A tape recorder also can do this kind of work!! Man is not a tape recorder! He is the ideal type recorder, one who has to set an example. One who participates in real and ideal service activities is the true ‘sevaka’ or worker. One who works for the results amounts to an employee but not the master. Therefore work (seva) should be undertaken without expecting any fruits or results thereof. Service activities must be taken up without any expectation of the end results, with a selfless attitude and with a spirit of humility.

16. Village service and pre-requisites needed for it

x1986-11-21

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Serving in the villages is very important. Helping those who face dire inconveniences, who are subjected to many troubles and hurdles, who have ill health, serving them and striving for their betterment is very important. In order to serve them one must improve oneself in terms of good qualities and character. One must self appraise oneself in terms of morality and truth. One must be prepared to sacrifice anything for the sake of the country and strongly believe that country is made of people and not mud and consider that service to man is service to Lord. From ancient times the sages, the kings and the learned all alike believed that happiness and well being of all is happiness and well being of individual and took to service to uphold that ideal.

17. Concept of Seva is dwindling in Bharath

x1986-11-21

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From the times immemorial, there were millions of people in Bharath who have sacrificed their lot to serve others. But gradually, the spirit of sacrifice dwindled. The population of people with the spirit of sacrifice is fast decreasing. Many deceive themselves in the name of service to others.

18. Reach and realise divinity through Seva: Analogy of Arjuna

x1987-11-24

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Every Office-bearer must consider, himself, a worker. Embodiments of Divine Atma! You should never get a feeling that it is difficult to cope up with the rules and regulations here, and think of leaving a Sai Organization. You can never find a sacred path than this, anywhere, in the world. Therefore, you should never miss a good opportunity. In order to sanctify your life, you must realize the truth that Service and Participation in Sai Organization activities is the best route. Leaving such a path and resorting to external prayers and mechanical visits to temples, serves no purpose. Reach and realize the ‘Universal Divine manifestation’ through Service. Arjuna could do that. Each and every one of you is an Arjuna. Arjuna has another name as Pardha. Pardha Puturdu means the son of the earth. All of you are the sons of the earth. So, you are all Pardhas. These Pardhas should never take any step to run away from here. If Arjuna himself runs away from battle field, how can he command respect? ‘Do your duty sincerely and remember me while fighting in the battle field’ Krishna ordained Arjuna. So, all of you, while doing your duties, must pray the Divine simultaneously. What does the name Arjuna mean? It is not that he who holds a bow and arrow and goes on shooting indiscriminately is Arjuna! Arjuna is a person with pure heart. There is no contaminations whatsoever in his heart. All of you are Arjunas. Krishna has played the entire drama using Arjuna as an instrument! So is the case with this Sai Krishna who is playing, keeping so many Arjunas around.

19. Service leads to liberation

x1998-07-09

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Embodiments of Love! Man adopts various means to achieve liberation (from the bondage of mundane existence). Penance is performed for whose sake? It is for one’s own benefit and not for the good of others, nor even for the Supreme Self. In the performance of japa (recitation of the Lord’s name), it must be noted that it is done for one’s own satisfaction and not for the welfare of others. What should one do to secure redemption from the cycle of worldly existence? Chanting the Lord’s name or performing sacrifices or doing other rituals will be of no avail. You have to render service to your fellow human beings. Seva (service) is the highest form of worship and the best penance. Seva is the most important form of reciting the Lord’s name.

20. Service helps you to recognise untruth

x1987-11-21

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One may say that one does the spiritual Sadhana for self realisation. Atma is all pervasive. One does the Sadhana to realise the same!! One finds Atma when one is devoid of ignorance. So one should make an effort to realise the Atma and the best and fruitful way to do so is by seva, service to others. Service, service and service. Therefore, one must undertake service, abstain from criticism, involve in service with love and must develop a strong belief that love is the embodiment of God.

21. Do service within your limits

x1987-11-21

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Therefore, all the members of this organisation should become “thyagarajus”- men with spirit of sacrifice and “yogarajus”- men with control over their desires and not become “bhogarajus”- men immersed in worldly pleasures and luxuries. One must give up one’s selfishness, offer everything at the feet of the lord and enter the society with the will to serve the society and be happy at its prosperity. There is an important aspect that the members assembled here must take notice. One need not take up the service activities that are beyond one’s capacities but do the activity to one’s best potential. For serving, one has to have the body and the mind to do so. The sacred will to do the service and an able body with sound capacities to implement the will – these are the essential requirements to do service. Wealth, money etc are not the requirements to do seva. When one gives importance to wealth and money in such activities, it depletes one’s energy, one’s willingness to do the service and gives rise to discrepancies amongst the members.

22. Seva is the biggest Sadhana

x1987-11-21

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One may not undertake any Sadhana or spiritual exercises, but one must have firm faith that seva or service is the greatest of spiritual exercise. There cannot be another spiritual exercise greater than seva or service.

23. Consider everyone as your own while rendering service

x1973-05-27

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One should treat people, who are suffering, who are immersed in sorrow and who are helpless, as the true friends and help such people as one’s primary duty. There is great trouble in befriending only the rich and the affluent. It is true that one should be friendly with everyone but with a rich friend one might be tempted to ask for ten rupees in times of need and that may sever the friendship. The rich friend may avoid one’s company for fear of being asked for loans. One should be friendly with everyone but must exercise caution in choosing a friend, for true friends are those who are ready and willing to accept one’s service.

24. Be prepared to serve and do not expect others to serve you: Chinnakatha

x1973-05-27

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Embodiments of Divine atma! Students!! Students must be ready to serve others but should never expect to be served by others. This is the age for students to serve others as they have physical, mental and spiritual strength. Hence students must serve the old and the aged, the disabled and the deprived ones and sanctify their lives by considering such service as service to God. On the other hand if students aspire to be served by others, they would be putting their lives on the path leading to darkness. People in affluent families are accustomed to get work done by servants which is not a correct thing to do. One may think that one is entitled to be served by others due to the position of authority but this may result in a situation where in one will have to repay the debt of service received. Therefore, whatever that one does, one sees or one says will inevitably come back as resound and reflection. Hence, one must train oneself to work by oneself. Then take up helping one’s parents at home in the household chores. After serving parents one must be ready to enter the society and do service. Students must participate in such service whole heartedly with love and with a spirit of sacrifice. One must not undertake service with an eye on the result but take it up to experience the love and the feeling of oneness with others. A small example: A person may be admitted in the hospital in a pitiable condition with no one to look after him. He may be suffering from a lot of ailments. When a student approaches him and speaks soothing words to him lovingly and does seva with love, there forms a close bond between them which would make him forget even his kith and kin. He would be grateful that a student attending the summer course had come to the hospital, served him with love and would ask for the student’s address to develop the bond further through letters. The close relationship was formed due to the selfless service rendered. Hence the heart to heart bonding happens only with selfless service but not with a feeling of leadership. A prime minister is received with a hundred garlands at the station and a hundred cars would be waiting for him with many people anxiously inviting the Prime Minster to board their car. But the moment the person loses his position of Prime minister, he will be charged a fare even by the rickshaw puller. The respect given due to the position of authority is very transient and stays for that moment but the respect given in a heart to heart relationship lasts a lifetime. It is foolishness to try to establish relationship based on status and position of authority, as that relationship will not hold for long. On the other hand, if one establishes a relationship by way of love, by the Atma way that will be a permanent and true relationship. Such bonding can happen only in the path of service and it takes the shape of true bhakthi or devotion. When one does seva with such scared feelings, without bothering about the respect or disrespect given by others, with wholehearted concern for the betterment of the served, then one need not heed the need the elders of the house who deters one from doing such service.

25. Importance of service and its characteristics

x1973-05-27

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A responsible temperament is very essential for an individual. Seva or service is one of the most important good qualities that an individual must indulge in, to cleanse and amend one’s heart. This ideal of service has the good quality of removing the ego in man. It promotes love and affection. It takes him away from the aspect of worldly attachments and puts him on the path to the Divine. The idea of seva or service also becomes the most desired virtue in an individual and also explains the meaning of divinity. Seva can give widespread pleasure and bliss for the entire mankind. In fact, service is the first step along the spiritual path. Today, the inhabitants of Bharath are considered as dependents and servitudes, because of the lack of proper understanding and practise of this sacred service and the diminishing numbers of individuals engaging in service. For a person who is willing to serve, the entire country comes under his control. The country is never in control of leaders who do not serve and such leaders are over thrown through agitation. A leader who understands the spirit of service will always retain and enjoy his leadership through service. It is not possible to become a leader without understanding the spirit of service and without being a servant just as one cannot become a creator without being able to destroy.

26. What is social service according to Bhagawan

x1997-07-16

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Every human being must possess the quality of gratitude. Having being the beneficiaries one must show gratitude. As an expression to one’s gratitude, one should render selfless service to the society; it is one’s foremost duty towards society and a form of service or ‘seva’. Based on these principles the ‘service to society’ has been started. But this social service is not to be seen anywhere today. Even this service is rendered to gain personal name and fame but not in a spirit of selflessness. Body is gifted to dedicate oneself to the society as the human body is sustained by the society. One must imbibe good qualities and virtues to serve the society as one is sustained by it. Welfare of the society should be taken care of.

27. Service and love are two wings of the organisation

x1987-11-21

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Every person must try to develop the divinity and sacredness latent in oneself and undertake service activities in society. These are the two right and royal paths. Love and service are like two wings to the mankind. “Paksha balamuna yegireti pakshulatlu Taanu maargamunanusarinchi, Cheravalayunu gamyamu seeghragatin!” Just like the birds that fly with faith in their wings, man too must proceed on the righteous path with faith and belief and reach the destined goal. “Sadgunambulu, tyaagambu, satyanishta, leni jeevudu praanamu leni vaade. Seva cheyyani jeevudu cheekatinti andha jeevudani cheppavalayunu!” Man without the virtues, the spirit of sacrifice, the adherence to truth is like a corpse. The person who does not serve the society is like the blind man in the dark room. Without service, a person is as good as a blind person. Love and service are like the two eyes to man; they are to man like the two wings to a bird. With the help of these two aspects one can easily reach the destined goal. One can recognise the truth and lead a true life. Hence, these two qualities must be developed by the members of our organisation. Love does not only mean love for God. God is omnipresent, “eesa vaasya midam sarvam. – God pervades all beings.” One must develop love for all, for God is omnipresent and resides in all. To pretend to love others and hate them is the supreme folly of man. When one speaks what one thinks and does what one speaks, then one would be free from sorrow and hardships and will be at peace.

28. Involve in social service every sunday

x1973-05-27

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In this summer class, a decision has been taken to undertake social service on every Sunday. Such service is important not only when one is in these auspicious precincts but also otherwise and makes one’s body and mind sacred. Swami hopes and blesses all to develop such sacred and selfless ideals.

29. Involve in Social work and not in show work

x1973-05-27

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Unfortunately today, the social work undertaken in many countries and many parts of the country has become “show work”. For the sake of getting recognition as “big leaders participated in social work by sweeping the streets”, leaders get themselves photographed with the broom stick and ensure that the photo appears in the newspaper. One should not participate in such a kind of work. Never should one go into that kind of publicity and give scope for ego. One must serve whole heartedly for self satisfaction and not for other’s approval. People spend ten rupees to feed ten people and get it advertised in newspaper via photo by spending another twenty rupees. It would have given so much of self satisfaction had the money spent on photo advertisement been used to feed another twenty people! Many people who are members of a Rotary Club or a Lions Club or such other clubs talk of doing service but one does not understand whether they are doing service or spending money. Most of the members are affluent and can take to serve the needy either once a week or once a month. But instead the members plan for weekly dinner which costs rupees twenty per head and the break down for this expenditure is five rupees for the meal, five rupees for mutton and another ten rupees for the wine. This expenditure, with such a break down is given the name of social service. How nice would it be if the twenty rupees were spent on feeding the deprived and needy instead of spending it oneself!! Swami hopes that people will bear in mind the above said aspect and utilise properly the chance of doing service.

30. Serving the society is most important

x1973-05-27

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Man is born in the society, grows with the society and prospers by serving the society. In this scenario, if man becomes distant from service to the society, he will be distant from everything. The child cries for its mother’s milk as soon as it’s born. The child, therefore, has to serve and respect the mother who is the very cause for its life and sustenance, worship the father and develop faith in the society; only then can he flourish and thrive. Just as every individual has a mother whom he respects and considers important, so also every individual should regard the country as the divine mother of all citizens, by serving whom, one can fulfill one’s purpose in life.

31. Purpose and significance behind Seva

x1979-05-25

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Embodiments of the Divine, the workers in social service! For the last five days, Sevadals from different states have gathered here and have been discussing and carrying on deliberations relating to the different programs of service. We must remember that we have not gathered here to promote social contacts or to indulge in conversations of worldly affairs or to while away time. On the other hand, we should also bear in mind the truth that we have gathered here to recognise, to some extent, the things that we are unaware of, the ideals that should guide us in the path of service, the sacred services that need to be done and to put them into practice. The members of the Sevadal must become experts in practice and in action.

32. Body is given to serve others

x1978-11-20

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Just as bricks and mortar are necessary for building a house, so also, the feeling of harmony in thought, word and deed and selfless service are very essential for the welfare of the nation. To begin with, it is very necessary for us to recognize the method by which we render such selfless service. Service cannot be duty which one does for his own satisfaction. As a very first step in this service, we should recognize other’s happiness, other’s convenience and other’s satisfaction. The service we do should not cause any inconvenience, discomfort or hurt to others. Before undertaking such service, one should dointrospection within one’s heart. We should analyze the truth whether this service is for our own selfish sake or is it being done in a selfless manner for the sake of others?

33. What is Selfless Service

x1978-11-20

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Premaswarupas! Today, the fact that the all-India Sathya Sai Swayam sevaks are celebrating their fourth anniversary is a matter of great rejoicing. Selfless service bereft of any desires is Yoga. This service is the sacred path which will remove the animal nature and manifest the divinity within a human being. All service done with the Atmic feeling will be very helpful for one’s life. Such sacred service will prevent one slipping down from the path of spirituality. It is very necessary for us to build the mansion of our life on the ideal of such service. From the ideal of selfless service, we will get accustomed to other ideals and good qualities in our life. The results of such selfless service not merely make your heart sacred, blossom the the mind and manifest awareness but also reveal the honour and grandeur of the Atma.

34. Swami on whom to serve and how to serve

x1978-11-22

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For what purpose has this body come? It has come for the purpose of service. Hence, doing service to the community or society and regarding the service to community as the service to God, we should fulfill the purpose of our life. The aspect of service is something which all of you know very well. On the first day itself, you have learnt very well the meaning of service and the significance of doing service. Mere knowing this is of no use, one should make an attempt to put this into practice. This service should transform into a kind of love. We should participate in this service with love. Whatever service you do, you should believe that you are doing this service for yourself. We should not think that you are serving someone else. Everything is Eshwara. Whomsoever, you may be serving, you should regard it as serving Eshwara or God. God is present in all beings and if you are serving another being, you should regard that you are serving Eshwara himself. With such sacred feelings, we have been establishing sevadal. It is not possible to determine whether this seva or that seva should be done. At what time, under which circumstances, to which individual we may have to do seva, we should be ever ready. We should categorize the service into three types because all are not capable of performing all types of service activities. Dividing service into three categories, one should do those according to ones capability. Those who have some level of education should be trained to serve in health and education. We should go to hospitals and do service. However much the nurses may be doing, we should not neglect feeling that the nurses are doing sufficient work. It is our duty. We should take care of our people. They are doing for the sake of their salaries, but we should do service for life. In this manner, we should recognize clearly what is the purpose of doing this service. Every year, we have been conducting the annual meetings of sevadal members. The decisions taken at these annual conferences should not be only on paper, they should be put into practice. From the conferences that are conducted in other organisations, the conferences conducted in Sathya Sai Organization should have a distinct characteristic and we should demonstrate the difference.

35. Do service with pure heart

x1978-11-22

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Tirutthunda alwar of Tamilnadu used to say, “Swami, it is with a clean and pure ‘chitta’ (heart) that I should really worship you with! There is no use of my prayer or my giving you flowers with my hand without it!!” Today doing service to human beings and giving them comfort through our service should be done not with your hands and body but, with a pure heart. The work we do with our hands or the words we utter with our mouths or the ideals which we propagate through our speeches–these cannot be termed as ‘service’, true service. A small gesture done with a pure heart will become a work of the largest magnitude. Whatever work we undertake we should do that with a sacred heart, with love, with forbearance and with a mind devoid of ego. Today in the world the number of the people who are imbued with lack of faith and disbelief, who say that God does not exist and who talk of doing evil and doing harm, is on the rise.