Problems of Humanity Stem From This Selfishness
Trees produce fruits for the enjoyment of others. Rivers carry water to meet the needs of others. Similarly, cows offer their milk to humans. However, man, forgetting that he has been endowed with a body for rendering help to others, is immersed in selfish concerns and the pursuit of narrow ends. He does not exhibit even a thousandth part of the spirit of selfless help to others shown by the trees, rivers or cows.
From sunrise to sunset man today is steeped in selfish pursuits, and the problems of humanity stem from this selfishness. Man does not even live like a human. It is only when man becomes truly human, that he can experience the Divine. What you think exists is, truly speaking, not real. What you think does not exist, is the Reality. God is the only Reality and there is nothing in the world not pervaded by God. God is immanent in the entire Cosmos. The Universe does not exist apart from God.
In every object (padaartham) there is a Divine element (paraartham). Without this Divine basis, nothing can exist. In this Universe, there is no material object without a Divine basis, no living thing without the vital force and no inert substance without Consciousness.
The Divine and the Cosmos, Radio Sai: Sathya Sai Speaks
Before embarking on a service project one must introspect and examine their equipment, which is, whether their heart is full of selfless love, humility and compassion; whether their head has an intelligent understanding and knowledge of the problem and its solution; whether their hands are eager to offer the healing touch; and finally whether he/she can gladly spare and share time, energy and skill to help others in dire need.
These qualities can sprout and grow only when the ‘Reality of Unity’ is implanted in the consciousness. All men, and all living beings, are cells in the Body of God. Their origin, continued existence, and progress are all in God, by God, and for God. The individual is a unit in this unity. There are no other aliens. When one is ill, all suffer. When one is happy, all are partners of that happiness. Faith in this truth is the fundamental equipment the sevak (volunteer) must acquire.
All acts of service are not equally sanctifying or uniform in the benefits they confer. When service is undertaken by power-hungry people, or under compulsion or by imitative urges, it results in more harm than good.
Self-aggrandizement or competition or ostentation, are motives that pollute the sacred spiritual practice of service. The candidate for this activity has to avoid ahamkara (egoism), adambara (exhibitionism) and abhimana (favoritism).
Convince yourselves that life cannot continue long without others serving you, and you serving others. Master-servant, ruler-ruled, guru-disciple, employer-employee, parents-children, all these are bound by mutual service. Everyone is a sevak (servant). The farmer and laborer whom you serve produce by their toil your food and clothing as their service to you.
Remember that the body, with its senses-mind-brain complex has been awarded to you to be used for helping the helpless. Seva is the highest of paths of devotion which wins the Grace of God. It promotes mental purity, diminishes egoism and enables one to experience, through sympathetic understanding, the unity of mankind.
The Sai Way of Service, Radio Sai: Sathya Sai Speaks
