Service - Pt. 9

Service is the Only Way for Realisation

Service is the only way to realisation - the result and culmination of service is realisation.  What is there to realise?  With true service, one realises the omnipresence of God - it is the journey form "I" to "We".  As we traverse along the path of service, we experience the all-compassing, cosmic nature of God, who embodies the universe.

Bhagawan gave the example of Eknath who was once carrying a pot of River Ganga water to Rameshwaram.  It was summer and on the way, Eknath saw donkey on the ground in agony, as it was very thirsty.  Immediately Eknath fed some water to the donkey.  The people around him ridiculed Eknath for this act, saying that he was to offer the sacred Ganga water to Lord Siva in Rameshwaram and now Eknath has foolishly offered it to the donkey.  Eknath replied, "That same donkey is the very reflection and embodiment of Siva Himself.  Therefore I offered this water to the donkey."

That is the pinnacle of true realisation.  God serves man and in turn man should serve his fellowmen.  Baba says, "You see Me distributing clothes.  You see Me distributing everything.  I serve and serve.  I go on giving and giving.  Why?"

Baba sets an example in the matter of service.  He distributes the food and sweets Himself.  He goes on serving everybody like that.  This is because we may learn form His divine example - we should serve everybody just as He does.  Swami also mentioned the instance of a family from Mumbai who adopted two boys because both their sons were settled in Prasanthi Nilayam, doing service to Bhagawan.  The husband and wife were free so they adopted two more boys.  They said they were following the example of Bhagawan.

Adoption - adopting poor children, serving the poor and needy and helping everybody - we should emulate His example.  We have the best example right in front of us!  Hence, God serves man so that man may learn to serve his fellowmen.

(From the book "Sai-Chology" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)