the speaking tree - Selfless Service Throws Open Opportunities
Sant Rajinder Singh
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We often read media accounts about people who become heroes. We are often moved and inspired by reports of those who have risked their lives to save someone else. We raise to martyrdom those who have tried to help humanity and have lost their lives in the process.Rarely does the average person face the choice of giving up his life in order to save someone else. But there are numerous opportunities that offer themselves to us daily in which we can help someone else. The sacrifice may be of our time, money, other material resources, or skills. There is no dearth of opportunities to give something for common good.
A wealthy person was working with his lawyer in preparing his will. The lawyer was impressed with both the amount of money the man had accumulated and the number of servants he had. The man was proud of how many people he employed to serve him. He felt it was a sign of his success in life.
When the man finally passed on, he waited for his judgment. He felt he would receive a good placement in heaven because he had been so successful in life.
When his turn came the angel, after looking through the entire record, declared that he did not merit time in heaven. “What do you mean?“ the man exclaimed. “Didn't you see how successful i was and how many people served me?“ The angel replied, “For entry into heaven, we do not keep records of how many people served you.For entry into heaven, we only record how many people you served. Unfortunately , your entry into heaven is denied, because in your life, you only served yourself.“ This story illustrates a powerful lesson. Many people focus on amassing their own empires and estates. But, they disregard the purpose for which God gave them the human body . True human beings live for others. Some scriptures say that if God wanted only devotion, the angels were there for that purpose.God wanted to create beings that would serve others, and thus God created humans. Consider which people from history are best remembered. Are they the people who had others serving them, or are they the ones who served others?
There are numerous ways we can be of service to others. Life is filled with many opportuni ties. We can help others by doing physical, intellectual and spiri tual service or service of the soul. Physical service encompasses all those activities performed to help others meet their primary needs in life which are food, clothing, shelter and safety. People also have intellectual needs.There are many people who fulfil the intellectual needs of society teachers, professors, writers and journalists. There is an inherent need in humanity to know who they are and to find out about God. Service of the soul is helping seekers satisfy their spiritual quest.
To truly perform selfless service, one must act without any desire for a reward or recognition, motivated by an innate desire to help another. At the time of giving, one forgets one's own needs and wants, as well as one's comfort and safety to help someone else. Truly selfless people don't expect anything in return for their deeds. The underlying paradox of selfless service lies in the fact that while wanting no reward, selfless service elicits the highest reward Divine Grace. This is the highest gift we can receive in life. When we help someone, our heart expands, our soul opens up. As our love for others flows out, God's love for us can pour in.
Follow Sant Rajinder Singh at speakingtree.in The Speaking Tree is also available as an 8 page newspaper every Sunday for Rs 3. Book your copy of The Speaking Tree with your newspaper vendor or SMS STREE to 58888.
A wealthy person was working with his lawyer in preparing his will. The lawyer was impressed with both the amount of money the man had accumulated and the number of servants he had. The man was proud of how many people he employed to serve him. He felt it was a sign of his success in life.
When the man finally passed on, he waited for his judgment. He felt he would receive a good placement in heaven because he had been so successful in life.
When his turn came the angel, after looking through the entire record, declared that he did not merit time in heaven. “What do you mean?“ the man exclaimed. “Didn't you see how successful i was and how many people served me?“ The angel replied, “For entry into heaven, we do not keep records of how many people served you.For entry into heaven, we only record how many people you served. Unfortunately , your entry into heaven is denied, because in your life, you only served yourself.“ This story illustrates a powerful lesson. Many people focus on amassing their own empires and estates. But, they disregard the purpose for which God gave them the human body . True human beings live for others. Some scriptures say that if God wanted only devotion, the angels were there for that purpose.God wanted to create beings that would serve others, and thus God created humans. Consider which people from history are best remembered. Are they the people who had others serving them, or are they the ones who served others?
There are numerous ways we can be of service to others. Life is filled with many opportuni ties. We can help others by doing physical, intellectual and spiri tual service or service of the soul. Physical service encompasses all those activities performed to help others meet their primary needs in life which are food, clothing, shelter and safety. People also have intellectual needs.There are many people who fulfil the intellectual needs of society teachers, professors, writers and journalists. There is an inherent need in humanity to know who they are and to find out about God. Service of the soul is helping seekers satisfy their spiritual quest.
To truly perform selfless service, one must act without any desire for a reward or recognition, motivated by an innate desire to help another. At the time of giving, one forgets one's own needs and wants, as well as one's comfort and safety to help someone else. Truly selfless people don't expect anything in return for their deeds. The underlying paradox of selfless service lies in the fact that while wanting no reward, selfless service elicits the highest reward Divine Grace. This is the highest gift we can receive in life. When we help someone, our heart expands, our soul opens up. As our love for others flows out, God's love for us can pour in.
Follow Sant Rajinder Singh at speakingtree.in The Speaking Tree is also available as an 8 page newspaper every Sunday for Rs 3. Book your copy of The Speaking Tree with your newspaper vendor or SMS STREE to 58888.
