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Service
Across spiritual traditions, service generally refers to selfless acts that benefit others. Many traditions converge on the importance of service as a means to cultivate compassion and connection. However, they diverge in their specific motivations and methods for service.
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And no one among human beings does more pleasing service to me than he; nor shall there be another on earth dearer to me than he.
न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमः | भविता न च मे तस्मादन्यः प्रियतरो भुवि ||१८-६९||
Farming, cattle-herding, and trade make up the work of a vaishya, born of his own nature; and service is the work of a shudra, likewise born of his own nature.
कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् | परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ||१८-४४||
I remember the glorious Guru who is the Supreme Brahman. I speak of the glorious Guru who is the Supreme Brahman. I bow to the glorious Guru who is the Supreme Brahman. I worship the glorious Guru who is the Supreme Brahman.
श्रीमत्परब्रह्म गुरुं स्मरामि श्रीमत्परब्रह्म गुरुं वदामि । श्रीमत्परब्रह्म गुरुं नमामि श्रीमत्परब्रह्म गुरुं भजामि
There is no truth higher than the Guru, no austerity greater than service to the Guru, and no knowledge beyond the knowledge the Guru imparts. Salutations to the Guru.
न गुरोरधिकं तत्त्वं न गुरोरधिकं तपः । तत्त्वं ज्ञानात्परं नास्ति तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
Offer one's body, senses, and vital breath to the true Guru. Offer everything — one's very self, one's closest relationships, all that one calls one's own — to the Guru.
शरीरमिन्द्रियं प्राणां सद्गुरुभ्यो निवेदयेत् । आत्मदारादिकं सर्वं सद्गुरुभ्यो निवेदयेत्
The Lord said: O Goddess, you are my very Self. Out of my love for you I shall speak. This question of yours, which benefits all the world, has never been asked by anyone before.
ईश्वर उवाच - ममरूपासि देवि त्वं त्वत्प्रीत्यर्थं वदाम्यहम् । लोकोपकारकः प्रश्नो न केनापि कृतः पुरा
The wise, with the help of the Vedas and knowledge, having ascertained that the visible universe is an illusion, instantly realizes the Supreme Spirit as the sole existing independent essence.
Music is spiritual; it's not meant to merely stimulate the senses or provide sensual pleasure. Instead, it's a yogic practice that helps you achieve Self-realization or Atma-sakshatkara.
The life of a householder is not about indulging in lust and loose living. Instead, it's a life of selfless service, focused on Dharma, charity, goodness, kindness, and self-help, which benefits all of humanity.
My advice is to not strive for supernatural powers or rapid Kundalini awakening. Instead, cultivate devotion to God, have complete faith in Him, and embody a spirit of service to humanity. The Kundalini will awaken naturally.
Yogic practices alone are not enough; purification of the heart is essential. Self-reflection is necessary to eliminate faults and bad habits. Correct your flaws, such as selfishness, pride, jealousy, and hatred. Cultivate your heart by sharing with others and engaging in selfless service, which will lead to a pure mind.
Worship God by serving humanity in their suffering
God's grace is the ultimate help. You may try thousands of times, but nothing can be achieved without God's grace. One cannot see God without His grace. It's not easy to receive God's grace; one must renounce egotism completely, as one cannot see God as long as they feel they are the doer.
Serving God is not possible without serving humanity. Serving humanity is equivalent to serving God.
True religion teaches us to come together, rise above all kinds of discrimination, and treat all beings as children of the same Supreme Father, serving and loving them selflessly and genuinely.
Gods, celestial musicians, ancestral spirits, yakṣas, kinnaras, seers, and all the perfected ones — none of them can attain liberation if they turn away from the service of the Guru.
न मुक्ता देवगन्धर्वाः पितरो यक्षकिन्नराः । ऋषयः सर्वसिद्धाश्च गुरुसेवा पराङ्मुखाः
Even the gods, celestial singers, divine musicians, ancestral spirits, yakṣas, wandering bards, and the sages themselves do not fully know the proper manner of serving the Guru.
देवकिन्नरगन्धर्वाः पितरो यक्षचारणाः । मुनयोऽपि न जानन्ति गुरुशुश्रूषणे विधिम्
It is purely through the grace and blessing of the Guru that Brahma, Vishnu, and Sadāshiva become capable of creation, preservation, and dissolution. Perfection comes by serving the Guru alone.
गुरोः कृपा प्रसादेन ब्रह्मविष्णुसदाशिवाः । समर्थाः प्रभवादौ च केवलं गुरुसेवया
He who demands the price of his service is not a disciple. A disciple always serves without any self-interest. Service is not something that you choose to do; service is what is accepted or recognised, what has been done on order.