2004: Service to Man is Service to God

Summaries of the discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on New year and Yudagi  1987 to 2009.

You are truly born, on the day you begin your journey to realize your true identity—Divinity.

2004: Service to Man is Service to God

We should not waste our time brooding over the past or anticipating the future. We cannot get back past however much we may pray for it. It is not possible to visualize the future, as it is hidden in the womb of time. The present is only real. The foremost activity man should engage in is service to fellow human beings. God has given us this body for that purpose only. Service is more important than bhajan and all other sadhanas. The hands that serve are holier than lips that pray.

Money is of no help in developing good qualities. Sacrifice alone can develop noble qualities. It is only in sacrifice, there is real yoga. But people want bhoga (enjoy material comforts). By such bhoga, only roga (diseas) will be contracted. Hence, try to attain yoga by thyaga. Then you can attain eternal joy. That is why it is said, thyagenaike amrutatthwamanasu (it is only by sacrifice that man can attain immortality). There is no use of contemplating on God without making sacrifice.

God is not confined to some temple or a structure somewhere. The real temple for God is the body itself. God is installed in the temple of our heart. Consider every human being as a living divinity. However, we can never attain real happiness with the body. The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish sooner or later. But the indweller has neither birth nor death. This indweller who is in the form of atma is God. We should respect the Jiva in the human body. This is the real Daiva Seva (service to God).

It is the mother that is responsible for the children earning reputation and fame. If children wish to earn good name, they should obey he command of their mother. The Vedas have conferred the supreme position for the mother and father. Children should properly utilize the money given by their parents. In fact, every drop of your blood is the contribution of your parents. You owe your existence in this world to the love of your parents.  Children should cultivate good habits and good qualities and reach good position in life.  Thus they should bring good name to their parents. You can earn good name not by money, but by sterling character.

There can be no greater wealth in the world than good qualities. The more you exercise good qualities, the more you accumulate. They will never exhaust. Devoid of good qualities, all the wealth you earn becomes mere waste. One has to utilize the money earned by him for undertaking good and beneficial activities for the society. Share your education and wealth with your fellow human beings. Prepare yourself for sacrifices.  You will find eternal bliss only in sacrifice. One who does not make sacrifice will not find peace anywhere.

Points to Ponder

What according to Swami is service?

Who are the real “bharathiyas”?