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The Primacy of Selfless Service

Selfless service is the supreme spiritual principle. An ashram thrives through voluntary service, demonstrating the power of seva. Dharma is the accepted principle for progress toward realization. Among many yogas, Karma Yoga is the most accessible, involving work for others according to one's ability. The ultimate aim is moksha, liberation. Yet, seva holds even greater weight. Divine incarnations descend to perform service, culminating in a future incarnation that will cleanse the planet of negativity. This transformation results from human negativity, not divine cruelty. A metaphor illustrates this: two grinding stones represent illusion and the Supreme. Souls between them are crushed, but those near the central peg—representing the spiritual guide—remain whole. Service brings one nearer to that refuge. Dedication is essential for true service, as seen in professions like medicine where the sole curriculum is helping others without discrimination. The attitude of selfless service achieves everything.

"Gurujī used to say that if you put mokṣa on one side of a scale and seva on the other, the side of seva would be heavier."

"Whoever seeks refuge in the Gurudev, whoever finds shelter there, will remain complete."

An ashram should always operate through the voluntary service of its members. In India, we have many large ashrams run by disciples and volunteers, and even now they continue to be run by volunteers. In many such places, there is a waiting list for people who wish to come and serve. Why is this? It signifies the power of seva. Gurujī spoke of this often in his satsaṅg. Seva Dharma is greater. Dharma means the principle, the religion, the obligation. Dharma is what one accepts in one's own life to progress toward realization. There are many different techniques of yoga: Rāja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jñāna Yoga, Kriyā Yoga, Nāda Yoga, Mantra Yoga—so many. But what is easier is Karma Yoga. Karma Yoga means one does their best to work for others—physically, intellectually, or socially. Everyone has different abilities, and according to that ability, one helps. "Socially" also means politically or economically. Thus, there are many ways to perform seva. The ultimate aim is mokṣa, liberation from the chain of rebirth and death. Gurujī used to say that if you put mokṣa on one side of a scale and seva on the other, the side of seva would be heavier. Even God Himself, from the Brahmalokas, from the realm of Mokṣa, comes to this world to perform service. There have been 24 incarnations of God; the 24th will be the Kālī Avatāra, who will incarnate in this Kali Yuga. At that time, all political systems will change. All negative activities will change. The torture of animals and all such things will change. Wars and other negative activities will also end. Nothing is impossible for God. The change will be such that suddenly the pure souls will find relaxation; they will realize peace and happiness. This planet will be cleansed of all negativities. That is the meaning of the Kalī Avatāra, the incarnation for the Kali Yuga. Incarnation takes place often. Every holy saint is an incarnation, but their work is limited. The work of the Kali Avatāra will encompass the entire planet, like a wind blowing through the whole world. That will come, and of course, many will die due to their karmas. Do not think God is cruel. God is not cruel. The cruel ones are the people themselves, through their negative thinking, their greed, jealousy, hatred, differences, and discriminations—all that people hold in their minds—that is what will destroy them. There is a beautiful poem by the holy saint Kabīr Dās. He was going for alms and saw a woman grinding wheat for a meal. They use two stone plates, one stationary below and one rotating above, between which grains like wheat or corn are ground. When Kabīr Dās saw this, he began to cry. Someone asked him, "Why do you cry?" He said, "I cry because between these two stone plates, nothing remains complete." Kabir Das cried because between the two plates, nothing remained whole. These two plates represent Māyā and Brahmā. Māyā is this worldly illusion, and Brahmā is the Supreme. All creatures who come between them pass through and are crushed. His master then said, "No, no, no. It is not like this. There is that which remains complete." These two plates have a hole. From the lower plate, a wooden peg protrudes, and upon this peg, the upper plate is balanced. If you want fine flour, you lower the upper plate a little more. These women have lost this knowledge; of course, the men lost it long ago. We have lost these beautiful, simple understandings. That stone grinder would last for generations, but now you buy something and it breaks the next year. This world is not sustainable anymore. The master told the disciple that the grains which fall near that wooden peg or hook remain complete because there is a small hollow there, and those grains have no chance to slide between the stones. So, Brahman and Māyā are the two stones rubbing together, and the Gurudev is that hook between them. Whoever seeks refuge in the Gurudev, whoever finds shelter there, will remain complete. Thus, the incarnation comes from Brahmaloka to perform seva. And whoever performs seva is always nearer to that hook. Whoever does not perform seva wastes their life's opportunity. But you cannot perform seva unless you have dedication. You need dedication. Consider the medical system. When someone studies medicine, they are not taught how to earn money. In the entire five- or six-year course, nothing in the curriculum is about how to earn money; it is only taught how to help. Therefore, a doctor should not make any discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, or cleanliness. If a doctor makes such distinctions, they lose the fine art of Seva. Therefore, Seva Bhāva—the attitude of selfless service—is the greater. Whoever can perform Seva achieves everything.

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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