Charity & Volunteering 03 (Jul 16 - Apr 23)

[winston]

Don't get tired of helping others.

You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don't give up.

Galatians 6:9

Source: Life Changing Words

[winston]

Action

If you know someone who doesn't have any clothes or food, you shouldn't just say, "I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat."

What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help?

James 2:15-16 CEV

Source: Life Changing Words

[winston]

Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless.

Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun.

Isaiah 58:10 CEV

Source: Life Changing Words

[winston]

If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others.

Matthew 20:26

Source: Life Changing Words

[winston]

What are the key lessons we must learn from Nature on how to do service?

Learn a lesson from the tree. When it is heavy with fruits it does not raise its head aloft in pride, it bends low, stoops, as if it does not take any credit for its accomplishment and as if it is helping you to pluck the fruit.

Similarly, learn a lesson from the birds. They feed those who cannot fly far. The bird relieves the itch of the buffalo by scratching it with its beak; they help and serve each other, with no thought of reward.

How much more alert must you be, than the birds and trees with your superior skills and faculties?

Remember, service is the best cure for egoism, and so you must engage in it to relieve pain and grief to the extent you can.

Try to assuage, as far as you can, the distress of others; when done sincerely, it is the best spiritual practice for a true spiritual aspirant.

– Divine Discourse, Jan 13, 1968.

True service is participating in society’s well-being after ridding yourself of egoism, possessiveness and manifesting divine qualities of compassion and kindness.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

United, they feed Malaysia's hungry: The kitchen where race and creed don't matter


Source: CNA

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/as ... ef-9880142

[winston]

How should volunteers conduct themselves and why?

Volunteering is not just a momentary spurt; it cannot be done well without deep discipline, long training and humility.

You must develop selfless love for all.

Do not think that a volunteer is a superior person, more devoted than the rest; do not look down upon the rest as disturbances and nuisances.

When you treat any one harshly, you are treating the Divine harshly.

When you are insulting any one, you are insulting the Divine.

- Divine Discourse, Feb 24, 1965.

Selfless service brings human beings closer to each other and promotes affection and friendship.

[winston]

Why should we serve selflessly and also be careful not to hurt others?

The service rendered by a person, ensures a bright future when that service is performed devoid of ego and in gratefulness considering it an opportunity given by the Divine.

Whatever you do for others, do it with a feeling that you are doing for oneself. In truth, the service you render does more good to you.

A small example: A friend is warmly welcomed, taken to the drawing room and offered a cup of coffee. This good act gets imprinted in the person’s heart and that person will remember the warm welcome received and reciprocate it.

If you look after a friend who is hospitalised with none to look after, will that friend not reciprocate the help when you need it?

So, remember that the service you render to others is a reserve that will help you with your future needs.

Similarly, if you extend this idea and consider that bad deeds done to others are truly deeds being done to oneself, you will never do bad deeds!

- Divine Discourse, May 27, 1973.

The best way to love the Divine is to love all, serve all.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

What are the prerequisites to offer service?

The important qualification for service is a pure heart, uncontaminated by conceit, greed, envy, hatred or competition.

Along with this, we need faith in the Divine as the spring of vitality, virtue, and justice.

Service is the worship you offer to the Divine, in the heart of everyone.

Do not ask another which country or state you belong to, or which caste or creed you profess. See your favourite form of the Divine in that ‘other person’; as a matter of fact, he or she is not ‘other’ at all - it is the Divine’s image, as much as you are.

You are not helping ‘one individual’; you are adoring the Divine in them. He is before you in that form; so, what room is there for the ego in you to raise its hood?

Duty is the Divine; Work is worship. Even the tiniest work is a flower placed at the Feet of the Divine. Approach everyone you serve with a heart filled with the treasure of Love.

- Divine Discourse, Mar 4,1970.

Every tiny act of Service must spring out of Love and scatter Love in profusion.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Why should we consider service as an expression of humanness itself?

A copy of the Scriptures may be available for twenty-five paise; a puerile novel may cost ten rupees. Which is more worthwhile? Which can transmute base metal into gold?

Remember, Service is more fruitful than recitations, meditation, sacrifices and rituals usually recommended for spiritual aspirants. For, it serves two purposes: the extinction of the ego, and the attainment of bliss.

When someone sitting near you is sunk in sorrow, can you be happy? No.

When a baby weeps most pathetically within hearing, tears well up in your eyes in sympathy. Why? There is an unseen bond between the two.

Human beings alone have this quality of empathy; they alone can be happy when others are happy, and miserable when others are miserable. That is why human beings are the paragon of all creation.

Human beings alone are capable of service; that is your special glory and unique skill. Make full use of this precious birth!

- Divine Discourse, Mar 4, 1970.

The best way to love the Divine is to love all, serve all.

Source: radiosai.org