Bhagavan Baba – Spiritual directions/advice on Operation of Sai Centers 

Questions & Answers

Published by Sri Sathya Sai Central Council of Malaysia in conjunction with the MINI CONFERENCE of FAR EASTERN Sai Centers Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 1984

SEVA AND THE DEVOTEE

Q: What exactly is Seva? Is it the way in which bhakthi manifests itself, a consequence of devotion? Or is it the cause of bhakthi, one of the methods by which bhakthi is expressed and developed?

A: It is neither. It is not the sine qua non of Bhakthi, nor is it the result. It is the very essence of bhakthi, the very breath of a Bhaktha, his very nature. It springs from the actual experience of the Bhaktha - an experience that convinces him that all beings are God's children, that all bodies are altars where God is installed, that all places are His Residences.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. V, Page 332)

Q: Where does the first duty of a seva member lie?

A: The first lessons in Seva have to be learnt in the family circle itself. Father, mother, brothers, sisters -in this limited group, which is well-knit, one must engage in loving service and prepare for the wider Seva awaits outside the home.

(Sanathana Sarathi, December 1981, Page 289)

Q: What is the age limit for Seva Dal members?

A: The age can be anywhere from 16 and above. Why should we deny the chance to anyone or discard anyone as too old? The skill and enthusiasm, the discipline and sense of duty of everyone can be put to some good use.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. V, Page 126)

Q: Swami, what are the necessary qualities needed to be a Seva Dal member?

A: You have to serve people with special love and care. Do not go about strutting with pride that you are with Seva Dal; go humbly among the people with love in your hearts and softness in your speech and sweetness in your acts. It is a badge which a "servant" alone is entitled to wear, not a "master" lording over others. If your hearts are filled with pride, and a sense of superiority over others who have no badge on their chests, then the hearts themselves will be affected by the evil aroused by this decoration. The badge and scarf do not entitle you to go around, indulging in low talk and vulgar habits. It does not allow you to exercise authority over anyone or appropriate anything from anyone.

It is a call and a challenge for you to provide comfort and consolation to those in need, to seek out means and methods to increase the ways in which you can help others and contribute to their joy. Remember with each act of love and service, you are nearing the Divine Presence, with each act of hate and greed you are moving further and further away. The ideal of service must inspire those in authority, those who possess riches, those who are endowed with skills and intelligence, leisure and health to serve the community and the community will serve you. Exploit it and it will exterminate you. Put an end to laziness, bury your clamorous ego; bury the greed for power and pelf, then you get the qualifications needed to be a member of the Seva Dal, and maintain the high ideals of the Seva Dal Organization.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. IX, Page 131-132)

Q: How do I become a worthy Seva Dal member and what are the qualities you look for in such a member?

A: You have to uproot the egoistic tendency, get rid of all sense of mine and thine, and burn into ashes the pride that comes of the feeling that you are offering service to someone poorer and less fortunate. Do such deeds as are holy and beneficial, untarnished by ego and greed. You have to win purity of heart. You must examine your motives and skills, your intentions and qualifications and discover for yourself what you hope to achieve through the Seva.

Watch for divinity that is latent in every man. Pay attention to the ONE that is the truth of the many. Siva is omnipresent; He is the inner motivator of all beings. He is ever present, everywhere, in our inner realms as well as in the realms around us. This fundamental truth has to be firmly believed in by every Seva Dal member, and realizing this, he has to be humble and full of reverence towards all. The Seva Dal member who shines in the splendor of the faith that "God is in himself as well as equally so in all", can transform the members of his family, his neighbors, the society in which he lives and the entire country in which he belongs.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 10, Pages 219-222)

Q: What qualification must I have before volunteering for a particular seva project?

A: You must have not merely enthusiasm to serve, but the intelligence and the skill; then only can you be efficient and useful. Enthusiasm without efficiency is often a source of loss and grief.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol V, Page 126)

Q: Why can't I do seva on my own as an individual without an organization?

A: What a single individual cannot accomplish, a well-knit group or society can achieve. A man walking alone will feel tired and miserable at the end of five miles, but, walking with ten others as a group he would find the five miles a happy jaunt. He arrives refreshed and strong. We find social living contributions to increased happiness and more efficient effort even among birds and beasts.

(Sanathana Sarathi, December 1981, Page 289)

Q: What is the attitude I must have so that my activities may be rendered as unselfish Seva?

A: The tonic of unselfish Seva is... Do not serve for the sake of reward, attracting attention, or earning gratitude, or from a sense of pride at your own superiority in skill, wealth, status or authority. Serve, because you are urged by Love. When you succeed, ascribe the success to the Grace of God, who urged you on, as Love within you. When you fail, ascribe failure to your own inadequacy, insincerity or ignorance. Examine the springs of action, disinfect them from all trace of ego. Do not throw the blame on the recipients of the Seva, or on your collaborators and co-workers, or on God.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. Vll, Page 54)

Seva in all its forms, all the world over, is primarily Sadhana! It is spiritual discipline, mental clean-up. Without the inspiration given by that attitude, the urge is bound to ebb and grow dry; or it may meander into pride and pump. Just think for a moment: Are you serving God? Or is God serving you? When a pilgrim stands waist deep in the Ganga, takes in his palms the sacred water, and, reciting an invocatory formula, pours the water as an offering to the Deity, an Arpan as he calls, it, what he has done is only poured Ganga into Ganga! When you offer milk to a hungry child, or a blanket to a shivering brother on the pavement, you are but placing a gift of God into the hands of another gift of God! You are reposing the gift of God in a repository of the Divine Principle! God serves; He allows you to claim that you have served! Without His Will, not a single blade of grass can quiver in the breeze. Fill every moment with gratitude to the Giver and the Recipient of all gifts.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. Vll, Page 55)

Q: Sometime devotees start doing seva with some reward or attachment in mind?

A: Let them work for the good of others. Of course, they will not be able to do such service in a detached way at first. But that does not matter. Let them continue this practice of doing unselfish work which will purify their mind. When the mind is sufficiently purified and the heart is filled with selfless love they will intuitively feel the existence of God and develop a longing to realize Him.

(Golden Age 1980, Page 222)

Q: Can I only do the type of seva or activities at the Center that appeal to me?

A: When you have the Goal in view, wherever you are, it will fill you with genuine joy. Do not seek to do things that give you sensual or temporary satisfaction only. Do not crave to do what you like but train yourself to like. what you do, or what you have to do. It is Sadhana. When you willingly undertake work that promotes your real welfare.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. Vll, Page 222)

Q: If I perform the allotted hours of seva activity is this sufficient sadhana?

A: God will not ask you, what Seva did you do? He will ask, with what motive did you do it? What was the intention that prompted it? You may weigh the Seva and boast of its quantity. But, God seeks quality, the quality of the heart, the purity of the mind, the holiness of the motive.

(Sanathana Sarathi, December 1981, Page 291)

Q: If I perform all the duties allotted to me, as instructed by the leaders and coordinators, is this sufficient Sadhana?

A: Let me tell you that mere execution of some duties enjoined on the Seva Dal by the rules cannot be recognized as Bhakthi, or acts of dedication. Duty done without Love is deplorable; duty done with Love is desirable. But acts of Love that emanate from a person because it is his nature, and not because it is enjoined on him as a duty he has to fulfil, he is really Divine!

(Sanathana Sarathi, January 1976 Page 259).

Q: Baba, I would like to earn the grace and love from you by serving help my fellowmen. In what manner can I do this? Can you help me see why serving my fellowmen do is so important and means so much to you?

A: You have to execute various 'seva dal' activities in the spirit of sadhana, which enjoins you to revere Duty as God and to engage in work ... as worship of the Lord Himself. Seva has to be saturated in selfless love. The service that you render must reward you, not only with your satisfaction, but with the satisfaction and relief of those whom you serve. When those whom you serve are not relieved or made happy thereby of what avail is your elation at the help you have been allowed to offer? You should have the joy of the recipient as your objective. Try to discover whether your act of service has really been worthwhile, whether it has been intelligently rendered with full appreciation of the peculiar circumstances of the individual who needed it. Do not think of the fame or praise you win; think of the good that people derive. Do not crave for publicity; crave for the joy that shines in the face of the people whom you help.

Seva brings you nearer to ME. The flower, that is your heart, gets fragrance by means of the seva you do; and so, it becomes more acceptable to ME. Through seva, you realize that all beings are waves of the ocean of divinity. No other sadhana can bring you into the incessant contemplation of the ONENESS of all living beings. You feel another's success as your own. To see everyone else as yourself and yourself in everyone, this is the core of the sadhana of seva. Seva makes you humble before the sufferings of others. The hardest heart is slowly softened into the softness of butter by the opportunities that the seva dal offers. Seva is prescribed as one of the nine steps towards Realization.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. X Page 33-38)

Q: Swami, tell us how and in what spirit seva should be done?

A: Service rendered to cattle, beasts and men is laudable sadhana. Keeping the environment of our residence clean, providing help to those who live around the place, going to hospitals and serving as far as possible the patients who are in the wards - in such acts of service the members of the Seva Organizations must take active part. You should keep God in your mind as the pace setter, whether you are serving the patients in the hospitals or clearing the drain in the bazaar. That is the ta pas that is the highest form of sadhana. More Anand a (Happiness) can be won by serving others than what can be got by merely serving oneself. Just offer some service to anyone in need with a full heart and experience the Ananda that results. Every one of you must become a Sevak, eager to help those who need it. When the Sevak (helper) becomes the Nayak (leader) the world will prosper. Only a kinkara (servant) can grow into a Sankana (master). Of course one has to eliminate the ego totally. Service helps you to remove the ego. So do not pay heed to what others might say when you engage in service activities. Let compassion and sacrifice be your two eyes, let ego lessness be your breath and love be your tongue: Let peace reverberate in your ears. These are the five vital elements you have to live - upon. God will not ask you what seva did you do? He will ask with what motive did you do it? What was the intention that prompted it? God seeks quality-the quality of the heart, the purity of the mind and the holiness of the motive.

(Sanathana Sarathi, December 1981)

Q: Bhagawan, why do you require devotees to participate in community work and what is its importance and aim?

A: Neither performance of Tapas (austerities), nor pilgrimage to all holy places, nor study of all Sastras, nor immersion in Japa, will ever help one to cross the Ocean of Samsara (cycle of birth and death). The only path that will help you to be liberated from Samsara is dedicating yourself to the service of others. Human birth is very sacred indeed. There is nothing noble than using this life in service of others and rendering help to the needy.

There is, however, a deeper significance in the word "service" and all should understand it. It is just not doing some service, good though it be. Service does not simply mean doing something good for others. One should grasp the meaning of service. Thus, each one of you should cultivate that attitude and spirit of service, that whatever service you are rendering to “others” is rendered service “unto God Himself”. The service should be free from all selfish motives, and you should never think of the reward - for such activities (for yourself). Nor should you expect, or desire gratitude from the person you serve. Everything you do, you have to do as worship of God, without desire and expectation of reward and just as a duty and a privilege.

The river is permanently flowing, but its waters are for the benefit of others only. It seeks no reward for itself. Likewise, the tree bears fruits only to give them to others, but not for its own eating. The cattle give milk only for others, it does not drink it. Thus like the river, the tree, the cattle, all of them are teaching us a lesson, how to live for others, how to serve the God embodied in others. Furthermore, if the river, tree and cow can exhibit such exemplary qualities of sacrifice, it is deplorable that Man, who has inherited noble qualities should be lacking in the spirit of sacrifice.

Such is true Seva (service). It is selfless service, service to God. Such spirit and attitude of service you should cultivate and practice. Through this you will be able to destroy the demons of Ego and Selfishness in you. Selfless and Sacred love which you put into your work and Service takes you to the very heights of Divinity.

(Message to Sai Sarathi, Pages 1-2, July 1980)

Q: What is the best way to win Grace while performing seva? A: The best way to win Grace is to obey instructions, to follow the advice, to submit to the control exercised with so much Love.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. V, Page 131).

Q: Do we serve God when we serve Man?

A: People say that the service of man is the service of God, that manavaseva is madhava-seva. That is a true statement. But though the service of humanity is holy, unless it is merged in the bigger ideal, men will not benefit, however huge the service. Mere repetition of the slogan is useless, if service is done without faith in the divinity of man and with an eye on name and fame and the fruits of one's action. Whatever actions one undertakes, if one has constantly as a companion the contemplation of the Lord and if one has faith in the essential divinity of man, then the statement about Manavaseva and Madhavaseva being the same is justified.

(Prema Vahini, Page 79)

Q: Swami, do we serve God or does God serve us?

A: When a pilgrim stands waist deep in the Ganga and takes in his palms the sacred water and reciting an invocatory formula pours the water as an offering to the Deity, an Arpan as he calls it, what he has done is only poured Ganga into Ganga! When you offer milk to a hungry child or a blanket to a shivering brother on the pavement, you are but placing a gift of God into the hands of another gift of God! You are reposing the gift of God in a repository of the 'Divine Principle'. God serves; he allows you to claim that you have served! With out His will, not a single. blade of grass can quiver in the breeze. Fill every moment with gratitude to the Giver and the Recipient of all gifts.

(Voice of the Avatar, Part 11, Page 213)

Q: Swami what is the right attitude a worker must have when he joins the SevaSamithi?

A: When you join the Seva Samithi and share in its activities, you are doing so, not for the sake of Swami, nor for the sake of the people, but for the sake of Dharma, which you have a duty to uphold and foster. Attachment to Dharma, practice of Dharma and its varied manifestations as Seva and Prema can alone help transform Manava (Man) into Madhava (God). The destruction of the insidious poison of egoism is essential for the restoration of health and happiness in the mind. Unless you tap the inner spring of joy in your own Sachidananda Principle, you cannot be established in Ananda. This is the best way for you to offer the highest possible Seva to your country.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. IX, Page 14)

Q: What should be the Sadhana of Seva Dal members?

A: Seva Dal members should take seva as sadhana as an offering to the Lord. Let compassion and sacrifice be your two eyes, let ego lessness be your breath, and love be your tongue. These are the elements you have to live upon as sevaks.

(Sanathana Sarathi, December 1981)

Q: Should we copy the Seva activities done by other Centers!

A: Doing something because it is being done elsewhere is a sign of ignorance. The programs must satisfy local needs, solve a local difficulty. They must arise out of felt needs and should be adapted to local conditions. It must be taken into consideration whether the place concerned is urban or rural, industrial or agricultural, a pilgrim. center or civic extension, a developing area or a sinking economy, a tribal settlement or a hill station. The person who borrows some ideas from another region and executes it might feel satisfied that he has achieved some concrete program. But do the people whom he tried to benefit feel better and happier? That is the test.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. X, Pages 32 & 33)

Q: How does a Sai worker maintain his calm under stress where crowd discipline is difficult to maintain.

A: You must have Prasanthi in your hearts; you should not be agitated or worried or angry or upset. Behave in keeping with the dignity conferred on you... The best way to show respect to them. is to treat them. as reasonable devoted nice respectable people. If any of them talk loud, not knowing that he must not disturb the silence of the place, do not rush to him or place your palm across his mouth. Go near him and whisper in his ear, the rules and discipline... Then, he is certain to cooperate and recruit others too, into the forces of silence.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. V, Page 125)

I have known many volunteers who reel off the excuse, “They won't obey Swami, if we speak soft; they are ac­customed to rough treatment only.” I will never pardon such volunteers. The fault is always in the manner of the speaking, the way in which they explain their actions, the temper, the attitude, the approach.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. V, Page 124)

...when you ask others to maintain silence, a thousand eyes will be watching, whether you are yourself maintaining silence. You must not exhibit impatience or anger; you must not show any partiality to persons from your village or region, those who speak your language, nor should you show any disrespect or negligence of people from other regions, those who speak languages other than your own. In all matters, try to discover what action will please me and then behave accordingly. Whoever may or may not watch you, I shall be with you, wherever you are, now or later, here or elsewhere; so, be sincere, never try to hoodwink, or pretend or deceive.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. Vll, Page 95)

...The crow sits on the back of the buffalo and thrusts its break into the raw wound. There is no conception of the pain the beak causes... volunteers are not aware of the pain they cause by angry words, or even by a gesture ·of contempt or resentment. Imagine what such a gesture can do for you, if you are in that position-and so avoid it. Always try to put yourselves in the position of the other and judge your action against that background. Then you will not.be wrong.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. VlI Page 96)

Q: I do not agree with the way a coordinator/ co-worker is conducting a seva project. How do I approach him and tell him I do not want to be involved?

A: I advise; “Even if you cannot oblige, you can at least speak obligingly.” This means that you have to cleanse your speech of cynicism and satire and be sincere and sweet. You may differ from co-workers on methods and programs, but this should not leave a scar on your heart or on theirs.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. X, Page 226)

Q: Sometimes the Chairman of the Centre or the Seva Dal Coordinator does not appreciate the seva I perform?

A: Do not think of the fame or praise you win; think of the good the people will derive. Do not crave for publicity; rave for the joy that shines in the faces of the people whom you help.

(Sanathana Sarathi, January 1976, Page 259)

Q: Why is that service we do sometimes not appreciate or does not give results to the recipient, Swami?

A: You are all engaged in seva of one type or other and I know that you are frustrated with the result. You are not happy with the service you do, nor are the recipients happy when they receive help. But try to develop Prema or unselfish love, based on Sathya, Dharma and Shanti. Try to fill every act of service with that Prema, try to see every act of service that you receive with the eye of Prema. Then there will be no frustration. The person who serves is the person served; you serve yourself when you serve another. You serve another because his suffering causes you anguish and by relieving it, you want to save yourself from that anguish. Unless you have anguish, your service will be hollow and insincere.

(Seva Dal, 3 /1981, Page 11)

Q: What is the attitude I should maintain should the seva I perform not satisfy the recipient?

A: The seva that is entrusted to you, you must do intelligently and to a successful finish. It does not matter if the recipient is not hilly satisfied; you must have done your best, without falter or favor.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. V, Page 127)

Q: Swami! Sometime differences in opinion are difficult to avoid. What should we do?

A: You must work together joyfully as brothers and sisters. When any differences of opinion crop up between you, how can seva be done with uniform attention and enthusiasm? You have to reconcile such differences silently and with love, and place seva in the forefront of your activities. When seva calls you, all must come together as one. There should be no politicking in the region of seva you do. No idea of separateness should tarnish your thoughts. Do not talk harshly to anyone. Through soft and sweet speech, we can transform even demonic people into decent individuals. From words honey drips, words are fragrant flowers, words enshrine Vedic wisdom. Words can build heaven or even hell.

(Sanathana Sarathi, January 1982)

Q: How to conduct hospital visits?

A: Visit the patients in the hospitals, read nice story books sitting by the side of the patients in the beds, write letters for them, and generally be kind and friendly to them in their loneliness and pain.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 8 Page 194)

Q: How should we undertake service in hospital?

A: You need not be wearing the uniform or parading the·badge; he need not wear the uniform of supplication or parade the badge of pain. Sit by him, as you will sit with your brother. Hold the patient by the hand, look into his eyes with compassion, fill his palms with prasadam, inquire how you can help him and let tears of gratitude flow from his freshened eyes. That is the reward which must sustain you. Even if there is no expression of thanks, even if you are received with cold silence or: shrug of dislike, carry on, for it is your nature to be giving and forgiving.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. VII, Page 261)

Q: Can a devotee working in a hospital or home helping others be considered to have performed Service in the spiritual sense?

A: People may claim that they are engaged in social service, that they are directing or sharing in Government activities which promote the welfare of the Community. But whatever is done as a job, without inspiration or renunciation and heart-felt Love, cannot be 'Service'.

 (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. VII, Page 329)

Q: What is Swami's comments on the seva of blood donation?

A: Of course, it is a laudable act of service. Remember that there is something more laudable; to charge-every cell of the blood circulating in you with Love and the spirit of Dedication to God.

(Sanathana Sarathi, June 1976, Page 93)

Q: By engaging in seva, am I not creating more Karmic bonds for myself?

A: Wherever you are, whatever work you do, do it as an act of worship, an act of dedication, an act for the glorification of God who is the inspirer, the witness, the Master. Do not divide your activities as “These are for my sake” and “These are for the sake of God”. Even if you divide zero by zero, you get one. When you work, there should be no remainder, nothing should remain over. See all work as one. You should not as the Sastras say, leave any remainder or balance in debts, in disease, in vengeance against enemies, in the cycle of birth and death. Finish all, down to the last. They should not recur again. If you offer all activities at the feet of the Lord and free them from any trace of egoistic attachment, the consequence will not bind you; you are free, you are liberated, you have moksha.

(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. VI, Page 33)