In English
There can be no quality nobler than service to humanity. (service) can destroy one’s ego and transform the (individual being) into (God). In order that one may develop such a noble quality of , one should cultivate the qualities of (Selfless love), Daya (compassion) and (sacrifice). can confer (union with god) and thereby (bliss) on man. is not something to be learnt by reading books. In the ancient days, the (hermitages) were established with the chief aim of promoting the quality of service to humanity. In , Lord engaged Himself in several service activities in the Rsikula of sage under his guidance and through those service activities revealed His Divinity. In , Lord and His elder brother rendered several types of service to their , while pursuing their education in his , including cutting firewood and bringing it from the forest. It is only through service, their divinity blossomed. At present, people have forgotten the value of such humble and self-less service. They are enamoured of wealth and possessions and have given up the habit of hard work. People have forgotten the very purpose of human birth and are loosing the opportunity to serve. The opportunity to serve others and society is a divine gift to humanity. In the past, whoever joins an as a disciple has to engage himself for the first few years in such services like watering plants and cleaning the premises. It is only after he undergoes thorough training in these services, that he is entitled to receive from the teacher. What is the underlying meaning in putting people through to such training? These services are required to be undertaken by the new disciples to enable them to get rid of the feeling of ego and develop bhava. As long as one is possessed by ego, one cannot visualise . (Experiencing the ) cannot be attained by mere repetition of words like a parrot. Human effort is also necessary. One has to undertake service to society and the country with a firm resolve and a spirit of sacrifice towards the fruit of the activity. The Asramas (hermitages) in the ancient times developed such a sacred spirit of service. Such a noble and sacred service has degenerated today into an ostentatious activity to gain power and position. In those days, service was undertaken as a self-less and sacred activity with a spirit of sacrifice in the Asramas of the sages. That is why they were called as “.” Today, they have become ordinary schools imparting secular education. The service done by these institutions is artificial and narrowminded.