In plain words
They win their victories through fear and terror. They put fear into people, threaten them, bring them to heel and gain their ends by force. Even if victory is won in this way, it is in truth a defeat. Only the victory won without forsaking the right order, without leaving Satya, without letting courage slip, will last for ever.
The Seva Dal members worship the machine, and they too are taking on the inert nature of a machine; whatever service you do, you must examine it with discrimination: what is its inner meaning, how much does it raise you, what does the one who receives it gain! The members must be people of good qualities, who bring the mantras and their meanings into practice and delight in them! Height, length and thickness are what we look at when we buy Bamboo; when we buy sugar cane, we look at how much juice is in it. So too, a man's worth comes from his qualities alone. To develop good qualities through one's own sādhana, to serve others and to lift oneself up: that is the inner meaning of the Seva Dal,
There is another “sūtra” that I also speak of from time to time: “You cannot always oblige; but you can always speak obligingly”: that is, though the hand may not be able to do a good deed, what stands in the way of good words coming from the mouth? In outward conduct, differences of opinion may arise between you and your district convenors; they may not heed your advice; but the members of each organisation must settle these among themselves in harmony, and no one should declare with Ahaṅkāra, ‘I am the one in authority; my word must be carried out.’
Ten thousand Seva Dal members have gathered here, yes, but very few have recognised the inner meaning and the sacredness of this organisation! The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samiti, the Sri Sathya Sai Mahila Vibhag, the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Dal, the Sri Sathya Sai Bhajan Mandali, the Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas: in all of them Sri Sathya Sai is present as their very life. That is the bond running through them all; in the one hand, the thumb, the Thumb: that is the Seva Samiti! Together with the other four organisations, the Samiti has the responsibility of encouraging the welfare, the growth and the work of all. The forefinger is the Mahila Vibhag. The one in the middle: the Seva Dal; the ring finger, the Bhajan Mandali, which gives everyone delight and zeal. Then, the shortest of all, the smallest: that very finger is Bal Vikas. Tender minds with pure, steady, unselfish hearts! But notice this: when we want to correct someone, in the warning we give them to their face, the Bal Vikas finger goes first! That is all. We must learn our lesson from the little children, give up hatred and envy and push selfishness aside: that is the meaning; just like the five fingers of one hand, these five organisations must become one. All the petals blossom from the ‘karṇikā’ at the centre of the lotus and are nourished by it; that is why they shine so beautifully. So My wish is that all of you understand the ideals of Sathya Sai, follow them and cross over to the goal. If the ideals are not followed, the petals will fall away one by one. Give no room to other feelings; put away difference, envy and Ahaṅkāra; like children of one mother, embrace the regard of ‘I am One; may I become many’, and, firm in the conviction that the one Ātma-svarūpa appears before us in many ways, step down into service.