In plain words
For that, you must do service. Wherever you go for service, go remembering the words Swami has spoken. Recognise that what is in the one you serve is God Himself. Service does not have to be done with the hands alone. Speak softly and sweetly. That too is service. Welcome the hungry with kindness and give them food. That too is service. Some rich people grieve, “We have no chance of going into society ourselves and doing service.” Such people may give up some part of what they have and uplift the poor. That too is service. Service does not mean going into society and sweeping the streets. Still, those who have the chance to do that may do it. Each may do as much service as he is able. The other day the girl students of the Anantapur college: “Swami! The boys are going to village after village and taking food to every house. We are packing the food parcels. After that we have nothing to do. So we too will go to the villages and do service,” they said. “Go, clean the ancient temples in the villages. Whitewash them. The body too is God's temple! So when you whitewash a temple, think that you are applying the paint of Prema to your bodies,” I told them.
Service can be done with the hands. It can be done with the mind; it can be done with words. Many mothers come here carrying little babies. When those babies cry, take them and pat them to sleep. If you have chocolate with you, give it away to those children. That too is great service. It may look small in quantity, but in quality it is very great. Do not wound the heart of another with harsh words. Foster Prema. Today you are fostering a worldly love. But that is not true Prema. You must turn worldly love into divine Prema. Then you yourselves become God.