॥ ॥
In plain words
What is service? Only what is done in a spirit of sacrifice is true service. Greater than the rites of yajña, yāga and the like is service. Indeed, for whom do you perform yajñas and yāgas? Do you perform them for yourselves? Or for God? They are for yourselves alone, never for God. God has no need of them. Some say they perform yajña for the welfare of the world. But if you look truly, they do it for their own welfare alone. God alone brings welfare to the whole world.
The doctors' devotion to sacrifice
He alone is a true man who has purity of thought, word and deed. In this hospital the doctors serve with purity of thought, word and deed. Dr. Rajeswari used to work night and day without rest. “Rajeswari! To serve others, your own health must first be good, mustn't it? So take enough rest,” I used to tell her. To that she would say, “Serving the patients is my rest, Swami!” She wished to give up her life while serving in this hospital. And just so, while she was still serving, she gave up her life sitting in a chair. After her, Dr. Savitri too is working very hard, night and day. Sister Dolly too, matching her, gives a great deal of service. Not only these: an eye doctor, a tooth doctor, a bone doctor and many others come from the city and serve without holding back their strength. My one wish is to foster such Prema in everyone. Such Prema must develop in all doctors. They must receive the sick with Prema and give them the service they need.
When I was handing the doctors mementos and suit-lengths, one doctor came unexpectedly at the very end. There was no memento to give him. Another doctor who noticed this at once brought the memento given to him and handed it over. See how great a spirit of sacrifice this is. Such a spirit of sacrifice is in all these doctors. They forget their own interest and serve with Prema. The whole world stands through Prema alone. If you are asked where God is, you must not say He is in Kailāsa or else in Vaikuṇṭha. Prema is God. So live your life with Prema.