Value: Salutations to Guru - May 2025
Third Week: Serve Guru's cause - seva
The scriptures teach us that there are two types of creation: one created by God, known as Ishwara srishti, and the other created by individual ego, called Jeeva srishti. God's creation is flawless, eternal, and selfless; it is always engaged in serving without seeking anything in return.
If you look around, you can perceive His creation taking care of you and all beings in the universe. Sunlight, rain, forests, plantations, and fertile lands—do these ask anything from you? Ever? Many thousands of living beings have indeed existed in the same places where you and I live, and yet, His creation continues to tirelessly serve every generation.
The creation of the individual ego is solely based on strong likes and dislikes. Each of us continuously divides the world into various parts according to our preferences, which leads us to live within the confined bubble of our ego. This distorted perception prevents us from seeing the true essence of creation.
A spiritual guru guides us to transcend our narrow-mindedness. His first instruction is to practice selfless service to all, often referred to as "do seva," even before teaching us about the Highest Truth.
Take up a seva task
If you truly feel indebted to Gurudev, begin engaging in seva (selfless service) wholeheartedly. We can never fully repay the revered Guru who has bestowed upon us the man-making science, the means for self-unfoldment, and the guidance to kindle life.
Start by taking on simple tasks at your nearest Chinmaya Mission center. Approach this service with joy, keeping in mind that you are directly serving Gurudev. Gurudev dedicated himself to the world by tirelessly speaking, writing, and responding to every letter from ardent seekers. He often referred to his work as a 'yagna'—an offering to the Lord.
He stated, "Whenever I am in front of the microphone, I remember one thing: I am speaking to Him. He is my audience, and my lecture is my daily puja (worship) at His altar!"
Duty as seva to Him
Often we get tired doing everyday chores at home, workplace etc., Boredom sets in when we do the routine work. But we never get tired of taking care of our own body - eating, bathing, giving rest etc., Why? Because we see our body as 'Me and Mine!'
If we extend the same love to all through everything that we do, upon viewing the whole world as God's body and every chore is seva to the Guru, who opened the windows of our mind to see God in everything, we will never get tired or bored in fulfilling our daily duties. Your wife and children are His limbs, a part of Him, and not apart from Him!
Sri Ramana Maharshi once remarked. 'I am only an open window to God; you may see Him through me. I cannot take credit for that!' Pujya Gurudev also served with the same humility, and so should we.
