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Right Understanding to Help Others
Right Understanding to Help Others
Dadashri: It is like this: The one who is truly serving others is not concerned with whether or not these people understand that it is for their own good. If he were, then he would become judgmental. Therefore, one should not look for understanding from others.
This mango tree here has so many fruits on it, yet how much of its own fruit does the tree itself enjoy?
Questioner: Not even a single one. Dadashri: Then who are the fruits for? Questioner: They are all for others.
Dadashri: Yes. Does the tree take into consideration whether a person enjoying its fruit is kind or unkind? For the tree, the fruit belongs to whoever takes it; its life is lived for serving others. By living in this manner, such living entities, like the tree, gradually progress to a higher life form.
Questioner: But people often bite the hand that feeds.
Dadashri: Yes, that is how it is. Even the benevolent are rewarded with ingratitude!
Questioner: It is because people do not understand.
Dadashri: Where can one obtain such an understanding? If one had such an understanding, then his work would be done!
The act of benevolence is the highest of all human activity. Benevolence and helping others is the goal of human life.
The Two Goals of Life for a Human Being
What is the purpose of this human life? It is to break this bondage of life after life. This human life is for attaining eternal liberation (moksha) from bondage of karma. It is for the purpose of becoming 'Absolute-fully enlightened; to acquire Selfrealization. And if one does not get the opportunity to attain the knowledge of Self-realization, then he should live for others. One
is born as an Indian for these two goals, yet he attains neither. Instead, he is caught up in cheating others and paving a way for a life in the animal Kingdom.
Solution for Harmony in Life Questioner: How does one go about making his life simple and ideal?
Dadashri: Maintain an obliging nature. Give to others whatever you have. In this manner, your life will become ideal and harmonious (satvik). Have you ever done this? Do you like an obliging nature?
Questioner: I have, to a certain degree.
Dadashri: The more obliging in nature you are, the more you will benefit. Continue to be obliging and Help Others in any way that you can. You can help someone financially, run errands for people, give clothing to the needy, etc.
Lord Mahavir says, 'Use your mind, speech, body and soul (worldly self) for others. If then you experience any pain, let me know.'
Religion begins with an obliging nature. Happiness is found in giving to others. But instead people tend to take away from others. Do not do anything for yourself. When you do for others, you will not have to do anything for yourself.
Keep Firm in the Intent to Help Do any of the fruit trees eat their own fruits? No. These trees teach human beings to give their fruits to others. When you do this, nature in turn will reward you. The Neem tree is very bitter, yet people grow it because of its many benefits, otherwise, they would uproot it. It is beneficial in many ways: it is cooling to the body, it has medicinal value and its extracts have healing properties. In Satyug (past time cycle characterized by unity in thoughts, speech and acts), people strived only to make others
