Service: An Act of Worship

Preface

Sacred traditions all over the world honor the spirit of service. But what is service? In this book, the authors define true service as the ability to direct every single thought, word, and deed as an offering to God; an act of worship. This devotional attitude can transform our worldly life into a spiritual practice. When our actions are dedicated to His glory the actions themselves become sanctified. All work can thus be converted into a challenge and an opportunity for inner growth thus bringing much joy and fulfillment to our lives. God-dedicated actions inspire; the reward is a sense of purpose, contribution, and joy for we work for the Higher and no longer for our own self-gratification.

            In Part One, “True Service” the authors show how selfless service initially helps to purify the mind. When we grow in love and awareness we discover the higher form of service, which is the recognition of the Divine Presence everywhere around us. In the words of Swami Tyagananda, “True service is an act of holiness that has its origin in the perception of the unity of all existence.”

            True service transforms the individual and benefits the society, as Part Two, “Love in Action” demonstrates. In this section we have various examples of service — “ordinary” people who became extraordinary because of their commitment to serving. Through selfless service these men and women transformed their life and made lasting contributions to society. They exemplify the words of Gandhi, “When you surrender completely to God as the only Truth worth having, you find yourself in the service of all that exists. It becomes your joy and recreation. You never tire of serving ‘others’.”

            Worshipful service adds fresh dynamism and joy to our lives. We see such service everywhere in nature. The trees, flowers, rivers, the sky, and the sea all give of themselves freely not expecting anything in return. Service: An Act of Worship shows that the spirit of service can be creatively used for spiritual realization when we understand that loving and serving all beings is really serving God. Such actions purify our hearts enabling us to see the One Divinity in all.