Charity & Volunteering 04 (May 23 - Dec 25)

[winston]

Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need.

Ephesians 4:28

Source: Life Changing Words

[winston]

Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.

Then your light will shine out from the darkness and the darkness around you, will be as bright as noon.

Isaiah 58:10

Source: Life Changing Words

[winston]

If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others.

Matthew 20:26

Source: Life Changing Words

[winston]

What is the best service and when should it be rendered?

There was a king, who questioned many scholars and sages, "Which is the best service and when is the best time to render it?". He couldn’t get any satisfying answer.

One day, while pursuing the forces of a rival king, he got separated from his troops in a thick jungle! He rode long and became exhausted and hungry.

Finally, he reached a hermitage. An old monk received him kindly and offered him a welcome cup of cool water.

After a little rest, King asked his host the question that was tormenting him: "Which is the best service?". The hermit said, "Giving a thirsty man a cup of water."

What is the best time to render service?" The answer was, "When the thirsty man is coming from far, and is desperately looking for it."

The act of service is not to be judged, according to cost or publicity; it may be only offering of water. But the need of the recipient, the mood of the person who offers - these decide whether the act is gold or lead!

Fill every act of yours with Love. Let no one suffer the slightest pain as a result of your thought, word or deed. Make this your sadhana!

- Divine Discourse, May 24, 1967.

Service is the highest form of prayer and penance. It becomes meaningful when it manifests love that originates from sacrifice.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

At the Ready

If we fixate and say, “I want to help, I need to help,” then if we cannot help, we’ll feel agitated and frustrated.

That’s why we simply generate this precious mind, this attitude that we are ready at all times to help.

- Trinley Thaye Dorje, “Diamond-Like Resolve”

[winston]

What is the relevance of selfless activities in our life?

Through activity, man attains purity of consciousness. In fact man has to welcome activity with this end in view. And why strive for a pure consciousness?

Imagine a well with polluted and muddy water so that the bottom of the well cannot be seen. Similarly within man's heart, deep down in his consciousness, we have the Atman (Divine Spirit). But it can be cognised only when the consciousness is clarified.

Your imaginings, your inferences, your judgements and prejudices, your passions, emotions and egoistic desires, muddy the consciousness and make it opaque. How then can you become aware of the Atman that is at the very base?

Through seva (service) rendered without any desire to placate one's ego and with only the wellbeing of others in view, it is possible to cleanse the consciousness and have the Atman revealed.

- Divine Discourse, Mar 06, 1977.

Service should spring out of Love and scatter love in profusion.

Source: radiosai.org

[behappyalways]

A doctor’s goal to restore vision for 500,000 people around the world
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvilqw0SC2s

[winston]

Home for old folk in need of funds

By CY LEE

Pertubuhan Kebajikan Kasih Sayang Alam Damai, established in November 2021, provides shelter, hot meals and medical attention for its residents, many of whom have no other place to go.

Those interested in helping the home financially can call Low at 014-611 2253.

Source: The Star

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro- ... d-of-funds

[winston]

For every aspiring youth keen to live life to the fullest, what is the spiritual tonic that should be taken regularly?

The age span, 16-30 years, is crude, for that is the period when life adds sweetness to itself, when talents, skills, and attitudes are accumulated, sublimated and sanctified.

If the tonic of unselfish Seva (service) is administered to the mind during this period, life's mission is fulfilled - for the process of sublimation and sanctification will be hastened by this tonic.

Do not serve for the sake of reward, attracting attention, or earning gratitude, or from a sense of pride at your own superiority in skill, wealth, status or authority.

Serve because you are urged by love. When you succeed, ascribe the success to the grace of the Divine, who urged you on, as Love within you.

When you fail, ascribe the failure to your own inadequacy, insincerity or ignorance.

Examine the springs of action, disinfect them from all traces of ego. Do not throw the blame on the recipients of the seva, or on your collaborators and co-workers, or on the Divine.

- Divine Discourse, May 19, 1969.

Service must emanate from a tender heart which responds to every sob and groan, and is ready to renounce and suffer gladly.

Source: radiosai.org

[winston]

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

Isaiah 1:16-17

Source: Life Changing Words