Service by Means of Wealth and Mind

Service to the Master will be rewarded only if it is performed with one-pointed attention, because then we achieve concentration of mind. By serving the Master, our heart attains unison with His Heart. Thus Naam will become manifest in us and we shall be able to meet the Lord without much further effort. All our desires will be fulfilled because we shall have no desires left.

Who can serve a Master? In other words, who can attain God-Realization? Only such persons can do so who sacrifice their mind and their wealth for the service of their Guru (Master).

You should therefore serve such a person who perceives the great devotion and the inner longing of your heart. Such a one is none other than a True Master. You should make an offering of your mind at the altar of your Guru, and worship Him because He is the incarnation of that Deathless One.

Guru Arjan

He achieves everything who lives near the Master (is ever conscious of His Presence within), who obeys Him with selfless devotion and without pride, who subdues his mind’s reasoning and surrenders himself to his Master.

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Footnote: By serving the Master we really serve ourselves, because by so doing each and every part of our body is purified. Scriptures mention that by serving the Satguru (Master) we obtain all the four values, Dharma (Righteousness), Arth (Wealth), Kam (Desires), and Moksh (Salvation). In order to accomplish this, we have to surrender ourselves to a Master.

Dharma is that which binds and guides. The world is sustained by Dharma, which is created out of Grace, and is the source of contentment and social harmony.

Dharma has ten attributes:

1) Kshima .. Forgiveness.
2) Ahimsa .. Non-Violence, Compassion.
3) Daya .. Mercy, Piety.
4) Mridu .. Sweet Nature and True Behaviour.
5) Sat Vachan .. Truthfulness.
6) Tap .. Self-control, Penance.
7) Dan .. Charity.
8) Sheel or Shil .. Continence.
9) Suouch .. Cleanliness.
10) Bina Trishna .. Desirelessness.

All these are achieved by keeping the company of Saints.

Each religion has its own commandments, but the commandments of all religions include the above ten imperatives. And in all religions, the founder held devotion to the Lord as the ultimate aim. It is therefore noted with regret that nowadays religious places often breed disputes and wrangling, and encourage bigotry and fanaticism. Thus, instead of helping us to reach the highest goal, such institutions become the cause of much evil.

Arth means wealth. Kam means desires in general. By the Grace of the Master, all types of desires – whether worldly or spiritual – are fulfilled. By being in His company, the worldly desires, which are ephemeral, are all effaced; and spiritual desires become very strong. These ardent spiritual desires are fulfilled by His Grace, and are the only desires we should entertain. Moksh means Salvation.

Saints have themselves achieved Salvation and they are able to bestow Salvation on their disciples who faithfully follow their instructions. Salvation really means freedom or non-attachment. In other words, attachment consists in mentally binding oneself to something. Releasing oneself from that attachment is Salvation. Remaining unattached while living in the world of attachment, such is the Salvation of the Saints. That is to say, living in and performing our duties in the world, but not being of it. Salvation in the above sense of non-attachment is a means and not the goal, because it can be achieved by mental control and by certain practices leading to it. Saints and seers, while living in this world, preach that True Salvation (Salvation of the Soul) is attained by means of a certain spiritual practice. This practice is called “Surat Shabd Abhyans," which means the practice of uniting the soul with the Shabd (Word, Sound Current or Audible Life Stream). By means of such practice one can achieve True Salvation even while living in this very body.

As the lotus flower remains above water while its roots are in the water, and the swan – although it is constantly in the water – flies away with its wings dry; in the same manner, one who performs Surat Shabd Yoga remains detached from the world and from its influence while living and working in it.

Kabir says:

One who has been dyed in the Dye of Naam cannot be stained. He may live in the world, perform his worldly duties and activities, but his heart and mind will never waver.

Such a person has drunk so deep from the Fountain of Naam and Guru that while living in this world he remains unattached to it. Such devotees are so much attached to their Lord and Master that for them Salvation does not have much fascination. They are so happy in being near the Lord that they do not yearn for Salvation.