To Love and Serve

The address of H.E. Ali Akbar Khan, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh

Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, my elders, and friends: I visit many institutions – colleges, research centres, and other organisations. When I observe that they are necessary for the country’s progress, I am very concerned; for as far as I can judge, man is only interested in his label, talks only of his own religion; he has forgotten that which exists under the label – the soul and its humane nature.

No matter what may be one’s religion or sect – Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, or other – what is the very life of these, and what is their True Message? What message did the Prophets and Masters give us? We forget all this. As Sant Ji Maharaj has just said, They came to make a human being out of a human being. This can only happen when a man actually realises that God does exist – call Him by any name you wish – and that we are all His children. It is our bounden duty if we have faith in God, that we should have faith in the brotherhood of man – irrespective of religion or sect – and we should consider all people as brothers and sisters. We should love and serve each other. This is what I am always seeking when I visit the different institutions.

It was my very good fortune from childhood to have ample opportunity of meeting and serving many Fakirs and Saints. Sant Maharaj Ji has very truly expressed that if there is any life in religion, it is this – to love and serve. I recite the words of Amir Khusro:

Enslaved to love am I, I have no need for musselmani (his Muslim label); in each vein does His Love flow. I have no need for sacred thread; these love-filled veins are my sacred thread.

This means he does not need to wear his Muslim label – to express a mere outer show of religion.

So I seek a man who has Love for God and for all creation – the True Expression of religion and not the outer part. This is the very essence of the ideals and culture of my country, which was strengthened by the great incarnations who came – like Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, Kabir, Guru Nanak – all of whom are fragrant blossoms in the bouquet which is in India. Their teaching or message has been one – to live like brothers, have faith in the One God, and give service unto all.

Man was created for his compassionate heart.

He who has no compassion for his brothers, cares not for their suffering – can one term such a man as humane? It is a sin if one does not share the pain and difficulties of others. And if in the heart the thought arises, ‘that man is of another religion, why should I help him?’ then this is a greater sin. In fact there is no greater sin than this, according to our religions. Every religion teaches us to love and serve one another; it has been said that to serve man one might even have to sacrifice one’s life.

Sant Ji Maharaj, I consider it a great honour to be here, and I thank You – for myself, and for the office I hold. I am indeed indebted to You; for You have established something which is needed, not only in this country, but all over the world: the school for the children, the hospital, the home for the helpless aged people who have no means of livelihood, which you have kindly allowed me to inaugurate – there is no greater service than to provide a home for those old people who have no one to care for them – I consider it my good fortune that I could come and obey Your commands. I would like those unhappy people to come and gain happiness here.

The credit for all this work goes to Sant Ji Maharaj. It would give much pleasure to spend many hours here – to listen to Your words, and to talk to You; but the program is already scheduled, and at a certain time I have to be in another place, travelling there by train. Having seen Your Great Love and Your selfless service, I regret that I have not enough time to express those thoughts of good wishes that I would like. However, Sant Ji Maharaj, believe me when I say that whenever You need me for this work of humanity – of increasing Love and affection, of removing the differences among religions and bringing them all together, of bringing joy into the lives of the miserable, of serving the public in different ways – I am ready to obey Your commands. I am truly happy and grateful.

Just see, there are so many people sitting here – are there any refreshments being served? – they have come out of Love and respect from far and near, for the aim of this Centre is Love and affection and service to humanity. This is why I wish sincerely that this Centre should succeed, and that through Your guidance all good things may come out of it, that it may be a place in my country to which all suffering men should come to find happiness.

With these few words, once again I thank You for Your Love and Your kindness, and for the noble work that You and Your devotees are doing at this Centre. From my heart I thank You – and offer my deepest prayer for its success. May this grand endeavour succeed and progress day by day, to benefit my country and to further the service of mankind. Jai Hind.