A Lesson In Service

Sathya Sai Baba

-Staff

By Staff

Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 17:24

Some time ago, Swami used to serve food to all the poor people. This is called Narayana Seva.

It seems one time when Swami had started serving food; He stopped at one spot, noticing a lady who was carrying a little, small child in her arms. Swami stopped there and called to one Seva Dal boy. "We are serving food to these people; how about that child?"

That Seva Dal had no reply. "Swami, what should I do?"

"Bring a glass of milk for this child."

So the Seva Dal boy went all the way to bring a glass of milk.

Swami went on moving around the lines, serving food. From a long distance, He stopped and asked, "Did you give milk to that child?"

That boy said, "Yes, Swami."

Swami said, "Nothing doing!"

Swami went all the way back to that lady and touched the glass. "It is very, very hot. How do you expect the child to drink the milk? No, bring another glass."

He started cooling the milk -- pouring it this way and that, pouring it from one glass into the other. He made it cool and offered the milk to the child and only then left.

"Seva or service is not a routine; it is not mechanical. No! It is not a schedule either. We have to do it wholeheartedly." - Baba