Question & Answer sessions with HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – 2015
Physical Seva
Question :
When we are already doing physical service to Sadguru, is it mandatory to also do Puja, Yoga, and listen to spiritual discourses, to experience God?
Answer :
It is only by listening that you learned that doing physical Seva to Guru is good. Listening is the greatest service you do for yourself. If you neglect that, you will lift one chair and will feel that you have done a lot. You will feel tired. Whereas, Sadguru has told us in a discourse that even while falling down with exhaustion, you must still continue to serve. After hearing this we modified our ways. Only by listening we acquire wisdom.
Is it mandatory to do puja, yoga, and to listen to lectures? Yes. These uplift the soul. Won’t service do it? Only if you are like Deepaka in Guru Charitra, who was so fully immersed in serving his Guru 24/7, that when gods themselves came to him, he excused himself, saying he had to go and serve his Guru.
We are not so dedicated. In our free time, we must do puja, yoga, and scriptural studies. Refusing to do them is wrong. Physical service also must be done to the maximum level.
Service without spiritual knowledge will lead to ego. Without Jnana, Liberation is impossible. Such disciples, who only do physical service, are gradually placed by Guru in the path of Jnana, and then they are led to Mukti, Liberation. That is why even those who follow the path of service must develop spiritual wisdom. First get Jnana, and then do service. What is Jnana? Being free from ego is Jnana. Service rendered without ego is Jnana. That is the best method.