THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF DEDICATING EVERYTHING YOU DO TO SERVING OTHERS AND THE GREATER GOOD
Important things I am learning from consciously dedicating my thoughts, words and actions to the greater good of others and the world.
THE DAWNING LIGHT, Volume 7, # 629 Thursday, November 30, 2023
SPIRITUAL SOUK KITCHEN Section # 86 »»» 4 minute read time «««
Written and published by Chinmayan—Founder and Spiritual Director of Inner Resource Institute and Still Mountain Meditation Center
All Images in this story are courtesy of Pixabay
THE SECRET PATH TO PERSONAL HAPPINESS and A LIFE OF MEANING AND FULFILLMENT IS TO DEDICATE EVERYTHING YOU DO TO SERVING OTHERS and THE GREATER GOOD.
I know this is a bold statement which may seem illogical…since most of us believe that getting everything we want for ourselves and being able to satisfy our every selfish desire is our ticket to a great life.
But I can tell you, from my own hard personal experience and that of many many other people, that any happiness we get from satisfying our selfish desires is fleeting…and gives rise to wanting more and more.
The classic image that all my teachers use to illustrate this point is…living with the “normal” self centered focus is like trying to lick drops of honey from a razor’s edge.
We may get some honey, but the razor slices a cut in our tongue. We pay a price in pain for every drop of sweetness.
Ever since I received this teaching from Kalu Rinpoche fifty years ago, I have been applying it in my daily life.
The quickest way to happiness, peace, a sense of well being and a life of meaning and purpose is to consciously dedicate everything you do with your body, speech and mind to serving others and the greater good.
I guarantee that if you can take on this attitude and train yourself to see EVERYTHING YOU DO as service to all beings that it will transform you and your life to a far higher level.
The truth is everyone of us was born to live in love and serving.
In my lineage, we use the Sanskrit word which is “Seva or Selfless Service”, which means all our actions are acts of Love and giving.
“I celebrate being a force of Love who finds joy and freedom in serving everyone” —Yeshe Gyamtso
EVERY CRAFT, EVEN MAKING FIREWOOD, CAN BE A PATH TO MASTERY AND SERVING OTHERS
Making firewood the way we do it has always been hard work.
After all these years of doing it intensely every winter since 1987, I could say that I have some degree of mastery in the craft.
But as I do the work each day, the inner guide will suggest a more efficient or better way, because I am always looking to become faster, sharper and more refined.
I have learned that every craft, whatever it may be, can be a path to mastery of not only the actual work but of one’s consciousness as well.
I have that level of respect and appreciation for this work of making firewood.
I am far better and more skilled at this work than I was even last year.
SIMPLE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IS A STEADY SOURCE OF JOY AND PEACE OF MIND
I have grown to love every area of my life where I am able to practice continuous improvement.
It is a source of pure joy for me to keep on stepping up towards mastery in all the work that comes to my hands…and my mind.
Photo Credit: Nicola Smith Making firewood at our mountain harvest site
I am working today at one of our mountain harvest sites which has a large ‘deck’ (parlance for a pile of logs neatly stacked lengthwise) of premium seasoned Douglas Fir, which we use to make perfect firewood bundles.
It is a lush sunny, almost warm, almost spring kind of day which I am thoroughly enjoying.
Yesterday we harvested Mountain Oak from another site in the cold drizzling rain, which admittedly was a lot less fun than today.
Nevertheless, even with slipping in the mud, having to choker and skid logs out of a canyon, in biting wind and nasty circumstances, we still accomplished our goal.
We went home weary, wet, mud splattered but victorious…knowing we had enough primo oak to produce an order for a little old lady who needs it.
That is one of the positives about this work, beyond the enforced strenuous daily exercise, getting to work in solitude in beautiful wild forest and all the other benefits…is truly serving our customers with a very high quality product that they need to heat their homes.
Photo Credit: Pixabay “It is wonderful to know that our hard work will result in firewood to keep Still Mountain warm this winter”
One of the most profound shortcuts to lasting happiness is to see yourself as someone who is dedicated to serving the greater good of others and the world with everything you do, with every thought, word and action.
“The quickest way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” as Gandhi says.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
“The quickest way To find yourself is To lose yourself in The service of others” —Mahatma Gandhi
The very heart of the Dharma which greatly increases the power, results and lasting benefits of your spiritual practices is to consciously dedicate everything you do with your body, speech and mind to the welfare of all living beings everywhere.
This is one of the Foundations of the spiritual path that my first teacher, Kalu Rinpoche taught us many years ago that has completely transformed and empowered my life.
For me, I see everything I do, even the smallest thing as service to humanity, to the world and all living beings…which makes it all a source of joy, happiness and peace of mind.
This attitude of being a servant of all living beings makes all the difference, for It makes living your life from love, caring and compassion what your life is all about. It is by far the most powerful and profound attitude which makes rapid spiritual growth and transformation possible.
Revelations Poem and Calligraphy by Chinmayan
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