Life of Service and Sacrifice

Nachiketa was given three boons. First, he asked the Lord to satisfy his father. Second, he is asking to teach him the Vedic fire ritual of performing yagna, which is a community worship. The second boon he is asking to give him the capacity to perform actions that will serve society at large. One should lead a life of sacrifice and not be selfish. He may reach heaven by performing acts of sacrifice symbolised by the fire ritual. The third boon he asks for, Atma vidya, knowledge of the Self for himself.

Nachiketa is put to the test by the Lord by offering various gifts, and Nachiketa tells Lord Yama to keep the horses and damsels. He asks the Lord to give him the Atma vidya.

As a preamble to the second boon, Nachiketa glorifies the heaven, which is a higher plane of consciousness. When you live a life of service and sacrifice you are transported to heaven. Such unselfish action gets you punya.

The six waves of sorrow:

• Old age and death (fear of death) at physical level
• Hunger and thirst at level of prana.
• Grief or sorrow arising out of delusion at mental level

At relative level, when all these six waves of sorrow are not there, you will be in peace, bliss, revelling in happiness. Our primary obligation is that we should be in that heavenly state. By serving the family and society, you will gain punya and remain in heaven, peace. It is a pre-requisite for Atma vidya.

The definition of happiness is the fulfilment of a desire. Desire produces agitation. Unfulfilled desires produce a variety of emotions like anger, greed, jealousy, envy, etc. Anything associated with desire is discomfort, agitation, and unhappiness. Generally, people associate happiness to fulfilment of a desire. But happiness is defined as satiation of desires. Agitation is described as desire, unfulfilled desire and the emotions arising out of desires.

Example: Desire is like the pressure cooker on a stove. Desire is the fire from the stove. The pressure is being built up, as you are not able to satisfy the desire. Pressure release through safety valve is like going and satisfying the desire. When you are frustrated, you find an avenue to satisfy the desire, which is the release of pressure. The wise understand the futility in the desire and rise above or transcend the desire which gives permanent happiness.

Fear is associated with selfishness. The more selfish you are, the greater the fear of losing your objects or possessions is. Selfishness takes you to hell. In heaven, there is no fear, which means one who lives a life of sacrifice. A sense of security comes to a man who lives a life of unselfishness. This is at a relative level. At the absolute level, punya is temporary. Once the merits are exhausted, you are transported back to the mortal world, and you go through waves of sorrow.

Happiness is defined as no agitations. The cause of agitation is desire, unfulfillment of desire, and emotions arising out of desires. The root cause of sorrow is avidya, ignorance in the form of desires and grief.

Thus, perform actions with a higher ideal in mind, in a spirit of yagna for a larger cause, service above oneself.

Q: What are the consequences of leading a selfish, self-centred life?

A: A selfish person:

1. Operates with a spirit of non-identification with totality. He operates being exclusive rather than inclusive.
2. Builds an individuality or ego.
3. Creates greater conflict/friction with everybody because of one’s ego/selfishness
4. Is unfit in the society/family / organisation. Such a person is not wanted.
5. The world is not designed for non-scarifiers. World is only for those who work with spirit of service and sacrifice. When you serve the organisation, you become an asset and you are wanted by them. Otherwise, you are a liability.
6. Lives a life of materiality and sensuality. He is all the time thinking of acquiring and enjoying. He is running behind Kanchana wealth and Kamini’s
7. He is constantly operating on his desires. He develops lobha, greed, and also creates new desires.
8. He has no contentment, satisfaction, or happiness.
9. The more selfish one is, the more agitated they become, affecting his mental and physical health.
10. He becomes a hypocrite. He talks high, but lives a life of low values. He does not live the value he preaches.
11. He is unfit for spirituality. His life doesn’t provide a conducive environment to be a spiritual aspirant.
12. He devolves spiritually.
13. It’s all a degree where all are placed somewhere between selfish and unselfish. No one is 100% selfish nor 100% unselfish, barring the exception to this rule is a man of realisation.
14. He becomes a loner. He lacks trust in others and becomes insecure. It affects his relationship with the world.
15. He becomes a taker and not a giver.
16. Conscience does not support his selfish actions, committing SIN.
17. He becomes judgmental as he is constantly operating with a selfish motive.
18. He does not have unconditional love.
19. He can never be an instrument of the Divine. Can we let the ego step aside and not interfere with the play of providence? If you become a mere instrument, Divinity flows through you.

Eg: Story of Alexander and Diogenes. When Alexander asked the monk what he wanted, the monk said ‘can you just step aside and let the sunrays fall on me’.