Spirituality and Social Service

When it sprouts, every seed looks like a question mark! Yes, life is one long stretch of quest. Where are we from? Wither bound are we? And, for what? These are the basic questions that do arise in every one of us, in various degrees of intensity and persistence. In fact, all questions arise from this major quest. In some, they lie dormant for a while but there is no one who has not been confronted by these questions that arise in one’s own mind.

It is not as though that we come into this world with a bag of questions. The contents of the invisible bag that we carry or drag, are different. Pre-dispositions, tendencies, a specific pattern of tastes and behaviour are common to all of us but different from person to person! No two words are synonymous. No two human beings are alike. At the same time, we are not different. Originally and ultimately, all are one.

Realizing this essential oneness and irrelevant differences is spirituality. Overcoming the differences by remaining united in a cause is social service. Thus, they are different sides of the very same coin.

Life is fleeting indeed. It could be no more than a small bubble. Agreed! But, our dreams and aspirations refuse to be cowed down by our essential insignificance. We cannot brush aside poverty and disease as myths. We have to agree that suffering is a reality. However brief life may seem, the suffering of the underprivileged make it look unduly long.

Therefore,

  • All of us come into this world alone but we are not alone
  • We do have a location of existence called the civilized society
  • Our basic questions are common but we can handle them only individually and not together
    • Our differences in characteristics can be handled only by living together and not alone!
  • All of us have to leave this world one day alone

It will be interesting to observe the similarities between spirituality and social service:

  • Spirituality begins, where religion ends but it does not have any conflict with religion
  • Social service today is organizational though it is basically an individual attitude. Again, it need not have any conflict with organizational work

Now, what is spirituality?

  • Enquiring into oneself for resolving the riddle of existence itself
  • Understanding the grand scheme of life
  • Finalizing one’s location and role in cosmos

And, what is social service?

  • Active concern for the welfare of all living beings
  • Love in action
  • Recognizing one’s indebtedness to society and responding accordingly

How are they similar?

  • Spirituality is attaining freedom from bondage
  • Social service is treating the bondage as indebtedness and trying to clear it by helping others

A true spiritual aspirant is a well-wisher of everyone. He is a world citizen. What more, he is always ready to offer whatever he can, for the cause of the society. Similarly, a social worker, does not look at himself as anything more than a part of the society. He understands that his personal well-being is directly dependant on the welfare of the society. It is by taking care of the cow that we are nourished by its milk. After all, the society is not a being or an entity. It is a compilation of many individuals, with all their strengths, limitations, needs, desires and above all will. If it contains more members who are conscious of this, it becomes much more than a civilized society. A spiritual aspirant, understands that inter-dependence is the central theme of life. He chooses to be truthful not because there is a reward for it but because it is his duty towards the health of a society. That is why, from Maharishis to Chanakya to modern great social thinkers, the welfare of society has been of primary importance.

In both spiritual pursuit and social service, an impersonal attitude is highly necessary. An aspirant cannot permit religious dogmatism or exclusive personal judgemental nature in his sadhana. His very life is sadhana and it is neither a short term course nor mere means. He is supposed to make his life penance and live that way without looking for result. No one is particularly dear to him; nothing is away from him.

Similarly, a social worker knows too well that the demand for service is too huge and all the work of all the service organizations all over the globe may not amount to anything more than a patch on the road! He knows that he is not doing anyone any favour but only discharging his duty. He remembers that it is not for him to look for results but he has to keep chipping in. To him, no one is a stranger; no one is unimportant. He knows that the so called giver is the real receiver. For, in love, nothing can be given; everything comes back!

Either way, it is love at work! It is gratitude that urges one to do something for others.

Thus, it is clear that spirituality is a responsibility and social service a duty. Both are parallel, concurrent and simultaneously attempted. If our thinking goes a step higher, we will understand that spiritual freedom can be pursued through social service because it is self-effacing.

Redemption of oneself and relieving the agony of others are therefore inter-linked. The Great Self is never realized if we remain selfish. Service is never sanctified unless it is offered to the Self. If only all of us understand this basic similarity, the world will be free from religious and social conflicts.

Let us remain together in that realization and work together to make this world, an abode of harmony!