GOODNESS MEANS THERE IS NO THOUGHT OF SELF

The group finally reached Amalapuram at 12:30 P.M. on February 28th, and they were taken to Konaseema’s residence. Kala Venkata Rao led Baba to his room; he had kept food ready for Baba and his group. They had lunch, and Venkata Rao kept guard at the bottom of the staircase leading to Baba’s room so that no one would disturb him. Venkata was a former minister in the Madras government and general secretary of a political party of the Indian National Congress. But despite his high worldly positions, he was a humble man who had deep love for Baba.

After the meals, Sastri informed Baba that were it not for the help rendered by Venkata Rao to those who had suffered in the recent floods, many families would have been left destitute and starving. Hearing this, Baba observed:

Love for God can be expressed in so many ways because He has infinite aspects. The three aspects of power, knowledge and bliss are well known, but infinite honesty and infinite goodness are also main aspects – and goodness means where there is no thought of self.

When you serve your fellow beings with selflessness, you serve God; but this term “selflessness” is so very loosely used that in its very use its purpose is lost. Selfless service means that it has to be so very natural that even the thought that you have served should be absent.

What God’s aspect of honesty means is that you serve others in order to make them happy at the cost of your own happiness. Honesty demands that no show and no fuss is made of your service and you treat others as you treat your own dear ones.

Lord Meher, Bhau Kalchuri, Original Publication, Vol. 12, p. 4340.