What comes first according to scriptures?
When we consider it in practical terms, service to humanity seems to be the winner - there are so many people, especially the elderly, who are in pitiable conditions - their body having many disfigurements, or having puss formations, or they are in states where they need help with all forms of hygiene, requiring bedpans and so forth. There are people who serve such people, recently heard on of such humanitarian organizations where the founder rescues abandoned people in pitiable conditions from street-sides and gives them a good life. (
www.eeranenjam.org). Serving the abandoned in pitiable states thus, does not come to all, even in paid jobs. For example, one of my friends who does minimum wage jobs went to inquire and watch a dental hygienist in hope to acquire a degree in the same. And she came back to complain that "Cleaning other peoples' mouth such as one with puss formation and so forth is beyond her tolerance level". When I thought deeply, I realized how true it is when they say the doctor professional is the most worthwhile because it involves checking and treating others with such pitiable and sometimes disgusting physical conditions such as when bleeding, after being victimized by bomb blasts and so forth.
But on the other hand, we see a bhakta, especially in olden days, who has been given to begging for food, and doing many types of tapas of austerities to acquire humility and other virtues. Especially, let us take into consideration the
saints.
So which is greater, doing service to humanity or aspiring to serve the lord at a capacity comparable to that of a saint?
Bookmarks