Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

Three Types of Activities - Work, Service, and Worship (Karma, Seva,

Puja)

 

Activities can be performed in three different ways i.e. Anything

that we do, can be done in three ways -

 

1. Doing something as " work, " e.g. like a servant does household

chores

2. Doing as " service, " a serving attitude e.g. caring for elderly

parents. In this way, there is a feeling of reverence, and desire to

give the person happiness, and with this expression (or seva bhava)

there is a certain kind of joy that is generated within.

3. Doing all activities as " worship " of God. In this expression, all

activities become a worship of God, just like praying. There is

special feeling within (bhava), as if whatever is being done is being

done for God. There is a very special joy in doing everything as

worship of God. Simply by this vision (darshan) you experience a

special one-ness inside. Just like by simply thinking of a great

Soul, you experience happiness and peace within.

 

In all three, the actions are the same, however there is great

significance to performing all activities as worshipful reverence for

God. With this feeling (bhava) if you do anything, you will

experience a very special joy.

 

Lord Krishna says in the Gita 9:27 - " Yat Karoshi,yad asnaasi, yaj

juhosi dadaasi yat?.. " Everything I am doing, I am doing for You ?

God. Even those activities that are being done for taking care of

this body, personal cleanliness, eating food, are for God. Just like

a child often eats just to please the mother. God becomes very happy

(prasanna), when we do everything for Him. When everything is being

done for His happiness, all activities become a worship of God.

Therefore there is great importance given to worship (pujan).

 

A realized Soul, has a deep feeling of performing every action only

for God, therefore even when the body of such a great Soul leaves

this earth, the environment around becomes pure, sanctified, and one

experiences joy and peace. This joyfulness (prasannataa) that one

experiences within is worship (Puja) of God. This feeling of

worshipful reverence, if real and honest, it will result in inner

purity. This kind of worship (devotion) comes from feeling of mine-

ness.

 

This feeling of mine-ness (apnaapan) is extremely powerful tool and

brings immense inner strength, devotion and very quickly the

realization of God. With this feeling of mine-ness, devotion will

become natural. That devotee will no longer be disturbed by desire

for enjoyment / pleasure (Bhog) or desire for Salvation (Moksha).

Both these will no longer have a binding force on the devotee. Simply

by remembering God, the devotee becomes intensely joyful within. This

is a very special, very divine, very unusual feeling that is

experienced within by a devotee, and it is very difficult for most

people to comprehend.