Unconditional Service
"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." --Tagore
Day by day, we're now at our last day! We conclude by returning back to the everyday moments, but this time with new eyes -- of unconditional service. As our awareness expands from transactional interactions to a far richer web of relations and even subtler field of affinities bound by shared intentions, we return to the present moment with a heart of service. No expectation of reward or impact. No strings attached. Kingly giving. Sometimes we give and sometimes we receive, but always, we connect. Sometimes we get to do what we love, sometimes we learn to love what we do, but always, we dance to the rhythm of emergence. Witnessing our small threads of service effortlessly weave itself into a collective tapestry of virtue fills our cup of gratitude. Soon, it overflows. It gently glides by the divine order of grace. Paying it forward. Humbled by such a grand inheritance, we offer a bow simply for the opportunity to serve. The reward of service is more service, because -- "I acted and behold, service was joy."
Start with a 2-minute clip of two remarkable ladders, who deeply hold the suffering of the world, and yet embody the deep joy of service:
As you know, our 'Commencement Speaker' is Gary Zukav. Here's 2018 reflections on Universal Human. (Plus, scroll down to his talk and Q&As in our Closing Call clips here!)
Watch this 4-minute clip of near death experiences. They all seem to have a common refrain of "small acts with great love."
Reflect on how you can bring what you learned in this Pod into your daily life. Consider new habits, on perhaps vows as Shantideva's 14th century poem offers:
May I be a guard for those who need protection,
A guide for those on the path,
A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood.
May I be a lamp in the darkness,
A resting place for the weary,
A healing medicine for all who are sick,
A vase of plenty, a tree of miracles;
And for the boundless multitudes of living beings,
May I bring sustenance and awakening,
Enduring like the earth and sky
Until all beings are freed from sorrow,
And all are awakened.
As inspiration, consider Peace Pilgrim's vow. At age 45, she gave up all that remained of her material possessions and begin walking every day to spread peace. She made a vow as she began her journey on January 1, 1953, stating, “I shall remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace; walking until given shelter and fasting until given food.” She had no money, and practically nothing as she continued walking till her death on July 7, 1981 -- when she passed away in an automobile accident.
Ask yourself the question: What is a vow I might continue till my last breath? If helpful, outline it further in a Laddership Canvas (or read podmates service intentions here!).
An excerpt from Vinboa Bhave: "To progress, society doesn't need 'leaders' anymore. This doesn't mean that we won't have great men and women amidst us. They will come and they will be vital for progress of humanity, but they will be so great that they will refuse to take up this position of leadership. [...] When we will all see our role in society as servants, we will all light up the sky together like countless stars on a dark night. Don’t think of society as the sky on a full moon night. The moon's harsh light blinds us to the true and humble work of the stars. But on a moonless night, the true servants shine forth, as though they are connected invisibly in this vast and infinite cosmos."
And a poem from a Sufi mystic:
Plus, around designing for a gift ecology (as Karlheinz noted on Day 14: "I hope I will get some more inspiration for how to design free offerings in the upcoming week of our pod")...
- Case study of the world's largest eye hospital: You Choose: Free Service or Paid Service.
- From a pod in 2020: 7 Modules on Priceless Pricing.