Three insights found in the Wisdom Teachings describe the Path of Service to the one seeking to serve in the Light:
True individuality, or true humanness, is only achieved during the last steps on the Path of Return to the Source when the aspiration to Love becomes the will to sacrifice.
This achievement is only possible when we learn to live according to a Divine Idea, not according to opinions.
Living according to a Divine Idea is true Service, and true Service is always an experiment with Love.
It is not unusual for us, human beings, to praise ourselves because we think we are self-assertive and self-directed beings that move through life freely choosing the way we want to be and live. However, if we study the trend of our thoughts, the direction of our feelings and the nature of our actions, we will discover that we are not different from what most human beings are doing, or trying to do, or aspiring to do. In other words, our thought and feeling life and our daily activities are very much conditioned by the tendencies of the collective consciousness, and seldom we make a choice that is truly independent from the usual ways.
Thus, in the present condition of humanity to be a true individuality and the embodiment of true humanness means to have a thought and feeling life and a daily rhythm which are truly unusual. But, in which way do we have to be “unusual”?
“Unusual in the ways of Love”, answers the Wisdom, and it adds:
The true nature of my being, I know, is to be here and now for the good of All.
I exist only to increase the good of All.
I give myself to all for the good of All.”
Fully self-conscious individuals, therefore, know themselves to be one with all beings, while preserving a complete freedom from human views, opinions and ideas. In the eyes of others, these individuals are seen as giving up and sacrificing all what they are for the good of all. But in their minds and hearts they know that sacrifice is not about suffering and expiation but about sacredness. They know that the true meaning of sacrifice is to make sacred the relations with all beings; in other words, to relate to all in Love. They also know that what they have achieved is just to arrive to their true position in the Great Scheme of Things. Thus, these individuals have truly become the embodiment of a Divine Idea.
The one seeking to serve in the Light needs to distinguish, therefore, between an Idea, an Ideal and opinions, and so understand the meaning of the second insight of the Wisdom regarding Service described at the beginning of this essay.
True Ideas are Divine Thoughts or Facets of the Source All existing in the eternity of the Universal Mind. They are complete, perfect and immutable.
For example, in the Divine Mind there is the Idea of the Perfect Swimmer. It is from this Idea that human beings get inspiration to become good swimmers. This inspiration to strive towards the embodiment of the Divine Idea is known to us as an Ideal. Thus, swimmers who consciously strive to be the perfection of swimming are themselves the embodiment of the Ideal. On the other hand, there are some human beings that feel attracted to study the techniques of swimming without any real experience in swimming. Though these individuals may believe that they know about swimming, they are living in a self-deception because all they really have are opinions about it.
There are, therefore, three levels of knowledge in the above example, as well as in any other situation in life:
- Those who are the Divine Idea : The Perfect Swimmer.
- Those who embody the perceived Ideal : The consciously striving swimmers who are willing to explore their possibilities and full potential.
- Those who are content with ignorance : The authors and the followers of opinions.
Another example: Art critics believe themselves to be knowledgeable about Art and the works of art of others. Many of them even make a profession as opinion-makers on Art. But, seldom, a true artist will criticize the works of other artists. True artists are not interested in this. They know well what it means to strive for the creation of a real work of art. On the other hand, art critics live in the self-created illusion that they know about Art. It is only when they dare to start creating works of art that they truly start learning about Art (and stop embodying opinions).
This appreciation of what one embodies in life can be applied to every situation.
These are the reasons why the Wisdom dictates that one must live according to a Divine Idea, not according to opinions (both, self-generated and accepted from others), if one wants to be a true Individuality, a full human being, and a Server of the Light.
Life is about the exploration and experimentation of Divine possibilities in ourselves. The Wisdom calls this exploration and experimentation, “Service”.
Based upon whatever degree of understanding we may have about a Divine Idea, we should experiment with It and explore the possibilities in ourselves of becoming the embodiment of the Ideal. It is at this point that most of us get confused: “Which Divine Idea are we supposed to embody?” The answer is clear: We are here, living in the midst of Creation, with the single purpose of exploring and experimenting with Love, and Love has countless Facets.
Service is to become an embodiment of Love or a living Ideal of Love in any of its countless Facets.
How can we do it?
The Wisdom Teachings answer:
“You choose what you want to be of Love.
Thus… what do you want to embody?
In which aspect of human living do you want to be a living example of Love?
Choose and BE, yet be aware! Do not limit Love to charity, philanthropy or “doing good”. Love can be embodied in countless facets, in countless ways, in countless faces, in countless places.”
It is at this point that we need to be unusual. It is at this point that we need to discard our opinions about ourselves and our lives and start living according to a Divine Idea.
No one, no Teacher of the Wisdom, no Master of the Light, no Exalted Being expects us to serve or do anything in particular — we are not here trying to accomplish somebody else's mission or agenda. They only hope, and support us, that we will choose to live according to our fullest potential at all time.
On the other hand, SERVICE is a great tool, perhaps the greatest of all, for us to explore our Love nature and discover that we are truly one with the Inexhaustible Fountain of Love. As long as we do not start experimenting with Love in our lives and exploring this potential in us, we will remain full of opinions and ignorant on the true nature of Love.
This notion of Service offered by the Wisdom Teachings brings up many questions and challenges to the one who seeks to serve. Only the seeking one can answer them in the quietness of the heart and mind. After all the Path of Light has never been a matter of having a great vision to strive towards, but a matter of strength in one’s heart.