Having a universal vision is the culmination of yoga, not isolation and self centred visions. This is the approach that we have to adopt in relation to today’s world and environment. Maybe isolation was necessary once upon a time when the mentality of each and every individual was different, when the aspirations, the environment, the social structure were different and everything was conducive to that form of experience. Out of the millions that practise, how many have actually had some experience? None. Why?
We have put ourselves first. The cart has been put before the horse. The horse is God, we are the cart, but we have put ourselves in front and now God is behind. However, if we keep the horse in front and the cart behind, the horse can pull the cart also. This can only happen when, along with your own practices, sadhana, meditation and yoga, you develop the attitude of seva. Seva is not service. Seva is not a good deed that you do. Seva is both a quality and a science. It is a science in the respect that you have to be aware. You have to develop certain things within yourself to establish yourself in seva.
To become a perfect sevak it is necessary that you eliminate your selfish qualities. It is necessary that you do not follow the whims of ego. It is necessary that you do not follow the tendencies of the mind. For this you need to practise sadhana, yoga and meditation, yet the ultimate aim is to be a sevak, and that is the aim of yoga. Once you become a sevak, you put the horse before the cart and the horse can then move the cart.
14 February 1994, Ganga Darshan, Munger