Service -- Week 19
Service is the outer expression of a wish to benefit others – to increase their happiness. At its best, it is an expression of caring, sharing, and delighting in each other. When it arises effortlessly and spontaneously, it is beautiful to watch.
Service can also be experienced as a duty. Instead of being light and joyful, it feels heavy and burdensome. For most of us, learning how to serve -- and to be served -- is a lifetime’s task.
In every moment there is an opportunity to make someone else’s life a bit easier or nicer. Every thought, word and action that flows from us in a loving way has the potential to create happiness.
As we discover and deepen our wish for other people to be happy, we also find the key to our own happiness.
Nobody gets left out of the equation. This is the golden rule of heart-felt service that underpins the great spiritual and wisdom traditions of the world. ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto yourself.
Topics for discussion: (From 16-G PDF)
1. What action can you take today to add to those little bits of good that have the power to overwhelm the world?
2. Being of service can mean to help and benefit others in whatever way we can. What might limit your ability to be of service? How might those limits be a good thing?
3. How do you receive the service of others?
.... or whatever is alive in you. 😉
