Service is a state wherein one tries to outgrow his or her individuality into the realization of universality. Service is a manifestation of one's sincere love unto others, fencing not oneself in and thus fencing not others out. In the universe ‘Pull' alone is the watchword; but one misreads it and begins to ‘Push', knowing not that the centre of gravity is within. Service is worship of the one in the many and not even help, as commonly understood. Service is self-sacrifice to the last degree. It is a means to make one realize God in the temple of one's own soul and thereby in the temple of the whole universe.

There is an Indian parable of two boys who began to fight over a basket full of fruits and as they were struggling to snatch it from each others hands, the fruits dropped into the ditch and they went on quarrelling over an empty basket. A passerby seeing them, said: "Why are you quarrelling? The fruits have fallen into the ditch. Why should you fight over the empty basket?" And this is often the case in the world. People forget the essential and waste their energies disputing over the non-essentials, whereas service necessitates a man fostering inter-communal interests. It makes every one raise unitedly a sincere voice of protest against all social injustices. It is a power and force in itself. It deals a death-blow to the silly notions of privileges and prejudices that wall between brother and brother. One has to learn the lesson of serving without any ulterior motive. Service always bears fruit. It always creates. Every act of our life can be done in such a way as to uplift us or to drag us down. It is not what we do, but how we do it that determines the merit of each action. A worthy lover of mankind is like a flower, which gives its fragrance whether we place it on our head or trample it under feet. His nature is to serve (give) without any regard for his own personal gain or loss.

It is of vainglory to say that our Rishis of yore were great and then go to sleep. It is nothing less than foolishness. And we say: "We are proud of our Rishis." But ask yourselves: "Are the Rishis proud of you?" So, you see, let us begin from the very beginning by purifying our instincts. Make them pure. Let instincts impel, impulses ideate, ideas act, actions habituate, habits characterize and character achieve the Goal of life. Then you will be true sons and daughters of India and builders of the temple of Liberty, waving the flag of Freedom, Peace, Unity and Love here, there and everywhere. We will then be rising above all communal dissessions that take toll of the peace and progress of the country at present. For one cannot but help or hinder under the cosmic Law, as there is no standstill in nature. Activity is inevitable, whether of body or of mind. Each action produces its result. Such results ought to harmonize with the highest ideal of our life. In this great workshop of nature every one is active one way or the other. But be not affected by external appeals. Be not led captive by circumstances and events. You do not show your strength when you swim smoothly with the tide. Be powerful to cleave the resisting current. So also you do not show your virtue when you are carried along in a pleasant stream of happy conduct from outside. Stand firm and calm in the midst of adverse conditions, in times of opposition, temptation and persecution. Manifest the Divinity by knowing Thyself as supreme and serene. Let the light of Self shine. Become aware of the drama played on the stage of the world. Do not be a mere ignorant spectator of it. Know your part and act it, not automatically but consciously, to the best of your abilities. It is then you live your life nobly and well. Never be so foolish as to think that you are a real prince or a page, though you might seem to be so acting your part. The worldly scenes of sensual shows will surely cease to tempt, touch and taint you, if you but consciously realize your birthright, your inner nature of immortality and infinity. Your face ought to shine. Your spirit ought to be tranquil. Your eye ought to be clear. Your nerves ought to be steady. With these press through the tasks of your commonmost day. Live just as purely and beautifully in private as in the open glare of the world's noon. Train yourself to work under the divine eye and stand the divine inspection. Put beauty into life and let it begin to stir from the innermost depths. Build it bit by bit, and moment by moment, to ably pass through thick and thin, fire and ice, and thus reach its destination in the pilgrimage on earth. Be original in everything. The dynamic force of originality lies latent in you. Kindle it up. Blaze your own way instead of trying to walk in old paths or beaten tracks. Have something new to give to the world. Enlightened seers and saints of yore sounded the Note of Freedom by their unfoldment of originality.

Service spells rhythm. Rhythm spells harmony. Harmony spells beauty. Beauty spells joy. Joy spells Love. Love spells unity. Unity spells Truth. Truth makes you live in the Supreme Self. You can thus keep your head in solitude with your hand in society. Further, service makes us secure common and broad platform on which Hindu, a Christian, a Mohammadan, a Buddhist, a Jew, a Parsi, a Jain, and one and all can stand and embrace one another as members of the great family of Humanity. And we realize thereby the Universal Unity underlying the diverse faiths in the world. Service lifts us up above all petty differences and distinctions. It knows no bargain.

Let us awake and arise and gird up our loins before the sunset of our lives, which may come at any moment. No more shall we be deluded with the material glamour and hunt after the vaporous birds in the sky all through our lives or try to catch the fabled bag of gold at the foot of a rainbow like children! Let us make delusion delude itself. Let us step from the ephemeral into the Eternal and toll the death-knell of empty prejudices, meaningless divisions and apparent differences. Let us sing the song of Love sitting on the Throne of Truth. Let us thus with one heart and soul live together. Let us be as broad as sky, as deep as sea, as bright as star, as universal as sun, as free as ether, as clear as crystal, as cool as moon, as firm as Mount Meru, and as fragrant as flower. This is the note of Peace and Service, not only of the individual and nation, but of humanity as a whole. Thus we meet on the common ground which forms the basis of solidarity,- a solidarity that will not break in any age or clime. And it is thus that every one of us can become a living embodiment of Harmony, Love and Service.