Service to Humanity

Service to humanity is one which is done physically, mentally and financially with conviction of heart:

Tann mann dhann sab saump gur ko (918)

(Surrender body, mind, wealth and everything to the Guru)

Propagation of the ideals of humanity given in Guru Granth Sahib is another of the most cherished services. By doing this, a person becomes pious at the physical as well as at spiritual level:

Gur ki sewa shabad veechar (223)

(The service of the Guru is to ponder over the ‘word’, tame one’s ego and to perform good deeds.)

One does not look forward to any kind of benefits arising out of this service:

Sewa karat hoey nihkaami Tis kau hot prapat swami (286)

(One, who performs selfless service, without thought of reward, shall attain his Lord, the Master.)

Humility

Humility is considered to be the essence of all virtuous deeds:

Mithatt neeveen Nanaka Gunn changiaaee-an tatt (470)

(Sweetness and humility, O Nanak, are the essence of virtue   and goodness.)

Guru Nanak showed utmost humility when he expressed:

Neecha andar neech jaat Neechee hoo att neech Nanak tin kai sang saath Vadian siyon kiaa rees (15)

(Nanak seeks the company of the lowest of the low class, the very lowest of the low. Why should he try to compete with the great?)

Guru Arjan, after having compiled the greatest spiritual scripture, submits:Tera keeta jaato naaheen Mai-noo jog keetoee (1429)

(I have not appreciated what You have done for me, Lord; only You can make me worthy.)

And finally Guru Gobind Singh expressed himself in the most humble manner one can ever imagine:

Mein hoon Param Purakh ko daasaa (Dasam Granth)

(I am the humble servant of the Supreme Lord)

The person, who has perceived and realized God is utmost humble and never lets anger take the better of him. But such a person can also get aroused when he sees some poor, weak or powerless person being browbeaten by some cruel and merciless tyrant. Also, when somebody fakes as a pious and religious person, even then a real humble person gets agitated and bravely challenges such fake people. A real humble person is not imbued with fake humility but is humble to the Guru and to the elders. He is pious and humble but brave enough to face the tyrants whenever needed.

Fearlessness

A person reaching the height of completeness becomes fearless:

Bhe-i kaahoo kao de-i-t neh Neh bhe-i maanat aan Kahau Nanak sun rey manaa giani tahe bakhaan (1427)

(One who does not frighten anyone and who is not afraid of anyone, says Nanak, listen O mind! Call him spiritually wise.)

Such a person neither fears anybody nor is his behavior brazen and high-handed that frightens or terrorizes others. He loves everybody, is forthright, very clear-headed and is not blinded by love for selfish motives.

Friend to all

The divine quality of no enmity towards anybody is born out of fearlessness. Such a person treats everybody as his friend:

Sabh ko meet hum aapan keenaa hum sabhnaa key saajan, Door paraiyo mann kaa birhaa tau meil keeyo mere raajan (671)

(I am a friend to all; I am everyone’s friend.When the sense of separation was removed from my mind, then I was united with the Lord, my King.)

He sees people as children of one God. How can such a person nurture animosity against anybody? Achieving the acme of completeness with God, such a person sings and lives the teachings of Gurbani:

Naa ko bairee nahee bigaanaa, Sagal sang hum kau bann aayee (1299)

(No one is my foe, nor is anyone alien, I get along well with everybody.)

Sweetness of Tongue

A very fine rendering of this quality is enshrined in the following Shabad of Guru Granth Sahib:

Mitth bolraa jee har sajjan suami meraa, Hau sambhal thakki jee oh kadey naa boley kauraa (784)

(My Dear Lord and Master, my Friend, speaks so sweetly. I have grown weary of testing Him, but still, He never speaks harshly to me.)

A person encompassing such beautiful nature will not speak rough and bitter. Such a person always remembers that God is the epitome of sweetness and love. He never speaks ill of others and always exudes sweetness and love for everybody.

Steadfastness & Resoluteness

Being humble and sweet-tongued does not mean that such a person is weak at heart. Being firm and resolute in the beliefs and tenets in spite of provocations to the contrary is a divine virtue that comes naturally to enlightened persons along with sweetness and humility. Such persons blaze fantastic trails of glory with a steadfastness towards their aim even though they may have to face severe brutalities at the hands of cruel rulers. Such persons do not waver from their righteous path even in the face of severe social and financial difficulties:

Dharam het saakaa jin keeaa Sees deeaa par sirar na deeaa

(For the sake of Dharma, he sacrificed himself. He laid down his head but not his creed.)

Righteous Deeds

Work may be of any type i.e., of a labor or of being in service in a big post in some big organization or running one’s own business, a person with human values will work with complete honesty in his dealings. Such a person follows the golden edict of Guru Granth Sahib:

Ghaal khaa-ey kitchh hathahu dei. Nanak raah pachhaaneh se. (1245)

(We  must earn through hard work and share it with others. This is how we find the true path.)

When a person is able to realize God inherently within himself, honesty is visible in all aspects of his life. He is ever eager to share his earnings and help others out of his honest means. Such a person does not believe in sitting idle and living on the alms and charity of others.

Welfare of All

In the morning and evening prayers, every Sikh is always supplicating to Almighty God to grant welfare to the entire humanity by reciting these words at the end of the Ardas:

Nanak naam chardee kalaa,Terey bhaaney sarbat da bhalaa

(Oh God! Please shower your blessings on the whole of humanity without discrimination of religion, caste, creed, race, color or gender across the whole world.)

Thus the Gursikh or for that matter every right-thinking person will always think for the well-being of others.