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ESOTERIC TENETS
Service (2) —
motives and methods
by Aart Jurriaanse
What are the disciple’s motives from
which arises that inner impulse to
help and serve others? All true
spiritual service, whatever its
nature of expression, is selflessly
motivated and issues from the soul
and the heart. Therefore as soon as
selfish objectives occur it is
obviously only the semblance of
genuine esoteric service, and can
thus be regarded as exoteric or
commercialized service, which is
something totally different and a
product of the personality.
The service considered here only
concerns the altruistic or esoteric
aspects, and may be motivated by:
(a) An awakening to the first faint
vision of the outlines of the divine
Plan, and a growing urge to
contribute that which one has, even
though still imperfect, towards the
realization of that which is being
contemplated. (b) The accomplishment
of some personal ideal, which will
demand the soul’s highest endeavour.
(c) An inner welling up of love,
manifesting itself as an impulse to
serve all that which is Divine,
whether designated as man, the
Christ, or as God — therefore an
aspiration to serve the Good. (d) The
disciple comes to the recognition
that he has acquired something, some
capacity or knowledge which might
help to enrich or throw light on the
paths of others, and he feels the
urge to transmit and share this with
them.
It should ever be kept in mind that
with service the effort and the
motive are at least equal in
importance to the accomplishment of
the objective.
Field of service
Each man must find his own field of
service, that terrain where under his
particular circumstances, his
combination of aptitudes, and his
background and training can be
blended and used to maximum
advantage. Fortunately there is an
unending range of possibilities
towards which man’s efforts may be
profitably directed, and every
individual will be able to find his
proper niche provided he is really
infused to serve, and his motives are
impelled by that inner love which,
come what may, must find expression.
So often those who show the first
signs of awakening, and begin to
display a half-hearted interest in
esoteric work, will remark that: “I
would also like to serve and to do
something for humanity, but what is
there that I could do?” With these
persons there is an apparent inner
incitement by their souls, but their
hearts are not yet fully awakened,
and there is as yet no real inner
love that is looking for expression;
wherever there is genuine soul-love
seeking utterance, a suitable outlet
will be found.
Care should be taken not to make
comparisons regarding the quality of
service rendered by different
persons. The real inner value of
service cannot be gauged by its outer
appearance or effect, and will only
be finally judged by those who are
sympathetically looking on from
subjective levels. Its true value
therefore does not lie in the visible
outer activity but in the inner
motivating force; an apparently
simple gesture of love, which may
pass unnoticed by the outside world,
may indeed have a more far-reaching
inner effect than some spectacular
act of public service.
When serving, concentrate all your
energies on your task. If others need
assistance from you in the execution
of their responsibilities, then give
help freely wherever possible, but
always remember that in the first
instance you are responsible for the
work that your own soul has assigned
to you and that you should never
interfere in the work of others.
Therefore, allow others the same
privilege of doing their work in
their own way, as you are demanding
for yourself.
All disciples have their limitations,
and this should be kept in mind when
choosing a task of service. The work
should be determined in accordance
with the disciple’s capacities, and
it would be foolish to attempt that
which altogether lies beyond his
limits, as this would but lead to
frustrations, unsatisfactory results,
and wasted time and energy. It is far
better to accomplish a smaller task
effectively than to tackle an
apparently more important task and
leave it unfinished or badly rounded
off.
On the other hand, the server is
often inclined to underrate the
talents with which the soul has
endowed him; he tends to weigh only
the aptitudes of the personality, not
yet being fully aware of the powers
lying latent in the soul and which
have there accrued in the course of
many lives. So when choosing a new
field of service, leave the final
decision to your intuition — to the
dictates of your soul!
Methods of service
Each potential server must find his
own particular level and method of
service. The form of his service is
of secondary importance — that which
counts is the motive by which he is
inspired. If arising from the heart
and soul, it will be based on love
for his fellow human beings and,
whatever the nature or details of the
service, it will be the right thing
for him under his specific
circumstances.
It should also be realized that, as
with all else, man must learn to
serve, and that he must therefore
preferably start with the small and
relatively simpler activities. As
experience is gained, fresh
opportunities will be presented, and
provided these are recognized, there
will prove to be no end to the
possibilities of service. Once the
joy of true service has been tasted,
it will prove so infectious that
nothing will be able to withhold him
from a future all-out career of
service.
The efficient server must at all
times display discrimination in his
approach to his work. He must be able
to evaluate his own capacities and
aptitudes, and should realize his
limitations; in his zeal he should
therefore not rush into fields of
work for which his past training and
experience has not qualified him, and
of which he cannot make a success.
Such unconsidered action will only
lead to waste of time, opportunity
and effort, and may have harmful and
frustrating effects.
Aart Jurriaanse, wrote a number of
compilations from the books of Alice
A. Bailey. Among these are: Of
Life and other worlds; Prophecies;
Ponder on this; Serving Humanity; The
Soul; The Quality of Life; and he
is also the author of Bridges
which is a Commentary on these
teachings.
Directory of
articles by Aart Jurriaanse
"Those among
you who wish to serve the world have
placed before them now the
opportunity of all lives. May you
seize it, use it to the full, and
create for yourselves and your
brothers a new life... Love, Justice
and Sharing. Make these your aims, My
friends, and know the meaning
of God." Maitreya, the
World Teacher
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