When we learn to exist on ourselves, which means not depending on others - and in spirituality depending on our self means the Self inside me, which is my Master - then we become a permanent source of illumination to others which cannot be shaken by any force of nature. And it also becomes eternal. So this is the secret of spiritual life, that we must be strong because we must be strong. Nothing to do with others. Not to expect anything from others. Which only means, I must expect the best from myself. Because that is the only way to become the best. And we should use such opportunities as a testing stone for ourselves. And use it to correct ourselves. Use it for our self-development.

So this quality of inner rock-like steadiness we have to develop. And that can come only when we have tolerance for the others. They are what they are. They represent what I should not be, so let me not be like them, Master helping. So every time somebody is angry, you become more tolerant. Every time somebody is rude you become stronger in your own faith about yourself. And we must be able to take abuse with a smile, all the time praying, "Master, please correct them, help them, because they are my brothers and sisters and in some way if they are like that, I will be a little less than I should be." So, we should try to behave with tolerance, with courtesy because the person serving us is serving the Master. When we accept their service we should behave as if the Master was there and not this boy or this girl. If the abhyasi would adopt this attitude, there would be no problem at all. One serving is serving the Master, those accepting the service are accepting the Master's service, everything is calm, harmonious. This is what we should try for.

Once when I was talking to Babuji, there was another abhyasi with us who had volunteered for service during Basant. He came to Master and said, "Babuji, I am not able to do any sittings. I am on this and this duty, and I am here only for three days. I do not have the benefit of your blessings. What is the use of my coming for Basant?" Just on the spur of the moment, even though he was addressing my Master, I said, "That which you can earn by service you cannot get even by sadhana, because we do not have the ability, we do not have the moral fibre, in today's world, to be perfect sadhakas(one who does practice). It is not possible."

It is our Master's desire that we should congregate and feed the people here and house them properly. So we do it. That is why I emphasised in the volunteer's meeting that our brothers and sisters, who are here, they are Master's guests, and therefore should be treated as such by us. Even brotherliness is not enough. They are Master's beloved guests and if we have the idea of service it should be something like what you offer to your sambandhi(^{(Near and far relatives of the bridegroom)}. When the bridal party with the baraat^{(The arrival of the bridegroom's people at the marriage-hall)} comes, how much fuss we make about them. How many sweets we offer to them. How much attention we give to their every least comfort. This should be the aspect of service because here Master is the supreme bridegroom and all of us are brides. In the ancient principles there is one Purusha only and all the others are only females, whatever be their sex. So this should be the aspect of service.

When volunteers work for the Mission, they get something always. They do not have to attend, in fact they are told not to attend sittings. That is why I have said, the easiest way of winning the Master's heart is to work, not meditation and all this, you know. Nothing is necessary if you are a volunteer.

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