Should our aim be for Self realisation and attaining Nirvana: or to take birth again and serve humanity?
A. One should try for Self realisation and Nirvana alone. We should constantly try to ensure that we do not take birth in this Samsara again. But. since we have taken birth, we should serve all selflessly. If we take birth again, we should continue to do selfless service. But this does not mean that we should pray for rebirth. Self realisation should be our goal. The yeaming to realise the Self should not be regarded as selfishness. No. When standing on the peak of Self realisation you perceive Unity and see nothing but the Self, there is no room for selfishness at all. But it is true that some great saints have said: “I do not want Nirvana; I wish to be born again and again to sing Kirtan. I do not want to attain union with the Self; I shall take birth again and again in order to serve humanity.” We should accept the utterances of great Mahatmas, after examining them! There is a time honoured method called Arthavada, which great ones have resorted to in order to inspire people. They o
