Let Us Live Harmoniously

To live harmoniously, we need   to be supportive and helpful to all people, creatures, and plant kingdom that  share this earth with us. While “being of service” is part of being a good   citizen of the world, it also feels good to help others. When we do something  for others in service, without the expectation of anything in return, we are   turning our actions into offerings. This is the teaching of Geetaa.

There are many ways to be of   service to our community. Although there are many obvious and much needed volunteer  opportunities, such as serving Thanksgiving dinner at a shelter, mentoring our   youth, or cleaning up a beach, still there are many kinds of services that we may  not even think of as being acts of service. Learning a new language (perhaps  sign language) so that you can talk to more people is a way to reach out to  others. Inviting someone who isn’t motivated enough to exercise on their own  to join you on your daily walk is a way to give of yourself. Sharing flowers  or vegetables from your garden or if you don't have garden from your shopping bag too, organizing a poetry reading, offering to  babysit for a busy parent, or donating pet food to an animal shelter all are  simple ways to offer your services to your community.

There are many   ways that you can serve the world. Imagine the impact we would have on the   environment if we picked up one piece of trash off the street everyday and  chose not to drive our car once a week. Even gardening tactics such as  throwing wildflower seeds onto a vacant lot can brighten the lives of others – including the lives of birds and insects. Talk to a lonely person. Make a shopping trip for an old person. Serve a sick person and do the needful to him or her once a day. Or just smile at your neighbor and ask him or her how was his or her day when you see him or her in the evening. This will brighten his or her day.

Everyday, you can do something to  make this world a better place. During meditation, ask for guidance on what  you can do to be of service. This can be a wonderful way to start your day.   Smiling at a stranger who looks down in the dumps or teaching your neighborhood kids how to whistle will impact someone’s day or even their life.   Giving even a little bit of yourself is the best gift that you can give to anybody.