Different Forms of Sacrifice (Selfless Service)

The highest form of sacrifice is to let go of personal desires, and in fact, all mundane desires, dedicating all actions to God. Thinking with each action, Thy will be done, is the quickest way to Self-Realization, that is, feeling God’s love fully.

It is said that the actor (eternal Soul) is Brahman; the action (sacrificial offering) is Brahman; and the thought of God is Brahman.

Everything is eternal Soul or Brahman.

Krishna says that some people make sacrifices to the gods (angels), some offer their senses in the form of self-control, and others offer their actions in the form of self-control. Some people offer money, some practice austerities, some practice yoga (union of all aspects thoughts, feelings and actions. Some offer breath control (pranayama). Some renounce unhealthy foods. Some people help others (seva).

Many are the ways to grow on one’s spiritual path. All are forms of action that lead to liberation — but inaction alone can never bring liberation. Do not mistake inaction in life as a spiritual attainment.

Rather see those who are constantly engaged in trying to improve their lives, the lives of others, helping the environment, and the animals as performing actions leading to spiritual liberation. [Verse 24–32]

Brahma (eternal Soul) is the offering, Brahma is that offered (oblation), Brahma is the sacrificial fire, and Brahma performs the offering. So, by performing actions with this awareness, a person realizes Brahma. [24]

Some yogis propitiate the gods; others make offerings into the fire of Brahma by offering their personal self to the eternal Soul. [25]

Some offer their senses of hearing and seeing into the fire of self-control; others offer sound and other sense objects into the fire of the senses. [26]

Others offer all actions of the senses and their vital energies in the fire of self-control, kindled by wisdom. [27]

Some offer wealth as their sacrifice; some offer austerity and yoga; still others offer study of the scriptures and wisdom. All follow strict vows and self-control. [28]

Still others offer their outgoing breath to the incoming breath and vice versa, to achieve cessation of breath; they constantly practice Pranayama. Others regulate their food habits, offering the senses into the breath. [29]

All these people know the various forms of sacrifice (offerings). Performing the offerings burns off their impurities. Partaking of the remnants (prashad) they realize their eternal Soul. [30]

O Arjuna, one who doesn’t perform selfless actions is not ft for this world, what to say about the heavenly realm. [31]

There are various offerings prescribed in the Vedas. Understand that they all arise from actions; by knowing this you will become free. [32]

The Best Ministry

A common question these days is to ask which form of help is the most useful. Some say it is political, social, or ecological activism, helping the poor, the minorities, the environment, etc. Others say it is meditation, since a person must know his or her true self before they can help another person. Still others say that financial donations are the most important.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that acting with wisdom is superior to uninformed action — even if well-meaning. One such example is donating to a charity without knowledge of how they are spending your money. Some charities give more of the money to the needy while others spend more on administrative fees and fund raising. Knowledge of which charity gives more of your donation to Another example is gaining the knowledge of which charities are helping people actually rise out of poverty compared with those who keep throwing money at the situation without changing it. It is important to ensure that your time or money are truly helping.

How to Gain Knowledge

A saint once said that a true seeker learns something from everyone and everything. To learn from others requires a person to be humble and sincere and always asking questions to get to the root-cause of situations. This can involve hearing all sides of a situation before coming to a decision; perhaps both sides have good points that need to be integrated into a more holistically helpful answer.

This method of learning equally applies whether learning in school, from a boss or mentor, or from a spiritual guide. Once the root cause of a situation is known; once the false preconceptions and myths are destroyed, one can move forward to affect positive change, without ever becoming confused again.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna is confused about the reasons for fighting this war. Even today, we ask the same questions when countries go to war; why are we fighting? What is the cause of the conflict? Is there any other way than war to settle this?

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