The traditions in this Series teach service as both the means to inner wisdom and the purpose or goal of such wisdom. Indeed, whatever their differences from a conceptual point of view or in the outward forms of their practices, the view and practice of service to others binds them together on the deepest level.
Enlightenment (to use the Buddhist term) is a goal that cannot be actively pursued in the sense of an accomplishment−but must, in a very real and lived manner, be set aside, compelling the wise in non-duality to remain in the service of others--to put off their own enlightenment until all others are free of suffering. It is said in the Buddhist tradition that Bodhisattvas become Buddhas in spite of themselves--that is to say, not trying to escape rebirth, instead remaining for the benefit of others, they completely escape the cycle of rebirth and death: one joyful, hum-drum day, in between loads of other people’s “dirty laundry,” they find themselves, unexpectedly as it were, self-aware Buddhas.
Likewise in the Christian tradition, this is said to be the “Mystery of the Cross”: to give up everything, including life, for everyone else, and by suffering and dying oneself on behalf of everyone else, conquer suffering and death for oneself and everyone else as well. In either tradition, it is virtually impossible to explain such a practice, especially when literally and completely carried through, rationally. Even Buddhists who consider themselves purely logical and practical toward the practices they do and do not rely on God’s grace or faith alone nevertheless do rely on the Three Jewels; Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and intentionally take the Mahayana Bodhisattva Vow. This Vow was most famously expressed by Shantideva, “For as long as space endures and suffering beings remain, may I too remain to relieve the misery of the world.”
The purpose of incarnation for a Christian is to serve God and for a Buddhist, the purpose of rebirth in a human body is to become Enlightened. However, the only way to do either is to serve others. In other words, in neither tradition is “birth (or re-birth) in service to others” the ultimate goal. The mystery (to use the Christian term) is that it is known (that is to say, not the least bit mysterious) that one cannot attain the ultimate goal--whether “Final Salvation” or “Complete Liberation”−otherwise.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta spent most of her long life in service to the poorest of the poor which is the chartering purpose of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity she founded in 1950. Shortly before her death, she reportedly told Prince Michael of Greece, “the other day I dreamed that I was at the gates of heaven, and St. Peter said, ‘Go back, there are no slums here.’” Ironically, she once said that the greatest poverty in the world was not material−though she certainly knew a great deal about destitute poverty in that sense. Rather, she said, the greatest most crushing poverty in the World today is that people feel completely estranged and alone −that no one cares. She said, “you don’t have to come to India to work with the poor. Just look around the corner from where you live and there are people who are suffering.”
Many organizations welcome volunteer service. They are all “just around the corner.” Donations are wonderful and needed, of course, but the most important gift any of us has to give is who we are.
“May I be a guard for those who are protectorless
And a guide for those who journey on the road,
For those who wish to go across the water,
May I be a boat, a raft, a bridge.
May I be an isle for those who yearn for landfall
And a lamp for those who long forlight.
For those who need a resting place, a bed
For all who need a servant, may I be a slave.
May I be the wishing-jewel, a vase of plenty,
A word of power, and the supreme remedy.
May I be the tree of miracles,
And for every being, the abundant cow.
Like the Great Earth and other elements,
Enduring as the sky itself endures, For the
boundless multitudes of living beings,
May I be the ground and vessel of their life.
Thus, for every single thing that lives,
In number like the boundless reaches of the sky,
May I be the sustenance and nourishment
Until they pass beyond the bounds of suffering.”
−Shantideva, Bodhicharyavatara (The Way of the Bodhistattva)