Significance of Selfless service
Selfless service is a key concept across various philosophical and religious traditions, defined as acts performed without any desire for personal gain or recognition. Jainism emphasizes serving others, while Tibetan Buddhism and Vaishnavism highlight devotion and altruism. This principle also extends to Purana, Mahayana, and Theravada perspectives, focusing on actions that benefit others without expectations. In Indian history, figures exemplifying selfless service illustrate its core value of helping without seeking rewards, informing a deep sense of compassion and community welfare.
Synonyms: Altruism, Self-sacrifice, Philanthropy, Unselfishness, Generosity, Benevolence, Service to others, Community service, Compassionate service
In Dutch: Onbaatzuchtige dienstbaarheid; In Finnish: Epäitsekäs palvelu; In Spanish: Servicio desinteresado
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Selfless service'
Selfless service in Buddhism encompasses acts of devotion that prioritize helping others without expecting rewards, emphasizing sacrifice, selflessness, and the welfare of others, reflecting core spiritual values and responsibilities.
From: Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6
(1) Action taken for the benefit of others without expecting anything in return, a concept emphasized through the brother's duties.[1]
From: Dhammapada (Illustrated)
(1) Acts of service performed for the benefit of others without regard for one's own welfare.[2]
From: Buddhacarita
(1) Action taken by the Crown Prince and Chandaka that is devoid of selfish motives, highlighting the theme of sacrifice.[3]
From: Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po)
(1) Acts of devotion and help rendered to others without expectation of reward, often emphasized in spiritual contexts.[4]
Hindu concept of 'Selfless service'
Selfless service in Hinduism emphasizes acts performed with pure intent, love, and devotion towards the Divine without seeking personal rewards. It highlights altruism, dedication, and the purity of selfless intentions in serving others and the Lord.
From: Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation
(1) The type of service that the Lord 'greedily grabs at', indicating that He values the intent behind service more than its material worth.[5] (2) The altruistic intention of the Alvar to serve the Lord purely out of love and devotion, without any personal gain.[6] (3) Service rendered to the Lord solely for His pleasure, devoid of any personal gain or egoistic motives.[7] (4) A pure form of service that is devoid of egoism and personal enjoyment, focused solely on the Lord's happiness and satisfaction.[8] (5) The ideal of serving without selfish motives, represented in how the Alvar portrays the Celestials, despite their typical pursuit of favors for their own ends.[9]
From: Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary)
(1) Acts performed without selfish desire, providing benefit to others.[10] (2) Service offered to others without any desire for personal gain, reflecting the pure nature of Bhakti.[11]
From: Haribhakti-sudhodaya
(1) Acts of devotion that are rendered without desire for personal gain, focused on serving the Divine.[12] (2) Acts performed out of love and devotion without expectation of reward, especially towards spiritual entities.[13]
From: Padma Purana
(1) Acts done without selfish desire for rewards that reflect virtuous conduct and contribute to one's religious merit.[14] (2) The attitude Sukanya exhibited by prioritizing her husband's needs and following his orders with complete dedication.[15]
From: Shiva Purana
(1) The noble action of helping others without seeking personal gain, as exhibited by the animals in the narrative.[16]
From: Bhagavata Purana
(1) The action of trees and beings who sacrifice their own comforts for the welfare of others, a principle emphasized by Krishna.[17]
Jain concept of 'Selfless service'
In Jainism, Selfless service entails serving teachers and ascetics with no expectation of reward or acknowledgment, emphasizing pure altruism and devotion to spiritual leaders. This practice fosters humility and spiritual growth among practitioners.
From: Yogadrstisamuccaya of Haribhadra Suri (Study)
(1) The act of serving preceptors and ascetics without personal gain or recognition.[18]
The concept of Selfless service in local and regional sources
Selfless service embodies altruism, focusing on helping others without personal gain or recognition. It reflects true generosity, as demonstrated by figures like Sir Mocherla, Hanuman, and Gandhiji, emphasizing the communal spirit and ethical duty in various cultural contexts.
From: Triveni Journal
(1) The act of serving others without personal gain, viewed as a noble form of worship.[19] (2) Refers to Sastry's dedication to helping others and his involvement in various societal affairs.[20] (3) Acts performed out of altruism and without personal gain, which marked Kaloji's contributions to society.[21] (4) Acts performed without self-interest, aimed at benefiting others, contributing to the immortality of the founder editors.[22] (5) The dedication exhibited by characters like Hanuman in assisting Rama without seeking personal gain.[23]
From: Impact of Vedic Culture on Society
(1) The essence of dana as helping those in need without any expectation of return, which is believed to please God.[24]
From: Lord Jhulelal: An Analytical Study
(1) Acts of charity and community service performed by the Sindhi community, embodying the spirit of giving without expecting anything in return.[25]
The concept of Selfless service in scientific sources
Selfless service embodies acts of altruism aimed at assisting others without any expectation of reward, fostering both spiritual fulfillment and social harmony, as highlighted by regional sources emphasizing its impact on well-being.
From: World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
(1) Acts of giving and helping others without seeking personal gain, contributing to spiritual and social well-being.[26]
From: Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
(1) Acts of helping others without expecting personal gain, contributing to emotional health.[27]