One does not enter the gates of heaven by works
alone, but by grace. In the apprenticeships of students to monasteries, ashrams,
and mystery schools of all sorts, the students would be required to work for
their stay. They would scrub the floors, wash the clothes, make the meals, and
clean up afterwards. All of this work gives the appearance of servitude to the
teachers and masters.
The reverse actually holds more truth. The
masters are serving the apprentices with something much greater.
The apprentices work is not to do the job of
form, or task at hand. Their real work is the inner work of becoming humble, of
releasing their self-importance. It is through performing these tasks that the
apprentices have the opportunity to face their own selfishness.
It is not the service to the master that is
bringing them closer to heaven. It is the destruction of their self-importance
that is taking them there. In letting go of their own personal point of view,
they have the opportunity to grasp something greater. Initially the
apprentice’s view may be one of resentment. He may think he is above doing the
laundry. He may resent his teacher for having to make his meals. These acts of
service allow the apprentice to see all the places that he is selfish. When the
apprentice has healed himself of selfishness, he can begin to serve selflessly.
The master serves the apprentice by tasking him
with chores so that the apprentice can deal with his own selfishness. Helping to
free the apprentice from his selfishness is a far greater service than scrubbing
floors.
It is through practicing service with the intent
that our self-importance be diminished that we progress to selfless service.
Selfless service is action without any expectation or want of recognition or
reward. It is through practicing selfless service that we come to grace. It is
through grace, that we will enter Heaven on earth.
You do not need to travel far to find a place to
practice. You can be in service to your spouse. You can be in service to your
boss. You can be in service to other drivers as you commute to work. A true
master is in service all the time. The people you are in service to do not need
to know. If you find that you want to be recognized for what you have done, you
are dealing with your own selfishness.
If you have a need to tell them, it is only
because your self-importance wants to be recognized. When the urge for this
appears, acknowledge it, but do your best not to act on it.
The truth is that your service is not really for
anyone else. Your works are to diminish you own personal importance. The world
will benefit a small amount from your works. You will benefit a thousand fold if
your works bring you to grace and into a life of heaven on earth.