We make different kinds of offering in our lives to various people around us and also to God. The father works at a job and earns money and this is offering to the family. The mother cooks, cleans and takes care of the family. The children contribute by doing their share of household chores and small jobs. The manufacturer, farmer, laborer, doctor, banker, insurance agents, television and other media and various others offer their services to the society. We offer our services to the poor and the needy. We contribute to the society and the nation by various good works, donations and awareness programs. We offer money, pooja and donations at the temple. We offer food, flowers and prayers to God. We make offerings of bribe money to God for work done for us. We are very proud of our offerings but rarely pause to think of the quality of offering.
Any offering we make is coloured by the love and emotions that are behind the offering. When we give some money to the poor with arrogance and pride, the value of the offering is zero. Though the poor may accept the offering with gratitude, we lose out due to the incorrect emotions behind the act. We generally buy the best for our family and self and when it comes to others, it is always second or third rate quality that we can afford. We rarely see others as human beings and see ourselves as great, different and distinct. When we make offerings to God, it is not always the best materials available. We rationalize that it does not hurt Him as He does not directly use or consume our offering. Whether we offer to our family or friends or society or nation or the Gurus or God, we must ensure that there is the right attitude of love, respect and thankfulness in our offering. Else the blessings and benefits of the seva as in heightened state of consciousness will not be there and the receiver of the benefit will have incomplete results. Seva without love and purity has a negative effect and is not acceptable to Guru and God.
During one of his travels, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh Religion took shelter in the house of Lalo. Lalo was a poor low caste Hindu carpenter. Lalo served Nanak with love, reverence and spirit of service to God. Nanak was extremely pleased with the love and seva of Lalo. So he stayed in his home for two weeks. Then he overheard the gossip of people: “Nanak is a high caste Hindu. He should not stay in the house of a low caste carpenter. It is not right”.
Just then, a wealthy landlord of that neighbourhood organised a big feast for all the people in the area. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras – the high caste teachers, the military and police, the traders, farmers and artisans and the cleaners & manual labourers- were all invited. A Brahmin friend informed Nanak about the feast and told him that he must attend it. Nanak did not believe in caste system and considered all men equal. He did not wish to attend the feast. He said: “I do not belong to any of the four castes. So why invite me?” The Brahmin joked: “Now I know why you are called a heretic! Please attend the feast. Else you will displease the landlord Sri Malik. He is a very rich and powerful man in this area. You will have to surely answer to him”.
Nanak did not go to the feast. The landlord came in search of him and confronted him. He said: “You disregard my invitation and dishonour me. You ignore your own caste and stay and eat with a low caste man. You set a bad example to the society”. Nanak replied: “I have no craving for fine food. Because you feel offended I will come to your banquet and eat my share of the elegant and fine preparations you have made”.
Nanak asked Lalo to come with him and bring with him some of his simple food. A plate of the rich delicious food of the landlord was set in front of Nanak and also another plate containing the simple food of Lalo. Nanak took Lalo’s simple food in his right hand and the landlord’s rich food in his left hand and squeezed them both. Lo and behold, milk flowed out from Lalo’s simple food and blood from the landlord’s food.
We must check how our offering is - is it blood or milk!
