"You have to engage yourselves in seva (Service). Service does not mean mere rendering help to others of one kind or other. True service means participation in social activities after ridding yourself of egoism and possessiveness and manifesting your qualities of compassion and kindness.

The aim is the refinement of your own good nature rather than giving Succor for others. There is a Sanskrit saying which declares that greater than penance or pilgrimage, meditation or worship, is service to good people. In rendering Service, there should be unity of heart, head and hands (the three Hs). Only then service becomes sanctified. This significance of the Three letters in SAI should be understood. ( 'S' stands Service, 'A' stands for Adoration, 'I' stands for Illumination. These three represent Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana respectively. Sai teaches these three. All these three concepts are equally important. Sai is a combination of the three spiritual paths of action, devotion, and wisdom. Just as the Pranava sound is made up of the three letters 'A", 'U', 'M' (AUM). 'SAI' stands for the triple forms of spiritual sadhana. In the Sai organization, this threefold exercise has to be properly understood."

November 18, 1995
6th World Conference