Sathya Sai Baba says that, "You should always engage yourselves in service to fellow human beings. There is no greater spiritual practice than such service.  ... All great men have sanctified their lives only by serving humanity. Therefore, start serving humanity at least from now onward. Service is more important than devotional singing and all other spiritual practices. ... Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray." [Discourse, 1 January 2004]

That's why you should start to serve people now.

Russian-speaking devotees are inspired

Sai Baba's call for service, expressed in many discourses, resonated with Sai devotees in the Russian-speaking countries. In 1998, they started feeding the homeless. By April 2010, all Sathya Sai Centers were serving hot food with love in railway stations, on the street, in homes, at tent cities —wherever there was a need and they had the capacity to serve. For thousands, hot food and love has become a real cure, especially in the cold, winter times.

Words cannot express what this selfless service has done —better is to watch the 12-minute video by clicking the "PLAY VIDEO" tab above. You will then see how the homeless are served in various places, and you will hear what they themselves have to say about this service.

Preparing and serving food

We often serve porridge (with many vegetables, like carrots), which we make ourselves in large pots and which we call "friendship". It is served with love, to warm not only their stomachs but also their hearts. There is always hot tea, with sugar, to make life a bit sweeter. 

When we can, we give the homeless clothes, eating instruments, and other items to help them live.

The homeless are grateful

We talk to the homeless as we give them food, for it is not only their bodies that need nourishment. They tell us,

• Life is hard. I am from Siberia. But Russians never give up.
• You're right, God is with us. What should we fear if God is with us? Thank you for the kind words.
• I would like to say words of gratitude for those who prepared this food. We wait for it. We are grateful to those who care. We are all grateful.
• Everything —heart, love, we will die without this food.
• I am glad that anyone remembers us at such a hard time and helps us.

Service is an inspiration

We realize that service to humanity is sacred. We also realize that, as Sai Baba has said, such service, done with the attitude of serving God residing in the other person, helps US as well as those being served. Serving in this way inspires us to try to do more.

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