Day: February 7, 2026

Swami ji said…

“ ‘नेकी कर, कुएँ में डाल’ ” – are gems of wisdom that have been passed on from one generation to the next with the special, noble purpose of exhorting the younger ones to do good deeds – for whosoever it could be – without expecting anything in return from anyone. But, unfortunately,
society, is filled with individuals who keep a ledger of every good act they have ever done — whom they helped, what they did for them, and how they did it. Everything is remembered in the minutest detail. But then, is a good act really ‘good’ if it is done with the motivation to simply earn praise from the world?

“Does the well ask who drinks from it?” Then why do we have to remember every favour we have ever granted to anyone ? Why even think or utter the words — “After all I have done for you, this is how you repay me?” Such sentiments reveal that our kindness was never truly free — it was merely deferred self-interest. We refuse to let our memory erase the smallest act of kindness; of that moment when we had offered to help someone – on seeing them besieged by a problem. The good deed that should have given us happiness – starts weighing heavy on our heart – when we begin to feel that the other person is not acknowledging often enough – our grand , thoughtful, kind deed – that had saved him in the nick of time.

Spiritual seekers must be wary of searching for praise for any sacrifice or supposed good deed that they do. They must, in fact, refrain even the mind from gloating about how good they are – if they ever do a helpful deed. It is important for those on the spiritual path to remember that for our ‘karma’ to be truly good, our intention must be selfless and the heart must remain uncluttered by expectation.

It is ironical, but true, that when man serves without expectation, he is surely rewarded by God. It is better to feed an ant in secret out of the goodness of one’s heart than to feed a thousand men in public – only to garner praise. Acts of kindness, selflessness, and goodwill are not to be staged — rather, they are meant to cleanse one’s own soul. There is no greater audience to judge us than the One looking from above. He is the only One whose judgment truly matters.

Serving and helping our brethren is not an option but a duty — to be performed without expectation. That is the way life is meant to be lived. In fact, to see someone in difficulty and not be moved or driven to help them is what is wrong with society at large. Such indifference is appalling, to say the least.

Goodwill and care should be the core tenets of our behaviour — not to be displayed occasionally, but to be the foundational principles on which we act. It is necessary to act with love, not leverage; with compassion, not calculation. Does God maintain a list of all the ‘good’ that He does for each one of us, remembers it forever and expect anything from us in return? What do we do for Him? We remain so busy in our ‘personal’ lives that we find it difficult to take His name twice a day. But, even on seeing our selfish attitude does He stop loving us , helping us, coming to our rescue in our trying times? Shouldn’t we, His children – emulate Him and do as much good as we can ?