Oshun Spirit: The Spirit of Joy

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, India. He led India's movement for independence from British rule and is one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of the 20th century. In 1948 he was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic who opposed his tolerance for all creeds and religions. Gandhi is honored by his people as the father of the Indian nation and is called 'Mahatma', which means Great Soul.

According to Gandhi, "a man is but the product of his thoughts, what he thinks, he becomes."

The Seven Blunders of the World is a list that Gandhi gave to his grandson Arun Gandhi, written on a piece of paper, on their final day together, not too long before his assassination. This list grew from Gandhi's search for the roots of violence. He called this list acts of passive violence. It was his belief that preventing these is the best way to prevent oneself or one's society from reaching a point of violence.

Seven Blunders of the World

1. Wealth without work

2. Pleasure without conscience

3. Knowledge without character

4. Commerce without morality

5. Science without humanity

6. Worship without sacrifice

7. Politics without principle

To this list, Arun Gandhi added an eighth blunder, Rights without Responsibilities. And, I have added one more: Service without joy.

Gandhi wrote, "Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy."

And these words have become the mantra of my life. When I am serving selflessly, that is -  from the heart, from the seat of the spirit, from a position of oneness with my Creator, I recognize that I am simply returning to the Source all the love and the energy that has been given to me, and it is the completion of this circle that creates those indescribable feelings of joy we know as ecstasy.

I have learned that the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. May you also be blessed with an opportunity to love unconditionally, and experience the joy of service today.