Individual salvation is selfishness but working for continuously for God is not

Individual salvation is selfishness but working for continuously for God is not

Individual salvation is selfishness and therefore should not be aspired as told by Shankara [Namokshasyaakaankshaa]. To participate in the service of God continuously without any trace of selfishness is real salvation. You have to work for the salvation of others and not for the salvation of yourself. Once, you are involved in such divine work, you are granted the real salvation at once. Liberation from selfishness is the essence of salvation. Total surrender means total participation in the work of God and not simply sitting before God without doing any work. God is pleased only by your participation in His work. Even Shuka participated in the work of God by visiting the sages, who were householders. These sages climbed the second stage of family life from the first stage of bachelorhood. Now, they are to be inspired to climb the third stage of Sanyasa through intermediate Vanaprastha.


They require the inspiration for detachment from their families. The external exposed detachment, which was also present internally in the case Shuka inspired the sages for detachment. Therefore, the external detachment of Shuka was required for the sake of preaching the society of sages. Had Shuka gone in to the forest without working for the society, Shuka could not have been liberated. The external detachment of Shankara was also a requirement of that time. Then, the Purvamimamsakas were fully attached to this world and heavenly pleasures without even recognizing the existence of God. Hence, they required the preaching for detachment and hence Shankara exposed His internal detachment externally for such requirement.

Janaka was confined to the city life and hence inspired the people to climb the second step from the first step. The citizens fail even in this initial effort. Therefore, the exposure of family attachment was a requirement in the case of Janaka. Initially Shuka went in to the forest leaving the family for the sake of God and could not get salvation without participating in the work of God. Later on, Shuka was guided by Vyasa to visit Janaka and Shuka learnt after visiting Janaka that participation in the work of God by helping the society in spiritual path is the real salvation. In this work of God, he visited Parikshit to preach Bhagavatam, which concentrates on the human incarnation as the address of unimaginable God.

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