Is the self-satisfaction that we get upon helping the poor good?

[A satsaṅga took place between Swami and several devotees who visited Him on January 16, 2021. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[A question by Kum. Thrylokya]

Swāmi replied: Devotion towards the Super-Self (God) has higher value than your self-satisfaction. Self-satisfaction is also a type of satisfaction. But it is like a silver ornament. Why do you want to buy silver ornaments when gold ornaments are available? The satisfaction you attain by worshipping God, serving God and pleasing God has the highest value. If someone still says that they only love silver ornaments, then let them wear silver ornaments! Self-satisfaction can never match Brahmānanda, which is the bliss of God. You will lose the connection with God, if you focus on your self. The self cannot uplift itself. In fact, every self (soul) needs upliftment and protection from God alone. Your self-satisfaction is insignificant compared to the pleasure you get by worshipping God. The self is like a squint eye, which needs correction through surgery. That surgery can only be done by the Divine Doctor (God). If you get satisfaction by blinking that squint eye, then so be it! I am only emphasizing that pleasing God has the highest value and pleasing the self does not benefit you in any way. If you please God in this birth, He might give you another human birth to progress on spiritual path. All human beings in this world have got this human birth because God gave them another chance, although they all only deserved animal births. If God were to strictly grant births to souls following each soul’s karma file, in which all the deeds done by the soul in the past are recorded, this world would only contain animals. If God had not shown mercy on us, not a single soul would get a human birth and there would be no human beings on this planet!

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