LIFE IS UPHELD BY SACRIFICE

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

65. LIFE IS UPHELD BY SACRIFICE
This entire life on earth is made possible by sacrifice. All life on earth is made possible by
this process of self-giving, the offering of oneself for the benefit of the whole.

The rain that is falling outside is the direct result of the giving of themselves on the part of
the rain clouds. This yajna or sacrifice in the sky is received as water by the parched earth, which in
turn gives of its very essence in the form of all the grain and fruits and vegetables and grass that
nourish and keep alive all creatures on earth.
Thus, the offering of the clouds in the form of essential rain brings about a sacrifice on the
part of the earth in the form of food. This offering of the clouds is made possible by the self-offering
of the ocean waters, which give of themselves in abundance, limitlessly, boundlessly. Thus is this
earth upheld by sacrifice. Each part gives of itself for the benefit and the happiness of all, for the life
and the living and the survival of all.
And, if you offer yourself to the Lord who is more than all—He is all in all—He looks to it
that He offers Himself for you, and then there is nothing that He will not do for your sake. He will
not only liberate you from all that binds you here—all sin, all blemishes, all imperfections, all
error—but He will liberate you forever by the offering of Himself in the form of liberation,
emancipation, divine perfection. This is the eternal promise: If you offer yourself up to Me, then
verily I offer Myself up to you.
Thus life is pervaded by the spirit of yajna, the offering of oneself for the benefit of
everything else. Life is upheld, life is benefited, life is made possible, life is blessed by the spirit of
yajna. One who realises this truth that prevails in human life and who keeps up this chain of yajna is
wise. Benefiting everyone, that individual benefits oneself.
Breaking this chain, contradicting this law, becoming selfish and self-centred, wanting the
world to offer everything for one’s benefit is a sad mistake that ultimately results in one’s own
stagnation. Because, yajna is an ongoing process. It is a perpetual movement towards peace, joy
and perfection. In reversing this process and wanting all creation—all persons, things and
situations—to work for our benefit, to offer themselves up for us is a blindness, is a state of putting
oneself in contradiction to the whole law of life, to the working of the will of God.
When one does that one invites for oneself misery, restlessness, disappointment and
frustration. All these result from one’s lack of understanding of this great glorious central fact of life
that our highest good lies not in wanting the universe to serve us, but in serving the universe.
Therefore, our ancients taught us not to pray for our own good, plenty, auspiciousness and
blessedness, but for all, for others. May all be happy! May all be prosperous! May all have
plenitude! May all be free from suffering! May all behold that which is auspicious! May not anyone
have sorrow! May all have peace! This is an expression of the recognition of this great law, this
great fact—yajna or sacrifice.
Therefore, Lord Krishna taught us that if you wish for happiness, work for the happiness of
others. If you wish for peace, work for the peace of others. If you wish that God would do
everything for you, then do everything for the love of Him.
What you are, that the world is to you. Recognise this great truth, this great law, this great
spirit of yajna that pervades the universe. Then, by harmonising yourself with this law, you are


indeed on your way to the highest blessedness. By living and working in tune with this spirit of
yajna, you bless yourself tenfold, a hundredfold.