Should our aim be to strive for Self-realisation and attaining nirvana, or to take birth again and serve humanity?

Ans : One should try for Self-realisation and nirvana alone. We should constantly strive to ensure that we do not take birth in this samsara again. But since we have taken birth, we should serve all selflessly. If we take birth again, we should continue to do selfless service. But this does not mean that we should pray for rebirth. Self-realisation should be our goal. The yearning to realise the Self should not be regarded as selfishness. No. When, standing on the peak of Self-realisation you perceive unity and see nothing but the Self, there is no room for selfishness at all. But it is true that some great saints have said, "I do not want nirvana; I wish to be born again and again to serve humanity." We should examine these statements to understand them fully. These great ones would often emphasise some aspect of sadhana as superior to all else, in order to draw the attention of the aspirant to its importance. Whole-souled devotion is necessary if we wish to achieve anything. Half-hearted efforts will bear no fruits. We should not desire anything other than the ideals we wish to reach.