Serving Others

Abu Sa'id Abi'l-Khayr anecdote:

One day in addressing the assembly of Sufis in his khanaqah in the city of Nashipur, the master said, “The length and breadth of the khanaqah is strewn with gems. Why don’t you pick any up?” Everyone looked around to see if the floor was covered with jewels. Not seeing any precious stones lying around they turned back to the master with puzzled looks.
“O Master,” they cried, “where are these gems which we do not see?”
“Service!”, cried the master, “Service!”

~Selected from Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh's discourse "Serving Others" [Sufi Journal 43]