Once a Saint had two disciples in an Ashram on the banks of the sacred river Ganga. Both were very religious and devoted. Every morning after having a holy dip in the Ganga they did their regular ritual of ‘Upasana’. Subsequently they helped their spiritual Guru in serving and treating the poor, needy and the ailing people who come to the ashram.
One day a seriously sick person was brought to the ashram for help. The Saint became worried and immediately called his students. They ignored his call saying that they were busy doing their Upasana. They further told the messenger that they would reach the place as soon as they had completed their ritual.
After an hour, seeing the gravity of the disease and the wailing patient, the Saint again sent the message. This time they came along with the messenger but they showed their displeasure at having left their ritual unfinished.
The Saint said, ” Dear ones, I had called you for this weeping patient who needs immediate attention and treatment. Please understand that even the Supreme Being does ‘Upasana’ but it is only a human being that can help another human being. Hence, service shall always find a priority over ‘Prayer’ because the Ultimate can serve humanity only through human beings.
Upon hearing these words, Both students became very ashamed of what they had done. From that day forward, they began to give more importance to service than they did to rituals.