Scriptures have described various types of altruistic activities and religious rituals that can be undertaken to achieve the ultimate goal of life. They have also given, at length, the material and spiritual benefits of such activities and rituals. Selfless service of others is also considered a noble task. This gives a person name and fame as well as inner-satisfaction. But, there is one task that is superior to all these; and that is – self-refinement. Burning one’s evil thoughts, tendencies, jealousy, greed, anger, worry, fear, and sensuality into the fire of self-knowledge is such a grand yagya that cannot be compared with thousands of Ashwamedha Yagyas. Removing the darkness of ignorance and lighting the lamp of knowledge in the temple of mind is true worship of God.
Removing the sense of insignificance and inferiority from the mind and augmenting the virtues of courage, truthfulness, piety, and joy is more significant than donating millions of tons of gold. If every human being does his own refinement, then this very Earth can become a Heaven. Then people will not wish to attain Heaven; rather, gods in Heaven will be eager to descend on Earth. Helping others is considered a noble task, but improving the self is more auspicious. Augmenting one’s own physical, mental, spiritual, economic, and moral levels and making oneself an ideal citizen is such a magnanimous righteous task that no other altruistic activity can be compared with it. Self-refinement is the noblest service to the society.
— Param Pujya Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya—Akhand jyoti jan-feb 2019