--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: May I be a light for those in need of…" description: "\"May I be a light for those in need of light. May I be a bed for those in need of rest. May I be a servant for those in need of service, for all embodie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/shantideva-10592_bed_may-i-be-a-light-for-those-in-need-of-li_944480.jpg" --- # May I be a light for those in need of light. May I be a… ![“May I be a light for those in need of light. May I be a bed for those in need of rest. May I be a servant for those in need of service, for all embodied beings.” quote by Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/shantideva-10592_bed_may-i-be-a-light-for-those-in-need-of-li_944480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/shantideva-10592_bed_may-i-be-a-light-for-those-in-need-of-li_944480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/shantideva-10592_bed_may-i-be-a-light-for-those-in-need-of-li_944480.jpg) > “May I be a light for those in need of light. May I be a bed for those in need of rest. May I be a servant for those in need of service, for all embodied beings.” [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Offering light, rest, and service to those in need embodies compassion and selfless service. **In simple terms:** Be a source of help. Key Takeaway Serve others selffully. Themes compassion service spirituality Mood hopeful inspirational Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - community work - volunteering - caregiving - mental health support - environmental stewardship Key Concepts self‑lessness interdependence Questions to Reflect On - How can you give without losing yourself? - What does service mean to you? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can lead to burnout if boundaries aren't set. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-need-713660/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Need Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-light/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Rest Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest-servant-1638880/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Service Embodied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-embodied-1638881/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Those in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those-in-need/) ## Related quotes > [To find light, we need to see that we have been living in darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vesna-grandja/to-find-light-we-need-to-see-that-we-have-been-living-in-darkness/) [Vesna Grandja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vesna-grandja/) > [Darkness may cover light, but that is not the same thing as putting it out. Whereas, to overcome darkness, all light need do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dokey/darkness-may-cover-light-but-that-is-not-the-same-thing-as-putting-it/) [Cameron Dokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dokey/) > [To be a light to others you will need a good dose of the spiritual life. Because as my mother used to say, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/to-be-a-light-to-others-you-will-need-a-good-dose-of-the-spiritual/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [It isn't more light we need, it isn't more truth, and it isn't more scientific data. It is more Christ, more courage, more spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/it-isn-t-more-light-we-need-it-isn-t-more-truth-and-it-isn-t-more/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [We have all the light we need, we just need to put it in practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-all-the-light-we-need-we-just-need-to-put-it-in-practice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Think of a star. A star burns its very substance to give light to others. You need to be like a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/think-of-a-star-a-star-burns-its-very-substance-to-give-light-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“I believe that the darkness is a birthing process and that, in order to find your light, first you need to venture through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-campbell/i-believe-that-the-darkness-is-a-birthing-process-and-that-in-order/) [Rebecca Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-campbell/) > [It requires no special talent to be a shadow; but to be a light, you need to be burning inwardly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/it-requires-no-special-talent-to-be-a-shadow-but-to-be-a-light-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Please let me take you out of the dark and into the light...you need it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/please-let-me-take-you-out-of-the-dark-and-into-the-light-you-need-it/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [I think the LGBTQ+ community need their time in the light, they need their time to shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-llewellyn/i-think-the-lgbtq-community-need-their-time-in-the-light-they-need/) [Dylan Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-llewellyn/) > [May I become at all times, both now and forever: a protector for those without protection; a guide for those who have lost their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/may-i-become-at-all-times-both-now-and-forever-a-protector-for-those/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Swagg so bright don't need a light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/swagg-so-bright-don-t-need-a-light/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Well you only need the light when it's burning low ,only miss the sun when it start to snow,only know that you love her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/well-you-only-need-the-light-when-it-s-burning-low-only-miss-the-sun-2/) [Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/) > [Well you only need the light when it's burning low Only miss the sun when it starts to snow Only know you love her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/well-you-only-need-the-light-when-it-s-burning-low-only-miss-the-sun/) [Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/) > [I SEE thee better in the dark, I do not need a light. The love of thee a prism be Excelling violet. I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-see-thee-better-in-the-dark-i-do-not-need-a-light-the-love-of-thee/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## More by Shantideva > [Instead of trying to cover the whole world with leather, put on some sandals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/instead-of-trying-to-cover-the-whole-world-with-leather-put-on-some/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [In the ages marked by scarcity and want, may I myself appear as drink and sustenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/in-the-ages-marked-by-scarcity-and-want-may-i-myself-appear-as-drink/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [All the suffering in the world comes from seeking pleasure for oneself. All the happiness in the world comes from seeking pleasure for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/all-the-suffering-in-the-world-comes-from-seeking-pleasure-for/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Examine thus yourself from every side. Note harmful thoughts and every futile striving. Thus it is that heroes in the bodhisattva path Apply the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/examine-thus-yourself-from-every-side-note-harmful-thoughts-and-every/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [All those who slight me to my face, Or do me any other evil, Even if they blame or slander me, May they attain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/all-those-who-slight-me-to-my-face-or-do-me-any-other-evil-even-if/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Why be unhappy about something if it can be remedied? And what is the use of being unhappy about something if it cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/why-be-unhappy-about-something-if-it-can-be-remedied-and-what-is-the/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Those desiring to escape from suffering hasten right toward suffering. With the very desire for happiness, out of delusion they destroy their own happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/those-desiring-to-escape-from-suffering-hasten-right-toward-suffering/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [It is not possible to control all external events; But, if I simply control my mind what need is there to control other things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/it-is-not-possible-to-control-all-external-events-but-if-i-simply/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [The source of all happiness lies in thinking of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/the-source-of-all-happiness-lies-in-thinking-of-others/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [“We hate suffering, but love it’s causes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/we-hate-suffering-but-love-it-s-causes/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [It is natural for the immature to harm others. Getting angry with them is like resenting a fire for burning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/it-is-natural-for-the-immature-to-harm-others-getting-angry-with-them/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [“May the blind see the forms, May the deaf hear sounds. May the naked find clothing, The hungry find food; May the thirsty find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/may-the-blind-see-the-forms-may-the-deaf-hear-sounds-may-the-naked/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [What need is there to say more? The childish work for their own benefit, The Buddhas work for the benefit of others. Just look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/what-need-is-there-to-say-more-the-childish-work-for-their-own/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [The renunciation of doing harm is the perfection of discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/the-renunciation-of-doing-harm-is-the-perfection-of-discipline/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [In joy and sorrow all are equal, Thus be guardian of all, as of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/in-joy-and-sorrow-all-are-equal-thus-be-guardian-of-all-as-of-yourself/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) [Explore all 63 Shantideva quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) ## More Bed quotes > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Your idea of fidelity is not having more than one man in bed at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-raphael/your-idea-of-fidelity-is-not-having-more-than-one-man-in-bed-at-the/) [Frederic Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-raphael/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish I had as much in bed as I get in the newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-wish-i-had-as-much-in-bed-as-i-get-in-the-newspapers/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. She reclined her seat, and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/in-the-parking-lot-she-drove-and-parked-in-a-dark-area-with-no-other/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [I have to meditate before I go to bed, always. I have to let the day go and let the eternal in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bellamy-young/i-have-to-meditate-before-i-go-to-bed-always-i-have-to-let-the-day-go/) [Bellamy Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bellamy-young/) > [Sometimes by a woodland stream he watched the water rush over the pebbled bed, its tiny modulations of bounce and flow. A woman's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-by-a-woodland-stream-he-watched-the-water-rush-over-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [I always wanted to be a movie star. I thought it meant being famous and having breakfast in bed. I didn't know you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-allyson/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-movie-star-i-thought-it-meant-being-famous/) [June Allyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-allyson/) [Browse all 4,159 Bed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "May I be a light for those in need of light. May I be a bed for those in need of rest. 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