The Vegetarian Philosophy of Sant Mat -- Why I Don't Eat Faces

The Vegetarian Philosophy of Sant Mat -- Why I Don't Eat Faces
by James Bean

While there is some karma from eating plants, the Vegetarian Philosophy of Sant Mat is that there is much much more negative karma incurred by eating animals, more complex forms of life with a greater number of elements. A Western approach might be to observe that if one eats animals, those creatures that have faces, more developed nervous systems, in other words, can feel pain, have some intelligence, and senses, have a greater level of awareness than plants, this causes more suffering and cruelty in the world. Sant Mat also teaches that eating meat causes NEEDLESS torture, suffering, and death, as we have all we need to survive with the plant-based diet. Furthermore, when we eat meat and do not partake of a sufficient quantity of plant-based foods, we are increasing the amount of our own eventual suffering and disease. There is the revenge of the animals in the form of added cholesterol and saturated fat. Plus, these days there are countless studies about the many protective effects and health-benefits of the plant-based diet.

This online booklet is very helpful:
"Why I Don't Eat Faces: A Neuroethical Argument for Vegetarianism":

Why I Don't Eat Faces -- http://articles.animalconcerns.org/ar-voices/archive/faces.html
http://articles.animalconcerns.org/ar-voices/archive/faces.html

The Astral Bell Sound Heard Behind the Silence of Meditation

The Astral Bell Sound Heard Behind the Silence of Meditation

Many people first encounter the astral bell sound behind the silence during meditation. It may sound a little like these sample audios from the album Tibetan Bells II, like a bell that has been struck yet never stops reverberating. As a Buddhist teacher by the name of Ajahn Sumedho once wrote in, "The Sound of Silence":

"As you calm down, you can experience the sound of silence in the mind. You hear it as a kind of high frequency sound, a ringing sound that's always there. It is just normally never noticed. Now when you begin to hear that sound of silence, it's a sign of emptiness - of silence of the mind. It's something you can always turn to. As you concentrate on it and turn to it, it can make you quite peaceful and blissful. Meditating on that, you have a way of letting the conditions of the mind cease without suppressing them with another condition. Otherwise you just end up putting one condition over another."

Master Kirpal Singh often mentions the inner Bell Sound: "I am glad to know that you are lovingly devoted to your spiritual practices with the grace of the Master. You are blessed with the celestial manifestations of purple veil changing into gold, stars and moon. You also hear the Holy Sound Current of bells coming from the right side. These are cardinal revelations of Divinity granted to the child-disciple for proceeding on to the True Home of the Master." ("Spiritual Elixir")

Album: Tibetan Bells II:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTZ9SjrbosY&list=OLAK5uy_mQGydrcwDEGrB74Hb5TOt1WMaGX7d2SmM

Go Towards the Light of the Beloved

Go Towards the Light of the Beloved

{Radhaswami Dayal ki Daya Radhaswami Sahai:
"Grant Merciful Radhasoami Thy Grace and Protection"}


By sincere love is meant a strong fervent desire and perseverance to approach the Supreme Being. This desire should outweigh all worldly desires.


A sincere devotee should not stop at any stage where there are both light and darkness, but should continue his journey onward until he reaches the region of pure, eternal, resplendent light where there is no darkness at all, that is, the region of Truth and of pure Supreme Spirit.


Sincere love is reciprocal, so if one has a heart full of love for the Supreme Being, he is sure to be attracted towards Him by Grace, Mercy and Holy Light which will gradually illumine his inner-self.

Love or the power of attraction is the basis of the whole creation and the cause of its sustenance and preservation.


The Supreme Being loves and takes special care of those who love Him with all their heart and soul, and gradually draws them towards Himself, the Grand Centre of Pure Light and Attraction.


Every wave of love rising in a lover's heart brings tidings of goodness and joy from the beloved, and every thought springing up in such a heart is a harbinger of good works and good services for the sake of the beloved. Love has no bounds, knows no restrictions, and is not limited by conditions, and like its source is extensive and far-reaching in its beneficial results.

-- Huzur Maharaj,
selections from, "Radhasoami Mat Prakash --
A Brief View of the Radhasoami Faith,
being a message of eternal peace and joy
to all nations"

Kirpal Singh Satsang: God is Nameless, Formless, Wordless, Soundless

Kirpal Singh Satsang: God is Nameless, Formless, Wordless, Soundless

God is Absolute-He is Nameless, Formless, Wordless, Soundless; although when He came into expression, He began to be known by different Names. There is Naam, Shabd, Word, and various others. Through' Naam, all Khand and Brahmand were created. In the New Testament it states, In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. So all creation came into expression, when the Lord expressed Himself. Through the vibration of that expression, two aspects came forth and they are Light and Sound. God is Light, God is Sound, God is Naam, God is the Music of the Spheres. By a parallel study of all religions you will find that the basic teachings are the same. Even the Greek philosophers had experience of this basic Truth. Socrates said that he had heard a voice which had taken him to another world, and Pythagoras spoke of the harmony of all harmonies. Zoroaster used the term Sarosha, which means the Unstruck Sound. When Lord Buddha was about to leave the world, He asked each of His principle disciples to state how they had achieved Golden Samadhi, the state of rising above the body and entering the Beyond. After each one had described his experience of Light, Sound, etc., Lord Buddha declared,

"Hear ye all, Oh coming generations,
the way back to Golden Samadhi
is only through intrinsic hearing."

Intrinsic hearing is another term for contact with Naam, contact with the Sound Principle. All great Masters have given this teaching-the Path of Light and Sound-and these are the only two paths within, which reach the outcome or the Absolute Lord. The Absolute Lord cannot be described. He is neither this nor that, but His expression of Light and Sound is the way or path back to Him.

(from a talk by Master Kirpal published in the October 1973 issue of Sat Sandesh)

The Master's Talk,
2007 Series
January/February
Ruhani Satsang
Blaine, WA

 

 

 

This will help you come closer to God

This will help you come closer to God

Below is from an email I received from a devotee in India the other day.

Namaste',

James

This will help you come closer to God

To live Guru Kabir Ji did not require anything complicated. Be simple. Be dedicated in doing your work. Believe in Sat Purush (God). Pay attention to your actions and beware of karma. Do whatever is good for society. Be the purest form of a human being. Just think purely, act purely, and love purely... everyone, anyone. This will help you come closer to God. By attaining this purity you will give a place to God, and the Sound Current will reside within you. You will become one atom of the element known as God, and atoms retain all the properties of God. Have a good time.

 

 

 

 

At the Third Eye Center the Abode of the Beloved is Found

At the Third Eye Center the Abode of the Beloved is Found

{The one who has purity of character, who practices diligently the Yoga of Sound, and who can explain *clearly* Sant Mat (the complete Path of the Masters with nothing missing), can be accepted and trusted as Satguru/Teacher.}

Param Sant Tulsi Sahib: "Give up being limited to this habitation of skin. Adopt the practice of repeating the Name of the Supreme Being. Purify and train the attention faculty of your soul in meditation. By means of inner vision recognise the Abode of the Beloved, and unite with the current of spirituality, the Sound Current (Shabd). Penetrate through the Third Eye and arrive at the cave in the inner sky."

Merging Back Into God is the Goal of Sant Mat

We can think of the human soul, as it wanders through multiple life forms -- the Hindu scriptures speak of 84 hundred thousand life forms. The soul will experience suffering in the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara) -- reincarnation after reincarnation -- until it merges into the Supreme Soul (Divine), which is inseparable from the soul. The Divine exists in the soundless state, but the living soul has descended into this realm of darkness.

Maharishi Mehi Paramhans advises to begin the journey:

"You have descended into this darkness from the soundless state. You are now far from your home in the soundless Divine. You are caught here in this dark realm. Therefore, at this very moment, begin your journey homeward toward that soundless state."

Through inner meditation the jivatman (individual soul) begins its ascent toward the soundless state where it will eventually merge with the Divine. When the soul thus experiences oneness with the Divine, it will attain ultimate peace and supreme joy.

Santmat teaches a path to the attainment of this joy and peace. This is the significance of the way of saints and the importance of Santmat.


Pratyahara is the Repeated Practice of Bringing the Wandering Mind to Focus During Meditation Practice

Without formless or subtle meditation, it is impossible to attain the inner light. You must first get yourself out of darkness. How can this be possible?

Pratyahara (bringing the mind back) -- is followed by dharana, sustaining the focus of the mind for small periods. At first this will only be for a very short time. Pratyahara involves the repeated practice of bringing the wandering mind to a focus. Through diligent practice of pratyahara we become able to focus on the object of meditation for little stretches of time. This is dharana.

When dharana is continuous for extended periods, the state of dhyāna (complete focus) becomes possible.


The Main Obstacles in the Practice of Meditation

The two main hindrances to success in the practice of meditation are as follows:

1. Procrastination and Laziness

2. The train of thoughts during meditation, such as day dreaming, fanciful imagination, and planning.

In addition, silence during meditation lulls many practitioners to sleep. During meditation we need to be vigilant and awake. Whatever the point of our focus is, we should diligently fix our mind on that goal. Then we will not be bothered by sleep. We can only reach our Noble (arya) destination within, the state of unity with God, if we overcome the enormous challenge of procrastination and also restrain the ever-rising tide of mental activity during meditation. Not so vigilant practitioners usually become engrossed in extraneous thoughts or fall sleep. These formidable passes must be crossed for success.

What is the glorious destination that we are striving for? When we close our eyes we see darkness within, it is the realm of ignorance. When the light dawns within you, then you see that you reside in noble regions. In darkness resides ignorance and in light resides knowledge. For example, as we are now sitting in light, we are able to see one another. However, if the electric power goes out, the ensuing total darkness would make us unable to see others. We would not even be aware of other people coming and going.

In this analogy, light signifies knowledge and darkness signifies ignorance. When we see darkness with our eyes closed we are in the realm of death and re-birth because we are not aware of our true nature. When we come out of the realm of darkness and enter into the realm of light, we will at the same time escape the web of death. If we remain in darkness it is not possible to be free from the cycle of birth and death. Only when we achieve the inner light -- the divine light which represents the glory of the Divine -- can we be liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

Sant Kabir says:

"In each house (heart) the light shines. But we are blind [ignorant of that divine light of knowledge] so we cannot see it. If we keep looking we will find the light and will destroy the shackles of death."

(Excerpts from, The Harmony of All Religions, by Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

The Formless One Assumes Forms In Order to Communicate With Souls --

The Formless One Assumes Forms In Order to Communicate With Souls --

God Leads God Back to God

{The one who has purity of character,
who practices diligently the Yoga of Sound,
and who can explain *clearly* Sant Mat
(the complete Path of the Masters with nothing missing), can be accepted and trusted as Satguru/Teacher.}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Radiant Form is the Key to Exploring Inner Space

The Inner Satguru: God Has Made the Reflection of His Form Available in All Worlds

The Formless One Assumes Forms In Order to Communicate With Souls in All Realms and Escorts Them Back to the Original Abode of the Beloved

The Outer Master Guides Souls to the Inner Master. The Inner Master (Satguru) Guides Souls Back to God (the Lord of the Soul, Radhaswami)

The following is from, "The Discourses of Maharaj Saheb":

The whole truth of it is that one's task will be accomplished when the Fascinating Form of Satguru becomes manifest within one's heart. In the mean time, one will occasionally hear the inner Sound (Shabd) and get bliss also. But the Inner Portal will one penetrate only when the Fascinating Form of Satguru becomes manifest. Satguru's form is the key, as it were, to open the inner lock.

"If you do not become oblivious of the key provided by the Guru, you will open the inner lock in a moment." (Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Poetry, Book Two)

Radhasoami Dayal [the Merciful Lord of the Soul] has graciously assumed human form to grant redemption to the entire humanity, nay, He has made the reflection of His Form available even at the lower chakras.

"Still lower down, He assumed the dark bluish form of Niranjan. Such is my beloved Radhasoami. Descending to the heart centre, He became subject to desires. Such is my beloved Radhasoami. He, however, reduces the evil tendencies of Indri-centres (lower centres pertaining to senses). Such is my beloved Radhasoami." (Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Poetry, Book One)

Question: What is the Form of Satguru like?

Answer: The Form of Sant Sat Guru is highly Refulgent and most exalted.

"I behold the Majestic Form of Guru. I look intently into His eyes which are the windows leading to the Highest Region." (Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Poetry, Book Two) 

Awakening to the Compassionate Lord of the Soul

Awakening to the Compassionate Lord of the Soul

Radhasoami Reality:
http://groups.yahoo.com/gr
oup/Radhasoami-Reality
{Radhaswami Dayal ki Daya Radhaswami Sahai:
"Grant Merciful Radhasoami Thy Grace and Protection"}

Sants [Saints] say that for the welfare of their soul, it is the duty of all human beings that as soon as they are able to understand, they should enquire about the true Supreme Being and how to approach Him. They should engender love for Him, and commence the practice of Surat Shabd Yoga as taught by Radhasoami Dayal. This Yoga can be practised easily without any risk by everyone, irrespective of age or sex. They will then see His helping hand in trouble and misfortune as well as at the time of death. Their love and faith will go on increasing. They will not undergo the torments and torsions of death. The reason is that this practice involves the elevation of the spirit just as it takes place at the time of death. Therefore, he who commences this work, will receive great help in his practice, when, at the last moment, there is natural withdrawal of spirit. Moreover, he will see within himself the Light and refulgence of the grace of the Supreme Being. Due to this his spirit will feel happy and exhilarated and will exultantly rise. It will thus leave the body easily, without any pain.

The spiritual practice given out by the Supreme Being Radhasoami Dayal and the Sants sent by Him, results in gradual withdrawal, concentration and ascension of the spirit. This is done in the same manner as at the time of death; the spirit recedes towards the brain from every limb and part of the body. When eyes are turned up death takes place. As this practice is performed properly the bliss and joy of withdrawal and elevation of spirit are experienced internally. The ardour and zeal of the practitioner go on increasing as he gets Darshan (vision) of the Swarup [form] and of the Light and refulgence and hears the Shabd [inner Sound]. His spirit, being in a state of ecstasy rises higher and higher. At the time of death, the spirit naturally withdraws and ascends with great force. Therefore the spirit will, at that time, receive much palpable help in its elevation and ascension. The Supreme Father Radhasoami Dayal [merciful Lord of the Soul] by His true form, i. e., Shabd Form, and Satguru Din Dayal [merciful to the humble], by His subtle form, will grant Darshan [vision] and take the spirit in His lap lovingly and affectionately to higher region of happiness and joy and locate it there.

-- Huzur Maharaj,
Prem Patra Radhasoami, Volume Four

Initiation Into the Mysteries of the Beyond -- The Kingdom of the Heavens

Initiation Into the Mysteries of the Beyond -- The Kingdom of the Heavens

The Light, Sound, and Bhakti (Love) of God

Below are the basic requirements that are associated with this form of Sant Mat mysticism. There may be an initiation soon in Oregon or Washington, and another later on this year on the East Coast. The website will give you some sense of the teachings. I was drawn to this particular form of meditation as it is very Gnostic, reflecting the Gnostic Universe or cosmology of several different heavens and the journey of the soul as it contemplates various forms of Light, meditates upon different kinds of spiritual sound on its ascent through the Inner Regions within. This mystical journey is described in the Nag Hammadi books found in Egypt. Gnostic Schools of Spirituality long ago got wiped out in the West, but other expressions of Gnosticism blossomed beyond the reach of the Roman Empire to the East, in the form of Sufism and the Sant tradition of India. But trying to figure out the lost teachings and meditation methods found in old scriptures on one's own is not enough. One can only go so far without being connected to a living path. Only with a living Master and associating with his or her School of Spirituality are all the Secrets fully revealed, brought out into the open. These days there are millions of people following various forms of Sant Mat and Radhaswami, including people in North and South America, Europe, and around the world.

Initiation Requirements

Initiation into Surat Shabd Yoga -- Inner Light and Sound Current Meditation

• Moral requirements for Initiation into the spiritual path of Sant Mat:

1. Abstinence from alcohol and drugs (intoxicants)
2. Following Ahimsa: Non-Violence including
vegetarian diet (no fish, meat, or eggs)
3. Lead a truthful life
4. Practice non-stealing (an honest living)
5. Loyalty to ones partner.

• A belief in a Higher Power -- One Supreme Being.

Seven Teachings of Sant Mat (Way of the Saints/Sages/Masters)

*1) There is God.

*2) God is Love.

*3) All of the world scriptures and mystics teach about the same manifestation of God as inner mystical Light and Sound.

*4) Our true identity is soul, the Self. Soul is part of God and therefore is, like God, pure love.

*5) During this human existence we have an opportunity to experience God.

*6) As we experience communing with God's love during meditation -- Surat Shabd Yoga, we can rise above body-consciousness and explore Inner Space, the "Kingdom of the Heavens" that are within us. "We travel back from the realm of Darkness to the realm of Light, from the Light to divine Sound, and from the realm of Sound to the Soundless state." (Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj) The drop merges back into the Ocean of Love.

*7) As we get initiated into the Mysteries of God by a Living Teacher (Sant Satguru, enlightened spiritual teacher who has become one with God), the purpose of our life is fulfilled. Reuniting with God is our reason to be here:

"It was for the sake of the God-conscious beings that our True Lord created this earth, and began this play of death and birth." (Adi Granth)

Kabir says: "For millions of years you have slept. This morning, will you not wake?"

Lineage of Sant Mat Masters in the Maharishi Mehi Ashram Branch of Sant Mat


Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, Satguru,

 

Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj: A Spiritually Competent Teacher

 

Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj: A Spiritually Competent Teacher
 

"Do not live even a single day without inner meditation." -- Baba Devi Sahab

Living Teachers Reveal the Methods of Meditation and Mysticism

Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, from, "The Harmony of All Religions":

Saints and sages have unveiled all the mysteries of the spiritual journey and of self-realization in their discourses. All these techniques have been documented in different books. But without an accomplished teacher, we will not be able to grasp the correct technique of true knowledge.

 In the Bhagavad-Gita Lord Krishna says that for learning spiritual knowledge we must seek help from an accomplished seer [male or female]:

"For learning spiritual knowledge you should go to the one who is a seer. Pay your respect to him, serve him and question him and express your desire for learning. Then he will fulfill your desire and answer your questions." (Gita)

Consider for a moment the nature of knowledge you wish to learn. After high school, the student thinks his direction and chooses a field of study: liberal arts, commerce, or science. If, for example, the student wants to learn liberal arts but goes to a professor of science instead, will this teacher have much to offer? The student must choose a professor proficient in the knowledge he wishes to learn. In the same manner, if you want to learn spiritual knowledge, you must go to a spiritually competent teacher.

The appropriate spiritual teacher should be a person who has considered and discovered the realities of atma and anatma (bondage and liberation), and who practices a spiritual path. Such a teacher must have attained direct experience of Truth through spiritual disciplines. This is the kind of teacher you should take instruction from. The grace of teacher is also necessary for success in the spiritual pursuit. When you learn the methods for inner meditation, you should practice diligently. Moral rectitude is also very essential in this pursuit. 

 

 

Radhasoami Mat Prakash: Love for Supreme Being (Radhasoami)

Radhasoami Mat Prakash: Love for Supreme Being (Radhasoami)

Radhasoami Mat Prakash (meaning: "Light on the Teachings of the Lord of the Soul"),
by Huzur Maharaj





Click on the image to access the online book, Radhasoami Mat Prakash, and read more from this essential manual on Sant Mat.

Love for the Supreme Being (Radhasoami)

108. This practice can be conducted easily and comfortably if the devotee has a little love for the Supreme Being. Without love it will be too hard and difficult to practice Surat-Shabd-Yog with any good result to be obtained within a short time.

1. The Supreme Being, being a boundless ocean of spirit or love; and, human being, being a drop or current of spirit or love from this ocean; and, love being the very essence and means of existence of the whole creation, it follows that no effort in any direction, temporal or spiritual, unless actuated by love or affectionate regard, can be crowned with success, and, the work or labour rendered easy, sweet and harmonious.

2. Love is most sublime, having its origin in the highest region, the abode of the Supreme Being. In whatever heart it sprang up, it will gradually raise and carry the fortunate possessor of this lofty and noble passion to the highest region.

3. All good qualities and goodness itself will gradually find their home in the heart in which love dwells and all bad qualities will be rooted out by and by.

4. Whatever a human being, full of pure love thinks or does, is all wisdom; while the thoughts and works of worldly wise persons are full of selfishness and folly.

5. Knowledge without love for the Supreme Being is futile and tends towards untruth or darkness or materialism, while love turns everything to good use and leads to enlightenment and truth. Even worldly love, such as filial and conjugal, is attended with goodness, happiness and comfort to all concerned. How much more good would then result to mankind in general if the same loves become spiritual, and be directed towards the Supreme Being, the merciful and Kind Parent of the whole creation.

6. Self-love brings on egotism or pride, and sows the seed of hatred, jealousy and disregard in the minds of kindred, associates and neighbours; while pure and sacred love for the Supreme Being creates in the heart humility, meekness and an affectionate regard for kindred, neighbours and humanity in general.

7. Pure and holy love is always ready to spend (regardlessly) whatever it has for the sake of its beloved, the Supreme Father, and the benefit of mankind without any distinction; whereas self-love or love of world always tries to appropriate everything to itself, even at the risk and loss of others.

8. Pure and holy love is always ready to sacrifice anything whatever to gain admission into the presence of the beloved, the Supreme Being; whereas, self-love will never part with anything except for the sake of its own aggrandizement and indulgence in sensual pleasures.

9. The noble passion of love is most powerful and strong. It removes all obstacles and thorns in its way and discards all superstitions, doubts and skepticism.

10. Where pure love dwells there sheds the light of Grace, as it forms a link with the spirit or love current from its source, the Supreme Being.

11. Such is the strength and effect of affection and kind treatment that it subdues ferocity and other injurious and dangerous characteristics in beasts and other animals, that is to say, they begin to love and have an affectionate regard for their keepers and trainers.

12. A heart devoid of love or affection is as hard as stone, and does not form a suitable receptacle for light of Heavenly Grace and Mercy.

13. Sincere love is reciprocal, so if one has a heart full of love for the Supreme Being, one is sure to be attracted towards Him by Grace, Mercy and Holy Light which will gradually illumine his inner-self, and then all menial and worldly affections and desires will gradually disappear.

14. Love or the power of attraction is the basis of the whole creation and the cause of its sustenance and preservation.

15. The Supreme Being loves and takes special care of those who love Him with all their heart and soul, and gradually draws them towards Himself, the Grand Centre of Pure Light and Attraction; while those whose hearts are imbued with worldly love and passions recede from this centre, or in other words, they of themselves fly away towards the circumference or darkness and untruth.

16. Every wave of love rising in a lover's heart brings tidings of goodness and joy from the beloved, and every thought springing up in such a heart is a harbinger of good works and good services for the sake of the beloved.

17. Love has no bounds, knows no restrictions, and is not limited by conditions, and like its source is extensive and far reaching in its beneficial results.