Sant Mat Radhasoami

Path of the Masters: Sant Mat - Santmat, Radhasoami - Radha Soami, Satsang, Inner Light and Sound Meditation: Surat Shabd Yoga, Audible Life Stream, Quan Yin Method, Spiritual Science, Spirituality, Kabir, Maharshi Mehi, Kirpal Singh, Gnosticism, Third Eye, Out Of Body Experiences, Near-Death Experiences, Inner Space, the Kingdom of the Heavens Within, Mystic Poetry, Vegetarian Vegan, Ahimsa, Love, and God. The term "Sant Mat" was coined by Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras during the 19th Century.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Guru Updesh (The Teachings of the Masters)

Guru Updesh (The Teachings of the Masters)
by Huzur Maharaj

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

1. RADHASOAMI is the name of the Supreme Being. This alone is His true and real Name.

2. The Supreme Being is the embodiment of Shabd (Sound), Prem (love), Ananad (bliss) and Harsh (joy).

3. The Supreme Being is all-pervading (omnipresent). At the same time He has His own separate abode.

4. The Supreme Being, in His unbounded grace and mercy, assumed the form of Param Sant Sat Guru and came into the world for the redemption of Jivas (humanity).

5. The grace of the Supreme Being envelopes all. But those who have taken His saran (refuge) and always keep Him in their mind, are the recipients of His special grace. They alone are His beloved ones.

6. Whenever one gets the darshan (vision) of the Supreme Being, it will be within oneself.

7. 'Thou' and 'I' refer to "Surat". Surat is an ansh (particle, emanation) of the Supreme Being, as the sun and its rays.

8. Ansh (Surat) always remains happy with its Anshi (Source, the Supreme Being).

9. This kind of Anand (happiness, bliss) is not to be found in the world. It can only be had at the Feet of the Supreme Being.

10. If the Surat (spirit entity) detaches itself from the world and reaches the Feet of the Supreme Being, it will attain to everlasting bliss.

11. Detachment from the world and attainment of the true happiness will be secured only by the practice of Surat Shabd Yoga (union of the spirit entity with Shabd or the Supreme Being).

12. Listening to the Shabd (Sound) internally, i.e. within one's self, is called 'Surat Shabd Yoga'.

13. There is none like Shabd to show the path and shed light on it. The entire creation is functioning by Shabd.

14. Shabd is resounding in the inner recesses of everyone all the time. This Shabd is called Dhwanyatmak Nam. Listening to this Shabd, the Surat (spirit) can reach its original abode or region.

15. The secrets of the Path and the method of practising Surat Shabd Yoga can be learnt from Sant Sat Guru or Sadh Guru or Their sincere and loving Satsangi (devotee).

16. Sant Sat Guru is He who has taken His Surat to Sat Lok and Radhasoami Dham (Abode) by performing Surat Shabd Yoga. He is the Special SOn and Beloved of the Supreme Being, Radhasoami.

17. Sadh Guru is He who has taken His Surat to Par-Brahm Pad, i.e., Daswar Dwar (the tenth orifice) of Sants, beyond Trikuti, and who is practising Surat Shabd Yoga for going further up.

18. Satsangis are those who are engaged in the performance of Surat Shabd Yoga for attaining the Feet of the Supreme Being, Radhasoami Dayal. They are to reach the Nij Dham (Original Abode) by the grace of the Sant Sat Guru.

19. One should find out the Sant Sat Guru of the time. Adhere to those who are no more, will not serve the purpose.

20. One can get darshan of the Supreme Being only by the grace and mercy of the Sant Sat Guru and by the practice of Surat Shabd Yoga.

21. One should engender sincere love for the Sant Sat Guru and should secure His pleasure by internal and external Satsang and strive hard for it by serving Him with one's body, mind and riches.

22. Service to the Sant Sat Guru is the service to the Supreme Being Himself. He is pleased with this very service. Service to anybody else will not secure this object.

23. One should have faith in the Supreme Being and Sant at Guru. As far as possible, one should conform to His Mauj (will, please) and ordainments.

24. The Mauj of the Sant Sat Guru is the Mauj of the Supreme Being; there is no difference between the two.

25. The Sant Sat Guru is always with His Satsangis (devotees) whom He has taken under His protection ; and He is looking after them every moment.

26. He who sincerely adheres to the Sant Sat Guru and has deep love and reliance in His Holy Feet, is His own. Kal is afraid of him; he (Kal) may try to temp and frighten him from a distance, but he dare not come near him (devotee).

27. Where praises of the Supreme Being are sung, and the importance of love and reliance in His Holy Feet and the secrets of the Surat Shabd Yoga are explained, is true Satsang.

28. The importance of Satsang is great. One should attend it with sincerity and attention.

29. Satsang is Pars; whoever joins it will become gold.

30. Satsang dispels doubts and delusions. Without getting rid of these, the practise of Surat Shabd Yoga cannot be performed successfully, nor can true salvation be secured.

31. One should be nih-karam (desireless, disinterested and detached). Therefore, one should resign the pleasures and comforts of body, mind and riches to Mauj of Sant Sat Guru. Otherwise one's load of karams (sins) and one's attachment to and entanglement in the world, will go on increasing day by day; and to the same extent one's liberation will become difficult.

32. Whatever one does, the result should be left to the Mauj of the Sant Sat Guru. One should be cheerful and pleased in all circumstances and should never complain. In this way too, one can become nih-karam (free from karams, sins and desires).

33. Lust, anger, avarice, attachment, jealousy, enmity, pride and egotism are the evils of the mind ; and the mind desires to indulge in these very evils.

34. All these evils create disturbance in the service and devotion to the Sant Sat Guru. One should, as far as possible, avoid them and keep oneself away from the tricks of the mind so that one can save oneself from the onslaughts of these evils.

35. The mind acts through the sense organs and keeps the Surat (spirit) tied down to the body and the world in order that it may enjoy the fruit of such actions.

36. The mind is attached to worldly objects and becomes unhappy if it has to give them up. The more the attachment, the greater will be the pain in leaving them.

37. The evils of the mind should be removed, otherwise, it will not be possible to have full faith in the Sant Sat Guru and the Supreme Being. For this reason, true and complete salvation would not be achieved. Without the grace of the Sant Sat Guru and the practice of the Surat Shabd Yoga, these evils cannot be removed.

38. Internal Satsang, viz., to listen to Dhwanyatmak Name within, and external Satsang viz., to associate with the Sat Guru and to recite His Bani (compositions) and read His discourses intelligently, are indispensible for the correction and purification of the mind.

39. Worldly objects are perishable. They do not provide lasting pleasures, nor do they afford complete satisfaction. One should, therefore, indulge in them to the extent it is necessary. Sincere attachment should be generated for the Sat Guru.

40. Worldly people are subjected to immense pain at the time of death, for they have to leave the objects to which they are attached, and they feel helpless.

41. Accordingly, one should practise to undergo the process of death while living. That is to say, the Surat (spirit) should be detached from the plane of the eyes and attached to the Holy Feet of the true Supreme Being and taken to the original abode.

42. When Surat (spirit) descends to the plane of the eyes, its connection is established with the body and the world.

43. Man has become entangled in the world through his eyes and ears in particular. The mind and the body are chiefly dependent on these two sense-organs.

44. By practising devotion, the true bliss of these two senses (eyes and ears) will be obtained within, and that bliss will be such as will enhance love and faith in the Holy Feet of the Supreme Being day by day.

45. This internal bliss will not remain the same always. If it does, its keenness and intensity will be lost, devotion will become slack and love in the Feet of the Supreme Being will decrease; further progress will stop.

46. The internal bliss will not be lost at the time of death. Any if it were lost, worldly desires would enter the mind. The result will be re-birth in the world; there will be no deliverance from the cycle of transmigration.

47. Hence both these contingencies are provided for in Sant Mat. In other words, the practitioner of Surat Shabd Yoga receives greater and greater bliss day by day and at the time of his death.

48. Devotion should be internal. If it is outward, it should be directed to the Sant Sat Guru. Devotion to anybody else will not bear fruit.

49. One should be gurumukh, that is to say, one should obey the commands of the Guru. A manmukh (one who follows the dictates of one's mind) will have to wander in Chaurasi (transmigration).

50. One should have love for and fear of the Supreme Being and the Sant Sat Guru and go on enhancing them day by day.

51. One should always engage in such activities as may increase one's love, yearning and faith in the Holy Feet of the Supreme Being and the Sant Sat Guru. And, as far as possible, one should abstain from those acts which may decrease one's love, yearning and faith.

52. At least two hours daily should be devoted to the service of the Supreme Being and performance of Bhajan and Sumiran (spiritual practices of listening to the internal Sounds and repetition of the Holy Name) etc.. This period of devotion should be increased whenever possible. Whenever an occasion for associating with the Sant Sat Guru presents itself, one should avail of it eagerly.

53. One should not pray for worldly prosperity to the Supreme Being or Sant Sat Guru. He knows the requirements of the Jiva and whatever He considers fit and proper, He bestows of His own accord. If, however, one's mind persists, one may express one's desire at the time of spiritual practices, but on should leave its fulfilment to the Mauj of the Supreme Being, and continue one's efforts.

54. One may now and then pray for enhancement of love and faith in the Holy Feet of the Supreme Being and Sant Sat Guru, but one should not insist or set one's mind on quick fulfilment of this wish, for, when its desire is not satisfied, the mind feels dejected and loses faith.

55. Of all physical forms, human body is the best and noblest. Bhakti or devotion to the Supreme Being can be performed only in this body. Therefore, one should not indulge in such activities as may deprive one of human body, resulting in descent into Chaurasi (cycle of births and deaths).

56. For the performance of devotion, one should be acquainted with the true Nam (Name), Dham (Abode), Rup (Form) and Leela (Sound) of the Nami or the Supreme Being. Then only Dhyan (contemplation) can be performed correctly.

57. Redemption cannot be achieved by adopting conventional names. It is essential to get initiated into the secrets of Nij Nam (True and Real Dhwanyatmak Name), which is resounding within every one at all times, and can be heard by the practice of Surat Shabd Yoga.

58. Pleasures derived from the objects of the world do not afford satisfaction to the Surat (spirit) and the mind. On the contrary, they increase thirst and desire for the same.

59. Real satisfaction will be obtained when the Surat and mind get the bliss of higher regions. This will go on increasing as one rises higher and higher. COmplete satisfaction and contentment will be obtained when one reaches Nij Desh (Region of Source and Origin).

60. Sant Mat (Religion of Sants) is very easy. Its Abhyas (spiritual practices) can be performed by a child or seven, a young man and an old man of eighty years, both male and females. It comprises of four essentials or factors. viz., true Guru, true Name, true Satsang and true Anurag (Love).

61. Every Satsangi should abstain from meat, fish, fowl and eggs and all intoxicants.

62. For one's own gain, one should not, by thought, word or deed, harass, oppress entertain enmity and jealousy towards others. One should be meek and humble at heart.

63. One should act honestly in the world, should not, as far as possible, indulge in acts of show, display and ostentation.

64. One should not give rise to inordinate desires for sensual pleasures. One should exercise moderation in every sphere of activity.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

While Alive We Can Experience the Heavens

While Alive We Can Experience the Heavens

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

Param Sant Tulsi Sahib, Saint of Hathras, India:

"In this life the concept of salvation all
describe;
To meet the Lord by dying while living,
none discloses.
They all speak of the goal of salvation after
death;
How to attain it while living, no one says.
Were they to reveal the method of attaining
release while living,
Then alone would Tulsi be convinced of
their words.

Who speak, after seeing with their own eyes,
And teach the method of salvation during
life,
Are of the stage and stature of Saints,
For they reveal the quintessence of the soul."

The following is an Arabic inscription at the site of a mosque at Fatehpur Sikri, India attributed to Isa or Yeshua: "The world is a bridge. Pass over it, but do not build your dwelling there." It reminds me of a similar saying, also attributed to Jesus, found in the Gospel of Thomas that was unearthed in Egypt: "Become passers-by." One translator renders this as: "Come into being as you pass away."

There is a wonderful book of Sant Dadu Dayal's mystic-poems recently published by Criterion Publications in New Delhi, volume 25 in their "Encyclopaedia of Saints of India" series.

Urgency of Realisation

This fragile and transient human life is speedily coming to its end. It is high time that we seek refuge in the Lord of Love. Only while living as a human being can the work be accomplished, not after death.

Sant Dadu Dayal

The mind is a deer, sayeth Dadu.
Looking at the green forest of the world.
This foolish one runs around puffed up
with pleasure.
It is destined to be a victim of Kal [lord of time, lord of death], the hunter.
The body is like a passer-by,
sayeth Dadu.
No sooner dost thou look at him, that he goes out of sight.
Be dedicated to the Name of God
As long as there is breath in thy body.
Hurry up, O passer-by, the journey hangs over thy head.
Delay no more.
What art thou doing sitting idle? Repeat God's Name.
Evening has set in while the traveller is still in the forest.
He must move briskly.
This is not the time to be slack, warns Dadu.
Go Home quickly.

Gone is the time, and lost is the opportunity.
Where shalt thou find this priceless birth once it slips out of hand?
Catching hold of our hand, the Negative Power [Kal] is drawing us close day by day.
The self does not awaken even now.
Its time is spent asleep.
While watching, 0 Dadu, the hair has grown white from black.
Body, mind, and youth are all gone, and even now thou turnest not to God!
While alive one can transcend bodily qualities.
While alive one can be liberated;
While alive one can shed all Karmas.
That truly is called liberation.
While alive one can cross over what is hard to cross,
While alive can one go to the other shore.
While alive one can find the Master of the world,
And can attain discrimination and wisdom.
If the meeting is not accomplished while alive,
If the contact is not made while alive,
If the Lord of the universe is not found while alive,
The one is simply drowned.
One is freed while alive,
One is not freed after death, sayeth Dadu
If one were to be free after death,
Then all will come under that.
Some say one can secure abode in paradise after death;
They preach liberation after death.
They, indeed, are making the world
insane, O Dadu...............

Japi Gobinda bisari jini jai

Do the repetition of God [God's Name] and forget
Him not.
Fulfil the purpose of thy birth
by practising concentration.
Be steadfast in the remembrance of God.
Practice meditation with love, and sing
the glory of God.
The human body is the door to salvation.
Do the repetitions of God, the Creator
of the universe.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Code of Conduct For Final Elevation

Code of Conduct For Final Elevation
By Sree Sree Mentu Maharaj
from the book, The Truth Absolute

published by http://www.United-Satsang.org

At the website click onto the "Publications" tab

To maintain the divine energy, the moral strength in life for spontaneous progress in spiritual life, the following code of conduct should be observed.

One should not deprive anyone from maintaining his life peacefully and enjoying his love for his beloved one.

One should not create any hindrance to the attempt of others to grow and expand with all efficiencies and merits.

One should not prevent any spiritual inspiration or the progress of another's faith and spontaneous elevation.

One should not give any wrong advice to anyone and create more confusion in their lives.

One should be in the right frame of body, mind and spirit to be prepared for any eventuality, to be able to face and handle any situation and maintain balance and tranquility.

One should not hurt anybody's sentiment for his object of love and so make him suffer depression, loneliness and varieties of frustrations that create suffocation of life and love.

One has no right to bite another's personality and fight against his interest or faith. This creates conflict and chaos in the world of friendship and relations and forfeits the functioning of normal life, love and relations.

One should not burden others with all of one's problems, wants and worries when they cannot rightly solve them. This creates a tendency to self pity and confusion that ruin the strength of self confidence and willpower with which one could solve one's problems.

One should not land oneself in the field of friendship and relations by unhealthy discussions or unnecessary gossip. This ruins the spiritual potentialities of others, envelops them in clouds of doubt and depression and buries them in darkness.

One should not hurt anybody in any way to release one's revenge, frustration and disappointment.

One should not discuss anything that disgraces oneself or others. This brings distress to the mind and creates contraction in the being. Contraction is death. Expansion is life.

One should not forget that the sum total of wrong deeds and actions will withhold and pull back one's life to a condition where no other advice can ever work to rescue it. The sum of wrong deeds nullifies the reward of good deeds and permanently imprisons life in the world of darkness and depression where evil can play its role to ruin one forever.

0 mankind, be alert about karmic law and know what you should do and whit you should not do. Avail every opportunity in life to enjoy the effect of good actions, with the full co-operation of the angels, and enter into the kingdom of God in this life and life eternal.

Blessed are those who are aware of their moment to moment life and the result thereon to achieve the highest reward from God, burying all the past causes of suffering to enjoy Eternal Bliss.

Code of Conduct For Final Elevation
By Sree Sree Mentu Maharaj
from the book, The Truth Absolute

Publisher:

http://www.United-Satsang.org

at the website click onto the "Publications" tab

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Sant Mat, Chapter Seven of the Book, The Harmony of All Religions

Sant Mat, Chapter Seven of the Book, The Harmony of All Religions

Click on the Photo of the Book to Read PDF File of Sant Mat!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Simran Practice According to Sant Tukaram

Simran Practice According to Sant Tukaram

Meditation Sangat:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MeditationSangat
{"Do not live even a single day without inner
meditation." -- Baba Devi Sahab}

Chanting God's Name as a Bhakti Practice

Simran: The art of remembering God by repeating his name verbally, or repeating it within as in Manas Jappa: a mental or internal repetition done "with the tongue of thought".

Take just a little word, of one syllable rather than of two ... With this word you are to strike down every kind of thought under the cloud of forgetting. (Cloud of Unknowing)

A single word said with an attentive mind is better than a thousand when the mind is far away. (Evagrius)

The sole way to the realisation of God, according to Tukarama, is the constant repetition of God's name. "Sit silent," says Tukarama, "compose thy mind and make it pure, and then happiness will know no bounds. God will certainly come and dwell in his heart. This will be the result of thy long effort. Meditate time after time on God's name ...... says Tuka, "that this will surely come to pass, if thou hast one-pointed devotion" (Abg.1132). "The uttering of the name of God is indeed an easy way for reaching Him. One need not go to a distant forest. God will Himself come to the house of a devotee. One should sit at a place, concentrate his mind, invoke God with love, and utter His name time after time. I swear by God's name," says Tuka, "that there is no other way for reaching God: indeed, this is the easiest of all ways" (Abg. 1698). "If we only utter the name of God, God will stand before us. In that way should we meditate on Him." (Abg. 2021). There are always difficulties which intervene before God is reached. These are dispelled by the power of devotion. "The Name will lead to God if no obstacle intervenes. A fruit becomes ripe on a tree only if it is not plucked" (Abg. 695). "The ship of God's name," says Tuka, "will ultimately carry one across the ocean of life. It will save both the young and the old" (Abg. 2457). "The whole body feels cool when one meditates on the Name. The senses forget their movements. . . . By the sweet nectar-like love of God, one is full of energy and all kinds of sorrow depart immediately" (Abg. 1543).

(Tukaram, edited by R.D. Ranade, SUNY Press, NY)

Rumi: One Being Inside All

Rumi: One Being Inside All
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sufi_Poetry_and_Wisdom

Rumi
Bridge to the Soul
Journeys into the Music and Silence of the Heart
Coleman Barks
Harper One (Imprint of Harper Collins)

One Being Inside All

Lovers, it is time
for the taste of fire.

Let sadness and your fears of death
sit in the corner and sulk.

The sky itself reels with love.
There is one being inside
all of us, one peace.

Poet, let every word tremble its wind bell.
Saddle the horse with great anticipation.

Flute notes are calling us into friendship.
Begin again. Play the melody
all the way through this time.

Sun~presence floods over.
Quietness is an empty cup.

Accept that you
must hide your secret.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Meditation as a kind of Spiritual "Doorway" or "Portal"

Meditation is central. Meditation has the potential to transport us from the outer world of ideas, theology or theories to the inner world of personal direct experience (Gnosis). For some, meditation is a kind of "Doorway" or "Portal" to the spiritual dimensions accessed from within.

Sant Maharshi Mehi from his book of mystic poems called, Padavali:

My eyes got fixed at the central Point between the two eyebrows,
They do not glance sideways but are fixed at the Point in front;
The Light of God appears within and the darkness of the night vanishes,
The Sun, with its extraordinary rays, ascends with so many sparkles,
Consciousness finally gets immersed in the Quintessential Word,
Baba Devi Sahib instructs Mehi to remain absorbed day and night in this practice.

Seek the Light within,
Any devotee with inner vision has seen that Light,
One must know the secrets from the Master, serving his lotus-feet,
Day and night, keeping one's consciousness focused at the Point between the two eyebrows,
The darkness is gone and there comes in front of one's vision
Colors like black, yellow, blue, red, and white;
Lightening flashes with their flickers and the Morning Star is seen,
The Moon rises and the Sun too rises up,
And thus the Quintessential One is perceived;
At the feet of the Absolute, and the Light-giver (guru),
The devotee comes to be intimately familiar with all these secrets.

Namaste',

James

C o e x i s t ! – from, “The Harmony of All Religions”

C o e x i s t ! – from, “The Harmony of All Religions”

“In different times and different places saints appear and their followers name their religion according to the sage or saint who propounded that tradition. The appearance of differences can be attributed to time, place, and language. This gives rise to various labels for the common views held by all religions. Likewise, due to excessively zealous followers, these seeming differences are often amplified. When all sectarianism and the temporal and linguistic aspects are removed, the basic principles of all the saints are in accord and the voices of the saints are in harmony.”

– Maharishi Mehi, quoted in,
“The Harmony of All Religions,”
by Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj,
published by Maharish Mehi Ashram,
English Edition, 2007

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Countless Souls, Earths, Dimensions, Skies Above Skies

Many Millions are the Skies and Solar Systems - Skies Above Skies
Many millions are the skies and solar systems.
Many millions are the moons, the suns and stars.
Many millions are the sources of creation and continents.
Many millions are the jewel containing oceans.
Many times has the universal expanse occurred.
The Lord has strung all the creation in His thread.
His limit no one knows.

Many millions go about in many existences.
Many millions have been the incarnations.
Many millions are the creatures of various descriptions.
Many millions of beings, the Lord has made of good many descriptions.
Many millions are the celestial singers.
Ever and ever, the Unique Lord remains the same.
From the Lord, they emanate and into the Lord they merge.
Nanak says, with whomsoever, the Lord is pleased, He emancipates.
The Lord is near all yet far from all.
Nanak says, Lord is pervasive in creation yet He, Himself remains away.

Many millions searching for the Lord, find The Supreme One within their mind.
Many million are thirsting for the sight of the Lord.
To them the Imperishable Lord meets.
They are imbued with the love of the Transcendent Lord.

In many ways the Lord has spread Himself.
Nanak says, the Lord is all by Himself.
Many millions are the devotees of Supreme Lord and their souls are enlightened.
Many millions have realized the essence and with their eyes they behold the One Lord.
Many millions drink the Name nectar.
They become immortal and live for ever and ever.
Many millions sing the praises of the Name.
They are spontaneously absorbed in Divine delight.
His servants, remember Him with every breath.
Nanak says, they are the beloveds of Supreme Lord.

The Lord alone is the doer of all deeds.
There is no other. (Adi Granth, The Gurbani or Psalms of the Saints of India)

Through the Word the Worlds Converse

And the Highest One gave the Word to his worlds,
which interpret his own beauty,
recite his praise,
reveal his thought,
are instructors of his works.

For the swiftness of the Word is ineffable.

Its course knows no end,
it never fails, it stands.
Its decent and its Way are incomprehensible.

And through the Word the worlds converse.

The mouth of the Highest One spoke to them
and he was made clear by his Word.

The dwelling place of the Word is man
and Its Truth is Love. (Book of the Odes, Syriac/Aramaic, First Century AD)

Countless Are the Earths, Spheres, and Devotees

Countless are the gospels, sutras, odes, upanishads, gathas,quatrains, abhangas, gitas, granths, vanis and vedas. As Guru Nanak says in his Morning Prayer (Jap Ji): "Endless are the harmonies played by the minstrels; the players prepare endless tunes andmeasures to sing to Thee, 0 bountiful Creator. Thy Light is within the beings and the beings are all within thy Light...countless are the countries, earths and spheres. Millions assign to Him ever new names, 0 Nanak."

Countless there are that remember Thee, and countless those
that love Thee;
Countless there are that worship Thee, and countless those
that seek Thee in austerity and penance;
Countless there are that recite from sacred books Thy praises; and
Countless those that, absorbed in Yoga, stand indifferent to the
world;
Countless those Thy devotees who contemplate Thy attributes
and wisdom; and
Countless those that practice truth and charity;
Countless are the heroes that boldly face the foeman's steel; and
Countless those who have vowed silence, meditate on Thee
with unceasing love.
What power have I to conceive of Thy wonderful nature?
Too poor, am I, to make an offering of my life to Thee.
Whatever pleaseth Thee is good:
Thou art forevermore;
O, Formless One.

Countless Thy names and countless Thy places;
Unapproachable and inaccessible Thy innumerable
heavenly plateaux;
, Even by the word countless, we fail to describe Thee;
By words we describe Thee and by words we praise Thee.
By words, we acquire Divine knowledge, and in words are sung
Thy hymns and attributes;
It is words we employ in speech and in writing;
In them is our fate ordained;
But He who ordains is above such writ.
As Thou ordaineth, so do we receive.
Thou art immanent in all;
And nothing is where Thy Word is not.
What power have I to conceive of Thy wonderful nature?
Too poor, am I, to make an offering of my life to Thee.
Whatever pleaseth Thee is good;
Thou art forevermore; O Formless One! (Kirpal Singh's translation of the Jap Ji, the Morning Prayer of Guru Nanak)

Monday, July 02, 2007

We are destined to become Hansas -- Birds of Heaven

This is the entry for "Hansa" in the glossary of Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry -- Selections, published by the Beas Satsang.

Hansa: A white swan; esoterically, a soul purified by Shabd [the Holy Stream of Light and Sound]. In Indian spiritual literature, a hansa is symbolic of grace and purity; it is believed that the natural drink of a swan is milk or nectar (amrit), and its natural food is pearls, diamonds and rubies, which signify Shabd. It is further believed that the beak of a swan has the unique ability to drink milk (nectar) after filtering out the dirty water or poison of maya with which it is mixed. As long as a soul is conditioned by karma and dominated by mind and matter, it is an ugly crow. Its transformation into a swan begins in Daswan Dwar, where, in the process of its spiritual enlightenment, it sheds its gross coverings. The process culminates in Sach Khand, the region of immortality. Soami Ji generally refers to all souls in Daswan Dwar and beyond as hansas, but he has also occasionally used the term for devoted disciples who are on their way to becoming swans.

O Swan-Soul, Where Are You Going?

Swan, I'd like you to tell me your whole story!
Where you first appeared, and what dark sand you are going toward,
and where you sleep at night, and what you are looking for…

It's morning, swan, wake up, climb in the air, follow me!
I know of a country that spiritual flatness does not control,
— nor constant depression,
and those alive are not afraid to die.
There, wildflowers come up through the leafy floor,
and the fragrance of “I am he” floats on the wind.

There the bee of the heart stays deep inside the flower,
and cares for no other thing.

– Version by Robert Bly, The Kabir Book, Beacon Press

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Satsang Quotes: Life is Short -- Meditate, Pray for Grace and Progress Within

Satsang Quotes: Life is Short -- Meditate, Pray for Grace and Progress Within

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

What is to be done tomorrow, do it today. What is to be done today, do it now. (popular saying of Kabir)

This world's existence is limited to two days of 'today' and 'tomorrow'. Do not develop attachment to it, because everyone will separate from you. If you want your well-being, you must concentrate your mind on the lotus feet of your Satguru. Act in accordance with his teachings of True Knowledge and this will bring true happiness and peace to your life. (Kabir 1008 Vani)

I pay homage in all humility at the feet of my Master, whose grace has revealed the Mystery of Light (Nirat) and Sound (Surat). (Param Sant Tulsi Sahib, "Ghat Ramayana")

Do not live even a single day without inner meditation. (from the last words of Baba Devi Sahab)

Living in this world for a short period is good, but instead of wasting one's life doing meaningless things, it is advisable to dedicate it to remembering God. What is the use of living for millions of years if one did not dedicate his time to self-introspection and remembering God, i.e. such life is a total waste; who will keep an account of it?

My real happiness lies in the supreme 'Self.' And the rest in this world is nothing but distress. With one's mind, voice and deeds, one should remember RAM with a pious heart. Kabir Saheb says: 'The essence of life is in remembering God only.'

The mind is very unsteady. It is not the type that would remember God just like that. It will remember God only when it is poked with the goad of true Knowledge [Gnosis, direct experience]. Kabir Saheb says: '...and then know for sure that this mind will not deviate and will engage itself in remembering God.'

Concentrate your mind and remember the Supreme Being without saying anything. Close the outside doors, i.e. quieten your sensory organs and detach yourself from everything. Open the inside doors of your heart, i.e. open yourself internally and concentrate on meditating on God and remembering him.

Remembering God is the simplest and easiest path which has already been shown by the Satguru. With the help of this device I remember God with each and every breath of mine, and I am sure this will enable me to see him one day, i.e. uttering the name of God continuously. Simply remembering God all the time is the easiest process (Sahaj) of leading a spiritual life which leads the devotee to his goal.

You are remembering God in your heart. God resides in the same heart. You will get a huge store of true Knowledge in this very heart, i.e. you will find God and his transcendental Knowledge where you will find your supreme 'Self.'

Devotion through remembering God brings every happiness to life and removes every distress of mind. Kabir Saheb says: 'Remember God! It has a wonderfully powerful attraction. By continuously remembering God, a time comes when the devoted servant (devotee) and the master (God) become one, i.e. he attains self-realization.

Utter the name of RAM (God) continuously. Kabir says, 'Only devotees can understand the Mystery of the fact that there is nothing as compared to remembering God.'

It is a bliss remembering God even for a moment. But only those, who practice it, know it. Remembering God is so easy that one does not have to spend a single penny on it. In fact one does not have to make any extra efforts to have the best results.

Prayers of Guru Kabir

"'0 Supreme Being! I have become like You by remembering You all the time. There are no more self-conceit, attachments and desires of the world in me. I sacrifice myself on the true Knowledge of Your name, remembering which enables me to see You all around. There is nothing that exists other than You.'

'0 the Eternal RAM of the temple of my heart! I lost 'my' existence in remembering You continuously. I have become one with You. I exist not without You now. My mind does not wander about any more. I and You are one now.' RAM." (Guru Kabir from Kabir 1008 Vani, compiled by Lalchand Doohan Jigyasu, translated by Kunwar Anil Kumar, Manoj Publications, Delhi, India)

Very exalted is the status of the Satguru and very sublime His religion. He has shown the Inaccessible Region. Surat [the soul] ascends to the gateway to Sat Lok [Eternal Realm of Truth] and witnesses a spectacle which is beyond the reach and comprehension of ascetics. Every day she visits the region of Shyam Set, i. e., the Third Eye. Ascending above the senses of perception, she sees the path within, and gains a vision of that region. She is dazed on seeing the Refulgence of the Beloved. Her attention remains riveted on Him, and she is oblivious of her body and mind. All the barriers on the way to the Beloved are removed. She quickly ascends one mansion after another. She rids herself of all her troubles by bathing at the Ghat of Triveni [confluence of three sacred rivers]. Says Tulsi, from the time she became acquainted with the Beloved she, enjoying the bliss of mansions after mansions, reaches her Beloved Lord. (Param Sant Tulsi Sahib, Shabd 72, Shabdavali)

0 Radhasoami! [Radhaswami, the Lord of the Soul]. Kindly shower your grace on me and 0 Anami, favour me by making a gift of devotion and its modus operandi to me! My mind and my surat [attention-faculty of the soul -- inner seeing] have joined together in coming to you (imploring you for your grace), and with your Refulgence (noor-i-qahir) in their heart of hearts (hiya). Kindly take both of them under your benign protection and shelter and make them perceive the path to your Inaccessible Sphere. 0 Lord! Enable me to behold your Luminous Form in the Jyoti (flame) at the Third Eye and to raise my surat to the One Thousand-Petalled Lotus (Sahas-dal Kanwal) so that I may go up beyond, and get into the Crooked Tunnel and perceive the Sphere of Trikuti [Causal Plane] with great jubilation and liveliness. (Prayer of Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry, II, Gupta Translation, M.G. Publishers, Agra)