Spiritual Principles of Sant Mat Mysticism

Spiritual Principles of Sant Mat

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

1. Ultimate Reality is beyond any beginning or end, infinite, beyond birth, beyond the senses, all-pervading yet beyond pervasiveness. It must therefore be understood as the Supreme Being. This Essential Element is known as the Lord of All and is the foundation of all things. This Being is beyond both the inanimate and animate aspects of nature. It is without qualities and beyond qualities. Its nature is infinite, imperishable, all-powerful. It is beyond time and space, beyond sound and beyond form. It is the One without a second. The Supreme Being is beyond the scope of mind, the intellect and the senses. This entire universe is powered by the energy of this Being. This Being is not human. It is not manifested in physical form. It has existence beyond the illusion of maya, and there is nothing that exists outside of it. It is the Being which is eternal, existing from the beginning. Santmat considers this Being as the Divine Reality and this [knowing or merging with] Being is the goal of all spirituality.

2. The individual soul is an inseparable part of the Supreme Being.

3. The physical world of nature was created. It has an origin and an end.

4. The soul bound by illusion (maya) remains in the cycle of death and birth. This is the cause of all suffering. In order to escape from this cycle of death and birth we must experience realization of this Supreme Being.

5. By practicing devotion through these four techniques: Manas Japa (recitation of the divine name [Simran]), Manas Dhyana (focus on the divine form or guru [Dhyan]), Dristi Sadhana (focus on the infinitesimal Point [Third Eye Center -- contemplating the inner Light, Yoga of Light]), and Nadanusandhana Yoga (concentration on the inner divine sounds [Bhajan, Nada Yoga, Surat Shabd Yoga, Yoga of Sound] -- the practitioner consecutively transcends the realms of darkness, light, and sound which cloak the Truth -- the Divine. Only through a human body is a person able to achieve unity with the Divine.

6. Lying, stealing, intake of intoxicating substances, adultery, and violence (including harming other beings) are the five sins to be avoided. Eating meat or fish is also considered to be a form of violence and should be avoided. The aspirants of Santmat must abstain from these vices.

7. Consider the following as the requirements to attain liberation:

Trust and belief in the Divine;

commitment to seek the Divine within;

devotion to a spiritual master;

listening to the teaching of the spiritual discourse [satsang] including study of the teaching of the saints and the scriptures;

and diligent meditation practice.

-- Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, "The Harmony of All Religions"