Traditional Sant Mat From An Indian Perspective - Light and Sound on the Path - Satsang E-Newsletter:
[Below: a link to a Sant Mat Satsang Podcast; excerpts from three newly translated articles on the Esoteric Path of Sant Mat published in Sadguru Shanti Sandesh magazine - English Section; numerous spiritual quotes of the Masters from various parts of India, a couple of Gnostic quotes from Egypt, a Buddhist passage, a Jain Prayer For Peace; and a link to a Youtube video of an Indian Classical Raga performed on the veena.]
A Sant Mat Satsang PODcast: Hear readings from the following sources: "Petals of Love", by Professor Agam Prasad Mathur of Agra, on the history and spirituality of the classic Sants of India; verses of the Devotional Poetry of Saint Namdev from a text known as the "Hindi Padavali"; "The Harmony of All Religions", by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, on the primary goals of this living school of spirituality from India known as Sant Mat; also a reading about the astral plane or region known as The Thousand Petalled Lotus (Sahas-dal-kanwal), from the book, "Enchanted Land". That reading includes a passage from the "Sar Bachan Poetry" of Swami Ji Maharaj, Volume One. On the ahimsa ethics of the Masters, there is a reading from the "Saakhi Granth" of Guru Kabir. Program Length: 35 Minutes. Click to Download MP3: http://bit.ly/fICMbv
"If you are an ocean, I am like a wave; I rise from you and I retire and return unto you." (Swami Ji Maharaj)
Kabir: "The essence of life is in remembering God."
"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." (Kabir Vani 1008)
"Only seeing great souls does not bring well-being to anyone. What's needed is to listen to their words, contemplate their teachings, and put them into practice. This means to listen to the words of great souls with veneration, ponder their meaning, and live accordingly. This is what works." (Baba Devi Sahib)
"If you want to know your past life, look at your present condition. If you wish to know your future life, examine your present actions." (Swami Ashutosh Gurusnehi)
"Every person can become great, but it depends upon four factors: self-confidence, hard work, patience, and honesty." (Swami Ashutosh Gurusnehi)
"When ever you are in trouble, sit down for doing simran (repetition of the holy names). When you reach the state of concentration, then you are surrounded by a protective aura automatically. No power on earth can harm you then. Therefore, do simran and be anxiety-free." (Anurag Sagar, Volume Two)
"Come turn the wheel of simran. It will readily open up the melody of Shabd." (Swami Ji Maharaj)
"A mind unshaken when touched by the worldly states, sorrowless, stainless, and secure, this is the blessing supreme. Those who have fulfilled all these are everywhere invincible; they find well-being everywhere, theirs is the blessing supreme." (adapted from the Mangala Sutta in, "Teachings of the Buddha," edited by Jack Kornfield)
"Wherever one's thought dwells, there will that person rest. At his pleasure, he may go to the delusion of unreality or he may merge into the Lord of the self. Where you keep your mind while living, to that abode shall you go after death. The soul finds lodging in a place wherein it has hitherto been immersed." (Sant Dadu Dayal)
"'G-o-d-i-s-n-o-w-h-e-r-e' -- this can be read as 'God is nowhere' or 'God is now here'. It depends on our thinking. So think positive." (Swami Ashutosh Gurusnehi)
Asked the Yogis: By what means are we bound and overcome by maya [illusion]? How does one gain or loose? Said Guru Nanak: The negative thoughts of the mind are what bind us, and then we are overcome by maya. The self-centered one loses, and the one who obeys the will of His Creator is the one who gains. (Book of Sidh Gosht)
Said the Yogis: The one who can give us the true answers is our Guru. Said Guru Nanak: By meeting the True Guru all darkness is dispelled, the ego is stilled and one is united with God. (Book of Sidh Gosht)
"The brilliant Light of surrender has revealed to me the Essence and the True Form of my Master." (Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras)
"What is the place to be reached? When we close our eyes and see Darkness, this is the realm of ignorance. When the Light dawns within you, then you understand that you reside in noble regions. In Darkness resides ignorance and in Light resides Knowledge." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)
"All the rulers (archons) of the height have tried to deceive me into believing that I am only a body of matter without Light in it. And after this the merciless powers surrounded me, and tried to take away all the Light that was in me. But You appeared to me out of the darkness and I trusted You, O Light, and said: 'You are the one who liberated me. I thank You O Light for having compassion on me. And You have saved me, O Light, with your Gnosis [Mystical Knowledge].'" (Book of Pistis Sophia, Faith Wisdom)
Param Sant Tulsi Sahib: "In this life the concept of salvation all describe. To met 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."
"Look for and search for God within yourself, within your own body. God resides inside - look for him there." (Maharishi Mehi)
"Within the innermost recesses, all spirituality is one and it has never undergone any division. Our spirituality or soul (Surat) is an emanation from the Supreme Being. Within the innermost recesses it is one with the Lord." (Discourses of Babuji Maharaj, Volume Three)
Sadguru Shanti Sandesh is published by Maharshi Santsewi Dhyanyog Ashram, Satsang Nagar, Sabour, Bhagalpur (Bihar), INDIA. The True Master's Message of Peace (Sadguru Shanti Sandesh), is a spiritual and social monthly magazine based on the harmony of all religions.
Below is Excerpted From the February, 2011 Edition of Sadguru Shanti Sandesh Magazine - English Section:
God is the Creator of Yoga, By Param Sant Baba Devi Sahib
There are two types of dharma in the world. They are first, "udhaar", and second, "nakad". Udhaar dharma is that in which it is said, one attains salvation after death, and nakad dharma is that in which the state of salvation is believed to be experienced/attained during this lifetime. People keep thinking and living on-borrowed-dharma. Some are involved in rituals and outward devotions, while others are pretending to have become divine themselves. They are unaware of the natural screens or veils of Darkness, Lights and Sounds between jiva-souls and God. (God is veiled by five different bodies and subtle bodies, each one inside the other [physical, astral, causal, mental, and etheric]). These are veils which can't be transcended by merely reading some mantras or performing yagna or outward devotions/rituals. For them to be shed, you will surely have to be oriented towards going within, perform Dristi-sadhana [Yoga of Inner Light], and Shabd-sadhana [Yoga of Inner Sound], which will make it possible for your consciousness to travel along the solitary Inward Path, crossing the natural and supra-natural realms to reach to such an auspicious place from where your soul would never become detached again to return back in the outer world. But no one can really know of, and practice, these processes by simply reading authentic scriptures.
First of all, the screen of Darkness can be accessed by closing your eyes. Secondly, the screen or veil of Light can be experienced by crossing the Darkness. Thirdly, the veil of Sounds can be known by listening to them. Fourthly, not so much a screen or veil, but there is a Mystery which can not be understood like the first, second and third. It can only be experienced by perfect practice.
According to Sant Mat, having crossed these realms or levels, we achieve the final goal called Mukti (i.e. salvation). To attain liberation/salvation, Sant Mat does not follow numerous complicated practices, but two essential methods:
1) Drishti Marg (i.e. the Path of inner Light/Vision) and,
2) Shabd Marg (i.e. the Way of inner Sound/Transcendental Hearing).
Unlike other worship methods popular in religions and sects with different names, these two methods are not man-made. God himself is the founder and operator of these methods. Since the beginning God has kept these two methods inside human beings with full qualifications. The way of redemption of jivas (i.e. bounded souls) is available within all human beings. Unless the jiva walks along this way, it can't achieve salvation; the real and ultimate goal of religion. (Baba Devi Sahab) ////////
"If anyone becomes a child of the bridal chamber, he will receive the Light. If anyone does not receive it while he is here, he will not be able to receive it in the other place either." (Gnostic Gospel of Philip, Nag Hammadi Library of Egypt)
Param Sant Tulsi Sahib: "0 Jiva [captive Soul somewhere in time]! Give up all blind adherences and beliefs, concentrate within and seek the Supreme Being there, adopting Him alone as your goal. Do ponder over what I say and see for yourself with eyes wide open that there is none in this world whom you can call your own. You should adopt the Supreme Being alone as your prop and support."
"Dying, dying, the world keeps dying, but none knows how to die. No one dies in such a way that he won't die again." (Bijak of Kabir)
Kabir: "Go where you will, to Benares or to Mathura; if you do not find your soul, the world is unreal to you."
"The Master always advises people to explore the Shabd in the depth of their hearts. But they ignore the pleas of the Master -- how then will their inner eyes open? Rare is the deserving soul who makes the teachings of the Master the foundation of his/her life." (Sant Radhasoami Sahib)
"The best of all true things is a true heart. Without truth, no happiness, though you may try a million tricks." (The Bijak of Kabir)
Anurag Sagar: "Kal has entangled people in illusions to such an extent that they have totally forgotten their real Home."
Sincerity of Spirituality - The Basis of Truth
The Editorial Below is From the January, 2011 Edition of Sadguru Shanti Sandesh Magazine - English Section
"Santmat" is the combination of two words: "Sant" and "Mat". "Sant" originates from the Sanskrit "Santah", which means Truth. Whosoever has adopted true ethics with his mind: in precept and in deeds, and in addition to this, who has realized God, such a great human is eligible to be called a Sant.
"Mat" refers to teaching or guidance. For the well-being of humans, Sants have formulated principles to be adopted during life. Those principles are SANTMAT. This is most successful art of living, whose essence and basis is truth. Just as the sun is meaningless without heat, "Santmat" is core-less, purposeless, or rather, it is non-existent without truth.
Rather than just receiving initiation into Sant Mat, if someone adopts truth, lives and works on behalf of truth, then he or she is relatively closer to Sant Mat. Is it worth believing that by going away from truth anybody can adopt Sant Mat? I believe, if we want to serve Sant Mat (which we pledge while receiving initiation: "For the progress of Sant Mat I will always be helpful with my mind, health and wealth"), then we should adopt truth in our lives. At least if we won't accompany lies, won't proliferate lies, we would be saved from major flaws. The holy Master Maharshi Mehi said: "Lying is the father of all sins. He, who learned to tell lies, will also learn to execute all the sins". We describe ourselves as disciples but if we don't wish to live according to Master's guidelines, then what will be our condition? Sahjo Bai has said: "Who doesn't obey the Master and even blames the Master, such a cynic fellow lives miserably in life and doesn't attain liberation after death."
Today's situation is has worsened to the degree that everywhere there is supremacy of slyness. (Liars are honored. The truthful are getting damned. Hypocrites and opportunists are everywhere worshiped.)
Let us leave the matter of cults. Truth is everyone's religion: "There is no other religion higher that truth." "Truth always wins, not falsehood". The Taitiriyopnishad says: "Speak truth, adopt religion". This implies truth is the highest priority compared to religion. The Mahabharata says: "There's no religion like truth" and, "even thousands of oblations are inferior compared with truth". The degree anyone adopts truth, is the degree he moves towards greatness. It's everyone's duty to not believe directly in rumors. Rather, go to the source, so as to not become liable of the sin of proliferating lies.
The universal teaching of Sants is Truth and Non-Violence. If we would decide to adopt these as the basis of our life, then our future life would surely be bright. (Sadguru Shanti Sandesh) ////////
"Forgive do I creatures all, and let all creatures forgive me.
Unto all have I amity, and unto none enmity.
Know that violence is the root of all miseries in the world.
Violence is the knot of bondage." (Jain Prayer For Peace)
"The Masters say that two things are essential for success on the spiritual path: first a genuine urge, a passion for it; and second, regular practice. If either one of these is lacking, our efforts will not be fruitful." (Kirpal Singh)
"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.'" (Kabir Vani 1008)
Below is From the January, 2011 Edition of Sadguru Shanti Sandesh Magazine - English Section:
Behavior Generates Our Future, Satsang-Suman, By Swami Ashutosh
Gurusnehi
Respectable God-seekers, prestigious villagers, religion-loving brothers - sisters, and dear children:
If we wish to be rid of sorrows and the slavery of situations, then never put on any new trammels of attachments, and try to get rid of old trammels. With the strength of our efforts we can create our fortune. Lord Buddha has said: "Humans are the owner of their own state -- who else can be his owner?" Lord Sriram has suggested the way to be freed from bondages, saying: "There is a door of salvation inside this body". We will have to become aware of this door and go through it. We know about nine doors of our body which are all so unclean. How could you think any of these doors could be the door to freedom? The precept of Satguru Maharshi Mehi Paramhans Ji Maharaj is: "Leave the unclean nine doors of the body and ascend through the Tenth Door and get the bliss." The Tenth Door is the Portal to salvation [Jiva Mukti] and the place for happiness.
This is also the junction of Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. In the Gyan Sankalini Tantra, it says: "There are three principal currents, namely Ida [left], Pingala [right] and Sushumna [middle], there inside this body which are like the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, respectively. The junction of these three rivers is called "Triveni" -- the best place of pilgrimage. By being immersed into that, we get rid of all our sins.
Being baptized in the outer "Triveni" (i.e. junction of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati) does not cleanse our sin, but the internal Triveni makes us sacred like God, then God becomes accessible. This is the ultimate achievement of human life. To attain this we need to practice virtue, true companionship/satsang, and meditation. (This discourse was given in the evening get-together at Shivkumari Pahar, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur, on 10/19/2010.) ////////
"Redemption will be effected by the attraction of love. The Supreme Being is all-love. He is a vast reservoir of love.
"The attraction of love is present in every particle of the creation. Nothing is outside the range of its attraction. The difference is only one of degree or intensity. It is by the attraction of love that the creation is maintained and sustained. All actions are taking place by the force of attraction.
"'Give up the fear and regard for the world. Heed what I say, perform Bhakti [love and devotion]." (Soami Ji Maharaj)
"Surat [the attention of the Soul] is the doer of everything. Perfect Bhakti (love and devotion) consists in the complete merging of all one's spirituality in the Supreme Being."
-- Babuji Maharaj, "The Discourses of Babuji Maharaj," Volume III, Agra
"God cannot be grasped by the mind. If He could be grasped, He would not be God". (Swami Ashutosh Gurusnehi)
Guru Nanak: "A person must become a devotee of God, leaving all illusions behind."
"The world is a bridge. Pass over it, but do not build your dwelling there." (Yeshua, Saying 200 — an inscription from a mosque at Fatehpur Sikri, India, translated in, The Unknown Sayings of Jesus, Marvin Meyer, Harper Collins)
YouTube Video/Audio: Indian Classical Raga: The sweet sounds of the Veena, considered to be one of the highest of heavenly melodies or a beautiful imitation thereof:
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