Who You Are - Light and Sound
on the Path - Sant Mat Satsang
Be without ear, without sense, without thought,
And hearken to the call of God, "Return!"
Our speech and action is the outer journey,
Our inner journey is above the sky
The body travels on its dusty way;
The spirit walks, like Jesus, on the sea.
-- Rumi
"The whole creation is sustained by God who is not a distant Deity but closer is He than anything else." (Kirpal Singh)
The essence of Atma and Parmatma is Prem (love).
Sat Naam (True Name) is the embodiment of Bhakti
(devotion).
Bhakti (devotion) and Bhagwant (the Supreme
Being) are one. Sat Guru is the embodiment of
Prem (love).
You are also Prem (love) in essence, so are all Jivas [souls].
But there is one difference. Somewhere it is a drop,
elsewhere, a wave.
At one place, it is ocean of Prem (Love) and at
another, it is the source and fountain head of Prem
(love).
At one place, it is
Ichcha (desire) which is pre-
dominant, and at another, it is
Maya [illusion] which is powerful.
At one place there was little Maya, and that too
was purified because of its association with the
ocean of spirituality.
In the Source, there is no Maya. There, it is all Prem
(love).
-- Sant Radhasoami Sahib (Soami Ji Maharaj of Agra), Sar Bachan Poetry, Book One
YouTube Video: Rumi - One Whisper of the Beloved:
Prayers
he satyasindhu! aisi kripa karo jisse ki sarv asatya se chhut kar apko hi prapt ho jaun. "O Ocean of Reality! Shower such grace on us that we will be free from all untruth and realize you." (Kabir and Dharamdas/Sandhya Path/Book of Prayer)
he satya! asatya se bachakar sarvada satya ki ohr le javo. "O Ocean of Truth! Save us from the unreal and lead us to the Ultimate Reality." he premmayi! apne kripa kataksh dwara aisi daya karo ki apke satya prem men magn ho jaun."0 Ocean of Love! Through your merciful glance, shower such mercy on us that we will be absorbed in your true love." (Kabir, Sandhya Path/Book of Prayer)
"Awake! O man, 'Regain your Godhead' before it is too late. Most of the time has been frittered away in other pursuits. Make the best use of the time left at your disposal." (Kirpal Singh)
Anurag Sagar of Sant Dharamdas: "Be absorbed in the Shabda of the Satguru and act according to the Master's orders: Keep the attention in Naam, giving up all doership, illusions and dictates of the mind."
Who You Are
"Only he who has full command over his mind can be happy and content. All others, from kings to beggars, who lack control over the mind, are discontented." (Swami Ashutosh Gurusnehi)
"Cleanse the chamber of your heart, so that the Beloved may enter,
Remove all the foreign impressions, so that He can take His seat there." (Param Sant Tulsi Sahib)
"Knowing ourselves and being willing to stand for who we are makes life authentic." (June Singer, A Gnostic Book of Hours)
"At whose behest does the mind think? Who bids the body live? Who makes the tongue speak? Who is that effulgent Being that directs the eye to form and color and the ear to sound?
"The Self is ear of the ear, mind of the mind, speech of the speech. He is also breath of the breath, and eye of the eye. Having given up the false identification of the Self with the senses and the mind, and knowing the Self to be Brahman [God], the wise, on departing the world, become immortal." (Upanishads)
"Him the eye does not see, nor the tongue express, nor the mind grasp. Him we neither know nor are able to teach. Different is he from the known, and different is he from the unknown. So have we heard from the wise." (Upanishads)
"The soul has three coverings: the material, the astral, and the causal. The soul employs these bodies in their respective regions, but its True Home is in the fourth realm, which is beyond these three." (Encyclopaedia of Saints of India, Volume 19: Radhasoami)
"We are conscious entities, we are all attention [surat]; if we control our attention, then we can know the Overself [God]." (Kirpal Singh, The Coming Spiritual Revolution)
Being Open To Learning New Things From A Living Preceptor
"Wisdom is the superpower. It sees to it that we are not seduced into stupid activities. It provides us with an outlook from which to observe compulsive thoughts rather than being drawn into them. It protects us from selfish desires to exploit others or to escape from our responsibilities. This meditative mind maintains a vision for the future -- a vision that can actualize our life-energy into becoming everything it can be." (Ajahn Sumano Bikkhu)
"Without the Saints ... we are tossed about endlessly. Without the merciful, compassionate Master, aeon after aeon we rove." (Param Sant Tulsi Sahib)
"This mysterious path is described in the holy books, but it cannot be found simply by the study of sacred texts. It is found by the grace and guidance of an accomplished teacher." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji)
"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." (Maharshi Mehi)
"Consider for a moment the nature of knowledge you wish to learn. After high school, the student thinks about 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, then 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 (Spirit and matter, bondage and Liberation), and who practices a spiritual path. Such a teacher should have attained direct experience of Truth through spiritual disciplines. This is 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.
"This is the seventh limb of yoga, dhyana (meditation; absorption). When one has become accomplished in dhyana then one attains Samadhi (union)."
-- Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, Harmony of All Religions
"In this material world there are lots of snares and obstacles to keep the soul bound within this physical world. But when the soul goes to the astral plane there are so many temptations and allurements in its way that its fall is almost unavoidable. The allurements in the causal region are correspondingly greater and more subtle than those in the lower regions. Beyond these three planes lie the pure spiritual regions. It is impossible to enter them much less to traverse them without a Master. To traverse this Path is like walking on the razor's edge. There are dangers involved at every step. Thus, the seeker who wishes to unravel the Mysteries of the Ultimate, who wishes to attain True Knowledge and to get united with the Lord will need to seek a perfect Master who is fully acquainted with the Path." (Encyclopaedia of Saints of India, Volume 19: Radhasoami)
"The personal and private instruction in the art of this spiritual practice should be received from a Satguru (an accomplished spiritual Master). Once the technique has been learned, one should practice it regularly and daily according to the instructions given by the Master." (Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy of Liberation)
"When the Surat-disciple meets the Shabd-guru, the path will be traversed." (Param Sant Tulsi Sahib)
Rumi: "When the Master discloses the Mysteries of the human microcosm, your soul and mind will rush in rapture towards the high heavens."
The Basic Ethical Foundation of Sant Mat
"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."
-- The Upanishads
Sant Mat is not a Metaphysical or New Age "Science" but a Bhakti Path - Love and Devotion for the Supreme Being
"In Sant Mat [the Teachings of the Saints], great importance has been attached to Bhakti; it is the sine qua non of Sant Mat. If there are all other attributes but no Bhakti, then there is nothing." (Maharaj Saheb)
"He who carefully considers Reality, and keeps it in his heart, will enjoy eternal bliss, and gain freedom from all sorrows." (Kabir and Dharamdas/Sandhya Path/Book of Prayers)
"All Sants, and Soami Ji Maharaj in particular, have, in their Bani [hymns], laid great stress upon engendering love. The idea is that the task can be accomplished quickly and easily with the help of love. Mere renunciation cannot afford so much advantage, nor can mere comprehension of the Faith confer such a benefit. All activities in the world are going on because of love and desire. If one does not have any feeling of love or he has no interest in a matter, he can do nothing. For the real spiritual welfare of their soul, it therefore behoves all Jivas [souls] to develop true love for the true Supreme Being."
-- Huzur Maharaj
The surat regularly engages in spiritual practices with patience and calm.
Cherishing love and yearning within, she comes to the Guru's Abode.
On hearing Guru's instructions, she feels extremely delighted and daily augments her love for Him.
Understanding the inner secrets from Guru, she applies her Surat to Shabd.
By performing Simran [repeating God's Name], she undergoes internal purification. In Dhyan, she has Darshan [Vision] of Guru's form.
Illumination within goes on increasing day by day and Shabd [inner Sound] creates greater and greater tumult.
She regularly makes spiritual endeavours with patience and calm. She awakens love within her with yearning at heart.
She hears the Ringing of the Bell, the blowing of the Conch, the beating of the Drum, the tuneful music of the Violin and the melodious note of the Flute.
Hearing the Sound of the Bin (Harp), she gets intoxicated and reaches the Abode of Sat Purush.
Relying upon the grace and mercy of Radhasoami, she proceeds further and repairs to her True Home.
-- Huzur Maharaj, Prem Bani Radhasoami, Volume Two
Simran - Manas Jap - the Bhakti Practice of the Remembrance of God
Kabir says: "Keep on doing your work. Keep on reciting God's name, and you will live pleasantly in the world."
Only the day spent
In repetition of the Lord's Name
Is reckoned fruitful
In the court of the Lord.
He who is absorbed in the Name,
The Lord is always with him
As his companion. (Guru Kabir)
Kabir: Recite God's Name!
Realize the Absolute!
Understand His indescribable glory!
God's grace showered on you
Will awaken you from the illusory world.
satyanam satyanam soham guru raam, satyanam satyanam soham guru ram -- The Eternal Name is God, and God is the Eternal Guru dwelling in me. (Kabir and Dharamdas/Sandhya Path/Book of Prayers)
Experiencing, Seeing, Hearing, Knowing For One's Self
"You can't read your way to enlightenment." (Stephan Hoeller)
Knowledge is like a child of all books. Love is the mother of all books, for God is Love and the soul, being of the same essence as the Lord, is also Love. (Kirpal Singh)
"Whatever little is possible, do meditation everyday. But never ever give up or discontinue meditation. You will definitely meet with success." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)
sukh pawai guru dhyan te, thir bhaya man mor; nirkho apa saban men, kewal nand kishor - Meditation on God rewards you with bliss and a tranquil mind. See yourself in all beings, and in all beings see only God. (Kabir and Dharamdas/Sandhya Path/Book of Prayers)
prem jagawai viraha ko, viraha jagawai piv; piv jagawai jiv ko, vahi jiv vahi piv. Love bestirs the heart of the separated lover for God, and God responds by enlightening him. He then realizes that the soul and God are one. (Kabir and Dharamdas/Sandhya Path/Book of Prayers)
Close Your Eyes And See
"Shut your eyes and change to and wake another way of seeing, which everyone has but few use." (Plotinus)
Sant Tulsi Sahib: "Behold the Cosmos within, through your astral eye. When that eye is opened, everything stands revealed."
Saint Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, India: "My Master has given to me knowledge of the Self. Time and again my soul ascends to celestial regions. Traversing the regions within, I beheld the Brahmand [Cosmos]."
"When we see darkness with our eyes closed, we are in the realm of death and re-birth [we are unaware 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 transcend the web of death. It is not possible that we can remain in darkness and be free from the net of birth and death. Having achieved inner Light we can be liberated from the cycle of birth and death." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji)
"If one is whole, one will be filled with Light, but if one is divided, one will be filled with darkness." (Yeshua, Gospel of Thomas)
Cosmic Music That Will Take You Home
satya purush chowthe pad basa, santan ka wahan sada nivasa,
so ghar darsaya guru pure, bin baje tahan achraj ture--
God dwells in the Fourth State (Superconscious), and that is where the liberated Saints always dwell through meditation. The Perfect Guru has shown that Abode where, without musical instruments, the miraculous Divine Music (Anahad Nad) plays. (Kabir and Dharamdas/Sandhya Path/Book of Prayers)
"When one begins to hear Shabd, one's mind is brought under control. By no other means will it come round." (Sar Bachan Poetry of Soami Ji Maharaj)
Pierce through the six chakras, and ascend
upwards;
Listen to the Melody Divine arising there.
Through the Melody, the turbulent mind is
quelled;
Realize that only thus is thy practice made
fruitful.
-- Sant Namdev (from the Shri Namdev Gatha)
"So, physics are nothing but the laws of harmonies on a string. Chemistry is nothing but the melodies you can play on vibrating strings. And the mind of God, the mind of God that Einstein worked on for the last 30 years of his life, the mind of God would be cosmic music. Cosmic music resonating through 11 dimensional hyperspace." - Michio Kaku
"There is not a cubic millimeter of space in existence which is not filled with this Music. Sweeter and sweeter its heavenly strains vibrate through every living being, great or small, from world to world, and from universe to universe. Its life-giving melodies may not be consciously heard by those who are not trained to catch them, but there is not one living being in all creation which does not derive its life from this Current." (Julian P. Johnson)
"It is the highest duty of every individual to acquire experiential Knowledge of this Shabd, and to investigate or explore the Origin or Source from where this Shabd flows out". (Baba Devi Sahab)
"Communion of the spirit with Shabd or Sound consists in (1) listening to the Shabd, (2) being drawn up into the Shabd Current and (3) visiting the higher region from where that particular Shabd comes. These are the three phases of one and the same phenomenon. If one listens to the real Shabd, one is necessarily drawn up into the Shabd Current and towards the higher region from where the Shabd comes." (Maharaj Saheb)
Anurag Sagar of Sant Dharamdas: "As long as the soul remains in the body, practice the Path of Shabda [meditation on the Sound Current]."
"You should listen attentively to the reverberating Divine Sound. The celestial Sound is coming to take you back to the Source." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)
age Alakh Purush darbara, dekha jaye surat se nyara,
tis par Agam Lok ek nyara, sant surati koi karat vichara --
As you advance, there is the Invisible God's royal court that can be seen in unique meditation. There is the unfathomable and marvelous Abode that Saints in meditation can contemplate. (Kabir and Dharamdas/Sandhya Path/Book of Prayers)
"Ascending beyond or transcending myriads of sounds, try to identify and tune in to the Quintessential Unstruck Melody, called "Saar Shabd" or "Anaahat Naad" which alone is capable of taking you and merging you into oneness with the Supreme Lord; this is the ultimate deliverance, emancipation or liberation." (Couplet of Swami Sant Sevi Ji)
God - Anadi Anami Purush, is Beyond Light and Sound
"The Yoga of Sound must be practiced in order to attain the Nameless State (God, Anami, Anadi Purush)." (Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy of Liberation)
tahan se darse atal atiri, adbhut Satguru mahal sawara, surat hui Sat karman gami, Purush Anami jai samani -- From there you will see the Immovable Palace, where the immortal Satguru dwells. When your karmas and meditation harmonize, then you will merge with the Nameless God. (Kabir and Dharamdas/Sandhya Path/Book of Prayers)
