Love Opens a Portal to God -- Light and Sound on the Path -- e-Newsletter/Blog of Spiritual Quotes & Satsang Discourses
Huzur Baba Sawan Singh: "Those who get this experience of the presence of the Lord need no arguments to convince them of God's existence."
"Love is that power that makes God break His own laws in order to serve the devotee. Love is that meditation or method that makes the impossible possible. That which is harsh becomes gentle; the enemy becomes friend; the weak become strong; the concealed becomes revealed. Even though it is said that it takes many lifetimes to realize the Divine, if a devotee performs sadhana [meditation practice] with true, unwavering devotion, then the Divine Will manifest at that moment." (Swami Vyasanand)
"The highest pursuit in life that can take away worries, afflictions, disillusions and unhappiness is not understood by most. It is important to know the following: what path to practice, whom to follow, what to avoid, whom to listen to, whom to associate with, whose advice to adhere to, etc..." (Swami Vyasanand)
"Today’s karmas become the fate of tomorrow. According to our last life actions, our mental tendencies are formed in this life. Because of our pure actions we will have the desire to seek the association of Sants and to meditate." (Swami Vyasanand)
"Love is that meditation or method that makes the impossible possible. That which is harsh becomes gentle; the enemy becomes friend; the weak become strong; the concealed becomes revealed. Even though it is said that it takes many lifetimes to realize the Divine, if a devotee performs sadhana [meditation practice] with true, unwavering devotion, then the Divine will manifest at that moment." (Swami Vyasanand)
Knowing Ourselves As Soul, Our Original Nature
Spirituality is more "caught than taught", if you will. Our own receptivity is part of it. The rest is being influenced by others on the path. Being initiated into the Mysteries by a living master provides the spiritual charge of the teacher as well as the imparting of the techniques. Meditating with others on the path is a powerful thing also. "Where two or three are gathered", there's a group energy, especially for those on the path of inner Light and Sound meditation. Meditating with others who see and hear helps -- as if their seeing and hearing opens us up to the same inner landscape too.
One of the first inner Sounds souls might encounter is the astral bell, a kind of ringing that goes on forever and never stops. An unstruck bell that continuously reverberates. Faintly, one might partially hear the louder aspects of it and interpret that they are hearing some kind of celestial wind chimes perhaps.
The Sound is always there but is more likely to be noticed during the quietude of the night, during meditation, or perhaps during a time of trauma. It is a source of protection from negative powers, can erase some karma, altering one's destiny, putting one on a higher path. The Word or Sound Current of Grace from Above busts into matrix worlds of time and space to free souls from illusion.
Meditation is so essential. For those following the Path of the Masters it's simply about focusing attention on that neglected spiritual aspect. The soul is already in heaven (Sach Khand) but doesn't know it, doesn't experience it, like a pearl embedded in several muddy layers of mind and matter, with it's original nature obscured. We can pay attention to that other aspect -- the soul -- beyond mind and the world of the five senses. The third eye, single eye, or wisdom eye is the portal to inner space.
When we close our eyes, it's as if we're standing on a shoreline of darkness. Further out and above however is a vast ocean and starry mystic sky. Beyond the darkness and the silence is uncreated Light and Sound, levels and realms along a tunnel of ascension.
Some Almost Understood, But Without a Living School of Spirituality and Master-Teacher, Clarity of Vision is Never Reached and Ideals are Soon Forgotten
Some of the musicians of the 60's got very close to the realms of Bhakti, Light and Sound. A harmonic convergence between culture and spirituality, reminding me of that film Awakenings with Robin Williams. A brief cultural moment of greater awareness, as if on the verge of something wonderful... and then reverting back to unconsciousness again. And Kirpal Singh's books were even in the bibliography of Be Here Now, for those few who happened to notice.
"What do you see when you turn out the light? I can't tell you, but I know it's mine." -- lyrics, "With A Little Help From My Friends", Beatles
"Two notes of the chord, that's our full scope,
But to reach the chord is our life's hope,
And to name the chord is important to some,
So they give a word and the word is Om."
-- lyrics, The Word, Moody Blues
"And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last."
-- lyrics, Stairway to Heaven, Led Zep
"On a cloud of sound I drift in the night
Any place it goes is right
Goes far, flies near
To the stars away from here...
Close your eyes now
Look inside now
Let the sound
Take you away."
-- lyrics from "Magic Carpet Ride," Steppenwolf
Without Love You Ain't Nothing, Without Love
"You can be a righteous rocker, you can be a holy roller
You could be most anything,
You could be a Leon Russell, or a super muscle,
You could be a corporate king,
You could be a wealthy man from Texas, or a witch with
heavy hexes,
But without love, you ain't nothing without love
Without love you ain't nothing, without love."
(lyrics from Larry Norman's song, "Without Love You Ain't Nothing")
On this Path of the Masters there are books that represent the "science of the esoteric", providing technical details about subtle bodies, inner regions, karma, meditation practice, and so on. And there is also the poetic side expressing the heart of mysticism. In English, the words of many bhajans and banis (hymns) of Saints (Sants) have become available. They read like poetry or psalms. Rumi poetry is similar. These Mystics of the East provide very beautiful and bhakti devotional teachings -- the Way of the Lover and the Beloved. There are the compositions of Kabir, the Guru Granth, Namdev, Ravidas, Dadu, Mirabai, Dayabai, Sahjo Bai, Tulsi Das, Paltoo Sahib, Surdas, Tukaram -- so many great souls. These are such priceless sources of inspiration. It's absolutely essential for the initiate/satsangi to be in touch with the bhakti side of the path.
"I tried to find Him on the Christian cross, but He was not there;
I went to the temple of the Hindus and to the old pagodas,
but I could not find a trace of Him anywhere...
I searched on the mountains and in the valleys
but neither in the heights nor in the depths was I able to find Him.
I went to the Ka'bah in Mecca, but He was not there either...
I questioned the scholars and philosophers but He was beyond their understanding...
Then I looked into my heart and it was there
where He dwelled that I saw Him,
He was nowhere else to be found."
-- Rumi
"I pray to meet Thee Beloved, when will Thou meet Thy humble
maid, Mira? As the dawn in beauty breaks, I move out, every day,
to seek Thee! Ages have I spent in quest of Thee, Beloved!"
"Come and end my grief, Beloved. Come and bring joy to my
heart. You know my inmost secret; then look at me with eyes of
love, Your slave for countless lives since the dawn of time."
-- Sant Mira Bai
"The Vaishnava Saints have depicted God as the Lover and the Bhakta as the Beloved in their devotional songs. Another popular relation between Bhagan [God] and Bhakta [Devotee, Lover, Premie] is that of the Master and the servant, but the more favorite relation developed and strengthened by the Alvars, is that of the husband and wife, of lover and Beloved. Bhagwan is always described as the lover with pure, selfless, and unending love." (Sant Ravidas and His Contemporaries, R. Chandra and K.L. Chanchreek)
Come Sail Away!
"Whose soul is attached to the Word, revels
ever in cosmic flight
Whose soul is attached to the Word, revels
ever in cosmic flight;
Revels ever in cosmic flight, and realizing the
Lord, plays with Him.
The mystery of the Inaccessible and the secret
of the scriptures he unravels:
He reaches his Home within and its Essence
he comes to know;
In the lotus feet of the Beloved he sees
his true destination.
The happily married woman rejoices with her
Spouse every moment, O Tulsi,
For her soul is attached to the Word, and
revels ever in cosmic flight."
-- Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras
"A true chela (disciple, student) is the one whose Surat or spiritual force is emerging and is a true lover of the Supreme Father." (Soamiji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry, Volume I)
"Sat Purush Radhasoami Dayal [Original Supreme Being, Compassionate Lord of the Soul] is extremely gracious and merciful. In every way, He protects and takes care of him who has sincerely surrendered himself to Him. He will never forsake him until He has taken him to Dayal Desh [Compassionate Realm]. Hence, those, who have come under His care and joined His Satsang, should entertain firm faith that Radhasoami Dayal would certainly complete their task one day. As long as they do not repair to their Original Abode, He will be with them and protect and look after them in every way and enable them to advance in their Parmarth [spirituality]." (Huzur Maharaj, Prem Patra Radhasoami, Book II)
The Essential Teaching
"In spite of the variants in their origins, the goal of Sants is one: realization of the Divine and the attainment of the state of absolute joy and peace. Having considered the perennial wisdom found in their teachings, we can say with certainty that the underlying teachings of Sants are essentially in agreement.The question arises: What is this essential teaching? The answer is: The Divine Reality is one and the path to realize that Reality is within each of us. The path is not found in the nine gates (i.e. through the sensory organs) of the body but only through the tenth gate (the third eye or the spiritual eye). The body cannot tread this path -- only the inner consciousness along with the mind, intellect, and ego principle can travel this path. However, during the last and final stages of the inner spiritual path, the conscious soul alone journeys and reaches the Divine. This path is very subtle. Sant Mehi described it as being, “more subtle than even the point of the needle.” Sants unanimously agree that the path to the Divine can be taken up by any human being belonging to any caste, social status, gender, ethnicity or country."
-- Swami Vyasanand, The Inward Journey of the Soul
"Sant Mat is not the Path of information. This is the Path of Transformation." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)
"Blessed are the souls who in today's materialistic world have an inclination towards spirituality." (Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj)
Seven Stages of Mystic Ascension to Heaven According to Sant Mat
1. Praise or Bhakti (singing praises: banis, bhajans, kirtans, odes, psalms, hymns);
2. Prayer (Communion With God -- Conversations With God);
3. Manas Japa (Simran, "Praying Without Ceasing", Mentally Repeating/Chanting the Name or Names of God -- Mantra -- the First Stage of Meditation);
4. Manas Dhyana (Visualizing the Form of the Master* -- the Second Stage of Meditation);
5. Dristi Sadhana (Seeing Inner Light at the Third Eye Center -- the Third Stage of Meditation);
6. Nada Sadhana (Hearing the Inner Sounds -- Surat Shabd Yoga -- the Fourth Stage of Meditation);
7. Reaching Kaivalya: Oneness with Soundlessness, the Nameless One (ANAMI), the Formless Supreme Being, Supreme State, the Ocean of Love (beyond all forms, lights and sounds) -- the Fifth Stage of Meditation -- the Isht or Goal;
Couplets About Meditation Practice, By Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj
"Begin meditation with internally chanting or repeating the Guru-mantra-incantation (the charged words given by the Guru). And then try to visualize the radiant form or image of the Satguru in the still darkness of the inner sky (with eyes closed)*. Follow that with focusing your attention at the seat of the soul within, i.e. at the Third Eye or the Inner Eye or the Til Dwaar, by making the two streams of consciousness in your two eyes converge in a Point."
"When the two currents of consciousness meet in a Point, Divine Light appears within. Then, practice Surat Shabd Yoga (Yoga of Divine Sound) i.e., try to shift your attention to listening to the Divine Sounds or myriads of melodies (Anahad Naad) ringing inside. Listening to the Divine Sound destroys all the agitations and fickleness of the mind."
"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 emancipation or liberation."
*NOTE: "In Kali Yuga, no spiritual activity would be successfully performed except the contemplation of the Swarup (Form) of the Sat Guru, Simran of Naam (Repetition of the Holy Name) and Dhyan of Naam (contemplation of the Holy Name) [Meditation of the Inner Light and Sound]." ("Last Words of Soami Ji Maharaj", Agra)
-- Sant Mat Spirituality: The Teachings of Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj
NOTE: To see and enjoy all the content as you're scrolling below, including photos, if you're viewing this via email, always click: "Display Images", or "Show Images".
A Satsang Without Walls: This is the FEBRUARY 25th, 2017 Sant Mat Spirituality and Meditation Satsang Newsletter (Blog, Digest, Document, E-Booklet,) of much poetry and prose -- words of light and love from various spiritual Masters, spiritual classics or scriptures. Enjoy all of the readings below. May they provide you with some helpful satsang reading material wherever you are in the world, near or far, and lead to a further in-depth exploration of the teachings of the Masters, including from lesser-known or newly translated material you may not have encountered before in English.
This Sant Mat Radhasoami E-Newsletter is dedicated to the Path of the Masters (Sant Satgurus of the Past, the Living Present, and Future), and to the Supreme Being, the Lord of the Soul Who is the Ocean of Love and All-Consciousness, and explores the poetry, prose, spiritual discourses, books, scriptures, letters, prayers, ahimsa ethics, audio, videos, philosophy, cosmology, gnosticism, meditation, mysticism, and history of the Masters from a traditional Indian perspective that's non-sectarian, and might also include quotes from various world religions in harmony with the Way of the Saints, the Path of the Masters and Mystics.
NOTE: This newsletter is for educational purposes only. Fair Use of Quotations: "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research..."
NOTE: This newsletter is supportive of, The Murar Declaration -- the universal principles of peace, affection, harmony and cooperation as outlined at the Sant Mat conclave known as Spircon 2010, a historic event held in Agra attended by the leadership and representatives of several branches of Sant Mat & Radhasoami lineages.
NOTE: The Usage of the Term "Sant Mat": "Sant Mat" means: "The Teachings ('Mat') of the Saints or Sages" or "Path of the Masters". In India it's common knowledge that the term "Sant Mat" was coined or adapted by Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras during the 19th Century. "Sant Mat" was adopted and popularized by Tulsi Sahib as a new name for this spiritual path or genre of mysticism, but the Sant tradition, with its many guru-lineages or branches, is a spiritual movement that dates back many centuries to ancient India.
"What's the use of receiving this human form if we do not serve others in thought, word, and deed. If we hold our thoughts only on worldly material things and refuse to think of that which is higher and more subtle, then our faith in the Transcendental will inevitably diminish." ("Quintessence of Yoga: Secret of All Success", a Sant Mat publication)
* The ARCHIVE of all past posts/articles/blogs is located here, and includes a search engine:
NOTE: If you're reading this at Yahoo Groups and it's truncated, which sometimes happens, go to the blog archive linked above to read the contents of the post in full.
* For Daily Spiritual Quotes/Quote of the Day @ Facebook, See the Sant Mat Radhasoami Page:
"We usher in a new era, Sat Yuga -- the Age of Truth." (Universal Proclamation)
Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts -- Spiritual Awakening Radio @ Youtube and HealthyLife.Net -- the Positive Talk Radio Network
* ARCHIVE OF PODCASTS @ YOUTUBE:
* SPIRITUAL AWAKENING RADIO -- Many Podcasts Free and Available Online -- A Satsang Without Walls -- Stream and/or Download:
Subjects include: The Path of the Masters, Inner Light and Sound Meditation, Spirituality, Love (Bhakti), Compassion, Non-Violence, Peace, Being Vegan/Vegetarian, Gnostic Gospels, Rare Spiritual Classics, Saints and Mystics, World Scriptures, Sacred Texts, Poetry and Prose:
3/28/2017 (Upcoming) You Are Not Alone;
3/23/2017 (Upcoming) Ascension of the Soul, Part 6: Esoteric Teachings -- Special Satsang;
3/21/2017 (Upcoming) Ascension of the Soul, Part 5: God and the Highest Heavens;
3/14/2017 (Upcoming) Ascension of the Soul, Part 4: Whirlpool Vortex to the 5th Heaven;
3/7/2017 (Upcoming) Ascension of the Soul, Part 3: The Third Heaven and the Great Void;
1/27/2017 (Upcoming) Ascension of the Soul, Part 2: The Second Heaven/Causal Plane;
2/21/2017 Ascension of the Soul, Part 1: Meditation Practice and the Astral Plane;
2/14/2017 Origins of Sant Mat, Part 5: Spiritual Readings from the Family Tree of Saints;
2/7/2017 Origins of Sant Mat, Part 4: The Five Names and Kabir Panth Connection;
1/31/2017 Origins of Sant Mat, Part 3: Sant Dariya Sahib of Bihar;
1/24/2017 Origins of Sant Mat, Part 2: The Mystery of Tulsi Sahib's Guru;
1/17/2017 Origins of Sant Mat, Part 1: The Sant Tradition of India;
1/10/2017 The Yoga of Sound: Part 5: Sant Mat, The Path of the Masters;
1/3/2017 The Yoga of Sound, Part 4: Hinduism and the Radhasoami Faith;
12/27/2016 The Yoga of Sound, Part 3: Sufism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Kabir Panth;
12/20/2016 The Yoga of Sound, Part 2: Christianity and Gnosticism;
12/13/2016 The Yoga of Sound, Part 1: Buddhism and the Bahai Faith;
12/6/2016 The Gospel of Thomas and Eastern Christianity;
Without Spiritual Sight -- Mystic Verses of Sant Paltu Sahib
When the enlightened come to this world, very few believe them. It is difficult for us to see beyond religion, with its rituals and ceremonies, and thus we remain in darkness. Sant Paltu Sahib said:
"In the colony of the blind,
a man with sight arrived.
A man with sight arrived,
and all the blind came out to greet him.
They collected around him and cried,
"Put out your eyes, O stranger, and live as we do!"
Then they deliberated and declared him blind,
as they themselves were.
Where millions are blind,
what can one person with sight do?
No one listens to him and he feels helpless.
O Paltu, nobody considers what he has to say.
In the colony of the blind,
a man with sight arrived."
Wake Up From the Sleep of the Aeons and Eons
"Wake, 0 traveler, wherefore dost thou sleep?
The night has already ended.
Whosoever sleeps, loses all; whosoever wakes,
is blessed with great good fortune.
One who has forgotten the Master and the secret of his Primal Home,
He struts about in the world, unfortunate that he is.
Worldly attachments hold him fast in their grip.
Know thou the essence of human birth and
lose not this golden opportunity;
Break all thy shackles and get deliverance from the ceaseless cycle
of birth and death.
Swim across this turbulent ocean, 0 Tulsi.
Whosoever has concentrated his soul has
been freed from the fear of Death.
She [the soul] has ascended the Firmament with force,
and has found refuge at the feet of the Lord.
She has taken abode in the Infinite Region and has attained union
with the Beloved."
-- Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, India, Book of Shabdavali)
Navigating the Ocean of Samsara, the World of Changes
"The ocean of existence is unfathomably vast and without any port of safety. It cannot be crossed -- If you meet the Satguru, the boatman, then only will you get across and reach your Abode. Listen, O friend! Great is the status of Sants. In that region of Sants there is neither sound nor any form. It is beyond Sunn [the void] and Maha-sunn [the great void]. Says Tulsi, he knows the True Name of the Abode of the August, Nameless and Infinite Being." (Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, Book of Shabdavali)
The Portal to the Heavens -- The Doors of Gnosis
"People, where are you rushing, so intoxicated and having so fully drunk the strong wine of reasoning unaccompanied by acquaintance? You cannot hold it; already you are about to throw it up. Stop, get sober! Look up with the eyes of the mind -- and if you cannot all do so, at least those of you who can! For the imperfection that comes from unacquaintance is flooding the entire earth, corrupting the soul along with the body that encloses it and preventing it from putting in at the Haven of Safety. So do not be swept away by the main current! Rather, you who can must avail yourselves of a counter-current, take to the Haven of Safety, put in there, and look for a leader to show you the way to the Doors of Gnosis (Acquaintance), where there is bright Light, pure from darkness; where no one is intoxicated, but all are sober, fixing their eyes on that Being who wills to be seen -- but mentally, for that Being cannot be heard or told of or seen by eyes, only by the mind’s eye [the eye of the soul]." (Hermetic Tractate VII, Corpus Hermeticum: "The Greatest Human Evil is Unacquaintance With God", Bentley Layton translation in, "The Gnostic Scriptures")
"The Supreme Being has endowed every human being with three kinds of powers or faculties:
(1) powers pertaining to the body and the senses;
(2) powers pertaining to learning, intellect and the mind;
(3) powers pertaining to the Spirit or Atma [spiritual energy, power of the Spirit or Soul].
"But these faculties cannot manifest themselves until strenuous and sincere efforts are made to develop them. He who according to his own inclination, pays attention to the development and use of any of these faculties has first to find its teacher and to learn from him to develop it by working hard at it. Gradually he gets the reward of his labor."
-- Huzur Maharaj Rai Saligram, Prem Patra Radhasoami, Volume I, from Discourse 26
Above: 2017 photo of the newly renovated Moradabad ashram -- Baba Devi Sahab's Sant Mat Ashram
GOD is the Creator of Inner Light and Sound Yoga (Surat Shabd Meditation)
"To attain liberation or jiva mukti, 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 Sahib of Moradabad
Signs of an Enlightened Person
"The mark of an enlightened person is that he is very absorbed in God. He hears the Word from a heavenly voice. He knows that God is Formless and in no need of aid, and he teaches this to others, but he does not wish himself to be called a god.
"He worships the Formless God and teaches others to worship Him, but he does not wish to be worshiped himself. He is always in meditation, and is free from desires. He drinks of the Ocean of Nectar, and quenches his spiritual thirst. He hastens to the Abode of Love, alone and unattached."
-- Eternal Name of God, Sandhya Path/Book of Prayers (Dharamdasi Kabir text)
Love for the Supreme Being, a Boundless Ocean of Spirit -- Section 48 -- Radhasoami Mat Prakash by Huzur Maharaj
108. This [meditation] 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 practise Surat Shabd Yoga [inner Light and Sound meditation] 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 springs 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 man fully of pure love thinks or does is all wisdom, while the thoughts and works of worldly wise men 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 lead 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 love 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 kindreds, associates and neighbors; while pure and sacred love for the Supreme Being creates in the heart humility, meekness and an affectionate regard for kindreds, neighbors and humanity in general.
7. Pure and holy love is always ready to spend (regardless) 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 the light of Heavenly Grace and Mercy.
13. 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, and then all menial or 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.
-- Huzur Maharaj Rai Saligram Bahadur, Radhasoami Mat Prakash
The Way Forward is Accessing the Dimensions Within You
"To approach the Source of Truth one must first approach and catch its ray or Spirit-Current and then follow and trace its course back to its Source, the Truth of Truths. It is well said by some philosopher, 'First know thyself (Spirit or Truth) and then know thy God (the Source of Spirits, the Truth of Truths).' The highway to reach the Truth and thence its Source, or the Truth of Truths, lies within the microcosm or the human body." (Huzur Maharaj Rai Saligram Bahadur, Radhasoami Mat Prakash)
Like a Fish Swimming Upstream, Riding the Current of inner Light and Sound in Meditation
"Listen to the Sound that issues forth from the Light. It is this Internal Music which will numb the body and allow the consciousness to leave its ordinary dwelling. By riding this Current of Light and Sound [in meditation], like a fish going upstream, the soul will be able to go back to its original home". (Yogani Mataji)
"When in thought, word and deed
the One alone abides within,
God then is manifest to such a one;
all else is empty talk, O Dadu."
-- Sant Dadu Dayal
Kirpal Singh: "Be regular and lovingly devoted to your holy meditations, as that is the central pivot around which the whole sacred teaching revolves and therein an all around development of the soul is granted."
Taking the Direct Route We Leave the Lower Centers Alone and Rise Above
"The RADHASOAMI Faith leaves the lower plane centres all alone and advises ascension into the regions above where there is ‘the confluence of humanity and Divinity’ within the human body."* [* Third Eye Center and Sahas-dal-kanwal (Thousand-petalled Lotus)]
"The plane of spirit is beyond the plane of mentality and physicality. It is there that the spirit rules supreme."
"Spirit pervades all. In the spiritual realm it is paramount. That is the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is neither in the realm of mind nor of matter. It is there where mind and matter do not go. It is beyond their reach."
"Spirit, Mind and matter have their respective valuation in their respective spheres, but the most Supreme of all is the Spirit."
-- Shiv Brat Lal, Light on Ananda Yoga
The Goal of Meditation in Sant Mat Mysticism is having "direct knowledge and realization of one's own Essential Nature as well as direct knowledge and realization of the Supreme Sovereign [God]." (Maharshi Mehi Paramhans)
"Through the practice of meditation one can progressively move the consciousness inward within oneself. In the beginning, the practice of subtle meditation is difficult to accomplish owing to its unfamiliarity. Through the initial practice of Manas Japa ([simran] repetition of mantra), the mind begins to focus. Then one progresses to the subtler practice of Manas Dhyan (the form of deity) and prepares for the subtle meditation. Subsequently, through Drshti Yoga [Inner Light Meditation] one practices one-pointedness. Finally, through the practice of Surat Shabda Yoga (the Yoga of Sound [Meditation]) the transcending of all the realms is achieved.
"In conclusion, as has been stated the microcosm and macrocosm are interconnected as they are completely permeated by the realms described above. Likewise, to go beyond all the realms is to go beyond all concealments." (Maharshi Mehi Paramhans, Philosophy of Liberation)
Excerpt on the Recommended Daily Meditation Practice from, Philosophy of Liberation
"A comfortable asana (pose of sitting or posture) of keeping the head, neck and trunk straight and steady is a must for meditation. Without the ability to sit in such a steady posture for prolonged periods, meditation cannot be practiced.
"Meditation should be practiced being alert, without being drowsy, shutting the eyes comfortably and without turning the eyeballs or pressing them in any way.
"The practice of meditation should be an essential part of the practitioner's daily routine. The preferred time of meditation is Brahma-Muhurta (very early in the morning: 3:00 A.M.). [The Sikhs call this peek spiritual time of the morning 'Amrit Veela', the Hour of Elixir.] Likewise one should meditate at mid-morning and then again in the evening time. While falling asleep, one should also engage his or her mind in meditation." (Maharshi Mehi Paramhans)
Step One: Simran -- Repeat God's Name or Names
This spiritual exercise of repeating God’s Name and remembering God (Simran) helps to:
1) uplift our day, to bring some of the heaven and bliss of meditation into the world around us;
2) is a way to remember in a world of forgetfulness;
3) to remain awake in a world of spiritual slumber;
4) to abide in Truth; and
5) to no longer be dominated by illusion, but to be who we really are wherever we go, within, and without.
"Simran done with faith
produces a unique feeling in the heart.
By doing Simran
a feeling of bliss and divine influence fills the heart.
This state is produced sooner or later,
according to the individual devotee’s sanskaras
[predominating nature, the result of past karmic impressions]."
(Sant Kirpal Singh, Philosophy of the Masters)
The Day That Counts is the Day That Includes the Repetition of God's Name(s)
"Simran" is the spiritual exercise of remembering God, choosing to become centered in God, by repeating a name or names of God. It is a key practice of the masters and mystics. On the Path of the Masters, simran, also known as manas jap (the mental repetition of sacred names), is how one begins daily meditation practice. The repeating of a name or names of God is also done during opportune moments throughout the day and night. According to the teachings of the masters, simran/manas jap (mentally chanting names in your mind with the "tongue of thought") is not intended to be a dry mantra practice. Done correctly and most effectively, simran is performed with a spirit of love (bhakti), as if one is calling out to one's Beloved:
"If the person repeats the name with love, distress is dissolved and one lives in happiness." (Sant Tulsi Das)
"The practitioner who does Jap [simran] sitting in a secluded place with the right method and immense love [bhakti] becomes an excellent devotee." (Shri Swami Bhagirath Baba)
"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.
The day spent in repetition
Alone counts in the Lord's court.
Ceaselessly burns the lamp of Maya,
And men and gods, like moths,
Rush blindly into its flames.
Having attained the state
Of poise and detachment,
Kabir, the Lord's slave,
Has swum across the ocean
And reached the haven."
-- Guru Kabir, from the Kabir Granthavali
Kabir Says: "Repeat the Mantra of God’s Name" ("Raam Naam Bhaju")
1. Recite God’s name*, O man! Recite God’s name. Look deeply into your mind and be aware.
2. You have collected a great deal of wealth and have safely buried (secured) it. But you will leave the
world empty-handed.
3. Your grandfather, great-grandfather, and great great grandfather possessed land and pots (valuable
articles).
4. Why did they leave these and go? Are you not aware, or are your inner eyes (perception) blind?
5. The world is engaged in a futile business. In the end no one stands by you, and you depart alone.
6. Birth and death are transient and take no time. They are like the shadows of passing clouds.
7. What is there to boast about relatives, lineage, clan and family when all are transient?
8. Kabir says that without devotion to God’s name all of your cleverness drowned.
(Kahara # 5 of The Complete Bijak of Kabir, Dr. Jagessar Das translation)
______
*NOTE:
Recite God’s name ("Raam naam bhaju"): A universal saying of all the Sants of India’s Sant tradition is: “Repeat God’s Name.” The name or names of God one uses in meditation are given to you by your living master at the time of your initiation into the meditation practice. The repetition of Divine names is the first step of meditation practice on the Path of the Masters. This practice of the mantra of God’s name or names is also called Simran, meaning Remembrance. Zikhr, a Sufi term, has the same meaning as Simran: remembering God by repeating his name. This centering practice at the heart of Sant Mat is also called Manas Jap, meaning, a mental repetition of sacred names -- one chants these names mentally, "with the tongue of thought". Christian mysticism had a similar practice called the Prayer of the Name, and (also speaking in the past-tense) the Gnostic tradition of the early centuries C.E. also had a nearly identical practice, as the Gnostic texts show many examples of sacred names corresponding with inner heavenly regions.
"He bears a thousand Names, call on Him by any;
summon Him to the assembly of your thoughts and
adore Him. Suffuse your life-blood with His Name,
and fix Him in your soul. You surely will meet Him,
just let your soul soar, He is close to you,
just call for Him.” (Darshan Singh, from "Manzil-e Noor")
"And I will bring forth in shining Light
those who have loved my holy Name
and I will seat each on a Throne of Honor!"
(The Book of Noah)
"Controlling the agitations of the mind, she [the soul, suratia,] performs Simran [repetition of the sacred name] of RADHASOAMI with love and affection. She enshrines in her heart the discourses delivered in satsang. Her doubts are thus dispelled. As she performs Dhyan [inner Light meditation], she witnesses refulgence within of various colors... Radhasoami Dayal [compassionate Lord of the Soul], in His grace and mercy, has taught her the ways of Bhakti [love, devotion]." (Huzur Maharaj, Prem Bani Radhasoami, Volume II)
"As to any exercises which might help you, until the time of your initiation, I can only suggest at this time that you may sit in meditation, in a quiet place, like your own bedroom or some room as secluded as possible, and with spine and body erect, in a comfortable position, fix all the attention at the center just back of the two eyes, and slowly repeat the word RADHASOAMI ("Ra-Dha-Swam-E"), fixing the mind on the Supreme Being who is your Supreme Father." -- Hazur Baba Sawan Singh
Why We Repeat Sacred Names Mentally During Meditation Practice Instead of Out Loud
"Sants state upanshu (murmuring) japa has ten times qualitatively more focusing power than Vacaka (loud) japa. Svasa japa (breath recitation) yields a hundred times more concentration than upanshu. Manas (mental) japa on the other hand creates one thousand times more concentration than svasa japa. Mental japa is on the same platform as meditation. Therefore, efficiency of mantra is determined by the intensity of concentration.
"Manas Japa [Simran, Zikhr]: This involves repetition of the mantra internally and mentally. In this method neither the tongue nor lips move. The breath is not used, nor rosary or any other means of counting. Only through the mind is the mantra recited. This japa or repetition is the essence of other mantra techniques. It is a form of meditation." (Swami Vyasanand Ji Maharaj, The Inward Journey of the Soul)
Cultivating Purity of Body and Mind -- Necessary Observances on the Path of the Masters
"According to Maharshi Mehi, 'There are a number of necessary observances required to tread the spiritual path.'
"Observances: Complete faith in God, determination to realize the Divine within, service to the master, satsang (association of the Sants and the study of scriptures), and steadfast meditation.
"Prohibitions: Use of intoxicants, practice of adultery, lying, violence (causing suffering to other beings, eating the flesh of animals), and stealing.
"According to the Srimad Bhagavata Purana, truth, compassion, austerity, purity, tolerance, discernment, control of the mind and senses, non-violence, sensory control, detachment, self-study, simplicity, contentment, and detachment from desires are all essential codes of conduct for the practitioner on this path. This text also prescribes practices, including listening to teachings of the scriptures, chanting of sacred mantras, service of the Divine, and worship. Many scriptures and teachings of Sants prescribe various forms of discipline and observances that help the practitioners purify their minds."
-- Swami Vyasanand, The Inward Journey of the Soul
The Search for a Living Spiritual Master, Sant Satguru -- Studies in the Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose
"One should adopt the perfect Satguru after combing through all possible alternatives (search and inspect with great care) and look thoroughly into all possible choices. And the perfect Satguru is he who
(i) having made it to Satt Lok, is ever in communion with Satt Purush. He is called as a saint;
(ii) when he comes across you, he will give no other instruction except about Surat-Shabd-Yoga;
(iii) he will make you perceive the Way inside of you as also the mysteries of the intervening spheres;
(iv) he will instruct you to ascend and elevate your spirit upwards inside of you under the aid and inspiration of the Word and the form of the Satguru; and
(v) in his satsang, as also in his discourses, this mystique (of ascension and elevation) would be propounded (put forward for consideration and practice) and the state of the Way and the delights and grandeur (kaifiyat) of love (anurag) and tendresse (prem), and renunciation and emotional condition of withdrawal from immediate reaction to impressions from the outer world (vairag) would be described.
"And wherever in a so-called satsang, fables, stories and sports (lila) relating to those who are no more are recited or when there is emphasis only on vairag, and the questions relating to inner secrets or the mode of quietening and steadying the mind and elevating and sublimating it are just ignored, then, according to the norms spelt out by the saints in their discourses, that congregation cannot be termed as satsang at all.
"This is because the concept of satsang means association and companionship of satt (that which is or that which exists) that is Satt Purush (the Real, Existent Purush or Person). In as much as the saint himself is Satt Purush personified (Satt Purush swarup), his company and association is satsang, properly so called.
"That is why all their utterances and discourses either speak of the majesty (mahima) of Satt Purush Radhasoami and His representative in the form of Sant Satguru, or they dilate upon the ways and means of attaining to their transcendental form (nij swarup) and their Eternal Abode (nij dhaam), or they deal with love and confidence and trust in their (holy) feet and in the dhvani (basic sound) of their Word (shabd), or they talk of the varying states of a loving devout, to which he attains while traversing the various intervening spheres.
"So to say, to listen to such utterances and discourses, and to deliberate and reflect on them, and to grasp the core of them, and to join oneself inwardly with their (the saints’) holy feet, that is, to unify one’s mind and surat in their feet -- this is called satsang. Let it also be known that the granthas or scriptures of every religion have extolled the greatness and grandeur of satsang saying inter alia that the satsang even for a short while exhausts and eradicates the sinful acts of crores of lives past and leads to the salvation of the jiva.
"This can be easily tried and tested by anyone by attending the company of the Satguru, that is by living at his holy feet and listening to his discourses and utterances and having his glimpses, or by performing earnest spiritual practices with which he should join both his mind and spirit. Anyone who undertakes such a test will himself be convinced of the veracity of the efficacy of the satsang attended even for a short while and he can easily verify for himself as to what (useful) results of the performance of the spiritual practices according to the mode prescribed by the saints, accrue."
-- Studies in the Sar Bachan Prose, from Book One, by Huzur Maharaj (using the M.G. Gupta translation of Sar Bachan Prose: "The Quintessential Discourse Radhasoami, Sar Bachan Prose", M.G. Publishers, Agra)
"The four essential elements a sadhaka (an aspirant of the spiritual path) needs are the following:
(1) satsang (association of saints and hearing of things spiritual);
(2) sadacara (moral rectitude);
(3) seva (dedication to the teacher); and
(4) dhyan-abhyasa (practice of meditation).
"In Sant Mat an intense eagerness to acquire these essentials must be present. However, devotion to the teacher is paramount to the other three essentials and is the key to achieving the other three." (Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy of Liberation)
The Mind is Filled with the Divine Music of the Spheres -- Guru Amar Das
"The Lord placed the soul in the body’s cave,
And the breath held the Music of Life.
He made each body with nine gates, (1)
With the Tenth Gate (2); remaining well hid.
And the Tenth Door was opened to him
Who truly loved the Guru’s wisdom.
And there lives the Lord in His myriad forms,
as well as the nine treasures of the Name.
His limit cannot be found.
Says Nanak, the Lord placed the soul in the
body’s cave and the breath held the Music of Life.
Listen to this Song of Bliss, you blessed ones,
And all your heart’s longings shall be fulfilled.
You will reach the Transcendent Lord, and
your sorrows will depart.
All afflictions and sorrows are destroyed
at the Sound of the True Word,
And my friends, the saints were in ecstasy when
the perfect Guru revealed it.
Those who speak and those who listen are pure,
And they see the All-pervading Lord everywhere.
Nanak prays: Attaching to the feet of the Guru,
The mind is filled with the divine Music of the Spheres."
-- Guru Amar Das, from Anand Sahib, Peace Lagoon translation
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NOTES:
(1) "nine gates": The nine visible orifices of the body.
(2) "The Tenth Gate": The Tenth, or Hidden, Gate of the body: The Third Eye, in essence, is the Portal to inner realms. The Upanishads describe a human being as a city with ten gates. Nine gates (eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth, urethra, anus) lead to the outside world. The Tenth Gate, the Third Eye, opens onto inner worlds: the whole spectrum of levels of consciousness.
Someone asked: "Is ego the same as the Demiurge?" ("Demiurge" is a name used in Gnosticism for a lesser god of the universe, a fallen Negative Power, equivalent to the Eastern term “Kal Niranjan”, the false god of lower realms of duality, time, death and illusion.)
One might say our own ego is a false god of ourselves. Soul is our true identity, but ego-mind has it's own separate sense of identity. Ego is our very own false god or portion of the Demiurge. Mind also doesn't like meditating very much for the purpose of re-identifying with our soul. It is a jealous god that's comfortable the way things are. It even adopts religions or spiritual paths that tend to reinforce this present condition of being dominated by mind, beliefs, thoughts... limited perception. The Demiurge is a collective ego network of the cosmos, a universal mind-of-all-the-minds and collective ego-of-all-egos. Some even unfortunately use the term universal mind to refer to the supreme being. Transcending mind within via a contemplative meditation practice is the first step to transcending the false god known as the Demiurge and "ruling over the All", gaining mastery over our own inner space, those other levels of reality within, including our mind/ego. For the Demiurge is not out there somewhere. The Demiurge (also known as Kal Niranjan) is within.
"On the path of meditation ardent practice holds the key to success...
"The practitioner can destroy the vicious nature of the fourteen sensory organs and break the chains of good and bad karmas as well as burn the pile of individual sins. The practitioner can easily realize the most subtle form of God, Supreme Being (Divine Reality), the Supreme Being, which is even beyond the reach of the gods such as Brahma. The Supreme Being is transcendent and is beyond the scope of human sight, hearing, taste, and all human senses, and is even beyond the grasp of the mind and intellect. Such a Divine Reality can, in fact, only be attained by a seeker through diligent and steadfast practice."
-- Swami Vyasanand
Above: Tulsi Sahib’s Successors: Surswami Sahib, Girdhari Sahib, and others
The Grounds of Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar Dist., India
