Link BACK to the MAIN PAGE of the E-Library: https://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com/2019/01/sant-mat-radhasoami-books-main-page-e.html
An Introduction to Sant Mat and Radhasoami (Radha Soami -- Pronounced "Radha-Swami") -- The Path of the Masters -- India's Sants and Poet-Mystics (Lovers of the Beloved), and Surat Shabd Yoga Meditation Practice: Bhakti (Love) of the Inner Light and Sound of God
An Introduction to Sant Mat and Radhasoami (Radha Soami -- Pronounced "Radha-Swami") -- The Path of the Masters -- India's Sants and Poet-Mystics (Lovers of the Beloved), and Surat Shabd Yoga Meditation Practice: Bhakti (Love) of the Inner Light and Sound of God
Sant Mat
Radhasoami Books, The E Library: An Introduction to Sant Mat and
Radhasoami
"Blessed are
the souls who in today's materialistic world have an inclination
towards spirituality." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)
Sant Mat is a School
of Spirituality and mysticism based in India. Santmat is also known
as: The Way of the Saints, Sages and Mystics, Radhasoami -- Radha
Soami, and, Path of the Masters.
The spiritual
mission here is to provide access to the Wisdom of the Masters via
books -- the e library, articles -- blogs, podcasts/radio, and other
resources, for those who seek to come to a deeper understanding of
the traditional teachings of the Masters from an authentic Indian
perspective, live a spiritual life, and develop a successful
meditation practice leading to communion with the Lord of the Soul,
The Ocean Of Love, God, Sat Purush Radhasoami, Supreme Being.
The spiritual
practice of the Sants is a combination of Bhakti and Surat Shabd
Yoga: The Union (Yoga) of the attention-faculty of the soul (Surat)
with the inner Light and Sound (Shabd) of God during meditation.
Inner Light and Sound Meditation (Surat Shabd Yoga) is the spiritual
practice of an Eastern Gnostic movement dating back to ancient times.
Prem-Bhakti: Inner Light and Sound Meditation is most effective when
practiced in a spirit of Bhakti: Love and Devotion for God. The goal
of this form of meditation is oneness with God.
If you have
questions about anything presented below, are seeking information,
perhaps searching for a book, trying to locate a satsang meetup in
your area, seeking initiation, etc..., e-mail: James 'at'
SpiritualAwakeningRadio 'dot' com .
PODCASTS: A
Collection of Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts @ Youtube:
Podcast Archive:
MP3 Download Page @ The Internet Archive:
Podcast Archive:
MP3 Download Page @ HealthyLifeNET:
Older Sant Mat
Satsang Podcasts @ Blog Talk Radio:
A Sant Mat Vision
For Living A Spiritual Life on Earth in This Human Form
"Recognize the
Path to your Beloved, O travelers and take the route of the anguished
lover in separation. Keep the Master’s grace in your thoughts, and
reflect on his pure teachings. Develop love and devotion with
endearment, and keep the thought of the Creator always before you.
Try to merge yourself into God like water in water. Fix your mind
within by following the Path of the Sound Current. A yearning will
arise; make then an intense and anguished call. Repeat the Name of
your Beloved, day and night, again and again. With care in thought,
word and deed, you will cross to the other shore." (Sant Dadu
Dayal)
Brief Summary of
the Teachings of Sant Mat, the Path of the Masters
* All souls (jivas)
are in essence drops of love from the Ocean of God.
* The attachment and
association with mind and body makes the soul lose sight of the real
Self.
* God assumes the
form of a Saint to lead the soul back to its Original Home.
* One must surrender
one's entire being to the Ocean of Love of which we are a part,
instead of limiting ourselves to sensual pleasures which leave us
unhappy and discontented.
* This can be done
by the practice of Surat Shabd Yoga [Inner Light and Sound
Meditation].
* By attuning
oneself to the Life Current which proceeds from the Heart of Anami
Purush [God, The Nameless One/Radhasoami] in the form of Light and
Sound, one can finally achieve union with the True Self, finding the
joy one is seeking. ("R.S. White Paper on Religion of Sants and
Radhasoami Faith")
Seven Ingredients
of a Living Spiritual Path -- Seven Gnostic-Sant Mat Parallels
In the Corpus
Hermeticum and Nag Hammadi scriptures are/were described all of the
ingredients of a living, viable mystical path:
1) living
masters/teachers with students (past masters, scrolls, cuneiform
tablets or old scriptures are not enough; a living guide is
required);
2) a cosmology of
several heavens/inner regions/planes/spheres;
3) an understanding
that souls can access these realms here and now during this present
life (a present-tense Kingdom of Heaven available to souls right now,
not a spirituality postponed till some magical date on a calendar or
hypothesized future age);
See, The Charts
of the Heavens -- God-Worlds -- Inner Regions -- Planes -- Spheres of
Creation According to Sant Mat Mysticism, Radhasoami, and Surat Shabd
Yoga:
https://SantMatRadhasoami.Wordpress.com/2019/01/10/charts-of-the-heavens-sant-mat-and-gnostic-sant-mat-radhasoami-books-charts-of-the-heavens-section
4) an initiation
into the mysteries of the heavens, imparting to spiritual seekers the
meditation techniques and sacred names;
5) visionary and
auditory mysticism (inner Light and Sound, spiritual seeing and
hearing) -- descriptions of souls traveling within through various
inner regions;
6) they have an
ethical code, and this ethical foundation includes a vegetarian diet,
then and now;
7) The Goal of the
teachings and meditation practice is experiencing direct union with
God.
"Seek To See
God Now -- Liberation During This Life" -- Mystic-Poem of Sant
Tulsi Sahib
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.
"Within This
Body" -- Mystic-Poem of Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras
Within this body
breathes the secret essence. Within this body beats the heart of the
Vedas.
Within this body
shines the entire Universe, so the saints say.
Hermits,
ascetics, celibates all are lost seeking Him in endless guises.
Seers and sages
perfectly parrot the scriptures and holy books, blinded by knowledge.
Their pilgrimage,
and fasting, and striving but delude
Despite their
perfect practice, they discover no destination.
Only the Saints
who know the body's heart have attained the Ultimate, O Tulsi.
Realize this, and
you've found your freedom (while teachers trapped in tradition know
only the mirage in the mirror).
Seven Teachings
of Sant Mat
1. God is Real.
2. God is Love, the
Ocean of Love and Compassion.
3. All of the world
scriptures teach about the same manifestation of God as inner
mystical Light and Sound.
4. Our true identity
is soul, the Self. Soul is part of God and therefore is, like God,
pure love.
5. During this human
existence we have an opportunity to experience God.
6. As we experience
communing with God's love during meditation -- Surat Shabd Yoga -- we
can rise above body-consciousness and explore Inner Space, the
"Kingdom of the Heavens" that are within us. "We
travel back from the realm of Darkness to the realm of Light, from
the Light to divine Sound, and from the realm of Sound to the
Soundless State [Anami, Radhaswami, Anadi Purush, Ram]." (Swami
Santsevi Ji Maharaj) The drop merges back into the Ocean of Love.
7. As we get
initiated into the Mysteries of the Spirit by a Living Teacher
(Master, Sant Satguru), the purpose of our life is fulfilled.
Reuniting with God is our reason to be here: "It was for the
sake of the God-conscious beings that our True Lord created this
earth, and began this play of death and birth". ("Adi
Granth") Guru Kabir says: "For millions of years you have
slept. This morning, will you not wake?".
The Goal of Sant
Mat Spirituality and Meditation: Our Path Back to the Source -- The
Inward Journey Back to God
"Sant Mat (the
path and teachings as taught and practiced by Saints [Sant Satgurus])
delineates the path of union of soul with God. The teachings of the
saints explain the re-uniting as follows:
"The individual
soul has descended from the higher worlds [the Realm of the Divine]
to this city of illusion, bodily existence. It has descended from the
Soundless State to the essence of Sound, from that Sound to Light,
and finally from the realm of Light to the realm of Darkness. The
qualities (dharmas, natural tendencies) of the sense organs draw us
downward and away from our true nature.
"The nature of
the soul (atman) draws us upwards and inwards and establishes us in
our own true nature. Returning to our origins involves turning
inward: withdrawal of consciousness from the senses and the sense
objects in order to go upward from the darkness to the realms of
Light and Sound. [We experience this phenomenon of withdrawal as we
pass from waking consciousness to deep sleep.] Another way to express
this is to go inward from the external sense organs to the depth of
the inner self. (Both of these expressions are the metaphors that
signify the same movement). The natural tendencies of the soul
(atman) are to move from outward to inward. The current of
consciousness which is dispersed in the nine gates of the body and
the senses, must be collected at the tenth gate.
"The tenth gate
is the gathering point of consciousness. Therein lies the path for
our return. The tenth gate is also known as the sixth chakra, the
third eye, bindu, the center located between the two eyebrows. This
is the gateway through which we leave the gates of the sense organs
and enter in the divine realms and finally become established in the
soul. We travel back from the Realm of Darkness to the Realm of
Light, from the Light to the Divine Sound, and from the Realm of
Sound to the Soundless State. This is called turning back to the
Source.
"This is what
dharma or religion really intends to teach us. This is the essence of
dharma." (Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj, "Harmony Of All
Religions").
The Soul's Return
to the Ocean of Love
How could the
love between Thee and me sever?
As the leaf of
the lotus abides on the water,
so thou art my
Lord, and I am Thy servant.
As the night-bird
Chakor gazes all night at the moon,
so Thou art my
Lord and I am Thy servant.
From the
beginning until the ending of time there is love
between Thee and
me;
and how shall
such love be extinguished?
Kabir says: "As
the river enters into the Ocean,
so my heart
touches Thee." (Guru Kabir)
History: On the
Usage of the Term "Sant Mat" -- The Path of the Masters --
Mystics of the East
"Sant Mat"
means: "The Teachings of the Saints" 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. Tulsi Sahib was of the opinion that
the Sant movement goes back to the time of Krishna thousands of years
ago, that Krishna knew of Sants or Rishis during his day, the age of
the Bhagavad Gita.
Commonly used words
like "Sant", "Sat", and "Mat", with
their roots in Sanskrit, are found in the literature of many
spiritual paths originating in India. "Santmat", as a
single word referring to the efficacy of following the teachings of
Sants does turn up on a couple of occasions in Sant literature during
the centuries prior to the time of Tulsi Sahib. It could be present
in a few verses of Kabir, and is in at least one verse of a poem of
Sant Tulsi Das. Clearly however, "Sant Mat" as the
universal name or label for this school of spirituality or Sant
tradition begins with Tulsi Sahib during the 19th Century in Hathras,
and now has been embraced by millions of souls and scores of
spiritual paths based in India.
"The teachings
of all Saints are essentially the same. They speak of the 'Kingdom of
Heaven' which is within. They show the path and impart instructions
to attain it. They do not claim to teach something new or different
from what other Saints have taught. Tulsi Sahab declared that he was
giving the same teachings as those of Kabir Sahab, Nanak Sahab, Dadu
Sahab and other Saints. Tulsi Sahab, for the first time, used the
expression 'Sant Mat' or 'the teachings of Saints' to stress the
basic unity of the teachings of all Saints." (From the entry for
Sant Tulsi Sahib in, RadhaSoami White Paper on the Religion of Sants
and RadhaSoami Faith, published by Dayal Bagh in Agra)
"While the
title of Sant Mat (translated as 'Teachings of the Sants') was not
coined until the late 19th century by Tulsi Sahib, the philosophical
mindset was indeed prevalent for many centuries." (Andrea Grace
Diem, Ph.D., "Lions in the Punjab: An Introduction to the Sikh
Religion", from Chapter One, The Sikh -- Sant Connection)
Param Tulsi Sahib of
Hathras originated the term "Sant Mat" as recorded in the
Ghat Ramayan also according to the scholar Parashuram Chaturvedi in
his book "Sant Parampara". (See footnote 23, in the chapter
titled, "The Radhasoami Revival", by Mark Juergensmeyer, on
page 337 in, "The Sants, Studies in a Devotional Tradition of
India", Edited by Karine Schomer and W.H. McLeod, Motilal
Banarsidass, Delhi, 1987, page 783)
"One thing that
all factions agree upon, though, is that Tulsi Sahib consolidated the
teachings of nirguna bhakti, expounded the path of surat shabd yoga,
and was largely responsible for the popular usage of the term Sant
mat. His teachings are embodied in Ghat Ramayana, Ratan Sagar, and
Shabdavali." (David C. Lane, "The Radhasoami Tradition, A
Critical History of Guru Successorship", Garland Publishing,
1992 edition, page 39)
"Tulsi Sahib,
for the first time, used the expression 'Sant Mat' or 'teachings of
Saints' to stress the basic unity of the teachings of all Saints.
Swami Ji later adopted the same expression, 'Sant Mat', in his
works." (Janak Raj Puri and V. K. Sethi, "Tulsi Sahib,
Saint of Hathras", 1981 edition, Mystics of the East Series,
Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Book Department, page 18)
"For all the
religious traditions of India, the nineteenth century was an age of
rationalistic reform, during which the attempt was made to
systematize beliefs and make practices consistent with doctrines.
Tulsi Sahib of Hathras (ca 1760 - 1843) was at once heir to certain
esoteric tendencies in later Sant tradition and a precursor of the
new spirit. Stressing the unity of the Sants as a parampara, he
taught what he believed to be the common core of doctrines implicit
in all the Sants ('sant mat'), and tried to reverse the spread of
saguna beliefs and practices among the followers of nirguna panths.
Heavily indebted to him was Shiv Dayal Singh (1818 - 1878), founder
of the modern Radhasoami movement." (Karine Schomer, "The
Sants", Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, page 7)
"Tulsi Sahib, a
Sant of Hathras from the nineteenth century, recognized that Sants
drew upon the teachings of other Sant figures as spiritual resources.
Pointing out the common spiritual roots, he identified this movement
as a coherent religious tradition, which he called 'Sant Mat', simply
meaning a 'Sant faith'." (Dr. Andrea Diem, "The Gnostic
Mystery, a Connection Between Ancient and Modern Mysticism",
Mount San Antonio College Press, Walnut, CA, 1992 edition, page, 29)
"The principles
and tenets of Sant Mat are one and the same, only there is a
difference in terminology. Since the same principles have been stated
using different names, you become confused and do not understand
them. Sat Saheb, that is, Sat Purush, has been described as Sat Nam.
And Sar Shabd (True Shabd) has been called A-Nam. The name Nirgun has
been given to Niranjan and it is the mind which has been called Ram.
What Kabir had said, has been said by other Sants, too. Kabir
explained Sant Mat in his own way, other Sants in other ways. The
religion of all those who have gained access within is one and the
same. Those who lack true understanding, adhere to dogmas and blind
beliefs. Those who have spoken on the basis of inner experiences,
have sung of the same Panth or path for reaching the Lord."(Sant
Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, Ghat Ramayan)
"Listen, O
Phool Das, I have given out the same true secrets which Sants like
Kabir Saheb, Dadu Saheb, Rai Das Ji, Darya Saheb, Guru Nanak, Soor
Das Ji, Nabha Ji and Mira Bai have spoken of. They, too, have
composed similar hymns describing the bliss of the highest spiritual
region, whose glory I also have sung, blessed by the grace and the
dust of the holy feet of Sants". (Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras,
Ghat Ramayan)
See, The Origins
of Sant Mat, The Five Names, and the Identity of Tulsi Sahib's Guru,
E-Book by James Bean:
https://archive.org/details/TheOriginsOfSantMatSachKhandPDF
Genuine Human
Unity
"Sant Mat",
means: "Teachings of the Saints" or "Path of the
Masters". Over the centuries there have been, and continues to
be, many Sants (Sant Satgurus), many branches of Sant Mat or
Radhasoami, and lineages of Masters in the world. As Maharishi Mehi
once said: "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."
(a quote from the book, "Harmony of All Religions",
published by Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar,
India)
See, The Guru
Lineage Charts of Sant Mat, Surat Shabd Yoga -- Inner Light and Sound
Meditation, Guru Kabir, the Dharamdasis of Kabir Panth, Dariya Sahib,
the Ten Sikh Gurus, Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, Maharshi Mehi,
and the Radhasoami Faith:
https://SantMatRadhasoami.Wordpress.com/2019/01/12/guru-lineage-charts-of-sant-mat-radhasoami-surat-shabd-yoga-sant-mat-radhasoami-books-the-e-library-guru-lineage-charts-section
Seven Principles
of Sant Mat
The Following
Principles Below are Recited Daily by Some in India:
1. Ultimate Reality
is beyond any beginning or end, infinite, beyond birth, beyond the
senses, all-pervading yet even beyond pervasiveness. It must,
therefore, be understood as the Supreme Being. This Essential Element
is known in Santmat [the Teachings of the Saints] 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 (Nirguna).
It is the One without a second. The Supreme Being is beyond the scope
of the 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 [illusion], and there is nothing that exists outside of it.
It is the Being which is eternal and is in existence from the
beginning. Santmat considers this Being to be the Divine Reality, and
this [knowing or merging with] this 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 individual
soul (jiva), bound by illusion (maya), remains in the cycle of death
and birth. This is the cause of one's 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 (Simran,
recitation of a divine name or names), Manas Dhyana (Dhyan, focus on
the divine form), Dristi Sadhana (Yoga of Inner Light, Inner Seeing,
Inner Light Meditation, focus on the Infinitesimal Point), and
Nadanusandhana Yoga (Surat Shabd Yoga, concentration on the inner
divine Sounds) -- the practitioner consecutively transcends the
realms of darkness, Light, and Sound which cloak the Supreme Truth --
the Divine Reality. Only in a human body an individual soul is able
to achieve unity with the Divine. [In other forms of existence,
animal, etc..., it is not possible to tread the spiritual path.]
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.*
(* Note: In Buddhism
and other Eastern Religions (Jainism, Taoism, Hinduism) these five
abstinences are known as the Panch Shila -- "The Five Precepts"
(see further below).
7. The following are
considered to be the requirements for the attainment liberation: (A)
Trust and belief in God; (B) Commitment to seek the Divine within;
(C) Devotion and service to a Satguru -- spiritual Master; (D)
Satsang, listening to the teaching and spiritual discourse including
study of the Teaching of the Saints and the scriptures; and (E)
Dhyana, diligent meditation practice. ("Padavali of Maharshi
Mehi", also quoted in, "Harmony Of All Religions")
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)
Satsang
(Associating with Eternal Truth)
One major custom or
mode of practice according to Sant Tulsi Das is called Satsang -- the
society of realized Saints. Satsang means "association with
Eternal Truth" as well as "association with God," and
is to some extent comparable to "church" or "temple,"
but not in any institutional sense. A saying of Jesus in the New
Testament provides a good definition of this spiritual gathering
called a "Satsang": "Where two or three are gathered
in My Name, I am there in their midst." When devotees or
initiates of a spiritual Master gather together in his name for
worship, instruction, and meditation, the Masters teach that there's
a spiritual charge or energy, a stronger manifestation of the loving
Presence of God and a kind of 'communion of Saints,' past and
present.
Satsang is an
experience of spiritual community, an opportunity to be uplifted by
the collective energy of our brothers and sisters on the Path, for
we're influenced by the company we keep. Devotees make this a time
and place of spiritual Remembrance, and this helps to keep us on the
Path.
The format of
Satsang can include: a spiritual discourse, guidance about following
the teachings of the Masters, a recording of a Master giving a talk,
readings from the writings of the Masters, the reciting or singing of
banis, bhajans or kirtans (hymns of worship composed by Sants), and
silent group meditation. It's considered the greatest of blessings if
it is a genuine spiritual Master (Sant Satguru) who conducts the
Satsang in person.
The effect of
Satsang is that of divine remembrance, thus, with such a spiritual
boost, encouragement and support for the spiritual journey, those who
attend Satsang are much more likely to stay-on-the-Path and put
effort into daily spiritual practice at home. (from the article, "The
Yoga of Love, Becoming a Lover of the Beloved")
"Dear
Aspirants! Each day strive to do both kinds of satsang: inner and
outer. Outer satsang is listening to the teachings of great saints
and studying the sacred texts. Inner satsang is the practice of
one-pointed meditation." (Maharishi Mehi)
"Without the
association of great saints, there is neither discourse of the Divine
nor the understanding of the scriptures. Without these two, selfish
attachment does not loosen its grip. And without dispelling
attachment to the world one cannot attain the realm of the Divine and
the true devotion that is essential to realize the Divine."
(Sant Tulsi Das)
"On the gate of
liberation are found four gate-keepers endowed with wisdom. These
four are: discipline, thoughtfulness (reflection), contentment and
association with Saints." (Maha Upanishad)
"Discord and
delusion can be removed by the power of the association of saints.
For those who associate with saints, suffering dissolves and they
will remain immersed in joy. Joy arises from noble company and pain
arises from association with the wicked, says Kabir, go to a place
where saints dwell and their association is possible." (Guru
Kabir)
"By association
with a pure soul the mind becomes pure and the darkness of attachment
is dispelled. In attending to these quotes from different saints it
becomes clear that satsang is vital and very necessary for any
serious spiritual seeker." (Yogi Panchanan Bhattacharya)
Three Levels of
Sat-Sang
The word 'satsang'
is comprised of two words 'sat' and 'sang'. What is 'sat'?
'Sat' is that which
can never be destroyed. It is the essential element which is
indestructible and beyond the limitations of time. And it is Truth.
'Sang' means association or contact. Thus association or coming in
contact with Sat or Truth is satsang.
In the Bhagavad Gita
Lord Krishna says:
"Whatever is
Truth always exists and is never non-existent. That which is
non-Truth has no existence whatsoever."
* The First Level
of Satsang (Association with God)
What is this element
which is indestructible, has always been constant and will forever
remain as such? That element is the Supreme Being of the universe.
Association with this Being, in reality, is association with Truth
(satsang). But, what is it that would associate with this Supreme
Being? Is it the body or the senses? The answer is that it is neither
of these two. It is only apart from the body and senses that we will
be able to associate with the Supreme Being. This is because it is
only our soul that is an inseparable part of the Divine. It is only
we (our soul) that is capable of merging with the Divine. Our
individual soul is truth, and also, the Supreme is Truth. True
satsang is the unity of the soul with the Supreme Truth. This is the
highest kind of sat-sang. However, this highest kind of satsang,
unity with the Divine, does not occur all of a sudden. This category
of satsang requires many lifetimes of good actions and spiritual
imprints (samskaras).
* The Second
Level of Satsang (Association with the Saints)
Sant Tulsi Das says:
"The
association of the saints brings association with the Divine, and
alliance with people who are engrossed in the world leads the way
back to this world again and again."
To attain Ultimate
Liberation it is essential to have association with the saints.
Saints, having realized the true form of God, become that True Form.
The accomplished great beings who have attained unity with the
Divine, and who have experienced the Supreme Being even while living
in this body, have become the Supreme Being [They become one with
their true Divine Form]. Association with these saints is this second
category of satsang. However, finding such a saint is not an easy
task. A true Saint is rare and difficult to find.
Sant Tulsi Das says:
"Without
accumulation of many good deeds one will be unable to gain the
association of a great saint."
When our good karmas
permit, we are able to come to experience the association of these
sentient beings. A more important point is that even if we have a
direct encounter with such a saint, we often do not have the wisdom
to be able to recognize a genuine sage.
Sant Tulsi Das,
says:
"If someone
says 'I have recognized a saint,' then I put my hands on my ears in
astonishment. [It is not an easy task.]"
If ordinary people
could recognize saints, then why, since antiquity, have so many great
saints, sages, and prophets been tortured, maimed and killed? Many
saints have had to face horrible atrocities. This simply would not
have happened if we were able to recognize the genuine great saints.
* The Third Level
of Satsang (Association with the Writings of Sages and Saints)
In daily life we
need the guidance of a great sage or saint. Even though we might
encounter many so called mahatmas or sadhus, the task of finding and
identifying an accomplished guide is difficult. So, in consideration
of this, how would satsang (association with a true saint) be
possible? The answer is that we can study the teachings of the great
saints of the past, because in their teaching we will find the
elaboration of the Truth. This then is the third category of
sat-sang. Generally, when we speak of satsang, it is this third
category that is meant. This kind of satsang includes the study of
scriptures and the words and writings of the saints and prophets of
the past.
As we continue
diligently in this third type of satsang we accumulate the
meritorious karmas which will lead to the meeting with a true saint.
Then we will be able to do the second category of satsang. As we
continue in association with a great saint, and with the saint's
blessings, we will gradually begin to meditate and undertake the
prescribed spiritual disciplines. By diligently practicing these
disciplines, we will one day, experience the first category of
sat-sang -- the association with the Supreme. When we have thus
accomplished the highest category of satsang, our life's purpose will
be fulfilled. (Swami Santsevi Ji Maharaj, "Harmony Of All
Religions")
Seven Key
Practices of Sant Mat Mysticism
1. Satsang
(Association with the Saints which Includes the Study of Their
Writings and Scriptures);
2. Selfless Service
of the Spiritual Master [Seva];
3. Love for God
[Bhakti];
4. Moral Rectitude;
5. Purity of the
Heart;
6. Japa (Repetition
of a Divine Name [Simran]); and,
7. Dhyana
[Meditation]. (In the practice of meditation both gross and subtle
meditations are described. In subtle meditation is meditation of the
bindu-point -- the meditation of Inner Light -- Drishti Yoga [the
Yoga of Vision], and Nadanusandhana [the meditation of Inner Sound]
-- Surat-Shabda-Yoga [the Yoga of Sound].)
The Ethical
Foundation of Sant Mat -- Ahimsa Values -- The Five Precepts
Moral
Requirements to Qualify For Initiation:
1. Abstinence from
alcohol and drugs (intoxicants);
2. Ahimsa
(Non-Violence in thought, word, and deed) including in the area of
diet, as in following a vegan (abstinence from animal products) or
vegetarian diet (abstinence from meat, fish, and eggs) -- "In
Sant Mat all Masters have decried killing and meat-eating."
(Sant Tulsi Sahib, "Ghat Ramayan");
3. Leading a
truthful life;
4. Practicing
non-stealing: an honest, ethical source of income;
5. Loyalty to ones
spouse;
Another Version
of the Five Precepts:
1. Refrain from
taking the life of sentient beings. This precept also requires strict
adherence to a vegan (no animal products) or lacto-vegetarian diet
(no meat, fish, poultry nor eggs, fertilized or non-fertilized).
2. Refrain from
speaking what is not true.
3. Refrain from
taking what is not yours.
4. Refrain from
sexual misconduct.
5. Refrain from
using intoxicants.
Initiation Into
Surat Shabd Yoga -- Inner Light and Sound Meditation By A Living
Master (Sant Satguru)
The Master said to
his students: "What your own eyes cannot see, your human ears do
not hear, your physical hands cannot touch, and what is inconceivable
to the human mind -- that I will give you!" (Jesus/Yeshua,
"Gospel of Thomas", Nag Hammadi Library of Egypt, one of
the Gnostic Gospels or Lost Books of the Bible, a contemplative
gospel for mystics)
In the Sant
tradition, the complete methods and secrets of meditation practice
are communicated at the time of INITIATION (Diksha) by a living
Master (Sant Satguru, Competent, Qualified Teacher) or a
representative of a Master (not a past Saint or holy book). A Living
Teacher, being fully acquainted with the 'landscape' of Inner Space,
is able to impart to initiate-candidates valuable guidance on how to
safely make the journey of ascension to the Inner Regions during
meditation practice within. This kind of spiritual transmission and
the details of Surat Shabd Yoga practice are not found in books, old
scriptures of the past, and are not for sale, but are given freely to
seekers by a living Teacher.
At the time of
Initiation one vows to practice meditation each day. The spiritual
path is a life-long commitment.
"Avalokiteshvara
Buddha [Quan Yin], the hearer and answerer of prayer, has visited all
the Buddha-lands of the ten quarters of the universe and has acquired
transcendental powers of boundless freedom and fearlessness and has
vowed to emancipate all sentient beings from their bondage and
suffering. How sweetly mysterious is the Transcendental Sound of
Avalokiteshvara! Is is the subdued murmur of the sea-tide setting
inward. Its mysterious Sound brings liberation and peace to all
sentient beings who in their distress are calling for aid."
(Surangama Sutra, Buddhist Scripture)
"So plunge into
the Truth, find out who the Teacher is. Believe in the Great Sound!"
(Kabir)
"All beautiful
forms and tones of this world are mere reflections of some aspect of
that ultimate Love-Music of the Great Creative Word. Within the vast
complex of creation, each individual spirit is himself/herself a
spark of that Eternal Song of Love." (George Arnsby Jones)
"Who else is
Christ but the Sound of God?" (Gnostic Acts of John)
Kabir says, "Where
else have you heard a Sound like this?"
Some Sant Mat
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Key Words
Path of the Masters:
Sant Mat -- Santmat, Radhasoami -- Radha Soami, Satsang, Inner Light
and Sound Meditation: Surat Shabd Yoga, Audible Life Stream, Nada
Yoga, Quanyin, The Quan Yin Method, Shurangama, The Way of the
Surangama Sutra, The Sound of Silence -- Transcendental Hearing in
Buddhism, Spiritual Science, the Soul, Spirituality, Kabir, Anurag
Sagar, Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kirpal Singh, Gnosticism, Third Eye, Out
Of Body Experiences, Near-Death Experiences, Inner Space, the Kingdom
of the Heavens Within You, Mystic Poetry, Vegetarian Vegan, Ahimsa,
Love (Bhakti), and God.
Link BACK to the MAIN PAGE of the E-Library: https://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com/2019/01/sant-mat-radhasoami-books-main-page-e.html
