Baba Somanath Discovers the Sant Mat Lineage Including the Poet-Saints
“Through the Satsangs of Hazur [Hazur Baba Sawan Singh], Baba Ji was now exposed to an expanded range of bhakti poets of the Sant Mat tradition. The lyrical poetry of several of them was already known to him — Kabir, Mira Bai and Namdev — but many were new, such as Guru Nanak and his Successors, Dadu Dayal, Swami Ji Maharaj of Agra, Paltu Sahib, Sehjo Bai, Ravidas and others. Having the poetic temperament himself, he was enchanted with the manner in which they presented the Teachings of the Saints in the form of their banis [hymns].” (new book: The Life of Baba Somanath, Saint and Sage of South India)
My Commentary: Right up to the living present, the Masters of traditional Sant Mat have always recommended everyone read the bhakti mystic poetry of the Sants, and even sing their bhajans (hymns). It makes for nice devotional readings for one’s daily satsang at home to read a poem or two from one of the Masters, and also helps with meditation practice. On the positive influence of satsang upon our meditations, Shahi Swami once said: “It requires air in the form of satsang to ignite the fire of meditation.”
At my e-library you'll find a vast amount of free online writings of many such Sant poet-mystics: Kabir (in the Kabir section), Adi Granth (Sikh Scriptures), Dadu Dayal, Tukaram, Mirabai (Classic Nirguna Bhakti Sants of India section), Dariya Sahib, Tulsi Sahib, Sar Bachan Poetry of Swami Ji Maharaj (Radhasoami section), and so much more (Gnostic, Christian mystics, vegetarian/vegan, Sant Mat History sections):
https://SantMatRadhasoami.blogspot.com/2019/01/sant-mat-radhasoami-books-main-page-e.html
Baba Somanath also has composed many beautiful mystic poems and hymns:
“Ferrying me across the physical, astral
and causal realms,
Lead me into the region of Parbrahm.
In the spiritual pool of Mansarovar, in
the region of the Void,
Let me bathe in those purifying waters,
so that I may become immaculate and
whole.
“Giving me the support of the Dhun, the
True Shabd,
Transport my soul into the Great Void.
Drawing me upwards on the stream of
Sohang Shabd; reveal the vision of the
True Realm, Sat Lok,
Where divine strains of the veena fill
the air.”
