Sant Tulsi Sahib: "External practices and formalism are worth nothing. The real sadhana [spiritual or meditation practice] is within one's own self."
Maharshi Mehi Paramhans (pictured above), Philosophy of Liberation * : "One must go beyond the senses and Non-Conscious nature in order to realize the Supreme. For this reason, the outward practices of devotion are of not much use in attaining direct knowledge of the Supreme. The attainment of the state of Oneness is impossible by outer means. The state of Oneness is attained by going beyond all the realms of the nonconscious nature and by moving upward within the body. Waking and dreaming are the evidence that various states exist and can be altered."
"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 reveal.
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).
* NOTE: The Philosophy of Liberation (Moksha Darshan) is a "Sar Bachan Prose" of the Tulsi Sahib branch of Santmat one might say. In other words, it serves as a central text in the same way the Sar Bachan Prose of Swami Ji Maharaj has traditionally been regarded as a key text in the various Radhasoami Satsangs. Both of these are available for free online as texts, ebooks, and audio books!
Philosophy of Liberation: https://archive.org/details/PhilosophyOfLiberationAManualOfSantMatMysticism/page/n1/mode/2up
Sar Bachan Prose (Dayalbagh translation): https://archive.org/details/SarBachanRadhasoamiProseDayalBaghTranslation/page/n13/mode/2up
