Mystics of the East -- Love, Light and Sound on the Path
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Contents Below -- In This Issue/Mailing/Blog/Digest: an introduction to Sant Mat; quotes from: the Ebionite Gospel on the reincarnating Christ of the ages -- appearing in different cultures; John Lennon on Gnosticism; the German mystic Mechthild of Magdeburg on seeing the inner Light from her spiritual classic, 'Flowing Light of the Godhead'; 'static' of the Big Bang (according to NASA); a letter from Kirpal Singh; Tulsi Sahib's and Maharshi Mehi's Ode to the Classic Sants of India; on the great 19th Century Master Baba Devi Saheb; excerpt from a clearer translation from Dayal Bagh of 'The Last Words of Soami Ji Maharaj', shedding new light on his appointment of Huzur Maharaj in Agra; Soami Ji Maharaj on early morning meditation from his 'Commentary on the Jap Ji'; guidance about inner Sound Meditation (Surat Shabd Yoga) from Shiv Brat Lal, Maharshi Mehi, and Swami Achyutanand Baba ("Not Just Any Sound"); and we conclude with a message of compassion and non-violence.
According to the Ebionite Gospel (from the original Hebrew Christians) Christ has appeared in different ages: "....has changed his forms and his names from the beginning of the world, and so reappeared again and again...." (The Clementine Homilies, from Homily III, Chapter XX, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume VIII)
John Lennon: "It seems to me that the only true Christians were the Gnostics, who believe in self knowledge, i.e. becoming Christ themselves, reaching the Christ within, the Light is the truth."
For countless ages, souls around the world have described their experience of God's Light. This is a passage from the medieval German mystic Mechthild of Magdeburg on the wonders of contemplation and spiritual perception from her spiritual classic "Flowing Light of the Godhead":
"A Light of utmost splendor glows on the eyes of my soul. Therein have I seen the inexpressible ordering of all things, and recognized God's unspeakable glory -- that incomprehensible wonder -- the tender caress between God and the soul...the unmingled joy of union, the living love of eternity as it now is and evermore shall be."
The oldest program in the universe: "Turn your television to an 'in between' channel, and part of the static you'll see (and hear) is the afterglow of the big bang." (NASA website)
Dear Children of Light,
Be good and do good. These five words contain in them the essence of all religions of the world. My work shall be amply repaid if you live up to them.
If we could only still our intellect and remain embedded with love and trust in him, then we could reach our true Home without any exertion on our part.
God is love. When our soul comes in contact with his overflowing love, we are saturated with his love through and through, which washes away all dirt of sins of the past and merges us in oneness with the Father.
Peep and continue peeping within your self with overflowing love to see and contact the Master Power residing in you, who will then manifest to you and guide you step by step on to the path of Truth that your love will open for you.
Stand on your belief on solid ground. Let not others' wayward opinions deflect you from the true path you are on. Let not promises of glory by anyone waylay you. Do not come to hurried conclusions, but use discrimination in all your undertakings. Stick to what is Real. With an ethical and loving background your spiritual success is definitely assured. My love and best wishes are always with you in all your noble efforts and holy journey to your Home.
You have been put on the way to God that is the most natural and easiest of all. Do not be led away from the path. Transcend the body to have a flight in the higher regions to know thyself and see that you are a drop of the great ocean of consciousness. Radiate love toall creation. The grace of the Master Power is working over your head bountifully. Let us breathe out through every pore of our body: "Love and peace be unto all the world over."
You are protected by the Master Power working overhead. Depend on him. You will have all the necessary inner help. The Master Power is waiting for his dear children to come to him within.
With all love to each one of you,
Kirpal Singh
"The Saints of India" -- Can you identify some of the great Sants, Mystics and Masters in this jpg icon? I see Buddha and Mahavira next to each other, in the back. In front of them, Mira Bai. In the center, with a white beard and turban, is Guru Nanak. To his right, also with a white beard, is Guru Kabir. In front, pictured as bald with a white beard, is Baba Devi Sahab, disciple of Tulsi. To his left, with afro hair and black beard, is Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras. You may be able to recognize others in the crowd as well, Tulsi Das, Ramakrishna, Tukaram, Namdev, perhaps more.
The Classic Sants -- The Nirguna Bhakti Saints of India -- Sant Mat (Path of the Masters, The Way of the Saints, Mystics of the East)
Hail all Sants!
Oh, too mean is our intellect
to extol the Sants!
Hail all Sants!
Smashers of sorrows,
breakers of worldly fetters
Treasure of wisdom,
they are the world's benefactors!
Yoga of Light,
Yoga of Sound,
In an easy way everywhere they propound!
Hail all Sants!
Great are all the Sages, great was Lord Buddha
Foes of sins, great were Shankara and Ramananda.
Glory to Sant Kabir who was so great
Glory to Guru Nanak who was so great!
Hail all Sants!
Goswami Shri Tulsidas Ji
Great benefactor Sahab Tulsi
Dadu, Sundar, Sura, Svapach,
Ravi the great seer
Jagjeevan, Paltu -- they robbed us of all fears!
Hail all Sants!
Satguru Devi (Sahab) and all those who have been, are
And who ever will be! Prostrate at their feet we are!
I, Mehi, sing their glory, express my appreciation
And place at their lotus-feet all my expectation!
Hail all Sants!
O Hail all Sants!
(Prayer of Maharshi Mehi,
Translated into English
by Pravesh K. Singh)
"I (Tulsi Saheb) have described the status of Sants and sung of hymns composed by them. Sants have traversed the path to the Inaccessible Region and their Surat has attained the Truth or Essence.
"Nanak, Dadu, Dariya Saheb, Mira Bai, Soor Das, Kabir and Nabhaji have all reached the Nabh (sky, high region) and have given out the secrets. Their Surats have got across and merged there.
"Though their teachings are one and the same, their ways of teaching are different. Indeed, all Sants have proceeded along the same path. All of them ascended along the same Current of Shabd, and got across. They saw Gagan and proceeded ahead. Tulsi Saheb says with the beat of drums that he who doubts this is a great fool." (Tulsi Sahib, Ghat Ramayan)
Said Tulsi Sahib said, "Listen, I will now explain what I mean by Sant. To mention a few Sants, I pick up the names of Dadu, Mira, Nabha, Nanak, Dariya Saheb and Soor Das. Kabir's name, I mention again. And there have been many other Sants. Sants, who have reached the Eternal Region, have given to the world invaluable couplets and hymns in the form of their poetical compositions. I, Tulsi Das, who am only the dust of the holy feet of Sants, also said something about the bliss of the Inaccessible Region. Though I have had the good fortune to be associated with Sants, my understanding bears no comparison with Theirs. Let me reiterate the greatness of the holy feet of Sants. I place my head at Their holy feet. Listen, O Phool Das, I shall now tell you, as one who is the slave of the holy feet of Sants, of the Shabds (hymns) composed by Them." (Tulsi Sahib, Ghat Ramayan)
"And know ye, Phool Das, I have given out, as hints, the secrets of the beginning and the end, which is precisely the religion of Kabir Saheb and which also constitutes the essence of what other Sants have said. This, indeed, is the essence of the religion of Sants, who had Darshan [Vision] of the exalted Supreme Being within. They tasted the bliss of the purely spiritual region of Surat and also came to know of the secrets of the beginning and the end. He alone, who ponders over and realizes what I have said, and also takes his Surat across, will be able to reach the Unfathomable Region." (Tulsi Sahib, Ghat Ramayan)
"Sants frequently visit the Inaccessible Region, and after actually observing, describe the conditions. It is said that Kal and Niranjan who have both the seen and unseen forms have created the Vedas out of Nada or Shabd and that Atma is invisible. This is what Kal has made known to the world. But Sant Mat reveals something more. According to it, the Abode of Atma is Mansarovar, and Parmatma remains beyond Sunn [the Void]. This is what the Sants describe after having seen. Higher up is Sat Lok, which is the fourth Stage or Region of the creation. Its Deity is Indescribable and is called Sat Purush.... Beyond the Fourth Lok dwells the Nameless Being [Anami Purush] who has no trace of Maya." (Sant Tulsi Sahib, Shabdavali)
"It is only through the grace and mercy of Sants [Saints, Satgurus] that some rare Jivas [souls] will seek and find Sant Mat, the diamond. That diamond will come within the grasp of a Jiva only when th Sant enables him to recognize it." (Sant Tulsi Sahib, Ghat Ramayan)
Sant Mat History: From the Last Words or Parting Instructions of Soami Ji Maharaj of Agra: "Then Seth Sundarshan Singh then asked whom should they look to for guidance after Him. Swami Ji Maharaj said, 'Whoever needs spiritual guidance, should seek it from Salig Ram (Huzur Maharaj).'" See the Sant Mat Library Online for books by Huzur Maharaj, including several editions of Radhasoami Mat Prakash, and the Prem Patra Radhasoami volumes. Scroll down the page here:
Hail Baba Devi Saheb, one of my favorite Sants of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries: Blessed by Sant Tulsi Sahib, part of the Hathras Sangat, friend of Huzur Maharaj (the great disciple of Sant Radhasoami Sahib), Proponent of Sant Mat, and lover of the Beloved.
"Perform SIMRAN and DHYAN of that true NAAM in the last quarter of the night. At that time, there is NO noise and disturbance, and the mind can be concentrated and attention directed towards Him. This will bring you as a reward the robe of honour. In other words, you will know the secrets of the human microcosm and be on your way to redemption. You will realize that all that exists is SAT PURUSH." (Soami Ji Maharaj, Commentary on the Jap Ji)
Not Just Any Sound During Sound Current Meditation
Shiv Brat Lal: "The devotee in his spiritual journey upwards hears sweet melodies which attract him. The melodies are a powerful magnetic force which draws the attention inwards and makes it fully attuned to proceed up and up."
There are inner Sounds that one receives guidance from a true Master about at the time of initiation into Surat Shabd Yoga (Inner Sound Meditation, Yoga of the Audible Life Stream). These Sounds appear to come from the right side or center and represent the Ascending Current. Sounds that appear to be coming from the left side are of the descending current flowing downward into the material creation. One is instructed to focus on the Sounds of the Ascending Current or Audible Life Stream -- certain Sounds. There are of course many other sounds one might hear, but one has to focus on certain Sound Currents. The reason for this is these Sounds, if focused upon during meditation practice, will keep pulling the soul's attention up to ever higher and higher levels. These are coming from regions above. Other sounds, though interesting, miraculous or mystical, will not help the Surat-soul to ascend or make spiritual progress.
Another passage from Shiv Brat Lal: "Various sorts of Sound Currents reverberate in the human system from which the initiate has to pick up the right one and listen to it, otherwise he will go astray and lose his equipoise. The practical Guru forewarns his disciple and directs which Sound to listen to and which one to discard."
Maharshi Mehi in, Philosophy of Liberation: "Each of the Sounds of the centers of the five realms possesses an attribute to draw Surat (the consciousness) upward to its center. The Essential Sound or Pure Spiritual Sound has the attribute to draw one's consciousness up to the Supreme Sovereign [God]. The other mayavi sounds (material Sounds mentioned above) of each of the respective five realms have the attribute to attract the person who hears it (or focuses on it) and to draw that person's Surat (consciousness) to the Sound of the realm directly above. Further, for the practitioner, the realization of the Essential Divine Sound is impossible without first attaining the Sounds of the lower realms. Sar Shabda (the Essential Divine Sound) beckons a return to the Supreme Sovereign. The progression of Sound in all centers of the realms is upward, carrying one's consciousness from the lower centers to the higher centers ultimately reaching the Supreme
Sovereign God." -- Philosophy Of Liberation:
Hail to the Competent Living Masters,
Qualified Teachers, True Ones,
Genuine Mentors of souls,
Righteous and Worthy Guides,
Within and Without.
Jai Guru.
"The Sat Guru reunites the separated ones with God. He implants the Mantra of God's Name, and eradicates the illness of egotism. O Nanak, he alone meets the Sat Guru, who has such union pre-ordained." (Adi Granth, Sikh Scriptures)
Let the Sound Take You Away
"The soul has to concentrate on the Sounds that are heard ricocheting within by practicing nada dhyan/surat shabd yoga/nadanusandhana [Inner Sound Meditation]. Countless varieties of Sounds including the ocean's roar, thunder of clouds, melodies resembling those of musical instruments like drums, sitar, lute, flute, etc.... are heard. These Sounds are so captivating and pleasing that the soul forgets everything else. These Sounds become more and more melodious as one moves into higher and higher realms. By receiving the complete spiritual guidance of a true Guru one can grasp the Five Central Sounds, as described above, one after another and go on rising further and further. All these words or Sounds are flowing from the higher realms and by merging with them it is very much possible for the perceiving soul to keep ascending, just as a fish can swim against the stream or current." -- Swami Achyutanand Baba, Yoga of Inner Light and Sound, a new book on Sant Mat.
Our founders, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, Swami Ji Maharaj, etc.... and their successors have all instructed initiates of Surat Shabd Yoga (Inner Light and Sound Meditation) to adhere to a peaceful ethical foundation that includes the vegetarian diet.
"Countless are the cutthroats who trade in violence. Countless are the impious who live on unwholesome food." (Jap Ji of Guru Nanak)
"The saints have addressed violence with particular attention to the foods which are eaten. Foods which are produced by killing living beings, as well as foods which are not pure and fresh, are considered Tamsik. Consumption of these is prohibited by the teachings of the Saints. This includes animal products such as meat, fish, and eggs. These foods inhibit the clarity of mind and the health of the body." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Paramahans)
"In Sant Mat ALL Masters have decried killing and meat-eating." (Sant Tulsi Sahib, Ghat Ramayan)
"If you could take a pill that would reduce your risk of getting cancer, having a stroke, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, large bowel disorders, dementia, gallstones and many other illnesses, would you?"
Vegan!
Killing is not a right.
KILLING IS NOT A FREEDOM.
Killing is not a choice.
