The Seven Elements of Meditation Practice in Sant Mat -- Light and Sound on the Path -- e-Newsletter Digest/Blog/Booklet of Recently Shared Writings Mostly Pertaining to Sant Mat Spirituality and Meditation, Radhasoami, Surat Shabd Yoga, Inner Love, Light and Sound, The Sant Tradition of India, and Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts
My mission is to share the wisdom of the masters, mystics or lovers of the Beloved Supreme Being, the Ocean of Love, worldwide via the web, radio, and podcasts.
A SATSANG WITHOUT WALLS
This is the June 3rd, 2018 (6-3-18) 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 of Maharshi Mehi Ashram)
* ARCHIVE of all past posts/articles/blogs is located here, and includes a search engine:
* FACEBOOK: For much more material and daily spiritual quotes, see the Sant Mat Radhasoami Page @ Facebook:
This Twitter feed also includes links to new posts from the Tumblr Sant Mat profile. New posts made @ Medium (articles and new podcast announcements) also appear in this Twitter feed.
* E-LIBRARY ONLINE: Sant Mat Radhasoami Books: Free E Books: Sant Mat, Radhasoami, Surat Shabd Yoga, Inner Light and Sound Meditation, Poetry of Kabir (Bijak, Sakhis, Anurag Sagar, Other Dharamdasi-Kabir Literature), Guru Nanak, Guru Granth/Adi Granth, Namdev, Tukarama, Dadu Dayal, etc..., Many Other Bhakti Poet-Mystics, Saints of India, Sant Dariya Sahib, Sant Tulsi Sahib, Contemporary Sant Mat Masters, Sufis, Christian Mystics, Gnostic Gospels, Other Spiritual Books, also Vegan & Vegetarian Publications Online: https://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com/2019/01/sant-mat-radhasoami-books-main-page-e.html
* A List of Recent Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts -- Spiritual Awakening Radio With James Bean -- YOUTUBE ARCHIVE OF PODCASTS -- New Programs Are Added Each Week -- LISTEN, LIKE, and SUBSCRIBE HERE:
Lineage Clarity
I'm recording new satsang programs/podcasts based on 'lineage clarity' -- presenting a big picture view of the whole lineage of Masters directly related to contemporary Sant Mat, a subject I enjoy researching thoroughly; a life-long quest. This includes the poetry of Sant Dariya Sahib of Bihar, Sat Sahib, Anurag Sagar, and several Kabir-related scriptures. These programs and podcasts are based on being very mindful of the direct lineage of Masters going back centuries: Guru Kabir (and related Kabir literature, Anurag Sagar, Saakhi Granth, Brahm Nirupan, Bijak, etc...), Sant Dharam Das, Sat Sahib, Dariya Sahib, Sant Tulsi Sahib, Baba Devi Sahib, Sant Radhasoami Sahib, and more recent Masters up to the living present.
Upcoming June 2018 Spiritual Awakening Radio -- Show Titles
6/5/2018 (Upcoming) A Vegetarian Jesus at the Beginning of Christianity -- New Research
6/12/2018 (Upcoming) The Vegetarian Gospels of the Ebionites -- New Research
6/19/2018 (Upcoming) The Origins of Sant Mat -- Reflections About the Benefits of Lineage Clarity
6/26/2018 (Upcoming) Anurag Sagar Sant Mat -- Another in a series of Lineage Clarity-based satsangs
Most Recent Podcasts @ Youtube
Kabir, Sant Dharam Das and The Anurag Sagar, Kabir's Ocean of Love, India's Gnostic Gospel
The Sant Mat Family Tree or Lineage of Masters;
Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose and Poetry of Soamiji Maharaj;
A Culture of Love, The Heart of Mysticism;
Rumi Poetry and the Sufi Gnostics: Visions of Allah;
Kabir and the Anurag Sagar, India's Gnostic Gospel;
A Spiritual Talk (Satsang Discourse) by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj;
Mark Juergensmeyer on: Radhasoami Reality, the Spircon Gathering in Agra, and Sant Mat History;
Viewing Jesus (Yeshua) as a Spiritual Master: A Sant Mat Perspective on Christian Mysticism;
A Kirpal Singh Satsang: We Must Be Sincere;
Finding a Spiritual Path and Guidance, a Community of Kindred Souls -- An Introduction to Satsang;
Meditation For Beginners: An Introduction to Sant Mat Meditation;
Finding a Competent Qualified Spiritual Teacher;
Sant Mat and Hinduism: Introducing the Sant Tulsi Sahib, Bihar, Maharshi Mehi Satsang of India and Nepal;
Vegetarianism Is Going Vegan; Sant Mat and Veganism; Also: The Oldest Veg and Vegan Quotes on Earth
An Introduction to Sant Mat, The Path of the Masters, The Way of the Saints & Mystics;
An Introduction to Radhasoami (Radha Swami), The Path of the Masters;
Introduction to Inner Light and Sound Meditation (Surat Shabda Yoga) -- The Yoga of SOUND;
The Yoga of LIGHT: An Introduction to The Third Eye Center and Inner Light Meditation;
The Gnostic Gospels of Nag Hammadi -- An Inclusive Rather Than Exclusive Spirituality;
Gnostic Spiritual Practice, AND... Exploring the Ignored, Forgotten Gnostic Gospels;
The Philosophy of Liberation, by Maharshi Mehi;
The Mystic Poetry (Padavali) of Maharshi Mehi;
The Definition Of Sant Mat by Maharshi Mehi;
The Radhasoami Faith is a Gospel of Love, Prem Updesh Radhaswami, by Huzur Maharaj;
"The limitless beauty of the worlds created cannot be described. It is a wonderful creation; its beauty is such that it is impossible to describe in words. All worlds get light from the Light of Sat Lok. Even the sun and moon shine with the Light of one hair of Purush." (Anurag Sagar, The Ocean of Love)
"All the souls are of the Lord Sat Purush [Supreme Being], but as they are compelled by attachment, they are in darkness. The essence of Sat Purush resides within everyone, but it is not manifested; It remains hidden... Rare are the souls who recognize me after testing Shabda! They run and meet their Beloved and give up the support of Kal [the negative power]."
-- The Anurag Sagar (Ocean of Love)
"All the jivas [captive souls] have become foolish and think that Kal is the Inconceivable One. Involved in the tides of Karma, they are suffering pain birth after birth. Kal troubles the jivas, involving them in many Karmas: He himself plays the tricks -- but gives the consequences to the jiva."
"Kabir said to Dharam Das: Explaining these things to the goddess, Niranjan became invisible. He resided in the cave of Void consciousness -- who can know this secret? He has become invisible; now understand your mind as Niranjan. When one defeats the mind and gets the Knowledge of Sat Purush, Sat Purush Himself manifests within such a person."
-- The Anurag Sagar (Ocean of Love)
Too Much New Age Internet Consumes or Distracts People's Focus or Attention -- Not Enough Master-Wisdom -- Sant Mat Mixed with Astral Teachings = Something Other Than Sant Mat
"We have more data at our fingertips than ever before, and yet data is not enough... Our computational powers are painting ever more intricate pictures of an increasingly dire situation. We have the most powerful divination tools known to human history. The question is whether we will choose to digest that data into wisdom."
-- Sam Barlow, The Mystic In The Machine, The Tao of Computation
"Kabir Saheb says that one should keep oneself in the sacred company* of saints and sages all the time as it leaves a tremendous impact on one’s life. This will take ignorance away and one will be benefited by the true knowledge imparted by saints and sages, i.e. all the improper and impure deeds performed by someone due to his ignorance will be set right by the teachings imparted by saints." (Saakhi of Guru Kabir)
* Books, writings of Sant Satgurus (other kinds of electronic media, e-books, etc...) can also provide a degree of positive influence or "a level of satsang", as the Masters say.
"Without doing the practices of Sumiran [Simran, the Remembrance of God by the repetition of His Name or Names] and Dhyan [meditation upon the form of a Sant Satguru], the hold of Karmas past and present on the mind will not be loosened and therefore the mind will always be wavering with thoughts. The more one does the meditation practices, the more is the realization of the ephemerality of this life. In other words, the sense of Vairaga [detachment] gets consolidated. Only with the foundation of Vairaga will the seedlings of true Bhakti [love and devotion] germinate."
-- Spiritual Seekers Guide, a Collection of Discourses on the Spiritual Journey
"It is imperative that the practitioners recognize their falls and diversions, and return to the path as prescribed by their Satguru. These setbacks happen and it is important to reestablish oneself with the help of the Guru [Master]." -- Swami Vyasanand
"There is no separation between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul. Only the lack of devotion and intense desire keeps the two apart." -- 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 [Saints, Masters] and to meditate."
-- Swami Vyasanand, The Inward Journey of the Soul: Chal Hansa Nij Desh (O Sawan-Soul, Return to Your Original Abode)
There is No Spirituality Without Spirit
"So long as you do not experience the withdrawal of spirit within you, religion is a myth for you. To attain this experience, you have to perform the spiritual practices with full zest and fervour every day as prescribed by a Living Master."
-- The Spiritual Seekers Guide (@ The Internet Archive -- See the Sant Mat Radhasoami e-Library, Radhasoami Section)
"The sensory sheaths cover the individual soul. Just as a colored pair of glasses obstructs the true color of reality, in the same way, the physical and subtle senses obstruct the true nature of the Divine. Even though Divine Reality is close to us, we are unable to see it due to these obstructions. Many Sants have described this condition through metaphors.
"Sant Kabir and Sant Tulsi Das describe the soul as being hidden by a veil or screen of concealment made up of the three layers of darkness, light, and sound. Sant Paltu Sahib cries out: 'Lift the veil and Khuda (God) will reveal himself.' Sant Tulsi Sahib explains that the human condition is like someone with an eye disease (cataracts), which clouds their vision.
"Maharshi Mehi says: 'Three covers of darkness, light, and sound encumber the soul. We need to lift this veil in order to have the vision of the Divine.'"
-- Swami Vyasanand Ji Maharaj
"Kabir, a vast ocean is this body,
Hard to fathom its depth;
One who dies while living
And plunges within
Earns the rarest of Jewels."
-- Kabir, the Weaver of God’s Name
"When we receive initiation from a Saint, practice Naam simran to retrace our consciousness from toes to a spot behind the eyes [Third Eye Center], only then something is accomplished."
-- Baba Kehar Singh
"Man has got himself so enmeshed in mind and the outgoing faculties that his release from them can only be brought about by struggle and perseverance. His plight is, in a way, similar to that of a bird that has been kept in a cage for so many years. Even if you should open the door of the cage, the bird will be loath to fly out. Instead, it will fly from one side of the cage to the other, clinging with its talons to the wire mesh, but it does not wish to be free and fly out through the open door of the cage.
"Similarly, the soul has become so attached to the body and the outgoing faculties that it clings to outside things and does not wish to let go of them. It does not wish to fly through the door that has been opened by the Master at the time of holy initiation, at the threshold of which the radiant form of the Master is patiently waiting to receive the child disciple. True discipleship does not start until one has risen above body consciousness."
-- Kirpal Singh, The Cage of the Soul
The Soul or Spirit Should also be Given Nourishment and Pleasure just as is Done in the Case of the Body and Mind:
"It appears proper for everyone, whether a man or a woman, that as they work day and night for providing nourishment and enjoyment to their body, mind and senses, they must also work a little for securing sustenance and nourishment to their spirit... If they will do so with sincerity, they would themselves feel its beneficial effects after practising Abhyas [the meditation practice] for a short time, and would then realize within themselves the presence of the Supreme Being and of His grace... The spirit can get the highest form of nourishment, pleasure, strength and freshness, if it is raised upwards by the practices of Surat Shabd Yoga [Inner Light and Sound Meditation] and brought into contact or merged with the Current of nectar which comes from above."
-- Huzur Maharaj (Rai Saligram), Prem Patra Radhasoami
The Seven Elements of Sadhana (Spiritual Practice, Meditation Practice), by Swami Vyasanand Baba
Kabir: "Be quiet in your mind, quiet in your senses, and also quiet in your body. Then, when all these are quiet, don’t do anything. In that state truth will reveal itself to you."
1. Worthiness of a Seeker: "A serious seeker has to prepare a fertile ground within his or her inner Self. The prerogative of God-realization and attainment of the vision of the Divine only belongs to the atman (inner Self) or consciousness within the body. However, it is not possible to accomplish this while engrossed in the distractions of the mind and the body. It is only possible by freeing us of these distractions while living in the body. To liberate us from the sensory distractions is not an easy task. However, it can be achieved with the grace of the Satguru (true teacher). For this, a practitioner must be determined, morally upright, and follow the instruction of the guru. Without these, it is impossible to obtain the grace of the guru. The practitioner can only diligently perform sadhana (literally, exertion to attain an objective, meditation, spiritual practice), but only the grace of the guru yields success in the endeavor."
2. The Mantra of an Accomplished Teacher: "Just as high quality seed is the second requirement of success in agriculture, similarly, acquiring a mantra (sacred syllable, sound, word, or phrase that is given my the guru during initiation) from an accomplished teacher is an important component to prepare the practitioner for progress on the spiritual path...
"According to the Saints: ‘Until you receive the auspicious mantra from a propitious Sadguru, you cannot change your life and remove all forms of inauspicious providence.’ Until you receive spiritual teaching from a Sadguru, you will not be able to escape the grip of inauspicious luck and will not attain contentment and peace. Therefore, you should carefully choose a Sadguru and commit yourself to his service. Through learning a path or method for God-realization, following moral conduct and performing sadhana, you should make this human birth fruitful and auspicious. Maharshi Mehi says: 'Leave all hubris and desire and obtain the mantra from a Sadguru and make progress within -- this is the instruction of an accomplished guru'.
3. Without Essential Information No Meditation (Necessary Knowledge Prior to Meditation Practice): "Among the seven requirements for successful farming, the third one is the proper knowledge of farming techniques. Similarly, among the seven phases of meditation practice, the third is: accurate understanding of principles relating to the path of meditation. Just as a farmer who does not have adequate knowledge of all the tools and techniques relating to farming will be at a disadvantage in the success of his agriculture, so also, a practitioner who does not have proper understanding of the principles and practices concerning meditation will have difficulty realizing all the desired benefits. Therefore, a practitioner should seek to understand the essentials and fundamentals before treading the path of meditation."
"Deep attachment will leave a practitioner incapable of focusing or concentrating during meditation. Can a person deafened by his or her ego hear the inner celestial sounds? How will one who is always looking to be honored be able to honor others? The one who is looking for honor and titles and respect cannot accomplish samadhi. Can one who performs wrongful acts be able to concentrate on the pure image of the Divine? Can one who desires sensory pleasures yearn for God’s love? Can someone who holds animosity for others be able to tread the pure path leading to inner Divine experience? If we are caught in the above traps it will not be possible to have genuine divine experiences. Success comes from perseverance, and to those who are able to avoid the above-mentioned obstacles. Therefore, know the particulars of the inner path from an accomplished guru and then begin the path of meditation, otherwise your efforts will be wasted."
4. Resolute Practice: "The fourth among the seven requirements of successful farming is ‘hard work.’ It is on the basis that a farmer can achieve success even on barren land and reap the benefits of making land fertile. However, in the absence of hard work even fertile land will not yield the desired crops. A lazy farmer suffers poverty due to the resultant lack of prosperity. In a similar manner, of the seven elements of meditation practice, the fourth requirement is hard work. Without this a practitioner cannot continue for even a single step on the path of meditation. On the path of meditation ardent practice holds the key to success."
A. Japa: Recitation of Mantra (Sacred name given by the Guru); B. Manas Dhyana (Mental Focus on the Form of the Deity); C. Drishti Yoga (The Yoga of Inner Seeing -- Inner Light Meditation); and, D. The Yoga of Sound (Inner Sound Meditation):
"The Formless pervades the form. The realm of light is the manifestation of the form of the macro-cosmos (brahmanda). And the Sound is the Formless macrocosm. The practitioner who becomes accomplished in the light realms begins to experience Divine Sound along with various Divine light experiences. However, after the center of Trikuti (the center of Brahma Jyoti) the light form becomes absorbed in the Sound (that is formless) since the form arises out of Formless. According to the natural law anything that is created must return to its source and be dissolved therein."
5. Bhakti: Devotion and Love for God: Among the seven essential steps for successful farming, the fifth is complete dedication to the task. Similarly, for the inner journey to attain the Divine, the fifth step is whole-hearted devotion (Bhakti) and commitment to the practice... Sant Kabir says: 'Without devotion one cannot reach the abode of the (Divine), which is difficult to attain.'"
"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 with true, unwavering devotion, then the Divine will manifest at that moment."
6. The Merits of Past Lives: "...The sixth essential element for success on the path of meditation is acquired good karmas and merits... Without enough resources, and in spite of having all other agricultural means, a farmer is unable to have a successful crop. Similarly, though having met all other basic requirements to tread the path of meditation, a practitioner without favorable past karmas will not have the desired success on the spiritual path. If we continue to create good karmas, then the course of our life will shift and will lead to spiritual progress. Individuals, even if they do not believe in reincarnation or the karmas of past lives -- if they carefully tread their path in this life and devote themselves to performing good actions -- their deeds will become a source of future progress, and help them move forward on the inward journey of the soul."
7. The Will of God: Divine Grace: "No matter how much humans may desire, without the Divine Will (Mauj), the goal is not achieved. Despite one’s worthiness, association with an accomplished guru, knowledge of the path, resolute (meditation) practice, devotion, favorable accumulated karmas, a devotee cannot succeed without the Will of God."
"To surrender ourselves and live according to the Will of God is not an easy task. Such a mindset is realized in the final stages of meditation practice. This is the climax of meditation. We will have to accomplish the other six stages of sadhana first in order to completely surrender ourselves to the Divine Will. The result: one day, the seventh component of the inner journey of the soul will be realized. To sum up: if a practitioner does not practice these seven stages of the inward journey, then he will not be able to see even the initial signs of the Divine. Therefore, practitioners should follow the seven elements of sadhana as elaborated above according to their individual capacity."
-- Swami Vyasanand, The Inward Journey of the Soul
"The Unstruck Sounds of the material realm are pervading within the material creation. This is the reason some fortunate practitioners can hear the Divine Sound in meditation even in the realm of darkness. But generally, the Sound experience begins after one has accomplished focus on the subtle point in the Third Eye.
"The Formless pervades the form. The realm of Light is the manifestation of the form of the macro-cosmos (brahmanda). And the Sound is the Formless macrocosm. The practitioner who becomes accomplished in the Light realms begins to experience Divine Sound along with various Divine Light experiences." (Swami Vyasanand)
True Spiritual Love -- Mystic Poetry of Sant Dariya Sahib of Bihar
Without realizing the true Name [Sat-Naam],
Gods, people and sages are all led astray.
One who is in love with Sat-Naam
Is the glorious Saint full of love and affection
Have love and endearment for Naam,
And you will not be lost in the ocean of the world.
There can be no devotion without love.
The inner lotus will wither without the water of love
The one in whom love dwells day and night
Will never fall into evil.
The one in whom the refulgence of primeval Naam appears,
Within him the luminous light burns at all times.
Such a pure soul who is absorbed in love for Naam
Goes to the hidden realm.
She goes to that realm never to return again.
Her agonies of life after life come to an end.
When the lid of the vessel of love is
removed,
The lover is intoxicated by drinking the nectar of love.
Drink now by filling your cup from the well of nectar
And enjoy the fruit of this divine nectar,
Which brings the dead to life.
As the soul becomes purer by drinking nectar,
Her sight becomes increasingly clearer.
The one in whom the true Sound is manifested
Goes to the immortal realm.
There one finds the nectar of love and the fruit of immortality
Whereby the hunger of life after life is satiated.
-- Sant Dariya Sahib of Bihar
NOTE: Books of Sant Dariya Sahib of Sant Tulsi Sahib in English are now online. See the link above to the Sant Mat Radhasoami e-Library. Click on that and go to the section of the Sant Mat e-library titled, Publications Related to Maharshi Mehi, Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, and Successors.
The Thing Lies Somewhere. Elsewhere You Go On Its Quest. Mystic Verses of Kabir
"The Thing lies somewhere,
Elsewhere you go on its quest;
How can you obtain
The precious jewel?
Says Kabir: Only when you seek
In the company of the one
Who is conversant with its secret,
This treasure will you gain."
"When I took with me
The master of the secret.
He revealed the jewel;
That path that was
A million lives long
In a twinkling
I covered it and reached
My destination."
-- Guru Kabir, Kabir, The Weaver of God's Name
Our Creed: Sant Dadu Dayal's Ideal Vision For Living A Spiritual Life On Planet Earth
Here's a beautiful poem by the 16th century Mystic Sant Dadu Dayal of Rajasthan who outlined the Sant Mat vision of a spiritual life to be pursued during our time here on planet Earth:
"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."
