8/25/2015 (Upcoming) Be Truly Human
8/18/2015 (Upcoming) Sant Mat Spirituality and Meditation
8/11/2015 Figuring Things Out in a Land of Illusion
8/4/2015 The Light-Givers of India
7/28/2015 The Sant Tradition of India, Part 3
7/21/2015 The Sant Tradition of India, Part 2
7/14/2015 The Sant Tradition of India, Part 1
6/30/2015 Love, Light and Sound on the Path
6/23/2015 Purity of Mind
6/16/2015 A Spiritual Seekers Guide
5/26/2015 The Vegetarianism of the Original Jesus Movement
5/19/2015 Maps of Inner Space
5/12/2015 The Mandaean Gnostic Scriptures
5/5/2015 The Non-Sectarian Approach of the Nag Hammadi Monks
(All shows shown above are kept available online for about three months.)
* Sant Mat E Library -- Hundreds of Books Online -- Recommended Reading:
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* Introductory Page: Sant Mat 101, Introduction to the Path of the Masters:
"There is a vast difference between knowing The Path and walking The Path." (Morpheus, The Matrix)
To the extent you are genuine, Nature shall honour you with endowments and provide you with Her appropriate privileges. You see this every day; then, what more do you want? Just try wholeheartedly to be genuine. Does the university honour anyone with a degree unless he has studied and passed? ... If you have seen and understand Truth, it will surely burst forth in your thought, word and deed. You will know no rest until you are lost in it. Can darkness cover the sun?" (Sri Sri Thakur Anukulchandra, Book of SATYANUSARAN -- The Pursuit of Truth)
"The desire of an individual to be free from sufferings and to attain the happiness of absolute peace is naturally present in the hearts of all. The purpose of Sant Mat [the Teachings of the Masters] is to provide a system which fulfills the desires of attaining absolute peace." -- Maharshi Mehi Paramhans, Philosophy of Liberation (Moksha Darshan)
Master's Day/Guru Purnima is Dedicated to Celebrating Living Masters/Spiritual Teachers
"To show the students the correct path, to help them increase their inner strength, to give them good advice, to keep them on the right path, to assist them when in need, to protect them from obstacles, to bring them to the right path even using sternness or harsh treatment, these are the responsibilities of a true teacher. It is the teachers' responsibility to see the students' success in the journey from the beginning to the end. Therefore, a student needs to seek the teachers' advice throughout his life." (Swami Vyasanand Ji Maharaj, The Inward Journey of the Soul)
The Mystic Poetry and Hymns of the Padavali
The Maharshi Mehi mystic-poems below are from the Book of Padavali, a collection of hymns/bhajans to be sung or read on a daily basis. It is for those in the Tulsi Sahib/Maharshi Mehi world of Sant Mat an essential daily practice to recite certain prescribed Padavali hymns. It is a great practice that gives some sense of structure and discipline in one's daily life that promotes meditating thrice-daily (morning, mid-day, and evening). It is the equivalent of the Bahai Book of Prayers, contemplative or monastic "Book of Hours" -- for those who are Sikh: the Adi Granth, or for Dadu Panthis: the Panch Vani. I should post more from the Padavali and work with this text more closely. Reading the Padavali is so nice, as these hymns have much more specific instructions or guidance compared with most other collections of hymns/banis/bhajans.
Seek the Light within,
Any devotee with the inner vision has seen that Light,
One must learn the secrets from the Master, serving his lotus-feet,
Day and night, keeping one’s consciousness focused at the point between
the two eyebrows [Third Eye Center],
The darkness is gone and there comes in front of the eyes
Colours like yellow, blue, red, white and black;
Lightning flashes with their flickers and the morning star is seen,
The Moon rises and the Sun too climbs up,
And thus the Quintessential One is perceived;
At the feet of the Absolute and the Master,
The devotee comes to know all about these secrets,
Various kinds of deeds in the world entrap this life;
Baba Devi Sahib has revealed to Mehi that only God and Guru deliver souls
Living in bondage in this world.
-- Maharshi Mehi, Padavali # 61
The Birthright of Each Soul is to Spiritually See, Hear and Ascend
"Every human being is within his or her right to transcend all the layers of nature: darkness, light and sound, through devotion to God by taking recourse to spiritual practices such as Maanas Jap ([simran] mentally repeating with eyes closed some holy word instructed secretly by the spiritual preceptor), Maanas Dhyaan (concentration and meditation over some holy figure with eyes closed as instructed secretly by one's spiritual preceptor), Dristi Saadhan (the yoga of inner seeing or Light), and Surat Shabda-Yoga [the yoga of inner [transcendental] hearing or Sound], and to attain salvation through re-identifying with the Supreme. (The Principles of Santmat, excerpted from Maharshi Mehi's "Padaavali")
O Master! Let my consciousness ascend to the sky;
And kindly allow me catch the current of the True Melody
(Sar Shabd, Sat Dhun) that is the Quintessential One.
After letting me to catch the support of your radiant being,
May I have a glimpse of your highly resplendent vision.
(Maharshi Mehi, from Padavali Hymn Number 20)
Hail to the Saints -- The Nirguna Bhakti Sants of India -- Sant Mat (Path of the Masters, The Way of the Saints, Mystics of the East)
Great praise to all the Saints!
In which manner will one pray to them?
My mind is so very dirty and inexperienced,
Saints being destroyers of sorrows do away with the worldly traps.
They are the treasure-troves of knowledge and meditation,
Highly proficient in the techniques of single-minded concentration
and the Yoga of Sound.
They propagate the same in plain language all over the world;
Great are the Sages and Saints like Buddha, Shankar and Ramanand
for eliminating sins.
Sacrifice to the magnificent Saints like Kabir, Nanak,
Goswami Tulsidas and Tulsi Sahib,
Dadu, Sundar Das, Sur Das, Swapach, Ravi Das, Jagjivan, Paltu, etc...,
They are all great benefactors, delivering human beings
from the fears of the world.
Satguru Devi [Baba Devi Sahab] and other Saints are also highly adorable.
Maharshi Mehi sings their magnificence and lies prostrate
at their sacred feet with faith and love.
-- Maharshi Mehi, Book of Padavali (Hymns), # 2
(No copyright. The Saints, and their message, is for the benefit of all of humanity.)
You Permeate All, Yet Why Aren't You Perceived? (Padavali of Maharshi Mehi # 34)
Why aren't You (God) seen, O spark of the eyes[1], O Beloved of all?
Why are You not grasped by senses, though You enliven the Individual Soul[2]? ||1||
You pervade every particle of the body from top to toes. |
Yet why are You not caught though You fill every atom of Cosmos? ||2||
All forms are Yours, still You are Formless!
Subtler are mind and intellect, why even these are helpless? ||3||
As space spreads evenly, within and without a pot. |
So You permeate all, yet why aren't You perceived? ||4||
Between You and own Self, he who can erase the dualism ...|
All his doubts, O Mehi, get dissolved; he becomes You and You become him. ||5||
_______
NOTES:
[1] The eyes appear to be seeing, but actually these derive the power to see from the current of consciousness connected to God. If that current of consciousness leaves the eyes they are rendered useless. Hence, God, whose current of consciousness keeps pervading all our senses, has been referred as the spark or the jewel of eyes.
[2] Individual Soul is also called Jiva-atma. It refers to the un-liberated Individual Soul. The Pure Soul when attached with the ephemeral antaHkaran or internal organs (Mind, Intellect, Chitta and Ego) is termed as Jiva-atma or Un-liberated Individual Soul. Though the Soul is unchanging, indestructible and beyond changing states of pain and pleasure, the Jiva-atma because of its association with the mind, intellect, etc... becomes trapped into a state of illusory bondage and also experiences pain and pleasure and undergoes the painful transmigratory cycle. If the Individual Soul can, tactfully, shed all the illusory veils that keep it shrouded, it comes into its pure state which is the same as that of God, ending all dualistic experiences. That tact which helps the Soul regain its free state is inner meditation.
An English translation of a verse (verse No. 34) composed by Maharshi Mehi Paramhans Ji Maharaj taken from his book "Mehi Padavali" (Elixir Verses of Maharshi Mehi).
-- Padavali Hymn # 34 and the accompanying notes above are from Pravesh K. Singh.
Namami Amit Gyan, Hymn Number 14 from the Padavali of Maharshi Mehi Paramhans
Listen to This Padavali Hymn Being Sung in Hindi with Tambura and Other Instruments, GO TO:
In Praise of the Master
Sung by Madhulata Arya
Excerpts of Some Verses from This Hymn in English:
I bow again and again to the embodiment of unending devotion, kindliness,
The store-house of Divine knowledge beyond worldly wisdom;
And the treasure-house of splendid thoughts,
Extremely forgiving, forbearing, profound in knowledge,
And maintaining the equipoise of mind during conflict and confusion,
The very life-force of devotees, giving them endless sympathy,
I bow to the Satguru, the giver knowledge and magnificent Lord;
I bow to him, I bow to him, I bow to him, I bow to him;
Eliminating worldly catastrophes, turmoil, and the maze of mundane deeds;
Shattering all earthly aspirations and disseminating deep knowledge,
He is the one who helps see the inner Light Divine,
Extremely accommodating and indifferent to sensualities,
Free from mental abnormalities and enjoying absolute peace;
I bow again and again to the Quintessential One, the Lord,
Converting disciples to His nature,
Extracting the poison of sensualities from the mind;
Satguru is the treasure house of highest bliss, granting contentment and peace,
Bestowing all the virtues and destroying the great fears and delusions,
As he assumes the magnetic human personality;
I bow to the Satguru, the very embodiment of truth and righteousness,
I salute You, O beneficent Satguru (True Guru), the fount of unfathomable wisdom,
vast treasure of intelligence; to know the Unknowable you impart needed perfection.
The life-breath of devotees, boundless ocean abounding in compassion.
To the True Guru adored by all, I bow down,
bow down, bow down, bow down, to thee I bow down.
Giver of total peace, most venerable,
truly helpful in inner ascension.
I prostrate to the transforming Lord-Satguru,
bow down, bow down, bow down, to thee I bow down.
You infuse perfect tranquillity and all noble virtues,
mastering a magnetic persona; you drive away fears bred by infatuation.
The family of senses is like snakes with venom lethal,
you, O True Guru, render them poison less like a mighty falcon.
For the thick dark night of illusion,
the Satguru's words are like powerful beams of the Sun.
I bow down, says Mehi, to the Perfect Guru,
bow down, bow down, bow down, to thee I bow down.
Prose: Instruction: Do Not Allow Materialism to Interfere With Your Spirituality
"Silence has been given a prominent place in the life of a devotee. The true devotee always keeps and hides his spiritual aspirations and feelings from the eyes of the public. There is no show and exhibitionism in his life. He spends most of his time in solitude contemplating Satguru's form and Repetition of His Holy name [the sacred name given by him at the time of initiation]. He observes his mind and seeing its defects, repents and prays. Except this, he does not allow his spiritual strength to be weakened by other worldly acts. He knows that indulging too much in the worldly affairs beyond the requirement will harm his spiritual interests, and precious time will be wasted. He is always unattached in the world, sitting in a secluded place and absorbed in the memory of his Beloved Master. He applies a sticker on his mouth, because unless the mouth is closed, switching off mind is not possible. If we do not close the external doors, internal doors will not be closed.
"Those who do not give importance to this spiritual principle will be failing in their endeavor. Spirituality is a matter of seriousness. It requires stability of body and mind. You have to create an atmosphere of solitude in your own place, so that the greatness and glory of the Supreme Being is bestowed on you and you will be able to listen to the Spiritual Sound [Surat Shabd Yoga, Inner Sound Meditation].
"The blending of materialism and spirituality is right to a certain extent but if further liberty is given, materialism dominates and occupies more place resulting in the negligence of spiritual pursuits... Your aim should be to achieve spirituality. Do not allow too much materialism to interfere in your spirituality."
-- from a Discourse by Param Guru Huzur Rajji Maharaj -- The Spiritual Seekers Guide
From the Chapter Titled, Without Essential Information, No Meditation
"It is not possible to have immoral conduct and also have true spiritual experiences on the inward path -- both simply cannot coexist. Can one with a corrupt mind focus in meditation? Can the mind of a practitioner who is immoral find true concentration? Can those who speak ill of others regularly focus their mind in tranquility? The two are mutually exclusive. Those who are jealous will have the same problem. How can those who have no control of their senses find a glimpse of the inner spiritual experiences? Can an angry person encounter tranquil experiences? Can the greedy person get rid of the mind’s agitation? Can an arrogant person grasp the purity of Divine Light? Being a person of anger also disqualifies one from such experiences. 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." (Swami Vyasanand, The Inward Journey of the Soul -- Chal Hamsa Nij Desh: O, Swan-Soul Return to Your Abode, Amazon Kindle E Book, & Amazon India).
Intense Love and Yearning
"Love for and faith in the Supreme Being Radhasoami Dayal [the Compassionate Lord of the Soul] and Sant Sat Guru will gradually go on increasing in the company of sincere and devoted Abhyasis (meditation practitioners). Bliss and joy will also be experienced in the performance of Abhyas [meditation practices]. If love and yearning are intense, the Sant Sat Guru will, by His Will, grant His Darshan [Vision] and Grace. He will advance the practitioner in his Abhyas by helping him internally as well as externally." (Huzur Maharaj)
Meditation As A Bhakti Practice Done With Love For God
"It is impossible that intense love, devotion, and single-focused dedication will not manifest the Divine in the heart of the devotee... The One (God) who rules the universe becomes your assistant, as has been described in many tales. Drawn to the Bhakti of the devotee, the Divine submits to that devotee... 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 [meditation practice] with true, unwavering devotion, then the Divine will manifest at that moment." (Swami Vyasanand, The Inward Journey of the Soul -- Chal Hamsa Nij Desh: O, Swan-Soul Return to Your Abode, Sant Mat Amazon E-Book)
On Being A Steadfast Practitioner of Inner Light and Sound Meditation (Maanas Jap -- Simran, Maanas Dhyaan, Dhristi Saadhan, and Surat Shabda-Yoga)
"The meaning of steadfast practice is as follows: until the goal of a task has been realized and manifested it is important to not impede the speed and steadfastness of the practice. Even though countless obstructions and challenges emerge we should remain diligent in the intensity of action to achieve the goal. We should even further increase our determination. During the task of sadhana [meditation practice] one should see the goal alone and should think of nothing else. The action of sadhana should be embraced with a firm commitment. Quick expectation of results for the goal should be eschewed. During the process and action of meditation, the mind should be fully absorbed in the task, i.e., the mind fully engaged in the action of sadhana. During any sadhana undertaking, one should keep the mind disciplined and on the task of meditation. When one is distracted she or he should bring the mind resolutely and continuously back to the task of concentration.
"Steadfastness means firm, immovable, and strong. Practice means diligent repetition of an action and constant effort. Here we use the word steadfastness with practice because often when practitioners direct their minds to meditation, the mind wanders toward worldly things. The practitioners should repeatedly refocus their mind on meditation whenever the mind strays into worldly thoughts. This state of diligent struggle is known as steadfast practice.
"Sage Patanjali calls this practice Pratyahara. Lord Krishna elaborates this subject to the Sage Narada: 'The mind which is unsteady and fickle and wanders around, should be stopped by the practitioner and repeatedly brought back to focus on God.' He further states: 'The mind wanders around struck by the infliction of desires, but a learned person should bring the mind back to the goal of concentration.'
"Many Sants like Sant Kabir, Sant Paltu, Shri Tulsi Das, Maharshi Mehi, and the devotee Mira Bai elucidate on this struggle with the mind. In their teachings they all instruct the practitioner to fight the inner combat of the mind diligently and bring their mind constantly back to the object of meditation. In this way, a constant struggle between sensory attractions and the inner contemplation continues in the mind of the practitioner. Whoever succeeds in this struggle becomes victorious and is known as a steadfast practitioner. And those who get defeated wander from life to life..." (Swami Vyasanand Ji Maharaj, The Inward Journey of the Soul, Amazon E Book)
Ethics: Sikh And You Will Find: The Vegetarian Diet, Sikh Gurus and Scriptures, A Collection of Passages, Compiled by James Bean
Some have suggested that the Sikh Scriptures are not very clear on vegetarianism, the need to strictly adhere to a vegetarian diet for spiritual and ethical reasons. Let’s have a look. There are numerous vegetarian passages preserved in the Sikh Scriptures (Adi Granth, Shri Guru Granth Sahib) and related Sikh texts -- quotes from Guru Nanak, Kabir, Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Gobind Singh and others. I’ve also included quotes from Bhai Gurdaas Ji and a Persian historian and scholar of comparative religion who wrote about Guru Nanak and the early Sikhs -- how the original disciples were all vegetarians.
Vegetarian Diet and the Sikh Gurus: Nanak abstained from animal food and enjoined against cruelty to animals: “Having prohibited his disciples to drink wine and eat pork, he (Nanak) himself abstained from eating flesh and ordered not to hurt any living being.” (Mohsin Fani, DABISTAN-E-MAZAHIB) "Countless are the cutthroats who trade in violence. Countless are sinners who keep on sinning. Countless are liars, wandering lost in their lies. Countless are the impious who live on unwholesome food." (Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 4) "You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action? You call yourself the excellent sage; then whom would you call a butcher?" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1103). "Kabeer says, the dinner of beans and rice is excellent when flavored with salt. Who would cut throats to have meat with his bread?" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1374) "Kabeer: for those who consume marijuana, fish and wine, no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all be consigned to hell". (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1377). "One who does not steal, commit adultery, slander anyone, gamble, eat meat or drink wine will be liberated in this very life (i.e. Jeewan Mukt)". (Guru Gobind Singh, 10th Sikh Guru, Sudharam Marag Granth)
Vegetarian Diet and the Sikh Gurus -- More: "Living by neglect and greed, the world eats dead carcasses. Like a goblin or a beast, they kill and eat the forbidden carcasses of meat. Control your urges, or else you will be thrown into the tortures of hell." (Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 723). Bhai Gurdaas Ji said: "They eat meat by cutting throats, what will their own condition be?" (Vaar 24, Pauree 17) "To take what rightfully belongs to another, is like a Muslim eating pork, or a Hindu eating beef. Our Guru, our Spiritual Guide, stands by us if we do not eat those carcasses. By mere talk, people do not earn Liberation. Salvation only comes from the practice of truth. By adding spices to forbidden foods, they are not made acceptable. O Nanak, from false talk, only falsehood is obtained." (Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 141) "You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action? You call yourself the excellent sage; then whom would you call a butcher?" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1103). "You keep your fasts to please Allah, while you murder other beings for pleasure. You look after your own interests, and so not see the interests of others. What good is your word? O Qazi, the One Lord is within you, but you do not think or contemplation on Him. You do not care for others, you are mad about religion, this is why your life is wasting away." (Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 483)
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (1670--1716)
"On 3rd September 1708, Guru Gobind Singh Ji administered the vows and Amrit (blessed nectar) to Madho Das, a Hindu Sadhu or ascetic, and gave him a new name, Banda Singh. At the same time, he gave Banda Singh a Nagara (war drum), Nishan Sahib (banner) and five arrows from his own quiver as symbols of Authority. Banda Singh was also accompanied by five Sikhs to assist him to build up his forces so as to repel the tyranny of the Mughal Empire."
Hukamnama (edict or order) to the Sikhs of Jaunpur by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on 12th December 1710. "Ek Ongkar Fateh Darshan. Sri sache sahib ji ka hokum hai sarbat Khalsa Jaunpur ka Guru rekhega, guru japna janam savraega, tusi sri akal purakh ji ka khalsa ho, panj hathear banh ke hukam dekhdiya darshan awna. Khalsae di rahet rahena, bhang, tumakoo, hafeem, posthe, dharoo, amal koyee na hi khana, mas masheli paeaj na hi khana, chori jari nahi karni, asa satjug vertaeya hae aap vech pyar karna, mera hukam hae jo khalsae di rahet rahega tesdi Guru bahori kareaga. Methi Poh 12 samvat pahela satrathes."
English Translation of the Hukamnama
"Ek Ongkar Fateh Darshan. By the order of the true king, all the Khalsa of Jaunpur will be protected by Guru ji, Pray to the Guru for he will improve your life. You are God’s Khalsa, wear the five weapons and on being ordered, present yourself. You must obey the principals of the Khalsa. You are not to consume hemp, tobacco, opium, poppy seeds or alcoholic drinks. You are not to eat meat, fish and onions. You must not steal. We usher in a new era, Satjug -- the Age of Truth. Love one another. This is my order, those who should live according to the principals of the Khalsa will be protected by God. Dated 12 Poh samvat pahela 1 ( = 12 December 1710)"
Meat-eating, Drug-taking, Plagiarism, Untruthfulness -- Ethics Don't Matter To Some Perhaps, But....
A couple of voices have suggested that there should be two Sant Mat's: one for the East and different one for the West minus the ethical standards. But despite false claims, "Nobody can become Guru automatically by himself." (Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Updesh, # 54) One doesn't become a Guru by faking their own resume'. And there is no longitude and latitude of the Spirit, or ethical differences based on gender, ethnicity, nationality, etc.... The universe is indeed a big place, and ethical principles of non-violence are quite universal. Masters, East or West, such as Jesus (as revealed in the Gospel of the Hebrews and earliest Jewish texts), Pythagoras, Apollonius of Tyana, Valentinus, Mani, Rumi, Mahavira, Guru Nanak, Kabir, etc... have always made vegetarianism a central ethical precept.
Jesus/Yeshua ("West"): "Now beware in yourselves that your hearts do not become heavy with the eating of flesh and with the intoxication of wine and with the anxiety of the world, and that day come up upon you suddenly; for as a snare it will come upon all them that dwell on the surface of the Earth." (Jesus, Luke 21:34, Syriac-Aramaic manuscript of the New Testament Gospels)
Sawan Singh ("East"): "I must point out that animal food, even if a single particle is eaten, is detrimental to spiritual progress."
Drugs-Intoxicants & Meat-Eating Is Forbidden by Guru Nanak and Other True Spiritual Masters, But What About Onions and Other Foods in the "Rajasic" Category Mentioned Above?
According to Ayurveda [and schools of yoga and meditation], India’s classic medical science, "foods are grouped into three categories: sattvic, rajasic and tamasic -- foods in the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. Onions and garlic, and the other alliaceous plants are classified as rajasic and tamasic, which means that they increase passion."
Email to Pravesh K. Singh About This Issue: 'Dear Pravesh: Here are a couple of questions for you about Sattvik, Tamasic, and Rajasic. Caffeine drinks are considered Rajasic. Are those prohibited? I know they are inside the Maharshi Mehi Ashram, but there are tea stands outside or nearby the ashram -- where people sometimes go to get tea. A bit unclear. OK for householders to have tea or coffee but not for sadhus? Or just close to meditation time? For some, onions, garlic, mushrooms and eggplant are prohibited Rajasic foods, and yet are non-intoxicating plant based foods. I know Soami Bagh, a Radhasoami group in Agra does not approve of satsangis eating onions and garlic, but, as far as I know, other Sant Mat groups have NO BAN ON ONIONS AND GARLIC. Someone was asking me about these questions and thought you would be good to ask about this.'
Pravesh: "The restrictions for those who have taken to a life of a recluse [Sanyasi, sadhu, monk] are stricter in comparison to those meant for the house-holders. While invigorating drinks tea, coffee, etc... and food items like onion, garlic, hard spices etc... -- even salt content is kept to a bare minimum or even absent -- are proscribed for Sanyasis as they make practising continence and keeping the monkey-mind’s restlessness under check all the more difficult, these are not banned for common house-holders. Since the ashram is meant mainly for living of monks or those who have drifted away from leading a normal family life and aspire to become Sanyasis (house-holders are allowed to stay as visitors for just a few days), tea/coffee stalls are not allowed within ashram premises.
"However, intoxicating substances like cigarettes, heroine, wine, beer, whisky, opium, etc.. and non-vegetarian diet are prohibited for all the Satsangis uniformly.
"Garlic, onion, etc... have medicinal qualities, too. But they increase the heat and sexual urge also and, hence, are not recommended for Sanyasis.
"Hope, that does clarify the issue." (Pravesh K. Singh)
The mind can make a heaven of hell and a hell of heaven." (John Milton)
Metanoia: an Ancient Greek word (μετάνοια) meaning the freedom to "change one's mind" -- may refer to: repentance, correction, the process of experiencing a "break down" and subsequent, positive psychological re-building or "healing"; (Wikipedia)
"Come out of the circle of time and into the circle of Love." (Rumi)
Commentary: "Time" has some heavy metaphysical baggage in our school of spirituality. The circle of Time is the realm of the Negative Power, Kal Niranjan, the Demiurge of the Gnostics, a false god and cosmic accountant keeping score of our karmic sins and finding all to come up short in a rigged system designed to keep souls right where they are incarnation after incarnation, a debtor's prison of souls. Time is the cruel hand of fate, the oppressive influence of the stars. The circle of Love is far beyond all those archon rulers. It is the Ocean of Love and All-Consciousness.
Masters say it is a good idea to meditate everyday to lighten the load of karma. The inner currents of Sound and Light wash away karma and give us more Divine Grace, thus uplifting our destiny to the highest good. The Force known as Shabd Naam (Divine Sound and Light) coming from Above, busts into the world of time and space, freeing souls from the law of karma. We become what we see. If we contemplate the Light of God....we become That. (Editor)
"Recognize all humanity as one. All are of one form and all are the creation of the One." (Guru Gobind Singh)
