Surcharged with Love Divine: Prem Bani Radhasoami in Verse

 

Surcharged with Love Divine: Prem Bani Radhasoami in Verse

 

Huzur Maharaj's poetical compositions are contained in four big volumes entitled, Prem Bani Radhaswami. Like the Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry of Soamiji Maharaj, the four volumes of, Prem Bani Radhasoami, comprise forty two Bachans or chapters.

Prem means love and Bani means verses composed by Sants, Sadhs and Mahatmas. The books of Prem Bani are surcharged with Love divine. Every line, phrase or word is Prem or Love spiritual. In most of the hymns Surat (soul, spirit entity) has been addressed as Suratia, which is an expression of endearment as indeed Surat is most dear to the Supreme Father Radhasoami Dayal [Compassionate Lord of the Soul]. In like manner Satsangis and Satsangins have been addressed as dear brothers and sisters and friends:

Translation

My dear brothers and sisters!
Develop right understanding and recognize the Satguru.
Attend His Satsang, ponder over His discourses, and
see what effect they produce on your mind.
This is how you should recognize a Sadh [great or advanced soul].

The tone and mode of singing the hymns of Prem Bani was set by Huzur Maharaj Himself or approved by Him. The recitation by those who are trained and practised is highly elevating. Listeners feel an upward tug on their minds and Surats, are filled with love and devotion for the Supreme Being Radhasoami Dayal and the Sant Sat Guru. The state of ecstatic bliss and love produced by the chanting is to be experienced, it cannot be described. Prem Bani Radhasoami is love and nothing but love.

Huzur Maharaj's style conforms to a beautiful standard of simplicity, sometimes almost childlike, but never superficial.

Translation

If I had not committed sins and faults,
how would have Your pardon
got an occasion to move?

The words are simple, but evocative, rousing feelings of love and devotion for the Supreme Father Radhasoami Dayal and the Sant Sat Guru. As one listens to them, one experiences a shower of Love; one's Surat and mind are dyed in the color of Love.

It is hoped this English translation will satisfy the craving of Satsangis abroad to know what an inestimable treasure of Prem (Love) are Prem Banis. They will be prompted to learn Hindi so that they can chant Shabds from the original in Hindi and experience spiritual uplift. (Biography of Huzur Maharaj)

Translations of Various Verses from Prem Bani Radhasoami

You have forgotten the Supreme Being, Beloved Radhasoami.

As an emanation from that Supreme Being,
you have come from the highest region,
but you remain entangled in the Triloki (the three worlds).

Receive initiation in Surat Shabd Yoga from Guru,
and reversing your course, rush towards your True Abode.

Mounting the steps of Shabd one after another,
finally merge in the holy feet of Radhasoami.


Always utter RADHASOAMI, the Name of the Merciful Supreme Being.
Then only will mind and Kal [time-lord, lord of death] become powerless against you.


Behold! This jovial Surat, i. e., loving devotee,
though amidst worries and anxieties, remains carefree all the time.

Though mixing with the crowd right from the morning,
internally he keeps aloof from all.

Tactfully shielding himself against the onslaughts of mind and maya [illusion],
he always treads the path shown by the Guru.

The cord of his Surat remains linked with the
Holy Feet of the Beloved all day and night.

Whosoever is attached to the Guru in this manner,
will succeed in reaching the ultimate goal.

Radhasoami will help and protect him,
and will bestow the gift of firm devotion on him.

He is low, base and uncouth, but Radhasoami, in
His grace and mercy, has imparted to him the true secrets.


I intensify Bhajan [listening to the Sound Current],
and enhance love and devotion.
By practising Surat Shabd Yoga,
rush to Nabh (Sahas-dal-kanwal, Thousand Petalled Lotus).

Radhasoami Dayal bestows on me His special
mercy, and I see a brilliant Flame within.

From there, I proceed to and merge in Trikuti [three worlds, causal plane],
and after having touched the region of Guru,
I bathe in the Mansarovar lake [Lake of Nectar].

Now, all alone and rid of body and mind, I frolic
all the time in the company of Hansas [heavenly beings].

Proceeding further, I ascend beyond Maha-sunn [the Great Void],
listening to the Sound of Sohang [I am That, or, I am He].

After having seen the regions of
Alakh [Unseen -- beyond perception] and Agam [Inaccessible, Unfathomable],
I have wondrous Darshan [Vision] of Radhasoami. 

 

 

Dadu Dayal, Poet-Mystic from Rajasthan

Dadu Dayal, Poet-Mystic from Rajasthan

 

Dadu is one of my all-time favorite classic Sants of India. He was a great poet-mystic and spiritual Master of Divine Light, Sound, and Nirguna Bhakti from Rajasthan in the lineage of Guru Kabir. Anyone who studies his teachings will encounter a very genuine, pure version of Sant Mat with the perfect balance of God and guru bhakti, love and mysticism (Surat Shabd Yoga, meditation).

Translations of Dadu bhajans are quite rare in English. Volume 25 in the glorious Encyclopaedia of Saints Series represents the most complete collection of the works of Sant Dadu Dayal in English to date. It is published by Criterion of New Delhi (distributed by Deep & Deep Publications). Nataraj Books is one source where this volume can be ordered from in North America. See link below.

Enjoy! Happy New Year! Meditate!

James
https://santmatradhasoami.blogspot.com

Sant Dadu Dayal, Encyclopaedia of Saints Series (Volume 25),
Edited by Bakshi and Mittra, Criterion Publications, New Delhi, India
https://www.VedamsBooks.com/no28758.htm
https://www.NatarajBooks.com

Background on Dadu from the Preface

Sant Dadu Dayal was a Saint from Rajasthan. 'Dadu' means brother and 'Dayal' means "the Compassionate One." He lived in the second half of the sixteenth century (1544-1603). His songs are in a Hindi dialect known as Braj Bhasa, being a mixture of Hindi and Rajasthani. Like the earlier Saint Kabir, Dadu came from one of the many low artisan castes that had converted to Islam. He lived in the Jaipur region of Rajasthan, most probably as a pinjari, a cotton carder. He married and had a family of two sons and two daughters.

Dadu gathered around himself a group of followers, which became known as the Dadu-panth. This organisation has continued in Rajasthan to the present day, and has been a major source of early manuscripts containing songs by the North Indian Saints [the Panch Vani]. He himself did not write down any of his compositions. These were recorded by his disciple Rajjab. Another disciple, Jana Gopal wrote the earliest biography. [A translation of the Janma Lila by Jana Gopal is also included in this book]. Dadu clearly experienced the bliss of Sahaja and alluded to it in his songs. Surviving songs do not record the name of Dadu's guru. Certainly much of the imagery used in his songs is similar to that used by Kabir, and similar also to that used by the earlier Sahajiya Buddhists and Nath Yogis.

Some Mystic Verses of Sant Dadu Dayal, a Lover of the Beloved

Results of True Love --- The Vision of the Beloved

One sits fearlessly by repeating God's Name;
the Negative Power can never consume him.
When thou ridest the elephant, 0 Dadu,
then dogs bark in vain.
When love and devotion arise,
one is firmly established in blissful meditation.
With the grace of the Master,
he then drinks the divine Nectar, 0 Dadu.
By being dedicated to the Lord,
millions of obstacles are removed.
A tiny spark the size of a mustard seed
burns a huge amount of wood, 0 Dadu.
Impurities and blemishes of the mind
are burnt up in the fire of separation.
The separated lover will now see
the vision of the Beloved, 0 Dadu.

An Outer Guru that is not an Inner Guru, not a Qualified Teacher

The whole world makes an outer display,
whereas the practice of the Saint is within.
This is the difference between the two;
hence no accord is found between them.

A new pot taken from the potter's furnace
may be decorated with many pictures outside;
But of what use will it be to thee,
0 Dadu, without any contents?
Such are the ones who make outer display of religiosity.

From one who bears no outer religious symbols,
but has unfathomable riches within,
Receive the wealth and keep it within
thy heart, 0 Dadu, and be obedient to such a Saint.

There is a great difference between a Saint and a mimic,
the two are as far apart as earth and sky.
The Saint is absorbed in God, whereas
the mimic pins his hopes on the world.

The One alone dwells within my heart,
Day and night I repeat His Name.
The Name of God alone is true;
keep that within thy heart.
Forsake all hypocrisies and cumbrous practices;
this is the teaching of all Saints, 0 Dadu.

True Sants Focus Our Attention Upon God

Sadagati Sadhava re

Saints are the true redeemers,
They make one see the Creator face to face.
Having themselves crossed the ocean
of the world, they take others across;
They are the saviors of beings.
Dyed in the colour of the Supreme Lord,
They have the blameless Name
as their support;
Always truthful, disciplined, blissful and contented,-
Their wisdom and reach knows no bounds.
In eternal love, in eternal ecstasy,
In eternal company with the essential Truth;
In eternal union, in eternal life,
In eternal knowledge and contemplation are they absorbed.
Crest-jewel of all, bestower of bliss to all,
They are rare in this world.
They are the Swans, the dwellers of the Ocean of Bliss,
Who come for the good of others, 0 Dadu.