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Discourses
New
Satsang
Dear
Seeker,
The Absolute Force is not merely fictitious
in nature, but it can be realized.
There is an inherent craving in our
soul for salvation, because its source
is the Ocean of pure bliss, but now
from the time immemorial, it wanders
restlessly in this material world from
one black corner to another, in the
wheel of 84 lacs species.
Each entity of this world from the tinniest
electron to the heaviest heavenly bodies
remain in a state of endless motion
and is also continuously decaying and
approaching towards their dissolution.
Everything which we see here or even
imagine is perishable, but not the soul.
Therefore, the soul finds this world
as an unfit place for it. It also has
completely forgotten the returning path
to its source i.e. the Supreme Lord
and its inherent powers have got hampered.
Therefore as soon as one goes within
him, this type of questions arise and
confront in his mind.
- Who I really am?
- If soul, then where it resides in
this body?
- What is the purpose of this life cycle?
- What was there in the beginning or
before creation of this universe?
- Where shall we go after its dissolution?
- Is there anybody, anywhere who knows;
what shall we do to be 'saved' or 'to
do the Father's will' or to gain the
salvation.
Even those who keep themselves engaged
in religious activities do not find
satisfactory answers to these questions.
If you are searching positive and practical
answers to these basic questions and
are ready to carry out experiments in
the laboratory of your own mind then
with certainty and without fail you
will realize answers to your all such
questions and enter into the abode of
the Supreme and Eternal Cause or Creator
of the whole creation. And this is possible
while doing your all duties towards
your family and the society, your own
home is the perfect place where you
can make this advent. There is no need
to go to mountains or the forests because
the evil lies in our own mind and we
shall carry it wherever we go.
II
This
tract is intended for the benefit of
those who, seeing the instability and
transitory state of the things in this
world, as well as its short-living pleasures,
have a craving for everlasting and unalloyed
happiness and undisturbed peace in a
mansion which is not subject to change,
decay or dissoloution.
The
proper course for a sincere lover of
the Supreme Being is to acquire knowledge
of the secrets and the order of creation
and the means of traversing the distance
and stages between his dwelling in the
body (the pupil of the eye) and the
abode of the Supreme Being, the Prime
Source of everything; and to start on
his journey with fevour and perseverance
with the avowed object of one day reaching
the presence of the Most High and Beloved
Supreme Father.
A
true seeker always loves the saints
and the Supreme Being, by sincere love
is meant a strong fervent desire and
perseverance to approach the Supreme
Being. This desire should outweigh all
wordly desires.
There are three powers latent in the
human being, viz., (1) spiritual, (2)
intellectual and mental, (3) corporal
or physical. Each of these powers requires
regular training under a guide or master
before it can be awakened, and brought
into use for any puppose. The physical
powers comprise the action of and the
work done by the senses and limbs, such
as the organs of sight, hearing, taste,
speech, smell and touch etc., as also
hands, feet, generative organs etc.
Those who have developed any of the
above senses or limbs to perfection
and adopted them to special uses, such
as drawing, painting, singing, dancing,
playing on musical instruments, riding,
sleight (dexterity)-of-hand etc., can
acquire name, fame, and earn good livelihood;
whereas those who have remained dull
and undergone no training of any kind,
work merely as labourers, coolies or
ploughmen, and earn hardly sufficient
to live.
Those
who have undergone higher training and
awakened their intellectual and mental
power to perfection in any particular
line or department of science, become
literary men, philosophers, astronomers,
statesmen, administrators, judges, barristers,
doctors, engineers etc., and acquire
greater renown and worldly power to
control and direct the affairs and in
fact rule the destiny of millions of
people inhabiting various districts
and countries. These functionaries are
respected and obeyed by all and receive
high remunerations for their intellectual
work.
Again,
those (though few in number) who have
by continued practice of peity and devotion
succeeded in awakening and developing
their spiritual power have merited special
Grace and Mercy of the Supreme Being
and become prophets, mediators and saints
for the second and third grand divisions
and have done much for the salvation
of human race. Their fame has spread
far and wide and their name and person
have in a manner become immortal and
are adored and regarded as the means
of salvation by millions of people inhabiting
distant lands and countries. They have,
further, ascended heaven and enjoy the
honour and happiness of remaining in
the presence of their God ; and while
on earth they sometimes exercised extraordinary
or supernatural powers.
The rescue of spirit from the bondage
of body, senses and mind, and its gradual
ascension and eventual entrance into
the first or highest division by the
practice of Surat Shabd Yoga is perfect
salvation. At present the Surat or spirit
which is a particle of the Supreme Being
or a ray from the Supreme Sun or a drop
from the Supreme Ocean of Spirit, having
descended from the highest or first
region has become encased in material
coverings, and in a manner intermingled
with matter and is in this third region,
subject to carnal desires and passions
resulting from such mixture.
In
its descent from the highest region
the spirit has become enveloped in various
coverings of matter or bodies, and as
long as it remains in the second and
third division where matter exists,
it cannot be freed from re-birth in
the lower or higher regions. It is only
in the first or highest division where
there is no matter, that there is no
re-birth. At present becouse the spirit
of man resides in the third or material-spiritual
region, therefore it has to do all the
work here by means of the senses and
the mind which are mediums between it
and the material objects, and consequently,
as a natural result, its power has become
quite hampered. But as soon as it begins
to ascend, the powers which are now
lying dormant, become active and the
spirit acquires ultra-material or higher
powers.
The method for taking back the spirit
to its Supreme Source is first to concentrate
at the focus of the eyes, the spirit
and mind which are diffused in our body
and in a manner, tied to external objects
by desires and passions, and next to
commence its journey homewards by attending
to the internal sound, or by riding
the life or sound current which has
originally emanated from the Supreme
Source.
Only by internal repetition of real
holy words or names, one can collect
together at the focus of the eyes, the
spirit which is diffused all over the
body, but by internally hearing the
sounds thereof one can actually hold
communion with and gradually approach
the centres whence these Holy Sounds
or Names emanate.
In following this mode of devotion the
following restrictions are made with
the regard to diet and mode of living.
No intoxicating drink or drug and animal
food is to be taken and immoderate indulgence
in any desire is to be avoided. Animal
food is forbidden on account of its
producing a material tendency in human
nature, and intoxicating drink is detrimental
to a calm and natural state of the brain
and the nervous system. Other public
and private duties should be carried
on as usual.
It must be clearly understood that Radhasoami
Faith does not require or permit any
one who joins it, to quit his family
or surroundings or give up his avocation
or profession to obtain his livelihood;
on the other hand it enjoins the advisability
of a devotee continuing to live with
his family and discharge his household
and professional duties satisfactorily
and at the same time secure salvation
by earnestly and fervently practising
devotion for two to four or at the most
six hours a day, distributing the above
time at the rate of half, three-fourths
or one hour or more at a time according
to his convenience.
By doing so, all desires for worldly
riches, pleasures, name, fame, power
and greatness, will gradually cease
and in lieu thereof will spring up intense
love for the Supreme Being and a strong
desire to approach His Holy Mansion.
A sincere devotee having no other object
in his view than to approach the Supreme
Being in His Highest Mansion, will,
however, witness glories of the Supreme
Father in various forms on his way to
his destination, and see many things
more wonderful than ordinary miracles,
if he will only practise devotion for
some time with strong faith, fervour
and love for the Supreme Being. He will
further observe the Grace, Mercy and
Protection of the Supreme Father extended
to him on all occasions when needed.
A member of Radhasoami Faith is strictly
forbidden to divulge the secrets or
mention to any one (even to a fellow
member without express permission) the
glory and wonder of the higher creation
he sees now and then within himself,
or the happiness and extraordinary joy
he experiences during his practice,
or the special Mercy, Grace and Protection
extended to him from time to time on
important occasions by the Supreme Father
and Sant Sat Guru.
On
the contrary; external work of charity,
worship, pilgrimage, or mere reading
of holy books, unless accompanied by
internal practice of Surat Shabd Yoga
(or the union of spirit and Holy Word)
do not lead to true salvation (which
can only be attained by raising the
spirit to the First Degree or pure spiritual
regions). One may reap the fruit of
such acts by obtaining happiness in
the same or a new body on rebitrh, in
the same or a higher sphere. But to
approach the Supreme Being, there is
absolutely no other means except the
practice of Surat Shabd Yoga under the
guidance of a Sant Sat Guru or a sincere
lover of the Supreme Being who has received
instructions from, and is helped in
his practice by one of those Superior
and Holy Spirits.
It is inferred from the above that there
is no other way to raise the spirit
to the highest sphere but the one prescribed
by the Radhasoami Faith, viz., removing
or raising the spirit gradually from
its seat in the pupil (power centre)
of the eye, in the same manner as it
rises or withdraws at the time of death,
and by catching or riding the Sound
or life current to carry it back towards
the main source from which it originally
descended.
Necessity of sincere prayer.
Prayer
is necessary to obtain blessing and
mercy to help man's perfect salvation,
but it must be offered from the inmost
of heart and not confined to mere utterance.
It must also be backed up by works of
faith and charity performed through
love and affection for the Supreme Being.
*
Radhaswami *
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