January 1978 PHOTO CREDITS Front and back covers, pp. 17, 27, 32, Jonas Gerard; p. 1, Bobbe Baker; p. 4, David Helion. The Message for the New Year Sant Ajaib Singh Ji

Hail! Hail! KirpalShah, the Formless One! We have only Your Protection. Y SATCURUKIRPAL'S MOST BELOVED SANCAT: I wish a Happy M New Year to you. In this Iron Age, Kirpal Shah [the Emperor Kirpal], the supreme Master of this lowly Ajaib, is the only one Who can make us free from all our pains and difficulties. That is why we should always remember Him and should know that we have come into this world as a foreigner from our eternal home, Sach Khand; and if we won't remember Him here in this realm of the Negative Power we will be destroyed by the Negative Power. We are the fortunate ones to have Almighty God in the form of Beloved Kirpal as our protector. Be strong in His devotion and understand Him. Don't become blind. Those who did not make their eye fit to see His Home while living on this plane had a very hard time and died suffering. Those who made their eyes fit to see Him, saw their home, Sach Khand, while sitting in this world. But the unfortunate ones who did not understand that Supreme Master, and remained unconscious of God's Grace working in Him, were not benefited by Him. If they had seen Him with their higher consciousness, they would have appreciated Him and would have solved the mystery of life. They go back from this world as a defeated gambler. Master is perfect and we are under His protection. Dear ones, appreciate the precious opportunity to do His devotion. Take His words deep into your heart and live up to His teachings. In this age to achieve Naam is very difficult, but to go in the company of those who have achieved Naam is comparatively easy. Not everyone gets Naam; only the fortunate ones get initiation into Naam. Guru Nanak Sahib says: "Rare are those in this world Who have realized Him." Soul has become entangled in attachment by Shabda's creation and only Shabda can liberate it from the snare of attachment. Until we meet Shabda made flesh, a perfect practitioner of Shabda, we cannot reach our origin. We can go to Sach Khand only by riding on the Shabda current. Appreciate the time. One more year is before you. Devote more time to your spiritual practices. I send my best wishes for this new year to all the dear ones, and greetings in His name. His Naam is our only protector.

With all His Love,

DASS AJAIB SINGH SANTBANI volume two number seven The Voice of the Saints January 1978

i

FROM THE MASTERS The Message for the New Year 1 Sant Ajaib Singh Ji The Sweep Sleep of Attachment 5 Sant Ajaib Singh Ji the discourse The Value of Prashad 28 Sant Ajaib Singh Ji darshan in Bogota

OTHER FEATURES Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! 15 Michael Raysson a remembrance of last summer The First World Tour of Ajaib Singh 20 Russell Perkins Part IV: In South America & Kent Bicknell

The Sweet Sleep of Attachment Sant Ajaib Singh Ji

Man has forgotten God. He has things. If you do them, there will be no become blind with the intoxica- danger. First of all, if you disobey God, tion of Maya. don't eat the food given by Him." They Nanak says, "Without the rnedita- replied, "What else is there to eat?" tion of God, the snare of Yama Ibrahim said, "Yes; but it is not good to falls on him. " eat someone's food and not obey him. FTER undergoing the cycle of eighty- "The second thing is, if you want to A four lakhs births and deaths you commit any sins, don't do it on God's have been given this precious human land. Leave God's kingdom if you want body. We get children, happiness and to commit any sin." They replied, "How sorrow in all bodies, and in all bodies we is it possible to leave God's land? All are able to enjoy worldly pleasures. If land is God's!" He said, "Yes; but if we there is any advantage of getting this are living on someone's land, we should human body over all the other bodies, it not do any deed which he doesn't like." is the meditation on Shabd Naam, and The third thing he said was: "Don't the opportunity of taking our soul to that commit any sin when He is seeing you." place from where it was separated. If They replied, "How can we do that? He there is any veil between us and God, it is is always seeing us. He knows our the veil of the mind. When we do get that heart." So Ibrahim said, "Yes; but it is human body, we forget God and we do not good, that in His presence we do bad not remember Him. We are sleeping in deeds." the sweet sleep of attachment. The fourth thing which he said was: So Guru Teg Bahadur says, "Oh man, "When the angel of death comes to take you did not remember the Creator." Af- you, tell him to wait so that you can ter coming in this world you forgot the repent." But they said, "The angel of Creator and the Power That created you. death doesn't wait for anyone!" He said, In this way you forgot everything, be- "Then, if it is not possible for him to cause you were lost in the intoxication of wait, you should be ready when he Maya. comes. " Once some people came to Ibrahim The fifth thing he said was: "When the Adham, the King of Balkh Bukhara. messengers of death ask you, 'Who is They wanted to know about God and your Master?' you should tell them to go how to escape from the calamities of Na- away and refuse to let them see your ac- ture. He told them, "I will tell you six counts." They replied, "It is not possible to do that." The sixth thing that he said was: slokas or couplets of Guru Teg Baha- "When the Lord of Judgment, after dur was given in Boston on the evening looking at your deeds, sends you to hell, refuse to obey him." They replied, "This

January 1978 5 is not possible." So he said, "When it is come into this world for the first time. not possible to make your own food, to When we were birds, we came into the live on your own land, and to do any- same world. When we were donkeys or thing without His seeing; if you cannot horses, then also we came into the same keep the angel of death waiting while you world. Now when we come as men, still repent, if you cannot keep the messenger the world is the same. We are always of death away from your grave, and if coming and going from this world." In you cannot refuse the Lord of Judgment, whatever body we come we always have then you should be ready to repent of this illusion: we always spend all our time your sins and to enjoy the reaction of the taking care of and maintaining the shape sins you have already committed." of the body which we are given. In all our Everybody becomes our companion births we have the same fear and that is in happiness; in pain there is no the fear of death. Whether we come as a companion. king or a beggar, whether we are wealthy Nanak says, "0 mind, remember or penniless still we have this fear of God, Who will be your help at death. the end. " But Guru Sahib says, "If you earn that Shabd Naam you will be free of the pain Now Guru Sahib says, "When we are in of birth and death." You will get that good health and have much wealth, position where you will be free of the cy- everybody will be our friend and will cle of births and deaths, and you will not help us. But when we become ill and lose have pain from birth and death. our worldly position and wealth, no one is ready to come and sit near us. Not even I have made many efforts, but still our relatives will come and help us in the egoism of mind has not gone. that condition." And Guru Sahib says, Nanak says, "0Lord, save mefrom "When this condition comes and no one this evil. " from this world helps us, in that time of Hazur Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji used to crisis that Satguru Power is still working say, "God has everything except humil- overhead and protecting us." ity. Because to whom should He be hum- Therefore Guru Nanak Sahib says, ble? He is the Almighty and owner of all "Break the friendship with the false ones things." So Guru Sahib says. "I tried and form a relationship with the True every way and made much effort to cre- One." Because the former will leave you ate humility within me, and to remove in this world and the latter will help you egoism from within me, but I am helpless even in the beyond. He tells us to break because without your help I cannot do it. the friendships with such persons who Oh Master, Oh God, shower grace on me are going to leave us in this mortal world and make me free from this evil." and to form relationships with those who Childhood, youth and old age are are going to help us in this world and in three stages of life. the beyond. Nanak says, "Without the medita- In many births you have wandered, tion of God, know them as use- still thefear of Yama has not gone. less. " Nanak says, "0 mind, remember Now Guru Sahib says, "There are three God, and you will live with the stages which everyone has to undergo: One Who is without fear." first is the stage when we are new-born, Now Guru Sahib says, "We have not that of the child; the next is youth, when 6 SANT BANI we are young and in full health; and last fixed and attached to this world just as a is old age. But," he says, "no stage is painting or idol is attached to its place. counted if you are not doing devotion: Man desires something, and some- not that of the child, nor of the youth, thing else happens. nor of old age. If you are not doing devo- Nanak says, "He thought deception tion, all the time spent in these stages is in his mind and on his neck fell the useless." snare of death. " You did not do what you should Now Guru Sahib says, "Man wants to have done and you fell in the live in this world and collect all the ob- snare of greed. jects and instruments which gain him Nanak says, "Now the time is past; worldly pleasures. But God is thinking why do you weep, 0 Blind One?" something else. God's Will is different The purpose for which God gave you this from that of man and God is preparing life-devotion to Him, to unite with our grave." All the desires of man can Him-you have not done that and in- never be satisfied. If he fulfills his duties, stead you collected Maya. You started then many desires will remain unful- eating persons lower than yourself and in filled. So he says, "In that way a man that way you collected worldly wealth cannot fulfill all his desires. He is laying and worldly position. But what is the his own plans, but he is not aware of the result of acquiring all these things? Even plan of God which is taking him back to in your lifetime that money is spent in death." doctors7 fees and other useless things. Kabir says, "The mother is saying, And later, your sons and other people 'My son is growing older,' and she is very waste it. In this way, you collect Maya happy; but she is not aware of the fact and Maya eats you up. And when old age that day by day his life is getting young- comes and sickness comes and the body er; year after year his life is getting is not working, at that time you weep and shorter. And while she is happy the Lord repent that you did not utilize your time. of Judgment is laughing at her, saying, And then you cry for the devotion of 'Why are you happy? He is not yours, he God, but you cannot do it; such is the is my food. I am going to devour him one condition of man while living in this day .' " world today. For happiness many efforts were Master used to say, "Time and tide made; for pain, none. wait for no man." When the time of our Nanak says, "Hear, 0 Mind: what- life has left us, if we repent then, it is of ever God has wished, that hap- no avail; we cannot get the time again pens. " which we have spent in useless things. Now Guru Sahib gives us a warning. He Mind is absorbed in Maya, 0 is trying to explain to us that in the world Friend, now it will not come we are collecting all worldly things for out- our convenience, for our ease: we are Nanak says, 'Just as the idol is, busy putting electricity here, fixing the it is attached. " furniture and bringing all sorts of things Now Guru Sahib says, "Our mind is at- into our houses. We are making our tached to this world and it loves this worldly life very convenient and good; world so much that it is not ready to but is there anyone who is aware of or leave that attachment." Our mind is who cares about the pain which he is go- January 1978 7 ing to have in the grave, where he will Once Emperor Akbar went in the for- find no cushion or anything to lie on? est to hunt and on the way he felt thirsty. No, nobody is aware of or cares about So he went to the well of a farmer and the the pain which he is going to have in the farmer gave him some water to drink. grave. The farmer did not realize that he was the Farid Sahib says, "The grave is calling Emperor, and Akbar thought, "He does to man, '0 man, why are you afraid of not know who I am, but still I should me, because in the end you have to come give him something because he has and lie down in me? Then why are you quenched my thirst." So he gave him a afraid, why are you running away from piece of paper saying: "I am the King me?' " and whenever you want anything you So Guru Sahib says, "Always keep can come to me and I will give it to you." that pain before you, always remember So he said, "I am paying your tax, and that pain." Have you ever thought of I don't want anything now; why should I that pain? Don't go on making things come?" convenient for yourself and don't go on But the King said, "Whenever you feel collecting only the happiness-giving like coming and asking for anything, you things. Have you ever thought of that are welcome and you can have it." pain? Your praying will do nothing. SO after a while a drought came in the Whatever God wishes, that will happen. country and that farmer had nothing to Kabir Sahib says, "All my desires and eat. So he went to the king thinking, "He all my best efforts are to no avail; is the King and I will be able to get because whatever God wills, only that something from him." When he arrived will happen." Akbar was praying and after his prayer Master Sawan Singh used to say, was over he raised his hand. When he "Happiness and sufferings, riches and was through, the farmer asked him, "What were you doing by raising your poverty, good health and disease: these hand?" Akbar replied, "I was praying to six things are written in everyone's fate. God: '0 God, give peace and happiness And whatever anyone has in his fate, he to my kingdom and shower rain in my has to suffer or enjoy that." country so that my people can grow their The world is wandering as a beggar, food and in that way this drought can be God is the giver to everyone. ended.' " Nanak says, "0 Mind, remember Hearing that the farmer started to Him, and your works will be com- leave. The King asked him, "Why are pleted. " you going back without asking for any- thing?" He said, "I came here under- Now Guru Teg Bahadur says, "In all this standing you as a giver and thinking that world, whether one is emperor or beg- I would be able to get something from gar, there is only one giver and that is you. But after coming here I have seen God." God is giving everything to all that you are a greater beggar than 1 am: people whether they are kings or beg- you are also begging from God. So it is gars. In this world we cannot complete better for me to ask from God. I should all our work; many works remain in- not beg from you because you are also a complete. The work which we have to beggar like me." complete is to solve the mystery of death, Why are you proud of fhe false which is the main purpose of coming into things? Consider fhrs world as a this world. dream.

8 SANT B4NI Nanak says, "I am explaining to We are thinking this way because of you: of these things, nothing is our mind. Mind is our enemy and is yours. " residing within us. If with Simran we Now Guru Sahib says, "This world is take our mind and leave it in the Brahm, like a dream and the things which you are its origin, our soul becomes free from the collecting are not going to go with you. clutches of the mind. And that is why this Not even your body is going with you. is called victory over the world. One who This body is just like a rented house has succeeded in controlling the mind, he which you have to leave someday." has succeeded in controlling the creator A Mahatma says, "Of what are you of the world. proud? Are you proud of good health? Have you never had fever? Have you not In whose heart is the Simran of seen how your face becomes when you God, know him as the liberated get fever? Are you proud of your youth? one. Have you never seen any old men?" Nanak says, "Consider it as true: Kabir Sahib says, "The wood is telling there is no difference between the blacksmith, '0 blacksmith, why are Him and God. " you burning me? Why are you making Now Guru Sahib says, "Those who are coal out of me? The day will come when I doing Simran whether they are sleeping will burn your body and I will make your or awake, whether they are standing or body also into ashes.' " sitting, those who are always remember- Similarly, Kabir says the potter was ing the Master, they have made their way making pots out of clay when the clay to liberation and there is no difference said, "Why are you playing with me and between them and God because they are making vessels out of me? The day will already liberated." come when I will also make you into In whose mind there is no devo- dust; you will be buried in me and you tion of God- will become my own. You should re- member that day." Nanak says, "His body is like that SOGuru Sahib says, "In this world we of the pig or the dog. " should not have any type of egoism nor Now Guru Sahib says, "One who is not should we be proud of anything, because bringing his mind toward the devotion of nothing from this world will go with us. God; one who is not remenibering Him; All this pride is false." one who has forgotten Him and has no You are proud of the body, which is interest in the devotion of God-what is destroyed in a moment, 0 friend. his condition? He is just like the pig and "One who sings thepraise of God, " the dog." Pigs and dogs have bodies and says Nanak, "He wins the world." wander here and there without any Now Guru Sahib says, "Sitting in this meaning; in the same way, he has taken human body you are having pride and up the human body but he is useless. egoism and you are not understanding Kabir Sahib says, "God was going to other men as men. But you don't even make an animal but by mistake he made know whether the breath which you are a man, and instead of the tail and horns taking in will come out or not-whether he gave him a beard and hair; in that way you will die at this moment or what. You he made man." do not even know that and still you are As a dog remains at the door of his having pride of this body." master and never leaves,

January 1978 9 Nanak says, ''In this way do the de- So Guru Sahib says, "After doing all votion of God with one mind and these good things, if we are exhibiting thought. " them to the world, our condition is just Now Guru Teg Bahadur tells us, "You like that elephant who after bathing puts see, God has made man the highest in all sand on his body." He is not satisfied un- creation and He has given him every- til he has done that. thing he needs; but still he has forgotten The head is shaking, the foot is God." If any little bit of sickness or stumbling, the eyes have lost the disease comes, then also man is abusing light. God. On the other hand, the Master is Nanak says, "Even though this con- giving the example of a dog who never dition has come, still you are not leaves the door of his master even if he is tasting God." beaten or is not given any food. Such a dog, when he is rebuked by his master, Now Guru Sahib describes old age. He just goes away for a few minutes and says, "In old age the head starts shaking, when his master calls him he comes back. the eyes refuse to do any work and we We have not even reached the level of cannot see, and our whole body is weak; that dog. If we get any disease or what- but still we do not remember God." The ever is created because of our own kar- phlegm is coming from the mouth, our ma, still the first thing we do is leave our whole body is suffering, but still we do Master. If any bad things come over us not remember God. we say, "This is Master," and we leave Carefully I have seen in this world, Him. We are worse than that dog who at nobody belongs to anybody. least comes back to his master if his Nanak says, "Bear this in mind: master calls him with love. We are not only the devotion of God is per- even as good as that dog. manent. " After doing pilgrimages, keeping Now Guru Sahib says, "Dear ones, I fasts, and giving donations-$ have gone over this matter very carefully egoism is still in one's mind and I have seen that there is no real com- Nanak says, "That is all useless, like panion and there is no one who can help the bathing of an elephant." us at the hour of crisis. All friends and Now Guru Sahib says, "If anyone, after relatives, all brothers and sisters whom doing pilgrimages and japas and tapas we love, are not going to help us in our and yajnas and good deeds-giving do- crisis. Only the beloveds of God can help nations and helping people-if after all US." this he says, 'I have been doing all these The creation of this world is false, things'-if he goes about advertising the know this, 0 friend. virtuous deeds he has done, all the merit Nanak says, "It is no firmer than a of those things is lost and he gets wall of sand. " nothing." Master Sawan Singh Ji used to say, "It Guru Teg Bahadur says, "The world we is just like making good food with flour are seeing is all going to be destroyed; it and then putting ashes on it." If we is not everlasting." The friends and dear donate something with our right hand, ones who we hope will help us will not be our left hand should not know about it. able to help us. Because everyone has to There is no need to tell others, because leave this world. We even carry our God knows everything. friends and relatives on our shoulders to

10 SANT BANI the graveyard. Think now: who can help and tell Ravana that one Saint has come us in that condition? and he would like to see him. That door- So Guru Sahib says, "This world is keeper knew that Ravana was a great not everlasting. This world is like a wall egotist and would not be happy to hear made of sand." Just as children in their this. So he said, "Ravana is an egotist play make houses of sand which are not and very proud of his power and if I go everlasting; in the same way this world is and tell him this he will kill me." So not everlasting. Kabir Sahib replied, "Don't worry about Rama has gone, Ravana has gone, that, he won't do anything to you. You although they had big families. go and give my message to him." So he Nanak says, "Nothing is perma- went to Ravana and told him, "One Saint, a great person, has come to see nent, the world is like a dream. " you and He is standing at our door." Now he gives the example of two great Ravana was very angry with him and personalities, Rama and Ravana. Rama, said, "One beggar has come to you and who was the son of King Dasrath, had you want him to come and disturb me? sixteen supernatural powers and was an You have come to tell me that I should go avatar, but even so he didn't live in this and see him?" Going in anger he took world forever. He also had to leave this out his sword and tried to kill Kabir world. Ravana was the King of Ceylon; Sahib. Kabir stood there with a small he was very advanced in science and had blade of grass, and Ravana struck with a great family. [He was called "The his sword seventy times; but he could not Demon King" and was eventually de- even break that small piece of grass. stroyed by Rama.] In the Treta Yuga or Then Kabir Sahib said, "I have done silver age, Kabir Sahib came [in His in- this only to break your egoism. You carnation as Maninder] and gave initia- should show the power of your sword tion to Vichitra Bhat. And Vichitra when Rama comes to kill you; at that Bhat's wife told Mandodri, who was the time you will see how powerful you are." wife of Ravana, "A great Saint has come Kabir was the first Saint to come in to my house and if you also want to cross this world and he came in all the four the ocean of life you should come and ages. In the Sat Yuga or Golden Age he take initiation from Him." So Man- was called Sat Sukrat; in the Treta Yuga dodri, wife of Ravana, got initiation or Silver Age he was called Maninder; in from Him and when she returned she the Dwapar Yuga or Copper Age, Karu- started praising Kabir Sahib to Ravana. namae; and in the Kali Yuga or Iron Age She said, "One Mahatma has come who His name was Kabir. And He never went has a white beard and a turban and is below the human body. wearing white clothes, and He Himself is So Guru Teg Bahadur says, "Neither God. If you.come and bow down at His Rama nor Ravana stayed forever in this feet you will also become immortal and world." They also had to leave this be free from the angel of death." world even though they were great per- Ravana was a great egotist and he sonalities. Nanak says, "In this world didn't want to go to see Kabir Sahib. nothing is permanent; everything is tran- Kabir Sahib waited for him for some sitory and temporary; it is just like a time; then, because He was the Ocean of dream." When the dream of the night Divine Grace, He went to the palace of comes it is for five or seven minutes or Ravana and told the door-keeper to go even a few hours but the dream of this January 19 78 11 lifetime lasts for twenty or fifty years ac- of those men. And their bodies did not cording to our age. So nothing in this go with them, but they stayed in this world is everlasting. Rama and Ravana world. were great personalities, but when the Namdev says, "King Ravana made Sri time came they also had to leave this Lanka into a country of gold. But when world. Rama came there, he destroyed Sri Worry about that event, which is Lanka in a moment." not in God's Will; What is produced, that will be de- "This is the way of the world, "says stroyed, either today or tomorrow. Nanak: "Nothing is permanent. " Nanak says, "Sing the praise of God and give up all entanglements. " Guru Sahib says, "You should be wor- ried about that thing which is not in the Now Guru Sahib says, "The country in will of God." But the thing is that which we are dwelling, that country is the everything is in the will of God; birth and country of our birth and death. One who death, coming and going in this world, is born in this country is going to die in it they are all in the will of God. And only also. And rising above all these prob- when God wills, does anything happen. lems, we should do our meditation and Nothing in this world is permanent. earn our Shabd Naam." Bhagat Namdev says, "People are mak- My strength is lessened and I am ing great palaces with foundations deep caught up. There is no other way in the earth so that they can live long. But to become free. consider Makunda Rishi, the oldest man Nanak says, "0 God, now I am in in history: he spent his life in a small your refuge, help me as you helped hut-not a great palace with a deep foun- that elephant. " dation." So he says, "Why should we Now Guru Sahib is begging God: "0 worry about the things of this world?" God, we are feeble, we are weak; we have Our giver is that God Who has all our so many types of ties which are pulling us worries; why should we worry about back into the world-how can we help these small things? Our sustainer is God, ourselves? How can we get out of the so why should we be proud of the things ocean of life? Since we are in this condi- we have here? Not even our body is going tion, You must shower grace on us and to go with us! help us in the same way you helped the Then Namdev says, "Saying 'Mine, elephant." mine,' the Kauravas were destroyed." Guru Teg Bahadur is referring to the Duryodhan was the oldest of the Kau- elephant in the following story: In India ravas and he thought that he should be- there were two pandits or learned men come the King of India. But he was not named Brahma and Hota. In India it is ready even to give two small villages to generally the custom that people invite the the Pandavas who were the rightful kings pandits to their homes and give them of India. So Namdev said, "The Kaura- good food like rice pudding. After they vas were saying, 'Mine, mine,' and eat all the delicious food, they ask for thought this world belonged to them. money too. That money is for the wear But their bodies were not even eaten by and tear of their teeth. eagles." When the battle of Mahabha- Both the pandits, after being served, rata was fought many people died and were given money by the host; but by not even the birds wanted to eat the flesh mistake he gave more money to one pan- 12 SANT BANI dit and less to the other. Brahma was weaker and weaker and the octopus very clever, but Hota was very humble became stronger and stronger; and one and not clever. Brahma said, "You have day the octopus pulled the elephant into got more than I have, so we should com- the water. And when he was pulled in all bine our money and then we should di- his body was submerged except his vide it." But Hota said, "No, whatever trunk. And then the elephant remem- we have, we have gotten by our fate. bered God, and he said, "0 God, all my Whatever you have, you should be satis- companions have left me and they have fied with that; what I have, I am con- stopped helping me. You are the only tented with that." person who can help me at this time." So But Brahma said, "No, that is not God showered grace on him and sent good." They started fighting with each Sudarshan with a disc, who cut all the other, and in the end they cursed each arms and legs of the octopus and the other. Brahma said to Hota, "You are so elephant was free. greedy you will become an octopus. You So Guru Sahib says, "When You will have many arms and legs and in that helped that elephant in that condition, way you will be able to get more, because you should also help us and cut free all you are very greedy." So Hota in reply the bindings and attachments in this also gave a curse to Brahma: "You are world; in that way You will help us just very egotistical and you will come in the as You helped the elephant ." body of an elephant and then I will see If we had strength, we could have what will happen." So because of that found the way to cut our attach- curse, Hota became an octopus, and ments. Brahma became an elephant. (Ele- Nanak says, "Everything is in Your phants, you know, have amity and hands, only You can help us. " friendship with each other, because of Now Guru Sahib says, "If we have past karmas.) So once that elephant strength we can remove all our bindings came to drink water from the river where and attachments; but if we have no that octopus was living. When he started strength we cannot do anything. 0 God, drinking, the octopus came out and You are the giver of all strength and You caught hold of him. He was trying to pull the elephant into the water, but because are the cutter of the attachments. If You shower grace on us, only then can we be the elephant was very mighty he could free of all the entanglements of this not do it. world. Without You we have no place Now when the elephant was caught in where we can go and take shelter." this way, his brother elephants brought him food. Since the octopus was an ani- All my friends have left me, nobody mal of the water he was getting food maintained friendship. from the water, so he had no problem; he Nanak says, "'In this hard time there was getting stronger and stronger be- is only one God Who helps." cause he was getting food from the water Now Guru Sahib is drawing the picture which was his home. But the elephant, of our end-time very beautifully. He because he was held by the octopus, says, "When our end-time comes, the could not go and find his food; he could friends who are inspiring us to do bad only eat whatever his friends were bring- deeds-the sense organs which we are us- ing him. And in a few days his friends ing to do these bad deeds-they are also stopped bringing food and he became not even helping us at that time. Our ears January 1978 13 stop hearing anything and our eyes stop here, then what is the question, what is seeing anything. Moreover our tongue, the possibility, of keeping the name of which is tasting all kinds of tastes in this the people in this world? There is only world, that also stops working and we one Truth and one Reality and that is the cannot even speak. And in that way all Name of God; and those who remember the parts of our body refuse to work and the Name of God and do meditation on our body becomes useless." the Name of God, they will be remem- Guru Nanak says that when we are in bered after this world. that condition, there is only one person Guru Nanak says. "In our observa- who can help us and that is the Satguru. tion, in our experience, one Power has So Guru Teg Bahadur says, "At that come Which is always there. He was time when no one from this world-no when there was nothing; He was before companions, no friends, no brothers and all ages began; He existeth now, 0 sisters-can help us, at that time we have Nanak, and shall exist forevermore. " It only one refuge and that is our Master." is not true that in the past there was some Naam is lasting, Sadhu is lasting, God Who was ruling over the world and Master and God are lasting. now there is some other God and in the Nanak says, "In this world some future some other God will come and rare ones repeated the mantra of rule over and take over this world. He Master. " says there is only one Truth and one Reality and that is God, Who is the People are bringing forth children in the owner of all this world in all times. Guru hope that they will glorify their name. Nanak Sahib says, "He cannot be made And some people are making buildings, by the people of the world, He cannot be some charitable buildings, with their made by parties and votes; He is enlight- names on them-because they want to ened by Himself because He is Light glorify their name. Himself; He Himself is Light." But Guru Sahib says, "You cannot The Naam of God is within me, and glorify your name in that way, nor will nothing rs equal to it. your name be remembered by many peo- Remembering that Naam, the dan- ple because the buildings will be de- ger vanishes, and Your darshan is stroyed either in this age or in another obtained. age; therefore your name cannot be ever- Now, in the completion of this hymn, lasting." Guru Teg Bahadur says, "We should Whose name will be everlasting and meditate and we should earn Shabd whose name will be remembered by the Naam, so much so that we unite with that people? Only the name of the beloveds of Shabd Naam. We should absorb our- God; only the name of the Sadhu be- selves in that Shabd Naam, because by cause he is doing the devotion of God, meditating on Shabd Naam we can be only he will be remembered as the holy free from the fear of birth and death and person, as the great person of this world. in that way we can have the darshan of When the world is not going to remain our Beloved God."

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SANT BANI Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! MICHAEL RAYSSON Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! flowed back. It came to me very vividly Our reunion with our Friend! at that time how happy the Master was to Of His new form what can we say? have all His children united together in Only Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! such love. The very next day Sant Ji left Canada for Seattle and there was an inci- URING the first few days of our first dent on this trip which remarkably il- stay with Baba Kirpal in India in D lustrated this for me. 1969, we went with the Master to Feroze- Following the car Sant Ji was in was a pur by the Pakistan border. After one large caravan of which we were a part. In talk the Master was walking through the these cases, it is often found that each car crowd and we were at a distance watch- wishes to be close to the Master and our ing. All of a sudden the Master stopped car was no exception. Now in our car it and stayed stopped for a couple of min- so happened that the driver had one idea utes. From our point we couldn't tell and the passengers had others. The at- what was happening-which was that an mosphere grew rather turbulent in there old lady of over one hundred years, an and at last the driver got very upset and initiate of Baba Jaimal Singh, had drove past everybody including Sant Ji's grabbed hold of the Master's legs and car and went far ahead. As we went by wouldn't let go. Sant Ji, He had a very somber look and Of course, there is no way you can was turned away from us. "Sant Ji is not hold on forever-not physically. But happy with us!" said the driver. "Yes, when you see One in Whom dwells your that's because we're all arguing and not Beloved One in all fullness, Whom you united in Love." And at that moment we have not seen for so long, for Whom you all began to get it together and the atmos- had lost all hope of ever seeing again with phere changed completely. Our driver these eyes-well, there is madness! grew happy again and slowed down. In I have already written of the begin- the distance we could see Sant Ji's car, at ning, of the charmed way I came to Sant first a little speck in the distance, getting Ji and found Baba Kirpal in all fullness, ever closer and closer. Finally He was ap- wearing a new suit of clothes.* I also re- proaching. A huge smile was on His face, member of that time the first regular and then He was next to us, just beaming group darshan I had with Sant Ji and the Love out to us. He rolled down His win- very first thing I heard Him say: "If any dow and stuck His head out and beamed Satsangi does anything wrong-forgive and beamed and beamed at us. I don't him with love." And He spoke of the know how long we were alongside Him love that should be between Satsangis. like that, but I know that everyone in Later on there was a satsang (I believe it that car was intoxicated from head to toe was the last one in Canada)-we were all and overflowing. singing bhajans and Sant ji was just sit- If only the deep comraderie and Love ting there listening. I remember the that we gained in those days could last beautiful, beautiful smile on his face; for always. Sometimes during those days waves of Love were winging out from we would get together and talk of the Him unto the congregation and the love Master. Each one would talk of the dar- * Sant Bani, July/August 1977, p. 25 shan he had been to and try to describe January 1978 something of the gems given out there. Valley I asked about this and Sant Ji There was a beautiful glow at these times. said, "If the Saint laughs, then you can And if one was doing his meditation as laugh with Him." Russell Perkins inter- much as possible, then everything, even jected, "What is so hard in that is, that it in difficulties, was very beautifully grow- says even if the Master laughs, still you ing. At least that was my experience. don't laugh." Sant Ji replied, "Well, There is another incident from the au- once I was with the Master and He was tomobile trip mentioned above which telling funny stories and laughing and ev- showed to me how a Saint cares for us eryone else was laughing. I did not laugh even in the very smallest of ways. Sant but just watched and I saw wonderful Ji's car was turning off the highway and things, like flowers coming out of His as we passed by I stuck my head out for a mouth. Later I asked other people if they last glimpse-and off flew my hat. A lit- had seen this, but nobody had." tle while later we checked back to see if Nevertheless, sometimes, such as the we could find it. Sure enough, there it wonderful time printed in Sant Bani as was sitting very neatly on the side of the "The Bomb,"* I failed. I tried hard, but road absolutely untarnished (which was I failed. probably cleaner than it was to begin In the Satsang there was Wonder with). Anyway, we zipped on through At His feet we found Wonder the night so as to catch Sant Ji at the San Shining and bright- Wonder! Francisco Airport. Due to various vicis- Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! situdes of fate, it came down to the wire It was not one but many souls that beheld whether we would make it in time to see the Wondrous Light of Sant Ji in satsang Sant Ji or not. Somehow at the end we and saw Him take on not only the form made it all the way through the main part of Kirpal, but of numerous other Great of San Francisco without ever hitting a Saints that have graced this world. red light . . . And there was Sant Ji at the Each person has, I suppose, certain airport. I sat down at the back, but one satsangs that are especially memorable of our crew got down to the very front. I for him. Obviously much of this is sub- saw Sant Ji talking to him and pointing at me. What was He saying?-He was jective; but for me also, from amongst all the wondrous jewels of satsang, there asking about my hat. Had we found it? Was it all right? are some that shine out in a special way. There were many satsangs in Canada In His eyes we saw Wonder when we sat rapt listening to Sant Ji tell In His smile we saw Wonder of the great Way of Devotion. One in In His words we heard Wonder particular there was when Sant Ji told us Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! that not great oceans, nor fires, nor Everyone who has been with Sant Ji even snakes, nor fierce people blocking our for a little while has come to know His way should keep us from the Master . . . bubbling humor and wonderful stories. I Later Sant Ji spoke humorously of the had read in Sat Sandesh and also difficulty the people in charge had when Sant Bani, Baba Sawan Singh's dictum many of us "darshan dogs" took this not to laugh in front of the Satguru (even quite literally. Of course, the best ap- if He Himself laughs). But some of Sant plication of this advice is in meditation. Ji's stories were so humorous and His (One initiate, who was afraid of snakes, relish in the telling so delightful that this was quite terrified to hear that there were was very difficult indeed! Once in Potter * Sant Banr, September 1977, p. I. 16 SANT BANI

regions within of great oceans, fires, pected a trip of around one thousand etc. ,-and snakes!-"Would the Master miles, but it was really around fifteen be with the disciple when crossing these hundred. We drove straight through and regions?" Sant Ji laughed, "Yes, the I was the last driver. We were late ac- Master would be there." "Would He be cording to the schedule, but I drove with really close, though?" Sant Ji laughed the hope we could get at least one little again, "Close?-He would be in front of darshan ere the day ended. My driving the disciple. Don't worry! ") inspired the others into deeply concen- I remember a group of satsangs in Pot- trated simran, I'm sure. When we ar- ter Valley where He talked of the Pain of rived, David Teed was at the parking lot Separation. In one (for me, the most in- and he said to us, "I'm sorry, but Sant Ji tense), Sant Ji told extensively of His arrived very late and satsang probably own experiences with Kirpal. He said how Kirpal had told to Him how He (Kir- won't be for another twenty minutes." A pal) had suffered when Baba Sawan great spontaneous cheer reverberated Singh had left. Sant Ji said however that through the car. Anyway, the short, not until Master also left the body that He terribly unusual satsang that followed had no realization of what that pain was was probably the most wondrous I had really like! All during that talk there were ever attended up to that point. Earth tears in His eyes. In the other satsangs, faded totally away and . . . He told the story of Majnu and Laila, There were many other memorable and I heard for the first time the tale of satsangs, especially at Sant Bani where Poonu and Sussi.* Sant Ji spoke systematically on many as- After the satsangs in Potter Valley, it pects of the Path. The cumulative effect was Sant Ji's habit to take a walk each of so much Wonder began to tell on me. evening. Many dear ones would line the Sant Ji's exhortations began to take. Life road to get very sweet darshan at those as a spiritual stalwart was not only a times. However, when the satsang in possibility-I knew that (with Master's which the story of Majnu and Laila was Grace), I was really going to do it, had to told was over, Sant Ji went into His do it. Such was Sant Ji's influence. house. Two dear friends were waiting a Like a wish-yielding tree of Wonder long time there in hopes of seeing Sant Ji Like an endless cup of Wonder when another friend came over and per- Maddening and intoxicating suaded them to have a snack. Soon after this, Sant Ji did come out for His walk Wonder and when they rushed over to see Him, Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! He said, "I thought you were Majnu- There was much Madness on that tour but you could not wait." and fulfillment of impossible wishes. One satsang which was especially vivid When I had been with Great Master Kir- took place the first night in Houston. pal for the last time physically, I had the Outwardly, I am sure there was nothing desire to recite to the Master a poem I special about it (others who were there had written for Him. For one reason or have told me so). It was very short and another, this never materialized. It so was nothing more than a brief introduc- happened after I met Sant Ji the desire tory talk on Sant Mat . . . We had left arose again, this time to sing a song I had Colorado the night before. We had ex- written to Him in Whom Master was now manifested. So one day, I went to * These are two famous stories in the east which give extreme examples of lovers who tasted deeply Sant Ji and made that request. "Sing of the pain of separation. tomorrow at satsang," He said.

18 SANT BANI On initiation days at that time, Sant Ji thwarted. At last I gave up, seeing it was would not give a talk, but have the sangat not the Master's Will. When I did have sing bhajans. So that day the regular my personal darshan at Sant Bani Ash- bhajan singers did their singing and then ram, I said to Sant Ji that it seemed that Sant Ji ended it before anyone else He liked to have some people close, but (including me) had a chance to sing. in my case it seemed that He wished to Well, that was that-I figured that it just have me far away. "Yes!" Sant Ji an- wasn't my fate or place to do that and I swered. "It is better for you to be far gave up the idea. Some days later, it was away so you will have yearning. If you another initiation day, and it had been were close, you would lose all your announced that Sant Ji would give no yearning. You see many people who are talks or darshans till that night, so a close to me, and how they have lost their group of us went into town to do our yearning." laundry. For me the tour was divided up into At that time I was staying in the house two parts. The first part was prior to next to Arran Stephens' where Sant Ji Sant Bani in August (where I had by the was staying. (It was rumored to me that, Grace of my Master Kirpal, the most by some mistake, the person in charge wonderful time of my whole life) and had thought I was a venerable sixty-year served as a kind of preparation. old gentleman-I am a thirty-five year Almost every morning at Sant Bani, old baby-and so placed me there, much Sant Ji gave a meditation sitting. Just to my joy, as I had many beautiful dar- one sitting was worth the whole world. shans from that viewpoint.) As I was For those many sittings together I know dropped off, I had the strong feeling to of no value high enough to put on it. peek in at Arran's house, if possible, to By Thy Grace some saw Wonder find out if anything was happening. Those with poor fate, they saw not When I knocked, an old Indian lady an- Blessed the fish caught on Thy hook swered and said, "Baba Ji-Ashram." Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! When she repeated it, it sank into my Many people came to see Sant Ji on the skull that Sant Ji was down at the tour. Some were old initiates, perhaps Ashram. Down we all raced to Sri Kirpal doubters like myself, who saw Kirpal Ashram below, arriving just as Sant Ji come again. Some were new people, per- was beginning an impromptu session. haps skeptic at first, like my good friend "Would anybody like to sing?" He Sara Goren, whom Russell Perkins has asked as I sat down. It seemed like a half written about, who were caught on the minute went by and no one answered (a Master's hook of Love. friend of mine claims that it was only one Those who had eyes to see, ate and or two seconds). "Well, if no one else drank of His infinite Light. Many who wants to, I will," I answered, and I had lost hope were rekindled with the moved up right in front of Sant Ji and Spirit of the Path. Unfortunate were looked into His eyes. And I began to those who could not see and went away sing. It wasn't easy! But how beautiful hungry. were those few minutes! May we never forget Thy Wonder It has been hinted that some devotees May we immerse ourselves in Thy would go to great lengths to see the Wonder Master. Alas, whenever I made any at- May we become One in Wonder tempts in this direction, they were always Wonder! Wonder! Wonder! January 1978 The First World Tour of Ajaib Singh, Part IV In South America RUSSELL PERKINS with the assistance of Kent Bicknell

BOGOTA After what seemed like a very long We flew from Houston to Miami on time, I got all our luggage and was very July 18, 1977, and our plane as usual was kindly driven by Antonio and Clemencia late; although many dear ones were wait- Hirajosa to the Ashram-Sant Bani ing to see Sant Ji in Miami Airport, there Ashram/El Bosque de Kirpal (The was barely time to make the connection Forest of Kirpal), in the Andes Moun- to Bogota. They had rented a room in the tains just outside the city. When we ar- hotel upstairs for Him to hold Satsang rived, I assumed that Sant Ji was already in, and were deeply disappointed that there, and, grabbing His suitcase, ran there was not sufficient time for that. He with it up the stairs carved into the very consoled them sweetly and promised that steep mountainside to His house, at the on the way back there would be more very top of the Ashram. I had forgotten time-as indeed there was. Here many that we were 9,500 feet high and I dear ones from the East Coast joined us wondered why my heart was pounding as for the flight to Bogota; almost all of if it were going to jump out of my chest them had sufficient knowledge of Span- and I could hardly breathe when I ish to get along adequately in Colombia reached the house. I had run the whole and not be a burden on anyone. way in order to catch a glimpse of Him as After a brief stop at Panama City and soon as possible. But He was not there. I a spectacular aerial view of the Canal, we couldn't believe it. I looked all over the arrived in Bogota that evening to the house, but there was no doubt about it: it most tumultuous reception yet. The en- was empty. Where was He? Where could tire airport seemed filled with satsangis, He have gone? I felt suddenly desolate many of them weeping and crying out, and my heart ached. I had left Him only "Maestro! Maestro!" as Sant Ji passed. an hour ago but it seemed like a century. He greeted them with great love, and I was all alone on the top of a mountain slowly and sweetly noticed every in- and where was He? dividual there. Then He was swept off, I went partway down the mountain- and I went to get the luggage and arrange side and then I saw: It looked like an for it to be transported to the Ashram. ocean of people moving slowly along the Up to this point, my orders had been to path, way down the mountain. From my stay with Sant Ji and Pappu no matter viewpoint, it seemed like a gigantic or- what. But in South America, my inabili- ganism creeping slowly along, heading ty to speak Spanish made me useless. So up the hill. I understood at once that it was Kent Bicknell, whose knowledge Sant Ji was somewhere in the middle of of Spanish is excellent, who was ordered it. 1 waited, and as they came closer I to stay with Sant Ji no matter what, and I began to make out individuals shouting was separated from Him during this part with joy, some crying, all dancing and of the stay in a way that I had not been running about and moving slowly for- during any previous part of the tour. ward just to be as close to Him as possi- 20 SANT U4NI ble-the sheer happiness of that crowd lated the private interviews and group was incomparable. As the ocean ap- darshan sessions and assisted at the in- proached, at last I saw Him; Light was itiation; Leila Reuter, who assisted just flowing from His face and He was Alicia as a back-up translator at the beaming. When He saw me, He stopped public meetings and supplied the neces- and said, "Russell, you have brought me sary word if Alicia was temporarily to the home of love." Then I was very stumped; and Kent Bicknell, mentioned happy. That was a preview of the whole above, who was Sant Ji's (and Pappu's) stay in Colombia. perpetual emergency translator-always Every morning there was meditation available, always on call. Because Kent with the Master in the beautiful Satsang was much more aware of what was going Hall at the Ashram, followed by ques- on than I was, 1 am going to quote exten- tions and answers on meditation; after sively from a talk he gave at Sant Bani that we usually went for a walk through Ashram, New Hampshire, on August 3, the magnificent Andean countryside- 1977, just after our return home: scenery so sublime it reminded us all of ancient fairy-tale settings. Sometimes "He talked very frequently about how Sant Ji would use these walks to convey any initiate of a True Master will be important instructions to those of us for- liberated in this lifetime. He said that in tunate enough to accompany Him; as, many different ways, in many different for example, the morning He spoke to forms. At one point He said, 'I have Dr. Molina and me about the responsi- made up my mind that my initiates are going to be liberated.' bility a Representative has for the people "Later on, that was explained more in he gives the instructions to. He said that some questions that came up in private. if a Representative persuades or con- He told the story of a man who was do- vinces someone to become initiated and ing seva in the court of Guru Gobind then gives him the instructions, if that Singh. He was handing out parshad one person goes off the Path and takes on day and a couple of men came who had bad karma, the Representative shares in been working in the fields; they were dir- that. I became very disturbed and said ty. They were anxious to have parshad. that I couldn't possibly take on that kind And this sevadar told them, 'There, you of responsibility. But I had not under- take that prashad that has fallen on the stood correctly, as He explained: it is on- floor.' So they cursed him and told him ly a problem if the Representative has ex- he should become a bear. When he died, erted any kind of persuasive influence on he came back as a bear. In the meantime, the person. If the person of his own free the man's son grew up while the bear was will asked for initiation, then he alone is growing up, and also went to serve the reponsible and he alone takes on the kar- Guru in His court. The bear was cap- ma involved. tured and became a dancing bear, a per- In Colombia we were very dependent forming animal that traveled with the on the devoted and competent bi-lingual man who captured him. satsangis who acted as translators: Mrs. "One time that bear came to the Alicia de Gomez, who translated all of Guru's court and started to dance and the public sessions, including the Sat- began to stare at what amounted to his sangs and morning darshan periods; Dr. own son. The Guru, after a while, Molina's two daughters, Silvia (Mrs. laughed and told the boy, 'You have Joseph Gelbard) and Elvia, who trans- some relationship with this bear,' at January 1978 which the boy was very surprised. By Singh went to Rishikesh when Master that time he was a young man. He said Sawan Singh left the body, He would that as far as he knew he had never seen meditate on the banks of the river the bear before. And then the Guru told Ganga, and the goddess of the river the whole story to him, and the disciple would embody in the form of a beautiful became upset, and said, 'Is this the fruit woman and come to pay homage to Him. of seva for the Guru? I'm going to leave Many times she came and thanked Your service if this will happen to me: Master for purifying her waters. She said that I will come back as an animal.' that placing His feet in her waters had "And the Guru explained, 'No, this made them pure again, whereas usually had to happen in order for him to pay off millions of sinners came to wash off their that karma; but he will be liberated.' sins and her waters had become very When the bear left the body, he was lib- dirty indeed. erated. "You know, I heard that story, and I "So people were wondering how this started thinking, 'Gee-river goddesses fit with the statement we have always were really there, coming to Master?' heard in Sant Mat, that an initiate of a And I asked Russell if he had ever heard true Master would never take birth below that story before, and he said he had, the human body. Sant Ji explained that that Khuku had once told it to him. Only it's the other side of the coin that we can she added that Tai Ji could see the lady be liberated in this lifetime. The point is, and threw stones at her (because she He said, the Guru can do anything He thought she was bothering Master), until wants with the disciple. At the time the Master informed her, 'No, this is the disciple leaves the body, it's up to the goddess of the Ganga.' So . . . Guru to decide where he goes. You're no "There was one time when a couple longer in the hands of the Lord of Judg- came in with some very intellectual ment, you're in your Guru's hands. He'll testing type questions which some people give you what you need. If you need birth need to ask: 'We read once that Master as a bear, you'll get it. But, He said, even called you to Sawan Ashram and you those people who at the time of death are didn't come,' for example. At the end of not having stupendous meditations, if it after Sant Ji had answered all the ques- they are loving the Master and if they are tions, the man said, 'I don't see my doing their best, they will be lib- Master's eyes in your eyes.' He said it in erated. . . . a very strange way. Sant Ji very politely "Sometimes the whole concept of In- told him that He respected the honesty of dian mythology began to turn into In- his questions, and then He said, 'But the dian history for me-the sheer power and thing is, you haven't looked in my eyes; the immensity of the Guru would come you've been looking at the translator the through. When he would sit up there on whole time' (which was true). And then the dais and say the Guru has liberty He motioned to the wife and said, 'And from God, or permission from God, to you haven't looked at my eyes, either. do whatever He wants-He can liberate You've been staring down at the ground' the whole world if He wants to-in one (which was true). Then He proceeded to glance-1 saw that that was true, and it talk to them, and while He did it, He was really awesome. looked into their eyes and they looked in- "He told a story once which I had to His eyes. 1 didn't have a chance to say never heard before: After Master Kirpal anything to them after that, although it 22 SANT BANI went on for five minutes. But the next "Another time a satsangi brought her day, he was in for a group darshan and dying mother, and Sant Ji went down. on his way out, I just asked him quickly, The lady couldn't get out of the car-she 'How are the eyes today?' He said, was driven up as close as possible to His 'Marvelous!' house, and Sant Ji went down the steps "I guess the thing I would have to say and saw her for two minutes. The lady about Sant Ji, and this was certainly true died while we were in Bucaramanga, and about Master Kirpal-someone once re- the disciple told Sant Ji that her death ferred to Master Kirpal as 'Mr. Snatch- was very peaceful. And Sant Ji told her bottom,' because every time you thought that she had done a very great service by you had Him figured out, He pulled the bringing her mother to see Him, and that bottom out from under you. It seems to it was on account of that that she had a be that way with Sant Ji. I really had to peaceful death. learn to do the best I could with the "You read all the stories about the orders I had been given, and at any mo- quitters and the people who stayed ment wait for them to be reversed from building the platforms. And you im- the top, and not think at all about things mediately identify with those who stay. like saving face or anything like that. But I don't know. While I found that liv- Many times I refused people and told ing right with Sant Ji is a tremendous them: 'Absolutely no way you can see blessing-I amounted to Pappu's Sia- Sant Ji; He's retired, He's gone to bed; mese twin, and if I ever got far away, I you'll just have to wait until tomorrow.' was rebuked for going away, and I was And the door would open, 'Yes?' 'Well, told I should be with Sant Ji every these people are waiting to see You.' minute-at the risk of sounding ungrate- 'Come in, come in.' And I would just ful, I would have to say, in all honesty, chuckle; what else could I do? that I found that to be like a two-edged "There was a woman doctor who sword; because, you know, He's the fire asked a question: how could she avoid and we're all cold, and we come in from karmas in connection with her patients? the cold for darshan and satsang and I don't remember the answer exactly but meditation, and we get toasty warm and it got to the point where neither Pappu, it feels wonderful. Then we go out in the Silvia, nor I could understand the Eng- cold again and start to cool off. And you lish version that Pappu was coming out know what it's like when you stay too with of what Sant Ji was saying. Ap- warm in front of the fire. I take every- parently one of the things He was saying thing He says pretty seriously, and when was that she shouldn't do any bad prac- He says you have to be very advanced to tices-she shouldn't accept any money live around a Saint, I think I have a little for bad practices. We wanted more; we better understanding of that. It really wanted to know what He meant by 'bad hurt me to see my own pettiness and my practices.' This went on for a while, and own weaknesses crop up in front of Him. finally He said, 'Look, just translate to It happened in many cases where I felt her what I'm telling you. She knows that I didn't do justice to what I had been what I mean. She knows.' And it was given. true. She did know what He meant. One "Sometimes He talks about things in thing He definitely said: 'Never perform such black and white terms. Friction an abortion.' That's the first thing He comes up among a group and He says, told her. 'The Negative Power saw how much love January 1978 23 you were having, so it just planted some people there genuinely loved Him, and seeds of discord.' He was very happy there. "People wanted Him to sign photos, "He gave a long talk to the sevadars in and after a while we set up shop in the Bucaramanga in which He said among private interviews-there would be the other things that if you're given a seva, clipboard and the pen because almost then that's your seva, and if you leave every person that came in would have that seva to do something else that you five photos to be signed. He must have want, then you're not doing seva. You signed at least 200 photos. He didn't know, I thought about that. It's tricky. mind. Those of us around Him were kind There was one night when 1 was follow- of panicking: 'This is very bad-really. ing Him out of the satsang hall, and Dr. This practice has gone too far. We'd bet- Molina was behind me, and there was no ter stop it; no more. No more!' Then light on behind the corner there, and it someone would hand over photos and was dark. I paused for 15 seconds to take He'd smile and sign them. You really Dr. Molina's hand and lead him around don't know-only He knows. the corner; and then I was far enough "It continually amazed me to see how behind that I had to run up ahead in much Sant Ji gives. We tend to think of it order to unlock the door, and in that in terms of how much we get. If we get time someone tried to speak to Sant Ji in only a little, it seems like that's how Spanish. He said, 'Where's Kent? He's much He gave. But He gives an amazing always supposed to be right here with amount. I think of this incident: us!' I thought, when He said that thing "One night Sant Ji went out for a about seva, it's tricky-the Guru's walk, and no one really knew He went orders are sometimes tricky. He had told out. I happened to be with Him. We went me to do something and that's what I down to where the North Americans should have done-to be always avail- were staying in their little house, and the able. door was wide open, but the lights were "We don't understand what darshan on inside and no lights outside, so no one is, I'll tell you that right now. He talked could see out really. I looked in and there about when Master made Him sit up on was a group of people sitting around the dais with Him-He would tremble, talking, and a voice floated out that said, He was so terrified of sitting next to 'Gee, it seems like I've hardly seen Sant Master. We're all so hungry for it, and Ji at all today.' And there He was, look- we want it, and no doubt it's good for ing in on them! And I thought, you us-I know that in my soul. But I also know, how He always is right there, can see very well that I forget Who it is looking at us. I'm looking at. . . . "One person was at the sink washing, "One of the first things Sant Ji said and Sant Ji and I went over and watched when He got there was that there was him, and Sant Ji was chuckling all the really only one language-the language time. And at one point, the fellow looked of love. And that the Negative Power up and stared out the window but he had created all these different languages couldn't quite see, and Sant Ji really to give us a feeling of separateness. There laughed at that. were certain strains involved in being in "Sant Ji talked very positively about Colombia, and most of them seemed to Colombia as a country with a spiritual come out of the fact that it was a three- future. He loved the country and the way language deal. And as strains came 24 SANT BANI up, I would think, 'Well, here's the Neg- stove in earthenware pots mostly. There ative Power at work.' These strains real- wasn't any running water-ail the water ly come out of the different languages, had to be brought in. (There was a point and it struck me that one way around back in Bogota where the people orga- that was to get to the language of love, nizing things for Sant Ji had told Him and another way, at a lower level, was to that they had made an announcement work on being able to speak different that because of the scarcity of water in languages; which of course Master Kir- Bucaramanga, not many dear ones pal strongly emphasized in His Manav should come. But some people had been Kendra scheme precisely for this reason upset by this, and Sant Ji very rapidly in- -to break down barriers between formed them that it was up to us to pro- peoples. vide whatever the dear ones needed, and "Te arno means 'I love you' in that all the dear ones that wanted should Spanish, and it was one of the several be able to come to Bucaramanga.) So we phrages that Sant Ji learned, and some of just didn't use much water-which He the Colombians learned the Hindi or had suggested-and it was fine. Punjabi equivalent. And they would say, "A significant number of the Bucara- 'I love you' to Him in Hindi and He manga satsang get up at midnight, medi- would say, 'Te amo' and they loved it, tate together until 5 in the morning, take and He would roar with laughter. a half-hour break, come together for sat- "I haven't said much about the physi- sang and then go off to work. They have cal part of the stay, but Bogota, as been maintaining this schedule for some Russell said, is very high. Sant Ji once time. Sant Ji said it was their love that said, 'If you turn over in bed here, you had pulled Him there; He has a lot of run out of breath.' " respect for them. The Bucaramanga sat- The stay in Bogota was climaxed on sang is extremely together. The food Monday, July 25, when 54 dear brothers there was very beautifully prepared, and and sisters were given Naam by the living beautifully served, in a beautiful sur- Master Ajaib Singh Ji in the early hours rounding. There as in other places, Sant of the morning. On Thursday, July 28, Ji would come down and stand at the we flew to Bucaramanga, a small city langar and watch the food being served. with a very strong Satsang, near the Simple gourds served as bowls and as Venezuela border. spoons, and Sant Ji remarked that Nina would have liked it there very much. BUCARAMANGA "There was an old plumber in Bucara- Again I quote from Kent's talk: manga. He was not a satsangi; he had "Bucaramanga had to be the most come to work on the temporary pipes beautiful place I've ever been in the they had fixed up in Sant Ji's house. His world. It was like all those pictures from Spanish was so thick that I couldn't un- National Geographic of a lost valley of derstand a word of what he said. We the Incas. Bucaramanga is a fairly size- were trying to squeeze in many inter- able city, but we were at least forty views, and I knew there were initiates minutes away from it, although we could and seekers from Bucaramanga who see it from where we were. We were up in hadn't been able to come to Bogota and the mountains, and it was unbelievably really wanted to see Sant Ji. On one of beautiful. Sant Ji was very, very happy my trips out the door to get the next per- there. The food was cooked on a wood son, I was told that this old plumber had January1978 25 brought his fiddle to play some songs for someone needed, and Sant Ji would give Sant Ji, which he had composed. I said him the opposite. Sometimes I'd be a lit- (glunk), 'Well, maybe after 4, because tle bit right; sometimes one hundred per- that's when the interviews are supposed cent right. But He's the one who looks at to be over,' and I went back in. I heard their foreheads and reads their fate and him tuning up about half an hour later. I gives them exactly what they need. went out: 'Oh, please, silence is so nice; Sometimes it seemed hardPCoh, listen to it's really good.' And a person said, what He's saying to that person'-and 'He's just doing it out of love'; and my they'd go off weeping. And the next day, mind thought, 'The road to hell is paved the operation would be over and they'd with good intentions.' She said, 'I told be in heaven." him at 4.' 1 gulped: 'I didn't say he There was one day in Bucaramanga could; I said we'd see. I said maybe.' I that was one of the most incredible days told Sant Ji all about it. He said, 'Bring of the whole tour-Friday, July 29. It him in now. 1 want to hear him play.' So began with Initiation at 3 a.m. in the we brought the man in and he played, Master's house-a very beautiful candle- and Steve came in and filmed it on the light event. The sight of Sant Ji sitting sound movie. between the candles and being il- "Sant Ji was extremely loving to him. luminated by that humble light was in (The way He poured love on all the Col- itself worth the whole trip to South ombians was a beautiful sight indeed.) A America. Twenty-one brothers and sis- little while later I said to Him, ters were given Naam at this time. 'You know, when I'm in this position of Later that morning we drove into the maybe deciding who can see You and city of Bucaramanga as Sant Ji had been who can't, or who should see You invited to visit several houses there. First first-sometimes my head makes all we went to the Rosales family's house these reasons why someone should or (Maria Victoria Rosales is the Bucara- shouldn't and yet sometimes my heart manga group leader) and after going all remembers the story of Harnaam* and it through the house, Sant Ji held a very understands that I don't know what peo- sweet Satsang and gave out a great deal of ple need and I don't know who should parshad. Here He sang a bhajan He had see You when, and I don't know any of just written-or at least Pappu and Pathi that.' He said, 'Those people who come Ji had never heard it before and could to see a Saint in love-they get something only sing the responses with great dif- whether they are initiated or not. It ficulty. After that, we went to other makes no difference; it doesn't matter at houses, including the regular Satsang all. It was very good that that man came meeting-place, and returned to the to see me and he'll get a lot of benefit.' Ashram. "We don't know what anyone needs. After a brief rest, Sant Ji told us He Sometimes it seemed really clear what was going to take a walk. This was the * Sant Ji has often told the story of Harnaam, a walk during which the beautiful pictures low-caste laborer, respected by none, who saw of this place that appeared in the Sep- Master Kirpal once at Aboor. Six months later he died suddenly while working in the fields at tember issue were taken, and all of us Kunichuk Ashram. Just before he died, he told who accompanied Him-Pappu, Pathi Sant Ji that the Saint whom he had seen that one Ji, Kent, Karen, Christopher and Nicho- time had come to take him (although Harnaam was not initiated) and that He would be coming to las Bicknell, and myself-will surely re- Kunichuk Ashram in course of time (which He did). member it as long as we live. It began as 26 SANT BANI .. I..

wirh Kenr Bicknell and Elvia Molina, Bogora one of the happiest times ever* and de- slow down one bit. He kept moving on veloped into something much more, be- up that steep hill. Satsangis were there to cause all of a sudden we became aware greet Him, and He greeted them, and that we weren't going to be back in time just kept moving. We reached the for Satsang at 5 p.m. Sant Ji doesn't like ashram at exactly five o'clock. to be late, as He's told me many times. A beautiful satsang followed, then dar- So He started walking faster, faster, and shan at the langar with the full moon be- faster until He was not running, but-1 hind Him-thus this best of all days end- once saw a cartoon of John Henry laying ed. Lying in bed that night, savoring the down rails and all 1 could think of, quality of the day in my mind just before watching Sant Ji's legs, was John dropping off to sleep, it was difficult to Henry's arms competing with the ma- believe I wasn't living in a fairy tale. chine that was laying down rails beside The following day we flew back to Bo- him. I was at my absolute physical end gota for another day with the dear ones keeping up with Him. I was three or four there. During that day He met with the feet behind Him, I couldn't get any sevadars who had worked so hard to in- closer than that. I was just going and go- sure the success of His visit. In addition ing and going and going. And the closer to the dear ones already mentioned, He we got to the Ashram, the faster He was especially appreciative of Don Ig- walked. It was like there was no end to it, nacio Rodriguez, the Bogota group we just kept on going faster. I was barely leader, and his son and daughter; and aware of Pathi Ji who was a couple of Alejandro Correal, who coordinated ev- feet behind me. Pappu, Kent, Karen, erything and was referred to by Sant Ji as Nick and Chris were somewhere in Nzver "Alejandro el Grande" (Alexander the Never Land as far as I was concerned. Great). All 1 wanted to do was just not drop On Monday, August 1, we flew to Mi- behind. We came to the corner of the ami where we had a brief stop-over before driveway-it's very steep-He didn't boarding our plane to Boston. See the sequence, "The Colombian Hat Dance," Sanr Bani. September 1977. p. 20. TO BE CONTINUED January 1978 27 The Value of Parshad Sant Ajaib Singh Ji

Sant Bani Ashram, Bogota, Colombia, after morning meditation, luly 20, 1977 QUESTION: When we have parshad, how should we use it? SANT JI: As soon as you get the parshad, you should eat it. QUESTION: Should we eat it and then sit down for meditation? Eat it all at once? SANT JI: It will be better if you meditate after eating parshad. We people do not appreciate the parshad given by the Masters. In the parshad given by the Masters there is a lot of their spiritual power. We people take parshad and keep it in the bottle and do not eat it for many, many years. QUESTION: If one has enough parshad, a little bit too much-not too much-if we have parshad, should we share with other people or should we keep it for ourselves? SANT JI: This is an incident of my own life, that once my beloved Satguru gave me a lot of parshad. It was more than enough for me, but until I ate it all, I did not come out from the room. Many dear ones were sitting outside. A lot of foodstuff was brought for giving parshad to the people and everybody got a lot of parshad from Master. But because I was sitting in the room and eating the rest of the parshad, people thought that maybe I had gotten some special parshad from Master. And they requested me to share with them. But I didn't give them even a little bit of parshad and I didn't come out from the room until I had eaten it all up. Parshad has much greatness: it carries a lot of grace of the Master. Once Guru Gobind Singh when he was defeated by the Moghul army came to one village in the Punjab named Bina. At that time it was very difficult for him to take refuge in anybody's house because the Moghul army was so strong, and they had told all the people that those who gave shelter to Guru Gobind Singh would be murdered. So nobody was ready to give Him shelter. But there were two brothers named Lokmere and Shamere, and they were disciples of Guru Gobind Singh. Without having any fear of the Moghul army, they allowed the Master to come and stay in their house. When the Governor of Punjab came to know about this, he wrote a letter to Lokmere and Sharnere saying, "He is a fu- gitive of the government and you should bring Him to the court,

28 SANT BANI otherwise you will be put to death." But because both of them were very devoted disciples of Guru Gobind Singh, they wrote back to the governor, whose name was Mujit Khan, "You can capture Guru Gobind Singh only after killing us. As long as we are alive nobody can kill Him." So Guru Gobind Singh stayed in their house for six months, and they served Him with their whole heart; and He was very pleased with their seva. Once Guru Gobind Singh gave some parshad to Shamere and told him to eat, and to give it to the other members of his family. The Master told him that this parshad would cut the cycle of births and deaths of him and his family. So when Shamere came with the parshad to his family, his uncle, who was devoted to Sultan Pir (Sultan Pir was a mahatma in India: nobody knows when he was born or when he died, but people still believe that he was God), told him, "How can he give you anything when he himself is homeless?" So he didn't have any faith in the parshad given by Guru Gobind Singh. He frightened Shamere by telling him, "Sultan Pir will come and give you trouble, because you are not believing in him and you are believing in Guru Gobind Singh." So Shamere, because he was afraid of his uncle, didn't eat the parshad and he didn't give it to anybody else. He dug a small ditch in the ground and he put the parshad in that. But some of the little girls in his family, who saw this, came and took out the parshad from the ground and ate it. So when Shamere came back to Guru Gobind Singh, He told him that that parshad was going to cut the cycle of births and deaths of his family and it was very bad that he did not take advantage of it. "But," Guru Gobind Singh told him, "because the little girls have eaten that parshad, it will do good for them. And from now on in your family, no girl will remain without any children." Then, because Guru Gobind Singh was still pleased with him, he gave His horse to Shamere and told him, "You go around wherever you want and the place you will cover with the horse will be yours." Shamere was still under the influence of his uncle who had told him, "How can he give you anything, when he himself is homeless?" But on the other side he was afraid of Guru Gobind Singh, so he went around the village taking the Master's horse. When he came back, Guru Gobind Singh told him, "I wanted to give you the kingdom of all this world but still you didn't take advantage of my boon. Now I am giving you one more chance because I am very pleased with you, and you can ask for anything you like from me." So Shamere said to Guru Gobind Singh, "I am very much afraid that if you will give me any outward thing I will not be able to take advantage of that." Then he requested Him, "Please cut the pain of births and deaths, and don't send me into the cycle of 84 lakhs births and deaths." So Guru January I9 78 29 Gobind Singh told him to go and sleep, and in the dreams he saw all the lives which he had to live. In the end he saw that he was going to be born in a very poor family and once there was going to be a drought, and he had to go into the forest to cut some wood. When he went to cut the wood, on the tree there was some fruit also; and he was eating one of those fruits when he suddenly fell down from the tree. And when he woke up he still had the fruit in his mouth. So in that way all his karmas were finished in the dreams. When he came back to Guru Gobind Singh, he thanked him and told him, "I have undergone all the sufferings in the dreams." Then the Master told him, "All your karmas are finished and you will not have to go in any birth and death, and now the door of Guru Nanak is open to you and you are already liberated." This was an incident of three hundred years back; but still the family from whom the girls ate the parshad, in that family there has been no girl who has not had children. The power of the parshad still works in that family. The area which Shamere covered with the horse of Guru Gobind Singh is still owned by that family. This is the greatness of parshad. Bhai Dhyan Singh was a devoted disciple of Guru Gobind Singh. Once he sent his son named Bishamber Singh to hear the satsang of the Master. He gave him five hundred rupees to give as a donation to Guru Gobind Singh. When he came to the Master he saw that there were lots of things in the Ashram. So he thought, "What is the need of giving this five hundred rupees as a donation to this place?-because already there is lots of wealth here." But when he heard the satsang of Guru Gobind Singh, because other people were also giving, he felt that he should also give. But in his mind he thought, "My father is a crazy one, that he is spending this five hundred rupees uselessly." But anyway, when he gave the five hundred rupees, Guru Gobind Singh gave him some parshad; but that was only a few pieces of sweets and some corn. So when he got that much in return for five hundred rupees, he became very sad; because in those days five hundred rupees was a very great amount. On his way back home he spent one night at another satsangi's home, because in those days there were no motors, no cars, no jeeps, and the traveling was very slow. They were also disciples of Guru Gobind Singh, and they were very poor; but when they asked him, "From where have you come?" and he replied, "I went to hear the satsang of Guru Gobind Singh," they were very pleased to know that, and they started serving him. Somebody was giving him massage, somebody was washing his feet, and whatever they had they were serving him. So Bishamber thought, "They are also crazy like my father, that they are serving me." When they asked, "Did you get any parshad from Guru Gobind Singh?" he said, "Yes, my father gave me five hundred rupees and I gave that to Guru Gobind

3 0 SANT BANI Singh, and in return He gave me only a few pieces of sweets. My father has done very poor merchandise and 1 have lost in this business." But because they were very devoted to Guru Gobind Singh, they asked him if he would like to sell that parshad to them. He said, "Yes, I will be very glad to give you this parshad if you will give me my five hundred rupees back." So that poor family bought that parshad from that person. They were so poor they had to sell the vessels of their home in order to collect that five hundred rupees. After getting the money, Bishamber continued on his way home. On the journey, he did some business with that money and he earned a lot more from that. But on the other side, the family who ate that parshad with full faith and devotion for the Master, their inner vision was opened and whatever business they did, they made a lot of profit, and in that way, in due course of time, they became very wealthy. When Bishamber came back to his father, carrying lots of money, he gave that money to his father; but after a few days it so happened with his Master's will that whatever business Dhyan Singh was doing, he was los- ing in that. So after some time he became poor. Then Dhyan Singh asked his son, "When you went to Guru Gobind Singh, did He give you any parshad?" He replied, "Yes, He gave me some corn and some sweets, but on the way back I met a crazy one like you, and he bought that parshad from me, giving me the five hundred rupees back." And then Dhyan Singh realized that he had lost a lot. He rebuked his son and told him, "There was Master's Grace in that parshad, and you have lost that; that's why I am losing in my business." So he took his son and went back to the poor family who had bought that parshad from his son and he requested them, "Please give me that parshad back; I am ready to give you double or triple the amount of money which you gave to my son." But they replied, "We have already eaten that parshad, and that parshad has opened our inner vision. More- over, that parshad is the main reason for our prosperity. From where can we give you that parshad?" Dhyan Singh requested them, "At least you say that you have given us parshad." But he replied, "I can't do that. But I can go with you to Guru Gobind Singh and plead on your behalf." So Dhyan Singh, his son, and that other person went to the Master, and they requested Him to forgive them. Guru Gobind Singh replied to them, "I can again give you those few pieces of sweets and corn, but in that parshad there was a lot of grace; now you have to meditate to receive that same amount of grace." In the same way, only a few people understand and appreciate the greatness of parshad. But foolish people like us do not appreciate the parshad, and that's why we share it with others, or sometimes we sell it. Once when Guru Gobind Singh came to Rajasthan, He stayed over- night at one Muslim's house, and the bed on which He slept is still with January 1978 3 1 that Muslim family. The Sikh people are ready'to give thousands of rupees for that, but they will not give that bed to them. Even though in the Punjab the Sikh people were ruling, and the government of Punjab requested help from the government of Rajasthan to force that family to give that bed to the Sikhs, still that man refused, and said, "This is the parshad of our Master, and my fathers and forefathers have kept this. I won't give you this at any cost." If I tell you all the stories of Guru Gobind Singh, all the things which He did in Punjab and Rajasthan, you will find that many things are still working and having the grace of Guru Gobind Singh in those places, even though those things happened three hundred years back. Hazur Kirpal was also the same Power Who came to this world, and He also gave a lot of parshad to this world, and through His parshad He gave a lot of His grace. And we people took advantage of that personality, depending upon our faith and depending upon our receptivity. And now also, those who are having full faith in Him, they are receiving His grace according to their receptivity.

at the Satsang Hall, Bogota Sant Bani Ashram Publications by Param Sant Baba Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj The Way of the Saints: Sant Mat $6.00 The Crown of Life: A Study in Yoga hard cover 7 .OO paperback 3.50 Naam or Word (a study of the Sound Current) hard cover 7.50 paperback 3 .OO Morning Talks 3 .OO The Night is a Jungle and other discourses paperback 5.50 The Jap Ji: The Message of Guru Nanak 3 .OO Prayer: Its Nature and Technique hard cover 4.00 paperback 2.00 Baba Jaimal Singh: the story of a great Saint 2.00 Godman hard cover 4.00 paperback 2.00 The Teachings of Kirpal Singh (selected from writings and compiled by subject matter) I. The Holy Path 11. Self Introspection/Meditation 111. The New Life The following pamphlets, all of which are included in The Way of the Saints listed above, are available separately at 50 cents each (the last two at 25 cents each): Man! Know Thyself; Ruhani Satsang; Simran; God Power, Christ Power, Guru Power; How to Develop Receptivity. by other authors An Introduction to Sant Ajaib Singh Ji $1 .oo Cooking with Light: Favorite Vegetarian Recipes 6.00 Gurudev: The Lord of Compassion, by Ruse1 Jaque 2.50 The Third World Tour of Kirpal Singh 2.50 The Transformation of Man, by George Arnsby Jones hard cover 5 .OO paperback 2.00 The Song of Everything and other stories, by Tracy Leddy 2.95 Scientific Nutrition & Vegetarian Cookbook, by Dona G. Kelley 3.50 A Nutrition Compendium .50 Please add 5% to all orders to cover postage costs. Books and information are available from: Russell Perkins Arran Stephens Sant Bani Ashram 14080 Trites Road Franklin, N. H. 03235 Surrey, B.C. V6N 1V3 U.S.A. CANADA at Bucararnanga