Sant Bani Magazine JU~~/AU~.'95 The Voice of the Saints v~i.20 - i a 2

With the Master in South America Sant Bani Magazine The Voice of the Saints 1 July / August 1995 - Volume 20, Numbers 1 & 2

3 The Company We Keep Sant Ajaib Singh Ji a Satsang of June 9,1995

15 Miracles of Love Ricardo Moreno, a personal experience

18 Concentration is a Great Force Baba Sawan Singh Ji reprinted from Sniritual Gems - 21 With the Master in South America photos from the Tour

26 Pray to Him Wholeheartedly Sant Ajaib Singh Ji meditation talks from June 16, 17, 6 18, 1995 - 26 The King of Our Hearts Sant Kirpal Singh Ji reprinted from the April 1976 Sat Sandesh 41 Feed Your Soul with Meditation Sant Ajaib Singh Ji the farewell talk in Venezuela,June 7,1995

44 A Vey Precious Hour Sant Ajaib Singh Ji questions and answers, August 19,1977

Photo credits: Cover (Bombay, January 1995) Pat Brown; all other photos of Sant Ji from South America, June 1995; pp. 7, 17, 22, bottom, 23, 28, 36, 37 (both), 38, 40, Jonas Gerard; pp. 9, 21, 24 (top), 26, 27, Joe Gelbard; pp. 12, 43, Charlie Costa; pp. 22 (top), 24 (bottom), 25, 39, Gunnel Singh; others unknown.

SANT BANIIThe Voice of the Saints is published periodically by Sant Bani Ashram, Inc., Sanbornton, N.H., U.S.A., for the purpose of disseminating the teachings of the living Master, Sant Ajaib Singh Ji, of His Master, Param Sant Kirpal Singh Ji, and of the Masters who preceded them. Editor Emeritus: Rus- sell Perkins. Editor: Richard Shannon, with kind assistance from: Debbie Asbeck, Randy Budington, Joe Gelbard, Edythe Grant, Amy Kaufman, Lelia McIlwraith, Phyllis Roy, Elvia Rubald, Rebecca Shannon, Susan Shannon and Mary Tulin. Annual subscription rate in the U.S. is $30.00. Individual and back issues $2.50. Foreign and special mailing rates available on request. All checks and money orders should be made payable to Sant Bani Ashram, and all payments from outside the U.S. should be on an International Money Order or a check drawn on a New York bank (with a micro-encoded number). Correspondence should be addressed to Sant Bani Ashram, Sanbornton, N.H. 03269, U.S.A. Articles, including stories and poems, on the theory and practice of Sant Mat, are most welcome. Views expressed in individual articles are not necessarily the views of the journal. Articles are edited for clarity and may be cut to fit available space. The Company We Keep Sant Ajaib Singh Ji

alutations unto the feet of Su- In the writings of the Masters, four things are always mentioned. preme Father Almighty Lords Sawanp and Kirpal, Who have had Those things are that the liberation mercy on this poor soul, and have does not lie in performing the wor- given the opportunity to do Their ship and the austerities, the libera- devotion, and allowed this poor soul tion is in Naam. Mahatmas even tell to sing Their glory. us that the Naam, because of which Saints and Mahatmas, the Be- we can achieve the liberation-that loveds of God, no matter whether Naam cannot be seen with these They came in India, or in the Per- eyes, it cannot be written in any lan- sian countries, or in other parts of guage; it is an unwritten law, an un- the world - it doesn't matter where spoken language. Even though we They came, nor in what age They have this tongue, we cannot speak came. Nobody came into this world that Naam, so we are dumb. Even to break the existing religions, or to though we have the eyes, we cannot form any new religion. They did not see that Naam. In our within God come to this world to give us the Almighty is calling us; even though sticks in our hands and make us fight we have the ears, but still we are not with each other. listening, we are not able to hear the Even though those great Masters Sound of God. God, after giving life are not among us in the physical to, and creating the whole creation, form, we do have Their writings is sitting in Sach Khand. We are the with us, Their teachings in the form crippled ones; we cannot climb to of the books and scriptures. You may Sach Khand, we cannot reach Sach read Their books, and you can find Khand using these legs. for yourself whether enmity towards Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj says anyone is written there, or whether that those who have become blind it teaches us to have love for every- in the Will of the Lord are not the one. blind ones; in fact, those who are not seeing the Light of the Lord This Satsang was given June 9, 1995, which is manifested within them, at Sant Bani Ashram, in Subachoque, they are the real blind ones. Day and Colombia. night God Almighty is creating the

July /August 1995 Sound of Shabd within us. Those form. And once that ant becomes a who are not listening to that Sound bhringi, it does not remain an ordi- of the Shabd are the deaf ones. Guru nary ant, it also becomes a bhringi. Nanak Sahib says, "Do not call them When the swanti drop of rain [pure blind who have become blind in the rain], falls in the ocean, it becomes Will of the Lord; Nanak says, Those like the ocean-salty. But when it who do not see the Light of (3od falls in the mouth of the shell, it within are the real blind ones. Nanak becomes a pearl. The iron floats on says only they have the true eyes the surface of the water in the com- who see their Creator within." pany of the wood; in the same way, On behalf of God Almighty, per- by going in the company of the per- fect Masters come into this world to fect Masters, we do the devotion of give eyes to us the blind ones, legs God Almighty and meet with Him. to us the crippled ones. They come Masters call that place or that en- into this world to break the seal of vironment as Satsang where They our ears. talk about God Almighty. Through Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj says, Their talks, Masters touch our heart "Even the cripple climbs the moun- and divert our attention towards God tain, and even a foolish one speaks Almighty. God is that Truth which like a wise person. When one meets doesn't perish, which isn't destroyed, the Pure Master, then even a blind He always remains. So the real Sat- person can see all the three worlds. sang is the union of our soul with Listen, 0 Brother, to the glory of that Truth, God Almighty. the company of the Master. The dirt Bhagat Namdev Ji says, "Look- is removed, and one becomes very ing at the body of the Masters, do pure in his heart. Such is the devo- not remain under this illusion, do tion of God Almighty, that even an not forget, do not think that They ant defeats an elephant." are only the human beings. They The second thing is: the Masters have a different position. They are sing the importance of the glory of one with God Almighty, so when we the Satsang, or the company we are having Their darshan, when we keep, in Their writings. The com- are spending time in Their compa- pany which we keep has a very deep ny, we are doing the true Satsang." effect on our life, just as in the com- Some dear ones asked Guru Ar- pany of a philosophers stone Iron jan Ji Maharaj, "What is the true turns into gold, and the gold does Satsang? Whose company is the true not change back into iron again. The one, and in whose company should bhringi is a kind of insect. It brings we go, and in whose company should an ant and makes it hear the bhrin- we not go?" So Guru Arjan Dev Ji gi's own sound, and makes it its own Maharaj replied, "You should always

4 SANT BANI go and sit in the company of those where some Beloved of God is re- who meditate on the Naam of the siding, by going to that place and by Lord. Never go in the company of being with that lover of God, we get those who are involved in their own the true understanding and knowl- pursuits." edge and we get peace from Him. Kabir Sahib says, "God Almighty Guru Nanak Ji Maharaj says, sent me, and I have given out His "There is no difference between the message, weeping and with much Lord and the Saint." Kabir Sahib difficulty. The happiness which I get says, "No one should ever criticize in the company of the Saint, I do not the Saint, because the Saint and the get that even in the heavens." Lord Almighty are one." Kabir Sahib says, "0 Kabir, the The third thing which the writ- company of the Sadh is very good; ings of the perfect Masters describe it cuts millions of our sins. The com- is the necessity of having the per- pany of those who are not the Mas- fect Master. Because by going in the ter, those who are not the sadhus is company of an imperfect master we very bad, because always in their get nothing but confusion and diffi- company you remain restless, and culties and restlessness. you commit sins." Maharaj Kirpal used to say that In the Bhagavad Lord Krishna only an educated person can give tells Udho, "Neither by performing you an education, only a wrestler any japas, nor by performing any can make you a wrestler, and only austerities, nor by any kind of wor- He Who has done the meditation can ship, nor by reading the scriptures, make you meditate. Only He Who nor by any other good karmas, can has struggled with His mind can anyone realize me, only by going in make you fight with your mind. He the company of the Masters or Saints Who is connected from the within can one realize me." He says "I can with God Almighty can make you neither be accommodated in the sky, connected with Him. nor can I live in the world below, I am telling you from my own but I can easily live in the hearts of experience, with much firmness and the devotees." determination, that before you go to We get the medicines from the anybody and take him as your Mas- hospitals; we get the education from ter, first of all find out whether he the schools and colleges. By sitting has done any meditation in his life- close to the water we get coolness; time or not, whether he has sacri- we get the warmth by sitting next to ficed ten or fifteen years searching the fire. As we see all these things for God and doing the devotion or to be true and as we believe in them, not. Because it is not an ordinary in the same way, if there is a place thing to go to someone and take him

July /August 1995 as your Master, it is the matter of ceive the Initiation, we can never go your own life. So before going to within, we can never progress. anyone and taking him as your Mas- Earlier I had said that the Mas- ter you should first find out about ters do not come into this world to him, and you should be very sure make us fight with each other. They that he is the perfect one. do not break the existing religions, Guru Nanak Sahib says, 'No one nor do They form the new religions. has realized Him just by talking." They come into this world only for He says that you cannot win the bat- the benefit of the souls; They bring tles just by talking. We cannot con- the message of God Almighty to the trol lust, anger, greed, attachment souls. The Masters come into this and egoism and all these opposite world for those souls for whom it forces just by talking. has been determined and decided in In the city of Lahore, there was a the Court of God that now they will wrestler by the name of Gunga, and be given the liberation, they will be he was a very famous wrestler over brought back to the Real Home. there. Master Kirpal Singh Ji used So Masters bring the message of to mention him; He used to give his God Almighty for those souls, and example. Why did he become so even if it is very difficult for Them popular, so famous? It is only be- to give that message, still They do cause all night long he would go on Their job, They give the message to practicing his wrestling. That is why, those souls. And also the Masters since he worked very hard, he be- Who come carrying the message for came very famous. Master Kirpal the souls, They never become a bur- Himself chose the waters of the riv- den on any community or any soci- er Ravi, and He used to go and stand ety. They earn Their own livelihood, in the water up to His neck, and He be it by farming or by trading or used to do the meditation over there. doing anything, but They never be- It is also written in the writings come a burden on Their followers or banis of the Mahatmas, that what- or on the society. ever search, whatever finding we But what do we do after such have to do, we should do it before Masters, such Beloveds of God, we take the Initiation from the Mas- leave this world? We rewrite the ter. And once we have searched for writings, the teachings of those Mas- the Master, once we become sure ters, according to our own way, and about Him and take the Initiation we comment on them. In the name from Him, after that, sincerely, hon- of those Masters we create the reli- estly, and wholeheartedly, we should gions; and we confine the teachings do our meditation. If we keep any of those Masters, which were for the doubts for the Master after we re- whole world, we limit those teach-

6 SANT BANI Satsang in Quito, Ecuador ings to a particular sect, or religion, Just as a cow does not refuse the or to a particular part of the world. milk to anyone - she doesn't say, We fight with each other, and we "I will not give milk to this person create the divisions. What more in- or that person." In the same way the justice can we do to the teachings of perfect Master gives His teachings, those Masters? Because the teach- His knowledge, His grace to every- ings of the Masters were for the one, whether one is Hindu, or Mus- whole creation, for the whole world, lim, or Sikh, or Christian, whether but we limit and we confine them to one lives in the East or West. just a few people, or just a few A brief hymn of Swami Ji Maha- groups of people. raj is presented to you; listen to it A perfect Master is like a cow. with much attention.

July / August 1995 Over here you have to be care- is your enemy, so do not listen to ful. him, and be very careful over here." This way is very crooked - First of all, the mind keeps us do not fall in the company involved in the pleasures of this of the mind. physical plane, and he keeps us in- volved over here. If somehow we What message do They bring? Our are able to rise above this physical soul is an essence of God Almighty, plane and go inside, and if we do and our mind is an agent of the not have the perfect Master with us, Negative Power. The Negative Pow- then he causes the confusion because er cannot kill the soul; he cannot over there he has created his own give birth to any soul. The soul can- lights, he has created his own sounds. not be burnt in any fire; it cannot There are so many crooked ways be drowned in any water. The soul over there, and if we do not have the doesn't get killed; she cannot kill company of the Master with us, we anyone. remain in the confusion. We do not In order to keep the soul in this know where we have to go, and we world, in this creation, the Negative get lost over there. Power created the cage of this body, If we have the company of the to which he attached the mind. And Master Who has defeated all these he gave this duty to the mind, that forces of the Negative Power, He no soul should ever listen to the mes- Who has controlled all these things sage of the Masters. If they listen to - if we have His company, only the message of the Masters anyway, then we can go beyond them. they should not do the meditation of the Shabd Naam. Mind is a minister The strean of the ocean of life of the Negative Power, and he has flows very deep; created his armies, his forces. Lust, How will you go across with- anger, greed, attachment, and ego- out the Master? ism are very strong. Laziness is also one of the forces of the mind. We do not know the depth of this Perfect Masters come into this ocean of life. We do not know about world and They tell the souls, "This its length or breadth. And there is not your home. You do not be- are so many waves that are being long to this place, you have come to created in this ocean - the waves someone else's place, your home is of lust, anger, greed, attachment, and Sat Naam. You belong to Sat Naam, egoism. Somewhere there are the and you are here in somebody else's waves of backbiting and criticism, land. So over here you be very care- and all the other negativities. We do ful. Mind is not your companion, he not know how long we have been

8 SANT BANI July / August 1995 drowning in this ocean; we do riot Him once, He remembers us mil- know how to cross over this ocean lions of times. Every satsangi is writ- or swim in it. If we meet with some- ten on His heart, just like you write one who knows how to swim across a name on a register, in the same this ocean, and if He helps us, if He way, it is written on the heart of the teaches us how to deal with these Master - every satsangi. Even if waves, only then can we cross over thousands of initiates were to leave and be liberated from this ocean. the body at the same time, the Mas- The perfect Masters are aware of ter will come for each one of them the waves this ocean has. They save and liberate them - this is what us from these waves and They ta.ke Master Sawan Singh said. us across. Perfect Masters come into this world carrying the ship of Naam, Be in His company. Keep the and those who sit in Their ship of love for Him in your heart, Naam, They easily take them across. And hold on to the feet of the Master with your mind.. Love the Master as the un- chaste person loves his Lovingly He says, "Dwell on Him wife. within your heart, day and night." Whether you are sleeping or awake, Lovingly He says that now, when always keep Him in your heart. you have received the Naam Initia- Why should we remember the Mas- tion, love your Master as an unchaste ters so much? Because you know that person can never forget his wife. Or at the time of death, neither your like a wife who, being controlled by mother nor your father will come to lust, can never forget her husband. rescue you. Nothing of this world In the same way, you should have will come to help you. Only the Mas- so much love for your Master, be- ter will help you at the time of cause you will always have the death. Always keep Him in your thoughts of the person whom you heart; remember Him whether you love, and even when you sleep, if are sleeping or awake, whether you you will be thinking of the Master, are working or doing whatever. Al- even when you sleep, you will have ways remember Him with your heart. only His dreams. The love of this world is selfish, Deal with Him giving up it is full of self-interest; the love of cleverness and deceit. the Master is selfless, it is of the Understand the words of the love [of God]. Master Sawan Singh Master. Ji used to say that if we love the Master for once, if we remember Now He says, "Do not play any trick

10 SANT BANI with the Master, do not have any Ones, not even one breath of yours deception for the Master - go to should go without doing Simran. the Master with a sincere heart and Moment after moment, with every with all your love." Guru Nanak blink of your eye, you should be do- says, "Give up deceptions, disguises, ing the Simran." all your cleverness and wisdom. You You might have seen in the cir- do not get the fruit if you are cus those performers who walk on in the doubts and dualities." Guru the ropes - very skinny ropes - Nanak Sahib says you will not get and even those who walk on bam- the fruit of devotion to eat, if after boo. How do they do it? They do it going to the Master, you go in all because their contemplation, their at- the disguises and you tell Him things tention, is completely on the rope which are not true. on which they are walking. Even though there are many people watch- Always be afraid of Kal, ing them do that - even great kings, You do not know when you will emperors, very rich people may also die. be sitting there and watching - but those people who are performing do Swami Ji Maharaj says do not un- not pay any attention to who is derstand Kal as a monster. But do watching them and who is there. remember: you do not know when Their attention is completely towards Kal is going to ring the bell of your their job, and that is why they do it death. You do not know when your very successfully. If they do not keep heart is going to fail, when you are their attention towards their job, if going to meet with an accident - they lose their concentration, they when your death will occur. So do fall, and as a result they may even not waste any opportunity; do not die. waste any time. Always remember We should also, like that artist of the Master, always do your medita- the circus, keep our attention on the tion, go within, take advantage of form of the Master. Whether we are this time and meet with your Master sitting in the Satsang, or sitting in within. meditation, our attention, our con- centration, should always be focused 0 madman, realize with your on the form of the Master. When we every single breath- will have our attention on the form Remember the Naam every of the Master, our tongue will start moment. doing the Simran by itself.

Swami Ji Maharaj says that Saints Carelessness committed here come and They tell us, "0 Dear will bother you much,

July / August I995 Sant Ji at the Satsang tent in Subachoque, Colombia

Then in the beyond nothing anything out of repentance. So when will be achieved. you are here in the human body, don't make any such mistakes. Swami Ji Maharaj says that after getting the human body, we make Whatever you want to make, mistakes. We say, "Okay, we will make it now- do the meditation later on." We post- Do not rely on the future. pone our meditation, or sometimes we say, "We will not go to the Sat- Now Swami Ji Maharaj says that if sang today, the Master is going to you want to become a Mahatma, you say the same things again, so it is have to work for it in this lifetime okay if we just remain here and read itself. If you want to become a good the books." So Swami Ji Maharaj person, you have to work for it while says don't make such mistakes, don't living. If you think that even after postpone all this. Because of all these doing all the bad deeds, and drink- mistakes which we make here in this ing wine and enjoying the pleasures human life, in this human body, we of the world, and deceiving others, will have to suffer a great deal. And still you can become the Mahatma over there, when you will suffer, then in the next lifetime, that is not pos- you will repent, and you do not get sible. Because whatever you have to

SANT BANI become, you have to work for it right ifest the Master within you. Because now. Whatever you have to do, you whatever is going to happen in our have to do it right now; you should life, that is all pre-written, pre-des- not rely upon the future. tined. Pains and happiness, riches Mahatmas always say, "Do not and poverty, good health and sick- hurt anyone. Don't give pain to oth- ness, all these things were written in ers, do not hurt anyone's feelings." our destiny even before our body was But what do we do? First we raise created, and whatever was written cattle, sheep, goats, and then we in our fate, we will get that. don't hesitate, we don't think before Swami Ji Maharaj says that you we kill them. If by mistake, the should understand the moment of butcher cuts his finger, he cries, he pain as a blessed one, a good one, screams a lot, because it hurts very because in the moment of pain our much. But he doesn't understand, he mind is inclined towards the Mas- doesn't realize that when he kills the ter, towards the Simran of the Mas- animals, they also feel the pain. Dear ter. When we are in pain our mind is ones, each one of us has a life, and not inclined so much towards the everyone loves that life. world, it is inclined towards the Mas- ter. So you should understand that Do not expect happiness in this moment, the moment of pain, as a world; good one, and utilize it by doing the Do not be unhappy in the Sirnran. Our mind remains careless pains. when we are happy, and he does not Understand the moment of allow us to do the remembrance of pain as the best; the Master, but when we are in Every single moment meditate pain, naturally we think of the Mas- on the Naam of the Master. ter and we do Simran.

Swami Ji Maharaj tells us, "Do not In happiness the mind always do the meditation thinking that if you remains forgetful and one don't do the meditation that you will is always swept away in the lose in business, or that your son stream of mind. will get sick, or that you will lose in So wake up and do the Sat- the world. And don't think that if sang so that you may cross you do the meditation you will win over the river of pains and the lawsuit, or become successful in happiness. this world." Do not do the medita- tion with these kind of expectations Swami Ji Maharaj says, "You should and feelings. You do your medita- attend the Satsang, you should lis- tion to meet with the Master, to man- ten to the Satsang, keeping your

July /August 1995 mind present there, because we are we go between and behind the two attending the Satsang to make our eyebrows, then our soul realizes she mind understand, to explain things is the essence of God Almighty, she to our mind. Do not be bothered by was always with Him. She was only these rivers of pain and happiness." suffering because she took the mind Guru Nanak Sahib says that we as her companion. God is an ocean, should not become excited and hap- the Master, the Shabd is His wave, py looking at the happiness, nor and our soul is a drop of that vast should we become unhappy looking ocean. Just as when the drop surren- at the pains. Just as the pain ends ders itself to the wave, the wave and the happiness comes, and when takes it to the depth of the ocean; in the happiness ends the pain comes, the same way, when we will surren- rising above both the pains and the der ourselves to our Beloved Mas- happiness, we should always remain ters, where will They take us? They devoted to our Beloved One. Both will take us to the Beloved Almighty the pains and the happiness are cre- Lord from where They came. ated by our Beloved, by our God, Swami Ji Maharaj in this very and we should always remain con- brief hymn lovingly explained to us tent with whatever He gives us. that we should be very careful in this world. We should never take the Within yourseK realize your- company of the mind; we should al- selJ then go as a soul into ways obey the commandments of the the beyond. Master. These two rivers of pain and Radha Soami says, making you happiness which we have to cross understand, "Go and meet are according to our own karmas. with the Shabd Guru. " We can easily cross over them with the support of the Shabd of the Mas- Now lovingly He says that when we ter. So we should understand the do the Satsang of the Masters, when message which the Master has we do the Simran given to us by the brought for us and, making our life perfect Masters, when we hear the pure and holy, we should do the message which the perfect Masters meditation of Shabd Naam and make brought for us, and after rising above our human life, our human body suc- the nine openings of the body when cessful.

SANT BANI Miracles of Love "Don't Worry, We Will Be Victorious" RICARDO MORENO

was driving at a moderate speed appeared, as if it had come from our along the winding road where seat in the car. I only perceived his Sant Ji travelled physically on His Indian clothes in the darkness of the two visits to Mexico. We had just night and heard his voice say: "Don't passed "Tres Marias," a town near worry, we will be victorious." He "La Palma." It was the 25th of Sep- took the angry humanoid in his arms tember, a little after 8 p.m. I was and threw him over the car. Simul- travelling with my wife, Rosa, and taneously I received a tremendous, my three children, Shanti Ricardo undoubtedly mortal blow to the head, (age 13), Amira Yaazmin (age 10) and the film marking the end of my and Maria Akashbani (age 6), who life started to roll. It stopped and I were in the back seat of the car, rest- instantly returned to this place, with ing and complaining about the long great clarity of thought and feeling trip. Their mother was soothing them totally calm, repeating "Don't wor- by saying that in just a few minutes ry," as if it were the Simran. I was more we would be at home and they trying to speak to my wife and chil- could go to sleep. dren, especially to the children who The road was quiet even though were in the back seat struggling to it was Sunday, when there is a lot of get out of the car. traffic. A car was coming in the op- We were stopped on the side of posite direction. I lowered my lights the road, with the tires on the right in order to turn them up as soon as side swinging back and forth over a we passed each other. We were trav- precipice. I still had my foot on the elling in a compact car; a green brake and, stretching out my hand, I Chrysler "Spirit." Suddenly a cas- turned on the emergency lights. The cade of mud appeared before us, children broke the window behind forming a curtain which blocked our my seat. Shanti especially was very way. In that state of surprise we en- scared because, even though we had tered a tunnel: from one end the mud talked to each other, he believed I was coming towards us, taking on a was dead. He was shocked because human-like form, throwing itself my face was bathed in blood and I over us with its angry face, wanting was not moving my extremities. He to destroy us. The very moment it was trying to open my door but reached the windshield, a shadow was unable because it was stuck. So,

July /August 1995 moving my left arm with great diffi- The hood of the car was totally sunk- culty, I unlocked the door and tried en down in the middle. The man said to help from inside. But the effort he would report the dead later on, made me aware of a strong pain in but his wife heard the children's my back and of how fruitless any voices calling out for help. This man effort was. I thought of sliding eo- was an agent of the Ministry of Pub- wards the back to get out like the lic Affairs in charge of security. children had, but that was also use- When he came closer I told him less. we were alive and asked him to look Meanwhile Shanti was warning for a lever behind my seat which us not to go out the other side for allowed it to be reclined. He dili- fear we would fall down the preci- gently found it and, when the back pice. Rosa was asking the children of the seat went down, I started to be careful, not to despair, nor run, breathing normally. I felt uncomfort- because they were in a very danger- able and tried to take off my seat ous area. She told them to call out belt. I realized that my left hand for help. I realized that my voice didn't fit freely between my body could scarcely be heard, my respira- and the car door. I asked my wife tory capacity was reduced to ten or for help and between the two of us fifteen percent and my feet were get- we freed the seat belt. She appeared ting cold quickly. The only thing to be in better shape than I. The back which kept me alive was the peace of her seat was also lowered but she Sant Ji's words gave me. could not move to get out of the car I verified that I could move all either. We were waiting for help to my extremities and that the only arrive and I took her left hand with thing left to do was wait. my right, The man who had helped A car travelling behind us [was us said the children were safe in his forced to] stop. The driver of that truck; there Maria had been treated vehicle was able to avoid some for a small abdomen wound caused branches of the tree which [had by some glass but it had no major crushed our car]. The tree was about consequences. Even though she was 65 feet tall and nearly three feet in anxious because of what had hap- diameter. It had fallen on our car pened, she remembered: "Oh my exactly between our heads and the goodness, we haven't even fed the dashboard. We had dragged it a cou- dogs." ple dozen feet until the tree trunk Rosa was visibly concerned for was obstructing the way on the road. the safety of the children but I re- This man, a charitable soul sent by minded her that the people there the Master, came toward us con- had been sent by the Master and, vinced that Rosa and I were dead. still holding her hand, I consciously

16 SANT BANI started doing Simran again. other. [Now that I have recovered,] Finally the ambulances came, and all my movements are normal. I with special tools, the rescue people don't have any neurological damage. cut the car open in order to get us The cervical fracture only means a out. The car was swinging back and spinal apophysis [bony outgrowth] forth since it had no support on the of the vertebrae. Shanti received a side of the precipice. They placed a blow to the head and to the eye with- neck and chest brace on each of us out it having any major consequenc- to protect our neck and spinal col- es. Our daughters are completely un- umn while we were transferred to harmed. the hospital. It was already midnight. We are alive and bruised, but It turned out that my wife and I that's all. We are jubilant. This is had multiple traumas, but I also had not even a miracle. It is something fractured my C7 vertebrae and the greater than that. It is Sant Ji's love. T5 and T6 were one on top of the "Don't worry, we will be victorious."

July /August 1995 Concentration is a Great Force Baba Sawan Singh Ji

n your letter you gave a descrip- is lower down, and in deep sleep it 1tion of a dream and realized the is in the heart and navel centers. As force of repetition of the Five Names it goes away from the brain and de- which dispersed the evil spirits, scends down into Pind it grows while the first Name alone was not duller. At the throat center it is in a sufficient. Why? The Sound Current semi-conscious state, and imperfect is continuous - from top to bottom memory only remains. Below the - from the first stage down to the eyes there is no Sound. Sound will eye focus. The Sound differs because be heard only above the eyes and in it passes through different media; a state of consciousness, when the hence the five different Sounds. attention is in the Sound Current. In the first and second planes Soul is like a balloon, which has there is maya - of course less in an upward tendency always. Like an the second stage in comparison to inflated balloon, it is held here by the first - and for that reason the chains of mind and matter and the first two names are insufficient to paraphernalia of senses and objects. release the soul from maya. In the Sometimes it so happens in sleep that third, fourth and fifth stages there is the mind grows dormant or is in a no maya. These Names, therefore, state of peace. At such times the are effective. I am very glad to know soul, being free, begins to rise up that you succeeded in conquering alone. It sees the light and scenes in evil influences. the upper planes but does not catch Again you say, "Why did I not the Sound. Sound can be caught ful- hear the Sound when I repeated with ly only in the super-conscious state such one-pointedness?" In the wak- inside and above the eye focus, but ing or conscious state the soul is at the moment the attention is off the the eye focus. In the dream state it Sound Current and is directed to-

p- - Soul is like a balloon, which has an upward tendency always. Like an inflated balloon, it is held here by chains of mind and matter and the paraphernalia of senses and objects.

SANT BANI To begin with, mind brings all kinds of thoughts and is running wild. If the devotee is patient and does not give up the effort, but continues increasing his time slowly and ul- timately begins to take interest in this work, soon, such is the state of the devotee that if by chance he misses a day, he then remains in a repenting mood over the loss.

wards the scenery of the astral plane, As long as you are outward the it is in a derailed condition. Thoughts thing looks dry. To go inward is rath- of the external world keep the atten- er difficult; but once in, the subject tion out, and thoughts of the inter- becomes tasteful and it will be easy. nal world keep it in. Through concentration, go inward You are right when you say, once and the battle is won. 1 am glad "How helpless I am." And, "It is im- that you have increased your time to possible to travel on the Path with- one hour; but I must say that one out the guidance of a Master." When hour is not sufficient. In three hours you will rise to the inner planes you the mind is subdued, provided this will see how powerful the Master is, time is given with love and devo- what powers are under His control tion, and not as a duty. and how He helps the devotee. To begin with, mind brings all You ask, "Sound is a Reality, all kinds of thoughts and is running else is maya?" That is right. Sound wild. If the devotee is patient and is the only Reality. Sound is knowl- does not give up the effort, but con- edge, Sound is Truth. In the first two tinues increasing his time slowly and stages pure or real Sound is not there. ultimately begins to take interest in There is maya mixed in it in a very this work, soon, such is the state of subtle form. From the third stage, the devotee that if by chance he the real Sound Current commences. misses a day, he then remains in a You will understand the value of this repenting mood over the loss. Path as you go within and rise. It is Before sitting, see that there is acquired by effort, by love and faith. nothing that will need your atten- It cannot be had by asking nor by tion during this hour (or whatever paying dollars. Its price is selfless, length of time you intend sitting), pure love. It is within you. It is for so this one hour is a holiday from you. It will come to you when you other business, and this other busi- are fit to receive it. Make yourself ness will be looked into only after fit for the reception. this hour. Make your time carefree

July / August 1995 19 Before sitting, see that there is nothing that will need your attention during this hour (or whatever length of time you intend sitting), so this one hour is a holiday from other business, and this other business will be looked into only after this hour. Make your time carefree for this interval.

for this interval. There should be ing next to you does not hear it. You no anxiety, no anger and no hatred. will be hearing that all twenty-four Then sit in the exercises and repeat hours of the day. Stick to the focus the Names with the attention fixed and catch the fine Sounds. The Bell in the eye focus, and, when feeling Sound will come in its time. tired, then begin to listen to the Again, when you see forms with- Sound - as if it is coming from a in, repeat the five Names to see if it distance. Do not go after it. When is from the Positive or the Negative you go after it and leave the Power. Forms of the Negative Pow- focus, then the attention gets scat- er must disappear on recollection of tered and the Sound is lost. Try to the five Names. Concentration, by catch the fine sounds and not the itself, is a great force. It brings in course one. the scattered mind and soul. Plea- We are to go in farther and far- sure and the power of miracles ther. Coarse sound is of the outside will be before you and the Negative but fine sounds are within. The sound Power will request you to use them, you have referred to is not the real but they are not to be utilized. The Bell Sound. There is a mixture of time spent with them is time lost. ten sounds here, and of these, the They emanate from the Negative Bell and the Conch are the two Power, and these are the means by sounds that lead up. The Conch which the Negative Power keeps the Sound is caught after the Bell Sound. soul entangled and stops its progress. When you will catch the real Bell So, if someone offers anything with- Sound, you will feel that it is audi- in, it is not to be accepted, when in ble at twelve miles or more; although dream or in the exercise. it is within you and the man stand- reprinted from "Spiritual Gems"

SANT BANI After seven days in Venezuela, Sant Ji travelled to Subachoque, about an hour outside of Bogota, where the beautiful ashram is located. The dear ones had worked very hard, and although there were many at the program (up to 9,000 for some of the Satsangs!), there was room for everyone. A large field was used to park cars and buses. The main part of the ashram held the huge Satsang tent, some smaller tents for eating and resting, the langar building, the old Satsang hall, the infirmary, and of course, Sant Ji's house. July / August J 995 a view of the ashram in Subachoquefrom the helicopter the big ten t,filled with many, many dear ones

SANT BANI dear ones waited in line to have Sant Ji's darshan and receive parshad

The main tent was used for meditations and Satsangs with Sant Ji, and also for the noon meal. It was amazing how many people could fit inside that tent, and also how so many thousands of people could go through the day together, taking meals, using facilities, waiting in lines, with patience and love and harmony. The love of the Master permeated the ashram and everyone remembered why they were there and wanted to make the best use of their time. When Sant Ji arrived for Satsang or meditation, a stillness descended on the huge gathering as everyone focused their heart and attention on Him. We shared one of those rare and precious moments of our lives, an hour or an hour-and-a- half sitting in the presence of the living Master. Who can understand how the Master showers grace? But even in a crowd of thousands, the Master reaches each dear one and fills each cup. He doesn't miss. Again and again He emphasized that meditation on Naam is the food for our soul, that all our problems come because our souls are weak, and that Sirnran and Naam are the food that will make our souls strong. He said all satsangis should give up not only lust, anger, greed, attachment and egoism, but He added, also laziness. He said that we should resolve to give up one fault or bad quality at each Satsang. From Subachoque, Sant Ji was taken by helicopter, to Kirpalamar, in Arbe- laez. This is the site of a school and medical chic, started by Dr. German Duque, that since his passing is now run by his wife, Graciela. It is located in a beautiful mountainous area. Sant Ji's arrivaI at Kirpalamar was unique and dramatic. As we all awaited the Master's arrival, the school's band came march-

July / August 1995 arriving at Arhelaez, Colombia

Sant Ji greeting the school children at Kirpalamar

24 SANT BANI Sant Ji signed the diplomas ofthe graduates

ing up playing their drums and other instruments. After a while the faint whirring noise of the helicopter was heard in the distance. Usually the Master's arrival is very quiet. But this time the loud noise of the helicopter descending and the drum corps playing expressed the excitement of the waiting dear ones. Sant Ji presided over the school's final exercises which consisted of dif- ferent grades each doing some kind of a presentation: acrobatics, dancing, etc., and then He gave a talk to the assembled schoolchildren, teachers, parents and guests. Later, at the high school graduation ceremony, He personally presented a diploma to each graduate, which He had previously signed. The graduates, in turn, each handed a flower to the Master, which He accepted. This was all done in such a loving mood, and He was so jolly. The day's program concluded with Satsang in the late afternoon.

July / August 1995 Three Meditation Talks from Ecuador

alutations unto the feet of Supreme Father Lord Almighty Sawan and Kirpal Who have had mer- Scy on this poor soul and showering His grace gave the gift of His devotion. He gave His own life impulse and allowed him to do the devotion. Devotion is the precious wealth. No currency, no money of this world can buy the devotion. It gives us the real happiness, the true contentment. Unless we go in the company of the perfect Saints and unless the Masters Themselves shower grace upon us and give us this wealth of devotion, we cannot have this precious wealth just by our own efforts. All the Vedas and Shastras, all the holy scriptures bear this witness that there is no differ- ence between a perfect Master and God Almighty that is why when we are going to take refuge at the feet of the Masters we should never hesi- tate, we should never delay. Just as a loving child can make his father do anything for him, in the same way, Saints and aha at mas, by doing the devotion of God Almighty, become His beloved children. In whatever condition God Al- mighty may keep Them They always remain content and happy in His Will. Such Beloveds of God tie God Almighty up in the chains of Their love. Guru Nanak Dev ji said that whatever They wish They make God

SANT BANI Almighty do that. And for whomever They wish They take them back to the door of God. So Guru Arjan Dev Ji said that God Almighty has as- sumed the form of the Sadhu. We are the ones who are burning in the fire of ego- ism. We are the forgetful ones. Masters come into this world and They put us, the forgetful ones, on the right Path. After making us do the devotion They take us to God ~lmightyand get Him to for- give us. The Master tells God Almighty "He is Your forgetful child. Now he has come to seek Your forgiveness, You kindly bless him." Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj said that even the Rishis and Munis trembled just by hearing about the beating of the angels of death. No one was able to save himself from the beating of the angel of death, no matter if he was a great meditator or if he was a great worshipper or if he was doing the practices. But the perfect Masters, through Their Naam and Their grace, easily save us from that beating. The dear ones who do the meditation - those who rise above the nine openings in t:he body by doing the Simran and connect themselves with the Shabd Naam behind the two eyes at the Eye Center - they get the real peace and contentment. Now we may say that we are content or that we have the peace, but - because the forces of lust, anger, greed, attachment and egoism are bothering you so much, and these fires are burning within you - where is the peace? Even when we are not awake, even when we are sleep- ing, our mind constantly goes on moving from one place toanother. Just like the neck of the turtle, [our mind1 al- ways goes on moving in and out. You know that the wick of the lamp, even if it is not windy, it still goes on mov- ing; in the same way our mind is never constant, it is always restless. So by doing the meditation of the Shabd July / August 1995 Naam, first of all, we give peace and contentment to our body and after that our mind also becomes still when we connect him or attach him to the devotion of the Simran. At the time of our death the same Naam takes us back to our origin. Thus we are saved from the beating of the an- gels of death. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj says, "By remembering the Naam of God the angel of death does not bother you. Both your body and mind become happy and in the end you meet with God Almighty." Often I say that before we start doing the meditation, we should forget whatever worldly thoughts we are hav- ing. We should give up all our worldly thoughts once we are here for doing the meditation. Whether you meditate here or back in your homes, al- ways do it lovingly. Do not understand that there is a bur- den on your head and that you have to do it. The Satsangi should never become irregular in medi- tation because you know that when we are not regular in feeding our body it affects our body, we cannot maintain our health. Quito, Ecuador, So a1 of you please start your meditation, closing your June 16,1995 eyes. (continued on page 36)

SANT BANI THE KING OF OUR HEARTS a talk given by Sant KirpaI Singh Ji in memo y of Ba ba Sawan Singh Ji, September 2, 1963

T IS REALLY a great blessing to meet, tions and inferences-are subject to er- I I would say, a Master-man or God- ror. Seeing is above all. in-man or man who is the mouthpiece Soul is the spirit of God; it is spirit in of God. God resides in every heart. He man, environed by mind and matter. is the Controlling Power controlling all Those who have risen above the body creation, and He is also controlling our by self-analysis and have become con- souls in the body: we cannot run out of scious co-workers of God, know that it the body, even though it has nine aper- is He Who is controlling us all. To meet tures-two eyes, two nostrils, etc. God such a personality as the son of man is speaks through those who have become a great blessing. He appears to be a man in tune with Him, you might say, or like all other men. He has the same two have become His mouthpiece. Though eyes and two hands; the same outer con- words appear to be coming through the struction. But our souls are embedded in gullet of a son of man, he is quite con- the mind and outgoing faculties; and we scious; he sees that it is He Who is are so much identified with them that we speaking and that it is being inspired by have forgotten ourselves. Unless we rise that higher Power. He is not speaking above senses or above body conscious- at the level of the intellect, but what is ness-unless we are reborn into the Be- said comes of itself. You will find that yond-we cannot become conscious co- those thoughts which come of themselves workers of the Divine Plan. Whenever are always perfect. The very same God suchlike people come to the world, they is within us, too; but the soul of a living are conscious. They never say, "I am Master, at whose pole God is speaking, saying this or that." They say, "It is the has arisen from the bondage of mind and Father in me who is working." Do you matter. He sees the Controlling Power see? The same Power is within us, but within himself. we are not conscious of it; because, as Generally, we find that people who I told you, our souls are under the con- say they have met God have done so at trol of mind and mind is under the con- the level of feelings. Feelings are of our trol of the outgoing faculties, and we own make. Sometimes, out of feelings, have become so identified with them that we rise into certain emotions; and some- we have forgotten ourselves. times, intellectually, we come to some Whenever such Masters come, what is conclusion as a matter of inference. their job? He is Man among men. Do you Truly speaking, we have not seen Him, see? He is a son of man, but he is some- if we take Him to be at the level of our thing more. He is in tune with God, own self. All these three-feelings. emo- and in his company, other souls which are tied down to the mind, outgoing fac- Bibi Hardevi has just sung a hymn ulties or the senses are raised above written by the Master, "He is the King them. He opens the inner eye to see of our hearts," and the talk is Ma,s- God: to sec God-in-action or in-expres- sion, which is called Word. "The Word July /August I995 2 9 was made flesh and dwelt amongst us." self first; because it is the soul that has To meet such a Master while living on to know God: He cannot be known by earth is a great blessing, because, with a the outgoing faculties, mind or intellect. little thought of his, he is competent to One student went to Ramakrishna raise our souls above the senses--some- Paramhansa, the well-known Saint, the thing that we cannot attain by years of Master of Swami Vivekananda. He had penances. a book under his arm. Ramakrishna So seeing is above all. Truly speak- asked him, "What is it?" The student ing, theists are those who have seen God. said, "Master, it is a book that tells how "The Son knows the Father and others water is made." And smilingly, Rama- to whom the Son reveals Him." They krishna said. "All right. Squeeze the are true theists; all others, truly speak- leaves of the book, and see how many ing, have not yet become theists. They drops of water will come out of it." Do have their own feelings and emotions you see? This is only an example to show and have drawn inferences to come to that the scriptures are worth tons of gold some conclusion, but they have not yet and emeralds, because they contain the seen. We believe in God just as we have experiences that the Masters had m their read about Him in scriptures. Scriptures life with God, and that creates an inter- speak of the experiences that the Mas- est within us. But that is their scope. ters had in their lives in their contact and there it ends: they cannot take us with God. They are a fine record of all to the experience. You can have that these experiences. By reading them, an experience within the laboratory of your interest is created in us to have the same own man-body. And unless you enter the experience within our own selves. So laboratory of the man-body, you cannot scriptures are there to create an interesr have an experience of Him. That is why within us. But unless we can have the the scriptural records of all past Mas- same experience our own selves, ws can- ters say, "The body is the temple of not be truly convinced. God." By reading scriptures you have Therefore, whenever the Masters come, an interest created in you to see God. they say, "Don't believe what the scrip- and there it ends. Many men will come tures or what anyone says. You can take to you and say, "Yes, I have seen God." them as experimental measures, but un- That's all right, with due deference to less you see for your own self-at least them. But the true definition of a true to some extent-the same experiei~ce saint is that he is also competent to give that they speak of, you cannot be fully others some experience of God within. convinced." To meet with such a $on of And that experience is had only when man, at whose pole God is working and you rise above body consciousness. speaking, who is in tune with God and All the methods that we have adopted who has the competency to raise oihers to know God, such as reading of scrip- to the level at which they may have tures, have their value. Certain rites or some glimpse of God, is really a great rituals are performed according to the blessing. custom of each country. Of course. they In the first place, to have the man- work to prepare the ground to know body is a great blessing, because it is God; they are good actions. But still, the highest in all creation. And the high- all scriptures say-all Masters say-that est aim of a man's life is to know God. God is within you. "The kingdom of To know God, we must know our own God cannot be had by observation." 3 0 SAKT BANI Why? Because it is within you. Unless so much identified with them, you have you enter within and find the contact forgotten your own self, who you are controlling your soul in the body, you and what you are. The first thing to be cannot find Him. That very same Power done is to retrace your steps by with- is also controlling the whole creation. drawing within and then rising above It is for that purpose that we have to body consciousness. This is a matter of know our own self. That is why all Mas- pure self-analysis. This is what is spoken ters-Christ, the old Greeks, Guru Nan- of in the scriptures as, "Learn to die so ak and all others-said, "Know thyself." that you might begin to live." At the Knowing the self is liberating our soul time of death, the soul leaves the lower from mind and the outgoing faculties or portion of the body and rises to the back senses; rising above senses; and stilling of the eyes; and then you leave the body. our intellect, too. Then a sort of trans- You have a sort of levitation. If you port arises in which you can have a have that very experience in life, you can glimpse of God. That is a matter of pure have contact with the God-in-expression self-analysis. Power, not God Absolute, mind that. So, The hymn that she was just reading the son of man who has become the out to you is in praise of the Master. mouthpiece of that Power is called Mas- It says, "He is the king of our hearts." ter. When you meet him, he is compe- He was intoxicated with God, and to tent to raise you above the physical and whoever met him he gave a little dose astral levels and to open the inner eye of intoxication, too: not to the senses, to see the Light of God. God is Light. but to the soul. Suchlike was the Mas- She was just singing the hymn saying ter, moving on earth like a man, a son that our Master was a Great One. He of man. was himself God-intoxicated, and he let There is a difference between a son of others who went to him also have a dose man and a God-in-man or a Master. of intoxication. His greatest feat was Masters are conscious that "there is that he made people sit and asked them some other power working through us." to close their eyes and gave them an ex- Once a disciple asked Christ, "You al- perience of rising above body conscious- ways speak of the Father; it would have ness to see Light. That was his greatest been much better if you had let us see feat-or the greatest feat of any Master. your Father." And they said he grew a Lectures can be given by anybody after little indignant over it and said, "I'm a little training. With due deference to sorry, I have been so long with you and all, there is a vast difference between amongst you, and you did not find that it speaking of something and seeing some- was the Father working through me?" thing. One who sees can enable others Do you see? He was conscious of the to see. Those who are speaking at the God Power working through him. intellectual level will give so many find- The criterion of such a Master is that ings of the Saints and interpret them at he does not only see, himself, but he the level of their intellect. Therefore they enables others to see. As I told you, are not definite. They say at their heart "The Son knows the Father and others of hearts they see; but they do not see. to whom the Son reveals Him." It is a How can they make others see and have sort of revelation, which already exists the same experience? That is why all within you. Because of your being given Masters said, "Beware of false prophets up to all outward senses and your being who come like lambs, but they are ra- July /August 1995 3 1 vening wolves." This they had to say, a step further to rise above the level of because true Masters are few. There the senses. That is why all Masters re- have been, and there are, Masters. The ferred to it: "Learn to die so that you world is not without them; but they are may begin to live." "Except ye be reborn rare. To come across such a son of man ye cannot enter the kingdom of God." or personality who has that experience It is within you. There are so many and is competent to give the experience mansions in the house of our Father: to others-to meet such a great soul; there are planes and planes of different you might say, Spirit-in-man or God-in- densities. You rise above them until you man-is a great blessing. Of our own reach the True Home of your Father. selves can we see Him? Yes, of course. And this much can be done only in the if we can rise above senses. man-body, which is considered to be the So, whatever we do-all our reading, highest in all creation. And that fortu- writing, performing of certain rites or nately you have got. rituals and saying of prayers in one way With that purpose in view we have or the other-is all at the level of joined various schools of thought called senses. You are already so identified with religions - social bodies. If we have the senses that you have forgotten your- achieved that aim, well and good. The self, and whatever methods you use to golden opportunity we have to know free yourself from the senses are also Him is the man-body, and no other practiced at the level of the senses. Then body. how can you rise above the senses? It is Masters have come in all religions. by the grace of God alone. as a reaction They gave out the same teachings, of of the past. Some people do sometimes course in the language prevalent at the have some experience; but what the time when they came. Now, those say- Masters teach and give out is, I would ings or experiences form the subject of say, a regular science. They do not sim- our scriptures. To understand them. to ply give a lecture or talk on a certain have their right import, we need some- subject, but they do give some experi- body who has had the same experience ence to start with. or has gone on the same Way. He only Take the example of a man who is will be able to give you the right under- very well-versed in the principles of standing of the scriptures; others will business. He comes and gives a talk to just give it at the level of their intellect. the people around him-a very wonder- There are vast differences between one ful talk, quite appreciable; but the poor and the other. The man who has seen fellows to whom he is giving the talk and who is also competent to let others have no money with them. What will see by raising them up from the levels of your lecture do? Only if he gives them the physical and astral bodies is called some capital to start with will some good a Master, in the true sense of the word, come out of it. This is why it is said that as given out by all Masters. You may be lecturing is something other than spir- engaged in all the outer actions, but to ituality. The reading of scriptures and have an experience of God in life is a the performance of rites or rituals are great blessing. the elementary steps which are meant So she was just singing about our for the preparation of the ground. Master. All Masters say the same thing. With due deference to them, they arc Thcy came in all religions. We cannot good actions. But we still have to take say it is the reserved right of one religion

SANT BANI or the other. God is for all. The schools sake of God for a hundred years, it will of thought were raised after the Masters not give you so much blessing as sitting came. That is why, at the intellectual once by a Master Saint." He will give level, we have so many versions of the you a sitting and your inner eye will same thing; because they have not seen open; you will see the Light of God. it. If a number of people come to this This is the subject before us, irre- building, and there is a photo on the spective of whether we belong to one wall, and a radio and many other things, religion or the other; that makes no dif- and the people go back to their own dif- ference. All religions are good. To re- ferent countries and give statements of main in some religion is a blessing. If what they saw in this building, they will, you leave it, there will be corruption, or of course, give them in their own lan- you will have to raise another school of guages; but the salient points will agree. thought. So many religions already exist. As far as details are concerned, some They were raised after the Masters came might give more details of a certain into the world. They are formations. thing, and others might omit something. Naturally, you will find that wherever Those people who have not seen this there are formations, they result in stag- building and read about it in the differ- nation, and stagnation sometimes re- ent books will wonder, "What is all this? sults in deterioration, for want of prac- These versions cannot be reconciled." tical persons who know the Way. But if a man has seen this building, and We are worshipers of the same God, those books are read out to him, he will and the same thing has been given in all say, "Oh, yes, I have seen it; it is like scriptures. The pity is that we are not that." So what the Masters say, they in the full know of other religions. We have seen. They say what they see; not have experience only of our own reli- as a matter of feelings or emotions or gion, and that also at the level of the inferences. With due deference to all, intellect. That is why we are not able to seeing is above all. do full justice to the work. So we need Seeing comes to the soul. Until the somebody even to understand the true soul is analyzed by self-analysis-or, import of the scriptures. Who? Some- you may say, by rising above body con- one who has been on the Way and knows sciousness or the senses-you cannot the Way. He only can give you the right have experience of your own self. Self- scriptural import, because he has seen knowledge precedes God-knowledge. The what those Masters saw who made state- sayings of the Masters are very clear on ments about their experiences. What is that point. They see and then say. And the difference? Why did so many of these to those who come to them, they say: different schools come into being? One "All right, have a sitting; you'll find it man rises into prominence, and he says, for your own self." Unless we bear testi- "This is my view." A hundred or two mony to it our own self, we cannot be hundred people follow him, and they truly convinced. form a new sect. That is the cause. Oth- So she was just singing the praises of erwise, those who realize and see God the Master. All Masters came from time say the same thing: and they have said to time to guide the child humanity and the same thing and have also made have some time with them. Maulana others have the same experiences. The Rumi, a Mohammedan saint, said, "If greatness of a Saint or a Master lies in you do your penances yourself for the the fact that he is competent to give you July /August 1995 some experience of that Reality. er or Guru Power, as it is called, never Philosophies deal with theories, and dies; it is everlasting. Whoever comes mysticism deals with Reality. Those who in contact with that Power will also have are themselves in contact with Reality everlasting life. For this purpose we have are also competent to give you some ex- joined the various schools of thought; perience to start with. Then you have to and now we have to see how far we have develop further. "Rome was not built advanced. We have been in the man- in a day," of course. But you have some- body for some ten, fifteen. twenty, thir- thing straight off, some contact with the ty, forty, fifty years. We have to see Reality that leads to the Absolute God. whether we have achieved this object. This is the aim of our life, in a digest If we have, well and good. If not. we form. We have developed physically and should do something more to have that intellectually. But the third side, our experience in life. To say that we will own self, has been very much ignored: have this experience after death-where we know little or nothing about it. Intel- is the proof of that? Excuse me, but lectually, we know about the scriptures "a bird in hand is better than two in and other things: but that is food only the bush." If you are a learned man for the intellect. You are intellectually now, even after leaving the body. you a giant. But that has not been able to will remain the same; you do not be- satisfy you, because the third side has come a prophet. I'm going out of this not been developed. You must advance room; when I'm out of it. I'm the same spiritually, too. Reading scriptures forms as I was when I was in the room Those part of the activity of the intellect. You who have developed, who have advanced know certain things; your brain is full spiritually while in the man-body. have of the sayings of the Master; but you used the golden opportunity that we have not yet seen. I would say, knowing have; because only in this man-body can many scriptures by heart cannot make we know God. We know God in this you a Saint. You may know something life, and that experience we can have intellectually, but unless you have an ex- only when we rise above body con- perience of the same thing, you cannot sciousness. We "learn to die so that we be convinced yourself, nor can you make may begin to live." St. Paul said, "I die others be convinced of it. daily." And Guru Nanak said. "Die a So she was singing the praises of the hundred times a day at will." It is not Master, at whose feet we had the good a death that takes you to the grave; it is fortune to sit. He was competent to give practical self-analysis, a rising above all-one and all, both the learned and body consciousness. It is a regular sci- the unlearned, whoever came to him- ence, as sure as two and two make four. some inner experience to start with. And you can have it in this man-life, if, When the inner eye, called the single by God's grace, you come across some- eye, is opened, we can rise above the one where the God Power is working. level of the physical and astral bodies: You have a great blessing. "If thine eye be single, thy whole body She was singing that our Master was a shall be full of light." Light is there. Great One, truly king of our hearts. He God is Light. It is not intellectual light. had that God-intoxication, and he was It is truly Light. also competent to give others intoxica- This is what we had at the feet of the tion by simply giving them a sitting. He Master. That God Power or Christ Pow- would say, "Close your eyes"; and with 34 SANT BANI a little thought impetus to raise them up, ever. We are all His children. For those they bore testimony that there is Light who are hankering after Him, "there is of God. food for the hungry and water for the This is the ultimate goal of a man's thirsty." Demand and supply is the law life, and it is for this we have joined the of nature. When fire burns, oxygen various religions. All religions are good. comes to help. It is God Who makes an They have Truth in them. Masters were arrangement to bring someone who is the Truth personified. Whenever they really hankering after Him in contact came, they experienced the same Light. somewhcre whcre he can derive the They were themselves above It. They benefit of personal experience. personified It themselves. That is why it So blessed are you who have joined was said-or it was said in all the lan- some religion for that higher, nobler guages of the Masters-"The Word was purpose. The only thing we have to see made flesh and dwelt amongst us." Un- is how far we have advanced: whether less he is Word personified, how can he we have achieved that very object for give us a contact with the Word? An in- which we joined the various schools of tellectual man can give you experience thought. You have found that truth; only up to the intellectual level, not that's all right. That is one. It is as defi- more. Those who see It can give you an nite a science as two and two make four. experience to see It. You bear testimony to It. But it is only possible to have it when So, you will find it is a great blessing you come across someone who has had to have the man-body. It is a still further that experience and is able to give it to great blessing if you meet some son of you. The greatness of a Master lies not man at whose pole God is working. I in giving Icctures, talks and wonderful have had it the same. All others who theories, but in the fact that he is able sat at the feet of our Master had it. to givc you some contact with the God- These days the world is not without in-action Power which is Light and Them. After all, God is the same for- Sound Principle. July / August 1995 35 alutations to Supreme Father Lords Almighty Sawan and Kirpal Who have showered grace on Sthis poor soul and have given the opportunity to do Their devotion. All the Saints have given the same message that if there is any true temple, mosque, or church, it is our human body. Whoever has realized God Almighty up until now has done so only by going within this human body which is the real church or temple of God. Sufi Saint Farid Sahib says that God Almighty is al- ways awakened. Being separated from ~imwe are sleeping in the deep sleep of attachment. You know that if we do not clean the outer churches or mosques we are afraid that people will say that we do not [re- spect those holy placesl. So that is why all the Saints have said that those who do not get up and clean this mosque of the body early in the morning [are not the real lovers]. That is why all the Masters have said, *Do not feed your body until you have fed your Soul and do not eat until you have done your Simran." Simran cleans our body as a broom cleans our room. When we get up early in the morning and do the Simran we clean out all the worldly thoughts and all the dirty things which are bothering us. That is why Sufi Saint Farid Sahib said that those who do not clean their hu- man body, which is a true temple of God, every mom- ing, but still claim that they love God Almighty, they are the liars. They do not tell the truth. Because God Almighty is always awakened and we are sleeping in the morning hours. Only an awakened being can love another awak- ened being. A sleeping person cannot love the awak- ened one. 0 Farid you get up and clean the mosque with the broom. what kind oflove is this that you are sleeping whereas your Beloved is awake? So closing your eyes start doing your Simran.

Quito, Ecuador, June 17 1995

36 SANT BANI blessing the langar in Quito Sant Ji visited two cities in Ecuador and although the time spent at each was brief, both programs were extremely sweet and loving, and the Master filled the hearts of the dear ones to the brim. evening serenade in Guayaquil outside of Sant Ji k house

I July / August 1995 37 bow down at the feet of Supreme Father Almighty Lords Sawan and Kirpal Who have had mercy on I the poor souls and showering Their limitless grace have given the precious gift, the wealth of the devo- tion to them. All the Vedas and Shastras bear witness that nei- ther the world which we are trying to make our very own, nor any of the things which we have in this world - nothing will go with us when we have to leave it. ~aam-ofthe Perfect Master is the only thing which will accompany us when we leave this world. Except for the Naam there is no one who is your companion or friend. Meditate on the Naam so that you may achieve the liberation. All the Saints say that the devotion of the Naam is the precious wealth. It removes the pains of lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego- ism. We get real love, true love, and real peace and contentment only from the Naam. This is such a precious thing that we cannot grow it in the fields nor can we buy it in the marketplace. Unless we sit at the feet of the perfect asters we cannot achieve, we cannot obtain the precious wealth of Naam. Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj says, "The Naam of God is a very thing. It can be obtained only from the home of the Saints. This is the thing for which you have come into this world." God Almighty has given us this precious opportu- nity in which we can realize Him. If we do not take advantage of this opportunity we don't know wheth- er we will get such an opportunity again or not. I often say that before you start meditating - it doesn't matter if you are meditating here or back in your home, but whenever you do the meditation - first of all forget the worldly thoughts which are coming within you. Then make sure that you remember the Five Sacred Names. While meditating you should

38 SANT BANI Sant Ji in Subachoque, Colombia never understand it as a burden. You should always do it lovingly. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj says that the rainbird is a bird, yet when he cries for the swanti drop of rain Lord Almighty orders ~ndra,the god of rain, who then orders the clouds to shower the rain, and in this way the prayer of the rainbird is answered. If God Almighty can answer the prayer of a bird will He not answer our prayers if we sit in His remembrance, if we pray to Him wholeheartedly and sincerely? In the ambrosial hour the rainbird made the prayer. Lord Almighty ordered the clouds to shower the rain. Repeating the Five Sacred Names again and again is just like the prayer of the rainbird. God ~lmightydef- initely hears our prayer and He definitely answers. So all of you please close your eyes and start doing your Simran. Guayaquil, Ecuador, June 18,1995

July / August 1995 39 SANT BANI Feed Your Soul with Meditation Sant Ajaib Singh Ji

alutations unto the Holy Feet derstanding it as their responsibility and remaining in the discipline, they pof Almighty Supreme Father Lords Sawan and Kirpal Who have did the seva; and I am very pleased had mercy on this poor soul and al- with all of you for doing the seva. lowed this poor soul to do Their de- Man is an idol of faults and only votion. It was only due to Their grace he who works makes the faults or that we all were able to sit together makes the mistakes. There are only in Their remembrance, sing Their two Powers which are faultless or glory and praise Them, because He who do not make any mistakes: one is the One Who invites the dear ones is the Master and the other is Al- here. He is the One Who bids them mighty God. Guru Nanak Sahib says, good bye. He is the One Who cooks "Everyone is in the faults, everyone food for them. He is the One Who is making mistakes, except for the eats the food. He is the One Who Master and God Almighty." praises Them and He is the One Who Master Sawan Singh Ji used to accepts the praises. Just as there is say, "In the sangat many different cotton in the thread and the cotton kinds of people come. Some come is also in the cloth, in the same way, with love and they take back the everywhere beloved Lord Kirpal ex- love of the Master from the sangat. ists. He is the One Who does every- Some come with the desire of do- thing Himself. ing the seva and they do a lot of So dear ones, I was very pleased seva when they come into the san- with all the dear ones doing the seva. gat. There are some who come with Whatever duties they were given, critical thoughts in their mind and understanding it as their responsi- they go back doing nothing but crit- bility - whether it was the duty in icizing others." the langar, or here in the hall, or the So you can determine this for security, or whatever job they were yourself. You know that those who given - they all did their best. Un- came here with a desire to do the This farewell talk was given at Sant seva, they take back the fruit of the Bani Ashram of Venezuela, in Cara- seva; because when you do the seva you get the fruit of it. Those who cas, on June 7, 1995 came here with love, they received

July /August 1995 the love and they will go back with anyone had to speak harsh words or the love, and the third kind of peo- anyone had to become rude, I hope ple, those who came here with the you will not mind that. I hope you critical thoughts and did nothing but will not take any bitterness with you criticism, when they will go back when you return from this place. You they will take nothing but the criti- know that everyone makes mistakes cism with them. Whatever you take and no one wants to say those harsh from here, that will develop, that will words, nobody wants to be rude. But grow, day by day, and those who sometimes it happens. When things take the criticism remain without any are not getting done the way they peace and they also make their en- should be done, then the people re- vironment, their surroundings with- sponsible have to be harsh and get out any peace. upset. So if anything like that hap- Swami Ji Maharaj has said, "The pened to you, I hope that you will brothers and sisters always fight with forgive them, because you know that each other." Saints come into this world with a You know that we all are broth- lot of forgiveness. They have been ers and sisters in the Name of be- given a lot of forgiveness by God loved Lord Kirpal. We all are His Almighty, and since we are also children and, it doesn't look good, it the children of the Saints, of the doesn't glorify the Name of our Fa- Master, then we should also adopt ther, if you go on fighting with each this quality of forgiving others. A other. I would say that only the fra- satsangi should never give up this grance of meditation should come element of grace and forgiveness. I out from you, because a country hope that if anyone has made any in which more people do the medi- mistake you will forgive him and tation, that country lives in more you will not carry any bitter remem- peace. brances or any bitter feelings from I am saying all this because I got here. I hope you will maintain the to hear sweet and sour words of the love, yearning, and enthusiasm with dear ones. But I will tell you one which you came here to do the seva. thing: "My beloved Lord Kirpal is Every satsangi should remember the Ocean of Love." I was the devo- the message of Lord Kirpal and they tee of love and I got only love from should write this down on their heart. Him. I come out into the world, I go The very important message which to every place in the world, only to He gave us, the very important in- distribute, to share, the love which struction which He gave us was to He gave me. keep the diary. Keeping the diary If while doing the seva, or if while does not mean that you only have to making other people do the seva, go on filling it up every day. Keep-

SANT BANI at the Iangar in Venezuela ing the diary means that the mistake with the food of the meditation we which you have made once - don't keep it very weak and only because do that again. of the weakness of the soul we The other very important message have problems like feeling scared which beloved Lord Kirpal gave to from within. Or when we have to us was that we should do our medi- face any difficult challenge, at that tation, giving up thousands of im- time we become nervous and we do portant works. And leaving hundreds not know how to make the right de- of important works we should attend cision. This is only because of the the Satsang. weakness of our soul. Many dear He also used to say, "You should ones tell me that they feel this fear not feed your body unless you have from their within. It is only because fed your soul with the food of medi- of the weakness of the soul that you tation." You know all the grains, the feel that way. fruit, and things like that are the food So if you want to avoid all these for our body, and it is very impor- problems you should do the medita- tant, very essential for our body to tion of Shabd Naam, because medi- have those foods. In the same way, tation is the food for our soul, and meditation is a very important food by eating it our soul becomes strong for our soul. enough to face any challenge or any Since we do not feed our soul difficulties.

July /August 1995 A Very Precious Hour Sant Ajaib Singh Ji

Tell us the distinction between re- welcome, you can do that." And he pression andfighting the mind? was not able to look into my eyes even for one minute. I asked him, Only he is a Satsangi who stands in "Why are you not looking into my front of the mind, who becomes an eyes now?" Then he smiled and he obstinate one. That's why to strug- went back. Russell Perkins was also gle with mind is called devotion. there at that time. It is difficult; it's Until we will fight with our mind, very hard to look into the eyes of we cannot repress him. We need any Saint. something to repress our mind, and In a place called Tusara, when that is Simran. There is no differ- Master Sawan Singh went there, one ence between repressing our mind pundit came to see Him and he start- and fighting with it; both are one ed looking into the eyes of Master and the same thing. Sawan Singh. And when Master Saivan Singh gave him His atten- Can we spend this darshan time to tion, the pundit couldn't hold that, just look in Your eyes? and he started looking at the ground. So Master Sawan Singh asked him. The people are getting much time. "Pundit Ji, what is the matter? Why Everybody has full freedom to look are you looking down and not into into the eyes, as long as he wants. my eyes?" He said that he was not But to look into the eyes is very an initiate. And he said, "It is very difficult. In Houston, one dear one difficult to look into Your eyes." came for a private interview. And Ordinarily, we can look at Mas- when he was asked, "Do you have ter or we can look into the eyes of any questions?" he replied, "No. I Master for a long time. But when have come here only to look into the Saint or Master is giving His at- Your eyes." So I told him, "You are tention, at that time it is very diffi- cult to look into His eyes. This question & answer session took place during Sant Ji's$rst tour to the I have two questions about the Five West, on August 19, 1977, at Sant Bani Names. Is it all right if we don't Ashram, Sanbornton, N.H. pronounce the names exactly cor-

SANT BANI rectly? And the second question is Only the words behind which the - $1 remember correctly, in a Sat- charging of the Master is working, sang you said that Baba Jaimal told only those words work during our Sawan Singh that God had jfteen meditation, and only they can do the hundred names. Therefore, Sawan real work. They are not only words: Singh shouldn't be embarrassed that they carry the charging of the Liv- Baba Jaimal called God, "Radha ing Master. In the same way, Guru

Soami. " - so likewise, why are the Nanak also gave the Five Words, but Five Names that we use - used for outside, He called God "Sat Kartar" meditation? And would other names or "Wahe Guru" or "Sat Sri Akal" work also? - all these words. These are all de- scriptive names of God. But He nev- Swami Ji Maharaj perfected these er perfected all these other words, Five Names, and behind these Five and He never supplied His charging Names His charging was working behind these words. He also charged when He was initiating. After that, the Five Words. The Words which Baba Jaimal Singh also perfected are charged by the Master, only they these Five Names; He also charged work in the meditation. these Names. In the same way, Mas- Master Kirpal didn't take the ter Sawan Singh also perfected these name of Radha Soami in any other Five Names, and behind them His context. He didn't even mention this charging was working. Master Kir- word, "Radha Soami." But still, in pal did the same thing, perfecting India, people think or believe that these Five Names; His charging also this Path is one part of the Radha worked behind these Five Names. Soami Path. The name "Radha Soami" is a de- After I first came to the feet of scriptive name of God, used only to the Master, wherever I would go, call God outside. That name was people would greet me with the not perfected by any Saint, not by name Radha Soami, because they un- Swami Ji, nor anyone else. And there derstood that this Path is part of the is no charging working behind the Radha Soami faith, which is very words, "Radha Soami." This was famous in India. And most of the only a descriptive name to call God. people started greeting me as Radha Swami Ji Maharaj also said this: "My Soami. But once, when I was going Path is of Sat Naam and not of Radha to some other village, and we were Soami." The Radha Soami Path was traveling on a camel cart, there were started by Rai Saligram; he did not some children playing there; and perfect the words, "Radha Soami," some of the children started greet- and no charging is working behind ing me with "Radha Soami." But that name. some other children didn't agree

July /August 1995 with them; and they said, "No, he is day, then nothing will come from not Radha Soami, he is the Sant of that, because nobody has charged that village," because most of the that word, because no Param Sant villagers knew me at that time. So has charged that word. So the Five this name, "Radha Soami" is just a Names which the Saint or the Mas- descriptive name of God, and it has ter is giving us to repeat, behind that nothing to do with meditation. His charging is working. This word was given by Hazur As far as the pronunciation is con- Saligram, because before getting ini- cerned: the pronunciation, or the way tiation from Swami Ji Maharaj, he in which the Saint Satguru has pro- was the worshiper of Radha and nounced the Names, we should try Sham. And that's why, when he to do that; because if we will pro- came to the feet of Swami Ji Ma- nounce them correctly we will get haraj, he gave the name "Soami" to much fruit, or that will be very fruit- Swami Ji Maharaj. Before that, ful. Because if we are doing any Swami Ji's name was Seth Shiv wrong pronunciation, that will not Dayal Singh and his wife's name was have much effect. In May, and wher- Mata Narayan Devi. And Saligram ever I went on the Tour, I said this called her '"Radha." So that's how thing to all the people - that if the Radha Soami name came about, anyone has any confusion about the by Hazur Saligram. pronunciation, they can, without Before that, wherever Swami Ji any hesitation, come to me and ask Maharaj had written anything, in the me about the Five Names in private end He would always write, "Sat- time. guru Swami"; but after [He left] that was changed, and instead of "Sat- I have trouble forgetting mysew guru" "Radha" was put. Instead of When I have lots of pain, I repeat "Satguru Swami," "Radha Soami" Simran faster and louder using the was [written] down. tongue of thought. But I have trou- So the word "Radha Soami" is bleforgetting myselj and I was won- just like a word for greeting, and dering if you could give some tips, people use that. Some people use or explain exactly how I can forget "Sat Naam," some people use "Sat myselJ; with so much pain. Sri Akal," just as you people say "hello." In the same way, this word Keep doing your practices. Because is also used just for greeting and it you Western people have difficulty doesn't have any charging. sitting in the cross-legged position You people use the word "hello" that's why it happens in the begin- for greeting; and if you go on re- ning. And you are a new initiate; peating this word, "hello, hello," all that's why you need to do more prac-

SANT BANI Sunt Ji on tour in 1977 tice. And after a few days, this pain body if we find anyone like this. We will go away. start serving them more and loving them more. So that, feeling shame A .few tiuys ugo. You mentioned the for himself, he himself leaves the stor-y of' how two people who were ashram. lazy in the ashram in India were kicked out. My question is whether Yesterday You started to talk about or not we should do the same to love jkom the Master for the soul. sonzeoize who is inconsiderate in I'd like You to talk more about that. their practice and interfering with Will You tell us how much You real- our pructice? Or will we incur some ly love trs [happy laughter all through bud karma or some bud murk or1 our the Sangat], so we'll be dancing all non-violence? around? [More laughter]

You should show your love to him, [Sant Ji chuckles] You can feel that and when you will love him, he will only when you will go within. be ashamed and he will go, without your asking. In that, there is no bad After Satsang, is it better to sit in karma. meditation, or should we go for more In our ashram, we have kept this darshan? principle of love. We are never - we do not become strict with any- Whatever opportunity you get. If you

July /August 1995 4 7 can get the opportunity of going Daily I am saying about mind, there and having darshan, you should "What is mind doing?" Here we Sat- do that. If you can get the opportu- sangis are all sitting and doing med- nity of sitting here for meditation itation. But many people from this without any disturbance, you can do group also are such that, because that. of their mind, their mind doesn't allow them to close their eyes. And Why do you have to leave so soon? after a few minutes, they open their eyes and they look at each other [Sant Ji chuckles] Because, from the and sometimes they look at their other side, the dear ones like you watches. And when they look at me, are pulling me. I am telling them with signs, "Please have patience. Just a few minutes 1 have been told that a Satsangi and then you will get up." should not meditate with one who is So if we allow non-Satsangis also not a Satsangi, because his medita- to sit here for meditation, they can't tion could adversely affect the non- sit for this much time because they Satsangi. Is this correct? And ifit is don't know what to do. So when they correct, what is the polite way to get up and leave the meditation hall, explain this if one should invite you the other Satsangis will also be af- to meditate with him? fected, and they will also leave. So who will meditate here? [SantJi and Well, the only effect which a Sat- the dear ones all laugh] sangi has in sitting with a non-Sat- Many times I have said this: I am sangi is that a Satsangi has to sit for giving you a promise that I will not a long time because he knows what leave you until you open your eyes to do, but a non-Satsangi doesn't and I will not make you sit for more know that, and that's why he gets up than one hour. I will not leave with- very soon. And when a Satsangi sees out telling you to leave off the med- the non-Satsangi getting up very itation. But there are many dear ones soon, the desire of leaving the medi- here, and their mind is telling them tation comes to him also. That is the that maybe I have left. That's why only danger, and nothing else. they open their eyes to make sure. Because a non-Satsangi doesn't So you should take advantage of have any Path to walk in the within, this precious hour. In this, you and he doesn't know what to do, should close your eyes, sit here do- that's why when he gets up, the mind ing Simran without stopping it. This of the Satsangi also makes the ex- is a very precious hour in your life; cuse, "Now your companion has got- and this will help you. So you should ten up, so you also get up." try to take advantage of this hour.

SANT BANI . . . YOU know that Saints come into this world with a lot of forgiveness. They have been given a lot of forgiveness by God Almighty, and since we are also the children of the Saints, of the Master, then we should also adopt this cpality of forgiving others. A satsangi should never give up this element of grace and forgiveness. I hope that if anyone has made any mis- take you will forgive him. . . .