Part 3:
Content
The Essence of the Gita
Extracted by Shri Hans Ji Maharaj
Spiritual
Master
Devotional Songs
Sayings of Shri Hans Ji Maharaj
Shri Sant Ji Maharaj's Picture
The
Essence of the Gita Extracted by Shri Hans Ji
Maharaj
(Page 71-75)
Shri Maharaj Ji found in the Gita the essence of all
the Upanishads. He considered it the finest exposition of
the theory of Karma and the Raj Vidya. Shri Maharaj Ji
was fond of quoting the following slokas, considering
them to be the key for understanding that mysterious
knowledge which Lord Krishna unfolded to Arjuna.
Chapter 8, sloka 5:
(Sanskrit quote)
"He who departs from the body, thinking of Me alone, even
at the time of death, attains My state; there is no doubt
about it."
This verse makes it quite clear that if one remembers God
at the time of death he will attain Him. It is a simple
truism that what we think of at the time of death
determines our subsequent birth. It is a logical
proposition that he who remembers God has a chance of
attaining Him and not he whose mind is fixed upon other
objects. In the next sloka, Lord Krishna says:
Chapter 8, sloka 6:
(Sanskrit quote)
"Arjuna, whatever object one thinks about when one leaves
the body at the time of death, that and that alone he
attains since he is ever absorbed in its thought."
Generally, at the time of death, one is haunted by the
thought of that object alone which has mostly engaged his
mind during his lifetime and, as a rule, it is the
predominating thought of his last moment that determines
his future destiny.
This sloka prompts many to think, let our youthful life
be spent in worldly enjoyments and at the time of old age
we will begin to think of God. But let none remain under
this self-deception, for one can think of God at the last
moment only when one has been practising His remembrance
throughout one's lifetime. Meditation is not a spare time
hobby, it is a full time job. That is why Lord Krishna
says in the next sloka,
Chapter 8, sloka 7:
(Sanskrit quote)
"Therefore, Arjuna, think of Me at all times and fight.
With mind and reason thus surrendered to Me, you will
doubtless come to Me,"
From this sloka we are given the criterion for judging
whether the prevalent modes of meditation and devotion
are true or not. True meditation, according to the Gita,
must be that which can be preformed at all times, even at
the moment of death. If we apply this standard to the
existing modes of worship such as the telling of beads,
going to temples or churches, making pilgrimages, prayer
and pujas, and so on, we find that they can not be
performed at all times. The organs of the body fail us
before death. So any external mode of worship cannot
fulfill our need. Therefore, that meditation which can be
performed at all times must be altogether different from
the existing, traditional modes of worship and it behoves
us to find out what the true form of meditation is. After
emphasizing that one must remember God at all times, Lord
Krishna says to Arjuna:
Chapter 9, sloka 1
(Sanskrit quote)
"I will unfold to you the supreme mystery as you are
devoid of a carping spirit, by knowing which you will be
free from all evils."
This sloka implies that the esoteric knowledge of true
meditation can only be imparted by a teacher to one who
has a guileless heart and loves virtue. Lord Krishna then
goes on to describe the characteristics of that
knowledge:
Chapter 9, sloka 2:
(Sanskrit quote)
"This knowledge is a sovereign science, a sovereign
secret, supremely holy, most excellent, directly
enjoyable, attended with virtue, very easy to practise
and imperishable."
Chapter 9, sloka 3:
(Sanskrit quote)
"But those who have no faith in this Truth, come not unto
Me: they return to the cycles of life and death."
We are now given an exact description of the knowledge
and its characteristics, But are we any closer to
understanding what that knowledge is ? Pandits and
experts on the Gita think that this verse describes the
features of the knowledge of Brahm. If this is true then
the question arises what is it that Lord Krishna asks
Arjuna to practise ? The knowledge of Brahm is the
ultimate and the supreme goal, and not the means. One
does not practise the knowledge of Brahma, one
experiences it. Therefore Lord Krishna must have imparted
the technique for attaining the supreme knowledge of
Brahma, a technique which itself is secret, holy, easy to
practise and imperishable.
The question of faith and reverence does not arise when
the actual knowledge of Brahm is experienced. What this
sloka is concerned with is the means towards the
attainment of the desired end, the practice of which
leads to the knowledge of Brahm. Being a technique, one
must have faith in it. Maharaj Ji explained how the
knowledge of this technique can be attained by pointing
to the following slokas:
Chapter 11, sloka 48:
(Sanskrit quote)
"Neither Vedas, nor sacrifices, nor studies, nor
benefactions, nor rituals nor fearful austerities can
give the vision of my Form Supreme. Thou alone hast seen
this Form, thou the greatest of the Kurus."
Chapter 11, sloka 53:
(Sanskrit quote)
"Not by the Vedas, or an austere life, or gifts to the
poor, or ritual - offerings can I be seen as thou hast
seen me."
These two slokas make it very clear that none of the
usual practices followed by the people lead to the
realisation of the true knowledge of God. Lord Krishna is
very emphatic that his true form cannot be seen by
reading the Vedas or performing penances. If God cannot
be seen by all these practices, then how may we realise
God ? The answer is given in the Gita itself.
Chapter 11, sloka 54:
(Sanskrit quote)
"Through single-minded devotion, however, I can be seen
in this form, and known in essence and even entered into,
O valiant Arjuna."
What does Lord Krishna mean by single-minded devotion ?
'Ananya Bhakti', How can one practice it ? How can
complete surrender of mind and intellect to God be made ?
Maharaj Ji used to explain Ananya Bhakti as focussing the
mind on the self-effulgent light within, or 'Avyakt
Akshar', the unmanifest Word of God. Therefore, single
minded devotion can only be performed if one knows the
unmanifest Word which cannot be attained from reading the
Vedas, but can only be given through the grace of a
realised soul. As Lord Krishna says in the following
sloka.
Chapter 4, sloka 34:
(Sanskrit quote)
"Attain this Knowledge by all means. If you prostrate
yourself at the feet of the wise, render them all forms
of service, and question them with a guileless heart
again and again, those wise seers of Truth will unfold
that Knowledge to you."
The realised souls, when approached, open the divine eye
through which the real form of God can be visualised. God
cannot be seen with the gross eyes. Lord Krishna
says:
Chapter 11, sloka 8:
(Sanskrit quote)
"You cannot see Me with these gross eyes. I therefore
bestow upon you the divine eye. Behold my self-effulgent
form,"
Explaining the self-effulgent form, Krishna says:
Chapter 11, sloka 12:
(Sanskrit quote)
"If there be the effulgence of a thousand suns bursting
forth all at once in the heavens, even that would hardly
approach the splendor of the mighty Lord."
What is meant by the Divine Eye ? The only true Guru is
he who can open this Divine Eye thus showing the disciple
the self-effulgent Light within. By focussing our mind
upon the self-effulgent Light again and again we will
reach the abode of the Lord from where there is no
return. This is the state of moksha. Lord Krishna
describes his supreme abode thus:
Chapter 15, sloka 6:
(Sanskrit quote)
"Having reached which men do not return, that is. My
Supreme State; neither the sun nor moon nor fire can
illumine it."
There ends the God-ward journey of the jiva. 'Jyot main
joyt samani'. Light merges in the Light.
Spiritual
Master
(Page 76-88)
The most urgent need of mankind is to awaken the spirit
which lies dormant in man. The world we live in is
comprised of 'you', 'he' and 'I'. For most of us, the
first person singular is the hub around which the world
revolves. It is the 'I' which needs to be praised,
honoured and loved. We see the world in terms of 'my'
family, 'my' house, 'my' country, 'my' God. If it is
'mine' it pleases and comforts me. How serious we become
when the question of 'I' is involved. How indifferent we
are when personal interest is not involved. Do we know
what this 'I' is that so captivates our minds ? For most,
the 'I' cannot be dispensed with nor can it be adequately
understood. Is it the sheer ego of the self-centred man
which dies with the death of the human being ? Or, is it
the residuary divinity which resides in the human and
remains intact when all that is seen and sensed on earth
disappears ? Is it merely consciousness tied with the
physical form or is it rather the omnipotent, omnipresent
eternal that transcends time and space ? All miseries and
sorrows, lusts and greeds, restlessness and disorder,
animalism and terrorism are nothing but the by-products
of ignorance which is simply not knowing the real nature
and form of 'I'.
'Know thyself' and thou knowest the universe. Without
knowing the true nature of 'I' we remain in ignorance.
Socrates carved this dictum on the threshold of his house
that it might be a continual reminder to him and to the
people for it is only this knowledge of 'I' or the self
which can usher in an era of peace and prosperity of all
irrespective of caste colour and creed. It is only this
knowledge which can establish the brotherhood and unity
of mankind. The more we try to analyse the human
personality, the more difficult it becomes to explain the
meaning of the 'I'. As we seek it, it escapes. The gross
body, consisting of the senses cannot totalise the
phenomenon of 'I'. Neither can the mind be identified as
the 'I', for though the mind directs the senses it is
devoid of consciousness. The mind is rather a mirror and
takes shape from that which it reflects. 'I' therefore,
cannot be identified either with body or mind. The more
we explore into our own nature to find the 'I', the more
we realise this 'I' must be our most fundamental essence.
This essence has otherwise been named as the soul or pure
consciousness. The soul is simply the essence within,
which is imperishable and eternal. Obviously, neither
body nor mind can be termed immortal. The body is subject
to birth, growth, decay and death. The mind is also
subject to flux, decay and constant instability. The mind
is finite, it is limited. It is always wavering, trying
to seek all, but yet it cannot find the infinite. But the
soul has no limit and in fact gives life and
consciousness to the mind. The soul is master and the
mind its servant. It is the soul which gives this body
life and light. Now, understanding this, it becomes the
duty of the mind and the body to work together to realise
their supreme authority which resides within. Once
realised, they must obey it. The soul lends the life or
energy to the body to aid in the fulfilment of the
obligation. This energy can be used or misused, leading
man towards God, or away from his love.
In an ancient analogy, man is compared to a chariot. The
horses which pull the chariot represent the senses. The
charioteer is the mind or the will. The warrior-master
who rides behind the charioteer, represents the self or
soul. The horses wildly and impetuously drive the chariot
outward and forward. If the charioteer loses control of
the horses, disaster results. The horses wish to race
unrestricted, even pulling against each other to go in
their own directions. The charioteer must be strong and
capable enough to have complete control over the horses
and to make his will prevail over theirs. Furthermore, it
is essential that he trains the horses to pull each in
the same direction. The charioteer must also be
restrained by the warrior master, and must obey the
orders that he is given. The will of the charioteer is
subservient to the will of the master, just as the will
of the horses must bend to that of the charioteer.
So the self or soul is the master of the mind, and the
mind is the director and controller of the senses. The
mind should be acute enough to hear the orders of his
master, and restrict its desires, channelling them to the
proper path. Only well directed senses can be of any use
to the mind which is seeking knowledge, just as it is
only the stable and controlled mind that can fulfil its
duty to the Self, or soul.
It may be said that there are three basic types of
classifications of people in this world. The first are
those who easily fall prey to their senses or desires and
exist for the sole purpose of satisfying them. They are
generally lead by the uncontrolled senses, meeting the
same fate as a man who sits on a runaway camel whose rein
is broken. Lost in the wilderness of life, they sometimes
rejoice, sometimes weep. These people have no stability.
Devoid of a determined will, they are driven like a straw
in the winds.
The second type of person is he whose mind is strong,
whose faculties are sharp and consequently whose ego is
inflated. They seek total independence, rejecting the
idea of any kind of master, inward or outward - who may
control their will. They identify 'I' with the ego and
seek independence from the true master the soul. They do
not believe in the very existence of the soul beyond mind
and body.. They think their mind is strong enough to
control the chariot and guide it safely to the
battlefield. Such men are in fact lost souls who believe
in the axiom 'man is the master of his own fate'. Such
self-willed people,- knowing not the entity of the soul,
depend on the power of the mind, body and wealth and are
full of ambitions. They never find rest and are in a
constant state of struggle from moment to moment.
The third kind of person is he who knows the self and
lives according to the dictates of the inner self, the
pure 'I' or soul, and becomes pure and humble In spirit.
His life is marked by contentment and a lack of
strife.
Know the Soul
Is it possible to know the soul within and accept it as
our master? Can the mind and senses be controlled and
made into a true servant, obeying the soul? How does the
mind which never ceases to think, which is always
distracted by one thing or another, find peace and quiet?
How can man learn to control his mind and senses and
experience the bliss of the inner most essence, his life
and light ? How can he identify himself with the pure
consciousness and discover the true nature of 'I' ?
Realised souls of all time have come to answer these
questions to the world, to direct on to the path of
peace. They have come to solve the problem of human
nature giving guidelines and enlightenment to them.
We can see that most people pursue the path of the
senses, spending their life energy on the most
superficial things of life. While they have been given
the human form they are still driven by animal
tendencies. They spend their life gratifying the animal
within them rather than discerning the eternal divinity
which resides within them.
Christ says in Saint Luke, chapter 9, verse 25, "For what
is a man advantaged, if he gains the whole world and lose
him self or be cast away?" To some, the message of light
and life have little appeal. Others are born with a
divine urge to find the soul, and from inherent
tendencies, and potentialities are able to rise above the
mundane existence of the sense objects. They are
naturally attracted to find out the knowledge of the
soul. Thus, the first requisite for knowing the soul is
to have a burning desire for it and to have a
discriminating faculty able to distinguish the good from
the evil in life, the permanent from the non permanent,
peace from pleasure and soul from matter.
Usually those who have a burning desire to understand the
meaning of life peruse the scriptures, the work of the
great holy men of the past and other testimonies that may
guide them in their search for truth. For the scriptures
are but the writings of great spiritual masters who wish
to show man the path to the true purpose in life and how
we may successfully find it. All the religious
scriptures, be it the Bible, Koran, Gita or Upanishads,
unanimously urge us to know the spirit and to identify
ourselves with the master or the all permeating God. Some
texts call this Allah, others Brahma, or God. The names
may vary, but the concept is one and the same. There
remains only to realise the way to this eternal essence,
Knowledge of the soul cannot be attained simply by
reading the holy books. It is only a living spark that
can give us light. The truth can only be imparted to us
from the living spiritual master.
The Spiritual master
Spiritual masters, or enlightened souls come to the world
in order to give mankind knowledge of the soul. They come
to liberate man from the clutches of the material life by
initiating him into the life divine. In the story of
Christ we find an example of a perfect master and his
message.
Christ spoke of himself as the light of the world. He
exhorted the people to visualise light and follow it, as
it was indeed the path to perfection. In Saint John,
Chapter 8, verse 32, Christ says to the people, "If ye
continue in my Word then are ye my disciples indeed, and
ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you
free." The true spiritual master must be he who has the
power to show us the light and dispel the darkness and
who can reveal the innermost mysteries of the self. He is
on with God, the eternal essence. The true master trains
us how to control the mind and its fluctuations and
guides us on to the path where we may merge with the
essence of life, which is light. Christ said of himself,
"I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall
not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life."
(John, Chapter 12, verse 8).
Being the Satguru of his time, Christ warned the people
that they had no hope of salvation but through His Grace.
"I am the way, the truth and the light, No man cometh
unto the father but by me.'' (John, 14; 6). He reminded
the people that Guru and God are one and the same entity.
One is given form while the other is formless. ``I and my
father are one." (John, 10; 30) Thus, the knowledge of
the self can be attained only at the feet of a living
spiritual master.
In Christ's time, as in ours, there were no lack of false
prophets, those who spoke of the kingdom of God without
really knowing what it was they spoke about. He warned
the people not to follow men who had no realisation of
the supreme and therefore could not guide others to
salvation. "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall
into the ditch." The only way to discern the true teacher
from the false is to see if he can indeed give one the
knowledge of the light, and man must judge people by
their actions, not allowing himself to be fooled by outer
words or actions. In Matthew Chapter 7, verse 15, Christ
stresses, "Beware of false prophets which come to you in
sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening
wolves."
Christ as well as countless other spiritual masters
commanded the people to follow the scriptures according
to their true spirit and walk in the path of light which
they revealed. Ironically, man ever honours the
scriptures and reveres the spiritual greats of history
but does not take the trouble to pattern his life after
the dictates of that master and thus continues to live a
life of suffering. A spiritual master offers the
knowledge of the soul, which is the Divine light, and the
Word of God.
Divine Light
The light which Jesus Christ spoke of in the New
Testament was the light of the soul, the eternal essence
or power which pervades and creates everything. It is the
source of life, and life's sustainer. Without this light
there is no life, there is no consciousness. Christ spoke
of this kingdom of light, ". . And there shall be no
night there, and they need no candle, neither light of
the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light."
(Revelations, 22; 5). It is only he who knows this light
that can be considered a true worshipper of God. God is
light and if we do not have light we do not have God.
In the New Testament we have the story of Saul who was
converted from his persecution of the early Christians
when he was suddenly visited by the spirit of Christ and
experienced the blinding light of God. He lost his sight
until Jesus sent Anenios to go to Saul and explain the
light to him, thus restoring his normal consciousness.
Jesus visited Saul with the gift of light to show him,
how great things he must suffer for his name's sake.
(Acts, 9; 16) So Saul was given his sight and baptised
into Holy Ghost or Name of God.
The Divine Light has been variously named by different
spiritual masters. It is called Elahi Noor in the Koran,
Chandna in the Guru Granth Saheb, Noor by saint Kabir,
Bhargo in the Vedas, Param Prakash in the Ramayana and
Divya Jyoti in the Upanisads. It is possible for every
man to experience this Divine Light through the grace of
the living master. This light is but the radiance of our
own true inner essence. It is the true responsibility of
man to know this light, to experience God and become one
with his maker. For it is man's function to find God.
Without this knowledge man is but an animal in human
form. It is written in the Bible that God made man a
little lower than the angels so that he may find God and
rise above them. "While ye have light, believe in the
light, that ye may be the children of the light." (John,
1 2;363.
The path of all spiritual masters is one and the same.
They strive to show man the path to the knowledge of the
light of the soul. They believe in the oneness of man and
man's oneness with God. It is only the ego consciousness
of the people that has created differences between one
religion and another, who have separated to form creeds
and show exclusive loyalty to their own master. For
Jesus, Mohammad, Lord Buddha all saw this light and lived
to show others its radiance in life.
The Divine Light can not be visualised with our outer,
gross eyes. It may only be seen with the third eye, the
divine eye which is opened by the grace of the spiritual
master. We are all in possession of our divine eye but
most of us are ignorant of its existence and its power.
Christ speaks of this third eye in Matthew, Chapter 6,
verse 22: "The light of the body is the eye therefore if
thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of
light."
In the Bhagavat Gita, Lord Krishna opens this very eye of
his disciple Arjuna, saying that without this eye one
cannot see the self-effulgent light. "I will bestow upon
you the single divine eye."
The essence of Life
It is possible for every human being to see the Divine
Light and merge with the essence of life. Divine Light is
simply the radiance of the life essence. Life is
supported by this essence known as the word of God, or
Divine Light. This is explained completely in Saint John,
"In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God
and the Word was God. All things were made by him, and
without him was not anything made that was made. In him
was life; and the life was the Light of men. And the
Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended
it not." God is this Word, or Light. It creates or
supports the whole universe. It is the fundamental
essence of all life, which exists forever, indestructible
and eternal. Every man has within him the eternal
essence. He is in fact, part of the totality of its
essence. This word of God has the ability to manifest
itself in a potent form in order to bring mankind closer
to its truth. This manifestation is called Guru, or the
Spiritual Master. While as a spiritual master is in the
human body, he is not human. He is the Word made flesh.
While living in the world he is not of the world. This
idea of the incarnation of God is considered a typical
Eastern conception. Yet Christ himself speaks of his
earthly phenomena in exactly the same way. He was born,
"not of blood nor of the will of the wish nor of the will
of man, but of God." (John, 1; 13) The Master incarnates
to take human beings away from their sins and show them
the way to salvation. Christ came to earth in the human
form for the express purpose of shouldering the burden of
salvation of humanity upon himself. He showed those who
wanted his guidance and accepted his authority the path
to peace. "I am the vine, ye are the branches, He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit, for without me ye can do nothing." (Saint John.
15; 5) This name which bas been preached by all spiritual
masters may also be called the seed name. The master
comes to sow the seed of true knowledge. '"The sower
soweth the Word." (St. Mark, 4; 14) Jesus delivered his
famous parable on the sower and the seed to demonstrate
the various reactions the knowledge of the Word has upon
different people.
Every spiritual master reveals this Word to those who
approach him with faith and devotion. It is by His Grace
that they are healed and cleansed, as Christ said, "Now
ye are cleaned through the Word which l have spoken unto
you." (John, 15; 3)
Communion With The Self
By concentrating upon this eternal, all-pervading Word
within us, the inner light becomes brighter and more
powerful. Those who know the name and practise communion
with it, purify themselves and become closer to God and
the ultimate experience of His Bliss. God is the Word and
light within us, and we may attain Him, experience his
essence and attain pure bliss. At this time, we become
one with God, and lose all sense of a personal identity.
The 'I' or ego as it was known before the experience is
lost in the totality of God. Christ was a realised soul,
that is, he had experienced this oneness, he knew himself
to be God, Jesus prays, "Holy Father, keep through thine
own name those whom thou hast given me, that they be one,
as we are." (John, 17; 11)
Thus, we see that the true message of Christ is to show
the people the way of light, and teach them now to
practise the technique of communion with the Word of God,
Jesus termed the Word, the Holy Spirit, and 'baptised'
the people with this spirit. In other words, Jesus
initiated the people into the knowledge of the Word, or
the Holy Ghost. By knowledge of the Word, with the Grace
of the spiritual master, man is immediately able to
control his sense desires and his unsteady mind by
constant communion, or meditation upon the Holy Name. The
devotee attains peace of mind far beyond the passing
pleasures he receives in the world. "Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you." (John, 14; 26)
The more diligently the word is practised and meditated
upon, the purer shines the soul. By constantly coming
into contact through 'communion' with that which is real,
one's own inner essence is filled with bliss, and one
merges with the eternal joy of God.
One Way
This Word is the essence of all religions, the divinity
which all spiritual masters have sought to reveal to the
world in their lifetime. It is the one and only way to
salvation which all religious doctrines, ways of life, or
theological beliefs must arrive at if God is to be really
known and experienced. Religion is realisation, it is not
empty theory or logical debates. God created man in order
to have His realisation. It is the only way to attain
God. The living human being is therefore unique in all of
creation in this respect. For he only is given the
opportunity of seeing God.
In the Old Testament. God's first human creations were
perfect, that is, they were in constant communion with
God and his glory. The fall of man came about when he
forgot the Word, when the lures of the world attracted
him, and he bit into the apple of sin, or worldly desire.
From that time onwards, man was condemned to struggle to
regain that state of divine bliss which he enjoyed in the
beginning of creation. Now, for being one with God
always, we must strive to rediscover that Divinity within
us which we have lost sight of.
Deep within, we are all God, we are all the Word made
flesh. But we do not realise this. We think our state of
worldly life is all that we may expect. Our duty to the
Creator is to become obedient to the voice of the Soul
and strive to become realised. This is why Christ said,
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect." We too may sit on the right hand of
God if it is the will of the Guru that we are given the
way to master our senses and realise the soul within us,
which is God. Thus, we become pure self, or the son of
God. And only by constant communion with the Word of God
may we be able to find the self, visualise the light, and
attain God. "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him
must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John, 4;
24)
How to know the Word
The Word can only be known at the feet of a living
Spiritual Master. It is only a burning lamp that can
kindle other lamps. Only he who knows the Word and is
fully God realised can be called a Spiritual Master. He
has the power to redeem and uplift the souls of man. None
but the Spiritual Master is able to reveal to us that
Word. The meaning of Guru is one who is able to dispel
darkness and show us the light of God. The Master comes
to body on earth for the purpose of re-explaining the
divinity that resides in man. He frees us from the
bondage of the world, and shows us everlasting bliss. The
Word that he shows us is the absolute truth, pure
consciousness and supreme bliss. Once the soul of a man
is clearly revealed to a man who has been baptised in the
Holy spirit, he can enter into soul communion through
prayer and meditation 24 hours a day. He becomes so
purified by this practice that the bright light of the
soul shines clearly within him. Blessed are the disciples
who practise the Word of God. "Blessed are your eyes, for
they see and your ears, for they hear." (Matthew, 13;16)
Blessed are they who find the true master, and abide with
him, for through his grace only are they able to see
God."
Service of the Spiritual Master
Love and devotion of the Spiritual Master as well as
selfless service to mankind for the Glory of God speed
the purification of the seeker of God. "Thou shalt
worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
In the lays of Christianity, this necessity is
demonstrated by the oath of complete surrender to the
Master that must be given at the time of baptism, sworn
to be practised throughout the lifetime of the
believer.
Only those who obey the commandments of the master are
blessed in their lifetime. Only those who so love and
obey the master so that they become one with Him can hope
of becoming one with God. For Guru, or the Master is God
and if you can realise the Master you have realised God.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, except that it abide in the vine, no
more can ye, except ye abide in me." (John, 15; 4)
Surely one of the greatest services to the Spiritual
Master is to disseminate His message to one and all. This
is not only of benefit to the disciple, who may fulfil
his devotion to the Master in an optimum way, but is of
considerable value to humanity. Therefore Christ chose
his apostles and ordered them to wander from place to
place, preaching that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand".
The disciple who thus devotes his life to the service of
his master finds manifold blessings. He is given the
power to impart the knowledge of God to others, and finds
that God is behind him, forming his actions and his
words, protecting him, and keeping his life within His
hands. "For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of
your Father which speaketh in you." (Matthew, 10; 20) It
is this idea of total surrender that causes the analogy
of one who dies and is reborn. Christ died for our sins,
and was risen from the dead to glorify his name. So we
who die to the desires of the world find new life, and
are reborn into the life of the spirit, Thus does Christ
say, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that
loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew, 10;
39)
Those that follow the path of God, or the Master, must
learn to lose all superficial considerations of their
livelihood and their maintenance in life. As Christ told
the multitudes, just as God takes care for the raven;
where he flies and what he eats, as he provides for all
his creatures, so will he provide for man. "Therefore I
say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat, are what ye shall drink; nor yet for your
body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than,
meat, and the body than raiment ? .... Therefore take no
thought, saying, what shall we eat ? or what shall we
drink ? or wherewithal shall we be clothed ?... But seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and
all these things shall be added unto you." (St. Matthew,
6; 25, 31, 33)
He who really loves God offers Him his life and his head.
He counts nothing as his own, for he resides in God, and
God owns everything. "Empty came ye into the world, and
empty shall ye leave it." We must leave the illusions of
possessions if we are to find God. The disciple who is
truly surrendered is free, and bathes in the Light of all
lights, experiencing the joy of union with God.
The Living Spiritual Master
The Spiritual Master is always present in the world.
There is never a time when we are devoid of His presence.
In the present age, one such master is again with us. He
reveals the Word of God to all aspirants who come to him
with true love for God. He is the Light, and shows us how
to see its glory. He teaches the same one eternal truth
which is the key for understanding all scriptures and
previous spiritual masters. He imparts the Holy seed -
Word which grows by his grace and with the diligent
communion of the aspirant with His word.
As the master is necessary if we wish the mysteries of
the Word to be revealed to us, we must strive to meet and
humble ourselves before the realised soul who can deliver
us from our darkness. "Come unto me all ye that labour,
Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give
you peace."
The meaning of love, light and life can become clearly
experienced under the realised master's guidance. Love is
the joy of true being, and compassion is that which flows
from one who experiences that joy. Light is the
brightness of the soul and the experience of the truth
that we are eternally one with God. Life is the Word or
spirit within us, which is God as he manifests himself in
creation. To receive this knowledge we must surrender
ourselves at the feet of the realised master of the
time.
The living spiritual master is Balyogeshwar Param Hans
Satgurudev Shri Sant Ji Maharaj.
A Pen Sketch of Balyogeshwar Shri Sant Ji
Maharaj
Born in a holy family, He was initiated into the life
Divine by the late Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj, a
harbinger of world peace, universal love and ultimate
reality. Hailing from the sacred soil of Badrinath in
Uttrarakhand, India, Shri Hans Ji Maharaj aroused
millions from the slumber of ignorance by His magic wand
of spiritual knowledge. Balyogeshwar Shri Sant Ji Maharaj
was acclaimed a born saint by Shri Hans Ji Maharaj.
Others also saw the Divinity manifested in him, and were
constantly in awe of his unusual behaviour from his very
childhood. He was destined to fulfil the mission of
uniting all religions with the silken bond of love.
Yogiraj Shri Hans Ji Maharaj left His mortal frame on 19
July, 1966, transmitting His power potential of the
secret Yoga to His Holiness Shri Sant Ji Maharaj.
His Holiness speaks in the language of parables, and
disdains all intellectual conceptions of God. His
approach to religion is one of common sense. His
glittering personality and beautific appearance shed a
halo of divinity around Him. He is a supreme comforter,
born to dispel the darkness of ignorance and bestow peace
and knowledge to the entire world. The Divine Light
Mission, under his firm guidance is spreading its message
of the Holy Name to one and all.
Shri Sant Ji Maharaj is not only young in years, but also
in spirit. He plans to spread the knowledge of the Word
and Divine Light to the world in his own lifetime. It is
only now in this century where wide scale communication
is possible that this proportion of the Mission has been
made possible.
He is the manifestation of the supreme power and gives
the knowledge of the Holy Name and Divine Light to all
who ask for it. "For the Son of man is come to save that
which was lost." (Matthew, chapter 16; 26). He promises
the gift of the knowledge of the soul to everyone who
comes to him, irrespective of caste, colour or creed.
"For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
(Matthew, 7; 8)
Millions in India have already been enlightened by his
initiation into the knowledge of the Word. His disciples
have spread his divine mission to England and South
Africa, and he plans to disseminate the knowledge
throughout the four corners of the earth.
Claiming no religion as his own, he reveals the one Truth
of God basic to all religions and reveals the inner path
to God.
'The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. Neither
shall they say, Lo, Here ! or lo, there ! for behold, the
kingdom of God is within you." (St. Luke, 17; 20-21)
Balyogeshwar Shri Sant Ji Maharaj has incarnated himself
to reveal the truth, and to complete the destiny of man.
He has come to give man the sharp sword of the Holy Name
with which to cut down the snares of the world, to kill
all desires and to find victory in truth and everlasting
life. He has come to speak to us, it is for us to
listen.
"Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and
doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built
his house upon a rock." (Matthew, 7; 24)
Devotional
Songs
(Page 89-97)
Devotional songs called "Bhajans" have an ennobling
effect on the minds of the devotees. 'Bhajans', are
divine melodies sung by great devotees praising the glory
of Guru and God in ecstasy. They are the spontaneous
outpourings of gratitude and devotion. They also reveal
the nature of the true knowledge which these saints
experienced and inspire others to receive the true
knowledge by approaching a saint. Some of the Bhajans
have their intent and purpose to awaken the people to the
grim realities; the hollowness of life, the agonies of
ignorance and the fleeting phenomenon of this world. Like
all mystic saints Shri Maharaj Ji would sing certain
devotional songs to emphasize his view-point and
teachings. The following are the English translation of
some of his favourite songs:
"Acharej dekha bhari sadho acharej dekha bhari
ray."
O saints ! I have seen great splendours; great
splendours seen.
In the midst of heaven is the well of divine nectar,
trickling bliss.
Lame man climbs up without a ladder and drinks deep of
the overflowing nectar.
Without ringing, endlessly gongs ring, drums beat and
conches blow.
Deaf man hears and joyfully loses himself in the Divine
Melody,
Without earth, there stands a palace in which shines a
brilliant light.
Blind man is filled with bliss, seeing it again and again
and exclaims his experiences.
The living man dies and then lives again.
Without food, he is vital and strong.
Brahmanand says: 'Rare and fortunate among saints are
those who understand the meaning of my song.'
"Re man ye do din ka mela rahega . ."
O Mind ! The world is but a fleeting fair.
The pursuits of life will not last for ever.
Of what use is it to build tall buildings that touch the
sky?
Of what use is it to hoard heaps of wealth?
All your chariots and elephants will be of no avail to
you,
Empty-handed you came into the world, and empty handed
you will leave it.
The only conveyance for your last journey will be a
coffin made of wood to be carried on the shoulders.
O Mind ! The world is but a fleeting fair.
Man thinks his wealth will stand by him in days of
distress,
But wealth is slave to none.
Haven't Lord Krishna, Rama and Harish Chandra made it
clear that man will not be remembered by his wealth but
by his deeds ?
Your wealth will remain here on earth when you leave it
with your pockets empty.
Even your friends are your companions only until the holy
water ceremony is performed over you.
After your death, your wife will accompany you to the
gate of your house, and no further.
The members of your family will accompany you only as far
as the crematorium.
Your son will fulfil his obligations and light your
funeral pyre.
There is but one thing that can go with you after death;
it is the Holy Name.
But for the Holy Name; O mind, you will be desolate and
deserted by all.
"Pani Main Min piysai...."
I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is
thirsty.
Man wanders about without purpose to Mathura or Kashi
without the knowledge of the inner spirit, like a deer
who runs listlessly from forest to forest in search of
the musk which lies within its own navel.
All men of the three worlds, even sanyasis, munis and
yogis are infatuated by desire and a slave to the mind
just as a large bee is infatuated by the buds of a lotus
in the water.
The immanent and unmanifested 'Hans' is in my heart,
which is worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and 88,000
munis. God is within but people think he is somewhere
outside. O! irony of ironies.
Kabir says: Listen, O Sadhu, this confusion can not be
removed without the help of a Guru.
"Mo Sum Kaun Kutil
Khal Kami "
Can there be anyone as sly, as sensual and as bestial
as I ? How ungrateful am I for have I not disowned He who
has bestowed me with this precious human body?
Constantly satiating my hunger I run after my desires
like a village pig after refuse.
Daily I serve the men of the world, forsaking the men of
God. Surdas says: 'Hear me, O my Lord ! How can there be
a place in your heart for one such as I.'
"Payoli main nay Nam Ratan dhan payo."
I obtained the gift of the holy Name.
The Satguru bestowed the invaluable gift.
And by his kindness He made me His own.
My mind cherished the love of the Teacher's feet;
To them am I attached: the world to me is but a
dream.
The Ocean of birth and death is dried up for me: I no
longer wonder how I shall cross over.
My Lord is Giradhara Nagar:
My eyes have turned inward to obtain His vision.
On whose feet should I fall now that I see both the Lord
and the Teacher before me ?
All obeisance to the Teacher, who made me reach the
Lord.
I met my Satguru, Saint Raidas, who gave me a souvenir of
the Name of God.
I advanced and met my Lord, then was my pain allayed.
I threw dust on the head of the world, then did I attain
to my home.
It is in relation to God alone that all kith and kin are
worthy of love.
What is the good of the eye balm that only serves to make
one blind ?
Take up the hint: no more can I say.
He is in every way a noble friend worthy of your
adoration and dearer to you than your very life.
Who can generate affection for the Lord:
such is the creed of Tulsidas.
"Agar Hai Shauk Milne Ka"
If you are fond of seeing God face-to-face, then
remember him by every breath
Neither be on fast nor die of hunger.
Neither go to mosque nor make prostrations,
Break the worship pot and be drunken with the wine of
love.
Sweep the cavity of the heart with the broom of love.
Cast off the dust of 'mine' and 'thine'.
Do away with duality.
Drink not the cup of 'I-ness'.
But drink deep of the cup of 'Thineness'.
Break this string of beads, throw these books into the
water.
Of what use is it to be learned ?
Burn away this vanity of learning.
Think not that God is far off.
Mansoor says: 'O Kazi, Live not on unearned bread.
Great and true is the name of God.
Preach this truth to all.'
How none else but Him can I claim as my own.
I forsook my father and my mother and all those that were
dear to me.
In the company of the Sadhus I sacrificed my world and my
modesty.
I rushed to meet a saint when one appeared, and wept when
the worldly crossed my path.
With tears I nourished the everlasting creeper of
love.
In my search I met the deliverer the Holy Name.
Thence forward the Name within and the Saint overhead
have lighted my path.
To the Lord Mira has consigned herself.
"Guru Paiyan Lagun Nam Lakhaya Deejo re..."
I touch the holy feet of the Guru who has revealed to me
the Name of God.
Awakened by the sound of the Word my mind which was Iying
in the slumber of ignorance, birth after birth.
Darkness prevails and nothing is visible. The Guru
kindles the lamp of knowledge within.
The urge of the poisonous sense pleasures surges up in
the heart and the mind,
Guru kills this urge by the drop of nectar within.
Deep and impenetrable is the torrential stream of life
running fast and fleeting,
Sail my boat across the waters, O my Guru !
Dharam Das prays to his Guru, the Lord, 'take me to my
destination this life. Now.'
"Man na rangaya
rangaye jogi kapra"
The yogi dyes his garments, instead of dyeing his mind in
the colour of love:
He sits within the temple of the Lord, leaving Brahma
worships a stone.
He pierces holes in his ears, he has a great beard and
matted locks, he looks like a goat.
He goes forth into the wilderness, killing all his
desires, and turns himself into an eunuch:
He shaves his head and dyes his garments; he reads the
Gita and becomes a mighty talker.
Kabir says: 'You are going to the doors of death, bound
hand and foot !'
"Bhagya bade sadgura mein
payo..."
I found the greatest of fortunes when I met my
Satguru.
All my troubles and sorrows disappeared from my mind.
That which I searched for all the time in exterior things
I have found within myself.
Now I see the all-permeating light of Brahma wherever I
look.
It has made me free from the bondage of life and death
and saved me from the swinging cycle of rebirth.
Brahmanand says, I lay prostrated, overjoyed at the feet
of Satgurudev, who has caused me to achieve all
things.
Truly his importance is greater than God's.
"are dil, prem
nagar ka ant na paya."
O My heart ! you have not known all the secrets of this
city of love:
In ignorance you came, and in ignorance you return.
O my friend, what have you done with the life ?
You have taken on your head the burden heavy with stones,
and who is to lighten it for you ?
Your Friend stands on the other shore,
But you never think in your mind how you may meet with
Him,
The boat is broken, and yet you sit even upon the bank;
and thus you are beaten to no purpose by the waves,
The servant Kabir asks you to consider; who is there that
shall befriend you at the last ?
You are alone, you have no companion:
You will suffer the consequences of your own deeds.
"Re man ram nam ras peejey"
Drink thou, the nectar of the Holy Name.
O mind, drink thou the nectar of the holy Name.
Abandon thou evil company, associate with the saints at
all times.
And hear thou the discourses of the Lord.
From the mind turn thou all lust, aa0er and passions.
Mira's Lord is Giradhara Nagar, In His dye is she
coloured.
"Sadho, so satgurumohi bhawai"
O Brother, my heart yearns for that true Guru, who fills
the cup of true love, and drinks of it himself, and
offers it then to me.
He removes the veil from the eyes, and gives the true
Vision of Brahma:
He reveals the word in him and makes to hear the unstruck
Music:
He shows joy and sorrow to be one:
He fills all utterance with love.
Kabir says: 'Verily he has no fear, who has such a Guru
to lead him to the shelter of safety.'
"Guru Sumdata"
There is no other giver but Guru.
The World stoops before Him to beg.
Guru is the lord and the creator of continents and the
subcontinents.
The King and the emperor both stretch out their hands
before the Guru.
Let those who have ears listen.
You can never attain God by worshipping idols.
Waiting at the doors of a Saint bears all the fruit of
making the 68 pilgrimages.
What is the use of bathing in all the holy waters if the
heart is impure.
The outer body may be cleaned, but what of the inner self
?
In this ocean of life there are many who are cut
adrift.
Kabir says, He who surrenders himself to Me, shall be
taken across the sea of life.
Sayings
of Shri Hans Ji Maharaj
(Page
98-102)
On Man:
"The human frame is a golden opportunity bestowed on the
Jiva by God through which he is able to realise God and
free himself from the bondage of birth and death."
"Man is the crown of creation. Even celestial beings pine
for the human frame. The body is the home of worship and
meditation and if it is not utilised for this purpose,
man is the greatest loser."
"God has created the human frame for the express purpose
of giving man the opportunity of realising the
Divinity."
On the Aim of Life:
"Just as a fish can only fulfil its purpose within water.
The aim of man's life should be essentially one which can
be fulfilled and realised within this human frame."
"Be engaged in practice after acquiring the knowledge,
this is the goal of human life."
On Satsang:
"Satsang is received by the blessings of Hari."
"Satsang is not the recitation of Holy Scriptures
(Kathas) nor philosophical discussions of learned men.
Satsang is the company of the true saints. It is hearing
their words based on their own revelations."
"Sat means 'truth' and sang means 'association or
company'.
So, satsang means the company or association with truth.
Since saints are the embodiment of truth, we should
associate with them."
"Satsang has a transforming effect upon man. It cleans
man from the dust of sin and kindles in him love for
God."
On the true Guru:
"It is a spiritual law that there can be no divine
knowledge without the grace of the living Satguru."
"The Satguru is the living embodiment of grace, and the
very ocean of mercy."
"Just as salt water from the ocean is useless for
drinking purposes, so the all-permeating power of God are
useless to man until revealed by the true Guru."
"Guru is the dispeller of the darkness of ignorance and
the bestower of the Divine Light."
On the Scriptures:
"Scriptures are recorded revelations of the saints. They
must be read. But the esoteric meaning within them must
be understood through the help of a realised soul."
"The 'Name' and the 'form' of God referred to in the
scriptures cannot be found within the scriptures itself.
Just as the texts speak of the self-effulgent light of
God, but this light can only be seen within man."
"Just as a tree which does not provide shade is useless,
so a Guru who can not impart true knowledge is of no
avail."
"Search for the Guru who reveals the true Name of God.
All other Gurus are false."
On the Eternal Truth:
"This knowledge which I am imparting is the true
knowledge. It is the eternal truth. It was true in the
past, it is true today and it will remain true in the
future. God is One, His knowledge is also One."
"That which was told to the sun in the beginning of
creation, which Krishna imparted to Arjuna, that very
thing is what I offer you today I."
On Happiness:
"Happiness is not the attribute of matter. It is the
quality of God and it is through the knowledge of God
that one can attain happiness."
On Religion:
"Religion does not mean to surrender to dogmas and
religious scriptures or conformity to rituals. But my
religion constitutes an abiding faith in the perfect
values of truth and the ceaseless attempt to realise them
in the inner most part of our nature."
On Devotion:
"Devotion is independent from all rituals. It is the
treasure of all happiness. Without the company of saints
it can not be attained."
"Devotion is like a rare pearl. When it is discovered
within the heart, there is eternal light."
"The traditional modes of devotion, the rites and
rituals, do not constitute devotion. Real devotion means
unbreakable remembrance of the true name of God at all
times."
On the True Name of God:
"The adjectives, "Ram, Ram," "Hari Krishna", or "Om Namo
Shivai" are not the True Names of God. The true Name of
God is beyond the alphabets, and unmanifest. It is the
primordial sound, the breath of life."
On Caste:
"Who are the Shurdas ? Those alone are Shurdas who are
wanting in faith in the Lord God, no matter what their
caste may be."
"Caste is the superficial difference between man which
can only be destroyed by the sword of True
Knowledge."
On Action:
"What you are to do tomorrow, do today. What you are to
do today, do now. None knows when death will overtake
you."
On Service:
"He who propagates the true knowledge is my true devotee,
dearer to me than my own life."
HARI OM TAT
SAT
Satgurudev Shri Sant Ji Maharaj
(Page
103)
|