Sant Bani Magazine June 1992
The Voice of the Saints
v ~ i16-12 .
Sant Bani Magazine The Voice of the saints June 1992 - Volume 16, Number 12
me Tradition of the Path of Love Sant Ajaib Singh Ji a talk gizren irz Jaijmr March 1992
India Groups-1992 - 93 an anrzourzcement
m e Master Searches for the Disciple Sant Ajaib Singh Ji a satsang from Mexico May 29, 1992
Sant Ji's Visit to Mexico A. S. Oberoi a personal account
Graduation Message Sant Ajaib Singh Ji June 1, 1992
The Saints Work Day and Night Sant Ajaib Singh Ji questions and anszuers Febrrrary 27, 1980
Classified Index, Volume XVI Photocredits: Cover, Chris McMahon; p. 4, Charlie Boynton; all others (Mexico visit, 1992), Gurmel Singh. SANT BANIlThe 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, Puam Sant Kirpal Singh Ji, and of the Masters who preceded them. Editor Emeritus: Russell Perkins. Editor: Richard Shannon, with kind assistance from: Randy Budington, Edythe Grant, Russell Perkins, Chris Rinehart, and Susan Shannon. Annual subscription rate in U.S. $30.00. Individual issues $2.50. Back issues $2.50. Foreign m d 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 micrwncoded numbed. Correspondence should be addressed to Sant Bani Ashram, Franklin, N.H. 03235, U.S.A. Articles, including stories and poems, on the theory and practice of Sant Mat, are most welcome. Views expressed in individual articles u e not necessarily the views of the joumal.
The Tradition of the Path of Love Sant Ajaib Singh Ji NOTE: This talk was given by Sant Ji in Jaipur last March in answer to a
question about His illness. The talk was given in Punjabi to a group of Indian satsangis, including group leaders, and was not translated into English at the time, as no Westerners were present. At His request, it has since been translated for our benefit.
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henever I have fallen sick, the dear ones have asked many questions about my health. Many times I have answered those questions, and those answers have been published in the magazines. Still I will answer your question. Dear ones, whenever the Master Power manifests Himself within anyone, He brings along with Him all riches: no shortage is left there. Grace, peace, and sympathy reign there. The account of karmas is finished much earlier, when one attains such a position. He within whom the Master is manifested does not even spit at kingdoms. For Him poverty and wealth are alike. Poverty does not make Him sad, nor does wealth make Him happy. For Him hends and enemies are equal. In fact, He does not have any enemy, as He sees only God within all. Whether one is black or white, American or Indian, all are equal in His eyes. He prays for the welfare of everyone. Every single cell of His body sings the glory of His Master. He considers Himself the shoe-wiper of the Sangat. Those who come in His company also become intoxicated with the Master's love, and devote themselves to the Master's remembrance. Now the question is, how is such a condition achieved? Does it come by itself, or by studying or learning, or can it be bought with money? Or can it be snatched with force and power? No, dear ones, these are not the means of attaining such a position. Supreme Father Kirpal used to say that spirituality is the path of sacrifice and love and meditation. Whosoever does it can have it. If someone's own does it, he can have it; if some alien does it, he takes it. Beloved Lord also used to say emphatically that the Inner Power doesn't spare anyone. Dear ones, such a devotee of Master within whom the Master is manifested is a living example of sacrifice and meditation. He has obeyed June 1992
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every single word of the Master. He has suffered thirst and hunger in the separation of the Master, giving up worldly pleasures, name and fame. He has sacrificed Himself completely on His Master. He does have a physical body like us; He eats, drinks, sleeps, and does other things like us; but He is very different from us within. He is connected with God. In fact, He has become the Form of God. When He opens His eyes He is in this world; when He closes His eyes He is in Sach Khand. It is very difficult to understand Him outwardly. When we go to Him He takes us in His loving embrace by His beautiful smile and loving words, and we build faith and trust in Him; but our greatest enemy, our mind who is sitting within us, creates illusions and breaks our faith and devotion. Until we go withn by meditating, we cannot develop unshakable faith in the Master, and we cannot see His true glory within. Only such a devotee of the Master is called a Sadhu, Saint, or perfect disciple, and only to such an ascended soul the perfect Master gives His work of awakening the souls and connecting them to God Almighty, before He leaves the physical body. You know that when Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj entrusted this duty to Supreme Father Kirpal, He said, "Kirpal Singh, make sure this perfect science does not disappear: because there will be many who can explain the theory, but not having meditated, they will not have the true knowledge and will mislead the souls." The same thing was said to me by True Lord Kirpal when He ordered me to give the message of Truth. He said, "Nowadays propaganda and preaching are at their highest, and educated people, with the support of parties, will become gurus. They will make true false and false true. They themselves will be in illusion because of not meditating, and will lead others into the ditch of ignorance. To deceive someone's soul is the greatest sin." Emphatically He said that the Path of Truth must continue, so that the needs of those souls who have real desire for God may be fulfilled. Dear ones, it is very difficult to discharge this duty. When the Master gives this order to the one who has to do this work, hearing the words of his Master, his soul trembles. He cries and weeps and begs at the Feet of his Master that his Master may please continue to be in the physical body so that the Sangat may keep getting the benefit of His darshan. He desires to, and makes every possible effort to, prevent the Master from giving him this job. Even the smallest thought of Master's leaving is not less than his own death. He wants that his Master may always remain over his head even on the physical plane. June 1992
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The duty given to such a devotee is not to make big ashrams or deras or to collect material things for the ashrams. Instead He is a lover of simplicity. He lives a very simple life, and He tells those who come to Him to minimize their needs and live a simple life. He never has any desire to increase the number of the Sangat. His true duty is to connect the souls with Truth, so that following the True Path they may return to their True Home. Do you know that a perfect living Master is a living representative of God Almighty on this plane? It is His duty to connect those souls who yearn for God Almighty with Naarn, after contacting them physically, no matter in which corner of this earth that soul may be. Either He Himself goes where the soul is, or He makes the arrangements for that soul to come to Him for Naam Initiation. Also there are numerous souls who do not have the good fortune of coming to the Path of Naam, nor do they necessarily believe in God Almighty; but when they are in pain they cry out, "0 God, wherever You are, please have pity on us, save us, protect us!" In such circumstances the perfect living Master, as one aspect of His duty, reaches out and provides reasonable help to those suffering souls. The perfect living Masters not only take upon Themselves the karmic burden of Their initiates, but They also undertake the load of those suffering souls who call for God's help. Also those who lovingly remember the Master, and even those who have only once greeted Him with respect and love- Master takes the sufferings of such souls on His body. Master Sawan Singh Ji used to say that Masters not only help Their initiates, but They also extend Their protection to the relatives and pets of Their initiates. This naturally casts a massive burden on Their health. Master Sawan Singh Ji also used to say that all the karmas done must be paid off, either by the disciple or by the Master. He used to say that the Negative Power doesn't spare even one karma. Also, it is up to the Negative Power to decide how he wants the karmas to be paid. The Masters cannot deny the Negative Power, even if he asks for a part of the body of the Master as part of the payment of the karmas of the disciples. Masters never hesitate. They happily pay off the karmas of Their disciples. Now the question is: How do the Saints take upon Themselves the karmic burden of the jivas, and how do They pay for it? You know that this question is related to one's soul and is far beyond the mind and intellect. We cannot see this with our eyes. Only after going within with the grace of the Master can we understand this matter. Once a very renowned surgeon who had performed many operations told Baba 6
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Sawan Singh that he had never seen any plane or Brahrnand within the human body, although he had done so many operations on the human body. Master Sawan Singh Ji replied, "These planes are astral and causal, and so we cannot see them with our physical eyes; we can only see them when we operate through the astral and causal bodies." In the same way we cannot understand this matter unless we go to the plane where this takes place. Until then, we cannot get even the slightest idea of how this happens and how the Masters pay off the karmas of other jivas, and how They take upon Themselves the burden of karn as. Dear ones, such a devotee of Master Who has become the Form of the Master after meeting Him, doesn't have any karmas of His own to pay off, as I said earlier. Being controlled by the love and devotion of the dear ones, He takes upon Himself their karmas. He burns Himself in the fire of others; He suffers for others' sufferir 3s; and while doing so, He doesn't even complain, nor does He mention that He is doing this for others. Many times it so happens that the dear one whose karmas He is paying off is having bad thoughts and loses faith when he sees the Master suffering so much. Master always extends feasible help; but sometimes He is drenched so much in the love that He takes up the karmas much beyond the limits, far in excess of the human capacity to bear them, and that proves to be very detrimental to the health of the Master. But still the Master remains happy in the Will of God. He never shows off or claims that He has helped, because He knows that everything is in the Will of God Almighty, His Master. During the last days of Master Sawan on t h s plane, His health was not very good. The Sangat used to implore Him to cure Himself and to pray to Master Baba Jaimal Singh to keep Him in this world for the sake of the Sangat. Master Sawan Singh used to say that He could not make this request as this would affect His discipleship. Master Kirpal Singh Ji used to beg Master Sawan Singh Ji, "We cannot bear the sufferings You have to suffer. Kindly shower grace on us and cure Yourself so that the blessings of Your physical presence may always remain on our heads." One day Master Sawan Singh Ji called Master Kirpal Singh Ji and said, "You always ask me to cure myself and remain on t h s plane. Today this decision is going to be made in Sach Khand. Close your eyes and see for yourself what happens." Master Kirpal Singh Ji saw that all the perfect Masters-Guru Nanak, Kabir, Tulsi Sahib, Swami Ji Maharaj, Paltu Sahib and others-were present. All the Masters agreed that Master Sawan Singh Ji could remain on this plane for some more time. But Baba Jairnal Singh Ji said, "No. Baba Sawan Singh has already taken so much burden June 1992
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on Himself; no more burden should be put on Him, and He should be brought back." When Master Kirpal Singh saw this He couldn't say even a word. He just kept looking into the love-filled eyes of Beloved Sawan which gave Him so much intoxication that, as Master Kirpal used to say Himself, "that intoxication cannot be described in words." In the same way once when Beloved Lord Kirpal was very sick, one dear one asked Him if He would not cure Himself. He replied, "You see, if your dearest friend sends you any gift, would you not accept it? Would you return it?" Then He said, "This physical pain has come in the Will of my Master. It is a gift sent by Him. How can I not accept it? It is my duty to welcome and embrace this gift of my Beloved." So, dear ones: this is the tradition of the Path of Love; this is the ritual of this Path Divine. How can 1 go against it even in thought? It is my duty to accept the gift given by my Master, remain in His Will, and always be grateful to Him for His grace. I know that all of you want my health to be better. I appreciate all of your sympathy and concern for my health. If you really want to help me, there are certain things you can do to ease the burden. There are certain sacrifices you can do easily. Increase the time and your efforts in meditation. If you will make efforts, I assure you that the Inner Power will help you manifold. By meditating, you will be accomplishing two things: one, you will be earning the pleasure of the Master Power; and two, you will be doing your own work. Resolve all the disputes you may have with your friends, relatives, Satsangis, etc., lovingly. We have come in contact with each other only because of our past karmas. Square up these karmas lovingly, as it is very important for us to finish off all our karmas in this very birth. Usually the letters I receive are full of disputes. Rarely do I receive any letter about meditation. And then dear ones expect me to say, "You are right and he is wrong." Is this the principle of Sant Mat? Dear ones, in the Court of the Saints there is only forgiveness. So be wise and avoid disputes. Forgive and forget the faults of others. Clear yourself up within and you will see how the love of the Master manifests there. Abstain from criticism. Don't deceive others with your sweet words. Love all. If you will do all these, you will progress in meditation by leaps and bounds. Those dear ones who have been given seva should do it with love and humility. They should make an environment of love by respecting other fellow sevadars. Do the Simran while doing seva. This will help you to 8
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feel the grace of the Master, and also it will help you to see very clearly that Master is the doer, we are just His instruments. There is one more thing I would like to say and that is, whenever under the instruction of the Master we get together in His remembrance to do His devotion, the Negative Power is also very eager to disturb that atmosphere by one method or another. Master Kirpal used to say that when a soul goes to a perfect Master, then Kal and Maya beat their breasts thinking that one more soul has gone out of their clutches. He also used to say that Kal has numerous ways of deluding the souls. He may create disunity among the sevadars and make them fight with each other; he makes the dear ones lose faith in the Master. From within those who do the Satsang he makes them believe that whatever they say or however they explain the teachings is understood by the dear ones much better and easier. So they start talking more and reading the words of the Master or playing the tape of the Master less. Gradually they play the tape of the Master only for a few minutes, and the rest of the time they talk on the level of the mind and intellect which does not leave any impression on the souls of the dear ones. It only entertains their minds and satisfies their intellects. Dear ones, Saints have risen above the mind and intellect, and whatever They say is full of Their experience. Their words are full of Their grace and carry the radiance of Their meditation. Their words may be simple, but since they come out of a pure w i t h they touch our soul. There is no room for explanation of the Master's words. This does not mean that important things should not be explained. They should be explained; but don't get carried away too far, and do not replace the Master's words with your own talks. Dear ones come to the ashram or go to the programs after spending so much money and time. So don't waste it in gossip. Utilize it for the purpose for which you have come here. Remain in His sweet remembrance, and meditate as much as you can. So if the dear ones will remember all this and will do all that I have said, it will help me very much and I will be able to serve you better for a longer time. I hope all of you will stand on your own feet and will become less of a burden for the Master Power.
June 1992
INDIA GROUPS -1992-93 With the Grace of the Masters, there will be four (4) Meditation & Satsang Retreat Programs in India in the coming group year (1992 - 93). As it will not be possible for the groups to go to the Ashram in Rajasthan, Sant Ji will hold these Programs in the Indian cities. AHMEDABAD ..................... October 9 - 15, BOMBAY ................................ January 6 - 15, JAIPUR ............................................... March, BANGALORE .......................... June, (Late),
1992 1993 1993 1993
Sant Ji has graciously invited a limited number of Westerners to come to India and participate in these Meditation Programs. Only a limited number of people can be accommodated at each Program, so only those who have signed up and received a confirmed space in one of the groups will be allowed to attend the Programs. Those from English-speaking countries, and all others except Spanishspeaking countries, may apply for the Ahmedabad, Bombay or Bangalore Programs (e.g., North America, Europe, Afixa, Asia, Orient, Australia, etc.). Those from Spanish-speaking countries may apply for the Jaipur Program (e.g., South America, Latin America, Mexico, Spain, etc.). Families with children may apply only for the Bombay or Bangalore Programs. When writing to sign up, please include your full name, address, phone number, names & ages of children, date of your last trip to India to see Sant Ji, and which Program(s) you would like to apply for (e.g., 1st choice, 2nd choice). It will not be possible to go to more than one Program. For further information, or to sign up for the Ahmedabad, Bombay or Bangalore Programs, please contact: Daryl Rubin; 1786 26th; Odgen, Utah 84401, U.S.A. Phone: 801-392-0894
Those interested in going to Jaipur should contact:
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Ignacio Gutierrez; A.A. 1015 10; Bogota, Colombia, S.A.
The Master Searches for the Disciple Sant Ajaib Singh Ji
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Creation is also within us and we can see and realize that reality only after going within our body. OAen I have said that the Path of the Master's is not fairy tales, not children's play; It is a Reality. It is not a matter of talking and arguing, it is a matter of doing it. So far all those who have practiced this Path, they have not said this Path is not true. When a $inch of salt goes to the ocean to find it's origin, it dissolves itself into the water of the ocean, and it cannot come out to tell people about its origin. In the same way, whoever has practiced this Path and has gone within and experienced this reality-after going within one's mouth is shut-he cannot tell other people about his reality, because this is something we can experience only after going within. The condition of those who go within and those who have seen the reality within is like the condition of a dumb man who cannot describe the sweetness of candy but can only express his happiness through his actions. Kabir Sahib and all the other Mahatmas have said that this is not something that can be described or talked about, it is a matter of doing. There is no question of belonging to the East or West. It does not matter if one is a man or woman; it doesn't T h i ~Satsang, the first of Sant Ji 's 1992 matter if one is a child or an adult; Tour, was given on May 29, 1992, at black and white doesn't make any difSant Bani Ashram, La Palma, Mexico. ference-the only thing that makes a
am grateful and indebted to my Satgum's Sawan and Kirpal Who have given us this opportunity to be able to sit in Their remembrance. Guru Nanak Sahib also said this very lovingly. "After wandering to many different places, finally, 0 Lord, I have come to your door. This is the prayer of Nanak that You accept me in Your refuge." The Masters Whose inner eyes are opened, They know in how many different bodies the soul goes, in how many different high and low bodies the soul goes. Many times the soul goes into the lowest bodies like the body of the trees, snakes, insects and reptiles. AAer wandering in so many different bodies finally when the soul comes in the human body only then does she get the opportunity to do the devotion of God. Only the Perfect Masters know how many different high and low bodies the soul has gone through. That is why Guru Nanak says, "0 Lord, now I am tired of going into so many different bodies; finally I have received this human body and I have come to Your refuge." The Masters do not come to give us the blind faith; They present to us an ideal of reality, the truth. They tell us that the reality or tmth that is all-pervading and present in every particle of
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diffcrcnce is the doing. You read in the bhajan which says that this is not a matter of talking, whosoever does it can realizc it. So as I h a w often said, in the spiritual qucst all thc mahatmas have the same goal in front of them. Whether the mahatma has bcen born in the East or the Wcst, all the mahatmas have come to the same point, have the same thing to say, that "God is one and He is within us." Also mahatmas tell us, "We cannot realize God by our own cfforts. Until we 20 and sit at the feet of such a Mahatma Who has become Onc with God Almighty, we can not realize Him." We cannot meet and realize God Almighty just by our efforts and just by reading the holy scriptures and books written by the past Masters. We can understand this by a worldly example. Suppose that we were able to 12
gain all the education by reading books written by the past teachers. Why did the government make so much effort building so many different colleges and universities, and why did we have to go to the schools to gain the education? Just by reading the books of the past teachers we could have gotten all the knowledge. But it is not so, we have to go to the teachers of our time and we have to get the education from them. Even out of those who attend the schools and colleges, only those who pass the examinations get a degree, and only those who have been given the degrees get the status of the principals and the teachers. The work of the Perfect Master is not to have a large following; They do not want to have an army of Their disciples. The Perfect Master does not have the desire that He should have a SANT BANI
large number of disciples. That is why the Perfect Masters never do any kind of advertising to attract the people. It is a matter between the disciple and thc Master. The Master Himself searches for and finds the disciple when the disciple is ready. Distance does not make a difference. When the disciple is ready, either the Master Himself goes to the place where the disciple is or He makes the arrangements for the disciple to come close to the Master. Paltu Sahib said, "What desire do the Masters have? Why do They go to so many countries? Only for the sake of liberating the souls They suffer so much hardship on Their bodies." The story of how the Master searches for His disciplc has been told earlier and has been published, but once again I will repeat it for all of you. Master Sawan Singh Ji searched for twentyJune I992
two years for God Almighty, but when the time to meet the Perfect Master came and when it was decided in the Court of the Lord for him that now he should be brought to the Path and given Initiation, at that time Baba Jaimal Singh told His attendant Bibi Ruko, who used to cook food for Him, "I have some important work." From the place where He used to live it was about five hundred miles to where Baba Sawan Singh was working as an engineer in the army. Baba Jaimal Singh went all that way to search for his disciple Sawan Singh. When Baba Jaimal Singh went to the place where Sawan Singh was working as an engineer, he was supervising the road construction, and when Baba Jaimal Singh passed by him, since Sawan Singh did not know Him, he did not even greet Him, he did not even
say hello to Him. Baba Jaimal Singh told Bibi Ruko, "I have come so far only for this person." Bibi Ruko said, "He has not even greeted You; he has not even said hello to You." Baba Jaimal Singh replied, "What does this poor man know? But on the fourth day he will come to the Satsang." Master Sawan Singh used to tell this story Himself that on the fourth day, when He went to the Satsang of Baba Jaimal Singh, one-by-one all the doubts and all the questions which He had had for the last twenty-two years were answered and all His doubts were removed. So this is how the Master searches for his disciple. Only the Perfect Master knows whom He has to choose to be His disciple and He Himself goes to that person and chooses him and makes him His disciple. Many times the Master makes someone as the channel and the means, and through some other person He may call His disciple to Him. When Master Sawan Singh was told by one of His best friends about Baba Jaimal Singh, "A great mahatma has come," and the friend invited Master Sawan Singh to come and attend the Satsang. There was a Vedanta sadhu there at that time who tried to stop Master Sawan Singh from going to Baba Jaimal Singh by saying, "They are the atheist people; don't go to them because they put some kind of musical instrument over the heads of the people and they make them hear that sound. Then they say that the sound is coming from the within." Master Sawan Singh Ji replied, "I myself am an engineer, and I know that there is no such musical instrument that if put 14
on one's head a person may hear the sound from the within." So when Master Sawan Singh came to see Baba Jaima1 Singh, He suggested that Master Sawan Singh read the book the Anurag Sugar to understand more about the Path of the Masters. Master Sawan Singh Ji used to say that when the Master showers grace on the disciple then all the doubts are removed, all the questions are answered. Only when the Master showers grace on the disciple can a disciple come close to the Master. It is a matter between the disciple and the Master and the Master always searches for the disciple Himself. Sometimes the Master may use someone as an instrument or a channel for the disciples to come to the Master. If Master makes us the instrument by which a disciple comes to the Master we should not get the ego that we have been instrumental in getting so many people initiated. We should be grateful for His Grace and we should thank Him for giving that opportunity to us of being useful to others. In the same way, the form of Master Sawan Singh Ji started appearing within Master Kirpal Singh Ji seven years before Master Krpal Singh met Baba Sawan physically. So only after seven years was he able to meet Baba Sawan Singh physically. What propaganda did Baba Sawan Singh do to attract Master Kirpal Singh to Him? No, Dear Ones, it was not like that; it was Master Sawan Singh who Himself went and searched and brought His disciple Master Kirpal Singh to His feet. When Supreme Father Kirpal finally met Baba Sawan Singh and asked Him, "0 Lord, why did it take so long for SANT BANI
me to meet You physically? Why didn't it happen earlier?" Baba Sawan Singh replied, "This was the appropriate time." In the same way this poor soul who is sitting in front of you had not met with either a critic of Master Kirpal Singh nor an admirer of Master Kirpal Singh. It was His grace that He searched for me. He Himself sent one of His sevadars for me with a message that I should stay home because He was going to come to see me. You know it was a distance of five hundred kilometers that he drove to see me. So it was the grace of that Almighty God working in the human pole of our Beloved Master Who came to search for this poor soul because He knew which soul was sitting in His remembrance at which place. Since my childhood I have been sitting in the remembrance of that Almighty Lord and I had always been craving and wishing and thinking about those fortunate souls who were able to sit at the feet of the Holy Masters. He knew within whose heart there was yearning and who was sitting in His remembrance, so that is why He Himself chose to go there and it was His grace that He came to search for this soul. In the old days in India they used to believe in the caste system-that certain persons in the Hindu and Muslim communities were of the high caste or the low caste. Nowadays we don't have much of the caste system in India, but in the old days it was a big thing. In those days I have seen that the truly thirsty person would not care whose water he was drinking. He would not care if the water was coming from a Hindu or a Muslim he was only conJune 1992
cerned in removing his thirst, in drinking the water. So one who is thirsty will not ask any questions, because his only concern is to remove his thirst. I had that great thirst for spirituality and that is why, when I met with the great Master, I did not ask Him any questions. In all my innocence I only said this: "Master, my brain, my heart, my within is empty; I don't know what to ask of You." So that gracious Kirpal Who is the Form of God, for twentyfive years of His life He went on giving out the riches of Spirituality and grace. According to the receptivity of the vessels and whatever people desired of Him, they got accordingly from Him. The meaning of what I have said so far is that when God Almighty wants to make contact with His souls He brings them in contact with the Perfect Master. The Perfect Master gives the souls the riches of Naam. Master Kirpal Singh Ji freely gave out the riches of Naam for twenty five years of His life to all those who came in His contact. Because I was thirsty I did not ask Him any questions. It does not mean that He did not give me anything. He gave me that thing for which I was searching since my childhood. There were thousands of people who were following me when I met the Beloved Lord Kirpal. The Satsang was already going on because I was already initiated by Baba Bishan Das into the first Two Words and I had done the practice of that. Since Baba Bishan Das had told me that they were not the ultimate and that there was something more beyond, that is why, even though there were thousands following me I did not initiate anyone. Many people 15
used to come to me for Satsang so the Satsang was already going on. When Master Kirpal Singh Ji came to my ashram there was a big group of people sitting, there was a Satsang going on like we are having Satsang here. Because I was thirsty for spirituality I gave up all my name and fame and I fell at the feet of Master Kirpal and asked Him to quench my thirst. In an area of Kashmir there used to be a man by the name of Laksman of Das. Once he went into the forest to hunt and accidentally he killed a pregnant deer. When he realized that he had killed two lives he became very sad and depressed and gave up hunting. He gave up everything he had and became a renunciate. He left his home in North India and went to South India. He became Madhu Das from Laksman Das. He did a lot practices and gained a lot of supernatural powers. He made an ashram over there where he would welcome the sadhus and mahatmas, but because he had supernatural powers he would play a trick on them. First he would welcome the sadhus and mahatmas, he would serve them well, and afterwards when they would sit on the bed, he would use his supernatural powers to make the bed turn upside down. Then he would laugh at those sadhus and mahatmas. When Guru Gobind Singh Ji was in the Southern part of India He happened
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to go to that ashram of Madhu Das. As usual Madhu Das welcomed Him and served Him with all love, and when Guru Gobind Singh sat on the bed Madhu Das tried to make the bed turn upside down using his supernatural powers, but that did not work on Guru Gobind Singh because He was the Great Master. When Madhu Das realized that his tricks would not work on Guru Gobind Singh he fell at the feet of Guru Gobind Singh and said, "Master, I am your man without any cost." Guru Gobind Singh became so pleased with him that not only did He give him Initiation, He gave him the authorization to initiate other people and said, "Whoever will get Initiation from you, I will be responsible for them." Often I have said that the mahatmas who have reached up to Brahm, they often use their supernatural powers, the ridis and sidis. But the mahatmas who go beyond the Brahm know that it is not good and they do not use the supernatural powers. Master Sawan Singh Ji used to say that to use the supernatural powers is like wasting your hard earned money. Since we have got the Perfect Master we should practice the Naam with all sincerity. If God showers Grace on us, if He opens our within and gives us the riches in the within, we should not waste that wealth which God Almighty has given to us, just to make other people respect us.
Sant Ji's 1992 Visit to Mexico A. S. OBEROI
A special darshan program was held Quite a long time ago, a dear one asked Sant Ji about the purpose of His world in Delhi in the evening before the detours, and He replied in His own unique, parture, and Sant Ji specifically told all loving and disarming way that He was a the dear ones, not to come to the airport mere puppet in the hands of His beloved to see Him off, as He does not like peoSatguru and would go un-hesitatingly to ple gathering there in large numbers in wherever He is sent. He also explained, the dead of night and making a big show. that as His Satguru Supreme Father KirSant Ji left Delhi by Lufthansa h r pal was an Ocean of Love, and He Him- ways in the very early hours of Wednesself its devotee, He got love and more day the 27th of May and reached Franklove, and has perforce to go to the chil- furt, after flying for about eight and a dren of the High and Holy One, to share half hours. Halting there for about six the benediction of the gracious Guru. and a half hours, He caught the Lufthansa Similarly, when Sant Ji was leaving for flight for Mexico and arrived at the Mexthe current tour, a dear one asked Him, ico City airport at 5 p.m. local time af"When will You come back, Sir; it will ter eleven hours continuous flying. Rebe infinitely difficult to suffer the sepa- specting Sant Ji's wishes, only a handful ration, while You are away." Giving a of the people came to receive Him, but deep glance, Sant Ji replied abruptly but as the people coming for the program meaningfully, "the One Who is bidding from different countries were still arrivme to go is sitting within you, why not ing, the number of people actually present there did go up somewhat, but go and ask Him?" The 1992 Tour had some uncertain- was manageable and well within limits. One could see and sense how radiant ties, uncommon to the previous ones. The London program had to be called were the faces and how gladened were off sometime in the middle of April, the hearts of the people present, as they causing considerable disappointment to got the opportunity to see their beloved the people from Europe. The visit to Sant Ji face to face, after a long time. Mexico had its own cup of anxieties, Their Beloved was looking far more but mercifully came off in the end, to bright and brilliant, brimming with pure the great relief and satisfaction of the love, coming from the region of eternal dear ones from Mexico and other South peace and un-ending bliss, and was out American countries, for whom it was to gwe in abundance of His own as much as each one had the capacity to receive. primarily intended. It was a rare sight. The Beloved My inclusion in Sant Ji's entourage became a reality after I got my renewed looked into the eyes of each dear one, to passport and Mexican visa just hours instill a sense of confidence, to provoke before our actual departure on the same a sense of pity upon our plight and to night, and is nothing but a miracle of invoke a feeling of assurance that, "better late" than never-do it now and do it the Lord. SANT BANI
determinedly and the Guru inside will come to your rescue and help. "Make hay while the sun shines," for this is the message of the Perfect Beings and the duty entrusted to Them by Their Lord, and this is what They do all Their life, at the cost of Their own self. La Palrna, where most of the program was held, is situated high in the hills, about 75 kilometers from Mexico City airport. We went up 10,000 feet above sea level, before sliding down to its height of 8,000 feet, and reached there at about 8:00 p.m. This place has a very wholesome and invigorating type of climate, with nature speaking softly, making the atmosphere conducive to meditation. On the next day, the 28th of May, Sant Ji went around the places where the meditation, Satsang, children's darshan, cooking, langar and darshan sessions were to be held, inspected and reviewed the arrangements which had been made. He talked to the persons responsible for various items of work, and issued necessary instructions and guidance to His children. The regular and scheduled program started on the 29th and continued until June 1st. As usual, meditation was from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., satsang from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with children's darshan at 5: 15 p.m. There were darshan sessions from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Lunch was at 1250 noon and dinner soon after the satsang was over. The organizers realized quite early that the number of persons registering for the program would be large, and arrangements to accommodate them would have to be made at a place other than La Palma. The Hotel Villa Bejar in Cuernavaca which is about 10 kilometers from June 1992
La Palma, at an altitude of 3000 feet, was found to suit the best, as it could accommodate all the dear ones. As a larger part of the hotel came to be occupied by the satsangis, the color and complexion of the hotel environment changed perceptibly, making the management more receptive and curious to know the basic tenets of Sant Mat. Some of the top brass of the hotel felt irresistibly drawn towards the community of their newfound customers and went all out to provide for their needs. Twenty-five buses were specially engaged to transport all the dear ones residing in the hotel to La Palma. The buses left the hotel quite early so that the people could reach La Palma at least 15 minutes before the meditation started, and they brought them back after the satsang and dinner were over. The dear ones from Mexico City also traveled to and fro daily in cars and buses. The satsang & meditation hall was a beautiful three-sided amphitheater type of structure, where about 600 persons could be accommodated conveniently. Sant Ji's chair was placed in a corner, where each dear one could see Him easily, and Sant Ji could also see, encourage and inspire each dear one whenever He wanted to. The hall was overflowing from the first day, and many people had to push their way through. For the Sunday satsang on May 3 1st, the organizers expected a very large number of persons and decided to have it at a bigger place, so that all the dear ones could be accommodated conveniently. The Hotel Villa Bejar offered their biggest hall and made other arrangements necessary for holding the satsang. The hotel staff provided 900 chairs, a dais at the center, and a good
sound system, and staff at numerous places to guide people to the hall. Some of the hotel staff paced up and down with walkie-talkies to ensure that the satsang was held in the way the organizers wished it to be. The hotel chief and I s sales manager were at the satsang to see Sant Ji for themselves and what He taught His followers to do in this Path. People stood in the aisles, corridors and wherever else they could find, and a large number sat on the floor, as they got the opportunity to hear Sant Ji speak in Punjabi followed by English and Spanish translations, all in pin-drop silence. People sat or stood mute and motionless, in an atmosphere dripping with love, light and life; it was incredible and beyond description. Afterwards I went to the Manager and Sales Manager to thank them for all their help. I was surprised and pleased to hear that they found the form and face of Sant Ji very much God-like and attractive; they found His teachings exciting and appealing. The four meditation sittings in La Palma were marvelous and memorable. Each morning, punctual to the dot, the Holy One walked up to the hall, with hands folded, gazing and giving freely to each dear one who could not attend the meditation because of seva duty. Before asking the dear ones to close their eyes and meditate, Sant Ji took pains to explain that it was indeed the unbounded grace of Hazur Sawan and firpal that in this burning world, the dear ones had been given the rare opportunity to sit in Their divine and delicious remembrance, and do the devotion of Shabd Naarn. He said that it was the responsibility of every dear one to make the mind quiet, as only a quiet mind can meditate, which should be done 20
willingly and lovingly, without taking it to be a burden, so that it may bring in success. After the people were asked to "Leave off, please," Sant Ji would cast a gracious look on each of those present, His eyes roving to each nook and corner. I must admit, that such was the grace abounding that meditation became far more fruitful than at home, and all the dear ones coming out indicated it to be so by their happy looks. Meditation is said to be the arch-stone of a perfect being's life and a successful session with such a holy one is bound to build confidence and generate faith. The first satsang was held on Friday, May 29. It was a general but strong one and no hymn was presented. [ see page 11 ] Sant Ji said that one gets the human birth with good fortune after going through many lifetimes in other bodies. Only in the human birth do we get the opportunity to realize God Almighty, through the help and guidance of a Master who has done it Himself. On May 30th Sant Ji spoke on a hymn of Swami Ji urging the mind to hear the Celestial Music ringing inside, which cleans the soul of its dirt and dross. He explained that this has to be done under the guidance of a Perfect Master, Who is Word personified. The Master has achieved this with meditation, and obedience to His Guru; He saves us at the most critical hour-death-when nothing of this world can help us. He takes our suffering upon Himself, charges no fee and always helps us, but without any self interest. Gods and goddesses, whom the world is worshipping day and night, are themselves seeking human birth in order to be liberated from mind and matter. Sant Ji said that this human body is a boon from God Almighty, to get a PerSANT B A N
fect Master is a greater boon, to get Naam Initiation from Him is still greater, and to meditate and become one with the Reality inside us is the greatest one. Sant Ji said that without the devotion of Naam no one has ever been liberated, nor will ever be in the future. We should do our duty, vacate the nine doors of the body and come to the Eye Center, to get in contact with the ever-ringing Music. Sant Ji said that without satsang, we do not go to a Perfect Master, and without a Perfect Master, we do not meditate and get back to our True Home, and complete the purpose of this life. The third satsang, held in the hotel, was on a bani of Guru Aqan Dev Ji Maharaj, in which He explained that the holy feet of a true Master are worthy of great worship, as the Guru is the ferryman who takes us across the ocean of life. This ocean can only be crossed with the grace of the Master while riding on the ship of Naam. Sant Ji said that Naam cannot be written in any language nor spoken with the tongue. In the words of Master Sawan, Naam is "unwritten law and unspoken language." Stating that the world is full of misery and suffering, Sant Ji said that the real happiness for which our soul is hankering can be obtained by going inside ourself, under the guidance of a Perfect Master, and coming in contact with Naam. Sant Ji emphasized that love and faith in a Perfect Master are of utmost importance and help. Sant Ji said the Masters are free birds, not tied to any family, country or community; They come for all mankind, and making us sit together, exhort us to do the devotion of Naam. This is the mission entrusted to Them by Their Guru. In the last satsang, discoursing on a
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bani of Swami Ji in which He sings the power and glory of Shabd Naam, Sant Ji said that as our soul is very dirty and our Guru is very pure, it can realize His greatness only when He takes us into His lap, cleans our dirt and takes us inside. He quoted Maulana Rurni to say, in Persian the words for milk and lion sound similar, but they are poles apart, as one gives strength to us, and the other devours us. Similarly, Saints may look like us, but They are very pure and high, and are connected to God. Sant Ji said that the relationship of the Gum and disciple is very intimate, like a mother and chld, and is unbreakable. The Guru takes the burden of the disciple and saves him. That is the protection and the grace of a Perfect Master. Sant Ji said that the Power which creates and sustains the whole world is Shabd or Word and cannot be described. Only those who are connected with it know its greatness; those who do not come in its contact are in illusion and lose the opportunity of human birth. Sant Ji said we all should avoid sleep and laziness, and hurry to listen to the Shabd, under the guidance of a Perfect Master who comes to this world to give the message of Shabd Naam. As usual, Sant Ji took special care to meet the children in a separate session exclusively meant for them. They participated in group singing of Master's songs, and were told stories which shed light on important aspects of the Path. While laying emphasis on good words, good thoughts and good deeds, Sant Ji always reminded the parents of the words of the Great Master Sawan that parents should themselves become good if they wanted their children to become good. In attending the children's darshan sessions, I came to realize the exact import
of the often repeated saying that the soul is ageless and looks for its saviour, notwithstanding the usual man-made distinctions. Thc children seemcd immensely pleased and thoroughly relaxed on seeing Sant Ji. They made various types of movement by hand, eyes, face, etc. to show their love. Lunch time was the occasion for Sant Ji to go to the kitchen, see the food prepared for His children and bless it. He looked through quickly but clearly, at the dear ones ready to serve and equally at those ready to be served, while the enchanting singing was going on. On the 30th of May, when Sant Ji was ready to go to the langar, it started raining heavily. After a while it turned into a heavy hail storm. Punctual as Sant Ji always is, He went around on time, did everything which He normally did, and regaled the dear ones far more visually and visibly, indicating that Love knows no limits, and shackles cannot stop it. In the darshan sessions many dear 22
ones came who had neither attended any Satsang nor had ever seen Sant Ji, but saw that some inner force had sent them there. A few told Sant Ji that t h ~ ysaw two old men with flowing beards and very radiant faces, clothed all in white, standing behind Him. It was an amazing scene, with people going to Sant Ji for a very short while, with a rather curious and expectant face, but coming back sobbing and crying, some even unable to hold themselves up. The scene was baffling on the intellectual level and I was reminded of the words of Sant Ji that the Shabd Guru is all-powerful, allmighty and does what It wants. Sant Ji departed from Mexico on Tuesday the 2nd .of June at 7:20 a.m. after consoling the dear ones there that the inner Guru is nearer than the nearest, and whenever they would remember Him, He would respond within the depth of their hearts. He said the Guru is also keen and eager to talk to their soul and would never let them down. SANT BANI
Graduation Message Sant Ajaib Singh Ji June 1, 1992 Dear Children, Hearty congratulations to each one of you! I join you and your family and the school in this celebration of coming closer to the perfection in your lives. This life is an unending process of learning. You are the very fortunate ones who get to learn the things of this world and also true lessons of spirituality at this school. I hope that you will not forget the education you have received here, and that it will always illuminate your path. Throughout history the words of the Masters have proven to be timeless and true. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ taught, "Love, and all things shall be added unto you," and that Love is the light of this world. Similarly the ancient scriptures of India implore the Limitless God to lead us from darkness into light. "The highways and byways of this world are full of darkness; Lift up the torch of knowledge to light your way!" My best wishes and the blessings of the Master are always with you for your bright future. Once again I send you much congratulations on this day. May God bless you all. With all His Love, Yours affectionately.
AJAIB SINGH -
The Saints Work Day and Night Sant Ajaib Singh Ji In singing the bhajans to the Master I have noticed at least in myselfthat there is a tendency for the ego to get in the way and decide I am singing well or I am singing poorly. What I would like to know is what is the best attitude to have when singing a bhajan to the Master? This question has been asked many times and maybe it was printed in Sant Bani Magazine also-when we are singing bhajans to the Master we should have only love and affection for the Master in our within. No other thought should come there when we are singing a bhaj an to the Master, because singing bhajans to the Master has a lot of importance. Guru Nanak Sahlb calls a group of people who are singing bhajans to the Master the devotees of the Master. Because when a group of people are singing a bhajan to the Master, if they have love and humility within them, the love of all the people is directed towards the One Who is sitting in front of them in the physical form and He is the very personality for Whom they are searching in their within. When they are lovingly and humbly singing the bhajans to the Master, Master also feels that love and He equally responds with love. So at that time the love is multiplied and in that way love is This walk talk was given February 27, 1980, at Sant Bani Ashram, fillage 77 RB, in Rajasthan, India. June 1992
communicated between the Master and the disciples. That is why whenever we are singing bhajans to the Master we should not let our ego come there and we should not even think whether what we are singing is correct or not. We should not go beyond the quality of our singing. The main thing required is our humility and the love which we should have for the Master when we are singing bhajans. If we are singing the bhajan to Master with love and humility then many of our sins are removed just by singing the bhajan to the Master and we become much more receptive to His grace. So whenever we sing bhajans to the Master we should not remember anything except the Master Who is sitting in front of us. Whenever I used to sing bhajans to my beloved Master Kirpal I always had only love and humility and I never remembered any other thing except the beautiful form of my Master in front of me; I used to absorb myself in that singing so much that I was not even aware how many people were singing with me. Whenever you sing bhajans to the Master you should be completely absorbed in that and you should not remain aware of any other thing. And the other people who are singing the chorus or joining in singing the bhajan, they all should join in singing because when everyone is singing to the Master with love and humility it charges the atmosphere 25
and makes you all receptive. If a patient goes to a doctor and if he doesn't pray to or if he doesn't request the doctor, "Please give me the medicine," he will not feel contented. No matter how much sympathy the doctor has for the patient, but until that patient makes that prayer, or that request, he cannot be contented. In the same way, we are also the patients because we have the burden of many karmas and we are suffering from those karmas of our past lives. So whenever we come to the Master and we get the opportunity to sing to Him then we should always make a prayer as Guru Nanak Sahib does in one of His bhajans, "We are the dirty ones and You are the One who will purify us. We don't have any qualities in us but You are the abode of qualities." We should make prayers like this when we sing the bhajans to the Master. Truly speaking all the bhajans are like a prayer which the disciple makes to the Master. When Master first came to my ashram I sang a bhajan to Him which said, 'Today is the auspicious day and it has come with a great fortune because today I am having the darshan of my beloved Satguru."* I sang that bhajan because that was the fact of my life, it was the truth in my life. I had never seen such an auspicious day before and moreover I was not sure whether 1would have that opportunity again or not. That is why I called that as the most auspicious day and I sang that bhajan to Him. On the same day I sang the song that says, "God has come in the form of man,"** and that was also true. Master
* "Aj Shub Diharda E," Songs of the Masters, page 3 2 . ** "Banda Banke Aaya, page 34. 26
listened to those bhajans and He paid a lot of attention to them. Whenever we are singing bhajans to the Master don't think that Master is not paying any attention or that you are not getting any extra benefit from singing the bhajan to Him. If we are receptive, if our vessel is made, then we can easily feel and see how much we have received just by pleasing the Master by singing the bhajans to Him. Whenever we sing bhajans to the Master, He always showers extra grace on us which we can feel if we are receptive. During that time when I was singing to my Master He gave me His darshan the way Kabir Sahib gave His darshan to Dharam Das, His disciple. Dharam Das was called Dhani Dharam Das which means wealthy Dharam Das because he had a lot of wealth. He was the owner of fourteen krores of rupees and that is why he was called wealthy Dharam Das. Because he had the desire to realize God, Kabir Sahib appeared in the form of a sadhu in front of Dharam Das and told him that He had come to give him something. Dharam Das was involved in worshipping idols when Kabir Sahib appeared, so He said, "Dharam Das, what are you doing? Don't worship the idols." At that time Dhani Dharam Das' wife was with him also and his wife didn't like that someone should criticize her husband, so she got upset at that sadhu, who in fact was Kabir Sahlb and said, "Why have you come here? Go away from here!" So Kabir Sahib disappeared from there. Later when Dharam Das was washing the firewood-in those days people believed very strongly in the "untouchability" and "impurity" and things like SAhT BANI
that-so he was making sure that he was not burning any impure firewood. While he was doing that Kabir Sahib appeared in the form of the same sadhu again and said, "Dharam Das you are a great sinner because you are killing many insects in that firewood." At that time also Dhani Dharam Das' wife was there and she couldn't bear that someone should criticize her husband, so again she got upset and said, "0 sadhu, you go away from here, my husband is not a sinner; you are a sinner." So Kabir Sahib disappeared from there. Then Dharam Das realized that it was the same sadhu who had come to him twice, and both times because of his wife he had not been able to talk with or to get any knowledge from him. Dharam Das realized that the sadhu was great because on two different occasions and at two different places that sadhu had appeared and disappeared by himself. And he knew that there must be some power of God who was working behind this. So Dharam Das rebuked his wife, "Why did you do that? If you would not have got upset with him I could have asked from him something about God, because he looks like a great sadhu." Because Dharam Das' wife was not aware and did not know who Kabir Sahib was, she said, "Well, he was just an ordinary sadhu, you perform some yajna, some austerity, and -inviteall the sadhus to come and have food. As there are many flies when you display any sugar or sweets, in the same way, when you announce that there is some great austerity going on in which the sadhus will be fed, many sadhus will come and among them will be your sadhu for June 1992
whom you are rebuking me." Dharam Das first performed a yajna in Kashi and he spent a lot of money but the sadhu for whom he was searching did not come; Kabir Sahib did not come to attend that yajna or to eat the food. Many other sadhus came but not Kabir Sahib. Dharam Das was disappointed, so he went to Matra, and there he performed a bigger yajna for which he spent even more money. But Kabir Sahib was not a fly, and He did not go there. Other sadhus came to the yajna, but Kabir Sahib did not. So Dhararn Das was again disappointed. After that Dhararn Das spent all the money he had left performing a big yajna on the bank of River Ganges; he was hoping that Kabir Sahib would come there but Kabir Sahib never came. When Dharam Das spent all his money He thought, "Well I have lost all my money, moreover I have not met the sadhu, so what is the point of living? What is the use of living? Now I should commit suicide; I should jump in the River Ganges and bring an end to my life. There is no reason to live now, because I have not met that sadhu, and now I have spent all my wealth." But then he thought, "If I jump in the River Ganges in front of all the people, they will say that because I have lost all of the money I have gone insane and that is why I am committing suicide. But that is not the reason, so I should go to some secluded place where no one can see me and I can jump in the water of the Ganges so that no one will know what happened to me." So Dharam Das left that crowded place and went into seclusion and when he was about to jump in the water of the
Ganges he saw the same sadhu. Kabir Sahib was sitting there in meditation. Dharam Das became very happy, but on the other hand he was sad also, because now he didn't have any money. He told Kabir Sahib, "Master, You have met me now; had You met me earlier I would have served You with all my wealth and with all my belongings, but I am sorry that now I do not have any money to serve You. So that is why I was going to commit suicide, because I did not get You." Kabir Sahib said, "Well, Dhararn Das, it was in the Will of God that you would come in contact with me only after losing all your wealth, because if you had come with all your wealth you would not have been able to get any knowledge from me. Moreover, you would have not been able to progress on the Path on which I want you to." So then Kabir Sahib became very pleased with him and started giving him Initiation. Because Dharam Das had received the Initiation after such a long time and after such a long yearning, giving up all his worldly belongings, he was fully prepared to go to Sach Khand right from the time of Initiation. So as Kabir Sahib was giving him Initiation his soul started ascending on the inner planes and finally, before the Initiation came to an end, he was in Sach Khand. It means he was made perfect right from the day of his Initiation. When Dharam Das realized the greatness of Kabir Sahib, when he saw that Kabir and Sat Purush were one and the same, he thought that his family members should also get benefit from Kabir Sahib. So he sent a message to his son (whose name was Narayan Das and who was blind) that he should come and get Initiation from this great Master Who is
Almighty and the All Owner of creation. But Narayan Das did not come because Narayan Das was an incarnation of Kal. He was born in the family of Dharam Das just to delude the souls, and he was the Negative Power Himself. It was the plan of the Negative Power to delude the souls after Dharam Das left the body. So that is why Narayan Das was the form of the Negative Power. He didn't come to meet Kabir Sahlb and get Initiation. So then Dharam Das himself went to his home and brought Narayan Das, but because Narayan Das was the form of the Negative Power he did not respect Kabir Sahib. He started speaking bad things, saying, "You are condemning the reading of vedas and shastras which are the very root of the religion," and "how can we worship a living man?" And he started saying all kinds of rubbish which didn't please Dharam Das. Kabir Sahib said, "Dharam Das, don't get upset at him, because you don't know his inner secret, but I know that he will never get the Initiation." Then Dharam Das felt very sad for his family, for his son, so Kabir Sahib gave him the inner darshan. Kabir told him how long He had been after Dharam Das and about his previous births, and how each time Kabir S a h ~ bcame to take him, how the Negative Power played a trick and he was not able to come into contact with the Sat Purush. Kabir Sahlb told him the story of his many previous births and then Dharam Das was content. He was satisfied that Narayan Das was not going to get Initiation because Narayan Das always had the Negative Power behind him and Kal was always keeping him away from Kabir Sahib in his previous births. Then he realized, "It is not in SANT BANI
God's Will for Narayan Das to get Initiation." Then he stopped requesting for Narayan Das and he became very grateful to Kabir Sahib because He had been trying for many births to liberate him. So Kabir Sahib gave the inner darshan to Dharam Das and made him realize that He was always trying to get Dharam Das to Sach Khand in his previous births and at last in this birth it happened that he had come to Kabir Sahib and got the Initiation. In the same way when Master Qrpal met me He showed me very clearly that He was looking for me and that He was waiting for me to come to Him to get Initiation and go up. So that is why when Master IOrpal came to my ashram I sang those two songs which I mentioned earlier. He liked those bhajans, and when a lot of satsangis were sitting in front of Him I said, "Master, at least for today You should give Your darshan openly to all the dear ones so we will not have to struggle day and night for Your inner darshan. If You don't want to give us this blessing daily, at least for today, because today is the most auspicious day in my life. You should give Your inner darshan to me and to all the people so that everyone will know that God is only One, and He neither resides in the temple nor in any mosque or any church; He resides in the heart of all the devotees." I told Him, "Give us Your darshan openly so that the priests in the temple as well as the mullahs in the mosque may all realize that God does not reside with them in their buildings, but He resides within us, within the devotees of God." The story I just told about Dharam Das and Kabir Sahib is from the book
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the Anarag Sagar on which Russell Perkins has written an article. It was in the last Sant Bani Magazine [January 19801. In the book Kabir Sahib tells Dhararn Das about previous births in which He came there to liberate him, why Dhararn Das did not come to Him, and how all those things happened. Those who meditate can easily find out about their previous births-before coming into this human form-where they were born, in which type of body they were born, what karmas they had to suffer, and because of which good deed they got this human body, and what is their position in the inner planes. They can learn all these things by themselves. By reading the Anarag Sagar you will be able to know from which body you came into this body, and moreover, what your condition is now. Then you will realize how the Saints are working for the disciples day and night. And when one becomes an initiate of the Perfect Master and does the meditation, no matter if his parents are initiated or not, the Master works for the parents of the initiate, that also is very well-explained in the Anarag Sagar. When we do the meditation we can easily see our Master functioning for our parents, for our family, and for our own selves, and we can see how Master, even though He is criticized and blamed and not treated well by the other people, how He still has sympathy and best wishes for His critics also. Those who meditate on Shabd Naam and go to Sach Khand and become one with Him only they have the real appreciation for the Saints in their within. Otherwise we the worldly people don't have that much appreciation for the Masters. Only the souls who have reached Sach
Khand have the real appreciation for the Master. History says that Guru Nanak was not treated well by His parents, and His in-laws also did not understand that He was a great soul. They all thought that he was only wandering here and there and not doing his worldly work, and he was not taken as a good man. Only Bhai Lena who was later Guru Angad had the real appreciation for Guru Nanak. He got the Initiation from Him and did the meditation and he became one with Him later on. He was the only person who had the appreciation for Him; only he knew how great Guru Nanak Sahib was. Once it so happened that Guru Nanak Sahib and Bhai Lena were walking and one of Bhai Lena's hands went beyond the body of Guru Nanak. Bhai Lena felt that his hand had insulted the Master so for one year he tied his hand to his body and he never moved that hand. This shows how much appreciation and respect Bhai Lena had for Guru Nanak. If you want to know about the pain you should go and ask the suffering one. If you want to know the value of the doctor go and ask one who has gotten comfort from the doctor, go and ask the suffering man who is being treated by the doctor. In same way, if you want to know the value of the bread go and ask the one who is hungry. In the same way, if you want to know the value of the Master go and ask someone who knows the value of the Master and who has taken his soul up to the
Eternal Home. Only he will be able to tell you what Power the Master is and what qualities the Master has and how much we should respect and appreciate the Master. Only he will be able to tell you because he knows the real glory of the Master. So whenever we are singing the bhajans to the Master we should have only love and humility in our within so that every single line which we sing to Him may become llke our prayer to Him. Many times I sing this bhajan which means, "Now the New Year has come and without Simran, 0 man, you will repent in the end. Even if you live for billions of years, in the end you will have to die, and if you have not done the devotion of God you will repent. You will become free from the noose ofYarna only if you will sing the bhajans to the Master. If you will forget the Naam you will get much suffering, you will be deskinned and you will have many problems. When will you bring your sinner mind back after making him understand the reality? When will you request to your Master and ask for forgiveness? Ajaib says, "Meditate on the Naam of Qrpal, otherwise in the end you will repent." * So that is why when we are singing the bhajans to the Master the mind should overflow in us.
* See "Chade Chet, Har Chet Parani," page 46, in Songs of the Masters.
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Sant Bani Classified Index Volume XVI, 1991-1992 AJAIB SINGH WRITINGS Discourses At Every Single Step, Sept. p. 3 Attack the Mind's Fort, July p. 3 Feet of the Gununukh, The, JanReb. p. 17 Master Searches for the Disciple, The, June p. 11 0 My Beloved Satguru, Improve My Life, Aug. P- 3 To Find Real Peace Within, April p. 3 To Make Our Birth Precious, May p. 3 Tradition of the Path of Love, The, June p. 3 Winter Passes Away, The, March p. 3
Messages A Time of Rebirth, Dec. p. 3 Graduation Message, June p. 23 Message to the Graduates, July p. 16
Two Meditation Talks, Dec. p. 16 Value of Seclusion, The, Oct. p. 24 When the Disciple and Guru Merge, March p. 18 Who Are the Fortunate Ones? March p. 15 With the Help of the Master Our Wish is Granted, Aug. p. 17 With Yearning in our Heart, Nov. p. 27
KIRPAL SINGH WRITINGS Destiny of a Gununukh, The, Sept. p. 20 Factors Necessary for Progress, Nov. p. 18 "If you want to go see your Friend, go all alone." Aug. p. 10 Joyfully I Surrender, Dec. p. 20 Masters Come to Fulfill, May p. 21 We Must Return to Nature, March p. 23 What is True Darshan? JadFeb. p. 43
Questions and Short Talks A Broom to Clean Our Soul, Nov. p. 17 A Place Where the Master Can Sit, JanFeb. p. 13 Always Appreciate the Time, May p. 27 Awaken the Light and Sound Within, Nov. p. 12 Bead Under the Teeth, The, May p. 13 Because He Had Sympathy For Us, Oct. p. 16 Example of the Birds, The, April p. 25 Foundation of Good Health, The, March p. 27 Fruit of Seva, The, April p. 3 1 Give Up the False Intoxications, Oct. p. 12 Importance of Ashrams, The, JanEeb. p. 5 It is Never Too Late to Mend, Nov. p. 3 Karmas are Revealed Within, The, Oct. p. 3 "Make the effort, Make the habit ... and do your meditation." JaniFeb. p. 27 Masters Always Shower Grace, July p. 26 On Prayer: Listen to God's Answer, JaniFeb. p. 35 Only a Lover Surrenders Everythmg, Dec. p. 5 Saints are the Humble Ones, Nov. p. 24 Saints Work Day and Night, The, June p. 25 Stairway of Simran, The, Sept. p. 16 To Bathe in the Dust of the Master's Feet, Aug. p. 26
June 1992
PAST MASTERS SWGH, Never Fear Death, April p. 15 SWGH, On Karmas: Sickness and Rebirth, Oct. p. 21 SAWAN SWGH, Take Him as Your Helper, May P. 9 SAWAN SWGH, With Love and Keen Interest, July p. 13 BABA SOMANATH, De-Throning the Mind, Sept. p. 13 SAWAN
SAWAN
OTHER FEATURES Personal experiences with Ajaib Singh BICKNELL, KENT, He Touches All of Us, April p. 19 DAN, Relating to God With Love, March JENKINS, p. 10 OBEROI, A. s., Sant Ji's 1992 Visit to Mexico, June p. 18 RUBW,JERRY, The Supreme Sevadar, JanIFeb. p. 29 TORRES, GUILLERMO, The Precise Work of the Master, July p. 18
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Poems BRYAN, LAURA, Retreat, Oct. p. 15 DONNALYN, A Sitnran Poem, Aug. CAMPBELL, p. 24 0 Merciful, Send Us Some THEOFANIDIS, KOSTAS, Tears, JadFeb. p, 42
Miscellaneous "An Initiation at Sawan Ashram," excerpt from: Kua S. Redeen, I Never Say Goodbye, Aug. p. 14 Bibliography: questions about praying for others, JadFeb. p. 36 "Kirpal Singh on Justice," excerpt from: A. S. Oberoi, Supportjor the Shaken Sangat, Oct. p. 32
Sant Ji in Bombay-pictures Feb. p. 24
of His visit, Jan/
Book Reviews In the Palace of Love: comments on the Asa di Vars of Guru Nanak, Ajaib Singh, reviewed by Russell Perkins, May p. 18 I Never Say Goodbye, Kira S. Redeen, reveiwed by Richard Shannon, Aug. p. 13
Announcements Booklets & calendars available, Jan/Feb. p. 48 Change of address for Pappu, July p. 32 India Group+1992-93, June p. 10 January issue delayed, Dec. p. 2 On Trips to India, 1991-92, Sept. p. 1 Sant Ji's North American Tour! JaniFeb. p. 1
SONGS OF THE MASTERS 1992 edition Now available - the bhajan book has been reprinted with some corrections of previous songs, plus an appendix of forty new bhajans cost is $7.00 plus shippinglhandling
A supplement has been printed separately for those who already own a bhajan book, cost is $2.50 plus shippinglhandling Please note: No tape of these new bhajans i s available yet. Some of them were sung during the Tour and will be included on the Tour tapes.
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