THE LAST PART OF THE JOURNEY After the soul has risen from the dark emptiness,
the Maha Sunn, it reaches that inner level which is known as Bhanwar Gupha or
also: (the bent tunnel) in the
terminology of the Eastern Adepts of Mysticism.
This is the fourth realm above the physical level, a region
of spiritual substance with only slight additions of material. If the soul
proceeds it will cross a high, radiating pass above the vibrant breakers of
spiritual force which is known as the Hansni Tunnel. Then, it proceeds through the huge entrance of the splendid
Rukmini Tunnel where it sees an unbelievably beautiful object the radiation of
which has an impact on the view of the soul with the effect that the soul’s
Nirat (the visual faculty)
and its Surat (the capability to hear) are finally completed and gain real peace. Then, the soul progresses to a higher region of this
spiritual realm and sees at its right-hand side bright cosmic islands of an
immense beauty and at the left-hand side many continents with splendid palaces
which seemed to be built of pearls and the upper storeys of which are decorated
with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. The splendour of all these cosmic scenes
fills the soul with a wonderful drunkenness. Bhanwar Gupha is governed by a great spiritual sovereign
whose name is translated into; That is
me! in the terminology of the Adepts of Mysticism of the Far and Middle
East. And, in fact, the Sufi-Masters know the whole region as Anahu, which, in turn, means; That
is me! In the region of Bhanwar Gupha the soul totally recognises
its relationship to the creator and consciously knows that it is a droplet of
the divine spirit in the ocean of all-consciousness. Maulana Rumi wrote about the mourning tones of a flute which
is played on a mountain top and which speak of the separation of the soul from
its true source. The music which penetrates this region is that of a heavenly
flute; and it was that music which sounded in the conscience of the great
Maulana Rumi. But nevertheless,
here again there is nothing in the physical world which can stand up to the
comparison with the wonderful sound of
Bhanwar Gupha’s melody. This sound emanates from the sparkling cosmic mountain that
overlooks this region majestically and above which the soul sees a huge sun
with a dazzling white light that is a thousand times brighter than the physical
sun of our solar system. The Sound Current of flute which you were hearing previously as reported
is quite good. This should be listened to with rapt attention. It will grow
stronger, draw closer, and ultimately come from above. It will eventually bless
you with such a ravishing bliss that your mind will become subdued for good in
due course of time with the grace of the Master. (Sp. Exr. p. 188) Guru Nanak sang about this region: Higher still stands Karm Khand, the Realm of Grace, Here the Word is all in all, and nothing else prevails. Here dwell the bravest of the brave, the conquerors of the mind, filled with the love Divine, Here dwell devotees with devotion, incomparable as Sita’s. Illumined with beauty ineffable, All heart filled with God, they live beyond the reach of death and of delusion.
Jap Ji,
Stanza 37 Bhanwar Gupha is really a region of beauty and light, and the souls
living there receive the elixir of the Sound Current just as we eat and drink
at the physical realm every day. And yet, Bhanwar Gupha and all regions below
it, the super causal, causal, astral and physical ones, are subject to
dissolution as the Adepts of Mysticism express it. Dissolution of a relatively short duration reaches up to the summit of
the causal region, whereas the immensely long lasting and big dissolution
reaches from the super causal region of Daswan Dwar up to the region of Bhanwar
Gupha. And therefor the seeking soul has to ascend further up to gain the true
spiritual liberation. For Sach Kand, the fifth inner realm above the physical
realm is not subject to any cosmic dissolution, might it be big or small. Sach
Kand is the true home of the soul. This purely spiritual realm is called Sat Lok in Hinduism, Muqam-i-Haq (realm of truth) in the teachings of the Sufi melodies of Islam and Sach Khand in Sikhism (the name which is used by the
Indian Adepts of Mysticism or the Satgurus). Sach Khand is free of any physical, mental and spiritualised matter. In
the words of the Adepts of Mysticism it is unchangeable and eternal, all the
joy and blissfulness, all wisdom and all love... the homestead of God. Here
reside the perfected spiritual beings and the highest ranking saints of all
times in unspeakable splendour. Guru Nanak said: Here live the Bhagats or wise from all regions who please the true one, and they live in ever lasting pleasure. In Bhanwar Gupha, the region below Sach Khand, there are 88 000 universes and the residents of these
universes are all supporters of spiritual Adepts who have gained entrance into
this region. However, in Sach Khand itself, there are many million spheres
under the merciful rule of the true Lord, and cosmic islands of the Blessed One
rotate around this region, just as our tiny earth rotates around the sun. These
spheres are the dwelling places of the Hansas, the pure souls, who never
descended into the lower levels. With the words of Guru Nanak: Sach Khand or the Realm of Truth is the seat of the Formless One. Here He creates all creations, rejoicing in creating. Here are many regions, heavenly systems and universes, To count which were to count the countless, Here, out of the Formless, The heavenly plateau and all else come into form, All destined to move according to His Will. He who is blessed with this vision, rejoices in its contemplation. But, O Nanak, such is its beauty that to try to describe it is to attempt the impossible. Jap Ji,
Stanza 37 The Ruler of Sach Khand is known as Sat Purush, the true being, in the
Eastern terminology. The esoteric scriptures state that this Master of Love
radiates a light that is equal to the light of billions of suns, although even
this is still a scanty description of him, for he is far beyond the
expressiveness of human speech or reason in order to describe him. The Sat Purush (the highest
revelation of god) steers and controls the creation
and the dissolution of the entire cosmic systems of universes below Him, but
his own realm is not affected by any such changes. At last, this true being
gains his power from the Supreme Lord of all being, among the Adepts of
Mysticism known as Anami Purush, the nameless One. The language of poetic imagination and symbolic description can only
inadequately describe Sach Khand, for the Adepts of Mysticism state that it is
even impossible to find any comparison for the finest things in this world.
Sach Khand is the homestead of the Father, and the Father is the Sat Purush,
the highest revelation of the nameless, and the soul is a beam of the Sat
Purush from whom it emanated aeons ago. According to the Adepts of Mysticism the soul radiates in the light of
sixteen suns and moons when it reaches this region. Guru Nanak sang about this realm of Sat Purush in his inspired hymn: How wonderful Thy gate: how wonderful Thy mansion, From whence Thou watchest Thy great Creation. Countless the instruments and harmonies that play therein, Countless the measures, countless the singers, that sing Thy praises. Jap Ji,
Stanza 27 Soami Ji has also described the palace of Sat Purush as a firm castle of
unspeakable beauty. In Soami Ji’s description the soul on pilgrimage must find
the Lord of Love at his throne when it reaches this realm, and it has to
recognise the Lord of Love as the true Lord of the universe of all universes.
Soami Ji described the wonderful premises and the parks of the courtyard of Sat
Purush’s palace but he repeatedly stated that this view could not be described
in earthly words. At this realm there are vast reservoirs of spiritual nectar from which
proceed rivers of a wealth of light in order to supply more remote regions with
spiritual food for the mind. Golden palaces seem to be suspended above the cosmic gardens of a
silvery light, and the beauty of the Hansas, the pure souls that live there, is
incomprehensible. The soul on pilgrimage further proceeds to the entrance of the palace of
the Lord of Love, the Sat Purush, and a Hansa who is on guard asks the newcomer
how he succeeded in reaching this sublime realm. The soul’s answer is that it
came following an Adept of Mysticism or a Satguru while it stayed on earth and
the Adept of Mysticism taught it the inner knowledge of this high realm. Following this, the soul is escorted into the palace where it is
confronted with a bright lotus of unspeakable beauty. A voice sounds from the
centre of the light in the lotus and asks the soul who it is and with what
intention, it ascended to this realm. Soami Ji describes the soul’s answer as follows: I met a Satguru and he gave me complete instruction. By his mercy I have
got now the privilege of your Darshan (the
blessed show). Then the soul is told that it really is in the presence of the Sat
Purush whom it recognises here as the spiritual power that inspired the Adept
of Mysticism on earth and in the lower spiritual regions. Now the soul enjoys
its happiness and experiences great delight at the spiritual view of the Lord
of Love. Then the supreme Lord of Revelation teaches the soul the mysteries of
the higher realms, and with the power of love he assists the soul with further
ascending through these realms. The Adepts of Mysticism told that Sach Khand’s music was comparable to a
Veena. All the spiritual Masters who spoke of Sach Khand testified the
breathtaking charm of this music. Just like its heavenly music, Sach Khand’s
light cannot be described in a secular language, not even with the light of
billions of suns. The Adept of Mysticism who has initiated the higher seeking soul into
the mysteries of the beyond is obliged to safely accompany it to its true home,
Sach Khand. Then, the Sat Purush inspires the soul with his divine energy and sends
it into the higher realms of Alakh Lok (the invisible realm). Agam Lok (the inaccessible realm) and Anami Lok (the nameless
realm that is the highest spiritual region of all). In Anami Lok there is neither light nor sound, nor darkness or
silence. Basically, the aspirant can only understand the idea of Sach Khand as
the highest spiritual realm. This really is a realm of pure spirit and the true
home of the soul. This is the highest revelation of God. Nevertheless, the Adepts of Mysticism speak of three higher realms
beyond Sach Khand, though they consider it completely futile to give
descriptions or statements about these spiritual realms. It is enough to say that the soul is caused, by the grace of the Sat
Purush, to enter the next spiritual realm of Alakh Lok and then comes to the
cosmic palace of the Alakh Purush, who is the ruler of this realm. If the soul has got the Darshan of the Alakh Purush, it further proceeds
to Agam Lok where it views the ruler of this realm, the Agam Purush, and
receives his Darshan. Again, the Adepts of Mysticism try to describe the
splendour of this realm with the light of billions and billions of suns. As
regards the last realm of Anami Lok, the Adepts of Mysticism remain silent. In a few words Soami Ji said: At every step the soul recognises unknown things which cannot be
described in human language. Each region and everything is absolutely
indescribable. What a beauty and glory.
How can I describe it? There is nothing here to give you an idea of it. I am helpless! Now the soul has seen the ruling Lord of each of the spiritual realms
beyond Sach Khand and has united its existence with them. This is the greatest
good on the mystical path of love, for the Adepts of Mysticism told that the
power of love is the strongest one in these holy realms. When he was asked about Anami Lok, Soami Ji simply said: It is all love! Thus, the collaboration of the Adept of Mysticism and Shabd leads to
jivan mukti or spiritual liberation on the mystical path and to the ascent of
the soul to its true home. If the spiritual aspirant fulfils the commandments of the Adept of
Mysticism faithfully and always goes the way of love, this spiritual liberation
can be accomplished in one life. The aspirant will hear the permanent symphony of love and will realise
that his true self and the divine word are one and the same being. This music is so magnificent that any twaddle of the sinful mind comes
to rest and the focus of the soul becomes completely absorbed in the audible
stream of life so that it is drawn beyond the levels of mind and matter. While the aspirant rises into the higher regions of life he discovers
that this is in deed the only real freedom a human being can ask for. This is
the freedom from the ties to his lower self, the anxieties, fantasies and
thoughts of hatred, his likings and dreams that haunt him when he is proceeding
along the long road of repeating births and deaths. At this physical plain of existence, a human can never really be free,
neither as an individual nor in the community. Only those who gain the higher
spiritual con-sciousness have won freedom in the true sense of the word by
claiming their actual birthright. The released soul can never be enslaved by the deceptive cravings of the
lower self or the machinations of those who believe that they dominate the
transient world of men by their own power. The spiritual conscience is both cause and climax of human development
and it is impossible to describe its nature in words which are only the
imaginary symbols of human imagination, for this is really a wordless and
timeless state of blissfulness. Those who have gained this spiritual conscience
know in their innermost being that they are free spirits that live in the eternal
realms of spiritual freedom. He has risen with the heavenly melodies of the spirit as Guru Nanak
reports: By practice of the Word, one rises into universal consciousness and develops right understanding; By practice of the Word, one develops clairvoyance and transvision of the whole creation; By practice of the Word, one is freed from sorrow and suffering; Jap Ji, Stanza 13 Once the spiritual aspirant transcends the physical consciousness he
will become aware of the ever resounding
power of the universe, the Sound Current. In the inner regions those illuminated sounds can be realized as a
blissful mosaic of transcedential energy, resounding light and brilliantly
shining sounds. As Kabir said: The natural Inner Music permanently resounds out of
itself but only a rare soul knows of this sacred union; True Simram
consists of the soul’s permanent tuning into the Inner Music without outer help. Those who discover this hidden treasure are our true
friends. Being connected to this inner music, the aspirant loses his lower
identity and will finally become one with God. Although he will remain in this
world for the time allocated to him, he is in this world yet out of it, for he
is a jivan mukti a liberated being. He is no longer an incapable slave of minds
and senses but confirmed in the true divinity. He lives for the eternal, devine
light of spirit and permanently listens to the divine music in his soul. Finally, he returns to Sach Khand, the homestead of salvation or
Muquam-i-Haq, the origin of the sounding light and the soul itself. Now the
aspirant is a consciously liberated soul. This is the true salvation, the
highest and most complete state of being. Those who hear of this power or approach it will neither die nor be born
again! For this power of Kirpal is the great sea of mercy and it is therefore
manifested throughout the whole creation. Guru Granth Sahib The power is always only O N E ,
but it works differently according to the demands of the respective time.
Within the competent Masters of the fifth realms this power is 50 percent
revealed. Guru Gobind Singh mentioned that he had access to the seventh realm
of Agam-Lok. And now, during this blessed time... the time of transition from
the iron to the golden age, it is 100 percent effective. It is fully
manifested. For you the golden age has come, for whenever the Almighty Power
manifests itself it is the golden age for the disciple, the time to go home. All the other ages only served to prepare the soul so that it gets into
contact with the Almighty Power now. This opportunity is now the best, for it is the shortest way back to
God. You do not need a Master, if the Almighty Power does its work. Question: Who will be your successor? Answer: God is searching the pole
in which he reveals himself, I want you all to become my ambassadors. No one before me has ever asked you so intensively and nobody after me
will ever do it and have pity on you as I have. Please, please do not forget
me! My work is to reveal to you the unity already existing through all. Awake, oh man, regain your Godhood, before it is too late, On regaining your lost Godhood you will have right understanding that you are all one. Param Sant Kirpal Singh. |