9. Chastity of Forgiveness

THE SUPREME IDEAL of human life is the realization of God. religions were made to perpetuate the teachings of great souls who had attained enlightenment. They have left an account of their personal experience for the guidance of posterity. They have all said that God is omnipresent. Whatever we see around us is undoubtedly his manifestation but the question is how to see Him?

We find in the jap Ji the Lord word is all pervading. There is no place where his word does not exist. The gurbani tells us: we have seen the glimpse of God.

One can experience God only by rising to his level of super consciousness. Although the atmosphere is full of microbes, nothing is visible to the naked eye. Does that mean that there is nothing a microscope. Now there are two possibilities. Either whatever is present in the air is made to magnify so as to correspond to the visual level of our eye, or our vision should become so subtle as to see these tiny germs clearly. So, it is impossible for us to see the highly subtle and indescribable Lord with our physical eye. When we are able to develop super consciousness and subtlety at his level, we can have some experience of him. The question is one of developing the third eye. Who can open the inner eye? Only the Master grace can do it. in the gurbani we find, through the grace of a godman, you will see the temple of the Lord within.

The human body is the temple of God. in order to attain super consciousness, one has to withdraw from all the physical attachments. So long as we remain identified with physical attachments. So long as we remain identified with external objects, we cannot assume a subtle form. Tulsi sahib says: the Lord dwells within us but we remain ignorant. Cursed is such a life. Even after getting curse because we can accomplish this task only in human life. O tulsi, the whole whole world suffering from cataract.

Doctors do not give vision to cataract patients. They only remove the thin membrane covering the pupil of the eye. Similarly the Lord is within us. He is our controlling Power. The entire universe is his manifestation. He can be realize within, but not before our subtle eye is able to pierce through the darkness within.

Tulsi sahib and shams-i-Tabrez both have said the same thing: see the Lord with your own eyes and hear his eternal music with your own ears.

If we see through the darkness inside, we can experience the divine Light. tulsi Sahib says that you will not be able to penetrate through the darkness without the help of a perfect Master. In this lies the greatness of a Master soul, who can dispel our darkness and given us attention is withdrawn from outside and experience we rise above body consciousness. This is not always get this experience (of divine Light ). They used to practice kumbhak (hatha yogic exercise) and after passing through the six ganglionic centers, got a little inner experience in the center of the two eyebrows. This practice takes hundreds of years.

Swami Ji has clearly stated : only the all Powerful Master can pull the soul up, he alone can free from the prison of oblivion.

Who can rise above body consciousness? One who is unattached and is not engrossed in sensual pleasure can do it. only such a person can easily tap inside. An ethical and chaste life is therefore, very essential. Even if the Master by his own grace lifts someone, whose life is not pure, above body consciousness, the latter will not be able to withstand it. it is crystal clear that there are two main obstacles in the way: passionate desires and anger. To lead a chaste life is not enough. We have to overcome all desires. In anger the soul flows out. Self – indulgence and anger are egotism – cannot be controlled. One who succeeds in conquering all these five enemies is free from suffering. The senses drive their power from the mind and the mind from the soul. If our attention is concentrated at the seat of the soul, the senses become powerless.

Saints show us the way back to God through sutat Shabd yoga. Where is the seat to the soul in the body? At the time of death, the soul withdraws behind the two eyebrows after leaving the lower regions. Anyone who is able to withdraw his sensory currents at this point in his lifetime can open his inner eye. But, this can only be done through the grace of a perfect living Master. First, the Master helps us in withdrawing our attention from the exernal worldly objects with which it is identified. In this body –the temple of God –dwell both we and our controlling Power. The Master has great Power to pull the soul above the plane of senses to the seat of the soul. He opens the inner eye. Thus, the spiritual aspirant has a first hand experience and does not require any other evidence.

Until I see the truth with my own eyes, I cannot be fully conceived of what the Master says, the gubani tells us very clearly unless the senses are controlled, the mind is stilled and the intellect too is equipoised, the soul cannot realize itself. Gyan Yoga will not be of much help. We only draw inferences to acquire knowledge. But, the true knowledge has to be experienced. Only an adept who had a first-hand experience can give you a taste of it. Similarly, only one in whom the divine Light is manifest can show you Light. intellectual and religious preachers cannot do this work. True inner experience can be given only by the grace of a truly competent Master. By infusing his own impulse, he puts us on the spiritual path and then unites us with the power of God. on who has subdued the senses qualifies for the divine grace.

Cultivating chastity and forgiveness can control Craving and anger. If you go into details, you will find that these are our main hurdles. If you were to listen to someone silently, you will find that he talks of his passionate desires, petty jealousies, factions, enmities, recriminations, etc. he will overrate some and underrate others. These vices must be dispensed with. Prophet Mohammed has said: if you can control two sense –organs, namely, the one between the two virtues were cultivated, it would be a great blessing. In these two lips and the other between the two thighs, I shall stand surely for you in the Lord’s court. We simply read and hear these words but never go deeper into their meaning. If these two virtues were cultivated, it would be a great blessing. In the absence of these virtues, meditation is hampered. This is the main object of my laying stress on keeping a diary. The first column in the diary is for ahimsa (non-violence) and forgiveness. Even if someone harms you, forgive him. Do not injure anybody’s feelings. One who practices ahimsa will not tell a lie, cheat others or have ill-gotten gains. Now let us see what Saints have said on the subject.

Chastity and forgiveness are the two basic and most noble virtues of all. If we acquire these virtues, we will be successful in our meditation. Christ says: suffer the little children to come unto me, . . . . for of such is the kingdom of God. children are endowed with these two qualities. They are totally indifferent to sex they never mind if they are naked. If they go astray, we parent to blame. If they fight with each other, they soon reconcile their difference. Let us become like little children and we will be successful in our meditation. A competent Master, by virtue of the God-Power working in him, turns away your attention from outer pursuits, pulls it above the plane of senses and opens the inner eye. He gives to the spiritual aspirant some capital of inner experience, which is he grace, but it is our responsibility to preserve it.

Ibrahim Adhma, king of Bukhara, once went to Sant Kabir. he served Kabir day and night. Mother Loi, one of Kabir’s disciple, one day praised Ibrahim for his selfless service to the Master and felt that Ibrahim had become a deserving devotee for the spiritual gift. Kabir remarked that Ibrahim had not yet attained maturity. To prove this, Kabir asked her to throw rubbish on Ibrahim’s head from the top of the house and then listen to what he had to say. She did so. At this, Ibrahim said that he would have dealt with the mischief monger properly had he been in Bukhara. When Kabir came to know of Ibhrahim’s reaction, he said that he would have dealt with the mischief-monger properly had he been in Bukhara. When kabir came to know of Ibrahim’s reaction, he said that the latter had not got over his pride of kingship and egotism and so he was not mature enough for initiation. After some time, Kabir told that Ibrahim had become ripe for the gift of spirituality. As she had not noticed any appreciable change in Ibrahim, she wanted to know the criterion for this verdict. This time, kabir asked her to throw the night soul on ibrahim. She did so. To her surprise, ibrahim said, “ o God I am even worse than this.” Remember one whose heart is full of compassion for others, who wishes well after having been hurt and prays even for his enemies, is know as a Mahatma, a great soul. 

Christ was asked to what should be the code of conduct in life. On enquiring about the injunction of moses in this regard, he was told: “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” At this Christ remarked: “It was because your heart were hardened that he gave you this injunction.” When asked to express his own opinion, Christ said: love thy neighbor as thyself. When further asked how enemies should be dealt with, he replied: love thine enemies. Jealousy, malice, calumny, backbiting, falsehood and fraud can be overcome by love. Unless these vices are given up, there is no way out. even good preachers and reformers are found wanting in chastity and forgiveness. They indulge in recrimination, falsehood, fraud, and hypocrisy, etc. what is wanted is cultivated of forgiveness. If we develop childlike qualities, we can reach our goal. Now let us listen to what Sant Kabir has to say about purity of life:

When chastity and forgiveness sprout in one’s heart, 
The invisible Lord becomes visible.
Without chastity one cannot reach Him;
Empty words are of no avail.

Kabir says in very clear words that chastity and forgiveness are the two pre-requisites for God-realization. Without purity of life, all sermons or learning are of no use. Chastity means purity of thought, words and deeds. Chastity is life and self-indulgence is death. Forgiveness is difficult to practice. Outwardly we pretend to humble, but inwardly we do not hesitate to harm others.

Kabir says in very clear words that chastity and forgiveness are the two pre-requisites for God-realization. Without purity of life, all sermon or learning are of no use. Chastity means purity of thoughts, words and deeds. Chastity is life and self-indulgence is death. Forgiveness is difficult to practice. Outwardly we pretend to humble, but inwardly we do not hesitate to harm others.

I remember an incident in my life. Long ago, my life wife was relieved of her purse at a railway station. The police caught the thief and the pursue was recovered from him. I was asked to lodge a report at the police station. I told the police it was unnecessary as the pursue had been found. But on their insistence, I had to go to the police station, perhaps for the first time. I told the officer on duty that I was not interested in reporting the matter, but he would not agree and the report was ultimately lodged. Later, I had to go to the court as a witness. The police officer talked to me on this issue. He felt that justice must be done, but I contended that there were two aspects of the law, one justice and the other compassion or mercy. I emphasize that even after justice had been done, bitterness would remain. Whereas, through mercy he could be forgiven. Compassion leads to mercy, which in turns leads to non-violence in thoughts, words and deeds. Anyway when I appeared in the court, I requested the magistrate that if he could let the accused off on some ground, I would have no objection. The magistrate after satisfying himself that there was no record of previous conviction against the accused, ordered his discharged with a warning. As a result, the accused and his relatives always remained great full to me. what a tremendous effect forgiveness has! Justice could never produce this effect. Forgiveness is the greatest of all virtues. So is purity of thought. But alas, all our time is spent in tension and petty squabbles. We find it difficult to pardon others. Remember, only a brave man can forgive others, not a weak person. Indirectly, we remain busy in condemning our opponents. Such person can never realize God.

All learning and religions pursuits are of little significant unless the qualities of chastity and forgiveness are thoroughly understood and cultivate in life. Because of these two virtues in children Saints always have a great love for them. God does not dwell in the skies, but is within us. Unless proper background is developed, spiritual advancement is not possible. Kabir now explains in greater details what chastity is:

One who is chaste is the greatest of all and is a 
Storehouse of all virtues.

Chastity is the main source of all virtues. It is rare to come across a really chaste person. Nearness to such a pure soul produces a soothing effect and even his reflection causes awakening. It is not an exaggeration. By virtue of ethical life, the body of a celibate is charged with the divine grace, tranquility and fragrance. Chastity is thus a great blessing. Chastity brings all the treasure of the three worlds (physical, astral and casual).
You may ask as to what should married person do. In olden days (in India) people used to observe continuance for the first 25 years. Thereafter, having assimilated religious scriptures, they would settle down as householders for another 25 years. Having got one two children they would leave their homes to enter vanaprastha ashram for another period of 25 years, during which they would devote themselves to achieve the ultimate goal of life –realization of self and God. After reaching the goal (in Vanaprastha Ashram), they would become sanyasi -those who renounce the world completely and wander from place to place to preach religion.

The real significant of marriage is to have a life partner who will stand by you under all circumstances –in pleasure and pain, in riches and poverty. Both should cooperate in striving to realize God. To go on producing children is not our aim. If a woman has to give birth, she should bear a Saint or a philanthropist or a great warrior. Otherwise, it is better if she remains barren and does not waste the divine Light.

Our forefathers generally used to lead more disciplined lives, but now there is little restrain. I have to say this because of the deplorable condition in which we are. The world population is increasing at an alarming rate of ninety a minute. We can well imagine the population problem after 20 or 30 years. So, it is all the more necessary for us to cultivate continence. St. Paul has said: husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church. Swami ram Tiranth has also emphasized: unless husbands and wives love each other’s and sisters there is no hope for India. Those who are awakened way so. The solution thus lies in leading a life of self-restraint. Even if a person is able to find a perfect Saint who can give the disciple a first hand spiritual experience, progress on the spiritual path is impossible unless we practice chastity and forgiveness. We should therefore forget the past and start leading a clean life now on.

There is no dearth of scholars, religious and disciplined people, 
but we seldom come across a really 
Chaste person. 

Kabir says that there are countless learned men, those who meditate and achieve concentration and those who are benevolent and disciplined but a celibate is rarely found. I have come into contact with the heads of almost all religions, but goal without making much afford. One who practices both realize God. let me give my grandfathers example. He was a clean-hearted man. he became a widower at the age of 25. He never married again although he lived for more than 100 years. A day before his death, he told some people that he would be leaving the world the next day and if they wanted to convey any message to their dear ones in heaven, they might let him know. Just before his end, some of his relations asked him to utter the name of God, but he said that “God is permeating throughout my body and I am going straight to Him.” I am talking of chaste ones. Such people have an innate feeling about the presence of God.

The gurubani pointedly tells us: those who have complete faith in gold, they enjoy the quintessence of truth knowledge. 

You may go on meditating all through your life, but unless you practice chastity and forgiveness, it will not bear any fruit. Anger causes excitement. Most of our ills are psychosomatic, being the result of emotional disturbances caused by hatred, animosity and worry. Saints always lay stress on the basic essential of life, but alas, we do not pay heed to them.

Chastity is the ocean of the happiness; none can fathom
Its depth.
Without the word none can be called a sadhu,
A disciplined soul;
Word without capital there cannot be a moneylender.

Kabir says that chastity is the ocean of happiness. It is so deep than none can measure its depth. But only the word-personified Saint can realize it. the word will become manifest where there is a life of continence. Nanak says: one who loses semen, loses everything. A person who practices celibacy and forgiveness can realize God and can truly be called a sadhu. These two virtues are of prime importance and wherever these exist, other virtues come in of their own accord. Such a person by constant contact with the inner sound current, the Shabd, becomes a storehouse of all virtues. 

One who has found a Master, but has not become his mouthpiece, a gurumukh, has not yet freed him from lusts of the flesh. After having found a Master, one must develop receptivity towards him. Who is a Gurumukh? One who has no wish of his own and lives in the will of the Master. Such a person is automatically relieved of all sorts of passions. As the Master is an embodiment of chastity, chastity radiates from him and penetrates into the disciple the moment he thinks of him. He is full of compassion and forgives all. Only a Gurumukh can escape from all kinds of indulgence since he abides in the word of the Master. Christ told his disciple, if ye loves me, keep my commandments. Hazur Sawan Singh Ji used to say: we hesitate to commit an impious act in the presence of child; don’t we know that God within us is all seeing? 

The Master is an embodiment of the Word and gives us a contact with it. By listening to the Eternal Music and seeing the divine Light, one gets inner peace.

Gurbani assures us: Mind gets docile by communion with Naam.

So long as man has animal passions, he cannot be a Gurumukh.

When the Satguru resides within, the disciple is free from lust.

As you think, so you become. If your mind constantly dwells on a chaste person, you will unconsciously attract and imbibe chastity. Kabir says that one who becomes a Satguru incarnate will automatically rid him of all desires. In the first place comes his sweet remembrance. The next is his manifestation within. One should, therefore, exercise great caution in adopting a Master. If he is really an adept in the science of soul you can achieve salvation. Otherwise, if you concentrate on the form of a so-called Guru, you may at the most become like him.

You might have heard of Dadu Sahib? One day he was going bareheaded. Someone, knocking him on the head, inquired: “Where is Dadu’s house?” He replied: “Go this way and you will find him inside the house.” To his Concentration, he found the same man (Dadu) sitting in the house. The visitor felt ashamed when he realized that he had insulted the Saint. Dadu Sahib said it did not matter since even an earthenware pot of insignificant value is purchased after the buyer has made sure of its serviceability by knocking it all over.

A Master should be chosen after thoughtful consideration, 
Just as water should be taken after filtration.

A perfect Master is a rarity. The world is full is so-called gurus, while there are only a few really competent Master's. Such Master's alone are described in the Vedas and others scriptures as sages, Saints and great souls for they are Word-personified.

Christ says: Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. The Gurbani further tells: He who can give you a firsthand experience of the divine Light and celestial sound is a true Master. . . . . Through association with a Saint, the power of God becomes manifest within. . . . . . . . . . . A Saint bestows of essence of esoteric science.

Anyone can lecture, sermonize or give a religious talk, but practical inner experience can be given only by an awakened soul.

Only an alert and wide-awake person can practice chastity. The thieves of sensual desires cannot rob such a person.

It is only an alert and conscious person who can cultivate chastity and can attain higher consciousness. By practicing chastity one gradually rise into cosmic consciousness. When consciousness dawns within, the sensual thieves do not trouble one – we are being robbed by five deadly passions. In the absence of chastity and forgiveness, a thick wall of darkness comes over the soul and we are not our own. Christ has described this state as “death of the soul.” What is the death of the soul? It is the bedimming of the light-consciousness in us. Attachment to material comfort lower our consciousness. Consciousness increases with increasing awareness, Where does this awareness come from? It comes by cultivating compassion and chastity. See how important these virtues are? But we do not pay attention to them. We have already been blessed with His grace and also with the capital of holy Naam. Is it not our duty then to safeguard our capital? We should keep his commandments instead of doing mere lip service to him.

One who is courteous to one’s guest is a great soul; one who offer them a seat is a Saint. One who lack these courtesies is either a heretic or a pagan. Now, all this is about our external conduct. One who is endowed with the two virtues of chastity and compassion would welcome even an enemy courteously. A Mahatma (great soul) has this virtue. He welcomes anyone who calls on him even in the dead of night. such a person remains cheerful even in the face of death. To observe celibacy in youth is a great thing. People usually postpone it for the old age.

Those who do not meditate while not be able to do so in old age.

As in old physical disabilities appear one by one, we cannot engage in meditation. One should therefore make a start while young. Saint have that one who practices celibacy while young is a Prophet. This is not child’s play. We simply read these things and forget about them.

We do not forgive others. In the absence of forgiveness, anger jealousy, hatred, backbiting, etc., emerge. Our hearts and minds are contaminated with all such thoughts. We talk of these things and do not hesitate to slander those with whom we are angry. My Master used to say, All sensual appetites have some taste in them, but what taste comes from slandering others? If there is any, is it sweet, sour, saltish or insipid? Still every family, society, and country is afflicted with this malady. A devotee, who is an embodiment of forgiveness, has nothing to fear. He will always greet others with love. If someone thinks ill of you, let him do that. In what way does it affect you? Instead, the former harms him by being angry and jealous. If you retaliate, you will afflict likewise. One who considered that the Lord is omnipresent and is dedicated to Him, is not carried away by what others may speak of him. These are the shortcomings in our way to self-realization and God-realization.

Forgiveness extinguishes the fire of anger. Great soul go to the extent of welcoming those who find fault with them. Once a man went to Lord Buddha and started abusing him. When he was about to leave, Lord Buddha and started abusing him. When he was about to leave, Lord Buddha said: “Brother, listen to me: if the receiver refuses to accept the gift offered to him it remains with the giver. I refuse to accept the gift you have brought for me.”

If one abuses and the other retaliates, there will be a shower of abuses.
But, with non-retaliation, the matter will end.
Where there is compassion, there is religion. 
Where there is greed, there is sin.
Where there is anger, there is negation.
Where there is forgiveness, there is the Lord himself.

Compassion leads to forgiveness and greed leads to sin. Greed and attachment means for name or fame. For the fulfillment of one’s desires, one becomes jealous of others. One neither becomes good nor bad by others opinions. Those who indulge in slandering others, are unpaid apprentices of the C.I.D of God. God and the Master are both within you. One who is true to the Master has nothing to fear, for his heart is pure and purity of heart gives added strength. One cannot realize God unless the mind is equipoise. Anger, jealousy, malice and ill will, even in thought, fan the flames of invisible fire all round. Kabir says that at a place like this you will find nothing but Negative Power, but where there is forgiveness, there is God himself. Forgiveness washes clear all inner defilements and leads to peace of mind. Otherwise, anger would provoke anger, and accusation counter-accusations, vitiating the entire atmosphere.

All quarrels and strife emanate from abuse.

Kabir says that bad language is the root cause of all quarrels. You know how the great Mahabharata War started. Just by sarcastic words. One single sarcastic remark by Draupadi led to the destruction of Indian culture and civilization. Again in the Gurbani we find, no power on earth can harm one who is protected by the Guru.

If someone harbors in him thoughts of jealousy and hatred, they react doubly on him. This is the natural law. One noble thought gives rise to thousands of noble sentiments, and one evil thought gives rise to thousand of miseries. If you sow a single seed in the soil, the plant that sprouts will bear hundreds of similar seeds. Likewise, if you plant a mango seed, you will get hundreds of mangoes from it. one thought may produce a soothing effect, while the other may excite you. Every action, even a thought, has its reaction.

The words of a vicious person are like a many arrows but Saints alone can tolerate them.
If lightning falls into the sea, what damage would it do?

Kabir says that malicious words are like poisoned darts. But a forgiver is like an ocean which is not affected even by lightning. So forgiveness is a great blessing. Kabir says that a man becomes tough by bearing external hardship. He who has prepared his grounds can listen to the music of the spheres of all time.

The earth can tolerate digging and the forest cutting.
Only a Saint can bear harsh and malicious words.

You may dig the land or cut a forest and they do not resent it. similarly, only a Saint is endowed with forgiveness and chastity. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. You can reap only what you sow.

Actions, good or bad, bear their own fruits. We must understand these principles and implement them in life. First, a perfect Master, capable of imparting the experience of inner Light, is hard to find. Even if you find one, you cannot reach the goal without purity of life and forgiveness. If you follow and act on what I have just said, you will be liberated from the bondage of matter and mind. These virtues will bring to you higher consciousness and you will develop faith in the existence of God. after all, what is the purpose of worship? It is to develop firm faith in the existence of God. by self-introspection, you can see what your condition is. Learned people, moralists and theologians generally preach to others. What is their own plight? It is well said: “Wanted – reformers – not of others, but of themselves.” We preach to others what we do not practice ourselves. The result is that all our exhortations produce little effect on others.

Be true to him who is dwelling within you. If you practice the two virtues – chastity and forgiveness – you will find that, without much effort, you will attain higher consciousness, complete awakening and perfect peace of mind. Thus, you will begin to radiate peace, harmony and tranquility to those around you.

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