His lifework

His innate desire was to bring together all the religions on a common platform and to knit together the entire humanity in one thread and then to put them all on to the one ancient path of spirituality which leads to the common goal of all religions. He said: "The essentials of all religions are the same. God is one. All the humanity are His children and are thus related as brothers. The whole creation is just a manifestation of that one Reality - one soul that stretches its force and influence everywhere - one Light spreading its radiance in the entire universe - one Sun that shines upon each atom."
 
Why then all this discord and disharmony in the world? The passion of hatred and animosity which has led to the bloodshed of hundreds and thousands of innocent souls, is certainly the outcome of wrong interpretation and degeneration of the "ways of living." The one successful method to check this storm of reckless devastation and vandalism and to unite the whole mankind into one Universal Brotherhood is that sensible and conscious leaders and heads of all sects instead of concentrating their activities in their own limited narrow circles should meet at one place to educate and inculcate the common principles of Religion - viz. exalted noble character - emanating from one-ness of soul. We are all souls, we are indwellers of the house (the body) and not the body itself. Thus by rectifying the condition of the indweller all the rest of the bodily concerns can surely be improved in the right manner.(5)
 
No religion permits the immolation of women or the killing of persons; but alas! what man has done with man is too scandalous to be put on record. After the partition of this country the people in the name of religion polluted the chastity of women and killed hundreds of thousands of innocent persons. If all this gruesome and ghastly dance of death cannot serve to open our eyes, we cannot possibly mend ourselves. If we had a grain of feeling in us we ought to hang our heads in shame. There are, however, a few awakened souls among us but these are very rare, and such rendered a valuable yeoman's service in those most trying and troubled times.
 
I would like to relate a couple of instances of Hazur in those days. Hazur was physically ailing; for the body alone is subject to diseases and the great souls very often vicariously take upon themselves the people's burden of karmic action. During partition days, when passions were running high, some Muslims came to Hazur for protection. He lovingly kept them in the Dera. In September 1947 Hazur planned to go to Amritsar. When I went to see him with the hope of accompanying him to Amritsar, Hazur bade me remain at Dera and look after the comforts of the Dera people and the Muslims, according to the exigencies at the moment. A Muslim caravan was to leave that day for Pakistan. Hazur therefore enjoined me to escort the Muslims of the Dera to that caravan. It so happened that a torrential downpour of rain came on that day. Hazur felt a deep agony and said, "Our Muslim brethren are in a very poor plight, but we have no sympathy for them in our heart."
 
As Hazur started for Amritsar, he saw a huge crowd of Muslims near Beas Railway Station. A Jamadar* was in the car with him and in spite of his protests, Hazur ordered the car to be taken right to the Muslim horde and pulled it up just in their midst. He called for the leader of the Muslim caravan and with tears in his eyes said, "I have in the Dera a few Muslim brethren, and would very much like to see them safely escorted across the border." Such indeed are the acts of high souled Saints. His heart was full of compassion and pity for the suffering humanity. (A Jamadar is a soldier, and he protested because Hazur's action in driving into the midst of the supposed "enemy" was insane from the military point of view--[RP])
 
In the evening a truck load of Muslims prepared to join the evacuees on the march, when all of a sudden I heard the news that a band of armed Akalis had gathered near Dera and intended to raid it and massacre the Muslims. All alone I went to them full of confidence in Hazur's munificence and greatness. A few of the Akalis with spears and spades blocked my way. I said to them, "These helpless brethren have come to Hazur for protection. It behooves the Khalsas to extend the protection that they seek. The spirit of the Khalsa requires, no demands, that those who seek mercy must be given mercy. You had better hug them to your bosom." Hearing these words a couple of aged Akalis came forward and said, "You have this day saved the Khalsas from what would otherwise have been a great sacrilege and heinous crime of taking away the life of so many of these poor souls. We shall not now touch a hair of these people." All this transformation from a bloodthirsty mood to that of sympathy and fellow-feeling came through the grace of Hazur.
 
 As the truck was about to pass by the Akalis I stopped it and said, "These brethren of ours are today quitting their hearths and homes not because of any hatred toward us but are being driven to it by sheer necessity. We have all these years been living together in peace and concord. Will it not be good if we bid goodbye to them with loving embraces?" This touched them to the core. In an instant I found the two (Akalis and Muslims) hugging each other with tears streaming down their cheeks - the two who just a short while before were anxious to cut each other's throats. No religion permits manslaughter or genocide. We indulge in these things because we are taught the wrong way, and rebellion is used as a smoke screen for the perpetration of terrible deeds to serve selfish ends. There are instances on record wherein Muslims also saved the lives of Hindus and vice versa. ...
 
The fact remains that whosoever has learned the true import of his religion, has an all-embracing love for the entire humanity, and is not torn by sectional and communal love. It is said: O man of wisdom (Moses) thou wert sent to knit people unto me (God) - And not to lead my people away from me. Once a shepherd boy leading his goats to pasture in a meadow sat under a tree and lovingly began to commune with God in this wise, "O God! I wish that both of us should live side by side. I shall not make Thee discomfortable. Should Thou fall ill, I shall attend Thee day and night. Should Thou get tired I shall massage Thy hands and feet. I shall bring Thee barley bread and spinach to eat and give Thee goats' fresh milk to drink. I shall pick up lice from Thy hair and give Thee a hair - wash with milk and curd ..."
 
The shepherd boy was deeply absorbed in these thoughts when the Prophet Moses passed that way. He shouted at the boy and said, "O fool, why art thou blaspheming? God is altogether unlike thee and shall not eat thy barley bread and spinach nor shall He ever fall ill or get lice in His head." The boy was stunned to hear this, and began to tingle in every nerve and inquired, "Perhaps I am wrong. ... I ought not to have talked like this. ... Will the great God be annoyed with me?" With these thoughts within him, he began to cry. As he sobbed he felt comforted and in harmony with the higher power. In that blissful state he had a vision of God. The celestial Visitant consoled him with the words, "I shall accept all thy offerings, for I am well pleased with thee." In the meanwhile Moses having reached the heights of Mt. Sinai, sat in meditation and felt within him the voice of God, saying, "O Moses! I am thoroughly annoyed with thee. Thou art guilty of breaking the heart of that shepherd boy, who was communing with me, with all love and affection." The Prophet was surprised and said, "O God, his words were not of love but were blasphemous." The great God replied, "Thou knowest that the world of that boy contained nothing else but barley bread, spinach, goats' milk and lice. I gave thee wisdom and had thou utilized it, thou wouldst not have spoken like this. I sent thee into the world that thou mayest knit me to those who are separated from me and not that thou shouldst rend asunder loving hearts that are one with me."
 
Hazur possessed this attribute in great abundance. He would unite thousands of people in one common brotherhood. All of us that are assembled here belong to that great fraternity into which Hazur bound us together. We must not only live in peace and harmony, but have love and affection for all humanity. This will only be possible when one understands the true import of Hazur's teachings. Generally when such High Souls pass away, the following degenerates; petty-mindedness creeps in and we begin worshipping mammon and sin.
 
Hazur used to tell us that when a High Soul comes into the world, the worshipers of wealth and women also gather around him. Hence he said, "Whatever a person asked of me, I granted. He who wanted riches got riches. He who wished for lands, was given lands. Those who wanted me alone, got me in abundance." (6) Throughout his lifetime he left no stone unturned for reforming and improving the angle of vision of the masses. In spite of his attaining the age of 90, he set aside all his bodily comforts and stubbornly devoted eighteen out of 24 hours of the day in the service of humanity and thus afforded spiritual satisfaction to every aspirant both publicly and in seclusion.
 
Physical structure composed of flesh, blood and bones, like machinery, can only work up to a limited extent. The result of this carelessness towards his bodily rest and consistent hard labor came out to be that his physical frame could not endure the burden of weariness any more; and on continued requests and entreaties from almost every individual, Hazur yielded to their prayers and was inclined to take rest and seek medical advice. Accordingly, in September 1947, he came to Amritsar for medical treatment; but before leaving Dera a Managing Committee for management of Dera affairs was constituted there.
 
His health improved a little at Amritsar but it became worse on 4th October, 1947. On the 5th October, 1947, Hazur sent for me from Beas. In a week's time his condition was again better.
 
On the morning of 12th October, 1947, at seven o'clock he called me. When I was in his august presence, he said:

"Kirpal Singh! I have allotted all other work but have not entrusted my task of Naam-initiation and spiritual work to anyone. That I confer on you today so that this holy and sacred science may flourish."

Hearing this my eyes were filled with tears, and afflicted as I was, I beseeched: 

"Hazur! The peace and security that I have in sitting at thy feet here cannot be had in higher planes ..." 

My heart was filled with anguish; I could not speak any more and sat staring - Hazur encouraging and caressing me all the time.
 
After this whenever I had the honor to be in seclusion with Hazur, he talked about the interior affairs of Dera and instructed me how to act when he departed forever.
 
During the days of his confinement on the bed of sickness - in the last days of February 1948 - one day Hazur inquired:
 
"How many souls have been initiated by me?" Registers were consulted and after counting was finished Hazur was told: "Up till now about one hundred and fifty thousand souls have been awakened by Hazur." Hazur said: "All right."
 
On the same day in the evening when I was with him, Hazur said:
 
"Kirpal Singh! I have done half of your work and have given Naam to over one and a half lakh persons and the rest you have to accomplish."
 
I, with folded hands and faltering words, said: "Hazur ... it will be as Hazur orders ... but ... I have a request ... I wish that this last half of the work may also be finished by Hazur ... We will dance as Hazur will make us dance ... I wish Hazur may remain with us and sit only watching all that, and all orders will be complied with in Hazur's presence."
 
Hazur lay silently gazing at me.
 
In those very days, one night Hazur mentioning his inner esoteric experiences remarked: "The sun has risen high. Can the people of Jullundur also see this sun?" The relatives and friends sitting nearby were ignorant of this secret expression. The opinion of the doctor in charge was also, like others beside him, that Hazur's brain was not working properly on account of his illness.
 
A little later at night when I went to him, Hazur repeated the same question addressing me: "Kirpal Singh! The sun has risen high. Can the people of Jullundur also see this sun?"
 
I replied: "Yes, Hazur, the sun has risen high - and not only the people of Jullundur but also those living in England or America who will traverse to inner planes can see this sun."* (* Jullundur is a town in East Punjab about fifteen miles from Beas; Guru Nanak, when nearing his earthly end, also spoke of this Sun to his sons and to his devoted follower who succeeded him. The rishis of old referred to it in the Gayatri Mantra.)
 
Thereupon Hazur said: "You have correctly answered my question."
 
Similarly Hazur made a mention of several hidden secrets but those around him were hardly able to grasp what Hazur was hinting at - this being a subject familiar only to those who are practical in-lookers and spiritually skilled. What, therefore, could other poor fellows know about them?
 
Surveying the surrounding occurrences and events, Hazur once observed:
 
"It's a pity that the followers of Sant Mat also are becoming a prey to misconception. The teaching of Saints is `See with your own eyes. Until you see with your own eyes, do not even believe your Master.'"
 
As is said:

Jab lag na dekhun apni naini
Tab lag na patijun Gur ki beni.

Until I see with my own eyes, I will not be
convinced at heart, even by Guru's words.

This is the dictum and basic pillar of Sant Mat faith and it is an established fact that the disciple should peep inside and talk with his Master. Those engaged in abhyas (or spiritual practices) generally do not forget everything about, and leave all thoughts of, their physical body for withdrawal and turning inward. Whoever, with love in his mind, regularly follows the method according to the instructions of his Master will meet the Master within and will testify to the authenticity thereof. This is a way which can be seen and practiced in one's lifetime. Accordingly you do and see. But those who do not apply themselves in abhyas say: "To withdraw and tap inside is wrong, uncertain, and doubtful, and if at all it is possible that somebody peeps inside, then the inner experiences are not believable." Unless they themselves peep inside, they cannot have faith in the experiences of those few who do have such experiences. Hazur said: "My followers should never trust in such incredulous persons - unlinked and infirm believers as they themselves are - they will shake their belief and faith. It is therefore incumbent on my followers to open their inner eye. When their soul will withdraw from physical body, they will realize the truth of it. Remember that this science of traversing to inner higher planes is not wrong, and is correct, definite, certain and sure to the last word."
 
Those who have traversed have corroborated this:
 
Sant Tulsi Sahib says:

Surat sail asman ki lakh pawe koi Sant,
Tulsi jag jane nahin at utang piya panth.

"The soul of a rare Saint traverses into the higher
planes and beholds the sight of them. The whole
world is unaware of this highway to Almighty's
throne which is, so to say, enveloped in mystery
and hard to understand."

Sant Paltu Das says:

Gyan ka chanda bhaya akash men,
magan man bhaya ham lakh pay^ża.
Drishti ke khule se nazar sab aiga,
Lakha sansar yeh jhut maya,
Jiv aur Brahma ke bhed ko bujh Ie,
Shabd ki sanchi taksal laya,
Das Paltu kahe khol parda diya,
Paith ke bhed ham dekh aya.

"The light of all knowledge radiated in heaven
inside, seeing which my mind was full of joy. I saw
it really existing. It can be seen by opening the inner
eye. In that light I saw that all that attracts us here
as well as the whole world is a big fraud. How did
I get to this end? - it was by analyzing the self and
God, through the mint of true Shabd. Thus attuning
to Shabd, Paltu cast asunder the veil and withdrew 
inside to see the Truth."

Again one day the Master spoke thus :

"I am not tied to one or any particular place. The Saints who come commissioned from above tell the world of the true path and those who come seeking true knowledge are informed of the way to meet God. Worldly people in order to meet their worldly needs gather round them and make them as means of earning livelihood. When such wealth is accumulated in abundance, a number out of them turn out to be worshipers of Mammon whose lust can never be satisfied. When such circumstances are created, Saints withdraw from such a place. The souls Of sincere seekers after truth cannot get any solace from such a place. Such places then become the seat of mahants and gaddi-nashins.* The Saints are not fastened to any religious sect or dress: They are free personalities. They are neither a party to one nor a foe to the other. They impart the true lesson as to how to reach God. Those who will apply themselves to abhyas in their company will succeed and the others who keep themselves aloof and far away from them remain unlucky."

(*These titles are usually given to those working or posing at one particular place in the name of previous Saints or Sages after the latter abandon or depart physically.)
 
Hazur more than once emphatically declared:

"The mission of spirituality can only be carried on successfully by one adept in spirituality. It cannot be entrusted to a (spiritually) blind person. Whoever has a desire to find me out can reach me within through one who is linked with me. You will not find me in the company of those who are after the possessions of the world. Be not deceived by such people. Do abhyas and peep inside your own self and meet me. I do not dwell in the midst of mayaic insects. Go to some selfless being who is after me and lives for me and is not after possession of Deras (ashrams). Gurumukh is delighted to have his Guru, while a manmukh wallows in luxury and pleasures of the world - Maya."

On another occasion Hazur said:

"Kirpal Singh! The people will flock to the place where they would find the riches of Naam. What have you to gain from Dera? You better leave Dera. When Baba Ji came from Agra, he brought with him neither money nor followers. He fetched within him only his Guru and through his blessings the present Dera came into existence. The sangat is dear to me even now just as it was before. It is now imperative for the sangat to do abhyas and go within. By doing so all will be able to understand things as they are. Everybody has treasures of knowledge within. Even an illiterate man if he secures the assistance of an educated person can become a graduate and an M.A.. If you sit by some illiterate person for the whole of your life, you will not be able to attain the degree of M.A.. Do not waste your time. If you want to gain knowledge of spirituality, then go and sit by some spiritual adept who is practically skilled. He will wake up the dormant spiritual faculties within you. He has not to give anything from himself. Keep on impressing the need of abhyas on the entire sangat and go on doing Satsang. The souls are getting help from within and will continue to get it. You obey the orders of your Guru. If an obedient wife acts according to the bidding and wishes of her husband and the people call her bad names, let them do so. You have to carry on the mission under the orders of your Master. Do not care if Mrs. Grundy grunts. Tell everybody to do abhyas fondly and to invert within to reach the astral form of the Master."

Thereafter, whenever during Hazur's lifetime I had an opportunity to go to him, he talked on the subject of propagating spirituality and gave necessary instructions regarding its real shape, significance and basic fundamentals of the problem.
 
Consequently, during Hazur's lifetime and in strict conformity with his wishes, in November 1947, a proposal for "Spiritual Satsang" was laid before him, the main objects of which were solely the ethical and spiritual benefit of mankind in general, irrespective of caste, color or creed - which was heartily appreciated by Hazur saying: "I am wholly and solely at one with you in this endeavor," and directed me to give practical shape to the scheme. It is, therefore, due to his blessings alone that Ruhani Satsang today is working successfully in and outside Delhi. The sole objective of this Satsang is to present spirituality to mankind in general in a lucid scientific form. The subjects of purification, knowledge of Self and knowledge of God are being dealt with practically so that people of different castes and creeds - living in their own circles - are benefiting thereby. Old followers as well as the new ones are deriving benefit from this science and everyday inner experiences of both of them plainly show that Hazur Maharaj Sahib is helping them with his hidden hand far more forcefully than ever.
 
Such ever-living personalities are personified models of self- sacrifice. Even during his confinement to bed - not caring for his tender health - Hazur continued to quench the thirst of those thirsty for spiritual guidance and teachings. Besides the outer help there was inner guidance also to its fullest extent. Such Master-souls are mere human beings to our eyes but in reality are Unseen Supreme Power - clothed in body - that works unfettered beyond the limits of this body also.

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