The Last Darshan 17.08 1974 The final darshan of Sant Kirpal Singh's earthly sojourn ... an account
of the evening of August 17, 1974 MASTER had become weaker and weaker over the
last few weeks. The four-day celebrations for the 117th Birth Anniversary of Baba Sawan Singh which
started on July 26 and which ended with Master giving Initiation to over 1,000
souls, was followed on August 1 with Master addressing the Parliament of India;
all this demanded His full attention. The strain must have been tremendous. Although the new dates when Western disciples could visit the Ashram had
been announced in May, Master allowed nearly twenty to be with Him at the end.
In spite of His illness He gave them His Blessed Darshan almost every evening,
sometimes downstairs in the porch, sometimes in His bedroom. There were moments
of such beauty, of such peace, they transcend the memory of His suffering. His
humor at other moments was so subtle that any feeling of hopelessness that we
might have felt never took hold. Yet there were moments also of terrible
foreboding. On the evening of August 2, a disciple asked if she could see the
Master privately after the darshan. He said, "Yes, as long as there is
breath...." So much love and encouragement was flowing out. On August 6, He told us,
"When you look at the Master with devotion, you are repaid in kind."
Later He said, "The realm of the Saints is that of all-forgiveness."
Then there was a spontaneous moment of lightness when Master suddenly leaned
forward and thrust out His hand towards a German disciple who had expressed
some doubts, "Touch me," He said, "I'm a man like you." The
young man grabbed hold of the outstretched hand. Master had suffered so much physically in recent years that we supposed
this illness would, as in the past, lift from Him in time. Looking back we can
now read the signs He was giving us that He would soon leave the earth-plane.
Master's last darshan talk was held on the roof-terrace just outside His
bedroom on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 17. The weather was hot and
oppressive. Master was on a white bed, sometimes sitting, sometimes Iying,
sometimes almost unable to speak. There were long pauses. There were moments of
radiant bcauty. At least one disciple saw a golden halo around the entire body of the
Master-when He moved a little this light would remain where He had been, thus
forming a golden figure beside Him; it appeared as if Master's Divine Spirit
was already drawing away from His body-but of course nobody knew at this time
how short a period was left; only four days Master started by asking us gently
but persistently if we had any questions; He looked at everyone, but no one
wished to speak. After a long silence He then , said pointedly "No
questions anyone? - No? Any doubts? If there are no questions, any doubts?
Something lurking in the mind? No?" At this stage it now seems obvious
that Master had some final words He wanted to say, and as He knew there were in
fact some things lurking in our minds and needing to be resolved, He drew them
out in the form of the following questions which enabled Him to give out what
remained to be said. But on this occasion after a while and without waiting for a question,
He made this statement, "These are selections by God. They send the fruit-
certain people to administer certain things. They know when to come and when
they are going back. They won't let you down, mind that." Then after another long silence Master asked again if there were any
questions. Someone who was not initiated and who was having Master's darshan
for the first time, said he would bring some tomorrow, but Master replied,
"If you have any questions to be brought tomorrow, why not bring them up
today? Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today; procrastination is
the thief of time . . . If you're not ready . . . that's another thing."
The Master gave an understanding smile. Some anxious moments followed; Master was gasping for breath. A young American then asked the first question, "Master, why don't
you heal yourself? You are all-powerful." Master repeated, "Why don't
you heal yourself . . ? " Then a radiant smile appeared on His face and He
asked so sweetly, "Anyone whom you love, if he gives you something, would
you refuse it? Tell me. What does he hope for you? He should gladly accept
it." There was a long pause while the Master was coughing. At the end He
started looking around again and asked for more questions. Eventually someone
asked, "Is there any worldly desire that is correct?" Master said,
"All thoughts coming up are due to two things: either reactions of the
past-as you have sown -or outward necessities. As you sow so shall you reap.
Things go round the Wheel of Life unless, and until, you become a conscious
co-worker of the Divine Plan. It is He who takes work from everybody and we are
all mere puppets in His hands. Only then can you escape the reaction of what
you sow. you follow? So we have to consider manbody as the highest in all
creation, a golden opportunity to go back Home. We should meanwhile weed out
all unnecessary things and do what is to bring us near to God. That's
all." Then someone else asked, "How may we differentiate between
necessary requirements of the body and so forth, and desires which should be
weeded out?" Master said, "You have got one pair of boots, yes? Then
you get another pair of boots too. That will last you a year or so. Those are
required for your use; any number more, very simply, have to be hoarded up in
your houses and make the atmosphere ugly. We simply add to our own desires; out
of possession, we want to possess everything . . . Anyone else?" An American lady who was leaving the following morning asked,
"About desirelessness-should we not desire to go to Sach Khand? Or is that
another trap?" And Master told her, "Whatever brings you closer,
whatever goes to bring you closer to God, that should be developed. Whatever
helps you to stand in the way of going back to God, avoid it! Simple
living." At this stage the same man who had said that he would bring his
questions tomorrow said, "Master, I have read your writings very
carefully, to the best of my ability, and I am a non-drinker, a non-smoker, and
I am on the vegetarian diet. Do I qualify for initiation?" Master smiled,
"Those are the minimum requirements . . ." This did not put him off;
he said, "I would like to be initiated." Master went on, "The
main thing is that you must be able to grasp the theory in detail. Then when
you are put on the Way, you will put your whole heart and soul into the
practice; not half-heartedly or in a slipshod manner. Some dying man out of
desire may get it-is put on the Way-but he has always been putting off till
tomorrow what he could do today. This is wrong. So please continue onwards with
your practice. A disciple then said, "I just want to pray to you that I develop
more love and faith in you." Master told him, "That love will sprout
forth when you come in contact with Light and Sound Principle . . . or sweet
remembrance of the Master." Someone else made a sign to ask a question. Master said, "Yes, please?"
and was asked, "What type of life is most conducive to spiritual
progress?" Master explained, "Keeping the commandments one hundred
per cent, and developing receptivity. Then you'll have one hundred per cent of
the fruit." Master then asked, "Anyone else?" The last question was put,
"In some types of work I am not able to keep full remembrance of the
Master. How can I remain permanently close to you and at thc same time do my
work?" The last reply was, "In the beginning, you see, whatever involves your memory or
brains, will have to be done as one thing at a time. Later on when this habit
is formed, that goes automatically. You see, just go jolly and you'll also be
keeping the will of the Master. But that will develop in due course, not in one
day. "Go jolly." Param Sant Kirpal Singh (Ek Onkar) Like
the holy, the ever-flowing waters of the sacred Ganges Flow
the sermons of the Guru. In
it bathe the congregations of the Sikhs. The
scriptures are explained and recited, As
if Brahma himself chanted the Vedas, Over
the Guru's head waves the royal umbrella. From
his lips Divine Name as nectar rains; In
the company of Guru Nanak, Angad
became the Guru, Then
after him Amardas; And
now Guru Ramdas has gone to the Lord; O
Harbans, his glory fills the whole world. Who
says the Guru is dead? HARBANS - from the Guru Granth Sahib |