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27Brief Life Sketch and Teachings Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj His Holiness Sant Kirpal Ji
Maharaj is one of those blessed souls who come to fulfill the purpose of God on
earth. Born on 6the Feb, 1894, in
a respectable Sikh family of Sayyad kasran, a village in Rawalpindi District,
his whole life has been a constant endeavor for the realization of Truth and
knowledge. He was named Kirpal, the Gracious one and aptly so for he was in due
course to be the great-perennial source of bliss and tranquility. The ‘Little Saint’ From his early childhood he
revealed unusual traits – love of solitude and deep meditation. His early life
is full of miracles that earned him the title of ‘little saint’ at the tender
age of six years. His scholastic career is distinguished by an unquenchable
thirst for knowledge and passion for study. Such was his love of study that he
had read through the entire college library during his student days. Compassionate Heart The Master ‘s life is
studded with significant events that shine like guiding stars. At the age of
twelve, he chanced to read of an incident in the life of Saint Ramanuja, who
called together at the village folk, and divulged to them the secret
instruction he had received from his Master. Threatened with dire consequences
of violating his initiation vows he just said that he did not mind going to
hell, for it would entail suffering to just one man – himself, whereas all
these people will get salvation. This incident made a deep impression on him
and he used to think that if ever he got the gift of spirituality, he would
distribute it freely to all who happened to come his way. The shark catches Flame During his quest for Divine
knowledge, an incident occurred which changed the whole course of his existence
and intensified his search for God. He happened to be sitting by the beside of
a dying woman, a young lady. Suddenly, she said, “All right, I am going” and in
an instant her spirit left the body. The incident set him thinking hard. What
was it that was animating the body – now lying dead – and speaking to those
around her, the power that had left her body but was still present in al of
them? While accompanying her bier to the cremation ground, he saw the body of
an old man on the bier next to her. It flashed on him that death made no
distinction between young and old. A little further he happened to read the
epitaph on a Samadhi (memorial), “Oh ye that walk with swaggering gait, beware.
We too were once like thee enjoying life to the full, but alas! Now lie beneath
this stone, a handful of dust.” These three scenes, passing in quick succession
before his eyes, affected him to the very core of his being. And from that day
began an era of night-long vigils, of ceaseless search in scripture, of
free-flowing silent tears. The mystery of life was finally solved at the feet
of his beloved Master – Master Hazoor Baba Singh Ji Maharaj. God First, World Next After passing his
matriculation examination in 1911, he pondered over the question: what was his
aim in life? It toot him seven days of intense dwelling on the subject
discussing the problem from all possible angles, and with a firm resolve, -“God
first and the world next” and since taking that resolve he never once looked
back. He had, through purity of
mind and sincere devotion, developed transvision. At times during meditation he
would look into the past and the future. He prayed to God that these divine
powers be kept in reserve for him, that he should pass his earthly life as an
average man that if anyone were to benefit through him, he himself should not
know of it. The Master Appears The story of the
culmination of his search, his meeting with Hazoor Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj,
reveals the inscrutable ways of providence. Study of scriptures had convinced
him of the necessity of a living Master for realizing his goal. His only fear
was that if he happened to contact an imperfect Master who had not reached the
ultimate goal, a whole life’s search would go waist. His constant prayers to
the Almighty to lead him to a fully competent Master were at last answered and
he was blessed with inner contact with the Radiant Form of the living Master
Hazoor Baba Singh Ji, which he took to be that of Guru Nanak. This happened in
1917, seven years before he was destined to meet his Master in physical from. The memorable meeting took
place in 1924, at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, Beas, where he, an ardent lover of
river had gone on a sightseeing excursion. When he saw Hazoor (Baba Sawan Singh
Ji ) he instantly recognized him to be the same personality who, in his Radiant
Form; had been his guide and preceptor in higher spiritual plans. “Why has Your
Holiness taken so long in guiding me to your feet?” He asked. The white-bearded
sage smiled. “This is the opportune time for our physical meeting.” The Torch Bearer The disciple, destined to
be the future torch bearer of the eternal flame, gave himself up heart and
soul, to the service of the Master. For twentyfour years he sat at the feet of
his Master under whose direction he completed to fullness his inner spiritual
growth and achievements, while living the life of a householder. His life as
disciple, which is of one piece with the rest of his life, is a glowing example
of dedicated service and sacrifice; of complete devotion and surrender of self
at the feet of His Satguru. It is not possible to
record, in a limited span, the various incident from his life, charged with
dynamic action and force of character. It is the power of love which shines in
him that has earned him the love and affection of Catholics and Protestants of
Europe and America, Jews of Palestine, Hindus and Sikhs in India, Moslems, in
India; the Arab world and Pakistan,
Buddhist of Tibet and Malaya and others. His imitates included people from
almost all the countries or the world, having different cultures, denominations
and religious beliefs. Gurmat Siddhant He has written voluminously
and with power, starting with the great monumental work of the century, ‘Gurmat
Siddhant’ or the path of the Masters, written in 1953, with full approval of
his Master. Hazoor Baba Sawan Singh Ji
Maharaj, Comprising of two Volumes, of about 2000 pages, it is a
valuable compendium on the subject of spirituality. Being a digest of the
teaching of all the various religions of the world, giving out the same Truth in the their various languages
and modes of expression, it serves as a Banquet Hall of Spirituality to the
seekers of Truth. He has written a number of books in English for seekers of
Truth in East and West. His book have been translated into French, German,
Greek, Spanish and other language. Service of Humanity After 36 year of
meritorious service, he retired in March, 1947, as Deputy Assistant Controller
of Military Accounts. He refused an offer of extension and devoted himself whole
heartedly to the divine mission entrusted by his Satguru, who cast of his
earthly frame on the 2nd April, 1948. He retired to the Himalayan
mountains where he spent all the time in almost continuous Samaddhi or
absorption on God. Under the directions of his Master, he returned to the world
and took up the mission of his Master to impart spirituality to the sincere
after Truth. On the behest of his Master he founded the Ruhanin Satsang, in
1948, and built the Sawan Ashram, Delhi, in 1951, as a spiritual sanctuary
where seekers of Truth can get the benefit of first-handed experience of
spirituality without any distinction of caste, creed nationality, color or sex. In 1955, he undertook an
extensive tour of USA, U.K., Germany etc. to quench the thirst of those seeking
soul who yearned for God. This was followed after eight years by another world
tour in the year 1963 for the same purpose but intended to benefit bigger lots
in hundreds and thousands. In this tour a sizeable number of religious heads,
political and social leaders, high government officials and dignitaries and
people at large benefited spiritually and availed of the opportunity of his
presence to have heart talks. His yet third tour came
about in the year 1972 to fulfill his call to duty regardless of his physical
body revolting, to benefit thousands who had been anxiously awaiting for the
water of life and personal divine radiatin. This was whirlwind tour covering
more than 50000 km in a short span of over four months to Europe, USA, Canada, Mexico,
panama, some South American countries and Lebanon. His simple, practical and
yet forceful and penetrating teaching were related to all and sundry through
open public meetings, talks in universities, symposiums, television, press
interviews etc. This attracted large audience particulary the younger
generation who apparently were groping for satisfaction in life in dope and
such like things and found that this oldest albeit ever fresh and peace giving
science of Soul that the Master gave out in the practical way, was the one that they actually needed and strived
for. He had undertaken three
world-tour, in 1955, 1963-64, and the last in 1972-73. Despite his old age he
undergoes such like physical hardship for the spiritual welfare of the
suffering humanity. Thousands of sincere soul seeking spiritual enlightment
have benefited immensely from his August presence in the West. There has
emerged a general awakening among the masses and yearning hearts pining for
Union with the Beloved have been put on the way back to God. He has his own
unassuming and natural way of manifesting Divine Truth in simple and lucid
terms. As a matter of fact it is his unique charming countenance which has
attracted thousands upon thousands like moths to the flame. He is the very
Light House of Divinity radiating God’s grace, and to see him is to be as
witness of God. Honours have come to him
unsought, from all over the world, cutting across barriers of caste,
nationality and color. The conferment of the Order of the Grand Commander of
the Sovereign Orders of Satguru. Jehn of Jerusalme, Knights of Malta, opened to
him the doors of churches of all demominations during his second world tour in
1963 and paved the way for inter-religious communication and concord. At
national level Santji has rendered commendable services in strengthening the
forces of integration to save India from disunity and disintegration. His world tour raised the
prestige of India in the eyes of the world and helped the people of different
countries who listened to him to settle and more ethical and stabilized way of
living. He had unanimously been
elected President of the world Fellowship of Religions, convened in 1957
(Delhi), 1960 (Cakcutta), 1963 (Delhi) and 1970 (Delhi). These conference have
a good work in bringing heads and people of different religions together to
understand each other in a spirit of toleration. But much remained to be done
to bring about sustained unity in the world at the level of man. For this cause
he established Manav Kendra in the year 1969 which is a projection of Ruhani
Satsang for man-making with additions of man-service and land-service on
international level. A pamphlet giving details
of Manav Kendra aims and objects has been published separately. Teachings Since the beginning of
creation, when the first flicker of self –awakening dawned on man, his
attention has been more and more concerned with the problem of his own worldly
existence and the investigation into the cause and source of all Creation. For
ages he has probed and queried in vein; but now at last his increasing thirst
for Knowledge is turning him to study the result obtained by others. Sages of all ages have
referred to the Supreme knowledge -
“The knowledge which makes everthing
else know” or “Knowledge of the Higher Self –the True Man.” It is this
knowledge which deals both in theory and practice with Man’s true nature and
his relationship with God. In fact, a
natural science without any hypothesis and is not subject neither to change nor
time. In ancient India it was called “Para Vidyda” (Science of Realized Truth or Science of the Beyond), and different denominations sprang up to interrupt this Knowledge. The term “Apra Vidya,” standing for the preparation for achieving the Knowledge of Para Vidya, was then introduced. This consists of following an ethical and moral life, and the practice of concentration or meditation (in so many ways), both being indispensable for spiritual development. New names and terminologies
have been adopted to describe this knowledge or science. Sant Mat (Sant means
Master of the highest order Mat, the nature of knowledge through personal
experience) is currently largely used to denotes this science. Sant Mat or
Surat Shabd Yoga or Sehj Yoga is thus the system or the path of the saints or
the Masters. Master do not attach any
importance to names or designations or to the fact of many religious sect of
groups claimed this science and named it after their own founders. They look
upon these groups as schools, where men can study as children of the same
Almighty Father. A Master also called Sat Satguru, has completely mastery of
both theory and practice of the science and is competent to impart knowledge
and experience to sincere seekers after Truth without any distinction of colour,
caste or creed. Self-analysis Man, composed of body, mind
(intellect) and soul, is generally careful to develop himself physically and
mentally, but cares and understand little of the soul – the power that rules
the body and mind body. So we must seek the perennial source of joy and peace
within ourselves. Self-analysis is the first step in this direction. There is an omnipresent
Power called God, believed in, worshipped and talked about by most people. Can
we see Him and talk to him? A Master has given a most convincing and definite
reply to this question. He exclaims: “Yes, we can see and speak to him if we
become as exalted as He is said to be.” This is in consonance with the law of
Nature of which we have as yet little or knowledge. How can we enter the
Kingdom of God? Is it possible to do so? Master reply in simple words. “With
the help and guidance of a true Master, it is possible to do so. This knowledge
is perfect and as sure as two and two make four”. It is not enough to be
content with the study of holy books and the singing of hymns. We must strive
for the same degree of advancement as achieved by those about whom these about
were written. We should not stop at anything short of this. Man-Making A man, according to
Paravidya, is not entitled to be called a “man” in the true sense of the word
unless he has acquired full knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of his
distinguished position in creation, his several component parts – body, mind
and soul – and his relationship with the unseen power. Saints, therefore,
stress the need for man-making. Scholars of many religious
schools dwell more and more on theory alone. This was the beginning of the
decline of the Science. This is usually the case when a Master leaves his
physical body. Adequate povision is, however, made for the revival of this
Science in every age when both the Positive and Negative powers commence their
rounds again. The former works through Master-souls and latter through persons
who are so called Masters but who either lack positive experience or are
deluded by theoretical disputations. The Master-soul, though
quite ordinary men in appearance, are a great deal more than they appear to be.
We cannot recognize the authority of true Masters until we have experienced the
divine power working through them. Why this unseen Power remains concealed from
the human eye is a question to be asked directly from a Master-Saint. This
unseen Power can be called a “Sea of Love”. Thus to experience that Power we
have to go to the only source of contact – the Master saints. It is only
through a living Master that one can contact the Almighty God within. In Sant
Mat, contemplation of objects or images is not advised: indeed such practice is
harmful to progress. Photograph of the Masters are for remembrance and
recognition only. Life Beyond Death Saints say that Nature has
designed man to leave his physical body at will to transcend to higher
spiritual planes and then to his body. They help each aspirant personally, and
each one receives practical experience, however little it may be at the time of
initiation. A person, who is competent to give this personal experience of
withdrawal and who can thus put man on the way to higher spiritual realms, is
genuine Master, Saint or Satguru. The first-hand experience
we receive, through the kindness and grace of real saint is, in itself, the
solution to the problems of death. Some day we have to leave this temporary
structure, which deteriorates with time. There is no appeal, in the laws of
Nature, against the “death sentence”. We fear death because of the agony,
suffering and uncertainty about the unknown beyond: we fear illness because it
brings us near death;s door and so we struggle to live, though we know that our
end is certain. Remedy What then is the remedy?
There is only one way of this abyss of despair and it is to adopt and accustom
ourselves during our lifetime to Nature’s process to move side by side with
Nature and Master in the process of
withdrawal of spirit-current from the body while in conscious state, through
the help of a saint, and this without any suffering of trouble whatsoever. This
is not only a possibility but a remarkable fact. Our joy will know no bounds
when we come into possession of this secret. We become a “Superman” in possession
of a “Key to peace” and “heaven” of which we have till then only read about in
sacred scriptures. Arise, and awake before it is too late to put this sacred
science into practice. The mystery of life and
death can only because solved with the help of Master-saint, who will put you
on the high road to higher realms. The benefit derived from his process cannot
be described on paper. At initiation the aspirant sees within real light which
grows to the radiance of several suns put together as he advances on the way.
He now understands that the unceasing internal Sound he contacts is the Divine
link called the Word, Kalma Nadai-Asmani, Naad Udgit, Saroasha Naam or Shabd by
different Master-saint. He meets the Master within, talks to him face to face,
as he advances on the path, and is henceforth certain of his grace, guidance
and protection wherever he may go even to the other end of earth. With evident
proofs before him he is now confident of himself and of the Science. He has
found a sure ingress through the doorway of heaven in this life andis on the
threshold of viewing both internally and externally, the secrets of Nature. He
is verily “knocking,’ at the door of heaving tapping inside.” Words os
opposition cannot shake his faith in the science as the Master guides him
forward death becomes a voluntary process. Past, present and future merge into
one, and he grasp the incontestable Truth, the pith of all intelligence. Preliminary qualifications Just as in any other
science, so in this science of the Masters, certain preliminary qualifications
are required of those who would advance in these studies before progress can be
made. Wherever he may be, man must strive for nobility of character,
self-control and purity. Purity in the thought, word and deed is essential.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’ An ethical life is a
stepping stone to spirituality which is not just ethical living. Live and let live should be
our principle in life. With regard to diet. Vegeterianism and teetotalism are
essential. Our body is the temple of God we are neither to neglect it nor to
abuse it. In our dealing with our family and the world at large, we should sow
the seed of kindness. ‘Love and all blessing shall be added unto you.’ To love
God is to love all humanity. Karma – action and reaction Each thought, every word or
deed has to be accounted for in Nature. Every cause has an effect and every
action brings about a reaction. Except for Masters who have transcended these
laws and freed themselves from Karma, all are bound by karmic bonds – the root
cause of physical existence and the Nature’s clever device to maintain this
existence. The mind contracts karmar, put a covering on the soul and rules
through the organs and senses. Although it is the soul that can impart strength to the mind, the latter has taken
up sovereignty and is governing instead. Before one can achieve victory over
the world. One must achieve victory over the mind. Karma is the cause of
rebirth, and each birth is in turn followed by death. Thus the cycle of
enjoyment and suffering birth and death continues. No amount of integrity,
intelligence of genius can absolve a man as long as there is the slightest
trace of karma. Ignorance of the laws is no excuse and though there may be some
concession or relaxation with man-made laws under special circumstances there
is no such allowance in Nature’s law! Prayer, confession and atonement may give
temporary mental relief, but they cannot overcome karma. All karma must be
wiped out completely before permanent salvation can be found. Disturbed by these facts,
man seeks solace in deep pious doctrines or when he comes to know that both
good and ad deeds are fetters – one of gold and the other of iron – he turns to
renunciation. Different faiths promise relief, but he soon finds it temporary.
How then, does a Master approach this problem? At the time of initiation, the
Master takes entire charge of his disciple’s karma, making the disciple
responsible only to him and not to the Lord of Karma. After warning his
disciple to guard against opening any account of bad deeds, a part of which the
disciple has already settled in this life upto the time of initiation. By the
grace of the Master the Karmas to be tolerated by the disciple in the remaining
years of life are softened. In the moments of misery, the Master is our refuge. There is no court of trial
after death for a loving disciple – the Master is all in all for him. Why does a Master-saint
take all this on himself? Because he inherits the merciful nature from God
above who commissions him to personally distribute this treasure of mercy. Thus
he is honored like God, and Sant Mat has volumes of books written praise of the
Masters, and as many books written will hardly do justice to the vastness of
their love and kindness. ‘Deadly Five’ Time casts its heavy shadow
over man. He has to toil hard to keep pace with the changing times. So deeply
he is absorbed in his external needs and desire that he forgets times. So
deeply he is absorbed in his external needs and desires that he forgets about
contentment, sympathy and love. Entangled and surrounded by the ‘Deadly-Five,
lust, anger, greed, attachment and vanity – he stumbles and cries out to the
unseen for help. Heave’s mercy is stirred – and so, as times stiffen the
Almighty extends His help, through Master, more and more lavishly. Such is the
case in this Kaliyuga, the Iron age. It is indeed very hard to
believe that anyone can be above the five passions mentioned above, and that he
can enter the kingdom of Heaven during his lifetime. All mankind is under the
control of these five. Only a Master can save a man from their clutches. We all
demand reliable proof before committing ourselves and this is give by a Master
in the shapes of experience of the ‘Life Impulse’ or Naam (word), and inner
vision. Contact with a Master is essential. Those whole who keep aloof and
depend on tradition an priests –equally ignorant as themselves – are deprived
of contact with the power. What is spirituality? Spirituality is often
confused with blind faith in sacred books, a display of miracles, psychic
phenomena of yogic powers. Actually, spirituality is inner experience –
experience of soul – and its alphabet begins where all philosophies end. When
one gets an actual experience of the soul by self-analysis and contacts of
Overself, only then it means spirituality. The first practical lesson
of spirituality starts when there is complete withdrawal from the physical body
through the grace and kindness of a practical Master. No one can withdraw and
separate himself from the physical body unaided . Master Come to distribute the
treasure of spiritual blessing to sincere seekers of true Spirituality. It can neither be bought nor taught. It is caught
by contact with spiritual people. Like all Nature’s gifts, spirituality is
given gratis by the Masters. There are two main currents
in the body that control life. One, a motor current which controls breathing or
parna and the other a sensory current, which may also be called attention or Surat.
Master-saints ignore the former altogether so that breathing is not interfered
with and the life process goes on without interruption. The sensory current
ramifies throughout the entire body and its chief center lies between and
behind the eyebrows along the mind. We have to wiehdraw the sensory current, or
the spirit, to its center. Initiation Attuning oneself with the
internal Sound-current is the only way to calm the Mind and practice
concentration. It does not matter which school of thought a man belongs to.
There are no hard and fast rules, no rituals, no ceremonies, no pomp and show,
no offering of gifts, not even of flowers. All the disciple is required to do
is to enter within the henceforth consider the body as his laboratory. He has
only to understand a few points (mentioned below) with regard to the theory. (1) Master
is not the body. He is the God Power functioning through the body and is using
his body to teach and guide man. Only in a bodily form can a disciple recognize
his Master in upper regions and also here on earth. (2) Master
is shabd, Nam, Naad or the Word which is a link with the Infinite, Path leading
to the ultimate Reality and which will take man to his ultimate goal. (3) For
those disgusted with life and those who yearn for permanent happiness and
peace, the word assumes a body to afford them solace. Once a disciple contact
the word and the Master, the audible form of the word resides within him every
moment and never leaves him. This audible Sound-current or the ringing radiance
is the life impulse that the Master gives at initiation. It may be heard as a
Sound coming from a distance and gradually becomes so sweet that no music on
earth can excel it. This is the water of life, spring of immortality, the
Elixir of Life or the Nectar of Spiriuality
spoken about in holy books. (4) Man
has an inner eye with which he can see within himself the higher regions when
the veil is rent by the grace of a competent living Master. In this state he
remains perfectly conscious and undergoes amazing experience. To ascent to
upper regions without a competent Master is fraught with danger. Simran – A password Simran is the repitition of
charged words given by a competent Master. The disciple is given these charged
word as a weapon against all dangers. It acts also as a password to all
spiritual planes, gives strength and sustenance to the body and mind during any
trouble and affliction and brings the soul near the Master. It is instrumental
in achieving concentration and imparts many other diverse powers. Initiation starts with the
explanation and description of inner spiritual regions and the way in which the
path is to be pursued. The inner vision is to see various distinct heavenly
Light and contact with the divine link – sound principle – constitutes the practical
side of initiation. Daily practice of these combined with Simran is called
meditation. The disciple is asked to keep a diary of progress. The initiation
ceremony takes two to three hours. In conclusion, the science
of self-analysis that reveals the Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God is
remedy that can construct culture and grace through a Master- saint, visible
Representative of the Lord. He who claims to love for his invisible God and has
no regard or love for his visible brother man is lost indeed. To love, revere
and feel grateful to our fellow-men is to love and revere God. So, too, the
love for the visible true Master, our closest connecting link with God, is
reality love for the Supreme Father. The atmosphere in which the genuine Master
moves is charged with currents of peace and love which influences those who
come into contact with him. Guru precedes God. Such a Master was Hazoor Baba
Sawan Sing Ji Maharaj who remained with his disciple for many years and even
now after he left his the body, waits on his loved ones and even those who
contacted him with love and sincerity. On the physical plane, he is still
showering his blessing through his medium at Ruhani Satsang, Sawan Ashram,
Shakti Nagar, Delhi –110007. The same Power works and the same Light now shines
from the bulb. Any one who sincerely
wishes to avail himself of a golden opportunity can do so, contact the Master
and his wishes are fulfilled with the grace of God. |