Unity of Man

 

CONTENTS

 

 

  • Editorial
  • Messages
  • Brief Life Sketch - Hazur Baba Sawan Singhji Maharaj
  • Brief Life Sketch - Sant Kirpal Singhji Maharaj
  • The Three World Tours
  • Hail to Thee, O Light of life! - by bhadra Sena
  • Master’s Six Word Message
  • Prayer of supplication - by Arran B. Stephens
  • Ruhani Satsang (science of soul)
  • A Sinner At The Door - by H.C Chadda
  • Presidential Address
  • The Living Master
  • Manav Kendra
  • There Is Only One Religion - Shankar Dev
  • Man’s World Today And Tomorrow - By Aftab J. Srivastava
  • Master’s Calling - By Mary Jt Garlich
  • Muni Tulsi Visits Sawan Ashram
  • World Religions Conference
  • Spirituality – By Nawab Abdul Wahab Qureshi
  • A brief report of world conference on Unity of Man



  • EDITORIAL

     

    Nowhere is now here

     

    To find unity is to find oneself. It is not a matter of searching outside but of withdrawing from all outside and receding within to the center and core of our being. For unity is within and not without; it is innate in us. The more we go out the more we scatter and disintegrate ourself. The more we withdraw and recede within, the more we realize our true self, the indweller of this muddy vesture of clay, the man body. We rise into the consciousness that it is I and none else or it is he and none else, the one who has consciousness that it is I and none else or it is he and none else, the one who has become many, taking on different shapes and forms. The ocean of all consciousness that has divided and scattered itself into little drops of consciousness. Very simple it seems, but somewhere along the line something goes wrong, and thing and get mixed up. The consciousness entity, drop of the ocean of all consciousness, identifies itself so completely with the outer covering of matter that it forgets its true nature and being that it is consciousness entity and not the covering, the indweller and not the body.

     

    And thus we find the ocean reaching out to the drop, God reaching out to his children by taking the form of man to take them back home. The great drama is enacted from age to age. God men come to awaken mankind, to rekindle the dying fires of divinity in them by providing the spark from the abundant of the limitless reservoir that they bring to mankind. They join mankind into unbreakable bonds of love to establish the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God. To err is human. When they leave the world man forgets and again a God man comes to reawaken man to realize his true identity.

     

    Unity is not a matter of drawing inferences form books, or feelings and emotions. It is a matter of seeing the unseen, knowing the unknowing within the God made temple of the man body. And this is the gift of grace that God men come to distribute freely to man, whoever he be, wherever he be. And in this time and age the living Master, Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj is distributing the gift of grace in such abundance that in that in the all-pervading darkness we see a glimmer of the dawn of the new golden age. It is in the fitness of things that he should be the guiding spirit behind the world wide movement for unity of man for it is only a God man who can change, “ God is nowhere” into “God is now here.”

     

     


    Rashtrapati Bhavan,

    New Delhi – 110004.

    February 1, 1974.

     

    Message

     

    I am indeed glad to know that a conference on world unity organized by Manav Kendra of Sant Kirpal Singhji will be held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, shortly.

     

    Today more than ever before we need the perennial philosophy preached by the sages of India. Our ancients have looked upon the world as ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – whole world is one family. Science and technology have obliterated distances and the world has become a neighborhood. There is no room for narrow prejudices of caste, creed, race or color. We have to work in unison towards building a new world order where people can live in peace and harmony.

     

    I offer my greetings to the delegates to the conference on world unity and send my best wishes for its success.

     

    Sd/-

     

    V.V. Giri.

     

     

                            *                      *                      *                      *                      *

     

    Prime Minister House,

    New Delhi.

    January 23, 1974.

     

     

    Message

     

    Our ancients spoke of mankind of one family. All great religions also have a vision of the brotherhood of man. In our own day, because of the growth of communications, millions have tangible proof of this truth and the astronauts have seen our earth from after as small globe in limitless space.

     

    If the world is one and mankind is one, it is our duty to ensure that the narrower loyalties of race, nationality and religion, into which birth or choice divides people, are not allowed to militate against the common franchise of humanity.

     

    My good wishes for the success of the world conference of the unity of man which is being held in Delhi.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Indira Gandhi)

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Office of the Chairman,

    National Redemption Council,

    The Castle,

    OSU, Accra.

    29th January, 1974.

     

    Message

     

    I thank you most sincerely for your letter of January 18th, 1974. I have taken note of it and I believe that I will bring blessings on Ghanaians.

     

    On the occasion of your 81st birthday, I take the opportunity to wish you, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, long life and prosperity to enable you accomplish your mission on earth.

     

    Long live Ruhani Satsang.

     

    Long live Sant Kirpal Singh Maharajji.

     

     

    Sincerely yours,

    Sd/-

    (Col. I.K. Acheampong)

    Head of State and Chairman,

    National Redemption Council.

     

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

     

    Minister of Defense, India

    New Delhi

     

    Ministry of Defense,

    November 28th, 1973.

     

    Message

     

    The world presents the sad spectacle of divided house where man fights man. Conflicts bring immense hardship and suffering to the people. A change in heart is essential to put an end to this state of affairs. Emphasis on the essentials of all religions will go a long way to bring the people nearer.

     

    I wish the organizers of the world conference for the unity of man all success.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Jagjivan Ram)

     

     

     

     

     

    Minister of Industrial development

    And Science and Technology,

    Government of India.

     

    New Delhi,

    24th January, 1974.

     

    Message

     

    I am happy to learn that the Manav Kendra is organizing a world conference of unity of man on 4th February, 1974 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. I wish the conference all success and send my good wishes on this occasion.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (C. Subramaniam)

     

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

     

    Minister of Health and Family Planning,

    New Delhi.

    18.1.1974.

     

    Message

     

    World unity is no doubt vital for existence of man on this planet. I wish you and other organizers of this conference success.

     

    With good wishes,

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Dr. Karan Singh)

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

    Minister of Law and Justice

    And Company Affairs

     

    Ministry of Law and Justice

    And company affairs,

    New Delhi – 110001.

    November 22, 1973.

     

    Message

     

    I am glad to know that the Manav Kendra, Delhi is organizing a world conference for the unity of man in February, 1974, and that a Souvenir is going to be published on this occasion. I have pleasure in sending my best wishes for the success of the conference and the souvenir.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (H. R. Gokhale)

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

    Ministry of Communications,

    India.

     

    New Delhi-110001

    December 21, 1973.

     

    Message

     

    The unity of man is a common theme but it is difficult to achieve it. It is also an ideal; but as with all ideals, there is always a hiatus between the ideal and the practical or the desirable and the attainable. I trust the proposed world conference of unity of man will focus attention on the need to evolve a common forum to stress the essential oneness of human needs and aspirations for peace and development.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Raj Bahadur)

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

    Minister of State for communications,

    India.

     

    New Delhi-110001,

    January 29, 1974.

     

    Message

     

    The theme, unity of man, may sound obvious. But there are several aggressive forces at work which will have to be tackled if the unity of man is to be reality.

     

    I hope your conference will give the correct lead in this regard.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Sher Singh)

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

    Ministry of Defense Production,

    India,

    New Delhi.

    January 21st, 1974.

     

     

     

    Message

     

    The world is divided into various nations and a wall thus exists separating man and man. It is true that unity of man cannot be built in a day but this first needs to be built up in the mind of man.

     

    All the religions of the world have emphasized the unity of mankind yet this unity continues to remain a distant goal. The world conference for the unity of man organized by Manav Kendra is a step in the right direction.

     

    My best wishes,

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Vidya Charan Shukla)

    Minister of Defense Production

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

    Minister of Information and Broadcasting,

    New Delhi.

     

    Message

     

    The minister of information and Broadcasting thanks you for your letter dated 16.11.1973, and is happy to learn that Manav Kendra is organizing a world conference of unity of man in February, 1974, and bringing out a souvenir also.

     

    He sends his best wishes on the occasion.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (K.P. Ghatnekar)

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

    Deputy Minister for Labor,

    New Delhi.

     

    Message

     

    I am glad to learn that Manav Kendra, in collaboration with many other social and religious associations, is organizing a world conference for unity of man.

     

    History abound in cases where religions has unfortunately been misused to cause strife and bloodshed whereas true religion is based upon noble conceptions of man’s inheritant virtues. Even today most of the irreligious acts are performed in the name of religion. Man in the 20th century can very well boast of economic and political advancement, having attained almost all material pleasures of life, but moral values seem to have been corroded, social religion is only a way of communication with God and there is unity in almost all religions in advocating the basic moral principles. With all the economic and material development and rather because of it, what mankind requires today is sustenance and rejuvenation of moral principles. The ethical aspects of modern life have to be stressed if humanity is to be saved from the degeneration that the current trend will take it into. It is, therefore, bounden duty of all people, truly religious, to save mankind from narrow-minded religion and bring about understanding and harmony at the level of man. I am happy that this is the objective of the proposed conference. I, therefore, wish complete success to the organizers of the conference in the attainment of their objective.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Balgovind Verma)

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

    Raj Bhavan

    Lucknow,

    December 4th, 1973.

     

    Message

     

    A purposive and thorough study of human cultures and civilizations, cropping up in various parts of the globe, amply shows that there are wider zones of unity than diversity amongst the human beings of different communities and nationalities: The apparent differences are being perpetuated and amplified either through ignorance or by vested interest. The sole purpose of each and every philosophy and thought has been to remove poverty and agony from the earth and to bring about eternal peace to the suffering humanity. as regards the national barriers – Nations must come closer and should endeavor to do their best to feed the absolute humanity on earth in economic, social and cultural fields in the same manner as Taluq or a District feeds the state. I congratulate the Manav Kendra for organizing a ‘world conference of unity of man’ in February next and I send my best wishes for its success.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Akbar Ali Khan)

    Governor, U.P.

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

    Raj Bhavan,

    Madras,

    27th November, 1973.

     

    Message

     

    I am glad to know that the Manav Kendra in collaboration with other social and religious organization is organizing ‘world conference for the unity of man’. I wish the conference success.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (K.K. Shah)

    Governor of Tamilnadu,

    Madras.

     

                                    *                              *                              *                              *                              *

     

    Vidhana Soudha,

    Bangalore-1

    Dated 14th December, 1973

     

    Message

     

    I am very happy to learn that the Manav Kendra, in collaboration with many other social and religious association of prominence, is organizing a world conference for the Unity of Man during the first week of February, 1974.

     

    The objectives of the conference  are most praise-worthy in as much as they seek to promote peace on earth and goodwill among all men and also to evolve a synthesis of religion and science as they key to the understanding of the nature of the universe. I am glad that the conference  is open not only to votaries of religion but also to rationalist thinkers. As Charles Colton has so rightly observed: “Men will wrangle for religion, write for it, fight for it anything but live for it.” This is the root cause of the malaise afflicting contemporary society.

     

    I extend my greeting to the organizers and participants and best wishes for the success of the conference 

     

     

    Sd/-

    (D. Dev raj Urs)

    Chief Minister

     

     

     

     

    Chief Minister Madhya Pradesh Bhopal

    Dated 23 rd January, 1974

    Message

     

    I have received your letter dated nil inviting message to the International conference  for world Unity, for which I thank you. I regret, it will not be possible for me to be present owing to pre-occupations. I wish the conference  all success.

     

    With best wishes,

     

    Yours Sincerely,

     

    Sd/-

    (P.C. Sethi)

     

     

     


    Chief Minister of Rajastan

    Jaipur

     

     

    Message

     

    I am happy to know that Manav Kendra in collaboration with many other social and religious associations is organizing ‘world conference for the Unity of Man in the first week of February, 1974 and a souvenir on this occasion will also be published. I hope a large number of delegates from all over India and abroad will participate in the said conference . this conference  will be able to highlight the essential unity of the basic moral principles contained in almost all religion, and the convention will go along headway to enable all mankind on the good service to fellowmen.

     

    I send my good wishes for the success of the conference .

     

    Sd/-

     

     (Harideo Joshi)

     

     

     

     


    C. Achutha Menon

    Chief Minister, Kerala

    Trivandrum

    15th January, 1974.

     

     

    Message

     

    I am happy to know that the world conference  of Unity of Man will be held at Delhi from 3rd to 6th February, 1974.

     

    I send my good wishes.

     

     

    Sd/-

     

    (C. Achutha Menon)

    Chief Minister

     

     


     

     

     

    Minister of Commerce

    India.

    New Delhi

     

    January 23rd, 1974

     

    Message

     

    It is gratifying to know that a world conference  on the Unity of Man has been organized by “Manav Kendra” in a world divided by differences of class, creed, nationality and various other social, economic and political barriers, there is need for emphasizing the basic unity of all mankind. The concept of one world may sound like an anachronism in these days of international tensions, built it is a concept to which humanity has turned time and again in times of stress and world wide unrest.

     

    I wish the conference  the success that it deserves.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (D.P. Chatoopadhyaya)

     

     


     

     

    Ministry of Tourism & civil Aviation

    New Delhi

    6th December,  1973.

     

    Message

     

    I am happy to know that the Manav Kendra in collaboration with many other social and religious organizations is holding a world conference  of Unity of Man in the month of February, 1974 to highlight the essential unity of the basic moral principles contained in almost all religions.

     

    I am sure that the conference will go along way in strengthening the moral, spiritual and religious values of mankind throughout the world and unite them on the common ground of service of fellowmen.

     

    I wish it all success.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Dr. Sarojini Mahishi)

    Minister of Sate

    Ministry of Tourism & civil Aviation

     

     

     


    Chief Executive Councilor

    Delhi Administration

    Dated 23rd January, 1974

     

    Message

     

    Our sages of the yore had for the first time said “Vasudha Kutambakam” (all the world is a family). The world was at no time in such urgent need of this mantra as today. Science has annihilated distances and consequently having increased and as a result of most destructive weapons at the hands of mankind, a future war is likely to wipe out the whole human race from the face of the earth. Obviously, the salvation of, therefore, lies in spiritual development and spiritualism without any differences of caste, creed, religion and country.

     

    I am sure that world conference  of Unity of Man would definitely go a long way in binding the people of our Globe with silken bonds of human brotherhoods, love, kindness, and selfless service, I wish the conference  a grand success.

     

    Sd/-

     

    (Radha Raman)

     

     


    Deputy Minister of Education &

    Social Welfare

    India

    New Delhi

    21st January, 1974

     

     

    Message

     

    “I am glad to learn that in collaboration with a number of social and religious associations, the Manav Kendra, is organizing a world conference for the Unity of Man in the first week of February, 1974.

     

    I send my greetings and good wishes to all the participants and wish the conference  all success.

     

     

    Sd/-

     

    (D.P. Yadav)

    Deputy Minister


    British High Commission

    New Delhi, India

    2nd  January, 1974

     

    Message

     

    Thank you for your letter IWCU/1069 of 16 December, 1973, to sir Terence Garvey, about the inter religious convention, for the Unity of Man to be held in February. Sir Terence Gravey has left India on transfer as ambassador in Moscow.

     

    You may already have written to members of the Christian Clergy in Delhi about the convention. I think they are in a better position than any others to propose the names of participants and would suggest that you seek their further advice. Members of this mission may like attend the convention and trust that you will not mind if I draw attention to it as a matter of personal choice.

     

    I personally have full sympathy with the objective of enriching our through about world problems and human relationship by applying to them the values which have motivated and sustained religions. I send my best wishes for the success of the  convention.

     

     

    Yours sincerely

    Sd/-

    P J E Male


    Spanish Embassy

    New Delhi - 11

    28th  December, 1973

     

    Message

     

    Thank you very much for you letter of the 16th December, 1973 informing that an ‘inter religious world convention for the Unity of Man’ will be held at Ramlila Grounds, Delhi form the 3rd to the 6th February, 1974, for which you have extended an invitation to me and to the religious and social leaders of my country to attend the same.

     

    I will pass on your invitation to the interested circles in spain, though I am afraid it is rather late for them to decide to participate in it view of the great distance and expensive journey from spain to India.

     

    As regards myself, I am sorry to tell you that I will not be in Delhi during the period of the conference  owing to a previous engagements out of station. Nevertheless, I wish your convention all success.

     

    Wishing you a very happy new year,

     

    Yours sincerely

    Sd/-

    Ambassador of Spain


    New Zealand High Commission

    39, Golf Links

    New Delhi - 110003

    27th  December, 1973

     

     

    Message

     

    Thank you thank you for your letter IWCU/1065 of 16 December, 1973, informing me that the world conference  of Unity of Man will be held from 3 to 6 February, 1974.

     

    It is regretted that I shall be unable to take a part in the conference owing to a very full program at the beginning of February.

     

    I should like to take this opportunity to wish you every success for the occasion.

     

    Yours faithfully,

    Sd/-

    (R.R. Cunninghame)

    High Commissioner


    Ambassade De

    Balgique

    ND. 20/4497

    New Delhi, 18th January, 1974

     

    Message

     

    Dear sir,

     

    This is to acknowledge with thanks receipt of your letter of 16th December together with the folder on the forthcoming inter religious world convention, which I read with mush interest. I would like to attend the function if I can find the time to do so.

     

    I heartily reciprocate  your good wishes for the New Year.

     

     

    Yours sincerely

    Sd/-

    (C.Kerremans)

    Ambassador of Belgium.

     


    High Commissioner for the

    People’s of Bangladesh

    New Delhi

     

    Message

     

    I am exceedingly pleased to learn that the Manav Kendra , in collaborations with some other social religious organization in India and abroad, has undertaken to organize in Delhi and Inter Religious Convention for the unity of man. I have no word to express my gratification on so noble a venture. At a time when the entire world has taken a drift to extreme materialism, when humanity as a whole has fallen prey to the resultant ills of that extremism and when morals and values handed into man from generation to generation, through centuries, have suffered a serious setback, how well timed and how befitting it is that the Manav Kendra should take initiates to organize a world conference to hammer on the basic integrity of rather disintegrated mankind of today. It is also very much in fitness of things that India, the land of Mahavira and Buddha, Rama and Krishna, Khwaja Moinuddin and Baba Farid, Kabir and  nanak, Chaitanya and paramehansha, should offer the venue for such self realization by man when humanity itself is faced with a challenge all around.

     

     

    Sd/-

    (A.R. Mallick)

     

    Dr. A.S. Khalon

    Dean College of Basic Sciences &humanities

    Punjab Agricultural college, Ludhiana

     

     

    Message

     

    I would like to congratulate you for organizing such a conference  of the Unity of Man. I do this for the simple reason that even the developed countries, which have secured very high levels of income through a marriage of science and technology, have started realizing that the value system of their society will ultimately determine how rich the culture of their country is. At least in the Indian situation, I have no doubt in my mind that our greatest loss is not just low agricultural situation, I have no doubt in my mind that our greatest loss is not just low agricultural production stone of any production but the loss of human values which are the foundation stone of any progressive and liberal society. I hope your conference  will serve the purpose of enthusing a core of such persons who would carry the message of this conference  to all corners of the country.

     

    With regards,

     

     

    Yours sincerely

    Sd/-

    (A.S. Kahlon)

     

     


    Thekchen Choeling

    Dharamsala Cantt.

    January 23, 1974

     

     

    Message

     

    Dear Reverend Sand Kirpal Singh Ji,

     

    His holiness has much admiration for the noble work that you are under taking and extends his blessing and prayers for the success of the world conference  of Unity of Man.

     

    With best wishes,

     

     

    Yours sincerely

    Sd/-

    (Tanzin Gayche)

     


    Secretary

    Office of H.H. Dalai Lama

     

     

    Message

     

    I am extremely delighted to learn about the forthcoming conference for Unity of Man at Delhi.

     

    It is of great importance to draw the attention of all the participants in the conference  about the present secular nature of political and constitutional basis of Bangladesh. Secularism primarily intends at seperation of institutional religions from the state and as such it not only implies neutrality of state before all religions and equality of all religions before law, but also inherently signifies full freedom to preach and practice any religion with liberty to criticize any religion and also to refrain from being a member of any religious community including the right to hold and propagate a sceptic and agnostic view on life. If the aforesaid proposition is accepted as basis of all religious teachings and motivations humanity can come together earlier much nearer. Let secular India as the land of all faiths with a tradition of religious tolerance and synthes is kindle the light for a new brave world.

     

    I wish the conference  great success.

     

     

    Sd/-

    (Syed Muhammad Hussain)

    Senior Advocate in Supreme Court

    And President of Bangladesh Branch.

    World Association of world federalists

    Amnestry international

    International league and parliament Asson.

    Etc. etc.

     


    Sikh Dharma Brotherhood

    Western Hemisphere

    1620, Preuss Road

    Los Angeles, California 90035

    USA

    January 18, 1974

     

     

    Message

     

    “Ancient, ancient , an cient –saturated with deep wisdom for the man is mother India which has led always in bringing unity, peace, tranquility and grace to the heart of man.

     

    The land of India contains the wisdom of ages given by its sages and this technology is previous and priceless.

     

    Today, as a leader in wisdom of the technology of consciousness, India is giving to the mankind experience in the realm of infinity through this great saga of the Unity of Man oneness of mankind happening now as a pointer toward the peaceful future on earth.

     

    On behalf of the youth of America and on my personal behalf, I congradulate sant Kirpal Singh Ji for kindling the torch of human unity on the basis of the oneness of the soul and the sound vibration of common existence: the love, the God.

     

    May the light of God guide him and the grace of Guru inspire him for this righteous cause.

     

    In the name of the cosmos which prevails through every BODY and the Holy Naam that holds the world.

     

     

     

    Sd/-

    (Yogi Bhajan)


    Siri Singh Sahib

    Sikh Dharma Brotherhood

    Los Angeles, California. USA

     

     

    Message

     

    How I wish I could attend the world conference  of Unity of Man. As a former secretary General, and present parliamentary adviser of the world Association of world Federalists, it is not hard to imagine how near to my heart must be the aims of the conference.

     

    I believe that the religions of the world have so much in common that every step towards unity of action means for me a step towards the brotherhood of man. This would be made effective by the disarmament of “sovereign” states, the establishment of a common government of man, and the keeping of the world peace by world authority, leaving the nations to develop their own distinctive characteristics without the fear of world upheaval. May the conference  lead appreciable to this goal.

     

     

    Sd/-

    (E.L. Mallaieu, QC, MP)

     

     

    Parliamentary adviser,

    World association of the world Federalists. 

     

     

    Message

     

    My Dear Reverend Sand Kirpal Singh Ji,

     

    I thank you for your letter asking for my cooperation.

    I am always at your disposal in the cause of unity of religions.

     

    By the grace of God you are doing very noble work in arranging a conference  for the unity of mankind.

     

     

    Yours sincerely

    Sd/-

    Raja Mahendra Pratap


    3-2-2 Chome, Jsuruma,

    Yamato shi, Japan, 243

    Dec. 27, 1973

     

     

    Message

     

    I heartily wish the world conference  of Unity of Man a success. God bless all of you. man wants and needs the happiness blessed by God. But the mankind’s history is, in a sense, the history of war. The only means of rooting out war consists of pure mutual love and confidence.

     

    Man must recognize how much the life and soul is valuable. We should worship our own sacredness in us with folded spiritual hands one another. Love for humanity has no frontier. The problem of poverty may be settled by clean politics. The hatred feeling in man, however cannot be eradicated by it. Only just religion can lead to settle it.

     

    Truth, is one, but every where. God is God. We, Japanese look at beautiful Mt. Fuki as the incarnation of God soul, not as the lump of basalt and glavels.

     

    To climb Mt. Fuji the climber are quite free to choose which starting point to climb, to reach the holy top. Any quarrel cannot be found about it.

     

    Nothing is more miserable than fighting of war caused by religious quarrel. People must be harmony to live, mush more religious enthusiaste. We must devote ourselves to prevent the destruction of mankind, and to establish the eternal world peace.

     

    I do hope your conference  held in February, 1974 will bring it to the world as well as Asia.

     

     

    Yours sincerely

    Sd/-

    Chisema Nishimura

    3-2-2 Tsuruma, Yamato Shi,

    Kanagawa ken, Japan,

    Representative of Raja Pratap’s

    World Federation Center for Japan.


    National spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of India

    Bahai’s House

    6, Canning Road

    New Delhi-1

     

     

     

    Message

     

    Once again I received your letter with printed letter and the proposed program of the conference  that is being organized by you.

     

    I am  sorry that you put my name as one of the signatories and that too wrongly because Bhaha is not any sect but is now recognize as a world faith in almost all the countries of the world. You should have at least consulted or contacted me before putting my name as one of the signatories.

     

    As I wrote to you earlier, in case you want the representative of the Baha faith to participate in the conference , please let me know if you would like to have one of the speakers on Unity of Man as explained by the founder of the Bahai faith.

     

    In case you are bringing out any further circular or printing any leaflet and if you include my name, kindly see that it is put under BAHAL FAITH.

     

    Thanking you,

     

     

    Yours sincerely

    Sd/-

    (R.N. Shah)

    Secretary.

     

     


    Sir Adrian C. Boult

    38, Wigmore Street

    London, WIH 9DF.

     

     

    Message

     

    Of course I am happy to support your conference , and send all good wishes the world needs every possible elements towards better understanding and better feeling.

     

     

    Yours sincerely

    Sd/-

    (Adrian C Boult.)


    Headquarters

    The world fellowship of Buddhists

    33, Sukhumvit Road

    Bangkok-11, Thailand

    Telephone 511188-90

     

     

    Message

     

    Dear Friends in the Dhamma,

     

    We refer to you letter dated 17th November, 1973 and would like convey hereby our Princess President regret in not being able to attend the forthcoming convention due to the fact we are also planning in February a seminar in Bangkok under the theme of the Buddhist higher Education. This will certainly keep her bust both before and after the abovementioned theme.

     

    But the purpose of our convention is highly commendable and it has gained our full sympathy. We are sure, it is going to be a memorable occasion not only for the participants but also others who sincerely wish for, as the conference  implies, “the Unity of Man’.

     

    So you can be sure the will enjoy our wholehearted support even though our president is forced to absent herself from it however, in spite of this fact, or perhaps because of this fact, we have become more interested in giving you whatever support is possible. And in this regard we would like you to contact our regional center at the following address:

     

    WFB. Regional Centre,

    Asoka Mission,

    P.O. Mehrauli, New Delhi-30.

     

    This is so that they will authorize their delegates to attend the function on our behalf.

     

    But above all, we should like also to hear more from you about the forthcoming convention. We hope, therefore, that you will provide us with more, information and development along with the some relevant photos so that we, and also others of our friends of the dhamma, enjoy and appreciates your attempts as well, in the meantime, we have passed on your circular to the editor of our REVIEW, Who will find room for its inclusion in the pages of his journal. With more information from you, we shall be very willing to let the world know of your noble undertaking.

     

    Looking forward to hearing from you again,

     

    Yours in the Dhamma,

    Sd/-

    (Aiem Sankhavasi)

    Hony. Secretary General.



    House of Commons

    London Swia Oaa

    Deputy Chairman of Ways & Means

     

    21st January, 1974

     

     

    Message

     

    How wonderful it would be if I were able to come to the world conference of Unity of Man. I am afraid however I am quite unable to leave this country indeed I have been ever since I became Deputy Speaker.

     

     

     

    Sd/-

    (B.L. Mallaieu, OC. MP.)


    PROCLAMATION ON THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN

     

    Our HELP cometh from the LORD –

     

    We are all GODS CHILDREN, sons and daughters of the LORDS walking on EARTH –each having a MOSSION to fulfill.

     

    Let us have deep faith trust in him

    He will honor us with his infinite love and wisdom

    And will grant us happiness and peace of mind.

    Let us read the holy scriptures with an open mind

    The Bible is Gods word –written by inspired men

    It is the greatest, most valuable book ever produced.

    It contains light to direct us

    It contains comfort to console us

    It contains food to sustain us

    It contains knowledge to teach us

    It is verily a guidebook to save us

    Read it frequently and prayerfully

    Let its holy doctrines and precepts become part of your own life.

     

    Only them can all things work together for the utmost good of all mankind.

     

    By thus placing yourself into the hands of the most high and accepting his infinite love and wisdom his strength and his Power there can be establish a new and  better world to bring along lasting peace on earth and brotherhood of man.

     

    Let us, therefore begin now right now to proclaim and do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord

     

    Become a vessel of service for our creator

     

    It does not matter, where you worship him, whether in a church, tabernacle, synagogue or temple.

     

    As you let God take charge of your life you will be led into the right path and will soon became an example for others, the link that will start a chain reaction in your fellowmen for the good.

     

    Dr. Ingrid Sherman

     


    He that is one from beginning to end, he is my Guru

                                                                            (Gurbani)

     

    Concept of the Manifest Master

     

    Sadho so satgur mohi bhawai

     

    O brother, my heart yearns for that true Guru, who fills the cup of true love, and drink of it himself, and offer it then to me.

     

    He removes the veil from the eyes, and gives the true vision of Brahma.

    He reveals the worlds in him, and makes me to hear the unstruck music:

    He shows joy and sorrow to be one:

     

    Kabir says: “verily has no fear, who has such a Guru to lead him to a shelter of safety.”

     

     

    Satgur soi daya kar din

     

    It is the mercy of my true Guru that has made to know the unknown

     

    I have learned from Him how to walk without feet, to see without eyes, to hear without ears, to drink without mouth, to fly without wings;

     

    I have brought my love tasted of the sweetness of the nectar; and without whom that joy can be uttered?

     

    Kabir says: ‘the Guru is great beyond words, and great is the good fortune of the disciple.’

     

     

     

    Bhai re koi satgur sant kahawai

     

    He is the real Sadhu, who can reveal the form of the formless to the vision of these eyes:

     

    Who reaches the simple way of attempting Him, that is other than rites or ceremonies:

     

    Who does not make you close the doors, and hold that breath, and renounce the world:

     

    Who makes you perceive the supreme spirit of union in the midst of all enjoyments.

     

    The infinite dwelling of the infinite being is everywhere: in each, water, sky, and air:

     

    Firm as the thunderbolt, the seat of the seekers is established above the void.

    He who is within is without: I see Him and none else.

     

     

    Translated by Rabindra Nath Tagore

    (Hundred poems by Kabir)


    HAZUR BABA SAWAN SINGHJI MAHARAJ

     

    The great saint of the modern times Hazur Baba Sawan Singhji Maharaj was born on 27th July, 1858, in a respective Jat Grewal family, in Mehmasinghwala village of Ludhiana District in the Punjab. His father, Sardar Kabul Singh, held the high post of Subedar Major in the Army. He was a God fearing man who spent his leisure hours in the company of the saintly persons. His mother, Shrimati Jeewani Ji, exemplified in her saintly person all the noble qualities of Indian ladies of olden times – simplicity, generosity, spirit of selfless service, humanity and a loving disposition. Hazur Baba Sawan Singh was the only son of his parents and as such all their hopes and aspirations were centered in him.

     

    Hazur Maharaj came at a time when near famine conditions prevailed due to prolonged drought. On the day of his birth rains came in torrents and continued for a whole month. It was a proclamation from Nature that the very attractive personality, nobody will be able to resist his charm. He shall rule over the hearts. He will be an ascetic of ascetics and a king of kings. The many splendoured personality of Hazur Maharaj combined both the temporal and the spiritual glory. The divine beauty of his radiant face attracted all. People who happened to see him passing by stopped dead in their tracks and reclaimed, ‘what a beautiful face, what glory!’

     

    Early Years

     

    The signs of future greatness were visible in Hazur from a very early age. He had a quick grasp and an unusual capacity for learning. He always stood first in his class. He was respected by both his classmates and his teachers. He combined simplicity with taste. Meticulous cleanliness and orderliness were his distinguishing features. He kept his effects spick and span and neatly arranged; you could find a speck of dirt on his books or clothes. He used to accompany his father on his visits to the Sadhus and sages and thus, very early in life, he had the benefit of the elevating company of enlightened souls, who could foresee at that time that the tall, handsome boy with a high forehead and an earnest face, going to the school with a satchel in his hands, would one day be a teacher of the whole world.

     

    Hazur had his education in the school at Gujarwal where he passed his matriculation examination. He was appointed a Ziledar in the Canal Department and worked for sometime in that capacity at Gohana near Rohtak district, but had to leave the job due to severe illness. He lived with his parents at home for two years. He worked for sometime as a teacher in Military school at Farrukhabad but did not relish the company of uncouth, hard drinking gluttonous men there. Consequently he joined the Thompson engineering college at Roorkee and qualified as a Civil Engineer getting a high position in the examination.

     

    He joined the military engineering service and was posted at Naushehra in the then North Western Frontier Province of India. He spent the greater part of service in Nathiagali, Murree, Chirat and Abbotabad as a Sub-divisional officer. As an officer he won the admiration and regard of seniors and subordinates alike, for his diligence, integrity and sagacity and courtesy. His leisure hours were spent in studying the scriptures of various religions and in the company of saintly persons or in prayers.

     

    Search for Truth

     

    The different phases of the Masters search after truth make an inspiring narrative. The child of light wrapped up in the aura of cosmic consciousness, oblivious of his surroundings, radiated something of the light and glory that he was. A Sadhu passing by, who happened to see the child contentedly sucking his thumb, stood still and stared  long at him as one transfixed. Then seeing the  consternation at the face of the mother he said, “forgive me for having a Darshan of the king of kings, the elect of God who has come for the salvation of the human race. Look at the shining padam chakra on the sole of his feet. I have only one regret. The great saviour will not stay long with us.” The Sadhu bowed low at the child’s feet and went his way (it is said that Baba Jaimal Singh, the spiritual  preceptor of Hazur Sawan Singhji, transferred his own life to him to enable him to complete the great task entrusted to him).

     

    Love of solitude and meditation was ingrained in him from his very childhood. He preferred to stay at home than to go out with his playmates. From his parents he imbibed the qualities of contentment, forgiveness, humility, devotion and selfless service. He was singularly free from bigotry and dogmatism, which enabled him to make a comparative study of scriptures of different religions with a necessary open mind. He gained a command over different languages – Hindi, English, Urdu, Persian and Punjabi and was able to study in depth religious literature of the Hindus like the Vedanta, the writings of the Sufi Saints of Persia in their original language and the sayings of Saints and sages of various religions. He had collected rare books on religion in his personal library, some of which were in the manuscript form. These books include literature on Pranami Mat and other religious sects and movements whose names even are known to few people. We find notings by Hazur in his own handwriting in all these books.

     

    Parallel study in depth of different religions which was the first step in his search for truth later helped to lay the foundations of his successful worldwide movement to bring together men of different religious persuasions on one common platform of spirituality and invested his discourses with a rare power. In a few simple words he would sum up the whole substance of voluminous religions texts with such clarity that a child would understand the intricate problems of theology. By his discourses and books he proved and brought home the fact of the unity of all religions. He proved that he basic teachings of all great religions was the same and that all saints and sages who came, irrespective of the time and the religious formation they belonged to, gave out the same truth.

     

    Hazur met enlightened men, the Sadhus and Faqirs of different religious formations and orders during his search for truth. During his two years stay at home he had the benefit of the society of Bhai Bhoop Singh, a Tyagi (a renunciant). Under his influence he used to think of renouncing the world and devoting himself whole-heartedly to God-realization. But being the only son of his parents he felt that he owed a duty to them and one who shirks a duty cannot become complete. At Farrukhabad he used to hold discussions with various Sadhus particularly Bhai Nihal Singh Thohewale. When he was posted at Peshawar Hazur used to visit Baba Kahan, a holy faqir. The God-intoxicated Baba did not like people to intrude upon his privacy and abused them and even threw stones to chase them away. But he welcomed Hazur with great affection and Hazur also used to take something, money or gift, for Baba Kahan. One day Hazur asked him for the gift of spirituality to which the Baba replied, “You will certainly have spiritual benediction from a perfect Saint in the fullness of time, but, not from me.” Whereupon Hazur enquired, “Where shall I search a person?” The Baba replied, “All your efforts to search him shall be in vain. The Master will himself find you at the appointed time.

     

    During his tenure of government service he was sanctioned for a long time in the Murree Hills. There he resided near Bharpura Mal Dharamshala where Sadhus going on a pilgrimage to Amarnath caves used to stay. Hazur used to have discussions with these Sadhus and gained something from each one of them.

     

    The Journey’s End

     

    At last years of search and constant prayers found fulfillment. Baba Kahan’s prophesy came true. God’s elect are searched and found. As the saying goes, “God himself is out on a search for a perfect man.” The human pole on which the power of God was manifest, known as Baba Jaimal Singh Ji Maharaj started from Beas in search for such a man. And where did he go? To the hills of Murree. Was there no man in the whole of Punjab? Men there were, legions of them, but there was no man who could be entrusted with the task of salvation of humanity. The momentous event happened in 1894. Hazur was supervising some construction work. Baba Jaimal Singh, the foremost disciple of Swami Shivdayal Singhji Maharaj chanced to pass that way. He was accompanied by a middle aged lady (Bibi Rukko). Pointing towards Hazur, Babaji told her, “I have come here for this man.” The Bibi was very much surprised. “The man has not even greeted you,” said she. “He does not know yet. But he is specially cut out for higher life. He will come to me on the fourth day from now.”

     

    As foretold by Babaji Hazur went to his residence on the  fourth day and questioned him on the various aspects of spirituality for hours. After a few days of discussion and association with him all his doubts were dispelled and he was initiated by Babaji into the mysteries of the beyond. The meeting of a perfect Master Baba Jaimal Singh and a perfect disciple like Hazur Sawan Singh was the greatest spiritual consummation. The disciple surrendered his all at the feet of the Guru and the Guru in turn dyed in his own fast and unfading color. In 1903 left the mortal frame after entrusting his work of spirituality – of raising the indweller of the manbody, the soul, above body-consciousness and contracting it with the light of God within. from 1903 to 1911 Hazur carried on the work entrusted to him by Babaji while remaining in service. In 1911 he returned from government service long before time and dedicated the rest of his life to the service of the seekers after the truth. People used to address him respectful as ‘Hazur Maharaj Sahib’ and ‘Maharaj Ji.’

     

    Spiritual Work

     

    Hazur Maharaj live to a ripe old age of 90 years. In his life of ceaseless activity he did a tremendous amount of work of which only a brief reference can be made here. The real work for which the Masters come is to put seekers after truth on the way back to God. They give of their life impulse to lift the earthbound mortals out of the prison house of the physical body and contact them with the Reality within. this work Hazur did on a very large scale. He distributed the gift of spirituality so freely that we find no parallel in history to his generosity. He went to the remote corners of India and initiated thousands and thousands of aspirants into the science of the soul. He established thirty Satsang centers in different parts of India. He initiated nearly two hundred thousand initiates in India and abroad. His initiates include men of different countries and faith – Indians, Americans, Europeans, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and others. At his Satsangh headquarters at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh at Beas more than hundred thousands of his followers used to gather on annual Bhandara Satsangs and partook of the free meals at the Guru’s kitchen. Two to three thousands of his direct disciples are found in America, Switzerland, Britain and Germany.

     

    Literary Work

     

    The greatest and most literary work completed under the supervision and guidance of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj was the magnum opus of spirituality named, ‘Gurmat Siddhant’ which contains a synthesis of the teachings of all great religions and the Masters who have come from time to time. The book originally written in Punjabi language (it was later translated into Hindi, Urdu and other languages) by Sant Kirpal Singh Ji under the  guidance and supervision of the great Master Hazur Sawan Singh Ji is spread over two thousand pages and is in two parts. The first part deals with the theoretical and the second with the practical aspect of spirituality. This monumental work provided the philosophical base for the world center for spiritual aspirants and the common platform of the world Fellowship of Religions.

     

    Building Work

     

    Hazur Maharaj got thirty Satsang Hall constructed in different parts of India were centers of spiritual teaching and practical demonstration of spirituality. The greatest monument that bears witness to his genius as an architect and builder was the new shaped Satsang hall he built in Dera Beas in 1934-35 the same year that the great literary masterpiece, ‘Gurmat Siddhant’ was published. The spacious 120*40 ft. hall is the largest and most imposing structure in northern India and a Masterpiece of the builders art. The imposing domes and minarets of this wonderful architect and builder of the beautiful colony of Dera Baba Jaimal sigh on the riverside three miles away from the Railway station at Beas.

     

    Ideal Householder

     

    Hazur Maharaj demonstrated through his life as a householder that married life was no bar to spirituality and that man can reach the pinnacle of spiritual development while living the life of a householder and fulfilling his obligations to his family and the society. Hazur set before us a very high ideal of a householder. He was married at a very early age according to the prevailing custom of the time. The consummation of marriage did not however take place till the gona ceremony was performed which usually took many years after the marriage. Hazur’s marriage ended with the performance of the ceremony for the bride died before the performance of the gona ceremony. The second marriage took place when he had passed his twenty fifth birthday, thus fulfilling the vedic canon of Brahmcharya (chastity) of 25 years before entering the life of the householder. He had three sons of whom one did young while the other two survived him. During 28 years of government service he lived with his wife for a total period of seven months only. It was due to a life of chastity that at the age of 90 years he used to roar like a lion in gatherings exceeding hundred thousand people and addressed such huge huge gatherings without the aid of a loudspeaker. He worked for eighteen hours at a stretch without feeling the strain. At the ripe old age of ninety it was difficult to keep to keep pace with him during a walk.

     

    Appointment of the Successor

     

    On 12th October, 1947 in the early hours of the morning in Amritsar, where Hazur was undergoing treatment, he called his spiritual son to his bedside and said, “Kirpal Singh I have assigned all the other duties to different people but have not so far entrusted my spiritual work to anyone. That work I entrust to you today so that the work should continue to flourish.”

     

    On the first of April, 1948, Hazur was in great pain. This suffering was a test devised by the Master for those around him. The great Master had often said that at the last hours he would suffer great pain and will get relief only when his spiritual son and successor comes to sit by his beside. By the Masters grace Sant Kirpal Singh  was provided the rare opportunity of seeing the  Master alone without anybody being present. With a heavy heart he prayed, “O Master you are not bound to this cage of flesh , are above the joys and sorrows of this earth, but we, thy humble servants cannot bear this sight. Take pity on us and heal thyself.” The almighty Master (the God) answered the prayer. There was no longer any Singh of pain of discomfort on his majestic face. His shining forehead was lit with the divine light as before. The God-intoxicated eyes charged with love opened and met the imploring gaze in his son. Hazur continued looking in the eyes of his Gurmukh son and successor for three or four minutes and then those loving eyes were closed for ever. In the words of Sant Kirpal Singh, “during the time Master looked at me I felt at mighty surge of grace, a radiation that I had never experienced before in life.” Such instances can be described in the oft repeated words of Hazur Maharaj. “If one bulb is fused another is lit, when that too is fused still another bulb is lit. the bulbs go on changing but the light remains the same. We are the worshipers of the light.”

     

    And thus on April 2, 1948, the sun of spirituality that had shed radiance on earth for ninety years went down in Dera Baba Jaimal Singh.

     

    Teachings of the great Master

     

    The great Master’s teachings can be divided into two broad aspects, temporal i.e., on the level of man and spiritual  i.e., on the level of the soul. On the temporal aspect Hazur said that God made man. He did not put a stamp or label that this one is a Hindu and that one is a Muslim, and mankind is all one. All of us have similar physical bodies. We are one at the level of the soul, the indweller of manbody and one as worshippers of the same power-God.

     

    What is a man? He is an ensouled body. And soul is of the same essence as of God. The various religious formations are made by man because man by nature and instinct, is a social being. The purpose of these formations was that man should live in some society and follow a code of ethical and moral conduct so that he should live at peace with his fellows and living an ethical life of love, service and sacrifice he should know his true self and realize God, which was the goal of human life and the common ideal of all religious. Ethical life according to Hazur was the stepping stone of spirituality. The basic teachings of all religions according to Hazur are the same. There was no need to change one’s religion since the teachings of all religions formations as enlightened souls came in all formations and gave out the same truth in the languages of the countries and times. Hazur Maharaj therefore advised seekers of Truth to remain in their own formations, follow their own customs and canons of conduct but should fulfill the aim of life viz., to know one’s true self and to know God, which was the common goal of all religions to realize which we have joined one or the other formations.

     

    The second and the most important aspect of his teachings pertains spiritual i.e., self-knowledge and God-knowledge of which he gave a practical demonstration and inner experience to all who came to him. Hazur Maharaj revived the  teachings of the Sant Mat or the science of the spiritual Masters which is being preached by the line of saints like Kabir, Nanak, Tulsi, Palto, Shamas Tabrez, Hafiz, Rum, etc. of raising the scattered soul currents from the senses and concentrating them on the still-point behind the eyes and giving a contact of the light of God and the Shabd or the Music of the spheres reverberating within each heart (light and sound principle being the two manifestations of God into expression power. ) Only a competent Master, one commissioned from God has the  power to give practical first-hand experience of rising above body-consciousness. This old science does not admit of any change and is the natural way back to God which the Masters come from time to time to revive. The sole qualification of a competent Master was that he should be able to give this experience of death in life i.e., rising above body-consciousness, to the disciple in the very first sitting. Hazur Maharaj gave practical first-hand experience to all initiates, each according to his background got some capital of spirituality to start with and the same gift of life is given freely to all who ask for it through Hazur’s grace by his spiritual son and successor Sant Kirpal Singhji.

     

    The Ruhani Satsang

     

    Hazur Maharaj wanted to bring together the followers of all religions on one common platform of brotherhood of man under the  fatherhood of God and to put them on the way back to God. Why then there are all these rifts and divisions among men? It was all due to wrong preaching. The only solution of this was for enlightened men of different religions to come out of their restricted circles and pool their resources to propagate the universal teachings of all religions relating to righteous living on the basis of spiritual unity. We were souls, the indwellers of the house of this physical body. The improvement in the condition of the indweller would bring about all round improvement in environment.

     

    Keeping in view this desire of Hazur Maharaj a comprehensive plan for the establishment of Ruhani Satsang was placed before him by Sant Kirpal Singh for his approval. Hazur appreciated the plan and said, “I am with you in the work.” It is due to his blessings that Ruhani Satsang grown apace in India and abroad and today there are 80 to 85 centers in India and more than 215 centers in various countries of the world serving as common platform for the propagation of the science of the soul. The purpose of the Ruhani Satsang is to present spirituality as a science before the common man. For this purpose theoretical and practical teaching of the subjects of Righteous living Self-knowledge and God-knowledge is being given to all without any distinction of caste, creed, color, race of nationality and through Hazur’s grace people all over the world are being benefited by the same.

     

    S.P. Chopra,

    Secretary,

    World Conference on Unity of Man,

     Sawan Ashram, Delhi –110007.

     

     

     

     

     

     


    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.

     

     

     

     

     

     


    The Three World Tours

     

    The living Master, Satguru Kirpal Singh undertook three world tours. The first tour came in 1955, the purpose of which was to re-introduce the forgotten science of the soul to sincere seekers after Truth and give them practical experience of the Light and Sound principle, teaching them how to realize themselves so that ultimately they can realize God. It was a great pioneering effort and brought about a transformation in the west at all levels of human thought and endeavor, as a result of which the Satguru found a heightening of consciousness in the West at the time of his second tour in 1963.

     

    Satguru Kirpal Singh came to the west in order that all “Who had eyes to see and ears to hear” Would awaken to the conscious reality of the Living world within. It was a simple message that he gave to the West, simply conveyed. “We are embodied souls,” He said. “We are conscious entities, drops in the Ocean of All consciousness which is God. The difficulty with most of us is that we have forgotten our true identities as children of God. “He presented it as a man-problem and gave the call, given light-givers before him,” Man! Know Thyself.”

     

    Before he started on the tour that took him across many countries and continent, he told the dear ones in the Sawan Ashram, “I am not going of my own free will”. And he summed up the purpose of the tour by quoting the simple words of Christ,” I go to seek the lost sheep” Which he did by attracting seekers after Truth from al over the world and setting up new branches of the Ruhani Satsang in different which have now grown to more than 255.

     

    He arrived at a time when the great intellectuals and thinkers in the West were paralyzed by fear of an impending atomic war. “How can we evade the danger of nuclear war?” They asked. And he told them “If only you act up to what the scriptures say.” And he summed up the teachings of all great Masters and scriptures in the two cardinal principles – “Love thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul in the two cardinal principles – “Love thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy strength” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself”. He gave the Gift of grace freely to all. His talks, lectures, practical instructions for meditation were all given free. He had even to advertise in the newspaper that the gift of spirituality like all gifts of nature was given free and it was the birth-right of man. “Every saint has a past every sinner a future.” He said, and again, “What a man has done a man can do, of course with proper help and guidance.”

     

    The second world tour came 8 years later in the crisis-ridden years 1963-64. When he decided to work on many levels of consciousness, concurrently, in order to reach all strata of human society with the blessing he had to dispense to all mankind. He met the pope and he met patriarchs and prelates. He met president and prime ministers. He met leaders of orthodox and heterodox religious personalities he gave the same message “You have under your care many millions of the children of God. Their welfare is entrusted to you. Can you therefore gamble with their lives and still affirm that you abide by your scriptures and ethical laws?” To the heads of government he said, “If the administration of a neighboring country is unable to take proper care of its citizens, you should help them. Do not exploit the weakness of others.”

     

    Hazoor Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj had informed his beloved spiritual successor: “You will travel all over the world and your name will spread from one corner of the earth to the other. I see you in great assembly hall with the nobility of the world before you.” From its commencement this tour became a fulfillment of that prophesy of Satguru Kirpal Singh’s name was made know to the great and small and he was received with honor in the great palaces, parliaments and government building of the West.

     

    In addition to the basic message he gave these social and religious leaders, he also propagated the message of the world fellowship of Religions as its President. We are already one”, however said, “Through the Unity of Man and Unity of Soul”. But we have forgotten the unity. It is a need for all men of goodwill to work together for peace the need is urgent – particularly on the part of religious, social and political heads who are the ‘driving force of the masses.

     

    Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji was awarded the honor of Grand commander of the Order of Satguru. John of Jerusalem, Knight of Malta, a year before, which opened the door of all churches to him. He found a definite increase in spiritual awareness which had grown since his visit to the West in 1955. It was as if the Western world had realized that it could be standing on the threshold of a new spiritual age – rather than the edge of nuclear destruction – a transfiguration stage of present racial consciousness from materialistic intellect to spiritual intuition.

     

    The third world tour of the living Master, Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj was wholly devoted to distributing the gift of grace to all seeker of Truth, ‘Whoever they be, wherever they be’ and scattering the seed of Naam far and wide. The third world tour was a memorable event. A much larger number of people were given initiation by the Master in this hurricane tour of four months, duration than in the two preceding tours put together. The open spiritual discourses, meditation sittings and question-answer sessions drew unprecedented large number of people as may be seen from the two pictures in the souvenir.

     

     

     

     



    The Master’s Six Word Message

     

    A significant feature of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration to commemorate the completion of 75 years of sojourn of earth of His Holiness Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj  - President, world fellowship of Religions and the Founder Head of the Ruhani Satsang, Sawan Ashram, Delhi, a non-denominational, spiritual institution with 180 branches in different countries of the world, is, that the function does not end with the presentation of welcome address to Sant Ji but marks the beginning of a whole year of intense coordinated efforts throughout the country for the cause of national integration, inter-religious communication and harmony for which he has been working all his life.

     

    Six Word Message

     

    Sant Kirpal Singh, who has thousands of initiates in India, Pakistan, Germany, Greece Austria, France, Africa, France, Africa, Britain, Ireland, united states, Latin American countries, and Australia, Malaya, Korea and other countries of the eastern hemisphere has sent to his followers a six word message which aptly sums up his life’s work and teachings. The message which, like his books and talks, has been translated into French, German, Latin and other languages of the world in English reads, “Be good, do good be one”. The whole mass of spiritual literature consisting of more than a dozen books, numerous pamphlet, published and recorded discourses and talks by the Master, is summarized in these simple words. “Be good” sums up his dictum that “Ethical life is stepping-stone to spirituality” and show the great stress he lays on righteous living. The second part of the message lays down the cannon of social life, man’s behaviour with the fellow man and his responsibilities towards the society epitomized by the universal tenet: ‘Love thy neigh our as thyself’. The third part, “Be one” represents the very life and soul of the Master’s mission of national and international integration reflected in is ceaseless striving to bring men of different religious persuasion on one common platform of spirituality and bringing home the basic truth of brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God to all mankind. “We are one as man body and soul and are children’s of the same Father” he says, adding, “Unity is already there, but we have forgotten it”.

     

    Spiritual Revolution

     

    A simple unassuming person, clad in the simple attire of his native land (he  did not take to western dress during his tenure of high office of Deputy Assistant Controller of Military Accounts or on his two words tours), Sant Ji has brought about a silent revolution throughout the world and changed the trend of practice and preaching of institutionalized religions. The conferment of the orders of the  Grand Commander of the Sovereign order of St. John, Knights of Malta in 1962, (Which hit the headlines in the Indian Press) was a unique event in the history of religion. The thousand year old Order of the Knight Templars who led the wars of the crusade had to change their hoary constitution to present the Order of chivalry to non-Christian, thus recognizing the fact that a non-Christian could also be acclaimed as defender of faith. The acceptance of this Order by Sant Ji despite the misgiving of some people brought ample dividends in his second world tour in 1965 in as much as it opened the doors of churches of all denominations of Christianity to him and he left and indelible stamp on theologians and church leaders as also leaders of public opinion in the west. During that tour he had an audience with His Holiness the Pope which led to some historic development. The pope later laid down the new policy of establishing contact and communication with the non-Christian religions and openly recognized the fact that Religion and Theism was not the monopoly of Christians; the same truth was enshrine in other religions also.

     

    The philosophical base of integration was provided by ‘Guru mat Siddhant’ a magnum opus of spirituality written by Santji under the  direction of his Master, Hazoor Baba Sawan Singhji Maharaj. The 2000 page book, which contains a synthesis of the basis truths of different religions was published in 1935. It contained a significant prophecy that the religion of the new age would be a synthesis of the verities of all religions. The man who made the prophecy has worked with untiring zeal for and seen the fulfillment of that prophesy in the time of his life. During the eventful, action-packed two decades of his ministry he was revolutioned religious thought.

     

    Through books, discourses, mass meditation sittings, voluminous Correspondence, tours in India and abroad and International inter-religious gathering he has reached all levels of society and brought about a welcome transformation in all spheres of human thought and endeavor.

     

    H.C. Chadda,

    Editor Sat Sandesh,

    Ruhani Satsang, Sawan Ashram

     



    RUHANI SATSANG

     

    What is Ruhani Satsang?

    It is the Science of the  soul  - the inner self of man. It is a Science of practical Self-analysis, through which self-knowledge and God-knowledge are know through the Grace of God and Living Master. Despite intellectual attainments, wisdom, and knowledge, success in this field is never achieved by man’s unaided efforts. In short, God and God-way are made manifest by the Light of the God-man which guides the seeker after God and help him to rediscover God within himself.

     

    Literally, Ruhani Satsang means spiritual gathering – a center for imparting purely spiritual teaching to all mankind.

     

    His Holiness Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, the present living Master, Founder and Director of Ruhani Satsang says:

     

    “My Master, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, a perfect Saint ever had the desire to form a common forum or platform – Ruhani Satsang – at which all person even though professing different faiths and beliefs, would be given the Principles of Spirituality and encouraged to practice spiritual discipline, and so gain salvation and peace, both here and hereafter.”

     

    “The Perfect Masters bring from God to His children the message of spiritual emancipation – Hope, redemption and Fulfillment, such Blessed brings are children of Light and come into the world to diffuse Light amongst suffering humanity.”

     

    Aims and Objectives

     

    1.                   To Ingrain in Seeker After Truth –

    (a)                            The true values of life; the everlasting and unchanging of nature of the soul in the eve-changing panorama of life.

     To realize:’ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of spirit is spirit’.

    (John 3:16)

     

    (b)                            The higher values of life; the Greatness of God; the need of humility, chastity, abstinence, continence, and loving selfless service to humanity.

    (c)                            The Expansion of self. In loving all living creatures, as well as our fellow beings as children of the same Supreme Father, the self is expanded to embrace the family, the community, the nation, and all humanity, so as to include the entire universe and become a citizen of the world with a cosmopolitan outlook deserving of God’s Grace.

     

    ‘He that loveth not Knoweth not God, for God is Love.’

     

     

                   

    II.                                                                To impart the knowledge of the science of the soul

     

    Eternal truth is the same in all religions. It has been variously described by the sages according to their individual spiritual advancement. A living Master, being a perfect Master, and fully conversant with all aspects of traversing of the Path of the Masters, can explain the seeming differences.

     

    The  testimony of a living Master is always based on first-hand experience and never on hearsay or through books. The saints say:

     

    O’ Pandit (one well-versed in religious learning’s), you and I cannot possibly agree in our conclusion for you speak of things as you have read in the sacred texts while I speak from actual positive experience of my own.’

     

    III.                                                             Practice of spiritual Discipline

     

    The absolute Truth is imageless and Power of Truth or God - in – action is a vibratory force pervading everywhere. Its primal manifestations come in the form of Light and Sound. It is for the Master-saint to give this experience and help the soul to rise above the sensory (physical) plane. The scriptures tell us not to put faith in the words of a Master-saint unless. He is able to give us the actual inner experience to support His word. An open mind and receptivity are needed to complete the initial experiment. Once the first contact is established on the super sensual plane, under the guidance and help of the Master, the initiates can develop to any extent he chooses.

     

    The external sound principle is referred to in the

    Holy Granth Sahib as Naam or Shabd;

    Vedas as Shruti (That which is heard);

    Upanishads as Udgit ( The sound of the beyond);

    Rishis as Akash Bani or Nad (Voice from the sky);

    Christ’s Gospel as ‘Word’

    Al-Quran as Kalma or Kalam-Kirpal Singh Ji-Kadim ( the most ancient call);

    Zoroaster’s Philosophy as Surosha;

    Theosophy as voice of silence; and other ancient Teaching as ‘Music of the spheres’.

     

     

    IV.                                                           Experience Death in life and New Birth at Will in Conquering Man’s Last Enemy – Death

     

    Contact with the Divine Link is made when soul rises above body-consciousness (plane of the senses) and comes into its own on super-sensual plane, here one:

     

    ‘Sees, without eyes, hear without ears, walks without feet, acts without hands, speaks without tongue, O, Nanak – it is by death in life that one understand s the Divine Will and stands face to face with Reality.’

     

    In other words, an embodied soul has to disembody itself from the senses, the mind, and vital airs, all of which are too gross to contact the Truth. The soul then becomes pure to come into contact with the Master-Power – which is so subtle and rarified. Therefore, Guru Nanak says: “Unless one rises to the level of God, one cannot know of God.”

     

    The soul as it rises above body-consciousness shines forth in pristine purity, comes into cosmic awareness and feels itself a conscious co-worker in the Divine Plan.

     

    This efflorescence of the microcosm into macrocosm is called second Birth – Birth of the spirit as distinguished from the birth of the flesh. ‘Expect a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God’. As the process of soul withdrawal is akin to actual death, the Initiate gains a victory over death, the last enemy of mankind. The daily dying at will takes away the sting of death. Scriptures of all religion refer to death in life. ‘Death of which the people are so terribly afraid is a source of peace and joy unto me’ . . ..  Kabir.

     

    ‘So long as a person does not transcend the sensual plane he remains an utter stranger to the life divine . . . . Maulana Rumi’.

     

    ‘I die daily’ . . . . ..  St. Paul.

     

    ‘These truths indicate an ultimate victory of the spirit over the flesh . . . . . a true resurrection or a complete change over from one life to another.

     

    V.                                                                   Realizing the kingdom of God within

     

    The kingdom of God is not something outside of us. Its beauty and glory lies within the human soul and it is the culminating point of the spiritual journey to which initiate is led by the Radiant Form of the Master. It is said: ‘The kingdom of God cometh not with observations; the Kingdom of God is within you’.

     

    ‘The power of Word’ liquidates the process of karmic reactions (Cause and Effect, good and Evil), supported by the Power of God as manifested through the Grace of the Master, the spirit forges ahead unhampered to true Reality. The state of blissful beatitude is spoken of as:

     

    ‘Such Khan (The immortal plane);

    Mukam-I-Haq (The abode of Truth);

    New Jerusalem (where the  Christ Power appears once again).

     

     

     

    VI.                                                              Ending One’s Quest for a True Master

     

    A living perfect Master is the be-all and end-all on the spiritual path. He is the greatest Gift of God  and the Greatest Blessing for Mankind. All scriptures sing praises of the Master of truth holding a commission from above to help those souls that truly year for God.

     

    ‘Without a Perfect Master none can reach God, no matter if he has his merits a million fold’ . . . .. . . . . . .  Holy Granth.

     

    ‘It is a fundamental law of God that none can even think of Him without the aid of a Master Soul’ . . . . .  . . .Holy Granth.

     

    ‘The True Master is Master indeed  . . . . . . . . . . . . . Master in every phase of life.’

     

    ‘A Guru or Master on the physical plane where He imparts spiritual teachings as any other teacher would do, shares our joys and sorrows, and helps us at every step in our daily trials and tribulations.’

     

    ‘A Guru Dev or Radiant Form of the Master that guides the soul on Astral and Causal Planes.

     

    ‘A Satguru or the Veritable Master of Truth itself in the Great Beyond.’

     

    The importance and necessity of a competent Master therefore cannot be over-emphasized.

     

     

    VII.                                                        Spiritual Meditation

    The most natural and ancient form of meditation is followed. As it can be practiced with equal ease by the young and old alike, and is harmless, it is called Sehaj Yog (Easy Path).

     

    The moment the Master takes charge of the spirit, He guides it both directly and indirectly, visibly and invisibly on this earth and beyond, in life and after life never leaving it until the final goal is reached.

     

    To meet a Master-Saint and get initiation is the acme of good fortune and the greatest blessing on earth. The Master-Saint holds the key to the Kingdom of God.

     

    As Master is the greatest gift of God, so is God the Greatest Gift of the Living Master, for through His grace, one can have union with God. The scriptures confirm this:

     

    I’ and my Father are one. No man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him’  . .  . . . . .Bible.

     

     

    CONDITIONS FOR INITIATION

     

    Willingness to cultivate and practice the following five cardinal virtues:

     

    1.        Non-injury to Others,

    2.        Truthfulness,

    3.        Chastity,

    4.        Love for All,

    5.        Selfless Service.

     

    And the following three purities:

     

    1.        Diet – Pure vegetarian: No meat, fish, fowl egg (both fertile and unfertile) or by –products thereof; and alcoholic drinks and narcotics prohibited.

    2.        Livelihood- an honest living.

    3.        Right conduct,

     

    For Further Information & Free Literature and Various Publications,

     

    The Secretary

    Ruhani Satsang, Sawan Ashram,

    Shakti Nagar,

    Delhi - 110007

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


    A Sinner At The Door

     

    I too await Thy pleasure

    A sinner at Thy door!

    Thou hast opened the Floodgates of Love and Light

    On us unhappy mortals.

    A single compassionate look from Thy God-intoxicated eyes

    Has power to lift us out of the mortal coil

    And free our soul from the Chains of mind and matter

    That binds us to this Earth

    To soar unhindered, out of all Time and space,

    In all limitless regions of boundless Joy –

    Where matter ends and Love reigns supreme.

    In thy Holy presence we feel we’r one with God

    And like Dr. Broadshe of Lousiville, Americal,

    Our hearts speak out in Ecstasy,

    “Buddha is here and is all Nirvana!”

    With Thee God seems to be near at hand

    And we feel His living presence.

    Away from Thee All is dark,

    We feel like lost Souls

    Blundering through pathless shadows.

    Blessed are the pure in heart

    For their heart is Thy abode.

    They are with Thee always and Thou with them,

    For them there is no separation.

    But still they pine of Thy physical presence,

    For one look at heavenly face

    That sheds divide radiance over all

    - Saints and sinners alike.

    Thy all –embracing grace transcends

    And man-made barriers and distinctions

    Of caste, creed, colour and race,

    Reaching the innermost recesses of the Soul.

    Cut away from our eternal source of everlasting life and joy we glower in dust

    Hapless objects of thy pity

    That has moved thy Divine Compassion

    To take the mortal form of man

    And Descend on this region of darkness and death.

    Thou art the pole of God-light,

    Outwardly a man amongst men Thou art something else besides-

    And God –man come to free us from the bonds of flesh

    And lead us back to God.

    Thy message of hope and cheer resounds through the four corners of this earth

    “There is hope for everybody.”

    “What a man has done a man can do”.

    “Of course with proper help and guidance”.

    And in the words of Christ thou sayeth to all without reservation

    “Knock and the door shall be opened unto you”.

    I too stand at thy door

    A hardened sinner beyond all hope of redemption

    Spread out before me I see the passing Caravan of Fleeting images,

    A long unending procession of shadowy objects fill my ye

    And distracted by the changing scene

    I forget to knock at thy door

     

    -H.C Chadda

    PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:

     

    International Unity Of Mankind

     

    A mystic bond of brotherhood makes all men one.

                                                                                    THOMAS CARYLYLE

     

    DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS: I am happy to greet you all, who have gathered here form all over the world. In this momentous session we have to explore and find out ways and means to cement and strengthen the solidarity of mankind. Nations, like individuals, are swayed by passions, prides and prejudices which create chasms in the real social order which are often difficult to span. We are living in an age of decadence, when moral and spiritual values are at their lowest ebb. With all these drawbacks and the numerous divisive tendencies, there is still a ray of hope of regeneration and reorientation. This very hope has brought us together.

     

    I thank all for the loving response to the call for remodeling of out destiny to secure a lasting peace.

     

    It is said, “Ease is Ease and West is west and never the twain shall meet.” That may have been true at one time or another, or for the author of the dictum, Rudyard Kipling; but certainly irrespective carries no weight with men of God in the present scientific age, when distance and space are fast losing the or significance, and efforts are being made to establish interplanetary contacts.

     

    The various countries of the world are just like chambers in the house of God, on terrestrial plane housing different nations. Distinguished from one another by geographic, climatic and historic conditions, facial contours and complexions, languages and dialects, diet and apparel modes of worship. All these divergent factor form the part of the great organic whole politically called state, and humanity in general.

     

    With all these seeming differences and distinction of color, creed, and cast, and these diversities in his moods of living and thinking, man essentially and basically remains man in outer appearance and inner makeup. Unity already exists in the human form, since each one is born the same way with the same outer and inner construction, and each one has a soul which is of the same essence as that of word. We are drops of the ocean of all consciousness, whom we worship as a same God, calling him by different names.

     

    Great is man and his place is next to that of God; Provided of course he has realized the God-head and his thoughts, words and deeds he is moved and guided by the Holy Ghost, the kindly Light and the Divine voice in him – the spirit and Power of God.

     

    Man has three aspects; physical body, intellect, and a conscious entity. He has progressed physically, intellectually and mechanically as we see before us radio, television and other scientific contrivance. Despite all these advancements but despite all this advancements he is unhappy and has not developed spiritually. He has developed his head and not his heart, and his scientific knowledge is misdirected to fiendish malevolence. It has created a spiritual vacuum and failed to turn the banes into boons and curses into blessings.

     

    We stand in the middle of a two fold crises; a state colt of militarism, euphemistically called “Patriotism” on one hand, and an apathy to spiritual development through knowledge of the true self on the other. In the absence of any positive thinking on both these levels we are morally regressing, and in this sad predicament we cannot have lasting peace. Guru Nanak therefore prayed, “o God, the world is a flame and has passed beyond our care. Save it by the means you consider best.”

     

    The problem before us is how to bring about a change in \mans heart and effect is inner conversion so that he can see truly and clearly and learn to discriminate between truth and untruth. Since this lies beyond the spectroscope of body and intellect, We can only resolve it by an inward glorious illumination of Divine Wisdom in the sanctuary of our soul.

     

    This is just one aspect of the matter so far as individuals go. The next is to forge abiding bonds of kinship among the nations of the world so they will treat each other with genuine courtesy based on inward love and friendly ness, and seek the welfare of all members of the human family, transcending their political ideologies which create rivalries and international tensions.

     

    During my last foreign tour I was asked on television on the United States, “How can peace be cemented?” I told them, “Peace can be cemented only when men rise above ‘isms’ and presidencies and kings raised above countries.’

     

    To remain in any “isms” is a blessing, if we keep in mind the ideal Power, which we have joined it and rise in to Universalism; but if we stick obdurately to the “ism,” the result is again narrow-minded ness and selfishness. Similarly, if kings nourish their gardens well and keep them blooming in all respects, they should respect all other countries bloom the same way and further the cause of human happiness; otherwise there will be conflicts and wars. It has been our endeavor of late to find a common forum and meeting ground where such momentous issues could be discussed dispassionately –by separating the non essential from essentials and eliminating differences, in order to find unity in divers thinking and bring abiding peace on earth; complete concord and amity in all spheres of our life. 

     

     In order to understand this worldwide movement in which we are participating today, it is necessary to review its background. Religious contacts between East and West were established as far back as 1893, when the patriot saint Vivekananda went out with the message of the Upanishads and Gita and represented India at the Chicago Parliament of Religions. His life and living showed a practical way to demonstrate the essential unity of all religions, to proclaim the message of which he founded a chain of missions in the name of his Master, Paramhansa Ramakrishna. Ten years later, in 1903, another young savant, swami Ram Tirath, presented the philosophy of Vedanta to the West in such a lucid manner that he was hailed as a “Living Christ”.

     

    Thus the way was paved for the next great step, the spread of spirituality or mysticism – the bedrock of every religion. In its pure essence, this implies the awakening of man to a consciousness at once supra mental – an immediate revelation. All mystic, Eastern and Western, have believed in the possibility of direct communion with the Spirit and Power of God through love and contemplation, without the aid of reason and logic. It puts man on the road to inwardness (not to be confused with escapism), with an active living morality as the essential prerequisite. This is the religion of spirit, or the science of the soul, and through it an individual finds his proper relation to the universe by establishing contact with God through His expression, the power called Naam, Shabd, Kalma or Word, which is the Maker, permeating and controlling all creation. The relationship with this power is achieved by developing reverence for life at all levels of existence without distinguishing between high and humble – including man, bird, beast, and the lower species. The non-human forms are the younger members of the family of God.

     

    This ethical and religious ideal of sanctity of life is a living religion of inward  love in the innermost part of our being. True theism cannot be reasoned out intellectually or felt on the level of emotions; it proceeds from true knowledge, which is an action of the soul in perfect harmony Beyond the senses. This is what is called spirituality – the contact of the soul with the oversoul – and it is achieved by rising above body consciousness through practical self-analysis, a demonstration of which can be given by an adept in the process. We call it Para Vidya ( the knowledge of the Beyond) because it lies Beyond our sensory perceptions.

     

    In the present age, saints like Kabir and Guru Nanak revived the ancient teachings of the sages of the past. In more recent times the torch was kept alive by their successors until the spiritual mantle came to hallow the personality of Baba Sawan Singh Ji, who during his long ministry of 45 years (1903-1948) gave it the widest distribution possible. In 1911 he began the work of revealing the Gospel of Love, Light and Life to the Western world as well.

     

    I feel heartened by the generous response accorded to our call for the ‘Unity of Man’ and am confident that it will not take long to reach our goal with mutual enthusiasm, goodwill and co-operation.

     

    Ruhani Satsang was founded in 1948 and dedicated to the task of imparting purely spiritual instruction, shorn of all ritual and ceremony and free from embellishment and symbol, to all classes of humanity. shorn of all rituals and ceremonials and free from all embellishments and symbolic representations. The blessing of the great Master made ‘SAWAN ASHRAM’ a permenant center in 1951 which became  a spiritual center or RUHANI SATSANG for holding spiritual gathering. Followers of different faiths, beliefs, and creeds meet at Sawan Ashram and address large masses of people coming from different walks of life, who are eager to learn and understand the elemental truths which form the quintessence of sacred scriptures. The discourses converge on the common theme of establishing direct touch with Reality, and attempts are made to reproduce and correlate, in simple understandable language, the sayings of sages and seers of all times. Presently this is being spread in 209 centers all over the world, which have helped considerably to remove to some extent artificial barriers of race, language and religion, and brought many kinds of human beings to worship the Nameless Being with so many names.

     

    By the grace of God, a new field unexpectedly opened up in 1957 when Muni Sushil Kumar Ji sponsored a conference of world religions with the idea of forming a World fellowship of religions. As a result of further deliberations there did come into being a fellowship including most of the faiths of the world, and I was elected its President. Three World tours were undertaken and four World Religions Conferences were organized in India, besides regional conferences in other countries. The purpose was to disseminate the idea of universal fellowship among people professing different faiths and beliefs, and it brought about broader and better understanding and a sense of mutual trust and confidence at the top level among the representatives of the various religions.

     

    But while the religious leaders were coming closer, a danger was developing among the followers. Instead of making religion a cementing force, they made it an instrument to serve their vested interests and began to form communal groupings bearing the labels associated with their “isms” – fortifying them with artificial wall of hatred and distrust. One wonders how a person professing religion, which is a link between man and God, can run the risk of forgetting  that he is a man born with the same privileges from God as those he hates, and that he is a conscious entity which is a drop of the Ocean of All Consciousness.

     

    To combat this danger of religious chauvinism, it was thought necessary to start the work of regeneration from the roots. Man – making must take precedence. This can only be done by inculcating in people generally the humanistic ideals of unselfish love and selfless service, with special emphasis on man service, land service and animal service (animals being our younger brothers and sisters in the family of God ). This idea took concrete shape in 1969 with the decision to set up Man-making centers or Manav Kendras here in India and abroad.

     

    In India a Man Center has been started at Dehra Dun at the foot of the Shivalik Range of the Himalayas. It has set up a hospital, a home for indigent elderly people , and a school for the children of poor families in the area. A provision for farming and cattle – raising on modern scientific lines is a part of the project. Eventually we hope to see a university, fully equipped with the original scriptural texts of the religions of the World, so that comparative studies of the truths contained therein may be undertaken; and a language school to overcome linguistic difficulties.

     

    This convention aims to unite all mankind on the common ground of service to fellow human beings and faith in Divine Power, and to accomplish that, it urges the religious and ethical leadership of the world to shed apathy and aloofness and assume a more prominent role in human affairs. Such conference in the past have been organized at the level of religions, and consequently have not been able to achieve integration in the required measure. A significant feature of this conference is that it is being organized at the level of man, as envisioned by saints and prophets like Socrates, Buddha, Mohammed, Christ, Kabir and Nanak, so that may lead to true integration. The challenging task before the religion and spiritual leaders is to bring about a radical change in the ethical, educational and economic status of humanity. Economic uplift is essential because “a hungry man is an angry man” and to talk of God to him is a mockery.

     

    I am confident that each one of us fully realizes the significance of this cosmopolitan meeting and will extend his whole-hearted support toward the fulfillment of its objectives: developing human understanding and heralding the unity of mankind. Let us pledge ourselves to this task, transcending all narrow allegiances and commitments, and stand united and resolute until its ultimate fulfillment.

     


    The Living Master

     

    Living in the world, today is a man who can present the ageless, scientific method of realizing the kingdom of Heaven while one is still living here in the human body. He can pass this method on to the sincere seeker as an objective, demonstrable fact. He can open the door to the  highest adventure; the supreme Drama of the soul. He follows in a spiritual line of cosmic apostolic succession which includes such names as Budha, Lao Tse, Christ, Kabir, Guru Nanak and Sawan Singh, to mention but a few. The name of this God-realized man is Kirpal Singh.

     

    Such high claims have been made for other spiritual leaders in this 20th century, and it is true that our troubled age has been blessed by exalted and noble souls in many religious, social and political organizations. But although these great figures have helped to ameliorate the conditions of the human masses, they are not commissioned to give the science of the Master. This alone has been the task of the few Great Master and Saints of all ages. A true Master is one who teaches one to see, hear and experience the inner spiritual planes of Light. He doesn’t expect blind faith or the false testimony of feeling and emotions.

     

    Kirpal Singh’s life and mission is unique in the incredible universality of purpose which he manifests. All Master in the past have been universal. This is truism because God is Universal and the true Master is God in human form: The world made flesh! But a new age demands new methods and new approaches, the Sat Kirpal Singh has brought an ancient and most spiritual science of the Master into consonance with needs of a rapidly changing world. Other Master were commissioned to give the esoteric science to a chosen few, Leaving their selected disciple to carry an exoteric doctrine into the world. Master like Guru Nanak Guru Nanak could journey the length and breadth of India and travel to Asia Minor, and this way truly wonderful for his age. Kirpal Singh has extended the objectivity of the previous Master into all fields of human endeavour. He is able to manifest the supreme heights through the science of the soul, but he is also the fully competent the practical Master of affairs in the mental and physical world of man.

     

    That the many ways of man can be transformed into the way of God is demonstrated in the lives of the Masters. This is as true today as it has been true throughout the ages. This present time may be an ‘eleventh hour’ in the world’s history, a challenging climateric in human affairs, but the way is not one of despair or desolation. If all communities, individuals and nations lived up to the precepts of the great social religions there would be no more hatred, no more strife, no more wars. There is no need to change one’s personal religious belief. There is a crying need to practice the precepts of that belief. No one religion is greater than the other. All have the same universal truths expounded in them.

     

    Kirpal Singh Ji through the grace of his Master, Baba Sawan Singh Ji, has firmly anchored the liberating science of the soul in the West as it is in the East. He sets forth this spiritual science in a simple and direct way. The learned and unlearned, young and old, alike can be initiated into this supernal technique of God realization. The central theme of this science is contact with the world of God, the sound current or Audible Life Stream. This divine Link with the Supreme God sounding through the various planes of creation, is know by many names in all the world religions. But the leaders the followers of these religions have lost the inner key and essential knowledge of the Word. The fact that a living Master, dwelling at this moment in the world of man, can attune the sincere seeker to this divine Music – the Word of God – is a far more revolutionary and important thing than all the fantastic developments, such as nuclear physics and outer-space travel that modern science has devised

     

    George Arnsby Jones

    In

    (Harvet in Rich)


    MANAV KENDRA

     

    The Highest Order is to rise into Universal brotherhood, Aye, to consider all creatures your equal.

    - Nanak

     

    All Mankind is one

    These are the memorable words in which the great teacher, himself a firm believer in a classless class, gave not only the yogins of his time, but to all humankind, for all times, a grand lesson in the art of living. According to the awakened and the enlightened one, all men in spite of the distinctive social order to which they belong and the denominational religions to which they owe their allegiance form but one class, or social order.

     

    World Teachers: Avatars and Saints

     

    A real teacher is know by the catholicity of his views in religious matters which attracts, from far and near, all types of people; rich and poor, learned and unlearned, young and old, in the different strata of life, regardless of sex, avocation and their nationalities and make out of them a beautiful pattern that irradiates a fragrant light of variegated hues. He exhorts: ‘Be one and sit together as members of one family. Remove all differences by sinking them in the love of the Lord’.

     

    This is not something new. All the prophets and the messiahs, the apostles and the teachers in the past have said the same thing over and over again. With the passage of time, the good old customs tend to corrupt themselves. And we, engrossed too much in the world and worldly pursuits soon forget the verities of life and gradually drift away from them and begin to modify them so as to serve us as mere convenience for the work-a-day busy life on earth-plane. In the present times, when mind and matter have gained ascendancy over everything else, we find to our dismay that we have lost our mooring and are adrift like flotsam on the sea life. It is to salvage he wreckage of what we have made of the precious human soul that Saviour appears from time to time. Such indeed is the law of nature, the law of demand and supply, coming down from the hoary past and working in all the spheres of existence. The present times are no exception to this law.

     

    Nature being the handiwork of God abhors vacuum in God’s creation. The All-pervading Spirit and Power of God  is ever on the move, restoring equilibrium Whenever there occurs an imbalance of forces or a violent disturbance in the different operational aspects of man; social or political, moral or religious, and above all spiritual. In such times, the men of God, sometimes in the form of “Avtars” and sometimes as Saints come down to the earth to fulfill the divine mission: may be to restore peace and harmony among the warring faction so that they may live in amity and concord as children of God; or to lead back the sincere seekers after Truth, yearning to go back to the home of their father. These are but two sides of the coin and cannot be wholly separated from each other and yet are generally worked out by different means according to the exigencies of the time. In the chequered history of mankind there have, at times, been occasions when both the functions had to be taken in hand by Saints, to wit normalization of human affairs even by the use of force, if necessary, so as to keep the world ageing on harmonious lines, as well as, to put the world weary aspiring souls on the Godward path.

     

    The World in Flames

     

    We are, fortunately or unfortunately, living in a potentially dangerous era in human history. It is an age of electronics. It is an age torn by all kinds of strifes and storms; social , political religious, ideological and what not; when country is set against destructive armaments. Man is just playing the antics, like an ape, on the  top of a steep precipice and knows not what avalanche of fire and brimstone, he may at any unguarded moment and unwittingly let loose and engulf the world in flames. In the midst of a tumultuous turmoil of jarring element, we are living under the very shadow of death. With all our progress in arts and sciences and the tremendous strides taken by us in the field of technology, we have not been able to free ourselves from fear and tensions, and to lead a peaceful existence. It is because man has so constituted himself by his rapacious instinct as to become wholly selfish. As such, he is constantly at war with his fellow being, with the result that there is always going on an unequal war – war of one against all and all against one, and the more so he is at war even with his own self. War has thus become a normal course of life; and the breathing space that we get in between the wars is what we euphemistically call ‘peace’ – which is however a period of preparation of fresh struggle for ascendancy, no matter at what cost, may be by total annihilation of mankind with victory for neither, and success appearing momentarily like a will-O-the wisp and vanishing into thin air the next moment. What we so assiduously seek is only a peace of the silent graveyard of the dead and not a living and lasting peace born out of love, goodness and goodwill. With the best of intentions, we are willy-nilly hurting headlong to our doom. With the deadliest means we wish to preserve life, forgetting that it is the means that justify the end and not vice-versa. We cannot have peace with the fires of selfish lust, hatred and ill-will smoldering our hearts.

     

    It is to save us from the mighty precipitous fall that the spirit and power of  assumes human form and comes in the likeness of Man because man alone is the teacher of man in the various strata of life. The human soul can only be saved by the great ‘Informing Soul’ that works at a chosen human pole – call Him as one may, a “Murshid, a Teacher, a Master, a Saint or a Satguru. It is He who can save our Souls and none else can. It is an axiomatic truth that has stood the test of time. Seeing the whole world in the deadliest grip of the invisible flame of human lust, he strives to save all by whatsoever means in His power.

     

    The Great Saviour: Hazur Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj

     

    It is within human memory that we had in our midst the Great Saviour, Satguru Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, who trod the earth in flesh and blood. He tirelessly toiled day and night for full forty five years (1903 –1948), for regeneration of human souls by freeing them from the trammels of mind and matter, putting them on the God-way by imparting to them a conscious contact with the manifested God ( God - in - expression –Power )in him. Before leaving the earth-plane on completion  of his divine mission on April 2, 1948, he passed on his spiritual mantle to his best-beloved chosen disciple, Kirpal Singh Ji  whom he had been inwardly training and guiding for the stupendous task of Master –to –be. This silent work of transformation in the secret closet of the heart went on unobtrusively for no less than 7 years from 1917 before attracting him into His physical presence in 1924; and thenceforward He gradually put him into the lime light in the quarter century that followed, passing on his rich spiritual heritage, in the time honoured and traditional way from eyes to eyes.

     

    Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji and Ruhani Satsang

     

    It was in 1948, that with the blessings of the Great Master, and in accordance with His wishes, the foundation of “Ruhani Satsang” was well and truly laid for the work of imparting spiritual instructions to the seekers of God and granting them a first-hand experience of the divine revelation of the twin principle of holy Light and Sound in the human body. It was in furtherance of this sacred trust and mission of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj that three years later the foundation was laid in Delhi of a regular spiritual center in Sawan Ashram (1951), after the name of his illustrious mentor. According to much cherished desire of Hazur it provides a common forum, a common meeting ground, for leaders professing different  religious faiths, creeds and beliefs, with the sole purpose of placing in lucid terms before the public at large the quintessence or all the sacred scriptures – the Al-Quran and the Granth Sahib and the works of other Saints and Mystics of the East and the west, all of which relate, of course each in its own way and in the language of the time, the spiritual experience of their authors, founded as they are on the common fundamental truths which run alike, like the silken thread of a rosary with many beautiful beads on it.

     

    In the short space of hardly two decades, this spiritual center has grown like a bay tree.  It has now a network of many nuclei all the world over and has helped the people in many countries to transcend all kinds of superficial barriers territorial, local, racial national linguistic and religious and to come close to each other, first as humans, then as embodied souls and lastly as worshippers of the one controlling power called over-souls and lastly as worshippers of the one controlling Power called over-soul or God. To see the divine in one’s own self and in the universe around is the acme of human perfection and the summum bonum of human life. It is efflorescence of the soul in fullness, embracing the  totality of its being, and raising Man into the Mystery of the Beyond, knowing which everything else becomes know and nothing remains to be know, as proclaimed by the sages and seers in all times and in all climes.

     

    World Fellowship of religions

     

    Everything works to the good of him who loves the Lord with all his mind, all his heart, all his strength and all his soul. As ordained by the Master Power, a greater sphere of world scope came handy to the Master in the form of an organization know as world fellowship of religions. This august body came into being as a result of deep deliberation and serious thought of the delegates from different countries of the world who came to participate in the First Conference of the world religions held in the historic Red Fort, Delhi in 1957. With the inauguration of the W.F.R., the Master was unanimously chosen as the first President to pilot the destiny of the  newly founded Fellowhip. Was entrusted with the task of finding out ways and means for furthering  its objectives; namely to bring about right understanding among the heads of different religions which were but various modes of approach to the age-old vital problem of God and how to contact Him. The religions offered but a theoretical aspect of the subject while mysticism in a practical way went to the root of the whole thing by a process of self-analysis which gave a spiritual comprehension and actual experience of Truth beyond human understanding.

     

    The W.F.R., has done its work with a fair degree of success. The religious leaders have now come to know and understand each other better than ever before. They are working together to stem the tide of Godlessness that is sweeping in the garb of pseudo secularism which lays emphasis on material and dialectic values devoid of spiritual basis and wheedles God and Religion to back yard in private homesteads.

     

    The Master remained its President since 1957, for over 13 years during which period there have been four question Conference beside Regional Conference in Paris and Tehran.

     

    The apparent and superficial diversities in the modes of living and in the forms of worship are the outcome of geographical conditions, climatic considerations prevailing in different parts of the world and because of the racial habits of the people come down from the distant past. The Master’s attitude towards the practical aspect of the true religion – re, meaning back; legio, to bind – to bind the soul back to Oversoul or God by providing a living touch with the Mystic Word, the long lost-world or the ever elusive Holy Grail which is the very basis of life on earth and bed-rock of all the extant religions, had made a tremendous impact and has been welcomed, recognized and accepted on all hands, as the sole panacea for all the ills of the world.

     

    The work of the Fellowhip during the presidentship of H.H Sant Kirpal Singh Ji  Maharaj has already attracted the attention of the Intelligential all over the world and is being appreciated everywhere as is evidenced by rare honours conferred upon its President by world renowned organization in the Christendom and in the Orient. All this goes to the credit of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj under whose gracious inspiration the work is proceeding by leaps and bounds.

     

    The Sawan Ashram in Delhi has grown into international Headquarters of Ruhani Satsang where, all the year round, enthusiastic foreigners are attracted from distant places. They come in quest of God, stay here for some time, voluntarily adopting a simple way of life and go back as torch bearers of truth, carrying with them the rich harvest of esoteric experience in matters purely spiritual, shorn of all rites and rituals, forms and formularies, dogmas and doctrines.

     

    Man is the make

     

    The work at the top level has brought some happy results by removing narrow mindedness and bigotry to some extent. The religious leaders of different faiths now design to sit together for mutuasl discussion and understanding but without a general awakening among the masses, the fraternal spirit of tolerance cannot last long. We have not only to resolve religious differences but have to pull down granites walls of separatism which are being imperceptibly built to divide mankind.

     

    The saints come from time to time to revive the unity already existing man by emphasizing that :-

     

    (i)                   We are already one as man. Man is the highest in all creation. We are born in the same way and have the same inner and outer elemental structure.

    (ii)                 Man is incarnate soul, a conscious entity and is of the same essence of God, and as such we are members of one family and related to each other as brothers and sisters in God. The potent cause of human suffering is that we cut ourselves off from the great unity of the  whole which is God.

    (iii)                Man is controlled in the body by the same Power called by the various names – God, Word, Naam, Ek-Onkar and many others.

    (iv)               The right understanding that we are all one as man, as souls and as worshippers of God – the controlling Power will results in right thoughts, right speech and right action and bring the kingdom of God on earth, which is within us.

    (v)                 Man has to know his own self before knowing God and He cannot be know by feeling or emotions or by drawing inference which are all subject to error, but by rising above out-going faculties and mind through moral and spiritual with the help of a competent Master.

    (vi)               Human body is the True Temple of God. God resided in the temple of body made by Him in the womb of the mother and not in temples made by human hands. Soul also resides therein. The divine spirit manifests there in the form of Light and sound which is seen with the Third or Single eye and heard by the inner Ear. These symbols of God are kept in the outer temples and churches which are constructed in imitation of the True Temple, the human body.

    (vii)              God made man and man made religions. Religions came into being after the Master left the physical vesture, so as to keep their teaching alive. We are men first, then the various labels that we bear on the body, viz, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, etc. We can be truly called as such only when and Light Sound become manifest in us. To be born is the body temple is a blessing, but not to rise above body consciousness (i.e to know self and God) is sinful. While remaining in our respective faith we must rise above them and should become followers of Faith – to love all his creation.

    (viii)            All saints and sages have taught that human birth is a rare opportunity. We can know God only in human body. To keep the body fit we must give it proper food, apparel and rest. If the body passes away without achieving its real aim and purpose we lose a golden opportunity for “What does it profit a man if he gains the possessions of the whole world and losses his own soul?” And all religions are intended to turn out ideal men and women – the Sikhism to turn out Khalsas – in whom light of God is effulgent Hinduism to turn out seers of light of God. A Muslim is one who sees the “Noor” of God. A Christian is one who sees the divine Light.

    (ix)                Let man’s physical body be in full blossom and his soul be full of glory intoxicated with the Ringing Radiance of God, radiating love all around to the whole creation and wish ‘Peace unto all the world over His Will’. All schools of thoughts were meant to turn out such like ideal men. Dark forces of evil have started popping up their heads among the masses owing to literacy, ignorance, superstition and orthodoxy. There has, of late, been a tendency to build communal and select ional orders in the  name of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Mohammedanism, Christianism and Sikhism upon the members of each wherever they may be.

     

    Strong barricades are being raised by the followers of the various religions viz. Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, etc. Who are being harangued to unite inter se. How far toleration will go and integration will be possible? At one time, the “Panth” is to be in danger, at other the “Dharma” or the “Shariat” and no one pauses to think for himself as to what danger it spells to mankind.

     

    This menace is not a new one, nor is it peculiar to any one country or to this age alone. Time and again, the opposing forces come to the surface to counter the effect of spiritual forces. The saints had, therefore, to take into account the lower rungs in the social order beginning from the common man which will result in true integration of man. Guru Nanak and Kabir, in their own time, had to tackle the problem from both the ends so as to bring about true oneness or integration among the followers of different “ism”. They gave out: man is man first and man last. Inspite of the bodily labels, he had the same hidden power that is working in all elemental moulds, may be Allah or Ram.

     

    A true love of God will love all His Messenger who came in the past, all scriptural records of their self-communion and communion with God. He will love all mankind and the rest of God’s creation in many forms. He will love all holy places sanctified by the presence of Godmen at one time or another and now revered as places of pilgrimage. He will never injure nor molest any thought, word of deed. In short he will be a man-of-God on earth imbued with God virtues of (1) Truthfulness, (2) Harmlessness, (3) Selflessness, (4) Chastity, (5) Universal Love, and (6) Selfless service and sacrifice. These are the six cementing factors in the world. These are the six pillars on which the super structure of peace can be raised both within individuals and in the world around them. these virtues when practiced would make this earth a Garden of Eden where God and man would once again commune face to face. All this, and much more, can be gained by getting hold of the saving – life-lines within and direct contact with the spirit.

     

    The divine path is like the razor’s edge. But as the Master often remarks the developing of God-consciousness in man is not so difficult to develop in him the humane factor, of kindness, tenderness, mercy and consideration making him a human being in the true sense of the term and conscious above all the one self same self not only in him but in others as well and the rest of the creation. This is termed ‘Man-making’. One has, therefore, to become an integrated individual, whole in himself, before he can aspire for God.

     

    God made after his own image, but man, in his imitative zeal has, through ignorance and superstition, played hell not only with Him but with Himself as well. Instead of entering into the sanctum sanctorum of the body with a pure heart, clean hands and an understanding head, bubbling over with love for all, he is charged through and through with selfishness and greed, pride and prejudice, hatred and animosity; thinking of evil all the time and doing evil deed at every step, just for the sake of paltry gains of no consequence. Tormented by the lust of the flesh, he is tossed on the foaming sea of seething feeling s and emotions and is pathetically unable to hold his barque on an even keel. A slave of the senses, he runs riot in the fields of evanescent sense-pleasure which he considers the be-all and end-all of human existence. To convert the sinner into saints is no easy task. It requires Herculean effort to cleanse the Aegean stables filled with filth for aeons.

     

    Man-making then is an indispensable pre-requisite for fashioning man into godliness. Self-knowledge precedes God-knowledge. ‘Man know thyself’ is the first essential on the  Path. In the outer form and mould, (the sentient man-body or the tabernacle of flesh) is hidden the ‘real man’ his very ‘self’. We have lost the inner man in the might swirl of the mind and the senses by plunging headlong into the fields of sense-pleasures.

     

    The man-body is the Temple of God in which the holy light is shining all the time. Until the man in the man-body draws himself out of it, he cannot witness this holy light. Man-making means reversion or inversion by drawing in and controlling from within the outer-man as any Master of the house would do in his own house, rather than to be a helpless thrall therein, ever a prey to chance winds and waters of desires.

     

    Man, the homo sapien, is the nucleus of mankind. He has  in him potential energy to transform himself and then to transform others not by precept alone, but by his own example. Man is man first and man last, with no outer labels of caste, creed, race or nationality; sex or group affinities, religious or church loyalties, linguistic or territorial limitations.

     

    Perfection, an all-round perfection in body, mind, intellect and spirit is the ultimate goal of man. It is on the health of the soul or spirit in man that the health of the body, the mind and the intellect depends. It is to bring about this transformation that an organization has to come into existence under the name of “Manav Kendra”.

     

    Manav Kendra or Man-Making Centre

     

    The aims of “Manav Kendra” are (1) to know and practically realize the real nature of intrinsic self; (2) to cast man into a universal mould; (3) To become a true citizen of the world and a useful member of humankind; (4) to help the poor and the needy, the infirm and the sick, the aged and the derelict; (5) and to make the mother-earth provide ample means for the sustenance of its teeming millions. In brief the objective of the center is to bring about real integration of an individual by harmonizing all his faculties; physical, emotional, mental, and intellectual so as to befit him for divine revelation which is supreme goal of human existence – self-perfection.

     

    The idea of “Manav Kendra” or Man-Centre was mooted, for the first time, in the last “Kumbh Mela” at Hardware in 1968. At the   Mela, the camp of “Ruhani Satsang” attracted large concourses of people including “Rishis” and “Munies” “Sanyasian” and “yogins”, from day, who thronged to hear the Master speak of the science of soul and how it could be practiced by one and all alike, irrespective of their religious affiliations, under the active guidance and help of an adept in “Para Vidya” or the Science of the Beyond – a science that lies beyond the realm of senses, mind, and intellect. The care and discipline with which the huge gathering were served within the camp and outside and at common community meals impressed every one. It was here that the people impressed with the talks of the Master and the fellowship among the followers, conceived the idea of developing at first, on a miniature scale, the possibility of uniting the people in spiritual oneness while remaining in their own distinctive social and religious folds.

     

    Shortly thereafter came the National Integration Exhibition in the vast Ramlila Grounds in Delhi in Feb 1969. fortunately, the event coincided wit the Daimond Jubilee Celebration organized to felicitate Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj on his completing the Seventy-fifth year of his physical existence on the earth plane. Long before the actual celebrations, there began pouring in proposals, pressing demands and earnest appeals, from various quarters to give a concrete shape to the decision arrived at the  “Kumbh Mela” in the previous year. In response to plans and proposals with the result that a model of “Vishva mandir” ( a Hall of each in his or her own way), was set up on the Exhibition grounds. The panels of this “Alamgir Ibadat Khana”, had on them extracts from scriptures. Of all major religions and exhibited photographic representations of their founders. The structure was in the shape of a nanogon, with nine outlets symbolic of the human body and the tenth through the steeple at the top. The “Ruhani Satsang” enclosure that installed this model was daily visited by people of different creed and it evoked appreciation from all and sundry. The response from the people to this project was very encouraging.

     

    In the following year the idea, mooted and planned as above, took a concrete shape when the whole scheme came on paper and Manav Kendra society came into being as a registered because, under the patronage of Kaka Sahib Kalelkar, with Maharaj Kirpal Singh Ji as Chairman. The registered office of the society came to be located in the Sawan Ashram, Shakti Nagar, Delhi – 110007, the headquarters of the Ruhani Satsang; where the plans for the first center for Northern India were worked out and are being actually carried out in right earnest at Dehradun under the personal supervision, direction and control of the Chairman.

     

    Manav Kendra is a non-political, non-communal and non-denominational body or brotherhood, open to all men and women of all faiths, creeds and castes. Its sole object is to bring the best out of man or in other words to so transform man as to liberate him from the  narrow social grooves of birth and heredity, and rigid customs, and to free him from intolerance and bigotry born of sheer ignorance of the true value of higher life – the life of the spirit as distinguished from the life of the flesh. In short its aim, is to inculcate in man the spirit of common Brotherhood as children of the Heavenly Father so that al may live peacefully serving each other in weal and woe, in the love, Light and life of the creator.

     

    Manav Kendra, as the name implies, stands for the material, moral and spiritual welfare of man, with a views to making him (1) an integrated undivided individual embracing in him the totality of his being; (2) self-sufficient in his basic needs like shelter, food and clothing; (3) and realize his obligation to himself, to his family, to his nation, to his country and finally to the world at large, for no person can live an isolated life in a ivory tower and yet be happy. In the happiness of all lies the  happiness of the individual.

     

    To achieve the above ends, all opportunities will be provided to help man to grow in ethical and moral stature worthy of being the son of God. This man –making through loving service is the primary object ov Manav Kendra.

     

    Vishva Mandirs

     

    In order to chisel out the real man in human mould, the center shall provide facilities to develop in him consciousness of a healthy and righteous living before anything else for true living is essential for attaining Truth. For this purpose the society proposes to set up Vishva Mandirs or Halls of universal Worship and Prayer, which is, the earth below and sky overhead. These will be sort of all-souls seminaries where everyone will be able to study, discuss and worship freely and fearlessly according to one’s faith and belief side by side with others, with the object of finding within Him the light of Life, the Spirit and Power of God, the Great vital forces creating and sustaining the entire creation.

     

    The scriptures of the various religions of the world agree on the fundamental nature of God. God-in-absolute is an abstraction which nobody has ever seen nor can see.  But when the Absolute Power become God - into - expression  Power, that Power manifested itself as Light. All the sacred texts are at one on this. He is said to be “Jyoti Sarup”, The father  of Light, Noor- Un-Ala_noor, (Light of the  first order or transcendent Light ). In the beginning God appeared as Light, and from that Light sprang all the creation. Moses saw God as Light on Koh-experience-Toor and God spoke to him in the midst of thunder and lightening . zoroaster or the great star of Persia bears ample testimony to the Light of God. Prince Gautam on realization became Buddha or the Enlightened One. Saint John, the Prince of the mystic speaks eloquently of this light in the Book of Revelations in the  Holy Bible. All these great teachers talk of this primordial Light and of the melody of the Divine Music coming out of the light of God. The ancient called it the music of spheres. The Vedas speak of it as Vak Devi or Sruti, the Upanishads as Udgit ( the song of the Beyond), the Zend Avasta as Sraosha. The Mohammedans cal it kalma or kalam-I-qadim the most ancient call. The Sufis” Sing praise of Saut-e-sarmadi”, all of which term are exactly parallel with Akash Vani or the Heavenly Music. The goszpels describe it as the Holy Word. The Saints have given it the name of Nad of Shabad. One who has had an actual experience of the reality or the Light and sound of God can easily explain the apparent diversities in the sacred text matters external like the different modes of worship among different people, the structural formations of the temples and mosques, the churches and synagogues, the pagodas and gurdwaras, and the significance of the  ringing bells, blowing of conches, the church organs and the lighting of candles, fire worship, sun temples (Jot –Mayas) in many places in the world. Such a one alone can give a right understanding of the esoteric matters when translated into active practice in many forms and symbols expressive of twin principle of Light and sound, the creative word; the  one live-principle, now lost and forgotten by the multitudes.

     

    This then is the pearl of inestimable value lying buried under the dead weight of archaic verbiage and terminology of many multi splendored texts. Again, these text in so many different ways trying to explain the things on the level of the intellect only, which being just an infinitesimal part of the vast creation cannot grasp even the theoretical aspect of this transcendental live-principle enlivening the entire microcosm (beside the macrocosm), including the intellect itself. How can the part understand the whole or the lesser comprehend the greater? And still it is at the core of our being; we live and move in it and by it. It is lying in the deepest folds of the mind and may be unfolded by a Master-mind who, having himself realized the Truth may, by his grace, make the truth manifest to others by presenting Him as Evan Brahm (There is Brahman or the Creative word), so as to grasp Him and practise Him from day to day. It shall be the duty of “Vishva Mandirs” to serve as Truth-Teaching and Truth-Experiencing institutions, and all the seekers of Truth will learn to live in a maitri or friendly atmosphere imbibing the best from each other.

     

    In order to foster the spirit of oneness – one God, the basic Truth of the Holy light and Holy Sound, the primordial expressions of Godhood, as universally acknowledged on all hands, as the origin of all creations, springing from one source – among the people professing various faiths beliefs, the Vishva Mandirs shall have attached to them Halls of learning. These will be stocked with valuable and authentic works on all religions, the life and teaching of their respective founders, giving a graphic account of the tone and tenor of the times in which they lived, the socio-economic conditions then prevailing and the temper of the people among whom they had to execute the Divine mission. In this way, they will be encouraged to make a comparative study of the scriptures of the extant religions, understand the causes underlying the superficial difference in each other’s rites and rituals and in the outer modes of worship and the like.

     

    The underlying idea of the whole scheme is to inclcate in man, Sam-Bhav for Sarv-Dharma or equal regard and respect for all religions. Truth is basically one, but the approach to Truth is essentially individualistic according to one’s own mental make-up and the herd instinct of society in which one is born, bred and brought up. It is only by sitting together and mutual discussion that one is born, bred and brought up. It is only by sitting together and mutual discussion that one learns to sink the so-called differences in the sweet and loving remembrance of God – the living God in the heart of each individual.

    This work of regeneration will be supplemented by lively discourses from the really awakened and enlightened person, thoroughly imbued with the love, Light and life of God – God of the entire world and not of this or that sect or country or region. This will automatically result in laying the foundation of University of Religions.

     

    We, living in the 20th century, are fortunate inasmuch as we have great stock of rich and valuable treasures coming down from our forefathers; and can understand them better than ever before by correct application and diligence directed the right way. Herein lies the value of Vishva Mandirs.

     

    Halls of learning

     

    In order to establish better means of interchange of ideas between man and man and to foster a friendly contact of lasting nature among them, the man Center envisages the development of a number of auxiliary aids. To begin with it proposes to set up language-schools so as to remove linguistic hurdles that now stand in the way of mutual understanding of others’s point of view. This will in turn help the growth of a spirit of tolerance between the cross-sections of the populace, and generate in them love and respect for all religions, religious faiths and beliefs, sacred scriptures of all religions, and above all for all Men-of-God who came to the earth plane from time to time at different places.

     

    In these halls of learning , there will be chairs for different language and dedicated men of eminence will be invited to put before the inmates and others, the basic unities already existing in mankind and the fundamental truths that are so very common and of universal nature. There will be a facilities for all to learn different languages; local and provincial, national and foreign to enable everyone to freely express himself to others and in turn be able to understand them. this direct meeting of minds will eliminate chances of friction which arise from misunderstanding and will prove fruitful in bridging the yawning chasm and ever widening gulfs that are dividing mankind into many factions.

     

    It is hoped that this scheme will essentially make man self-educative, able to stand on his own and think out things independently rather than be misguided and misled by professional teachers and paid preachers and propagandists motivated by considerations of self-interest.

     

    Swasthalayas or Health Centres

     

    To eliminate disease, as far as possible and to keep the people in sound health and find shape, the center proposes to introduce and maintain medical facilities to suit different kind of people. As no one medical system has yet been able to calim perfection, and eacho one has some undeniable advantages, effort will be made to make the best of what each offers. It is hoped that qualified medical men in various branches of medical lore – Naturopathy, Ayurvedic and Yunani, Allopathy and Homeopathy – will be forthcoming to render selfless service to ailing, the diseased and the distressed, irrespective of who they are and to what part of the world they belong. The hospitals and the clinics, the dispensaries and the laboratories in the Centres will, without any distinction, give free medical advice and treatment to the patients. It is heartening that some young medical students studying abroad have, on hearing of the projects of Manav Kendra, already expressed their keen desire to serve this noble cause.

     

    Bhu-Sewa or Land Service

    India is an agricultural country and can do much to set an example to others in this behalf. No man can do without the plentiful bounties of Dame Nature and more so from land in particular; and so naturally one owes an obligation to serve the land as one can possibly do and thereby discharge to some extent the debt owing to mother-earth. This is a service that one can render to himself and to humanity at large, in growing more food by improved methods of husbandry and modern scientific means. Strange as it may seem, here in this country we have all the facilities – climatic and irrigational and yet we are not yet self-sufficient in the matter of food, and the people suffer from want, ill-nutrition and man-nutrition. Agriculture and farming are the backbone of the society, and it shall be the endeavour of Manav Kendra to help in “Grow more” campaigns. Side by side with this goes the work of cattle-breeding and dairy farming to enrich the cattle wealth of the country and to provide plentiful supply of pure milk and milk products, for health primarily depend more on pure and wholesome food stuffs rather than on chemicals or inorganic substances and artificial preparations.

     

    Bridha-grehs or Homes for the Aged

     

    Another salient feature of the Center will be to establish Father-Homes or better still Homes for the Elderly and the Aged who have ostensibly outrun their usefulness are no longer cared for in their own homes for one reason or the other. Here in the Center they shall occupy an honoured place with physical comfort and mental peace so very necessary in the evening of their life. This will, in turn, enable the Centre to gain a lot from their rich and ripe experience in the varied aspects of life besides having from them the advantage of their sage counsel and correct guidelines in the different activities connected with its schemes of education, health, sanitation, farming, and the like.

     

    Conclusion

     

    Manav Kendra, in brief, is going to be a model of ‘International Harmony Home’ on the pattern of what one sees on a small scale in ‘Sawan Ashram’ at Delhi which provides board and lodging facilities with some modern amenities to many people of different nationalities coming from different countries, carrying with them distinctive association and affinities.

     

    The first such harmony home, on a bigger scale know as Manav Kendra or Man Centre has been set up at Dehra Dun about four miles from the town on the Dehra-Dun Saharanpur road, in the picturesque surroundings, the foot of Shivalik Hills of the Himalayas on a 35 acres piece of land.

     

    It was a pleasing sight during the progress of the project to see hundreds of selfless volunteers; Indian and foreigners, tirelessly working together side by side by side in a fraternal spirit, vieing with each other, regardless of the nature of work – digging the earth, carrying the rubble and many other odd jobs. The Master had been the Central figure under whose personal and direct supervision, each day from early morning to late in the night, the work had progressed. He saw to each minute detail in the execution of work and directed the operations and He himself served all his devotees with food, both physical and spiritual. It is His tremendous love that attracts willing hands from different strata of life and from far and near to the labor of love. They had come in large batches for prize of selfless service, in this stupendous task of building Manav Kendra. It is all due to the inspiration of Great Master whose benediction had ever working behind this project of reorientation and reintegration of mankind. The once marshy landscape had been completely and perceptibly beyond recognition.

     

    Mansarover, or lake in oval shape measuring 350 feet long and 200 feet wide with ever fresh water fed from a perennial spring, provides a suitable site for lovers of God to meditate and commune within on the wide platform surrounding the tank. Free hospital, a home for the indigent, a primary school, library, guest house, community kitchen have been constructed, beside staff quarters, and offices etc. and have started serving humanity. The planted sapling both ornamental, the shady and fruits bearing have begun to prop up to add to the picturesque scenery of the place. A dairy farm has been started in negotiation for acquiring 75 acres of more land are afoot to further its activities.

     

    The President of India, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Governor of Utter Pradesh and other dignitaries have paid visit to this centre and appreciated the service being rendered by the  Manav Kendra to humanity, irrespective of caste, colour, creed.

     

    The second project at Kandhari (Distt. Baroda) was inaugurated in December 1973, where free hospital has started functioning, a sarowar (lake) 550 feet in length 55 feet in width has been constructed and other connected works are in progress.

     

    Some more centers are likely to be set up in India and abroad.

     

    For the unity of mankind, Manav Kendra is organizing ‘World Conference of Unity of Man’ which is likely to be attended by about 2000 delegates from India and abroad, in addition to high government and religious dignatories.

     

    It is hoped that this movement will be a ray of hope for the advent of Golden Age (Sat Yug) in the Present strife ridden World.

     

     

     

     

     

     



    “Man’s World: Today…Tomorrow”

     

     (A poem by Aftab J. Srivastava—dedicated to the Unity of Man)

     

    Man’s world is unlivable!

    Coming from it, I know how hot it is;

    I’ve been thro’the scorching heat of its selfishness;

    I’ve been scalded by its brutality, its iniquities,

    And now I’ve come to take shelter under  yr bespangled, blue umbrella,

    For your soft hands to balm my wounds,

    Gently, so no scars be left—no memories of past miseries—

    Out of Man’s Cruel World !

     

    I’ve been burning!

    The cruelty of man—heartless man, monster—

    His faithlessness, deceit,

    Selfishness, into l’ rance, all

    Have submerged me in an ocean of tears.

    Once I’ d said to someone

    “Touch me not,

    My inflammable tears have set ablaze many a lover,

    I’ d  not like your heart scorched,

    For blister on the heart show up as tears,

    And down man’s cheeks tears look awful.”

    But now my tear-washed eyes

    See dim images of TRUTH.

    Let’em behold your loved, radiant face.

     

    I have clearer visions of

    TRUTH, BEAUTY, LOVE, LIFE;

    I espy the beautiful sunrise,

    The more beautiful sunset 

    When you open your smiling eyes or shut’me.

    My heart throbs

    When I hear you speak of LOVE—

    Ev’ry human heart resounds;

    Each blade of grass sways back’ n  forth,

    Buds blossom and dance in dulcet harmony ;

    The cool morning breeze,

    The smell of rain-moistened earth—

    Your choicest gifts, given freely to all—

    Thrill me as ne’er before.

    You’re the monarch of all the worlds,

    Where You are you’ve banished

    Hatred, intol’rance, faithlessness,

    Chicanery, deceit, selfishness, ambition—

    There love’s supreme;

    I belong there! I’ m  poor--

    Let me in!

     

    My new-born babe is tomorrow’s MAN!

    He’s HOPE re-born, FAITH re-kindled!

    He’ll see a new light, hear the heav’nly harm’ny

    Feel the pain of other beings,

    Be one with all mankind,

    And say, “Awake, Arise, and fear no more,

    For, I’ m  with you, my God,

    I love you”.

     



    Jain Muni Acharya Tulsi Visits Sawan Ashram

     

    “meeting of the two Saints augurs well for the future of mankind”

     

    The arrival of Jain Muni Acharya Tulsi, founder head of the Anuvrat Movement, at the Sawan Ashram to 19th January, was yet another important milestone in the preparation for the World Conference on Unity of Man which had brought prominent personalities from India and abroad—Fuji Guruji of Japan, Kaka Kalelkar, Yogi Bhajan, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Head of the International Sufi Order, Cabinet Ministers and other—to the Sawan Ashram.

     

    The Acharya  arrived with Jain Munis and Sadhwis (Nuns) of his holy order and followers (Shraviks and Sravikas) in the early hours of the morning. Sawan Ashram was their first stop on arrival at Delhi at the end of the long pad yatra (March on foot) which the Acharya had so timed as to enable him to take active part in the Conference. H.H. Sant Kirpal Singhji welcomed the Acharya and his companions and conducted them to his residence. After some heart to heart talk all repaired to the big hall for a formal session.

     

    Dr. Madan Mohan Chopra, Secretary, World Conference on Unity of Man, welcoming Acharya Tulis to the Ashram said that the meeting between the two holy men was a happy augury for the future of mankind. The inspiration for this memorable meeting was provided by the Anuvrat function of welcome to the freedom fighters of India and Sant Kirpal Singh Ji’s magnanimity in putting up 1500 freedom fighters in the Ashram and arranging for their free meals. This brought the Ruhani Satsang and Anuvrat Workers together and we—myself and Shri shamsukha of the Anuvrat—conferred together to bring about this happy event. Shri Chopra said that the initiates of Satguru Kirpal Singh have to adhere to strict vegetarian diet and eschew use of intoxicants. This was the first pre-requisite for a satsangi or initiate. Acharya Tulsi was also working with the same end in view. If the two vital movements or regenerating currents flowing from the two great men were to meet and flow together it would give a new direction to humanity.

     

    The Master Speaks

     Addressing the gathering, comprising of inmates of the Ashram, both Indian and foreign, the Jain Munis and their followers, H.H. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji said that he had met Acharya Tulsiji long ago and though there was, somehow , no meeting after that, in the heart he was always with me.

     

    Even as a child I used to ponder, where was any difference between man and man?  They all are born the same way, have the same inner and outer construction and are endowed with the same privileges from God. Why then there are differences? A study of scriptures further strengthened the belief in Unity of Man. The Master came to unite all mankind on one common ground of spirituality. The most important thing that they taught and gave practical demonstration thereof was for man to rise upto the highest Principle, the Godhead in him. And for that ethical life was most essential.

     

    The Master all worked for the Unity of Man, for bringing all mankind together on a common ground. The various formations came after they had gone, to keep alive their teachings. Social bodies or religious formations are like different schools and colleges with their distinctive uniforms and badges having the same teaching and curriculum. As long as there are practical man, Master or Adepts in the Science of Soul, the teaching of the Master continue in its true form. For lack of practical men the unity which is already there in each one of us in lost and forgotten. We are one as men, having the same inner and outer contraction and are conscious entities—drops of the ocean of All Consciousness which is God. We are brother and sisters in God.

     

    This was the basic teaching of all Master who came. The ideal for a perfect man is the same in all formations. Hindu is one who sees the light of God. The same criterion applies to a Sikh, a Mohammedan or a Christian—one who sees the light of God. So unity is already there—we are one as man, as soul and as worshippers of the same God, one may call him by any name. But we forget this. Master come at a time when right understanding is replaced by narrow-mindedness and parochialism. They come to reconcile conflicting veins and unite mankind.

    So when in 1957, World Fellowship of Religions was formed I joined it. The ideal before it was unity of Religions. This was what I too wanted. Many conferences were held under its auspices in India and abroad. It resulted in a visible  decline in narrow sectarianism and religious fanaticism. But another destructive trend reared its head in the form of different formations living up for the advancement of their particular sect or formation. The purpose was to become an ideal man, to know oneself and to know God—that is there as long as there is a Godman in the world. Masters come to make people see who do not see. They teach Self-Knowledge and God-Knowledge and give direct first-hand experience thereof. As regards the labels of different formations that we are carrying on our bodies that only indicates as to which school we have joined to attain the highest purpose of human existence viz. to Know God.

     

    I have great regard for all Masters who came, for Lord Mahavira and others, for they all gave out the same message ‘MAN KNOE THYSELF ‘ and that included everything. Knowing oneself is at the level of feeling or inferences. Both these are subject to error. Seeing is above all. I have had heart to heart talks with many great men here in India and abroad and today, by the grace of God, I have yet another happy opportunity.

     

     

    Narrow-mindedness and parochialism came from too close adherence to particular isms or religious formations. Quite recently when I was in America I was asked in a T.V. interview “how can we have peace and happiness in the world?” and I said, “If individuals would rise above their isms and wake up to the reality that all mankind was one and Kings and administrators would rise above countries, there would be peace and happiness all over the world. This is what I learnt at the feet of the Masters: that we are all men and mankind is all one. One may belong to any formation but should live and ideal life and be an example to others. That schools is best where a large number of students pass in the examination. That formation is best which turns out many perfect men. We are fortunate to have Acharya Ji in our midst today. Words cannot adequately express the inner feelings, but heart speaks to heart. We were one before, we are one now and shall remain one in future too.

     

    This conference, the  first of its kind, is being convened at the level of man and not at the level of religion. There have been many conference on the level of religion, in India, in Persia, in France, in Germany. Much good came from these conferences. But now pillars are being put up to block the Path of Unity of man. It is a blessing to remain in a formation. But one should not get walled up within the narrow confines of a particular formation. One should rise above parochialism and give out the true teachings that we are one as man. This conference is being held at the level of man, the participants in the conference coming not as representatives of a religious formation, but as a man. If the individual is all right the whole society gains, for individuals make the society. I think you, Muni Ji are a pioneer of this. We are one but we have forgotten this. We have to rediscover the lost link of Unity. We should all put our shoulders to the wheel to complete the task. Once again, I welcome Acharya Ji in our midst and hope that he would be coming here again.

     

    Shri Budhmal Shamsukha said that remembrance of the Lord and meeting a Master are rare opportunities that come in the way of few fortunate ones. But a meeting of two Saints had more merit for with that we gain both things, the sweet remembrance of the Lord and a meeting with Saints. Shri Shamsukha said that spirituality, which was cut off from the mainstream of life, would not survive and for that Unity is essential and Anuvrat is a sheet-anchor for Unity. The simple rules of conduct of Anuvrat express the spirituality in man, one may call them Anuvrat, the Ruhani Satsang or by any other name. The objectives of both Saints are the same viz., to bring peace to man, strengthen links of unity and raise the moral standards. And from this view-point I feel this meeting to be a very important event.

     

    Muni Nathmal said “It is an auspicious occasion of the meeting of two saints. Who is a Saint and who is not? One who does not look to the skin or dress or speech of a person is a saint. He who sees them and does not see the reality within is not a saint. If you do not look to the skin there would be no colour bar, no racial discrimination. If you leave the clothes there would be no sects. What remains in spirituality, call it Ruhani Satsang,Anuvrat or any other name. This meeting of Acharya Tulsi and Sant Kirpal Singh Ji is a meeting of saints which is always an inner meeting where there is no duality.” The Muni continued, “So long as we have already split it, so much so that man is afraid of his fellowman. Events however are taking a new turn. There is a new trend towards unity, towards closing rifts. There is a new movement for ending artificial differences and boundaries. I feel that at this time, when the 25th Centenary of Lord Majavira is drawing near, this confluence of the two movements of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji and Acharya Tulsi will give more light to the world.

     

    Mahasati Kanak Prabha, the head of nuns said that one cannot separate meaning from words or words from meaning they form parts of ones whole. Similarly is the case with Saints. They are all one. Today we witness the glorious spectacle of meeting of two saints. With all the progress in science and technology, man cannot have peace and happiness  unless his moral standard is raised, and for that one has to go to a saint.

     

    Speech by Aharya Tulsi Ji

     

    Acharya Tulsi said, “Shri Shamsukha sent me a message that it was important that I meet Sant Ji . so I walked all the way from Rajas than and Haryana to reach Delhi, and my entry in the Capital begins with my arrival at the Sawan Ashram. I have come here with the sole purpose of uniting mankind. Life consists of both differences and non-differences.  One cannot have pure difference or a state of perfect unity or non-difference. There will be differences should remain. But there should be an inner unity or non-difference at the inner level of soul. And it should expand to include all mankind into one wide sweep of unity. And the basis of that unity would be humanism. I have come here with this idea. Santji is already doing this work. It thought one plus one makes two, but when one joins the other in action it means eleven. From this point of view I find this meeting a thing of beauty of joy.

     

    There is pollution in humanity today. That can be washed clean only when we have a background of spirituality. We have therefore to mould ourselves for spiritual  life. Anuvrat is only a preliminary step. Dr. Chopra has just informed us that Sant Ji gives initiation to a man only when he eschews use of flesh foods, eggs, wines and liquors, cigarettes and other intoxicants. This makes them all Anuvratis i.e., subscribers to the Anuvrat code. And after becoming Anuvratis they make further progress in the spiritual field. I am happy to find millions of readymade Anuvratis today without effort.

     

    If we are to build a house we prepare a strong foundation for that. Anuvrat is the first step. We have now a twofold task, to initiate those who have taken the first step of conforming to the code of ethical life or Anuvrate into spirituality and to attract others to take the first step of Anuvrat – who have not so far taken it. I am glad to find that those who were non-vegetarians, smokers and drinkers from many generations are leaving all these bad habits. And I see peace and repose on their faces.”

     

    Continuing the Acharya said, “I do not wish to get involved in politics. One should not get bogged in it. Here at Sawan Ashram I find not the faintest trait of politics. I am glad to find here an a atmosphere wholly to my liking. Sant Ji’s humility is proof of his high spiritual  attainments. He said to me, “I wish to learn from you.” I told him, “You have reached the goal. What have you to learn now?” “No, I have to learn much”, he said. This humility attracted me further.

     

    Our brothers and sisters from abroad who have gathered here are also part of our chaturvidh or four-fold group entity, comprising of the Munis (holy men) the Nuns, and Shravaks and Shravikas i.e. followers, both male and female.

     

    We should build the palace of humanism on the firm foundation of spirituality so that all differences end and unity prevails. I am drenched in love showered on me by my brothers and sisters here. The old ideals of love and non-violence propounded by Lord Mahavira can help us in these principles. In the end I repeat Sant Ji’s words that we are one and will remain one.

     

    Shri Trilochan Singh Khanna, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji’s Representative in America, who manages the vast network of Ruhani Satsang there, welcomed Acharya Tulsi on behalf of the American initiates and spoke a few words in simple Hindustani that seemed to come from the very depths of heart. He said, “The scriptures say that by merit of Darshan (concentrating on the face) of a Master saint one is rid of all evil. God resides in the heart of a saint. Seeing a Master saint is seeing God himself. We should always pray that the protecting hand of the Master should always remain on our heads. The Master removes all our difficulties and unites us all in the bonds of brotherhood.”

     

    Mr. Khanna said, “By the grace of Huzoor Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj there are about 250 centers of the Ruhani Satsang working in different parts of the world. The initiates in those far off land have Darshan of the Master in his radiant form while sitting there. This is the grace of the Master, the power of God working in him.

     

     

     

     


    World Religions Conference 

     

    Under the heading of “The Ideal of Universal Religion,” Satguru Kirpal Singh had penned the following words in the introduction to gurmat sidhant (published in 1935): “The crying need of the time is to set up one universal religions for the entire mankind which should be a compendium of all that is good in every religion. The basic principle working in all is one.” Twenty-two years later the world fellowship of all religions was brought into being. Two hundred thousands people attended this initial conference, held in Delhi in 1957. The vice President of India, a distinguished patron of the world fellowship of religions, expressed its basic concepts in the following words: “though the various religions stand up like tree in solitary isolation, yet in their roots they interwine, and in their summits they meet one another.” Later on, his holiness sat Guru Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj was elected President of the world fellowship of religions.

     

    In 1958, Kirpal Singh Ji went to Lahore where he met eminent members of the Islamic faith and discoursed upon many abstruse question of a spiritual doctrinal nature. One insistent problem placed before him was the fact that the prophet of Allah had made no mention of transmigration of reincarnation in his scriptures. “The problem of transmigration is not a baffling as some of us have made It.,” explained Satguru Kirpal Singh. It is based on the well-known principle of cause and effect, or every action has necessity of a reaction. If you just strike the bottom out of a vessel nothing will remain within it. The law is for the lawbreakers only. Those who live peaceful under the law and do not break even a jot of it, for them there is no law and no punishment. For instance, I have come to your country and live quite amicably here without breaking any of your country law. Although there are prison and a police force here, for one who lives, by the law they are of no consequence, and as such hardly exist. Some mystics have mentioned transmigration, others, have not. But this involves no contradiction. The prophet wished to take all his followers into the seventh heaven, beyond, beyond the realms of moon and starts, all of which he himself would traverse in his daily meditation.

     

    This is significantly apparent from the terminology used by him shaq ul Qmar and al miraj (splitting the moon in two and rising beyond it). One who has access into the beyond has no need for coming and going into the lower world. In other words, for the liberated man there is no transmigration. Little wonder that the prophet made no mention of this in his teachings, since for him and for all those who could tread his path, transmigration could hardly be said to exist. Let us than endeavor to follow the prophet, and if we can achieve this, we need not be concerned with transmigration at all.”

     

    In this way, Satguru Kirpal Singh resolved differences of interpretation between the various faiths, correlating passages from the Christians scriptures with passages from the Sikh scriptures, and passages from the Hindu scriptures with passages from the Islamic scriptures. another technical objection was made against the inclusion of the word “God” in the constitution of the W.F.R. this is the objection was made by members of the Mahabodhi Society, who stated that as Budhists they could not believe in God. The resolution in point was fundamental to the dedication of the W.F.R. as being under the “Fatherhood of God”.

     

    Satguru Kirpal Singh went to the dissident delegates in order to take up this question with them. “Brothers, do you believe in the commandments of lord Buddha?” He enquired of them. they replied in the affirmative. Then, quoting the words of Lord Buddha, Satguru Kirpal Singh continued: “Self is the refuge of self,” he said, “for who else could be? This self is the over self in which our mortal self finds refuge. This over self is termed God. Our souls emerge from the universal soul and have no other refuge except the universal soul.” This explanation satisfied the Buddhist delegates and they agreed to proceed with the resolution without expunging the word “God”.

     

    This episode occurred at the second conference  of the world fellowship of religions which took place in Calcutta on February 2, 1960. During the decade that followed the great reconciler was called upon to resolve differences time and again. During his second world tour in 1963, Satguru Kirpal Singh spread the message of W.F.R. far and wide.

     

    Much good came out of the four conference  of the W.F.R. held in India and a similar number in other countries. Lack of inter religious contact and communication had given rise to many differences and blowing out superficial differences out of all proportions. With the widening of horizon of inter religious communication had given rise to many differences and blowing out superficial differences out of all proportions. With the widening of horizons of inter religious communication many differences melted away mankind way for better understanding and concord among followers of different faiths. But there arose a new danger of over enthusiastic followers of religion banding together for the strengthening and advancement of their own sectarian interests, thereby setting up pillars to block the way to unity, which culminated in the founding of Manav Kendra or man center.

     


    SPIRITUALITY

     

    It was in the evening of year 1967, when I heard an impressive voice, while passing through Urdu Bazar, explaining the word “ SPIRITUALITY”. I stood there for some time and listened the whole talk. Each word of this unknown Sant affected me so much that I had desire to meet him, not only to meet but to know “what is He?”

     

    I went to see him in Ashram, he told me about Ruhani Satsang Society whose aim is to open our inner vision and show us the light of God, and to tell the world about the Science of Spirit, the knowledge of which can be realized in three stages: 1. Purification. 2. Knowledge of self. 3. Knowledge of God.

     

    After a long discussion when I returned he gave me some of his books and offered his car for my way back to home and came to say good-bye up to the car. I was very much impressed by this Holy personality.

     

    His Holiness Sant Kirpal Singh Ji is disciple of Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, whose teachings are known throughout the world. I will deem it a great privilege if I became his disciple and spread his spiritual teachings far and wide.

     

    In the end I wish him the happiest birthday and offer myself as a present on this spiritual day

     

    My birth in satguru’s Home came in 1917. I used to pray: O God, If you could manifest yourself directly to devotees like Prahlad and Dhruva in the past why not grant me that experience? And by the grace of God I saw the Radiant From of the Master, Huzur Maharaj, in 1917. I thought that He was Guru Nanak. That Form used to guide me in the inner planes. I am a great lover of rivers and this craze took me to Beas. When I detrained at Beas Station and asked the way to the river, the Station Master, Bua Das, said, ‘have you come to see the Saint ?’  ‘is there any saint here?’ I asked. ‘Yes he said, ‘he lives by the river bank.’ I thought I shall have both my desires fulfilled: seeing the river and a meeting with the Saint. That was in 1924.

     

    When I reached the Dera, Huzur Maharaj was taking his meals. I waited outside. The moment he came out I looked at him wide-eyed with wonder. It was the same Form that had guided me in the inner planes for seven years. And I asked, ‘Master ; why this delay?’ ‘This was the opportune moment from our meeting,’ he said.

     

    As I was saying, Huzur told me then that I was to carry on the work after him. I was really faced with a tough problem, for it is very difficult to live after the Master. When I was writing ‘Gurumat Siddhant’ there was mention of a disciple in the context of separation from the Satguru. The disciple, hearing the news of the demise of his Guru, went to his grave, lay down on it and his soul left the body. The name of Amir khusro was also mentioned. His Master, Hazrat Nizamuddin had left strict in junctions that Khusro was not to be allowed to come near his grave for if Khusro came there  it would split open. The name of Guru Angad was also mentioned in the same context. Hazur Maharaj, to whom I took all my writings for approval, heard the whole chapter once, twice, three times and I pondered over it and prayed that I may not have to bear such separation.

     

    We should have a birth that we may not have to be born again. Gurbani says, ‘those who die while living, they are accepted in His Court.’ Christ says the same thing: ‘Except ye be born anew ye cannot enter the kingdom of God.’ Whereupon Necodemus said, ‘Lord, how can we re-enter the womb of the mother and be reborn’? and Jesus said to him: ‘Necodemus you are a learned man and people hold you in high regard. Don’ tyou know that flesh is born of flesh and spirit of spirit’? to be born in the Home of Satguru means to rise above body-consciousness and to awaken in a new world into the Beyond. As Jesus says: ‘The Kingdom of heaven cannot be had by observation. It is within you.’ One has to tap inside to find it. It is a sea of life and one has to pluge headlong into it. By the grace of a competent Master one can rise above body-consciousness in a trice, otherwise there is an endless gyration of incarnations. It is indeed difficult to rise above body-consciousness. The Yogis spent hundreds of years to do it. With a little attention or life-impulse a competent Master can give first-hand expericnce of rising above bocy-consciousness to any number of aspirants at a time.

     

    All Master say, ‘Learn to die while living so that you may have everlasting life.’ The holy Quran says, ‘Die thou before death.’ the Sufis and Saints—Dadu and Kabir—say the same thing. Satguru. Plutarch says: ‘those who have been intiated into the mysteries of the Beyond, their soul has the same experience of leaving the body as it has at the time of death.’

     

    Our attention—which is the outward expressio of soul in the body—is identified with the body, so much so that it has forgotten itself. Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru says that just as flowers painted on a wall cannot leave the wall, likewise,  our is so identified with the body that it cannot analyse itself. The Master liberate us from the chains of outer attachment and take us above the body-consciousness and we wake up in new world. This is just a beginning. There are many stages after that. Macrocosm is in the microcosm. It is long journey to the ultimate goal. Where the world’s philosophies end there the religion starts—it starts when you rise above body-consciousness.

     

    We can discuss it but ‘unless the sense-faculties are controlled and mind and intellect stilled, we cannot analyse ourself.’ Guru Amar Das says in this context that the competent Master gives you a practical first-hand experience of death while living but what that experience is cannot be described in words. It has to be experienced. And what happens? Guru Amar Das says, ‘Satguru teaches us to invert our outgoing faculties—from outside to inside.’ That is why the Path of the Master has been described as ‘Ulta Marg’ or inverted Path. The man-body too has been described as an inverted tree with roots above and branches below.

     

    The end of knowledge is fellow-feeling, franternity—a feeling of kinship that we are all brother and sisters in God. With the strengthening of this feeling comes civility and culture. Such a man can adjust himself to all sorts of circumstances. He is fearless and unworried. And last of all comes humility which is an adornment of Saints. The way to God is first humility, second humility, and third, again humility. Water always flows downwards, it cannot stay at a high level where there is a slope. The little understanding I got by sitting at the feet of my Master, Huzur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, that is being given out to you. His authority and His will prevails. Currency is controlled by the Government and not by cashiers, who come and go. Thousands have been, are being, are being benefited by His grace. It is His dispensation—he is the sender, He the giver. People are having practical first-hand experience both in the East and the West and seeing the Reality with their own eyes, are fully convinced. There is no conviction without seeing. Says Gurbani, ‘Unless I see with my own eyes I will not fully believe even the Guru’s words.’ The realization that we are not the body but the light that animates it, comes only by seeing. And for that we have to withdran our attention (soul-current) from all outside and concertrate within, at the still-point, back of the eyes, from where the whole machinery of the body is controlled (in other words to die while living), Only then we begin to know Him. A partical demonstration of this can be had at the feet of a competent Master.

     

    As I said before, fellow-feeling is most essential. Without it knowledge has no meaning. A Giani (one who knows reality) will see Him in all, from his own level. There different level of knowledge, some have studied upto primary standard some up to middle or high school and some others have a college degree. People come to me and say things from there own level. I tell each one of them :’You are right from your Own level’. What else can one say? The world never appreciated the great light-givers. They were percecuted and tortured. Guru Nanak was not allowed to enter the town of Qasur in the Punjab. Some were nailed to the Cross, others burnt alive. who were the persecutors ? Those whose inner vision was not  opened; who did see the Reality within. those who saw the Reality within, their word can be taken as true. They said: Body is the temple of God. Says Gurubani : ‘By the grace of the Master you will see that body is the Temple of God.’ And again: ‘the whole world that ye see around thee is the image of God, and I actually see it as such.’ This is the statement of who realized god and saw Him in all.

     

    The digest of the understanding that I got through a comparative study of scriptures and by sitting at the feet of the Masters is that we are all one. Man –body is golden opportunity that we have got, to know God. First, we have to know our self, then only we can know him. Knowing one self is not at the level of feelings, emotions or drawing inferences from a study of books. This are all subject to error. Seeing is above all. And seeing is believing. The Master come to awaken us from the slumber of declusion. They come to make people see who do not see. They open our inner Eye and make us see the Reality within. they affirm that one can see God in this life. Tulsi Sahib says:

                   

                    Behind the eye is the Still-Point, the til

                    And in the til is the whole secret.

                    One has only to penetrate the veil of darkness

                    And see the Reality beyond.

     

    Shams Tabrez says in the same contest :’One should see God with his own eyes and hear His Word with his own ears.’ And how can one see the Reality within? Moinuddin Chishti says: ‘if you wish to seethe Reality go to an competent master.’ The formations are all right. They are the different schools for turning out perfect men. And what is the qualification of man ? who has knowledge-realised knowledge. The first step to that is fellow-feeling. And secondly,a capability for adjustment. He should be able to adjust himself to all sorts of circumstances and be able to get along with everybody. For that one has to have culture, the hall-mark of which is toleration and love, even for ones enemies. When Mansur was led away to be executed some people who had stood by him, asked him to pray for them. and he prayed to God and said, ‘God bless you.’ He also prayed for those who hadgot him arrested and condemned to death. Christ also prayed : ‘O Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ So dear brothers you are all graced with the man-body, which is golden opportunity. This is the first step towards realization of God. God is-there is no doubt about it. If you sit at the feet of a competent Master you will get the awakening and that would change your angle of vision. Reading of scriptures and biographies of the Master kindles in one an interest and longing for Spirituality. When we read that such and such person realized God we naturally ask, canwe also see Him? Wesing the songs composed by Masters who realized God, with great enthusiasm as if there experience was our own experience and we were the same. Where is the use? If a thin person wears the clothes of fat person, will it suit him? The sayings of the Masters are milestones for our guidance, telling us how to progressed, step by step, to reach the ultimate goal. You can compare and see were you stand. You say, ‘happy birthday to you’. I say to you , ‘happy birthday to you’. You are getting the thing (first hand experience of Reality) by the grace of Hazur Maharaj. It is his words that are bearing fruit. Pray from the depth of Heart. A prayer that comes from the heart is accepted and answered. I think it would be better if Yogi Bhajan were to sum up in a few words in English the digest of what I have said.

     

    Yogi Bhajan spoke a few words, sharing with others what he had received. His words gave an indication of his receptivity to the radiation, that makes every word come alive with new meaning, beyond communication and expression through words, which can only be caught through heightened consciousness, which was a gift from the living Master. He said:

     

    “It will be my privilege to translate within the scope and orbit in which I can help. The first fellow feeling of being is living in the fellow feeling of universal love, and that Universal love is the manliness within ones own self.” When Sant Ji says, “I have gone and I have talked to all over and you have heard me saying

    one thing over again and again—that are one in the oneness of God,” and when you get to the man of God Consciousness, it comes to you as feeling and then there is no need for diversion from the Higher Consciousness or the applied Consciousness of the mind. It is a privilege of every fellow being.

     

    And he said, “I am the humblest of the humble because it is the grace, it is the grace of the great One Who has chosen me for the job.” It is the privilege that so many people have loved him—so many people have come early in the morning to be with him. But still his oneness with god has not separated him even at this moment. This was the experience which we went through and we saw it. It might be for you a unique experience, he said, ‘when you walk on the Path of Righteousness ; you may have to go on the cross, you may have to be skinned alive, you may have to be boiled or fried on the hot plate just to test your faith, your integrity, your divinity, and your love of the Universal consciousness, but at that time you develop an attitude to bless those who have done what ever they have done to you. When the forgiveness and the greatness of you prevails beyond scope of boundaries and oneness  of god shines through you, that is when man has achieved the love of God within himself.’ Thank you.”

     

    Streaks of light from the morning sun had filtered in from the opening in the canopy breaking the spell of the Brahm Mahoorat. It was morning now with all the bustle and the noise of the work-a-day world when the session ended for a brief interval for breakfast.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

      

     


    Inaugural session February 3, 1974, evening

     

    World Conference on Unity of Man

     

    A memorable event and rallying point of the fraternity of man, spiritual awakening and moral regeneration’

    -         Dr. G. S. Pathak, Vice President of India

     

    The inaugural session of the world Conference on Unity of man was remarkable for the high philosophic content of region, and his thought provoking address showed a rare grasp of the esoteric content of religion, and his wide ranging, comparative study of scriptures of different languages enabled him to support his contentions with a wealth of quotations organizations like the Manav Kendra and conferences like the present one can play a vital role.” The Presidential address by the living Master, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj was remarkable for its wide sweep and deep in reaching analysis of the ills besetting man and his environ for which he also provided the remedy. He ended on a note of hope for the dawn of the new golden age in a not too distant future.

     

    Welcome address by Chairman, Reception Committee

     

    The chairman of the reception committee, Shri Radha Raman, chief Executive Councilor, Delhi, in his welcome address said, “it is great occasion and I am happy to see delegates from many great countries of the world gathered here in this capital city of India to participate in and word for the success of this great conference on the unity of man. India has always given out the message of universal revived the age old message of peace and non violence and Jawaharlal Nehru extended it to inter national relations through ‘Panchshil’. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all on behalf of four and a half million citizens of Delhi, for you have come here on the same noble quest for peace and amity in the world.

     

    This conference is a part of the multifarious activities of the Ruhani Satsang and its sister organization, the Manav Kendra, which have branches in all the six continents and most of the countries of the world. In the context of the present times when man, lacking realization and awareness of his own true self is beginning to find seeds of his own destruction in all the scientific progress he has made, there can be no better or greater task than to strengthen links of unity between man and man and to build an atmosphere for universal peace, love and friendship. The great step taken by param sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj in this direction is bound to lead to a better, happier world.

     

    The teaching of all great Masters are one and the same. The concept of love given out by Christ, Buddha’s Compassion, Mahavira’s Ahimsa, Harmony of Confucious and Unity of lao-tse, are one and the same. This conference has been unbreakable bonds of brotherhood, and people all over the world are looking up to you gentlemen for light and guidance.

     

    This great conference on unity of man convened on the level of man, sponsored and Presided by the living Master, param sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj is first historic world meet of its kind. Blessed is the auspicious hour, the occasion, this land of sages and saints, where we find ourselves united in high noble purpose and have the benefit of spiritual radiation of so many realized and enlightened souls.”

     

    Inaugural address delivered by Dr. G. S. Pathak, vice-President of India

     

    “ I thank sant Kirpal Singh Ji, sponsor of the inter religious world conference on Unity of Man, organized by Manav Kendra, for his invitation to inaugurate this conference . I congratulate the sponsor on his enterprise in securing this conference . I am sure, his endeavor will be fruitful and achieve the worthy objective of bringing about the spirit of oneness among the followers of different religious faiths and promoting universal well-being.

     

    Man has made many conquests over nature and has acquired knowledge undreamt of, say, twenty five years ago, which he can turn to his benefit or to his own destruction. Crass materialism has grown out of the unprecedented advance of science and technology. Distance has been annihilated and people living in remote regions have virtually become neighbors. Yet, they have not learnt to live like brothers. Conflicts persists, both on the national and international planes. Nations are afflicted internally with evils like parochialism, casteism, stateism, inequalities, intolerance, ignorance, etc. in the international sphere armed conflicts and wars still occur. Their causes, for example, racialism, arrogance of Power, chauvinistic nationalism, and political greed, bedevil the affairs of mankind. However, it is being realized, to use UNESCO’s languages, that since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.” But no fruitful effort has been made on an appreciably large scale to change of mind of men and to erect and fortify the inner defences of life. Nor are determined and sustained steps being taken to give a clear and definite direction to human thinking and action so that science and technology may be used only for the welfare of humanity and an end may be put to the frightening possibilities of their evils uses. Colossal amounts are spent on armaments every year which could be utilized to remove poverty, illness and ignorance of the less fortunate peoples of the world. No doubt man represents a great advance in evolution. Yet it is manifest that in this evolutionary process he has still greater heights to scale. Something vital is missing in human affairs. There is a cul through sac –a blind alley. Unless the thinking process are drastically altered, there is no way out.

     

    You must have proper understanding of man and his place in the scheme of nature. By nature I mean here not only the physical universe but also the inner world, ‘the kingdom of heaven’. For this it is necessary that there should be a dialog between different religions in order to rediscover the meaning of man, and to restate it in the idiom of universality. In this connection I recall to my mind the observation of Prof. Parrinder: “The religions of the world face a completely new situation today. Never before this century have they been in such close contact as they are now. The ‘one world’ in which we live with its close communications, make nonsense of religious isolation.” It must be admitted that the unity of man must transcend all physical boundaries and over ride all man made barriers. The realization of the Unity of Man will impart an element of spirituality in human thought and action I am happy to note, UNESCO’s emphasis on the “influence of spiritual values on political structure and techniques.” In this connection organizations like a Manav Kendra and conference  like the memorable event and the rallying point of the fraternity of man, spiritual awakening and moral regeneration.”

     

    The element of ‘spirituality’ which I have spoken depends upon the correct understanding of the evolution of man in the environment of nature (in the wider senses as explained by me above) and the discovering of the  true relationship of man with God or super consciousness. This effort has been the constant concern of manifested since he attained civilization.  Religion is a relationship, personal and intimate, of man with his maker. It is a part of ones’ being and an integral part of one’s emotions and feelings. There is a diversity of races and nations in the world, and a diversity of religions, but the objects of all religions quest has been essentially the same through the ages. All religions seek to know the supreme truth which pervades creation. In spite of the diversity of approaches there is an underlying unity in the concept of the supreme reality. All religions seek to know the supreme truth which pervades creation. In spite of the diversity of approaches there is an underlying unity in the concept of the supreme reality. All religions seek to lead man to a common goal. They appear to differ from one another because they were originally preached at different times and in differing environments. A conference  like the present one will doubtless promote an understanding and appreciation of the essential unity of all religions and help us perceive and compared the fact that all of them utter the same truth, through in their own idiom.

     

    While it is a natural that each individual should cherish a special feeling of reverence for his own religion, it is necessary that every endeavor should be made to appreciate the true meaning and depth of other faiths. This is possible only through a dialogue with one who has personal experience of the particular religious faith which one may try to understand…….sankara had a comprehensive appreciation of different expressions of the one truth, even though he spoke of six orthodox systems of religion.

     

     

     Whether it is Christianity or Hinduism, Islam or Buddhism, Jainism or Sikhism or any other religion, the goal is the same though the paths are different. They light different paths towards the same ultimate truth in the words of the vedantic dictum: “Ekam sat vipra bhuda vadanti.” (He is one without a second, but sages comprehend Him differently and call Him different names.) ……… the sufi, rumi said: “the lamps are different but the light is the same.” Mahatma Gandhi realized the universality of religion and invoked God by the various names by which names by which different religions call Him. Toynbee rightly held that “the missions of the higher religions are not competitive: they are complementary. We can believe in our own religions are not competitive: they are complementary. We can believe in our own religions are not competitive: they are complementary. We can believe in our own religion without having to feel that it is the sole repository of truth.”

     

    The principle religions of the world reveal a large degree of unity in certain of their tenets. Toynbee observes the all the religions agree that our universe is mysterious as the phenomenon that we see must be only a fragment of universe that is spiritually greater than man; that knowledge is but a means to actions leading to the goal of human endeavors; that mans goal is so seek communion with the presence behind the phenomena with a view to realizing harmony with it. Describing the attributes of God, the holy qoran says: “he never dies. There is no God but he …. God is ubiquitous and he knows all. God is infinite and omniscient …. God is the truth.” According to Sikh scriptures:

     

    There is but one God,

    The eternal,

    The all pervading,

    The creator,

    The supreme being.

     

    In the world of max Muller, the vedantic philosopher declared that “in the beginning there can have been but one, as there will be but one, in the end, whether we call it atman or Brahma.” The Upanishads say “ekam eva advitiyam” one only without a second . . . . . . . . “

     

    A close observation and study of the phenomenal universe around us will lead to the realization that the one God is manifested everywhere and that his law rules everything. There is unity in the laws of nature which is but the manifestation of the divine. This unity was inevitable as the maker is one. It is known that release of immense energy  in the sun is the result of the hydrogen atom. The fission of the hydrogen atom in the laboratory results in the same spectacular release of energy. It is evident that the manifested of the divine law is the same in the macrocosm as in the microcosm. I am mentioning this expression to support the concept of an all pervasive divine Power which regulates and orders all happenings in creation with the same even hand.

     

    An excessive materialism which has seized hold of the mind of man is said to have grown out of the blind advance of technology and science; it may be relevant to speak of the relationship between science and religion. In his essay on science and religion, Einstein says: “science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” This indicates Einstein ‘s faith in the humanizing influence of religion on science. “there is no anti thesis between religion and science. Indeed they are complementary. Religion is concerned with the law of the inner man perceived by extra sensory means. Science is concerned with physical laws governing the material world. Science and religion together complete the relationship with divine consciousness. A search and religion together complete the relationship with divine consciousness. A search for the laws of nature by scientific method, according science as an anti religious endeavor but the modern expression of man’s search for God.

     

    If the process of the erosion of moral and ethical values continues unabated, the world peace is in jeopardy, might becomes right and only the aggressive, the wealthy and the strong can survive on earth. It is necessary that religion should temper the peace of the materialism and technological advance and make it possible for the good and gentle, the meek and the poor also to survive and lead their own lives in peace, quite and safely. All religions proclaim the brotherhood of man. Islam emphasizes it and so does Christianity. The message of Sikhism is contained in the words: “we are the sons of the same one father: thou art my great Lord.” Jainism, Buddhism for other faiths are the necessary corollaries. Only by a synthesis of the values help aloft by our great religions can we safeguard the security and happiness of the people and ensure peace and goodwill on earth.

     

    In the words of Dr. Radhakrishnan: “it is the aim of religion to lifts us from our momentary meaningless provincialism to the significance and status of the eternal, to transform the chaos and confusion, of life to that pure and immortal essence which is its ideal possibility. If the human mind so changes itself as to be perpetually in the glory of the divine light, if the human emotions transform themselves into the measure and movement of the divine bliss, if human action partakes of the creativity of the divine life, if the human life, if the human life shares the purity of the divine essence, if only we can support this higher life, the long labor of the cosmic process will receive its crowning justification and the evolution of centuries unfold its profound significance…..”

     

    He concluded by quoting swami savanna who had dreamt of the realization of Unity of Man thus: “there is one caste, the caste of humanity. There is only one religion, the religion of love or the religion of Vedanta. There is only one ‘dharma’, the dharma of truthfulness. There is only one law, the law of cause and effect. There is only one God, the omnipresent, the omniscient, omnipotent. There is only one language, the language, of silence or the language of the heart.”

     

    “I have now much pleasure in inaugurating the world conference  on Unity of Man and wishing your deliberations all success.”

     

    The vice President’s inaugural address was followed by the presidential address by the sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj , complete text of which is reproduced on pages 34 to 40 of this souvenir. He was followed by Dr. Sarojini Mahishi, Minister of state for tourism and Civil Aviation.

     

    Dr. Sarojini Mahishi thanked sant Kirpal Singh Ji for having lit the torch of peace and unity which reflected the light within Him. Dr. Mahishi said that it was upto every one of us, man or woman, wherever we were, to take up the cause. For millennia the ancient sages had seen unity in the diversity pervading the world. She stressed that every one wanted happiness and wished to be relieved of pain or misery. The attainment of this goal was possible only if men became enlightened and took everything with yogic unconcern. Citing the example of janak as a model of a king and householder who lived a life of perfect renunciation, she advocated that we must learn to renounce the material things of life because it was too evident today that affluence did not lead to happiness, through spirituality, like truth and unity, did. For the attainment of this goal of unity and world peace, man must develop himself spirituality, intellectually as well as physically and realize his oneness with the universe, for weak lazy, restless and divided people were those who were miserable themselves and caused misery around.

     

    Man must ask himself, she said, such basic questions as to where he has come from, where he is going? Those who are fortunate in having material comforts and the wherewithal for meeting everyone of their whishes, should have the heart to share their blessings with their less fortunate brethren. Man must Master the language of the heart (which is understood by any one who has a heart) drown all linguistic differences and submerge other divisive forces, as all religions were in essence the same and extolled the unity of man. She concluded by saying that advances in modern science had cut across all barriers of distance and it was now meaningless, nay impossible, for man to live isolation. Man must therefore unite, and united March forward towards his goal.

     

    Mr. Reno Sirrine, leader of the American delegation and vice president of Ruhani Satsang and Manav Kendra organization in the U.S.A., proposed a vote of thanks to the vice president. He said “Master, Mr. Vice president, Dr. Pathak, I came over here to participate in the unity of man and after this parade today I am sure I am going to need a lot of help. The thing that has impressed me the most in the things that I have read since I have been interested in religion is the Indian government has been partial and interested and helpful in seeing man improve himself and have tried at many times to give them more leeway than we would in almost any other country in the world. So you people have a great advantage.

     

    I would like to point out a couple of things to you at this time. On this platform are some of the greatest religious leaders in your country and you should be able to, with their help, unify man in India and if you do that, if might even wash over to the united states and we could get unified. The thing that I like about the philosophy of Master Kirpal Singh is that all of us are equal in the sight of God –of course the responsibility this puts on us is tremendous. But with these gentlemen’s help and with your Governments help in this great conference , we owe them such a debt to be able to have all of the being part of the conference  and perhaps one of the most important part.

     

    Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, head of the Sufi order said, “Towards the one, the perfection of love, harmony and beauty; the only being united with all the illuminated souls who form the embodiment of the Master, the spirit of guidance; honored chairman, your holiness, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen! The conference  that we have the grace to attend here is the first of its kind and might prove to be history making if we refrain from the temptation of looking ourselves in praise and metaphors, and are united in the staunch resolves of doing something positive, concerted and tangible, for unity. We pay our homage to the assembling us all here together during these days and we congratulate him for having placed the conferences convened were dedicated to unity strictly in the religious field. Moreover, we value the interest taken in this conference by the vice President and the Prime Minister who are gracing us with the patronage of officialdom.

     

    We humans have both privilege and the disadvantage of living in the age of momentous achievement and dangerous turmoil, in fact the entire surface of a speck of dust called planet earth is rocked by the spasms of a breaking through of ineffable intelligence, which devotees call divine, manifesting sometimes in interesting human enterprise of personal initiative in controlling and exploiting natural structure so as to ensure respect of its essential features of the dignity of human beings, individual freedom, against tyranny, injustice, discrimination. Yet most times, in the heat of the battle, we fail to see the wider issue. If we could only watch ourselves shuttling for petty things and egotistical interests, by adopting the detachment of the rishi, scanning the depth of the trouble minds consulting him in his solitary chases, we would realize how easily, we get side tracked from the purpose for which we were sent on earth.

     

    The cosmic kurukshetra is, as the Zoroastrian says, the battle of truth against the lies. It is being waged on earth as it is heaven, every time that valiant and spirited man intervenes in the destiny of a fellow man in such a manner that by holding their head high in adversity they opened the path of hope for the disinherited and the oppressed who, thus heartened, will press forward in the breach they have blasted, for hope gives man the courage to live. Every new victory of freedom is won at the cost of the opposition of those entrenched in the convenient personal unchallenged mental constructions that has become hackneyed, though sanctified freedom. Those human institutions that have avoided exposing themselves to tidal wave of renewal, systematically hemmed the mind of adherence into indoctrination to which they pay mental allegiance, sowing the seeds of disunity.

     

    However, beyond personal freedom, beyond the cause and insight of individual mind, there is a further dimension –the consciousness of humanity as a whole mankind beyond the person, man as the archetype, prototype of mankind. As the definitions of words are proportionate to the scope of the consciousness of those using them, we will have to redefined the word humanity, to mean, not a collectivity of a persons, but a global person of its own individual larger self. The pressure of our time forces us to appraise the consciousness that humanity has of itself as a whole, by convergence of individual man and woman –yes the term man stands for the principle beyond the dichotomy man woman and therefore includes both. This English words many have originated in the Sanskrit ‘manas’. Humanity is passing through a critical stage –its puberty. From the thumping as the past, humanity is beginning to discover itself as a composite team. Something momentous is happening to discover itself as a composite team. Something momentous is happening in our times. We are all sharing the pangs of child birth of humanity as an integrated team born out of convergence of those fragments of itself that we are.”

     

    Yogi Bhajan founder chairman of the 3h foundation and sikh dharman brotherhood in U.S.A. said, “it will be our privilege to start with closing our eyes for just one minute.” (he followed it with a silent prayer to the Guru.) he proceeded “My dear people of India and my people who believe in righteousness in the world! Beyond the boundaries of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects that we practice, that path we love to open in unity, in faith, and in love. For all of us to walk on that path for which I congratulate sant Kirpal Singh Ji for taking initiative and all his men who have taken pains to organize this conference . I think if your hands do not have arthritis do deserve a clap.

     

    Today here in this ancient land of sages and saints who have led humanity into the righteousness and loftiness of the micro consciousness and macro consciousness, who have been leading man into the state of ecstasy of consciousness, it was essential and very necessary that we should have this conference at least here, for which I congratulate you. it is a great day indeed for the mankind, for we have laid the foundation of a great task before us. The world has become so small that political, geographical  or economical boundaries have no meaning to day. we have in the west. The technology, and we are Master in that technology, but in the east there is a great technology, but in the east there is a great technology of the mind, which can be bartered and exchanged. That is why people in the west need people in the east and people in the east need people in the west. It is a great task to see an old man is his eighties, going from town  to town, morning to evening, giving the message of peace and joy and I ask you what has gone wrong to your five thousand years of learning of spirituality? Why couldn’t all of you get up and go to the world and give what than you are need here and this imbalance is only which is causing trouble in the world. Excuse me when I say  that it can be only the vice president of this country who can be so philosophical, so true and at the same time so precise. People of India and people of the world are today getting united for one thing only and that is the peace, the unity and the prosperity of all mankind. It is a great day today when we can all be united in one name that is that we are born from the light of because and we should live in the Light of God and may the grace of God be with you.”

     

    Maha mandleshwar swami ved vyasanand (Maha Mandleshwar is Equivalent of archbishop in the Sadhu hierarchy) said, “India is not  a rich country in a worldly sense but it is rich in spirituality and this ancient land of saints and sages has even today Masters of spirituality and this ancient land of saints and sages has even today Masters of spirituality like sant Kirpal Singh who are giving right light to the whole world. It was appropriate that the conference  On unity of man should be held in this country.

     

    Swami chetnanand chidakashi Ji Maharaj said, “God is one and the same, ornaments may vary in shape and size; cotton is one, cloth made from it may have variegated patterns. Similarly there is one light, the light of God animating and sustaining all creation. When we rise above outer differences and realize the inner unity of life, only then we can develop as a man. This is the great task for which sant Kirpal Singh has convened this world conference  on Unity of Man.”

     

    Raja mahendra pratap, a legendary figure in India’s struggle for freedom, now a whole time missionary of the cult of universal love said, “the various religions are like so many medicines prescribed by eminent physicians from time for the purification of soul. They are related to the need of the times. And so we find that Master have been coming here from time to time under the divine plan to guide mankind. And in the same line of light givers we have today, sant Kirpal Singh Maharaj, with his great mission of man which is just the need and requirement of the present time when the world is torn by rifts and divisions. Wars cannot be ended by wars and large armies cannot protect a nation. Ten million soldiers of the Czar could not save him. Germany and Japan went under despite their huge armies, 8 millions and 6 million strong respectively. We have to have a revolution of thought and the simple criterion for that is that thoughts that divide are wrong and should be eschewed and those that unite right and should be inculcated.”

     

    Shri Raja Ram Shastri M.P. Vice chancellor, Kashi Vidyapith said, “there are many things that divided humanity. Religion was the sole uniting factor. How did religion change  to become a dividing force and what is the remedy for it? The reason for deterioration in religion is that with the lapse of time the outer forms and formularies of religion gained in importance to the detriment of its exoteric content. The outer form changes according to the needs of time, it is only the shell and not the kernel. The core and kernel of religion if spirituality which is constant and changeless and true for all times. Unless we recognize this basic unity as the fundamental and truth of religion, religion will remain a dividing factor and not a uniting force which it is in reality.”

     

    Sardar Tirlochan Singh Khanna, one of the oldest workers of the Ruhani Satsang in U.S.A., traced the history of the mission of the Master and the transformation brought about in the west by the teachings of the living Master sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj and his illustrious mentor huzoor baba sawan Singh ji Maharaj. Mr. Khanna explained in detail how the seekers in the west were getting the benefit of the living Master spiritual radiation thousands of miles away as if they were sitting before him.

     

    Dr. D. P. Pandy principle, the manav Bharti and a general secretary of the world conference  on Unity of Man , who conducted the proceedings, thanked the national leaders, heads of the various formations, the spiritual luminaries and the vast audience for attending the conference . he particularly commended the admirable discipline of the audience throughout the proceeding.

     

     

     


    Second Session Feb 4, 1974, Morning

     

    World Pace Conference

     

    World peace conference was held under the aegis of jain muni acharya tulsi, founder of the Anuvrat mission for moral regeneration of man and the Chairmanship of Venerable Nichidastu Fuji, head of Buddhist order in Japan. The conference was inaugurated by Baba Jagjiwan Ram, Union Minister for Defence.

     

    Dr. Madan Mohan Chopra, one of the general secretaries of the world unity conference called upon Babu Jagjuwan Ram to inaugurate the conference. In his short introductory speech he sought to answer the question as to why Babu Jagjiwan Ram, who mainly concerned with the preparation of war in his capacity. The reason was that Babu Jagjiwan Ram was not only a defender of the physical boundaries and sovereignty of India, but also of its cultural heritage, its great traditions of truth, non –violence and universal brotherhood which was amply demonstrated by the way he conducted the war of liberation of Bangladesh and the high sense of humanitarianism and character displayed by the Indian army forms a glorious chapter of our history.

     

    Giving his views on the World conference on Unity of Man, Dr. Chopra said: it is the very long desired goal of unity of mankind that has been and magnetic influence of the divine personality of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj a sacred platform has been raised to fulfill this goal.

     

    A reflection on the recent shift in world affairs makes us optimistic that the near future is going to better the lot of Man. To quote from a speech of  Leonid Brazhnev: “On the whole , it may be said , perhaps, that our planet is now nearer to stable lasting peace than it was at any before”. (In U.S.A 1973).

     

    So the meeting ground for all Nations is getting ready for a new dawn over Human Unity. Unless moral and spiritual links are re- established between the various countries of the world there cannot be effective pace and amity.

     

    The spirit of Dharma, with high standards of ethics, clear-cut codes of behavior and wider acceptance of non-material values is more essential now than ever before.

     

    Inaugurating that session devoted to World peace, Shri Jagjiwan Ram Defense Minister of India, stressed that in essence the major religions of the world, such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism Jainism, etc., were the same and each one of them preached the essential unity of man . He said that scientifically speaking , man was the most powerful in God’s creation and had within him the main attributes of God himself: he also had some of the attributes of Satan. The preponderance of Satanic influence within him was responsible for the ills of our times. The moment we realize this basic fact, do away as much as we can of the Stan within us, we shall have tipped the balance in favor of the Godly attributes and led the world towards peace and prosperity.

     

    He drew an analogy from and realm of biology saying that in Nature just as union and multiplication was possible only between the same law, thus proving beyond found that mankind was one .Notwithstanding this unity, he asked, why man sought the destruction of man in any part of the world, if it weren’t out of the greed and lost for Power? It was a pity, he said, that whilst a few people were living in too much luxury and affluence which had dehumanized them completely, the multitude could not even afford the bare necessities of life. This imbalance, in his opinion, was responsible for the present bitterness and conflicts besetting the world. Some sections of society worked day and night to produced the wealth of the country and the world, but were deprived of the fruit of their labour and denied the barest minimum of the necessities for their existence whilst the chosen few enjoyed unearned comforts and riches. This state of affairs could not be rectified by politicians alone who always produced socio economic solutions. What we needed  today was “a revolution can be created and successfully created by those people who have nothing to loose, nothing to gain –I will say, “lose nothing to gain except to lose the misery of mankind and to gain the bliss of mankind. It is therefore heartening that under the auspices of the call of these wise men who have been trying to arouse the consciousness of man, so that he can see the good and realize that conflict anywhere in the world.” Continuing, the speaker emphasized that disparities between various sections of society shall have to be eliminated, not, wholly by government actions but the reformation of man and that reform can be affected only by the wise and holy men, who alone could prevent man from behaving like a mad man. As an illustration Mr. Jagjiwan Ram cited an example of the effect of war and said that the present conflict between Israel and Arab countries, though one between Israel and Arab countries, though one between two small countries in some corner of the world, had affected all the citizens in all the counties of the world and our interdependence was amply reflected by the debacle of petroleum products which had effected the citizens of India in every city, also in Washington and new York, in Moscow and in perking –in all the countries of Europe. He asked if it weren’t enough justification for all the sensible people of the world to put their heads together for devising ways and means of eliminating war and uprooting the seeds of conflict from human society? The solution that he proposed was that all there was no greater crime than war. Only then can we “dream of a better world, a happier world when man will regard another man as his own image and treat him as a member of his own family.” He felt that man had not developed fully and had therefore not attained his full stature, consequently he suffered from inequality, disparities and other imbalances. He stated that today oppressors suffered more than the oppressed, exploiters suffer more than the exploited: the sooner man realized this, the would come to begin a whole man, appreciating that his neighbours had the same feelings as himself and therefore deserved to be treated with love and compassion and not hate and oppression. This transformation can be achieved by the teachings of evolved souls who could bring happiness into the world.

     

    Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, sponsor President of world conference on Unity of Man said, “this is a gathering for peace and we have here heads of many religious formations and our worthy defense minister there is not much left to say on the subject. I have only this to say that God made man the roof and crown of all creation. Next to God is man, the scriptures proclaim:

     

    Sarb joon teri panhari, sarb miein teri sikdari

    -          Gurbani

     

    O man, thou art the highest in all creation, the whole is world is created for thy service. But fist he has to become man in the true sense of the word. We are all born the same way, endow with the same privileges from God and have the same inner and outer construction. Man is, however s composite being, a s entity, having a body.

     

    What is the meaning of man? One who is overflowing with love and compassion; who knows himself and knows God. He loves God and since God resides in all hearts he loves all creation. God is love, and man, who is of the same essence as God is an embodiment of love. One who gives out the God radiation of love may truly be called a man. The outer labels of the various formations that we are carrying are all right. The real purpose of all formations or social bodies is to the indweller of the body, the glory of God. He should realize his true self of being God plus man i.e.,  God man and as such be an embodiment of love. And love knows service and sacrifice, so he should think of the good of others and not of his own self interest.

     

    So the ideal of manhood is that should he a brother into all creation. He should earn his livelihood by honest toil and share it with others. If we have such pak (pure) people in large numbers the world will become Pakistan (i.e., the land of the pure) and if we have a preponderance of khalis (pure) people the world would kingdom of God on earth. That country is good which has a large number of such people. So man should live for others. He who will not let his brother man go hungry naked thereby ensures his own fulfillment for God who resides in all hearts will surely provide for Him.

     

    The teaching of the Masters is given out both directly and indirectly, i.e., through parables. There is a beautiful parable in the puranas that God invited both the devatas or angels and the danvas or demons to dinner. When the food was served God said, “your  welcome to enjoy the food subject to the condition that wile eating you may not bend your hands.” Now the danvas who were slow witted and prone to act without reflection said, “God has insulted us, for how can one take food without bending hands?” and they walked out in protest. But the devtas pondered over it for the suggestion had come from the God and there must be some reason for it. After some time they understood the purpose behind the seemingly strange condition and started to feed each other and in this way all were fed without bending their hands. Kabir stresses the same point. He says, “so long as you live in the man body give, give, give. When you leave the body who will come to you to ask for anything.?”

     

    It is a blessing to be born in a social formation but the real purpose of joiing a social formation was to rose above it into universality. If you do not achieve this purpose it is no use merely carrying the label of one or the other formation. The celebrated poet iqbal (sir Muhammad iqbal) says in a couplet that Moses went to mount Sinai in search of God. (did he not know that God was himself searching for mam? (i.e., a perfect man). All mankind is one. They should all be good and be one. Live and let live should be their motto.”

     

    Jain muni acharya shri tulsi, founder of the anurvat mission for moral regeneration said: “I am really glad to be here on this plat form where we talk of peace. On the political platform, generally talks on peace are being talked out, discussed, and decisions taken, but here this time it is on a spiritual platform that we talk of peace. Now we must take note that we are discussing the problem of peace on a platform of religions. We must find our whether religion has got the Power to establish peace in the world.

     

    If religion is devoid of two important principles I am sure religion will not be able to deliver goods that will establish peace in this world. One is sacrifice and the other is self control. These two powers must be there in religion.

     

    I feel the mass mind is sick now a day. it is on account of this sickness of mans mind that the whole thing is going in the reverse direction. Where the man must become individual he must become social, and where a man must become social he must become individual. That is the difficulty now, therefore the necessity today is that the religious gurus must come forward and correct the mind; remove the sick ness in man mind now a days. This is sickness cannot be remedied by ordinary doctors and hospitals. It can only be remedied by gurus assembled here.

     

    Lord mahavira has declared land ago that if you want to be a religious Guru, the head of a religious order, you must leave two things. One is Aham that is I the ego, and the other is mamta –that is everything is mine, the feeling of selfishness. If we want to remove the Aham and the manicure , the ego and the “mind self” in the man, then we  must try to become the accomplished shield , ‘gasuna’, we must try to compress ourself in our zeal. It is only such kind of religious heads who can try to bring world peace now a day and I would like to tell you what exactly peace means. Man has got two aspects in him; one is called shakti, that is Power, and the other is shanty, that is peace. If the Power goes externally, them we call it Power; if the same thing tries to move inside, internally, them we call it shanty, that is peace.

     

    We must have two things: one is love; affection, and the other is unattachment; non attachment. If we develop these two aspects, then the different oceans between man and man would disappear.

     

    The religions and the heads of religions, if they try to establish peace among themselves and try to work whole heartedly and remove the hurdles which are now in the peace, I am sure that world peace will automatically come.

     

    Anuvrat in brief, means if you do not attack others, no other person will come and attack you. anuvrat (mission) says don’t consider any man to be interior. If you try to feel the other man is inferior and you are superior them naturally the other man will feel that you are inferior to Him. Anuvrat transcends colour, creed, race, religion, land, countries. It wants you to work for all human kind. If you want to be rally a man, if you want really to transform mankind into good people, your habits of eating and drinking, your habits of behavior must be good. That is what anuvrat emphasizes at the outset.

     

    Them I appeal to you; if you really feel that we must try to establish world peace you must not do anything that will disturb world peace, at least peace. That’s the central path of determination that you must take now. Through your mind, through your action, through your speech, you must not anything which will affect world peace. That is the determination, which you must take, one and all. If a small mistake is committed somewhere, in some corner, that will have the greatest result, a terrible . . . . .results else where. Therefore we must be able to keep ourselves under control.

     

    Venerable Nichidatsu Fufi, head of the Buddhis order in Japan said:

     

    “Seven hundred years ago, a Buddhist monk of Japan had said that without ahimsa (non violence) religion was meaningless; one must not steal, one must give alms, and for satisfying one’s hunger one must earn but inculcate the spirit of non attachment (renunciation). Today socialism is spreading and we are told that those who do not work have no right to eat and more people are dying of hunger and starvation than due to war. We must, therefore, strive towards providing food for all. Disregard of well being of another person is responsible for the growth and spreading of poverty which destroys one’s consciousness of all the higher values. A poor and hungry man will do anything to gain bread, he can even commit murder. Whenever we turn our gaze, we see the differences between the rich and the poor, but, when this differences goes beyond limits them it borders on injustice. We must therefore work for an even distribution of the available wealth.

     

    The cult of selfishness is spreading wide. But in the Buddhist philosophy the banishment of greed is achieved by inculcating in man the consciousness and need for the welfare of the other man. After independence India, too has tried to develop on the basis of principles of socialism. The Buddhist religion advises that food, clothing medical facilities etc., should be provided to every human being only can peace be established. For removing the ills of man, aggression and oppression will be of no avail: love and non violence alone can achieve the desired peace, happiness and unity.

     

    Unless the greatest consideration be given and respect for the other man be inculcated, true peace cannot be established. He advocated nonviolence and tolerance towards others, respect for the other man, sharing one’s wealth (at least that which can be spared) and eschewing greed for the achievement of peace and unity.

     

    Yogi Bhajan said people stand today for oneness of the man to bring peace to the world. It is a very small start. Blessed is sant Kirpal Singh who has taken this initiative to bring us together. When the mind is filled with spirit, it flows. So in his old age he went around the world with one message: come, let us get united. Let us bring peace to our hearts and let us be peaceful. Shanti and shakti is merged and this merging is the start we get today. It is a message to us that we will from today onward work for it. This world needs it; we need it, and someone has given us a start. This is the most beautiful, most unique day for all of us. Today as children of God we are learning to love God in the loving way in which God is.

     

    Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, head of the Sufi Order said:

     

    We have not come here simply to demonstrate a wish for peace but also come in order to find a way of overcoming all the obstacle to peace. There are people even today who are living in terror, in a condition of oppression, terrified by those who have Power over them. there are people who are ruling the lives of people and there is tremendous conflict in the lives of the people, even in families between husbands and wives or father and children, in all the realms of life. Wherever you look there are conflicts. There are conflicts within the mind of a person, too.

     

    What are the obstacles? How can we remove them? we must understand that every one is pressing forward. There are conflicts between the interests of human beings. Just like in a crowd –everyone tries to push the other to get forward.

     

    And it takes a higher consciousness to accept another person as good as oneself. It is a matter of respect for the dignity of the human person. We have to find a way of composing the different forces that are conflicts in the world. War is not the only scourge that is to be found deeply rooted in the hearts of men. This can only be done by accepting this law which may be expressed in that Hindi word ‘Vairagya’ (detachment). I think that we have to learn how to be in the world and yet not of the world. We have to learn how to apply the rules of the Sanyasin, but in life.

     

    A conference like this wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago. It is the expression of the desires of those people of humanity as a whole, that want to compose their differences, come together –want to find a way of harmony, want to find way of understanding. This can only be done by extending tolerance to the intolerant. It is easy to tolerate the tolerant but the great challenge is to be able to tolerate the intolerant, and even with those that oppose you, find a way –a way of dignity –which you can assert your right and at the same time respect their right.

     

    The following resolution proposed by Dr. M. M. Chopra and seconded by Shri Bhani Ram was road out and passed by the house by a show of hands.

     

    This world conference  of Unity of Man proposes organize local forums of well meaning and enlightened persons, all over the world, to bring about frequent small gathering in order to afford on opportunity to the representative of various religious groups to meet more often and more intimately. This forum would not only discuss the pragmatically purpose of world alliance and peace but would establish a personal sympathy and understanding as well, without which genuine co operation would not be possible.

     

    The conference  accepts reverently and unanimously the ideal for man expounded by revered sant Kirpal Singh ji as “man is incarnate soul, a conscious entity and is of the same essence as God, and as such we are members of one family and related to each other as brothers and sisters in God. Human body is the temple of God. To be born in the body temple is a blessing, but not to rise above body consciousness (i.e., to know self and God) is sinful. While remaining in our respective faiths, we must rise above them and should become followers of true faith to love God and love all his creation.

     

    “A true lover God will love all his messengers who came in the past, all the scriptures records of their self communion and communion with God. He will love all mankind the rest of Gods creation in many forms. He will love all holy places sanctified by the presence of God man at one time or another and now revered as places of pilgrimage. He will never injure nor molest anyone in thought, word or deed.”

     

    The world conference  on unity of man records its sincerest gratitude to Ruhani Satsang to Ruhani Satsang, Delhi, Manav Kendra, Dehra Dun, and their benign originator, God man sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj for giving a new motivation in the sphere of religious unity, world peace and solution for perplexing problems confronting human progress and prosperity; and an opportunity to meet at one platform leaders and thinkers of various religious and faiths having spiritual consciousness and conviction determining the actual lives of significant groups of people.

     

    The conference  proposes that ‘unity homes’ should be established, wherever possible, all over the world, where people of different colour, clan,  caste, creed and nationalities can meet and live with perfect amity, unity and understanding like in their own homes. The home should also be used for celebrating national days of all the national day of all the nations, religious and social festival and cultural nights and exhibitions.

     

    Shri B. M. Shamsukha of the Anurvat Mission and a general secretary of the world conference  on Unity of Man who conducted the proceeding thanked the leaders and the audience after which the meeting dispersed.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


    The third session Feb. 4, 1974, evening

     

    Conference on Unity of Religions

     

    The third session which was on unity of Religions started in the huge pandal at Ramila grounds at 5 p.m. under the aegis of jain muni sushil Kumar and chairmanship of Maha Mahdleshwar swami Ved Vyasansnand Ji Maharaj. The conference was attended by heads of religious formations, social organizations and leaders of public opinion. The vast pandal was, as usual, packed to capacity.

     

    The chairman, swami ved vyasanand Ji said. “it is a gathering of saints and sadhus representing different schools of philosophy, sects and formation. There was a time when two sadhus would not sit together. But now we see them all sitting in one line here. The whole credit for this goes to Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj who has accomplished the almost impossible task of bringing sahus together on one common platform.” Continuing he said, “there is a saint who starts a sect or a formation. But his circle is limited. And there is a saint who, rising above formations and sects, takes in all Gods creation in his loving embrace. He sees all men formations and takes in all Gods creation in his loving embrace. He sees all men from the level of soul. Satguru Kirpal Singh belongs to the latter category of saints.”

     

    Swamiji made an impassioned plea for inter religious amity and unity. He said, “religion or dharma is one. The various denominations –Hindu, Moslem, is truth, non violence, love, harmony, service of fellow man, good behavior etc., which is the base of all religions. Where then is the difference? It is now for us, the heads of various formations, the sadhus and saints, to work whole heartedly for unity among people professing different faiths.

     

    Muni sushil Kumar said, “the real cause of all conflicts is rigidity and dogmatism, the inability to appreciate others’ view point. Only the saints are free form it. The oldest scripture is the Veda and the latest is the gurbani. Both include the sayings of all holy men. If we were to appreciate the viewpoint of the opposite party, most of our problems would be solved. If men of religion were to sit together we would have unity in no time. The trouble is that while the wrongdoers, the drunkards, the bullies and the others are united the good men have no unity. Good men are in majority but lack unity, and organization.

     

    “So all religions will have to join together, otherwise they will nor survive. And religion is vital for the very survival of man and his society. It is religion which draws the line of demarcation between a mans relations with his sister and wife. Religion or dharma in fact is the true nature of soul. Who teaches a dog to wag his tail in gratitude when offered bread and to slink away with his tail between legs when it steals? Dharma is that which the soul naturally adopts. The institutionalized religions with their forms and farmularies merely define and interpret the real inner religion.”

     

    Baba Bir Singh Namdhari congratulated Satguru Kirpal Singh for having brought together men of religion on one common platform. “the problems besetting religion mainly arise out of the fact that we all verbally profess to be votaries of religion and fail to act up to its teachings”, he said, and added, “the basic tenet of religion is to love and serve one’s fellows, not only one’s coreligionists but all mankind. If we were to act up to this one teaching there would be no disunity or strife between votaries of religion.”

     

    Sufi Qadri Baba Shib, speaking in chaste urdu said, “sant Kirpal Singh is the one enlightened man, who has sensed the need of the times and organized this grand international meet. Unity is our greatest strength and ending all inequalities our aim. I look forward to the time when four brothers in a family would profess different faiths and yet live together in perfect amity and accord.

     

    Swami govindanand of shahinshahi ashram said, “the Power that sustains the whole creation is dharma and a man of religion is one who is contacted with it. The ethical code of dharma and as it relates to one’s relation with his fellowman is laid down by manu, the ancient Indian law giver in the famous dictum: do not that in this age of darkness we are all assembled here in the name of Dharma on the auspicious occasion of the 81st birth anniversary of Satguru Kirpal Singh Maharaj. May he live long and continue to give the light of dharma to all mankind.”

     

    Swami arvindanand said that all creation came from the one primordial light and that light was in each one of us. “Hazur sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj gives all seekers an inner contact with that light. Only he who is contacted with the light of God within can think of humanism. Others may talk of it but cannot think of it, much less reflect it in their daily life. It is only those who are one with Him, the elect of God, who feel for their fellows and are moved by compassion, that strive for the unity of man. It is the pain of the realization of men tearing each other like wild beasts that has moved the compassionate of men tearing each other like wild beasts that has moved the compassionate heart of sant Kirpal Singh to organize this great world conference  on Unity of Man.”

     

    Swami chetnanand Chidakashi said that looking at this vast concourse of men of all faiths and strata of society from all over the world one has a living realization of the world family of man. No temporal Power of government of a king minister can bring an inner change in man. It is only saints like Satguru Kirpal Singh who can do it, through radiation. That is why we contemplate on the holy face of the saints for with that we absorb the uplifting currents of everlasting life. Rare fortunate ones are those who have the golden opportunity of doing that. I have myself seen in sawan ashram the devotees of the living Master Sant Kirpal Singh Ji sitting still in meditation for four to five hours at a stretch.

     

    “And let me tell you that your Manav Sammelan or man conference should really be a congregation of saints for they emit the radiation of spirituality which unites you with your fellows and with God.  The impression sanskaras one gets from the learned scholars of religion create rifts and divisions for they themselves are divided in their interpretation of scriptural texts. Saints are the great reconcilers who come to unite man with man and with God.

     

    Amongst others who addressed themselves to religious integration and the ideals of peace and unity were the veteran philosopher kaka saheb kalelkar, who stressed the need for love and for non violence and felt that the time and come when all leaders of religious faiths should become members of one family, so that every religion could say fearlessly that man was one; all religious leaders should themselves work and teach man to work for the millions of poor people, uplifting them culturally, economically and spiritually, bringing hope in their lives. This could be done by spreading the cult of universal love which was the essence of all religions.  He said that he was convinced that love was the one thing that made man fearless, and, with fear gone, unity was a reality.

     

    Reverend kushak Bakula, head Lama of Laddakh, stressed that Buddhism had taught man to love and the Dharma laid great emphasis on Unity of Man. In essence all religions taught the  same values of life and if man only understood the eternal truth, doing good and being good, our ideal would be achieved and happiness would rule the world.

     

    Raja Mahendra Pratap, the old revolutionary and thinker, gave an exposition of how love was the greatest gift of the supreme Power, the creator and sustainer of all that is. It was he who sent prophets from time to people who needed emphasis on a particular ill besetting them, and we must, therefore, respect all religions, and whatever our religion, we must be true to it. All religions have taught humanism and our need today is for man to cleanse his mind and bring about a revolution of thought through thought force.

     

    Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji, speaking at the end said. “you have been listening to the  wise men these two days expounding to you the true purpose of life. Some of you may have listened with one ear and let it out with the other, retaining nothing inside. Some others may have memorized what they heard to talk to others. This will not do. The true benefit of listening is that you digest it and then act up to it. Lord Krishna explained to arjuna the various aspects of religion that fill the 18 chapters of Gita and even manifested his virat swaroopa (the all pervading form of kal or negative Power) before him and in the end what did he say? ‘O Arjuna did you hear?” these three words have great significance. “did you hear? If you did, how far has it dispelled your doubts and delusions?”

     

    The real benefit of listening is to the extent it becomes part of your life and you act upon it. All mankind is one. We have to translate into action that we are all one. Remain in your own formations and retain your distinctive labels and badges. These only indicate the particular school one has joined to know oneself and to know God. Manifested come from time to time and give us right understanding. We have been studying their teachings and enquiring about the godway. Standing. We have been studying their teachings and enquiring about the Godway. What we lacked was action.

     

    Why ask the way when you do not take to the path?

    How can you reach the home of the beloved by mere talk?

     

    A spoon may move in a pot of pudding from morning till evening but it cannot enjoy the sweet taste of the pudding. The taste can be enjoyed only when you eat it. We are fortunate to have this great gathering here of enlightened men by the grace of God and it is he who speaks through them in diverse ways for our instruction and guidance. Now ask yourself what have you understood and to what extent your doubts and delusions have been dispelled? At least know this that we are all one. There is no difference between man and man. All have the same immortal soul essence and pray to the same God by different names. All men are born equal –no right, no low. Who among men is the highest?

     

    The lowest of the lowly, the chandala is the highest,

    When he has realized God in his heart.

     

    He who has realized God in the man body is the highest of all men. The Masters come from time to time. They come to make men see who do nor see. They open the inner eye –variously called as the single eye, the third eye, shiv decide for yourself –what you have understood and how you are going to follow it up in action? You have my best wishes. May the grace of God be with you. if we were to digest what we have heard and act up to it there would be peace and happiness on earth.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


    Vigyan Bhavan Feb. 4, 74; evening

     

    The Panel Conference 

     

    On the afternoon of February 4, the conference split up into four panel conferences or seminars, in which different aspects of the idea of the unity of man were examined in depth. The four panes were as follows:

     

    1. UNITY OF MAN –ONE WORLD
    2. CURRENT WORLD PROBLEM AFFECTING THE UNITY OF MAN
    3. WORLD HARMONY
    4. THE ESSENTIAL UNITY OF RELIGIONS

     

    The talks that follow are, hopefully, a cross section of the vast amount of material that the panels produced; many excellent talks were necessarily left our, due to space limitations.

     

    FROM PANEL NO. 1

                    One World –The Dignity of Man      P. 99 Yogi Bhajan

                    The Path of Oneness                           P. 100 Sant Kirpal Singh Ji

     

    FROM PANEL NO. 2

                    The purpose of Education                  P. 101 Rev. G. J. Christo

                    True Love                                              P. 103 Frederick Aye

     

    FROM PANEL NO. 3

                    Love as Fearlessness                          P. 104 Kaka Sahib Kalelkar

                    Universal Harmony                              P. 105 Dr. Sean Sieglen

     

    FROM PANEL NO. 4

                    The Posion and the Nectar                 P. 108 Dr. Karan Singh 

                    Foundations of Religious Unity        P. 110 Russel Perkins

                    Toward the Unity of Conscience      P. 113 Archbiship Angelo Fernandes

     

    One world –The Dignity of Man : Yogi Bhajan inaugurates the first panel

     

    Mr. President and friends: it is a privilege today to speak on a very important subject, the unity of man. Surprisingly enough, man wants to practice unity, and he knows where unity lies; but rituals have overcome reality to the extent that man is not able to practice unity.

     

    The mightiest countries like the  united states and the USSR are following the gunboat policy less today because the voice of the people is against it. To day there is more talk about the common development of the world, more talk about peace, and more talk about development of the undevelopment countries. There is self can be realized, the technology through which self can be developed –the method of acquiring consciousness. People are seeking truth today, and want to understand each other.

     

    The world has become very small and we can reach any part of the world in no time. There are no geographical boundaries between countries. For the last five years I have been working in Europe and the United States, and I feel that the time has now come when man is beginning to realize that it is only in unity that we can live on this planet.

     

    The rich countries have suffered the embargo on oil, but they have not attacked the Arab countries; they talk of starting negotiations with them. now it is for the spiritual leaders to show the way to the people of the world . India is a land of saints, and they agree that the creator has created us and in every individual we can see the creator. Therefore I say that man wants unity and peace, but the rituals have bifurcated him to the extent that he cannot achieve it.

     

    When all our minds are sick, we seek truth; and this is the right moment to meet heart to heart. There is the greatest need for love at this time. I am hopeful these words I am grateful to be called to inaugurate it, and I am hopeful that you will give a very positive and concrete exposition of the subject and offer solutions to the problems of humanity, so that hatred may be wiped out from the face of the world, and there is dignity of man; and man can develop himself in the spirit of love and peace. Thank you very much.

     

    The Path of Oneness: Remark by Sant Kirpal Singh Ji

     

    DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS: I have to say a few words on inner concentration and connected thoughts. To achieve eternal unity one must be able to get self consciousness and try to recognize that great Power who is controlling the world . you all know mans body is one and we believe that it consists of five elements and that there is a Power behind it who is controlling all this system; so we must try to understand this truth and have the reflection of the divine which is in man.

     

    Of course, you all know that to get any fruit some labour is required and to be self consciousness we must struggle until we get it. We have before us many examples of our ancient leaders like Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and most of us are following their path; some of us have achieved something is this line.

     

    It is very difficult for narrow minded people to this path and to meet each other. We must exercise in the right direction. The present urge for unity is a call for self consciousness, and we must be eager to achieve it and share our good effort to achieve it. I stress that we must go ahead on the path of oneness of man which is the real path of God,  and whatever differences come in our way must be removed in a coordinated manner. If you have faith in Him you can change your fate, as well as others fates. My best wishes are there and I hope you will come to this conclusion. Thank you.

     

    The Purpose of Education: The Rev. J. Christo, President of the Northern region, seventh day Adventist church of India, exposes the emptiness of present day education and suggest alternatives.

     

    MR. CHAIRMAN, delegates: only one who has an ostrich like outlook on today’s law and order situation will deny that something has gone wrong somewhere, and that the picture of society and civilization in this generation is grim. Those born today will inherit as their legacy an era in which crime has soared as on wings. If we study statistics on all types of crimes we find the figures are higher than ever and going higher.

     

    Is there something wrong with our present educational system, or our home environment, or perhaps in our social and political  order? I would like so submit that the predicament we find ourselves in today is a result of neglecting one of the most important factors of life. Much stress has been placed on the mental and physical development of our generation. To a lesser degree, scope has been provided for certain social development; but little has been dome bout the spiritual or moral health of the individual. This, I contend, result in the moral decadence which is destroying the  foundation of everything we hold precious and dear. Mankind has been able to conquer outer space, but has failed to find the meaning of his inner space. When man began to understand the intricacies of the universe, he considered himself to be the arbiter of his own destiny. The industicadies revolution uprooted man from his ancient traditions and propelled him into an atheistic mechanical world. Men orbiting in outer space declared that their journey into space justified their belief that there was no God, he should now be consider dead, as mankind really had no need of Him any more. Some believe that God is a creator of the “haves” to lull the masses into submission.

     

    Education includes more than the formal three “R’s” taught in the classroom. True education includes the whole begin and covers the entire span of life given to an individual. I submit that the education offered to our children and youth today is too narrow. True education teaches the best use not only of one but all our acquirements. Thus it covers the whole circles of obligation –to ourselves, to the world, and to God.

     

    “Character building is the most important work entrusted to human beings; and never before was its diligent study so important as now. Never was any previous generation called to meet issues so momentous; never before were young men and young women confronted by perils so great as confront them today.

     

    “At such a time as this, what is the trend of the education given? to what motive is appeal most often made? To self seeking. Much of the education given is a perversion of the name. In true education the selfish ambition, the greed for Power, a counter influence. God plan of life has a place for every human being. Each is to improve his talents to the utmost; and faithfulness in doing this, be the gifts few or many, entitles one to honour.” (E.G. White)

     

    The home is the foundation of all growth and it must also be the place for spiritual growth. Psychologists tell us that a Childs learning process begins at birth. It is therefore imperative for a child to have adequate moral and al influences during babyhood. With so many broken homes, and working mothers and fathers anxious to work more than one shift a day keep up with the joneses, the Childs training is often relegated to an occasional growl from papa.

     

    In our secular society the safeguarding of the spiritual development has been left to the parents and to the religions organizations to which the parents subscribe. The schools supported by public funds concentrate mainly on mental and on the physical development. Man is a four dimensional personality –physical, mental, social, and spiritual –and inasmuch as true education includes the development of all these faculties, schools also share a responsibility in providing opportunities for all these faculties to develop. Oscar handling professor of history at Harvard, recently concluded “that colleges are actually killing education. In the 1970’s we sentence more of our youth to more years in school than ever before in history, so that never before have Americans been so poorly educated as now.” This perhaps could also be said of education in India.

     

    It would be well for us to consider the aims of education:

     

    1. Foremost is the formation of character. The object of education should be to restore in man the likeness of his creator –bringing him back to that perfection in which he was created. All true knowledge will tend to make the being perfect. A sound character is real in the sense that it deals with substance and not show.

     

    1. Secondly is the development of the intelligence. A good moral education is not meant merely to take away our “simian” characteristics or the tiger within us, but to strengthen minds weakened by self indulgence and lack of control. The mind is to be activated and placed in contact with an all intelligent creator.

     

    1. Equipment to earn one’s living. True education is not primarily to help equip one with the ability to earn a living; that is necessary, but too narrow. True education is more than a preparation for the life that now is; it has to do with the whole period of existence possible to man. This includes eternity.

     

    More and more educators recognize that our present system of education has neglected the important aspect of manual aspect of manual labour. Jerry L. Pettis, a U.S. Congressman who recently visited China, made this comment:

     

    “I was keenly interested in the philosophy that prevails in China on the subject. All students are required to spend two years on a farm. After a student finishes the equivalent of the American high school, he is assigned to a farm, or ‘commune’. At the end of the two years period, the  other members of the commune decide whether he is college material and whether he should obtain further education. In such a vast country, it is impossible to provide advanced education of everyone; therefore, a student must, in the opinion of his peers, have a reasonable chance of success plus the motivation to succeed, or he will not be given the opportunity…. As the peasants and youth work side by side, helpful philosophies are communicated, and the young maintain a solid contact with reality.”

     

    1. Finally the advancement of knowledge must result in the pursuit of truth. This should be the end of all education. Truth is acquiring a knowledge of God and finding out his plans for our lives.

     

    Many a growing child is repelled by the seeming hypocrisy evident in today’s adult world . double standards confuse the child, and the gap between precept and practice is puzzling. The knowledge of hypocrisy breaks out in rebellion against society. Someone has said hypocrisy is bad at any time, but doubly so when it is clothed in religion.

     

    Glaring differences between riches and poverty, gluttony and hunger, love and hatred –these contradictions lie within the human breast. The unlovely instincts can be conquered and subdued as an individual realize his role in this world in relationship to his God and his brother. What the world needs today is not more theology it needs a demonstration of God love, described in the Bible as: “Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does nor demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.”

     

    Unselfish love and concern can break down barriers of neglect, suspicion, and hatred. Unselfish love can unite the world in one brotherhood. Unselfish love is the universe greatest need.

     

    True Love:  Frederick aye of Ghana spoke briefly and to the point

     

    My subject will be true love, and I will be very brief. All human beings are told that God is love and if they have been created by God, they are the creatures of love and they must love fellow beings. But we find in actual practice that from the day we are born we imbibe religious hatred, fanaticism, etc. we are taught that our religious is the best, and also that if we achieve materially, it will be in our best interest. So it becomes the duty of those people, young or old, who have got some spiritual enlightenment, to teach what true love is and how we should love each other. We should first set examples ourselves by good deeds rather than by preaching to others. We should have the feeling and desire to share everything that we posses. That will be the guarantee for unity of mankind. Thank you.

     

    Love and Fearlessness: Kaka Sahib kalelkar, one of the closet associates of Mahatma Gandhi, shares his thoughts

     

    Our great strength must be love which is fearless non violent love. It is time the world was viewed as a great family; I think it is ripe for the establishment of a familyhood of all religions, all cultures, and all races. If it doesn’t come about, a world war mat well happen; and with the present development of science it could be an unprecedented disaster.

     

    Sant Kirpal Singh Ji is doing this work that of making all religions and races one –and as a humble servant of mahatma Gandhi, I congratulate him for organizing this conference. Now we have to establish that familyhood –through love, complete fearlessness. If we want to establish peace, we have to work for others. Sant Ji wants to give thought to these things, and to do service for the whole world. We are in a country where people of all races and religions are gathered together. We must love each other. All our energy should be saves for actual work.

     

    We invite Muslims, not as Hindus, but as members of one human family. We should have hope for our towns and villages. In the villages, people do not understand economics; but they understand religion and they understand culture that has been the tradition of our country. We must now have a great organization and go to the villages and tell the people the central part of their religion is to love others. We must ourselves stop hating others and start loving; mere speaking wont do. Under sant Ji initiative and guidance, we should have small groups all over the world; we should, as members of the same family, build a new culture, a new civilization.

     

    Science is very useful, because scientists worship truth. We want to make science more spiritual, and only saints can do it.

     

    So I express my gratitude to sant Ji for organizing this international conference. I belonged to Mahatma Gandhi’s group; I was vice chancellor of the university started by him, and worked under him for 50 years. Sant Ji Maharaj is doing the same work which Gandhi Ji asked to do –establish harmony and unity of man. Religions are different but we are all bound together by love. My definition of love means fearlessness you don’t threaten anybody and you don’t fear anybody.

     

    Universal Harmony: Dr. Sean sieglen of the Manav Kendra of Maine, U.S.A. discusses in depth the problems involves

     

    Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: when addressing ourselves to the question of “universal harmony,” we must determine first what manner or style of harmony we are seeking in the world . certainly mankind is agreed that harmony is wanted, is in fact desperately needed. It is commonplace by now to assert that unless international relations are made harmonious, mankind will destroy itself in various technological and political wars. Also becoming equally imminent is mans lack of harmony with the very earth the sustains his physical life. Disharmony in this ares of ecology threatens to cripple civilization, even wipe out large segments of the population within a century –some authorities say within decades. However, it is not my intention within a century –some authority say within decades. However, it is not my intention to elaborate upon these problems, since we are al familiar with the alarming dangers involved in these conditions; I will rather pose the question:

     

    1)       What king of harmony can man feasibly pursue for himself? And

    2)       How might man best obtain his goal?

     

    One form that many persons have selected as the kind of harmonious relation they wish to carry on with other persons –or rather nations, or other religions, or with common words, ‘he and I will get on amiably if he stay out of my way, or if we have no contact whatsoever.” Hence there arose in the United states a popular attitude that two subjects not to be discussed were religion and politics. Racial tension also has grown because of such disguised bigotry, and I call it this name because underlying such isolationist viewpoints are the convictions that I am separate from him and I am correct. But of course this conference by its very existence isolate ones person, ones religion, or ones nation from the rest is at best an equivocal position to take.

     

    A better pursuit of harmonious relations perhaps would view harmony as an acceptance through understanding of his neighbors way, or an acceptance because of respect for that other nation, or religion; in general respect for ones fellow man. If such integrated style of harmony is preferable to the isolationist style of harmony that has been most rife in our various countries histories that is to say, if strong nationalism and chauvinism on any scale to religious, from vocational to personal are undesirable –then to what or to whom are we to turn for us to get a clearer understanding of just what sort of harmony I am indicating?

     

    First comes to mind the United Nations; but well known that though certain valuable results have been attained, that organization isn’t able to produce the sort of far reaching harmony(or brother love) for which we are seeking in this panel.

     

    Then we are reminded of the many religious ecumenical conclaves which succeeded world war II. In the west Catholics, protestants and Jews met to dissolve differences; in the east, Buddhist, jain, Moslem, sikh, and Hindu sat together to emphasize their oneness. Everyone here is well aware of the achievements made on these line by the world fellowship of religion, presided over for so long by the sponsor of this conference , sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj. Here some definite from before, come together to speak of unity and harmony. Yet at this level of religions or institutions, full unity has not been realize because each group again sought for the unity of its own body, rather than for the integration of all groups to become united under God.

     

    The harmony we seek here, then, must sought at the level of man not nations, not religions, not institutions. This brotherly love is of a nature that embraces each individual and emphasizes similarities instead of dissimilarities. Harmony of this kind presupposes one God, one mankind. Every individual is only separate temporarily –that is, until he realize that he isn’t really separate at all. He them wont choose isolationism or chauvinism or any ism, for that matter, since all isms tend to divide rather than bring together. So we can define “harmony” as the congenial interaction of entities or groups of entities who all feel that they are portions of the same God, drop of the same ocean of all consciousness. This joyful interaction or brotherly love comes up because each person knows that thought their bodies may be several, their souls contain the same essence; and that essence is greater than any prejudice or separation.

     

    With this definition and ideal of harmony before us, lets approach the next question of how to obtain so difficult a goal, especially at a time in history when there exists a large percentage of mankind who accept only material values, ignoring or rejecting values of a spiritual nature. How is it possible to live so harmoniously that anger, jealousies, hatreds, injuries and wars diminish and cease altogether?

     

    Such society and world living in that type of concord must be viewed as a utopian ideal. Practical utopias haven’t fared well in history. The celebrated brook farm of the nineteenth century, in which Emerson and Hawthorne participated, typically represent the main problem –dissension. The participants wrangled about leadership, duties, etc., and though equality was sought, none was found. Some of the best utopias comprise people whose lives are so simple that they have little cognizance that their community is ideal. One illustration is the hunzas, north of here in the Himalayas. Their vallyis a veritable Shangri la, and the reason seems to be that they do not stress material achievements. They have no high, no low, thought they respect the wisdom of age, all are equal in their group. They have a simple diet, exemplary morals, and a clean disciplined environment.

     

    At present I help to coordinate a utopian attempt in the state of Maine in the U.S.A., it is a man center the Manav Kendra of Maine instituted for God service, man service, and land service, parallel to the two centers which exist here in India at Dehra Dun and Baroda. This center seeks to establish a unique situation where an undetermined number of men and women live harmoniously without anger or dishonesty. They live chaste lives, and try to serve and love every one with whom come in contact. In simpler words, they try to serve and love every one with whom they come in contact. In simpler words, they try to do good, be good, be good, and be one, not only with human beings, but also with animals and land service being of prime importance. Manav Kendra attempts to become a complete community in self sufficiency so that it may show the  surroundings society how harmonious living may be achieved. But again the question: how is this goal to be obtained?

     

    The answer is the heart of this presentation: universal harmony on the scale of which wave spoken is only to be achieved when personal harmony is first realized. At the level of man each person must admit harmonious ideals and practice into his own life, so that he radiates peace and contentment in all his activities and with all his associations. Three billion people need to overcome their emotions to the extent that they are in control of their faculties and senses. When a mans mind is under his own control, driving the horses of desire that pull the chariot of the body, and the rider never lets any of these (body, mind, emotions) turn wild, he may be said to have inner harmony.

     

    That man who keeps his mind like a tame elephant will be at ease in all situations and with all persons. He will not get angry even with those that abuse Him, nor will he be flattered by praise. Needless to say, that man will radiates harmony and infect all those around him with his joy. A man like that can affect and improve thousands, so that they too may reach that level.

     

    We have seen illustrations of this kind of man in the lives of the saints. Buddha evinced such great compassion that millions of people of thousands of years have tried to emulate him. (I am not speaking of Buddhism as such, but of the effect of the radiation of a great saints.) Jesus preached eloquently of love and has stirred men for two thousand year whether or not they all comprehended his message. Many followed his radiation and rose to great height of peace and understanding: Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John of the cross, Theresa of Avila, Jacob boehme, to name a few. That radiation does not die with the body of the man. Guru Nanak produced a string of Master who affected countless numbers deeply in their spiritual natures, just as the prophet led to great Sufis like hafiz, rumi, and mansur. And of course we can name mahatma Gandhi to demonstrate further the developments possible in men of God, men whose lives carry on the impulse that might have been first sent out thousands of years ago by someone who took the time to rein his desires and sought to promote harmony for mankind by first attaining it in himself.

     

    What can the three billion persons do? What can we here do to achieve that harmony? Certainly no more religions are needed. We have quite enough religions, for all three billions have been reached by those faiths as they seek to gain more adherents and converts. One step would be to delve more deeply into the existing religions to find what universal truths lie there; another would be sit quietly and meditate in the closet of ones body until the silence become vocal. Great peace derives from this practice; but someone who has achieved the mastery of it is required, by the very nature of the difficulties involved, to teach us how to go within and still our minds.

     

    Some sort of quiet upon God is definitely needed; but very few men are at all conversant with God even if they have tried. Most don’t try, of course. They seek Him instead in outer ways, but they only get further entangled and drawn out. it becomes apparent that a strong quitting factor is needed.

     

    This paper has arrived at three preliminary conclusions:

     

    1)       That  universal harmony must commence with personal inner harmony;

    2)       That many great saints have not only achieved such a state, but have also radiates this calm to their followers; and

    3)       That in the present we must find someone who has the practical capacity to give the peace and harmony that he has attained.

     

    The Poison and the Nectar: Dr. Karan Singh, Minister of health & family planning, Republic of India, inaugurates the fourth panel

     

    After hundred of thousands of year of evolution on this planet, the human race has finally reached a decisive crossroads in its destiny. On the one hand, science and technology has given man Power, if he uses it wisely, to eliminate poverty and suffering and ignorance and disaster from the face of the earth; on the other hand, the same science and technology, if misuses, will end up by eliminating not only the human race itself, but all other life on this who went. They left the rest of the earth behind. But if man ever goes. He may well take with him all life on earth. He will leave nothing but a planet so polluted and spoiled as to be totally uninhabitable I think this is symbolic of the difference between the human race and other creatures who have inhabited this planet.

     

    The special capacity of man lies in his ability to transcend himself. All other creatures are bound within the confines of their own evolution; but man is the first his kind – a very special creation on this planet. He has the capacity to rise above himself and come in contact with what may be called “spirit” or may be called “God”. What ever name we call it, we have to be very careful with words, particularly when speaking about religion. Certain words can have certain meanings for a particular religion and when used by other religions, can be misunderstood.

     

    The basic point I want to make is that the old is dying and the new is coming. They’re no doubt about it. Old customs, old formalities, old ways of behavior, have totally collapsed, that is, died; and the new is struggling to be born. Ourselves in a very precarious position.

     

    Now what is the role that the great religions of the world are to play? They have played a marvelous role in human history, resulting in great creativity and inspiring millions. On the other hand, it must also be recognized that in the name of these very religions many terrible atrocities and cruelties have been committed by man upon man. There has been much exploitation in the name of religion, and many questions can be put as to whether religion in any way can help mankind to overcome these present difficulties of this nuclear age. I think this is a question to which we must address ourselves, and the theme of this particular panel is extremely important in this context – “The essential Unity of religions.” Quite frankly, the time has gone when religions fought with each other for the allegiance of mankind. I think that is a thing of the past. The position now is, whether religion as such is to have meaning, or whether religion as it is has to disappear from the face of the earth. It is a question of trying to discover what “essential unity” means.

     

    There are lots of rituals and different interpretations, and each religion had its followers. But it seems to me that the major point: that every religion seeks to bring about in its followers a direct relationship between human and something that is superhuman or divine. In other words, it is the capacity of man to transcend himself into the divine that lies at the root of religion – what is called mysticism.

                    Every religions has stressed this point between man and the divine. To my mind, it is this fact – that it is essentially indefinable, it cannot be put into words that is important. I am reminded of story about a Zen Master and his disciple; the disciple was reporting to the Master, and the Master realized that the disciple had had the experience before he could say the words. So the Master went and banged the gong. The disciple said, “But Master, I have not said a word.”  The Master said, “Exactly. Don’t say.” The difficulty arises when we try to put into words that which is essential; when we attempt an intellectual formation of an experience that is beyond words. Because words are unable to pinpoint or experience which lies, and I see it, at the root of all religions, whether it is Christianity or Sikh Gurus or the great Hindu mystics of the Vedas and Upanishads; there is something that they are all talking about and it is the same thing. They may say it in different ways and in different languages, but nevertheless it is the same.

     

    I am not saying that rituals and spiritual descriptions are not important; they have their place. What would philosophers do without them? But the real essence lie in the indefinable experience.

     

    Another thing is that this experience is not incompatible with activity in the world. This is very important because there is a tendency in some disciplines to, once this experience is attained, try and withdraw from active involvement in life. But this is the basic point made in the Gita: “At the same time involvement in life yet detachment” – it is the comprehending of both the way of Krishna and the way of Buddha. Both have got to be Comprehended, but they must be put into a single experience if a person if to make any sense whatever of the human predicament.

     

    So today there is a need for churning the ocean of consciousness, as in the ancient myth. But remember that before the nectar comes the poison. If you recall the myth of the churning of the ocean, you will remember that the nectar came after dreadful poison in the great mouth of Shiva. That day immorality came to man. So today the ocean of consciousness is being churned. The poison has now got to be integrated within human consciousness if we are to break through into a new level of consciousness, a new awareness of the tremendous potentiality of man. And in this lies the unity of man. Therefore it seems to me that what a conference of this type should address itself to is the task of refocusing the attention of the human race upon this indefinable quality of transcendence and, if you are able to do this, I think you will be able to meet the tremendous challenges that face us.

     

    Foundation of Religions Unity: Russell Perkins, the Editor of Sat Sandesh, U.S.A., discuss concepts common to all religions

     

    Dear friends: Dear friends: some of the most pleasurable moments of my life have been spent studying the scriptures and traditions of all religions. Though I am a Christian by birth and bringing up and bringing up and I love Bible dearly, I have also loved studying  the lives and teachings of Milarepa, Ramakrishna, St.Francis of Assisi, Guru Nanak, Kabir, and many others too. And there are certain thing to do run though all of their teachings, even though there are certain things that do run through all of their teachings, even though there are outer differences; if it weren’t so, I don’t think it would be possible to read the writing and lives of all of them and get the same degree of inspiration.

     

    There is one thing that is found in every religion and is basic to the religious way of looking at the universe; and that is, coming to grips with the fact of death. Everyone dies; yet life as it is set up in the world is predicated on the assumptions that we will never die. People work, take on connections, and treat each other as though they were going to live forever. And if we look into our own actions and ways of life we will find that this is so.

    Jesus told a story about a farmer whose harvest was in, and he was content within himself and very happy; and God came to him and said, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” So suddenly all that he had done became irrelevant; it just didn’t matter any more. If we go into the lives of these great saints and Prophets, we find that what they did and said was relevant to the fact of death. After all, the only thing that happens to everyone without exception is death; it seems that any way of looking at life, or any school of thought, that doesn’t take death into consideration is silly.

     

    So that’s one thing we find in every religion. The other thing is this. Everybody knows that when Jesus was asked what the great commandments were, He said, “ Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and soul and mind; and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt  love thy neighbor as thyself.” But what a lot of people don’t know is that Jesus didn’t invent those commandments; they are found in the law of Moses, who gave them out 1500 years before Christ. So when Christ gave out those commandments as the essence of his own teaching he was showing in very beautiful way the continuity of Gods revelation.

     

    A little later Peter and James and John witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration; but when they saw him transfigured, he wasn’t alone – Moses and Elijah were with him. You see? Two great saints who had come before. And so, even though Jesus was manifesting the greatness of God working through him at that point, he was also showing that he was not doing anything new; that those who had come before were with him.

     

     In the same way, when the Koran was revealed through the Prophet Mohammed, explicit references were made many times to Moses, Jesus, Abraham, and many others who came before him. And when Guru Arjan compiled the Adi Granth, the scriptures of the Sikhs, he not only included the teachings of Guru nanak and his successors, he also collected the writing of Sheikh Farid, of Kabir, of Sheikh Bikhan, who were Muslims, as well as those of Ravidas, Ramananda, Namdev, etc., who were Hindus. And if he had know any Christian saints, he would have included them too.

     

    Closer to our own times is the life of Ramakrishna, who demonstrated very dramatically the essential unity of religions by becoming, actually becoming both a Christian and a Muslim at different times, as well as being a Hindu. And everyone knows Mahatma Gandhi in his prayer meetings used to have read out the teaching of all traditions.

     

    The point is that each of these great men has demonstrated graphically that he was not doing anything new, that the people who came before him are those whom he derived what he had. So all religions must  be derived what he had. So all religions must be respected; as the great Buddhist Emperor, Ashoka, said, “He who reveres his own sect and despises the sect of other has failed to grasp the basic truth of religion.” How much trouble, even in the world today, is due to just this: the inability to grasp that God reveals Himself to different people in different ways. The way we think he comes is not necessarily the only way or the best way; it may be the best way for us. As Ferderick the Great said, “In my state each man is free to be saved after his own fashion.”

     

    The content of this continuing revelation, as we have noted, is the necessity of loving God and loving man, and I think that this unity is oneness –not a collecting together, but a looking deeply and seeing that we are one. In the parade yesterday we were all shouting, “All mankind is one.” And this is the point: the command thyself,” can be lived up to when we see that our neighbor is our self. When we serve others we are serving our self. The Sermon on the Mount can be understood only when this is grasped, and the great Christian saints have understood this. I have gone into the lives of  St.Francis, St. Anthony, St. Theresa, St.Ignatius, and they did understand this; but so we can understand this but  so can we understand it.

     

    And it’s not even a matter of understanding in any abstract way. Our neighbors is not all humanity spread out enmasses; our neighbors is whoever we meet each day. If we are married and have a family, our neighbor is to start with, our family; and who do we take for granted more? Whether we are married or not, our neighbor is anyone we meet at the moment we meet him, even if we don’t like him. Liking has nothing to do with it. We love him for him for his essence, for what he is. The point of the parable of the Good Samaritan is that the Samaritans were despised by the Jews of that day; they were what we would call a minority group.

     

    So loving God and our neighbor is something for each minute of the day; not just once a week on Sunday’s or Friday’s, or Saturday’s or whenever we go to the temple. It is something to be done once each second, I would say. Because it’s important that we never lose sight of the fact that we must respect and love each man’s way of being – his essential “is-ness”; as it is said, “There is a divine purpose behind the life of everyone who comes into the world; no one has been created for nothing. We have something to learn from everyone. This is the mystery of humility.” 

     

    Toward the unity of Conscience

    Dr. Angelo Fernandes, the Roman Catholic Archibishop of Delhi, outlines the steps

     

    If you take the religious experience of man down the centuries, the different aspects of facets that figure in all them constitute a seven-dimensional organism containing doctrines, myths historical events, ethical teaching, rituals, social institutions, and religious experience of various kind . . . If you have rituals without personal impact, that is disastrous. But it is ritualism that unfortunately seems to be unduly prominent in the world today; and that is not good enough. Spirituality is not some of this, some of that; it should be all, it should be a wholeness. A truly spiritual person is not just one who is given to spiritual exercise or who has opted out of society for prayer or contemplation, or one who pursues the path of austerity, or is solely committed to ethical or moral enterprises or social work and social service. Here too there must be a harmony, for the person is concerned at three levels Physiological , supernatural; all these come into play. Since we are here in a spiritual conference, we can say that holiness is this wholeness of life, and it must be seen and put into effect with regard to all aspects of religion described above – we can’t pick and choose. Man must grow; we are here , and our only business is to help each other to grow. I am saying these things in the things in the hope, under God, that they may help us to grow. Man must grow simultaneously in his mastery over himself, the closeness of his relationship with God our Father, and in love and service to his neighbor. A spiritual person is a whole person; such a person enjoys and grows in fellowship with God and man in a positive, active dynamic, ever –increasing way. This is more than just not doing wrong, or any sin, or any harm against one’s neighbor – that’s negative and that’s why this world is in a sorry mess: there are far too many people today, so-called good people to pull the chestnuts out of the fire. And they say to themselves, and perhaps to the world go by; they want other people to pull the chestnuts out of the fire. And they say to themselves, and perhaps to the world, “I mind my own business” – as if we were not all concerned about each other. A correct attitude seems to be to call for an open, expansive, “love is in joyful service” attitude, which is at once the recipe for happiness and the best contribution to society.

     

    What is fellowship? It can stem from religion understood in his quest for wholeness of life. True fellowship should derive from the wholeness of approach taken in both these ways. The world is very rich; it is we who have been very poor in our attitude to the existing riches; we who have been limited  in our grasp, appreciation and understanding of the problems facing us.

     

    The second part of this approach is collaboration between all living faiths all together working to bring about these  possibilities: the possibility of wholeness of life for each individual - as a whole man, and as man on his way to God – for all men everywhere. We should be committed to such an approach of fellowship; only then could we say we are really spiritual people, otherwise we are not.

     

    The second point is to focus all this on man. If you want to apply this, notice that down the centuries there has been a common belief in all religions that there was a golden age when men lived in peace and innocence; and the something happened that disrupted this blissful existence and ever since man has lived in misery and turmoil. The fact is that greed, Selfishness and stupidity continue to plague the dealings of men with each other at all levels of life. And religion today, if it is to be relevant to the young people groping and questing for meaning – if what we are all here talking about is to be relevant, then this multi-dimensional experience of God must relate to God’s children everywhere. We can’t limit it to a purely individualistic approach; we cannot just be concerned about ourselves. We can’t pretend to be having a loving experience of God who is the Father of all, and ignore any single person who goes by the name of man.

     

    And I now want to ask you to pause a while and ask yourselves: What are we doing to each other in the world of today? No man is an island. In an independent world, it is a common good of all men that must be part of the quest if we are wedded to any religion whatsoever. Material progress today has outstripped the mind, and threatens to do so even more. It is time the spirit caught up with the race, to give the much-needed soul to society and the world and this whole entire enterprise in which we are engaged. Such a goal, which must always have this in mind – wholeness of life, for each and all – is a consummation devoutly to be wished,

     

    There are many obstacles to be met with, and they must be faced. But when the world is burning and rotting to pieces, how can we profess a religion and an experience of God – how can we sit on the sidelines and watch? Isn’t it for all to enter the fray? In whatever way they can, to contribute their insights, their vision, their dynamism, their motivation, whatever they have, in the service of God’s children as a religious experience? Stemming from the personal intercommunication which they have with God Himself?

     

    Religion – our experience of God and our dealing with each other – has to be situated in the reality of today’s world. We cannot afford to bypass the legitimate hopes and aspirations and striving of the working class, for instance; their aspirations to equality and to responsible participation in the economic and cultural fields and in political activity. You may wonder how I am deliberately straying into these fields and in political activity. Man and his life are intertwined  with all these activities; and if we want wholeness of life foe each man, and all men, and wholeness of life in our approach to God, then we have to touch all these. But: with a breath of the spirit.

     

    In India, the U.S., and Europe today we have secular states – naturally so – where no premium is put on any religion and all are free to worship in their own way and follow their own paths. In India, our constitution guarantees your freedom to practice, preach and propagate, within the limits of law and order, your own religious convictions and faiths. The United Nations is also a secular organization. But isn’t  it sad that in this whole process of the modern, secular world, which is trying to create some sort of cooperation and brotherhood, striving after peace in a variety of ways – isn’t it sad that religious motivation is not in the picture? Isn’t it sad and isn’t it sad and isn’t it almost futile for people to think that this development in its true sense – wholeness of life for each an all – can be had without bringing in the insights,  the values, the vision, the strength, the force, which comes from religion in one way or another? The harnessing, therefore, of religious  motivation for the process of development, brotherhood and peace, is one of our big challenges in the world today: not just that we personally relate well with God, ourselves, and each other, but that we reach out in ever-widening circles to bring people of all faiths together in this fashion.

     

    What is the quality of life today? Who has this wholeness? Three-fourths of humanity can’t have it because they lack the simple precondition for human existence. And those who have too much, they cannot be said to have wholeness of life; they have to be cut down to size in order to have wholeness of life. Why can’t our relations one with another in the world of today be so organized, be so inspired, that all can grow in this fashion? That’s God’s plan.

     

    When two people get married in a church, there are two places where the couple kneels down; but notice they are not facing each other. Though they are going to take each other for man and wife and live with each other for the rest of their days, the two kneelers are facing the altar, God, and the future.

     

    In that I see a method of approach: that we can work together and learn to appreciate and understand each other and go from tolerance, which is only a beginning, to respect and reverence for each other – to fellowship in the full sense. And it’s through living and working that this happens; not just by talking about it. So as a practical measure, I would like to suggest that this is the kind of thing that could be done everywhere, I think the task is the creation of unity of conscience. Nations are made up of human beings, and the real task is to  build brotherhood, harmony, concord, peace into their minds.

     

    The independent investigation of Truth will lead to this: the acceptance of the oneness of humanity; the conviction that all men are brothers and that they must work together – for the full human rights for each and all who are called by the name of man. Universal brotherhood and peace is of great importance, but to achieve this we need a unity of conscience, which means the abandonment of all prejudices which divide men into hostile sects, groups, etc. And a unity of conscience must be created and deepened around the basic convictions shared by all living faiths.

     

     Where will the force come from to bring this about? Form a deeper interiority which will make each of us full harmonized  human being. Signs ourselves, and symbols of that wholeness of life. Which we want for others, and the dynamic, corporate quest for which is what I call Peace – Sahlom. The distinctively human part of us – our freedom in the spirit – must be given full play; only so will we be able to transcend our limitation and become Peace ourselves.

     

    If experiencing God in the fashion, the mystic element of religion referred to just now – if experiencing God in the intimacy of the heart (in true Bhakti ) – if this became the experience of men everywhere, then thy would live in harmony with themselves and with those around them, and bridges of understanding and brotherhood would be built at the grass root levels. And therein lies man’s greatest hope for brotherhood and peace in the world.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

                   

     

     

     

     


    First Open Session Feb 5, 1974, Morning

     

    ‘India Always Stood for Unity’

                                      - Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi

     

    ‘India was the mother country of individual

    religious accomplishment’

    - Reno. H. Sirrine

     

    Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi had a big surprise when she came on an unscheduled and consequently  unscheduled and consequently unpublicized visit –the scheduled visit was charge gathering, reminding her of multitudinous election crowds she had torn herself away same with the difference that this was an international gathering. Another remarkable thing was the absolute quite and disciplined manner of the vast multitude with practically no security arrangements and wholly redundant in a situation where the vast pandal filled to capacity was just an island surrounded by a surging sea of humanity –a remarkable thing indeed!

     

    On the specially constructed unusually wide and deep platform were seated with the sponsor President H.H. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji, Yogi Bhajan (with his whiterobed American disciple kirtan group in turbans and dupattas seated on one end of the stage) the stage secretary Shri Raja Ram M.P. Vice Chancellor, Kashi Vidyapith, Shri Gulzarial Councilor, Delhi, Giani Zail Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab, Maha Mandleshwar Swami Ved Vyasananji, Swami Chidkashi jain muni Sushil Kumar, Venerable Nichidastu Fuji head of Buddhist order in Japan, Baba Bhatt, Shri Parmanandji, Minister Jammu and Kashmir, Swami Arvindanandji and others.

     

    Shri Radha Raman Chief Executive Councillor, Delhi, and Chairman Reception  Committee formally welcomed Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandi and said, “we are glad to find, on this auspicious occasion, our topmost leader, Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandi, in our misdt. This great world conference  on the Unity of Man has been convened to propagate the idea of unity of man. We are glad that all enlightened people of different faiths and schools of thought from all over the world, who believe in the  unity of man have responded of thought from all over the world, who believe in the Unity of Man have responded to our invitation and traversing long distance have come here to participate in the deliberations of his conference. We are happy that shrimati Indira Gandhi has found time even in these extremely busy to come and address us today for which we are grateful to her.

     

    We have made rapid all round progress in science and technology, but it is set naughty when there is a decline in human values. And so we find that a search is on, in most countries of the world today, to find ways and means to preserve human values and standards. It is against this background that the world conference  on Unity of Man has been convened. And once again I welcome prime minister Indira Gandhi to this conference , on behalf of our sponsor president sant Kirpal Singh Ji and the heads of religious formations and others collaborating with him, on my own behalf and of delegates, both Indian and foreign, and finally, on behalf of this vast gathering here.

     

    The President, Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji welcoming Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gahdhi said, “the inner feelings of heart cannot be expressed through words, for love is always dumb; the Power of love works through radiation. I have love and good will in my heart for all of you sitting here. And the love and affection that I have for indira ji cannot be expressed in words. She has devoted her whole life to the cause of unity of man.

     

    Before this we have been holding many conferences at the level of religion. These were instrumental in mitigating bigotry and narrow mindedness to a very large extent. So far so good. But there was yet considerable work left to do for unity and for that we now have this conference  at the man level, the first of its kind. I recently went to the west. The idea appealed to them greatly. Here in India too the need for it is being felt in all quarters. Man has first to become man, in the true sense of the word. Even God is searching for man – a perfect man. The great urdu poet iqbal says in a couplet  that Moses went to mount Sinai in search of God, did he know that God himself was searching for man?

     

    Who is a man? He who represents the ideal of manhood, who loves God and since God resides the ideal of manhood, who loves God and since God resides in all hearts he loves all creation: his body and soul should give out radiation of love, of humanity; he should have love and regard for everybody –his compeers, his superiors and those who are below him for God is in all of them. man is the roof and crown of all creation and so this conference  is being convened on the level of man. Our dear prime minister has taken time from her busy hours for which find no words to thank her. I thank her on my own behalf and on behalf of all of you for coming here to address us.”

     

    Yogi Bhajan thanked the Prime Minister an behalf of foreign delegates. He said, “Distance has no meaning today. In the west we have always looked to mother India to give birth to an illustrious son through whom we should be able to give the message of ancient life to the world and thus serve mankind. We have come here from all parts of world to learn from the way of developing spiritual consciousness which the west has to learn from the east an which would be the basis of world unity. It is a unique situation in the world today that out of the great personalities today three are women and our respect Prime minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, is one of them and she is a pillar of light in the world.

     

    It is an inspiring thing to all of us in the west that today, once again, the message and call for unity has come from India and it is a great day, a blesses day that the great son of India, sant Kirpal Singh has accomplished a great task, a unique and unparalleled task, of bringing people from all over the world together here. It is a great day in history that has given us the message to leave words and take to action. Thank you and God bless you all.

     

    The Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi addressed the conference first in Hindi and then, in English. She said:

     

    “Since we have many friends from outside the country, I would like to say just a few words in English. It was very good idea of Sant Ji to call this conference of all religions. As I said in Hindi Just now, one of the books that had a profound influence on me when I was quite small was called The Essential Unity of All Religions. I saw from it how in fundamental thought, in the encouragement of an atmosphere of love, of harmony, corporation, of helping others, all religions had a deep message to give. We in India have for many years tried to practice these ideas, but being human beings we are full of failings and we do not always live up to our ideals. We were also taught that, just as the rain falls in many parts of the earth and ultimately most of it finds its way to the ocean, in the same way, whatever path we find of worship. If we do it with sincerity, ultimately it leads to truth and to a greater understanding of the world and our ourselves, and give us the inner strength with which to meet the challenges of life.

     

    There has always been materialism and evil in the world, but along with, there have also always been forces which have tried to  combat them, which have tried to forge a path of peace and harmony. Today perhaps we nee this more that ever before, not because man is worse, but because he has more power to do bad things. And we see that this power, which could have gone such a long way in relieving the suffering of many people who have been deprived, underprivileged and oppressed through the ages, is used for warlike efforts, for threats, and for creating disharmony rather than cooperation. So conference like this, with different trends of thought and philosophies coming together, may find a way which can inspire people today to give of their greater knowledge, their greater capacity, their greater power to forge a new path for mankind.

     

    Many people have written that 1973 was the end of an age. We do not know what the new age will be like, but it will be different. In what way it will be different lies in the hands of all of us, especially the young people – because it is they who will make this new age. It depends on them whether they want to follow the path of peace and they have the capacity to create, harmony, to create better understanding out of the ancient truths. A remarkable thing about these truth is, that although they are ancient, you will find that they apply to modern life – in the context of what is happening today, they are relevant; they give the answers wee need. But unfortunately the world doesn’t seem to have time to think, to study these things, to find out their deeper meaning; time to let them act and to take real strength from them. Whatever this new age will be, it will be an age of man – of the common man – and therefore whatever direction can strengthen man – and by strength I do not mean the strength of weapons, the strength of power, organizations, but the real strength of weapons, the strength which lies within each one of us – whatever will strengthen that part of us will enable us to use this power wisely and make the world , and make a man better human being.  So the challenge which faces humanity today is greater perhaps than any challenge it has faced before.

     

    Along with the challenge is the opportunity. Never had we had such an opportunity for molding a new way of life, because with better communications, as was said just now, distance is not a barrier. The seas, which we thought divided one continent from another, are like bridges which join the continents together. The mass media also give the opportunity of bringing also gives the opportunity of bringing  different thought to different parts, of creating a better understanding can grow cooperation, and out of  cooperation can come peace for the individual, for the world as a whole, so that we can go towards what many people have dreamed – the concept of one world. In our philosophy it has often  been said in many different words that all of the human family perhaps as only those people who lived around them, because they couldn’t see any farther, they live – not only through words, but through bridges of understanding, of thoughts, of concepts and we should use this opportunity for strengthening the forces of peace and understanding.

     

    We are talking here of harmony, of peace of the oneness of man; but I am very sad that in my own country there is a great deal of disharmony. There are forces of violence - forces which want  to exploit the difficulties between people. Sometime we quarrel over religion, sometimes over caste, or language, or we quarrel over one state and another; and the net result is not the spirit of disharmony and the spirit of discontent. We are facing very great difficulties, but the question is how do we combat them? How do we get the get the strength to meet them and to find a way out? It cannot be through disharmony. We are naturally very sad when people die through these violence’s, whether it is because of those who try to prevent them; and our full sympathy is with the families of the bereaved with those who have suffered in other ways. But when we look back after some time we find that these kinds of eruptions do not achieve what we want. They achieve only disharmony and encourage, what is not good in  man because each of us has the good and the bad. It is up to us which part we encourage, we allow to come out. And this I think is the message this conference can give to India, which needs it just as much as the rest of the world. So all  of you here  some have traveled long distance, but the distance we have to travel in the spirit is much is much longer than any distance which you can cover by ship or by plane or by the train, and if we can go in the right direction, lift up our spirit for right action, then I think all of us together can contribute to the making of better world. So I think that this conference has served a very valuable part; all these steps are not big steps, they are small steps; but any journey however long is completed by the steps one take toward the goal. So I think that Sant Ji and all those who have cooperated with him in this great venture are to be Congratulated and we seek their blessing in our work; and to all of you who have come I give my good wishes. Thank you.

     

    Thanking  the Prime Minister, Mr. Reno H. Sirrine, the leader of the U.S. delegation to the conference , said: “the Prime Minister mentioned that this was the age of the common man; and I am sure that this includes all of us without vidual religious accomplishment. I came here because I want to walk without feet, I want to fly without eings, I want to see without wings, I want to see without eyes and I want to hear without spiritual as an individual. and this is our job: to individually develop ourselves so that we become a worker for world peace, for one religion, man to man understand each other. And with this great thought and this great challenge which is even greater than the physical challenges that we see around us day by day, I again want to thank every one of you for attending.

     

    As I walk back to my seat, would you, instead of applauding thank God for the privilege of being here in this wonderful country, where we have an opportunity to really get to know ourselves and our creator.”

     

    Giani Zail Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab, Congratulated the living Master, sant Kirpal Singh for convening this world conference  for promoting unity, love and understanding which were the crying need of the time in a world torn by hatred and fear. Sant Ji belonged to the line of luminaries who gave the message of love and since love knows service and sacrifice, a call for selfishness service. Service of man was in fact service of God since God had made man in his own image. This was the message of all Master who came but their followers went against the teachings of their own preceptors and that is the reason for all our woes and for the hatred and fear today. Sant Ji has revived the old teachings of the Master and it would do a lot of good if young men were to follow in his footsteps and act upto his teachings.

     

    Kaka Sahib Kalelkar, a close associate and follower of Gandhiji said, “we are very fortunate to have been born in a land where we have all races and cultures living together. Our culture forbids us to speak ill of other religions. We only see the good in all religions and cultures and strive to promote a sense of kinship and family feeling among votaries of different religions. And in conformity with our culture we have a secular government. Love knows service and he who loves is never afraid, the modern age is the age of universal love. The petty conflicts today may flare up into world wars. Love and service of man are the tow effective antidotes to that. It is therefore most essential to propagate the ideal of love and service among the people and sant Kirpal Singh is doing this most important work, I wish him all success in his endeavor.”

     

    Shri Paramanand, Minister, Jammu & Kashmir State said, “in this age of proliferation and stock piling of weapon that scientific progress has placed at the disposal of man, the message of humanity takes on a special significance and sant Kirpal Singh deserves our gratitude for having organized this world conference  on Unity of Man. It is a glimmer of light in the all pervading darkness, this message of Unity of Man that we are all one and no physical barriers and boundaries can divide and separate us.

     

    Swami Arvindanand Ji said, “By Gods grace or by merit of karmas, you are blessed with the man body and if you cultivate and develop certain human qualities you are a man and if on the other hand you adopt evil ways and develop tendencies and develop good qualities. And man making or regenerating man is, therefore, the very basis of the mission of Satguru Kirpal Singh and his Manav Kendra. He has taken the first step in the right direction by organizing this footsteps and stop not till we reach the goal, of unity. To err is human and we have our shortcomings, we always had them, but we have a competent guide in Param Sant Kirpal Singh, the cosmic man, to light our path to the top leaders and administrators seek his guidance and blessing. There is no other way than to take refuge under the sheltering wings of Godman.

     

    I do not wish to ask you to raise your hands but would ask all of you to make a firm resolve that from now on you will cleanse your hearts and minds of all parochialism and see man as fellow man and brother and not as Hindu,Moslem that you have some understanding of the teachings of sant Kirpal Singh Ji. It is the Power of lo of the living Master Kirpal Singh that draws you to him and you sit with rapt attention from morning till evening. If he were to leave this stage there would be nobody left here except the loudspeakers and the poles supporting the vast canopy left here except the loudspeakers and the Power of love, the uniting and cementing force, a minute vibration of which can span distances of mountain and sea. And so we should all become living embodiments of love and carry the message of the cosmic Lord whom we call by the name of Satguru  Kirpal Singh to the whole world.

     

    The living Master, sant Kirpal Singh, cast his glance of grace at the vast assemblage sitting patiently from the early hours of the morning for a few words from Him. He seemed to be looking far into the future into the streak of light which he had frequently predicted, but something in the deepening shadows of the last hours of kalyuga must have cause him much concern, for in all his speeches standing and strength to “change our angle of vision.” And he himself led the mass prayers after fully explaining its techniques in a few simple words.

     

    He said, “yesterday, the day before and today, the ideal was places before you that mankind is one.  We are all one it is true, but for that some effort is required on our part. We should pray to the almighty to give us strength to change our angle of vision. So I would request all brothers and sisters here to sit still, close your eyes and withdraws your attention from all outside and pray God in all sincerity and from the depth of heart. A true prayer which comes from the heart is always answered. An what is the true prayer? When mind thinks, the hear feels and the tongue expresses. The almighty heeds such prayers. Gurbani says this context: -

     

    Sat santosh  Kare Ardas,

    Tan sun sad bahalai pas.

     

    First of all the prayer should be true; it should come from the heart, the tongue should express it the same way and the mind fully concurs with it. That is a true prayer. The next stet is to sit at the door and patiently wait. Hurry wont do. So I say to you, the ideal before us is that mankind is all one. The labels of various formations that we carry on our bodies came later. You are welcome to have them, they are the distinctive labels of the different schools that we have joined to know self and to know God. That school is best which turns out a large number of successful student who pass the examination.

     

    Now please sit still and meditate for just three minutes. Close your eyes. Withdraw your attention from all outside. Pray to God sincerely and from the heart. He is within you and hears all your prayers. He knows the very trend of your thoughts, the way they are shaping. Now sit still, withdraw your attention from all outside and pray, “O God , we are stranded. We have lost the way. Show us the way. We are all one family, children of the same father. And you are our father.” And the vast gathering sat still meditation for 3 minutes after which the session dispersed.

     

     

     

     

    Second Open Session Feb. 5, 1974 evening

     

    ‘Know This that we are all One’

     

    -          Satguru Kirpal Singh

     

    The evening session, originally scheduled to be the opening session of word conference of Unity of Man became just an extension of the morning session with some forceful speeches from swami Arvindanand, Raja Mahendra Pratap, Bhikshuni pal Mohammedan and justice Bhatt, ending with a spiritual discourse by the living Master, Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji, wherein he stressed the point that ‘we are all one.’ And once again he asked them all to join him the prayer to God that He grant His special grace that we may have first-hand experience of Reality.

     

    Swami Arvindanand in a forceful speech called upon the saffron robed community of Sadhus to rise above the narrow confines of their order and play and effective role in world affairs. He began as usual by reciting the prayers of all religions and explained that he did it “because our minds have got so polluted that if a Hindu were to utter the ‘Allah’ in a temple, or a Moslem were to say ‘Ram’ in a mosque, it will cause such a stir as if a bomb was thrown. I recite the prayers just to clear the air. These are the things that cause rifts and divisions. “Swamiji paid a glowing tribute to Sant Kirpal Singh Ji. The whole credit for this great conference goes to him it was he who attracted eminent people from all over the world to him. He had no hesitation in accepting the  fact that the entire Sadhu community – he was giving his own personal opinion jointly could not have organized this great international meet. His eminence had raised all Sadhus in the estimation of the people.

     

    Raja Mahendra Pratap said the crux of the problem was that we profess to be Hindus, Moslems or Christians, but we did not act upon the teachings of our own religion. For instance Lord Krishna Says, whenever Dharma – right understanding or path of duty – is on the decline and evil is predominant, I come to ameliorate man. If this be true then Christ, Buddha, Mohammed were all incarnations of Lord Krishna. Similarly the holy Quran says, that Allah says to mohammed that ‘We have sent our Hadis at all times and in all climes’. This means that Lord Krishna, Buddha, Jesus Christ and Guru Nanak were all Hadis.

     

    The scriptures are full of such positive thoughts that will serve to unite man. If we were to apply the simple criterion to shed all thoughts that divide us and to accept thoughts that unite us and the same toke to recognize the  man who unites us as worthy of respect and he who divides as a man of evil, it would be helpful in cementing unity.

     

    Bhikshuni Pal Mo Sikkim, a Buddhist nun Mahayana sect of Buddhism, speaking in chaste English said that it was just an accident, a chance remark of a friend informing her about this conference  that had brought her. In fact a conference  on unity of man did not require a formal invitation. Paying a glowing tribute to the sponsor she said, “In the tenets of Mahayana it is clearly said that there is a no gain in looking for enlightenment for one’s own self. We must seek enlightenment for all mankind. I look upon this conference , sponsored and organized by sant Kirpal Singh, as not only a monument to his great love for all but also a monument to his great work for all. This is an example of supreme self-sacrificing work. It does not come, a meeting like this, just by thinking about it. It comes by sacrifice – Kurbani – and handwork. Santji could have sat in his Ashram very happily and the world would not have come to an end, but he called all his followers in the villages and I am happy, I cannot tell you how happy, to see all these Punjabi and U.P villagers with their Bistras (beddings) on their heads and their families coming to this camp city. This is the meaning of his care an selfless work for all. I give this message on behalf of Buddhist brothers of Himalayaa region – in Sikkin in Bhutan, in Himachal Pradesh – and in India. Perhaps you do not know that that there are 18 millions of us and some millions in the frontiers region.

     

    Justice J.N Bhatt (Jammu- Kashmir) Said, “You have heard so much on religion and on unity of man during these three days from eminent of religion, ministers, scholars, savants that I do not wish to say anything more, I would like you just to have something to help digest all this. And that chooran or digestive is the ‘dristhi’ or glance of grace from the God-intoxicated eyes of the living Master, Sant Kirpal Singhji Maharaj.” Citing an example from Gita, Justice Bhatt said that after explaining in detail the various aspects of the Dharma to Arjuna, Lord Krishna manifested before him his real face and forms of Cosmic Universal existence, which staggered him for he had till then taken him as a mortal like himself, a brother, a friend. “I too am at my wits” end at all that I have seen during the last 8 days, how thousands of men and women from all walks of life, of all ages, strata of society, religions, leave their homes, offices and other interests and devote themselves solely to the various activities, and during sessions sit still, in a pin-drop silence from morning till late in the evening. What is the power that attract them here, and holds them to their seats? And in the grand processions I saw well over a hundred thousands men women even small children waling a whole 3 mile distance in the hot sun. Why? For what gain? The Master has no money to distribute, no worldly power or influence, no temporal benefits to confer that men should flock to him like that.

     

    It is for a greater gain, of spiritual elevation, it Singh the Power of telepathic communication, the radiation of inner life that draws people to him. He preaches something which is very much desired and needed today. I am very proud of that India has contributed so much to the notion of Unity of man and unity of all religions. The living Master, Sant Kirpal Singh, showed to the west that there was something beyond material progress and amenities that they had in such abundance and were still unhappy. It was the elevation of human beings to spiritual dimension – which is more needed in the west than in the East. His teaching is very simple: Man, know Thyself. God is in you, in fact you are God personified. Develop your consciousness. That doctrines he has preached through platform, writing, discourses, tours and it has endeared him to men, women and children, all over the world. And it is not preaching alone, he gives the life impulse, the quickening touch from the abundance of his limitless reservoir of life eternal. It is God’s work – or raising people spiritually ; of making them God-conscious.

     

    The Master, Satguru Kirpal Singh said, “All Master who came said the same thing: God is Light and we are all children of Light. The same Light enlivens all creation. Just as bulbs have electric connection give light when the switch is pressed, the same way the Power and God enlivens all creation. When that Power withdraws from the body we have to leave this body. So you see we are children of Light, which is one and not two, the one Power that is our source and sustenance, called God, who is Light.

     

    Kabir has explained why he cannot see God. He says, ‘So long as we are identified with the Indriyas, the outgoing sense-faculties, we cannot see him. When we rise above them only then we can see God.’ All Master say the same thing. Kabir further says in the same context: I saw that all pervading Light in me and in all creation and all my doubts were dispelled. Lord Krishna says the same thing in Gita: He who sees Me in all and all in Me, he is dear to me. So you see that we are all offspring’s of the same Light. All are equal; high, no low. All are born the same way. Is there any doubt about it? Where then is duality?

     

    When a baby is born we cannot recognize whether it is a Hindu or a Moslem. Let us take the example of foundling Homes where abandoned children are sent. When a child is received there it carries no distinguishing marks to show whether it is Hindu or Moslem child. It is a man, as God made it. This is a fact and needs no reasoning.

     

    So we are all one, no proof is required for that. Only we do not perceive Him ( in the present state of close identification with the body and outgoing faculties) and that is why there is duality. We have a body and we have a mind but we are a conscious entity, the soul. With all our physical and intellectual advancement we are unhappy. Because we do not know our real self that we are children of Light. Great is man. The supreme Being once wished: ‘I am one, let me be many’, and with one thought wave of His the whole creation came into existence. As Guru Nanak says, ‘There was one source eternal from which flowed countless millions of streams.’ He is all Light and we are children of that Light. When He can create millions of planets by a mere wish, a single thought-wave we, who are conscious entities and of the same essence as that of God, can we not, by withdrawing our soul current from all outside and concentrating within create even a city?

     

    Master who came from time to time, all proclaimed: O man, you are attached to outer labels when the source of all joy and happiness is within you. God, all supreme Father, is in you. Father and son both live in the same house ( the man body ) but you, the son of the Almighty through identification with outgoing faculties, wander outside. Rise above the body consciousness. Maulana Rumi says: O dear heart rise above this physical life of flesh and you will realize the life Eternal that enlivens this body. As I said before, the Master one and all, laid stress on unity of man. For that one to unravel this body and know carry on our bodies. We forget that purpose and got attached to the outer labels. The same light burns in temples, in mosques and in churches. Which light is good an which is bad? Why these conflicts and fights? We revere the temples, the mosques and churches but fight each other.

     

    This is all due to lack of right understanding. We are already one, no proof is required for that. But we have forgotten that unity. If you want to have a first-hand experience of that go to a person who has realized that unity within himself. He will put you on the way up and give you practical demonstration of it that we are one, the children of Light. He will open your inner Eye and you will see that Light within you. What is knowledge? Gurbani says: ‘By contacting Naam (i.e. God - in - expression Power) within, one sees the Light of millions suns.’ That Light is within you. All Master says, God is Light. Kabir says, ‘Formerly I had some doubt about it, but when I saw that Light in al, my doubts were dispelled.’ Why then fight each other? If you strike two stone of different colours against each other they give the same spark which has the colour of fire. You may have a cow of any colour, black brown, or red, the colour of mild is the same – white. We  may have many labels and badges of any shape and colour we are all children of light. But we have forgotten ourself. Master come to awaken us that we are all one. We have to realize that unity. We are man first: labels came afterwards when we became Hindus, Moslems, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains and further we had labels of East and West and became devotees of countries and nations. Unless we rise above these labels we cannot realize God.

     

    During my third world tour I was asked in T.V interview: “How can we cement unity?” I said: “When people will rise above isms and labels that they are carrying and kings and Presidents rise above countries.” Labels only indicate which school one has joined ( for self-knowledge and  God –knowledge). Master never gave any labels, these came when, after their demise, social bodies were formed to keep their teachings alive so that more people may benefit from them. they were formed with a noble purpose but the same good old customs corrupts itself and with the passage of time there was stagnation in the social bodies followed by deterioration. Master come from time to time to revive then same age-old teaching. They give the call: Brothers! Wake up. You have forgotten yourself.

     

    How long will you remain asleep? They see the reality within the speak from that level, therefore, what they say is cent percent true.

     

    The outer preaching is all true, but without first-hand experience there is no conviction. Remain in the formations to which you belong and keep your forms and formularies. These are just to show that one should realize the porpoise for which one has joined a particular formation named after the Master one professes to follow. It is a blessing to remain in a formation one should keep away from parochialism and narrow-mindedness which in turn lead to deception and delusion.

     

    The basic purpose of this conference  is to bring home to all the fact that we are already one, but we have forgotten that. This is the basic teaching of all Master and the formations set up to keep alive their teaching of all Master and the formations set up to keep alive their teachings. The highest knowledge is to realize the unity which is innate in us. The various places of worship – dome shaped temples (made after the head), nose shaped churches, forehead shaped mosques and others are all modeled on the man body, the true temple of God. They are just to remind all those whose inner Eye is not opened and who do not see the Reality, that such Light shines within you and such sound reverberates in each one of you. Those who realize it – the twin principle of Light and sound, the manifestation of God - in - expression Power for them body is the true temple of God. And one can realize it the feet of a competent Master who has realized him in the man body

     

    This is what the Master give us. They give us direct first-hand contact with Reality. They come to make people see who do not see and they who see outside may be blind. Those who only see the outer physical phenomena are still blind from their point of view. Don’t  you feel it? If your mind were to be still for just a moment and all thoughts nullified, you would feel this oppressive blindness. Ramakrishna Paramhans once cited the example of a tree with many birds sitting on its branches. If some one were to clap his hands the birds would all flay away. We have the Sanskaras or impressions of countless incarnations filling the reservoir of our mind. A few moments ago some sadhus were clapping hands on the stage. Let there be a clapping of hands through nullifies all thoughts except this that we are all one. Is there any doubt about it in anyone’s mind? If there is let him seek a Master who has realized unity within Him. He will open your inner vision and make you see and that will dispel all doubts.

     

    Let us all pray to God: “O God Almighty who ever who are called by different names it is only through your names that we can wake up from deep slumber of ages. The Vedas say: ‘Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reaches.’ Kabir says the same thing: “Wake up O sleepy head wakeup. It is not time to sleep.’ This is the lesson that is repeated before you. It is the message for the whole world and a panacea for all our ills today. They asked me in the west (U.S.A) during an interview: How can we evade the disaster of atomic war? I told them: when king and President would rise above countries. Then they asked me if I would meet their President? I told them: Well, this is my conviction. And surely I would like to meet your President. I told them that they should not only tend their own garden but help others to keep their garden in full bloom.

     

    It is a matter of right understanding, right understanding would lead to right thoughts and right thoughts would result in right words and right actions. Remain in your own formations but rise above body consciousness, rise into universalism and leap into the Beyond and know you are already one. These are three things have been put before you with one purpose – there is no intention to break bodies, ‘they come do not come to destroy but to fulfill.’ The Master after whom the various formations been set up, are all one. Their teaching is one and the same. As I said this morning, let us pray God to awaken us. Who can awaken a man from sleep? God or God manifested in man, in other words a  God man.

     

    I have all love and regard for all you who have come from India or from far off places. The teaching of all Master who came, in East or West, is the same. I have love and regard in my heart for all Master who came, those here present now and those who may come in future. They are sent by God from time to time to awaken mankind from the slumber of parochialism and narrow-mindedness. Guru Nanak came in this context and recently both hands and said, ‘O Hindus, O Muslims, you are my own’. So what I say to you is nothing new. I would request al of you to spread it, all that you have heard here, wherever you go. Proclaim it from the house-tops that there may be peace and happiness on earth. So I pray God and you pray with me that He grant us His special grace and provide for us to have first-hand experience of Reality. The ideal before us is this that we are all one.

     


    Birthday celebrations pre dawn session Feb,6, 74

     

    ‘Rejoice ye all the beloved has come to my home’

    -Gurbani

     

    6th February, the hour is pre dawn, Brahm Mahoorat, the hour of meditation, of grace: the location, sawan Nagar, the improvise town of tents put up in the vast Ramila Grounds, for the duration of the world conference  on Unity of Man. The Master, Satguru Kirpal Singh is seated in his tent, distributing ‘Prasad’ (gift of grace). Seated by his side are Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Head of the Sufi order, yogi Bhajan, Swami Chetanand Chidakashi and other heads of Sadhu orders there is a strong radiation of love, of grace. The magic moment is indescribable. The giver gives freely with both hands, to all that come to him. The receivers come forward to receive, each according to his or her receptivity. Writer producer Rajinder Singh Bedi brings along his film unit. He proceeds with extends with extended hands, tear laded eyes upraised, to receive the ‘prasad’ and to catch the first rays from the sun of spirituality and carrying the light in his own heart tries to fix it in the film. It is an unending procession of receives, but there is a spell of deep silence and stillness here that smothers all bustle.

     

    Exactly at 5 a.m. the Master comes on the stages and looks at the vast gathering, large than all the crowded sessions of the conference. Gentlemen of the Press, Radio, TV, rub their eyes in wonder, unable on believe the evidence of their own eyes. How can all these people leave the warmth of their quilts at home and sit here, virtually in the open, at this unearthly hour, unmindful of the bitter cold of a near freezing temperature? It was with great difficulty that the Master, on the earnest request of maha Mandleshwar swami ved Vyasanand, backed by the voice vote of the whole gathering, had greed to hold the predawn session in the Ramlila grounds. He did not mind personal inconvenience, it was the inconvenience to others that deterred him. But love will have its way and as the Master says, ‘it is he who loved us first’ it was all a reaction of his own unbounded love for his children.

     

    Sweet strains of music of Gurbani recitation by Yogi Bhajan’s American disciple fill the air followed by a shabd by Bhajan kaur (Mrs. Darshan Singh). Rajinder Singh bedi, who is no singer, follows with a few pertinent lines from Gurbani –“hard-hearted, cunning, deceitful and lust ridden I am. Have compassion on me: ferry me across the stormy sea of life as thou will.” The song becomes the hearts cry of all in the vast audience. Some moments later a lone voice of the village woman rises from the audience and reaches the stage. There is no microphone before her and yet the solitary voice fills the whole vast pandas as well as the stage. The secretaries –Darshan Singh, avatar Singh, M.M. Chopra, Prem Chand Gupta, who conducted the proceeding, sit still and just listen. The whole gathering sings with her. The song, set to a popular film tune, is of her own composition and speaks of rapturous joy at the advent of the Master and the loving soul calls on the bracing air of spring and the free flowing rivers to sing with her to celebrate the great event. The whole gathering is now singing, looking up to the Master for grace and the compassionate one gives then all, ‘the Prasad’ of his glance of grace.

     

    Swami Chetnand Chidakashi, speaks of the magic of Brahm Mahoorat and asks the Master for his grace, ending with the words; “I bow my head to him in reverence and seek his blessing and his grace that I should have the way, the having complete their task of liberating souls yearning to go back home, returned to their source which is all light. You are of the same line of light givers and I pray that the light that you have lit keeps shining for all time to come. My humble ‘Pranam’ (bow) at the feet of the Master, again and again and yet again.”

     

    Mr. Reno Sirrine comes up to the stage, his face creased in smiles, and rising to his full height he moves his hands in a wide circle and sings in a very sweet voice, ‘happy birthday to you Master’ and all the five hundred delegates stand up and join him and the whole house rings with the joyful tune.

     

    T.S. Khanna follows his colleague and single the famous lines a Gurbani, ‘Hun deco wadhaiyan Ji ke hum ghar sajan aaya’ (the beloved has come to my home. Join me in celebrating the happy event and wish me all joy.) tears of joy flow from his eyes and his voice rings out loud and clear and tuneful and soon the whole house takes up the line and goes on repeating it long after Mr. Khanna has returned to his seat.

     

    The general secretaries, felicitate the Master by turns and pray for many happy returns of the day that they continue to bask in his life giving radiation ending with darshan’s off repeated poem and its memorable couplet, “from thee I have learnt to love all mankind. I have thy message of love to give to all humanity.”

     

    The Master Satguru Kirpal Singh, looks at his children for sometimes and says: “I heard all that was said about me and I was ashamed:

     

    Kale mainde kapre, kala mainda ves,

    Gunaheen bharya haum phiran log kahen darvesh.

     

    -          Gurbani

     

    (i.e. Black is my form and black my robes. Full of sins I am, yet people call my a holy man). My Master, the great Hazur (Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj) used to say off and on that he (Kirpal Singh) would do the work after me.’ But I could not believe it. For when I looked at me I was assailed by doubts –how can it be possible? At last one morning –it was assailed by doubts –how can it be possible? At last morning –it was march 12, 1948 –Hazur called me to him and said, “Kirpal Singh, I have assigned all other duties to different persons but the work of giving Naam –initiating seekers after truth into the science of the Master I have not entrusted to anybody as yet. That duty I now give to you so that the teachings of the Master may grow and flourish.” Tears came to my eyes. In my mind was the thought, what is he saying today? What is life worth to a disciple after the Master? And the Master said, “this work you have to do.” I said, “it is all your doing. Your orders will be carried. We are mere puppets in your hands, whichever way you wish we dance.” And he said, “it will be so. It is my work.” It is he who is running the whole show behind the scenes. And that is the fact. I listened to all that is said by people and look at my self and silently pray, ‘O Master, it is all thy grace working. The credit is all thin. It is none of my doing.’

     

    This –the search after truth –was my hobby from the very childhood. I had the gift of transvision and would have a vision of things happening behind walls and in far off places – in Bombay, in Calcutta, in America . and I pray, ‘O God, keep these supernatural Power in reserve with thee and grant me that I live like an ordinary individual. secondly, if anybody were to have some benefit from me, I should not be aware of it.’ So this is all his (the Master) grace working. What is a Power. He is omnipresent and resides in all hears. He gives of his grace at his will and pleasure, sometimes even manifesting himself in human form, to his true devotees. So as I said, it is all hazurs grace.

     

    We celebrate the birthday of small children too. But what is a real birth? The siddhas asked Guru Nanak, ‘when did you end your coming and going?’ and he said, “when I was born in the home of Satguru I was freed of the cycle of coming and going.’ And what is meant by taking birth in satguru’s home? Where is his home? Satguru is the name of the God into expression Power that created. Sustains and controls all creation. He is omnipresent and all pervading. The same Power controls us in the man body, which we have fortunately got. It is a golden opportunity, for it is only in man body that we can realize God. Gurbani says:

     

    Those who contacted Naam with, their labours were fulfilled.

    Hallowed are their faces and many others got liberated through them.

     

    My birth in satguru’s home came in 1917. I used to pray: O God, if you could manifest yourself directly to devotees like prehlad and Dhruva in the past why not grant me that experience? And by the grace of God I saw the radiant form of the Master, Hazur Maharaj, in 1917. I thought that he was Guru nanak. That form used to guide me in the inner planes. I am a great lover of rivers and this craze took me to the beas. When I detrained at Beas station and asked the way to the river, the station Master, bua das, said, ‘have you come to see the saint?’  ‘is there any saint here?’ I asked. ‘yes he said, he lives by the river bank.’ I thought I shall have both my desires fulfilled: seeing the river and a meeting with the saint. That was in 1924.

     

    When I reached the Dera, Hazur Maharaj was taking his meals. I waited outside. The moment he came out I looked at him wide eyed with wonder. It was the same form that had guided me in the inner planes for seven years. And I asked, ‘Master, why this delay?’ ‘This was the opportune moment from our meeting,’ he said.

     

    As I was saying, Hazur told me then that I was to carry on the work after Him. I was really faced with the thought problem, for it is very difficult to live after the Master. When I was writing ‘Gurumat siddhant’ there was mention of a disciple in the context of separation from the Satguru. The disciple, hearing the news of the demist of his Guru, went to his grave, lay down on it and his soul left the body. The name of amir Khusro was also mentioned. His Master, hazrat nizamuddin had left strict in junctions that Khusro was not to be allowed to come near his grave for if Khusro came there it would split open. The name of Guru Angad was also mentioned in the same context. Nazur Maharaj, to whom I took all my writings for approval, heard the whole chapter once, twice, three times and I pondered over it and prayed that I may not have to bear such separation.

     

    We should have a birth that we may not have to be born again. Gurbani says, ‘those who die while living, they are accepted in his court.’ Christ says the same thing: ‘except ye be born anew ye cannot enter the kingdom of God.’ Whereupon necodemus said, ‘Lord how can we re enter the womb of the mother and be reborn’? and Jesus said to him: ‘Necodemus you are a learned man and people hold you  in high regard. Don’t you know that flesh is born of flesh and spirit of spirit’? to be born in the home of Satguru means to rise above body consciousness and to awaken in a new world into the beyond. As Jesus says: ‘The Kingdom of heaven cannot be had by observation. It is within you.’ one has to tap inside to find it. It is a sea of life and one has to plung headlong into it. By the grace of a competent Master one can rise above body consciousness in trice otherwise there is an endless gyration of incarnations. It is indeed difficult to rise above body consciousness. The yogis spent hundreds of years to do it. With a little attention or life impulse a competent Master can give first hand experience or rising above body consciousness to any number of aspirants at a time.

     

    All Master say, ‘Learn to die while living so that you may have everlasting life.’ The holy Quran says, ‘Die thou before death.’ the Sufis and saints –Dadu and Kabir –say the same thing.  St. Plutarch says: ‘those who have been initiated into the mysteries of the beyond, their soul has the same experience of leaving the body as it has at the time of death.’

     

    Our attention –which is the outward expression of soul in the body is identified with the body, so much so that it has forgotten itself. Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru says the just as flowers painted on a wall cannot leave the wall, likewise, our soul is so identified with the body that it cannot analyze itself. The Master liberate us from the cains of outer attachment and take us above the body consciousness and we wake up in a new world. This is just a beginning. There are many stages after that. Macrocosm is in the microcosm. It is a long journey to the ultimate goal. Where the world philosophies end there the religion starts –it starts when you rise above body consciousness.

     

    We can discuss it but unless the sense faculties are controlled and mind and intellect stilled, we cannot analyze ourself.’ Guru Amar Das says in this context that the competent Master gives you a practical first hand experience of death while living but what that experience is cannot be described in words. It has to be experience. And what happens? Guru Amar Das says, ‘ Satguru teaches us to invert our outgoing faculties –from outside.’ That is why the path of the Master has been described as ‘Ultra Marg’ or ‘inverted path. The man body too has been described as an inverted tree with roots above and branches below.

     

    The end of knowledge is fellow feeling, freatenity – a feeling of kinship that we are all brothers and sisters in God. With the strengthening of this feeling comes civility and culture. Such a man can adjust himself to all sorts of circumstances. He is fearless and unworried. And last of all comes humility, second humility, and third, again humility. Water always to God is first humility, second humility, and third, again humility. Water always flows downwards, it cannot stay at a high level where there is a slope. The little understanding I got by sitting at the feet of my Master, Hazur baba sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, that is being given  out to you. his authority and his will prevails. Currency is controlled by the government and not by cashiers, who come and go. Thousands have been, are being, benefited by his grace. It is his dispensation –he is the sender, he the giver. People are having practical first hand experience both in the east and the west and seeing the reality with their own eyes, are fully convinced. There is no conviction without seeing. Says Gurbani, ‘unless I see with my own eyes I will not fully believe even the Gurus words.’ The realization that we are not the body but the light that animates it, comes only by seeing. And for that we have to withdraw our attention (soul current) from all outside and concentrate within, at the still point, back of the eyes, form where the whole machinery of the body is controlled (in the other words to die while living), only then we begin to know Him. A practical demonstration of this can be had at the feet of a competent Master.

     

    As I said before, fellow feeling is most essential. Without it knowledge has no meaning. A Giani (one who knows Realty) will see Him in all from his own level. There are different levels of the knowledge, come have studied upto primary standard, some up to middle or high school and some others have a college degree. People come to me and say things from their own level. I tell each one of them: ‘you are right from your own level.’ What else can one say? The world never appreciated the great light givers. They were persecuted and tortured. Guru Nanak was not allowed to enter the town of Qasur in the Punjab. Some were nailed to the cross, others burnt alive. who were the persecutors? Those whose inner vision was not opened; who did see the reality within. those who saw the reality within. their word can be taken as true. They said: body is the temple of God. Says Gurbani: ‘by the grace of the Master you will see that body is the temple of God.’ And again: ‘the whole world that ye see  around thee is the image of God, and I actually see it as such.’ This is the statement of those who realize God and saw Him in all.

     

    The digest of the understanding that I got through a comparative study of scriptures and by sitting at the feet of the Master is that we are all one. Man body is golden opportunity that we have got, to know God. First, we have to know ourself, then only we can know Him, knowing oneself is not at the level of feelings, emotions or drawing inferences from a study of books. These are all subject to error. Seeing is above all. And seeing is believing. The Master come to awaken us from the slumber of delusion. They come to make people see who do not see. They open our inner eye and make us see the Reality within. they affirm that one can see God in this life. Tulsi Sahib says:

     

    Behind the eyes is the still point, the till

    And in the til is the whole secret.

    One has only to penatrate the veil of darkness

    And see the reality beyond.

     

    Shams Tabrez says in the same context: ‘one should see God with his own eyes and hear his word with his own ears.’ And how can one see the reality within? moinuddin chishti says: ‘Pentrate deep into the darkness and you will see the light.’ Tulsi sahib says: ‘if you wish to see the reality go to a competent Master.’ The formations are all right. They are the different schools for turning out perfect men. And what is the qualification of man? Who has knowledge realized knowledge. The first step to that is fellow feeling. And secondly, a capability for adjustment. He should be able to adjust himself to all sorts of circumstances and be able to get along with every body. For that one has to have culture, the hall mark of which is toleration and love, even for one’s enemies. When mansur was led away to be executed some people who had stood by him, asked him to pray for them. and he prayed to God and said, ‘God bless you.’ he also prayed for those who had got him arrested and condemned to death. Christ also prayed: ‘O father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ So dear brothers, you are all graced with the man body, which is a golden opportunity. This is the first step towards realization of God. God is there is no doubt about it. If you sit at the feet of a competent Master you will get the awakening and that would change your angle of vision. Reading of scriptures and biographies of the Masters kindles in one an interest and longing for spirituality. When we read that such and such person realize God we naturally ask, can we also see Him? We sing the songs composed by Master who realized God we naturally ask, can we also see Him? We sing the songs composed by Master who realized God , with great enthusiasm as if their experience was our own experience and we were the same. Where is the use? If a thin person wears milestones for our guidance, telling us how they progressed, step by step, to reach the ultimate goal. You can compare and see where you stand. You say, ‘happy birthday to you’. I say to you. ‘happy birthday to you.’ you are getting the thing (first hand experience of reality) by the grace of Hazur Maharaj. It is his words that are bearing fruit. Pray from the depth of heart. A prayer that comes from the heart is accepted and answered. I think it would be better if yogi Bhajan were to sum up in a few words in English the digest of what I have said.

     

    Yogi Bhajan spoke a few words, sharing with others what he had received. His words gave an indication of his receptivity to the radiation, that makes every word come alive with new meaning, beyond communication and expression through words, which can only be caught through heightened consciousness, which was a gift of grace from the living Master. He said:

     

    “It will be my privilege to translate within the scope and orbit in which I can help. The first fellow feeling of being is living in the fellow feeling of universal love, and that universal love is the manliness within one’s own self.” When sant Ji says, “I have gone and I have talked to you all over and you have heard me saying one thing over again and again –that we are one in the oneness of God,” and when you get to the man of God consciousness, it comes to you as a feeling and then there is no need for diversion from their higher consciousness or the applied consciousness of the mind. It is privilege of every fellow being.

     

    And he said, “I am the humble of the humble because it is the grace, it is the grace of the great one who has chosen me for the job.” It is  a privilege that so many people have loved him so many people have come early in the morning to be with him. But still his oneness with God has not separated him even at this moment. This was an experience which we went through and we saw it. It might be for you a unique experience, he said, ‘when you walk on the path of  righteousness; you may have to go on the cross, you may have to be skinned alive, you may have to be boiled or fried on the hot plate just to test your faith, your integrity, your divinity, and your love of the universal consciousness, but at that time you develop an attitude to bless those who have done whatever they have done to you. when the forgiveness and the greatness of  you prevails beyond scope of boundaries and oneness of God shines through you, that is when man has achieved the love of God within himself’. Thank you.”

     

    Streaks of light from the morning sun had filtered in from the opening in the canopy breaking the spell of the Brahm Mahoorat. It was morning now with all the bustle and noise of the work a day world when the session ended for a brief interval for breakfast.


    0Birth anniversary: Public function Feb. 6, 74, noon

    ‘Sant Kirpal Singh Ji has revived the old old teachings of the Vedas’’

     

    -          Swami Gangeshwaranand

    -           

    The huge Pnadal at Ramlila Grounds, venue of crowded sessions of world conference in Unity of Man, wore a festival look when the living Master, Satguru Kirpal Singh, was honored and felicitated in his 81st Birth Anniversary by the denizens of Delhi – the citizenry and the elite – at a public function presided by the mayor, the Deputy mayor, the Ministers and other prominent persons who in turn were garlanded on behalf of the Master and his Manav Kendra, by the eight general secretaries of the world conference  on Unity of Man – A. R Manocha, G.M Ahuja, M.Mchopra, B.M. Shamsukha, Darshan Singh Duggal, A. S. Oberoi, D. P. Pandey, Prem Chand Gupta – and others. The foreign delegates, all disciples, looked happy and relaxed after the nonstop exhausting work of the conference.

     

    On stage with Master were seated, beside Mayor Sahini and Deputy Mayor Khandelwal, Union Minister of state for Communication, Prof. Sher Singh, Deputy Railway Minister Mohammed Safi Qureshi, Deputy chief minister of Gujran Shri Kantilal Ghia and other prominent persons and among sadhus the most respected figure was Maha Mandleshwar Swami Gangeshwaranand, the greatest living scholar of the Vedas, who recently presented to the nation the fruit of thirty years of unremitting toil – all the four Vedas in one volume, complete with commentary. He rarely addresses public meeting (the sole exception being Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji’s birth anniversary celebrations many of which he has attended.) Beside him there were, Swami Chetnanand Chidakashi, M.M. Swami Ved Vyasnanad, Muni Sushil kumar, Pt. Sunderlal, Raja Mahendra Pratap, Shri Gulzarilal Nanda, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Yogi Bhajan and others. General Secretary Prem Chand Gupta conducted the proceedings with great aplomb and not a little ready-witted humor.

     

    Shri kidar Nath Sahni, Mayor of Delhi said that when man elsewhere in the world lived like a jungle beast, in that pre-civilization era India had given the call of ‘Basudhaiv Kutumbukum’ that all mankind was one family. That man could think so high necessary the so-called dark ages in an object of wonder for historians and researchers. Our history shows that when people forget this message of universal love and unity of man, Master come and by their living example and precept infuse new life in the people and raise them to new heights of consciousness. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji belongs to the same hallowed line of light-giver who come to awaken humanity from the slumber of sloth and delusion. On the auspicious day of his 81st  birth anniversary we pray God to spare him for long long years so that his message may grow and spread all over the world and he may continue to glorify mother India and add luster to his mane.

     

    On the conclusion of the Mayor’s speech Shri Prem Chand Gupta thanked the Mayor and his administration for their all-out help in the various arrangements like sanitation, water and electricity, cleanliness, security, health, etc, and asked him to convey the grateful thanks of the organizers of the conference  to the various concerned departments of his administrations.

     

    Communication Minister Prof. Sher Singh said that it was a happy coincidence that six hundred years ago on this very day (6th February), Sant Ravidas was born in this sacred land and today we are celebrating the 81st birth anniversary of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj who belongs to the same line of Godmen. As the Mayor said just now, our land is not rich in material resources but the message of love, equality of man, truth and fraternity given out by our Rishis from times immemorial is a message that unites all mankind in one common fold of humanity. it is a message which is as relevant today as it was in the times that it was given. and the same message is being revived and propagated by Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj in our times for which we are beholden to him. I pray God for his long life that he may continue to give light to India and all humanity.

     

    Shri Mohammed Safi Qureshi, Deputy Railway Minister, speaking in chaste Urdu, first of all congratulated Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji on his 81 birth anniversary and quoted a couplet from Ghalib:

     

    May you enjoy a life-span of a thousand years.

    And every year thereof should have fifty thousand days.

     

    He continued, “The message of unity is not new. Sant Ji has picked up the link of the chain started many thousands years ago, with new links being added to it by prophet and Avtars who came from time to time. Guru Nanak, who came five hundred years ago, provided another link to the chain, and it is the same link that has been picked dup by Sant Ji. By taking up the great mission of unity in these dark times he has put a balm on the festering sores of humanity. God has not only given Suroor (ineffable joy and bliss) to his message but has also given Noor (divine radiance) to his face. I feel that the soul of Guru Nanak, whose message Sant Ji is spreading far and wide, must be present at the moment to bless him.

     

    Shri Kantialal Ghia, Deputy chief Minister, Gujrat, praying for long life to sant Kirpal Singh Ji said that the world had not yet forgotten the terrible holocaust of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Hydrogen and Neuraton Bombs today were a hundred times more destructive. In a world racked by fear of impending atom war Sant Ji has brought a new hope. May he live long to continue his work of amelioration of man.

     

    Maha Mandleshwar Swami Gangeshwaranand, the great scholar-savant and teacher who was born blind and yet has served as a beacon to light the halls of learning for the last half century paid a glowing tribute a Satguru Kirpal Singh. In a speech studded with gems of scholarship he said: I am happy to see that the  great mission of Unity of Man , a work dear to my heart  and to which I have devoted myself for a fairly long time, has been taken up by sant Kirpal Singh Ji on a global scale, it is the old old message of the Vedas given thousands of years ago. Quoting extensively from the Vedic texts, Swami Gangeshwaranand gave quotations form RigVeda, the most ancient scriptures, which addresses all mankind as sons of God, which rendered in modern terms may be expressed as brother hood of man under the Fatherhood of God. Quoting Rigveda again, Swamiji said that there was reference therein of ‘Panch Janan’ the people living  in the five regions of earth. The five main divisions of earth today are Australia, Asia, Europe, America and Africa. These are the ‘Panch Janan’ mentioned in Rig Veda, for whom the injunction is given that, ‘we should have brotherly relations with the people of these regions; we should give them something and they should give us something and we should love them as they should love us.’ And I find in this assembly a fulfillment of the Vedic injunction ( for we have here representatives of Australia, Africa, America, Europe and Asia  (since we Indians are all Asiatics). So this message of unity and equality and love and brotherhood given out by Sant Kirpal Singh Ji is the old old message of the Vedas that is given to the world and I thank him for that and pray for his long life and health to enable him to fulfill his great mission.

     

    The Master, Sant Kirpal Singh Said: “the object of the conference on Unity of Man is to propagate the idea of Unity of Man that all mankind is one, all are born the same way, their outer and inner construction is the  same and all are endowed with the same privileges from God. No high, no low – all are equal. We are drops of the Ocean of All – consciousness which is God. So we are all brothers and sisters in God. Our ultimate goal is to attain atonement with the Supreme Power which controls all creation and also controls us in the body.

     

    The whole world is His abode, and on a small scale, body is the Temple of God in which His eternal Light is shining. ‘Take heed that the Light which is in thee be not darkness’. That Light is in all of us. Our Surat or attention has identified itself with the body and the outside world, so much so that it has forgotten itself. If it withdraws from all outside and rises into awareness of its true identity as a conscious entity, it can know the supreme Power – God. For that we have to learn to die while living by rising above the body – consciousness. What is death?

    It is like the sun setting on one side and rising on the other. That is all. We have to realize the Controlling Power, the source and sustenance of all that is. Why do we not see Him now? Because our attention is identified with the physical body and the world outside, so much so that it has forgotten that it is a conscious entity, the Controlling Power behind the body. Let me give an example to explain the point. Suppose I am looking in front of me. I cannot at the same time see what is behind me unless I withdraw my gaze from the front and look behind. Likewise, outside and recede within, to know itself. And which is the eye that can see the Reality within? That eye is different – it is the self  luminous inner Eye mentioned in the scriptures as the third eye, Single Eye or Shiv Netra, of which it is said, ‘If thine withdraw our attention from all outside and rise into awareness of our true identity and then realize the Supreme Power. And when one sees Him immanent in all and working in all, one would love all creation.

     

    Man is he who is perfect all round – physical, mental and spiritually. ‘Be ye perfect as your Father, which is heaven.’ We give food to the body, we also feed the  intellect, but what food do we give to the soul, which is a conscious entity? What is the food for soul? Man cannot live on bread alone. The food for soul, a conscious entity, is to contact God – the Ocean of All-Consciousness, the Supreme Power that enlivens all creation. It has to know that Power, to contact It. Such a man – who has developed all round – may be called a perfect man. The object of all formations or social bodies is to turn out such perfect men.

     

    God made man and gave all men equal privileges. There is no high, no low – all are equal in the sight of God. And God does not reside in temples made by human hands but he does reside in the Temples He has Himself made in the Womb of the mother. And that Temple is the man-body that we are carrying. In this Temple we live and He also lives in it. It is a wonderful house we live in, that with so many apertures or outlets of eyes, ears, nose etc., we cannot escape from it. Some Power is controlling us in this body and that Power is God.

     

    All Master who came in the East or in the West say that God is Love. Soul, which is of the same essence as that of God is also love. Love needs an object for attachment. The natural object for our attachment was God, but we got attached to the world, because we see it. All Masters say, ‘Love thy God and since God is immanent in all forms, love all creation.’ We say, how can we love Him whom we do not see? The answer to that is, seek the company of a Master who has realized him. He will give you a practical demonstration of how to rise above body – consciousness and see the Reality within. The Masters come to make people see who do not see. When the attention recedes within to concentrate at the seat of soul between and at the back of the two eyes, it realizes its true identity that it is the indweller, controlling the body and there is a supreme Power that controls it ( the soul ) in the body, Guru Nanak says in this context; ‘The Lord of Nanak is visible everywhere.’ And Kabir says: ‘I saw Him, the Uncreated Light Principle immanent in all and my doubts were dispelled.’

     

    Love comes with seeing. One cannot love him whom he does not see. How can we see God? The Upanishad says in this context: ‘Unless the outgoing sense-faculties are controlled, and the mind and the intellect stilled, one cannot realize God.’ When one sees Him in all the would naturally love all creation and seek the good of everyone. Guru Nanak was moved by the same experience to say. ‘Peace be unto all, under thy Will O Lord.’

     

    Love knows service and sacrifice. Man is he who lives for others. An animal lives for itself and for its progeny. There is no dearth of preaching to day. One may read all the books but unless he acts up to what they say it is no use reading. We have developed the head and neglected the heart. That is the reason for all the conflicts we see today. There is nothing new in all that I have said just now. I have given out the gist of the understanding I got by sitting at the feet of the Master and from a parallel study of religions and that is, ‘O man know thyself, who you are, what you are?’ A Persian Faqir says:

     

    O man you know the worth of everything.

    If you know not your own worth you are a fool.

     

    The Master make a man a true man in the first instance and then raise him to the  level of an angel and finally to that of God. The three pre-requisites to God-realisation are: Right diet, right conduct and right dealings. Guru Nanak says in this context: -

     

    O Nanak, utter the name of God with a pure heart

    The worldly defile themselves by their evil ways.

     

    And Kabir says:

     

    The fish from the river of heart the sacred water of Ganges,

    Even then it wouldn’t wash clean and the foul smell wouldn’t go.

     

    Guru Amar Das says in the same context:

     

    When the mind is unclean all is defiled.

    Washing the body does not make the mind clean.

    The whole world is in the rut of delusion

    Few there be who know the Reality.

     

    What is that pollution and uncleanliness? The life of the senses. God + Desire = Man, and Man – Desire = God.

    There is a great awakening now which I observed my third world tour recently. The regeneration of society depends on the regeneration of man. Bricks may be manufactured in may kiln. If they are strong and of good quality the house will be strong. If the bricks are not properly burnt and the material is substandard, you cannot have a strong house. So whichever the formation, man should be man in the true sense of the world. There is a general awakening today in every direction. People are so unhappy, may God grant them peace and happiness. The way to that is to seek company of awakened men.

     

    Shri Prem Chand Gupta Thanked all concerned for participating in the public function to felicitate the living Master, sant Kirpal Singh, in honoring whom we were in fact honoring ourselves and this sacred land which had produced universal light-giver throughout the ages. Commenting on the great success of the world Christ on the Unity of Man he said that the conference  fully reflected the idea of unity in its organization and working, it had eight general secretaries drawn from different organizations who had never worked together. It was the harmonizing influence and impact of the personality of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji that brought them together and made it possible for them to handle the many- sided complex problems of organization and administrations of this – perhaps the greatest in the history of Delhi international meet so successfully.


    Last lesion 6th February 1974, evening

    ‘Carry the idea of Unity Practically in your life’

             Satguru Kirpal Singh

     

    The evening  session, which was the concluding session of the conference was remarkable for the high order and variety of speeches. The Foreign delegates were given full opportunity to express their views and their short, precise, thought – provoking speeches, in French, Spanish, Latin, German, Greek and many other languages including African, ably translated into English by their compatriots, delivered in a spectacular milieu – a conglomeration of race, cultures, costumes – lent a colorful touch to the proceedings. More remarkable was the fact that the vast Indian audience listened to all these speeches with rapt attention as if they were following each and every word, even as the foreign delegates listened patiently and attentively to Hindustani speeches in the preceding sessions – a living proof that there are levels of communications and contact away and above the reach of words.

     

    The report of the proceedings including the four resolutions drafted by the steering committee were presented to the house and passed.

     

    The two guest speakers of the evening, foreign Minister Sardar Swaran Singh, who made a dash straight from the airport (where he had landed on return from Bhutan) and Shri Gulzarilal Nanda surveyed their respective fields – international relations with particular references to unity of man and moral values with special emphasis on fighting corruption in every sphere of national life.

     

    The foreign delegates who spoke – Stan Kozitsky (U.S.A) Dexler (Germany) Ernest Stephens (Canada) Dr. Dukey, acupuncture specialist (Cali Colombia, South America) Eva Cardja (Greece) Joseph Betta (France) Piero Mercenaro (Italy) Frederic Aye (Ghana) and many other dwelt at length on the university and validity of the teachings of Satguru Kirpal Singh in the context of the complex problems of today. The five minute speeches, condensed and chiseled with loving care, sought to express in words the vibration of grateful hearts. They told their story, directly and simply, without literary flourish and embellishments of the greatest blessing that a man can have – the company of a living Master and myriads of benefits flowing there from.

     

    Mr. Reno Sirrine, leaders of the U.S delegation thanked beloved Master Kirpal Singh of the unique honors of invitation to tea at Rastrapati Bhawan to 15 leaders of foreign delegation by the President of India, Dr. V.V Giri and the opportunity Bhavan and its ravishing Moghul Gardens. Dr. Giri told them that he was not a Moslem, a Sikh, a Christian, a Buddhist or a Jain: he was a humanist and he believed in humanism. They presented the President a copy of the conference  souvenir, copies of resolutions drafted by the steering committee of the conference and the New Year Calendar brought out by the Manav Kendra, which the President graciously accepted. Mr. Sirrine concluded, “Once again I thank all my Indian brothers and sisters who worked hard to make this conference  possible. It is the greatest experience of my life and I hope, of all my brother from the West. I also thank all those who made our visit here enjoyable, looking to our comfort, serving us delicious meals, providing transport, taking care of the sick and attending to all our needs, and more especially, I thank our gracious Master Kirpal Singh Ji and all his staff. Thank you.

     

    Mr. Russel Perkins, editor, Sat-Sandesh (English) published in U.S.A quoted the parable of two gardeners, one of whom worked hard tending the garden and kept it in full bloom and when the Master came to see the garden, presented him a bouquet from his own garden. The other gardener just slept and did no work but when the  came he danced attendance on him, singing his praises and making much noise. “Now we who love somebody and who are deeply interested in this conference and its work, it is not sufficient for us just to praise our Master or somebody else but to live up to the ideals placed before us every minute, every second, every hour, all our life. Unity means that we love our neighbors as we love our own self and we are that neighbor so we should feel that the way we treat others is the way we treat ourself. If this be our viewpoint how can we do anything mean or selfish?

     

    I think that this conference  has a great significance and from the day it started I have felt a great upsurge of spiritual radiation enlivening and uplifting everyone. I feel it even now. A great deal is happening at this time at different levels of which we have no awareness. But one thing is definite, that this conference  will be fruitful only when we go back and reflect it in our loving treatment to our wives and children, to the people we meet in the street, to our friends and companions, to those under whom we work and those who work under us.

    Pandit Sunderlal, he veteran freedom fighter and one of the foremost thinkers and philosophers said that unity of man was possible, even needed, on political and economical level but that would not stay. Real unity that would abide for all time, can only he cemented on a spiritual level and the greatest and most fundamental work in this direction is that which is being done by Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji and his collaborators and followers and unity will be cemented on the lines suggested by the Satguru. Pandit Sunderlal quoted extensively from the scriptures of both Hindus and Moslems to prove that religion had nothing to do with rites, ceremonies, modes of living and worship. It did not even concern itself with belief or disbelief in God. The basic tenet of religion, any religion, is unity of man. According to Mahabharat, the Rishi Lay down unity as a criterion of religion – that which unites all is Dharma, that which divides is not. And the more ancient Manusmriti lays down ten commandments a the basis of Dharma – patience, forgiveness, self-discipline honesty, cleanliness, control over sense-organs, quest for knowledge, non-violence, non-anger etc. There is no mention there of any beard, sacred thread, keeping a tuft of hair on the head or anything of that sort. Can a Moslem or a Christian or Jew for that matter anybody deny such a religion? ‘God is love and God is Light,’ says the Qoran. In the end he quoted a couplet from a Sufi Saint saying that all places of worship and all holy books were worthy of respect but from him there were only one God which was love.

     

    Shri Shanker Dev M.P  secretary, ‘One world’ movement said that this conference  with delegates from all over the world presented to him the picture of a world parliament. “The world is going to be one and unity will be cemented by a Godman like Satguru Kirpal Singh and those who work under his guidance. It is a pity that four thousand million of rupees are spent daily on the maintenance of armed forces and preparations of war by different nations. The hard-earned money of innocent men and women who do not want war is being squandered on preparations of war. This money would go a long war to remove poverty in the world. The crying need of the hour is to change our values of life that make us cringe before wealth and influence. We run after ministers and M.P’s. We should bow our head to Saints and Sadhus who unite man with man, propagate love and unity and not to politicians and party bosses who divide and sow the seeds of discord. With these words I present my book ‘One World, One Govt,’ with all love and reverence to Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj.”

     

    Shri Gulzarilal Nanda said: First of all I bow to Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj in all reverence and love and offer my felicitations to you all who have come here from India and abroad to participate in this function. One find here a unique atmosphere of peace and quiet, of ineffable bliss, which is not to be found elsewhere. The living Master, Satguru Kirpal Singh has give you the rare treasures of inner peace and stillness, that is why there is so much peace and quiet here. I feel the uplifting radiation of atmosphere myself. What the Satguru has gained at the end of a long and arduous search and Sadhana (spiritual practices) he is giving freely to both in the East and in the West and therefore I feel that it is most essential that on this auspicious occasion of the 81st birthday anniversary of Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji we should all lift our hands in prayer to the Almighty that this Powerful Pole of Light should remain with us for long long years to light up our path and to illuminate our hearts and minds and the world should continue to benefit from his largesse.

     

    Continuing Shi Nanda said: “There was no dearth of preaching but the question was, had it brought any change in the life of the people? The great importance of Satguru Kirpal Singh’s work was that he changed the lives of all who came to him by giving them first-hand of contact with Reality. It is a great work but that is not enough. We need many more Saints of his Caliber and competence. There are millions of Sadhus in India – most of them are mendicants and not Sadhus. The pseudo Sadhus should not be allowed to flourish and real Sadhus should be honored and their advice sought and followed by those who are responsible for the welfare of the people. The root cause of all our problems is the sad decline in the national character in all spheres of life. We have built a new dams, new factories, new building and roads but we have not done anything in the direction of man-making. That is the task of the true Sadhus like Sant Kirpal Singh Ji  Maharaj.

     

    Yogi Bhajan Said: I have to give you only this message from the Guru have faith in humanity and love and all mankind. Where there is faith there is love; where there is love there is peace; where there is peace there is God. Today I would appeal to you to leave at least one evil – I am myself full of evils, so I say to myself as well as to you all – be truthful. Truth is the cementing force that unites. Hazur Sant Kirpal Singh Ji and all who came before him, their mission was unity. For that is most essential to forgive and forget, forgive all those who have done any wrong to you.

     

    Raja Mahendra Pratap referred to the talk of ending poverty which was the slogan of the day and said that before we talk of ending poverty in India of in the world we should start from our own city of Delhi. Let us all the Sadhus and Saints here jointly make efforts to raise the morals standard of the citizens of the metropolis, to see that there are no bad men here. The rich men should all see to it that in this city of Delhi, none should remain without food or clothes. Raja Mahendra Pratap warned the rich that after the princes and big landlord it was now their turn to go if they did not wake up in time.

     

    Sardar Swaran Singh, foreign minister, who had made a dash from the airport on arrival from Bhutan to participate in the conference on the last day – since it was the birthday of Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji – speaking on unity said:

     

    “Unity of man is a theme about which there cannot be any difference of opinion. But in spite of that, the very fact that a conference  of this nature had to be organized does point out to the harsh reality that the type of unity which is the objective before this gathering does not prevail today. Whereas  at the religious plane, one could say that the tension between man and man which somehow or the other gripped humanity during the centuries prior to the twentieth century have by and large subsided, there may be occasional outburst but on the whole, religion does not appear today to be the divisive force between man and man. Still there are other forces which are the sources of tension between man and man, and unless these are conquered and overcome, the objective which are before this gathering under the apices of His Holiness Sant Kirpal Singh cannot be realized.

     

    Now what are those matters? The basic thing is that as long as exploitation by any individual or group or individuals or group of individuals or countries exist, there cannot be real unity between man and man. This exploitation can take many forms but basically, anything to which an individual is entitled, whether it his wage for which he actually performs, or whether it is the right to the utilization of the advantages of sciences and technology or of natural resources (and these are exploited to the detriment of those to whom they belong and to which those people are entitled), this exploitation will continue to be a source of tension. There is one other very serious source of tension between man and man and this is the continuance unfortunately in certain parts of what could be described as domination of certain racial groups over the other racial groups.

     

    We have therefore to conquer these aspects and to recapture the spirit which would unite the people. These difference have taken up not on the basis of any ideology, not even is there any pretension that this is meant in the long range to improve the lot of those people, but it is sheer use of brute force and authority in order to subjugate the people and in order to suppress their natural aspirations and their natural desire to be the owners of their countries or the owners of their civilization and their resources. Those aspects which instead of highlighting the essential unity of all religions, contribute to the perpetuation of divisive force. It is, however a hopeful sign that the overwhelming majority of people in the world belonging to all races, belonging to all continents, have raised their voice to end the remnant of these divisive forces, whether they are based on colonialism, racism or apartheid.

     

    Similarly, the exploitation of the natural resources of any part of the world by the communities which, from the point of view of industrial development and growth are in a position to exploit those resources to the detriment of the people in those countries, is another source of tension and that has to be got over. In a sense, today, science and technology is so developed that we can produce enough food, we can produce enough clothing, and we can produce enough goods to go around and to serve entire Universe. The continuance of classes which are affluent and which have goods and service far more than their legitimate requirements and, on the other hand, there are millions and millions of people who are still suffering under grinding poverty has created differences for removal of this distinction and to this difference between affluent society and the poor sections of the community in different parts of the world, which is another divisive force, the spiritual leaders, most of whom are present here, should give their earnest thought. I should like to by saying that to achieve unity of man, it is necessary that these big difference be removed.

     

    If there is any part of the world which remain under subjugation, there cannot be unity of man. And I would plea that apart from the spiritual fields, where it is also necessary+ that in these fields the exploitation should end. The continuance of racism, the continuance of the division between the affluent and the poor, the continuance of the exploitation  by pretending that any group or people can be superior to others these are the factors which should receive earnest attention, and I hope that this gathering will carry the message that this exploitative state of affairs should end so that the real spirit of unity – for which the Torch Bearer is the great General ( Sant Kirpal Singh ) who in spite of his years is trying to kindle the flame and spread it all the world over should, with his prayer and his persuasion, bear fruit.”

     

    Shri A. J. Srivastava, chairman of the steering committee read our a brief report on the conference  and also put before the house the resolutions drafted by the steering committee for approval. The main points of his speech are given below.

     

    Attendance, over 400 delegates from all parts of the world, covering all six continents, and 2000 from all over India have participated  in the deliberation. Attendance at the public sessions averaged 50,000.

     

    Essay contest. With a view to arousing consciousness among the youth of the world, essays on Unity of Man were invited in English, French, Hindi, and Urdu, either in prose or poetry. About 300 essays were received. The standard attained was high, and many papers were thought-provoking. The results of the contest are

     

    First Prize Sri J.J. Karam, New Delhi, for his essay written in English prose. The writer has attempted t analyze the various problems from different angles.

     

    Second Prize: Dr. John Haywood Lovelace, San Jose, U.S.A., for an excellent poem in English which is very moving.

     

    Third Prize: Kumari Saroj Kumari, Delhi, for her very comprehensive and thought-provoking essay in Hindi prose.

     

    Two consolation prizes have also been awarded. One for the best essay in Urdu prose and the other for another good essay in English prose.

     

     

    RESOLUTION NO 1

     

    The world conference on unity of man noted with gratification the tremendous response of the common man in all parts of the world to the call for unity.

     

    Recognizing the demand for peace and unity the conference concluded that today there is dire an urgent need to promote in thought, word and deed the eternal values of love, non-violence, truth, tolerance and selfless service of humanity in the hearts of men.

     

    The conference looks for guidance to holy men to help free mankind from fear and ignorance and transform modern man into a whole man who is at peace with himself and with those around him.

     

    The conference concluded that all religions are in essence one, and that their main purpose is to lead mankind on the path of love and selfless service

     

    RESOLUTION NO 2:

     

    Where as the world conference on the unity man convened by Sant Kirpal Singh Maharaj ji in February 1974, composed representative religious and political leaders of India and abroad, demonstrated the overwhelming Public appeal for world unity, the need was felt to device practical means of implementing this wish which the conference believes is one felt throughout the masses of mankind in our time.

     

    It was resolved:

     

    1.        That the world conference and unity of man should awaken public opinion to the need for one world consciousness.

     

    2.        That the world conference on the unity of man should establish connection with all organization having hindered aims throughout the world for the purpose of achieving a better coordination of activities

     

     

    3.        That the world conference on the unity of man expressed the wish to apply to the United Nations and UNESCO for the accreditation as an official agency at a future stage.

     

    4.        That the world conference on the unity of man should delegate regional and national representative in various countries to organize similar meetings with a view to shedding light upon the common denominator between all faith.

     

     

    5.        That such representatives as aforesaid should request elected representatives to appeal in their respective legislature for the promotions of  an unbiased study of comparative and religion school and adult education

     

    6.        That the world conference on the unity of man should invite religious leaders and teachers of meditation to compare their methods and encourage mass encounters including the disciples of several leaders.

     

    RESOLUTION NO 3:

     

     That the world conference on the unity of man resolved that UNESCO be addressed to encourage among world youth fuller understanding of the common ethical root of all faith through organized, nation wide study of each others religions and to appreciate their contributions to the prevailing moral basis of mankind and secondly to encourage the same through available commonly to the people.

     

    RESOLUTION NO :4

     

    That the world conference on the unity of man records its firm conviction that mankind and that the well-being or ill being of one individual  affects all humanity.

    The conference records its conviction that spiritual awakening with love as its basis is the foundation of the unity of man.

                                                                                   

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

                                                                    SIGNED:

                                                                   

                                                            KIRPAL SINGH

     

    PIR VILAYAT INAYAT KHAN                                        SUREN GOYAL

    A.J. STIVASTAVA                                                             V. DHARMAWARA

    RENO H. SIRRINE                                                              SHANKER DEV, M.P.

    D.P. PANDEY                                                                       DARSHAN Singh DUGGAL

    RUSSEL PERKINS                                                             H.L. SHARMA

    B. SHAMSUKHA                                                                MICHAEL GRAYSON

     

     After beginning his remarks in Hindi, Sant Kirpal Singh  Ji then spoke in English as follows;

     

    So dear brothers and sister who have come from abroad, I submit that in these four days we have been very productive; all of us have laid our heads together and come to some conclusions. After all what are these conflicts and schisms going on each country? The fact is that unity already exists – we have forgotten it what is the unity ? the right understanding that all men are born in the same way with the privileges from God and the same construction outside and inside. As man we are all one – no high, no low. We were first man; then the tongue became Christian or Hindu or Mohammedan or this or that thing by wearing all those labels. But that is not all; further, we are one at the level of that conscious entity which is administering this factory of the human body. So we are conscious beings and God is all conscious.

     

    Some power is controlling us in the body, which works as long as we are in it; we live in this world only for a certain time, until the power which is controlling us leaves. That power is God into expression, and is word, Naam, Shabd, Kalma.

     

    So that God power whom we have to find and who has to do the finding both live in the temple of human body but our attention, which is the outward expression of our soul, is identified with the world outside so much so that we have forgotten ourselves. So we have to just ourselves, by withdrawing our attentions from all outside and from the body below. When we know ourselves we are able to know the ourselves who is controlling us in the human body.

     

    So please – there is no need of changing your religions or social bodies but it is most necessary that you follow the teaching of both religions, that is all. And those are? God resides in every heart. All his holy were devotion kneels and recitation and he resides in every heart whether the labels are this way or that way.

     

    So for this purpose we come to some resolutions. I hope all this were repeated to you, read by my brother or friends. I take it that they appeal to you if so, I think each one of you can raise some finger in ascent. Raise your hand up if you all agree. [Every hand went up from the assembled delegates.] it is for your good and the good of all humanity.

     

    So I thank you for your coming from far off, and taking so much trouble. You have taken time from your busy hours, also time so much money. Those who have come from India, we are thankful; but who have come from abroad and spent thousands of dollars they deserve more thankfulness so I convey my thanks to each one of you whether you have gathered here from here or from abroad. Today is the last day of this sessions. I hope you will carry this very things practically in your lives. God bless you all.