THE 27th of July arrived rainless in Delhi, but it was humidly hot in sawan Ashram where the birth anniversary of Baba Sawan Singh Ji, the Master's Master, was being celebrated –attended approximately thirty thousand people from all parts of India.

Perhaps the chief difference this year was the bustling arrival of the television experts from all India Radio and television, who busily pushed their way through the thronging crowds. They must have been thankful for the absence of the rain; as surely were the devotees who have often over the years sat faith fully and cheerfully for the five or six hour satsang session in the pouring monsoon rain, facing the prospect of more sopping wet cloths to don afterward from out of their sodden luggage. However, those very damp occasion held their own special kind of quietly excited devotion.

Had it rain this year, very few of the satsang would have huddle in the wet for lacking of coverage; for, due to the recent hard –pressing efforts of bibi Hardevi Ji, the ashram now has a number of newly constructed rooms and halls which will do much to solve the problem of accommodating the many thousands who attend the three principal yearly functions at ruhani satsang.

The short television film –shown to the viewing public on India TV screens on Thursday, July 29 –included a talk by the Master at Satsang, and close-up interview impression from the visiting speakers of different religions, who voiced their feelings of respect for both the Master and Baba Sawan Singh Ji. 

A number of religious speakers took part in each part in each satsang –one on the evening of the 26th, and again on the morning and evening of the 27th. As is soul at large programs, the Master spoke last and briefly. During the various meditations sittings, many among the sangats mixture of initiated and noninitiated saw the radiant forms of the Master, Baba Sawan Singh, kabir sahib, Guru nanak and other Saints. On Wednesday, July 28, four hundred and fifty-four people were initiated into the holy science of spirituality, marking the conclusion of the celebrations held in sweet memory of a great Master who walked the earth giving Light and life to tormented, build humanity.

What is Raksha or protection, and who can give it whole heartedly? When a child is born it has not awareness of anything, but its mother protects it from birth until it is fully grown. The father is the Bread-earner, but the mother is the protector. First, for nine or ten months she carries the baby in her womb, giving it all her love and attention; then when it arrives in the world she starts to take care of its every need. She keeps him clean, for he is constantly dirtying himself. If we get wet and there are no more dry clothes, though it be the depth of the winter she will keep him warm on her breast and cover him with her own clothes, oblivious to the danger of catching cold herself. When the child gradually begins to have some awareness of his surrounding, he starts to realize a little of the love of his mother toward him, for the mother first loves the child, not vice versa. The child’s love comes in response, and when he learns to love he is reluctant to leave his mother’s lap. She spends her life in worrying about the child – his health, his food, his education, good character, and his future. Everything concerning Him is dear to her heart until he stands on his feet and gets established in life. Even then her worrying does not cease. You will find that most mothers are like this, the whole world over.

However, this worldly life is not the true living – we have to be born again, not physically but into a new and different world. Christ said that unless a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God, and only after getting this physical form can we get rebirth into the Beyond. Just as the mother is the physical protector through the second or spiritual birth and on through the spiritual life until one has grown in awareness and is able to stand upright spiritually. With conditions as they are today, even man’s closest ties offer little protection. A brother is not a true brother; father is not for his son and the son will do nothing for his father. Even the mother has started cursing her child, who in turn has lost all respect for its mother. It is such a terrible and degraded condition that mankind has sunk into – I feel like weeping. Anyway, one might have the sympathies of a righteous person, but for how long can he protect one? For as long as he stays in this world – not beyond that, and in the process of rebirth he will be of no avail whatsoever. So who can protect us in the new world? He who dwells there. The true Raksha Bandan happens when you have a protector for your soul, who can take care of you in this world and the next, and without whom nothing can be achieved; with all due respect and gratitude to our physical and material protectors.

The mother hen sits on her eggs with full Concentration so that the chicks will form. When they are fully formed, she conveys to them that they are ready for the world which is waiting for them with. Open arms; the sun which brightly shining, the grass is green and fresh, and there is plenty of food to eat. But the chick is in the darkness, and cannot realize there is any other state. The mother then has to resort to taping on the shell with her beak, and on hearing this he instinctively feels encouraged to do the same from inside and in a short time and life. Only then does he understand the promise conveyed by his mother.

If we want to be born into the new world, we need the help of someone who will not only take us there, but who will protect us to the end of this journey. Do you think this work for our mother, father, sister or any friend? No, it is impossible. The whole world is unable to assist you. There is an account of an incident during the life of my Master, Baba Sawan Singh Ji, of a women disciple whose only son was arrested on a false charge of murder, and was given the penalty of death by hanging. The session judge presiding over the case was also a disciple, and before the final verdict was concluded, Baba Sawan Singh Ji requested him to help the accused, and said, “I know he is innocent and falsely implicated”; but the judge disregarded the Master’s words and gave the death sentence. A few days later, I was present when this same judge came to pay his respect to Hazur, and when the Master passed very close to him, without even looking in his direction, he said casually to another person, “I have no need of a judge – I can ask Lord to do my work.” Just then, the mother approached the Master and started crying. “He has been sentenced to death,” she said. Baba Sawan Singh Ji replied, “Don’t worry – you just put in an appeal.” It was not the type of case that had the slightest chance through appealing, but on the Master’s advice the mother did appeal; and when they re-examined the case, certain facts came to light and eventually the son was released. So one can see that even when there is no hope in any direction, a true protector can give the maximum help. Frankly, what is a human being’s life but a series of interruptions? At each step there is a barrier – what one wants does not happen. Some people are dying, some are sick, some are in difficulties of various kind. There are thousands in poverty, and in appallingly afflicted conditions. The whole of mankind is lamenting its unhappiness every step of the way. Who is there to give consolation in this world, and guidance in the next?

Guru Nanak has said on the subject, O Nanak, break off all connections with the imperfect, and search for a perfect Master; they will abandon you even while you live, but he will never leave you even after death. Maulana Rumi has also said that one should grasp the coat-tail of a man who knows the secret of this world and the Beyond. The protection of such a personage cannot be described, but the individuals who experience it hold the knowledge close in their hearts. His single thought is powerful, for God is super consciousness. He is a part of the creator – a drop of the ocean of all Light. Remember, with one thought God created the world – from one, many came into creation. If we, the soul, become the mouthpiece of the over soul, then how powerful will we be! Our soul, though it is the same as the Over soul, is surrounded by the mind and the senses, and is enclosed in the carcass of the physical form. The Master come like motherly hens to foster the children, which is very necessary, for unless they sit at some Master’s feet and absorb his words they cannot be reborn – remember that – though in the beginning it may be by mere words that the facts of life are conveyed, of a new world more beautiful than this, viz.: O Soul, you are the dweller of that land – why have you allowed yourself to be captivated here?

On hearing the word of the Master's we slowly start thinking, and want to know what else there is. When teaching Master gives the soul a connection with the Beyond, it hears it, and responds. There is no way without the Shabd to leave this pot of clay. With repetition or Simran, you can achieve single pointed concentration, and with concentrated attention – Dhyan – you will come to a standstill; but Shabd is the only power through take up into the Beyond. The Master is that consciousness which has become the mouthpiece of the All-consciousness of not only one but also hundreds at one sitting, if necessary. To be connected to such a personage is the true Raksha Bandan, otherwise it is merely a worldly custom.

What are a Guru’s responsibilities, and what does he do? When one gives real thought to this, one’s soul shivers to realize the extent of his protection. People do not understand that the Guru’s responsibilities are vast. They are overjoyed with the prospect of becoming Master themselves; forgive me for saying this. Each one’s desire is to be a Guru, Sadhu, or Sant, and spellbound with these thoughts he forgets his duty towards himself and what he has to really become in reality, thereby spending his precious time in leisure and wasting away whatever he has got But the Master, with each breath, goes on saving the disciples all time. Whenever he initiates, he sows a seed for a new life; like the seed enters the mother’s womb and then develops. Howsoever God’s words come, he brings them into the outer knowledge. He is a perfect being – the mouthpiece of God, the conscious corporation-worker – who sees that it is God sitting within him who is doing everything. This kind of Master sows the seed of attention and gives a way up into the Beyond, which is a new experience.

In India some time ago, the Master who gave Initiation into the Beyond were termed Brahmins – the supreme cast – but today only the caste remains, and initiation is but a mantra; mere words, that is all. The Raksha or protection is a question mark. You are in the custody of a true Master from the very day he gives initiation. He becomes the very breath of the disciple. Baba Sawan Singh Ji used to say that from the day the Master gives the blessing of Naam, the Guru becomes the indweller, along with the soul. From that very moment, he starts forming the child, with love and protection, until ultimately he takes him into the lap of the Over soul. Until that time, he does not leave him for one minute. This advancement may take one, two, or three lifetimes. Master has mentioned up to four, but if we become receptive it can happen in one lifetime.

God is working in the Master, and if you think of him in this way, then whatever you desire will be given. In physique he looks the same as other men, but he is not the man alone; he became a man to dispense the treasure of God to the souls. He is not in birth and death. The benefactor came for the souls, to give them the treasure of devotion and join them back to God. Like a father gives the germinal seed of life, the Guru bestows the life force – the incomparable gift. There are many kind of gifts, but the gift of Naam is above all others, and having given it, the Master then develops it within you, because he wants you to enjoy the bliss that he enjoys. The Master goes no protecting and giving, whether the disciple know it or not; for he is like a small child which never realizes how much worry and trouble it is to its mother. The child may turn out to have a bad character, and perhaps become a gambler, but the mother will continue to concern herself with his needs, that he may not starve and so on.

A child thinks that he know his mother very well, but what child understands about a mother’s heart? We also think that we know our Master, but we can only as much as he wishes to reveal to us. We can see only as much as our eye is developed. To convince us of the truth, he will approach us in various ways: as a brother, or a friend, and will sometimes appear to be inferior knowledge or intellect. He acts in whatever way will help the disciple to gain confidence in his Master. In this depth of humility, his greatness is revealed. Thus, this great personage gives rebirth to the soul, and gradually make us as great as he is. Truly, it is a profound blessing to have a living Master, who has come to give new life. 

You may ask, “Is all this the truth?” but you can prove it through your own experiences; and in the many letters I receive daily there are numerous accounts of the Master’s protection. For example, a car was traveling along the road and it overturned into a very steep slope. The disciples in the car remembered the Master, and the car righted itself onto all four wheels again. Disciples who have faith in their Master can go through many dangerous experiences and will be astonished how they are saved and protected. These things are daily occurrences. Become receptive and obey his orders implicitly, even though at times he may show anger and displeasure, for he has taken this task upon himself, and has to make you into something. A sculptor will pick up a rock lying on the roadside and chisel it to make eyes, nose, etc., and finally it becomes a work of art, a valuable thing. The Master will make the disciple into something priceless, and those who are receptive will progress quicker, regardless of how long they have been traveling along this path. What good would it be if the stone started fighting with the sculptor, saying “I do not want a nose chiseled – I do not want my face like this”? He has to make something of it and he does so with great love.

Sometimes, due to the fate karmas, many difficulties cross the student’s path, and who is there to console and give strength to bear them? A single word from a perfect Master goes to the depth of the heart, that it can stand upright and bear the burden. I remember when Pakistan was formed – you know the condition at that time – whole families died, friends were killed, many people starved, even rich people were despite and hungry for a slice of Bread. Naturally they tried to console each other, but the misery and hurt was so deep that they were inconsolable. However, when they came to Hazur he would say, “It is all right, don’t despair – God will give you more, “ and he would lift his hand in love and blessing. His words were like soothing balm on their raw wounds. The truth is that there is great power in this attention, and when one is helpless and feels that there is no hope, one will get full protection and assistance by turning one’s face towards the Master. 

If, after all these means are applied, the disciple still does not understand and progress, he uses yet other means to keep him on the straight path. Forgive me, but when he pulls the rope, the soul writhes in torment. When the child does not obey and wastes his life, the Master shakes him hard, and though he might be a hopeless case the unceasing love of the Master will infuse a breeze of enthusiasm into his heart eventually. If you go on sitting at his feet, you will come nearer to realization. That is why it is advised, don’t leave the Satsang – whatever has gone wrong will right it.

Why is your condition today so appalling? Because of the mind and senses overpowering the soul, and too much living for outer enjoyment. There are grievances in you hearts against others: you cut each other’s throat and squeeze the blood out. In this condition, what is the saving factor? Go to the Satsang regularly: one day you will think is right, another day you will think a thing is wrong, but do not cease to attend and your condition will right itself. The more a child is obedient to the Gurus’s every wish, the quicker will be salvation.

A certain Mahatma by the name of Panap Das has said that a man should have three blessings: first God’s second the Guru’s, and the third your own souls. God’s blessing you have already got; He has given to the human form and to come across a perfect Master is His very special blessing. The Guru’s blessing you received when he gave you rebirth by taking you above the senses and rejoining you to the sound current within, which will take you back to the source of all life. But what about the third blessing, which is you own? What is that? Having received the experience and connection with the Truth from the Master, then whatever he advises, you should do. Give whatever is the time requirement necessary to your inner progress. This is your own blessing on yourself. When the child learns with interest, he benefits from the teacher’s pleasure also.

These days, most teachers are just paid, but when I used to study as a child, they were people dedicated to humanity in children. If a child was provision, the teacher would wave aside the question of fees and call him to his own home for extra tuition. We often went to our teacher’s home. He did not have any water laid on there, so we used to bring it in bucket and do other work around the house, purely out of love for him. He loved us and taught us with love.

There are Satsangis and near Satsangis. By near Satsangi I mean one who has come in closer touch with the Guru. This teaching is the same for all children, but those who become receptive come closer to the Master; they get a special protection. Though his protection is extended to everyone – all are fed and eat the same Bread – yet the child who is more hungry will receive more food. O Lord, are your ignorant children. The Guru teaches us and makes us open up into awareness. Today you may do one things, from which you go on desiring other new things. The Master always gives permission for what you want, and remains with you in al you do, but gradually continues turning you toward the Truth, that your interest in it becomes more and more powerful. When he has your interest well established he will make a new life for you and take you into a new world. Now, tell me, is there anyone who would not like to have such a Guru?

Glory, glory to the Guru –Satguru the teacher;
By whose various teaching we gained great wisdom.

The Guru awakens us from our unconscious state, gives physical and intellectual food , that we may have good living and right understanding , and protects us in all this wealth upon us; whoever has such a Master is blessed also . I want to emphasize that if after getting this priceless gift , no consideration is given to it – that is the greatest of all misfortunes. There are certain birds, which when migrating fly man hundreds of miles, but their thoughts are with their children for they have left their eggs behind. The Master might be anywhere, but his thought and protection is constantly with his children, wherever they may be . 

The Satguru protects the disciple with his life. 

Breath for breath, he remembers you. Without the Master’s remembrance, love for him cannot be born in the disciple. He sends out rays of love , and the disciple experience a strong pull towards his Master. This is also a gift. Now the question arises, should one always be near to the Guru physical? To be always close to the physical presence of the Master takes extremely good karmic background, and only happens with great destiny. Should the followers leave their homes and cast aside their duties? A true Guru will never recommend this; why should he? If he was on the physical level, then he might advise this, but he tells us that he has another form other than the physical and can travel thousands of miles from where his physical remains. A true Master stresses that it is not necessary to be always close to his physical form. There is no doubt, that if no one is receptive, by being near him one will be enriched with greater wealth, but it sometimes happens that those near him become critical of outer happenings around him, with the greater wealth, but it sometimes happens that those near him become critical of outer happenings around him, with the result that they do not gain anything. you can live far or near, but your face should be ever turned toward him; that is the point. Kabir said that even if the seven seas are between the disciple and his Guru, the disciple’s attention is very fast. One can judge from the force of electricity; the pranas or life current have faster speed than electric current, and the attention is faster than pranas. With a radio set, one has to just tune it to a certain point and one can hear the sound immediately. Even if the disciple does not set his attention on the Master, the radiation goes no emitting, and the effect of this is the making of him. If he becomes receptive, then the Master appears before him.

There are disciples in various parts of the world – north America, South America, Africa, England, Germany, France, etc. – and who is protecting them? It is not the physical form that travels around, but the higher power, the God-Power; you can call it the Guru-power, and it is also called the Christ-power too. This power is protecting the disciples, many of whom have seen clearly the forms of the Master – the Master –power – in their daily lives. The power that works in the human pole is the Guru, and if messages can be transmitted and received through radio, then why not become a human pole connected to the Guru through the Guru-power? There should be no obstruction in the way, like worldly affairs, children, one’s own physical form or wandering thoughts. Another thing is: purity is very necessary, in living and in being free from ill or impure thoughts. A radio will not work properly if it is jammed up with dirt and dust.

We frequently hear accounts of how the Master has protected his children. At death, he appears before the child, who is full consciousness happily sates, “The Master has come.” When a child learns to rise above the body consciousness at will, the Master is there to protect and guide him, talks to him and takes him upward from stages to stages. If Gurudom is looked down upon today, it is purely through in competency and material motives. They themselves are doomed, but the tragedy is, so are the thousands who follow them. However, there is always hope, and if any have a sincere longing for the Truth, God will see that they are in torment to realize Him and make it possible for them to meet a true Master, How is it possible for the servant to be well fed, if the Master is starving and naked? If at the time of initiation, the man you are following does not give you anything – it may be little or more, according to one’s background – and open your inner eye, then it means that he is not competent. He should give you something; and that is the criterion of a true Master. Even if he gives a little at the beginning, then there is hope for much more; and whatever he gives, protect it with your life. After you have got contact with the God-into-expression Power, where will you go from there? To the Formless and Nameless – the source, from where the expression is coming. The word “religion is derived from the Latin religion, through re and ligare which means “back” and “bind” – so we have, “to bind back to the source of God.” This is the actual meaning of the word, but we are satisfied with stickin a label on ourselves and performing customary rites and rituals, which are merely the elementary steps to prepare the ground for higher things. No matter what you do, you life will not bear fruit until you meet someone to give you rebirth and connect your soul back to the God-power.
Only recently I received the urgent news that a certain disciple was dangerously ill. I wrote and told the people to advise the patient to concentrate within. They wrote back and said that my instructions had been conveyed to the patient by telephone, and within hours she had started improving, and is now on the way to recovery. This was just a word on telephone, so you can see that the thousands of miles between cannot stop the protection of the Master-power. However, that physical form in which the God-power has manifested is also pure, though it is not a question of praise for the physical; it is worthy of respect because God is manifested therein.

I will tell you of another instance. There was a man in America, named Walter kirel. When I initiated him, he had a very good experience, but after some time he fell ill. When a man is in a helpless condition, he gets restless and worried. He wrote and told me that the doctors were pressing him to eat meat and drink wine. Each time he wrote I tried to make him understand that the non-vegetarian diet would not help him, and he should become helpless and could not breathe, and that the doctors were insisting on a meat diet. I replied, “All right, do whatever you feel like.” When I visited America and reached Santa Barbara, the doctors had then given up hope for him, and he was at the door of death. Violent Gilbert, one of the hospital nurses, was a Satsangi, and she met me and told me about Walter Kirel who was dying in the hospital: “He cries a lot and goes on saying that he has disobeyed his Guru who is now in America but will not want to see his face. Do you think you could visit him, Master?” I said, “Of course I will.” When I arrived in his room, Nurse Gilbert told him, “The Master has come.” He opened his eyes and saw me, and the tears started flowing down his cheeks. I put my hand on his forehead, and said, “Do not worry – whatever has happened has happened and it is finished. Do you hear the Sound?” He said, “No.” “Do you See the light?” Again he said, “No.” I put my hand on his head and told him to close his eyes and forget all outer things. When he did so, not only the light came, but the radiant Form of the Master too. His ears were closed for him and he heard the Sound clearly. I told him, “Now go, with rejoicing.” His wife was there, and she was a non-initiate. She said, “Master, I know that he has been forgiven and saved, but I wish he would speak to me before he goes.” I again put my hand on his head and said, “Your wife wants you to say something to her before you go.” He opened his eyes, and said, “All right,” and turning to his wife, he smiled and said, “I am going now.” This what is called protection; it is not a story but a true incident.

First, the Guru works like a teacher. He shows sympathy and even allows tears to flow from his eyes for you – sometimes he rebukes, and sometimes he shows love. In fact, he does everything. Then he says, “I am not the body, and neither are you; come, let us go up.” He does everything to teach the disciple to break his outer attachment and concentrate within; he has no other motive. He has not desire for people’s love. His own love is connected with God and his Guru ; there is no place for anyone else. So become receptive to him, and through receptivity, become the image of him. A child grows on milk; and love the Guru and be receptive to him is the food of life to the soul.

All the ups and downs of life are like passing phases, and should have no pinching effect on the disciple. The worldly life is full of perplexities, and existence here is impossible without them. My Master used to say that if one thinks one can remove all the thorns from the worldly life, well, it is impossibility; however, if one wears strong boots, one will not feel them. To wear strong boots means to live within the protection of the Master’s radiation – not physically, but through thought and attention – be so much in his radiation, and never step out of it. nothing should change this.

One can be so much within the Guru’s radiation that even the powerful Lord of Death cannot come near. For example, I will tell you of one incident when I was living in Lahore. There was a lady who hailed from my village, but she was not a disciple. She became seriously ill, and her family endured constant sleepless nights in looking after her. I heard that she was sick, and went to see her, accompanied by Dalip Singh (later treasurer in Sawan Ashram). I told them, “You have spent so many nights awake, and must be tired, so all sleep tonight and I will watch beside the bed.” Dalip Singh and I sat together for some time. She was not initiated, but that did not matter, and I asked her, “Do you repeat any holy name?” She affirmed that she did. I told Dalip Singh to go and rest, and return about 4 am and I continued to sit beside the dying women. She went on repeating the holy names, as I had suggested, but suddenly she said to me, “There is an old man here.” I looked up and saw the old man, and he explained to me that she was his granddaughter, and that he had come to take her away, but I told him that he could not do so as long as I was sitting there. He tried his best to take the soul out of the body, but did not succeed, so after some moments he went away. I asked the women if she had recognized the old man and said, “Yes, it was my grandfather; he was a very pious man.”

After some time, Yama, the angel of Death, appeared in the doorway. I looked straight at him, and he ran away – he could not even enter the room. He returned several times, but could not enter. Then Dharam Raj, the Lord of Death himself, appeared, but he also could not come into the room. He said, “This soul belongs to me.” I said, “Yes, that is true, for she has not been initiated, and I know also that you cannot come near her house because I am sitting here, so you had better go to my Guru and ask him what is to be done now. If he gives you permission to take this soul, then I will leave.” My friends, just see – how great is the Naam! Dharam Raj left, and in a matter of moments returned and said, “I have got the permission to take the soul.” I said, “All right, take it.” He replied, “How can I when you are still sitting there?” Whatever is written regarding the protection power of the holy Naam is all true, for I am telling you what actually happened. Dharam Raj said, “Unless you leave, I cannot take this soul.” I asked him, “What benefit will she get from my spending the whole night beside her?” He said, “She will receive the fruit of that before any other rewards or debts are accounted.” Just then, Dalip Singh entered the room, and I said to him, “Come brother, let us go away from this room, for while I am here she cannot die.” As we are leaving, I asked her husband to give away in her name some money which was still due to give away in her name some money which was still due from her, to some needy people- that her give and take may be squared up and she may leave the body. Dalip Singh and I stepped out of the room, and in one moment she was gone. Dalip Singh is here, you can ask him about it.

Man Has got himself so enmeshed in mind and the outgoing faculties that his release from them can only be brought about by struggle and perseverance. His plight is in a way, similar to that of a bird that has been kept in cage for so many years. Even if you should open the door of the cage, the bird will be loathe to fly out. instead, it will fly from one side of the cage to the other, clinging with its talons to the wire mesh, but it does not wish to be free and fly out through the open door of the cage.

Similarly, the soul has become so attached to the body and the outgoing faculties that it clings to outside things and does not wish to let go of them. It does not wish to fly through the door that has been opened by the Master at the time of holy initiation, at the threshold of which the radiant form of the Master is patiently waiting to receive the child disciple. True discipleship does not start until one has risen above body consciousness.

It is from this point that the disciple will feel not only comfort, but will begin to experience the joy and bliss that awaits him in the Beyond. He will have as his companion the charming radiant form of the Master, who is ever at hand to impart the guidance that is so necessary in order to avoid the pitfalls on the way. Until this point is reached, the disciple is, as it were, on probation, but such is, as it were, on probation, but such probation that cannot be served it is during this probationary period that the soul will feel some discomfort. It has become so besmeared with the dirt of the senses that it has lost its original purity of heart and is not fit to be raised up out of the prison house of the body.

Even though the door has been opened, it is so attached to the things of the outside world that is does not wish to be free. It is only when the soul begins to regain its original purity of heart and mind that it can at last want to be free of the desires of the flesh and outward attachments. The loving Master tries to avoid all possible discomfort to the child disciple by explaining what are the vices to be avoided and the virtues to be developed in order through regain this purity.

Unfortunately, more often than not the words of the Master do not sink in and little or no action is taken by disciple to amend his ways. Therefore, the Master Power must take firmer measures to bring home to the disciple the importance of the truths that have been explained in words. Hence the discomfort that is sometimes felt by the dear ones in their day-to-day living. If implicit obedience would be given to the commandments of the Master, all difficulties and discomfort would vanish. If a child gets itself so dirty that the only way the mother can wash it clean is by using a scrubbing brush, can it can be said that the child will feel comfortable during the scrubbing process?

It will only feel comfortable after the scrubbing has ceased and it is shining clean and pure.

Help and protection is always extended by the Master to his followers. He looks after their comfort that is sometimes felt by the dear ones in their day-to-day living. If implicit obedience would be given to the commandments of the Master, all difficulties and discomfort would vanish. If a child gets itself so dirty that the only way the mother can wash it clean is by using a scrubbing brush, can it be said that the child will feel comfortable during the scrubbing process?

It will only feel comfortable after the scrubbing has ceased and it is shining clean pure.

Help and protection is always extended by the Master to his followers. He looks after their comfort in every their comforts in every way, both outer and inner. Even the effects of the reaction of the past – from the gallows to an ordinary pin prick – so much concession is given. As the mother sacrifices everything for the sake of her child, even so does the Master sacrifice everything for the sake of her child, even so does the Master sacrifice everything for the sake of his children. The follower in fact does not dream of what the Master does for him. He fills his followers with his won thought, with his own life impulse. When we remember him, he remembers us with all his heart and soul. He is not the body. He is the word personified, the word made flesh. To get the full benefit must develop receptivity until implicit obedience is given to the commandments of the Master. When you pay heed to the Master’s commandments, then that is a sign that you are growing in love for him and the more receptivity you will develop.

When you begin to develop this receptivity, all discomfort will vanish and you will truly begin to tread the Path in the firm assurance that you are on the right way, together with the loving companionship of One who will demonstrate more and more his greatness and his power on each step of his way until you find that it is the very God Himself who is your guide and Mentor, who will never leave you until He has safely escorted you back to the true home of the Father.

While on the way, one of the main functions of the Master is to wind up the back karmas of the disciple. It is through conscious contact with the Sound Current only that the karmas of back lives can be burnt away. This process is started at the time of holy initiation, at which time the disciple is given a contact with the Light and Sound Principle, or God-into-expression Power. To avoid opening a new account of bad deeds, the disciple is enjoined to lead a clean life and weed out all imperfections in him by self-introspection from day to day. This is the sublime Principle behind keeping the diary, which the disciple is asked to maintain in order to become aware of the shortcoming which stands in his way to God.

1. “Ashram,” as the term implies, means a place of refuge—a spiritual sanctuary from where the gracious Master Power has chosen to radiate its loving life impulses for the benefit of the aspirants for spirituality. It is a place where the hungry souls can congregate for spiritual advancement, in sacred precincts charged with the right type of atmosphere conducive to spiritual growth. It is, therefore, necessary that all those entering into such blessed centers should leave behind all their domestic worries and woes, all thoughts of the world and worldly cravings so as to derive the maximum benefit possible form the holy vibrations overhead and while there, they do nothing in thought, word or deed, as may encroach upon the sanctity of the place and retard their own progress.

2. It is an axiomatic truth that all is holy where devotion kneels. The sanctified spots chosen for the purpose should not be regarded as centers of a social or cultural get together, where persons may meet for idle gossip and indulge in unbecoming activities. It should be the endeavor of all to maintain and preserve sanctity of the place chosen and reserved for the sacred cause of the Master. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that all initiates and others, including visitors to the Ashram, should observe and maintain integrity, piety and sobriety of the highest degree possible and try to serve one another with reverential humility and loving grace, so as to become fit channels of receptivity.

3. Like religious discipline, spiritual disciple is a further step for the smooth working of the Ashrams and requires of all an extra care in decorum. Here are no priests to greet you, or help you to conduct any rites or rituals, for they are not adopted there and have little to do in the field of spirituality. It Singh only the outstretched guiding Hand of the gracious Master Power, in all loving compassion and mercy, ever ready to afford possible help and guidance on the inner Path. What is required is silence, serenity and seclusion. All are, therefore, expected to be calm, cordial and composed; deeply receptive for the ever-present grace of the Master. In the hushing silence and thick verdure of green foliage, you will be blessed with the white radiance of the Master Power. The rich fragrant breeze will reveal to you the heavenly melodies of the Audible Life Stream, reverberating through the charged atmosphere. Each pilgrimage will bless you with soul-stirring experience of the divine vibrations.

4. Atmosphere within these premises, as said before should be free from all idle pursuits and discussions of non-spiritual subjects like politics, economics, philosophy and the like. The place should be reserved solely for contemplation of the sacred teachings of the gracious Master, and the scriptural texts of the past sages and seers of the Surat Shabd Yoga, for conducting discourses on spirituality and practicing regular meditations both in the mornings and evenings, for in such congregations the Master Power is stirred to its deepest depths and one can gain immense spiritual benefit.

5. The celestial gift of the Holy Naam, as you know, is granted freely and in Abunddance like all other gifts of Nature, viz, air, water, sunshine, etc. it is not the practice to accept any donations from visitors, casual linguistic souls and others coming to the Ashram. The expenses of the Ashrams should be met with from voluntary subscriptions from the initiates only, which they may do. All such collections should be accounted for carefully and the funds thus raised should be utilized for the propagation of the holy teachings, with the concurrence and approval of the Managing Committee at each place. It is in the fitness of the things to keep regular account of incomings to and outgoings from the Ashrams fund, and periodical statements thereof be forwarded to the Central Office at Ruhani Satsang, Sawan Ashram, Gurmandi, Delhi-7 (India) for information and record.

6. “Selfless Service” is a great purifying agent and is a powerful aid in spiritual advancement. All those who have been privileged to be entrusted with the blessed task of the maintenance of these Ashrams should set an example of complete self-dedication in body, mind and spirit. He who serves most with a spirit of self-denial and abnegation is honored much and earns the pleasure of the Master. Everybody attending the holy congregations should compete in selfless service and reverential humility coupled with loving cooperation and mutual toleration, so that the people at large, visiting these places of divine dispensation, should see for themselves that you are under the protective and competent guidance of the living Master. The sphere of selfless service should be extended Beyond the Ashram to the really needy – the sick and the helpless. “Service” you should bring before “self” which in turn exalts the self to great heights. It should be free, voluntary and in a spirit of loving dedication to the Lord, the indweller in each heart. The “Self” should so expand as to embrace the totality of which it is an integral part, for in the welfare of all is indeed the welfare of the individual.

7. The members of the Managing Committees and the Trustees are vested with the sacred task of helping their brethren. The earnings of one’s livelihood by the sweat of the brow is a cardinal obligation. So it is desired that all should try to support themselves by resort to honest occupation earned only by honest means. There is, however, no harm in economical utilization of the Ashram funds in serving simple, strictly vegetarian and nutritious food to those coming from outside stations after Satsang, for which of course, proper accounts are to be maintained.

8. There should be a small library equipped with literature published from time to time or as may be recommended by the Master. All such books carry His life impulse and as such they are truly charged and will enable the dear ones to understand the true import of spirituality.

9. Equality, fraternity and liberty are the cornerstones of spirituality. All entering the blessed precincts should forget about their status in life, and cooperate with sense of brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. there should be no distinctions of rich or illiterate as all are the children of the same Father and are entitled to share the divine grace in equality. The Kingdom of God is the heritage of all and everyone is entitled to the lost domain.

10. The differences of opinions arising out of certain issues, should be resolved by amicable and polite discussions in private and in case of any knotty problem, reference may be made to the Master for clarification. Loving tolerance should be the guiding principle, for who is there who would not err.

11. All should know it for certain and inscribe on their heart of hearts that the unseen eye of the Master is constantly watching the spiritual interests of His children, and all endeavors for maintaining the sanctity of these places will enable you to be blessed with ever-increasing grace. The acts of omission or commission outside these sanctuaries may be pardoned, but lapses in personal behavior or otherwise in these places of divine dispensation are considered to be too heinous and cannot possibly pardoned, as they spoil the sanctity of the place.

With all love,

First of all, we saw in the Master the great example of all the qualities which we have to develop in ourselves. We witnessed daily how tirelessly he works for the good of his children. When he is not out on tour in the interior of the North, East or West of India, which can take two or three weeks out of every month, he is busy from early morning till late at night meeting the needs of all who flock to him at the Ashram. A great part of his time in the Asram is spent in answering the enormous volume of correspondence from his disciple in the West as well as in India. It is truly staggering to see the workload which only a Godman could carry. This workload is increased at certain times, such as the Bandharas and monthly Initiation which are held at the Ashram, and it is not unusual for 200 to 300 people to be initiated at one time. Invariably, most of this number receive excellent experiences, even to seeing the Radiant form of the Master within, while others see strong inner light, etc.

The Master is so full of compassion for his children that even though we understand that is mindless, karmless and is not in any way affected by the physical body, he has on occasion allowed his body to take on a sickness for all or benefit. We have witnessed on these occasions how Master not only suffers for our misdeed but also draws out from some of us a love and compassion for his suffering that we could not have expressed but for the opportunity afforded to us at such times. However, as though to show us that the Master is no way affected by the body, we have seen him to be quite low, as it were, on one day, and perfectly fit the next, as though his body had never been affected by the malady that it had suffered the day before. All this goes to show that we little know the inconveniences that Master puts himself to on our behalf, which is one aspects of what he does for us that we can outwardly witness.

Just prior to our departure from India, the Master went on a tour to Kashmir, and we were fortunate enough to follow him a few days later. The Master never spares his physical body, and he completed the arduous journey by car (almost 650 miles, at least 300 of which are over twisting mountain roads) in 36 hours, whereas three days are usually taken, as it is normally necessary to stop overnight on the mountain part of the journey because of the dangerously driving condition and unmarked hazards which abounds on the way. As usual, Master had a busy program of Satsangs and other meetings booked for him in Kashmir, although time was found to visit one or two Himalayan mountain resort. On one such visit to Pahalgam, the Master suggested that we stay there for a few days to enjoy the magnificent scenery, although he could not remain because of his program in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. However, we respectfully declined because to us, the scenery would not have the same beauty without the presence of the Master. On June 2, the Master left Srinagar on his return to Delhi. Again, the first and most strenuous part of the journey over the mountain roads to Pathankot in the state of Himachal Pradesh, was done in one day. On the evening of his arrival in Pathankot, the Master, after hardly any rest, gave a long Satsang in the town. The next morning, he gave Initiation to about 150 people, and after lunch, left for Amritsar in the Punjab. After spending a few hours there, he left for Delhi, about 300 miles away, and arrived at two o’clock on the morning of June 4. At 8 A. M the same morning, Master began his long day of giving interviews to seekers after truth as well as disciples, setting routine matters pertaining to the Ashram, and last but not least, answering the huge pile of foreign correspondence that had accumulated during his absence. To do this, the Master worked into the afternoon, evening and far into the night, so that his western children should receive replies to their letters and spiritual diaries without further delay.

In addition to the above, the Master also gives Satsang in other areas of Delhi and new Delhi and grants interviews to prominent members of government and society, who requests his advice on matters pertaining to their various responsibilities. When the Master has completed his commitments in Delhi, another local tour or work connected with manav Kendra takes him once again outside.

The forging description is a typical three weeks out of Master's life. In our opinion, on one else except a God man could keep up such an exhausting routine year after year. However, at our level, it is not possible to fully appreciate the Master's qualities and we tend to vest in him the qualities which we believe we should posses rather than strive to live up to his commandments and posses his qualities, which really the only way to begin to know and appreciate his greatness. We have been fortunate enough to have ample demonstration of Master's compassion. Whenever the going was particularly difficult, especially during our first two years in the ashram, Master often revealed that he knew, was quite aware of all that was taking place. Never can we forget the times when we received his compassionate glances, a softly murdered “what is the matter “ as he passed as by, or the strengthening casp of his hand to our shoulders. It was the matter of every day experience that I was blessed with the Master's grace and protection during my sixteen miles journey on my pedal cycle to and from my office at the Canadian high Commission in New Delhi. It is only due to his divine protection that I emerged unscathered through some of the worst traffic that it has been my lot to my experience. This is especially true of the first year or so, when I was cycled far too fast and without having my full attention on the traffic conditions. We are fully convinced that these few examples are only a fraction of what the Master did and is still doing for both of us.

We have also observed how very practical the Master is in the most ordinary matters. In this day and age, the emphasis appears to be, as the Master put it, on learning swimming in water, not on dry land. We have seen how he have encouraged school children to do well in their studies and initiates to progress in their jobs. Our material life cannot be divorced from our spiritual life. In fact, we have to spiritualize our life in every way. This is what we learnt at the feet of the Master, and what is more, we had the benefit of the practical, spiritual guidance that he gave us from time to time. However, even if the Master had never spoken on word to us, his company was in itself worth the self revealing trials and tribulations which we went through, for such inevitably occur on the path, and perhaps more so when close to the physical Master.

During our final two years, there were indications that we would have to return to the West in the interests of furthering my career. Happily, these indications did not mature until the early part of this year, although our return to Canada could not be delayed alter than July. As the days brought us nearer to our departure, it became more and more difficult to imagine that we could be physically parted from Master. It all seemed like an unreal dream from which we would awaken at any moment. How could we bear to be parted from one who had become the life of our life! When the final day came, an inner serenity descended upon us, and that evening, we were showed with his loving and affectionate attention.

We left strong in the knowledge that our parting was in the best interest of our spiritual progress as well as our material welfare. The both cannot be entirely separated from one another we know, for we have found that many of our most valuable lessons are to be learnt in the world, where our faults and shortcomings are reflected back to us in our dealings with others. Only by weeding them out, can our continued progress be assured, and we believe that only in the world can we spiritualize our lower Nature. By meeting ht experience stresses and strains of modern society in the way taught us by the Master, we are confident that one day our responsibility as initiates shall be successfully fulfilled, and our goal in life is realized.

For one month now we have been in England, visiting our families and also meeting with the initiates here. we have experienced ourselves something of the what the Master meant when he said that there is no parting, for he is always with us, and manifests more to the degree that we develop receptivity to him. However, we do greatly miss his physical presence, and the loving glances that we received from him, and we hope that the time is not too far distant when we shall receive them again.

Too much talking dissipates spiritual energy. You should try to control your speech by resorting to Simran of the name silently. You will be able to tide over the difficulty and improve in due course. Think twice before you speak. Think out as to what you speak is true, kind and necessary.

This lovely little book is a greatly revised and expanded version of teaching earlier edition, with more thought given to nutrition. The recipes –mostly main dishes and desserts, with a few soups and breakfast dishes –offer variety, moderation and balance, following the Master's teaching on diet. It is attractively printed in easy to read type, and the directions are clear and easy to follow.

The beautiful and appropriate illustrations by Stuart Judd, Jr., which are scattered limberly through the book, add greatly to the pleasure of using it.

Mrs. Judd has written a helpful preface, including a beautiful comment of Master's on “the moral duty of the housewife to cook Sativa food with the heart engrossed in the sweet remembrance of the Lord.”

No attempt is made to avoid chemicals, and little to avoid devitalized foods. However, the vegetarian who is aware of the dangers of these things can apply his discrimination and substitute more wholesome foods.

A few ingredients are used whose purity may be questionable (“noodles” usually contain egg, while “spaghetti” and “macaroni” are pure), and some which are obtainable only in certain areas. For the most part, however, the recipes are varied and interesting and generally useful. This book, the only one of its kind, should be a welcome aid to vegetarian cooks.

1. The purely spiritual region.
2. The spirituo-material region.
3. The Materio-spiritual region.
4. The material region.

The second division is termed brahmanda ( the egg of Brahma) in the oriental teachings. It is also called because of its apparently elliptical shape. It embraces within its totally both the material-spiritual and the physical regions, but it is far more immense than the combination of both of these. In fact, the three lower divisions of the cosmic creation can be concaved of as a totality, with the summit of this region as brahmanada, the spirituo-meterial region itself, and the middle section as Anda, the oriental term for the meterio-spiritual region, and the lowest section as Pinda, the oriental term for the lowest material region –the physical universe.

The inhabitants of brahmanda, the spirituo-meterial region, are unutterably happy, but they are not immortal as are the begins in the highest region of Fach Khand. However, they live in as infinitely vaster timescale than do the beings in the lower two divisions. Brhmananda is subject to dissolution at the end of each major life-cycle. Brahmanda is the region of brahm and Par-Brahm, who are also known as kal and Maha-kal in the oriental terminology. Brham is the being who is entrusted with the direction of the material creation and is an assistant to Parabrahm. He is the ruling dirty of the three lower divisions: Brahmanda, Anda and Pinda. Par-brahma resides in the upper and more spiritual section of Brahmanda, and brahm himself resides himself in the lower, more material region. In this lower section of brahmanda, mental matter is supreme, for it is the plane of mind; mind itself being composed of a subtlized from of matter with a certain admixture of spirit. Trikuti, the oriental term for the lower section of brahmanda, is therefore the region of universal mind, which many metaphysicians and theologians erroneously conceive of as “God.”

Anda, the third and materio-spiritual region, is the nearest grand division to that of the physical universe. The central power-source of Anda is know in oriental terminology as Sahasra-dal-kanwal (the lotus of a thousand Petals), and it is from this power-source that the physical universe derives its motor energies. The time-scale in Anda is shorter than that in Brahmanda, but it is still much longer than that in Pinda, the physical universe. The region of Anda, up to and including Trikuti, goes into dissolution at the end of a lesser cosmic life-cycle, which lasts for many millions of years. The “heavens” of the world religions are located in Anda and in the lowest realms of Brahmanda. The Heaven of Christianity, the paradise of Islam and the Swargas of Hinduism are all located here. “heavens” are very beautiful, but they themselves are all subject to eventual dissolution.

Pinda, the fourth and lowest Division of creation, comprises the entity of our physical universe: all the planets, sun, stars, solar system, galaxies and cosmic schemes know and unknown to modern astronomy. Matter in our physical universe in its most coarse, most dense form, with a very limited admixture of spirit substance, just enough to vivify matter and maintain life. The physical structure of our universe is the lowest projection of a cosmic idea channeled through the medium of universal mind. At some primordial point in what we call space-time the first downward wave of energy from Brahmanda and Anda differentiated that primal matter (know in some esoteric literature as “fire-mist”) into the first worlds of physical creation. That mass of fire-mist which was to become our Earth was once floating near to the great sphere of its Sun. Its mass of primal atoms were multiplying at a tremendous rate, and the formation of that planet upon which we now dwell was in progress. This creative process was speeded up, through aeons of time, by reproductive principles immanent in the primal life-forces emanating from Anda and Brahmanda. Waves of cosmic force were descending the spiral of creation, and the planet Earth evolved upon one of the wave-lengths of the Being who controls all the order of manifestation within all life-forms.

This downward-flowing cosmic force, which impels living souls into lower creation, is the negative pole into lower creation, is the negative pole of the same audible life stream which – in its upward-surging, positive manifestation –can liberate souls from bondage to mind and matter. This negative aspect of the primal spiritual forces was necessary to the purpose of universal creation; through its pulsating flow that primordial fire-mist, eventually to become our home, increased its density and gravities toward the sun. The Sun’s magnetic power molded the fire-mist into a flat, disc-like condition, and this Sun-Earth relationship continued through further epoch of time. Then the Sun gradually impregnated the primal atoms of the fire-mist with the Tranmutative atomic potentialities of the mineral and gases, which now constitute our present planet and its surrounding atmosphere. The fire-mist now rapidly increased its density and began to experience the attractive force within its own nucleus. The inner vibratory activity caused the spherical shape of the Earth and it began to whirl away into space away from the Sun. it became a self-motivating system, thus preventing its continuing movement away from the Sun, and it began to form its present functional relationship with the sun and with the other planets which comprise this solar system. The negative pole of the cosmic creative force keeps the earths in its present elliptical relationship with the sun. thus the creation of this tiny speck of dust in the vastness of Pinda – the primal home of mankind. The mystic adepts teach that this planet is a vast complex of living souls. There are degree of soul-consciousness functioning through all grades of matter: through neutron, proton, electron, atom, molecule, cell, colloid, and onward and upward on and ascending scale of life until man himself is reached. How long has man been on this Earth? And how much longer will he elect to stay?

Man is still chained to the lower three division of mind and matter by the negative pole of the cosmic life stream. Gross matter is cosmic energy at its lowest vibrationary level, and subtle energy is matter at its highest point in the spiral of creation. Matter and energy are in constant interaction in the three Divisions – Brahmanda, Anda and Pinda – and this state of affairs has gone on for countless aeons; there is no escape from the continual cycle of ascending has merged his consciousness fully with the upward-surging, spiritual current that leads to man’s True Home, the abode of bliss. It has been said by some metaphysicians that matter can be liberated” by speeding up its vibrations, so that it is transformed into energy. Likewise, say these wise ones, man can transform himself into higher “energy” There is a half-truth here, for the “energy”. There is a half truth here, for the energy spoken of is still that of the materio-spiritual or – at its best – the spiritio-material world. Matter is real despite the negations on this subject so beloved of certain religious school of thought – but with all its reality, matter is still impermanent and ever changing because of the continuing forces of the evolutionary process. And the same truth applies to the subtlized forms of matter in the second and third divisions of creation. Therefore, what is know as the illusory Nature of our external world can be seen as the impermanence of creation of three lower Division of the cosmic universe.

Man had to have this planetary home in order to evolve to a state of self-consciousness and self-realization. He was given an intelligent planet on which to achieve his goal. When the Earth took its present orbit in the solar system it was in a super-heated condition. This concentrated heat caused a release of energy form the radiant sphere, and this energy produced a cloud-mass which completely surrounded the Earth. This cloud-mass, consisting of several gases which have been created by the cooling process of the planet, eventually became transformed into the present atmosphere. Through the intelligence immanent in all creation, this early cloudmass served as a protection for the evolving earth-sphere from the powerful cosmic radiation of the highly condensed stars. The present atmosphere surrounding the Earth, with its highly advanced degree of innate intelligence, now filters out these outer cosmic radiation in a far more efficient manner than did the primodial cloud-mass. The solar sphere then focused its beneficial sunlight through the cloud-mass, and thus enabled the infant-earth to attain the stage where it could produce organic form.