Before the
Year Runs Out . . . The Master’s Circular Letters of December 28,1967
DEAR SOULS:
Before the year runs out, I would like all the children of light to manifest
that light in abundance, and take care that it is not darkened through any
default. You have had an experience of this light, the light of God; the light
that never is on sea or land, but burns day and night, unquenchably, in the
human breast. Let this light be a lamp unto yours feet, and serve as a beacon
light and signal fire to the world-weary traveler trudging on the sands of time
in search of a haven of peace. All of you must know that you have voluntarily
and joyously taken upon yourself a great trust and responsibility-an obligation
which you have to discharge under the Law of Divine Dispensation, and it is
your proud privilege and a sacred duty to serve the great Cause which is so
very dear to the Master. All the
Initiates of the Master, wherever they be-in the East or in the West-form one
great family of the Master and as such are equally dear to me, and nothing will
give me greater pleasure than to see you all living in loving peace and harmony
as His children, serving one another with love in your hearts. Love is the
highest and the greatest attribute of God, and all other virtues flow on their
own from it. All of you
have been put on the God-way, which of course is the same. It is now for you to
hasten the advent of the Master within you, and thereby complete your Guru-bhakti,
or single-hearted devotion to Him. The proof of this you can experience within
you as the self-luminous form of the master appears, stays with you, talks to
you face to face, and helps you within by instruction and experience, in the
same way as he does without: Behold! I stand at the door and knock, and if
any man hear my voice, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with me. From here begins Naam-bhakti, or devotion to the
Holy Word, and it is the Master’s job to make you proficient in it, and lead
you to perfection and make you perfect as
your Father in heaven is perfect. Thus you see
you have all been put on the Path leading to God. The proof of the pudding,
however, lies in tasting it. The more you will taste of the Truth in you, the
more your life in a work-a-day world will reflect the Light of God in all your
dealings with one another, and you yourself will feel that each day sees you
nobler than before as you tread Godward. It is from
amongst you that representatives, group leaders, and workers are chosen by the
Master for administrative convenience, to carry on the work efficiently-to wit,
to arrange spiritual get-togethers (Satsangs) for mutual help and benefit. My
Master, Hazzur Sawan Singh Ji, used to say that Satsangs served a very useful
purpose as a protective hedge around the field of Simran and Bhajan, so that
these vital and life-giving processes continue to develop and thrive, in spite
of the otherwise busy life in the family, in society, in your respective
avocations, and the like. I cannot help
emphasizing that all the Satsangis, whatever their qualifications and the
degrees of advancement, are equally dear to me. With all our seeming
righteousnesses, we are yet far from righteousness, for none are righteous in
the real sense of the word, and there is no ground for us to feel exalted
simply because we had the good fortune to work in the vineyard of the Lord. On
the contrary, this very thing-the work entrusted to us so graciously-casts upon
us an added responsibility to make ourselves worthy of it. I would very
much like you to forge and strengthen loving links in the ever-expanding
fraternity that is ours. The representatives should, in a missionary spirit,
travel from center to center in their areas so as to see things for themselves
at each centers in the spiritual fabric, and in a loving spirit, exchange their
views with one another, and offer suitable suggestions for improving the
position wherever necessary. To facilitate work at each center, we should set
up small committees of three to four members with the idea of division of work
as may make for more efficiency and better understanding, and also enthuse a
spirit of good will and fellowship among all who are engaged in the holy work.
It may be worthwhile to establish separate study circles for mutual discussion
on one or the other spiritual subject, so that those participating in them get
a training to give small inspiring talks on their own, and be able to keep the
work going without any let or hindrance. A small lending library with essential
literature on Sant Mat will be a great help to all, old and new Satsangis as
well as fresh aspirants for and seekers after Truth. A tree is known by the fruit it bears, and so
we should act and behave in a manner that glorifies God and is befitting to us
a children of God. It will be a healthy beginning if representatives, group
leaders, and workers invite each other for talks and addressing the Satsangis
and others interest in the subject in their respective areas; and the invitees
in their turn should give out their best to their listeners without in any way
interfering with their susceptibilities and loyalties as may tend to estrange
them from each other, and cause any to stumble on the way. This, it is hoped,
will in a way help to expand the “Self” in you, and your hearts will go out to
serve the Lord whenever and wherever you may get an opportunity to do so. This
is the greatest service that one can do to oneself, and to the self-same Self
in others around you, and those with whom you may come in contact from day to
day. Those going
around in connection with Satsang work at different places should not accept
any offerings whatsoever for their personal benefit. However, they are allowed
to share lodging and simple food with the dear ones, if possible and necessary.
The travel expenses and other allied charges incurred may be debited to Satsang
funds. The non-acceptance of gifts for personal self is one of the
prescriptions given by the ancient sages for persons living the spiritual life.
It will be easy to see how this rule becomes more important for those who are
in their service to God, and have been placed in a position of public
authority. It is the duty of the spiritual leaders and counselors, whatever
their capacity, to remain impersonal servants of all. Since the acceptance of
gifts involves one, even against his/her will, in some measure of obligation to
the giver, it may cause unwittingly a lowering of his/her ideals. This should
be considered sufficient to avert serious difficulties that could arise from
laxity in this principle. In this
respect it would be worth your while and profitable for you to read this, along
with the previous circulars of June 6, 1967, and November 11, 1967, together
with the Birthday Message of July, 1967, as all of these, including this one,
present an integrated view of true living as enjoined by the Masters. I would
greatly appreciate it if you would chalk out the lines for yourself, and also
send periodical reports on the progress made from time to time. The Master
Power overhead, I am sure, will help us to achieve the desired results. My best
wishes are with you. With all love,
and more of it, Yours affectionately, KIRPAL SINGH * *
* December 28,
1967 I HAVE
OBSERVED that with the rapidly growing work of the Master, the load of
correspondence has increase considerably. It is practically becoming difficult
to handle the same during my short intervals between tours and multifarious
Satsang engagements. It would be much better if the dear ones are requested to
restrict their letters to the minimum length of purely spiritual nature,
thereby avoiding detailed descriptions, and at three month intervals,* which
will facilitate work. There are now several printed books which contain
exhaustive explanations for the day-to-day life problems of an initiate, and
the dear ones can safely refer to them. The diary forms should, however, be
continued to be sent every three months,* with brief results, etc. I know it for
certain that every soul has certain personal problems which he/she is anxious
to bring to the notice of the Master, so as to seek His blessings and guidance.
You should please note that the life-plan of each of us has already been drawn
by the Great Planner, and what actually we see and come by is nothing but an
unfoldment of the Divine plan, which if rightly adjudged is being executed with
fine exactitude. But it should be taken
as certain, that all things work to the good for them who love God; and since
you are all directly linked with the God-into-Expression Power within you are
under His Grace and not the Law, to the minutest detail, and so severity,
intensity and duration of the trials and tribulations of life, whatever they
be, are suitably and gracefully mitigated, softened, and toned down by the
Master Power. Just have more of deep faith in that Supreme Power within you,
for undoubtedly it will come to your aid, guide you aright, and eventually take
you out of the seemingly impossible situations, in such a sublime manner which
you cannot possibly imagine. So all such matters can reasonably be eliminated
from the letters, making them concise and exact in their contents. This may
kindly be circulated among all the dear ones. With all love
and best wishes, Yours affectionately, KIRPAL SINGH * The Master
has since requested that the completed diaries be sent to him every four
months. |