Time McKnight & Ruth
Goodwin WITH MASTER’S GRACE, we were given the opportunity to
sit at His Holy Feet for a short time preceding His upcoming world tour. This was an invaluable
experience which we would like to share with His children abroad who so long to
see Him, so that all can benefit more from His Holy Presence. One thing in India which prevails in the minds of all
is a feeling of great respect for others. This is manifest both inwardly
through great humility, and outwardly through respectful actions. All are
children of the same Father. When we are with our Father, these actions and
feelings should be paramount. In India, when Satsangis and visitors come from
outside to see our Master, they great Him with folded palms and bowed head;
they keep a respectful distance from Him, thus allowing Him to move or be
seated as He wishes. There is a minimum of hand-shaking or physical contact of
any kind with the Master. He is treated with reverence as He should be. I think
we should try to understand this. Master knows what is in the hearts of each one of us.
Faith and love for Him should be our keynotes when we are with Him as well as
afar. He knows what each one of us needs, and in His Grace, will provide. To be
at His Feet in India repeatedly bears witness to this. Again and again, out of
crowds of hundreds, our Beloved Father would single out some soul at some
distance away and ask him about his welfare, knowing full well the questioning
heart of His child. Another thing we noticed during a recent question
period in the evening: Master said that He wants us to ask Him spiritual
questions of importance. He wants that we understand all aspects of the Path
and that we are fully satisfied with its different aspects. We should, however,
limit questions to this sphere alone, and weigh our words carefully. Often when
we would sit by the Master in the evening, He would ask us, “Any question? Any
news?” if there was no response, Master would begin to speak and automatically
answer those things of which we were unsure. So Master, many people notice that
it is almost better to remain silent in the presence of the Master. He will
fill the silence with more than words. In India also, people are very relaxed. I think we can
learn from this too. Drawing upon this idea, perhaps we should try to remain
calm and reposed as much as we can, not running from place to place or pressing
the Master for urgent schedules. It is hard for us abroad to inculcate this
habit of peace and relaxation, leaving Master’s will to take its course. Again,
faith , Simran, and sweet thoughts is the only way we can exist. With these
things, all runs so smoothly with Him Grace. Master was so busy while we were there in India. With
Manav Kendra expanding, He was working until 11.30 p.m. many nights, talking to
workers, draftsmen, planners and officials. Returning to Delhi for Baba Sawan
Singh’s birthday celebrations, Master took care of the needs of every single
person—sitting with people in shifts throughout the three days as they came for
His Blessed Darshan. Ceaselessly our Satguru worked. Six Satsangs were held
during the three days. Treating each one as His child, He filled him or her
with spiritual food and quenched mental and physical thirsts also. With such
love He serves us! We must learn to serve Him also. After all had left from the
celebrations, Master spent His time answering correspondence, which had
accumulated to large amounts in the past few days. Also, world tour plans are
being formulated and so much work had to be finished before departure. The work has not ceased even for a moment. Master is
Godman. No one in the world could do what He does. Still, He does have a
physical frame, which He has taken for our sake. Being physical, demands can be
made on it which are over and above the laws of Nature. Master do not transcend
these laws for their sake or comfort. Instead, they continue to labor for ours.
Let us take this into consideration when we demand something of our Beloved and
ask ourselves if we are deserving of His sacrifice. He will take care, if we
allow Him to. Even if we go beyond our limits, He will take care, but often we
have put our little selves in the way and benefit is less. It is always good to read and reread His circular
letters and books again and again. Each time we read them, His will becomes a
little more clear with reference to our daily life. They can never be read too
many times. It is good to carry them around to read in spare moments even when
near Him physically. Then we can see the words personified. In these ways, we can perhaps maintain equilibrium so
that our Master can smoothly make His way around to see all His dear children.
This, coupled with the deep love and reverence which we all feel so deeply,
will enable us to truly benefit from His magnificent presence. Spiraling stairway of love to HIS door. Veils to rip asunder Dark valleys to creep through Snares to foil Move up HE is there Waiting so patiently and sweetly, even now— Ruth Coopersmith “5. Keep your complete attention on Master’s eyes and
face when with Him, and meditate after seeing Him. With this one-pointed
devotion, Master has said, you can derive more benefit in a few days than
traveling with Him for a year with scattered attention.” Sharleene also suggested that Master’s stay
in each area would be more beneficial to all and run more smoothly if (a) a
place is provided for Him to eat and sleep in complete privacy: (b.) a place is
made available during the day, with the simple kitchen mentioned above, where
initiates can come for meditation, two or three men could be chosen from among
the Satsangis to help make sure that people do not crowd Him too closely; (d.)
if all petty bickering is avoided. Helpful in keeping us aware of whom the
Master is, who we are, and why we are with Him, are: the discourse, “Are You Even Half a Disciple”? , Published
in this magazine; the article, “
Satsang: The Gift of the Guru,” appearing in the discourse, “Change Your Habits
Now,” in the February 1971 issue; and the book Morning Talks. All of these
could be reread with great benefit before He comes and while He is here. |