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#608

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:51 am
Subject: Starstuff Contemplating the Stars -- Light and Sound

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Starstuff Contemplating the Stars -- Light and Sound on the Path -- Sant Mat Satsang

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"We are the local embodiment of a Cosmos grown to self-awareness. We have begun to contemplate our origins: starstuff pondering the stars...." (Carl Sagan)

"O Soul (Surat)! Who are you and whence have you come? You are a ray from Purush (the Supreme Being) and an inhabitant of the purely Spiritual Region." (Swami Ji Maharaj/Sant Radhasoami Sahib)

"The teaching of the Saints is to raise the soul from the lower chakras to the higher chakras -- till it reaches the highest chakra, where it initially landed, and then reach the MASTER -- THE SUPREME SOUL, from where it initially parted. The path of upliftment is the same as that of descent, except that the movement is reverse, i.e., ascent in place of descent." (H.N. Saksena, The Secret of Realisation)

O Guru! May my consciousness ascend the sky.

Kindly help me catch the current of seven melodies and

the Quintessential One.

After allowing me to catch the support of your Radiant Being,

Let me have a glimpse of your highly resplendent Vision.

(Padavali of Maharshi Mehi)

"This world is perishable and so also is all that pertains to it. A wise man is he, who, having closely examined the nature of existence here, has realized that it is all transitory and illusory, and consecrated his human form by devoting himself to Bhajan and Simran (listening to inner sounds and repetition of the Holy Name of the Supreme Being) and who, taking the fullest advantage of the various faculties which the Supreme Father has graciously endowed him with, has translated the invaluable jewel within him, which is Surat (spirit) or the essence of his being, to its original abode." (Soami Ji Maharaj)

Day is Night - Night is Day

"Use all your power to free the senses from attachment and aversion alike, and live in the full wisdom of the Self. Such a sage awakes to Light in the night of all creatures. That which the world calls 'day' is the night of ignorance to the wise." (The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, verses 68 and 69, Eknath Easwaran translation)

"That, which is night to all beings (who are turned away from God), in that state the disciplined Yogi keeps awake. And that in which all beings are awake (enjoying the worldly pleasures and prosperity), is night to the enlightened seer." (Bhagavad Gita 2: 69 from the online translation at IndiaDivine[dot]org)

"Only a perfect Master and Shabd

(Quintessial Unstruck Sound)

Are your two true friends.

Dedicate your heart to them

And discard everything else."

-- Sant Radhaswami Sahib

"When we receive initiation from a Saint, practice Naam simran to retrace our consciousness from toes to a spot behind the eyes [Third Eye Center], only then something is accomplished." (Baba Kehar Singh)

Sant Mat Meditation: "Those practitioners who assiduously practice meditation will behold wonderful spectacles within." (Swami Achyutanand)

"The support of the soul is in the head, and now I will tell you of the

recognition of Shabda. One who gets connected with the Unrepeated Repetition to see gets the infinite-petaled lotus. When he reaches the astral door, he [ultimately] goes to Agam and Agochar [by way of] the True Path. His inner Self-where Adi Purush resides-gets enlightened. Recognizing Him, the soul goes to Him -- and He takes the soul to its origin. The soul is of the same essence as Sat Purush and is also called Jiva-Sohang." (Anurag Sagar)

Quality of Concentration in Meditation: "Single-pointedness results in absolute concentration, which causes ascension (vertical rise) enabling one to move onto a higher level or stage. This way it would be possible to transcend all illusory sheaths [subtle bodies, astral, causal, etc...]." (Maharshi Mehi, The Way of Liberation)

Subtle Bodies Associated With Inner Regions

From the Article, Visions of Allah

The process of gaining a vision of paradise and mystic transport has been described as "stripping off old garments" and replacing them with a new heavenly robe made of Light. In his Persian Sufi classic, Divine Flashes, Fakhruddin 'Iraqi describes the process:

"When the Beloved would exalt the lover, He strips from him the garments collected from all the worlds, and clothes him in the robe of His own attributes. Then the Beloved calls him by all his own attributes. Then the Beloved calls him by all his own names, and seats him in his own place. When the lover studies his new clothes he finds himself arrayed in different colors, and will wonder 'what is this beautiful tint, this garment so unique?'"

This quote from Divine Flashes reminds me of Saying 37 in the Gospel of Thomas, one of the earliest collections of the sayings of Jesus.

His disciples said, "When will you appear to us, and when will we see you?" Jesus said, "When you strip without being ashamed, and you will take your cloths and put them under your feet like little children and trample them, then you will see the Son of the Living One and you will not be afraid." (The Complete Gospels, Robert J. Miller, Polebridge Press)

Sufism is a form of Islamic Gnosticism which really does have many affinities with earlier Gnostic mystical traditions of the middle east. Like other movements of the past that embrace spiritual experience and mystic transport through the Seven Heavens, Sufis have found it useful to compare out-of-body or ascension journeys to the stripping or shedding of garments. The above quote illustrates their view that each soul on the earth-plane is wearing several garments. We are souls wearing subtle bodies or coverings; our physical body is made out of the material substance of the physical universe. We are, as the late Dr. Carl Sagan put it, "star stuff pondering star stuff." Our bodies are made out of atoms that once came from stars and other objects in the cosmos. When we enter into contemplation and mystical states, our awareness is elsewhere; we become "dead to the world," have risen above body-consciousness.

In that sense, we have, for the duration of our meditation period, "stripped" ourselves of the garment of the body for the purpose of exploring other levels of our existence. The mystic traveler enters into what has been called "the fourth state of consciousness." In addition to the waking state, the dream state, the unconsciousness state of deep sleep, the truly holistic explorer can also integrate into his or her experience the spiritual worlds.

Mysticism teaches that there are many layers or levels of reality, that there are other garments that will eventually be shed during journeys of ascension. These garments or subtle bodies have been given names in Hebrew, Greek, Coptic, Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hindi, and other languages. In addition to the "garment" of the physical body, each soul is wearing several other garments or bodies, other sheaths that surround the soul (the True Self), allowing the soul to connect to the various regions of creation. Counting the physical plane as Level One, Level Two is called by many "the astral plane," made of astral stuff -- astral substance, existing at a slightly higher vibration in the astral region. Level Three is the causal body, made of causal or akashic substance, inhabiting the causal plane. Level Four is the mental body made of mind substance, and is part of the mental plane. The etheric body allows the soul to access that region. Above these worlds of mind and matter, the soul resides in the Timeless Spiritual Realm of Truth (Sat, Haq). Metaphysically speaking, we're already in heaven, we just don't know it! 'Iraqi says:

"By day I praised you but never knew it; by night slept with you without realizing; fancying myself to be myself; but no, I was you and never knew it!"

"From the Source of the Ocean opens a Window of Light. Awaken that resplendent Light within thee....Repeat the name of the Lord and secure Him." (Shabdavali of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras)

"Moment by moment gather thy soul and hold it at the Eye Center. Cleanse thou the mirror of thy mind, and catch the Divine Melody with thy soul. If thy longing is keen, thou shalt pierce the veil and attain the Quintessence." (Shabdavali of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras)

"Within thine own self, behold the splendor of thy Beloved. In the pupil of thine eye is a mole, wherein is hidden the entire mystery. Peep within and behold thou what lieth beyond this dark curtain. The secret of the fourteen realms will, for certain, be disclosed to thee. Let thy attention not slip, see that thou art ever vigilant." (Shabdavali of Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras)

"I beheld in the firmament an inverted well, and was filled with resplendence of Light within." (Shabdavali of Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras)

Tulsi Sahib: "The disciple sees within himself the Akash (sky) which is like an inverted well, and merges his Surat [soul's attention] in it."

Chart of the Inner Regions: The Top-most Region is Anami (Nameless), Soundless (Anadi), Nirguna (Formless), Radhasoami -- The Lord of the Soul.

Surat Shabd Yoga: Surat refers to spirit and Shabd to the Sound Current; hence, it is the union the soul with Shabd; the spiritual exercise by which the Current of Consciousness is applied to the hearing of the Sound within; joining the mind and the Attention to the Sound Current. Surat Shabd Yoga: Union (Yoga) of the Soul (Surat) with the Inner Light and Sound of God (Shabd).

The Satguru: "When all the thought waves merge into the Divine Sound, they become Sound. There are no more thoughts. Only Word remains. The surati and Shabda cannot then be differentiated. When the surati unites with Shabda, it is just as when water mixes with milk and become one. Surati gives up its own identity and merges into the Word. Although surati and Shabda appear different, they are not really separate. Once the union has occurred, and the thought waves are silenced, bliss is experienced. When the waters of two rivers such as the Ganges and the Yamuna unite at Prayag, one cannot differentiate the waters, just so, when surati and Shabda unite, they are indistinguishable. However, for this to occur one has to meditate before that Oneness can be realized." (Prakash Mani Naam)

"When the soul (surat) mergeth into the Sound (Shabd) and becometh one with it, then one obtaineth the supreme Bliss. The lamp burneth inside, O Ravidas, and Divine Bliss ariseth within. Steeped in meditation with one-pointed attention, practice devotion to God, O Ravidas. Let the automatic repetition be continued within, Reverberating the True Naam." (Sant Ravidas)

"The divine Melody resounds within,

Upon hearing it, the mind rejoices!

And at long last, attains self-realization,

Never again to stray,

From devotion to the Eternal Teacher.

All its sufferings dissipate.

The soul grasps the rope of divine Melody,

And climbs upon it to liberation."

(Kabir, Songs of the Divine," Dr. J. Das)

Tulsi Sahib said: "When the Surat-disciple meets the Shabd-guru, the path will be traversed."

"The Divine Melody is always resounding when one becomes attuned to it through diligent meditation practice." (Brahm Nirupan of Kabir)

"I now daily hear Shabd in this mansion (of the body, Pind). All the time, I am engaged in this practice." (Swami Ji Maharaj)

"As long as the soul remains in the body, O brother, practice the Path of Shabda." (Anurag Sagar)

"Get detached from the world by associating with Shabd. Shabd removes the barriers." (Swami Ji Maharaj)

"Shabd alone can eradicate Karmas. Without Shabd, we are wandering homeless." (Swami Ji Maharaj)

"Saint Kabir says that our movement is that of a bird (represented by the Shabd); and that the Satguru has given us the key. With the resounding of Shabd, the doors have been flung open, that this Desh [realm] beyond Pind and And [the physical and astral] is ours." (from a hymn of Kabir quoted in, The Secret of Realisation, H.N. Saksena)

I fly as a bird, my wings the Word,

Saith Kabir I'm free, my Satguru liberates me.

My consciousness awoke

Only the Word did resound,

And then beyond the Pind and And,

my true home I

found. (Kabir, another translation of the verse above)

"The body is divided into four regions. These are the Pind or Pinda, the physical or material body; the And or Anda, the lowest part of Brahmand, the spiritual-material region; Brahmand, the spiritual-material region, which is mostly spiritual but mixed with a certain amount of refined matter; and Sach Khand, which is absolutely pure Spirit, the highest and only perfectly pure region. Sach Khand is also the only permanent region." (Huzur Baba Sawan Singh)

Go to heaven --

why go back to the world?

In the house of the fearless One,

where music, unstruck, sounds,

you shall play trumpets.

Meditate upon Him in your heart.

Without meditation there is no salvation.

Unfettered meditation

brings salvation:

Your heavy load is taken off.

Welcome Him in your heart,

so you will not be born

again and again.

Blissful meditation

will light a lamp inside you

that does not need any oil.

This lamp will make you immortal;

this lamp will draw out the poison

of lust and anger.

Pierce this meditation

that gives you salvation,

and wear it around your neck.

Never take it off.

Meditate always:

Your guru's grace will get you across.

Meditation will free you

from dependence on others:

You will sleep on silken sheets at home.

Your heart will be at peace;

your life will blossom:

Deeply drink this meditation.

This meditation

will erase your blemishes;

you will be free from Maya's touch.

Meditate, meditate, and sing,

"Hari, Hari" [God, God]. You will obtain

this meditation from your true guru [Satguru].

Always, always meditate day and night:

When you rise, when you lie down,

when you breathe in, when you breathe out.

Waking or sleeping,

relish the taste of meditation --

meditation will bring union.

Meditation will remove all your burdens;

meditation upon Ram's name [God's name]

will become your support.

Kabir, says, "He is limitless."

(Songs of Kabir from the Adi Granth, Nirmal Das, SUNY Press, NY)

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#609

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:57 am
Subject: Happy Guru Purnima: Master�s Day

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Sant Mat Satsang PODcast: Program Theme: Happy Guru Purnima: Master�s Day � Program Length: 23 Minutes -- Click For Streaming Audio:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/convertplaylist.aspx?PlayListUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.blogtalkradio.com%2fsantmatfellowship%2fplay_list.xml%3fshow_id%3d1171241&OutputType=m3u

Reflections about the role of Sant Satgurus: The Competent Living Master, a Qualified Teacher, The True One, Genuine Mentor, a Righteous and Worthy Guide, A Fearless Being, Light-giver, Leader of a Spiritual Community. An Ode to the Sant SatGuru, in Praise of the Sant-soul of love who has reached the 5th plane or above, and merged in God. With gratitude to the Competent Qualified Teacher, the Living Master, the Living One. In a Sea of Samsara, of falsehood, illusion and posing, there is a bright Light in the darkness. A silent Music becomes audible. At the feet of such a Loving, Radiant One, the soul can not help but find inner Light and slip into deep samadhi meditation. In the eyes of the Sant are love, wisdom, light, compassion, grace, and a reflection of God. The definition of a Sant Satguru is someone who connects the soul with the Supreme Lord of Love. �

Love and Light in the Sound,

Jai Guru, Sat Naam, Radhasoami,

James

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#610

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:34 pm
Subject: Focus - Collect Your Diffused Spirituality

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Focus - Collect Your Diffused Spirituality - Light and Sound on the Path - Sant Mat Satsang

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Satsang PODcasts

Kabir - the "Rumi" of India, Part 1 - Spiritual Awakening Radio PODcast -- Program Length: 60 Minutes. Click to Download MP3:

http://download.liveindexer. com/podcasts/HealthyLifeOD/ Audio//ECI_AUTO/Jul2011/ SPA071911_wma.mp3

Kabir - the "Rumi" of India, Part 2 - Spiritual Awakening Radio PODcast --Program Length: 60 Minutes. Click to Download MP3:

http://download.liveindexer. com/podcasts/HealthyLifeOD/ Audio//ECI_AUTO/Jul2011/ SPA072611_wma.mp3

For More PODcasts, go to:

http://www. SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/ archive.html

NOTE: The August Sant Mat Satsang PODcast will be titled, "Spircon Revisited", and will be a follow up of an earlier program with Mark Juergensmeyer, with more information about the inter-faith Sant Mat event that took place in Agra (Spiritual Consciousness Studies: Spircon). Coming soon at:

http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/ SantMatFellowship

Tao Te Ching: "The sage does not accumulate for himself.
The more he uses for others, the more he has himself.
The more he gives to others, the more he possesses of his own.
The Way of Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure.
The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete."

Inner Peace,
By Maharshi Mehi

1. Stillness or steadiness is the essence of Shanti.

[Shanti is a Sanskrit word with several English meanings: peace, tranquility, bliss, etc. The peace which results from some degree of communion with God is Shanti.]

2. He who has attained Shanti is a Saint.

3. Sant Mat encompasses the thoughts and Way of Saints.

4. The desire for attaining Shanti is natural in human beings.

In the Upanishads the formula for the attainment of Shanti is expounded by the seers and saints of these ancient works. Similar views have been expressed by the saints of all times, including such saints as Guru Nanak Sahab and Kabir Sahab who expounded their views in the Punjabi and Hindi languages respectively. Such expressions are for the inspiration and edification of all people.

However, the Upanishads uniquely and fully describe the means for attaining Shanti and describe the means for attaining the Highest Wisdom. That is why the Upanishads are considered the foundation of Sant Mat. Further, a comprehensive exposition of the Divine Word-Sound is given in the Upanishads which leads to the Highest Wisdom. The Upanishads explain the yogic techniques and systematic views of transcending thought and attaining the Absolute through the use of Sound (Yoga of Surat-shabda). Sant Mat follows the yogic path as prescribed in the Upanishads and specifically employs Surat-Shabda-Yoga in its practices. The result of such practice is the attainment of the Highest Goal, the knowledge of the Supreme. (Philosophy of Liberation)

Seeing the Unseen Within

Rumi: "Everything you see has its roots in the Unseen world.
The forms may change, yet the essence remains the same.
Every wonderful sight will vanish;
Every sweet word will fade,
But do not be disheartened,
The source they come from is eternal, growing,
Branching out, giving new life and new joy.
Why do you weep? The source is within you
And this whole world is springing up from it."

Sant Namdev: "I wandered through the cosmos in search of the treasure but found it within me."

Rumi: "If in thirst you drink water from a cup, you see God in it. Those who are not in love with God will see only their own faces in it."

"My eyes have turned inward. My heart clings to the feet of Ram [God]. I worship only God-within, nothing else, says Namdev."

"Always be in rapport with the Lord
And enjoy true contentment -
This is the state of ineffable serenity.
There is no peace except in the Name of the Lord -
Meditate on it with one-pointed attention.

"Experience the state of superconsciousness
Where the Lord's love surges
And you will see your own form
In each particle of the creation."
-- Sant Namdev

"God [Hari] is my companion
in life and death.
Hari, who rescued
the drowning creature.

"Hari, the Giver of joy
is always with me.
I am immersed in
the name of Hari
says Namdev."

"Service.
Worship.
Remembrance.
Meditation.
All are false
without God.....
Sing the name
Ram [God]
the State of Nirvana." (Sant Namdev)

"Dharm Dass pat khol dekho, tattva men nihatattva hai; kahe kabir nihatattva darse, awagawan niwariye. O Dharam Dass! Remove the veil of ignorance, and see that in the manifest forms is the unmanifest God. Kabir says that when God shows Himself to you, your cycles of birth and death will vanish, and you will gain immortality." (Book of Satsang Prayers)

Love bestirs the heart of the separated lover for God, and God responds by enlightening him. He then realizes that the soul and God are one. (Tisa Tantra/Thirty Gems of Kabir)

The Yoga of Inner Seeing and Hearing -- Inner Light and Sound Meditation

"The current of consciousness which is dispersed in the nine gates of the body and the nine senses must be collected at the tenth gate (the sixth chakra, the third eye, bindu, center between the eyebrows). Therein lies the path for our return. This is the act of leaving the gates of the sense organs and becoming established in the soul. We travel back from the realm of Darkness to the realm of Light, from the Light to divine Sound, and from the realm of Sound to the Soundless State. The Divine Essence permeates all beings yet transcends them." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

"Avalokiteshvara Buddha [Quan Yin], the hearer and answerer of prayer, has visited all the Buddha-lands of the ten quarters of the universe and has acquired transcendental powers of boundless freedom and fearlessness and has vowed to emancipate all sentient beings from their bondage and suffering. How sweetly mysterious is the Transcendental Sound of Avalokiteshvara! Is is the subdued murmur of the sea-tide setting inward. Its mysterious Sound brings liberation and peace to all sentient beings who in their distress are calling for aid." (Surangama Sutra, Buddhist Scripture)

Reference to meditation on Inner Light and Sound Meditation found in the ancient scriptures know as the Vedas: "May the seeker of Divine knowledge learn its secret from a True Guru, practice (meditation thus learnt) and perceive the divine Light and Sound within. May seekers pray to God for getting such an accomplished Guru from whom this secret could be learnt!" (Yajurveda, Chapter 11, ManDal 3)

"Contemplating on the Sat Shabd [True Sound], even for half of a moment, confers much more spiritual merit than living in the holy city of Kashi for millions of years." (Brahm Nirupan of Kabir)

"Explaining 'Word' or Sound Current, Kabir says that for practical purpose the Sound Current assumes the form of Guru in this world and reforms the souls. Satguru carries a message from God and ties us to the thread of Naam Simran (i.e. concentration on the Word)." (Anurag Sagar)

Kabir: "So plunge into the Truth, find out who the Teacher is. Believe in the Great Sound!"

"A word has a natural characteristic or propensity to attract or draw its perceiver towards its source or origin. That word which has emanated from the Supreme Lord, therefore, possesses the property of leading its perceiver to God. It is also imbued with the qualities of its source and, therefore, endows its perceiver as well with the same. Therefore, Shabda Sadhana or Nadanusandhana, the Yoga of Sound has been regarded as the most essential and the loftiest meditation in Sant Mat." (Swami Achyutanand Baba, Yoga Of Inner Light and Sound)

Stilling the Thoughts of the Mind By Meditating On the Inner Sound, By Swami Achyutanand Baba

With Nada Dhyana [meditation on the Inner Sound] the mind gets completely dissolved. As a result of its dissolution, the mind forgets about the sensory objects, as has been depicted in the Nadabindu Upanishad:

"Just as the honey bee, while sipping the nectar of flowers cares not for their fragrance...The mind that is ever connected to the Divine Sound longs no more for any sensory objects. For it has come under the spell of the Divine Melody and has forsaken its fickle nature for good."

The Upanishad has compared the mind to the poisonous cobra. The venomous cobra is capable of killing several persons with its deadly poison, but the snake charmer renders it non-poisonous by uprooting its venom teeth, and thus the snake's power of lethal bite is destroyed. Similarly, as a practitioner progresses in the Yoga of Sound, his extremely lustful or covetous mind forgets all the objects and never again yearns for them, as is stated in the following lines of the Nadabindu Upanishad:

"The serpent-mind practicing Nada dhyana (Yoga of Sound) perseveringly gets completely lost in it and concentrates itself solely on the Nada (Divine Sound), forgetting all other objects around it."

-- Swami Achyutanand Baba, Yoga of Inner Light and Sound, published in 2011:
http:// SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/ Yoga_Of_Inner_Light_And_Sound_ .pdf

Collect Your Diffused Spirituality,
By Sant Radhasoami Sahib

O nightingale! Recognize the flower garden, where a
great variety of flowers are blossoming. (1)

Come along and live in close association with Guru.
Go on elevating your mind and Surat. (2)

Collect your diffused spirituality and be whole-heartedly
attentive. You will gradually merge in Jyoti [Light]. (3)

Remove the two slabs or curtains, and behold the
Thousand-petalled Lotus of Sahas-dal-kanwal. (4)

Peep into the creation there, then dwell freely and
openly. Pass over the bridge and get across. (5)

There, whiffs of sweet fragrance of sandal are enjoyed,
and Surat and mind are cleansed of impurities. (6)

The obstacles created by Kal will disappear, and
then, your Surat will apply itself wholeheartedly to
Shabd. (7)

Extricated from the mire of Karma, you will proceed
on and meet RADHASOAMI [Radhaswami, the Lord of the Soul]. (8)

-- Swami Ji Maharaj, Bachan 20 -- Shabd 23,
Sar Bachan Poetry, Volume One

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#611

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Tue Aug 2, 2011 8:51 pm
Subject: Hear Spiritual Awakening Radio: PODcasts, and Streaming Audio

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Hear Spiritual Awakening Radio: PODcasts, and Streaming Audio

Hear Spiritual Awakening Radio: PODcasts, and the Current Schedule For Streaming Audio via HealthyLife.net � The Positive Talk Radio Network:�http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/current.html

�..Exploring the World of Spirituality, Comparative Religion, Inner Light and Sound Meditation, Vegetarian Vegan Diet, and Peace -- A Positive Vision For the Future

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#612

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Fri Aug 5, 2011 6:32 am
Subject: Online Sant Mat Books and New Webpages

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Online Sant Mat Books�

and New Webpages

*�Yoga of Inner Light and Sound, by Swami Achyutanand Baba -- PDF File:��http://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/Yoga_Of_Inner_Light_And_Sound_.pdf

*�New Webpage Dedicated to the book, Harmony Of All Religions (Sarvadharma Samanvy) , by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj: all the chapters of the book as PDF Files, along with other related links:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/Harmony.html

*�New Webpage Dedicated to the writings of Soami Ji Maharaj: Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry/Nazm yaani Chhand bandh (Volumes I & II), Sar Bachan Prose/Bartik, Soami Ji Maharaj's Letters to Huzur Maharaj, Swami Ji's Commentary on the Jap Ji of Guru Nanak, and, Last Words of Soami Ji Maharaj:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/radhasoami.html

*�The Anurag Sagar (PDF Files, MP3 Satsangs, Links):�http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/anurag.html

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#613

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:34 pm
Subject: Philosophy of Liberation -- Light and Sound on the Path

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Philosophy of Liberation -- Light and Sound on the Path

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Happy 2011 Independence Day India (Night View of India From Space)

The Kabir Radio Series: The Poet Kabir - the "Rumi" of India, Parts One Through Five - Spiritual Awakening Radio PODCASTS:

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Awakening, is a process of peeling away the many layers of illusion that we are in. Letting go of our judgements and need to define. Letting go of our ego and even our identity, until we no longer feel separate from God.

"If you are depressed you are living in the past.

If you are anxious you are living in the future.

If you are at peace you are living in the present."

-- Lao Tzu

"You wander from room to room hunting for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck." (Rumi)

Which is worth more, a crowd of thousands,

or your own genuine solitude?

Freedom, or power over and entire nation?

A little while alone in your room

will prove more valuable than anything else

that could ever be given you.

--�Rumi

"Feel yourself being quietly drawn by the deeper pull�of what you truly love." (Rumi)

"Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much

as your own unguarded thoughts." (Buddha)

"With our thoughts we make the world." (Buddha)

"Whatever man thinketh, that he obtaineth. If he were to dwell on the Absolute........he would become immortal." (Sant Namdev quoted in the Adi Granth, Sikh Scriptures)

"Wherever one's thought dwells, there will that person rest. At his pleasure, he may go to the delusion of unreality or he may merge into the Lord of the self. Where thou keepest thy mind while living, to that abode shalt thou go after death. The soul finds lodging in a place wherein it has hitherto been immersed." (Dadu Dayal)

Accumulated thoughts of living beings cause births and deaths for them again and again

"The thoughts are of various types and each thought has its hidden import. The thoughts which are soaked in attachment and illusion, form the basis of transmigration. But the thoughts which are immersed in selfless service (seva), lead one to salvation. The flow of thoughts in the mind knows no end. Not a single moment passes without those, so much so, that during sleep even, they occur in the form of dreams. What are those thoughts? Desire for anything assumes the form of a thought. The moment a desire to attain something or the other, arises in the mind, that very moment, man is thrown into an ocean of thoughts. These very thoughts become the basis of resolutions and options which cause one to enter into different forms after death. Whatever the nature of thought at the time of death determines the next form or birth for that soul.

"All the doubts and desires should be made to merge with the Shabd or Word [the Divine Current of Light and Sound], to get rid of horrible consequences of innumerable births and transmigration. Except for the desire to recite Naam, no other desire should take hold of the mind......By remembering the Lord, one attains God-realization and when this stage is reached, then there is no need to resort to any other means of attain salvation [moksha]." (The Second Master, The Shri Paramhans Advait Mat Granth)

Meditate.

Live purely. Be quiet.

Do your work with mastery.

Like the moon, come out

from behind the clouds!

Shine.

-- Siddhartha Gautama

"Perform virtuous acts, you will receive happiness. Also do 'sumiran' (remembering God's name, or meditating on the Divine Sound) regularly." (Swami Harinandan Baba)

"The practice of meditation should be an essential part of the practitioner's daily routine." (Maharshi Mehi)

"In case of any trouble, one should always remember the Satguru, as He is always present with the disciple in His Nij Roop (Real Form)." (Soami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Prose)

"To accept His teachings and act in accordance with them is the external form of Satguru Bhakti [devotion to a living master]. To hear the Shabd within is the internal form of Satguru Bhakti." (Soami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Prose)

"To hear the Shabd that is ringing within us is devotion to Shabd [Shabd Bhakti]; to serve and love the heart (person) in which the Shabd is manifest is Satguru seva, and He alone is Satguru and the Shabd is His Nij Saroop (Real Form)". (Soami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Prose)

"In each heart the Divine resides hidden; each heart is permeated with divine Light. By intense focus one is able to break the door open and reach the Realm of the Divine. By the grace of God the door shatters, and the mind becomes immersed in the sweet drizzle of divine Sound. By focusing on the divine Sound (Shabda) the consciousness goes beyond the realm of death and rebirth." (Guru Nanak)

"The great Sage Maharishi Mehi compared the ascending of consciousness to a fish swimming upstream. The mind must go inward, which is the reverse of its usual and easy outward path. Just as the fish struggles against the current, so an equal effort must be made to go against the current of the mind. By going inward against the current of the mind, one experiences the divine joy. In the words of Sant Maharishi Mehi: 'The stream of celestial nectar is flowing from the subtle canal of the sushumna nerve. Like a fish the consciousness current is moving upstream. Like a fish making its way upstream, the mind travels with consciousness away from the senses (the current) with great difficulty. (This will seem to the mind a difficult and 'unnatural' course, as the mind is habituated to move toward the senses and the sensory objects.)'" (Swami Sant Sevi Ji, Harmony Of All Religions)

Excerpts from the Book: Moksha-Darsan (Philosophy of Liberation), a Primary Text for Understanding Sant Mat (The Path of the Masters)

Philosophy of Liberation

By Maharishi Mehi

1. Stillness or steadiness is the essence of Shanti.

(Shanti is a Sanskrit word with several English meanings: peace, tranquility, bliss, etc. The peace which results from some degree of communion with God is Shanti.)

2. He who has attained Shanti is a saint.

3. Sant Mat encompasses the thoughts and way of saints.

4. The desire for attaining Shanti is natural in human beings.

In the Upanishads the formula for the attainment of Shanti is expounded by the seers and saints of these ancient works. Similar views have been expressed by the saints of all times, including such saints as Guru Nanak Sahab and Kabir Sahab who expounded their views in the Punjabi and Hindi languages respectively. Such expressions are for the inspiration and edification of all people.

However, the Upanishads uniquely and fully describe the means for attaining Shanti and describe the means for attaining the Highest Wisdom. That is why the Upanishads are considered the foundation of Sant Mat. Further, a comprehensive exposition of the Divine Word-Sound is given in the Upanishads which leads to the Highest Wisdom. The Upanishads explain the yogic techniques and systematic views of transcending thought and attaining the Absolute through the use of sound (Yoga of Surat-shabda). Sant Mat follows the yogic path as prescribed in the Upanishads and specifically employs Surat-shabda-Yoga in its practices. The result of such practice is the attainment of the Highest Goal, the knowledge of the Supreme.

This is not to undermine the teachings of other saints, but rather to say that in the Upanishads are found the basis of the teachings of these saints. Often the teachings of various saints would, on the surface, seem contradictory to each other or even contradictory to the principles of the Upanishads. In fact, there is an unbreakable unity in the spiritual views of all saints. In different times and in different places saints appear, and their followers name their tradition in respect to the particular saint. The appearance of differences can be attributed to time, place and language, giving varied labels to views which are in reality the same. Likewise, due to excessively zealous followers these seeming differences are often accentuated. When all sectarianism and the forms of the particular time or place of the writings of a saint are removed, the basic principles of Sant Mat are in unity. The Ultimate, Unbounded, Infinite state (as described in section 11) is the unique possession of a saint. Further, the means to attain this state (as described in section 59 and 61) are found in the writings of the saints. Even though there are differences in the name and form of the Deity of worship, the underlying unity of the Unbounded dissolves these seeming differences (according to the idea expounded in section 86).

Surat-Shabda-Yoga as a means to attain the Unbounded state is an integral and indispensable aspect of the Sant Mat tradition. Any tradition devoid of this essential aspect is not true Sant Mat. Various saints describe the Yoga of Surat -Shabda, and from these descriptions we become aware of the significance of Surat-Shabda-Yoga. The following are some words of the great saints, concerning the importance of Surat-Shabda-Yoga:

Guru Nanak Sahab states:

"The invisible and supra-sensory name of God (Divine Word-Sound) is extremely sweet and lovely."

Tuls Das states:

"I offer homage to the Divine Name of the Universal Being, Ram, which is the cause of the sun, the moon and the fire. That Divine Universal Name is the form of the creator, maintainer and destroyer."

............One will not succeed in Yoga if purity of character is disregarded. Lying, stealing, smoking, taking of drugs (including alcohol), violence, and adultery are all obstructions to the successful practice meet the Supreme Sovereign).

53. Listening to and study of the discourses on this sacred knowledge is an important step in the Sant Mat tradition. Listening to satsanga (spiritual discourses) is prescribed as an essential activity.

54. The personal and private instruction in the art of this spiritual practice should be received from a Sadguru (an accomplished spiritual master). Once the technique has been learned, one should practice it regularly and daily according to the instructions given by the master.

70. Through constant practice of the Meditation of Sound, the practitioner also experiences the Divine Light. Just as upon attending a concert, one cannot help but notice the beautiful setting, of Upper Nature, the plurality of sounds ceases to exist, and only then can the Essential Divine sound be experienced. Other sounds of the various Realms are not experienced at this level of the State of Oneness because diversity does not exist in the state of Oneness.

75. The State beyond Sound is acknowledged in the writings of saints as the goal of their teachings. In addition, their writings accept repetition of a Divine name, concentration on a form of the Divine, fixing the mind on a point and concentrating on the inner sounds of the different spheres as a means to reach the Soundless State. These four techniques are therefore essential in Sant Mat.

76. Without achieving perfection in the Yoga of Sound, the realization of the Supreme Sovereign God or the Knowledge of the Self cannot be achieved.

77. Without resolute devotion to the guru (a spiritual master), even by means of the Yoga of Sound, the realization of the Supreme Sovereign God is not possible. Without the help of the master, it is not possible to attain the full devotion for the Divine and the highest good.

82. The recognition of a true spiritual master is the most difficult of tasks. However, the one who has purity of character (rectitude), who practices diligently the Yoga of Sound, and who can explain clearly Sant Mat (the path of saints) can be accepted and trusted and given devotion as a spiritual master. A person without rectitude or purity of character, regardless of the other qualities just mentioned, should not be regarded as a true master.

If one has accepted a spiritual teacher and later finds him or her lacking in rectitude, that teacher should be abandoned. In spite of the teacher�s exquisite knowledge, association with that teacher is not desirable if he or she is lacking in moral character. As the aspirant is particularly affected by the teacher's moral character, it is imperative to avoid teachers without moral virtues. Purity of character is the essential quality of a teacher and if purity is lacking that teacher is no better than an animal. A teacher lacking purity of character or other essential virtues is a false spiritual teacher. The fruits of accepting a true master are immense. Unfortunately, true teachers are few and difficult to find. A spiritual master who is wise, pure and a practitioner of the Yoga of Divine Sound gradually imparts his or her virtues to the student. The good will of the spiritual teacher cannot but help affecting the aspirant in a positive manner because one is affected by the power of a higher vibration. Section 77 describes the qualities of the teacher and how the aspirant benefits from his or her relationship with the teacher.

The master who practices the Yoga of Sound but is negligent in his moral character and in his spiritual knowledge is harmful to the seeker of spiritual knowledge. If one has accepted such a master, disregarding the importance of rectitude and knowledge, the aspirant would be deprived of the benefits of the association with a true preceptor, mentioned in the previous paragraph. In addition, in following an immoral teacher the aspirant would have the difficult task of not going astray, much less advancing on the spiritual path. However, without the aid of a true teacher this spiritual task can be undertaken by a few steadfast learned disciples. For most it is almost impossible to undertake this task. of gaining grace as described in the writings of the saints.

83. The aspiration to serve with love and behave humbly before the teacher arises naturally in the hearts of students. Therefore, devotion to the spiritual teacher is also natural. To say anything against devotion to the teacher is pointless. And also, the wise will not give devotion to an unworthy teacher and will influence other aspirants to do the same.

84. The four essential elements an aspirant of the spiritual path needs are the following: one, association of saints and hearing of things spiritual; two, moral rectitude; three, dedication to the teacher; and four practice of meditation. These essentials have previously been discussed; association is referenced in section 53; moral rectitude is addressed in section 60; meditation is referenced in sections 54 through 59. In Sant Mat an intense eagerness to acquire these essentials must be present. However, devotion to the teacher is paramount to the other three essentials and is the key to achieving the other three.

85. The desire of an individual to be free from sufferings and to attain the happiness of absolute peace is naturally present in the hearts of all. The purpose of Sant Mat is to provide a system which fulfills the desires of attaining absolute peace.

87. The practice of Nadanusandhana (the Yoga of Sound) is not mere child's play. Its full practice cannot be exercised by one who lacks Yama and Niyama (virtues and moral rectitude). See the following section 88 for more detail on Yama and Niyama.

There are sounds due to gross vibrations in the material body. To meditate on these gross sounds and believe it to be as the full practice of the Yoga of Sound shows a lack of knowledge of Yoga. According to the literature of the Sants (Saints), Yama and Niyama are essential for mastery in the practice of the Nadanusandhana (Yoga of Sound [Nada-nu-sandhana, the spiritual practice of inner Sound meditation, also called Surat Shabd Yoga]).

88. Yama consists of five disciplines: satya (truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacarya (continence), and aparigraha (control of greed or non-possessiveness).

Niyama also consists of five practices, which are the following: sauca (internal and external purity), santosha (contentment), tapas (penance), svadhyaya (study of spiritual matters) and lsvara pranidhana (meditation on God).

89. In following Yama and Niyama, one exercises aversion from the five sins, serves the spiritual master, attends satsang, and practices meditation as referred to in section 60.

90. A comfortable asana (a pose of sitting or posture) of keeping the head, neck and trunk straight and steady is a must for meditation. Without the ability to sit in such a steady posture for prolonged periods, meditation cannot be practiced.

91. Meditation should be practiced being alert, without being drowsy, shutting the eyes comfortably and without turning the eyeballs or pressing them in any way.

92. The practice of meditation should be an essential part of the practitioner's daily routine. The preferred time of meditation is Brahmamuhurta ([Hour of God: Brahma-mu-hurta, or Amrit Veela: Hour of Elixir]: very early in the morning: 3:00 A.M.). Likewise one should meditate at mid-morning and then again in the evening time. While falling asleep, one should also engage his mind in meditation. Further, it is good to practice Manas japa [Simran] or Manas dhyana [Dhyan] while working.

93. Before learning the Nadanusandhana (meditation on inner Sound) in practicing Manas japa (mantra repetition), Manas dhyana (focusing on the form of the master or deity) and Drshti Yoga ([inner Light meditation in the Third Eye Center or Eye-Focus] focusing on a Point that is practicing one-pointedness), one should meditate with eyes and mouth shut. Upon learning Nadanusandhana (Yoga of Sound [Inner Sound meditation]) from the Master, one should also close the ears.

94..........In the initial stages of dhyana (absolute concentration), pratyahara is practiced. [Note: Pratyahara means to bring back. Bringing back or refocusing one's attention during meditation, bringing the mind distracted by worldly thoughts back to the Focal Point during meditation.] Through the means of pratyahara, the mind is brought back repeatedly to the Focal Point. By this constant practice of pratyahara, one is eventually able to concentrate for a short period on the Focal Point. This state of concentration is called dharana (steadiness of concentration or absorption). When absorption is maintained for longer and longer periods of time, then it is dhyana (absolute concentration). Then in this state of dhyana, one is able to grasp the Streams of spiritual Sounds (described in section 60) and finally achieves samadhi (Unity [Union, Absorption, Oneness in deep meditation]). Drshti Yoga (seeing the inner Light---the Yoga of Vision) will greatly facilitate pratyahara and dharana......

............The saints and true teachers are known to be impartial; their blessings fall like the rain. However, the rain, while falling on all, tends to collect in deep pools just as the grace of the saints while showering on all flows rapidly and collects in the deep pools of the aspirants who are devoted. It is not surprising that the aspirants through their devotion draw the grace of the master towards them. Aspirants who give great attention to the ways of the teacher are worthy of the gift of knowledge. Obviously, not the careless one, but the one who honors the gift and cares for the receiving bowl receives the gift of the grace of the teacher. Making oneself worthy is the secret of devotion to the master, and will greatly facilitate meditation explained in detail in section 59.

105. The means to attain the direct knowledge of the Supreme Sovereign

God (Summary of the Philosophy of Liberation)

Before learning the technique to attain the direct knowledge of the Supreme Sovereign, intellectual understanding of the essential nature of the Supreme Sovereign God and one's own self is necessary. Through hearing and studying the discourses of spiritual teachers and contemplation, such knowledge can be acquired. Along with knowledge of the order of creation, the reason for not having the direct knowledge of both should be sought. Through intellectual understanding of the essential nature of the Supreme Sovereign, it is determined what needs to be attained. One should be able to discern whether it is the body which realizes the Supreme or the Self, Knower within the body.

Also, for this realization should the practices be of an external nature (outwardly devotional practices) or internal nature (Yoga of Vision and Yoga of Sound)? Having come to an understanding, these wanderings will be left behind. After gaining the intellectual knowledge of one�s Self, one will understand whether one is suited for attaining this Knowledge. Once, intellectual knowledge of the order of creation and the reasons for not having direct knowledge of God and one�s own Self are understood then the means will be brought to light. With this revelation one will be able to go be ultimately merging in Soundlessness or the Supreme Sovereign God. The internal practice of meditation ends here: the Supreme God is realized and the work is completed.

98. The practitioner should support himself in gainful employment, living on one�s own earnings. The aspirant is best content with a few things.

99. The aspirant should keep himself free of impulses such as lust, anger, greed, delusion, egotism, jealousy and fear. In his interest for spiritual progress, the practitioner should create pure mental habits: compassion, mercy, contentment, forgiveness and humbleness.

100. The following should be avoided because they cause unsteadiness of the mind: intake of intoxicants, including alcohol and various non-prescription drugs, and eating of meat and fish.

101. Through association of saints, the hearing of spiritual talks and study, wisdom can be acquired. Wisdom is essential in determining what is the right way to live your life. Without wisdom one can make poor decisions, which result in undesirable consequences.

...........In conclusion, as has been stated the microcosm and macrocosm are interconnected as they are completely permeated by the realms described above. Likewise, to go beyond all the realms is to go beyond all concealments. Further, in whatever realm the individual dwells, he dwells in that realm both in the microcosmic sense as well as the macrocosmic sense. In addition, if one ceases inhabiting one of the Realms, then he leaves behind both the microcosmic as well as the beyond the concealments of Causal Nature imposed on the creation and the Self and then will meet with the Supreme and experience direct knowledge of the Supreme Sovereign God.

(Philosophy of Liberation, By Maharishi Mehi)

The soul (Surat), seeking to glimpse the Absolute,

concentrates through its gaze at the tenth door,

Watching the luminous point, the pole star, the Moon and the Sun,

Surat hears many sweet sounds of the five

spheres;

Mehi says, this is the quintessence of Santmat;

And he has only repeated the words of the saints,

He has understood and tested them fully,

They are so very true and are of great benefit to all.

-- Maharishi Mehi

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#614

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sat Sep 3, 2011 11:32 pm
Subject: Love Your Practice -- Close Your Eyes And See

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Love Your Practice -- Close Your Eyes And See -- Light and Sound on the Path

"Sant Mat" means: "The Way of the Saints" or "Path of the Masters". The term "Sant Mat" was coined by Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, during the 19th Century, but the Sant tradition, with its many guru-lineages or branches, is a spiritual movement that dates back many centuries to ancient India. Sant Tulsi Sahib was of the opinion that the Sant movement goes back to the time of Krishna thousands of years ago, that Krishna knew of Sants during his day, the age of the Bhagavad Gita.

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Now Available On-Demand: The September Sant Mat Satsang PODcast via Blog Talk Radio: Program Theme: Spircon Revisited: On the historic Murar Declaration: Mutual affection and brotherly relations among the different branches of Sant Mat and Radhasoami. Human Unity begins at home. Program Length: 15 Minutes -- Click To Listen:�http://bit.ly/pQSoNd

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"Well I think the Good Book is missing some pages." -- Tori Amos

See the Article, Lost Books of the Bible, on Other Mystical Scriptures of the West (Gnostic Gospels, Dead Sea Scrolls):

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"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don�t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child � our own two eyes. All is a miracle." (Thich Nhat Hanh)

Brain Cell, and, The Universe:�Macrocosm Inside the Microcosm -- As Above, So Below.�One is only micrometers wide. The other is billions of light years across. One shows neurons in a mouse brain. The other is a simulated image of the universe. Together they suggest the surprisingly similar patterns found in vastly different phenomena. This is a much larger image and the written information is easier to read:�http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/pc/brain-universe.html

"If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is -- infinite." (William Blake)

"The word 'Consciousness' means conscious and aware. As per the Hindi dictionary, four different meanings of the word 'Consciousness' are: intelligence, tendency of the mind, awareness, and memory. It is clear that the word 'conscious' is used to denote intelligence, tendency related to knowledge, tendency related to memory, and awareness. Consciousness is that element in human beings which differentiates them from other inanimate objects. Consciousness basically refers to that power which helps one in understanding and evaluating one's surroundings and environment. By the terms 'Spiritual Consciousness' is meant the relationship between individual Spirit and God. The human body is endowed with the divine spark in the form of spirit. The aim of human life is to recognize that divine element present within and reach the heavenly abode." (Abstract of a Paper by Prem Kali Sharma, Professor Emeritus, Del, Agra, International Seminar on Religion of Saints -- Spircon 2010)

Within this body

shines the entire Universe,

so the saints say.

-- Param Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras

Rumi: "All is known in the sacredness of silence."

"Whatever little is possible, do meditation everyday. But never ever give up or discontinue meditation. You will definitely meet with success." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

"The practitioners of Sant Mat should perform meditation daily with yearning, zeal and regularity." (Huzur Maharaj)

"Those who enshrine the Beloved in their hearts have both worlds at their command. Lovers remain completely intoxicated in the ecstasy of their love for the Beloved. They offer their souls to the Beloved while still living, and thus immortalize themselves in this life and in the hereafter." (Hazrat Sultan Bahu, Sufi Master)

Make Friends with the Sound (Surat Shabd Meditation): "O surat [soul], the darling of Sant Satguru! Turn around and prick up your ears to the resounding reverberations of the Unstruck Melody. Your stay in this phenomenal world is short-lived (literally four days [the four stages of life, namely, Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and finally Sanyasa]); why do you take on such a heavy load (of karmas, bhramas, attachments, greed, lust, anger, ego, hostilities, enmities, hated, revengefulness, jealousy and envy). The guru is repeatedly crying and calling you to come on and make friends with the Sound. (Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry)

It is the Primeval Sound which carries one to this Abode,

And it is the Satguru who makes it known.

Our path is through subtle regions,

There the inner sight illumines our way.

He, who carries on the practice of the true Sound,

Beholds the Truth from the beginning to the end

within his body.

By realizing the true Sound with rapt attention,

He attains the status of a pure swan.

Such a devotee reaches the Immortal Abode,

And there he sees mysterious and wondrous sights.

-- Sant Dariya Sahib

The Role of the Master/Sant Satguru In Traditional Sant Mat

"Hope is a lie

and desire a mere dream --

yet both are construed

as actual reality.

But when my guru

gave me his holy wisdom,

I awoke from my dream

and my heart yielded."

(Sant Namdev)

"The Satguru-given Gnosis [direct experience] is lit up in the heart, with whose Light is dispelled the darkness of spiritual ignorance." (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, English and Punjabi Translation, Manmohan Singh, Volume 3)

"The personal and private instruction in the art of this spiritual practice should be received from an accomplished spiritual master. Once the technique has been learned, one should practice it regularly and daily according to the instructions given by the master." (Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy of Liberation)

"By the Guru's instruction the mind of the disciple is rendered immaculate and she keeps God clasped to her heart. She keeps God enshrined in her mind, arranges her affairs, and by the Master's instruction knows her Lord."

"By the Master's instruction the name of God is contemplated. By the guru's grace, soul and body are saturated with the Lord and the Lord's name seems sweet to the mortal. The Lord's name seems sweet to them. He liberates all their families. With their mouths they utter the Lord's name. Their comings and goings cease. They obtain bliss, and their attention remains absorbed the Home of Celestial Music." (Adi Granth)

Remember Simran. "Keep on doing your work. Keep on reciting God's name, and you will live pleasantly in the world." (Guru Kabir)

"The technique of love is truly the root of spirituality. Follow this technique as imparted by the Master. When with his grace the inner lamp is lighted, the true Naam [inner Light & Sound], the support of all, comes to sight." (Sant Dariya Sahib of Bihar)

"One may make any amount of endeavors to withdraw one's Surat [attention] and mind and to open the Third Eye, but all will be in vain without the manifestation of the Current of Grace within." (Maharaj Saheb/Brahma Shankar Misra)

Without love there can be no devotion and wisdom.

With love arisen, they can be experienced

with the Guru's grace.

With intensification of love, one comes in contact

with the True Sound,

And like a lotus in water, abides in its peace and bliss.

-- Sant Dariya Sahib of Bihar

Reverse thy gait from the court of this�

world and attain thy True Home.�

The drop will merge in the Ocean, and thou�

thyself will know the wonder.�

The lost treasure will be found and thy true�

Self will be revealed.�

He who has solved this riddle, O Tulsi,�

is indeed a true Saint.�

-- Param Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras

Seeing, Hearing, Exploring the Light and Sound Within You

In the beginning was the Tao.

All things issue from it;

all things return to it.

There was something formless and perfect

before the universe was born.

It is serene. Empty.

Solitary. Unchanging.

Infinite. Eternally present.

It is the mother of the universe.

For lack of a better name,

I call it the Tao.

It flows through all things,

inside and outside, and returns

to the origin of all things.

(Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu, Stephen Mitchell)

"When God came to have the playful mood ('mauj') to make this creation, a vibration was produced in the beginning along with its companion Sound. This sound itself was termed 'Adi Naam' ('adi' means the original, the first or the primeval, and 'nada' means Name, Word or Sound). This Word is present in each and every, even the minutest particle of the creation. That is why, it is also called the 'sarvavyapini dhvani' ('sarvavyapini' implies all pervading and 'dhvani' means Sound). This very Sound has been variously referred to by rishis (sages) as Om, Sfota, Udgeeth, etc... Subsequently, Sants called it Ram Naam (name of God), sat-naam or satya-naam (True Name), sar-shabda (Quintessential Sound or Word), sat-shabda (True Word) as well. This sound is perceived by the spiritual seeker in inner meditation to attain to the Supreme Sovereign God." (Swami Achyutanand Baba)

"It is essential to practice bindu dhyan, drishti-yoga or the Yoga of Inner Light before doing nada dhyan (Meditation on Inner Sound), because with continued practice of drishti yoga (Yoga of Inner Light) the ability to do nada dhyan is easily gained. The mind gets completely controlled with nada dhyan. .... In Nadavindu Upanishad it has been said about the Nada Dhyan that, 'Sidelining all worries and all efforts... one should mainly focus on the exploration of nada. By doing thus the mind gets dissolved in the nada. The mind thus absorbed in the nada does not crave anymore for the sensory objects.'" -- Swami Achyutanand Baba, "Yoga of Inner Light and Sound":

http://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/Yoga_Of_Inner_Light_And_Sound_.pdf

What is the Audible Life Stream and Why is it Important? Video:�http://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=oj_cSvYfrJY

Inner Sound Meditation in Buddhism, Sant Mat and Sufism: This link is to download a Sant Mat Satsang PODcast. It lasts around 30 minutes. This program contains readings about inner Sound meditation, including from Buddhist, Sant Mat, and Sufi sources:�http://bit.ly/p2EORu

"The Yoga of Inner Sound or (Nada dhyan [Nada meaning sound while dhyan means meditation] is also called nadanusandhan [exploration {anusandhan} of the Sound {nada}), surat shabd yoga (Yoga or Union of the Soul [surat] with the Sound [shabd]), or shabd dhyan (Meditation on Sound). 'Nada' or 'shabd', meaning sound or word, has great attractive power." (Swami Achyutanand Baba)

"The Sound heard internally is a current which has originally emanated from the Supreme Being and is the means not only of concentrating the will but also of raising the spirit to the Source from which it emanates." (Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Prakash)

"My Master has taught me a lesson:

it repeats itself -- without my repeating it.

When I plug my ears with my fingers,

without hearing, I hear its melodies."

--Hazrat Sultan Bahu

"One Sound that is heard leads to another Sound, which, in turn, becomes yet another Sound. Thus, getting hold of several Sounds, one after the other, one finally gets hold of the most captivating Quintessential Primordial Sound.... And, as even this Unstruck Melody is transcended, the Highest State, the Nameless or the Soundless State (Pure or True State of God) is attained." (Maharshi Mehi)

The soul in Sunn will hear resounding peals of Sound,

She will uncover and know the essence of Shabd.

They alone, O Tulsi, will know that Perfect State,

Who have seen and experienced it themselves.�

-- Param Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras

"What Sants have said about Sant Mat is what they saw with their own eyes. They have sung of it in the form of couplets and hymns.....Sants have spoken of the secrets of Shabd and the path on which Surat has to proceed......" ("Param Sant Tulsi Sahib", S.D. Maheshwari, Agra)

My eyes got fixed at the central Point�

between the two eyebrows [third eye center],

They do not glance sideways,�

and are fixed at the Point in front;

The Light of God appears within,�

and darkness of the night vanishes,

The Sun, with its extraordinary rays,�

ascends with so many sparkles,

Consciousness finally gets immersed�

in the Quintessential Sound,

Baba Devi Sahib tells Mehi to remain�

absorbed day and night�

in such applications.�

(Padavali of Maharshi Mehi)

"The waves or vibrations of Sound permeate the whole of the body...... It exists in the body in the form of vitality or Life-Current. It exists in the mental sky in the form of Light, while it exists as Sound in the void.... It is the highest duty of every individual to acquire experiential knowledge of this Sound and to investigate or explore the Origin or Source from where this Sound flows out." (Baba Devi Sahab)

Entering the cave of the inner sky,

See the manifestation of the boundless Sound.

By dwelling upon the Unstruck Divine Music,

the inner experience opens up.

And with the realization of the Truth,

one reaches the other shore.

This realization is beyond the experience

of the three worlds.

It is the realization of the Primeval Lord,

the very goal of our love.

-- Sant Dariya Sahib of Bihar

Online Book About the Classic Sants and Sufis of the East: "Sants, Sadhs, Mahatmas and Devotees of the Past":�http://bit.ly/ruZrt1

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#615

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sat Sep 10, 2011 1:53 am
Subject: Essential Teachings of Baba Devi Sahab of Moradabad

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Essential Teachings of Baba Devi Sahab of Moradabad

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Some Rare Passages That Have, For the First Time, Appeared in English

Background/Introduction

Baba Sevi Sahab (1843 - 1919)

According to Veena Howard, Baba Devi Sahab's parents were followers of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, India. As an infant he was blessed by Tulsi Sahib (indeed, even before birth according to the account from the SadGuruMehi website below), and grew up being part of the Hathras Sangat.�

Baba Devi Sahab eventually spent some time in nearby Agra and was friends with Huzur Maharaj (Rai Saligram) of the Agra Radhasoami Satsang. He regarded both Soami Ji and Saligram as true Sants. He eventually settled in Moradabad, where he established an ashram and spiritual mission.

"Baba Devi Sahab became a great Sant after Sant Tulsi Sahab. Sant Tulsi Sahab had predicted the incarnation of Baba Devi Sahab as a born yogi. Munshi Maheshwari Lal had utmost devotion for Sant Tulsi Sahab. So, due to that love Tulsi Sahab used to visit his home. Maheshwari Lal had no son and so he used to remain sad. Being pleased by his selfless service and love, Sant Tulsi Sahab once blessed Munshi Maheshwari Lal, saying that soon he would have a great sant-soul as his son who would change millions of lives by his spiritual power. Sants' sayings never become false. Thus Munshi Maheshwari became father of a boy that very year, March 1841.....Baba Devi Sahab started the propagation of Sant Mat widely from the year of 1887, visited many places in India and neighboring countries and spread the knowledge of Sant Mat. He delivered many discourses on different subjects such as Salvation, Devotion, the Universe, God, and Meditation." (SadGuruMehi.com)

Baba Devi Sahab used to travel widely to awaken the masses by propagating the precepts of Sant Mat. In this process, he had also traveled and delivered his discourses in a number of cities located in what is now Pakistan, such as Multan, Quetta, Karachi, etc.�

Baba Devi Sahab was in possession of a hand-written manuscript of Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras printed at Hathras itself in the year of 1896, and had it published, sharing the teachings of the great Saint of Hathras with spiritual seekers everywhere: "The book Ghat Ramayan is said to be the work of Tulsi Saheb of Hathras. The first edition of this book was published by one Munshi Devi Prasad Saheb alias Devi Sahib. Subsequently, an edition was brought out in the year 1911 from Belvedere Press....." ("The Esoteric Meaning of the Ramayan", by S.D. Maheshwari, Agra)

Baba Devi Sahab was the Guru of Maharshi Mehi Paramhans ji Maharaj (see the book, "Philosophy of Liberation").�

Note: All translations below are by Pravesh K. Singh, except for the discourse titled, "God is the Creator of Yoga", rendered in English by Amit Jyoti.

Spiritual Teachings of Baba Devi Sahab

"Those persons who live and practice in accordance with this tradition and principle are called sadhus (sages), and those who have reached or raised themselves into that Realm, where the Truth alone exists, are called Sants [the English word 'Saint', though close and the nearest match, is not an exact translation of the Hindi or Sanskrit word 'Sant']."

"The pathway to the liberation of the 'jiva' (individual soul) already exists within each one of us. Unless one treads onto this Path himself/herself, it is not possible for him/her either to attain freedom (from the cycles of existence) which is the real fruit of any religion, or to know the true wisdom inherent in other religions, or to understand the right meaning of the scriptures belonging to his/her own religion or sect, regardless of however great a 'pundit', 'maulavi', or priest he/she might be."

"The common message that all the Sants have to give is that whatever � inside or outside -- can be seen (comes into sight -- gross or subtle), and as far as there is "roop" (form or shape), all is illusory and impermanent; beyond this (roop) is a Realm which has never been born and will never die or be destroyed. That alone is Truth. It is indestructible. It has no color, no shape or form, and no particular name [is Nameless, Soundless, Formless]; but it is something which can be perceived or understood and, therefore, is entitled to be described or explained with the help of a (symbolic) name. Jiva [the soul] is a part (inseparable part) of it, because jiva, too, is indestructible. Merging this (jiva) into God is known as internal Satsang and where (in the outside world) spiritual people gather together to discuss (these principles) is called external Satsang."�

"We should go to that place where the way to remove these veils is taught. In the terminology of Sants and noble people, such a place is called 'Satsang' (association of devotees to discuss God, meditation and the teachings of the Sants) where methods are taught to inculcate bhakti [love and devotion] and remove the veils that keep it under-cover."

"Only seeing great souls does not bring well-being to anyone. What's needed is to listen to their words, contemplate their teachings, and put them into practice. This means to listen to the words of great souls with veneration, ponder their meaning, and live accordingly. This is what works."

Guru is Indispensable for Self-Realization

Very little of what Baba Devi Sahab said is available in written form and the poems composed by him are still rarer to find. Given below is English translation of one such poem taken from the book, "Satsang Bhajanaavali," compiled and edited by Swami Achyutanand ji. Swami Achyutanand ji is a direct disciple of Maharshi Mehi, still very actively involved in propagation of Sant Mat even at his ripe age of about 80 years. He was the founder editor of the spiritual monthly, "Shanti Sandesh", founded by Maharshi Mehi.�

"Our Lord resides in all of us.�

He is so wonderful that though He pervades�

everything, (yet) He is separate from�

and transcends everything.�

It is not possible to see Him (in His true form)�

without meeting, and learning the secrets from�

an accomplished Guru.�

He is blessed and adorable within whose body�

He reveals Himself (i.e. who can see His true form�

within himself).�

He is without form, color and shape, (so that)�

the Vedas sing 'neti neti' (meaning, 'nothing in this�

creation is like, or resembles Him') in His praise.�

Baba Devi Sahab wonders as to how and in�

how many ways he should describe Him, as He�

(God) is indescribable, beyond the faculties of�

speaking and hearing."

Sayings of Baba Devi Sahib on Love (Bhakti)

"God and bhakti are otherwise one and the same thing".

"In short, bhakti is such a thing without which no worldly or heavenly acts can be accomplished. He alone is a human being (in the true sense) who knows the key to or secret of bhakti. He whose heart is devoid of the spirit of love is not even as good as an animal; he is rather much more inferior to that".

"Bhakti is that essential substance without which any work, either of this world or of the other world, can not be fulfilled; for all such tasks which a man performs with genuine zeal get accomplished well, and all other works in which we do not feel sincerely involved remain incomplete or are only half done."

"Bhakti makes a person immensely wise and of pure intellect. Virtues such as of honesty and truthfulness stand with folded hands in attendance of a devout being. Bhakti is the religion/duty of the whole world; no creed, faith or sect can remain steady and stable in absence of it".

"What is most significant about bhakti is that is opens up inside man the easy pathway to God, treading on which man reaches his centre or destination from where he never (needs to) return".

Sayings of Baba Devi Sahab On Meditation Practice

When Sadguru Baba Devi Sahib was nearing the time of his departure from this ephemeral world for his true destination, satsangis humbly requested him to bless with his parting words. To their request, Baba Devi Sahab had obliged by saying, "Duniyaa waham hai, abhyaas karo", meaning, "This world is an illusion -- practice meditation."

"Do not live even a single day without inner meditation."

"Such persons who are all the time busy in mundane worldly affairs and are not able to spare even one or two hours a day (for meditation), are not fit to be initiated into inner meditation, for even if these persons get to know about the way to the inner secrets, of what use it would be to them!"

"The loftiest or the highest outcome of adopting and following the ways of these (Sants) is that it takes one beyond 'aawaagaman' (the repetitive cycles of birth and death)."

From the Preface to, "Baal Kaa Aadi Aur Uttar Kaa Ant", of Sant Tulsi Sahib:

"Sages and Sants adopt the straight and simple way of living and teach us to meditate with surat (concentrated or focused, alert attention); this meditation can be practiced in any posture -- sitting or reclining, and by anyone whether a follower of Vedic Religion, Islam or Christianity whatever. What is important is not to live a single day in life without practicing meditation, all the experiences of pains and pleasures of the world, one has to go through, notwithstanding."

God is the Creator of Yoga, By Param Sant Baba Devi Sahib (Translated by Amit Jyoti)

"There are two types of dharma in the world. They are first, "udhaar", and second, "nakad". Udhaar dharma is that in which it is said, one attains salvation after death, and nakad dharma is that in which the state of salvation is believed to be experienced/attained during this lifetime. People keep thinking and living on-borrowed-dharma. Some are involved in rituals and outward devotions, while others are pretending to have become divine themselves. They are unaware of the natural screens or veils of Darkness, Lights and Sounds between jiva-souls and God. (God is veiled by five different bodies and subtle bodies, each one inside the other [physical, astral, causal, mental, and etheric]). These are veils which can't be transcended by merely reading some mantras or performing yagna or outward devotions/rituals. For them to be shed, you will surely have to be oriented towards going within, perform Dristi-sadhana [Yoga of Inner Light], and Shabd-sadhana

�[Yoga of Inner Sound], which will make it possible for your consciousness to travel along the solitary Inward Path, crossing the natural and supra-natural realms to reach to such an auspicious place from where your soul would never become detached again to return back in the outer world. But no one can really know of, and practice, these processes by simply reading authentic scriptures.

"First of all, the screen of Darkness can be accessed by closing your eyes. Secondly, the screen or veil of Light can be experienced by crossing the Darkness. Thirdly, the veil of Sounds can be known by listening to them. Fourthly, not so much a screen or veil, but there is a Mystery which can not be understood like the first, second and third. It can only be experienced by perfect practice.�

"According to Sant Mat, having crossed these realms or levels, we achieve the final goal called Mukti (i.e. salvation). To attain liberation/salvation, Sant Mat does not follow numerous complicated practices, but two essential methods:�

1) Drishti Marg (i.e. the Path of inner Light/Vision) and,

2) Shabd Marg (i.e. the Way of inner Sound/Transcendental Hearing).�

"Unlike other worship methods popular in religions and sects with different names, these two methods are not man-made. God himself is the founder and operator of these methods. Since the beginning God has kept these two methods inside human beings with full qualifications. The way of redemption of jivas (i.e. bounded souls) is available within all human beings. Unless the jiva walks along this way, it can't achieve salvation; the real and ultimate goal of religion."

Discourse on Bhakti By Baba Devi Sahab

Baba Devi Sahab departed from Multan and reached Karachi (now in Pakistan) through Queta and many intermediate places. In Karachi, He delivered a marvellous speech on Bhakti i.e. devotion.

Sayings of Baba Devi Sahib on Love (Bhakti) Excerpted From "Baba Devi Sahab: Jeewan Aur Updesh" (Baba Devi Sahab: Life and Teachings), authored by Baba Nandan, a main attendant and great disciple of Baba Devi Sahab:

"Friends! At this time I want to say something to you on a topic which is often talked about, which is often at the tongue of all the people of the earth, but alas! They pay no attention at all to it and regard it as a petty thing. In my view this is an extremely valuable thing that has been considered by the sages of all faiths and creeds to be absolutely essential for accomplishment of their goals. They treat this as the quintessential principle and reckon all other principles as secondary and subservient to this. Also, they believe that without its help, no (other) principle can be effective, nor can success be achieved in any activity - this worldly or the other-worldly. If we choose to call it a 'mystery', it undoubtedly deserves being called so, because that Supreme Soul (God) is the biggest of all mysteries; but, in fact, its rank is no lesser than His. There is a relationship of equality between it and God, and even between the two, it holds the

�higher rank God coming second after it. If God is considered as a lock, it is the key (to open that lock); because without its help neither has the secret of God, nor the secret of creation been revealed to anybody. Whoever comes to possess even a precious little of this wealth also comes to know of both the above secrets, or else there are millions of people who part this world without having realized the secrets of God and (His) creation.

�

"Now the question is: what is this entity called and where is it to be found? Well! Its name is 'Bhakti', 'Ishq', devotion and love. Seen superficially, these three words might appear to be different but in essence these are one and the same. Call it 'bhakti' (devotion), call it 'Ishq' (Urdu equivalent of intense love) or call it love. This (bhakti) has the quintessential and innate character to unite two things together and give birth to a new shape or form. These shapes may be of different kinds, small or large. Some of these shapes at this time are so large that we come to recognize that this is this. And, some shapes are so small that it is not possible to know them even with the help of a microscope. In such a situation how can such an intricate subject be easy of comprehension to common people!

�

"Thus it is evident that these extremely tiny entities or atoms are definitely acted upon by some such thing which has a natural propensity of uniting. Had there been no such thing in action, all these bodies and things would not have come into existence; such a vast world would not have been there for us to see. Beginning from the atom to the whole world, there is a common thread running through all of these so that they can not budge from their position in any way, and that (thread) is bhakti. If that part of indwelling bhakti leaves these the whole of world and its atoms would be disassembled and broken into pieces.�

�

"Therefore, we should understand that bhakti is the life or soul of the entire world; it is responsible for the existence of everything from the tiny atom to all the bodies and masses....."�

�

For the Rest of the Discourse on Bhakti, go to:

http://www.sadgurumehi.com/satsangSudha/babaDevi/devotion.html#

For Other Discourses of Baba Devi Sahab, See:

Sayings of Baba Devi Sahab � Part 1:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati/message/63

Sayings of Baba Devi Sahab � Part 2:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati/message/68

Sayings of Baba Devi Sahab � Part 3:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati/message/75

Sayings of Baba Devi Sahab � Part 4:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati/message/76

Sayings of Baba Devi Sahab � Part 5:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati/message/77

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#616

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Thu Sep 22, 2011 4:05 am
Subject: Light and Sound on the Path: A Digest of Newly Posted Spiritual Quotes and Announcements

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Light and Sound on the Path:

A Digest of Newly Posted Spiritual Quotes and Announcements

At Youtube: An excellent newly recorded introduction to the Journey Within according to Sant Mat, Part 1:�http://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=Kcep2WC8N7Q

New E-Book and Audio Book Online: Yoga of Inner Light and Sound -- Several E Book Formats To Choose From! Click the Speaker Icon in the Upper Right Corner For the Audio/Talking Book Option and Enjoy!�http://bit.ly/o4zQHa

Sant Mat Radio Podcast: The Opposite of "Not One Of Us" is "We Are All One". Co-Exist! Welcome to our classroom without walls via the radio airwaves and worldwide web: The Nirguna Bhakti Sant Poet-Mystics of India: When has there ever been "only one" Sant Mat guru or true "Gurumukh successor of the time" in Sant Mat history? The answer is: never has there been only one Satguru at a time. There have been multiple genuine guru-lineages contemporary with one another since the time of Guru Kabir (and his successors) and Guru Nanak (and the Sikh Gurus). Program Length: 60 Minutes. Click to Download MP3 and Hear This Edition of Spiritual Awakening Radio [via HealthyLife.Net -- The Positive Talk Radio Network]:

http://bit.ly/ptLsUf

Sant Mat Radio Podcast: Charts of the Heavens -- Maps of Inner Space: Quite amazing actually that there is a general consensus about the different planes on the part of those who practice advanced meditation today, and during previous generations. And not only in Sant Mat. The other day I was reading a Sufi book which presented the same basic understanding of the inner regions, suggesting that some Sufi mystics have experienced the same inner regions also. There is a consensus universally in Sant Mat about the Light, the Sound practice, and the Inner Regions -- what experiences will be encountered along the way in meditation: stars, moons, suns, dark voids, tunnels/the whirlpool cave, bright light, etc.... References to the Inner Regions turn up everywhere, even in the teachings of Saints who lived several centuries ago in different parts of India. There are references to Trikuti, Maha Sun, Bhanwar Gufa, etc.....in the bhajans of Mirabai, Dariya Sahib�of Bihar, Tulsi Das, Ravidas, Tukarama, and countless others. "All mystics speak the same language for they come from the same country." (Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin) Program Length: 60 Minutes. Click to Download MP3 and Hear This Edition of Spiritual Awakening Radio:

http://bit.ly/p8mUfp

The iconic spiritual classic, "Path of the Masters", by Julian P. Johnson, is an online book, uploaded by various people at several sites on the web. On this page there is a speaker icon in the upper right corner. By clicking it, you can hear the book being read aloud -- the "Read This Book Aloud" option. You can change the page being displayed, and click the speaker icon again to hear any part of the book being read!

http://bit.ly/pht9qn

"There is only one time when it is essential to awaken.

That time is now." (Buddha)

"What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind.

"If one speaks or acts with an impure mind, suffering follows them as the wheel of the cart follows the beast that draws the cart.

"What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind.

"If a man speaks or acts with a pure mind, joy follows him as his own shadow.

"'He insulted me, he hurt me, he defeated me, he robbed me.' Those who think such thoughts will not be free from hate.�

"'He insulted me, he hurt me, he defeated me, he robbed me.' Those who think not such thoughts will be free from hate.

"For hate is not conquered by hate: hate is conquered by love. This is a law eternal.

"Many do not know that we are here in this world to live in harmony. Those who know this do not fight against each other.

"He who lives only for pleasures, and whose soul is not in harmony, who considers not the food he eats, is idle and has not the power of virtue - such a man is moved by MARA, is moved by selfish temptations, even as a weak tree is shaken by the wind.......

"Those who think the unreal is, and think the Real is not, they shall never reach the Truth, lost in the path of wrong thought.

"But those who know the Real is, and know the unreal is not, they shall indeed reach the Truth, safe on the path of right thought."

-- Buddha, Dhammapada, from Chapter One, Translation by Juan Mascaro:

http://www.lipscher.com/seth/dhamma1.htm

http://www.deeshan.com/dhammapada.htm

"If thine eye be Single, thy whole body shall be full of Light". (Yeshua, New Testament)

"He who remembers the Poet, the Creator, who rules all things from all time, smaller than the smallest atom, but upholding this vast universe, who shines like the sun beyond darkness, far far beyond human thought; and at the time of his departure is in union of love and the power of Yoga and, with a mind that wanders not, keeps the power of his life between his eye-brows, he goes to that Spirit Supreme, the Supreme Spirit of Light." (Krishna, Bhagavad Gita)

"Who am I; what is the reality of my existence; what is the Truth are some of the questions that agitate a spiritual seeker's mind. None of these questions can be answered fully, since these questions as well as their answers arise at the level of mind, whereas the truth thereof can only be realized, not by the mind but at a level beyond the mind, at the level of the Self. All the scriptures attempt to provide answers to these questions in their own way, but no explanation or description can be fully satisfactory, as the Truth cannot be comprehended completely in words....."

"To realize the Truth, one has to first realise the Self, because the essence of the Truth is the same as the essence of the Self....." (R.K.Gupta, The Science and Philosophy of Spirituality)

"The great philosopher Socrates was asked by Crito 'in what manner should he be buried?' It is said that Socrates had replied: 'In any manner you like, but first you must catch me, the real me. You can bury only my body and not the real me.' Being the irradiation of the all-shining luminous Sat Purush, the soul is also luminous." (R.K. Gupta, The Science and Philosophy of Spirituality)

"When the Lord wants one of his souls to come back Home, He makes that person feel lonely deep inside, like something is missing. This is the Great Lord's special way of reminding the soul that its Real Home is not in this world but back in the ocean of Light. God has placed an invisible secret door in every human being. God sends his own Great Power, Mercy and Love down into our world to find the marked soul drops and bring them back Home. This Great Power is called a True Living Master and lives inside a human body that looks like yours and mine. He makes a faithful promise to take the soul back Home. He shows that person how to close his eyes, sit very still and lovingly remember the Great Lord. His mind becomes so peaceful and quiet that he is able to hear the wondrous wave of Sound and seek the shining Light of the stream that flows all the way back to Ocean of the Lord."

-- The Journey of The Soul:

http://www.angelfire.com/un/loomba/soul.html

Kabir says, "When the drop loses itself in the ocean, then all the worries are finished." (Saying of Kabir quoted by Sant Dharamdas in the Anurag Sagar)

"In the inner realms of being, there is a shower of beautiful shimmering rays of Light, and also the rain of divine nectar of divine Sound. In these two forms is found the true divine elixir within. There has always been a talk of this nectar in the myths and legends, but no one has seen this nectar. What is this true elixir?

"Guru Nanak says:

'Those who follow the True Guide (Satguru) find the nectar in the form of Divine Sound.'

"Guru Nanak tells us that one must seek this inner Light, this inner Sound, and this nectar through the following technique:

'In each heart the Divine resides hidden; each heart is permeated with divine Light.

'By intense focus one is able to break the door open and reach the Realm of the Divine. By the grace of God the door shatters, and the mind becomes immersed in the sweet drizzle of divine Sound.

'By focusing on the divine Sound (Shabda) the consciousness goes beyond the realm of death and rebirth.'

"While journeying within, the seeker at first experiences the Anahat, the divine vibrating Sound, and then the Anahat Sound, the transcendental un-struck Sound which reverberates in the depth of the soul. This is also known as Omkar. Through Omkar the entire creation came into being.

"The tenth Guru, Gobind Singh sings the praise of the divine Sound:

'OM is the Sound of the beginning. Through this Sound the whole world, the earth and the sky. came into existence.'

"It is said in the Prana Sagali:

'The Sound is the essential essence of the world. This (Shabda) Sound reverberates in the heart of each person, proclaims Guru Nanak.'

"Those seekers who can experience this Sound find that it takes them to the Divine Realm. In this way of meeting God, the inner self finds true peace. Therefore, aspirants should meditate on the words of the guru and should abandon the ego -- this is the path to liberation."

-- Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, Harmony Of All Religions, from Chapter 6: Sikhism (Online in the Library Section of SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com)

"The current of Radhasoami Dayal's [the Lord of the Soul, Supreme Soul's] compassion is ever-flowing, but its effect will not be perceptible unless the current of the devotee's spirit and mind touches it or mingles with it. This will only be possible when the mind and the spirit get engaged in Abhyas [meditation practice, spiritual exercises] with Virah and Prem [love, and yearning to meet the Beloved]." (Huzur Maharaj)

"Begin meditation with internally chanting or repeating the Guru-mantra-incantation. And then try to visualize the radiant form or image of the Satguru in the still darkness of the inner sky (with eyes closed). Follow that with focusing your attention at the seat of the soul within, i.e. at the Third Eye or the Inner Eye, by making the two streams of consciousness in your two eyes converge in a Point.

"When the two currents of consciousness meet in a Point, Divine Light appears within. Then, practice Surat Shabd Yoga (Yoga of Divine Sound) i.e., try to shift your attention to listening to the Divine Sounds or myriads of melodies (Anahad Naad) ringing inside. Listening to the Divine Sound destroys all the perversions, agitations and fickleness of the mind.

"Ascending beyond or transcending myriads of sounds, try to identify and tune in to the Quintessential Unstruck Melody, called 'Saar Shabd' or 'Anaahat Naad' which alone is capable of taking you and merging you into oneness with the Supreme Lord; this is the ultimate deliverance, emancipation or liberation." (Couplets of Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj on Meditation Practice)

Sweet Melodies Which Attract the Soul, By Shri Shivbrat Lal

"The human body is a kin to a radio broadcasting station (transmitting point). It transmits into the ethers subtle and mental waves of what the mind thinks. Mental thought-forces and spiritual currents go out in the atmosphere according to the disposition of one's mental and spiritual make up. The human body system is also a radio receiver. A powerful broadcasting station is more effective. Likewise, the receiving set has to be tuned to listen to such broadcasts. The mind can be made receptive to the Guru's solace-giving thought and spiritual Currents. This can be achieved by the quality of attention. One's attention is the number one tool which can do and undo things. The magnetic force of the Guru's holy touch is the guiding principle. If the initiate fixes their attention properly, there is no question of failure in meditation.

"Various sorts of Sound Currents reverberate in the human system from which the initiate has to pick up the right one and listen to it, otherwise he will go astray and lose his equipoise. The practical Guru forewarns his disciple and directs which Sound to listen to and which one to discard. A variety of Sound Currents are of a lower order which have to be rejected. The experienced practitioner [of Surat Shabd Yoga] knows that some of these low order Sound Currents can become audible. Therefore the initiate his to be very careful and avoid then in entirety. If not, they are bound to create a sort of roadblock in the ascension process.

"As aspirant must first get the know-how, this is what initiation means and implies. It is fruitless to make an effort independently. It is bound to fail. Unless one gets the name and address of a person's house in a large city, he cannot find the residence he wants to go to. The same law operates in the pursuit of Satsang. The Guru there is the living divine guide in the person of a living Master. One needs help from such a living source to acquaint himself and then start practice. The discourses of the Master are very instructive. The very presence of the Guru is a suggestive and corrective phenomena. The atmosphere is serene, calm and peaceful. The spiritual Current of the Guru plays its own role. All this produces a sobering and purifying effect on the mind. The law of association with the Guru works wonders. So let him be the guiding light of life. In this way alone would the initiate cast away ignorance and dispel all obscurities and failings. The�devotee receives the required knowledge. Then he needs to commence his spiritual journey internally. No doubt the devotee gains knowledge, receives Naam Dan (initiation) and gets happily engaged in his practice.

"The devotee in his spiritual journey upwards hears sweet Melodies which attract him. The Melodies are a powerful magnetic force which draws the attention inwards and makes it fully attuned to proceed up and up. We hear external instrumental music like the sitar, sarangi, violin, harmonium, fiddle, flute and veena. We become attracted by them and almost acquire a semi-rapturous condition. One can well imagine how charming the Dhun-Atmic Shabda (internal Music) emanating from both subtle and causal regions can be. It is a thousand times more enchanting and absorbing! All one needs is to get the know-how of this simple method of the Saints. A Sufi of note has described this condition thus:

'If I were to reveal

a little of the Heavenly Music

that is heard within,

even the dead

will rise from their graves.'"

(from the Radhasoami book, "Dayal Yoga")

Huzur Baba Sawan Singh: "When you sit [in meditation]... see that the mind is at rest and does not go out and unnecessarily think about other things. When, by Repetition of the Names [Simran] with attention fixed in the eye focus, you have become unconscious of the body below the eyes, then your attention will catch the Sound Current. Select the Sound resembling the church bell and discard all other sounds. Then slowly your soul will leave the body and collect in the eyes and become strong. Then fix your attention in the biggest star, so much that you forget everything else except the Sound and the star. Then this star will burst and you will see what is within and beyond. After crossing the star you will have to cross the sun and the moon [inner manifestations of light]. Then you will see the Form of the Master. When that Form becomes steady it will reply. This Form will reply to all of your enquiries and guide you to higher stages... These stars are of�the first sky only, and Hindu philosophers will have spoken of seven skies [in universes of elevating degrees]... After crossing the star, the sun and the moon you will see that Form which will never leave you, not even for a moment." (Enchanted Land)

"Sar Shabda (the Essential Divine Sound) beckons a return to the Supreme Sovereign [Supreme Soul]. The progression of Sound in all centers of the Realms is upward, carrying one's consciousness from the lower centers to the higher centers, ultimately reaching the Supreme Sovereign God." (Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy of Liberation)

"As long as the soul remains in the body, 0 brother, practice the Path of Shabda." (Anurag Sagar/Ocean of Love)

"Surat [the Soul] is an ansh (particle, emanation) of the Supreme Being, as the sun and its rays." (Huzur Maharaj, "Guru Updesh")

"The Light of one soul is equal to that of sixteen suns." (Anurag Sagar)

Music Video: Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime - Korgis:

http://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=agsABii_LtM

Music Video: Lisa Gerrard: Space Weaver:

http://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=4XiFC-iJJX0

Lyrics

my precious love can only come from above

in unity is born a kiss of dignity

my precious love will only come from above

and there you wish away

and with the least they met

you love better

precious love precious love precious love precious love precious love

When Universes Collide: New Evidence of Multiverse Theory Detected

"The highly-theoretical idea of universes beyond our own has just received a nudge of evidence thanks to what appears to be bruising on the walls of our own known universe.

"Our universe, according to the theory, is in a type of bubble, which is essentially the cosmic microwave background (CMB) left behind from The Big Bang. If this is true, then there would be rare collisions with other universe bubbles that would leave a type of signature or mark behind.

"After seven years of working with the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, Dr Hiranya Peiris and a team from The University College London have detected patterns in the CMB that may be physical evidence of the multi-universe run-ins":

http://bit.ly/nDGFHq

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#617

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:43 am
Subject: Sant Mat Library

santmat_mystic

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Sant Mat Library

Recommended Reading: the LIBRARY SECTION of SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com, a comprehensive collection of links to Sant Mat, Radhasoami, and Surat Shabd Yoga E Books, also, Audio/Talking Books. These have been uploaded by various individuals at Google Books, Archive.org, Scribd, and other third-party ONLINE LIBRARIES around the world -- A Sant Mat Granth � The Teachings of the Masters:�

http://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/library.html

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#618

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sat Oct 8, 2011 7:57 pm
Subject: All About the Sound -- Light and Sound on the Path

santmat_mystic

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All About the Sound -- Light and Sound on the Path: In the Beginning was the Sound, and the Tao was with God, and the OM was God

http://groups.Yahoo.com/group/SantMatFellowship/links

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http://groups.Yahoo.com/group/SantMatFellowship

http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SantMatFellowship

http://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/santmat.html

http://www.Facebook.com/SantMatRadhasoami

http://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com

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http://Twitter.com/SantMat

http://SantMat.Tumblr.com

New Satsang Podcast Available: Exploring the Path of the Masters: Inter-Faith Readings: Some Thoughts About Thought -- We Become What We Think, The Dhamapada (from Chapter One), Phelps Notes on God as an Ocean of Love and Spirit, the Mystic Poetry of Dadu Dayal, and, My Three Favorite Stories About Guru Nanak. Program Length: 60 Minutes. Click to Download MP3 and Hear This Edition of Spiritual Awakening Radio [via HealthyLifeNet -- The Positive Talk Radio Network]:�http://bit.ly/nAbms3

New Book Added to the Sant Mat Library:

Dangers Of Spiritual Healing, Yoga and Occult Powers, by Kirpal Singh.

New Book Added to the Sant Mat Library: "Phelps' Notes: "The Supreme Father is a vast homogeneous Ocean of Pure Spirit." (Myron Phelps)

Spiritual Books from India Online:

The Sant Mat Library:

Some Recommended Reading:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/library.html

"Look at God within yourself, how 'God is Light.' For his Nature is a glorious, many-splendored Light. He manifests the Light of his Nature to those who love Him in all the worlds." (John of Dalyatha, Syriac Mystic)

Music Video: ".....In The Grace Of Your Love":

"In the grace of your love I see you shining inside":

http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=9dsAh7EpF5I

Idolatry Comes In Many Forms

C.U.L.T. (Controlling Understanding, Limiting Talent): As religious organizations or institutions grow larger and become ever more controlling, the smaller it makes everyone feel. �In simplicity, be like the Buddha and his disciples, gathered together around the Bodhi Tree.

"We have only one consciousness stream. When we associate with truth, we ascend upwards and when we associate with untruth we fall down." (Acharya Tulsi, a Jainst teacher quoted in, "Harmony of All Religions", by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, Published by Maharshi Mehi Ashram)

"Knowledge without love for the Supreme Being is futile and tends towards untruth or darkness or materialism, while love turns everything to good use and leads to enlightenment and truth." (Huzur Maharaj)

"Moving down from the middle of the two eyes is going towards ignorance, and moving up from the middle of two eyes is going towards Knowledge." (Bhagirath Baba)

"The souls are all bound by illusions and are rotating round the great wheel of birth and death. This state of the individual soul or souls is the root cause of all sufferings. In order to come out of these, the only remedy is devotion to God." (Maharshi Mehi)

"Put all imaginations away, and stand fast in that which you are." (Kabir)

"O Jiva [captive Soul somewhere in time]! Give up all blind adherences and beliefs, concentrate within and seek the Supreme Being there, adopting Him alone as your goal. Do ponder over what I say and see for yourself with eyes wide open that there is none in this world whom you can call your own. You should adopt the Supreme Being alone as your prop and support." (Param Sant Tulsi Sahib)

"The highest aim of humanity is to know one's self and to know God. Every moment of our life is most precious. We should not fritter it away in useless pursuits, but devote it in the search of self and God." (Kirpal Singh)

"The true bliss of meeting the Beloved Lord is such that its rapturous absorption does not diminish or wear out. There is continual intoxication of the Holy Name and nectar." (Huzur Maharaj, Nij Updesh Radhasoami)

"The Supreme Being, being a boundless Ocean of Spirit or Love; and, human being, being a drop or current of spirit or love from this ocean; and, love being the very essence and means of existence of the whole creation, it follows that no effort in any direction, temporal or spiritual, unless actuated by love or affectionate regard, can be crowned with success, and, the work or labour rendered easy, sweet and harmonious. Love is most sublime, having its origin in the highest region, the abode of the Supreme Being. In whatever heart it sprang up, it will gradually raise and carry the fortunate possessor of this lofty and noble passion to the highest region." (Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Prakash)

"Through association of Saints, the hearing of spiritual talks and study, wisdom can be acquired. Wisdom is essential in determining what is the right way to live your life." (Maharshi Mehi)

"The place where people are always talking about the secrets of the path of Surat Shabd Yoga, is true Satsang." (Huzur Maharaj)

The Reality Within

"This practice can be conducted easily and comfortably if the devotee has a little love for the Supreme Being. Without love it will be too hard and difficult to practice Surat-Shabd-Yoga with any good result to be obtained within a short time." (Huzur Maharaj)

"The one who has purity of character, who practices diligently the Yoga of Sound, and who can explain clearly Sant Mat (the complete Path of the Masters with nothing missing), can be accepted and trusted as Satguru/Teacher." (Maharshi Mehi)

The true living teacher (Sant Satguru) guides their students into methods of contemplative meditation practice so that the Unseen may become seen, and the Unheard may be heard:

"It is the mercy of my Satguru that has made me 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 and my meditation into the land where there is no sun and moon, nor day and night.

Without eating, I have tasted of the sweetness of nectar; and without water, I have quenched my thirst.

Where there is the response of delight, there is the fullness of joy. Before whom can that joy be uttered?

Kabir says: 'The Guru is great beyond words, and great is the good fortune of the disciple.'" (Songs of Kabir, Rabindranath Tagore)

"Seeing without eyes

Hearing without ears

Walking without feet

Working without hands

Uttering His Name without tongue

And dying while living

Is accepting His Will."

-- Guru Angad

From a prayer found in the Mandaean Gnostic scriptures of Iraq: "Thou hast showed us that which the eye has not seen, and caused us to hear that which the human ear has not heard. Thou has freed us from death and united us with Life, released us from darkness, and united us with Light. Thou hast shown us that which the eye has not seen, and caused us to hear that which the human ear has not heard." (Canonical Prayer Book of the Mandaeans)

"With the Divine Eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, a bhikkhu surveys a thousand worlds... I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby with the Divine Ear element, he hears both kinds of sounds, the divine and the human, those that are far as well as near. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and Perfection of Direct Knowledge." (Buddha, The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya)

"All is known in the sacredness of silence." (Rumi)

"There is a silence of the tongue. There is a silence of the whole body. There is a silence of the soul. There is a silence of the mind, and there is a silence of the spirit." (Abraham of Nathpar, Syriac Mystic)

"I am the Voice whose Sound is manifold

and the Word whose appearance is multiple....

I am the hearing which can be attained by everyone."

(Nag Hammadi Library: Thunder: Perfect Mind, a Gnostic Gospel)

"Each celestial body, in fact each and every atom, produces a particular sound on account of its movement, its rhythm or vibration. All these sounds and vibrations form a universal harmony in which each element, while having it's own function and character, contributes to the whole." (Pythagoras)

And there are different levels of meaning with the quote from Pythagoras. I am reminded of this passage by George Arnsby Jones: "All beautiful forms and tones of this world are mere reflections of some aspect of that ultimate Love-Music of the Great Creative Word. Within the vast complex of creation, each individual spirit is himself/herself a spark of that Eternal Song of Love."

"That eternal Sound is in everyone, but dormant. One has to 'awaken' it with love, devotion, recitation of the Name and meditation. That Sound is unceasing and unfathomable, and is full of bliss." (Prakashmani Sahib)

"The Eternal Truth ('Sat' or Eternal Word) is hidden in every being. Without the Satguru it does not become known." (Prakashmani Sahib)

"The Satguru imparts knowledge of Surat Shabd Yoga, and control of the mind and senses. When both are controlled, we glimpse the essence of everything. Thus we bow down to Him that reveals this essence.

"The Satguru came into the world to remove bondage from the souls. Those who had positive and good thoughts and pure hearts came close to Him. He showered his grace on them and freed them from the worldly bondage. Whenever the devotees called for him, he appeared and, with the power of the Word, alleviated their suffering and taught them the essence of all knowledge. We need to take refuge in the Satguru who is the manifestation of the Word." (Prakashmani Sahib)

"Light and Sound arise from the Primal Shabd. Let one make one's attention one-pointed, and let the Surat catch the Sound Current with rapt attention! This is the only way to rise to the Primal Shabd. One should fix one's attention at that point where the sun and the moon meet (at the eye-center). One will find a Resounding Melody emanating from the Primal Shabd. One should merge oneself into that Melody. There the Thousand-petalled Lotus blossoms, although the Primal Source is above the Akah Lotus. There arises a unique fragrance from the Thousand-petalled Lotus, enjoying which the souls are thrilled with great delight." (Sant Dariya Sahib of Bihar)

"When using this Mystical Sound as the basic support for his meditation, the seeker should also be very alert and attentive as to where the subtler aspects of this Sound are drawing him within himself. He will thus, little by little, gravitate to ever finer states of consciousness and will start to sense an out-of-the-ordinary inner continuity of being that is beyond description and that it is impossible for him to experience in his habitual state. As his meditation deepens, it will bring with it a most subtle, transparent, and luminous consciousness that he will finally become immersed in and one with. He will no longer sense himself in the same way as he did in the past. He will become mysteriously transformed into an unchanging and enigmatic 'Spectator', plunged in the vast silence of an eternal cosmic 'Nowness.'"

"The aspirant should look upon this Nada [Mystic Sound] as a Divine Grace and rare opportunity, always turning to it with the utmost respect, revering it as the treasured means that can make his deliverance possible." (Edward Salim Michael, "The Law of Attention - Nada Yoga and the Way of Inner Vigilance")

"When meditating with this Nada [Inner Mystic Sound], it is essential that the aspirant always seek and follow the particular aspect of it that is most subtle and 'ultra' in pitch as well as in brilliance. Even when the Sound becomes very shrill and loud in moments of deep concentration, he [or she] must not be tempted to be satisfied with it merely because it is sharp and resonant. He should relentlessly attempt to rise further and further into ever more subtle spheres of its mysterious Invisible Kingdom." (Edward Salim Michael, "The Law of Attention - Nada Yoga and the Way of Inner Vigilance")

Guru Baba Sahib propagated the secrets of Sant Mat [Teachings of Sants].

We were all marching ahead in darkness,

Not being acquainted with the inner secrets of Sant Mat.

Guru Baba Sahib explained to us all about these secrets.

First of all, he asked me to close the eyelids and further advised not to allow the mind to wander outside,

He directly helped me catch the star lying in front of my nose and between the two eyebrows.

The Soundwaves rose up in the very house of Sushumna [middle passage within],

And Surat [attention of the soul] mounted up with the help of Drishti Yoga [inner seeing].

Catching, with the help of Surat, the Quintessential Sound among the multiple Sounds,

By way of Surat-Shabd-Yoga [Yoga of Inner Sound], the devotee ascends,

Leaving the intricacies of the multiple Sounds,

That keeps him engrossed in deep illusions.

Guru has given the secrets of the Yoga of Sound, Surat-Sabda-Yoga.

His secrets are so very deep, says Mehi, that they were not known to the world.�However, Guru Baba Sahib kindly made these secrets public for the benefits of all.�(Padavali of Maharshi Mehi)

"'Maulana Rumi, the great Sufi mystical poet, wrote of the plaintive strains of the flute, played upon the top of a mountain', remarked the Master. 'This flute melody tells of the separation of the soul from its True Source'......As my Master had informed me, the Whirling Region and all the realms below it -- supercausal and causal, astral-mental and physical -- must eventually fall into dissolution. Dissolutions of a relatively frequent nature and short duration extend to the top of the causal region, while the immeasurably longer and far less frequent Grand Dissolutions extend through the supercausal realm of the Cosmic Lake of Purification into the high realm of the Whirling Region. And so the aspiring soul must journey further upwards in order to attain true spiritual liberation; for only the Abode of Love, the Fifth Inner Region above the plane of the physical universe, is unaffected by the many cosmic dissolutions, great and small. It is the Abode�of Love that is the true home of each and every human soul." (The Pilgrimage of James -- An Odyssey of Inner Space, by George Arnsby Jones)

"I listened carefully and my consciousness was now permeated with melodies and harmonies that were partly reminiscent of the finest string compositions that I had ever heard in the physical world. However, such a comparison is totally inadequate, for I was now enjoying the Unstruck Music, that celestial melody that sounds endlessly in the exalted levels of the cosmic universe." (The Pilgrimage of James -- An Odyssey of Inner Space, by George Arnsby Jones, Peacehaven Press)

Nada Yoga: Inner Sound Meditation, the Music of the Spheres

By James Bean

"The person, who is in tune with the universe, becomes like a radio receiver through which the Voice of the universe is transmitted." (Hazrat Khan)

"This creative current, filling all space, may be likened to the electromagnetic waves of the radio." (Julian P. Johnson)

"...The Great Creative Current flows outwards and downwards to create, govern and sustain all regions. It passes out from this region somewhat like the radio emanations going forth from a great broadcasting station. It is the Audible Life Stream, the most important factor in the system of the Masters. This Stream permeates the entire system of universes. A thing of great importance to us is that the music of this ever-flowing current, the stream of life, can be heard by a real Master and also by his students who have advanced even a little on the Path." (Julian P. Johnson, The Path of the Masters)

"The subject of Shabd (Inner Sound, The Music of the Creator) is such that we cannot do justice to it by discursive reasoning. All that can be said is that 'Shabd' implies the Power of God that has created and is sustaining the various grand divisions, divisions and sub-divisions of the vast creation of God. It is a current from the Ocean of Consciousness and is characterized by Sound-vibration, or in other words, It is a live and active principle which, emanating from God, is enlivening all creation. It is the instrument with which God creates, controls and sustains His vast universe. It acts as a life-line between the Creator and His creation and serves as a golden bridge between the two. The divine currents, like the ethereal waves of a radio, are spread out in the atmosphere in all the directions of the compass, giving out delectable strains of music. We, however, cannot catch the ethereal vibrations and listen to the divine melody until we get in�tune with the Infinite by adjusting our mental apparatus. Therefore we become etherealized more and more as we come in tune with the heavenly music. Shabd is the connecting link between God and man." (Sant Kirpal Singh)

"The vibrations of this Sound are too fine to be either audible or visible to the material eyes or ears..." (Hazrat Khan) Yet, as Masters and mystics often point out, there is another kind of hearing and another kind of seeing. The eyes and ears of the soul -- the spiritual senses -- can be developed. There is Light coming from beyond the darkness, and there is Music coming from beyond the silence, for those who have ears to hear -- those who desire to meditate and discover the wonders of inner space for themselves.

Nada Yoga, Inner Sound Meditation, in Hinduism

Hinduism is very much a religion of divine Light and Sound; many Indian scriptures and spiritual traditions teach about the universe being created through the Sound of AUM, the ecstasy of hearing the cosmic flute of Krishna, or hearing the Unstruck Melody (Anhad Shabad) of God that reverberates throughout the universe. Yogis of Nada Yoga and Masters of Shabd Yoga Meditation impart to their students knowledge about developing their inner spiritual sense of transcendental hearing.

"Our physical and astral bodies, our Indriyas and the mind, all have Sound as their basis. As we penetrate deep into them they only lead us to Sound. As we analyze our individual existence, it takes us to Sound before we reach the transcendent Self." (Sri Swami Sivananda)

"By one who is desirous of attaining perfection in Yoga, Nada alone has got to be closely heard (meditated upon), having abandoned all thoughts and with a calm mind." (Sankaracharya, "Yoga-taravali," quoted in Nada Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda, The Divine Life Society)

"Let yogi sit on Sidh Asana and while practicing the Vaisnavi Mudra, should hear the sound through his right ear. By communion with the Word, he will become deaf to the external sounds, and will attain the Turya Pad or a state of equipoise within a fortnight. First the murmuring sounds resembling those of the waves of the ocean, the fall of rain and the running rivulets and the Bheri will be heard intermingled with the sounds of bell and conch,..." (Nada Bind Upanishad)

The following is from the Nadbindu Upanishad, on the practice of Nada Yoga (Inner Sound) meditation. It's from Thirty Minor Upanishds - Including the Yoga Upanishads, K. Narayanasvami Aiyar, Santarasa Publications. ("Minor" as opposed to the twelve "major" Upanishads, which are most widely translated: Mandukya, Isa, Katha,Chandogya, etc. There are 108 Upanishads in all.)

"The Upanishads represent for the Hindu approximately what the New Testament represents for the Christian. The earliest of these spiritual treatises, which vary greatly in length, were put down in Sanskrit between 800 and 400 B.C." (The Upanishads, Penguin Classics)

Nada Bindu Upanishad: "The yogin being in the siddhasana (posture) and practicing the vaishnavimudra, should always hear the internal sound through the right ear.

"The sound which he thus practices makes him deaf to all external sounds. Having overcome all obstacles, he enters the turya state within fifteen days.

"In the beginning of his practice, he hears many loud sounds. They gradually increase in pitch and are heard more and more subtly. At first, the sounds are like those proceeding from the ocean, clouds, kettle-drum, and cataracts: in the middle (stage) those proceeding from mardala (a musical instrument), bell, and horn.

"At the last stage, those proceeding from tinkling bells, flute, vina (a musical instrument), and bees. Thus he hears many such sounds more and more subtle.

"When he comes to that stage when the sound of the great kettle-drum is being heard, he should try to distinguish only sounds more and more subtle.

"He may change his concentration from the gross sound to the subtle, or from the subtle to the gross, but he should not allow his mind to be diverted from them towards others.

"The mind having at first concentrated itself on anyone sound fixes firmly to that and is absorbed in it.

"It (the mind) becoming insensible to the external impressions, becomes one with the sound as milk with water, and then becomes rapidly absorbed in chidakas (the akas where Chit prevails).

"Being indifferent towards all objects, the yogin having controlled his passions, should by continual practice concentrate his attention upon the sound which destroys the mind.

"Having abandoned all thoughts and being freed from all actions, he should always concentrate his attention on the sound, and (then) his chitta becomes absorbed in it.

"Just as the bee drinking the honey (alone) does not care for the odor, so the chitta which is always absorbed it's sound, does not long for sensual objects, as it is bound by the sweet smell of nada and has abandoned its flitting nature.

"The serpent chitta through listening the nada is entirely absorbed in it, and becoming unconscious of everything concentrates itself on the sound.

"The sound serves the purpose of a sharp goad to control the maddened elephant -- chitta which roves in the pleasure-garden of the sensual objects.

"It serves the purpose of a snare for binding the deer-chitta. It also serves the purpose of a shore to the ocean waves of chitta. The sound proceeding from Pranava which is Brahman is of the nature of effulgence; the mind becomes absorbed in it; that is the supreme seat of Vishnu.

"The sound exists till there is the akasic conception (akasa- sankalpa). Beyond this, is the asabda soundless Para-brahman which is Paramatma."

A good example of Nada (Sound) Meditation practice is found in The Shambhala Guide To Yoga, George Feuerstein, Shambala Books:

"First, the practitioner should block his or her ears with the fingers and focus inwardly, listening for the arising of the inner Sound. To begin with, a variety of sounds may be heard -- the practitioner may hears sounds like: the sound of the ocean, a rain cloud, a drum, a kettledrum, a conch, a bell [ringing sound], a horn, a flute, a lute, or a bee [humming sound]."

The Nada Bindu Upanishad also mentions the possibility of hearing a sound that resembles the Vina, a somewhat sitar-like instrument used in Indian classical music.

These mystic or heavenly inner sounds are always resounding in the soul, thus when one attains a certain level of stillness and concentration, spiritual Sound becomes audible. In truth, the inner Sound is always there, it is we (our attention) who come and go. We gain awareness of the Sound, and this creates the illusion that the Sound has "arrived." When we get distracted or leave off our meditation practice it seems to us that the Sound has "stopped." However, this otherworldly Sound continues, like radio waves flowing through the atmosphere, available to be "tuned in" anytime we wish to listen (do bhajan: listen to the inner Sound in meditation). ////////

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#619

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:02 am
Subject: Teachings of Sant Tulsi Sahib -- Light and Sound on the Path

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Teachings of Sant Tulsi Sahib -- Light and Sound on the Path -- Sant Mat Satsang

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[Below are links to: a new Sant Mat Podcast;�Bhajan (Hymn) at Youtube of Tulsi Sahib;

a Youtube video about Tulsi Sahib, Saint of

Hathras and certain guru-lineages;

online map of Hathras at the Gate;

Article: Who Was Tulsi Sahib's Guru?

PDF File of Tulsi Sahib writings in English;

Quotes from: Ravidas, Dalai Lama, Quran, Khalil Gibran, Kirpal Singh, Sant Sevi Ji;

passages from Param Sant Tulsi Sahib,

the great grandfather/modern-day founding father or Adi Guru of Sant Mat lineages;

Shyama, disciple of Tulsi Sahib; Maharshi Mehi, "God is Like a Black Hole or Gravitational Singularity",

and, "The Teachings of Sant Dariya of Bihar",

A Good Introduction to Sant Mat from the

Sant Dariya Mission Website.]

New Satsang PODCAST: An Ode to the Unknown God - the Mystic Poetry and Teachings of Sant Ravidas. Program Length: 60 Minutes. Click to Listen - Download MP3 of Spiritual Awakening Radio with James Bean [via HealthyLifeNet -- The Positive Talk Radio Network]:�http://bit.ly/oTBmXd

"Have trust in God alone,

And in none other, says Ravidas.

If one is engrossed in something else,

leaving God aside,

One will ever remain disappointed." (Sant Ravidas)

"Love cannot be hidden, O Ravidas,

Howsoever much one tries.

Love is never expressed by the mouth,

But tears do appear in the eyes.

The body is ablaze with the fire of longing

As soon as the memory of the Beloved

comes to mind.

Like the sprinkling of water

on pieces of limestone,

Instantaneous fire arises every time."

(Sant Ravidas)

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." (Dalai Lama)

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." (Khalil Gibran)

"Be good, do good, and be one." (Kirpal Singh)

"All bliss, peace and glory lie within you, on the Holy Road upon which you are traveling. So please carry on with your meditations with love, faith and devotion, and you will progress within from day to day and enjoy in ever increasing measures the great love and peace that inner spiritual development affords. Master-Power is working overhead and is your ever benign companion giving all feasible help and grace." (Kirpal Singh, Spiritual Elixir, Volume One)

"After rising above the physical body, you will have self awareness. When you rise above the astral and causal bodies, you will come into your true I-hood. You will see that 'I and my Father are One'. The whole thing depends on the concentration of your attention within yourself. Then, whichever way you direct your attention, you will work wonders." (Kirpal Singh)

"We sit in meditation, fail to concentrate, and get upset or fed up. A pessimistic thinking sets in as to whether or not 'I would be able to do it.' No, we should not get nervous, or anxious, nor should we nurture any doubts in our minds. We must go on trying, with persistence and perseverance." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

Bhajan (Hymn, Chant) of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras: "Dil ka huzra saaf kar, jana ke aane ke liye":

http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=OPnznnYDS4U

Discovered a new Youtube video recently showing scenes from the Sant Tulsi Sahib Mandir/Ashram in Hathras: I recognize several of the images: Sant Tulsi Sahib, Surswami, and Girdhari Saheb, a disciple of Tulsi Sahib who was friends with Swami Ji Maharaj, staying at his house for a time according to the Biography of Soami Ji Maharaj. The previous mahant, Prakash Das, and current mahant in Hathras are also shown in the video. Am not familiar with some of the other photos, perhaps teachers connected with a couple of other ashram centers. Glad to see everyone from India getting online these days:http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=-orRDiam1mU

Hathras, India: "It was during the times of Ramayana, that Hathras was established. When Tulsi Sahib began to recite a particular version of the epic poem called Sampurn Ramayana, he chose to start with the town of Hathras......Tulsi Sahib's grave is housed at the Siyal, Kila Gate, Hathras, and throngs of devotees and admirers flock to this site each year to celebrate the great poet." (AnkitaSagar.Wordpress blog)

Hathras, at the Gate: The Tulsi Mandir: Samadh of Sant Tulsi Sahib is located at Siyal, Kila Gate, Hathras, India:http://wikimapia.org/16470275/Mandir-Tulsi-Saheb

Sant Mat History: Article: Who Was Tulsi Sahib's Guru? My Thoughts:

http://bit.ly/pQRVvd

"Within This Body" -

Mystic Poem of Sant Tulsi Sahib

Within this body

breathes the secret essence.

Within this body

beats the heart of the Vedas.

Within this body

shines the entire Universe,

so the saints say.

Hermits, ascetics, celibates

- all are lost

seeking Him

in endless guises.

Seers and sages perfectly parrot

the scriptures and holy books,

blinded by knowledge.

Their pilgrimage,

and fasting,

and striving

but delude

Despite their perfect practice,

they discover no destination.

Only the saints

who know the body's heart

have attained the Ultimate, O Tulsi.

Realize this, and you've found your freedom

(while teachers trapped in tradition

know only the mirage

in the mirror).

"It was Kabir who first gave out the secret of Surat and Shabd. That Shabd is Sar Shabd (True Shabd, True Sound), which is inaccessible and unique. The soul travels in the region of Saat Naam [True Name], and it is the Surat which merges into Sar Shabd." (Sant Tulsi Sahib)

"In the month of Kuar (September-October), Surat [the soul], the paragon of virtues, has lost memory of its Original Abode because of the company of crow-like impudent persons. It has forgotten all about the delicacies available in its own abode of pure spirituality, the secrets of which are disclosed only in Satsang of Sants. Without adopting saran (refuge) of the Sat Guru, the path cannot be known, nor the method of elevating the Surat and mind to higher regions. With the approach of the month of Katik (October-November), the Surat receives secrets of all chakras and ganglia in the human microcosm. It starts its upward journey from the Third Eye, the centre at which is to be found the first true form of Surat (spirit). It proceeds to Sahas-dal-kanwal [the sphere of the Thousand-Petaled Lotus]. It adopts the saran (refuge) of Sat Guru, wipes off impurities and attains true knowledge. The heart is illumined with the inner Light." (Sant Tulsi Sahib)

Sant Tulsi Sahib: "External practices and formalism are worth nothing. The real sadhana [spiritual or meditation practice] is within one's own self."

Sant Tulsi Sahib: "Without realizing the soul and the Sound Current, all this is a vain show. All this is a vain show till the soul rises above and abides in it's Natural State."

"Without the Saints, O Tulsi, we are tossed about endlessly. Without the merciful, compassionate Master, aeon after aeon we rove." (Shabdavali of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras)

"Masters reveal the Path of Inner Light and Sound. They still the mind and raise one's attention to Mystic Skies within. The soul concentrates at the Portal [Third Eye] and is in bliss." (Sant Tulsi Sahib)

The True Guru Does Not Neglect His or Her Students, is a Good Teacher of Wisdom, and Properly Guides Their Followers

"Tulsi Sahib says that people devote themselves to worldly learning, but of what use will it be if they do not recognize Sants?

"The Jiva's [soul's] inner eye has not opened, and though he has his external sight, he is really blind, that is, cannot see things in their true perspective. Without the Satguru, he will drift in the lower centers and will never be rid of his worldly attachments.

"No other Yuga [epoch] can be compared with Kali Yuga in which Sants [Saints, Heavenly Beings, Enlightened Masters] incarnate themselves. If the Jiva adopts the Saran [refuge] of a Sant, he will get across the ocean of material existence."

"From the Source of the Ocean opens a Window of Light. Awaken that resplendent Light within thee....Repeat the name of the Lord and secure Him." (Shabdavali/Hymn of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras)

Sant Tulsi Sahib: "He who follows the precepts and teachings of Satsang, is a blessed soul. I sacrifice myself at him again and again. His Surat [soul] is absorbed in the bliss of Satsang, and is sure to attain the goal. Tulsi says that he who has come under the protection of the all-powerful and merciful Sat Guru is enjoying the greatest bliss and joy internally. He is one with the Beloved. The bliss of the Holy Feet is indescribable."

"I saw a brilliant flame bursting forth within me, on which I kept my Surat [attention of the soul] fixed. Then, piercing the flame, my surat proceeded onward and it reached a gateway, as it were, from where could be seen a sky studded all over with suns and moons. By your grace and compassion have I been able to partake of the bliss of higher regions." (hymn of Shyama, disciple of Tulsi Sahib)

"Tulsi Saheb says that the Master resides in Gagan [the inner mystic sky] and to meet Him, Surat [the soul] has to rise up. Only in this human form which is a replica of the whole infinite expanse, can the soul [jiva] work out his salvation and can easily cross the ocean of existence." "When my Surat [soul] reached Gagan [the inner mystic sky], I met the Sat Guru, who guided my path onwards. He embraced me and made me one with Himself, and, by His grace, my Surat ultimately reached the abode which is unfathomable and where there is no fear of any kind."

"Tulsi Sahib used to go often to places quite far from Hathras wrapping his body in a blanket and with a stick in hand. He usually used to remain in a state of withdrawal, and in that very state, an incessant flow of utterances concerning the secrets of higher regions used to emanate from his mouth like a babbling stream. Ghat Ramayan, Shabdavali (collection of hymns) and Ratan Sagar are well known works of Tulsi Saheb. Another book which he wrote but remained unfinished is Padam Sagar. All these books were written after Tulsi Sahib's coming to Hathras.......

"....Near the above-mentioned Banyan Tree, a stupendous two-storeyed building had been constructed later on by Tulsi Sahib's devotees, which is still there and in which he stayed till he left his mortal coil. In this very building there is a place marked, where Tulsi Saheb used to sit whilst initiating people into Sant Mat [inner Light and Sound Meditation Practice]. There is also a hemispherical cave where he used to practise Bhajan [meditation]." ("Param Sant Tulsi Saheb", translated into English by Sant Das Maheshwari)

All Tulsi Sahib quotes above are from, "Param Sant Tulsi Sahib", edited by Sant Das Maheshwari, Agra, India.

Online Book: Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, India -- PDF File:�http://bit.ly/hgxOB4

Sant Tulsi Sahib, from his Spiritual Classic, "Ghat Ramayana":

Sat surat samajhi sihaar saadhau, nirakhi nit nainan rahau", translated at the SadGuruMehi Website:

"The Surat i.e. consciousness-force or individual soul [soul's attention or awareness] is true and she has been extended and entrapped in the untrue realms of Pinda (the microcosm or body, physical plane) and Brahmand (Universe or macrocosm). So, being deprived of the attainment of the self-existence of the Supreme Sovereign God, she is suffering from the pain of falling down (degeneration). To be free from this pain of degeneration, take care of the Surat in such a way that she be liberated from all miseries by concentrating through the untrue realms, being free from untrue spheres, and thus attaining the innate (natural and pure) form of the Supreme Sovereign God.

"The practice of holding Surat (consciousness-force) will begin with Maanas Jappa [Simran] (a meditation process in which an alphabetical holy word instructed by Guru is chanted/repeated with eyes closed), and then Maanas Dhyaan (a meditation process in which holy form of Sadguru is concentrated upon with eyes closed), and then Bindu Dhyaan (Drishti Saadhan, the Yoga of Inner Vision), and then finally: Surat Shabda Yoga (the Yoga of Divine Sound). The first shutter within our inner vision is hard and impenetrable darkness. The Surat can cross it by the practice of Dhrishti Sadhana (Yoga of Vision).

"When the Surat (consciousness-force) will experience the miracles of Brahma within its own body while crossing the concealment of darkness, then she (the Surat, soul) will be immersed always in the love of Supreme Sovereign God. Then she will move ahead grasping the notes (Sounds) of the Flute by knowing the proper method.

"The Surat will recognize the Sar-Shabda (Essential Divine Sound) through catching the 'Gagan-Dori' -- (Divine Light or Divine Sound of the Inner Sky).

"The Surat being poised onto the Essential Divine Sound (Sar-Shabda) will become tranquil in that Unlimited (Infinite) State where form, design, appearances, body, mind and Maya (illusion) do not exist; and that is the Inexpressible and the fundamental Original State.

"To whom this Ultimate State will be realized, his/her Surat (consciousness-force, individual soul) will be merging into that Ultimate State (the Nameless State, the State beyond Sound) again and again."

Tulsi's earlier name was "Dakhani Baba", meaning, "Saint from the South," and he often meditated in a cave. I know some living saints who, like Tulsi Sahib, also meditate in caves!

The term "Sant Mat" was coined by Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, during the 19th Century, but the Sant tradition, with its many guru-lineages or branches, is a spiritual movement that dates back to ancient India. Sant Tulsi Sahib was of the opinion that the Sant movement dates back to the time of Krishna thousands of years ago, that Krishna knew of Sants during his day, the time of the Bhagavad Gita.

God is Like a Black Hole or Gravitational Singularity

Maharishi Mehi in his spiritual discourse, The Philosophy of Liberation, states that "the individual self, the part of God which dwells in the body, is concealed. Direct knowledge is not experienced because of the concealments of the four Realms of Qualified Lower Nature: Gross [Physical], Subtle [Astral], Causal [Akashic] and Supra-Causal [Universal Mind]."

"The realm of creation in which we live is the Gross Realm. Above the Gross is the Subtle Realm; above the Subtle is the Causal; above the Causal is the Supra-Causal, and above the Supra-Causal is Kaivalya, the realm of Oneness (Pure Conscious Realm). The existence of these four realms is as fixed as the Pole star. Thus, there are five spheres of creation including the Gross Realm. Kaivalya is of Pure Consciousness and the other four realms are Non-Conscious, but coexisting with the conscious." (Philosophy of Liberation)

Note: the top part of Kaivalya in some systems of Indian cosmology is called "Nirvana", "Radhaswami", "Anami" or "Anadi". Maharishi Mehi called it "The Soundless State", a State beyond Light and Sound, a heaven beyond the other heavens.

God is described as being Formless (Nirguna), Nameless (Anami), Soundless (Anadi), Unknowable (Agochar), Invisible (Alakh), and Inaccessible (Agam), unfathomable, hidden or veiled by divine Light and Sound.

The above reminds me of the description by astronomers of black holes in the cosmos, which are invisible but indirectly seen all-the-same as they are a kind of "donut hole" surrounded by luminous matter of swirling atoms smashing together, which give off immense light as this matter falls into the gravity well, just before slipping out of the normal space-time of the regular universe. Looking for the halos of light astronomers are able to sometimes indirectly see these invisible black holes. By the light surrounding black holes one sees black holes. So too, mystics can see the Light that veils the Supreme Being. "By the Light of Allah, I see Allah." (Quran)

The Teachings of Sant Dariya of Bihar,

A Good Introduction to Sant Mat

(from the Sant Dariya Mission Website)

Sat Purush [True, Eternal, Original Being, God] sends His sons to the world to save the living beings from the clutches of Kal [time, illusion]. Sant Dariya Saheb came to this world under the instructions of the Lord to save Jivas [souls]. Sat Purush came to Dharkandha (a village in Bihar, India [in the form of Dariya�s Satguru]) to instruct Dariya Saheb. The Lord enthroned Sant Dariya and assured him to save the souls that followed his teachings.

The Sant preached ahimsa (non-violence in thought, word, and deed) against all living beings. According to him, unless the lamp of kindness and compassion is lit, the soul cannot find the Path that leads to the Lord.

The teachings of Dariya Saheb are above sects, castes and religions. People belonging to any race, religion and caste can be benefited from His teaching. According to the Saint, all the men and women are the creation of the Sat Purush. One should love and respect others as one expects love and respect from others. Harsh words should not be spoken. One should see his own image in others. The Sant preached love and devotion to the Sat Purush only. According to him no purpose is served by visiting places of pilgrimage if true devotion to the Lord is missing. The Sant preached against ritualism. The human body has all the sixty eight tirthas (places of pilgrimage). It is the true mandir/masjid [temple] in which the Lord can be discovered and worshipped.

Sat Purush is unborn, eternal, all-powerful, the creator of everything. He does not take birth and meet death. He is beyond description.

The Jiva [soul] is the resident of Satlok [True, Eternal Spiritual Realm]. It has got entangled into the snare of Kal [lord of time and illusion] and is wandering in samsara (the world of changes) in different forms.

Sat Purush sends Satgurus to the samsara (world) to teach the misguided souls (Jivas). Only the Satguru knows the Path that liberates Jivas from the snares of Kal. The Jiva, by following the teachings of the Satguru, gets liberated and goes to his permanent abode, that is: Satlok.

Devotion to Sat Purush alone can free the souls from the clutches of Kal. Worship to poly-gods, ghosts and other celetial objects have been discouraged by the Saints/Sants/Sant Mat.

Observance of rituals and wandering in places of pilgrimage without true devotion to the Lord serves no purpose.

One should take vegetarian food only. The eating of meat is completely prohibited in his order.

The Sant has advocated two paths only for attainment of Nirvana:

1) The Path of Knowledge [Inner Experience], and,

2) The Path of Bhakti (Devotion)

Human birth is most precious and it should not be lost in mere satisfaction of sensuous pleasures, accumulation of wealth and wielding power. Human birth should be utilised for the realization of Pad-Nirvan (God). If this opportunity is lost, none can say when one would be fortunate to get human birth again. Getting human birth is rare.

One does not become high or low from his origion of birth. By acquiring virtues and doing good deeds only, one becomes high.

Like all other Saints of the Nirguna School [Devotion to the Formless God], Dariya Saheb discarded Avatarbad (Incarnation theory). He did not believe in the theory of Divine creation of four classes of people as Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra.

Jiva and Brahma are two different entities. The Jiva takes different forms (Rupas) in Samsara, whereas Brahma is beyond Samsara. Brahma is one while Jivas are many. The Jiva gets tainted by loads of deeds and reaps the fruits of his actions. Brahma is nirlep (beyond getting tainted).

The Teachings of Sant Dariya Sahib could be summarized as these three:

1. Right Gahani (Understanding)

2. Right Rahani (Living)

3. Simran (Mindfulness, Remembrance, Meditation)

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#620

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:36 am
Subject: Happy Diwali! The Festival of Lights

santmat_mystic

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Happy Diwali!�

The Festival of Lights�

"Until the last moments of his life, Mahavira [of Jainism] inspired many to seek world peace through the establishment in inner peace, and he encouraged people to realize their divine nature. For 30 years he traveled throughout India to spread his message. At the age of 72, on the day of Diwali (the Festival of Lights) in the town of Pawa Puri, Mahavira ended his journey in the world while in the state of deep meditation and attained Nirvana." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, Harmony Of All Religions)�

"While Divali is popularly known as the "Festival of Lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the Inner Light".

"Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's True Nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent Reality. With the realization of the Atman comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (inner joy or peace).

"The gunas are the underlying forces or tendencies which one needs to have unaffected, direct relation with in order to find effectiveness and righteousness in life: they are lines of potential and illuminate thought and action, thus the inner meaning of Diwali being the Festival of Lights.

"Deepavali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. While the story behind Dipavali varies from region to region, the essence is the same - to rejoice in the inner Light (Atman) or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman)." (Wikipedia)

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#622

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sun Nov 27, 2011 1:45 am
Subject: Truth Always Wins: Light and Sound on the Path

santmat_mystic

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Truth Always Wins: Light and Sound on the Path �-- Sant Mat Satsang

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{[Contents Below:�1) Links to Three New Podcasts;�2) Buddhism and the Sound Current -- Inner Sound Meditation;�3) Brief Summary of the Teachings of Sant Mat, the Path of the Masters; 4) Video: 8000 Chinese Sky Lanterns Launched In Poznan, Poland -- a Reflection about Outer Light and Sound Rituals in the World Religions;�5) Baba Faqir Chand and the Radiant Form of the Inner Master;�6) A Letter from Soami Ji Maharaj; 7) Reducing or Eliminating Karma Through the Divine Current of Shabd; and,�8) Link to an Online Sant Mat Book by a Living Master: Yoga Of Inner Light and Sound.]}

New Sant Mat Radio Podcasts Available For Streaming and Downloading (Use Firefox, Opera, or Internet Explorer)

The Mystic Poetry and Teachings of Darshan Singh -- Love's Last Madness, Part ONE: My Guests are Barry Lerner and Harbans Singh Bedi -- Poetry Readings in Urdu with English Translation -- Program Length: 60 Minutes. Click to Stream or Download:�

http://bit.ly/uvTlR8

The Mystic Poetry and Teachings of Dariya Sahib of Bihar. I also make the case that the guru of Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras was either Dariya Sahib or one of the gurus that Dariya appointed to succeed him in Bihar:�http://bit.ly/unIBCy

The Mystic Poetry and Teachings of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, India: Poetry Musically Accompanied With Sitar, Flute, Tambura and Tablas:�http://bit.ly/vTy4qD

Subscribe to Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts & Access More Podcasts Here:

http://hosted.EarthChannel.com/HealthyLife/spa-od.html

"The human body is like a radio receiver for listening to the Sound Current [the inner Sound]. When we tune in the radio, we begin to hear the sound. Similarly, when the Master (Sant Satguru) guides us within, we are able to hear the Divine Music. By adjusting the 'dial', we hear various kinds of Sound." (Huzur Baba Sawan Singh)

Buddhism and the Sound Current -- Inner Sound Meditation

"Ananda and all you who listen here

Should inward turn your faculty

Of hearing to hear your own nature

Which alone achieves Supreme Bodhi.

That is how enlightenment is won.

Buddhas as many as the Ganges' sand

Entered this one gateway to Nirvana.

All past Tathagathatas

Have achieved this method."

(The Surangama Sutra: Selections from the

Upasaka Lu K'uan Yu Translation,

Published by Rider and Company, London)

"It is easiest to hear this Sound when it is quiet, particularly at nighttime. Once you have identified this Sound, then you place your awareness on it without wavering. Resting your mind in the Sound, you continue to listen, going further and further into the Sound itself."�(Mind Beyond Death, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Snow Lion Publications)

"Listening to the inner Sound brings the heart into a position of acute inner awareness. It is not that the inner Sound has some magical property. Rather, it is that bringing of the alert mind, bringing openness and receptivity to Sound, is symbolic of the presence of Ultimate Truth. The Sound is always there. We don't have to create it. It is featureless. It is ever present. So it is a good symbol for Ultimate Reality itself."�(Ajahn Amaro)

Brief Summary of the Teachings of Sant Mat, the Path of the Masters

* All souls (jivas) are in essence drops of love from the Sea of God.

* The attachment and association with mind and body makes the soul lose sight of the real Self.

* God assumes the form of a Saint to lead the soul back to its Original Home.

* One must surrender one's entire being to the Ocean of Love of which we are a part, instead of limiting ourselves to sensual pleasures which leave us unhappy and discontented.�

* This can be done by the practice of Surat Shabd Yoga [Inner Light and Sound Meditation].

* By attuning oneself to the Life Current which proceeds from the Heart of Anami Purush [God, The Nameless One/Radhasoami] in the form of Light and Sound, one can finally achieve union with the True Self, finding the joy one is seeking.�(R.S. White Paper on Religion of Sants and Radhasoami Faith, Dayalbagh, Agra, 2011)

* Consider the following as the requirements to attain liberation:�

1) Trust and belief in God; 2) commitment to seek the Divine within; 3) devotion to a spiritual master; 4) listening to the teaching of the spiritual discourse including study of the teachings of the saints and the scriptures; and, 5) diligent meditation practice. (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

A Reflection about Outer Light and Sound Rituals:�8000 Chinese "Sky Lanterns" Launched in Poznan, Poland

http://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=O0LiJmSX2fs

http://www.Youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=GSdPBM7GRwU

What a beautiful ceremony this is.�

Souls yearn for heavenly experiences�

and sometimes create rituals�

around the lighting of lamps, fireworks,�

the ringing of bells in temples, gongs, drumming, etc�.�

A preview of mystical experience,�

a taste of things to come.�

As without, so within.�

As above, so below.�

Types and shadows�

till the day the wisdom eye opens, �

the lamps light themselves,

the third ear hears,

and unstruck bells ever reverberate�

on their own�

in other realms beyond.

Truth Always Wins: "Truth should be the guideline in the performance of all activities, spiritual or temporal, for a satsangi. Nothing that falls short of truth should be acceptable to him [or her]." (Agam Prasad Mathur, Petals of Love)

Baba Faqir Chand and the Radiant Form of the Inner Master

"Maharaj Faqir Chand ji Sahab established his Ashram after his retirement from Railway service [station master] in 1962. The Ashram is located on the outskirts of Hoshiarpur in the foothills of Himalayas. It is called 'Manavata Mandir' -- 'Be Man Ashram'.

"Although the lineage is the same, this Satsang sees every religious tradition from Radhasoami to Advait Vedanta as being parts of the total reality. Baba Faqir Chand was a devotee of Shiv Brat Lai ji Sahab and had a large and devoted following.

"Faqir Chand ji Sahab was the first guru in the Sant Mat tradition to speak about the 'unknowing' aspects of visionary manifestations, which were called the 'Chandian Effect' after him. However, other Sant Mat gurus like Baba Jaimal Singh Ji went beyond this hypothesis and spoke of manifestation and knowledge of manifestations. Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji, for whom both Faqir Chand ji and his master Shiv Brat Lai ji had high regard, wrote and explained that the outward guru can and does know about the inner condition of his disciples. This knowledge is conveyed to the physical master via the inner Shabd, though only in extreme cases where the outer master's attention is needed. The Perfect Master is one with the Supreme Lord and when He initiates a devotee He creates an Astral Image of Himself in the disciple and, then on, never leaves the disciple, remaining therein as the Inner Master. When the life of the disciple needs the personal attention of the

�Master, this Inner Master reports to the Conscious Master." (R.S. White Paper on Religion of Sants and Radhasoami Faith, Dayalbagh, Agra, 2011)

Param Purusha Puran Dhani Huzur Soami Ji Maharaj

A Letter from Swami Ji Maharaj

My Dear Saligram,�

"Always remember the Lord, and, knowing that He is always with you, imbue yourself with His love. I have come to know the state of your restlessness and uneasiness all these days owing to separation and overflow of love. But the Lord is with you all the time. Why are you so restless? This, too, is a sort of joy, which is particularly bestowed on lovers only, and its relish is experienced only during the state of separation. Its bitterness, in fact, is also very sweet indeed. Of course outward darshan you get only occasionally, but the Lord is watchful in Shabd Form and is always with you.�

"Lord in Shabd form is always with you and is never far. Have patience, and you will get a glimpse of True Light.�

"Sat Naam, the Name of Sat Purush, is resounding in Sat Lok. Raise your Surat with Shabd, and you will have darshan of the refulgent form of the Lord.�

"Be saturated with His love and yearning. Keep away from evil tendencies and leanings. Combating with mind and its forces, remain absorbed in Shabd.�

"Further, your letter of yearning was read out in the assembly of all the Satsangis. All were pleased to hear it, and, in a way, it served as an example to them all, to emulate and learn what true love means. The Lord will, out of His own Grace and Mercy, bestow upon you the blessings of true love in its entirety. Further the Lord is all powerful.�

"Radhaji sends Her blessings for your welfare and is pleased with you and says that She will intercede on your behalf for your early return."

Reducing or Eliminating Karma Through the Divine Current of Shabd,�by Huzur Maharaj, Prem Patra Radhasoami ("Love Discourses of the Lord of the Soul")

Worldly Thoughts and Impulses Should Be Converted into Zeal For Securing Internal Bliss and Happiness -- Spiritual Experience

Man's actions are the manifestations of his thoughts. The mind, by projecting thoughts to sense-organs, enjoys pleasures. It, more or less, identifies itself with these thoughts and pleasures. At that time, it does not think of any thing else.

The Effect of Karmas can be Effaced by Performing the Meditation Practice of Surat Shabd Yoga: Union of the Soul With the Divine Light and Sound.

The meditation practice consists in reverting and raising internally the Current of the Surat (spirit, soul) along the Shabd (Divine Sound Stream) and the Light within. The seat of that Current is behind the eyes [at the Third Eye Center].

When such a condition begins to supervene to some extent, as a result of performing the meditation practices, the working of Karmas, both internally and externally, is automatically enfeebled. On getting some bliss and joy internally, and on witnessing the Refulgence, grace and mercy of the Supreme Being, the satsangi's mind is, of itself, detached from the world and its pleasures. The pleasures of the world become insipid. The longing for progress in meditation, and higher and higher bliss, goes on increasing. Worldly desires are curtailed. The practitioner of Shabd Yoga always gives priority to the will, grace and mercy of the Supreme Being in whatever he does. He subordinates his desires to the will of the Supreme Being. Thus the devotee is entangled in Kriyaman Karmas very little or not at all. This cuts short the chain of his Karmas.

Prarabdh Karmas are those, which unfold in this very life. The effect of such Karmas will be very much mitigated by the grace and mercy of the Supreme Father Radhasoami Dayal [The Merciful Lord of the Soul]. To the extent to which a practitioner of Shabd Yoga is able to withdraw from the eyes, he goes on getting detached from the body and the world. In the wakeful state, the seat of the spirit is behind the eyes. It is here that desires, pains and pleasures are felt and the seeds of Karmas or actions are created. Therefore, as the Current of Spirit is withdrawn from here with the help of spiritual exercises, pains and pleasures cease to be felt. In this way, the effect of Prarabdh Karmas is lightened.

As to Sanchit Karmas, they are stored in Manakash (mind-sky) in the form of seed-impressions. They will fructify in a future life. As the practitioner's Surat penetrates Manakash in its ascent to higher regions, the Sanchit Karmas appear in the form of thoughts and impulses. They come into play for a short while only and are obliterated. That is to say, if the spiritual exercises are performed correctly and methodically, the Surat Shabd Meditation practitioner's soul crosses over the region of Manakash in a short time, and the store of his Sanchit Karams is cleared off.

In this way, all the Karams of a practitioner can be exhausted and eradicated in one or two lives. If he is slack in meditation and desires for the pleasures of the world remain embedded in his mind to some extent, purification will take three lives. When the Surat [the attention-faculty of the soul] experiences bliss and joy of Shabd and inner visions in higher regions, pure love and longing for Surat Shabd Yoga goes on increasing day by day. (Huzur Maharaj)

Huzur Maharaj (Rai Salig Ram)

Online Sant Mat Book: Yoga Of Inner Light and Sound, by Swami Achyutanand Baba � Audio/Talking Book and Several E Book Options:�http://bit.ly/tYLcq0

"Obeisance to the Worthy souls. Obeisance to the Liberated souls. Obeisance to the Preceptors (Spiritual Guides). Obeisance to the Spiritual Teachers. Obeisance to all the Saints in the world." (Lord Mahavira, Saman Suttam, Scripture of Jainism)

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#623

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:38 am
Subject: Light and Sound on the Path: More Light!

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Light and Sound on the Path: More Light! ("Mehr Licht") -(Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe)

These Solstice-related holidays have the theme of the return of Light or miracles associated with the Renewal or Incarnation of the Light in the physical plane. Happy Holidays of Light and May the New Year Bring Much Wisdom.

Jai Guru, Radhasoami,

Jai Sat Naam, In the Light and Sound of the Beloved,

James

Sant Mat Fellowship

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The universe within is infinitely larger than the universe without. And if the universe without is over 40 billion light-years and expanding, and yet is merely a tiny drop in a Divine Ocean, this implies much about the Heavens or Dimensions that are waiting for us within.

Rumi: "Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray."

"On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear." (Bhagavad Gita)

"The knowledge of the soul and Supreme Soul is the highest level of knowledge for human beings. It uplifts us from earthly suffering, births and deaths to the State of Salvation (i.e. Moksha, Nirvana)." (Swami Ashutosh Baba)

The December 2011 Sant Mat Satsang Podcast at Blog Talk Radio: The Dharamdasi-Tulsi Sahib Connection: The Five Names and Anurag Sagar

To stream, click this link:�http://bit.ly/tAWWmi�or to download:�http://bit.ly/va43hB

Sant Mat History is the focus of this edition of the Sant Mat Podcast. What is the family tree of Sant Mat? Where does this spiritual path come from? Who used the Five Names (Panch Naam) before the time of Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras? Who was Tulsi Sahib's Guru (one of the successors of Sant Dariya Sahib in Bihar)? Who are the People of the Anurag Sagar? Who used the Anurag Sagar (Kabir's "Ocean of Love"), a sacred text of Sant Mat, before the time of Tulsi Sahib and Radhasoami? I make the case that the lineage of Masters begins with Guru Kabir, goes to Sant Dharam Das (the Dharamdasis), then perhaps to one of Dharam Das's successors, such as Churamani Naam, to Dariya Sahib's Guru, to Dariya Sahib of Bihar, then to one of the successors of Dariya (Guna Das or Teka Das), to Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, and branched out from there.

Other Recent Podcasts Available Online: The Mystic Poetry and Teachings of Darshan Singh -- Love's Last Madness, Parts One and Two; Buddhism and Inner Sound Meditation; A History of Mystics, East and West: Charts of the Heavens -- Maps of Inner Space; The Mystic Poetry and Teachings of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, India: Poetry Musically Accompanied With Sitar, Flute, Tambura and Tablas -- GO TO the Podcast Page of Spiritual Awakening Radio:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/archive.html

Let them try to imprison Him in temple, mosque and church!

The Seeing Eye finds the Beloved's signs in every mote.

Very near your heart are seekers of your Vision;

Those who look at the surface are exiled from the Beloved's Light.

What can I say of the grace He showers on me within?

Darshan, the moment I close my eyes, the Beloved's Light begins.

(Love's Last Madness, Darshan Singh, Hohm Press)

I Hear Your Wordless Song

Light that shines from inner skies,

we watch together.

I hear your wordless song,

of bliss and peace.

Skies illumine with you,

hearts burst with joy,

at your wordless song

of Truth.

No longer tied with earthly ropes

of illusion,

Now free .....freed by your song

of silence!�(Jennifer Latham)

The more we meditate,

the more we communicate with our inner selves,

the more we contemplate the Light and the Sound,

the more lighthearted and energetic we will be to help others.

If your Eye becomes Single, your whole body shall be full of Light: "The meditator sees a dark void ahead when he closes his eyes. Light is seen when attention is focused in the center of that darkness. Sant Tulsi Sahib articulates this thus: 'Attention is stilled in the inner sky and remains seated day and night at the portal of the til (Point).' That is, the spiritual practitioner who focuses his [or her] attention in the inner void enters into the Gate of Bindu or the Tenth Door." (Swami Achyutanand, Yoga of Inner Light and Sound)

Seeing the Inner Light of God, by�Maharshi Mehi Paramhans, translated into English by Pravesh K. Singh

Although the "Drishti Yoga" (Yoga of Inner Light or Vision) is more difficult to accomplish than the "Shabda Yoga" (Inner Sound Meditation), it is important to practice first the Yoga of Light to attain Single-pointedness....

Having attained Single-pointedness, the attention should be focused on the inner Sounds. The consciousness will, naturally, be drawn towards the inner Sounds, leaving the bindu (the Radiant Infinitesimal Point) behind. The extreme bliss experienced when hearing the inner Sounds completely absorbs the consciousness....

While meditating on the inner Sound it is possible for the practitioner to also see the Divine Light. Just as while attending a concert, one cannot help but see (the stage, artists etc.), so also the spectacular scenes of the various Non-Conscious Realms also are seen inevitably when engaged in the practice of the Yoga of Sound. Hence, it has been remarked that "the Light is within the Sound". Not surprisingly, the practice of the meditation upon the inner Sound may transport its practitioner into the Domain of Divine Light. The Sound, nonetheless, is of utmost importance, is the essence of the practice, and not grasping the Sound, therefore, would be the greatest loss."

"If one is whole, one will be filled with Light, but if one is divided, one will be filled with darkness." (Yeshua, Gospel of Thomas) "If your Eye be Single, your whole body shall be full of Light." (Gospel of Matthew) "There is Light within a Person of Light, and it illuminates the entire cosmos." (Yeshua, Gospel of Saint Thomas) "The Light of one soul is equal to that of sixteen suns."(Anurag Sagar) "Thus as a result of recollecting all these things the impulses of the mind are extended from the sphere of material things towards those impulses which are without limit, that is to say, wonder at the New World, and the faculty of vision which belongs to contemplation [of God]. For when the vision of the mind is mingled with the Light...., all its impulses become infinite. For none of the Visionaries or 'Gnostics' is able to distinguish the identity of the mind as a result of the vision of that glorious Light that is seen ..... for all the innermost�chambers of the heart are filled by that blessed Light....". (Joseph the Visionary, Syriac Mystic quoted in, The Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life, translated from the Aramaic by Sebastian Brock) "Blessed are those who have approached the divine Light, who have entered it and been absorbed by it, mingled in its brightness." (Saint Symeon)

The Nameless God (Anami): "Come, that I may teach you about secrets no person has ever seen. For there exists a Great and Boundless Realm, whose extent no generation of angels has seen, in which there is a Great Invisible Spirit, which no eye of an angel has ever seen, no thought of the heart has ever comprehended, and it was never called by any name."(Yeshua, Gospel of Judas)

"It is impossible to confine love to the temporal and transient levels of life, and it is impossible to confine the grandeur and majesty of God to the dimensions of the mind. When I had come to a partial realization of this fact, wise adepts of the inner realms provided me with guidance through the fragrant mystic universe, the spirito-mental region. They showed me their many magnificent planets of light and wonder. It was they who ultimately persuaded me to roam and explore untold realms of gold within myself. I had no fixed starting place in time and space, for I dwelt in a multi-verse that was co-extensive with all the ages. But my inner world was still limited by the boundaries of creation; I needed the guidance of a spiritual adept, within the physical world itself, to give me new birth into the freedom of eternity." (George Arnsby Jones)

He has awaited me for countless ages. Yet I did not know the bliss that was so near to me, for my love was not yet awake. But now, my Lover has made known to me the meaning of the note that struck my ear: Now, my good fortune is come. Kabir says: "Behold! how great is my good fortune! I have received the unending caress of my Beloved!"�-- Guru Kabir

The moral code appertaining to Radhaswami Faith is comprised in two sentences:

All acts including spiritual practice which tend to free the spirit from matter and raise it towards its source are good work.

All acts which tend to degrade the spirit be weighing it downwards deeper and deeper into matter are bad work. Again any action done with a view to help the needy from unselfish motives is good work; and the contrary, bad work in this world.

Radhasoami Dayal says that the highest aim and object of every spirit should be to gradually throw off the coating of matter with a view to return to the Supreme Source. This is what He defines as "Good". To seek worldly objects, to set the heart entirely on worldly affairs, is a retrograde movement; and this is "bad". The next aim of every human being should be to do good to his fellow creatures by thought, word and deed as far as practicable, and to avoid injuring them except in the interests of society or for the good of many. (Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Prakash)

"This world is perishable and so also is all that pertains to it. A wise person is he, who, having closely examined the nature of existence here, has realized that it is all transitory and illusory, and consecrated his human form by devoting himself to Bhajan and Sumiran (listening to inner Sounds and repetition of the Holy Name of the Supreme Being) and who, taking the fullest advantage of the various faculties which the Supreme Father has graciously endowed him with, has translated the invaluable jewel within him, which is Surat (spirit, the soul) or the essence of his being, to its Original Abode." (Opening Paragraph of Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose)

"To realize the Truth, one has to first realise the Self, because the essence of the Truth is the same as the essence of the Self....." (R.K.Gupta, The Science and Philosophy of Spirituality)

Always, always meditate day and night: When you rise, when you lie down, when you breathe in, when you breathe out. Waking or sleeping, relish the taste of meditation -- meditation will bring union. Meditation will remove all your burdens; meditation upon Ram's name [God's name] will become your support. Kabir, says, "He is limitless."�(Songs of Kabir from the Adi Granth, Nirmal Das, SUNY Press, NY)

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#624

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sun Jan 1, 2012 2:15 pm
Subject: Sant Mat As It Is -- Light and Sound on the Path, January 2012

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Sant Mat As It Is -- Light and Sound on the Path, January 2012

(Pictured Above: Soami Ji Maharaj)

Below in this first Sant Mat Satsang Society digest/newsletter of 2012:

*Links to Podcasts and Sant Mat Websites;

*The Ascension of the Soul;

*Spirituality Part of Daily Life;

*Meditation Improves With Practice -- Never Give Up;

*Do Simran -- Do the Meditation;

*About the Practices and the Ahimsa/Ethical Foundation of Sant Mat: Five Precepts, and Eight Limbs of Yoga;

*The Four Essentials of Sant Mat;

*Bhajan of Huzur Maharaj: The Secret of Life: Contained Within This Human Form Are All the Portals and Inner Regions of the Cosmos;

*How Karma Operates (Essays on the Bijak of Kabir, A Genuine Satsang Template of Sant Mat)

and....

*Happy New Year 2012! -- Five New Year Messages;

Jai Sat Naam -- Jai Guru -- Radhasoami!

Social Networking in India: New Sant Mat Page (and Blog) at SpeakingTree:

http://www.SpeakingTree.in/public/6lhpifd3dj81kde6euberrxo7/blog

Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts and Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/archive.html

Sant Mat Fellowship at Yahoo Groups:

http://groups.Yahoo.com/group/SantMatFellowship

Sant Mat Library of Online Books:

http://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/library.html

Daily Spiritual Quotes: Sant Mat at Facebook:

http://www.Facebook.com/SantMatRadhasoami

Sant Mat Radhasoami Blog - Number One Sant Mat Blog on the Web:

http://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com

Daily Spiritual Quotes: Sant Mat at Twitter:

http://Twitter.com/SantMat

Daily Spiritual Quotes: Sant Mat at Tumblr:

http://SantMat.Tumblr.com

"Better than a thousand useless words

is one useful word,

hearing which one attains peace.

Better than a thousand useless verses

is one useful verse,

hearing which one attains peace."

-- Buddha, Dhammapada

"This mysterious path is described in the holy books, but it cannot be found simply by the study of sacred texts. It is found by the grace and guidance of an Accomplished Teacher." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

"Those that say that individuals are not capable of changing anything are only looking for excuses" (Vaclav Havel)

"The eyes only see what the mind is prepared to comprehend." (Henri Bergson)

Starve the ego,

Feed the soul.

"To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don't need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself." (Thich Nhat Hanh)

"I think it's very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person." (Oscar Wilde)

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." (Oscar Wilde)

Souls are God-Particles: "The soul is a particle or wave (ansa) of the Supreme Being just as the ray of the Sun is an emanation of the Sun."(Huzur Maharaj, Prem Patra Radhasoami)

"The pathway to the liberation of the 'jiva' (individual soul) already exists within each one of us." (Baba Devi Sahab)

"God and Love (Bhakti) are one and the same thing". (Baba Devi Sahab)

"Look within yourself with the inner eye. The whole expanse inside is replete with the refulgence of the Divine Light." (Sant Dadu Dayal, the Compassionate Mystic)

"Remember, I can only show you the door, you must walk through it". (Morpheus, in, The Matrix)

The Ascension of the Soul, By Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj

The individual Soul has descended from the higher worlds [realms of the Divine] to this city of illusion [bodily existence]. It has descended from the Soundless State to the essence of Sound, from that Sound to Light, and finally from the realm of Light to the realm of Darkness. The qualities (natural tendencies) of the sense organs draw us upward (by withdrawing consciousness) from the darkness to the realms of Light and Sound. In other words, to go inward from the external sense organs to the depth of the inner Self. The natural tendencies of the Soul (Atman) are to move from outward to inward. The Current of consciousness which is dispersed in the nine gates of the body and the nine senses must be collected at the tenth gate (the sixth chakra, the Third Eye Bindu, Center between the eyebrows). Therein lies the path for our return. This is the act of leaving the gates of the sense organs and becoming established in the soul. .... We travel back from the realm of Darkness to the realm of Light, from the Light to divine Sound, and from the realm of Sound to the Soundless State [the Ocean of Love and All-consciousness]. This is turning back. This is what dharma or religion really intends to teach us and it is the essence of dharma. (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, Harmony Of All Religions)

The Word, and, OM, by The Moody Blues ('The Fountain' film motif continues!) -- Youtube:�http://youtu.be/IfkUfarjVO8

Swami Harinandan Baba

Spirituality Part of Daily Life, By Swami Harinandan Baba, Living One and Current Acharya (Teacher) of Sant Mat at Maharshi Mehi Ashram -- in Guru Kabir/Sant Dharamdas/Sant Dariya Sahib/Sant Tulsi Sahib Lineage -- Translation from Hindi into English Provided by Pravesh K. Singh Ji

This faith, loyalty and dedication precisely are the proof of one's honesty. We should forsake neither three times meditation a day nor satsang (company of noble people). Those who develop the habit of attending satsang daily, feel as if they have committed some crime if they somehow miss satsang, even for a single day. Similar is the state of those who practice meditation regularly. If they don't sit in meditation as scheduled, they feel restless as if something really important has gone amiss, feel bereft of mental peace. Another thing is that only they who meditate regularly find concentration and genuine pleasure in it. Which is why, our Guru Maharaj (Maharshi Mehi Paramhans Ji Maharaj) would say, "Attend satsang daily, and meditate daily as well". If you could fix and strictly observe a particular routine for meditation, that would be even better. Get up at 3 AM, also known as 'Brahma Muhurta'. There is no disturbance at this hour. Ambiance, also is perfectly calm. This is the best time for meditation.�

Meditation Improves With Practice -- Never Give Up, By Swami Harinandan Baba

Initially when we sit in meditation, 'dhyAn' [true meditation, all encompassing concentration] does not take place; it is as if we are pretending to meditate. But as we tenaciously persist sincerely with our practice, one day dhyAn does happen in its true sense. Otherwise those are extremely rare to find who can do dhyAn perfectly. DhyAn has been described as "dhyAnam shUnyagatam manah" (Dhyan means the mind getting completely void of any thoughts or agitations). He who can accomplish perfect dhyAn finds that his mind has become empty. Thus Sants exhort us not to sit in the lap of disappointment (if we don't succeed in meditation) but to persevere whether dhyAn is effected or not.

Do Simran -- Do the Meditation, By Swami Harinandan Baba

Perform virtuous acts, you will receive happiness. Also do 'sumiran' (remembering God's name, or meditating on the Divine Sound) regularly. The biggest advantage of 'sumiran' is that we do not have to pass through the painful cycle of 8.4 million species again. Those who perform true worship of God, meditate on His name, are rid of the cycle of transmigration. The condition is that meditation be done with utmost regularity. Get initiation from an adept Guru, meditate thrice daily. Whether you see anything (during meditation) or not, never ever discontinue meditation. Initially, it might appear to be a mere show, a 'useless' exercise. People often say that they are going to do 'dhyan', but dhyan does not happen in the very beginning. Dhyan is in fact the seventh limb of eight-fold Yoga* (as enunciated by Patanjali). We have to start with 'yam'**, 'niyam', 'Asan', 'prANAyAm', 'pratyAhAr'; then comes 'dhyAn'. Dhyan is followed by 'samAdhi' (the highest state of meditation) which is the eighth limb of yoga. So dhyan does not happen initially. First we make an attempt to do dhyan, and this process is called 'dhyAn AbhyAs' (practice of dhyan [meditation]).

About the Practices and the Ahimsa/Ethical Foundation of Sant Mat

* The Eight Limbs of Yoga -- Stairway to Heaven -- these steps and stages of ascension are used to varying degrees fairly universally by Eastern spiritual paths:

See:�http://yoga.about.com/od/theyogasutras/p/eightlimbs.htm

** Ethical Foundation - The Five Precepts: Two and a half/three hours of meditation per day, and ethcial precepts of Ahisma (non-violence in thought, word, and deed):

THE ETHICAL FOUNDATON OF SANT MAT -- AHIMSA VALUES -- THE FIVE PRECEPTS (Includes Vegan Version)

Moral requirements for Initiation

1. Abstinence from alcohol and drugs (intoxicants);

2. Ahimsa (Non-Violence in thought, word, and deed) including in the area of diet, as in following a vegan (abstinence from animal products) or vegetarian diet (abstinence from meat, fish, and eggs);

3. Leading a truthful life;

4. Practicing non-stealing: an honest, ethical source of income;

5. Loyalty to ones spouse;

Another Version of the Five Precepts

1) Refrain from taking the life of sentient beings. This precept also requires strict adherence to a vegan (no animal products) or lacto-vegetarian diet (no meat, fish, poultry nor eggs, fertilized or non-fertilized).

2) Refrain from speaking what is not true.

3) Refrain from taking what is not yours.

4) Refrain from sexual misconduct.

5) Refrain from using intoxicants.

* Below is on Daily Meditation, Ethical Precepts, and Eight Limbs of Yoga in the book, Philosophy of Liberation, by Sant Maharshi Mehi:

88. Yama consists of five disciplines: satya (truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacarya (continence), and aparigraha (control of greed or non-possessiveness).

89. In following Yama and Niyama, one exercises aversion from the five sins, serves the spiritual master, attends satsang, and practices meditation as referred to in section 60.

91. Meditation should be practiced being alert, without being drowsy, shutting the eyes comfortably and without turning the eyeballs or pressing them in any way.

92. The practice of meditation should be an essential part of the practitioner's daily routine. The preferred time of meditation is Brahmamuhurta ([Hour of God: Brahma-mu-hurta, or Amrit Veela: Hours of Elixir]: very early in the morning: 3:00/4:00 A.M.). Likewise one should meditate at mid-morning and then again in the evening time. While falling asleep, one should also engage his mind in meditation. Further, it is good to practice Manas japa [Simran] or Manas dhyana [Dhyan] while working.

94..........In the initial stages of dhyana (absolute concentration), pratyahara is practiced. [Note: Pratyahara means to bring back. Bringing back or refocusing one's attention during meditation, bringing the mind distracted by worldly thoughts back to the Focal Point during meditation.] Through the means of pratyahara, the mind is brought back repeatedly to the Focal Point. By this constant practice of pratyahara, one is eventually able to concentrate for a short period on the Focal Point. This state of concentration is called dharana (steadiness of concentration or absorption). When absorption is maintained for longer and longer periods of time, then it is dhyana (absolute concentration). Then in this state of dhyana, one is able to grasp the Streams of spiritual Sounds (described in section 60) and finally achieves samadhi (Unity [Union, Absorption, Oneness in deep meditation]). Drshti Yoga (seeing the inner Light -- the Yoga of Vision) will greatly facilitate pratyahara and dharana. ////////

"Whoever sincerely practices the inner meditation comes to experience Light within. First he sees the Light and then he hears Sound also. Sound has a natural, inherent property of attracting the listener towards its Source or Origin. One who is capable of grasping the Sound springing straight from the God Himself gets naturally drawn to Him." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

In Sant Mat [the Teachings of the Saints],

great importance has been attached to Bhakti;

it is the sine qua non of Sant Mat.

If there are all other attributes but no Bhakti,

then there is nothing. And he, who has no virtues

but is endowed with Bhakti, is possessed of all.

He alone is a devotee and he alone is dear to

Bhagwant (Lord). Even if one performs

Surat-Shabd Abhyas,

[spiritual exercises, inner Light & Sound Meditation]

but is devoid of this attribute,

then one is empty and hollow.

-- Maharaj Saheb, "Discourses of Maharaj Saheb"

The Four Essentials of Sant Mat are: True Guru (Sat-Guru), True Name (Sat-Naam), True Association (Sat-sang) and True Love (Sat-Anurag).

Bhajan of Huzur Maharaj: The Secret of Life: Contained Within This Human Form Are All the Portals and Inner Regions of the Cosmos

Having heard the plight of the devotee, the All-Merciful Supreme Lord spoke, thus showering torrents of Grace and draining away all pains and sufferings. Human life, with its unknown Secrets, is invaluable. Without knowing its Secrets, how may one realize its value?

Like an ignorant oil miller who did not know the value of the Philosopher's stone, he keeps on weighing oil with the precious stone that he has in his possession. Similarly, without knowing the Secret, you have not valued the human form. You have remained entangled with flesh and bones and not understood the inner Reality. Just as the All (the Reservoir of Spirituality), brought the creation into existence, in a similar measure, the Spirit-Entity has created the human body.

Saints have explained for your benefit the Secret of the creation. There is the Pinda [physical planes/universes] and Brahmanda [Universal Mind Plane], and beyond is the Region of Saints. Each of these has six subdivisions. These are explained in detail by Saints. Chakras, Kamals and Padams [Centers, Lotuses, Ganglions of various regions] are the names given to these only. This human body has within itself the images of all the regions or levels of creation. Contact with these inner regions is established when the corresponding portals are opened.

As the good fortune awakens, all these Secret Gateways get opened. The Spirit-Entity gets released naturally and rejoins its Original Source. Besides the human form, no other body provides this opportunity, (for the Spirit-Entity). It is after aimless wandering for crores of births that you have got it [sentient being, the human form]. The invaluable seeds of Bhakti [spiritual love and devotion] are sown by the Saint Incarnations. Apart from this 'soil' of the human frame, it cannot 'sprout' anywhere else. The path of traversing to the Original Abode that the Saints have revealed, cannot be traversed without residing in this human frame.

Therefore, you should be alert and know the great value of this human body. You must realize the immense value of each breath of life that you take.

Now I tell the Secret of the mind that you have been given. This provides a connection between the Spirit and the body.

The burden of the Adi Karma (original propensity to associate with physical matter) that you carry on your head -- the currents of that burden would be falling on this mind now and then.

Call mind a gateway or comprehend it as a pipeline, through which the impurity of Adi Karma would flow out and get emptied.

Without associating with the mind, one cannot reside in the body. Without associating these with the Spirit, the Karmas would not get annihilated.

Without the Karmas being annihilated, one cannot reach the Original Abode. Being sold away in the 'Bazaar of God of Death', you would have to suffer misery everyday.

Radhasoami Dayal [the Compassionate Lord of the Soul] reveals, opening up the essential Secret to you, surrender to the Holy Feet to annihilate all the ailments of your body and soul.�(Prem Bani Radhasoami)

New Year Messages

Greetings for the New Year!

Hope always springs in the human heart. With this in mind, let us hope that the year 2012 will bring greater harmony, understanding, love and acceptance of one another. May the violence and other atrocities prevalent in the world come to an end, so that people can begin to live according to human ideals.

Throughout history there has been great teachings by our Saints and Satgurus to enshrine Divine Love in our hearts, to live a spiritual life, and strive to realize unity with God and with all in the world. Unfortunately, there has been violence throughout history, and the peace that most people would like to have in their lives, has not been experienced.

With the modern means of communication, good and spiritual ideas can be transmitted worldwide very quickly. However, what is most often transmitted throughout the world are the crimes, misdeeds, violence, immorality and quite often useless information. How wonderful it would be if everyone could see the reflection of Divinity in everyone else's heart. And for those who do not believe in God, they could see the reflection goodness that is inherent in the heart of everyone. We all need to raise our consciousness from the mundane to the Divine, and let go of trivialities, prejudices, hate, and a myriad of negativities that occupy our lives.

May this New Year bring blessings, brotherhood, understanding and acceptance of one another. Let the innate love that is often dormant in our heart be transmitted to all beings.

Satguru Kabir stated, "Love does not grow in a garden or sold in the

marketplace. Whether you are a king or a poor subject, you need to surrender your ego to manifest love."

BLESSINGS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Dr. J. Das

Kabir Association of Canada (pictured below)

Message from His Holiness Panth Shri Hajur 1008 Ardhnam Saheb

Satyanaam

Dear Kabir Saheb's blessed,

My heartiest well wishes to all of you for the New Year and Poornima. I wish and pray that it brings happiness and success to all of you in your endeavours. May the new year bring with it strength and devotion to bring you close to Satguru.

As each new day gives you fresh and new opportunities similarly does the beginning of a new year, glance back and see what was achieved and achievable.

May Satguru help you all in achieving your goals and bringing happiness and health in life of your dear ones.

My best wishes to all of you.

Panth Shri 1008 Hajur Ardhanam Saheb

Sadguru Kabir Prakatyadham Lahartara

Varanasi, INDIA 0091-9415304040

"In the enveloping darkness of these days, I say to all to whom my voice may reach: Turn back to God! He is not afar. He is not in temples and churches: They are no longer centres of spiritual forces. He is not in scriptures which men recite but do not make effort to translate the teaching in deeds of daily living. He is not in places of pilgrimage. He is within you!" (Dada J. P. Vaswani, Sadhu Vaswani Mission, from his New Year's Message)

A New Year's Message by Sant Kirpal Singh

All scriptures handed down the ages are conclusive that 'God is Spirit' -- moreover 'God made man in His own image.' The image cannot be but spirit.

As God is infinite, i.e. not subject to death, then man in his own essence can also be not subject to death -- he is conscious entity, a drop of the ocean of all consciousness, and indweller in the body, and on account of that the body is working. God is a living Presence within our being -- controlling us in the body. Both soul and God reside in our bodies, but we are identified with the body so much so that we have forgotten our own self. We are under a grand delusion and cannot see the world in its right perspective. Unless we know ourselves by rising above body-consciousness, how can we know God who is residing with us in the body? Truly speaking, manbody is the temple of God. We should therefore be conscious of our Divine Nature, and try to regain our God-head. For that, you turn away completely from outside and outgoing faculties for a while, and close yourself in the closet of your body. The Ringing Radiance of God will become effulgent. God is eternal, all wisdom, all happiness, so you are the same. Mind that you and God are one, you can never be separated. He is ever with you, enlivening you. His life is your life, and you cannot live without Him -- so you have nothing to fear.

Man is what he thinks about all day long. One can only live one moment at a time. Emerson said: "There is no moment in eternity more important than this moment." All real good or evil that may befall him is from himself. If a man lives in a good or bad way in the real present, he will ensure the same in the future. If you have bad thoughts for others, you will harm not them only but yourself as well, as thoughts are very potent. So try to live in the living present, forgetting the past and the future -- and fill every moment of your life with simple trust in Him in all loving devotion. He will manifest in you when you choose and turn your face to Him. As loving advice I give you, from this moment let love be your constant companion and trust Him in all things. God is love and love is God, and the way back to God is also through love. Guru Gobind Singh says "Hear ye all, I tell the truth; God is attained through love." Rest assured that He is With you always, and be of good cheer.

With all best wishes,

Yours affectionately,

Kirpal Singh

1970 Christmas and New Year's Message

RuhaniSatsangUSA Website

How Karma Operates (Essays on the Bijak of Kabir, A Genuine Satsang Template of Sant Mat), By Dr. Jagessar Das

"If we wish good things to happen, we have to do good things. We cannot have anger, hate, greed, violence, egoism, lust, jealousy and evil intentions and expect good results. Yet all people expect good things to happen to them, even when they display all the bad and negative behaviour. It simply will not happen. So the violence occurring in the world simply feeds itself in a self-perpetuating manner, as does all negative activities. Good and positive activities will also perpetuate themselves. Bad things in the world will cease only when they are replaced with good, and sufficient time is allowed for the negative karmas to work themselves out in peoples� lives. This may take several lifetimes, but the start has to be made, otherwise there will be no progress in the positive direction. The good must be in thoughts, words and deeds. It all boils down to the fact that good will not produce bad, and bad will not produce good.

"Considering the above, how do we decide what is good and what is bad? Different people can have different interpretations of good and bad. We give 'value', whether negative of positive, to everything in life. Whatever brings happiness, comfort, self-esteem, respect, enjoyment and good health we say is good. Whatever brings suffering, stress, depression, anxiety and illness we say is bad. We mold our behaviour according to the 'value' we give to things, and according to our behaviour, we reap the fitting results, good or bad.

"How do we change our behaviour? First, we need to assess our actions in thoughts, words and deeds and decide if they are good or bad, and make the changes. This will require diligence and perseverance. Second, we need to seek the company of those who can guide us in the 'good' direction. Third, we need to get in touch with the 'Source' of our being. That Source is indescribably good, and has given the gift of life. That source is with us and within us." ////////

"Be not imprisoned in the jail of ' I ' and 'me'. He who hath transcended self, he verily hath attained to the Highest. He hath become Perfect. Such a one knows no difference between the Hindu, the Muslim, the Sikh, the Christian, the Jew, the Buddhist or the Zoroastrian, for God is the Lord of all and in all shines the one picture Divine; we are worshippers of the same Lord. The One is within thee, outside thee, in me, in him and in every place. That One alone doeth speak in all." (Kirpal Singh)

"In different times and different places saints appear and their followers name their religion according to the sage or saint who propounded that tradition. The appearance of differences can be attributed to time, place, and language. This gives rise to various labels for the common views held by all religions. Likewise, due to excessively zealous followers, these seeming differences are often amplified. When all sectarianism and the temporal and linguistic aspects are removed, the basic principles of all the saints are in accord and the voices of the saints are in harmony." (Maharishi Mehi, "Harmony of All Religions")

Let them try to imprison Him in temple, mosque and church!

The seeing eye finds the Beloved's signs in every mote.

Very near your heart are seekers of your vision;

Those who look at the surface are exiled from the Beloved's Light.

What can I say of the grace he showers on me within?

Darshan, the moment I close my eyes, the Beloved's Light begins.

"How wondrous is the instrument of love!

Two hearts join and sing as one.

Indefinable, inscrutable its ultimate design:

Life is forever a constant beginning."

(Sant Darshan Singh)

-- Darshan Singh, New Poetry Website:�http://LovesLastMadness.com

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From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Fri Feb 3, 2012 5:07 am
Subject: Light and Sound on the Path -- Sant Mat Satsang Newsletter

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Light and Sound on the Path -- Sant Mat Satsang Newsletter: February 3rd

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Below: Words of Light and Love for the Spiritual Journey from the Masters -- Past and Present:

Sant Mat As Presented by J.L. Chaudhari (Chand, Mataji, Radhasoami);

Mystic Poetry About the Countless Worlds: "Many millions are the skies and solar systems" .... "Through the Word the Worlds Converse";

Document: "The Definition or Explanation of Sant Mat";

One of the Prayers Recited Daily in India: "Hail All Sants";

New Podcast at SoundCloud on the Ahimsa-Ethical Foundation of the Masters of Inner Light and Sound;

More Material Added to the Sant Mat Library;

Wisdom from the Gospel of THOMAS;

Scanned Pages from the Narada Bhakti Sutras, and Kabir;

The Story of Quan Yin (Avalokiteshvara);

Songs of Kabir, by Rabindranath Tagore: http://bit.ly/xjD4vW

"People keep thinking and living on-borrowed-dharma." (Baba Devi Sahab)

Rumi: "So long as a spirit does not rise above the body-consciousness, it remains a stranger to the spiritual realms beyond".

Meditation: "O traveler! Seek the path that lies within you. You and your Beloved are in the same body. Your Beloved is pervading everywhere but not being perceived. Those initiated by Guru are able to recognize God within their bodies." (Maharshi Mehi)

Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras: "The soul's inner eye has not opened, and though he has his external sight, he is really blind, that is, cannot see things in their true perspective. Without the Satguru, he will drift in the lower centers and will never be rid of his worldly attachments. No other Yuga [epoch] can be compared with Kali Yuga in which Sants [Saints, Heavenly Beings, Enlightened Masters] incarnate themselves. If the Jiva-soul adopts the Saran [refuge] of a Saint, he will get across the ocean of material existence. When the soul (Surat-disciple) meets the Master (Shabd-guru), the Path will be traversed."

"So plunge into the Truth, find out who the Teacher is. Believe in the Great Sound!" (Kabir)

"The beginning of the Turiyaa state has been said to be the Aajnaa-chakra (the Guru instructs about the Point in between the two eyes where the vision of both unites [Third Eye Center]), and the destination of this is in Kaivalya -- the State of Oneness -- Pure Consciousness." (Swami Bhagirath Baba)

"When you reach the state of concentration, then you are surrounded by a protective aura automatically. No power on earth can harm you then. Therefore, do simran and be anxiety-free." (Anurag Sagar, Volume Two)

"Seeing without eyes

Hearing without ears

Walking without feet

Working without hands

Uttering His Name without tongue

And dying while living

Is accepting His Will."

-- Guru Angad

"If you are an ocean, I am like a wave; I rise from you and I retire and return unto you." (Swami Ji Maharaj)

‎"If you know you're alive,

find the essence of life.

Life is the sort of guest

you don't meet twice."

(Guru Kabir, The Bijak -- Sakhi 10)

Through the Word the Worlds Converse

And the Highest One gave the Word to his worlds,

which interpret his own beauty,

recite his praise,

reveal his thought,

are instructors of his works.

For the swiftness of the Word is ineffable.

Its course knows no end,

it never fails, it stands.

Its decent and its Way are incomprehensible.

And through the Word the worlds converse.

The mouth of the Highest One spoke to them

and he was made clear by his Word.

The dwelling place of the Word is man

and Its Truth is Love.

(Book of the Odes, Syriac/Aramaic, First Century AD)

‎"Hiding in this cage of visible matter

is the invisible lifebird.

Pay attention to her.

She is singing your song."

(Kabir)

"Look around inside you,

The blue sky opens out farther and farther,

A million suns come forward with Light

When I sit firmly in that inner world."

(Kabir)

Many millions are the skies and solar systems.

Many millions are the moons, the suns and stars.

Many millions are the sources of creation and continents.

Many millions are the jewel containing oceans.

Many times has the universal expanse occurred.

The Lord has strung all the creation in His thread.

His limit no one knows.

Many millions go about in many existences.

Many millions have been the incarnations.

Many millions are the creatures of various descriptions.

Many millions of beings, the Lord has made of good many descriptions.

Many millions are the celestial singers.

Ever and ever, the Unique Lord remains the same.

From the Lord, they emanate and into the Lord they merge.

(Adi Granth, Sikh Scriptures)

PODCAST: Some Radio For Peace -- Education For A More Peaceful Planet: The Ethical Foundation of the Masters of Inner Light and Sound: lecture on peace and ahimsa (non-violence in thought, word, and deed) as practiced in Sant Mat as well as Jainism: Spiritual Awakening Radio -- Program Length: 45 Minutes [via SoundCloud]: http://SoundCloud.com/santmat/spiritualawakeningradio293

Recently Added to the Sant Mat Library of Recommended Reading

PDF File of the Shri Satyadeo Baba translation of "Philosophy Of Liberation";

Kirpal Singh: "Dangers Of Spiritual Healing, Yoga and Occult Powers" (Sant Mat is not a "new age" psychic path);

Kirpal Singh Poetry: "Divine Melodies";

Darshan Singh Poetry: "Love's Last Madness";

Western Plagiarisms of India's Sant Mat Tradition: "The Making of a Spiritual Movement – The Untold Story of Paul Twitchell and Eckankar", authored by David C. Lane;

"Evaluating Spiritual Teachers" – In Search of a Worthy, Genuine, Competent, Qualified Spiritual Teacher, by Don Howard;

"The Bijak of Kabir" – Ahmad Shah Translation;

"57 Health Benefits of Going Vegan";

"Why I Don't Eat Faces – A Neuroethical Argument for Vegetarianism", by David C. Lane;

Youtube: "The China Study" – Lecture by T. Colin Campbell;

"Vegans Are Cool", by Kathy Divine;

New Vegan Cookbook;

"The Book of Compassion – Reverence For All Life" (Vegan Jain Publication);

"Reducing Our Himsa (Violence) Footprints";

"Lost Books of the Bible", and, "Summarizing the Spiritual Message of the Gospel of Thomas in the Context of Syriac Mysticism";

"The Stranger of Galilee – The Sermon on the Mount and the Universal Spiritual Tradition", by Russell Perkins;

"Sophia's Passion: Sant Mat and the Gnostic Myth of Creation", by Dr. Neil Tessler;

John Davidson: The Gospel of Jesus – In Search of His Original Teachings (via Google Books)

The Sant Mat Library:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/library.html

‎"If your spiritual guides say to you,

'Look, the divine Realm is

in the sky,'

well then the birds

will get there ahead of you.

If they say,

'It is in the sea,'

then the fish will precede you.

"No, divine Reality exists

inside and all around you.

Only when you have come to know your

true Self will you be fully known --

realizing at last that you

are a child of the Living One.

If, however, you never come to know

who you truly are,

you are a poverty-stricken being,

and it is your 'self'

which lies impoverished."

(Yeshua, Saying Three, The Gospel of Thomas --

Wisdom of the Twin, Lynn Bauman translation)

"In all truth it can be said that the fall of the human being took place when he began to forget himself. That is to say: to forget his Supreme Being, the mysterious Source whence he emerged." (The Law of Attention - Nada Yoga and the Way of Inner Vigilance, Edward Salim Michael)

‎"We are in physical bodies. We are conscious entities. We are so much tied up with mind and matter that we cannot differentiate ourselves. We have to leave the physical, transcend the astral, go further beyond the causal, supercausal, and reach the true home of our Father. That is the true destination for each one of us." (from, The Night is a Jungle, By Kirpal Singh, Ruhani Satsang Books)

Kabir says: "God suits His language to the understanding of His hearer."

"The whole process of evolution, for the spirit, is an awakening to the truths, and the means of implementation of those truths, that are eternally present in itself. What was implicit has to become explicit... When you discover for yourself, however dimly, that you are rooted in something that is infinitely vast potential, you have found the soil wherein you grow unconsciously into a most wonderful tree, the Tree of Life blended with knowledge." (Lord Mahavira)

The Definition or Explanation of Sant Mat

1. Stillness or steadiness is the essence of Shanti.(A)

2. He who has attained Shanti is a saint.(B)

3. Sant Mat encompasses the thoughts and teachings of the saints and sages.

4. It is natural for human beings to desire Shanti. Inspired by this inherent desire, seers of ancient times searched for the inner peace and found the path to attain this inner peace, and expounded this way in the ancient teachings of the Upanishads.(C) Similar views have been expressed by saints in more recent times such as Guru Nanak and Kabir Sahib. They expressed their teaching in the Punjabi and Hindi vernaculars, respectively,(D) for the inspiration and edification for the common masses. The teachings of these latter saints are referred to as Sant Mat.

However, the Upanishads are considered to be the foundation of Santmat, because they uniquely and abundantly describe the means for attaining Shanti, and contain a comprehensive explanation of the Divine Word-Sound which leads to the Highest Wisdom. The Upanishads explain the yogic techniques and present a systematic path for transcending thought in order to attain the Absolute through the use of sound (the Yoga of Surat Shabda).(E) Santmat follows the yogic path prescribed in the Upanishads and specifically, employs Surat Shabad Yoga in its practices. [Therefore, it is to be understood that the teaching of the saints is a later expression and development of the teaching within the Upanishads.]

When viewed on the surface, the teachings of various saints sometimes seem to contradict one another [or even to contradict the principles of the Upanishads]. But upon deeper analysis, it becomes apparent that there is an unbreakable unity in the spiritual views of all saints. Saints have appeared in different times and in different places, and their followers name their tradition in respect to the particular saint [for example, Kabir Panth and Dadu Panth]. The apparent differences can be attributed to variations in time, place, language, and labels given to the views, but in reality, they are the same. It also happens that excessively zealous followers tend to accentuate these seeming differences. When sectarianism and the forms of the particular time or place of the teachings of a saint are removed, the basic principles of Santmat are in unity.

Footnotes by Veena Howard

(A) Shanti is a Sanskrit word which can be understood in English as peace, tranquility, and bliss. It is the peace which results from participation in some degree of Divine communion.

(B) The term "Sant" is derived from the Sanskrit Sat (truth, reality). Thus the "one who knows the Truth," and who has experienced Ultimate Reality. Even though the word sant does not cognate with "Saint" it is often translated in English "Saint." In this book, for the sake of convenience, we use the words 'sant' and 'saint' interchangeably. A saint in the Santmat tradition is one who experiences the mystical state; it is a title conferred because of yogic achievements. This is different from the way this word is commonly understood in Western traditions, where a saint is considered to be morally correct and is only canonized as a saint after death on the basis of some form of miracle that he/she had performed during their life times. In the Sant Mat tradition, a saint is a living person who leads a moral life and has achieved realization of the Divine. Clearly, many of those who are considered to be saints in the Western view would also be included in the Santmat definition of saint.

(C) The Upanishads are ancient Vedic texts that define and categorize the mystical teachings and the philosophy of Yoga. In the chapter on the Vedanta, we have dealt with these teaching in great detail.

(D) The seers of the Upanishads composed in the Sanskrit language. This was not a language of the common people. Guru Nanak and Kabir Sahab describe the same Upanishadic views in languages understood by the common man.

(E) Surat Shabad Yoga is the practice of transcending the mind in order to enter the level beyond the mind. This is the level of ultimate unity. The vehicle for this inward journey is sound.

-- Maharshi Mehi, quoted in the book, Harmony Of All Religions, and, Philosophy Of Liberation:

http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/Harmony12-ChapterSeven-santmat.pdf

‎"Through inner meditation the jivatman (individual soul) begins its ascent toward the Soundless State [Realm of God/Ultimate Reality Beyond Light and Sound] where it will eventually merge with the Divine. When the soul thus experiences oneness with the Divine, it will attain ultimate peace and supreme joy. Sant Mat teaches a path to the attainment of this joy and peace. This is the significance of the way of saints and the importance of Santmat." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

The Path of the Masters -- The Way of Inner Light and Sound

"The real message of man's life is 'Be Man'. The question is, how to follow this principle and what should we do to adopt this principle and formula for finding a way to God, which is nothing but salvation.

"The only way is to surrender oneself at the lotus feet of a spiritual master. After this surrender, the disciple and master become one, because a true surrender makes a man free from the bondage of senses, dilution, affection, etc, etc... So far as we are under the control of worldly desires, the surrender is not possible. So the first step is to be free from worldly desires. But that does not mean that the needs for earthly life should not be fulfilled. In fact, needs should be fulfilled, and not the desires. If we have taken birth as a human being, some food (energy) is necessary for the body to work, but it is not necessary that we always aspire for multi-course meals. It is necessary to put on some cloths to cover the body, but not necessary that silk linen is put on. It is necessary that there is a small shelter for living, but not necessary that a marble fitted house is something to be attached to.

"As a human being we have to survive in this world without caring for ourselves much, without looking to the ills of others. Rather, by looking towards the ills of ourselves, purifying ourselves first, we then can do something for the purification of others. This is the life of a "lotus" on a pond, and this is why Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, wisdom and intellect, sits on the lotus. The lotus flower blossoms in a muddy pond, but any one looking at the flower exclaims, 'Wow! How beautiful this flower is!' The whole world is a muddy pond and we have to survive in the midst of mud like a lotus flower, which does not care for mud but it blossoms for the pleasure and happiness of others. Every morning with sunrise, the lotus blossoms. This is what we should also follow. The divine Power and Light emanated by the spiritual master makes us to blossom like the lotus flower, provided we have full trust and faith in our spiritual master.

"Sant Mat does not look at the race, cast, sect or any other identification for a person. Rather, it looks to the true sense of service, sacrifice, surrender, devotion, determination, trust, and belief of a person towards the master. Those who have such characteristics may belong to any cast, race, country, or direction. Those of any identification can join this Yoga. But for this a true spiritual master is a must. I don't know whether you have adopted some spiritual master or you are under the shelter of someone as a spiritual master. If so, please do surrender yourself to him or her for all what you desire to attain and achieve. The spiritual master is not the body. Rather, it is the Divine Light, the Divine Sound, and your own wisdom, your own conscious, and your own perception, which is selfless and without any expectation from anyone on this earth."

Yours in Him,

J.L. Chaudhari

‎"Listen within day and night; you will hear blissful inner Sounds. Within everyone, reverberates Shabd [Sound Currents], about which no one knows. The Brahmand [cosmos, inner planes] is represented in the body in every respect. Says Tulsi, open your inner eyes, and the Sant will show it to you.

"Glittering Light shines in the region of the Sky, which only a brave one can behold. If one seeks the Truth, one will not go down the transmigratory cycle. If one meets the Merciful Sat Guru, one will come to know of all the secrets from Him. If one renders service to a Sant, he will tell one of the whereabouts of the Abode. Says Tulsi, it is only by being dead whilst alive* that one can find the Perfect Guru." (Sant Tulsi Sahib)

*NOTE: "Being dead whilst alive" or "death before dying": a popular saying used by Sants and Sufi poets espousing the view that rising above body-consciousness or soul travel during meditation practice is a preparation or rehearsal for the afterlife. Hazrat Sultan Bahu: "Let us die before dying, O Bahu, only then is the Lord attained."

Hail all Sants,

Hail all Sants!

Oh, too mean is our intellect

to extol the Sants!

Hail all Sants!

Smashers of sorrows,

breakers of worldly fetters

Treasure of wisdom,

they are the world's benefactors!

Yoga of Light,

Yoga of Sound,

In an easy way everywhere they propound!

Hail all Sants!

Great are all the Sages, great was Lord Buddha

Foes of sins, great were Shankara and Ramananda.

Glory to Sant Kabir who was so great

Glory to Guru Nanak who was so great!

Hail all Sants!

Goswami Shri Tulsidas Ji

Great benefactor Sahab Tulsi

Dadu, Sundar, Sura, Svapach,

Ravi the great seer

Jagjeevan, Paltu -- they robbed us of all fears!

Hail all Sants!

Satguru Devi (Sahab) and all those who have been, are

And who ever will be! Prostrate at their feet we are!

I, Mehi, sing their glory, express my appreciation

And place at their lotus-feet all my expectation!

Hail all Sants!

O Hail all Sants!

(Prayer of Maharshi Mehi,

Translated into English

by Pravesh K. Singh)

Narada Bhakti Sutras, 1-4, Translated by Swami Tyagisananda

"Receive initiation from the Guru in the true secrets of Shabd. Practice the modes of Surat Shabd Yoga with love and affection. Listen to the reverberations of Anhad Shabd within you. Regularly practice Surat Shabd Yoga. Contemplate the Guru's Form. Behold beautiful scenes and spectacles within. When Radhasoami Dayal [the Merciful Lord of the Soul] is pleased to shower His grace, He will elevate your soul along the Current of Shabd. You will then ascend to your True Home." (Huzur Maharaj, Prem Bani Radhaswami)

‎"One grasps the central Sounds of the lower realms and progressively is drawn upward to the Sounds of the higher realms. Ultimately, one reaches the center of the Original Sound, the Essential Divine Sound, and thereafter attains the Ultimate State, Sabdatit Pad (State beyond Sound). The Yoga of Sound must be practiced in order to attain the Nameless State (Anami, Anadi)." (Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy of Liberation)

Kabir says: "If you merge your life in the Ocean of Life, you will find your life in the Supreme Land of Bliss."

Youtube: Bodhisattva of Compassion: Meditating Within and Being Compassionate Without -- The Story of Quan Yin (Avalokiteshvara):

http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=PkG8Q-z38LE

Countless Are the Earths, Spheres, and Devotees: Countless are the gospels, sutras, odes, upanishads, gathas, quatrains, abhangas, gitas, granths, vanis and vedas. As Guru Nanak says in his Morning Prayer (Jap Ji): "Endless are the harmonies played by the minstrels; the players prepare endless tunes and measures to sing to Thee, 0 bountiful Creator. Thy Light is within the beings and the beings are all within thy Light..... countless are the countries, earths and spheres. Millions assign to Him ever new names, 0 Nanak."

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From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:50 pm
Subject: Going Beyond the Universe -- Light and Sound on the Path

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Going Beyond the Universe -- Light and Sound on the Path

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PODCAST:�February 2012 Sant Mat Satsang PODcast: "The Role of the Master is to Bring Us Into the Direct Experience of God" -- also an update about the Sant Mat Library -- GO TO:�http://bit.ly/y2eMvE

PODCAST:�Education For A More Peaceful Planet: The Ethical Foundation of the Masters -- a presentation on peace and ahimsa (non-violence in thought, word, and deed) as practiced in Sant Mat as well as Jainism -- Spiritual Awakening Radio:�http://bit.ly/ApIDvU

"Do not feel lonely; the entire universe is inside of you." (Rumi)

"Love is fearless in the midst of fear." (Rumi)

"When I am silent,

I fall into the place where everything is Music." (Rumi)

"In the modem scientific age, science and humanity is in the search of ultimate truth. Sustained efforts are being made from both the ends of the spectrum but considerable success so far has not been realized. Science and humanity seek to achieve ultimate truth with their limited knowledge of mind and matter i.e. the ordinary consciousness: states of waking and sleep. Ultimate truth is not matter nor it is material -- it is Spirit, Pure Spirit and nothing but Spirit. It can only be realized by entering into higher states of consciousness. Transformation to higher states of consciousness is the path traversed towards ultimate truth -- God realization. Sant Mat -- the Religion of Sants -- describes such a path leading to the Portal of spiritual consciousness and the mansion of the Supreme Spirit." (Gurdeep Singh, Scholar, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India [Abstract of Presentation Papers], from, "Spiritual Consciousness�Studies"�

-- Spircon 2010, Agra)

"The path leading to God is within your heart. Enter into the ajna-chakra [Third Eye Center] and you will find your Beloved." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj)

"God is not a matter of assumption but a subject of actual perception and realization. He can be seen with the Divine Eye." (Ashutosh)

"Do the repetition of God and forget Him not (Japi Gobinda bisari jini jai). Fulfill the purpose of your birth by practicing concentration. Be steadfast in the remembrance of God. Practice meditation with love, and sing the glory of God. The human body [within] is the door to jivamukti [salvation, liberation]." -- Dadu (Encyclopedia of the Saints of India, Volume 25: Sant Dadu Dayal)

The Third Eye Center is the Place of Purification from the Effects of the Outer Senses and Impressions, and is the Field of Vision for the True Worship of God in Meditation

From the Jabala Upanishad:

Thereafter the sage Atri asked of Yajnavalkya: "How am I to realize the Self which is Infinite and Unmanifest -- the Imperceptible Atman?"

Yajnavalkya said: ....."The Infinite Imperceptible Self is worshiped ....... between varana and nasi. What are varana and nasi? Varana is that which dispels all the evils done by the sense-organs, and that which destroys all the sins done by sense-organs is called nasi. Where is that place? That place is at the location of both the eye-brows and the nose. That is also the meeting place of this world and the next.

"The Brahmajnanis [gnostics or knowers of God] worship at this meeting place. By meditating at that Point, they attempt to realise Brahman [God, the Lord of Love]."

(Jabala Upanishad quoted in, Satsang Yoga, Part One, Passages from Hindu Scriptures Compiled by Maharshi Mehi)

Transforming Ordinary Consciousness into Spiritual Consciousness -- from Wakeful-sleep to God-realization

"The Merciful Supreme Being and Sant Satguru reveal to their true parmarthi jivas [spiritual souls, initiates, disciples, chelas] that they are Chaitanya [Spirit, Consciousness], are the Ansas [particles, rays, emanations] of the Supreme Being. They should therefore establish their connection with their Father-Mother who is the Supreme Chaitanya and make this connection much more intimate, so that they may attain His Region i.e. the Realm of Pure Spirit, where there is no Maya [illusion], and attain the joy and bliss of His Darshan [divine Vision]. People have been advised to perform the practices of Surat Shabda Yoga Marg [the way of inner Light and Sound Meditation]. The practice of Surat Shabda Yoga, which has been mercifully revealed by the Saints in this age, is beneficial for all jivas [souls]. The Spirit can reach the Original Home, beyond the limits of Maya. The current, which is the current of the Spirit and also the current of Shabda, is the�current of the Name. The current of the mind and the spirit which is flowing outward and downward towards the enjoyments of the world and the objects of Maya should be turned away from these and made to ascend upward within oneself." (Prabha Sharma, Associate Professor, Department of Sanskrit, DEI, Agra [Abstract of Presentation Papers], from, "Spiritual Consciousness Studies" -- Spircon 2010, Agra)

"The Saints say, 'O individual souls! Recognize your Supreme Father. You are drowning in the ocean of samsara [this world of changes], full of contradictions, and bearing extreme hardships. Remaining ignorant of your body, mind and senses, you are being variously tortured. With the secrets given to you by the Master, enter the Tenth Door [Third Eye]. Ascending the currents of Divine Light and Divine Sound within, come out of all the coverings [subtle bodies associated with various inner regions: astral, causal, etc...].' Mehi says, self-knowledge is possible beyond the dualism of mind and body. Then you will recognize your Supreme Father and all your woes will vanish." (Padavali of Maharshi Mehi Paramahansa Ji Maharaj)

Going Beyond the Universe

By James Bean (Exploring the World Religions Column)

In this Internet Age we seem to be drowning in information, distracted by a million voices. A world of knowledge and opinion my be at our fingertips, yet wisdom remains a bit more illusive. My goal with these articles, blogs, public speaking, and podcasts is not so much about sharing of information as it is about revealing a state of Being and Becoming.

The Less Organization, the Better

Each of the great world religions presents its own version of a "treasure-map" to enlightenment or God, along with voluminous histories, customs, and beliefs, yet souls do not yearn merely to collect "maps" containing information. Swami Ji Maharaj of Agra once said of the world religions: "Without Bhakti [love], they are all hollow and sham, outer husks without a kernel." It is the inner "kernel" or "seed" of Life we're really after, not developing attachments to institutions or organizations.

Throughout history, it has often been certain rigid religious organizations that ultimately: 1) become the adversaries of mystics and Gnostics; favoring institutional life over inner exploration; 2) can be fearful of scientific research and academic freedom; 3) might have a tendency to overreach, ever thinking up new and excessive rules or regulations, at war even with their own members; 4) on occasion have banned books and "unauthorized" gatherings of those re-labeled as being "heretics;" 5) often claiming to be superior to all other sects -- the "one-and only-true path", and, 6) have all-too-often been opponents of equality and human rights.

I love this quote by Huzur Baba Sawan Singh about need to always maintain humanity, compassion, genuineness, honesty, and simplicity as the guiding principals and foundation for public gatherings in the name of spirituality, which in the East are called "Satsangs" or "Sanghas". "'Satsang' has more than one meaning: First, it means the meeting of the Master and a disciple. Second, it means the meeting of all Satsangis [followers, devotees] who may attend, whether the Guru is present in body or not. There is no formality about it, none at all. It is a simple meeting of all disciples who can attend. We avoid formality and anything that may have the appearance of a rigid organization. The less organization, the better. And there must be no idea of leadership. The only leader in Sant Mat is the Guru. Just the Master and His disciples meeting together is the only organization we have." I love the libertarian, heart-centered simplicity of this statement.

Pulling Back the Veil -- Being and Becoming -- Knowing Ourselves

"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a Light of meaning in the darkness of mere being." (Carl Jung) That's very close to the definition of Guru according to Hinduism: "one who takes the darkness away", or is, in other words, a "Light-giver". The role of the genuine spiritual Master is to escort us into Heavenly Realms so we may have our own experience of the divine and see for ourselves the beauty that up to now has remained hidden.

The soul seeks to actually realize the "treasure" of it's own Self -- Buddha Nature, Atman, New Adam, Pearl of Great Value, Christ-within-you, the Light-Spark of the Divine, which is the Real Me/You. Says Namdev: "I wandered through the cosmos in search of the treasure but found it within me." Says Tulsi Sahib: "Within thine own self, behold the splendor of thy Beloved." Rumi says, "The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you; don't go back to sleep. You must ask for what you really want; don't go back to sleep. People are going back and forth across the door-sill where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don't go back to sleep." "Open a window to God and begin to delight yourself by gazing upon Him through the opening." (Rumi) "The Lord will make the pupil of your eye his home, and your eye will expand to contain the entire universe." (Namdev)

This mystic-poem by Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, India beautifully reflects upon the inward journey of the soul back to God:

Within this body

breathes the secret essence.

Within this body

beats the heart of the Vedas.

Within this body

shines the entire Universe,

so the saints say.

Hermits, ascetics, celibates --

all are lost

seeking Him

in endless guises.

Seers and sages perfectly parrot

the scriptures and holy books,

blinded by knowledge.

Their pilgrimage,

and fasting,

and striving

but delude.

Despite their perfect practice,

they discover no destination.

Only the saints

who know the body's heart

have attained the Ultimate, O Tulsi.

Realize this, and you've found your freedom

(while teachers trapped in tradition

know only the mirage

in the mirror).

When we sit for meditation and gaze into the darkness with eyes closed, we're encountering the world of "within", opening up to the possibility of seeing via the Third Eye, also known as the Wisdom Eye. This is the Portal or Door to the Kingdom of the Heavens that are inside. This is what Rumi and the Masters are attempting to show us. For those taught the methods of meditation practice by a qualified living teacher and spiritual guide, we soon will discover that the darkness is no longer dark. There is a pinpoint of light, and an inner sky, inner stars, moons, suns, many colors, dark voids, and tunnels that go into the Light.

As the saying goes, "When the student is ready, the teacher shall appear." A living teacher, being fully acquainted with the 'landscape' of Inner Space, is able to impart to initiate-candidates valuable guidance on how to safely make the journey of ascension to the Inner Regions during meditation. This kind of spiritual transmission and the details of meditation practice are not found in books, old scriptures of the past, and are not for sale, but are given freely.

We also will discover during extended periods of meditation that there is Sound coming from beyond the silence. "When I am silent, I fall into the place where everything is Music," says Rumi. "Bring the sky beneath your feet and listen to Celestial Music everywhere." (Rumi) Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche has a great description of the Inner Sound in his book, Mind Beyond Death: "It is easiest to hear this Sound when it is quiet, particularly at nighttime. Once you have identified this Sound, then you place your awareness on it without wavering. Resting your mind in the Sound, you continue to listen, going further and further into the Sound itself."

More On Inner Sound Meditation In Buddhism

"Listening to the inner Sound brings the heart into a position of acute inner awareness. The Sound is always there. We don't have to create it. It is ever present. So it is a good symbol for Ultimate Reality itself." (Ajahn Amaro)

"How sweetly mysterious is the Transcendental Sound of Avalokiteshvara [Quan Yin]! Is is the subdued murmur of the sea-tide setting inward. Its mysterious Sound brings liberation and peace to all sentient beings who in their distress are calling for aid." (Surangama Sutra)

"You can experience the Sound of silence in the mind. You hear it as a kind of high frequency Sound, a ringing Sound..... When you're just with the cosmic Sound alone, there is pure attention, no sense of a person or personality, of 'me and mine'". (Ajahn Sumedho, The Sound of Silence)

We are all connected to these subtle realms of Light, Sound, and Heavenly Regions but normally remain deaf and blind to them in our day-to-day experience, being always completely enmeshed in the worlds of mind and matter. It rarely occurs to most that it's possible to explore consciousness itself, the "lost" buried treasure, our true Self or Soul, the Observer.

Beyond the Universe

"The Guru's word is a stairway to heaven." (Sant Namdev)

"So long as a spirit does not rise above the body-consciousness, it remains a stranger to the spiritual realms beyond". (Rumi)

"God is perceivable only through the soul or spirit. But our individual soul has become surrounded or covered by several sheaths or subtle bodies [astral, causal, etc�]. So long as it remains in the captivity of these various subtle bodies and the physical body, it will be under the knowledge of these bodies and organs only, will be under illusory knowledge only, and will not be able to realize God. In order to know Him, the Jiva-atma or the individual soul shall have to liberate itself from these bondage's. The one who is able to liberate himself from the body and subtle bodies, is able to lift himself beyond the universe, also."�(Param Poojya Shahi Swami Ji Maharaj)

Here, Shahi Swami, referring to his own mystical explorations and that of others who follow this same practice, speaks of Inner Light and Sound meditation -- transcendental seeing and hearing, and how it's possible during meditation to transcend the physical body (rise above body-consciousness), transcend the astral subtle body, transcend the causal or akashic subtle body, ascend beyond the mental subtle body, and shed the etheric subtle body. All that remains is one's true naked identity: atman, self or soul. After stripping off the garments of the outer worlds (the subtle bodies and corresponding realms they are associated with), the soul exclaims, "I Am That! I Am That! I Am That!" In this sense, the soul has ascended beyond all the universes of space-time and experiences knowing itself in the Timeless State (Akal) or True Eternal Realm. What an amazing thing to proclaim to "child humanity" -- we can go beyond the universe.

Swami Achyutanand Baba is one of the eldest living disciples and spiritual successors of Maharshi Mehi Paramhans, as well as an eminent scholar in the tradition of Sant Mat founded by Param Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras. Swami Ji has had the rare fortune of very prolonged close serving association of more than three decades with Maharshi Mehi, who appointed him as the founder editor of the spiritual monthly "Shanti Sandesh" (Message of Peace), published by Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppaghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India.

Swami Achyutanand Ji even at this ripe age has dedicated his life to propagating the ideals of Sant Mat by widely traveling across the length and breadth of India, his mother country.

"Those practitioners who assiduously practice meditation will behold wonderful spectacles within." (Swami Achyutanand Baba)

He has a number of books to his credit like, Vindu -- Nada Dhyan, Santmate Ki Baten, Navadha Bhakti, Bandaun Guru Pad Kanj, Maharshi Mehi Ke Ashirwachan Aur Upadesh, Sukti Sudha Sagar, etc. He also is the current editor of the quarterly "Adhyatma Prakash" (Light of Spirituality), published by Maharshi Santsewi Dhyan Yogashram, Agarpara, Kolkata, India.

Online Sant Mat Book: Yoga Of Inner Light and Sound, by Swami Achyutanand Baba -- Audio/Talking Book and Several E Book Options:

http://spiritualawakeningradio.com/Yoga_Of_Inner_Light_And_Sound_.pdf

"My true disciple is one who has seen the Divine Light within during meditation". (Guru Gobind Singh)

"The process by which the secret of how to realize God is taught is called deeksha or initiation. It is always rewarding to seek initiation from a Satguru or preceptor." (Swami Achyutanand Baba)

Questions about initiation, locating a satsang meeting in your area? Email me:�James@...

Jai Guru, Jai Sat Naam, Radhasoami, In the Divine Love, Light, and Sound of the Beloved,

James

At your holy feet lies the sphere of Divine Light even as I have fallen into the dark well (of ignorance).

Save me, O Guru, save me! Ascend me into the domain of your radiant form.

You instructed me to rise through the Sushumna or the Til DwAr, but I am unable to find that path within.

O Gurudev! Have pity on me, dispel the darkness (of my inner sky) and lift me up so that I may move on to the other side of the Til or the Dark Point.

Make me fly high into the star-studded (inner) sky and even higher into the Region of the Thousand-petalled Lotus (sahasra-dal kanwal).

Where Divine Light keeps shining bright, where is seen the full moon's Light. O Gurudev! Let these secret splendours be manifest unto me!

Trikuti is the source or origin of the three qualities/attributes (namely sat, raj and tam) which is the abode of the Para Brahma.

O Gurudev! I beseech at your sacred feet; Help me so that I may attain to this house (Trikuti).

Here in the Trikuti the Divine Sun shines in all its brilliance.

Where Shuddha Brahma resides and which is renowned as the "ShUnya Desh" (Void Region).

Guide me into the Manasarovar, and make me grasp your own name (the Quintessential Primordial Sound/Word).

The Word (your name) is capable of fulfilling all our wishes and is the essence of the whole creation.

Lend me even greater power so that I may soar into Maha Shunya (Greater Void),

And even beyond...

I may enter into the Bhanwar Gufa (Whirling Cave) -- but alas! even here the pain of transmigration is not relieved entirely.

Therefore, O Sadguru, empower me to climb into the Sataloka (The realm of Pure Consciousness or Quintessential Unstruck Word).

O Gurudev! Catapulting me thus into the Sata-loka, make me absolutely pure (free of all coverings, shrouds, veils).�

Bless me that I may cross even the attribute-less Sataloka (Kaivalya Region, or the Realm of Pure Consciousness) and attain to the Nameless/Soundless State.

O Lord! This way shower your blessings by elevating me unto my own true Home (the Domain of the Absolute Lord that is, God).

(Padavali of Maharshi Mehi, translated by Pravesh K. Singh)

Practice Bindu-Dhyana everyday like a Chatak bird,

Glimpsing the luminous symmetry of God uninterruptedly,

Enter into the solar sphere immediately;

The Quintessential One known as Raam-Naam is the true voice or Sound,

It emanates from its place of origin and flows down the universes and the solid mass;

Merging Surat [the attention of the soul] with the Quintessential One, meet your Lord,

And eliminate the cycle of birth and death;

Without devotion to one's Guru and service to the sages, nothing fructifies;

So always repeat the name of Guru and concentrate on his lotus-feet,

With concentration on Bindu, the luminous star emerges,

And then the Sun and the Moon appear,

Along with these the currents without being impaired Sounds are heard,

The Sounds gather -- concentrate at a point between the two eyebrows,

And at this point only, the spiritual aspirant witnesses and hears all the Sounds;

All praise to the Satguru who has acquainted Mehi with these applications,

You are magnificent, O my competent Guru!

I seek your shelter day and night, says Mehi. (Maharshi Mehi)

"Man is what he thinks about all day long. One can only live one moment at a time. Emerson said: 'There is no moment in eternity more important than this moment.' All real good or evil that may befall him is from himself. If a man lives in a good or bad way in the real present, he will ensure the same in the future. If you have bad thoughts for others, you will harm not them only but yourself as well, as thoughts are very potent. So try to live in the living present, forgetting the past and the future -- and fill every moment of your life with simple trust in Him in all loving devotion." (Kirpal Singh)

"Practice the repetition of the True Name, which alone is of value (sumiru Sat Naam niju kam hai jahi te)......Have kindness in your heart, look with compassion......Being detached, brush aside all worldly delusions, and take refuge under the Satguru's holy feet, which is the kingdom of eternal bliss.....Be firmly absorbed in contemplation, which alone is of value. Thereby the inner Lotus will blossom, Nectar will flow, and the inner Sky will resound with Melody, hearing which, Kal [illusion, god of time and death] will flee away. There the dazzling Light will shine and the true Sound will resound, which will destroy heavy sins [karma], and place a divine canopy over your head." (Shabd/Hymn/Mystic-Verses of Sant Dariya Sahib of Bihar)

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#627

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sun Mar 11, 2012 3:39 am
Subject: Transcendental Seeing and Hearing - Light and Sound on the Path

santmat_mystic

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Transcendental Seeing and Hearing - Light and Sound on the Path

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"This spiritual path and its destination is divine love..... The remover of difficulties is the one spiritual teacher who has given you the secret knowledge (spiritual guidance and experience)." (Baba Devi Sahab)

"The Satguru pulled me up into the Gagan [Mystic� Sky, Firmament].

On hearing the Shabda [Sound Current] my spirit was emancipated,

O my Compassionate Sat Purusha [True, Eternal Original Being, God]!

He showered His Grace and embraced me; by taking shelter in His Holy Feet I came under His protection.

Knowledge of my countless past lives was revealed, and the cycle of births and deaths was now eradicated.

I obtained the wealth of unlimited love and faith, and with victory over matter,

I recognized the Shabda [Sound Current] of Trikuti [Three Worlds, Causal Plane].

On hearing this Shabda I was enabled to hear the Shabda of Sat Lok [True, Eternal, Timeless, Spiritual Ream].

The spirit then proceeded further and came into contact with the Sound coming from Its Nij Dham (Original Abode).

How can I adequately praise the majestic glory of Merciful Radhasoami [the Lord of the Soul] Who is all-knowing?"

-- Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Poetry, from, Prem bhari meri ghat ki gagaria....

"A diamond was laying in the street covered with dirt. Many fools passed by. Someone who knew diamonds picked it up." (Kabir)

The effulgence of the Supreme Being

is beyond the imagination:

Ineffable is His beauty,

to see it is the only proof.

-- Kabir

The method for taking back the Spirit to Its Supreme Source

is first to concentrate at the focus of the eyes [at the Third Eye Center] the Spirit and mind,

which are diffused in our body, and in a manner tied to external objects by desires and passions.

Next is to commence Its journey homewards by attending to the Internal Sound, or in other words,

by riding the Life or Sound Current that has originally emanated from the Supreme Source.

-- Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Prakash -- A Message of Peace and Joy to All Nations

PODCASTS: Spiritual Awakening Radio: "The Law of Attention, Nada Yoga and the Way of Inner Vigilance", is a book authored by the late Edward Salim Michael, and has some great genuine insights about encountering the inner Sound in meditation. At this webpage hear a couple of radio programs exploring the wisdom of this book,�passages from Buddhist and other world scriptures on inner Sound, and there's an interview with the author's wife, Michele Michael:

http://www.meditation-presence.com/en/interviews

"Meditation is the soul's Portal to the Divine, a Doorway to God and the Heavens that are within. Place your mind

before the mirror of eternity. Place your soul in the brilliance of glory. Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance and transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead itself through contemplation. Meditate upon�the Love, Light�and Sound of the Positive Power within you. When darkness is no longer dark, when the stillness of the night gives birth to a faint Celestial Melody, know this: one more soul is being summoned to awakening, one more soul hears the Call, one more soul ascends to the Place of Life."�(from my article, "Seeing Heaven as a Real Place")

The Art Of Seeing, by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj

"What is the use of beautiful eyes when you do not understand the art of seeing? Just as a flower is beautiful, without a�fragrant scent it is not so appealing. Sant Paltu Sahab says: 'What is the use of decorating your eyes if you do not know the art of seeing'? By 'art of seeing' he is not talking about how to see beautiful scenery or magnificent sights. But rather he is referring to the practitioner (sadhak) on the spiritual journey. He is referring to the sadhana (spiritual/meditation practices) which allows one to develop the art of seeing. .... If we can not see the Unseen then we are not using our vision to the fullest extent possible. What kind of eyes are we speaking about here? Are we talking about the physical eyes composed of flesh? No. Sant Kabir says you can not see the celestial subtle realm with these physical eyes of the flesh. Rather, we must acquire the inner eyes -- the eyes of the soul. .... Nobody can see the subtle celestial realm by looking into this physical world, only by looking within using the art of seeing can we understand the celestial. Therefore one must turn inward to understand this Formless Atman, the inner Self."

"When your eye, turning inward into your brain, pierces the sky within and your Spirit leaving your body, flies upward, you will sight the heaven which is the location of the Thousand-Petalled Lotus". (Sar Bachan of Swami Ji Maharaj, Agra)

Youtube: "Dying While Living" via Inner Light and Sound Meditation (An Introduction to the Mystics of the East):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efzt0pmMQQY

Youtube: "The Journey Within � An Introduction to a Spiritual Path from India Called Sant Mat":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ba5UV9Ax6U

"When the soul begins to awake from its deep slumber, no worldly forces can undo with the tears and yearning of the heart. At that blessed moment the life takes a turning point and the search for the Lord starts. It is the Lord from within our own heart calling us back home. From that very moment the destination of the soul is fixed. The cry of the heart will not stop until the goal of the heart is reached and the union with the Lord is accomplished." (Lars Jensen, from, "With Cries from the Heart, the Search for a True Guru Begins")

"Holy places, austerities, rituals and ceremonies all detain you on the way. If you wish to meet the Beloved Lord, wander not in the world. Search for the Beloved Lord within your own self." (Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry, Agra)

The Ascension of the Soul

"It is a very difficult thing to raise oneself above the level of the plane of consciousness on which one is. The effect of long continued association with the material world which one must combat is very deep seated. Just as, if an object is submitted for a great period to the play of light of a given color, it will at length absorb and appropriate a modicum of that color.

"Hence the value of association with the Sant Sat Guru [living Master]. His influence gradually loosens the ties of the world, breaks the bonds of association with it and raises the spirit." ("Phelps Notes", by Myron Phelps)

Seek the true Master with faith, love, and patience.

He will give Light to find the hidden entrance.

If with constant effort you attune the Inner Ear,

The way to God opens and the Path will be clear.

-- Param Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras

"If one is keen about learning this knowledge, let him join the spiritual school of the living Satguru and thus enjoy the eternal peace of mind." (Shri Paramhans Granth)

"Unless one realizes the Self within, how can one believe that God resides there in His Refulgent Form? Only the realization of God can bestow eternal peace of mind and true happiness." (Shri Paramhans Granth)

The Methods for Returning to the Divine Source

by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, and, Maharshi Mehi

"When the mind becomes concentrated so does the current of consciousness which permeates the body and mind.

Therefore, the Sants have given instruction about the ways to withdraw and concentrate the mind within. Maharishi Mehi elaborates on this in the Philosophy of Liberation. The following references are particularly worth studying:

"In whatever realm of this universe one lives, it is natural to get the support from the predominant element of that realm.

"Therefore, one who is dwelling in the physical realm will naturally take support from the material elements. It would be easier to utilize the sensory elements in the method to concentrate the mind.

"Therefore, to begin to concentrate the mind, one should make use of Manas japa (mental repetition of the alphabetical name of God), and Manas dhyana (focusing on a physical manifested form of God). God permeates all realms of nature and the entire universe. The saints, prophets, sages, all radiant and all benevolent beings are myriad physical manifestations of the Divine Power on earth. Fixing the mind on one of their images (Manas dhyana; focus on a divine form) facilitates concentration of the mind and prepares it to enter into the inner subtle realms.�

"In order to enter into the subtle realms, one must take support of the subtle element. One must therefore practice taking support of the subtle (non-material) element. Subtle support is 'the infinitesimal point'. This point is seen in the middle of two eye-brows. The infinitesimal point is also known as the subtlest of the subtle forms of God. Bindu (point) is defined as an indivisible point. It is too minute to be drawn or indicated in any physical way. Dristi yoga, the yoga of vision is an uninterrupted concentration on (literally 'seeing') on the infinitesimal point. Dristi is the power of seeing. Single-pointedness (intense focus) is attained by sitting with closed eyes and practicing uniting the beams of vision of both eyes. The technique of how to gaze on a single infinitesimal point in the center and concentrating the mind on that point is taught by the teacher. This is known as Dristi Yoga [yoga of inner Light]. In this practice it is advised neither to focus forcefully nor manipulate the eyeballs in any manner. The saints teach specifics of this yogic technique. By this practice the inner divine vision is opened. This is beyond the sensory dimension of seeing.

"When the state of one-pointedness (complete focus) of mind is attained, it is possible to listen to the divine inner Sounds which arise from the juncture of the material and subtle realms. These celestial Sounds are not audible to the sensory ears. When the subtle state (sukhma, non-material) is reached, it becomes possible to perceive the divine sounds of the subtle realm. This sound has the inherent quality of attracting the consciousness to its point of origin. Once that Sound is perceived, consciousness is drawn to the sounds of each successive and ascending realm until consciousness reaches the Soundless Realm (Shbadatita). This is the realm of God (a State of Transcendence and Bliss). To achieve this, service to and association with a Sat Guru, as well as his instruction and grace are essential. The practitioner must also be diligent in practice.

"The path described above can be summarized in the following manner. The four practices are gross to subtle in an ascending order: Manas japa, Manas dhyana, Dristi yoga, Nadanusandhana (inner Sound yoga), and the Soundless yoga. The practices of Manas japa (mantra) and Manas dhyana are the worship of the physical, qualified (personal) form of God. (God is perceived in various manifestations of name and form in the gross realm). The practice of the meditation on the infinitesimally small point, Dristi yoga, is the worship of the subtle qualified form of God (where God perceived as the infinitesimal point). Concentration on the divine Sounds, nadas (other than Sar Sabad, the Divine Sound of the beginning, Logos) is the worship of the qualified formless Divine. As this meditation finally leads to the meditation on the Sar Sabad (the Original Divine Sound). The meditation on this essential Sound, Logos, Adi Shabda, is the worship of the Unqualified-Formless (the transcendent Godhead). This meditation is the culmination of all forms of worship. But without completely mastering all these practices and treading the inward journey, it will be impossible to reach the Soundless State (the realization of the Impersonal form of the Divine). This is the Realm of God and the attainment of moksa (the state of liberation). Reaching this the aspirant experiences absolute peace and achieves the ultimate goal of human life." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji)

"The saints and true teachers are known to be impartial; their blessings fall like the rain. However, the rain, while falling on all, tends to collect in deep pools just as the grace of the saints while showering on all flows rapidly and collects in the deep pools of the aspirants who are devoted. It is not surprising that the aspirants through their devotion draw the grace of the master towards them. Aspirants who give great attention to the ways of the teacher are worthy of the gift of knowledge. Obviously, not the careless one, but the one who honors the gift, and cares for the receiving bowl, receives the gift of the grace of the teacher. Making oneself worthy is the secret of devotion to the master, the way of gaining grace as described in the writings of the saints.

"The aspiration to serve with love and behave humbly before the teacher arises naturally in the hearts of students. Therefore, devotion to the spiritual teacher is also natural. To say anything against devotion to the teacher is pointless. And also, the wise will not give devotion to an unworthy teacher and will influence other aspirants to do the same.

"The four essential elements a sadhaka (an aspirant of the spiritual path) needs are the following:

(1) satsang (association of saints and hearing spiritual teachings);

(2) sadacara (moral rectitude);

(3) guru seva (dedication to the teacher); and,

(4) dhyan-abhyasa (practice of meditation).....

"In Sant Mat an intense eagerness to acquire these essentials must be present. However, devotion to the teacher is paramount to the other three essentials and is the key to achieving the other three."

-- Maharishi Mehi Paramahans Ji Maharaj, "Philosophy of Liberation"

"While I am happy to give the right guidance, it should also be remembered that those initiated by me are looked after by the gracious Master-Power working overhead, Who is ever with His children and can solve all of their problems if they

but put themselves in a receptive mood. In this regard an application of sound common sense together with a calm consideration of the facts can work wonders in developing receptivity to the Master Power. Receptivity is the key which can not only solve your material difficulties, but also unlock the Kingdom of Heaven within you." (Kirpal Singh, The Need For Receptivity)

Youtube: "Children of Light", by Yes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbynmgKkT3k

Reference to Holi by Mirabai

Days of good fortune are few and short-lived, so make the most of them celebrating Holi, the festival of colours (in the

right way).

Drum beats, produced without the use of (tapping of) hands, resound and uncountable notes (Anhad Naad)

reverberate inside.

All the thirty-six musical notes are heard produced without voice (vocal cords); the divine Melody echoes in all the pores of the body.

Solution of saffron (yellow colour) in the form of virtuosity and contentment is sprayed by means of the colour gun (syringe) of love and affection.

The inner sky has been coloured red (red colour is seen) as if the coloured powder has been sprinkled all over; countless hues have been raining torrentially (hinting at the sighting of divine Light).

(Translated by Pravesh K. Singh)

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#628

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:08 am
Subject: Radhasoami Sant Mat - Light and Sound on the Path

santmat_mystic

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Radhasoami Sant Mat - Light and Sound on the Path

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"In a nut-shell, the Radhasoami Faith is a Gospel of Love. Love towards the holy feet of Radhasoami Dayal [Merciful Lord of the Soul], love towards the Guru of the time and love with all the human beings is its cardinal message." (Agam Prasad Mathur, Petals of Love)

"The practice of Surat Shabd Yoga is dependent on the love generated in the devotee's heart for the Supreme Being Radhasoami Dayal [Merciful Lord of the Soul, Anami, Anadi Purush]. The Radhasoami Faith [Sant Mat] therefore advocates the blending of Yoga with Bhakti [devotion]." (Agam Prasad Mathur)

The Prose (Sar Bachan Radhasoami Bartik): Book One of the Sar Bachan Prose is an Abstract of the Teachings of Huzur Radhasoami Saheb (Soami Ji Maharaj) authored by Huzur Maharaj (Ral Saligram). Book Two of the Sar Bachan Prose is a collection of the Sayings of Soami Ji Maharaj delivered in Satsang.

Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry (Sar Bachan Radhasoami Nazm yaani Chhand bandh): Both volumes of Sar Bachan Poetry represent compositions of Soami Ji Maharaj. "This scripture was written to the dictation of Huzur Radhasoami Saheb Himself. He had no intention to compose any Bani. But some devoted Satsangis and Sansangins persistently beseeched Him, and He was pleased to accede to their prayer." (Radhasoami Sahia Bhoomika -- Preface to the Sar Bachan Poetry, by Huzur Maharaj)�

Web Page Dedicated to the Teachings of Soami Ji Maharaj and His Writings Online:�http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/radhasoami.html

Sant Mat History: From the Last Words or Parting Instructions of Soami Ji Maharaj of Agra: "Then Seth Sundarshan Singh then asked whom should they look to for guidance after Him. Swami Ji Maharaj said, 'Whoever needs spiritual guidance, should seek it from Salig Ram (Huzur Maharaj).'"

"Truth should be the guideline in the performance of all activities, spiritual or temporal, for a satsangi. Nothing that falls short of truth should be acceptable to him [or her]." (Agam Prasad Mathur, Petals of Love)

The Cosmos Is A Symphony of Vibrating Currents or Strings, By Huzur Maharaj

"The entire creation is composed of currents. The various bodies are made up of currents (threads or wires). Just as cloth is made from threads or as the branches and twigs of a tree are but clumps of fibres, so is the human body made up of thread-like nerves, through which currents pass. This is how all the physical bodies are made. When a person speaks, his voice becomes audible by means of currents. Similarly it is by the currents of sight (light) that we see the world.

"When there was no universe, the first thing that happened [the First Cause] was that a current issued forth from the Feet of the Supreme Being Compassionate Radhasoami [Lord of the Soul]. This current is the current of Shabda [Mystic Sound] and of Life and Light. The entire creation of all the regions [planes, spheres, dimensions] higher or lower, has been brought into existence by this current.

"The seat of the Supreme Being Radhasoami Dayal is within everybody. The spirit currents descended from Him creating Dayal Desh [Merciful Region, Spiritual Realms], Brahmand [universal mind] and Pind [physical plane, material universe/multiverse]. From a centre inwards between the two eyes, where the spirit has taken its location in this body [seat of the soul, third eye, wisdom eye], it is supplying energy by means of currents to the mind and the senses and the entire frame. As the spirit current alone is the current of bliss, pleasure and knowledge, it is only on account of it, that all those having physical bodies experience pleasure and relish it through the sense organs.

"Whoever is desirous of reaching the source of this current, which is the fountain-head and reservoir of all bliss, all pleasure and all knowledge, to obtain supreme bliss and eternal happiness, should revert to its source, i.e., the Feet of the Supreme Creator, Radhasoami, with the help of this very current."

-- Huzur Maharaj (Rai Bahadur Salig Ram Sahab), Prem Patra Radhasoami, Volume One (the Love Discourses of the Lord of the Soul)

Sant Mat History: On the Origin, Meaning, and Usage of the Sacred Name of God 'Radhasoami' (Pronounced "Radha-Swami")

Soami is Ocean and Radha its First Wave

"The founders of the faith have a few allegorical interpretations to put forward to explain the two components of the word -- Radha and Soami. The second guru says that the Supreme Being may be compared to an Ocean. A creative Ocean cannot be perceived without commotion. The first wave of the endless Ocean is Radha. The original Current is not different from but is identical with the Ocean itself and as it comes out so it is ever drawn towards it. The creative Ocean, therefore, is Soami and the first original wave just identical to the Ocean is Radha. The two together form the Supreme Ocean full of spiritual bliss and truth. Hence Radhasoami. ....

"Radhasoami faith is the religion of pure and spiritual love. Love denotes two components, the Beloved and the lover. The prime Source of all love and spiritual energy is the Beloved and is therefore known as Soami. The first wave of love and spiritual energy arising from its Source and then being attracted towards it again, is the lover and therefore is known as Radha. The Supreme Love is Radhasoami, identifying both the components and fusing them into one." (Agam Prasad Mathur, Radhasoami Faith, A Historical Study)

"In the Radhasoami Faith, this Supreme Being is called 'Radhasoami'. The exponents of this faith hold that this holy name has been given out by the Supreme Being Himself and as it is refulgently resounding within the higher spheres, it can be heard by a person who practises Surat Shabd Yoga. The second Guru used to address his Guru as 'Radhasoami Saheb'. When Hazur Maharaj practised the spiritual exercise of Surat Shabd Yoga and attained the highest spiritual Truth, He listened internally the refulgent resonance of Radhasoami incessantly resounding in the first and highest region of creation and found his Guru identical with the Highest Spiritual Being. He was then filled with divine grace and holy light of love. As such, He addressed Him as 'Radhasoami Saheb' and considered Him to be the incarnation of the Supreme Being. .... It was Huzur Maharaj who revealed the name Radhasoami after he realized in His deep meditation (Abhyas) not only that Soami Ji Maharaj was identical with Radhasoami, the Supreme Being, but also that Radhasoami is an ever reverberating Sound coming from the Highest Abode." (Agam Prasad Mathur, Petals of Love)

"RADHASOAMI Nam was revealed by the Supreme Being Himself. When the humble devotees of Soamiji Maharaj, as a result of their successful Abhyas ([meditation] devotional practices) and Satsang, came to realize His exalted position and immense spiritual powers, and when He too, in His grace and mercy, enabled them to recognize Him, they started addressing Him by the appellation of RADHASOAMI, the Name of the Original Abode from where He made His advent to this world, for showering His grace on Jivas [souls] in this Kali Yuga." (Radhasoami Sahia Bhoomika -- Preface to the Sar Bachan Poetry, by Huzur Maharaj)

"Soamiji tested His disciple and He found that Hazur was capable of spreading His spiritual message. The disciple had realized the Master; and the Master had also recognized the spiritual perfection and glow of the disciple. He recognized in Hazur Maharaj His own spiritual counterpart and on a special request of Hazur, Soamiji Maharaj established the Satsang in 1861. In all eternal radiance Soamiji Maharaj bestowed upon him the most precious and sacred gift -- the revelation of the name 'Radhasoami'. It was the name that Hazur gave to Soamiji Maharaj after the [inner] realization that his Guru was identical with the Supreme Being. The object of Hazur's life had been achieved and he felt contented as never before. Later in 1866, at Hazur Maharaj's stance, Soamiji Maharaj revealed the holy name 'Radhasoami' to His followers." (Agam Prasad Mathur, Petals of Love)

"The Radhasoami mat or Faith derives its name from its original founder, the Supreme Being, Radhasoami, who appeared in this world in human form and designated Himself Sant Sat Guru or perfect Saint or True Guide and Preceptor, and preached holy doctrines to the sincere Enquirer of Truth for the deliverance of their spirit from the bondage of body and surroundings, as well as from the pains and pleasures of this world, and for the ultimate admission (of their spirit entity) into the Holy Presence of the Supreme Being after traversing and breaking through the trammels and impediments in the material spheres." (Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Prakash -- Being a Message of Eternal Peace and Joy to All Nations -- Originally written by Hazur Maharaj in English and published in 1897)

Simran

"Radhasoami Naam -- whoever recites gets across the ocean of life; troubles vanish, bliss abides, and gone's complete all strife." (Soami Ji Maharaj, Manglacharan, Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry, Book One)

Chanting the Name Radhasoami

"You have to walk with Me, with My spirit, with My radiation. Receive My radiation first, then you can enjoy every radiation with right understanding and without being submerged and drowned in the current of attraction and repulsion they call Maya [illusion].

Always carry My reflection. My aura or reflection is the sum total energy and My spirit of the universe. I am all strength and courage. I am all love and mercy. I am the potential of all talents. I am the source of all riches. I am the light of all wisdom. I am that truth of all truths.

All exist in Me as they are part of Me and I exist in all of them. They are nothing but Me. You will see that I am vibrating everywhere, not only as light waves but also as sound waves, as the creative force, as the procreative force, as the force of all expansion.

I am the creative force, 'Raaa'.

I am the expanding force, 'Dhaaa'.

I come back with all the vibrations, 'Swammm'.

I become again one with you all and you feel one with Me as 'EEEE'.

Ra Dha Swam i.

(Radhaswami, Ra-Dha-Swam-e, Radhasoami).

Radhasoami

Chant this Name, this is Me in sound form.

Enjoy Me in sound form, as the magnetic field of love.

(Discourses of Sree Mentu Maharaj, Volume One)

Prem Bani Radhasoami of Huzur Maharaj

The Supreme Father Radhasoami Dayal [Merciful Lord of the Soul] loves you dearly.

He will redeem you in a moment.

Believe what I say is true.

Know that Radhasoami is your True Beloved.

His heart is overflowing with compassion for souls.

He imparts them his own strength and redeems them.

Have no anxiety or worry in your mind now.

Utter

'RADHASOAMI'

........ every moment.

Always utter 'RADHASOAMI',

the Name of the Merciful Supreme Being.

Then only will mind and Kal become powerless against you.

Radhasoami is my most Beloved Lord.

None other than Him comes to mind.

I sing praises of Radhasoami again and again

and shall remain at His holy feet ever alert and vigilant.

I discard all the evil tendencies of the mind

and enshrine RADHASOAMI Nam in my heart.

I sing 'RADHASOAMI', 'RADHASOAMI',......every moment.

(Huzur Maharaj, Prem Bani Radhasoami, Volume One)

The Sar Bachan of Swami Ji Maharaj

Radhasoami has imparted a unique message.

The moment I utter the Holy Word 'RADHASOAMI',

all my doubts and misgivings are dispelled.

Radhasoami has taken me in His lap.

Radhasoami will also redeem you.

Repeat the Holy Word 'RADHASOAMI' all the time.

Recite 'RADHASOAMI' all the twenty four hours.

Radhasoami dwells in my heart every moment.

(Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry, Book One)

Satsang

'''Satsang' is association with the Guru or a Sadh [sadhu, or virtuous satsangi, devotee], and the Guru or Sadh should be a follower of the Religion of Saints, i.e., the Radhasoami Faith [Sant Mat]. In such a Satsang there will be no mention of quarrels, disputes, stories, worldly entanglements and such other things. Only the following matters will be dealt with:

(1) Glory of Sat Purush, the Compassionate Radhasoami [God, the Lord of the Soul], the secrets of the path -- of the various stages, and the methods of traversing the path;

(2) Methods of developing love for -- and faith in -- the Feet of Merciful Radhasoami and the Guru;

(3) Engendering in one's mind -- of the condition of indifference to -- and detachment from -- the world and its enjoyments;

(4) Description of those obstacles which the mind and Maya [illusion] create to prevent an Abhyasi [practitioner] from proceeding on the path;

(5) Description of the experiences which an Abhyasi [practitioner] gets at the time of Satsang and his Abhyasa [meditation practice]; and,

(6) Description of the ascent of the spirit to higher regions and the conditions therein." (Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Sandesh)

Devotional Practices

"It should be noted that all the following activities are included in devotional practices (Abhyas):

(1) Sumiran [Simran: Repetition of the Holy Name];

(2) Sumiran and Dhyan [Repetition of the Holy Name along with Contemplation of the Holy Form];

(3) Bhajan [Listening to the Sound Current].

(4) Recitation of holy books or listening to their recital in Satsang intelligently;

(5) Discussing the principles of the Radhasoami Faith or listening to such discussion;

(6) Thinking about and reflecting on matters pertaining to the Radhasoami Faith and its practices and pondering them; and

(7) Examining the ways of one's mind and senses daily, keeping them under control as far as possible." (Huzur Maharaj, Prem Patra Radhasoami, Volume One)

Above -- Letters from the Masters:

Huzur Maharaj (from a collection of extracts

from letters�written by

Param Guru Huzur Maharaj to satsangis)

Ocean (God), Wave (the Living Master/Sant Satguru) and Drop (the Soul)

"The relationship between the Supreme Being, the Guru and the jivas [souls] has been well compared with ocean, its wave and the drop. The Supreme Being is the ocean of all bliss, light, life, sound and truth. The Guru is the wave which is always in union with the ocean and not different from it and the jiva [soul] with the same attributes is a drop far away from the ocean. This contact between the drop and the wave is the true Bhakti [path of love]. Therefore, emphasis has been laid upon establishing contact between the Guru and the disciples at all levels, that is, physical, mental and spiritual. This contact would be developed through the company of the Guru, both external and internal. The external company of the Guru is called the 'external satsang' and the internal company of the Shabd form of the Guru is called the 'internal satsang'. There are four essentials on which this faith bases its tenets:

1. Sat-Guru

2. Sat-Sang

3. Sat-Anurag (True Bhakti)

4. Sat-Naam (the true name, that is, Radhasoami Nam) or Sat-Shabd

"By the Seva [service] and the Satsang [true association] of the Guru the spirit entity would slowly and slowly shake off the coverings [sheaths, subtle bodies] and would be able to catch the Sound Currents and one day reach the Ultimate Abode. The whole process may take a period of four lives which may be shortened in the case of more ardent devotees.

"For the attainment of perfect salvation, the Radhasoami Faith like all other Sant sects, shuns all other paraphernalia and external observances and rituals. It has emphasized upon the pure love in the holy feet of the Supreme Being and the Guru. As such it denounces hatred and discrimination among the human beings. All are the children of one Father and as such there is no place for such a discrimination in point of caste, creed or color and thus cannot check one to adopt this faith. According to the Radhasoami Faith, women are entitled to enjoy the same privileges as men. They also can practice Surat Shabd Yoga and gain high spiritual attainments. The champions of this enlightened faith, advocated in the social set up of the nineteenth century the removal of the purdah system for the ladies and urged them to come out of the narrow social restrictions and respond to the call of the time. Moreover, their preachings strengthened the disintegrating Hindu society by effacing the false barriers of caste prejudices." (Agam Prasad Mathur, Petals of Love)

"Great emphasis as been made by the Masters on the generation of love for the Supreme Being, the Supreme Master who is all love. Love is the prime source of boundless energy. Love is bliss, and thus the Supreme Being is Supreme Bliss. Love is Light and Truth and from them emanates intelligence. Thus, the Supreme Being is an infinite Ocean of bliss, intelligence, energy, truth and light. He is eternal and unchangeable, the sole director of the whole creation. Such a Supreme Being is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. He is all-pervading. The entire universe is the creation of His own Current and as such He is present at every stage in the creation." (Agam Prasad Mathur, "Petals of Love")

"The sole purpose of the incarnation of the Supreme Being as Satguru is to redeem the Jivas [souls] from the cycle of chaurasi [the transmigratory cycle of births and deaths], to reveal to them the efficacy of Surat Shabd Yoga and to engender into them the true and sincere love for the Supreme Being." (Agam Prasad Mathur, "Petals of Love")

"Through practicing Surat Shabd Yoga with love and bhakti one is able to attain true salvation. One does not have to forego one's worldly duties for this practice, which can be performed by anyone, whether young or old, male or female. The key ingredients of this faith are love and devotion." (Agam Prasad Mathur, Petals of Love)

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#629

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:28 am
Subject: The Heart of Mysticism -- Light and Sound on the Path

santmat_mystic

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The Heart of Mysticism -- Light and Sound on the Path -- Digest of Recent Sant Mat Satsang Posts and Announcements

(NOTE: As always, to enjoy all the photos, art and icons accompanying the various spiritual quotes and articles below, if you're viewing this via email, click: "Show Images", or "Unblock Images".)

New! Guru Lineage Charts of Sant Mat, Surat Shabd Yoga, Kabir Panth, and Radhasoami Faith -- From Kabir to 2012:

http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/surat_shabd_yoga_sant_mat.html

An Introduction to Sant Mat:

http://spiritualawakeningradio.com/santmat.html

Sant Mat Online Library -- Recommended Reading:

http://spiritualawakeningradio.com/library.html

Sant Mat Radhasoami Blog:

http://groups.Yahoo.com/group/SantMatFellowship

http://SantMatRadhasoami.Blogspot.com

Daily Spiritual Quotes:

http://www.Facebook.com/SantMatRadhasoami

http://SantMat.Tumblr.com

New Podcast -- Spiritual Awakening Radio: Pravesh K. Singh, speaking about Inner Light and Sound Meditation and the Spiritual Masters of India, the Sant Mat tradition (Maharshi Mehi Ashram) �-- Click to Stream or Download MP3:�http://bit.ly/HW5nHf

New Podcast -- Spiritual Awakening Radio: Going Beyond the Universe: Sants, Sufis, and Gnostics -- Eclectic Readings: Sant Namdev, The Upanishads, Rumi, Kabir, Dadu, Maharshi Mehi, Gnostic Gospel of Judas, Kirpal Singh, Gospel of Thomas, Mandaean Gnostic Prayer, Anurag Sagar -- Click to Stream or Download MP3:�http://bit.ly/I2lfr9

New Podcast -- Spiritual Awakening Radio: Pravin K. Shah, a representative of one of the great world religions known as Jainism. He's in charge of the Jain E-Library, and is part of the Vegan Jain movement. This is a great conversation about Jainism and Ahimsa: non-violence in thought, word and deed, including in the area of diet -- Click to Stream or Download MP3:�http://bit.ly/Hp9yIP

Brief Summary of the Teachings of Sant Mat

* All souls (jivas) are in essence drops of love from the Sea of God.

* The attachment and association with mind and body makes the soul lose sight of the real Self.

* God assumes the form of a Saint to lead the soul back to its Original Home.

* One must surrender one's entire being to the Ocean of Love of which we are a part, instead of limiting ourselves to sensual pleasures which leave us unhappy and discontented.

* This can be done by the practice of Surat Shabd Yoga [Inner Light and Sound Meditation].

* By attuning oneself to the Life Current which proceeds from the Heart of Anami Purush [God, The Nameless One/Radhasoami] in the form of Light and Sound, one can finally achieve union with the True Self, finding the joy one is seeking. (R.S. White Paper on Religion of Sants and Radhasoami Faith)

Above: "Tree of Life", by Benny Andersson

Tree of Life

No longer am I

The man I used to be;

For I have plucked the fruit

Of this precious tree of life.

As the river flows down the hills

And becomes one with the sea,

So has this weaver's love flowed

To become one with the Lord of Love.

Go deeper and deeper in meditation

To reach the seabed of consciousness.

Through the blessing of my teacher

I have passed beyond the land of death.

Says Kabir: Listen to me, friends,

And cast away all your doubts.

Make your faith unshakable in the Lord,

And pass beyond the land of death.

-- Guru Kabir, Rendering by Eknath Easwaran

Tulsi Sahib says that "the Saints have explained the secret of Shabad [the Sound Current] in detail in the verses of their banis [hymns, mystic verses or poetry]. A rare person will follow it. Those who follow after it acquiring the understanding, will get merged in Shabad and become one with God." (Ghat Ramayan)

Authenticity

"Learn to offer all your work unto God and grow in humility. Such bands of worshipers are needed for the service of mankind. What is needed is not numbers but 'quality' and 'character' of the workers.

"I want group Satsangs of individuals who become centers of life, the new life of the Spirit and not organization of power which imprisions the fundamental values and stifles the living inspiration." (Kirpal Singh)

Non-Attachment, Even to One's "Own" Spiritual Path

"Aparigraha" is the Eastern concept of non-possessiveness. Non-possessiveness and non-attachment are quite liberating, and to the ears it might sound strange to say this perhaps but, one of the greatest gifts is to be non-attached even to one's "own" spiritual path in order to truly be an authentic devotee of it. It's essentially like saying, 'give up Christianity in order to follow Christ'. There is wisdom in remaining aloof from organizational politics, intrigue in the palace court and institutions in order to be a sincere lover of the Beloved. Good to be on guard about overbearing mental impulses and attachments. No "putting on airs". In simplicity there is genuineness.

The Buddha was once asked: "To what extent can a person be a speaker of the Way?" He answered: "If a person teaches the Way in order to transcend the tyranny of material things and to teach how to transcend feelings, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness�--�teaching non-attachment with regard to these�--�then that person can be called a speaker of the Way. If he is himself trying to transcend the pull of the material world and to feel non-attachment toward it, then it is fitting to say he is living in accordance with the Way. If he is liberated by this transcendence and non-attachment, then you can say he has found Nirvana here and now." (Samyutta Nikaya, a Buddhist Scripture)

"When he first arrived in Hathras, Tulsi Sahib at night slept in the hollow of a banyan tree that was located about a mile out of town. In that spot he also spent much time in meditation."

The Heart of Mysticism, By James Bean

"Whosoever amongst us believes in this auspicious Gospel of Narada and has faith in it, becomes a lover of God, and attains the highest beatitude and goal of life." (Narada Bhakti Sutras, the Book of Love)

Cultivating love is one of the central teachings of mysticism, East and West. In India, masters often use the term "Bhakti," which means love and devotion. Students of spirituality are instructed how to develop love for the Supreme Soul and for all souls. They're taught that approaching spiritual exercises and meditation with an attitude of love will lead to a much more successful spiritual practice. An ascetic attitude of discipline can achieve some results, but love concentrates the mind much more effectively. Love takes the difficulty out of one's practice. Instead of meditation being thought of as a dry "duty" or "chore" to be slogged through, going through the motions, it's transformed into joy, a divine love affair!

"Enchanted Land," a book by David Lane published by the MSAC Philosophy Group, features encounters with several Indian mystics and spiritual masters. I remain in awe of this particular quote from Yogani MataJi, a Radhaswami Guru who now lives in Mumbai. I often use the following quote in my meditation classes, satsang gatherings, online satsangs, and at my network of spiritual social networking sites.

The author asked Mataji: "How can one sit so still, repeat only holy names and think of God constantly?" Mataji serenely replied: "By falling in love, because when one is truly in love nothing but the Beloved can enter one's mind. So the secret of Surat Shabda Yoga and of mysticism is not necessarily 'practice and more practice,' but love. To be so devoted to one's Lord that nothing can stand in the way, this and nothing else is the truth of Sant Mat [The Teachings of the Masters]."

The reason why love is so effective is, as many saints have revealed, the universe was created by love, is sustained by love, and is returning back to love. Love is the essence of everything including our soul. Our true nature is love. Kirpal Singh, an Indian master popular in the 1960's put it this way, "Love is innate in our souls. God is love and our souls are the drops of the ocean of all Love, which is also love personified." �The great 19th Century mystic Shiv Dayal Singh, the founder of the Radhaswami movement said, "The essence of Spirit (Atma) and God (Paratma) is love (Prem). Bhakti and the Supreme Being are one. A genuine master is the embodiment of love. You are also love in essence, so are all souls." (Sar Bachan Radhaswami Poetry, Volume One)

Spiritual practices like silent meditation can gradually transform the practitioner in profound ways. Meditation is the method used throughout the ages to re-identify with our soul, the spark of love within. Instead of perceiving ourselves as being merely five dollars-worth of chemicals plus H2O, or a collection of neurons firing and molecules, we perceive who we really are: SOUL. This process of self-realization, re-identifying with the love-essence of our soul is viewed as one of the most important steps of our spiritual evolution. "Who we think we are" will determine the course of our lives, both inwardly and outwardly.

Rather orthodox-sounding academic voices sometimes portray our identity as solely materialistic: the "five dollars worth of chemicals and neurons firing."

Other rigid or closed "fundamentalist" belief-systems portray human beings as "ugly sinners" and "ugly saints" perpetually unworthy of partaking of divine mysteries, and that only after death will the meaning of life be revealed? This appears in the context of mysticism to be -- too little -- too late.

Fortunately, other alternatives exist! The approach of the contemplative mystical tradition transcends blind faith in limited belief-systems and encourages individuals to directly verify the existence of the soul, higher spiritual realities and God through personal contact with them. For mystics, the human body is a kind of "laboratory" where spiritual claims can tested and verified for oneself.

My favorite quote from, "The Nag Hammadi Library", is found in, The Book of Thomas the Spiritual Athlete, one of the Gnostic gospels: "Examine yourself that you may understand who you are, in what way you exist, and how you will come to be." How logical! We're advised to examine who we are and how we have come to exist in this body of ours. This admonition implies that human beings have the potential to access to higher intuitions and senses through which we are able to make new spiritual discoveries -- that is, IF we are willing to make use of them.

Contemplatives seek spiritual knowledge through meditation. This focuses all of one's attention upon the soul, that life force which makes us alive. The Eastern and Gnostic way of self-knowledge is one in which the soul increasingly learns of it's true nature. The "drop" seeks to discover the "divine ocean" from whence it came -- the Ocean of God or Ocean of Love. Mystics call this looking within process, "inversion." In this way, souls learn to know themselves as well as to gain perception of the Supreme Being.

To communicate about this soul-God relationship, the enlightened masters and mystics have resorted to various analogies. Yeshua spoke of it in terms of "father and son." Ramakrishna described it as "mother and child." Mira Bai sang of it in terms of "husband and wife." Mystics, Saints, Sufis, and Bhakta-devotees throughout the world depict the relationship of the soul and God as that of "lover and the Beloved", of "bride and bridegroom". As the relationship develops, the lover awakens to his or her Beloved and is transformed into love!

Many mystics have used the language of romance to describe the ineffable joy of divine love and union. The ultimate goal of mysticism is the union of the soul with the oversoul. In, "The Narada Bhakti Sutras", a 12th Century Hindu scripture and manual of Bhakti Yoga, it describes this union as intoxicating. The soul "is completely immersed in the enjoyment of the bliss of the Atman, the truest and highest Self." Meditation and other devotional practices are done with an attitude of sincere love or a strong fervent desire and perseverance to approach the Supreme Being. Love removes all obstacles and forms a direct connection with the Creator.

The medieval Indian mystic Dadu Dayal from Rajasthan composed many odes to this divine state of being: "When the heart merges into the Merciful One, then no difference remains. Like ice dissolved in water, in God is merged the lover. God has become the anguished lover, and the anguished lover has become God."

One of my favorite books of Eastern love poetry is, "Songs of Kabir". The translator, Rabindranath Tagore, was himself a great spiritual poet. Kabir asks: "How could the love between thee and me sever? As the leaf of the lotus abides on the water: so thou art my Lord, and I am thy servant. As the night-bird Chakor gazes all night at the moon: so thou art my Lord and I am thy servant. From the beginning until the ending of time, there is love between thee and me; and how shall such love be extinguished? Kabir says: 'As the river enters into the ocean, so my heart touches thee.'"

Further to the west, the medieval Christian mystics of Europe also used the language of love to describe spiritual union with their heavenly Beloved. The Spanish mystic known as Saint John of the Cross spoke of "the touch of the Beloved as setting the heart on fire with love; as if a spark had fallen upon it." Christian mystics also agreed with their Eastern counterparts that the soul, through mystical union, becomes deified -- becomes divine. Said Saint John of the Cross: "And to make the soul perfect and to raise it above the flesh more and more, He assails it divinely and gloriously, and these assaults are really encounters wherein God penetrates the soul, deifies the very substance of it, and renders it godlike divine." After reaching this exalted state he said, "The soul beholds itself as one immense sea of fire." ("Living Flame")

Another example of love-consciousness or Prem-Bhakti manifesting itself in the west is the 14th Century English mystic Richard Rolle, who said: "Among these delights which he tastes, moreover, he experiences in love so sweet, the secret sent into him from heaven, which no one here knows unless he receives it, and bears within himself the potion which intoxicates lovers rejoicing in Christ. .... The love of God takes up to itself with marvelous rejoicing the soul of the one whom it perfectly penetrates and sets it truly ablaze by the fire of the Holy Spirit, and does not permit it to stray for a moment from the memory of so great a love." ("The Fire of Love") �////////

0 my dear devotee, where are you searching for me? I am already with you.�

I am not�in the places of pilgrimage or in deities, or in an isolated dwelling.�

I am not in the temples and mosques, and I am not in the holy city of Kashi or Mount Kailash.�

I am not in the recitation of prayers or in austerities, or in ritual fasting.�

I do not dwell in rituals or in yoga, or in renunciation.�

I am not in the breath or in the material body, or in the expanse of space.�

I am not in the cave of the trikuti, but I am in the breath of the breath.�

If you search for me you'll find me immediately, even in a moment.�

Kabir says, 'Dear brothers, listen to me! I dwell in your faith.'�

(Kabir Bhajan Amritam, Devotional Bhajans of Satguru Kabir, Jagessar Das, Kabir Association)

Third Eye Sky

The invisible world is contained within the third eye,

So say and describe all souls of inner knowledge.

Behold Brahmand within, through your astral eye;

When that eye is opened, everything stands revealed.

The soul in Sunn will hear resounding peals of Sound,

She will uncover and know the essence of Shabd.

They alone, O Tulsi, will know that perfect state,

Who have seen and experienced it

themselves.

-- Sant Tulsi Sahib, Saint of Hathras, Book of Shabdavali

"Like a dream and a show,

so is this world, you must know.

None of this is true, O Nanak, without God.

Listen, O my friend!

As the bubbles in the water well up

and disappear again,

so is the universe created, says Nanak."

(Adi Granth, Page 633)

Bubble Universes of Pinda Desh (the Multiverse, Physical or Material Plane): "From Sach Khand [the True, Timeless, Spiritual Realm] the whole creation looks like bubbles, forming and disappearing in the Spiritual Ocean." (Huzur Baba Sawan Singh)

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#630

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:09 pm
Subject: Podcasts of Spiritual Awakening Radio Available

santmat_mystic

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Podcasts of Spiritual Awakening Radio Available for Streaming and Downloading

Podcasts � Spiritual Awakening Radio � Stream or Download:

GO TO:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/current.html

http://hosted.EarthChannel.com/HealthyLife/spa-od.html

* Going Beyond the Universe (Eclectic Readings: Sant Namdev, The Upanishads, Rumi, Kabir, Dadu, Maharshi Mehi, Gnostic�Gospel of Judas, Kirpal Singh, Gospel of Thomas, Mandaean Gnostic Prayer, Anurag Sagar)

* Pravesh K. Singh � Sant Mat Meditation

* Betska K-Burr � The God In Coaching

* Pravin K. Shah, Vegan Jainism

* Teachings of Sree Sree Thakur Anukul Chandra Pt 3

* Teachings of Sree Sree Thakur Anukul Chandra, Pt 2

* The Teachings of Sree Sree Thakur Anukul Chandra, Pt 1

* Andrea Zucchi, Follower of Satguru Sirio Carrapa

* Saeed Fardzadeh on the Mandaean Religion

* Eastern Spiritual Classics and Scriptures

* Ethical Foundation of Inner Light & Sound Masters

* Organic Vegan Way: From Crisis To Peace, PT 2

* Organic Vegan Way: From Crisis To Peace, PT 1

* Audible Life Stream: Ancient Secret of Dying While Living, PT 2

* Audible Life Stream: Ancient Secret of Dying While Living, PT 1

GO TO:

http://www.HealthyLife.net/RadioShow/archiveSPA.htm

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/archive.html

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#631

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sat May 12, 2012 8:58 pm
Subject: Starve the Ego. Feed the Soul. Explore Inner Space.

santmat_mystic

Send Email

Starve the Ego. Feed the Soul. Explore Inner Space. Change Your World -- Light and Sound on the Path -- Sant Mat Satsang Discourse

NOTE: As always, to enjoy all the photos, art and icons accompanying the various spiritual quotes below, if you're viewing this via email, click: "Display Images", or "Show Images".

Links Page of All Things Sant Mat, Radhasoami, Much More:

http://groups.Yahoo.com/group/SantMatFellowship/links

Guru Lineage�Charts�of Sant Mat, Surat Shabd Yoga,

Kabir Panth, and Radhasoami Faith -- From Kabir to 2012:

http://bit.ly/HfDHvu

Sant Mat Online Library -- Recommended Reading:

http://spiritualawakeningradio.com/library.html

Mailing List/Email -- Yahoo Groups:

http://groups.Yahoo.com/group/SantMatFellowship

Introduction to Sant Mat Spirituality:

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Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts -- Spiritual Awakening Radio

* May 2012 Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: About the Sant Mat Family Tree from the time of Kabir up to the present, based on the New Web Page Featuring Many Guru Lineage Charts of Sant Mat;

* Pravesh K. Singh, speaking about Inner Light and Sound Meditation, Maharshi Mehi, and Other Spiritual Masters in the Sant Mat Tradition;

* The Heart of Mysticism -- Yoga of Love -- on the Bhakti Aspect of Sant Mat;

* Going Beyond the Universe: Eclectic Readings: Sant Namdev, The Upanishads, Rumi, Kabir, Dadu, Maharshi Mehi, Gnostic Gospel of Judas, Kirpal Singh, Gospel of Thomas, Mandaean Gnostic Prayer, Anurag Sagar;

Access the Complete Library of Podcasts Here:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/archive.html

Jiva-Soul: "Similar to energy, the soul is invisible. An infinite number of souls exist in the universe. In its pure form (a soul without attached karma particles), each soul possesses infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite energy and power, and unobstructed bliss." (from a Jain Sutra)

"Spirituality is very simple indeed. You only take away your attention from the world and instead direct it to God. Spirituality is just as simple as that." (Lars Jensen)

"Only from the heart can you touch the sky." (Rumi)

"Tulsi Sahib says that everything will be seen inside the body. When we concentrate and come behind the eyes [to the Third Eye], the soul will retrace and rise to the higher realms." (Baba Kehar Singh, commentary on the Ghat Ramayan)

The Human Form is Made of Star-stuff

"All embodied spirit-entities living here having left their original home from time immemorial, and having passed through various material spheres in their descent to the corporeal body in the third grand division, have become so firmly attached to their present dwelling, viz., the body and its surroundings in this world, that it is difficult, nay, impossible, for anyone to effect a change in the present condition and abode without the aid and instruction from one (Sant Satguru) who is a resident of that sphere and holds communion with the Supreme Father, because He alone can be expected to know all the secrets of the descent of the spirit current to the lower regions and the means of liberating it from the bondage of matter to enable it to rise and return to its Original Source." (Huzur Maharaj, Radhasoami Mat Prakash)

From Light to Sound, From Sound to Soundlessness: Inner Sound Meditation Transports the Soul to the Soundless, Nameless State (Anadi, Anami Purush)

67. Although the practice of the Yoga of Vision is more difficult than the Yoga of Sound, nevertheless it is necessary to practice initially the Yoga of Light (Vision) to attain one-pointedness. It is unnecessary to continue practicing the Drshti Yoga (Yoga of inner Light, Vision) once one is steadfast in one-pointedness. In fact it is undesirable as it will require more time and offers a more difficult path than the Surat-Shabda Yoga (Yoga of Sound).

68. Having attained one-pointedness, the consciousness should be focused on the internal Sounds. The consciousness will be drawn toward internal Sounds, and at this time bindu (the point) will be left behind. Owing to the extreme delight experienced when hearing the internal Sounds, the consciousness naturally will be engaged in the internal Sounds. This leaving of the point and grasping of the internal Sound is the meditation process and is highly desirable.

69. It is not possible to attain the Essential Divine Sound exclusively through the Yoga of Light or Vision. Through the Yoga of Vision, one can reach some realm of the Non-Conscious Nature; however, without the meditation of other internal Sounds, the Original Sound is unattainable. By employing the Yoga of Sound, it is possible to reach the Essential Sound. The realms of Non-Conscious Nature to varying degrees obstruct direct knowledge of Divine Sound; nevertheless, the internal Sounds lead the consciousness through the various realms to the Essential Divine Sound. The Original or Primordial Sound was manifested before the creation of the original Non-Conscious Nature. Therefore, the Current of Essential Sound is the Pure Conscious flow.

70. Through constant practice of the Meditation of Sound, the practitioner also experiences the Divine Light. Just as upon attending a concert, one cannot help but notice the beautiful setting, so also the scenes of the Non-Conscious Realms are observed inevitably when engaged in the practice of the Yoga of Sound. Therefore, it is said "Dhvanerantargatam Jyoti" ("the Light is within the Sound"). Not surprisingly, the meditation of Sound can transport the practitioner into the Divine Realm of Light. The Sound, however, is the essence of the practice, and the greatest loss would be in not achieving the Sound.

71. The Essential Divine Sound, the Supra Cosmic Sound, takes its origin from the Supreme Sovereign. It came into existence before the creation of the microcosm and the macrocosm.....

(part of 60.)...... In summary, one grasps the central Sounds of the lower realms and progressively is drawn upward to the Sounds of the higher realms. Ultimately, one reaches the center of the Original Sound, the Essential Divine Sound, and thereafter attains the Ultimate State, Sabdatita [Sabtatit] Pad (the State beyond the Sound). The Yoga of Sound must be practiced in order to attain the Nameless State. This is fully elaborated and described in the Upanishads and literature of the saints. The Yoga of Sound is the only medium to reach this State, no other. The greatest good is in the attainment of the Ultimate State, the Nameless State......

(part of 62.) The practice of being in one-pointedness or attaining the subtlest form is devotion to the Subtle Qualified Manifest Form. The practice of focusing on all other internal sounds except the Essential Divine Sound is devotion to the Subtle Qualified Unmanifest Form of Causal and Supra-Causal form. The meditation on the Essential Divine Sound is devotion to the Unqualified Unmanifest Form. All devotional practices end here. When all devotional practices are completed, then and only then does one reach the Nameless State or the Supreme Sovereign and thus attains Moksha (liberation) or final Peace.

63. As the Sound originates from the Soundless or Nameless State, by grasping the Sound, one is drawn naturally to the Soundless State (the Supreme Sovereign, God). (Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy Of Liberation)

I once gave a tape to a friend containing some of my readings from the poetry of Rumi, Kabir, Dadu, Tukarama, Hafiz, and several other great souls. After listening to this recording they said, "it was as if it is the same voice or person speaking through all these Masters of history" even though they are often separated by many centuries, great distances, and spoke many different languages. I pondered this for awhile and it struck me that she was indeed correct; there really is one voice speaking through all these devotees of Bhakti. Lovers of the Beloved all speak with the same "accent" of love. When we encounter outpourings of the heart of such magnitude, we really are hearing the Voice of the soul in it's blissful communion with the Beloved, the Oversoul.

I know a thousand "Rumis" the world needs to hear, to be soothed by the Voice of the Soul that speaks through them all. Hafiz, Shams of Tabriz, Sarmad, Kabir, Rabia, Mira Bai, Daya Bai, Sahjo Bai, Tukaram, Hazrat Sultan Bahu, Baba Farid, Guru Nanak, Dariya Sahib, Tulsi Sahib, Surdas, Namdev, Ravidas, Paltu, Sant Radhaswami Sahib, Maharshi Mehi, and many more besides, up to the living present -- countless are lovers of the Beloved.

"It does not matter if your bhakti is imperfect. Perform bhakti [love, devotion to spiritual practice]! Radhasoami [the Lord of the Soul] graciously declares that you should perform bhakti in whichever way you can. Fear not. He will grant you the Treasure of Love. You will be a recipient of the Gift of Love." (Swami Ji Maharaj, Sar Bachan Poetry, Vol. II)

"Do not feel lonely; the entire universe is inside of you." (Rumi)

We can see less than 1% of the electromagnetic spectrum.

"The Supreme Being has created everything from one drop, out of which have emerged millions of fathomless oceans." (Swami Ji Maharaj)

An Urdu poet has said, "Wherever I look, I find you there. In each and every thing, I see Your Presence." Tulsi Sahib explains: "Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that God permeates everything. He is Omnipresent, but we can not see Him with our physical eyes." Christ also says to open the third eye: "If thine eye be single, thy whole body will be full of Light." (Gospel of John) The center of the two eyes is called shiv netra, tenth gate, third eye, nukta-e-svaida, eye of gaib, divya chakshu, divya drishti, single eye, etc.... (Baba Kehar Singh's commentary and satsangs based upon Tulsi Sahib's Ghat Ramayan, from a section featuring a dialogue between a Nanak Panthi by the name of Palak Ram and Sant Tulsi)

"My eyes got fixed at the central point between the two eyebrows [third eye center]. The Light of God appears within and darkness of the night vanishes. The Sun, with its extraordinary rays, ascends with so many sparkles. Consciousness finally gets immersed in the Quintessential Sound. Baba Sahib tells Mehi to remain absorbed day and night in such applications." �(Maharshi Mehi)

Chakras, Subtle Bodies, Inner Regions -- The World of 'Within'

Different Chakras and/or Levels in Our Body and Universe/Creation according to Santmat based on the teacings of Maharshi Mehi Paramhans and Maharshi Santsevi Paramhans:

-Pravesh K Singh

1. Pind or Micro-Cosmos:

i) Mooladhar or Root Chakra

ii) Swadhishthan or Sacral Chakra

iii) Manipura Chakra (Solar Plexus)

iv) Anahat or Heart Chakra

v) Vishuddha or Throat Chakra

2. Junction/Confluence of Pind (Micro-Cosmos) and Brahmand (Macro-Cosmos):

Ajna Chakra/ Third Eye/ Tenth Door/ Sushumna/Lamp of Body/Sixth Chakra/Yoga Hriday (Yogic Heart)/Shahrag of Sufis

3. Brahmand (Macro-Cosmos):

i) Sahasrar Chakra or Jyoti Niranjan or Region of Thousand Petalled Lotus (Here Moon is sighted within by the one who meditates) - Malkoot of Sufis

ii) Trikuti (Here Sun is seen) or Maya Brahma - Zabroot of Sufis

iii) Shunya or Void - Lahoot of the Sufis

iii) Mahashunya or Greater Void, Raram Brahma - Hahoot of the Sufis

iv) Bhanwar Gufa or Spiralling/ Whirling Cave, Mahakaran or Supra-Causal Region or Soham Brahma (This is the realm of equilibrial Nature having all the three attributes namely, Sat, Raj and Tam in perfect mutual balance or equilibrium and as such no creation takes place here) - Hootal Hoot of the Sufis

v) Chetan/Kaivalya/Nirgun Mandal or the Realm of Pure Consciousness, Primordial or Quintessential Word/Sound/Vibration, Sat Shabda, Hiranyagarbha, Samashti Praan, Akshar Purush or Para Prakriti (Conscious Nature - all the above-mentioned four spheres or regions are called Apara Prakriti or Non-Conscious Nature) - Hoot of Sufis

vi) Kaivalyateet (Beyond Kaivalya) or Shabdateet (Beyond Sound or Soundless) or Turiyateet (Beyond Turiya - Regions spanning from Ajna Chakra or Third Eye to the Kaivalya Mandal or Region of Pure Consciousness are collectively called Turiya State) Region or Param Nirvaan Pad (State of Absolute Salvation) - this is the state or Realm of God in His purest state. It is here that the complete merger or unification of the atma (Soul or Spirit) and the parmatma (the Supreme Soul or the God) takes place and the absolute freedom is verily effected.

This region has also been sub-divided into Alakh (Invisible), Agam (Unintelligible) and Anami (Nameless) realms by some.

Seeing Without Eyes -- Hearing Without Ears -- Walking Without Feet

Kabir says, "It is the mercy of my Satguru that has made me 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 and my meditation into the land where there is no sun and moon, nor day and night. Without eating, I have tasted of the sweetness of nectar; and without water, I have quenched my thirst. Where there is the response of delight, there is the fullness of joy. Before whom can that joy be uttered? Kabir says: 'The Guru is great beyond words, and great is the good fortune of the disciple.'" (Songs of Kabir, satgur soi daya kar dinha)

"Seeing without eyes

Hearing without ears

Walking without feet

Working without hands

Uttering His Name without tongue

And dying while living

Is accepting His Will."

-- Guru Angad

The Master said,

"I will give you

what no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

what no hand has touched,

and what has never occurred

to the human mind."

(Coptic Gospel of Thomas, 17)

Quran: "I have prepared for My righteous servants that which no eye has ever seen, of which no ear has ever heard, and of which has never occurred to the heart of man."

"O devotee! There is a wonderful display within this body. In the darkness of this body is the sky studded with the stars, the Moon and the Sun. There is the subtle body within the physical one and in that subtle body is the causal one. And yet there is the fourth one, that is, the supra-causal body. The fifth body, that is, Kaivalya (Oneness) is without attributes and full of knowledge. Mehi says, the Quintessential Word along with the Absolute, is present within one's body." (Padavali of Maharshi Mehi)

From a prayer found in the Mandaean scriptures of Iraq: "Thou hast showed us that which the eye has not seen, and caused us to hear that which the human ear has not heard. Thou has freed us from death and united us with Life, released us from darkness, and united us with Light��. Thou hast shown us that which the eye has not seen, and caused us to hear that which the human ear has not heard." (Canonical Prayer Book of the Mandaeans, E.S. Drower)

The Divine Eye According to the Buddha

"With the Divine Eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, a bhikkhu surveys a thousand worlds. Just as a man with good sight when he has ascended to the upper palace chamber, might survey a thousand wheel-rims, so too, with the Divine Eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, a bhikkhu surveys a thousand worlds."

The Divine Ear According to the Buddha

"I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby with the Divine Ear element, which is purified and surpasses the human, they hear both kinds of sounds, the divine and the human, those that are far as well as near. Just as a vigorous trumpeter might make himself heard without difficulty in the four quarters; so too, I have proclaimed to my disciples the way whereby with the Divine Ear element�.far as well as near. And thereby many disciples of mine abide having reached the consummation and Perfection of Direct Knowledge." (The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha -- A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya, Teachings of the Buddha, translated by Bhakkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi, Wisdom Publications)

Kabir:

"May I see You with my eyes,

hear Your Sound

with my own ears.

Speak Your Name

in my own words, O Lord;

rest Your flower-like feet

on my heart."

(Songs of Kabir From the Adi Granth,

translated by Nirmal Dass, SUNY Press, NY)

The Practice of Meditation in Sant Mat is taught by a living Master at the time of Initiation

Sant Tulsi Sahab: Unravel the Fourteen Inner Levels Within You�

English rendering of Hindi translation, by Maharshi Santsewi ji Paramhans, of a verse composed by Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras, founder of Modern Lineage of Santmat, excerpted from the October 2004 edition of the Hindi Monthly "Shanti Sandesh" (Message of Peace) published by Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppa Ghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India - 812003.

- English Translation by Pravesh K. Singh:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati

Once a Muslim gentleman, named Taki, called on Sant Tulsi Sahab. He submitted to his (Tulsi Sahab's) kind attention, "You are the Guru to Hindus and Pir to Muslims. I have come to you to learn some divine secrets from you. It would be a great favor, if you could enlighten me." Sant Tulsi Sahab said, "Ask! What's it you wish to know?" Taki asked, "Where does Khuda [God] live? What is the way to find Him?" What Sant Tulsi Sahab said in reply in verse form is presented below:

Original Verse:

"Sun ay Taki na jaaio jinahaar dekhanaa | Apane mein aap jalawaye diladaar dekhanaa || Putalee mein til hai til mein bharaa raaj kul kaa kul | Is paradaye siyah ke jaraa paar dekhanaa || Chaudah tabak kaa haal ayaan ho tujhe zaroor | Gaafil na ho khayaal se hushiyaar dekhana || Sun laamakaan pay panhuch ke teree pukaar hai | Hai aa rahee sadaa se sadaa yaar dekhanaa || Milanaa to yaar kaa naheen mushkil magar Taki | Dushawaar to ye hai ki dushawaar dekhanaa || Tulsi binaa karam kisee murshad raseedaa ke | Raahe nizaat door hai us paar dekhanaa" ||

Translation:

O Taki! Listen! Never look or search outside to find God | He is within you; behold His Light which is illuminating your inside (the Inner Sky) ||

All the secrets of God�Realization are hidden inside the black 'til' (Point) that is located within your pupils |However, those secrets will be revealed to you only if you learnt to see beyond the dark curtain (that is, beyond the empire of darkness that is seen on closing our eyes) ||

Rigorous practice of inner meditation would unravel the fourteen levels (including the seven levels of 'pind' or body and the seven levels of 'brahmaand' or the macro-cosmos (namely, ajnaa chakra, sahasradal kamal, shoonya, maha-shoonya, bhanwar gufaa, and sat lok) | But for that to happen, you will have to alert focus your attention at the place prescribed by the Guru ||

On reaching into the 'shoonya' or void, you would listen to the Sound or Word� | ...The sound (primeval or Quintessential Sound) through which God has been calling you right since you separated from Him ||

It is not difficult to find the dearest (God), but O Taki...|

...it is difficult to look beyond that difficult curtain of darkness ||

Tulsi Sahab says, but for the merciful grace of an accomplished Guru... |

It is almost impossible to find the way out beyond the three coverings or veils of darkness, Light and Sound, and to meet the Supreme Lord! ||

"The escape is through the Sound Current." (Huzur Baba Sawan Singh)

A Hopi Prayer (Native American)

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there

I do not sleep.

I am the soft stars that shine at night

I am the thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on the ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in a circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry:

I am not there.

I did not die.

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#632

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sun Jun 3, 2012 12:27 am
Subject: Philosophy of Liberation -- Light and Sound on the Path

santmat_mystic

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Philosophy of Liberation -- Light and Sound on the Path -- Sant Mat Satsang Quotes, Discourses, Podcasts, and Online Books -- Words of Light and Love for the Spiritual Journey

NOTE: As always, to enjoy all the photos, art and icons accompanying the various spiritual quotes below, if you're viewing this via email, click: "Display Images", or "Show Images".

Announcements

New Book Online

New Sant Mat Book Online: Philosophy Of Liberation (Moksha-Darshan): A Manuel of Sant Mat Mysticism, by Maharishi Mehi -- The Goals and Practices of the Sant Tradition of India -- Translation by Veena Howard -- PDF File:

http://spiritualawakeningradio.com/Philosophy_Of_Liberation_Sant_Mat.pdf

For Links To Many More Books Online, See the Sant Mat Library:

http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/library.html

Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts -- Spiritual Awakening Radio

* PODCAST: Leaving the Matrix -- Mystic Poetry of the Sants with Sitar, Flutes, Tablas, and Tambura --Mysteries of Inner Light and Sound -- Click to Stream or Download: �http://bit.ly/L0yxXI

* PODCAST: The Mystic Poetry and Teachings of Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, India -- These poetry readings, based on translations of Tulsi's poems from Agra, Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Pravesh K. Singh, and the SadGuruMehi website, are musically accompanied with Indian classical ragas -- Click to Stream or Download: �http://bit.ly/JCAP1q

More Recent Podcasts Include:

* Interview with Pravesh K. Singh on Teachings of Maharshi Mehi;

* The Sant Mat Family Tree -- New Guru Lineage Charts of Sant Mat;

* The Heart of Mysticism -- on the Bhakti Element of the Sants of India;

*Going Beyond the Universe: Eclectic Readings from Sants and Gnostics;

Access the Complete Library of Podcasts Here:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/archive.html

"Contrary to what they tell you... you are not a limited material being". (Amit Goswami)

"Without love,

all worship is a burden,

all dancing is a chore,

all music is mere noise.

All the rain of heaven may fall into the sea.

Without love,

not one drop could become a pearl."

-- Rumi

"Sublime is the Satguru and the Society of Saints, meeting and associating with whom, God is meditated upon." (Adi Granth)

"The place where people are always talking about the secrets of the path of Surat Shabd Yoga, is true Satsang." (Huzur Maharaj)

"Yesterday I was clever,

So I wanted to change the world.

Today I am wise,

So I am changing myself..."

-- Rumi

(From my website)

�

Book Review: Philosophy of Liberation

by James Bean

Philosophy of Liberation (Moksha-Darshan)

By Maharshi Mehi Paramahansa Ji Maharaj

Translated by Veena Howard

Published by the Sant Mat Society of North America

(This book is now online as a PDF File. See link at the top of the page.)

This is the first book in English featuring the teachings of Maharshi Mehi, in the lineage of Param Sant Tulsi Sahib, the famous Saint of Hathras, India. The lineage began with Tulsi. After him were several Gurus, including Baba Devi Sahib. Mehi was the chief disciple and spiritual successor of Baba Devi Sahab. Veena Howard, who was initiated into meditation practice by Mehi, tells me that more writings from this lineage of Masters will soon be published and made available to spiritual seekers in the West. She sometimes gives public talks with an inter-faith perspective, mentioning the parallels between Sant Mat teachings and the mystic schools in the other world religions. Veena is also aware of other Sant Mat and Radhasoami lineages of Masters and seeks to cultivate friendly relations with one and all. I notice the book quotes Soami Ji Maharaj (Shiv Dayal Singh) several times, respectfully referring to him as "Sant Radhaswami Sahib."

Philosophy of Liberation is a intriguing book, providing some surprisingly technical details on the Yoga of Sound -- Surat Shabd Yoga Meditation ("Nadanu Sandhana"), as well as the Yoga of Light, referred to in their terminology as "Drshti Yoga", Yoga of Vision). The book is a bit more Upanishadic than I would have expected, rich with quotes from Hindu scriptures as well as the Sants of India, including from the Ghat Ramayana of Tulsi Sahib. Anyone interested in developing their own successful daily meditation practice will greatly benefit from the wisdom and depth of, "Philosophy of Liberation", as it systematically covers all aspects of the philosophy of the path and the technical details of spiritual practice rarely ever seen in print from any source outside of India. It is not light reading, and that is precisely what I like about it! It is quite literally,�THE MANUAL of Sant Mat�-- one of the best books ever written about Sant Mat Mysticism.�

From the Book.....

One Should Practice Meditation Regularly and Daily

52. To move spiritually upward within one's self, through and beyond the realms, is to progress towards union with the Supreme Sovereign. This practice is devotion to the Supreme Sovereign and is unfailing. This spiritual practice is for attaining the perfect Knowledge of the Self and is also called the Antarik Satsanga (inner effort to meet the Supreme Sovereign).

53. Listening to and study of the discourses on this sacred knowledge is an important step in the Sant Mat tradition. Listening to satsang (spiritual discourses) is prescribed as an essential activity.

54. The personal and private instruction in the art of this spiritual practice should be received from a Satguru (an accomplished spiritual master). Once the technique has been learned, one should practice it regularly and daily according to the instructions given by the master.

55. The transition from the waking state to the dreaming state is automatic and results in mental cares being left with an ensuing sense of relaxation. Similarly, in concentrating the mind and positioning it toward one-pointedness (intense internal transition), mental cares are left behind and a sense of ease pervades.

Concerning this, Kabir Sahab said:

"Hai kucha rahani gahani ki Bata,

Baitha rahe cala puni jata."

"There is something mysterious in such

activity in that in sitting, one walks."

Sant Radhaswami Sahab said:

"Baithe ne rasta kata, calate ne bata na pai"

"He who sat finished the journey; he

who walked could not find the way."

(Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy of Liberation)

Brahmamuhurta - The Best Time For Meditation

In conversation with Swarmiji, he suddenly bursts out enthusiastically with "Brahmamuhurta!" This, I learn, is the time between 3.00 AM and 6.00 AM known as the most favourable time for Sadhana (one's spiritual practices). During Brahmamuhurta, so called as it is considered the most auspicious time for meditating on Brahman (God), the mind is calm and less engaged with worldly thoughts, worries and anxieties. Also the atmospheric energy during this time is more charged with sattva (purity), increasing the likelihood one's practice will go deeper, with the corresponding health and well-being benefits. (From: Glimpses Into Sant Mat Ashram Life: Rishikesh, Sanctuary of Sadhus, Sages and the Occasional Enlightened Master)

"Follow that with focusing your attention at the seat of the soul within, i.e. at the Third Eye or the Inner Eye, by making the two streams of consciousness in your two eyes converge in a Point.�

"When the two currents of consciousness meet in a Point, Divine Light appears within.�

"Then, practice Surat Shabd Yoga (Yoga of Divine Sound) i.e., try to shift your attention to listening to the Divine Sounds or myriads of melodies (Anahad Naad) ringing inside. Listening to the Divine Sound destroys all the perversions, agitations and fickleness of the mind.

"The Original Divine Sound, which originated from the Supreme Sovereign, continuously without break reverberates throughout the hearts of the entire macrocosm and microcosm. The Sound will inherently go on for the duration of creation because the evolution of creation depends upon the existence of Sound. Should the Sound cease so would creation." (Maharshi Mehi)

Kabir,

Ram [God] is a beautiful spreading tree;

its fruit is renunciation.

The sage, who has overcome all worries,

is the shade.

Kabir,

plant the seed

that will bear fruit

twelve months a year.

This tree's shade will be cool;

it will burgeon with fruit;

and in it birds will play.

Kabir,

the Giver is a tree,

mercy its fruit,

which blesses all.

When the birds fly away from it,

they say,

"O Tree, may Your Fruit

be ever sweet."

(Songs of Kabir from the Adi Granth,

Nirmal Dass, SUNY Press, NY)

Ethics and Ahimsa Values

From the Principals of Kabir (and Kabir Panth) Published in the Ahmad Shah Translation of, The Bijak of Kabir

To believe in One Avagat, Satya Purush [One God]. His bhakti should be practiced.

Have faith in the Guru and in his teaching.

True Sadhus should be served.

Show mercy and love towards all Jivas [souls].

To abstain from all kinds of meats.

To abstain from all kinds of intoxicating things.

To abstain from adultery.

No visible object in this world should be worshipped.

Anything offered to images should not be eaten. Everything you get to eat, offer it first to the true God, then eat it.

Do not tell lies.

Do not steal.

Do not gamble.

Do not curse anyone.

Repeat Satya Nam.

Practice bhakti of Satya Purush and preach him.

Do not believe in charms, amulets and other superstitious things (Jantr, Mantr, and Tantras).

Hindus, Muslims and any other sect can join Kabir's religion.

Without the knowledge of Sar Shabd no one can attain salvation.

Abuse, deceit and jealousy are enemies of jiva mukti (salvation, liberation).

Humility is a great virtue.

Whatever troubles you have to face do not ask help from another god, but from God.

Give thanks for the gift of Sat Guru.

Without true love of God the practice of bhakti is fruitless.

To read Sat Guru's words is a great virtue.

One should know the Supreme Spirit.

Living A Spiritual Life This Time Through

"Do the repetition of God [simran of God's Name] and forget Him not. Fulfill the purpose of thy birth by practicing concentration. Be steadfast in the remembrance of God. Practice meditation with love, and sing the glory of God. The human body is the door to salvation. Do the repetitions of God, the Creator of the universe." (Sant Dadu Dayal)

"When a Master initiates a soul he brings to that soul, at that moment, the ability to become conscious of this Sound Current. During all the millions of years we have been wandering around, lost and blind, we have forgotten our true selves and our Maker; we have lost the way (the Sound Current). Now it will be different. We are to meet our Creator through the Sound Current, which keeps creation in being." ("Encyclopaedia of Saints of India, Volume 19: Radhasoami", By Dr. S.R. Bakshi and Dr. Sangh Mittra)

Sitting at the Feet of Sages

Kabir,

you will befriend sages

if that's your fate.

You will receive the fruit of salvation

and there will be no hindrance

on the high and hazardous road.

Kabir,

even if for a minute,

half a minute,

a quarter of a minute,

you talk with sages --

it is all profit.

(Songs of Kabir from the Adi Granth,

Nirmal Dass, SUNY Press, NY)

It's wood, my friend, nothing but wood.

Take a look, it's all a show of wood.

When you left the womb and entered the world,

The cradle that rocked you was made of wood.

By the time that you reached the age of five,

The toy in your hand was made of wood.

It's wood, my friend, nothing but wood.

Take a look, it's all a show of wood.

By the time you reached the age of twenty,

Your only worry was getting married.

The wedding palanquin was tulasi wood.

By the time you reached the age of forty,

Your only worry was getting old.

By the time you reached the age of sixty,

The cane in your hand was made of wood.

By the time you reached the age of eighty,

Your only worry was leaving this life.

When the men arrived to lift up the stretcher,

The funeral carriage was made of wood.

When they gave you a bath in Ganges' water

And brought your body to the Yamuna's bank,

They put wood below and wood above.

The pyre they built was made of wood.

It burned like the fires that light up Holi,

As they broke your skull with a pole of wood.

Says Kabir: Listen, brother sadhu.

All this play is a show of wood.

It's wood, my friend, nothing but wood.

Take a look, it's all a show of wood.

-- Kabir Poem ("He lakari tu ban lakari"),

Translated by Professor David Lorenzen in,

Praises to a Formless God, SUNY Press, NY

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#633

From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:31 pm
Subject: Introduction to Sant Mat Spirituality -- Light and Sound

santmat_mystic

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Introduction to Sant Mat Spirituality -- Light and Sound on the Path

NOTE: As always, to enjoy all the photos, art and icons accompanying the various spiritual quotes below, if you're viewing this via email, click: "Display Images", or "Show Images".

Contents Below -- In This Issue

Newly Added Sant Mat E-Books and Podcasts;

Mystic Poetry: Tulsi Sahib's Ode to His Satguru and the Mysteries Within;

A Summary of the Teachings of Sant Mat;

The Seven Teachings of Sant Mat;

The Seven Principles of Sant Mat;

The Ethical Foundation of Sant Mat, Including the Five Precepts and Ahimsa-based Diet -- Moral Requirements for Initiation;

On Initiation Into Inner Light and Sound Meditation Practice;

Article: Changing Your Destiny By Contemplating the Divine Light Within;

Some Sant Mat History and Research: On the Origins and Usage of the Term "Sant Mat", especially by Tulsi Sahib.

Also: who was Tulsi Sahib's Guru? One Observation based on a passage in the Ghat Ramayan.

And......

(Links to Sant Mat Blogs, Web Pages, and Daily Spiritual Quotes via Social Networking Sites are Listed at the Bottom.)

Above: Swami Ji Maharaj of Agra

Newly Added Sant Mat Books Online

* Soami Ji Maharaj's Letters To Huzur Maharaj;

* Elucidation on the Jap Ji: Soami Ji Maharaj's Commentary on Guru Nanak's Morning Prayer;

* Last Words of Soami Ji Maharaj;

* Philosophy Of Liberation (Salvation, Moksha-Darshan): A Manuel of Sant Mat Mysticism, by Maharishi Mehi -- The Goals and Practices of the Sant Tradition, the Veena Howard Translation;

* The Teachings of Kirpal Singh -- A Complete Set of Five Books Combined Into One Volume: Book One: The Holy Path; Book Two: Self-Introspection; Book Three: Meditation; Book Four: New Life in the World; and, Book Five: The New Life in God.(Published By Ruhani Satsang);

* Light On Ananda Yoga, By Shiv Brat Lal (Data Dayal);

* Various Translations of, Radhasoami Mat Prakash, by Huzur Maharaj;

+++ To Access These and Many Other Online Books, GO TO the Sant Mat Library:

http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.com/library.html

Pictured Above: Sant Tulsi Sahib, and Baba Girdhari Sahib

during his younger days (shown holding a fan)

Podcasts Related To Sant Mat and Satsang You Can Stream Or Download

* There is No 'Vatican' of the Spirit -- A Reflection on the Impermanence of Spiritual Movements in a World of Samsara (Changes) -- The World Needs More Satsangs -- On the Format of Satsangs;

* Visions of Allah -- Rumi, Sufi Poetry and Mysticism;

* Leaving the Matrix -- Mysteries of Inner Light and Sound;

* Poetry and the Teachings of Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras;

* Sant Mat Satsang Podcast: The Sant Mat Family Tree: Guru Lineage Charts of Sant Mat, from the Time of Kabir Through 2012;

* Pravesh K. Singh, speaking about Inner Light and Sound Meditation and the Spiritual Masters of India;

+++ To Hear These and Many Other Podcasts, Go To the Archive Page:

http://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com/archive.html

One of Several Tulsi Sahib Icons

The Goal of the Practice of Surat Shabd Yoga (Inner Sound Meditation): "Upon merging the mind with the Sound, there remains only the consciousness, free of the association with the mind. The consciousness free of the mind will be drawn to the flow of Sounds, ultimately merging in Soundlessness or the Supreme Sovereign God [Anadi, Anami]." (Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy of Liberation)

"The Divine Sound is the Original Unspoken Word-Sound of the beginning. It is the special Name of the Supreme Sovereign. This Name makes apparent Its reality to the person who perceives it. By this Divine Sound the direct knowledge of the Essential existence of the Supreme Sovereign may be attained."(Maharshi Mehi, Philosophy of Liberation)

"In all higher regions, Heaven's Music is the spiritual food." ("The Way Out is IN", by Swami Ram Bihari Lal)

Tulsi Sahib's Ode to His Satguru and the Mysteries Within

"How can I describe the greatness of my Satguru?

He has given my soul the key to the Inaccessible.

The vision of the Invisible has enchanted my soul,

Through the grace of the Saints I have recognized the Master.

Piercing the granite wall, (1) my soul enjoys bliss divine;

Intoxicated with joy, I dwell forever at his lotus feet.

The indigent Tulsi knows naught else,

In the thought of his Master, he remains absorbed.

My Satguru has given to me knowledge of the self;

Time and again my soul ascends to celestial regions.

Traversing the regions within, I beheld the

Cosmos; (2)

The beginning and the end of Time stand revealed to me.

The beginning and the end of creation that he sees within,

Verily, of that experience does Tulsi give a description.

The Universe is contained within the human frame,

Tulsi has himself seen what to others is beyond reach.

Not only the macrocosm within the microcosm did I behold,

But, piercing the veil, I also perceived the One pervading all.

Within the body, Tulsi has seen the Invisible Being;

Knowing the unfathomable One, he narrates the wondrous tale.

The Universe is contained within the human body,

Tulsi has revealed this truth to all seekers.

Within my own body have I seen the universe;

In the Light of the lotus feet of my Master,

I have bathed in the true Prayag. (3)

Only a rare one, who has known the Primordial, will bear me out;

One who has tasted the Divine Nectar within,

Will alone know the effulgence of the Supreme Lord.

-- Param Sant Tulsi Saheb, Ghat Ramayan

(1): Seeing within via the Third Eye, Singleness of Vision

(2): Pinda/Material Universe, Anand/Astral Plane, and Bramanand/Causal

(3): The place where the three mystical rivers meet: Ganga, Jamuna and the Saraswati. Tulsi Sahib here esoterically is referring to the inner region known as Triveni.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE TEACHINGS OF SANT MAT, THE PATH OF THE MASTERS

* All souls (jivas) are in essence drops of love from the Ocean of God.

* The attachment and association with mind and body makes the soul lose sight of the real Self.

* God assumes the form of a Saint to lead the soul back to its Original Home.

* One must surrender one's entire being to the Ocean of Love of which we are a part, instead of limiting ourselves to sensual pleasures which leave us unhappy and discontented.

* This can be done by the practice of Surat Shabd Yoga [Inner Light and Sound Meditation].

* By attuning oneself to the Life Current which proceeds from the Heart of Anami Purush [God, The Nameless One] in the form of Light and Sound, one can finally achieve union with the True Self, finding the joy one is seeking. (R.S. White Paper on Religion of Sants and Radhasoami Faith, Agra)

SEVEN TEACHINGS OF SANT MAT

1) God is Real.

2) God is Love, the Ocean of Love and Compassion.

3) All of the world scriptures teach about the same manifestation of God as inner mystical Light and Sound.

4) Our true identity is soul, the Self. Soul is part of God and therefore is, like God, pure love.

5) During this human existence we have an opportunity to experience God.

6) As we experience communing with God's love during meditation -- Surat Shabd Yoga, we can rise above body-consciousness and explore Inner Space, the "Kingdom of the Heavens" that are within us. "We travel back from the realm of Darkness to the realm of Light, from the Light to divine Sound, and from the realm of Sound to the Soundless State [Anami, Radhaswami, Anadi Purush, Ram, the Formless God]." (Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj) The drop merges back into the Ocean of Love.

7) As we get initiated into the Mysteries of the Spirit by a Living Teacher (Master, Sant Satguru), the purpose of our life is fulfilled. Reuniting with God is our reason to be here: "It was for the sake of the God-conscious beings that our True Lord created this earth, and began this play of death and birth". (Adi Granth) Kabir says: "For millions of years you have slept. This morning, will you not wake?".

THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF SANT MAT

The Following Principles Below are Recited Daily by Some in India.

1. Ultimate Reality is beyond any beginning or end, infinite, beyond birth, beyond the senses, all-pervading yet even beyond pervasiveness. It must, therefore, be understood as the Supreme Being. This Essential Element is known in Santmat [the Teachings of the Saints] as the Lord of All and is the foundation of all things. This Being is beyond both the inanimate and animate aspects of nature. It is without qualities and beyond qualities. Its nature is infinite, imperishable, all-powerful. It is beyond time and space, beyond sound and beyond form -- Nirguna). It is the One without a second. The Supreme Being is beyond the scope of the mind, the intellect and the senses. This entire universe is powered by the energy of this Being. This Being is not human. It is not manifested in physical form. It has existence beyond the illusion of maya [illusion], and there is nothing that exists outside of it. It is the Being which is eternal and is in existence from the beginning. Santmat considers this Being to be the Divine Reality, and this [knowing or merging with] this Being is the goal of all spirituality.

2. The individual soul is an inseparable part of the Supreme Being.

3. The physical world of nature was created. It has an origin and an end.

4. The individual soul (jiva), bound by illusion (maya), remains in the cycle of death and birth. This is the cause of one's suffering. In order to escape from this cycle of death and birth we must experience realization of this Supreme Being.

5. By practicing devotion through these four techniques -- Manas Japa (Simran, recitation of the divine name), Manas Dhyana (Dhyan, focus on the divine form), Dristi Sadhana (Yoga of Inner Light, Inner Seeing, Inner Light Meditation, focus on the Infinitesimal Point), and Nadanusandhana Yoga (Surat Shabd Yoga, concentration on the inner divine Sounds) -- the practitioner consecutively transcends the realms of darkness, Light, and Sound which cloak the Supreme Truth -- the Divine Reality. Only in a human body an individual soul is able to achieve unity with the Divine. [In other forms of existence, animal, etc..., it is not possible to tread the spiritual path.]

6. Lying, stealing, intake of intoxicating substances, adultery, and violence (including harming other beings) are the five sins to be avoided. Eating meat or fish is also considered to be a form of violence and should be avoided. The aspirants of Santmat must abstain from these vices.*

(*Note: In Buddhism these five abstinences are known as the Panch Shila (the Five Precepts -- see below).

7. The following are considered to be the requirements for the attainment liberation: (A) Trust and belief in God; (B) Commitment to seek God within; (C) Devotion and service to a satguru -- spiritual Master; (D) Satsang, listening to the teaching and spiritual discourse including study of the Teaching of the Saints and the scriptures; and (E) Dhyana, diligent meditation practice. (Maharshi Mehi, from, The Padavali of Maharshi Mehi, also quoted in the book, Harmony of All Religions)

THE ETHICAL FOUNDATION OF SANT MAT -- AHIMSA VALUES -- THE FIVE PRECEPTS

(Note: This includes both vegan and lacto-vegetarian versions of the ahimsa diet. What is vegan, and why is the vegetarian community transitioning to it? At the Sant Mat Library -- linked above -- scroll down and see: "Vegan Diet and Sant Mat: The Book of Compassion -- Reverence For All Life".)

Moral requirements for Initiation

1. Abstinence from alcohol and drugs (intoxicants);

2. Ahimsa (Non-Violence in thought, word, and deed) including in the area of diet, as in following a vegan (abstinence from animal products) or vegetarian diet (abstinence from meat, fish, and eggs);

3. Leading a truthful life;

4. Practicing non-stealing: an honest, ethical source of income;

5. Loyalty to ones spouse;

Another Version of the Five Precepts

2) Refrain from speaking what is not true.

3) Refrain from taking what is not yours.

4) Refrain from sexual misconduct.

5) Refrain from using intoxicants.

INITIATION INTO SURAT SHABD YOGA -- INNER LIGHT AND SOUND MEDITATION

In the Sant tradition, the complete methods and secrets of meditation practice are communicated at the time of Initiation (Diksha) by a living Master (Sant Satguru, Competent, Qualified Teacher) or a representative of a Master. A Living Teacher, being fully acquainted with the 'landscape' of Inner Space, is able to impart to initiate-candidates valuable guidance on how to safely make the journey of ascension through the Inner Regions during meditation practice within. This kind of spiritual transmission and the details of Surat Shabd Yoga practice are not found in books, old scriptures of the past, and are not for sale, but are given freely to seekers by a Living Teacher. Initiation into Sant Mat Meditation is available at various locations around the world.

At the time of Initiation one vows to practice meditation each day. The spiritual path is a life-long commitment.

Changing Your Destiny By Contemplating the Divine Light Within -- Exploring the World Religions

By James Bean

Accumulated Thoughts Cause Births and Deaths Again and Again

"With our thoughts we make the world." (Buddha)

"Having been blessed with this human form, one must make proper use of their 'Pradhan Buddhi' or Supreme intellect by utilizing it for the attainment of Self-Realization and thus make fruitful or productive this human birth." (The Shri Paramhans Advait Mat Granth)

"Desire for anything assumes the form of a thought. The moment a desire to attain something or the other, arises in the mind, that very moment, man is thrown into an ocean of thoughts. These very thoughts become the basis of resolutions and options which cause one to enter into different forms after death [transmigration, reincarnation]. Whatever the nature of thought at the time of death is determines the next form or birth for that soul.

"All the doubts and desires should be made to merge with the Shabd Naam or Word [the Divine Current of Light and Sound], to get rid of the consequences of innumerable births and transmigration. Except for the desire to recite Naam, no other desire should take hold of the mind...... By remembering the Lord, one attains God-realization and when this stage is reached, then there is no need to resort to any other means of attaining moksha (liberation)." (The Shri Paramhans Advait Mat Granth)

"Whatever man thinketh, that he obtaineth. If he were to dwell on the Absolute -- he would become immortal!" (Namdev)

Below is from, Harmony of All Religions. It's a free online book in the Library Section of my website.

Below contains a very useful presentation about successful meditation practice. It's so easy to fall asleep during meditation, to discover our attempt at meditation turning into a 'sleep-itation'. The focus can also be lost as the mind resumes thinking during that period we call meditation, gets caught up in daydreaming, fantasies, remembering past events, worries, planning for future events, etc.... We can hear our thoughts so well in the silence. The running commentary of the "monkey-mind" is like a sportscaster constantly giving us the play-by-play and never wants to stop. Discipline is most definitely required, along with good techniques, spiritual exercises that are effective.

Below, Sant Sevi Ji uses the term "Pratyahara", meaning, "the repeated practice of bringing the wandering mind to a focus", bringing our attention back to the Seat of the Soul, Third Eye Center. We sit ourselves down and focus at the Third Eye with eyes closed. That shifting from the outer waking state to the meditative state, in this particular Sant tradition of mysticism from India, is called pratyahara. "Dharana" is a term for the "sustaining of focus for small periods" of time -- quality meditation time, in other words. I am so glad someone has identified terms for these meditative states so that we may better communicate and examine the quality of our own meditations, and seek to develop a stronger, more sustained, focus within.

For those of you who are new to meditation practice, I should mention that at the beginning of one's meditation each day, to help overcome the running commentary of the mind, one can mentally repeat a sacred name or names of God within ones self as one gazes into the darkness ahead with eyes closed. This mental repetition is called "Manas Jap". Sufis call it "Zikhr". Others may call it "Simran", which is a term that also means, "Remembrance". It is, in other words, the repetition of this sacred name is a way to remember who we are, and call upon the Positive Power for aid and assistance. It is the "Prayer of God's Name". The answer to this prayer is the manifestation of God within us during our experience of meditation. Those of you who have not been given a mantra by a living Master to repeat, can, for now -- to try this out and get somewhat of a sense of what this practice is like, adopt your own sacred word to use during practice -- a name you're comfortable with already, like perhaps: Allah, Ram, Radhaswami, Yeshua, AUM, HU, Great Spirit, etc..... Any name of God can work. Whichever name symbolizes for you the highest truth and the Lord of Love is a very good name, a natural mantra. (Note: Formal Initiation into Sant Mat Meditation, a much more advanced and complete version of meditation practice is available at various locations around the world.)

As we remain focused and mentally repeat our sacred word or words, we may notice the appearance or manifestation of inner Light. We may see sparks of Light that look something like fireflies, stars, various colors or other visions of Light. "If thine eye be Single, thy whole body shall be full of Light," say many Masters of the past and present. In the Gospel of Thomas, Yeshua says, "if one is (whole), one will be filled with Light, but if one is divided, one will be filled with darkness." If the energy of our attention is scattered and dissipated into the outer world of the five senses, we see darkness, but if our attention returns to the Single Eye Focus -- the seat of the soul -- Light shall appear. Or, in other words, we will discover the Light that is already there.

Masters say it is a good idea to meditate everyday to lighten the load of karma. The inner Currents of Sound and Light wash away karma and give us more divine grace, thus uplifting our destiny to the highest good. The Force known as Shabd Naam (Divine Sound and Light) coming from above, busts into the world of time and space, freeing souls from the law of karma. We become what we see. If we contemplate the Light of God -- we become That.

Returning to the Source Through the Inward Journey is Dharma, by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj

"The individual soul has descended from the higher worlds [realm of the Divine] to this city of illusion [bodily existence]. It has descended from the Soundless State [the God State, Nirvana] to the essence of Sound, from that Sound to Light, and finally from the realm of Light to the realm of Darkness. The qualities (dharmas, natural tendencies) of the sense organs draw us downward and away from our true nature. The nature of the soul (atman) draws us upwards and inwards and establishes us in our own true nature.

"To go back to our origin means returning: withdrawal from the sense organs to go upward (by withdrawing consciousness) from the darkness to the realms of Light and Sound. In other words, to go inward from the external sense organs to the depth of the inner self (both of these expressions are exact special metaphors describing the same movement). The natural tendencies of the soul (atman) are to move from outward to inward. The current of consciousness which is dispersed in the nine gates of the body and the nine senses must be collected at the Third Eye Center between the eyebrows. Therein lies the path for our return. This is the act of leaving the gates of the sense organs and becoming established in the soul. We travel back from the realm of Darkness to the realm of Light, from the Light to divine Sound, and from the realm of Sound to the Soundless State. This is turning back. This is what dharma or religion really intends to teach us and it is the essence of dharma.

The Inward Journey Involves Reversing the Consciousness Current

"The mind must go inward, which is the reverse of its usual and easy outward path. Just as the fish struggles against the current, so an equal effort must be made to go against the current of the mind. By going inward against the current of the mind, we experience divine joy.

"But how exactly is this concentration accomplished? It is accomplished by withdrawal within with intense focus. When collected, consciousness is of unimaginable speed. This is the force of the soul which is capable of reaching God.

"What is the place to be reached? When we close our eyes and see darkness, this is the realm of ignorance. When the Light dawns within you, then you understand that you reside in noble regions. In darkness resides ignorance and in Light resides Knowledge. For example as we are sitting in light right now we are able to see one another. However, if the electric power goes out ensuing total darkness we will not be able to see others. We will not even be aware of other people, coming and going. In this analogy light signifies knowledge and darkness signifies ignorance. In the same manner when we see darkness with our eyes closed we are in the realm of death and re-birth [we are unaware of our true nature.]. When we come out of the realm of darkness and enter into the realm of Light, we will at the same time transcend the web of death. It is not possible that we can remain in darkness and be free from the net of birth and death. Having achieved inner Light we can be liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

"Some one asked Saint Mira Bai, "What kind of practice did you do to control your mind -- our mind wanders far away during meditation?" Mira replied, "Through my consciousness I traveled the skies and then my mind came under control and agreed to be still."

"Let us ponder on this subject. What vehicle did Mira Bai use to travel the skies? Was it an airplane, helicopter or a rocket? Mira Bai's journey was not in the outer world but it was inside the inner realms. Her vehicles were divine Light and divine Sound." (Harmony Of All Religions) ////////

SANT MAT HISTORY: On the Usage of the Term "Sant Mat"

"Sant Mat" means: "The Teachings of the Saints" or "Path of the Masters". It's common knowledge that the term "Sant Mat" was coined or adapted by Param Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras, India during the 19th Century. "Sant Mat" was adopted and popularized by Tulsi Sahib as a new name for this spiritual path or genre of mysticism, but the Sant tradition, with its many guru-lineages or branches, is a spiritual movement that dates back many centuries to ancient India. Tulsi Sahib was of the opinion that the Sant movement goes back to the time of Krishna thousands of years ago, that Krishna knew of Sants or Rishis during his day, the age of the Bhagavad Gita.

Commonly used words like "Sant", "Sat", and "Mat", with their roots in Sanskrit, are found in the literature of many spiritual paths originating in India. "Santmat", as a single word referring to the efficacy of following the teachings of Sants does turn up on a couple of occasions in Sant literature during the centuries prior to the time of Tulsi Sahib. It could be present in a few verses of Kabir, and is in at least one verse of a poem of Sant Tulsi Das. Clearly however, "Sant Mat" as the universal name or label for this school of spirituality or Sant tradition begins with Tulsi Sahib during the 19th Century in Hathras, and now has been embraced by millions of souls and scores of spiritual paths based in India.

"While the title of Sant Mat (translated as 'Teachings of the Sants') was not coined until the late 19th century by Tulsi Sahib, the philosophical mindset was indeed prevalent for many centuries." (Andrea Grace Diem, Ph.D., "Lions in the Punjab: An Introduction to the Sikh Religion", from Chapter One, The Sikh--Sant Connection)

Param Tulsi Sahib of Hathras originated the term "Sant Mat" as recorded in the Ghat Ramayan also according to the scholar Parashuram Chaturvedi in his book "Sant Parampara". (See footnote 23, in the chapter titled, "The Radhasoami Revival", by Mark Juergensmeyer, on page 337 in, "The Sants, Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India", Edited by Karine Schomer and W.H. McLeod, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1987, page 783)

"One thing that all factions agree upon, though, is that Tulsi Sahib consolidated the teachings of nirguna bhakti, expounded the path of surat shabd yoga, and was largely responsible for the popular usage of the term Sant mat. His teachings are embodied in Ghat Ramayana, Ratan Sagar, and Shabdavali." (David C. Lane, "The Radhasoami Tradition, A Critical History of Guru Successorship", Garland Publishing, 1992 edition, page 39)

"Tulsi Sahib, for the first time, used the expression 'Sant Mat' or 'teachings of Saints' to stress the basic unity of the teachings of all Saints. Swami Ji later adopted the same expression, 'Sant Mat', in his works." (Janak Raj Puri and V. K. Sethi, "Tulsi Sahib, Saint of Hathras", 1981 edition, Mystics of the East Series, Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Book Department, page 18)

"For all the religious traditions of India, the nineteenth century was an age of rationalistic reform, during which the attempt was made to systematize beliefs and make practices consistent with doctrines. Tulsi Sahib of Hathras (ca 1760 - 1843) was at once heir to certain esoteric tendencies in later Sant tradition and a precursor of the new spirit. Stressing the unity of the Sants as a parampara, he taught what he believed to be the common core of doctrines implicit in all the Sants ('sant mat'), and tried to reverse the spread of saguna beliefs and practices among the followers of nirguna panths. Heavily indebted to him was Shiv Dayal Singh (1818 - 1878), founder of the modern Radhasoami movement." (Karine Schomer, "The Sants", Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, page 7)

"Tulsi Sahib, a Sant of Hathras from the nineteenth century, recognized that Sants drew upon the teachings of other Sant figures as spiritual resources. Pointing out the common spiritual roots, he identified this movement as a coherent religious tradition, which he called 'Sant Mat', simply meaning a 'Sant faith'." (Dr. Andrea Diem, "The Gnostic Mystery, a Connection Between Ancient and Modern Mysticism", Mount San Antonio College Press, Walnut, CA, 1992 edition, page, 29)

Examples of "Sant Mat" and "Sat Mat" in the Teachings of Tulsi Sahib

Sant Tulsi Sahib refers to the term 'Santmat' in his poem: "Santmata hai sar aur sab jal pasara." ["Santmat is the essence of wisdom, all else is a snare to spread misconceptions."] (translated by Pravesh K. Singh)

"The principles and tenets of Sant Mat are one and the same, only there is a difference in terminology. Since the same principles have been stated using different names, you become confused and do not understand them. Sat Saheb, that is, Sat Purush, has been described as Sat Nam. And Sar Shabd (True Shabd) has been called A-Nam. The name Nirgun has been given to Niranjan and it is the mind which has been called Ram. What Kabir had said, has been said by other Sants, too. Kabir explained Sant Mat in his own way, other Sants in other ways. The religion of all those who have gained access within is one and the same. Those who lack true understanding, adhere to dogmas and blind beliefs. Those who have spoken on the basis of inner experiences, have sung of the same Panth or path for reaching the Lord."(Ghat Ramayan)

On following the dictates of mind or ego: "Kal has devoured all. None knows of the path prescribed in Sant Mat. All follow Kal's methods and obey him alone." (Ghat Ramayan)

"Saints know not renunciation, not acquisition..... In acquisition the entire world is enslaved. In these two the world remains entangled. Sant Mat is quite distinct from both." (Ghat Ramayan)

"Worldly people drift in the current of the ocean of existence. Sant Mat (Religion of Sants), on the other hand, is beyond the ocean of worldly existence." (Ghat Ramayan)

"In Sant Mat all Masters have decried killing and meat-eating." (Ghat Ramayan)

"Few know of the secrets of Sant Mat, and it is Sant-Surat that ascends to the sky, reaches the Inaccessible Region and attains the Original Abode. He, whose Surat [soul] has met the Supreme Being, is a Sant."

"It is only through the grace and mercy of Sants [Saints, Satgurus] that some rare Jivas [souls] will seek and find Sant Mat, the diamond. That diamond will come within the grasp of a Jiva only when th Sant enables him to recognize it." (Ghat Ramayan)

"Ghee (butter) cannot be obtained without making coagulated milk and then churning it. Likewise, if you perform the spiritual practices of Sant Mat, you can experience a bit of the intoxicating bliss of the Darshan [Vision] of the Beloved." (Ghat Ramayan)

Said Tulsi Sahib said, "Listen, I will now explain what I mean by Sant. To mention a few Sants, I pick up the names of Dadu, Mira, Nabha, Nanak, Dariya Saheb and Soor Das. Kabir's name, I mention again. And there have been many other Sants. Sants, who have reached the Eternal Region, have given to the world invaluable couplets and hymns in the form of their poetical compositions. I, Tulsi Das, who am only the dust of the holy feet of Sants, also said something about the bliss of the Inaccessible Region. Though I have had the good fortune to be associated with Sants, my understanding bears no comparison with Theirs. Let me reiterate the greatness of the holy feet of Sants. I place my head at Their holy feet. Listen, O Phool Das, I shall now tell you, as one who is the slave of the holy feet of Sants, of the Shabds (hymns) composed by Them." (Ghat Ramayan)

"I (Tulsi Saheb) have described the status of Sants and sung of hymns composed by them. Sants have traversed the path to the Inaccessible Region and their Surat has attained the Truth or Essence.

"Nanak, Dadu, Dariya Saheb, Mira Bai, Soor Das, Kabir and Nabhaji have all reached the Nabh (sky, high region) and have given out the secrets. Their Surats have got across and merged there.

"Though their teachings are one and the same, their ways of teaching are different. Indeed, all Sants have proceeded along the same path. All of them ascended along the same Current of Shabd, and got across. They saw Gagan and proceeded ahead. Tulsi Saheb says with the beat of drums that he who doubts this is a great fool." (Ghat Ramayan)

"And know ye, Phool Das, I have given out, as hints, the secrets of the beginning and the end, which is precisely the religion of Kabir Saheb and which also constitutes the essence of what other Sants have said. This, indeed, is the essence of the religion of Sants, who had Darshan [Vision] of the exalted Supreme Being within. They tasted the bliss of the purely spiritual region of Surat and also came to know of the secrets of the beginning and the end. He alone, who ponders over and realizes what I have said, and also takes his Surat across, will be able to reach the Unfathomable Region."

The Term "Sat Mat" or "Teachings of God" is About Seeking Truth Within

"What Sants have said about Sat Mat is what they saw with their own eyes. They have sung of it in the form of Sakhis (couplets) and Shabds (hymns)." (Ghat Ramayan)

"Listen, O Phool Das, I have given out the same true secrets which Sants like Kabir Saheb, Dadu Saheb, Rai Das Ji, Darya Saheb, Guru Nanak, Soor Das Ji, Nabha Ji and Mira Bai have spoken of. They, too, have composed similar hymns describing the bliss of the highest spiritual region, whose glory I also have sung, blessed by the grace and the dust of the holy feet of Sants". (Ghat Ramayan)

"I have described in detail Sat Mat with which worldly ways are incompatible. I have tasted of the bliss of the Original Abode which alone is true. The world, on the other hand, is only a fleeting show, and only if one ponders over this, one will be able to realize the essence of Sat Mat. Then alone will one's boat of life be able to cross the ocean of worldly existence. Great reverberation of Shabd is going on within. One should fix one's attention on it and dance with joy." [This is a reference to Surat Shabd Yoga, Meditation on the Audible Life Stream.] (Ghat Ramayan)

"They [the Jivas, souls] should know that Surat alone, by adopting Naam, can proceed beyond the Fourth Lok or Region. They should take a vow to hold fast to this very method which, really, is the unique religion of Sants. They should know that worldly rites and rituals are debased and worthless activities, and should keep away from them. They should worship Sat [literally "Truth", the Eternal] by means of Surat, and this will enable them to reach the regions beyond the sky. They should accept the teachings of Sants and also realize the Sant Mat is distinct and separate from all." (Ghat Ramayan)

Anami Reality -- The Nameless One -- God

"Sants frequently visit the Inaccessible Region, and after actually observing, describe the conditions. It is said that Kal and Niranjan who have both the seen and unseen forms have created the Vedas out of Nada or Shabd and that Atma is invisible. This is what Kal has made known to the world. But Sant Mat reveals something more. According to it, the Abode of Atma is Mansarovar, and Parmatma remains beyond Sunn [the Void]. This is what the Sants describe after having seen. Higher up is Sat Lok, which is the fourth Stage or Region of the creation. Its Deity is Indescribable and is called Sat Purush.... Beyond the Fourth Lok dwells the Nameless Being [Anami Purush] who has no trace of Maya." (Shabdavali)

Sant Tulsi Sahib as the Reincarnation of Sant Tulsi Das

Goswami Tulsidas Ji has made a clear mention of the term "Santmat": "Ihaan na achchhapaat kachhu raakhaun. Ved puran santmat bhaakhaun." (passage provided by Pravesh K. Singh)

Ram Charit Manas is a spiritual classic authored by Sant Tulsi Das (1532 -- 1623).

Ghat Ramayan was authored by Sant Tulsi Sahib (1763 --1843). According to Tulsi Sahib in his Ghat Ramayan, in a past life he was Tulsi Das and the author of the Ramayana of Tulsi Das. His mission was to complete the spiritual work of Tulsi Das and share the Esoteric Teachings of the Sants with humanity, which many were not ready to receive during his previous incarnation: "Had I told them of the secret of the Supreme Being, it would not have been possible for me to survive in this world. That is why I did not give out the unique secret and kept Sant Mat back from the Jivas [souls]. I made only indirect references to the inner secrets in my book and that is why they did not attract the attention of anybody." (Ghat Ramayan)

"I wrote the book 'Ghat Ramayan' and I give here the date on which it was brought out and other details.

"Feeling an urge to write the book, I completed it in 1618 Vikram, having decided to start writing it on a Tuesday which was the eleventh day of the bright half of the lunar month of Bhadon.

"People of Kashi were surprised on reading my book and there was much tumult and agitation in the city.

"Pandits, Jains, Mohammedans and the general public of Kashi started a bitter quarrel.

"Pandits, anchorites and the world at large decried "Ghat Ramayan".

"Hence, I hid the book and stopped its circulation.

"And accordingly, worldly people who know no love, remained' ignorant of the modes and methods of Sant Mat." (Ghat Ramayan)

"In Ghat Ramayan there are references to things and events which occurred after Tulsi Das Ji's demise. From this, one should not think that Tulsi Saheb made unnecessary additions to the original "Ghat Ramayan" written by Tulsi Das Ji. The original Ghat Ramayan had undoubtedly disappeared from this world and, quite obviously, Tulsi Saheb did not just bring it out of His bag. Rather, He re-wrote the book Himself. It is common experience that a new edition of a book, in case it comes out during the life-time of the author, is made up-to-date. Tulsi Saheb did the same thing for, Tulsi Das and Tulsi Saheb were really one and the same, person. Indeed, Tulsi Saheb, and not Tulsi Das, is the author of "Ghat Ramayan" in its present form in which most of the biographical sketch given by Tulsi Saheb relates to His previous life." (S.D. Maheshwari, "Sants, Sadhas, Mahatmas, and Devotees of the Past")

"Ghat Ramayan means the Ramayan of what is happening within the Ghat, i.e., the microcosm, the human body. That which is in the Pind [body] is also present in the Brahmand or the cosmos..... The Ghat Ramayan is the Ramayan of the inner Self -- it contains all the inner secrets." ( S. D. Maheshwari, "The Esoteric Meaning of the Ramayan")

Baba Devi Sahab was in possession of a hand-written manuscript of Sant Tulsi Sahib of Hathras printed at Hathras itself in the year of 1896, and had it published, sharing the teachings of the great Saint of Hathras with spiritual seekers everywhere: "The book Ghat Ramayan is said to be the work of Tulsi Saheb of Hathras. The first edition of this book was published by one Munshi Devi Prasad Saheb alias Devi Sahib. Subsequently, an edition was brought out in the year 1911 from Belvedere Press....." (S.D. Maheshwari, "The Esoteric Meaning of the Ramayan", Agra, page 169)

"He [Maharshi Mehi] managed [to acquire] copies of three books [editions] of Ghat Ramayan published at different times by different sources -- one published from Belvedere Press, Allahabad, second the commentary work by Baba Devi Sahab on Ghat Ramayan -- Baba Devi Sahab selected some important hymns from then available book of Ghat Ramayan and interpreted its meaning -- and the third is the book available in the Satsang Mandir of Hathras [Sant Tulsi Sahib Ashram, Hathras, India]." (Sadgurumehi website, section on, Bhawarth Sahit Ghat Ramayan Ke Mukhya Aur Paramopayogi Vishay Ki Padaawali)

Not Everyone Agrees That Sants Tulsi Sahib and Das Were the Same Person

Maharshi Mehi, sounding almost like a modern-day scholar doing textual criticism apparently was of the view that parts of the Ghat Ramayan mentioning that Tulsi Sahib was the reincarnation of Tulsi Das represents later apocryphal additions or interpolations: "That Sant Tulsi Sahab was Goswami Tulsi Das in a former life can not be accepted. In fact, both were not the same person." "Ghat Ramayan has been altered by persons for some unwanted advantages in the course of time. There are many such poems present in Ghat Ramayan which can not be accepted as the creation of such a great Sant as Tulsi Sahab."

Who Was Sant Tulsi Sahib's Guru?

There are a couple of different theories regarding this. After debating and writing about this question over the years, I think it's important to state that any honest history is always evidence-based and not faith-based.

It is written: "A Marathi scholar in one of his articles observed that Tulsi Sahib 'was initiated by a Guru in the town of Hathras, and under the instruction of his Guru he did intense meditation.'" (from an article by Pandit Pandurang Sharma in the June 1931 issue of "Vividh Gyan Vistar", a Marathi magazine devoted to cultural studies, page 202, cited by Janak Raj Puri and V. K. Sethi in their book, "Tulsi Sahib, Saint of Hathras", 1981 edition, Mystics of the East Series, Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Book Department, page 4)

Soami Ji Maharaj's List of All-Time Great Saints: The names of some of the perfect and true Sants, Sadhs and Faqirs who manifested themselves during the past seven hundred years are Kabir Saheb, TULSI SAHIB*, Jagjiwan Saheb, Garib This, Paltu Saheb, Guru Nanak, Dadu Saheb, Tulsi Das, Nabhaji, Swami Hari Das, Sur Das and Rai Das, and some of the Muslim names are Shams Tabrez, Maulvi Rum, Hafiz, Sarmad and Mujaddid Alif Sani. A perusal of their writings would give an idea of their spiritual attainments. (Sar Bachan Prose)

*Tulsi Sahib of Hathras was not widely known and recognized back then like the other names on the list. Tulsi and Soami Ji were contemporaries, for a time, alive at the same time. Out of all the Guru names listed above, only one name is that of a contemporary or recent Master in the life of Soami Ji Maharaj: Tulsi Sahib. Thus, this list reveals a very "Tulsi Sahibi" view of Sant Mat. And we do know Tulsi was Soami Ji's Guru and the Guru of his whole family. They were all part of the Hathras Satsang.

Going back further in time, Tulsi Sahib's List of All-Time Great Saints: "Listen, O Phool Das, I have given out the same true secrets which Sants like Kabir Saheb, Dadu Saheb, Rai Das Ji, DARIYA SAHIB*, Guru Nanak, Soor Das Ji, Nabha Ji and Mira Bai have spoken of. They, too, have composed similar hymns describing the bliss of the highest spiritual region, whose glory I also have sung, blessed by the grace and the dust of the holy feet of Sants. (Ghat Ramayan)

*Dariya Sahib of Bihar was not widely known and recognized back then like the other names on the list. Dariya and Tulsi Sahib were contemporaries, for a time, alive at the same time. Out of all the Guru names listed above, only one name is that of a contemporary or recent Master in the life of Tulsi Sahib: Dariya. Thus, this list reveals a very "Dariya Panthi" view of Sant Mat, which for me strongly suggests a significant clue about the spiritual affiliation of Tulsi Sahib.

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From: SantMatMysticism <santmat_mystic@...>
Date: Sun Jul 8, 2012 4:43 am
Subject: Merging with the Nameless, Soundless God (Anami)

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Merging with the Nameless, Soundless God (Anami) -- Light and Sound on the Path

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Sant Mat Library, Recommended Reading

Kabir, Anurag Sagar, Adi Granth, Radhasoami, Kirpal Singh, Maharshi Mehi, Gnostic, Vegetarian, Vegan Books:

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The Charts of the Heavens

Inner Regions --�

Spheres of Creation According to Sant Mat Mysticism, Radhasoami, and Surat Shabd Yoga:

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In the course of his missionary activity Nanak often visited foreign countries. According to local folklore, he is said to have visited Mecca in the guise of a Muslim devotee. But his not paying heed to Mohammedan etiquette nearly cost him his life. On his first night at Mecca he slept with his feet towards the Kaaba. He was rudely awakened by an Arab clergyman who said, "Who is this sleeping Kaafir (infidel) who lies with his feet towards God?" To this Guru Nanak replied, "Turn my feet in the direction where God is not".

"Lighting oil lamps in the temples, churches, and mosques, ringing bells, singing, praying out loud to extend our voice to God -- these are all outer symbols of the inner experiences of divine Light and Sound." -- Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, Harmony Of All Religions

"The soul-explorer is not alone, for there are those who have traveled the highways of the inner cosmos; far more than one may at first realize." (George Arnsby Jones)

"Masters have come in the past, are existing today, and will continue to come in the future for the spiritual benefit of man." (Kirpal Singh)

"That Supreme Being has created everything from one drop, out of which have emerged millions of fathomless oceans." (Soami Ji Maharaj's Commentary on the Morning Prayer of Guru Nanak)

Kabir Says...

satya purush chowthe pad basa, santan ka wahan sada nivasa,

so ghar darsaya guru pure, bin baje tahan achraj ture --

God dwells in the fourth state (superconscious), and that is where the liberated saints always dwell through meditation. The perfect guru has shown that abode where, without musical instruments, the miraculous divine Music (Anahad Nad) plays.

age alakh purush darbara, dekha jaye surat se nyara,

tis par agam lok ek nyara, sant surati koi karat vichara --

As you advance, there is the invisible God's royal court that can be seen in unique meditation. There is the unfathomable and marvelous abode that saints in meditation can contemplate.

tahan se darse atal atari, adbhut satguru mahal sawari,

surat hui sat karman gami, purush anami jai samani --

From there you will see the immovable palace, where the immortal Satguru dwells. When your karmas and meditation harmonize, then you will merge with the Nameless God [Anami Purush]." (Book of Prayers)

"The soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand." -- Rumi

Names Leading to the Nameless One (Anami) -- All About Transcendental Hearing of Divine Sounds and Merging with the Soundless God

Rumi: "O lovers, lovers it is time to set out from the world. I hear a drum in my souls ear coming from the depths of the stars."

Hatha Yoga Pradipika: "The practitioner may hear sounds like the sound of the Ocean, a Rain Cloud, a Drum, a Kettledrum, a Conch, a Bell, a Horn, a Flute, a Lute, or a bee [Hum]."

Peter Fripp: "The Music of the Shabd is distant and unsteady when first heard, but as it deepens, it lifts the listeners into a hitherto unknown peace.... The Sound of the Shabd is like a constant theme with variations on all levels [planes or heavens]. These variations are described as the rushing of a mighty wind, the sound of a lute, the deep resonance of a bell or conch, or the tinkling of glass in the wind. There are also wonderful lights and radiance to accompany the sounds...The sounds and lights progress in a definite order, corresponding to each stage of the journey inwards, and they clearly indicate the disciples progress."

Hazrat Khan: "It sounds like Thunder, the roaring of the Sea, the jingling of Bells, running the Water, the Buzzing of bees, the Twittering of sparrows, the Vina, the Whistle, or the sound of Shankha." (The Mysticism of Sound)

Padavali of Sant Namdev: "Pierce through the six chakras, and ascend upwards. Listen to the Melody Divine arising there. Through the Melody, the turbulent mind is quelled. Realize that only thus is thy practice made fruitful."

Padavali of Sant Namdev: "Listen to the heavenly Music and attain liberation while still living."

Maharshi Mehi: "The Original Divine Sound, which originated from the Supreme Sovereign, continuously without break reverberates throughout the hearts of the entire macrocosm and microcosm. The Sound will inherently go on for the duration of creation because the evolution of creation depends upon the existence of Sound. Should the Sound cease so would creation."

Maharshi Mehi: "Sound by its nature has the quality to draw one to its point of origin......... No other means is better than the Sound for transcending the concealments (realms) of creation."

Padavali of Sant Namdev: "It is your Music I hear O Lord. The rhythm of drums, jantar [a three stringed musical instrument], and Vina. The supreme moment has come."

Maharishi Mehi: "They are similar to the sounds of the Veena (stringed instrument similar to the lyre), the Murali (flute), the Nafeeri (horn instrument), the drum, the Mrdal (cymbals), the Singi (a horn), the Sitar (stringed instrument), or the Sarangi (similar to a lute). Other descriptions compare these Sounds to a peal of Thunder and a roar of a Lion."

Rumi: "We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee; we are as the mountain and the echo in us is from thee."

On Surat Shabd Meditation, The Yoga of Sound, by Maharshi Mehi

"The Existence of the Supreme Sovereign is only realized by going beyond the Non-Conscious Realm of coverings. There are four Non-Conscious Realms:

* Sthula (Gross -- Material World)

* Suksma (Subtle -- astral plane. This and the following Realms are perceived through refinement of consciousness in the state of meditation.)

* Karana (Causal)

* Mahakarana (Supra-Causal).

"The ultimate human achievement is the realization (attainment) of the Supreme Sovereign God.

"The individual soul perceives according to that realm in which he is living. Just as yellow colored glasses make the world appear yellow, so also that realm in which the individual soul lives makes all of creation appear as that particular realm, owing to the shadow of the Non-Conscious Realms (coverings). The reality of the Supreme Sovereign is as though nonexistent.

"Any forms containing gunas (attributes) have a beginning and are finite. They cannot be the Ultimate Reality nor the Supreme Sovereign in Its entirety.

"Smell, touch, taste as well as the spoken and unspoken Sounds of the realms of the three attributes (sattva, rajas, tamas) can be called Saguna Nirakara (Qualified-Unmanifest). No matter how subtle or how great these attributes of the realms may be, they can never reflect the Supreme Sovereign.

"Pure Consciousness and the Original Word emanated from the center of Pure-Consciousness which is devoid of sattva, rajas, and tamas (three attributes). They can be called Nirguna Nirakara (Unqualified Unmanifest). However, Nirguna Prakrti (Unqualified-Nature, Pure-Consciousness) does not exceed the Supreme Sovereign. This is only logical, as nothing which is finite can encompass that which is infinite.

"Non-Conscious Nature with qualities or Lower Nature transforms itself into various forms. It is therefore called perishable and non-eternal.

"Pure-Conscious Unqualified Nature is unchangeable. Therefore, it is known as aksara (imperishable) and is sat (true). The Supreme Sovereign is beyond the true and untrue as well as beyond the perishable and

imperishable.

"Creation comes into existence through the Divine Vibration (Wave) brought forth in the Supreme Sovereign by Itself (not otherwise).

"An integral and inseparable aspect of the spiritual vibration is Shabda (Sound). The vibration must accompany Sound and the Sound must accompany the vibration.

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