Discursos

Gentlemen and ladies,
I have the great pleasure to meet you and talk to you on the tape recorder today, on a very important subject of self-knowledge and God-knowledge.

Since the beginning of creation, when the first flicker of self-awakening dawned on man, his attention has been more and more concerned with the problem of his own worldly existence and the investigation into the cause and source of all creation. For ages, he has probed and queried in vain, but now, at last, his increasing thirst for knowledge is turning him to study the results achieved by others in the field. Ancient and modern sages asked, "What is that, the knowledge of which makes everything else known?" and in the same breath replied, "Knowledge of the higher self – the true man." So the supreme knowledge is that which deals, both in theory and practice, with man's true nature and his relation to God. It is, in fact, a natural science without a hypothesis, subject neither to change nor time.

In ancient India it was called 'Para-Vidya' (Science of realized truth or science of the beyond) and different denominations sprang up to interpret this knowledge. The term 'Apra-Vidya', standing for preparation for achieving the knowledge of 'Para-Vidya', was then introduced. This preparation consists of following an ethical and moral life, and the practice of concentration or meditation (in so many ways) both being indispensable for spiritual development.

Man is constantly changing or introducing new names and terminologies to describe this science. The Masters were called 'Sants', and the nature of knowledge 'Mat', thus giving us the term 'Sant-Mat', which is at present mostly used to name the path of the Masters. Other terms, such as Shabd Yoga, Surat Shabd Yoga, Sehaj Yoga, are also used to describe the same science. In the Sanskrit language, the word 'Sant' means Master of the highest order, and 'Mat' is a confirmed opinion or statement made by an adept after personal experience. The foundation of this science, therefore, is the result of a critical study, minute investigation, and the lifelong personal verification of facts based on practical experience of the self in man. This experience of the self is something that a competent Master is prepared to give to each individual who approaches him. Sant Mat, therefore, is the teaching, system and path of the Saints.

The Masters do not attach any importance to names, designations, or the fact that many religious sects, groups and circles, have claimed this science as their own and named it after their leaders or founders. They look upon these groups as schools where man – the noblest being in creation – can study with other men as children of one and the same Almighty Father. A Master (also called Sant Satguru), has complete mastery of both the theory and practice, and is competent to impart both knowledge and experience to all sincere seekers after truth, without any distinction whatsoever of colour, caste or creed. Any man or woman, whether rich or poor, young or old, sage or sinner, learned or unlearned, who is able to grasp the theory of the science, has a right to acquire this knowledge.

Present fate of various beliefs and faiths
The dictionary defines 'Mat' as wisdom, but the colloquial meaning of the term is a sect or faith, a group of people holding certain opinions or beliefs in common. Such beliefs and opinions, however, based on stray knowledge and teachings, are not sufficient without the support of personal experience, and therefore, the seeker is led astray by mere empty words. Many societies, faiths and other religious circles have only a legacy of books, beliefs and theories to offer to those who thirst after spirituality. They conceal their shortcomings and deficiencies behind a screen of warm welcome, an outpouring of technique and terminology, and the liberal use of spiced words, phrases, sayings and quotations from the enormous mass of literature that we have on the market today. Propaganda, acting and posing, have taken the place of practical spirituality, with the result that the deluded public is being repelled from sacred books and thought of God. Atheism, therefore, is on the increase.

To believe in a thing or fact without troubling to investigate it, does not in any way do credit to an intelligent man. On the contrary it reflects adversely on his ignorance or credulity. Any belief not based on personal experience and verification of the facts, has little value. The modern man wants a well-defined, clear-cut science, capable of verification by his own experience and giving concrete results. We should, therefore, try to see and to hear with our own eyes and ears rather than with the eyes and ears of others.

Self-Analysis
Man is composed of body, mind (intellect) and soul. We are extremely careful to develop ourselves physically and mentally, but understand very little about the soul, which is the power ruling both the body and the mind. Physical joys are not lasting and there are limitations of body and mind that we cannot ignore, so we must search for the perennial source of joy and peace within ourselves. Self-analysis is the first step in this direction.

Many doubts assail our minds at this stage. There is an omnipotent power called God, believed in, worshipped and talked about by most people. Can we know more about Him? Can we see Him and talk to Him? There is a definite and clear reply to each one of these questions, but the most convincing one comes from a Master, who in a few brief words exclaims, "Yes we can see and speak to Him, that is, if we become as exalted as He is said to be." Masters say "yes", and we do not have to wait until death comes, but we can experience it right now. This is in consonance with laws of nature of which we have as yet, no knowledge worth the name.

All around us, we see, we feel that everything from the tiny atom to the mighty universe, is governed by a law of nature. So, to the profound thinker, there is nothing chaotic, haphazard or uncertain about this universe and the laws which govern it. To gain any objective, there is a law of nature, a principle and method involved for checking, testing and weighing the result of our endeavours. So it is too in this science of nature, and similar methods can be traced in all religious scriptures by any careful student, though expressed in different words and various languages.

We wish to enter the kingdom of God, "but how?" we ask ourselves. "With the help and guidance of one who has himself entered and can guide us there," is the simple reply from the Masters. "Is it possible?" "It is a knowledge which is as exact and as sure as two and two make four," is again their reply. It is not enough to be content with holy books and the singing of praises and hymns. We must strive for the same degree of advancement as the authors of the talks and knowledge recorded in these books achieved. Their experience must become our experience, for, 'what a man has done, a man can do', of course with proper help and guidance. We should stop at nothing short of this.

"We have hardly a dim spark of love for Him will it help to cherish a hope?" is another question asked, to which the Saints reply, "It is sufficient to make you eligible for the highest science of approach to Him." This is a pleasing ray of hope. Oh! if this small spark could be kindled into a flame. Again, we say, "Jesus and other great Masters spoke so lovingly of Him, but we are sinners and there may not be much hope for us in this age." The Masters' soothing reply is "No matter if you are the worst of sinners, stop where you are. There is hope for everybody, even in this crucial age." Ages ago, Nature provided for us materially and spiritually. Today, the same unchangeable law is operating and will continue to do so in the future. There is food for the hungry and water for the thirsty. Nature's inexorable and eternal law of demand and supply always works.

It is only through a living Master that we can contact the almighty God within us. In Sant-Mat, contemplation of objects or images is not advised, as this is harmful to progress. Photographs of the Masters are for remembrance and recognition only, and on no account should we become attached to such external practices.

The teachings of the Masters (Man-making)
A man, according to the science of Para-Vidya, is not entitled to be called a man in the true sense of the word, unless he has full knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of his distinguished position in creation, his several component parts – body, mind and soul – in order of comparative importance, and of his relationship to the unseen power, called God, which is to be achieved while he is living on this earth. He who does not understand this much has not even been introduced to the first lesson and is yet to begin the alphabet of man. The Saints, therefore, impress upon us the need for 'Man-making'.

Satsang
When scientifically observed facts drawn from practice and experiment are explained verbally to a gathering by a Master Saint, it is called Satsang (external). This Satsang constitutes the theoretical side of the teachings, whereas the actual demonstration given to develop and achieve inner advancement is the practical part, called meditation or Satsang (internal). Conscientious practice brings fruit within days or weeks and it is not necessary to wait for years for results, though progress also depends, to some extent, on one's past background. A true Master gives a first-hand inner experience at the very first sitting. When the practical side is neglected due to lack of firmness or determination, carelessness or pressure of circumstances, scholars of many religious schools dwell more and more upon theory alone. The decline of the science then commences and man finds no solace. This is usually the case when a Master leaves the body. Adequate provision, however, is made for the revival of this science in every age, when both the positive and negative powers commence their rounds again; the former through the agency of Master-souls, while the latter works through persons – so-called Masters – who lack practical experience or are lost in theoretical disputations. Master-souls, though quite ordinary men in appearance, are a great deal more. Just as it is difficult for us to judge a scientist, a doctor or an engineer until they speak out or display their skill and knowledge, so too we cannot recognize the knowledge and authority of a Master until we have experienced the divine power working through Him.

In this science, there is no secrecy or mystery. The objective is constructive and beneficial to all, and so the Saints have torn aside the curtain of secrecy which usually covers mystic teachings, to make them available to each and every one who calls. There is an unseen power working through the Saints. Why this power prefers to remain concealed from the human eye is a question to be asked directly by contacting the human pole through whom this power is working. This is the only medium of approach to this power. If we wish to use electric energy we must go to a switch or pole which will put us in contact with the powerhouse. The unseen power may be called a 'Sea of love'. When we wish to bathe in the sea we go to the edge where the shellow waters begin and then say that we have bathed in the sea. Thus, to experience this power and to derive benefit from it, we must go to the only source of contact – a Master Saint.

Life beyond death
Saints say that nature has designed man to leave his physical body at will, transcend to higher spiritual planes, and then return to the body. They help each aspirant personally and each receives a practical experience, however little it may be, during the very first sitting at the time of Initiation. A person who is competent to give a man this personal experience of withdrawal or separation (temporary) from the body, and who can thus put him on the way back to God, is a genuine Master, Saint or Satguru. The heads of different religious organizations were intended to do just this, but we may judge for ourselves their efficacy today. The first-hand experience we receive, through the kindness of a real Saint, is in itself the solution to the problem of death. According to the Bible, 'Unless you are born anew, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven'. So to be born anew is to leave one's body and enter into the beyond – a transition from the physical to the astral plane. Some day we have to leave this temporary structure, which like a building of bricks and mortar, deteriorates with time. There is no appeal to the laws of nature against the 'Death sentence'. We fear death because of the agony and suffering which it brings, and also about the uncertainty that lies ahead in the beyond. We fear illness because it brings us near death's door; so we struggle to live though we know that our end is certain. No soothing words from doctors, friends, relatives or priests can bring peace and comfort to our minds at the time that nature's destructive process commences. This is the natural course of things and we cannot deceive nature.

What then is the remedy? There is only one way out of this abyss of despair, which is to adopt and accustom ourselves, during our lifetime, to nature's process of the withdrawal of the spirit current from the body, while still in a conscious state. This may be done with the help of a Master, and may be accomplished without any suffering or trouble whatsoever. This is not only a possibility but is a remarkable fact. Our joy will know no bounds when we come into possession of the secret that has baffled man for so many centuries. We become supermen, having possession of a key to peace and heaven, the life of which we had till then only read about in sacred scriptures. Arise, therefore, and awake ! before it is too late to put this science into practice. If we observe closely the process of death in a dying man, we see the pupils of his eyes turn upwards a little (afterwards they may return to normal), and then he becomes senseless. But when they draw upwards too much, he dies. Life ebbs out via the root of the eyes and becomes disconnected from the ties of the physical body and the sense organs. Knowledge of this process and the method by which we may travel this way during our very lifetime, is the solution to the problem of death. No physical exercises are necessary; there are no drugs to swallow and no blind faith to cultivate. The mystery of life and death is solved easily with the help of a Master-Saint, who will give you an experience of the process and put you on the highway to the inner realms. Even when acting indirectly through an authorized agent, he still remains the responsible power. Distance is immaterial to the Masters.

What is there to be gained by this process? This cannot be described in words. At the time of Initiation, the aspirant sees the real light within him, whereas normally the inner eye is covered by a thick veil of darkness. He then realizes that the tradition of the lighted candle found in churches and temples is to remind him of the divine light of heaven within. This Light grows to the radiance of several suns put together as he advances on the Way. He understands that the unceasing internal Sound he contacts within is the Divine Link called 'Word' by Christ, 'Kalma' and 'Nida-i-Asmani' in the Quran, 'Nad' in the Vedas, 'Udgit' in the Upanishads, 'Sarosha' by the Zoroastrians and 'Naam and Shabd' by the Saints and Masters. In time, he meets the Master within, talks to him face to face and is henceforth certain of his grace, guidance and protection wherever he may go, even to the other end of the world. With such evident proofs before him, he is now confident of himself and of the science. Only then can he be called a theist in the true sense of the word and can smile at those who talk of religion as a fool's paradise, a phantom conjured up by crafty priests, and the opium of the masses. He has found a sure ingress through the doorway of heaven in this life, and is on the threshold of viewing, both internally and externally, the secrets of nature. He is verily 'knocking at the door of heaven' or 'tapping inside'. Words of opposition cannot shake his faith in the science as the Master guides him onward. Death becomes a voluntary process. Past, present and future merge into one, and he grasps the incontestable truth, the essence of being, in the palm of his hand. Liberated from the body, which now appears as a husk without the kernel, he knows that he is 'Soul', an inseparable part of the eternal spirit, and so he presses onwards to his original source. The world appears as a dream to him, but under the instructions from his Master, he returns to his mundane life, wise and fearless in the discharge of his duties.

Preliminary qualifications for an aspirant on the way
Just as in any other science, certain preliminary qualifications are required before much progress can be made. Married life, hard work or a poor environment are no bar. It does not count in your favour that you may hold a high position or possess immense wealth. Neither does membership of a particular faith serve as a recommendation. Wherever he may be, a man must strive for nobility of character, self-control and purity of heart. Purity of heart in thought, word and deed is essential. 'Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God'. An ethical life is a stepping-stone to spirituality, but spirituality is, however, not just ethical living. This we must always bear in mind.

We can divide man's life into (i) diets and (ii) his dealings with others. With regard to diet, vegetarianism and teetotalism are essential. 'Thou shalt not kill', and 'Live and let live', should be our principles in life. The body is the temple of God and is a sacred place. We are not to neglect or abuse it, but should take the best possible care to properly maintain it. All intoxicants are also to be avoided as they make us morbid and of shaky consciousness. With regard to our dealings with others, we should sow the seed of kindness in order to reap its fruit. Love and humility are most necessary. 'Do unto others as you would wish they should do unto you'. 'Love, and all blessing shall be added unto you'. 'Love thine enemy and do good to them that despitefully use you'. God is immanent in every form and whoever loves God, must love God's creation. To love God is to love all humanity. We should also earn our living by the sweat of our brow and share with others. These are not empty sayings, but very wise and sound advice.

Karmas (Actions and deeds)
Each thought, each word and each deed has to be accounted and compensated for in nature. Every cause has an effect and every action brings about a reaction. Uproot the cause and the effect disappears. This has been done by the Masters who have transcended these laws, but all others are bound by the bonds of Karma, which is the root-cause of physical existence and the clever device of nature to maintain this existence. The law of Karma sees to it that we are paid an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, in the shape of joy or suffering. It is the goading whip in the hidden hands of nature. The mind contracts Karma, puts a covering on the soul and rules the body through the organs and the senses. Although it is the soul that imparts strength to the mind, the latter has assumed sovereignty and is governing the soul instead. Control of the mind, therefore, is the first step to spirituality. Victory over the mind is victory over the world. Even accomplished Yogis and Mystics who can transcend to high spiritual realms are not left untouched by the hand of Karma.

Saints classify Karmas into three distinct groups, as follows:

• Sanchit (stored): Good or bad deeds that stand to our account as earned and contracted in all previous bodies of the order of creation, counting from the day of the first appearance of life on earth. Alas! Man knows nothing about them or their extent.

• Prarabdha (Fate or destiny): The result and effect of which has brought man into his present body and has to be paid off in this life. The reactions of these Karmas come to us unexpectedly and unperceived and we have no control over them whatsoever. Good or bad, we have to tolerate or bear this Karma laughing or weeping, as it happens to suit us.

• Kriyaman (Account of our actions and deeds in the present body): This is distinct from the above mentioned two groups, as here, man is free to do exactly as he pleases within certain limits. Knowingly or unknowingly, deeds committed and coming under this heading bear fruit. The result of some of these we reap before we die and the residue is transferred to the Sanchit storehouse.

Karma is the cause of rebirth, and each birth is in turn followed by death. Thus the cycle of enjoyment and suffering, which are concomitants of birth and death, continues. 'As you think, so you become', is an unalterable law of nature, owing to which this universe exists. No amount of integrity or genius can absolve a man so long as there is the slightest trace of Karma. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, and though there may be some concession or relaxation with man-made laws under special circumstances, there is no such allowance made for this in nature's laws. Prayer, confession and atonement may give temporary mental relief but they cannot overcome Karma. All Karma must be wiped out completely before permanent salvation can be had.

Disturbed by these facts, man seeks solace in deep pious doctrines, or when he comes to know that both good and bad deeds are fetters – one of gold, the other of iron – he turns to renunciation. Different faiths promise relief but he soon finds out that this is only temporary. How then does a Master approach this problem? At the time of Initiation, the Master begins the process of winding up all Karmas of the initiate. He gives him a contact with the sound current, by practising which the Sanchit account is burnt away. The process is similar to putting a handful of seeds in a pan and placing them on a fire, which then causes the seeds to puff up and lose their property of growing again. Then the Kriyaman account is dealt with. After warning his disciples to guard against opening any new account of bad deeds, the Master grants a general clemency in respect of past deeds, part of which the disciple has already settled in this life up to the time of Initiation. He is enjoined to lead a clean life and to weed out all imperfections in him by self-introspection from day to day. The Prarabdha Karma is not touched by Saints because this is the cause of the physical body, which would vanish due to the interference with nature's laws. Thus a very small amount of Karma now remains to be tolerated in the physical body for the remaining years of the disciple's life, but even this is softened bit the grace of the Master. The law of grace works wonders and a devotee, who out of loving devotion, reposes all his hopes in the Master, passes off unscathed from the pinching effects of the reactions of past Karmas. In moments of misery, worry and trouble, the Master is our refuge. He acts unperceived at any distance. Just as a mother of a sick child holds the child securely in her lap during an operation so that it does not feel any pain, so too the Master holds us in his loving embrace. Out of their abundance of sympathy, love and kindness, the Saints at times take upon their own shoulders some karmic sufferings of their disciples through the law of sympathy. There is no court of trial after death for a devoted disciple. The Master is all in all for him.

Why does a Master-Saint take all this on himself? Because he inherits his merciful nature from God above, who commissions him to personally distribute this treasure of mercy. Thus, the Master is honoured like God. Sant-Mat has volumes of books written in praise of the Masters, and if just as many more books were to be written, it would hardly do justice to the vastness of their love and kindness.

Time casts its heavy shadow over man. He has to toil hard to keep pace with the changing times. So deeply is he absorbed in his external needs and desires that he forgets all about contentment, sympathy and love. Entangled and surrounded by the 'Deadly five' – lust, anger, greed, attachment and vanity – he stumbles and cries out to the unseen for help. Heaven's mercy is stirred and as times stiffen, the Almighty extends His help through the Masters more and more lavishly. Such is the case in this Kali Yuga – the Iron Age.

It is indeed very hard to believe that anyone can be above the five passions mentioned above, and that he can enter the kingdom of heaven during his lifetime. All mankind is under the control of these five and only a Master can save a man from their clutches. We all demand reliable proof before committing ourselves, and this is given by a Master in the shape of an experience of the life impulse, or Naam (the Word), and some inner vision. Contact with a Master is essential. Those who keep aloof and depend on themselves or rely on tradition and priests – equally ignorant as themselves – are deprived of contact with this power, and as the saying goes, 'When the blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch'.

Indifference, non-acceptance or disbelief will not be to our advantage when nature enforces its universal ordinance – death. Our position will be that of a pigeon who, on seeing a cat approaching, shuts its eyes and believes that the cat cannot then molest it, but in a few seconds, the poor bird is in the powerful jaws of the cat. It is then too late to think of escape. So be alert while there is yet time!

Spirituality
Perhaps it will not be out of place to explain here the meaning of the term 'Spirituality', which is often confused with blind faith in sacred books, a display of miracles, psychic phenomena, or Yogic powers. Spirituality is an inner experience and its alphabet begins where all philosophy and Yoga practices end. It is the experience of the soul. When one says, "I am the body", it is a feeling based on the intellect and is defined as ignorance. When he says "I am not the body, I am an awakened soul", it is learnt knowledge or theory only; but when he gets an actual experience of the soul by self-analysis and contacts the overself, it is called spirituality. The first practical lesson commences when there is a complete withdrawal from the physical body through the kindness of a practical Master. No one can withdraw and separate himself from the physical body unaided. If anyone claims otherwise and thinks that he can, he but deceives himself. All attempts without the assistance of a Master, who alone is qualified to impart this experience, will end in failure. Masters come to distribute this treasure of spiritual blessings to seekers after truth. Spirituality cannot be bought nor taught, but it can be caught by contact with spiritual people. Moreover, nature's gifts, such as air, water, light etc., are free. Spirituality is also nature's gift and is also given free by the Masters. Likewise, spirituality cannot be acquired from books, which is a fact all sacred scriptures uphold. Books are a valuable record of the inner experiences of others in spirituality. They fill up gaps in history and contain messages from past Masters, which help us to verify the facts revealed by a living Master, thus confirming our faith in the science. Man is confused by the various translations, interpretations and expositions, each different from the other, which instead of relieving his mind, tend rather to bewilder and confuse him. His egoism too has created hundreds of religious circles, whose aim is aloofness and narrow orthodoxy instead of love, and insularity instead of integration. Torn between conflicting emotions, men develop hatred and think of war.

For an understanding of the science of the Masters, we attend Satsang, where the majority of our doubts are cleared. Direct answers from the Master will help to remove any remaining doubts. All questions receive the same calm consideration and no arguments are offered. Rich or poor, high or low, all receive equal attention in the same manner as a doctor should attend to the sick. A true Master views a man's rights and wrongs as clearly as one sees the contents of a glass jar, but he reveals nothing. Sitting before him, even those who do not understand his language are benefited, just as one in a perfumer's shop enjoys the smell of sweet scents. The Master showers blessings through his looks, which the eager ones catch. His eyes are a wonderful spray of love.

Criterion to judge a genuine Master
Do not judge a Master by his external appearance, genealogical descent, rich or poor attire, country of origin, how he talks, eats, or the position he holds, the number of books that he is the author of, or by what people say about him. First receive the inner experience he promises and then judge from that elevated angle of vision. Self-experience is the criterion for judging a genuine Master. Any living person who sees things from a spiritual level - man and his embarrassments, difficulties and helplessness – and who has studied the problems confronting humanity can provide their solutions, and is also able to correct and guide man visibly and invisibly, morally and spiritually, in theory as well as in practice. Only such a person is fit to take the responsible position of a Master. Blessed are those who experience a stirring emotion of happiness and longing in their hearts, on hearing the news that such a Master exists and is near.

Spirituality is a science simpler and easier than other sciences. Man has not to exert except in moulding himself ethically and morally to the climax of love, sincerity and humility, which will produce the necessary state of receptivity in him. Everything else is in the hands of the Master. Again, a movement, no matter how spiritual it may appear to be on the surface, should not be judged by the number of followers that it has. A good speaker can attract crowds anywhere, yet there may not be anything material or convincing in his speech. Spirituality is not the exclusive possession of any family or place, but it is like a scented flower that grows wherever Nature has ordained, around which the bees gather from far and wide to sip its nectar. Masters do not rush after glory of self, although they certainly deserve such glory. Even in ordinary talks, they will be heard to say, "Oh, it is all the grace of my Master. It is none of my doing. My Master deserves all the praise and credit." This humility places them far above the low level of egoism found in this world.

Masters have come in all ages to offer this natural science to man. Only those who are discontented with this world rush to them. Others to whom worldly attractions, pleasures and luxuries are dear, turn their backs. Those in whose hearts all noble sentiments are dead, not only put all possible obstacles in the way of the Saints, but also subject them to various kinds of tortures, as a study of the lives of Jesus, Guru Nanak, Kabir and others will show. Masters have come in the past, are existing today, and will continue to come in the future for the spiritual benefit of man. To suppose and accept that spirituality has become the sole prerogative of any religion after the passing of the Master, on whose teachings it is based, and that sacred books are the only guide, shows the thoughtlessness of man.

How can we distinguish between a genuine and a false Master? There is in fact no such testing stone or magical formula except that of self-experience, for discriminating right from wrong, truth from falsehood, and reality from unreality. Even in the time of emperor Janak (the father of Sita of the Ramayana), who was prepared to pay a big fee for the theoretical knowledge of this science, only one, Yagyavalkya, out of all the Rishis, Yogis and Munis in India, was able to do so and won the prize. Yagyavalkya, however, had the moral courage to admit, "Gargi, I know the theory only but have no personal experience of it." On a second occasion, emperor Janak proclaimed that he wanted a practical experience of this science on a certain date, and that in a very short time too, not exceeding the time taken to straddle a horse and put each foot in its stirrup. Great Yogis and Rishis throughout the length and breadth of India were invited, but at the appointed time only one person stepped forward to accept the challenge. This was a hunchback named Ashtavakra, who had eight humps in his body. The audience, taking him for a maniac, laughed aloud at his appearance. Ashtavakra said, "How can you expect to get a spiritual experience from these cobblers you have collected, who have eyes only for the skin of the body but cannot see within?" The experience was duly given to the emperor within the allotted time. The point to consider is that at the time when spirituality was thriving, only one person came forward to accept the challenge. In these times then, when materialism is on the increase, we do not find competent Masters growing like mushrooms. So search we must, not allowing false propaganda, the testimony of others, blind faith, the promise of future happiness, and our regard for position, wealth and pleasure, to lead us astray. When such personalities come, they are competent to give life to millions of people who go to them. They are the children of light, and give light to all humanity.

Blind faith is one of the main obstacles to overcome. What we simply listen to, read or follow without investigating as to what and where it will lead to, is blind faith. If one is careless to forget the end while following the means, and does not see whether he is nearing the end or not, it is still blind faith. When one goes to a Master and listens attentively to the explanations given by Him on the subject of gaining self-knowledge by self-analysis, duly supported by one or more quotations from the valuable sayings of various Saints, he is intellectually convinced to tread the path as an experimental measure and act up to what the Master says with faith for the time being. This is the first stepping-stone to learn about reality. When he has the first-hand experience, of whatever degree it may be, he is convinced and progresses from day to day. Today, man listens to talks, lectures and sermons, accepts and believes these all his life and takes for granted that he has been placed firmly on the way to salvation. But when death comes with all its sufferings, pangs of separation and fears of the unknown, he realizes his mistake. Man's life-long habit of attachment to the body, occupies all his thoughts, while friends, doctors, relatives and priests stand by helpless and despairing.

It is here that the science of Para-Vidya is of great help to us. The soul's withdrawal from the body is greatly eased and the Master appears to receive and guide it further in the Beyond. Death is to such a one the happiest of events, and like marriage, it is the union with the beloved. He has already visited and convinced himself of the superiority of the higher regions and traverses the familiar territory without fear. My Master, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji, when impressing the need of spiritual practices on his disciples, used to say to them, "Go to see a disciple dying to become convinced." Saints believe in salvation during one's lifetime and not in salvation after death. This is indeed a simple and easy science, and the disciple should never rest content with his Initiation without spiritual experience. He should then devote regular time to the spiritual practices and the Master must be regularly informed of his progress. He should constantly seek the guidance of his Master personally or by letter, without entertaining thoughts that he is bothering him. The Master knows by intuition how each disciple is faring and can remove most of his difficulties by thought transference or other means, but he wishes any difficulties in progress to be brought to his notice in writing.

The ancient path of Surat Shabd Yoga or Para Vidya, is one that can be followed by men, women and children of all ages without any difficulty, unlike other ways, which involve complicated, strenuous exercises, and control of the breath. These, at the most, lead to a slight control over the self and a few paltry powers. The latter methods also require a strong physique and a rich diet. As such, they are condemned by the Masters as unsuited to this age, and as involving physical dangers to the body.

The Science
In the physical body, two main currents are working that control life, one a motor current (breathing or prana), and the other a sensory current, which may also be called 'attention' or surat. The Masters ignore the former so that the breathing is not interfered with and the life process goes on. The sensory current ramifies throughout the entire body, but its main centre lies between and behind the two eyebrows, along with the mind. We have to withdraw the sensory current or the spirit to its centre.

Initiation
The mind will not allow man to have knowledge of the soul. Its nature is to seek pleasure and its constant fluctuations are difficult to subdue. Attuning one's self with the internal Sound Current is the best way to calm the mind and practise concentration. It does not matter what school of thought or society a man may belong to. He has not to convert himself and can remain where he is. There are no hard and fast rules, no rituals, no ceremonies, no pomp and show, no offering of gifts, not even of flowers. All that a disciple has to do is to enter inside and henceforth consider the body as his laboratory. With regard to the theory, he has to understand the following, which is briefly the pith of what he will hear at Satsangs:

• The Master is not the body, he is the power functioning through the body and uses it to teach and guide man in much the same way as a spirit uses a medium. Only in bodily form will the disciple be able to recognize his Master in the higher regions and here on earth.

• The Master is 'Shabd', 'Word', 'Naad', etc., all of which refer to the God-into-Expression Power of Light and Sound Principle. By having a contact with this Power, man is led back to his true Home.

• For the sake of those who are disillusioned with life, and who yearn for permanent happiness and peace away from the world and its worries, the Word assumes a body to afford them solace. Christ said, 'Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us'. Once a disciple contacts this Word (which is done at the time of Initiation by the Master), the audible form of this Word resides within never leaves him, and even after the end of man's physical existence on earth. It will go with him and stay with him until he achieves the final goal. The Word is also known as the Voice of God or the Sound Current, and is the Life impulse given by the Master at the time of Initiation. It may be heard as a sound coming from a distance and gradually develops into such sweetness that no music on earth can excel it. It is the Water of Life, the Spring of Immortality, the Elixir of Life, the Nectar of spirituality, etc., that are spoken of in holy books.

Man has an inner eye with which he can see within himself all the higher regions, when the veil is rent asunder by a competent living Master. In this state, he remains perfectly conscious and undergoes amazing experiences. To ascend to the higher regions without a competent Master is fraught with dangers.

Simran
The repetition of the holy names is given to the disciple at the time of Initiation as a guard against all dangers. It acts also as a password to all spiritual planes, gives strength and sustenance to the body and mind during trouble and afflictions, brings the soul nearer to the Master, is instrumental in achieving concentration, and imparts many other diverse powers. Simran taught by a so-called Master is merely a number of words. But these very words become electrified when charged with the attention and grace of a real Master.

Initiation commences with the explanation and description of the inner spiritual regions and the way in which the path is to be pursued. The opening of the inner vision to see the inner regions, with their distinct heavenly lights, together with the contact with the Divine Link or Sound Principle, constitutes the practical side of Initiation. Daily practice of these combined with Simran, is meditation. In addition to this, the Master gives instructions on pure and simple living, the need of devoting regular time to the practices, and other words of sound advice. The whole ceremony takes from two to three hours. Diaries of one's spiritual progress must be kept and the mistakes of old and new disciples are corrected from time to time to ensure progress.

Miracles
Master-Saints never show any miracles to a disciple except in rare cases due to special circumstances. Miracles are in accordance with the laws of nature but are nevertheless terribly entangling webs detrimental to the highest ideals of man in his approach to almighty God. It is a subject that an ordinary man would not care to study, for the simple reason that it requires immense self-control and training of the mind, with restrictions that he would not like to tolerate or pursue. The miraculous powers achieved after a lengthy period of time are instrumental in doing both good and harm, and as they are utilized more for harm than anything else, they are termed as a disease by all truly spiritual persons. The Masters are in possession of supreme power but their mission is sacred. A disciple whose inner vision has been opened, sees any number of miracles at each step. To hesitate to believe in a Master without seeing miracles is as foolish as our refusal to believe that a certain person is a multi-millionaire unless he shows us his money. He may have all his money deposited in a bank and like to spend it in the way that he chooses, without caring for public applause or approval. Out of an audience of several thousands watching a magician perform his tricks, only a very small number would thereby be induced to learn the art. Those who are anxious to see miracles are not true seekers.

General
Today, the world is crying out for a better understanding, for peace and freedom from conflict. This Science of self-analysis that reveals the Brotherhood of Man and the Fatherhood of God, is the remedy which can reconstruct a healthy culture and propagate harmony between man and man. He who claims to love the invisible God but has no regard or love for his visible fellow man, is lost indeed. To love, revere and feel grateful to our fellow man is to love and revere God. So too, the love for the visible Master, our closest connecting link with God, is in reality love for the Supreme Father. We should therefore try to measure the depth of God's mercy and grace through a Master-Saint, who is God's visible representative. It has Spirituality as its end and is not idolatry. The atmosphere in which such a genuine Master moves is charged with currents of peace and love which affect those who come into contact with Him. Even letters written by or on behalf of Him carry currents of ecstasy that influence the innermost recesses of the heart.

Guru precedes God. Such a person was Master Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj who remained with his disciples for a great number of years and now, even after He has left the body, still watches over his loved ones and also those who contacted Him once with love and sincerity in their hearts. Love knows no law and He is still appearing in His radiant form, even on lower spiritual planes, for their sake. Not one, but hundreds can testify to what ignorant people would call an illusion. On the physical plane, He is still showering His blessings through His medium at Ruhani Satsang, Sawan Ashram, who now in turn guides men in all spiritual matters. One bulb is fused and is replaced by another. The same Power works and the same Light now shines from a new bulb. All who approach the Master get positive experiences and anybody who wishes to avail himself of such a golden opportunity has only to contact the Master and his wishes will be fulfilled, his heart will overflow with happiness, and his weary shoulders will be relieved of their burden of cares and worries.

Palestra dada por Sant Kirpal Singh em Sant Bani Ashram, EUA. No dia 11 de outubro de 1963.

Palestra disponível em MP3 em www.audio.sant-kirpal-singh.org
You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5Fb0tKzz1Y com legendas em português

As religiões foram feitas pelo homem, para sua elevação moral e espiritual. Elas foram feitos para o homem, e o homem não foi feito para elas. O objetivo de se ingressar em uma religião é conhecer a Deus, que é o mais elevado ideal diante de nós. No corpo humano temos uma oportunidade de ouro, que é a de poder conhecê-Lo, o que não é possível em nenhum outro corpo. Todos nós que estamos aqui sentados, temos a sorte de estarmos no corpo humano e também de termos partes nas várias religiões para alcançar o objeto da vida, que temos diante de nós. Temos que ver, o quão longe fomos, até agora, para alcançar o objeto da vida, que está nas nossas frentes.

Chegará a hora em que teremos que deixar o corpo. O corpo não é eterno, ele é feito de matéria. A matéria é feita de elementos e átomos; é uma composição de várias coisas que se decompõem depois de algum tempo. Logo, a matéria está mudando, entenda. Nós somos o morador interno do corpo humano. Nós não somos o corpo, mas somos o morador interno do corpo. O que nós somos? Somos entidades conscientes, seres conscientes. Este ser consciente ou o nosso próprio eu, como você pode dizer, é composto de apenas uma substância, que é a consciência. Aquilo que é constituído dessa uma substância, naturalmente não irá se decompor ou desintegrar, pois ela é eterna, imutável. Mas o corpo que estamos carregando está mudando a cada momento da vida. Foi dito que até mesmo as partículas de nossos ossos são substituídas, são renovadas em sete anos. A partir desse ponto, podemos dizer que todo o universo também é feito de matéria, e a matéria está mudando na mesma velocidade que nosso corpo, que é feito também de matéria, e está mudando. Mas Deus é toda consciência que é feita de uma substância e, como tal, não pode ser decomposta ou desintegrada – ela é eterna. Portanto, Deus é eterno, permanentemente imutável e, da mesma forma, nossa alma sendo da mesma essência que a de Deus, também é eterna. Mas o corpo que estamos carregando está mudando.

Você descobrirá que todos os Mestres disseram a mesma coisa em seu próprio idioma. Soamiji nos diz: “Bem, ó alma, tu és a essência de algo que é eterno”. Da mesma forma, em Guru Granth Sahib, é dito: "Nós somos espírito no homem. E se o espírito é eterno, por que tememos que tenhamos que morrer?" Então também somos eternos. Sendo nossa alma uma entidade consciente, seu verdadeiro lar é naturalmente aquilo que é a toda consciência, o verdadeiro lar de nosso Pai. Mas ela (nossa alma) foi envolvida com mente, matéria e atrações exteriores, e se identificou tanto com isso que não conseguimos diferenciar o nosso eu, do nosso corpo.

O corpo está mudando. Nós nos identificamos com o corpo, e pensamos que somos eternos, mas isso é um reflexo de Deus dentro de nós. Nós nunca pensamos em morrer. A alma nunca pode morrer, mas tem que deixar o corpo algum dia, entenda. Nossas experiências diárias mostram que nosso corpo está trabalhando enquanto estamos no corpo, e estamos no corpo enquanto algum poder de controle estiver nos mantendo no corpo.

O corpo humano é uma casa maravilhosa em que moramos. Ela tem nove aberturas: dois olhos, duas orelhas, duas narinas, boca e órgãos genitais, e não conseguimos fugir delas. É uma casa maravilhosa em que vivemos. A respiração sai e é novamente empurrada de volta ao corpo, não pode permanecer do lado de fora. Existe algum poder controlando-o de volta ao corpo. Esse mesmo poder de controle é chamado por nomes diferentes: Deus, - e tantos nomes.

Assim, no corpo humano, podemos conhecer a Deus, mas primeiro precisamos conhecer a nós mesmos, porque somente a alma pode conhecer a Deus. Iguais se reconhecem. Mas, como eu lhe disse, estamos tão identificados com a mente, matéria e os agentes sensoriais, que não podemos diferenciar o nosso eu e o corpo. Dizemos muitas coisas: “Eu não sou o corpo, não sou o intelecto, não sou o ar vital (pranas)”, mas podemos analisar a nós mesmos? Dizemos: "É meu casaco, é meu relógio, é meu chapéu". Podemos tirá-los, à vontade. Também dizemos: “Esse é o meu corpo”. Podemos nos livrar dele? Mas vemos que a hora chega, em que temos que deixar o corpo, e esse corpo é carregado pelas pessoas para o local da cremação ou para o túmulo, de acordo com os costumes predominantes em cada religião.

Então, o que é isso que anima este corpo e que somos? Todos os mestres dizem que este mundo é temporário, não duradouro. Estamos todos sob uma grande ilusão, os eruditos e os indoutos, os velhos e os jovens, os ricos e os pobres. Por que estamos sob essa grande ilusão? Porque não nos conhecemos. Nós somos o morador interno do corpo. O corpo é feito de matéria e está mudando na mesma velocidade que o mundo inteiro (à nossa volta) está mudando. À medida que nos identificamos com o corpo que está mudando, e o mundo inteiro também está mudando sendo feito de matéria, pensamos: “É estacionário”. Quando duas coisas estão se movendo na mesma velocidade, aqueles que se identificam com elas dizem que é estacionário. Por exemplo dois trens que estão circulando, nós estamos sentados nos trens e os trens estão indo na mesma direção e na mesma velocidade – às vezes isso acontece. Os homens sentados nos dois trens pensam: “Oh, ainda estamos sentados aqui”, embora os dois trens estejam correndo rápido. Essa é a ilusão da qual temos que sair.

Guru Nanak disse: “Enquanto não nos conhecermos, estaremos todos sob uma grande ilusão”. Como podemos sair dessa ilusão? Simples, você sabe como deixar os trens? Se um que estiver sentado em um trem sair, ele terá certeza: “Oh, o trem está muito rápido!” Essa é a ilusão em que todos nós estamos. Esse tem sido o slogan de todos os mestres que vieram no passado. Cristo disse: “Conhece-te a ti mesmo!” Guru Nanak também disse a mesma coisa, os Upanishads dizem: “Conheça a si mesmo!” Os antigos gregos também estabeleceram a mesma coisa: "Gnothi seauton".

O propósito dos Mestres que vêm é o de depertar-nos: “Bem, ó homem, você está tão identificado com o corpo, com as atrações exteriores e com os prazeres que esqueceu de si mesmo”. O corpo humano é o mais elevado de toda a criação, porque nele você pode se conhecer. Como? Saindo dessa ilusão – pela autoanálise, subindo acima da consciência corporal.

Mas como fazer isso? Essa é a questão! Deixaremos o corpo algum dia, todos irão, sem exceção a essa regra. Mas se soubermos como deixar o corpo, então o mistério da vida é resolvido. Se soubermos como deixar o corpo, conheceremos qual é esse poder que está nos controlando. Tornamo-nos colaboradores conscientes do plano divino. Todos os Mestres têm dito isso. Maulana Rumi disse: "Bem, alma, você é a moradora do verdadeiro lar de seu Pai, que é uma permanência eterna e imutável. Você fica presa rapidamente no pó e na matéria. Por que você não acorda?" Ele diz ainda: "É uma vergonha para você," - ele está usando a palavra ‘vergonha’ - "sendo filho de Deus, sendo filha de Deus, entenda, longe de sua casa, você é levado pela mente e atrações exteriores, tão distantes Dele. Onde você está? Apenas em um país estrangeiro, e se esqueceu completamente da sua casa. Então pense em sua casa e em quem você é!"

E como podemos fazer isso? Nas escrituras, encontramos: “Fique quieto e saiba que você é Deus!” Somos espírito no homem, somos entidades conscientes, mas identificadas com a mente, corpo e atrações exteriores, tanto que nos esquecemos de nós mesmos. Um santo disse que você cometeu um crime hediondo contra si próprio. Qual foi esse crime hediondo? Você é o morador interno do corpo e você se esqueceu do morador interno, você mesmo!

Agora, o que quer que estejamos fazendo, estamos fazendo no nível do corpo humano. Se você perguntar “Quem é você?” a uma criança pequena de três ou quatro anos, ela abre os olhos, ela abre a boca. Esta criança está experimentando algo (atrás da testa). À medida que ele cresce, você pergunta a ele novamente: “Quem é você?” ele diz: “Sou o Sr. Smith, sou o Josef, sou americano, sou francês, sou alemão, sou indiano”. Ele esqueceu quem ele é. Esta é a ilusão, entende? Esquecimento ou ignorância, você pode dizer, da qual temos que sair. Você pode sair apenas quando diferenciar você mesmo do seu próprio corpo.

Todos os Mestres que vieram, têm nos dito a mesma coisa, é claro em sua própria língua que prevaleceu naquele momento. Nas escrituras, encontramos: “Não ajunteis tesouros na terra, onde a traça e a ferrugem tudo consomem, e onde os ladrões minam e roubam; Mas ajuntai tesouros no céu, onde nem a traça nem a ferrugem consomem, e onde os ladrões não minam nem roubam.” Entende? Mais uma vez eles dizem: “A menos que você perca si mesmo(aquilo em que você está identificado com), você não pode ter uma vida eterna”. Estamos vivendo uma vida superficial no nível do corpo humano e nunca mergulhamos lá dentro para ver o que somos, quem somos. Estamos nos prendendo as cascas externas da noz, sem nos importar com o fruto interior.

O homem tem três aspectos: possui o corpo humano que é feito de matéria, possui o intelecto e a alma – alma incorporada. Então, temos sorte, temos um corpo humano. Fizemos um grande progresso físico em termos de bens externos. Intelectualmente, também estamos fazendo invenções maravilhosas, mas com tudo isso, sempre que perguntamos a alguém: “Bem, como você está se saindo espiritualmente?” ele até pergunta - “Do que você está falando?” Estamos vivendo nossas vidas seguindo o slogan “coma, beba e seja feliz”, um modo de vida epicurista, nunca se importando com nosso próprio eu.

Existem valores da vida, uns são mais importantes, outros são menos e alguns são nem um pouco. Então o corpo humano é um presente de Deus, o degrau mais alto da criação, a oportunidade de ouro que temos, porque somente nele podemos conhecer a Deus. Kabir disse: "Mantenha-o o máximo que puder. Depois que tiver saído de suas mãos, é muito difícil conseguir um corpo humano". Os velhos Rishis tentaram muito, vivendo pelo menos cem anos. Outros Mestres disseram: “Bem, mantenha este cavalo em que você está montado!” - “Uma mente forte em um corpo forte.” Portanto, o corpo deve ser cuidado, não deve ser deixado sozinho. Mas, ao mesmo tempo, devemos ver que não somos o corpo, somos o morador interno do corpo. Você encontrará: “Não é a vida mais do que a carne, e o corpo mais do que as roupas?”(Lucas 12:23). Não são os bens que temos menos importantes que nosso próprio corpo? E nós não somos ainda mais importantes que nosso corpo? Se a casa está pegando fogo e você escapou, você diz: “Graças a Deus, eu estou salvo!” Portanto, o corpo é mais valioso do que os bens. Se acontecer algum acidente – você talvez ore, “Deus, não permita!” – dizemos: “Graças a Deus, eu estou salvo!” Nossa própria vida é mais valiosa que o corpo. Mas como estamos nos comportando? Durante todo o tempo, vinte e quatro horas do dia e da noite, temos interesse em ter bens no exterior ou apenas em manter nosso corpo. Nunca damos a mínima de importância para nós mesmos. Quem nos dirá que somos sábios, você vê?

Logo, você é o tesouro mais valioso neste corpo humano. Deus o guardou, trancado em caixas diferentes, você pode dizer. Qualquer diamante valioso, você o guardaria em um caixão, depois em um segundo e depois em um terceiro. Da mesma forma, Deus manteve a forma de Cristo dentro de nós – nosso próprio eu e o poder de controle que está nos controlando no corpo. Primeiro é o caixão de ferro, esse corpo físico. E ainda dentro dele existe o corpo astral, ainda mais adiante temos o corpo causal. Portanto, esses são os três caixões e, sendo o mais valioso, somos mantidos lá dentro. Temos que nos livrar deles para nos conhecermos.

O profeta Maomé disse: “Deus disse, ‘Eu sou o tesouro escondido dentro de você’”. Você é Deus no homem, você é espírito no homem. Quando somos capazes de sacudir esses caixões, você sabe: “O Pai está em mim e eu estou no Pai – eu e meu Pai somos um”. - “O filho é tingido na cor do Pai, o Pai fala através do filho.” Você experienciará isso, mas quando? Quando você sair desse corpo. Então, o macrocosmo está no microcosmo do corpo humano. Temos que resolver esse mistério da vida: o que somos, quem somos.

Temos certos valores da vida, avançamos maravilhosamente fisicamente, intelectualmente. Mas fizemos pouco ou nada sobre nós mesmos. Com todos esses avanços físicos, acabamos de descobrindo muitos métodos, como manter o corpo, como funciona, como fica fora de ordem, como pode ser corrigido novamente. Temos tantos métodos, o mais antigo é o sistema Ayurveda, depois veio o sistema Unani, depois veio a alopatia, depois a homeopatia, a naturopatia e muitos outros, só para manter o corpo.

Intelectualmente, avançamos maravilhosamente. Podemos ouvir as vozes de milhares de quilômetros através de rádios. Agora também podemos ouvir e ver quem está falando pela televisão. O mundo tornou-se pequeno por conta dos aviões. Em horas, podemos atravessar de um extremo ao outro extremo do mundo. Também podemos dar a volta ao mundo em algumas horas. Maravilhoso! Agora (1963) estamos tentando alcançar a Lua! Mas com todos esses avanços, estamos felizes? Não! Todo homem é infeliz. Guru Nanak disse: “Todo o mundo é infeliz”. Kabir disse: “Eu não vi um homem feliz depois de entrar no corpo humano”. Tulsi também disse: “Todos são infelizes, fisicamente, financeiramente ou mentalmente”. Então, há alguma esperança de um homem se tornar feliz? Estamos todos atrás da felicidade, não é? Estamos ganhando dinheiro, possuímos bens, construímos casas, casamos, temos filhos, apenas para quê? Por uma questão de felicidade! Mas não encontramos felicidade, mesmo ela estando lá. A verdadeira felicidade está dentro de você. Portanto, com todos esses avanços, não fomos capazes de ser felizes. A razão é que, o terceiro lado, nosso próprio eu, o lado espiritual, não é cuidado. Se fizermos algumas orações, lermos certas escrituras ou realizarmos um ou outro rito e ritual, essas são boas ações. Ler as escrituras, avançar intelectualmente é apenas uma dieta ou um alimento para o seu cérebro, para o intelecto. E a partir do alimento físico que você dá ao corpo, você se torna física e intelectualmente forte. E o que você está dando à sua própria alma? Há um pão da vida e água da vida. Se pudermos ter isso, também podemos nos tornar espiritualmente fortes.

De onde podemos ter esse pão da vida? Tulsi disse: “Bem, você deve se sentar aos pés de um Mestre para se tornar feliz. Você terá o pão da vida e a água da vida.” Espero que você se lembre de Jesus Cristo quando ele foi a uma fonte, havia uma senhora samaritana lá, que tinha uma jarra cheia de água na cabeça. Ele pediu que ela lhe desse um pouco de água para beber. Mas ela disse: “Bem, por estranho que pareça, somos samaritanos. Vocês (os judeus) não têm nada a ver com os samaritanos, por que você me pede água?” Ele falou que se ela soubesse quem ele era, ela teria dado água a ele. Então ele disse a ela: “Bem, esta água que você está carregando apenas acalma sua sede por um tempo. Você terá sede novamente, de novo e de novo. Mas, se você viesse a mim, eu lhe daria a água da vida, que acabaria com sua sede para sempre.” E disse também: “Eu sou o pão da vida. Eu sou o pão da vida e este pão da vida veio do céu. Quem me come e bebe tem a vida eterna.” (João 6:48 – 58)

Um Mestre – você pode dizer que é o polo humano em que Deus está falando, o porta-voz de Deus – ele pode lhe dar o pão e a água da vida. E o que é esse pão da vida ou a água da vida? Você encontrará (no Evangelho de São João): “O Verbo se fez carne e habitou entre nós”. E o que é o Verbo? Deus era, esse Deus absoluto que ainda não havia se manifestado. Até que Deus surgiu, e se expressou, entrou em ação, esse Poder-de-Deus-em-expressão se chama Verbo, Palavra, Naam ou Shabd. Essa é a causa de toda a criação. “No princípio era a Palavra, e a Palavra estava com Deus, e a Palavra era Deus. Ele, a Palavra, estava no princípio com Deus. Todas as coisas foram feitas através dele, e, sem Ele, nada do que existe teria sido feito.”(João 1:1) E onde está essa Palavra? “Tua Palavra está assentada no céu.” Esta Palavra é o pão da vida que veio do céu, entenda. Onde se manifestou, materializou-se em algum ser polo humano (Mestre), ele pode entrar em contato com sua alma, retirá-la da mente e da matéria e dar-lhe esse pão da vida. Você pode ser feliz apenas se tiver o pão da vida e a água da vida. Estou citando essas coisas da Bíblia porque as pessoas daqui são mais familiarizadas com a Bíblia (do que com outras escrituras). Podemos encontrar exatamente as mesmas palavras nos ditados de outras escrituras também – em seu próprio idioma, é claro.

Portanto, a menos que tenhamos progresso espiritual e tenhamos o alimento da vida, o pão da vida, não seremos felizes. Fizemos muitas invenções e agora estamos em perigo de guerra atômica. Graças a Deus, que por Sua piedade ela foi evitada dessa vez. Mas ainda assim nosso próprio intelecto vai contra nós. Se nos conhecêssemos primeiro, todas essas coisas (invenções) teriam ajudado a humanidade. Mas porque sabemos pouco ou nada sobre nós mesmos, essas mesmas coisas estão agora pairando ao nosso redor. A qualquer momento em que (tal guerra) começar, o mundo terminará.

Somente no corpo humano podemos ter esse pão da vida. Quem pode lhe dar esse pão da vida? Aquele que é a Palavra encarnada. É o Deus em homem, Deus em ação, manifestado no homem, que pode lhe dar um contato com Deus, a Palavra. Para esse fim, nos juntamos a várias religiões. Estes são os ensinamentos básicos dados por todos os mestres sempre que vieram. Os que os conheceram tinham o pão da vida e a água da vida. Como eles poderiam tê-lo? Elevando-se acima da consciência corporal, analisando-se a partir da mente, do corpo e das atrações exteriores. É uma questão de pura autoanálise.

Religião realmente significa: “re” de volta ou novamente (em latim), "ligio" vem da raiz "ligare" - para ligar. “Para ligar novamente nossas almas a Deus”; é isso que se entende por “religião”. Um é o lado social das religiões. Eles têm seus próprios costumes, seus próprios rituais, ritos e seus próprios modos de oração. Todas essas são boas ações. Eles estabelecem que devemos ler nossas próprias escrituras. Bem, o que são as escrituras? São bons registros dos Mestres que vieram no passado, sobre as descobertas e experiências que tiveram com Deus e se conhecendo, que coisas estavam no caminho e quais eram os fatores de ajuda. Você pode dizer que os Mestres do passado estão falando através de livros. Isso cria em nós um interesse em ter as mesmas experiências que eles tiveram em suas vidas. E a menos que tenhamos a mesma experiência, não podemos estar totalmente satisfeitos. Isso cria um despertar em nós, um desejo ou uma ânsia em conhecer Deus. Eles podem criar um interesse, mas não podem nos levar a ter essas … experiências que eles tiveram. Fazendo orações e realizando certos ritos e rituais, são boas ações, desenvolvem em nós amor e devoção a Deus. São boas ações, são para a preparação do solo.

Kabir disse: “Bem, é uma pena, o corpo humano que temos, o mais grandioso de toda a criação, a oportunidade de ouro que temos (mas não a usamos)”. Ele disse: "Ó alma acorde! Se você não acordar agora neste corpo humano, quando você vai acordar?" Os Vedas antigos dizem a mesma coisa: “Desperte, levante-se e não pare até que a meta seja alcançada!” Essas palavras que eles usaram, os Rishis usaram milhares de anos atrás e Kabir apenas quinhentos anos atrás, entende? As mesmas palavras foram expressas por Guru Arjan Dev. Ele disse: "Acorde, levante-se; acorde, levante-se, você está voltando para Deus. Por que a demora?" Então, o que é esse despertar? Estamos dormindo. Mas onde? No nível do corpo humano e das tendências sensoriais, identificando-nos tanto com isso, que estamos acordados por fora e dormindo por dentro. E nós não conhecemos esse poder controlador que está nos mantendo no corpo. Ele também está dentro de nós. Guru Arjan disse: “Dois irmãos estão morando na mesma casa, mas infelizmente, um irmão não fala com o outro irmão”. E quem são eles? Nossa alma e a Superalma acima. Ele é o poder controlador nos mantendo no corpo. Outro Santo disse: "Alma e Superalma - Deus - estão dormindo na mesma cama. Mas a alma é apenas identificada com as atrações e prazeres exteriores, tanto que ela fica acordada do lado de fora, mas adormecida por dentro. E Deus a espera quando ela abre os olhos". Deus está ansioso por nos receber. Mas somos bastante ignorantes sobre isso. A criança brinca lá fora com as crianças e a mãe espera que a criança volte e coma a comida. É algo assim, entende? É por isso que os Mestres dizem: “Sejam como criancinhas, pois o Reino de Deus é para as crianças”. As crianças têm amor por todos. Se o filho de um rei e o filho de um homem que está passando na rua forem deixados em paz, se abraçam, se amam e se divertem. Não há dualidade, questão de alta ou baixa, nem distinção. E nós pessoas? Somos ricos, somos mais instruídos, somos mais altos, os outros são mais baixos. Então é isso que significa “devemos ser (como) uma criança”, você vê.

Quero dizer que o objetivo final diante de nós é conhecer a Deus. Para esse fim, juntamos várias escolas e estudos de religiões. Temos que ver se atingimos esse objetivo ou não. Os Mestres vieram, em todas as religiões, você vê. Através de um estudo paralelo das religiões, você descobrirá que todos disseram a mesma coisa, é claro em sua própria língua que era predominante na época. Então, dizer que apenas uma religião tem o direito reservado para conhecer a Deus, isso não é verdade e a história não prova isso. Bem, eles dizem a mesma coisa, que você deve ter respeito por todos os homens! O que são os Mestres? Eles estão falando - é Deus falando através deles. “Eu e meu Pai somos um.” Então eles sabiam a verdade, que o Poder de Deus está trabalhando através do corpo humano. Bem, quem conhece a verdade, pode deixar que outros saibam a verdade. “O filho conhece o Pai e outros a quem o filho revela.” Tulsi disse: “Se você quer ser feliz, sente-se aos pés de um Mestre”.

O que é Ele (o Mestre)? Ele é um homem como você, também tem dois olhos, duas orelhas, duas mãos, dois pés, nascidos da mesma maneira, a construção interna do corpo é a mesma. Mas há uma vasta diferença entre Ele e um homem comum: (Diferentemente dele) nossas almas estão sob o controle da mente, a mente está sob o controle dos agentes sensoriais, e estes são atraídos por prazeres externos. Não estamos à nossa vontade e prazer, não somos livres, somos arrastados como qualquer coisa. Guru Arjan refere-se a um exemplo: suponha que exista uma casa e que haja uma dona de casa lá. E ela tem algumas criadas, quatro ou cinco. E nenhuma criada obedece suas ordens. Qual será o estado da casa, se ninguém liga para o que a dona da casa diz? Portanto, a primeira coisa é que aqueles servos que nos foram dados devem obedecer às nossas ordens. Não devemos ser arrastados por eles, mas eles devem estar sob nosso controle. Nós somos os moradores da casa - a senhora da casa, entende. Há cinco servos que nos são dados: esses são os sentidos. Existem cinco meios conscientes de saída trabalhando através dos sentidos: visão através dos olhos, audição através dos ouvidos, cheiro pelo nariz, paladar pela língua e toque através da pele. Esses cinco servos estão nos arrastando para fora, a cada momento da vida. Às vezes você sente - não gostamos de fazer alguma coisa, mas somos atraídos como qualquer coisa por essas orientações. Portanto, devemos controlar esses servos primeiro. Você deve ver, mas, ao mesmo tempo, com os olhos abertos, não deve ver (se não quiser ver). Tenha controle sobre sua visão! Você tem ouvidos abertos, mas precisa ter controle sobre os ouvidos! Mesmo sentado em multidões, você não deve ouvir.…

Você sabe como isso funciona? A atenção é a expressão externa de nossa alma, entenda. Pela atenção que as orientações sensoriais funcionam. Você deve ter essa experiência do dia a dia: às vezes, você está sentado em um estado de atenção muito envolvida, cativado por algum pensamento. Alguém te chama, mas você não ouve, embora seus ouvidos estejam abertos. Às vezes seus olhos estão abertos, mas você não vê. Diz-se que Newton estava sentado à beira de uma estrada, resolvendo certos problemas matemáticos. Ele estava tão absorvido que uma banda passou tocando por ele e ele não ouviu nada. Mais tarde, alguém apareceu e perguntou: “Bem, Newton, já passou uma banda?” - “Não, eu não sei.” Na vida cotidiana, acontece algo que, quando você está muito absorvido e alguém chama você, você não ouve, embora seus ouvidos estejam abertos. Da mesma forma, alguém vem e senta ao seu lado - vem e vai embora, você está tão fascinado que não sabe quem veio e quem foi embora. O que é isso? Essa é a nossa atenção, a expressão de nossa alma que é rebitada, controlada, a ponto que os sensos chegam a parar.

Então, a primeira coisa é ter controle sobre as tendências sensoriais. Que você controla com uma coisa: sua atenção. Se você pode controlar sua atenção sobre determinado assunto de uma certa maneira disciplinada, o que acontecerá nesse caso? Essas distrações exteriores, tendências sensoriais, ou esses servos, não o arrastarão para longe. Agora deixamos nossos olhos passarem, ver uma bela paisagem, e algo irá arrastá-lo como qualquer coisa. Você se tornou ciente do hábito de ir a algum lugar para assistir a alguns cenários, cinema ou algo assim. Na verdade, você não quer ir, mas suas pernas seguem por esse caminho. O hábito se torna natureza. Então este é o caminho natural. Precisamos ter controle sobre esses sentidos, para que ai possamos nos retirar de fora e ir para dentro, encontrar Deus.

Onde esta Deus? O procuramos nas escrituras. Nas escrituras, são dadas as experiências dos mestres anteriores que encontraram Deus. Onde? Eles dizem: "Toque dentro. Ele é a própria alma da sua alma. Você está residindo no corpo e esse poder de controle também está residindo dentro de você". Onde quer que algo esteja - se você quiser encontrá-lo, terá que ir para onde isso estiver. Portanto, acesso mais próximo a Deus está dentro de nós. Ele é o Poder direto nos controlando no corpo. Quando podemos nos direcionar para vê-lo? Nós devemos nos retirar de fora! E, para nos afastarmos de fora, devemos ser capazes de concentrar nossa atenção de uma certa maneira, para tê-la sob controle. Entende? Isso é uma coisa. Se você vem do sol ardente e entra no vestíbulo de um edifício, sente-se revigorado. Claro que você se sente revigorado, mas isso não é suficiente. Você tem que se elevar acima dos sentidos. Lá você encontra Deus. Primeiro você tem que se retirar de fora. Para isso o melhor caminho, o caminho mais fácil e natural, o caminho criado por Deus é pelo controle de sua atenção, afastando-se do exterior. Mas você não consegue se retirar de fora. É algo difícil. Vou lhe dar um exemplo. Uma criança é trancada em um quarto escuro. O que ela fará? Ela vai bater na porta e chorar. Mas se a criança encontrar algo muito interessante, muito atraente, muito fascinante dentro do quarto, ela ficará quieta.

A nossa mente é semelhante. Por que ela não fica dentro, mas tende a ir embora para fora? Porque ela procura prazeres nas coisas externas. Os prazeres externos podem ser divididos em dois: bom cenário, beleza; e o outro, sons muito encantadores e fascinantes, cantos, vozes. No exterior, essas são as principais razões para nossa atenção ser atraída para o lado de fora e essas distrações procedem diariamente. Essa prática do dia a dia formou um hábito em nós, e o hábito foi transformado em algo natural em nossas vidas diárias. Este hábito que temos que desvendar. Só podemos desvendá-lo, se encontrarmos algo mais fascinante, mais encantador e mais saboroso dentro de nós. E Deus fornece isso, essa coisa também está dentro de você. E o que é isso? Deus é a Palavra, que é o poder controlador da sua alma dentro do corpo. Essa Palavra, o Poder-de-Deus-em-expressão, tem dois aspectos: Deus é luz e Deus é a doce sinfonia do som.

Então, quando você se retira de fora e vê a luz de Deus, que já está dentro de você, e ouve a voz de Deus que é muito encantadora, compreende? Quando você provar esse gosto ou êxtase por dentro, naturalmente deixará tudo de fora. É algo assim: há dois copos de água, em um copo você coloca uma colher ou meia colher de açúcar. No outro copo, você pode colocar quatro ou cinco colheres de açúcar. Se você provar o primeiro copo, que parecerá doce para você, não gostará de deixá-lo. Mas se você tiver uma gota do outro copo e depois provar o primeiro, não vai gostar. Não é culpa da mente, eu diria, demos coisas semelhantes a ela, além dessa mente não conhecer outra doçura superior.

Quando você conhece um Mestre, Ele é competente para ajudá-lo a se retirar de fora; Ele é competente para elevar sua alma acima dos sentidos. Ele pode arrastá-lo para fora desta cortina de ferro do corpo humano, abrindo o olho interior, para que você veja a luz de Deus que é mais encantadora, mais bonita. Ele também abre o ouvido interno para ouvir a voz de Deus, a sinfonia das esferas, a música das esferas. Elas são muito encantadores e bonitas - toda a glória e beleza está dentro de você. O plano astral é mais bonito que o plano físico. O plano causal é ainda mais bonito que o astral. Quando você transcende tudo isso, há o mais bonito e encantador. Tulsi, um grande santo do Oriente, nos disse que quando chegou ao terceiro plano, Brahmand, ele disse: "É um plano muito bonito". E depois disso, ele disse: “Quando eu transcendi o Brahmand ou o terceiro plano, pensei: "Oh, bem, Brahmand ou o terceiro plano era uma lavanderia imunda"”.

Então, essas são as coisas que você está provando por dentro. Quando os Mestres falam das coisas mais encantadoras do nosso interior, não acreditamos nisso. Cristo disse: “Bem, olhe aqui, você não acredita no que digo sobre coisas externas, como você acreditaria se eu falasse dos céus?” Entende? Isso é algo dentro de você. A luz de Deus e a Palavra de Deus, a voz de Deus. Você tem referências nas escrituras. “Se você fechar as portas do templo do corpo, verá a luz do céu.” - “Se teu olho passar a ser um, teu corpo todo ficará cheio de luz.” Outros também disseram: “Quando suas tendências sensoriais são invertidas, a luz está lá”. Você não precisa criá-lo, visualizá-lo ou premeditá-lo; é uma questão de pura inversão, tocando dentro, como Emerson diz, espiar o interior e depois se elevar acima dos sentidos. Seria o mesmo com você.

Você encontra nos lugares sagrados de adoração que estão ao nosso redor, que eles são feitos a partir do modelo do homem. Os templos hindus são todos em forma de cúpula, como cabeça. Lá você encontra os símbolos de luz e som: um sino está tocando e a luz está lá. Vá para as igrejas: elas têm a forma de uma cruz ou de um nariz (na planta da construção). Lá você encontra uma vela acesa e sinos tocando. Quando fazem orações no templo hindu, acendem uma vela e tocam os sinos. Então, esses são modelos (do corpo humano) colocados diante de nós para nos informar que princípios como a luz e o som estão ecoando dentro de você. Você o encontrará quando tocar dentro, inverter, ir para dentro. Ele, a quem temos que encontrar, já está dentro de você, o próprio Poder controlador da sua alma no corpo. "Ó homem ignorante, por que você tem procurado em vão? Por que não procurá-Lo lá onde Ele está? O lugar mais próximo de você." Quando seu olho interno se abre, você vê onde está.

Se você encontrar um Mestre, Ele lhe dará essa experiência de como tocar por dentro, como se retirar de fora, entrar no laboratório do corpo humano. Ele oferece uma experiência ilustrativa e você testemunha que é assim. Quando você encontra isso? Quando você se sentar para meditação pela primeira vez (na iniciação). Antes disso, somos cegos. Quem é um homem cego? Os mestres definem: "Aqueles que não têm olhos funcionais na cabeça, não são considerados cegos. Cegos são aqueles, que têm olhos no corpo externo, mas o olho interno está fechado". Nos comparecimentos dos Mestres – você pode encontrar isso na história de todos os Mestres – Eles costumavam dar “olhos”. Bem, esses é o entendimento de “olhos” que Eles costumavam dar.

Antes de ir para eles, você era cego, não vendo a luz de Deus. Seus olhos estavam selados. Eles quebram os selos e você começa a ver a luz. Quando você volta, você volta um homem com os olhos abertos, entende? Quando você fecha os olhos agora, vê a escuridão interior. E depois da iniciação, sempre que você se senta (para meditação), encontra luz interior, é uma grande diferença, não é?

Quando você vai até Ele, você é surdo. Ele quebra os selos nos seus ouvidos e você começa a ouvir as doces sinfonias das esferas. Que benção é ter um Mestre vivo, competente para lhe dar essa experiência para começar com! Lembre-se disso, os Mestres não lhe dão falsas promessas de ver depois da morte! Quem sabe se você vai ver ou não, ter ou não? Eles querem nos dar algo prático – dinheiro, não crédito! Eles dizem: "Bem, enquanto vivo você é um homem instruído, e mesmo depois de deixar o corpo, você continuará instruído". Se, enquanto vivo, você é um homem bastante ignorante e sem instrução, ao deixar o corpo não irá se tornar um homem instruído.

Você está aqui neste quarto. Se você sair do quarto, você será o mesmo de quando você estava dentro dele. Então, ter a experiência na vida (é um dever). "Um pássaro na mão é melhor que dois voando!" Então o Mestre dá a você um dinheiro, você vê, algo para ter uma experiência na vida. Eles até nos dizem: "Não acredite nas palavras dos Mestres! Não acredite nas escrituras também." Você pode tomá-los como uma medida experimental, mas não pode se convencer até ter a mesma experiência. É isso que os Mestres fazem. Assim como um médico é um homem, mas desenvolveu-se dessa maneira pela anatomia, sabendo então como funciona esse sistema do corpo. Da mesma forma, o homem que se elevou acima da consciência corporal vê a luz de Deus e ouve a voz de Deus. Ele parece ser um homem como você, mas tem competência. Quando Ele quer, Ele se eleva acima da consciência corporal e atravessa ao além. Se alguém vem a Ele, o Deus Nele – Ele é Deus no homem e o homem em Deus – o Deus Nele ajuda os outros também a ter a mesma experiência. Para resolver o mistério da vida, você deve sentar-se aos pés de alguém que resolveu o mistério da vida. Para conhecer a Deus, naturalmente, você precisa da companhia de alguém que conhece a Deus. Falar de Deus é uma coisa, conhecer Deus é outra coisa. Falar em riqueza é uma coisa e ser rico é outra coisa. Falar das leis da saúde é uma coisa, e ser saudável é outra coisa.

Sempre que os Mestres vieram, eles deram essas mesmas coisas, coisas muito práticas. "… ninguém conhece o Pai a não ser o Filho, e aquele a quem o Filho o desejar revelar." O professor de um homem tem que ser um homem, entenda. Quando uma criança nasce, a mãe é sua professora, seus irmãos são professores. Quando ele vai à escola para aprender alguma coisa, alguns professores estão lá. Eles também são homens. Quando você tem que se desenvolver de qualquer maneira, qualquer assunto que você queira abordar, naturalmente você quer alguém que seja especialista nessa esfera. Em todos os conhecimentos externos, somos dependentes dos fatores exteriores. Aqueles que querem conhecer a Deus, que está além de todos os sentidos, que é insondável, indefinível, a quem você não pode trazer no escopo de seu intelecto, para isso você não precisaria de alguém que possa ajudá-lo lá? Decida no fundo do seu coração! Precisamos de alguém para ter essa experiência, que tenha a competência para te elevar por um tempo, e abra seu olho interior. Você começa a ver a luz e presta testemunho dela - que seja muita ou pouca, de acordo com as experiências passadas de cada homem.

O homem está em formação. Por isso, Cristo disse a seus discípulos: "Mas abençoados são os vossos olhos, porque enxergam; e os vossos ouvidos, porque ouvem. Pois com certeza vos afirmo que muitos profetas e justos desejaram ver o que vedes, e não viram; e ouvir o que ouvis, e não ouviram." Então ele lhes disse: "O que vos digo na escuridão, dizei-o à luz do dia; e o que se vos diz ao ouvido, proclamai-o do alto dos telhados!" E você encontrou a verdade. Resolva o mistério da vida para atrair (à verdade) a atenção daqueles que buscam a Deus.

Temos sorte de ter o corpo humano. Havíamos nos juntados as várias escolas de pensamento com o mesmo objetivo (conhecer Deus). Agora, temos que saber se alcançamos isso que eu dei de forma direta para vocês, sobre a mesma coisa que todos os Mestres relatados deram a quem os procurou com esse objetivo. Se você conseguiu, você tem sorte. Caso contrário, por favor - você deu os primeiros passos. Você não precisa mudar sua religião, veja bem, fique onde está, esses ensinamentos já existem nela. A verdade é uma. Todos os Mestres que vieram deram a mesma verdade. Agora você precisa de alguém que possa dar um passo adiante. Você está lendo as escrituras - bom. Mas mesmo para entender a importância correta das escrituras, você precisa de alguém que esteja no caminho, porque os Mestres deram o que eles viram. Se agora interpretarmos estas escrituras no nível do intelecto, não podemos provar a veracidade deste trabalho. Quando você encontrar alguém que viu o caminho, ele ira te passar a mesma experiência que ele teve na vida e o verdadeiro significado dela, entenda.

Suponha que você diga: "Este é um relógio", dizendo a palavra 'relógio', quero dizer apenas este relógio, não um cachorro, uma casa, um elefante ou um prédio. Os intelectuais dão versões diferentes da mesma coisa. Se você gostaria de ter o sentido correto das escrituras, deve ter alguém que esteja a caminho. Realizar certos ritos e rituais - isto desenvolve amor e devoção em você. Esse é o primeiro passo. São boas ações. Você deu o primeiro passo, agora dê o outro passo, que é apenas se elevar acima da consciência corporal. "Aprenda a morrer para que você possa começar a viver!" Você dirá: "Como podemos morrer?" Santo Paulo disse: "Eu morro diariamente". Guru Nanak disse: "Aprenda a morrer cem vezes por dia", você vê. Os santos maometanos dizem as mesmas coisas, e também todos os outros. É um assunto prático para renascer no além, entenda. Eles dizem: "Abra o olho interno que vê a luz que já está lá".

Então, eu estou aqui para não advogar nenhuma religião nova para vocês. Permaneça onde você está. Sejam verdadeiros cristãos! O que Cristo disse? "Abra o olho interior e veja a luz de Deus dentro de você." Quem vê a luz de Deus, ele é um verdadeiro cristão. Mas se ele não tinha visto a luz de Deus, então? Entramos na escola, é claro, mas ainda não nos tornamos verdadeiros cristãos. Da mesma forma, um sikh é aquele que vê a luz de Deus. Você pode ter as formas externas (de sua religião), esse é o primeiro passo. Pertencer, viver em alguma religião é uma bênção, mas devemos nos elevar acima. Se não vivermos em nenhuma religião, haverá corrupção ou teremos que criar uma nova religião. Por que você não permanece nas religiões que resistiram ao teste dos tempos? Se há algo de corrupto, veja, deixe-o de lado e siga os verdadeiros ensinamentos que os Mestres deram de tempos em tempos. Como te disse, não vim advogar uma nova religião. Permaneça onde você está! Esta é a verdade que foi dada por todos os mestres. Apenas tente encontrar alguém que saiba o caminho. Você quer um professor em cada linha, veja você, qualquer que seja o assunto que tenhamos que abordar. Vamos nos sentar aos Seus pés (aos pés de um Mestre). Ele é seu verdadeiro amigo, seu verdadeiro irmão e é competente para lhe dar alguma experiência. Todo crédito é para Ele (Deus), nenhum filho do homem pode fazê-lo. Mas o Deus, que é manifesto Nele, é competente para levantá-lo e dar-lhe uma experiência do seu próprio ser.

Eles queriam que eu falasse alguma coisa, então, da melhor forma que eu conseguiria, eu lhe dei o pouco que eu sei resumidamente com poucas palavras. Estas palavras são para sua calma consideração. Se você tem uma verdadeira ânsia, fome, sede de Deus, é somente Deus quem deve tomar as providências. Ele o colocará em contato em algum lugar onde você possa ser colocado no caminho. Sempre que os Mestres vêm, eles consideram o nível do corpo humano ou o nível da alma encarnada, e não no nível de classes e possessões externos ou das diferentes religiões que estamos carregando. É por isso que Seu primeiro trabalho é unir todos os filhos de Deus – não para misturar suas religiões em uma, mas deixá-los permanecer onde estão. Simplesmente suba acima da consciência corporal para chegar à verdade. O Mestre tem a competência para te elevar e ter a experiência necessária para começar.

A talk given by Sant Kirpal Singh at Harmony Grove, Escondido, CA December 1963
Talk available as mp3 at audio.sant-kirpal-singh.org

Dear friends,

We are fortunate that we have the man-body. The man-body is the highest rung in all creation, and in the man-body only can we know God.

The God whom we want to approach is already in this man-body. It is considered to be the true temple of God. God resides in every heart, and we also reside in the same temple. Both of us – our own self and God – reside in this very same man-body, which is the true temple of God, but the pity is that we cannot speak to God. To see God or to find God or to converse with God, we have to enter this laboratory of the man-body.

This is a wonderful house in which we live. The macrocosm is in the microcosm of the man-body. We have great possibilities awaiting us in this man-body; and that is, when we know ourselves, we know Gcd, too. When we can traverse into the different planes of the macrocosm, we can reach the True Home of our Father.

So these are the possibilities that are awaiting us. But unfortunately, we have never paid any attention to our own selves. Man has three aspects: he has the physical body; he has intellect and he is spirit-in-man – a drop of the Ocean of All-Consciousness or a conscious entity. We have given food to the body, and we have become intellectually strong; we have made wonderful inventions. But all the same, what food have we given to our own selves? Until we give food to our own self, which is a conscious entity, we have no spiritual health. And on spiritual health depends the health of both the mind and the body. So we have to consider what that Bread of Life is with which we can become spiritually strong.

As I told you, we have given ourselves the food of reading and writing, drawing inferences at the intellectual level, and thinking in so many ways: that has given us intellectual health, and we can think things out in much better ways. We have given solid food to the solid physical body, and we are physically strong. When we come to know what is the true Bread of Life or Water of Life, which is the food given to the soul, we can become spiritually strong. The scriptures that we have with us today have references to these things, but we have simply ruminated over them and never gone into them to understand what they mean. I will give you some instances from the different scriptures.

Christ went to a well to have a draught of water. There He met a Samaritan lady who was carrying a pitcher full of water on her head, and He asked her to give Him some water. On account of an inferiority complex, she said, "Well, we are Samaritans. You people have no connection with us. Why are You asking for water from us?" And the Christ said, "Had she known who it was who had asked for water, she would have given it to him. If you drink the water which she carries, it will quench the thirst for a while. But man thirsts again and again. Had she come to me, I would have given her the Water of Life. "

There is some Water of Life that can be given only by Christ-like people. The scriptures of the religions we have joined refer to these things. We have simply considered the very elementary or preparatory steps of how to have certain forms, to carry certain badges of a certain religion, to say prayers or to perform certain rites and rituals. And it ends there. But we have to read the scriptures carefully and try to understand what they say. What are the scriptures? They are the fine records of the experiences that the Masters had in Their life with God and in knowing Themselves. What They said, They saw. They experienced it, and then They spoke. If we now want to understand the true import of the teachings They gave or the reference to what They said that is in the scriptures, we must sit at the feet of Someone Who has had that experience and that way of living.

You will find that we simply interpret these things at the level of the intellect, and that is why we are not able to do full justice to the work. In other scriptures, as well, you will find reference to the same Water of Life. In the Mohammedan literature it is called a Water which gives the life of Heaven. Of course, this is expressed in some different language. In the Vedas you find it as soma, such a Water that gives life to everything. And what is that Water of Life? Guru Amardas tells us that "Only if your soul comes in contact with the God-pervading Power, which is the cause of creation and is controlling all creation (the God-in-Action Power is conscious, and your soul is conscious), can you have that Water of Life, which will give you life. If you drink that Water, then you will be accepted at the door of God; and you will become one with it."

The Masters further say that this is a Water of Life that is the panacea for all ills. But it can be had only at the feet of the Master. As Christ said, "Had she come to me, I would have given her the Water of Life, by drinking which her thirst would have been quenched forever."

So this is the Water that is to be given by the Masters. Again and again They referred to it. Guru Nanak said that "The Water of Life or the Elixir of Life can give us everlasting life. By drinking It, you can have everlasting life." These are the same words, I tell you, but expressed in different languages, of course. Again, you will find in the Bible: Christ said, "I am the Bread of Life. This Bread of Life has come down from Heaven. Whoever partaketh of it shall have everlasting life. " And you will find the same thing in other scriptures. I am quoting these things to you only to show you that you can have everlasting life only by coming in contact with God.

Who has to come in contact with God? It is our own self, our real self. We are conscious entities; we are embodied souls. But our souls are under the control of mind, and mind is under the control of the outgoing faculties; and we are so much identified with the outside things, that we have forgotten ourselves. Our attention, which is the expression of our soul, is engrossed in outside things and diffused in them. Only when we liberate our souls from mind and the outgoing faculties – that is, when our attention is withdrawn from them and we rise up from the outgoing faculties or senses – can we come in contact with that Water of Life or Bread of Life. This is the food that is given to our souls so that we can become spiritually strong.

You will find similar references in other Masters' scriptures. "If you shut the doors of the temple of the body, you will see the Light of Heaven." The body has nine doors or apertures. If you withdraw your attention from the nine doors – the two eyes, the two nostrils, the two ears, the mouth, the rectal and genital organs – and you withdraw within, you will find a tenth door as well: this is the door that leads you from the body to enter into the Kingdom of God. This is called the tenth door, and it lies at the seat of the soul, which is at the back of the eyes between the two eyebrows. When your soul withdraws, it commences in darkness, of course; but when that door is opened, you enter in: you have an access into the Kingdom of God. And here you get contact with the Light of God and the Sound Principle of God. This is the Bread of Life. What is within? The Masters say that there is Light and there is very sweet Music of the Spheres continually going on. This is the true Water of Life or the true Bread of Life, by eating which your thirst is quenched forever. This is the Bread and Water of Life that is within us, but we cannot come in contact with it until we withdraw from outside and rise above body consciousness. How to withdraw from outside and how to rise above body-consciousness is a practical subject.

All Masters tell us that someone is needed who is competent to help us to withdraw from outside and draw the spirit currents of the body up to the seat of the soul in the body. They say, "Rise above senses!" or They say, "Learn to die so that you may begin to live." These are the words we find in the scriptures, but the pity is that we have only ruminated over them and never gone into the true import of what they really mean. And the true import can only be given by Those Who have an access to the Beyond, who have had the same experience, or Who are on the Way. Intellectual people simply define the Bread of Life as "intellect," and the Light of God as "intellectua1 light." But that is a substantial Something that can be experienced at the feet of a Master. Unless we come across a Master, we cannot have that experience, even though it is already within us. That is why it is said, "The Kingdom of God cannot be had by observation." So long as your attention is diffused into the world through these outgoing faculties, you have no access to it. You must withdraw your attention from outside, enter this laboratory of the man-body, and rise up to the level of the eyes, at the back of which is the true seat of the soul. Then you will find this Bread of Life and have this Water of Life. This is the gift of a Master.

Guru Nanak said, "0 man, the Water of Life, for which you have come into the world and got the man-body, is the source of All-Happiness, All-Joy, and All-Bliss. You can have it only at the feet of a Master You have joined various religions for that very purpose." In my evening talk I laid before you the meaning of Spirituality. Spirituality means knowing oneself, liberating oneself from the tentacles of the mind and outgoing faculties, by withdrawing from the body at the back of the eyes and having a look into the Beyond; that is, to come in contact with the God- into-Expression Power, which is Light and Sound Principle. So He said, "Remain in whatever religion you are; but unless you rise above body-consciousness, you cannot have that gift, even though it is within you. " it requires the help of some Master to bring you above the body-level, up to the eye-level. He said, "Remain in some religion, because the outer, social bodies of religions have to do only with our physical bodies."

We bear the badges of the different schools, psychologies, or religions we have joined. We read their scriptures, and we also say their prayers and perform certain rites and rituals. These all relate to the man-body – to the physical body. You may be very regular in saying prayers daily; you may be performing rites and rituals without a break, day after day; you may be reading only scriptures; you may even understand what is written to be able to sit at the feet of Someone Who knows the Way; still, only by reading or performing these things, you will have nothing to boast of until you rise above body-consciousness and have this gift of the Water of Life and the Bread of Life.

Remain in some religion: to remain there is a blessing. If you don't remain there, there will be corruption; or you will have to start another religion, and they have already multiplied into so many. We should remain in those religions that have already withstood the test of time. But just rise above body-consciousness, according to the teachings given in the different religions by the Masters Who came from time to time. And They said that the Water of Life and the Bread of Life are already there, and that you will have Them when you rise above the body-consciousness They say, "Religions end with your physical body. But while remaining in your own religions, rise above the physical body. You are conscious entities; you are conscious beings. You are drops of the Ocean of All-Consciousness. You are of the same essence, of the same religion, as that of God. Remain where you are, but rise above the body where you are already one. We are all children of God, brothers and sisters in God."

All Masters tell us that this is the gift of a Master. I just opened the Bible, and on the very page, in John, Chapter 15, it tells us what connection we should have with the Master. Christ said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." That everybody knows. "Keep my commandments" means to live by the words that the Master says. All scriptures have references to this; we simply read them and pass on. Here Christ says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. " This means that so long as the branches are embedded in the vines, they bear fruit. When they are cut off from the vines, they cannot bear fruit. Christ said, "I am the true vine." How can you be embedded in the vine? By engrafting. Even if you cut out a branch and put it on some other tree, the two will become one. Similarly, He says, "Abide in me." How can you abide in Him? Whomever you remember at heart, a reaction naturally takes place in him whom you remember. This is how you can abide in the Master.

Christ goes on further to say, "Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. " ("I have spoken the Word to you which is the cleansing power, which can burn away all sins, all iniquities, all infirmities, which is the Bread of Life or the Water of Life.") "Abide in me and I in you." What do these words mean? When you remember someone, that reacts in him; and when that reacts in him, he again reacts in you. And that becomes receptivity. Such a disciple becomes one with the Master: you are in Him, and He is in you. First, we have to obey and live up to the commandments He gives. And second, abide in Him, just as a branch abides in the vine. "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." Do you follow now? Who can have that Bread of Life and Water of Life? One who not only lives up to what He says, but also abides in Him. And how can you have the sweet remembrance of the Master at heart? The sweet remembrance will react in the Master; and when it reacts there, He remembers, and again it reacts in you.

Guru Arjan put a question: "If a disciple remembers his Master all the time, what does the Master do?" A Master is not a man. He has a man-body; but within Him, He is conscious: He sees that "I and my Father are one." He does not exert Himself to remember anyone, but He is conscious that he is there. What does He do? He remembers the disciples: those disciples who remember Him react in Him. And in this way, they develop receptivity. And with receptivity, what happens? You may ask the Master a question. He may be living hundreds of miles away from a disciple; but if you go to the disciple and ask him the same question, you will see that they will speak the same words. This is because he has developed: the disciple has become the mouthpiece of the Master; the Master is speaking through him. This is how you have that Bread of Life.

Christ said, "I am the Bread of Life"; and all Masters said, "We are the Bread of Life". And what was that Bread of Life that was defined as, "The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us?"

"The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us." What is the Word? In St. John's gospel you find: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." And the whole creation came into being after the Word. So, what is the Word? God is Wordless, Nameless, Absolute. When He came into being, into expression, into action, that God-into-Action Power or God-into-Expression Power was the Word. That God-into-Action Power manifested at some human pole, and that was called the Master. So the true Master is God Himself, Who resides in every heart. When He manifests Himself at any human pole, the manifested God in Him is the true Master. Of course, we have regard for the human pole at which that God Power manifests. Do you see what He says? "I am the true vine." As a man He feels that God is in Him. He and the Father are One. He is a conscious coworker of the Divine Plan. He knows it is He speaking; it is He working all the time. So, we can have that Water of Life, by drinking which we can thirst no more; and the Bread of Life, by eating which we can hunger no more.

Christ goes on to repeat: "I am the vine." When you want to press some point further, then sometimes you use repetition. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." This Water or Bread of Life is a gift of the God-in-Man, Who gives it to you free. All gifts of God are free. This is a gift from Master, from the God-in-Him to the disciple; and it has the power to enliven the life in him. Guru Nanak defines one who is a dead man and one who is really alive: He says, "Only he is alive, 0 Nanak, in whom God has become the enlivening power of his soul." The soul that has become the mouthpiece of God is like the switch that is contacted with the powerhouse. The electricity or the powerhouse is working through him. He is in tune, in contact with them. Unless we have that contact by receptivity, we cannot bear forth much fruit.

You can remain a religious man. You can know all the scriptures by heart. You can have all the worldly literature stuffed in your brain, just as if there were many libraries up there. But this thing you can have only by living up to what the Masters say, first; and second, by developing receptivity. His words should abide in you, and you should abide in Him. Only then will you have this gift of the Bread of Life and the Water of Life.

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered." That is, he is dead. These are the same words that Guru Nanak said in His day: "When the branch is cut off from the tree, it naturally withers and dries up and is used for firewood. And men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." This is what is meant in the biblical literature by, "the soul dies." Actually, it does not die, but it has become withered; that is, cut off from the Lord, from the God in him. Christ says, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Ask anything, and you will have it. With all things, ask, and they shall be given unto you. If you knock, it shall be opened unto you. First of all, there will be no desire left. The Upanishads ask us, "What is that, by knowing which, nothing more is left to be known?" (So He says, "First of all, you will never have any desire whatsoever. If any at all does strike you or arise in you, it will be fulfilled then and there.") "Herein is my Father glorified, and ye bear much fruit; so ye shall be my disciples." Suchlike disciples can have the Water of Life and Bread of Life.

Now, Christ goes on further and tells us how to develop this receptivity. He says, "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." In love only, you remember someone. What is love? The one for whom you have love is constantly in your heart. Always. You may not be expressing it in words, but something is dragging you from within. That constant remembrance is in the heart in which such a state has developed. How can anyone other than him whom he loves abide in that heart? If anyone at all is remembered, it is only for the sake of the one whom he loves. So if we love God, we love others for the sake of God in them, not at the level of forgetting Him and loving someone else.

Christ says, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love." How can we abide in His love? By keeping the commandments you have been given. What does the Master say? He says, "Don't think evil of others, even in mind, word, and deed. You must be truthful; never tell lies; never conceal. Don't usurp others' rights. Don't say sarcasms; don't have something in your mind and something else in your mouth: you say something now and behind the person's back you say something else. Be true to your own selves. You can deceive others, but not the God in you." What I always impress is to be true to one's own self. This is what love requires. What are other of the Master's commandments? Be chaste in word, thought, and deed. Live up to what the scriptures say: "Marriage means taking a companion in life to be with you in weal or woe, and both should help each other to know God." This is the highest aim of a man's life. Begetting children might be one duty, but it is not one hundred percent of our duties. About this, the Bible says, "Love thy wives as Christ loved the church".

So, He wants all of us to keep His commandments and live as He says: "Love God with all thy heart, with all thy strength, with all thy mind; and love thy neighbor." Other Masters said, "Love thy God and love all creation. There is no place where God is not."

So love is the thing through which you can have the sweet remembrance and the constant remembrance. You'll dream of Him. And when you go into a fast sleep, you will reverberate: without knowing it, the same things will be coming out of your mouth. Christ says, 'If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love." That will give you more love from day to day. "Even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love." (He says, "Follow me. I have lived up to the commandments of my Father; and similarly, you abide by the commandments of the God in me, of the Father in me.")

Reading further: "These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." This is how you can have the pleasure of the Master. Take the example of a man who has three or four sons. One son lives according to the commandments of the father, he never disobeys; he simply follows what the father's intentions are. Some other sons obey only when they are told, and even then, only willy-nilly; and some sons do not obey. Which son would be the best of all? The one who reads the intentions of the father and, without saying, lives up to them. After all, every son knows what his father wants. Every disciple knows what his Master wants. Should we repeat that very same lesson all the time every day? A wise man is one who hears the word of the Master and keeps it in his heart of hearts and lives up to it. If you do that, you will win the pleasure of the Master.

And what does the Master do? When the father – excuse me – leaves the body, what does he do? He gives the keys of the whole thing to the son who is obedient, who lives up to his commandments. This is what Guru Nanak said: "We have come into this world for the purpose of having the Water of Life or the Bread of Life. It is in the hands of the Master. Go to Him. Remain where you are by living a religious way of life. That will prepare the ground for when you surrender your whole self to the Master." That is why Christ and all other Masters said, "Leave all and follow me." What did He mean? By following Him does not mean that you should leave your homes, that everybody should physically leave and follow Him. Excuse me, but how would you provide everyone with accommodations in which to live? To follow Him means to surrender your will to His wishes; not as a slave, mind that, but as a friend. Further, you'll find this where I opened the Bible: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." And what does He further say? Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Love knows service and sacrifice. "Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you."

So whenever Masters come, They do not want to make slaves of you; They address you as friends, so that you may know what They are saying. A slave cannot know a friend; a friend can know a friend better. So Masters do not make slaves of you, but They give you equal rights. They say, "I am a man like you. Here are my words; abide in them. Abide in them, and you abide in me." Receptivity is developed by living up the what the Masters say and by abiding in the Master. He takes you as an equal, as a friend.

You know what is meant by the Water of Life or the Bread of Life? And how can you partake of it? Only by developing receptivity: "As you think, so you become." When He is Word made flesh, then the Word will come in you. You will eat that Word in Him, not the flesh of the body.

These are some things that are given in the form of parables to make you understand what is what. Pure lives are required. Unless you live up to what He says, unless you abide by the words He utters, you cannot have the first step. And you can have the second step only when you learn to abide in Him.

The Master shows that the whole curtain between us and God is the mind. The soul is of the same nature as that of God; but the soul is under the control of mind, and mind is led away through the outgoing faculties to the outside things; and we are given up to the pleasures of the outside. So, unless the mind is stilled, you cannot have this Bread of Life. You will find it said in the scriptures: "Be still, physically and in mind – and intellectually." If you do that and "know that ye are God," you will find that the mind is the curtain between us and God. One Saint says, "If you have a mind to know God – if you have made a resolute will to know God – then just put one step on your mind, and that will still it. And, with the next step that you take, you will enter the house of your Father." So, mind is the curtain or the impediment lying between man and God.

How can we withdraw the mind from the outside? The outgoing faculties of eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin are the five organs of sense through which the five senses work: sight, audition, smell, taste, and touch. We are always getting impressions through them from the outside. The subconscious reservoir of our mind is overflowing with these impressions. Even in dreams we see them. We unknowingly reverberate the very same things that are overflowing within us. So, how are we to withdraw the mind from the outgoing faculties? If we know that, we can do it only by stilling it.

To still the mind, there are ways and ways and many ways. So far, we have been seeking God in outside things. But "the Kingdom of God cannot be had by observation; it is within you". So long as you are engaged in the pursuits that relate to the outgoing faculties, you cannot find Him. Only by liberating the soul, or analyzing the soul from mind, and withdrawing the mind from the outgoing faculties, can you know who you are and what you are. You can come in contact with it. The Elixir of Life or the Water of Life is already within us; and the retarding factor is only the mind. If the mind is directed to the outgoing faculties, we become worldly; if it is directed to the soul above, we become spiritual.

This is what we have to learn on the way to God. God is the very Soul of our souls. God is the very Power that is controlling us in the body. This is the natural way, according to the character of the mind. If you are sitting in an absorbed state and your attention, which is the expression of the soul in the body, is absorbed or engrossed in something, your outgoing faculties do not work. So these faculties take their strength from the attention when it is attached with the senses. Similarly, the mind also gains its strength from the soul. When you are absorbed, you will find that even you mind does not work: you go into a reverie.

So the mind is the only thing standing in our way back to God. And the Master says, "0 mind, be still! You would like to have a drop of the Water of Life, the Light and Sound Principle of God. You can come in contact with it when you are still, mentally and physically." It is already within us. The mind is like a parasitical plant that has covered a certain part of a tree, and that portion over which it has spread has become dry. That parasitical plant derives all its life from the branches of the tree on which it has spread. Similarly, the mind takes strength from the soul and has the soul covered up. We are not able to see God.

What are we to do? The Masters tell us just to control our mind. And what will help us on the way to doing this? The Masters say, "Leave off all infirmities, whatever shortcomings you have in the way of violence, hatred, lies, and other passions." Instead of that, do what is good: for hatred, have the virtue of love; for anger, have the virtue of forgiveness; and if you are impure or have lusty thoughts, have the virtue of chastity. Adopt the good things and leave off the harmful ones. When Zoroaster was asked, "What should we do?" He said, "Join the army of God." And He was asked, "What qualification is required?" And He said, "Righteousness." And they asked, "What is righteousness?" And He defined it: "Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds."

An ethical life is a stepping-stone to Spirituality. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Live up to the virtues, and leave off all vices. That will help you to control your mind for a while. And whatever wrong you have done, repent. Wash it away with the tears of your eyes of repentance. This is the way prescribed by all Masters Who came in the past, and we should live up to it.

Generally you will find that we are full of passions: greed, lies, deceptions, usurping others' rights, unchaste thoughts, and thinking evil of others. All the time, all these things are filling up this cabin of the man-body with all their filth and dirt. How can you expect a king to enter a place – a cabin – that is full of dirt and filth? That is why all Masters tell us to have pure hearts. You do clean your bodies and wash them on the outside. That is all right: "Cleanliness is next to godliness". But if all this filth and bad odor lies within you, you should also cleanse the body within. This is what all Masters say. Sant Kabir said, "Even if a fish enters the most sacred river, the Ganges, it cannot lose its bad odor. " What is essential is not the cleanliness of the body outside, but the cleanliness of the heart within. How to get this inner cleanliness, I have now laid before you. We use toiletries that cost millions of dollars every year for our bodies. But it is not the outer purity that will draw the attention of God; it is the inner one. God is after finding any holy place – any heart– full of love, full of His thought; but our hearts are full of worldly thoughts. We are thinking evil of others and doing evil by usurping others rights, by squeezing others' blood, by having lusty thoughts, and by feeling hatred. We must keep our hearts pure.

What you have to do is what I just read out from the Bible. You should become gurumukh. The word gurumukh means: keeping your Master before you. When He initiates you, He gives you a little experience of the Water of Life and the Bread of Life. From that very moment, He resides with you and never leaves you. That is the Christ Power in Him, the God power or the Guru Power that never dies. He never leaves you. Christ said, "I shall never leave you till the end of the world." And all Masters said, "It is God in that son of man that is the true Master." When He takes care of someone, He never leaves him until He takes him to the feet of the Father.

Come in contact with God, and always be directed toward Him, like the needle of a compass toward the north. Always be thinking of the Grace of the Master. "As you think, so you become." A Master is the God in Him made manifest. We have regard for the human pole at which that Power works. But, all the same, you will find that all Masters differentiated between these two things: the son of man and the Christ in man.

Live up to what He says and you will find the Truth, the Truth that is clothed in Light, the Truth that is the symphonies of the Music of All-Harmonies, which is the outer aspect of the God-in-Action Power that is called Word. "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us." This is the way, and whether you live in one religion or the other makes no difference. Remain there. Man is social, and he must remain in some social body. You are performing good actions there, and you will have the reactions of the good. But to know God is to have the Water of Life and the Bread of Life that will quench your thirst forever and appease your hunger forever. That is coming in contact with the God Power, which is Light and Sound Principle. That you have as a gift from the Master.

This is today's subject. I think that will do, if you live up to it. Masters never come to break one religion or to start a new one. They say, "Truth is already there. Just live up to it. If you live up to it, everything will be all right."

Thank you.