Let us continue with Letter 21 from “Spiritual Gems” by Hazur Maharaj Baba Sawan Singh Ji (vegetarian), which explains that a Master shows love in all forms to help the disciples walk the path to salvation.
Letter 21
“The Saints of the highest degree never ask for anything that is perishable. They ask for the Lord from the Lord, as Guru Nanak says: ‘What should I ask of Thee? Nothing is permanent. Everything is passing away Even as I behold.’
This means that everything is perishable except the Lord, and that he (Nanak) was not going to ask for perishable things. He needed the Lord and nothing else. He said: ‘If the wealth of all the worlds were put on one side and the love of the Lord on the other, then those who love the Lord would only ask for the Lord and would not care for the wealth. He who is filled with the love of the Lord is followed by all the world.’
The other reason is that gain and loss in this world depend upon our karma. Many of our efforts are bound to fail on account of our karma, as they are not destined to accomplish their purposes. If we apply repetition of the Names and spiritual exercise to gain these purposes, and fail, then our faith in the Lord will decrease because He did not grant us our wishes. That would lead to hindrance in our spiritual progress and love. Our duty lies in doing our best in worldly business and being content with the result as the Will of the Master.
There are many on the Path who have not penetrated into their interior and who have not beheld the Master in their internal vision, nor have they crossed the stages of anger and lust. They do everything as dictated by the lower mind, and excuse their misdeeds by saying that the Master activates them or that the Creator causes them. Now, this is the trick played upon them by the lower self.
The bad deed is due to our low desires, and we hold the Master or the Lord responsible for it. Until our soul goes up and beholds the Master inside, and can talk to Him there, we should ascribe every blame to the dictates of the lower mind and not to the Master.
When we have had the vision of the Master inside, and we have reached a very high spiritual plane, only then can we say that whatever is done is done by Him. In that state, there is no sin, as sin lies in us and not in the Master. Therefore, a spiritual devotee should be careful against being deceived by the lower self. He should be gentle and forgiving.
If you had the real spirit of practice in you, you would have laughed at what was said to you and would not have given way to anger. Not even twenty — would have been able to ruffle your spirit, which would have been powerful and patient. Then I would have said that the Sound Current has produced an effect in you. But instead of that you not only lost self-control, but also your companions became perturbed, which was not proper.
I would advise that all of you should clean your minds of mutual accusation and remonstrance, and increase love and affection for each other. Each one should admit his or her mistake, ask pardon of the other, and grow in love and faith.
But I do not mean that Repetition should be given up. Repetition must be done in the mind so that none should hear it. It is intended to still the mind and not to show off. The important point is that the mind should be brought under control. It plays subtle tricks and has tricked many before you, even the prophets and incarnations. I have seen many whom the mind has made dance to any tune or act upon its dictates; while the people think that they are visited by holy Spirit or that they have taken their souls to a high plane. The evil tendencies lie in the mind while it ascribes them to others.
R.S. is the True Path; therefore it is a great sin to mislead people by external show. The company of such people should be avoided.
It is probable that my words may be unpleasant to you. But it is my duty. Just think, human life is very precious and is due to past good karma. It was not granted to us for rearing children or for enjoying ourselves. All these functions are performed even by the lowest animals. The only difference between man and lower creation is that man’s life here was meant for seeing the Lord and reaching the highest Spiritual Plane in this life. Every minute of it is worth millions of dollars.
We have to give up this physical body, the astral frame, and also the causal body. When this is the case, then what is the worth of the world, its relationships, and its pleasures? The world should be looked upon as an inn, and our relatives as fellow travelers. Our chief aim should be to unite with our Creator and avoid lust, anger, avarice, attachment, and pride so far as we can, as they are our enemies. At all times our hearts should be full of love for the Master, and our own mind should be so fearless that it should not be ruffled if it were given the kingdom of the world, nor if the kingdom of the world were taken from it. When the mind has become like that, the Master penetrates it with His Real Light.
Whatever I have written is with a view to your benefit and purification, and not with a view to dominate or show off. It is the outcome of my love for you. I do not know whether or not the etiquette and manners of your country would accept it in such a Light.”
