31. The mode of devotion as prescribed
by Radhasoami Faith is the only means to approach the Supreme
Being
46. Radhasoami
Faith prescribes the means or certain mode of devotion whereby
a human being could at pleasure withdraw one’s spirit
from its seat in wakeful state, and thus release it to a certain
extent from the bondage of body and senses and slacken its
connection with the outer world and thus free oneself to the
same extent from pain and pleasure of this world, and retire
temporarily to take rest and enjoy the bliss of higher spheres
within himself. A human being can traverse the regions of
death and return to body at pleasure, or in other words, by
practicing devotion for a certain length of time one can withdraw
his spirit to the point where death takes place and even beyond
it, and can, at pleasure bring it back to the seat occupied
in the wakeful state and resume the functions of mind body
and senses.
47. The benefits accruing
from such a practice, viz., the enjoyment of bliss in higher
regions within us and obtaining relief from the pleasures,
pains and cares of this world as well as of the body etc.,
are self-evident proof of the great importance and extraordinary
usefulness of the mode of devotion prescribed by Radhasoami
Faith. This mode of devotion is the only and surest means
of eventually attaining perfect salvation or complete liberation
from the bondage of material coatings appertaining to the
lower and higher regions of matter.
48. It is rightly inferred
from the above that there is no other way to raise the spirit
entity to the highest sphere but the one prescribed by Radhasoami
Faith, viz., removing or raising the spirit entity gradually
from its seat in the pupil of the eye, in the same manner
as it rises or withdraws at the time of death, and by catching
or riding the ‘Sound’ or life current to carry it
back towards the main source from which it originally descended.
32. This mode of devotion is free from all risk and danger
and can easily be practiced by men and women of any age, literate
or illiterate
49. The mode of devotion
referred to above is free from all dangers and is so easy
of practice that a child of ten or twelve years as well as
an adult and the old can perform it conveniently and comfortably
at all times, without interfering with daily business of life.
The mind of the devotee will gradually (as one progresses
in his practice of faith) imbibe more and more love for the
Supreme being, intensifying one’s desire to approach
Him in the highest region, and look upon the pleasures and
objects of this world as trifling and transitory.
33. Pran-Yog
discarded as dangerous and unnecessary
50. In times gone by
and even now some persons consider Pran-Yog or the
practice of suspending breathes and drawing it up to the sixth
or seventh nervous centre or ganglion (the seat of which is
in the interior, behind the point between the two eyes) as
a means for obtaining salvation. There is no doubt that this
practice secures the liberation of spirit entity from the
bondage of coarse matter in the third grand division. But
in the first instance the process is very difficult and is
attended with danger in case of slight omission or commission
as regards its rules and conditions, and secondly, the practitioner
would still remain in the regions of matter, though pure,
and therefore, subject to re-birth and the pains and troubles
attendant thereon. A human being living with his family and
pursuing his profession can hardly comply with the rigid and
strict rules laid down for this practice and even those who
have renounced the world, are scarcely able to carry out this
practice without permanently endangering their health, and
thereby their progress in the way of attaining their objects,
namely, the raising of spirit entity to the sixth or seventh
chakra (ganglion) or nervous center.
51. Moreover the Pran
or breath current is dependent upon the spirit entity or ‘Word’
current for its life and support, as when the latter is drawn
inward to more than ordinary extent the breathing is gradually
stopped, or in other words, the Pran current also follows
the spirit current or is withdrawn from the body, and its
action gradually ceases.
52. Again the Pran
current is a sub-ordinate agent to the spirit current and
its function is limited to certain automatic action in the
body, as when the spirit current is withdrawn during the time
of sound sleep the function of senses and limbs ceases, and
though the Pran current or breathing continues its
action, it cannot exercise any influence over the senses and
limbs which respond to the impulse from the spirit current
only. The practice of Pran Yog is, therefore, discarded
by Radhasoami Faith as difficult, dangerous, not carrying
to the highest sphere and therefore useless and unnecessary.
34. Evidence of the existence of God, the almighty –
the essence of God and Spirit entity is the same – It
is an emanation of Him
53. A sincere seeker
after truth should allow no doubt to remain in his mind about
the existence of the Almighty Creator, as the whole creation,
terrestrial and celestial, from its design and object, and
the immutable laws by which it is governed, bears evidence
to the existence of the all powerful and controlling hand
of an intelligent Supreme being. His power commonly called
energy is diffused everywhere, but it requires impulse from
the Supreme Source to put it into action, and this ‘impulse’
is the Prime Spirit or Sound Current which forming centers
at certain distances completed the work of creation in each
circle or system so designed, and descending in its course
carried out the work of creation to the furthest limit. The
lowest system is dependent upon the one higher than itself
for its life and support, and this again upon one higher still
and so on, until the highest sphere is reached which is the
abode of the Supreme Power, the Prime Cause of the first impulse,
or Life and Spirit Current. These systems are called solar
systems, each working in subordination to the higher one,
and all depending for their life and support on the Supreme
Being.
54. This Supreme Being
is the sole master of the whole creation, and the spirit entities
clothed in body in this universe are emanations from Him,
that is, there essence is the same, and they more or less
exercise the same powers as the Supreme Being within their
respective spheres or bodies, viz., controlling matter or
the forces of nature and elements which work harmoniously
in subordination to the Spirit Current.
35. The above statement illustrated
55. To understand the
above more clearly one should carefully observe and watch
the progress of plant from the time it germinates till it
is fully grown up, and till it dies. Since the first manifestation
of germ or spirit, the forces of nature, viz., attraction,
repulsion, construction, chemical affinity, light, electricity
and elements including gases etc., all combine and work harmoniously
to aid its growth and sustenance. Again when the spirit separates
itself from the plant, the very same forces help its decay
and decomposition till the body or the form disappears. The
same case is observable in the growth of all bodies in the
animal and vegetable kingdoms from the time of germination
or first manifestation of spirit till its separation from
those bodies which results in death, decomposition or decay
of the latter.
56. It may, therefore,
be inferred from above that the spirit entities are emanations
from the Supreme Being or the first and original cause of
creation. Also that the spirit entities by the powers they
exercise are the means of support and sustenance of the bodies
thus created, and that their separation from those bodies
is the cause of their death and decay.
57. It is evident from
the above that the whole work of creation in various spheres
is carried on through the instrumentality of emanations or
spirit currents issuing forth from the Supreme Being as rays
from the Sun, and that this creation exist and subsists as
long as the spirit maintains connection with the body or the
form it assumes, and that decay and decomposition follow the
severance of this connection; that matter and all forces resulting
from its contact with spirit entities in various spheres are
wholly controlled by spirit current and that nothing can move
or act by itself without an impulse from the spirit force
which is immortal. Matter within its sphere is also imperishable
in its original form namely chaotic or atomic, but it owes
its life and activity to the impulse from the spirit force.
36. Bachak Gyan
(Sophistry) and Idolatry
58.There are people
who have gone to the one or the other extreme in forming their
opinion and conducting the worship of the deity, that is to
say, some have adopted the worship of form or some sign said
to have appertained to the ‘Creator’ when He incarnated
Himself in human form, or to one of the superior spirits who
appeared in this world as prophets or mediators; while others
regard Him as formless and Omnipresent and contemplate Him
as ‘Akash’ or Ether pervading the entire
creation and space.
59. According to Radhasoami
Faith, the above both schools of thinkers appear to be in
fault, in as much as they exhibit utter ignorance of the real
state of things, and, therefore, the means adopted by them
for their salvation are faulty and defective. There is no
doubt that the Supreme Being is formless and boundless; but,
when a current from this Prime Source descended into the lower
sphere and in a manner animated and awakened matter, the first
form produced by the admixture of the two was the image for
the first time assumed by the original spirit current, and
the outlines of this form served as a standard for all the
animated forms subsequently created in the spheres below;
and these outlines are also more or less distinctly visible
in the forms of all creatures on this earth.
60. The saying that
God created human being after His own image is confirmed by
the fact of his superiority over all creatures in this world,
and the circumstances of the outlines of the human form being
adopted with more or less precision in the structure of the
whole animal kingdom. If such is the case with human image
in creation in the lower order, it follows that this very
image can be traced backwards and upwards in a more and more
perfect order till we reach the first form, the most perfect,
originally assumed by the spirit current, when commencing
the work of creation.
61. It is hopeless,
therefore, for any one to approach the formless without first
coming into contact with the various main forms assumed by
the Spirit Current in its decent to the lower sphere. These
are living forms ever present in the spheres to which they
pertain within every human being, and they help a traveler
in his onward journey to the highest and original form which
again leads him to the Formless, and thus perfect salvation
is possible to be attained. To degrade the living form to
one made of stone or metal or to stick to certain signs and
symbols appertaining thereto and preparing their metallic
imitation etc., etc., without the knowledge of the original
or any attempt to trace it within ourselves is wandering away
from real to unreal object.
62. Again to think
of Formless and liken it to ‘Ether’ without the
knowledge of the various forms or coatings which its main
current or creative agency has assumed in its decent to this
sphere is as faulty and irreconcilable with our present limited
thoughts and ideas as the degradation of the living form to
limitations made of stone or metal, like toys.
63. Some (individuals)
have gone to a further extreme identifying themselves with
the ‘First and Eternal Cause’, the ‘Formless
and Boundless Source of Spirit’, have lost all regard
and consideration for the same, and become extremely selfish
and proud of their existence which is a ‘mere drop’
from the Ocean of Spirit and Love or a ‘mere ray’
from the Supreme Sun, the Life and Light Giver of the whole
creation. These (individuals) have become so infatuated with
the idea of their self-sufficiency and superiority as Brahm
or God that they adore no one as their creator or superior,
and fearlessly act according to the dictates of their impure
mind and senses; and as their bondage with the material covering
or body and its various currents, continues unrelated, that
they are at the time of death hurled down into the regions
of matter and find new bodies and places fit for their reception
according to the result of their good and bad actions and
their predominant passion and desire.
64.The proper course
for a sincere lover of the Supreme Being is to acquire knowledge
of the secrets and the order of creation and the means of
traversing the distance and stages between his dwellings in
the body (the pupil of the eye) and the abode of the Supreme
Being, the Prime Source of everything; and to start on his
journey with fervour and perseverance with avowed object of
one day reaching the presence of the Most High and Beloved
Supreme Father.
37. Shabd or Word is not originally the result of
vibratory motion or the property of Ether as supposed by certain
class of thinkers
65. There are some
(individuals) who regard Word or Sound as the quality
of void or ether, while others consider it the result of vibratory
motion; but they both labour under an erroneous impression.
When it is asserted by all revealed religions that Word
or Sound was the first manifestation of the Deity or
Supreme Being, and the rest of creation, including ether and
other elements, was created by the Sound or Spirit
Current, how could then the original ‘Word’
be regarded as the quality of ether, when it is the life and
soul of everything that followed its first manifestation?
Again when the original ‘Word’ or Spirit
Current was the prime mover and the first impulse which
came from the Supreme Source, and was the first cause of all
sorts of motion and colours and forms, how could it be regarded
as the result of vibratory motion which motion is, however,
the subsequent expression or manifestation of Spirit power
or energy throughout the creation. The vibratory motion is
confined to the spheres where matter exists in subtle or pure
or less pure and impure or coarse form and is the result of
contact of spirit current with matter; in other words, it
is the manifestation of an effort on the part of the spirit
current, descending from the Highest Sphere, to remove the
material coating of the spirit or energy in the lower regions.
66. It should, therefore, be clearly understood that instead of Sound being the result
of vibratory motion, it is really the prim cause of everything in the universe and also of
vibratory motion, which again is instrumental in furthering the work of creation in the
material regions. In the lower regions various sound currents originate from vibratory
motion and serve the purpose of carrying on the work of creation in various directions
below; but the Original Sound or Spirit Current is the parent of all motions and forces as
well as light, sound, elements, etc., that came subsequently into existence in the second
and third grand divisions.
38. What is Truth?
67. There are many,
who assert themselves to be searchers of Truth, but there
are few who try and persevere to ascertain it, and fewer still
who sincerely work at any sacrifice, to attain it. By Truth
or Sat Pad is meant the Essence, Spirit, Soul, and
Life of everything that exists or appears to exist, itself
unchangeable and immortal. Again, we might define ‘Truth’
or Sat Pad as the Essence of Essences, Spirit of Spirits,
Soul of Souls, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Formless, Boundless,
Unapproachable, Unknowable (except by Sants), Unchangeable,
Unfathomable, the Source and Beginning of life, of energy
and of everything (perishable and imperishable), an Unlimited
Ocean of love and wisdom, Omnipresent but concealed in various
coatings except in one place, viz., the highest region, where
it can be observed by the spirit's visionary power.
68. The former definition
is applicable to the ‘Truth’ or rather to the rays
which issued forth from the Sun of Truth or the drops from
the unbounded Ocean of Truth diffused over all the space comprised
within the Universe of Universes; giving life, power, and
energy to bodies, existeers and appearances. By these rays
is meant the spirits residing in all apparent bodies or existeers,
forming the creation in various spheres in the space, and
giving them the power of motion, thought or reason, etc.,
etc. In short, the whole creation extending from the highest
to the lowest sphere, is sustained by the spirits or rays
from the Sun of Truth, and disappears or is dissolved on the
separation of spirits from the coatings or bodies in which
they reside, or in other words, on the severance of the connection
between the two.
69. The second definition
points to the source of the above rays or spirits,
the Truth of Truths, ever shining forth in its awful majesty
and splendor, and directing from its highest abode the course
of its rays and controlling the forces which sprang up from
their contact with matter and are playing their respective
parts in the whole creation in the spheres below. To summarize
the above, the whole creation which one feels, sees, and observes,
owes its origin, life and growth to ‘Truth’, and
is sustained throughout by ‘Truth’, and disappears
or is dissolved when ‘Truth’ is separated or withdrawn
there from.
39. How to attain or realize this
Truth?
70. To approach the
Source of ‘Truth’ one must first approach and catch
its ray or spirit current and then follow and trace
its course back to its Source, the Truth of Truths. It is
well said by some philosopher, "First know thyself (Spirit
or Truth) and then know thy God (the Source of Spirits, the
Truth of Truths)." The highway to reach the Truth and
thence its Source, or the Truth of Truths, lies within the
microcosm or the human body.
71. It must be understood
that the spirit current as well as the currents of other forces
(spiritual-material) are flowing from within downward or outward
towards external objects; and to approach their centers one
must change the direction of these currents upward or backward
to their internal sources. As the stream of the spiritual-material
forces appertains to sensual desires or worldly pleasures
and greatness, the traveler, bound for the regions of ‘Truth’,
must of necessity, give up these desires to a certain extent
and thus shut up or stop its downward flow before one can
safely proceed on one’s journey. It is not necessary
that one should altogether withdraw from the world and its
objects but one should so regulate the course of the current
of the various forces as to confine their use to what is absolutely
necessary for living in this world with family etc., on a
moderate scale, discarding all vain and improper or sinful
ideas and acts.
72. Any one, acting
in the above manner, will be able to gradually realize the
‘Truth’ within himself. But, there are very few,
who would attempt to make the above sacrifice and regulate
their habits and conduct to meet the conditions of the great
enterprise they undertake; hence the real Truth has remained
concealed and unknown. Again, there are very few, who would
devote a portion of their time and attention to conduct inquiries
earnestly to satisfy themselves of the existence of Truth
and the correctness of means prescribed for its realization
or attainment within their own selves.
40. What is True religion?
73. True religion or
faith is that which leads a sincere Enquirer to the region
of real Truth, and teaches him the ways and means of traversing
the regions where false and untruth and comparative truth
exercise their sway, and of finally reaching the highest and
most sublime mansion where nothing but the Truth of Truths
dwells and manifests its unrivalled glory in splendid refulgence
and everlasting joy and happiness.
74. Any religion or
faith which treats of rituals and ceremonies or external observances
and moral principles etc., and does not profess to know, or
cannot teach the secrets of real Truth or Truth of Truths,
is a religion built on ‘knowledge and reason’ or
founded on scanty information furnished by revelation of a
lower order emanating from the presiding spirit current or
genius of the second or third grand divisions where untruth
and comparative truth hold sway.
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