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Instructions for Seekers after Truth
- Sant Kirpal Singh Ji
Issued in 1956 as
circular letter #2 and was required reading for all
prospective initiates.
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BEFORE the living Master (an
adept in the science of the Sound Current or Word), gives
initiation, he wishes that every prospective initiate abide
by the following instructions:
I. To cultivate and develop the five cardinal virtues which
constitute the bedrock of spirituality, These are:
1) Ahimsa or Non-injury to all living creatures, and more so
to fellow beings, by thoughts, words and deeds— the
injunction in this behalf being: "Injure not a human heart
for it is the seat of God." We must have respect for others'
feelings and tolerance for others' opinions.
2) Satayam or Truthfulness: As God is Truth, we must
practice Truth in all our dealings. If Truth resides in
every heart, it must manifest itself in life and action. "Be
true to thyself and it must follow as night the day, thou
canst not be false to any man." We must therefore avoid
falsehood at all costs. It includes, besides downright lies,
hypocrisy and dishonesty, suppresso veri (suppression of
truth), and suggestio falsi (suggestions of false ideas).
3) Brahmcharya or life of Chastity: it includes continence
in thoughts, words and deeds. We must not cast covetous eyes
on others nor entertain impure thoughts within, for
"Chastity is life and sexuality is death." If we want to
tread the Path of Life Eternal, we must be chaste and clean
both within and without.
4) Prem or love for all living creatures and more so for all
human beings. Let there be hatred for none. The entire
manifestation is the handiwork of God and must therefore be
loved and respected. "He who does not know love, cannot know
God."
5) Nishkam Seva or Selfless Service to all living creatures
in sorrow or distress. If one limb of the body is in
torture, the other limbs can have no rest. "Service before
self" should therefore be our motto in life.
II. To practice these three purities—in DIET, LIVELIHOOD and
CONDUCT:
1) Ahar or Diet. What we eat goes to constitute the body and
the mind. "Sound mind in a sound body" is a well known
aphorism. We can neither have one nor the other with
unwholesome diet. A strictly vegetarian diet consisting of
vegetables and fruits, both fresh and dried, cereals, dairy
products like milk, cream, butter, cheese, yoghurt, etc., is
essential for all aspirants for Truth. We must therefore
avoid meat, meat juices, fish, fowl, eggs both fertile and
unfertile, or anything containing any of these ingredients
in any form or in any degree. Every action has a reaction
and flesh eating involves contracting fresh Karmas and thus
helps to keep the inexorable Karmic wheel in motion for we
have to reap what we sow. We cannot have roses if we sow
thistles.
The above prohibitions apply equally to all kinds of
alcoholic drinks, intoxicants, opiates and narcotic drugs,
as they tend to dull our consciousness and make us morbid.
"The body is the temple of the living God" and it must
therefore be kept scrupulously clean.
Any prospective candidate for initiation should therefore
try the vegetarian diet for at least three to six months, to
ensure that he or she can adhere to it, when put on the
Path.
2) Vihar or Livelihood: Closely associated with diet are the
means of livelihood. There are no short-cuts in
spirituality. The end here does not justify the means, as it
may be construed to do anywhere else. Ignoble means to earn
one's living do contaminate one's diet, the very source of
life itself. So an honest living by the sweat of one's brow
is essential in this line. The life plant has therefore to
be nurtured with pure water to make it sound and healthy, a
fit instrument for the efflorescence of spirituality.
3) Achar or Conduct: The above remarks apply equally to
one's conduct in life. Every thought, every word and every
deed, good or bad, leaves an indelible imprint on the mind
and has to be accounted for. Hence the necessity for right
thoughts, right aspirations and right conduct, all of which
constitute the hedge around the tender sapling of
spirituality. The details in this behalf have been dealt
with under the five virtues discussed above.
III. SATSANG or Association with Truth: The guidance of the
living Master is of supreme importance. A Master is a Master
indeed, a Master in all three phases of life: A Guru or
Master on the physical plane, sharing our joys and sorrows,
guiding affectionately each one of us in our worldly
affairs, and above all imparting spiritual instructions; a
Guru Dev or Radiant Form of the Master in astral and causal
regions helping the spirit in meditation at each plane, and
Satguru or Master of Truth or Truth itself in the Beyond.
The importance of attending Satsangs or spiritual gatherings
cannot be overemphasized. Theory always precede practice. It
is but necessary to understand clearly the teachings of the
Master in all their bearings before starting spiritual
practice. The Master is the be-all and end-all of the
spiritual path. He does not ask for blind faith, however,
though experimental faith is necessary for the purpose, to
start with. He emphatically says: "Believe not the words of
the Master unless you see the Reality yourself," or at least
have some experience of it yourself.
IV. SPIRITUALITY: It is a path of love, discipline and
self-control. After the initial spiritual experience given
at the time of Initiation the rest depends on relentless
regular practice as enjoined by the Master. Daily practice
with loving faith, in all sincerity and humility, is the
cornerstone round which each disciple must turn, so as to
make progress on the Path. Love for the Master means
implicit obedience to His commandments.
V. TO ESCHEW ALL SYMBOLISM AND RITUALS: The observance of
religious practices, rites and rituals keeping fasts and
vigils, going on pilgrimages, etc., and doing breathing
exercises are the elementary steps only which go to create
in you a desire for turning to or meeting God. You have made
the best use of them when you are put on the way back to
God, which is the science of the Word or the Sound Current
and is one for all humanity. A devotee of this science need
not indulge in the elementary-steps. In short, all acts
involving physical labor belong to the realm of the physical
world while we have to rise above the body and bodily
consciousness to get contact with the primal manifestations
of the Godhead: Light and Sound. You cannot pray God with
hands. "God is Spirit and can only be worshiped in spirit."
Vl. RECORD OF CONDUCT AND PROGRESS: Every seeker after God
is enjoined to maintain a strictly impartial record of his
daily conduct, so as to find out his weaknesses and try to
weed them out one by one; to note his/her progress on the
Path and the various difficulties and shortcomings in the
way. The diary so maintained is to be sent to the Master
every four months for further guidance. For this purpose
regular forms are available and can be obtained from the
nearest center.
Vll. APPLICATION FOR INITIATION: Every true aspirant for
spiritual science, who can adhere to the above, after
preliminary abstinence in diet for about three to six
months, can put in an application on the form prescribed for
the purpose, giving his brief life sketch, age, marital
status and the like along with a copy of his or her
photograph. All applications for initiation are to be
forwarded to the nearest representative of the Master for
His approval, and instructions in Initiation are given only
after the Master authorizes them. The place and time of
Initiation are communicated in each case by the
representative.
VlIl. RUHANI SATSANG or Path of the Masters: The science of
the living Masters is the most ancient and the most perfect
science the world has ever seen, it is the most natural and
the easiest to follow, and can be followed by men of all
ages. Married life, avocation, caste and creed, social and
religious beliefs, poverty or illiteracy, etc., are no bars.
It is an inner science of the soul and consists in
contacting the soul with the Oversoul, with the help and
guidance of the spiritual adept, well versed in the theory
and the practice of Para Vidya or the Science of the Beyond
and capable of granting some first-hand spiritual experience
at the very first sitting. Nothing is to be taken on trust
or make-believe. Miracles, spiritual healings, psychic
phenomena, fortune-telling, akashic records and worldly
desires are all to be left aside, for these are positive
hindrances on the Path. The entire energy is to be conserved
for internal progress.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all things shall be
added unto you. This is the highest Truth that has been
taught from hoary antiquity by sages and seers since the day
of creation. It is unalterable and shall remain so. God,
Godway, and Godman can never suffer any change and shall
ever remain eternal.
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