Material Possessions
Race
Caste & Color
Diet & Dress
Normal Life
Religion
Scriptures
True Master
Key
Human Being was born free but everywhere he is in chains.
Jeans-Jacques Rosseau
The above statement of Rosseau, though made in a political context, aptly
describes man's state in other spheres too. Cool thinking will convince any
rational mind that restraints are indispensable not only for civilization and
progress of human society, but also for our very existence. Imagine for a
moment the chaotic state of affairs, arising out of people not observing even
ordinary traffic regulations, or not reporting for duty in time, or not honouring
the commitments made. We know that vitamins are vital for the health and
growth of any organism. Nevertheless, their excessive intake positively impairs
our health. In the like manner, though excessive restraints are sure to stifle
'social health,' some restraints are imperative, if not inevitable. It will not be an
exaggeration to say that it is the restraints that check the society from relapsing
into the state of savagery and barbarity.
The foregoing analysis concerns the physical human being. But is human being
a mere physical person. But is human being a mere physical entity? As we all
know, it is not so: human being also enshrines in himself something more vital,
that is, the soul. We call it the very life-energy that makes the otherwise inert
physical body active. A radio set in perfect order is dead without the soul, a
body, even in the best of form, is simply a mass of flees, bones and blood.
This life-energy is no mechanical: it is a conscious and dynamic energy, which
not only sustains but also regulates the whole human system. This
consciousness is sleeping in plants, walking in animals, but awakes in human
being. Therefore, of all the creation, human being is not only highly conscious
but also self-conscious. And, this distinctive characteristic enables human being
to satisfy his soul's sole and inherent yearning to realize its true identity, known
as Self-Realisation or God-Realisation. And, this is possible only in the human
life. As against the physical, it is the divine in human being, which is always free
of the physical bonds.
Let us now scan the main characteristics of the physical or the body, and to the
divine or the soul, in human being. We all know that whatever is physical or
material, is always finite, subject to change and ultimately perishes. While the
soul, being of the nature of the Supreme Soul, infinite, immutable and eternal; it
transcends all limitations. Further, the body has a form, but the soul is formless.
Again, the soul is not subject to physical laws, whereas the body is. This makes
it clear that what is very important is the soul, which are above all physical
limitations.
As already said, the soul's inherent quest is to realize its origin, the Supreme
Soul. Contrary to this, the demands of the body are material. Isn't it, therefore,
an irony that instead of realizing the Supreme Soul(Param Atma), we should
spend our entire life in material pursuits! We go a step farther and even make the
physical factors the very basis of dividing humanity into narrow sects, creeds,
faiths, etc., each claiming to be the only true and supreme one. The
impenetrable barriers rose due to the ignorance of the basic teachings of religion
are the real cause of mutual hatred, ill-will, jealousy, narrow-mindness, etc. Let
us examine the factors, which, for want of right perception, are eating into the
very vitals of the society, and how Universal Brotherhood can be promoted
through their rational understanding.
Material Possessions
At heart, almost everyone feels that material possessions are intrinsically
transitory. It is amazing, therefore, why in actual practice, human being is blindly
racing for their exclusive possession. This ravenous cracking brings forth
endless troubles, for there is no end to such a race. We all know that when we
get one thing, we aspire for another, and on getting the same, we crave for yet
another, and so on till the very end of our life. On the other hand, a human being
with a divine vision and wisdom takes everything, including his being. As a
sacred trust of the Supreme Master, who can take back any or all of these, at
any moment. Conscious of his obligations as a trustee, moreover fully alive to
the transient nature of these possessions. An enlightened being is neither puffed
up by their possession, nor their absence or deprivation makes him dejected.
Though he enjoys the bounties of God, as other do he is free from their
attachment. He, accordingly, faces every situation and its consequences, to the
best of his ability, not only cheerfully but also thankfully. He is not jealous of
those who are ahead of him in material prosperity. Similarly, he does not look
down upon those who are still lagging behind, rather he prays for their will-being
also. It inculcates in him an attitude of detachment and humility. Persons with
such a disposition rise above the distinction between high and low, rich and
poor, and contribute to the development of a harmonious society, free of
arrogance and hatred ill-will and jealousy.
Top
Race
Caste & Color
Diet & Dress
Normal Life
Religion
Scriptures
True Master
Key
Race
Racial prejudice is another factor responsible for the division of humanity,
though race merely denotes descendants of common ancestry. At times, such a
prejudice touched so high a pitch that it worked up passions, generated hatred
and, finally, sparked off bloody wars for the extinction of one race at the hands
of another. Some races considered people belonging to other races as inferior
beings, and assigned to themselves the sacred duty not only to exploit but also
subject them (other races) to social, political and even religious subjugation and
prosecution. History bears ample testimony to such a perverted mentality.
In our time, Adolf Hitler himself on being an Aryan and therefore considered
himself to be superior, destined to rule others! His brutal prosecution of the
Jews, on the count, robbed him of reason. Thus, he poisoned the German mind
with intense hatred for the Jews, dubbing them as not only inferior but also
despicable beings. The very word “Jew” became so hateful that no exception
was made even in the case of distinguished Jew scientists, philosophers,
scholars, theologians, literature, geniuses, medicos, musicians or artists. In such
an atmosphere, surcharged with bigotry, it was natural for the Germans to
consider extinction of the Jews as a sacred task. Accordingly, Hitler regimented
the Germans, the superior Aryans', and inflicted untold and inhuman sufferings,
miseries and tortures upon the innocent Jews, men, women and children, and
put millions of them to death. In the circumstances, what is not understood is,
how the German mind resolved the flaring contradiction between hatred and
prejudice for the inferior Jews’. On the one hand, and acceptance of Lord Jesus
Christ, a Jew and a symbol of peace and non-violence, as their prophet, on the
other.
It is really a matter of profound regret and misfortune that we should be
completely swayed by narrow racial prejudice and stoop so low as not to
perceive the human being in others. It is high time to pause and pose to
ourselves the questions:
- Is race a valid criterion for anyone to be considered and treated as an inferior
or superior beings?
-Is it not a fact that there have always been saints, sages, seers, messengers,
prophets, philosophers, thinkers, scholars and pioneers, in several fields,
belongings to different races, for whom the very word “race” is not only
meaningless but also repugnant?
Top
Material Possessions
Caste & Color
Diet & Dress
Normal Life
Religion
Scriptures
True Master
Key
Caste and Colour
Caste prejudice, which is quite common especially in the East, is responsible in
a big way for driving a wedge between human being and human being. Coming
to our sub-continent, caste prejudice has acquired such a firm hold on our mind
that there is a hierarchy of castes and sub-castes even amongst the people
professing the same religion. This, in turn, sets in motion a chain-reaction of
social and religious prejudices: the higher castes looking down upon the lower
ones and consequent mutual ill will and hated.
But the worst is, that caste prejudice has been responsible for reducing millions
of our brethern to sub-human level. They were denied social justice. In actual
practice, they had no human rites worth the name. Perhaps for this reason, they
were entrusted with all odd, menial and repugnant jobs, which the higher castes
would not even think of performing.
Saints like Namdev, a calico-printer, Ravidass, a cobbler, Sadana, a butcher,
kabir, a weaver, Valmiki, a dacoit and Sain, a barber, all belonging to the low
castes, occupy a place of honour in the religious realm: their psalms and hyms
are enshrined in the holy books and scriptures and are recited reverently and
sung devotional, yet persons of low castes in general were considered as
untouchable and treated as such even in the religious sphere, so much so that
their entry in the very Homes of God, places of worships was considered to be
A sacrilege. They were considered to have been destined to exist simple to
serve the higher castes and to suffer. On short, poverty and deprivation was
their 'food,' abuse their fruit, serving the higher castes their lot and suffering
their badge. What a pity!
It may come as a surprise, perhaps a rude shock, to some, that the caste
system, attributed to Sage Manu, was not what it is today. What Manu actually
enunciated was simply a classification of the people according to their
respective vocations. It was, thus, a purely vocational division, based on the
principle of division of labour, that is:
Brahman :Their field was science, medicine, education and other intellectual and
religious persist.
Kshatriya :They were ruling and warrior class, responsible for the maintenance
of law and order, and defence of the country.
Vaisha :They were a class of entrepreneurs, looking after agriculture, industry,
trade and commerce.
Shudras :This was the category of artisans, craftsmen, workers, etc., for serving
the society.
The sole aim of this division was, that according to one’s merits and
performance, one should be assigned a duty, for serving the society.
The sole aim of this division was that according to one’s merits and
performance, one should be assigned a duty, for which one was most suited, to
contribute one’s best for the general good of the society as a whole. Precisely,
for this very reason, according to Manu, a person born in a Shudra family, but
possessing talent, caliber and culture of Brahmana, Kshatriya or Vaisha could
be elevated as a Brahmana, a Kshatriya or Vaisha, as the case may be. Similarly,
a person born in a higher caste, but lacking the requisite capabilities of
Brahmana, Kshatriya or Vaisha, became a Shudra. It will be noteworthy here
that even in the same family, its members could belong to these four classes.
However, with the passage of time, the vested interests, who held privileged
positions, changed the very pattern of this classification and reduced it to the
prevailing caste system: birth, instead of worth, became the basis of one’s
caste, without any regard for one’s skill and talent. Gradually, it became an
irrevocable and watertight division, leading to mutual bickering, hatred, even
strife.
Position regarding colour prejudice is no less horrifying, though we very well
know that (human) complexion is beyond human control. The late victim of the
same was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Negro pacifist. It is an irony that the
sane and inspiring voice of the one, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for
Peace and Nehru Award for International Understanding for his dedication to
the cause of non-violence and human equality, who fought for human dignity
and self-respect, and brought about a new awakening among The neglected and
the oppressed, simply as a result of their complexion, kindling a fresh hope in
the hearts of millions of colored people, was silenced by a bullet. His
cold-blooded murder came as arid shock to all humanity. It was, infuse, a
murder of the conscience of humankind!
Is it not unfortunate that we do not pause and question ourselves:
- Is human being to be judged simply by the colour of his skin?
-Who has bestowed upon a person, with a particular complexion, the power to
arrogate to himself the right to treat others with different skin colour, with scorn
and contempt?
-Did not Ghalib and Tagore, the renowned poets, Paul Robinson, the golden
voice Negro singer, Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence, Lumumba, the patriot,
Ramanujam, the mathematician, Jagdish Chander Bose, the scientist, Aurobindo
Ghose, the Yogi, Buddha, the Compassionate, Vivekanand, the patriot-saint and
a galaxy of savants, saints' sages, seers, belong to colored races and yet left and
indelible imprint on human history?
-Does human being cease to be human being simply because he is born to
parents labeled as low caste, even though he be a great human being?
-Should one’s caste determine the type of treatment one deserves?
-Is it not a fact that the society’s existence as also its peace, progress and
prosperity, rest upon the corporate performance of its members, each
contributing his mite?
It is our daily experience to notice persons holding strong, rather inflexible
views, in matters regarding food. For instance, there are persons who will not
take anything that contains onion, but will be freely taking garlic. For others, the
very smell of garlic is repugnant, though onion may be an ingredient of their
daily diet. Even for some amongst the non-vegetarians, the meat of a certain
bird or animal, may be a social or religious taboo. Similar is the case concerning
hard and soft drinks. There are some who love to take coffee, whereas for
others the same is unsavory. Again, there are persons who crave for things
sweet, while others prefer salty ones. It would be all right if such preferences
and prejudices were confined to oneself, but the misfortune is that each
individual concedes his choice as the only right one. And, perhaps under such
an illusion, each is tempted as a matter of sacred duty, to impose the same upon
others for their good as if others are dumb driven cattle, whit no choice or
opinion of their own. Obviously, such a rigid attitude is sure to be resented and
reacted to by others, if not with more, atleast with equal vehemence. This in turn
creates mutual conflict tension and violence.
As in the case of diet, we also hold rigid views in matters of dress and life-style,
harbor prejudice and make others an object of ridicule. We even pour scorn
upon those who differ with us in their mode of living and dressing.
It hardly needs to be pointed out that our diet and mode of dressing and living
depend primarily upon geographical and climatic conditions, which differ,
sometimes quite sharply from region to region, even in the same country. This
explains the variation and varieties of crops produced even in the same region
or country. For example, wheat is produced in abundance in North India,
whereas in the South, the so in and climates are conducive for rice. As such, it
is natural that the people in the North to have wheat as their staple diet while
those in the South to take rice. This also explains the peasant surprise with
which we may be greeted if, while in Europe, we ask of water to drink, because
there, beer is usually served as a substitute for drinking water!
People living in cold regions, apart from requiring food rich in proteins also
need woolen clothes, while for those living in hot regions, cotton clothes and
food containing carbohydrates are ideally suited. In face, even amongst the
varieties that are available, what one actually eat drinks or wear, is purely a
matter of one’s choice and preference. Besides the same also depend upon
one’s constitution and temperament. Hence the proverb: What is meat for one
may be poison for another. Since these factors vary from place to place it is not
prudent to thrust our choice upon others, or even think that those who take a
particular type of dress, are doomed. Above all, such factors has nothing to do
with God-Realisation, which is the craving of the soul. Such a Realisation is
bound to remove much of the prevailing hatred and bitterness amongst different
people.
Normal Life
The vested interests, more especially the priestly class, have been able, through
centuries of preaching, to infuse in us a strong misgiving that God-Realisation is
not possible so long as one does not break the bondage of worldly affairs.
They further contend that the material world has no charm for the one who has
attained God-Realisation. In other words, one should give up one’s material
possessions and craving therefor and retire to far-off mountains, caves or
jungles, for the Realisation of God, though He is believed and pronounced to be
all-pervading, and, in support, they advance several arguments, and even give a
distorted Interpretation of the scriptures to suit their design. There is nothing
surprising in what they preach, because they very well understand how difficult,
may impossible, it is to renounce the material world, to which they themselves
cling fast! The innocent people, no doubt, derive a momentary satisfaction from
their sermons, but in their helplessness and self-pity, they resort to the next best
coarse, that is performance of rites and rituals, preached and prescribed, as a
means to God-Realisation. In this way, the vested interests achieve their aim to
strengthen their hold over the devotees and keep them yoked to the wheel of
rites and rituals, in the hope of God-Realisation, which actually remains a far cry
for them. What is strange is that we should become totally oblivious of the stark
fact that the Great Masters like Ram, Krishna, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed,
Nanak, Kabir and Ramakrishna, to name a few, whom we revere and accept as
our Spiritual Guides, were themselves householders, and Give the pride of place
to family life. Evidently, they never wanted us to become parasites, and thereby
be a burden on the society. On the other hand, we daily see the so-called saints
and sadhus, going around in the (material) world, which they are supposed to
have renounced for the sake of God-Realisation, and knocking at the doors of
the householders, whose life they described as low and impeding
God-realization!
If Saints Kabir, Ravidass and others could attain God-realization and, at the
same time, lead a normal life, why cannot we? Renunciation of the normal
(family) life in the name of God-Realisation, has been responsible for creating
an army of parasites and disrupting happy homes. Renunciation of family life,
as is generally advocated, can at best be a self-deception, but certainly not a
precondition for God-Realisation. Contrary to this, God-Realisation makes
human being an awakened being. Such a being does not shirk his domestic and
social duties and obligations, rather he discharge the same conscientiously with
a redoubled zeal.
Religion
In general, religion means faith in an unseen higher controlling power, coupled
with an upright moral and ethical conduct. Thus, religion has tow aspects: social
and spiritual. We cannot rule out variation in the social aspect, because it
depends upon several factors such as habits, customs, traditions, culture,
climatic and geographical conditions. This also explains the differences amongst
religion and, for that matter, the existence of a variety of ‘religions.'
However, this is not the case with the spiritual aspect, as it is directly related to
the spirit, which is the same in all human beings, without any distinction
whatsoever. It is in this sense that the true saints, seers, divine messengers and
prophets proclaim with one voice that there is but One God, One Race and One
Religion! As such, the cardinal objective of all religions is to inspire man to
translate his belief into realization of the One, i.e. the supreme, omnipresent,
omnipotent, omniscient, all-pervading, eternal, changeless and, above all,
formless God, and to lead a virtuous and pious life to Enjoy the supreme bliss,
as also to promote peace, amity and harmony. All scriptures teach that we are
children of the same Supreme Father and, therefore, should love, respect and
treat each other as equal, irrespective of whether one is high or low, rich or
poor, weak or strong, black or white, pious or sinner. No doubt, the religious
preachers also preach this gospel and the faithful profess the same, but they do
so more in theory than in practice.
Since various religions came into being at different times, the Great Masters of
the time, who introduced the seekers to the all-pervading God, also laid down
certain guidelines for fostering, no doubt, were in keeping with the local
environment and level of understanding of the people, yet the underlying
principle was universal in its appeal and application. However, in course of time,
the vested interests, who were devoid of the knowledge of the Divine, but at the
helm of affairs, reduced these guidelines to dogmas and made this the very
foundation of religion. The followers were required to adhere to the same rigidly
as a matter of faith. Therefore, there was not and, for that matter, there could
not be a dead uniformity amongst different religions. Even then, in essence, all
the religions are one, and so is the goal, that is Salvation. However, the irony is
that, in actual practice, appearance or maintenance of the body in a particular
fashion, or observance of set practices, without any regard to the fundamentals
of the religion one inherits’, is regarded as religion. Since conformity to the
physical pattern has become all-important, we feel gravely concerned and
agitated at any departure from the same. This, at times, even inflames communal
passions.
Religion has further been divided and sub-divided into sects and groups, and
reduced to set routines and practices rites and ritual, signs and symbols, yogic
feats, reading and recitation of the holy books and scriptures, worship of idols
and various manifestations of the creation, right from an ant to The sun, instead
of the Creator Himself. It will be noteworthy that every such routine is presented
as a means to God-Realisation, which can actually be attained only through the
True Master of the day; there is no substitute for God-Realisation. However,
rituals have taken such a strong hold of our mind that we have totally forgotten
God. What a Fall! That is why we act contrary to what is ordained and
preached in the scriptures. We consider ourselves superior simply because we
happen to belong to a particular religion, and make it the basis of our dealing
with others: we look down upon other faiths and treat their followers as inferior
beings. Consumed by the communal frenzy, we even hate people remembering
God by a different name. Such a negative approach and biased thinking are
responsible for mutual hated, tension, communal riots, religious crusades and
even wars, claiming countless precious human lives. Mass massacres of the
young and old, human beings, women, and children, witnessed in the wake of
the partition of India, are quite fresh in our memory. It was the direct result of
perverted communal mentality, putting a big question mark on religion, a matter
of grave concern and challenge to every human being of faith.
It is high time to realize that God being one and universal, cannot be aligned
with any particular religion, and that in the eyes of Divine Father, people of all
faiths as well as the atheists, are equal and alike and worthy of our love, respect
and regard. We should further remember that like us, others also love and revere
and religion they profess, and derive solace from the same. Therefore, if we are
true to our religion, it cannot, rather it should not infuse in us a sense of false
pride to look down upon other religions or harbor ill-will, malice, jealousy, etc.
For their followers or those who have no faith in religion. On the other, religion
should instill in us rationality instead of bigotry, understanding instead of
fanaticism, enabling us not only to distinguish but also sift religion form the
debris of crass superstitions, make-beliefs, rites and rituals, which in course of
time, have come to be regarded as the Religion by the devotees and presented
as such by the vested interests.
God-Realisation act as a cementing force, inspiring love, amity, fellow-feeling,
humility and self-abnegation, self-sacrifice and selfless service, and inspire us to
be compassionate, open-minded and large hearted enough to understand and
appreciate others view-points, as also to respect and honour all, whatever their
faith and belief may be.
Scriptures
There are several misconceptions about the scriptures, reverently called Holy
Books by human beings of faith. People appear to harbor a wrong and rigid
notion that the scriptures, which they revere and follow, are the only gospel
truth. The reason for such a biased attitude appears to be that, generally, either
they have not studied other scriptures, or they do not follow the spirit behind
the letter. This has been, indeed, one of the major causes for a great deal of
misunderstanding, leading to communal and racial tension between the followers
of different religious groups.
As a matter of fact, the scriptures are the written record of the Realisation and
personal mystic experiences of saints, sages, seers and prophets, which show
the path to attaining the same sublime state. These are compiled either during the
lifetime of the Great Masters, or after they have cast off their mortal coil. These
also, generally, enshrine a code of conduct for an upright liking and imbibing
ethical, moral and spiritual values.
There could not be an exact identity amongst different scriptures because, in the
first instance, the Enlightened Beings appeared at different circumstances and in
different situations. For this reason, they had to advance different arguments,
narrate different parables sight different similes, depending upon the level of
understanding of the people, their culture, habits, customs, traditions, beliefs,
local environment and geographical conditions, to convey the Message. As
such, one should not be swayed by the letter of the scriptures, but try to catch
and follow the spirit behind.
For example, we know that keeping a fast is beneficial for the mental and
physical health of a person. It may also be resorted to tide over food scarcity.
Again, it bestows upon one endurance to withstand and hunger when such an
occasion arises, as also the capacity to adapt oneself to local conditions. It also
provides an opportunity to introspect, to contemplate on the Supreme Creator
to bring ourselves close to the Divine, as also to dive deep into His creation to
unravel the mysteries of Nature for the benefit of humankind. Further, it is a
preliminary step to self-control to overcome human temptations and weaknesses
such as lust, anger, attachment, greed, pride, ill-will, jealousy and hatred. Above
all, one may keep fast as an act of penance, self-purification, self-elevation and
self-sublimation, or to experience the pangs of hunger to realize the sufferings of
those who have to go without food. This, in turn, inculcates in one humility and
moderation, and inspires one to be compassionate and charitable. But if one
does not regulate and sublimate one’s conduct and imbibe higher values, mere
fasting is of little avail. As such, all faiths eloquently exhort that keeping of a fast
is a means and not an end in itself. It is perhaps for this reason that the
Enlightened Beings were not rigid as to how such a fast should be broken. For
instance, to break the Ramzan fast, date was naturally chosen for the obvious
reason that it was the cheapest eatable in Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, though
anything like juice, or even plain water, could serve the purpose. However, in
India, due to wide varieties of soil and climatic conditions, water, which has
always been abundantly available and locally produced fruit, grain, etc., which
were within the reach of the common human being, were taken to break a fast.
Nevertheless, despite all such apparent differences, all the scriptures are
unanimous so far as the spirit behind fasting is concerned.
On the basis of our day-to-day experience we know, that similarity, if any, in
medical books, written by different authors, in different periods and even in
different languages, can be discerned only by a physician, for the simple reason
that he is the person, who is conversant with the medical science. Likewise, only
a God-realized being knows and can pronounce that not withstanding the
apparent differences, the spiritual essence of various scriptures is the same for
the simple reason that all this point to ONE. It is again for this reason that
God-realized beings never discriminate between one scripture and another.
Again, a non-medico may keep with him medical books and take utmost, rather
reverential care of the same, yet he cannot be benefited by these. A physician,
on the other hand, can take full advantage of such books for himself as well as
for others. So is the case with God-realized beings, who actually know and
follow the substance and essence of the scriptures, and are fully alive to the
truth that the scriptures are a means to realize Truth, but not Truth in
themselves. As such, they assert that not mere recitation or conventional
adoration, but an objective and thoughtful study of and, above all, living up to
their teachings, constitutes the real veneration of the scriptures and of the Great
Masters. It will, therefore, not be an exaggeration to say that persons with the
knowledge and Realisation of God, are the true adherents of the Holy Books.
True Master
The True Master or Satguru holds a pivotal position in the spiritual realm.
However, as in the case of scriptures, there is many a misconception about the
True Master also. It is therefore, imperative to know the true mark of a True
Master.
It is our daily experience, that people take a person in rags, or smeared with
ashes, or attired in a particular fashion, to be a saint. It is perhaps for this reason
that, at all times, there have been quite a large number of persons, posing
themselves as saints, messengers and prophets.
We well know that a person possessing medical knowledge is known as a
physician. For the patient it is only the knowledge that matters, whatever may be
the cast, colour, religion or nationality of the physician. However, if the
physician’s son is deficient in mathematics, his knowledge of medicine is of no
avail; he is unable to make up his son’s deficiency in mathematics. Again a
judge’s son can attain such a high position only if he acquires the legal
knowledge. The hallmark of a teacher, physician or a judge, therefore, is not his
attire, caste, colour or lineage, but his knowledge, which transcends all
limitations of status, colour, race and nationality. In fact, knowledge is the real
physician, the teacher, the judge or the True Master.
Since knowledge can be imparted and acquired through the medium of a
tangible or physical being, we identify knowledge with the apparent source, that
is, the physical being. This explains why we address Mr. peter, after he has
acquired the knowledge of medicine as Doctor Peter, and even after his death,
he is remembered as Doctor Peter.
From the foregoing discussion it is clear that the one, who is God-realized and
can bestow God-knowledge, is the Satguru or True Master. The seeker is
concerned with the knowledge, and not with the caste, colour, creed, race or
nationality of the True Master. By imparting God-knowledge, the True Master
makes the seeker realize his real self. This is a turning-point in his life, which
causes a radical change in his way of thinking and attitude towards life. He is
now blessed with a new awakening, a new vision. This in turn, brings poise,
peace and bliss to his disturbed and agitated mind.
As already discussed, human beings differ from one another in their diet, dress,
temperament, likes and dislikes, life-style, etc. In fact, these are one’s personal
concerns, as everyone desires to maintain his individuality. As such, there was
never, nor there shall over be a dead uniformity in such matters.
The True Master is fully alive to this fact. He accepts diversity as something
natural, so far as the life-style and culture of the people are concerned, but
firmly believes in the unity of the spirit. And, for a harmonious synthesis
between these two, the True Master adopts the path of golden mean and
fervently works for unity in diversity, as is the case with a musician, who
produces a sweet symphony out of different instruments, each emitting a
different note. Accordingly, the True Master knits together the flowers of
different shades, peculiar fragrances, diverse shapes and sizes, with the thread
of love, humility, tolerance and compassion, in an all- embracing necklace of
Brotherhood. Further, for the True Master, all saints, seers, sages, savants,
messengers and prophets are worthy of equal and deep reverence. Also, he
does not believe in religious conversion, but in spiritual transformation. And this
he brings about not through rites and rituals but through spiritual enlightenment,
by establishing a direct and abiding communion between the seeker the sought,
that is, God. This sounds to be a time-consuming process, but it is not so. We
all accept that
God is all-pervading and omnipresent. Therefore, as stated in all the holy books
and scriptures a mere hint by the True Master is sufficient to integrate the
aspirant with God. And from that very moment, one begins to perceive Him
here, there and everywhere! In reality, it is the hallmark of a True Master to
establish a direct and an abiding communion between the aspirant and the Lord.
It will be relevant to mention here that the people at large are enchanted more by
occult powers and miracles than by God-knowledge, and regard the former,
and not the latter, as the mark of a True Master.
Let us again go back to the example of the physician. Apparently, the cure is the
repute of the physician, but, in reality, it is his medical knowledge that is the real
power behind his medical miracles. The scriptures, especially the words of the
True Master of the day, always attach primary importance to the spiritual
Realisation, rather than to the physical miracles. Unless we appreciate the spirit
of the scriptures in this background, the letter may lead us astray.
There are people who worship a True Master as the Son of God. Here again
they seem to ignore the spiritual aspect. We all know that the Great Masters
bestowed spiritual Realisation upon the followers, and who so imbibed their
teachings, became a spiritual child. This how the spiritual progeny is born and
abides. It is in this sense that a spiritual child or True Master is known as the
Son of God.
Whenever God manifests Himself in a person in spirit ---- his real self----, he is
known as a Prophet or Messenger, or Saint, or True Master or Son of God. We
also call him God-incarnate. Here we should neither be scared of nor misled by
the word “incarnate." It simply means a human being as an embodiment of
divine attributes such as Love, Light and wisdom; Truth, Goodness and Beauty.
It is entirely a spiritual manifestation and not a physical transformation. He, no
doubt is a physical being like others, but has an expanded personality to
embrace all, regardless of caste, colour, creed, faith, past, antecedents, etc., for
his sole concern is the elevation and sublimation of the fellow-creatures. He is
an illumined mind. With the light of knowledge, he dispels the darkness of
ignorance, misconceptions, superstitions, dogmas, rites and rituals, and blesses
the devotees with the Holy communion or spiritual Awakening. Thus, he sets
free the devotees from such bondages, as also from the cycle or repeated births
and deaths. It is for this reason that the True Master is also called the
Bondage-breaker.
The True-Master is also known as the Divine Messenger. We all know that a
messenger is one who carries a message to the intended person. What is
important is the safe and correct delivery of the message and not the appearance
of the messenger or his diet, dress or culture. Similarly, one who conveys or
delivers the Divine Message is the Divine Messenger. Since the Divine is eternal,
it necessarily implies that the Divine Message is also eternal, and so is the Divine
Messenger or the True Master, manifesting at different times and in different
places, to convey the Divine Message.
Key
By now it will be amply clear that factors such as material possessions, diet,
dress, mode of living, caste, colour, creed, race, nationality, etc. Have been
responsible for generating false pride, malice, hatred, jealousy, ill-will, tension,
strife and even bloodshed. Also, we have seen that when dispassionately and
objectively analyzed, these factors are, in reality, not divisive factors, but these
do become divisive and breed antagonism when we fail to exercise restraint and
tolerance or when we consider only the physical aspect of human being.
Swayed by such factors, we totally forget that neither there was nor there can be
a dead uniformity in such matters even amongst members in the same family,
not to speak of humankind as a whole. We further forget that had God Almigthy
so wished, in the entire world, there would have been only one type of soil,
climate, produce and food, as also people with the same likes and dislikes,
temperament, perception complexion, size and even one religion or faith. The
very fact that in the creation there are countless varieties in every sphere, should
bring home the truth that dead uniformity was never ordained, nor even intended
by the Supreme Lord. Should we, therefore, not pose to ourselves the vital
question: Is human being, an insignificant creature, mightier than the Almighty
God to undo what He has ordained? Obviously, the answer is ‘No.' However,
in view of the divisive and destructive role played by such factors, we are
confronted with yet another pertinent question: Is humanity doomed to
disintegration at the hands of such factors? The answer is again ’No.' Because
human being is not what he appears to be: he is not a mere physical entity; there
is also the divine in human being--spirit----, which is much more vital than the
physical. This in fact, is the real human being. It is this human being which is
said to be the image of God. The moment one sees this human being a
transmutation takes place in one’s perception: human being no longer remains a
finite individual; identifying himself with the Universal Father, he evolves into a
universal being, a member of the universal family. Accordingly, his physical
form, along with all its attributes, pales into insignificance, and he is sublimated
into a spirit, that he really is! This is spirituality, pure and simple.
All that is required to be done is that we should see this human being. this
consummation is possible only when we are directly introduced to the Supreme
Father the all-pervading Formless, through the benevolence and grace of the
True Master of the day, regardless of our caste, colour, creed, religion,
antecedent, diet, dress, language, status, community, race Nationality and the
sort.
To our great good luck, Sant Nirankari Mission, under the divine and benign
guidance of the Nirankari Baba, is dedicated to this noble and sacred task of
disseminating knowledge of the omnipresent, all pervading and formless god,
and fostering unity in diversity- the key to universal brotherhood. To this end,
the Mission has also propounded five rational tenets, which may be stated as
follows:
* All assets, physical, mental and material, are gifts and trust of God and should
be regarded as such.
* Caste, colour or creed should not be a cause for pride, arrogance and egoism.
* Diet, dress and life-style should not be a cause of hatred and intolerance.
* One should lead a household and self-reliant life, discharging one’s
responsibilities.
* Not to divulge God-knowledge without the explicit permission of the True
Master.