Guru Is the Greatest Giver. {243.}

Guru Is the Greatest Giver. {243.}
****

“My mind, my mind the True Guru
has blessed it with love ...
The Name of the Lord,
dwells within my mind;
it is the Destroyer of all pain.
By great good fortune, I have obtained
the Blessed Vision of the Guru’s Darshan;
blessed, blessed is my True Guru.
While standing up and sitting down,
I serve the True Guru; serving Him,
I have found peace and tranquility.
My mind, my mind the True Guru
has blessed it with love.
I live, I live, and I blossom forth,
beholding the True Guru....
He has implanted the Name of the Lord within me;
chanting the Name of the Lord, ...
the heart-lotus blossoms forth,
and through the Name of the Lord,
I have obtained the nine treasures.
The disease of egotism has been eradicated,
suffering has been eliminated, and I have
entered the Lord’s state of celestial Samadhi.
I have obtained the glorious greatness of
the Name of the Lord from the True Guru;
beholding the Divine True Guru,
my mind is at peace....
Cutting my mind and body apart,
cutting them into pieces,
I offer these to the one,
who recites to me
the Words of the True Guru.
My mind has become disillusioned
and renounced the world;
obtaining the Blessed Vision of the Guru’s Darshan,
it has found peace....
If only someone would come,...
and lead me to meet my Perfect True Guru.
A Giver as great as the Guru,...
I cannot see any other.
He blesses me with the gift of the Lord’s Name,...
those very fortunate ones meet Him;
their minds are attached to the Guru’s Feet.
Says Nanak, the Lord Himself causes us to meet the Guru;
meeting the Almighty True Guru, peace is obtained.”

---- Guru Nanak Dev; The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Guru’s Sanctuary Grants one Consummation. {236.}

Guru’s Sanctuary Grants one Consummation. {236.}
****

“I bow in reverence to the Lord, I bow in reverence.
I sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, my King.
By great good fortune, one meets the Divine Guru.
Millions of sins are erased by serving the Lord.
One whose mind is imbued with the Lord’s lotus feet
is not afflicted by the fire of sorrow.
He crosses over the world-ocean in the Saadh Sangat,
the Company of the Holy.
He chants the Name of the Fearless Lord,
and is imbued with the Lord’s Love.
One who does not steal the wealth of others,
who does not commit evil deeds or sinful acts,
the Messenger of Death does not even approach him.
God Himself quenches the fires of desire.
O Nanak, in God’s Sanctuary, one is saved.

---- Guru Nanak Dev; The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Beneficial Company of the Holy. {222.}

Beneficial Company of the Holy. {222.}
****

“The Lord and Master destroys the pain of the poor;
He preserves and protects the honor of His servants.
The Lord is the ship to carry us across;
He is the treasure of virtue; pain cannot touch Him.
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy,
meditate, vibrate upon the Lord of the world.
I cannot think of any other way; make this effort,
and make it in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga.
In the beginning, and in the end,
there is none other than the perfect, merciful Lord.
The cycle of birth and death is ended,
chanting the Lord’s Name,
and remembering the Lord Master in meditation.
The Vedas, the Smritis, the Shastras
and the Lord’s devotees contemplate Him;
liberation is attained in the Saadh Sangat,
the Company of the Holy,
and the darkness of ignorance is dispelled.
The lotus feet of the Lord
are the support of His humble servants.
They are their only capital and investment.
The True Lord is Nanak’s strength, honor and support;
He alone is his protection.”

---- Guru Nanak Dev; The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Lord’s Embrace Scares Death Away. {215.}

Lord’s Embrace Scares Death Away. {215.}
****

“The Lord is always with me.
The Messenger of Death does not approach me.
God holds me close in His embrace,
and protects me.
True are the Teachings of the True Guru.
The Perfect Guru has done it perfectly.
He has beaten and driven off my enemies,
and given me, His slave,
the sublime understanding of the neutral mind.
God has blessed all places with prosperity.
I have returned again safe and sound.
Nanak has entered God’s Sanctuary.
It has eradicated all disease.”

---- Guru Nanak Dev; The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Chant Name for Divine Elixir. {208.}

Chant Name for Divine Elixir. {208.}
****

“Wash the vessel, sit down and anoint it with fragrance;
then, go out and get the milk.
Add the rennet of clear consciousness to the milk of good deeds,
and then, free of desire, let it curdle.
Chant the Name of the One Lord.
All other actions are fruitless.
Let your mind be the handles,
and then churn it, without sleeping.
If you chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord,
with your tongue, then the curd will be churned.
In this way, the Ambrosial Nectar is obtained.
Wash your mind in the pool of Truth,
and let it be the vessel of the Lord;
let this be your offering to please Him.
That humble servant who dedicates and offers his life,
and who serves in this way,
remains absorbed in his Lord and Master.
The speakers speak and speak and speak,
and then they depart.
There is no other to compare with You.
Servant Nanak, lacking devotion, humbly prays:
may I sing the Praises of the True Lord.”

---- Guru Nanak Dev; The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Become True Warrior & Conqueror. {201.}

Become True Warrior & Conqueror. {201.}
****

“He alone is called a warrior,
who is attached to the Lord’s Love in this age.
Through the Perfect True Guru, he conquers his own soul,
and then everything comes under his control.
Sing the Praises of the Lord and Master,
with the love of your soul.
Those who seek His Sanctuary,
and meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord,
are blended with the Lord in celestial peace.
The feet of the Lord’s humble servant abide in my heart;
with them, my body is made pure.
O treasure of mercy, please bless Nanak
with the dust of the feet of Your humble servants;
this alone brings peace.”

---- Guru Nanak Dev; The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Transitory Relationships & Worldly Possessions. {187.}

Transitory Relationships & Worldly Possessions. {187.}
****

“Does anyone know, who is our friend in this world?
He alone understands this, whom the Lord blesses with His Mercy.
Immaculate and unstained is his way of life.
Mother, father, spouse, children, relatives, lovers, friends and siblings meet,
having been associated in previous lives;
but none of them will be your companion and support in the end.
Pearl necklaces, gold, rubies and diamonds please the mind,
but they are only Maya.
Possessing them, one passes his life in agony;
one obtains no contentment from them.
Elephants, chariots, horses as fast as the wind,
wealth, land, and armies of four kinds,
none of these will go with one;
one must get up and depart, naked.
The Lord’s Saints are the beloved lovers of God;
sing of the Lord with them.
O Nanak, in the Society of the Saints,
you shall obtain peace in this world,
and in the next world,
your face shall be radiant and bright.”

---- Guru Nanak Dev; The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Meditation Leads to Eternal Bliss. {173.}

Meditation Leads to Eternal Bliss. {173.}
****

“My tongue sings the Praises of the Lord of the world, the ocean of virtue.
Peace, tranquility, poise and delight well up in my mind, and all sorrows run away.
Whatever I ask for, I receive; I serve at the Lord’s feet, the source of nectar.
I am released from the bondage of birth and death,
and so I cross over the terrifying world-ocean.
Searching and seeking, I have come to understand the essence of reality;
the slave of the Lord of the Universe is dedicated to Him.
If you desire eternal bliss, O Nanak, ever remember the Lord in meditation.”

---- The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Pure Devotion Leads to Fulfillment. {166.}

Pure Devotion Leads to Fulfillment. {166.}
****

“I meditated on my Guru.
I met with Him, and returned home in joy.
This is the glorious greatness of the Naam.
Its value cannot be estimated.
O Saints, worship and adore the Lord …
Worship the Lord in adoration,
and you shall obtain everything;
your affairs shall all be resolved.
He alone is attached in loving devotion to God,
who realizes his great destiny.
Servant Nanak meditates on the Naam,
the Name of the Lord.
He obtains the rewards of all joys and peace.”

---- The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Benefits of Meditating on God. {159.}

Benefits of Meditating on God. {159.}
****

“When the Lord God shows His Kindness, O Nanak,
one is no longer engrossed in Maya.
The burning fire has been put out;
God Himself has saved me.
Meditate on that God, O Nanak,
who created the universe.
When God becomes merciful,
Maya does not cling.
Millions of sins are eliminated,
by meditating on the Naam,
the Name of the One Lord.
The body is made immaculate and pure,
bathing in the dust of the feet of the Lord’s humble servants.
The mind and body become contented,
finding the Perfect Lord God.
One is saved, along with his family,
and all his ancestors.”

---- The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Cut the Noose of Death. {152.}

Cut the Noose of Death. {152.}
****

“The noose of Death is cut, and one’s wanderings cease;
victory is obtained, when one conquers his own mind.
O Nanak, eternal stability is obtained from the Guru,
and one’s day-to-day wanderings cease.
After wandering and wandering for so long, you have come;
in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga,
you have obtained this human body,
so very difficult to obtain.
This opportunity shall not come into your hands again.
So chant the Naam, the Name of the Lord,
and the noose of Death shall be cut away.
You shall not have to come and go
in reincarnation over and over again,
if you chant and meditate on the One and Only Lord.
Shower Your Mercy, O God, Creator Lord,
and unite poor Nanak with Yourself.”

---- The Guru Granth Sahib; Raag Gauree, 108:38.
****

The Sheer Joys of Gurubhakti. {145.}

The Sheer Joys of Gurubhakti. {145.}
****

“I sacrifice everything for Him.
Twenty-four hours a day,
sing the Glorious Praises
of the Lord of the Universe.
Do not forget Him,
for even one breath.
He is a companion, a friend,
and a beloved of mine,
who reflects upon the Lord’s Name,
in the Company of the Holy.
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy,
cross over the world-ocean,
and the noose of death shall be cut away.
The four cardinal blessings are obtained
by serving the Lord.
The Elysian Tree, the source of all blessings,
is meditation on the Unseen and Unknowable Lord.
The Guru has cut out the sinful mistakes
of sexual desire and anger,
and my hopes have been fulfilled.
That mortal who is blessed by perfect destiny meets the Lord,
the Sustainer of the Universe, in the Company of the Holy.
O Nanak, if the Naam, the Name of the Lord,
dwells within the mind,
one is approved and accepted,
whether he is a householder or a renunciate.”

---- The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

Grace Works Umpteen Wonders Spontaneously. {138.}

Grace Works Umpteen Wonders Spontaneously. {138.}
****

“Millions of silent sages dwell in silence.
Our Eternal, Imperishable, Incomprehensible Lord and Master,
the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts, is permeating all hearts.
Wherever I look, I see Your Dwelling, O Lord.
The Guru has blessed Nanak with enlightenment.
The True Guru has blessed me with this gift.
He has given me the Priceless Jewel of the Lord’s Name.
Now, I intuitively enjoy endless pleasures and wondrous play.
God has spontaneously met with Nanak.
Says Nanak, True is the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praise.
Again and again, my mind remains immersed in it.
Spontaneously, I feed on the Love of God.
Spontaneously, I take God’s Name.
Spontaneously, I am saved by the Word of the Shabad.
Spontaneously, my treasures are filled to overflowing.
Spontaneously, my works are perfectly accomplished.
Spontaneously, I am rid of sorrow.
Spontaneously, my enemies have become friends.
Spontaneously, I have brought my mind under control.
Spontaneously, God has comforted me.
Spontaneously, my hopes have been fulfilled.
Spontaneously, I have totally realized the essence of reality.
Spontaneously, I have been blessed with the Guru’s Mantra.
Spontaneously, I am rid of hatred.
Spontaneously, my darkness has been dispelled.
Spontaneously, the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praise
seems so sweet to my mind.
Spontaneously, I behold God in each and every heart.”

---- The Guru Granth Sahib; Raag Bhairao, Part 033, 1538-1563.
****

The Unique Importance of Dayalbagh. {120.}

****

When God Compassionately Incarnates on earth, obviously He shall have only one sacred human Form.

When God decides that, for the sake of the uninterrupted & speedy progress of His most glorious Mission of universal salvation, He would Continue His Role through an intergenerational lineage of Param Gurus, even under such circumstances, obviously the Incarnated Divine Current can exist only in one blessed Form at the same time.

It has been the bane of almost every major religion down the ages to have been divided into sects; Hinayana & Mahayana Buddhism, Catholicism & Protestantism, Sunni & Shia Muslims, & others. The son of Guru Nanak Dev had set himself up as the next Guru after the quitting of mortal frame by his exalted father. Indeed, there are reported to be not merely a few, or even hundreds, but thousands and millions of splinter groups of several major religions. In such a bewildering scenario, a genuine seeker of God can well be expected to get thoroughly confused, and all but throw up her hands in perplexity, and in despair, give up seeking God altogether!

Unfortunately, the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh has also seen a few misguided, damned, sinful & punishable rival offshoots sprouting up. A few of these have already withered up & the others are headed that way.

Dayalbagh is the reservoir of love and Grace for all humanity. It is a pity that matters take courses that could neither have been ordained by the Supreme Lord, nor can possibly lead to people’s welfare. Dayalbagh has little need to rival any offshoot in attracting souls for salvation, and none at all to battle any part of God’s creation. Dayalbagh is in a class of its own and way beyond the petty and dirty shenanigans that any other religion or offshoot might need to resort to.

Indeed, let a thousand flowers {and cacti and weeds} bloom at the same time. Let those who choose to be misguided, follow the paths to their own virtual doom. And let the divine fragrance of the sacred Tree beckon all deserving souls into its redemptive shade!

Is it not obvious that a divine Incarnation can have only one human Form at any particular time? The one Param Guru of Dayalbagh is the true Grand Master of Radhasoami religion. It is Radhasoami Dayal’s incontrovertible Decree that only those devotees who seek Him through His Chosen Agency of the Param Guru of Dayalbagh can be permitted access to Him, & subsequently redemption.

All the other offshoots & their followers have made a grievous & suicidal error, committed the grave sin of rejecting Radhasoami Dayal’s Sent Avatar Swaroop or Incarnated Form, permanently injured their own chances & hopes of salvation, & earned punishment as their desserts.

Dayalbagh is today the exclusive repository of the most glorious Nij Dhar or the Incarnated Divine Current. No other religion or fake offshoot of even the Radhasoami religion can deliver. The Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh does not require others’ belief per se, because it has Truth & Grace & Law & destiny on its side. However, any human soul really wishing her or his welfare & salvation will have to choose rightly.

No miracle will normally be performed as proof of the exclusive Divinity Functioning in Dayalbagh. You are to believe in the Param Guru of Dayalbagh. You are to want & need to believe in the Param Guru of Dayalbagh. This is the first crucial test that everyone has to pass.

That said, what might constitute a ‘miracle’ for a human, with her limited sense organs of perception, and restricted powers of comprehension, may be perfectly natural in the cosmic play of life. Miracles may perhaps be toffee to God!

Every divine Incarnation and Prophet has invariably been associated with miracles. I am not asserting that all such miracles were real, nor am I refuting the possibility of the occurrence of miracles altogether. My simple contention is that the divine is itself miraculous. It’s no big deal – to put it colloquially -- if miracles attend messiahs; indeed, it would be surprising if they did not. Hence, if sincere devotees expect miracles in their right faith, Grace can certainly cause miracles to occur!

It would perhaps be wonderful if God appeared on earth, claiming to be God, and humanity could say, “Prove yourself, Messiah!” If God were to wave a finger up at the sun and whisper, “Fade away, sun!”, causing instant solar eclipse, almost overnight humanity might be enabled belief, desire for redemption, and following of the new religion. However, that is not how things work out.

Yet, a cursory reflection on history ought to convince any objective person about the reality of the divine dimension to existence, the recurring descents from the heavens for humanity’s welfare, and the beneficial impact of such forces in the world. It is humbling to realize that we are today in the midst of just such an awesome and historical process, with the potential of incalculable welfare for all believing humans on earth.

So, it is vital that one conducts oneself with grave responsibility & caution, & choose rightly in one’s own self-interest, & for the sake of one’s own redemption. The point is not a juvenile quarrelling among one another over whose god is greater, or whose beliefs are right, but of earnestly seeking the truth, receiving it, and acting upon it rightly. Hasn’t humanity had enough of hatred and terrorism over religious matters by now? Let’s remember that the fundamental values involved are God, love, Grace, peace and redemption. Life doesn’t offer a “retake”! Remember that the Supreme Godhead Radhasoami Dayal Is every moment Aware of every living being’s every thought & deed, & it shall all finally count in how your destiny unfolds.

I may conclude this with Goethe’s following lines from Faust:

“For he who is unceasing in his striving
Is ours for his redeeming.”
****

Note: This is drawn from and inspired by the scriptures, practices & teachings of the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh.

Karmas: Good, Bad & Effects. {47.}

Karmas: Good, Bad & Effects. {47.}
****

"You unite me with Yourself, O True God.
Through perfect good karma, You are obtained."
"Those who act in ego do not go beyond karma.
It is only by Guru's Grace that one is rid of ego."
"Through the perfect karma of good deeds,
one meets the Perfect Guru, whose speech is perfect."
"According to the karma of past actions, one's destiny unfolds,
even though everyone wants to be so lucky."
"Those who were pre-ordained to have no good karma at all:
gazing into the lamp of emotional attachment,
they are burnt, like moths in a flame."
"Those blessed with the karma of good actions praise the Lord.
O Nanak, they make the Guru their spiritual teacher.
In the fourth watch of the early morning hours,
a longing arises in their higher consciousness.
They are attuned to the river of life;
the True Name is in their minds and on their lips."
"Whatever pleases You is a pure action of karma."
"As she has planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of karma."
"When good karma dawns, the wall of doubt is torn down."
"With good karmas or actions,
some come to serve the Perfect Guru."
"Born because of the karma of their past mistakes,
they make more mistakes, and fall into mistakes."
"Without the karma of good deeds,
they are only destroying themselves."

---- The Guru Granth Sahib.
****

The Lord’s Command Governs Existence. {5.}

The Lord’s Command Governs Existence. {5.}
****

“By His Hukum or Command, all are created.
By His Command, actions are performed.
By His Command, all are subject to death;
by His Command, they merge in Truth.
O Nanak, whatever pleases His Will comes to pass.
Nothing is in the hands of these beings.”

---- The Guru Granth Sahib; Guru Nanak Dev; Ashtapadiyan or Octets, Siree Raag, 8:4.
****