By: R. Minocha (Canada)

 Scriptures tell us that man is the superior most creature/species on the surface of the planet we call the Earth:

Man is the lord of the earth,

Other species are meant to serve him.

In other words, man is the crown creature. Is he?

Long time ago, there was news that biologists raised a baby in isolation who, as a consequence, grew up deaf and dumb. I had also read in the newspaper The Toronto Sun of November 8, 1990, that in Johannesburg, South Africa, a 2-year old boy was forced to live most of his life in a kennel with his bark and whimper and his hands became curved like paws.

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the world -renowned philosopher-statesman, writes:

"There is an ever aspiring movement from one stage to another – from minerals to plants, from plants to animals, from animals to human beings and from human beings to God in man."

Holy Bible, too says: ‘God created man in His own image.’ Yet, it is amazing that the same man grows up to be deaf and dumb or to bark and whimper with his hands curved like paws. These are only the physical aspects. The most important aspect of man’s life is his behaviour: he is an animal in the garb of a human. If we turn the pages of history, we will find that the people for no or very little reasons have killed countless people.

When God created man, He knew this could, rather would happen. That is why He has been descending as Avtaras. Defining an Avtara, Dr. Radhakrishanan says:

"Avtara means descent, who has descended,’’

And,

"The Divine comes down to the earthly planet to raise it to a higher status."

He further say:

"The purpose of the Avtara is to inaugurate a new world, a new dharma. By teaching and personal example, the Avtara shows how a human being can raise himself to a higher grade of life."

In Gita(IV:7), it is said:

"Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and rise of unrighteousness, O Bharata (Arjuna), then I send forth (create incarnate) Myself."

May it be so or because the scriptures say it so. However, in my humble opinion, the fact is that mankind needs an Avtara at all times. Today, don’t we see the decline of dharma or righteousness? News published in the newspapers or broadcast from the television and radio shed plenty of light on this aspect. As already said, man’s becoming deaf and dumb, barking and whimpering and his hands getting curved like paws, are only physical aspect. What is most agonising is man’s behaviour like an animal. Only constant communion with God, living up to the divine tenets and imbibing noble sentiments of love, compassion, care and the spirits of selfless service can bring about a change in his behaviour. And for this, God-realisation is an imperative prerequisite, which, in turn, is possible by the grace of the Avtara or True Master of the day. That is why mankind needs Avtaras or True Masters all the times. Such a one alone can "advance him (man) from human being to God in man." It is rightly said:

In no time an Avtara transforms humans into gods.

Rev. R. Imman once said:

"A great teacher never strives to explain his vision. He simply invites you to stand beside him and see for yourself."

This is what today Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh Ji is doing. He does not merely preach God but also bestows God-knowledge upon every earnest seeker and teaches by his personal example. This is the sure way one can imbibe love, care, compassion and the spirit of selfless service and contribute towards making this world a better place to live in.

Today’s mankind, in general, and the devotees, who have taken refuge under Baba’s wings, in particular, are lucky, nay blessed. Expressing my gratitude to the Baba for his benevolence, I pray in the words of Rev.Banwari Lal:

This world is a fair,

Lord, hold my finger,

Lest I should be lost in it.