-By: S.S.Bassan, P.Eng., President, Sant Nirankari Mission, Canada

This planet called "earth" is only tiny creation in the entire vast and limitless universe. Human beings are scattered all over the surface of the earth. The population of human beings in this world currently stands at a few billion and is ever increasing. Humans are pre-occupied with different objectives in their lives, with only a small fraction of the population paying attention towards fulfilling the principal aim of life.

There is nothing new in this kind of attitude as this has always been the case since beginning of human history. Those who wish to pursue this lofty aim of human life will have to take the next step and that is to find a True Guide. This search for locating such a personality is by no means an easy task. The seeker is bound to encounter mountains of ignorance, mass confusion and persistent denials from all corners, to prove that such a Guide can exist at this time. People claim to sing praises of the past Messengers, yet do not want to follow their lofty teachings.

The Holy scriptures clearly explain that God-realization is not possible unless we meet a True Guide in our lifetime and that such a Messenger is always present in this world in human form. The statement is a basic divine principle.

I should be always grateful to Almighty that He blessed me with a golden opportunity of having the human birth at the time when a True Guide in the person of Baba Hardev Singh Ji is present in this world. A clear message that "God-realization is possible" is being very humbly conveyed to al human beings through a spiritual movement, known as "The Sant Nirankari Mandal".

In normal course of worldly dealings in every day life, we feel obliged to someone who did something for us and wish to convey our feelings of gratitude in this regard. Let us take a few examples. A person was drowning in a lake and just as he was going to take his last breath, he was suddenly pulled out of the water by a passerby and saved. Naturally the drowning person is always going to be grateful to this passerby. Someone lost in a vast dense forest, will always be grateful to a person who shows up at this desperate time and gives direction to his destination.

Similarly, in search of the Supreme Knowledge, a sincere person may have to knock on many doors, until finally with the grace of God, this seeker comes across a friend who had already found a True messenger in person. The seeker will now be able to realize God with the divine blessings of this Holy personality. We should always show utmost respect and reverence to such a friend. In may particular case, I will always be grateful to my aunt Mata Atma Kaur Ji and Rev. Jagir Singh Ji (Bilaspur, India) who, in October 1957, guided me to reach unto the lotus feet of Shahenshah Baba Avtar Singh Ji (successor to the Founder of the Sant Nirankari Mission, Baba Buta Singh Ji) for receiving the divine knowledge and later on enabled me to be a recipient of showers of numerous gracious blessings of Satguru Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji and at present Satguru Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj.

In the chain of process leading up to the deliverance of soul from shackles of births and deaths, the role of the True Master is of supreme importance. When a seeker bumbly approaches the True Master for God-realization, the knowledge (Brahm Gyan) is imparted instantly. The seeker’s mind is enlightened with divine wisdom and the soul, after experiencing millions of years of separation due to sheer ignorance, now finds peace and harmony in communion with the Almighty, all pervading, everlasting, one and only one Formless God, also commonly called "Nirankar". Such a Messenger of the absolute truth and fountainhead of divine knowledge can be called by any name, such as "True Master", "True Saint", "Prophet", "Sage", "Seer" or even "a Wise Friend".

A True master guides his followers to lead pious and peaceful life in all situations and worship God with every breath. This has always been the teaching of all past True Master as written in the Holy Scriptures.

It is worth mentioning that every spoken word and action of such a Holy personality is directed toward improving the spiritual and worldly well being of all human beings. He is not here to create a new religion or a separate sect, but instead wants to enlighten our minds by explaining the relationship of soul (child) to the Oversoul (Father Almighty), thereby endeavoring to create an environment where better mutual understanding, harmony, peace and love among all human beings in this world can flourish. The underlying secret to unity among otherwise different and diverse humans is the common soul and its relationship with the oversoul. It is for this reason that "Sant Nirankari Mission" is also known as "universal Brotherhood Mission".

At time, you will find yourself in a situation, when you cannot count on words to convey your feelings. This is what happens to me when I try to find words of gratefulness to the Nirankari Baba for imparting me the divine vision and wisdom to perceive the Creator and the entire creation in true perspective. Today, every moment of His Holiness, along with Her Holiness Mata Swinder Ji and Most Rev. Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji, is dedicated to the propagation of the noble cause of Universal Brotherhood in this world. I wish and pray that we all could be of service to the Master in any shape or form.

All human beings in this world are meant to serve one and other in some form. We cannot live in seclusion, we have to meet and perform our moral obligations, duties and responsibilities to our families and to society at large. The True Master, himself a family man, discharges these actions as a model human being and sets an example for others.

Just as doctors, engineers, accountants, scientists and teachers perform their various respective public duties, but keep in touch with their fellow professionals through personal contacts, periodicals and associations to maintain their competence, in the same way enlightened souls should keep the company of and congregate with holy persons, to maintain a blissful state of mind.

Selfless Service

Any service performed with a selfish motive is not a true service and is more like paid labour. Such an action will not result in a happy state of mind. The hallmark of a truly saintly person is the pleasure he or she derives with selfless service performed according to the wishes of the True Master.

With the grace of god and inspiration given by my grandmother Mata Santi Ji right from birth, I was always greatly fascinated by reading about the past Prophets and their disciples. The inspiration which I received from their pious lives soon turned into disappointment because I was not born in their times and thus not able to receive their blessings in person. I used to question the God Almighty for not giving me such an opportunity in the past.

Finally, my prayers were heard when, in 1957, I met the True Master of that time, who with his divine grace helped me realize God. Now, my mind is at peace with all pervading ‘Nirankar’ and is fully convinced that the knowledge I received is the most supreme and there is nothing more to know beyond this.

An Ideal Disciple

Needless to say, it is the wish of every sincere student to excel in the class, for every player to win the game and for every devoted child to be the darling of the father. In the same way, a disciple of divine science would aim to be dear to the True Master. The traits of such a disciple are summarized in the following words from the Holy Gita:

"He who is free from malice towards all beings, friendly and compassionate, rid of ‘I’ and ‘mine’, balanced in joy and sorrow, forgiving by nature, ever-contented and mentally united with Me, nay, who has subdued his mind, senses and body has a firm resolve, and has surrendered his mind and reason to me, that devotee of Mine is dear to Me."

To be able to perform these actions, I would request the readers to follow and practise in life that five principles of the Sant Nirankari Mission, in conjunction with the Remembrance of God (Simran), Selfless Service (Sewa) and Congregation (Satgang). The principles are:

1. All the physical, mental and material possessions of the human being belong ultimately to God. If the human being uses the same as trustee and remembers God he or she shall derive happiness.

2. Not to be proud of one’s caste, colour and creed and not to hate others on this account.

3. Not to hate or criticise others on account of their diet and dress, declaring one’s own as superior and pride-worthy.

4. Not to leave one’s hearth and home and become vagrant, recluse or ascetic for the realisation of God, but lead normal family life without becoming a burden on others.

5. Not to deviate from and divulge to others the divine knowledge, as revealed by the True Master, without a word from him.

Humble Prayer

Any human being, who has read this article, will be able to conclude that with the grace of Almighty, a True Messenger in the person of Satguru Baba Hardev Singh Ji is present among us, and thus God-realization is possible just by mere asking. While striving for material and spiritual well being of all the inhabitants of this beautiful planet, it is my humble prayer that everybody will be able to fulfil the principal aim of human life by realizing God and living in peace, harmony and bliss.

"Saints should not simply wish well for others, rather prove by their practical deeds and actions. As fire gives light, water coolness, saints should naturally strive for the greatest good of humanity."
                                                                                                                    -Baba Hardev Singh