PREFACE
Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj, Head of the Sant Nirankari Mission is giving a clarion call to the mankind. This is a universal message, which is touching and penetrating into each and every human heart. Everybody who listens to this message incorporates this message into his life.
A mundane person is involved in the drudgeries of life for materialistic gains which holy scriptures term as inferior and not worth wasting all our efforts on. Sadly, man breathes his last without accomplishing his real task because his unending desires for materialistic things always keep pushing the limit of his accomplishment. A question arises: “Is this the achievement of human life?” Even the brilliant intellectual brains have not treaded beyond the three-dimensional targets – intellectual, mental and psychological spheres.
Intellectually and spiritually, seers and sages have carried out research in the field of life and came out with flying colours. According to them, the aim and the target of human life are beyond the three dimensions. Certainly, man has to attain something greater and beyond these three dimensions.
One thing has always been irking human mind – Why am I restless? Why am I not getting peace despite making material gains and enjoying the comforts of human life? A conclusion has been drawn by saints and sages that man is not “body, mind and possessions” but a soul – a drop. Existence of the body is dependant on the continuous supply of five constituents – earth, air, fire, water and ether (Aakash) and disconnection with any of these results in death. Similarly, man has consciousness, which we call soul – the sustaining power of the body. If the mind does not have communion with the source of being, then it results in ignorance, frustration, fear, restlessness, unhappiness, sorrow, pride and prejudice, hatred and arrogance, and all the evils that have been mentioned in scriptures.
In the present era, His Holiness Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj has come out with a solution for this human problem that has been described in the various chapters of this book. His Holiness has constantly laid stress on the importance of selfless service as the practical application of the realization of the Almighty. Baba Ji has also emphasized that rooting out of ego is a prerequisite to selfless service. While Baba Ji has preached about the universal brotherhood, he has also stressed upon observing one’s duty towards the nation, society and family. Whenever any natural calamity has struck the nation, His Holiness has contributed towards the rehabilitation of the distressed families by building houses (lakhs of rupees were spent to rehabilitate the quake hit victims in Gujarat) or organizing blood donation camps or in any other way. So enthusiastic is Baba Ji about spreading the message of the need to realize God (not just worshipping) and removing ignorance from this world that he has not been caring for his health. Everybody in the Mission is aware of the frequently tiresome long tours that Baba Ji goes on to awaken the mankind from its deep slumber. Many states in India have honoured Baba Ji by conferring upon him the status of a State Guest in recognition of the yeoman’s service he is rendering for the welfare of the society.
This book “Spiritual Awakening” is a humble attempt to share with you the thoughts and instances that I have either come across or been privy to through my first-hand knowledge of Baba Ji’s life. No doubt I am grateful to my father, late Pt. Shiv Kumar Ji who inspired me towards moral virtues right from my childhood, this book been possible with the inspiration and blessings of Her Holiness Pujya Mata Sawinder Kaur Ji. Rev. Gaurav Malhotra, a young saint, has proved to be an asset to complete this humble venture. He is a staunch devotee of Satguru Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj. He volunteered himself to compile my thoughts, spiritual ideas and experiences, which I gained during various spiritual tours of His Holiness throughout the country and abroad.
This book is a drop in the ocean to pen down all about the great divine ocean of God-knowledge preached by His Holiness. Initially, it suffered from several shortcomings, but the Hon’ble Members of the Screening Committee and particularly Rev. Kirpa Sagar, Member Incharge, Publications Department were gracious enough to remove the same. I must, therefore, express my gratitude to them. May Satguru bless all of them as also the young saint Rev. Gaurav Ji and other saints who have helped me to complete this book.
- Major J.D. Sharma (Retd)
Delhi,
January 1, 2005