SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

BLOODLESS REVOLUTION

The history of mankind is dotted with revolutions.  We know some of them while others may have been buried in the earth of obscurity.  These revolutions have affected our lives in all the possible ways we can conceive – socially, politically, intellectually, spiritually, etc.  And all these revolutions had cataclysmic effects on the societal structures, people, cultures, etc.  Because they were violent, bloodshed was inevitable.  Revolutions, conclusively, proved to be blood thirsty and parasitic.  They have continuously sucked the blood of the innocent people led astray by dictators.  And yet the coterie, which led the masses against the injustice, finally, ended to become the godfathers of the same injustice they had once rebelled against.

A revolution should be for a noble cause and should not result in bloodshed of innocent people or war mongering at any cost.  It should enthuse people to work for the welfare of the mankind by dispelling their ignorance and alleviating their sufferings.

It is not just when we suddenly push the break-pedal that we get a jolt but also when we accelerate full throttle all of a sudden.  The revolutions brought upheavals because their exponents tried to change and achieve too much in too little time and that too, by resorting to violent means.  As a consequence, upheavals were experienced which resulted in fatal injuries and much bloodshed.  Russia, Germany, France, and some other countries bore the gory brunt of the revolutions.  It is estimated that the one-third of the former U.S.S.R.’s population was wiped off in the revolution that rocked the country.  We cannot even imagine the magnitude of grief that would have struck the former U.S.S.R. when the death of single person is capable of soulfully depressing us.

The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual movement that started in 1929 and is still gaining momentum.  This movement is coloured with the enthusiasm of Divine-Knowledge bestowed by the True Master and not because of any bloodshed.  The Sant Nirankari Mission is a bloodless revolution, which aims to provide people with “God-Realization” with the blessings of the True Master and, thereby, establish universal brotherhood. 

The Mission runs on the sacrifices of its disciples.  Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Maharaj, the head of the Mission, himself made the supreme sacrifice of his life for blessing human beings with “God-Realization” when religious fanatics assassinated him.  It seemed, then, to many that the Sant Nirankari Mission, too, will get embroiled in vindictiveness and therefore, bloodshed.  But the present head of the Mission, True Master Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj did not reciprocate violently to this outrageously heinous crime against the Mission and humanity.  They say, eye for an eye turns up making the whole world blind.  To save his devotees from going astray and to keep them away from vindictiveness, His Holiness True Master Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj said in his first discourse:

If there is anyone who should be ready to take revenge for Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji’s assassination that should be I.  But if I do so I will not be emulating the ideals of humanity set by Baba Ji (Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji) for which He laid down his life.  If I tread the path of revenge, I would neither be his son nor his disciple.

Later, Satguru Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj also commanded his devotees to arrange blood donation camps saying that:

Blood is not meant to flow in drains but in human veins.

That was a turning point in the history of the Sant Nirankari Mission.  The bloodless revolution was on the verge of being dragged into one of those bloody revolutions.  Enlightened by the wisdom and directive of the True Master Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj, cruel bloodshed was reciprocated by life-saving measures.  Since then hundreds of blood donation camps are organized every year at the various branches of the Mission in India and around the world.  No wonder, that the Sant Nirankari Mission today, is the largest donor of blood to the Indian Red Cross Society.  The Government of India and the Indian Red Cross Society have recognized the philanthropic efforts of the Mission and have commended Baba Ji, Pujya Mata Ji and the other Nirankari volunteers for the same.  A Director of Red Cross uttered these solemn words: “The blood devoted by Baba Ji and Sangat will act as nectar for the removing the sufferings afflicting the human society at large.”

What is this revolution about?

The Sant Nirankari Mission aims to establish universal brotherhood through the Fatherhood of the Almighty – the Formless One.  And it firmly believes that it is possible only through God-Realization by each human being, which comes about with the blessing of the living Tue master.  The True Master Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj is striving day and night to bless people with ”God-Realization ” which is not a lifelong process but is done almost instantaneously.  His Holiness takes long tours tirelessly to spread “God-Realization” among people and lakhs of his devotees bear testimony to the “God-Realization” they have had from Him.

Many organizations aim to establish universal peace today and have been continuously unsuccessful.  Especially, in view of the recent attacks on Iraq, the United Nations Organization was not able to convince Uncle Sam to eschew undertaking such a lethal war that finally killed thousands of people in cold blood.  The point is that we cannot establish world peace without a common binding force when there is so much of diversity in this world.  We need to pierce thread through each flower to make a garland.  Similarly, a thread is needed to bind the mankind.  “God-Realization” is that thread which is capable of binding people from diverse backgrounds.  The Sant Nirankari Mission is gradually changing the mindset of the people with the “God-Realization” being blessed by the True Master Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj.  When we “Know the God ye worship” (and it happens in a trice with the Divine-Knowledge bestowed by the True Master) it is the dawn of good sense in life.  We are able to realize the Omnipresence of God – in and around us, and in our fellow beings.  When I see other human beings, myself and around me, I realize and perceive that three of us have the identical nature of the being.  It’s like having the same DNA as the Almighty.  As a consequence, we realize and understand how do we have a common Father and therefore realize the unity which is inherent in the creation of all human beings.

Today, His Holiness True Master Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj is kindly bestowing the same “Divine-Knowledge” that Lord Krishna bestowed on Arjuna, the seeker which made him realize the formless nature of the Almighty.  It is the same “Raaz-e-Haque” that Prophet Mohammed bestowed on the seekers.  It is the same “Divine-Knowledge” of the Holy Spirit that Lord Jesus Christ bestowed on the implorers.  And it is the same “Divine-Knowledge” that all the Gurus bestowed on their disciples.  His Holiness True Master Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj, is bestowing the “God-Realization” of that Formless entity that is mentioned in all the religious scriptures (for which Vedanta philosophy says “Void is fullness”).

But this is not to say that the Sant Nirankari Mission is only spiritually revolutionizing.  The Mission proved to be a social revolution as well.  Besides, the charitable hospitals, schools, colleges, dispensaries, and vocational colleges that are serving the society and the large blood-donation camps that are organized regularly, the Mission is also a unique epitome of the egalitarianism amongst men and women.  His Holiness True Master Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj, Rajmata Ji (Baba Ji’s mother) and Pujya Mata Ji (spouse of His Holiness) sit on the same stage, which is symbolic of the respect, and equality that is given to the women in the Sant Nirankari Mission and that should be given to the women in the world at large.  One could ubiquitously see Baba Ji’s disciples (whether that be man or a woman) bowing at the feet of one another.  This is unprecedented and unheard of not only in the present times but also in the history of the world.  The “God-Realization” also serves to eradicate all the differences and ill will based on the pride of one’s learning, caste, community, gender, nationality, wealth, etc.  Therefore, “God-Realization” is not just spiritually enlightening but also socially beneficial and philanthropic too i.e. multi-dimensionally benefiting.

The Annual Nirankari Sant Samagam, being held for over a half a century, is a concrete evidence of the wonders “God-Realization” can do.  Lakhs of devotees gather to sing the praises their True Master Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj and the Formless One – which they have realized with the blessings of the Beloved True Master.  The devotees come from throughout India and all over the world and cut across various religions, cultures, communities, which is a wonder in itself.  This is the bloodless revolution that has started to change the world in an unprecedented way.  The Sant Nirankari Mission is constantly and continuously giving a clarion call to all the people of the world and cordially inviting them to be blessed with the realization of the God they so devotedly worship and with the blessings of the True Master Baba Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj, the philanthropy of blessing human beings with “God-Realization” is rapidly and enthusiastically progressing….

Should one man die ignorant
who had the capacity for knowledge,
this I call tragedy.

- Thomas Carlyle

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