CHAPTER -VI

SINGAPORE
(May 26-30, 1995)

For Baba Ji, Singapore was not a new place. But during his last leg of the tour he followed the same pattern as in the other four countries. The divine couple visited several places and blessed many saints and their families, friends and neighbours.

The party reached Singapore on May 26 rather late in the night.  Even then a large number of saints had reached the airport to receive the divine couple. The Indian High Commission was represented by a senior official Shri Jacob John. The Singapore Parmukh Rev. Sohinder Mohan Singh who is the illustrious son of Brig. Manmohan Singh, Vice-President of the Sant Nirankari Mandal at the Headquarters, led the saints who had come to receive Baba Ji and Pujya Mata Ji. The other saints included Rev. Tom (Arjan) Kalwani, Rev. Rajan Ramchandani, Rev Sunil Bajaj, Rev J.C. Ramesh, Rev. Anil Bhatia and their families, friends and well wishers.

Several saints had come to Singapore from Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. This gave one the impression that Singapore saints were hosting a mini Samagam.

The divine couple stayed at the residence of the Parmukh, where a formal reception was organised. The gathering was marked by the members of the Bal Sangat who had turned up in good number.

On May 27, Baba Ji visited Mrs. Sushil, wife of late Atma Ram ji. She is a devoted saint.  Unfortunately she is unable to move. Baba Ji also visited the Rajan family and had lunch at the residence of Rev. Sunil Bajaj. Rev. Bajaj had invited a large number of friends and neighbours.  The afternoon tea was hosted by Mrs. Rekha.

In the evening a big congregation was organised in an auditorium. It was attended by the cream of Asian community. Shri Y.P. Kumar, First Secretary in the Indian High Commission, was also present. Rev. Chello Narain Dass welcomed His Holiness on behalf of the people of Singapore. Addressing the gathering, Baba Ji said:

�It is after a gap of seven years that I have got the opportunity to meet the saints in Singapore again. I am indeed glad to listen to the feelings expressed by saints in this congregation.  They all inspire us to be united with God, lead our life as true human beings, treating this Formless God as the base or source of inspiration for every action.  You seek to tell others to follow the path of humanity and have love, tolerance and goodwill for every human being.

In fact, such inspiration is available to us only in the company of saints and not anywhere else in the world. Outside, we find the world full of hatred, full of conflict.  Instead of self-sacrifice, we find people ready to snatch things from others, make them deprived of even what they have. There is ego in place of humanity. That is why the company of saints has always been described as important and significant. For example Lord Rama tells Shabri:

PRATHAM BHAKTI SANTAN KAR SANGA.

The first step towards the devotion is to seek the company of saints, attend their congregation.  It is only in the company of saints that man gets such feelings as inspire him to devotion to God. But what is happening in the world? Man is concentrating only on material wealth, conveniently forgetting to know God. That is why the great spiritual masters have always tried to awaken the man and make him realise the importance of concentrating on the Formless.  Lord Rama, Lord Karishna, Lord Jesus Christ, Hazrat Mohammad and from Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj to Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, all gave this message to the world. They wanted that man must realise this objective of life while living as a human being. They said:

MANAS JANAM DURLABH HAI,
HOT NA BARAMBAR;
JYON BAN PHAL PAKE BHOYEN GIRE,
BAHUR NA LAGEY DAR.

It is quite rare to be born as human being.  One does not get this opportunity again and again. Once it goes, it may not be available again.  Once the fruit is ripe and falls down, no amount of effort can put it back on the branch. Similarly, once this human life comes to an end, it can not be restored. One must try to fulfil the aim of human life wherein lies its importance, its significance.  It is said:

NIDRA BHOJAN BHOG BHAI,
YEH PASHU PURUSH SAMAN;
GYAN ADHIK IK NARAN MEIN,
GYAN BINA PASHU JAAN.

If there is any difference between man and the animal, it is the divine-knowledge which can be had only during human life. That is what makes man superior to all other creatures. Bereft of this, man is just man because he is born man, otherwise by action he is only an animal:

KARTOOT PASHU KI MANAS JAAT.

Spiritual masters have always tried to tell man that he must realise the sense of highest dignity that has been bestowed on him as compared to all other living creatures. They asked him to shed ignorance and not to identify himself with what was taking him towards downfall. Here also it is the same message being echoed. The saints here also are making people in the various parts of the world realise that they are all children of the same Supreme Father. They advise them to remove their ignorance, realise the truth.  In this way they will feel happy themselves and become a source of welfare for others. The saints here pray that every human being must realise God during lifetime itself or before it is too late. They point out that there is hardly any time to lose because life is fast moving from childhood to youth and from youth to old age. One does not know when the end may come.

It is, therefore, a friendly request from the great masters to man that he should not lose this opportunity to serve the saints and be happy during this life and hereafter. What they said was meant for action and not just for reading or reciting.  We go to a backward village and find small huts. If we make a mention of big bungalows, this is not going to help the poor people and replace their huts by big buildings. Similarly, if we just make a mention of the wealth of divine name, it is not going to get us the salvation. We have to acquire it from the company of saints. The mention of divine name is there in the holy scriptures, but unless we acquire this wealth practically, we are bound to remain paupers. So you must try to realise God whose mention you find in the holy scriptures.  Meera did possess the image of Lord Karishna since her childhood and she remembered him all the time.   But still she found vacuum in her life. She wanted to know and actually meet the Supreme Lord, the eternal, the One who was never born. This vacuum was, however, removed when she met Guru Ravidas and realised God. She was overwhelmed with joy to find this precious wealth of divine knowledge.  She announced that she could find this wealth only when the True Master pleased to own her, to bless her:

PAYO JI MAINE RAM RATAN DHAN PAYO;
VASTU AMOLAK DINI MERE SATGURU,
KAR KIRPA APNAYO.

Kabir Ji too describes the entire world as poor. He says only such a person can be accepted as rich, as is in possession of the wealth of Divine Name:

KABIR SAB JAG NIRDHANA,
DHANVANTA NAHI KOYE;
DHANVANTA SOI JANIYE,
JA KE RAM NAM DHAN HOYE.

Once man realises God, the eternal power that was always there and shall always be there, it ceases to matter whether he lives in a royal palace or a poor hut. If King Janaka was happy it was not because he had all the luxury at his disposal. And similarly, the absence of a big bungalow and luxuries of material world did not make Kabir Ji unhappy. Both of them were equally happy because they possessed the same wealth of divine name, attaching no significance or importance to the worldly assets.

Here also the saints are happy because they are in possession of the wealth of divine name. Having realized the Formless, they have risen above their cultural background, the country they came from.  In fact whatever the worldly condition or status, one must realise God, be united with the Almighty.  One must do so and feel blessed and glorified.  Only those were praised who united themselves with God and not those who went on postponing this noble task throughout their life. Such people were convinced that every breath sounds a warning that one may leave this world any moment:

SANS NAGADA KOOCH KA,
BAJAT HAI DIN RAIN.

Man cannot live forever. Rather nobody knows when the end may come. That is why it is said that man must realise God without any delay. This will relieve him from the cycle of births and deaths.  He will attain salvation. Once he is aligned with God, his outlook will change. He will not find or consider anybody a stranger or not his own.  He will rise above the feelings of hatred rooted in caste, religion, social status considerations, etc.

Today, if we find man fighting against man, it is because they have failed to attain the outlook mentioned outlook. Otherwise they would have carried in their hearts peace and joy in place of hatred and jealousy. When we see God in every human being we cease to distinguish man from man on the basis of caste, colour and creed. Once we understand that the Supreme Source of what man has is One, nobody remains high or low. All differences disappear; all disputes come to an end. It is people with such approach who work for cooling the flames of violence. They distribute love and peace, wherever they go. They are happy themselves and become instrumental for bringing joy to others.

God may be remembered by any name, but one must see Him before doing so. God is pervading every object but cannot be seen with ordinary eyes. It is said:

SAHIB TERI SAHIBI,
GHAT GHAT RAHI SAMAYE:
JYON MEHENDI KE PAAT MEIN,
LALI DEKHI NA JAYE.

The Supreme Lord is there all around. He lives in all the human beings. Then why should there be any consideration of high or low? Why should some appear as one's own and others as not?

All these differences are there only so long as there is ignorance. Once ignorance is removed, all these differences also disappear.  Today, man is suffering from ignorance. He is engaged in all kinds of rites and rituals, forgetting about God, without realizing the Formless.

The saints here have, therefore, to spread their fragrance all around.  Like great masters of the past, they must endeavour to establish universal brotherhood.  In fact, this is something to be understood by one and all.  It is only this way that man will deserve the divine blessings. He cannot earn these blessings by mere rites and rituals. Moreover, God is never pleased with the one who hates his fellow-beings.  God showers His blessings only on those who are adorned with feelings of human fraternity. Blessed are the peace makers, it is said and rightly so. Moreover, one must love the child if he wants to please the mother.  So, one must love the mankind, if he wants to please God.  One must love the creation in order to please the Creator. Just as the mother cannot be pleased with the man who harms her child, God too cannot be pleased with those who harm His children, indulge in bloodshed of the innocent, even though such people may perform number of rites or rituals for the purpose.

Indeed, those who strive to remove this ignorance please the Almighty.  At the same time, they render a great service to this world.  They make the world more lovable and livable. And this is what we do here, this is what we pray for.  

On May 28, the saints of Singapore hired a coach and led Baba Ji and Pujya Mata Ji to Howpur Villa (Tiger Balm Gardens). The lunch was arranged at the residence of Mrs. Uma Bhatia. In the evening, the party was invited by Rev. Tom for dinner at his place. The open air dinner was preceded by an impressive Sangat. About one hundred people representing the cream of Singapore gentry were present.  Baba Ji spoke to them as intimately as in any other gathering.  His Holiness said:

Saints, we have been in Singapore for the last two days and got the opportunity to meet many saints. Even today, I find many new faces in the congregation. Obviously, everybody came here to participate in the praise of God Nirankar, to glorify the Almighty. In fact, this is essential because, fascinated by material world, this flagrant mind of ours does not remain steadfast and finds purity and peace only when associated with the Formless. Saints say:

KABIR MAN PANKHI BHAYA,
UD UD DAH DIS JAYE;
JO JAISI SANGAT KARE,
TAISA HI PHAL KHAYE.

Human mind is just like a bird that keeps on flying in all directions and eats the fruit of the tree it settles upon, notwithstanding the fact whether it is sweet as Mango or bitter such as Neem.   Likewise, human mind also has the tendency of getting stuck to and influenced by whatever company it finds in the world.   We talk about associating our mind with God so that it enjoys the bliss, attains peace and becomes pure:

KABIR MAN NIRMAL BHAYA,
JAISI GANGA NEER;
PACHHE LAGA HAR PHIRE,
KAHAT KABIR KABIR.

It means that the mind of a person who thinks of God becomes pure and even God follows him, ready to do anything for him. In a way God looks after His devotees and blesses them with praise, with glory.

In order to associate the mind with God, man has always been advised to seek the company of saints. Once Kabir Ji was weaving the cloth, when a person came and asked him why it was necessary to go to the company of saints, why he was advised so again and again? Kabir Ji did not say anything. He just left his work, picked up a hammer and struck it on the peg already pitched in the ground. The man thought that Kabir Ji was busy, so he decided to wait.  After sometime he put his question again and Kabir Ji too repeated his action. The man tried for the third time but Kabir Ji only struck the hammer on the peg. He did not speak even a single word.  On this, the man got a little upset and insisted on Kabir Ji to answer his question. Kabir Ji asked the man to repeat his question.  The man said that he wanted to know why man is advised again and again to seek the company of saints, why it is needed.  Kabir Ji said, �I have already replied your question thrice.�  He explained that �Each time the hammer was struck on the peg, it became more and more firmly fixed into the ground. In case we do not apply the hammer for quite sometime, the peg is likely to become loose.  There is every possibility that it may even come out of the ground and get lost, not to be found again. The same is true of human mind's relationship with God.  The same is true of human mind�s relationship with God.  The company of saints keeps it steadfastly associated with God.�  Here, in the congregation of   saints we remember only God, while elsewhere we talk of our property, our social status and other things that produce ego. Man is so engrossed in thoughts related to livelihood that he has forgotten the Supreme Giver. Saints, however, always pray for such company as may remind them of God.  Here we heard certain songs, certain poems and even speeches.  They were so only to say.  In case you put aside their tunes, their rhythm and concentrate of the idea they sought to convey or the feelings they wanted to express, you will find that in reality they were communicating the same message to man that the spiritual masters preached in the past:

SANGAT KARIYE SADH KI,
ANT KARE NIRBAH;
SAKAT SANG NA KIJIYE,
JA TE HOT BINAH.

SADHU KI SANGAT RAHE,
JAU KI BHUSI KHAYE;
HONHAR SO HOYE HAI,
SAKAT SANG NA JAYE.

Man has been advised time and again only to seek the company of the saints and not to go after those who are way wards, who do not trust God.  Unfortunately, the man has the tendency of running away from the company of saints. Naturally, if one runs away showing his back to the sun, his face will be in darkness.  On the other hand if his face is towards the sun, it will glow.  Similarly, if our mind is face to face with God, it is pure, its thoughts are pure.  Influenced by the Formless, each and every word spoken is full of sympathy for others, inspires others to be associated with God.  Like tongue, other parts of the body such as hands will also come forward to rescue the fallen, to work for the betterment of others, only when the mind is pure on becoming the dwelling place for the Almighty. If, however, the mind is not with God, the tongue may speak bitter language and the hands may not hesitate to cause pain to others, commit violence against the innocent.

Even to remember God or repeat the divine name by tongue is not adequate by itself.  The mind must be associated with God at the same time. Only then the turning of beads of the rosary will produce the requisite joy or the bliss. Mere turning the spoon in the delicious food is of no use. The real joy lies in the eating.

Saints, you all came here because you believe that this Formless God is the Supreme Lord, the creator of the entire universe. It is because of God that man could receive all that he has.  God remains the ultimate source of every object.  You believe that this approach makes life pure and beautiful.  You wish that the entire world should have the same kind of approach.  In other words, you want to give unto others something that carries welfare for all.

Let us not forget that God is omnipresent.  God is with us all the time, wherever we are.  This divine truth is the same whether we are in India or Singapore.  It will only exhibit our ignorance if we say that God can be subjected to any kinds of boundaries.  What we need is only to know the Formless. Once we realise God, the mind will stand controlled and there will be no wandering for it.

In short, one must see God, know the Almighty and then only accept the Divine Truth. And finally, one must adopt this divine knowledge in practical life. Only such a person gets real happiness or lasting joy from his childhood, youth and old age and this is what he would like to give to the world as his legacy at the time of his departure at last.

I must once again say that these two-three days spent in Singapore were indeed delightful. We enjoyed the visit.  I remember, I visited Singapore first in 1973 with Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji.  It was a world tour.  Then, I got an opportunity to visit Singapore after long time in 1988. This is my third visit to Singapore again after a long gap of 7 years. I find that during the course of this time Singapore has witnessed lot of development, experienced lot of expansion.  I pray to the Almighty that the number of devotees of God may also expand, so that the divine light gets spread as widely as possible. This is the only way to remove hatred, promote love and bring about peace and happiness for one and all in this world.

On May 29, the party was divided into three groups to go round the city. They reassembled for dinner at the residence of Mrs. Sapna. We were surprised to find a gathering of about 200 people. The Sangat before the dinner took an interesting turn when the participants started asking questions about the Mission and its message. His Holiness did not mind and the Sangat practically became a question-answer session. The saints who had already been blessed with divine knowledge enjoyed it for a change. The clarifications sought in the benign presence of His Holiness proved quite effective.  The most important thing that impressed the guests was the love, humility and the spirit of service shown by the host family.  Coming from a family quite affluent from the worldly angle, this really surprised them.  In any case, everybody was impressed with the influence that His Holiness and his message of truth, love and humanity was having on the practical life of the Nirankari saints.

On May 30, Baba Ji visited the house of Rev. Arjan Kriplani and Rev. Chello Narain Dass. In the evening, the holy couple concluded the spiritual tour and returned to Delhi.

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