The principle of life-preservation condemns not only the brutal destruction of the self by the self but also all other thoughts, feelings and actions which tend to lower our vitality, disturb balance of our mind and diminish the quality of our living. Pride and anger are harmful because they derange mental and nervous balance and falsify judgement. Ego, avarice and envy cramp the personality, obscure the moral sense and dwarf the intelligence. Sloth, together with intemperance, retards the development of our inherent powers and brings disorder, misery and ignorance in its train. It is to these vices that man owes his decline and decay, mental dissipation and low morals. All these constitute extremely dangerous breaches of the law of preservation. These vices weaken the individual and tarnish his image.

The reason for man’s failure to respond to his inner call is that he is also a lower being, and in that he is urged by lower impulses, that is, he is not inspired by what he ought to be. This tends to keep him bound to the pursuit of inferior ends. He has footing on the earth as well as wings in the sky. This dual character results in internal conflict between the flesh and the spirit, or the lower and the higher selves. But man’s higher nature does not allow itself either to be ignored or suppressed unless, once for all, he has sunk down to the animal existence, destroying his intrinsic human qualities.

MIND

Mind is the wildest and recklessly fastest nomad, "monkey-like mischievous" and "fox-like cunning," always prone to naughty and clandestine antics; fickle and slippery, easy to fall into the net of mundane allurements and temptations. If left unbridled and uncontrolled, it rebelliously becomes a great trouble maker and chief source of morbid feelings, degenerate propensities, evil thoughts, foul designs, devilish intentions, sinister motives, sensual desires, dirty maneuvers, perverse ideas, ignoble actions and pushes man to doom and destruction. A loose and vagrant mind is a devil’s workshop. On the other hand, a controlled, contained and stable mind is a spring of righteousness and reservoir of blissful joy. The missionary should firmly bear in mind and fully understand that a disciplined mind with a strong will-power is not only a elementary requirement but also a rare asset. It is the mature mind, tempered with spiritual experience and ides, that is able to enjoy contemplation of truth and goodness of which true happiness consists. As such, he must attempt and successfully develop the capacity to command his mental faculties to obey him and harness them for healthy aims and constructive objectives, instead of being subservient and sheepishly submitting to their flagrant and impish designs. The missionary has to channelise his unbounded mental potential to steer a sober and sane course, uphold moral values and cultivate holy spiritual order for carrying out his pious responsibility. It is incumbent upon him to cleanse his mind of dirt and dust of pride and prejudice, hatred and envy, calumny and the sort. Only a pure and chaste mind can visualize pure things, and it is in a pure mind that the Lord takes His august seat:

"When the human mind directs itself towards God Almighty, all worldly wealth becomes his obedient mistress,"

- Baba Gurbachan Singh

And, in the mind there is an incessant tug-of-war between the forces of spirituality and sensuality, morality and immorality, virtue and vice. The missionary has, therefore, to protect himself from the consuming and concerous maladies like ego, anger, greed, lust, passion, attachment, slander, jealousy, revenge, hatred, which egg him on to work for his own mental disintegration, keep him agitated all the time, disturb his equilibrium, preclude him form sane and just thinking and thus hasten his doom. He, who inextricably attaches himself to debauch practices and sensual pleasures, is his own worst enemy and shall have to repent and suffer. A man, who himself has no inner peace and is ever at war with himself, is totally incapable of preaching and transmitting the message of inner calm and mental harmony to others. Only a calm, serene and balanced mind can deal in truth and deliver the right goods:

"The mind in its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven."

- John Milton

"Bondage and liberation are of the mind. The mind will take the colour you dye with."

- Sri Ramakrishna

VIRTUE AND VICE

In the words of Dr. Alexis Carrel:

"Sin is the refusal to submit to the order of things. Any act or thought, which tends to diminish, disintegrate or destroy life, in its specifically human expression, is a sin. It is a sin to hate one’s neighbour, for hatred is destructive of both body and spirit. Vice is the result of habitual sin. As to virtue, it does not consist only, as Socrates taught, in the knowledge of good; it is an act of the will, a habit, which increases the quantity, intensity and quality of life. It builds up, strengthens and vivifies personality. Hope, faith, enthusiasm and the will to succeed, act on the body like stream on a turbine. Physical and mental activities are purified by love. These virtues heighten the personality and make it stronger and more closely-knit. Vice, on the contrary, lessens and disintegrates it; laziness, vacillation, self-pity and melancholy arrest mental development. As to pride, egoism and jealousy, they separate those who are guilty of them from their fellows and dry up the springs of spirit in themselves."

"Blessed is he who has no wrong to remember, no injuries to forget, in whose pure heart no hateful thought about another can take root and flourish."

- James Allen

RIGHT AND WRONG THINKING

To quite James Allen:

"The wrong-thinker is known by his vices, the right-thinker is known by his virtues. Troubles and unrest assail the mind of the wrong-thinker and he experiences no abiding repose. He imagines that others can injure, snub, cheat, degrade and ruin him. Knowing nothing of the protection virtue, he seeks the protection of self and takes refuge in suspicion, spite, resentment and retaliation, and is burnt in the fire of his own vices. When slandered, he slanders in return; when accused, he recriminates; when assaulted, he turns upon his adversaries with double fierceness. ‘I have been treated unjustly!’ exclaims the wrong-thinker, and then abandons himself to resentment and misery. Having no insight, and unable to distinguish evil from good, he cannot see that it is his own evil and not his neighbour’s. That is the cause of all his troubles."

"If indeed thy heart were right, then would every creature be to thee a mirror of life, and a book of holy doctrine."

- Thomas A. Kempis

WHO LIVE NOBLY

The universe is infinitely vast and men are but specks on this planet. The individual, if he is filled with love of mankind, breadth of vision, courage and endurance, can contribute a great deal. Those, who live noble but not honoured during their lifetime, need not fear that they have lived vainly: something radiates from their lives which shows the way not only during the present time but also for ages to come. They, who lay down their lives for the sake of others, ever dwell in the world of bliss; and they, who are noble at heart, do not lose their nobility even by losing their lives:

"All exponents of Truth, who appeared on this earth, from time to time, surrendered themselves to God Almighty in all humility and God bestowed His choicest blessings on them, and they are remembered with reverence even after they have left their mortal coils."

- Baba Gurbachan Singh

SOME DOS AND DON'TS

Mere dispensing the enlightenment is not the end of the missionary's duty. He has got to consolidate the work done by him. Much remains to be covered by way of maintaining personal contact with the incoming fresher. Personal contact goes a long way to keep the enthusiasm glowing. He should make it a point to meet them whenever he revisits the place; he should evince keen interest in their social and spiritual well-being. It will certainly impress the newly initiated, rejuvenate their interest and fortify their faith, and thus save them from wavering or drifting away. And, the missionary should continue his effort till he is satisfied that the newcomers have been rehabilitated to the point from where they may not relapse. Surely, it will not be below his dignity to do so, rather it will be the right and proper course to cultivate reciprocal, intimate and happy relationship.

The office of the missionary is not an office of profit or status. It is a sacred duty assigned to him by the Master. And what he is doing, is in accordance with the loving dictates of his own conscience and love for the Lord. He is the humblest of the humble - Dasan Das -, dedicated to serve one and all. Before anything else, he is a humble devotee. As such, he is above the false sense of rank or prestige.

The missionary should be a simple man with basic values; sober in his habits, diet, and dress. He is not to be a slave of any habit, which proves a hurdle in his role as a missionary. He should be a man of few needs and limited requirements, so that he can easily and conveniently adjust himself in varying environments and situations. If he himself is simple and modest, he will impress and inspire others to be likewise. Abstinence and continence are the essential traits of a missionary. Enthusiasm to preach and propagate the sacred message of the Master is his only stimulant, which goads him on and provides impetus to work wholeheartedly and briskly.

Politeness costs nothing, but it pays a lot. The missionary should be ever cool-headed, calm-minded, soft-spoken, mild, moderate, polite, amiable, helpful and co-operative. He should work quietly but effectively.

It does not behave a missionary to be remonstrative or indulge in a heated exchange. Rather, he should bring others closer to his viewpoint with love, humility, tolerance, understanding and, above all rational explanation; and if one is not convinced, it will be saner to agree to disagree without offending the other party. This way he does not stand to lose anything. In the words of Baba Hardev Singh:

"Better lose an argument that the person. With our sweet amiable disposition, we may win tomorrow what we seemingly lose today."

Being a missionary of truth, he should have the courage to speak the truth even if it is a bit bitter: he should neither indulge in flattery nor feel flattered at his own praise:

- Edmund Burke

- Jean Paul Richter

The missionary should never think indiscreetly that his is the last word. His daily experience is a learning, which would add to his knowledge. One can learn some valuable lesson even from a child. As such, one should be ever keen with a childlike curiosity to learn more and more.

The missionary should never be ashamed to own his wrong, which is but admitting that he is wiser today then be was yesterday. In other words, he should have an open mind and be open to correction. He should not try to hide anything because he has to rectify his failings for a better future.

UNIVERSAL WELFARE

What is the use of perishable body if no use of it is made for the benefit of mankind? Trees give shade to one and all, while they themselves stand in the sun and endure the scorching heat: they bear fruit, which others enjoy. Sandalwood, the more it is rubbed, the more scent it gives. This plant gives fragrance even to the person who axes it. The missionary should be full to the brim with the milk of human kindness. If the missionary is true to his mission, he cannot help being sensitive to the suffering, pain and misery of others:

"A saint does not cause sufferings to others, rather others' suffering move him."

- Baba Gurbachan Singh

A true missionary works without expecting anything in return. On the contrary, he deems it a privilege to be of service to anyone and pleasure is his reward. He belongs to the world and the whole world falls within the ambit of his activity. He wishes and prays for the well-being of all, including even those who do not see eye to eye with him: Sarbat Da Bhala - Universal Welfare, Thus the missionary has to work for the amelioration of the society as a whole to build up a happy and harmonious social order:

- Baba Gurbachan Singh

BY PERSONAL EXAMPLE

The Missionary has to illustrate by his practical life that he believes and practises what he preaches and propagates and that his transformation is the result of the blessings of his Master and his pious Word or Gain. To establish his worth, the missionary has to maintain the lever of spirituality stable. And for this, it is necessary for him to take care of nuts and bolts of morality, screw them tight so that there remains no scope for moral turpitude. It simply means that he has to sublimate his impulses and emotions, have a disciplined mind and make determined effort to develop a practical life of purity and piety. By building an exemplary conduct and sound character, he can convincingly attract and draw others closer to him to follow the path of truth. Hence, the practical side of his life must support and give a solid proof of his sincere faith in the truth that character is the greatest virtue. But, if he himself is clay-footed with frail legs, swept off and tossed by worldly currents of vulgar emotions, base impulses, corrupt practices and degenerate thinking with head stuffed with ego and its attendants, and, if he had built for himself a house of cards which collapses with the slightest stir, he had no locus standi to preach and exhort others to shun evil and own goodness. He will be looked upon as a pretender and hypocrite. Therefore, in this world rampant with corruption and thriving evil, the missionary had to steer a tidy course of righteousness and thus save himself from delinquency, decadence and pollution. Lack of practical truthfulness and suffusion in selfish motives, breed evil and unrest. The missionary has got to solemnly affirm and vindicate his preaching with practical life of profusion:

"Show by your lives that religion does not mean words or names or sects, but it means spiritual realisation. Only those can understand who have felt: only those who have attuned to spirituality can communicate to others, can be great teachers of mankind. They alone are the powers of light."

- Swami Vivekananda

I have an inspiring experience to narrate. I remember on one occasion Giani Joginder Singh, a distinguished missionary of Kot Kapura (Punjab) declined to have his dinner lest he got late for the Sangat (congregation). He reached the Bhawan (congregational centre) punctually; he opened the doors and windows, swept the floor and spread the durries. And, then he received Satsangis (fellow-devotees) individually, collected their shoes, dusted them and passed on the same to the keeper. All watched him with admiration. This modest conduct, 'Vyavaharik Vichar' (Practical Discourse), as I term it, did not in any way lower his dignity, rather elevated him in their esteem. His spirit of humility is worth emulating. Such modest acts are highly meaningful and are pregnant with potentially convincing practical significance, as these help man to keep his ego subdued as well as set an exemplary lead for others.

Handling of spirituality by lesser hands, who are miles away from its real content, makes a dangerous game and a farcical toying of its theme. But in proper hands, it unlocks the chemistry of the self and heightens the awareness of the Beyond. So, dear missionary, know thyself. He, who knoweth himself, alone knoweth. Critically examine your thoughts, feelings and actions. Critical self-analysis will enable you to know your omissions and commissions, your strengths and weaknesses, your aims and objectives, your relation to the universe, your spiritual heritage. Take stock of and assess yourself. Capacity to know the self - self-search - is a great gift, because man thereby becomes a spectator of himself and is able to objectively review and evaluate his thoughts, feelings and actions, as if they are apart from him, and pass judgement of approbation or disapprobation. Introspection and self-criticism help one to assess one's own innate spiritual nature for self-determination: what one is, what one ought to be. Relinquish character that leads to internal conflict between the flesh and the spirit, between the lower and the higher selves. Man is his own friend or his own foe, according as he chooses to live - rise or fall - and, above all, his own arbiter. The merit of spirituality consists in truth, love, service, humility, sweetness, which make up intrinsic worth to arouse inner compulsion in others to understand the Reality. So, take account of day's faring and find out where you have faltered and fumbled as there always exists scope for improvement and betterment:

"Every day is a new teacher and comes with fresh lessons for those who are willing to learn."

"As the silversmith removes impurities from silver, so does the wise man from himself, one by one, little by little, again and again."

- Dhammapada

Body is the farm and action are the seeds. As you sow, so shall you reap. See that you really deserve to be called a Maha Pursha (highly enlightened soul) and all that it implies and means. Weakness of character, deviating from the teachings of the Master and, above all, casting away of the fear of God Almighty are traits degrading and sinful. No doubt, to err is human, but not to learn to make amends, is disgraceful:

- Baba Gurbachan Singh

" To admit that, being human, I am bound to make mistakes, but to make as few as possible and try to avoid making the same mistake twice."

- Wilfred A. Peterson

Self-search, self-enquiry, self-analysis, self-criticism or introspection necessarily points to an awareness of the highest order by which man judges himself, and the standard can be nothing short of absolute perfection for the reason that need for self-criticism will continue to be felt until an ideal, which is free from all imperfections, is achieved. And so, explore, search and scan the inner space - inner self.

RIGHT GRADE

It is so often mooted, even asserted, that it is not possible to be an ideal person and attain perfection. Maybe true to some extent. But that should not be an excuse for being complacent. There always exists scope to act better than before, provided one has the will to improve upon his previous record and the urge to attain the immortal through the mortal. The least one should endeavour is to set his eyes on the ideal, and certainly his striving will be rewarded. Keep on striving, for you have to become a shining example of socio-spiritual luminary to serve humanity. Invoke Master's blessings and God will help you, protect you and bless you.

Never be discouraged, never feel disappointed that you cannot make the grade. No matter how steep the path may seem at times, no matter how many times one slips, one must always keep on trying. That is the saving race of true devotees. If one continues to strive, the ideal eventually becomes part of his striving and gets identified with the goal. By never giving up, one establishes that his devotion, his dedication, his love for God is the goal and mission of his life. And, when once the Supreme Lord is convinced that it is He alone one wants, it is Him alone one turns to, then He is well pleased in spite of one's failings and shortcomings. Then God himself takes man by hand, walks with him, talks with him and tells him; You are my own! Therefore, arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.

In a nutshell, a true missionary, to make the right grade, should have the pull of spiritual responsibility as a devoted disciple of the Master; sincere, honest and faithful to his duty; a humble servant of mankind and a God-fearing man of God.