Throughout history, many distinguished thinkers and philosophers have tried to look for answers to some of the most pressing questions that have confronted humanity. Although a good number of these questions have been answered, there are others that still leave a lot to be desired. Some of these questions have been so profound that they continue to influence our thought and decision-making processes, even today.

One such question is what is the meaning of life? Humanity has been so adamant to seek answers to this one single question that people have gone so far as to venture into space to look for answers¹. This question holds so much value and mystery that humanity will not stop until it gets the answer it is looking for.

While humanity searches for answers to such potentially life-changing questions, I am drawn to the teachings and wisdom of saints, sages, and great masters – masters who have lived amongst us since time immemorial. They have imparted invaluable treasures that the discerning have always held in high regard. Amidst their key teachings has been the understanding of the purpose of this human life.

To be able to answer this question, the wise tell us to realise our true identity as a must. In fact, Baba Avtar Singhji, the second in the lineage of Mentors of the Sant Nirankari Mission, counsels as follows:

Man  –  why are you asleep

Feigning your eyes  –  shut?

Wake up – attain your goal,

Whilst in this – earthly hut!

This occasion won’t repeat

In the end, you will repent

O’ man, here for four days

As guest you’ve been sent

                            – Avtar Bani 167²

Baba Avtar Singhji urges us to awaken and accomplish the very task for which we have been sent on this journey. We can clearly infer from the reminder that the task in question has not, as yet, been achieved. In driving a car, for example, when an unruly pedestrian blocks the road that we are driving on, we have to remind the person to move aside. 

Saints and seers have been emphasizing the need to realize life’s purpose even before it became the so-called talk of the town. Being fully acquainted with the said purpose, they were able to diligently advise others. Baba Avtar Singhji, in the same couplet³, states:

Being unaware of yourself,

Know thy Self – via Master,

For your body, vital breath

Belong to Him, Lord Pastor

Picture your countenance,

That you’ll show hereafter

Win/lose- is in your hands

Avtar, an’ loss or laughter

It would appear that the question of purpose has been amply answered in the above couplets. For, according to His Holiness, one can realize one’s true purpose by approaching someone who himself/herself is spiritually adept. It is through such an adept that one realizes one’s actual identity.

The scene in a Bollywood movie depicts a protagonist in the guise of a police officer, who works against the antagonist, who is in the role of a criminal. Both are caught in an adverse situation when suddenly a woman – their mother – appears. She recognizes the criminal, who happens to be her long-lost son. Once the two men realize that they are in fact siblings, and not foes, they shed their enmity and embrace each other!

Similar is the role of the spiritual adept, who awakens us to the fact that we are all part and parcel of the Over-soul, and that the differences that divide us simply arise out of ignorance. When this spiritual identity is made evident, then all divisions cease to exist, giving rise to peace, not pieces⁴

Sohan Kumar Motwani, Manilla, Phillipines

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why¹.

Born into a Hindu family, I went through a naming ceremony whereby the parents whisper the name into the child’s right ear; the name is repeated a few times, along with a prayer. All others present, repeat a few words after the priest to formally accept the name. This is followed by the blessings of the elders, along with gifts. The ritual ends with a feast with family and friends. The family astrologer also presents the child’s horoscope at this ceremony.

As I grew up, I was called by my name. It became my identity. Within the family fold, my name became the norm. In being introduced to others, it was also the name that I carried as my identity. When old enough to read newspapers, I would identify people in the news with their name and photo. Via television, I began to recognise celebrities and newsreaders by their name. I understood that every human being had a name.

Beyond such names, I began to associate people in society on the basis of the religion, dress, and diet they subscribed to. I was no different to others in adopting this societal conditioning, which expanded to include the residential area you live in, the school you go to, the grades you achieve, the qualifications you get, the type of job you potentially do, and the material comforts you acquire.  These were all factors by which I fashioned my identity, and categorised others too.

Running my life in auto-pilot mode, I had no time to question these filters, or even the real purpose of my life. In college as part of my Psychology class, I was introduced to the five-tier model of human needs – popularly known as Maslow’s Hierarchy – depicted in the form of a pyramid. From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological (food and clothing), safety (job security), love and belonging (friendship), esteem, and self-actualization. Needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied to some extent before one can attend to needs higher up.

My life became busy in satisfying the bottom four needs – perhaps we may call this the herd mentality. The material comforts left no room to look into the need for self-actualisation. With aspirations to find a better life, I arrived in the UK. Here too, I could see that most people were working towards improving their living standards.

However, a couple of months later, I happened to attend a holy congregation in Glasgow, in the august presence of the then Satguru, Baba Hardev Singhji. The Nirankari Master’s discourse made me introspect, as he spoke the words;

Time is slipping away; man must know himself.

Happily, within a few weeks, I was readily offered the gift of Brahm Gyan – the Knowledge of God. I came to realise that I am not the body, but the animating spirit that resides in the body. I am not the doer, but I still play my part with the attitude of the non-doer. I am the soul that is part of the Over-soul, Nirankar, which inherently is formless and beyond any attributes.  

The Hardev Bani eloquently expresses it as follows:

Oh’ dear human, don’t you ever waste
Mistreat any breath of yours, Nirankar,
Do work for the welfare of all an’ serve
Pray, keep sacred company – Nirankar!
Just as the last moment has gone away
This moment will also expire, Nirankar,
But if this moment were to be wasted,
You shall regret it, hereafter, Nirankar,
What the value of every instant truly is
Are you actually aware of it – Nirankar,
Hardev, the moments you possess, are
Priceless beyond measure, O’ Nirankar

                                       – Hardev Bani, 63

Having been blessed with the Knowledge of God, the devotee strives to live in God-awareness 24×7, whilst still going about his worldly duties. This contemplative awareness is aided by the supporting tools of Holy Congregation², Selfless service³, and the Remembrance of God⁴. Further counsel and guidelines are provided by the contemporary Mentor, the Satguru, to ensure that our lives are replete with human values, and that we are as wholesome as we possibly can be. 

With one’s true self revealed, one begins to live life with greater joy. All shackles, doubts, delusions and superstitions simply drop and disappear. Life becomes altogether beautiful and meaningful.

I earnestly pray for everyone to realise their true self to ascertain that the true journey has always been outside in – the journey that leads one from me and mine to thee and thine.

                                                                                                         – Shiva Rane, Livingston, Scotland

Identity – a well-used word in today’s society indicates many different forms of recognition, with many a meaning. It usually means who you are, the way you think about yourself, the way you are viewed by the world, and the personal characteristics that make you, you. For example, the labels that have been accorded to me by society are: Helen, a daughter, sister, mum, auntie, daughter-in-law, friend and colleague. However, we are not born with these labels – they are applied to us, when we arrive in this world.

Discovering our true, lasting identity, the True Self, comes with the elimination of the egoic self. For most people, it is a lifetime’s work because controlling the ego is never easy.

The word identity is banded around in many forms to suit many meanings – eg identity badge, identity card etc. We even come across an identity crisis – i.e. a developmental event that involves a person questioning their sense of self or place in the world. This concept originated in the work of developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, who believed that the formation of an identity is one of the most important conflicts that people face.

Many people talk about finding yourself and discovering their true identity, but very rarely know what this actually means, and how to discover what it is. Not knowing our True Self can lead to depression, anxiety and stress. So much so that during challenging times, we mistake our true self for external factors such as our appearance, clothes, jobs, where we live, and how much we are liked by others,

When the relative identity, according to Thomas Merton, becomes my ego – i.e. when I am thought to be nothing but the sum total of all my relationships, and when I cling to this self and make it the centre around which, and for which, I live – I then make my empirical identity into the false self. My own false self, the ego, then becomes the obstacle to realizing my true self.  

What a joy it is to have discovered Neti-Neti meditation, from the Sanskrit expression meaning ‘Not this, Not that’. Through this meditation, we come to understand what we are not and in so doing, grasp as to who we truly are.

The true self is our whole self before God – the self we were created to become our self in Christ. It is this self that breathes, stands and sits. It is this self that is. The true self, being simple like God, can be realised through Gyan, which is a precursor to contemplative awareness.

When we receive the Gyan, the Knowledge of God, through the grace of her Holiness Satguru Mataji, we discover our true self. We discover who we truly are, and always have been, even before we were born, created in the image and likeness of God!

If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love becomes perfected in us. By this, we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We can see and now testify that the Father has perpetually sent his Saviour to salvage the world. Whoever confesses that the Saviour abides in him, and he in Him, we then get to know and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. In so doing, we associate with the true self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness, and live a life of completion and fulfilment.

                                                                                                         – Helen Richards, Lichfield

I have realised that my whole life has been a living lie!  Full to the brim with this ‘lie’, I have always been frightened to confront it. I looked for any advantage over others. I tried hard to be happy, with a mind that is both fickle and fussy. I even made mountains out of molehills, many a time. However, it was not so much lying to others, but lying to myself. As the deception happened automatically, I found it difficult to catch myself out in the process.

Despite a lot of introspection and self-reflection, the lie was still there in the background. So much so that it compounded itself and grew exponentially until I understood and fully grasped it.

There was another aspect that fortified the lie. It was simply the fact that I did not question my lying? In the sheer madness of the lie, everything appeared as dangerous; I was full of fear. I could not be myself, but played a role that others expected of me. I was no longer my essential self, but the projected persona of others’ imagination.

Not having learned how to stand before myself, I was attempting to stand before others. It is ironic and most disrespectful to ignore one’s own true self and chase after the illusion of people’s expectations. Moreover, it is not enough to catch myself lying, but to challenge the lie, rather like a policeman challenging a thief.

If I can lie to myself, it becomes easier to lie to others. But if I want to be a spirit of God, then lying is out of the question. Human beings must be the light in darkness, no matter what happens, for Truth is the key to unlock happiness of the heart.

When we go beyond the lie we have to be prepared for the subtle understanding. When peace is understood, it is always with a subtle unspeakable moment.

The search for God was not a deep yearning, but it certainly could not be ignored. After experiencing the bliss of the Gyan, I was faced with the immaculate, all-encompassing peace. I felt this peace was always within me, but I did not have access prior to the Gyan. I felt like a drop in the ocean, but at the same time, I was the ocean! I had no form. Manifold thoughts did not concern me, as they simply came and went. I was here and now. In the Gyan, I was timeless, formless, and in unity with everything.

With this Gyan, I feel at peace, regardless of the situation I find myself in. The Gyan opened the door to the realisation of who I am. While my mind or emotions are conducive to my faltering and becoming unstable, the Gyan brings stability and equilibrium.

Gyan is indeed the greatest blessing to put an end to the lie we call life. Nirankar, in actual fact, is the source of life. Those who recognise this eternal source, live a life that is complete and fulfilled. And only a life that is complete is free from the lie we call life.

                                                                                                           – Eyrk Walton, Wolverhampton

Who are we, and what is the purpose of our life. These are questions that everyone has asked at some point. The truth is that everybody’s journey is different, but the destination, as Mataji tells us, is the same.

The pandemic has been an awakening call for many people around the world. The question – who are we? – is more relevant today than it has ever been for our global community. Seeing people suffer all around us has been a huge testing ground to see how our values actually manifest in the midst of a global crisis.

People from all walks of life, and all religious beliefs, have stepped up to help one another in whichever way they can. Core human values of kindness and altruism have been shown all over the world. There is of course the other side, where people have complete mistrust in humanity. They have bundled government officials, policy makers, scientists and medics together as one big group with an agenda. This is not helpful and nor does it have any factual basis. It is unfortunate that there is lack of knowledge and misinformation about this in some communities. We will focus on the majority of people who have helped with this pandemic through their astounding altruism.

Altruism refers to self-sacrificial acts intended to benefit others, regardless of material or social outcomes for the ‘actor’. An act is altruistic only to the extent that it is motivated by concern for the welfare of others. One definition is that altruistic behaviour is motivated by the desire to affirm one’s own moral values(Schwartz & Howard, 1981).

In other words, altruism is ‘selfless service’, which is a concept our gurus emphasise time and time again. Pro-social behaviour usually entails a mixture of altruistic and other types of motivation. For example, an adult may stop children who are fighting, both because of her own value-based concern for their welfare, and because this act may elicit social approval and enhance her sense of competence.

My recent work in vaccine development with the Jenner Institute team at the University of Oxford has been full of life changing observations. The team worked immensely hard through weekends, day and night, to roll out the vaccine as soon as possible. This was not done for any self-gain or recognition (although there is no doubt that global recognition has been a positive outcome for the work they have done), but to save people’s lives with the knowledge and skills they have. Although the team met their goals and received worldwide recognition for their efforts, a year on many team members have suffered from post-traumatic stress and physiological challenges related to the pressures that they faced in the last year.

One of my colleagues said, for every single day the vaccine was not made available, there were lives being lost. It is interesting how the team felt this responsibility was on them, based on what is essentially their area of interest in their careers. There are hundreds of infectious disease departments, however this team felt it was their duty to serve mankind and produce a vaccine to save lives, even if the pressure of doing so was detrimental to their own health and wellbeing.

It made me think about what all of our interests are (professional or personal) and how we can use them for the benefit of mankind. Why is it that for some people, the desire to help others requires constant reminders through the people around us, yet for others there is more of an intrinsic need to help others, regardless of the recognition we receive or the acknowledgement through the institutions we belong to?

A study by Jonas G Miller and colleagues (2020) showed that mothers’ compassionate love was positively associated with donation behaviour in children. Although these findings contribute to the perspectives that individual differences in altruistic behaviours are intrinsically linked, this also suggests that we tend to pick up positive and helpful behaviours from the people around us. It is imperative to have a guardian, mother or father-like figure guiding us to do the right thing for humanity. Mataji plays a similar role in our lives, where we are influenced by altruistic and philanthropic behaviour that she demonstrates.

Where does the human capacity to care for others come from? Basic aspects of human nature are fundamentally selfish. However, there are people who would put themselves forward to help others at their own cost. The brain of altruistic people is fundamentally different. Brain imaging research shows that clinically diagnosed psychopaths (who have no sense of altruism) have poorer recognition of other people’s fears, and underactive, smaller Amygdalas (a structure in the brain) than others. Altruistic people on the other hand, have better recognition of other people’s fears and an overactive and large Amygdala. Furthermore, altruists do not think about themselves as being at the centre of any arrangement, whereas non- altruistic people feel that the world revolves around them. These scientific studies tell us that where there is a lack of self-centredness, there is greater humanity. Interestingly, this is a fact that many divine souls have taught us, without the need for complex scientific experiments.

Without having looked at scientific studies of anatomy and environmental influences, our guru’s teachings have already shown how helpful altruistic behaviour has such a positive impact on humanity overall and on oneself, even if we do not see ourselves as a factor in the equation. Although this seems like a very basic fact of life, it is something that is often forgotten. It is crucial that we are constantly reminded of the importance of helping each other.

As increasing numbers of people experience the world through loneliness, fear and destitution, altruism and selfless service is needed more than ever before. The pandemic has been a catalyst for like-minded souls to work together. Long may such efforts continue. 

                – Dr Tina Mohindra, UK

When David Brailsford took over the British Cycling Team in 2003 as the performance director, the Team’s cycling record was appalling. Not only did it have no record of success, it was also marked with the shameful headstone: hopeless. No reputable cycling manufacturer wanted anything to do with it, for it had failed to make any impact on the Tour de France, the sport’s Holy Grail, for over a century. Every coach had consistently failed, and sadly, all that the British Cycling Team could boast was one solitary gold medal since 1908. The impact of David Brailsford on the Team was revolutionary. He took the team from practically no medals to 150 gold medals. How did he do this? What was his winning formula?

The method he used is called marginal gains or 1% factor. The science behind this comes from the idea that if you were to break down everything you could think of that goes into riding a bike, and then improve it by 1%, you would get a significant increase when you put them all together.

David began by making the bike seats more comfortable, and rubbed alcohol on the tyres for a better grip. He advised riders to wear electrically heated over-shorts to keep the muscles in prime condition while riding. He also used biofeedback sensors to see how athletes responded to particular workouts. After having tested various fabrics in a wind tunnel, he got his outdoor riders to switch to indoor racing suits for they were lighter and more aerodynamic. Doctors were hired to teach the riders proper ways and means to wash their hands to reduce the chance of catching a cold. Furthermore, pillows and mattresses were tested to see which ones suited the rider’s body structure for rest and optimal performance. The bikes were placed against a white background to see layers of dust, which could cause friction. These and manifold other improvements were considered.

After having implemented these small, aggregate changes, the Team became competitive beyond measure. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it dominated the track and road events, winning over 60% of the gold medals. At the following Olympic Games in London, the Team set 9 Olympic records and 7 world records. Then for the first time in its 110 year history, a British rider won the Tour de France, followed by four further wins. This meant 5 Tour de France successes in only 6 years, and the achievement of 178 championships, 66 Olympic/Para-Olympic medals, all in the space of 10 years. This proved to be the most successful run in cycling history.

This above method shows how the smallest change can make the biggest difference. With the lockdown and confinements in mind, we are now looking to make one huge dramatic change in our lives to overcome all our obstacles. If we believe that with one singular gigantic action, we can bring about a massive change – be it spiritual, physical or economic – then it is nothing but a fool’s paradise. This is because often people reach out for an earth shattering experience to change aspects of their life, without implementing the small steps to reaffirm and strengthen their understanding.

If a pilot adjusts the nose of the plane by only a couple of degrees over a long haul flight, the plane could deviate into another country. Our life’s destination is determined by the small steps we take today. We get what we repeat. If we want to know where we will end up in life, we will have to see how the small efforts we make are compounded. Our perception of ourselves and others becomes a subconscious, habitual practice. When we see others as angry and foolish we begin to find such people everywhere we look. During the lockdown, we saw many demonstrations. More often than not, they were not due to one particular incident, but a series of personal experiences that boil over from a single tragic event, pushed to the tipping point. Behind every sudden change, there are years of unexamined causes.

The accumulation of improvement, based on 1%, may not be noticeable on a daily basis, but it is certainly visible at the end of the year like the impact of eating junk food and playing an instrument over a period of time. Hence, positive results come from taking regular, small steps.

Day’s work – at a jeweller’s,

Won’t adept you, in its art,

A pupil – becoming prefect,

Can’t perform tutor’s part!

He – who’s being schooled,

Could he practically teach?

Having learnt – your lesson,

Only then strive to preach!

Be steadfast, do not falter,

In the secret, that I reveal,

Without  License¹³ –  Avtar,

Fifth pledge:  don’t unveil!

                   – Avtar bani (9E)

The Avtar Bani is crystal clear in its assessment of the successive stages of development. With a single day’s experience at a jeweller’s shop, just as a trainee cannot be an adept at making ornaments, a student, who becomes a monitor, cannot be a fully-fledged teacher. 

The teacher of truth, Baba Avtar Singhji, explains how one day cannot make lasting identity. It is the repeated learning process of mastering the Self which aligns the mind to the Master. As this is a slow process, the mind thinks no difference is being made, thus slides back into its old routines. Small steps on a negative descent are equally damaging over time. Being rude on one occasion can be forgiven, but the continuation of rudeness can end most relationships. There are always dips and lows in any life-driven pursuit. In the landscape of enlightened saints and sages, the unforgettable legacy of their wellbeing for all, is truly exemplary. This overriding cause is achieved with the small steps of living, moment to moment, through the realisation God.

A bamboo is rarely seen for the first few years, as it expands its root system laterally under the soil. When it shoots up perpendicularly in the spring, it can grow up to 90 feet in height. Cancer, similarly, is undetectable 80% of the time, but then it overtakes life rapidly. Life and its challenges are never linear. Even the sudden moment of enlightenment (Gyan) is due to grace, but the years of yearning and preparation of mind to receive that grace cannot be ignored. With small steps, the greatest set back is the feeling that no improvement is being made, for tangible results are not always visible.

Lord Krishna spells it out as follows: You have the right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

Indeed, when success is achieved, people believe it happened overnight, rather than accepting the result of many small steps taken through the jungle of doubts and disappointments.

The notion of spiritual growth is at the heart of small steps. There is no need to follow the rigidity of religious dogmatic rituals, which encage people with isolated routines and occasions. These routines amount to so-called religious days of fasting, praying a prescribed number of times, in a specific manner, clothed in colour-coded apparels. Spiritual growth cannot be real, if it is stifled by limiting measures. But when it flourishes, through the divine link with the Unlimited, every action becomes sacred. 

When water flows from the kitchen tap to the sink, we can also see the essence without form – the Divine – flowing undamped. In seeing a fallen leaf, ruffled in the breeze, we can see how the essence without form remains unruffled and unchanged. These moments, weaving naturally and effortlessly within the ordinary, make each moment extraordinary, filling everything with wonder and joy. This joy is multiplied when we meet others who also experience such insights in daily life. We can start today to see how the small steps we take towards God are actually reflected in the small steps we take towards each another.

We start by walking towards the Teacher of Truth, which is a huge life-changing event; it is akin to planting a seed in the ground. It is Lord Jesus Christ’s mustard seed, a tiny seed that grows into a mighty tree. Describing the Kingdom of God as the smallest mustard seed, at first, may appear to be an oxymoron, and yet it is so because the smallest seed is compared to God’s boundless presence. This boundless Godly presence is held within the smallest act of seeking grace.

Religion is shackled to large festivals, holy days, yearly ritual observances and large displays of sacrificial homages. In actual fact, the spiritual path is one that is lived in small steps, within every hidden, small breath. Every breath is a spiritual journey of conversing  with, and perceiving, the Lord. Every small street can become a holy path and every small room, a sacred temple. Such a way of life is found also when we study the lives of the enlightened. When we realise God is not isolated, then we, as humans, cease to isolate one another.

God is neither isolated in temples nor in distant expansive skies, but resides even within the smallest particles and atoms. Humility in itself has been coined as the way to God, to live the vastness of divinity in every small aspect of life. Such a unique life acts as a lightning rod in the world for those seeking purpose, love and oneness. So, take the first step towards a life of completion.

          – Surjit Dhami, Cannock, UK

Knowledge, we are told, is information, while wisdom (Vivek) is the ability to use that knowledge to make correct judgements, and to take balanced decisions in life. This wisdom is the domain of the wise, who listen with Satguru’s ears, walk with Satguru’s feet, speak with Satguru’s tongue, and act with the grace of Satguru. They are not only positive, but also have the enormous capacity to adapt to situations, however challenging.

I can vividly recall, until the age of 8, as to how poor we were, deprived of even the most basic of requirements. But despite this, my parents would always reassure us by saying, always be thankful to Nirankar, for we have a lot more than others, some of whom don’t even have a roof over their heads. With this attitude we learnt to be very happy with the little that we had.

Such was my parents’ large-heartedness that even with their impoverished state, they would spend the little money they had, ferrying us in a horse-drawn carriage across the state of Punjab, in the early hours of the morning, attending Sangats from village to village. This was their contribution towards creating the much-needed awareness about the Mission.    

All our family savings would go to this monthly trip, which was financially taxing, but always spiritually rewarding. We also managed to get to the Nirankari Samagam in Delhi every year. However, this was only possible by joining the Hoshiarpur Sewadal Band! Their transport arrangements were a little tight, but our excitement was never dampened. After all, we were going to be part of a world spiritual event that would reconstitute the very human condition, filling it to the hilt with divine qualities that heal and redeem.

When I look back and reflect, I realise that life is about perspective – a positive perspective. It is about recognising that our standard of living is not based on what we have, but what we do with it. It is about enjoying the ride of life, experiencing greatness in everything we do.

A positive perspective is about learning to be easy on ourselves, others, and our circumstances. Such an approach always allows us to live more freely, unhindered by the dictates of society. I thank my parents, for instilling these values in me.  None of it would have been possible, without our involvement in the Sant Nirankari Mission.

                                                                                                     – Kavita Nakkra, Huddersfield, UK

In forgiveness, I believe there are two things to bear in mind: a show of love or a call for love. If you encounter someone who either offends you or physically attacks you, it is a good idea to step back and go to peace and not break into pieces. You are to ask yourself the question, is this not a call for love? Then pause for a thought, and think again. Soften your heart and show your love for them, and forgive them.

After all, being One, and God’s own Masterpiece, would you really want to condemn your fellow-masterpieces? I ask you to try and make forgiveness your interest. Try to forgive whatever takes you away from your peace, surrender to the light of love that is within you, and say in your mind,

I am lifted, I am gifted, and I rise in God.

Some people may indulge in terrible acts or commit heinous crimes, but in this world of illusions, they are displaying a call for love. Their thoughts may have become twisted, as a result of which their actions, at the time, may well have seemed right to them. We are to simply ask ourselves, in having reached such a situation, do they not show a real calling for love?

Let us forgive and be of service to all. We do not have to condone or accept their actions, but we can forgive them in our mind. I personally find that when I forgive, I feel better, as I am not holding in the hurt, anger, or grudge. The Avtar Bani (270) explains it as follows:

Unless tolerance thankfulness n’ peace

Are executed by one and all – Nirankar,

They remain far away – from happiness

Ever enfolded by sorrow – Oh Nirankar!

     – Hardev Bani (270)

Indeed, it is never easy; sometimes it is the hardest thing to do, but we can and should forgive. For forgiveness means letting go of your right to punish another and choosing through the power of God’s love to hold onto the other person rather than his or her offense. Katherine T Owens expresses it as follows:

God does not forgive because He has never condemned.

And there must be condemnation before forgiveness is necessary.

Forgiveness is the great need of the World

But that is because it is a world of illusions.

Those who forgive are thus releasing themselves from illusions.

While those who withhold forgiveness, are binding themselves to them.

As you condemn only yourself, so do you forgive only yourself?

The Hawaiian prayer, The Ho’nopono, meaning move back to balance or to make things right, puts it as follows:

I Am Sorry

Please Forgive Me

Thank You

I Love You

Forgiving or generating this positive energy is of the utmost importance. When we meet in a group, we acquire and further develop the energy of love and forgiveness. We all feel this energy. Science has proven that our hearts emanate a magnetic field that spreads out in all directions. When we have positive thoughts and emotions, our heart field joins with the heart field of others around us, lifting us and helping us to grow stronger and stronger. Lord Jesus Christ sums it up as follows:

Do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon and you will be pardoned. Luke 6:37 –

James Ferris, Birmingham, UK

Our cognitive behaviour system – i.e. our thinking, feeling and action pattern – is developed through inter-connected layers of core beliefs, mental distortion, and automatic thoughts that ultimately influence the way we see ourselves in the context of the world. Many psychologists suggest that we build biases, rules for living, and thinking constraints, which ultimately influence our identity. Both the self and self-esteem take birth in the early stages of life. The former becomes our new-found identity, and the latter, the sum total of our overall opinions and self-worth as people.

There are many factors and forces that shape our character. No two babies, born on the same day, are the same; they grow up to be completely different people. This is because our cognitive development – i.e. maturation, discovery methods, social transmissions, culture and language – impact different people differently. Siblings sharing the same parental guidance, exposed to the same social environment, school, myths, heros, and ideals, still develop uniquely different characters. So much so that even a memory shared with an immediate family member or sibling, is described differently.

Shadow

In our state of awareness, we all harbour our own unique pattern of thoughts and feelings, including those of shame, guilt, anger and anxiety. This is something that Carl Jung describes as a shadow. It is part of our personality that we choose to reject and repress. It is usually stored, hidden away, and dramatised as internal monologues and negative feelings that manifest towards ourselves, others and the world.

This not only disrupts our life, but undermines who we are as well. It creates feelings of incompetency and inadequacy, severely hindering what we can do in life. A person, who feels inadequate in himself, may also find himself criticising the world around him. In fact, a person who lives with self-hatred is akin to a constant bully, who criticises, judges and belittles himself, making himself worthless, bad and a failure. Perhaps this self-hatred or self- discrimination is where discrimination towards others is born. Racism and casteism are nothing but devices to protect our opinions and privileges.   

How do we stop hating ourselves? How do we stop hiding behind artificial smiles and truly begin to feel a sense of genuine love towards ourselves and others?

The main contribution to personal development begins with recognising that we may have unhelpful thoughts and old views that may never have been challenged. Recognising these thoughts means that we give ourselves permission to express ourselves to attain new self-understanding. We cannot be open to others if we do not open up to ourselves. These defensive walls in our hearts and minds have to be dismantled, for failure to do so, hinders our progress.

It is always helpful to capture our unhelpful thoughts by writing them down in a journal, and when we get to reflect on them, be prepared to be slightly uncomfortable. All the fears and negativity we feel, can and will become energy redirected! Humble, the poet, once said, If you make an identity out of being broken, you are never going to get better. He explains that there is a difference between self-love and simply feeling sorry for yourself. He emphasises the way we treat ourselves. How we treat ourselves dictates how others will treat us. We all have shortcomings, but what matters most is how we shift our focus back onto ourselves, recognising both the positives and the negatives. It is important to have reverence for both the dark and light parts of ourselves, for they make us who we are.  

Befriend yourself

The next step is to learn to be friends with ourselves. I always hear people say how much they love their body or aspects of their appearance, but very few ever express how much they love their mind! We need to go back to basics by building a new relationship with ourselves, learning to treat ourselves with the same love and respect that we direct towards someone we care for.

This helps us to recognise the illusion, in that we compare ourselves to an illusion of ourselves and others. Our so-called fixed identity is false. All the thoughts, habits, labels we put on ourselves are not solid facts, but simply reactions, experiences, opinions built through life experiences. The brain acts like a radio receptor, receiving and transmitting different frequencies. Depending on how you tweak the frequencies, determines if you access more or less consciousness for a particular situation, to which we all react. Self- realisation offers the mind an opportunity to evolve and overcome these processors to expand ourselves beyond such illusions.

Truth Set You Free

It has been said that truth can set us free. The truth that is referred to is a sense of knowingness/awareness of who we really are beyond the mind. This truth is about our deeper, collective consciousness; it is the recognition that we are all, without exception, inter-connected; and it is the special knowledge that helps us to break away from our limited identity to be one with the Unlimited Source of everything.

Who we are can be found in Gnostic Knowledge (Gyan), which opens us up to love, compassion, tolerance, kindness and laughter. When we laugh we know we are taking ourselves less seriously; when we tolerate another, we know we are looking at situations from the other’s point of view; when we show a non-judgemental stance, we show that perhaps the other individual may be right; and when we open up to other possibilities, we are acknowledging that there are many ways of being in the world.

Looking at life from alternative view-points helps us to go beyond limits of the mind and towards perspectives of wholeness for both ourselves and others. The Hardev Bani, 94, explains such wholeness as follows:

Why wander aimlessly here and there,

In chasing pseudo happiness, Nirankar

Why not rely upon this Sovereign Lord,

Worship Him at every breath, Nirankar    

                                                                             – Harishta Kaur, Huddersfield, UK

Born and raised in the the Sant Nirankari Mission, I have been constantly guided and inspired by my Spiritual Mentor and the fellowship of Saints to which I belong. And because one of the pillars of the Mission is not just to serve, but to serve one and all selflessly with love and compassion, without any expectation of reward or gratitude, I have found myself amongst Saint-devotees, engaged in selfless service (Seva) – both as a recipient and someone who is trying to contribute.

Sadly, I found myself serving only when it was convenient for me, and not when the need was there. Several times, I had the opportunity to serve HH Babaji, personally, in differing capacities, be they something as simple as serving him refreshments, helping him to feel comfortable or attending to him in a professional capacity as a Dentist. Whenever the opportunity arose, I would feel so privileged, so fortunate, and so blessed to serve Satguru in person. For me, it signified a way of expressing gratitude for the priceless gift of God-realisation that he bestowed upon me.

On the one hand, I would be feeling so humbled and grateful on a spiritual level. On the other hand, my ego was being stoked with thoughts of deservedness or specialness. Pride led me to believe I had been chosen above everyone else for this Seva, which in turn must signal I am doing something right. I have come to realise that this was a misplaced belief – anyone can perform Seva, regardless of their capacity, skillset or prowess.  It is simply a matter of Grace.

Now, I consider Seva a blessed opportunity – an invitation to improve myself spiritually. The more Seva I get, the more I feel I have so much yet to learn. I compose myself when serving, through Simran, my prayer to Nirankar.  I also speak openly with Nirankar, in words such as these:

Nirankar, this is all your doing; I am here because of you,
In every opportunity and obstacle I face, you’re the giver,
I surrender to you; I am at your will,
You are the doer, I am just a vessel
Whatever the outcome, it is as per your wish.
During Seva, keep me composed, and engrossed in Simran

And then after serving – whether it is a direct act for Satguru, or for the wider good – I would be overwhelmed with joy, and continue to correspond with the Formless:

Thank you Nirankar,
Thank you for the opportunity; it was all your doing,
Thank you for allowing me to be the vessel for your work,
The outcome is as per your wish.

The reason for becoming nervous before Seva, is simply because I had not surrendered to Nirankar. I was not allowing myself to live within Nirankar; it was all back to ‘me’. I wanted the rewards and recognition. It was “I” taking on the responsibility.  Such ego-identification always blocks the flow and ease of Seva.  Hunger for merit is a manifestation of ego. But it is a loss-transaction – if I wish to feel proud and cash in the rewards for the Seva I feel I have done (or am doing), then I must also carry the burden of fear, anxiety, and risk of not meeting expectations. Such pride makes me forget this body is just a shell, a vessel.  In seeking accolades, I had fill the vessel with my ego – with ‘me’. I put my droplet of water in it, instead of allowing the ocean of Nirankar to wash over it.

My perspective on Seva changed when I heard of an incident. A devotee once asked Satguru, ‘I would like to serve you personally; please may I serve you?’

Satguru’s response was:

If you want to serve me, serve humanity.
By serving humanity, you are serving me!

Every single day since, I have looked for opportunities to serve humanity.  Whilst Seva is much more than charitable endeavour or aide to the needy, it is also important to respond to those who are less privileged, or suffering. Sometimes I oblige, but often I do not. Usually, I refrain from wider humanitarian work, making excuses that I am tired or busy. I feel I have more important things to do. Besides, I question myself: “why should I; can’t they do it themselves; why isn’t there someone else taking responsibility; what will I get out of it?”

Seva is actually an act of worship and reverence – it cannot be performed if we feel we are better, wiser or more privileged than others.  It’s defining mark is humility and unconditional regard.  Satguru inspires us to serve fellow Saint-devotees, because we see the light of God within them. If Satguru allows us to serve him, it is only so that we can perfect the art of Seva, and then carry that understanding in every other context in which we may serve.

Satguru wants me to know what it’s like to serve Him,
And through this, to know what it means to serve others!

Satguru wants me to feel those same emotions, the same level of surrender that I felt when I served him. This is so that I recognise the state of heart and mind I should enjoy when I serve others. In fact, when the opportunity to serve others comes, then I should grab it with both hands! It is truly a blessing. When such an opportunity to serve others comes, we must simply surrender to Nirankar.

Nirankar, this is all your doing; I am here because of you,
In every opportunity and obstacle I face, you’re the giver.
Indeed, when we serve others, we’re serving the Satguru,
This is how we show gratitude to the Satguru, and to God.

It is important to realise that Humanness is the religion Babaji wanted of us – first he taught is the lesson of Oneness and Harmony, and then he encouraged us in his final message to us, to be deeply, deeply human. Every human being is the creation of the Almighty. There is no way you can love God, without loving his creation.

Just as for any subject matter, the practical is just as important as the theory – perhaps even moreso. The Knowledge of God (Gyan) is no different. Saints do not teach others merely through lip-service, but through their practical lives. Action is found to be more effective than words. This is why the spiritually enlightened devotees always speak through their actions. They put into practice what they say and inspire others to do the same. The concept of selfless service – Seva- is not just to serve, but to serve selflessly – Baba Hardevji explains as follows:

Let us be the lighthouse that illumines the lives of others through our actions                                                                                                                               

 -Dr Sumeet Bassan, Sutton Coldfield UK