God does have a formless existence, but it is difficult to realize him as such. It is easy to forget that he is within us as well as being omnipresent.

Why do we get so attached to the form? If something lacks form does it make it nonexistent? Our thoughts and ideas are formless.  Emotions are formless. We don’t refute them. Our essence, spirit or soul is formless and yet, many of us believe it exists because we feel something when we are still, silent and connecting to our inner core.

Whenever we talk about the formless, our mind asks for hard evidence, wanting proof of its existence.  Evidence exists, but only when we are prepared to understand it – like gravity or sound waves are invisible, but can only be perceived with the right instruments.  Formless things cannot be seen or touched, but the effects of them can be experienced.  The same applies with the soul or spirit, and with the formless Lord.

To shift our awareness from the form to the formless, we need an awakening. This journey from initial awakening to fully fledged enlightenment is an ever-expanding journey of consciousness. Prior to awakening, we are so anchored in our skin-suit, living in the world of flesh. The physical form is so real and precious. Matter, time and space seem to be ‘the everything’. After awakening, we get a glimpse that there may be more to life than what our physical eyes can see, or our wider sense organs can capture. Only the organ of the soul, itself formless and invisible, can tune into the universal formless through which the entire cosmos has come forth.

As we reach higher consciousness, we start to connect with the almighty and know the guidance we receive here to be from a higher “more-knowing” or “all-knowing” presence. It is only a matter of time before we begin to believe more in the FORMLESS, which is eternal and enduring, than the FORM, which is fleeting and transitory.   

Along the journey to awaken to the formless, the human mind is vulnerable to the innumerable distractions of this world. It can easily wonder and become agitated. To declutter our overly active minds, we must focus single-mindedly on the energy of the omnipresent during prayer. Practice builds strength and therefore a consistent routine of praying each day is required Focused, heartfelt and purposeful prayer is the key. We must strive hard to quiet the overly active mind.

Once we have calmed and settled the mind, we can begin developing insight.  Having had a Gyan awakening, we can to initiate our connection to the formless. We must be cautious of the fact that fear weakens us and diminishes our focus. Fear is easily and unreservedly overcome with love.  In this way, a sense of openness, space, clarity, awareness, sensitivity and responsiveness begins to flow.  All these wonderful attributes, which come with our connection to the formless, move freely into our lives and then overflow into the environment around, for the benefit of all.

For a long time the practice of formless meditation may feel like a struggle but it is a constant fight to let go of complications and return to simplicity. As our practice develops, we are able to recognise and liberate ourselves from our habitual thought patterns.

Essentially, to understand the formless we must let go and empty our minds. We have to momentarily let go of all forms of attachment. Once there is realization of awareness and non-attachment, then there’s no need to be limited in form anymore, because the path of awareness is very clear – the formless becomes the driving force. Rather than looking for peace or fulfilment in things that we can conceive or imagine, peace is really to be found in no-thing, or in the formless (that without form, Nirankar).   

Formless meditation allows us to realise our natural state of being.  It facilitates us to calmly abide in the natural rhythm of the universe, in the humble knowing that in our formless essence, we are the centre of everything. We are then able to let go of all the problems dominating us.  This is because problems always come in the world of form.  However, we can soar above any suffering just as a plane flies over any turbulence in its path, if the pilot knows how to navigate a higher course. Let us engage in formless meditation, or Simran, as often as possible.  It will help us move from initial awakening to enduring enlightenment, as we master the realisation of the formless.

-Deepak Parkash, London

What is detachment?

In rising above our intelligence – i.e. our physicality, emotions, psychology and memory (physical, karmic, genetic, and hereditary) – we become detached. Conscious and in control, we become like the Buddha, present, and unaffected by the travails of life.

Such a detachment is a state of inner calmness and poise, and the ability not to let what people say or do agitate you emotionally and disturb you inwardly.

This skill – and it is a skill – helps you keep your poise in difficult situations, and enables you to avoid dwelling in the past and occupying your mind with negative thoughts.

It is a skill which can help you keep your mental and emotional poise and balance, and avoid taking things too personally.

Positive emotional detachment is not a state of indifference or passiveness, and does not mean a lack of interest or a lack of feelings; it is something else. It is an attitude of open-mindedness and of being all together practical.

You can be loving, caring, interested in people, and yet keep a certain measure of detachment. This would protect you from becoming too attached for your own good, or being emotionally drained by negative people.

People, who possess detachment, keep their poise when they run into problems. They accept the good and the bad equally, because their minds are in a state of inner balance and peace. They do not get upset if their plans do not turn out as expected. They try again, or look for a new approach.

If they succeed, they are happy, and if they do not, they either try again or forget the matter and move on to something else.

Saints does this sound familiar?

We usually hear that these attributes come from the advent of Gyan, and they do. One of the many gifts that Gyan gives us is the initiative of being emotionally detached, but forever positive, never negative.

Sometimes, in our day to day lives, we do come across challenging situations, which agitate and upset us. However, this gift of being emotionally detached allows us to look beyond these petty problems.

We are blessed to have this Gyan which not only gives us this one gift, but many more. In the face of challenging situations may I also be detached and positive, and without upsetting anyone, look beyond the situation.

May I not only achieve, but forever live this life of detached balance.

                                                                                                              – Simran Nahar

The dictionary explanation for the word compassion is sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. However, I believe that compassion has a very broad remit in terms of meaning, expression and experience. Let me elaborate.

In my days in the army, when a service man requested leave for unexpected circumstances – i.e. an accident or death of a family member -, the officers in charge, who, in normal situations declined leave, would readily agree to such requests on compassionate grounds. Compassionate grounds, therefore, meant allowing the individual to leave with no questions asked.

But how do we relate to compassion in our day to day life? The most important thing, first of all, is to relate to the person across from us, irrespective of his place of origin and his mode of life.  For that to happen, however, the following things are important:

1. The ability to put our personal experiences and opinions aside, and try to relate to the other person facing us (sometimes, to use our experience to help us stand in the other’s shoes).
2. Not to attempt to judge the person and find reasons to fault him or her.
3. Lending a listening ear and not putting yourself out to give an opinion, unless specifically asked for one.

Simply said, with these 3 factors intact, we can naturally arrive at a compassionate stance. You find that any problem can either be solved or softened in impact when the suffering person is approached in a calm and responsive manner. This needs a compassionate heart.

I remember a time when Baba Hardev Singh ji spoke to me with a heart filled with compassion.  He said, even if saints doze off in the Sangat, they still get the benefits of being there. In challenging this viewpoint, you can indeed question as to how a person, asleep in the Sangat, can actually gain anything. Baba ji expresses it compassionately as, a saint who sleeps in the Sangat clearly needs a break from his or her stressful life.  If nothing else, the Sangat offers that saint rest and comfort. I wonder how I would judge someone who fell asleep next to me in the Sangat. Would I deal with him compassionately or rebuke him?

In short, with the ever-evolving world of technology, achieving any task is getting faster and faster with innovative gadgets. But with all this growth, individual evolution is important too, and must not be neglected. While computers can solve problems at lightning speed, we should be both quick and at the same time patient in helping others with their needs. Our compassion for each other will move us to action.  When combined with tolerance and kind patience, no problem is too great. 

Our daily self-analysis must see if our compassion is becoming stronger or actually suffering from compassion fatigue. Ironically, we rarely tire from ridiculing, criticising and judging others. Why is it that we tire of being compassionate?  One cure for this issue is to consider how we would feel if people tired in their care and compassion for us.

Compassion is a deeply human response.  In practicing it, not only do our communication skills improve, but so do our relational responsiveness and friendships.  What is more, by exercising compassion we are guaranteed an upwards trajectory of personal growth.  This certainly keeps us on the right track as a human being.

When we are compassionate, every decision we make comes from the heart, not our mind.  It is important that the heart supersedes the mind, where the response needed is one of love and care, rather than opinions and advice.  As compassion develops within, even the words we speak as guidance are imbued with love and kindness.

– Jaidev A Nanwani, Singapore

I would like to share some thoughts about spreading humanness.  As human beings, we all have a responsibility to work towards unity in diversity, removing hatred and breaking down barriers in the world.

I have been greatly blessed to have been in the presence of Her Holiness Satguru Mata Sudiksha ji, who is actually spreading the message of humanness around the world. My experience of Gyan – God Knowledge – is entirely because of her grace. Indeed, it is to Satguru that we must turn not only for guidance on how to live after the Gyan, but also for inspiration to share the message of Gyan with others.

When I received the Gyan, there were many emotions, the greatest of which was a feeling of being forgiven. Until that moment, I had no idea as to how much I yearned to be forgiven, and how much it would change my life. To be forgiven allows us to forgive others. Alone, on our own, we are not able to change the world. Of course, we first have to start with ourselves, but it is Satguru who shows us how to make that change, which in turn makes a difference in the world. If we are to succeed in establishing unity, succeed in removing hatred and intolerance, succeed in sharing love and compassion, and succeed in embracing diversity of all colours and creeds, then we must begin with sharing the message of the Gyan. For all of this begins with God realization.

To be blessed with God knowledge is to be blessed with a new life – a life full of peace, love, humility, tolerance and understanding. We must be mindful, however, not to keep Satguru’s blessings for ourselves. We must share these blessings with others. Even love is not love until you give it away. To remove hatred and separation, the message of the Gyan must be shared with others so that they too can enjoy the blessings and share them with others in turn.

I am inspired by the stories I have heard of the early days in the 60’s when the Mission was new to the UK. There were just a handful of saints, which have grown today to several thousand devotees around the country. How did this happen? It happened because of their faith in the Gyan and the Satguru, who reveals God to all. They established their faith through the pillars of Satsang, Simran and Sewa. Having adopted these teachings into their lives, they then invited others to share the Gyan with others, through the grace of the Satguru.

They invited people to the Satsang, invited them to receive the Gyan, and shared the bliss they themselves had found. Their hard work and devotion to Nirankar has left us a legacy that we must perpetuate for other generations to experience and share. The work of the Mission is about the welfare of the world, not just us as individuals. It is the most human thing in the world to want to share this bliss with others.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to be involved with people who have only recently received the Gyan, opening up their homes, and inviting others to attend gatherings. I also give them the opportunity to know God. We have been blessed with the company of people from many different faiths and backgrounds – Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Pagan. These are people who have attended services and read Scriptures for many years. They say they have truly met God for the first time. This was only possible after having receiving the Gyan, which seemed to have transformed their lives.

The greatest blessing is to bring someone to God. Such a person, in turn, goes out into the world to spread love, peace and forgiveness. This is how we change the world, with loving action. It is not done with protests, not with anger, not with separation or judgement of others, but with sharing the love we have received through God knowledge.

Baba ji likened us to a bird with two wings – one wing represents the Gyan and God knowledge, and the other, action, which is the spreading of the knowledge. And when we use both wings, we fly like an eagle. The message is that we must not only live the teachings of Gyan, but also take action to spread the message to others.

It is my humble prayer that the Gyan reaches around the world.  I also pray that we are all blessed vessels of Nirankar, in a position to make a small contribution towards sharing the message of the Gyan, with the grace of the Satguru. This is the starting point, and what humanness is all about.

-Maggie Fletcher

“Peace, that’s all that anyone wants”, a friend said to me after I told him I had decided to wind down the business that I had run for nearly 8 years. Having spent many years craving and searching for peace, I honestly thought that time out from a busy working life would be the answer. That was not so; it did not bring the peace that I craved.

Ironically, the word peace is banded around frequently.  When the children were small, we would get them into bed and have a little bit of peace and quiet. However, in that instance, the peace in question was not true peace, but just quiet time for the re-charging of batteries. When the children wake up, not only does the sense of peace fade, but it is also forgotten.

Some people believe that going on retreat – staying at a remote monastery or going on a pilgrimage – can bring a certain peace into their lives. No doubt time spent away from daily life can bring huge benefits, but when the person returns home, does that remain? If the peace that is found in that environment is dependent on a certain level of quiet or solitude, or due to the absence of interruptions caused by digital devices, then the peace in question may be lost almost immediately, particularly if you get caught in the rush hour after a long return journey home.

Human beings crave peace. They always desire for Peace of Mind. This may be sought by ensuring we have our smartphones with us wherever we go, just in case we break down in the car, or our family needs us in an emergency, or that we are in danger. However, this may give rise to unnecessary anxiety, expecting the unexpected. What kind of peace is that?

Advertisers bombard us with information about how we might achieve happiness, health and inner peace. Finding the right toothpaste that ensures our teeth are the whitest they have ever been, or releasing precious equity from our houses may indeed bring momentary peace, but what happens when we have toothache, or run into financial trouble? Does it matter how white our teeth are? All we can think about is what painful treatment we may need to stop the toothache. The equity also may bring peace and joy by releasing money, but after the wonderful lifetime trip or the purchase of a new settee, the supposed peace may ebb, when the interest fees begin to bite.

Peace is shattered is a common phrase, often used to mean that peace is disturbed. But is it true peace that can be shattered so easily?

Perhaps the word peace should not be used so glibly. It is something that once discovered, should be treasured.  The human psyche focuses on creating peace – fragile peace – that depends on external factors. These factors – money, wealth, health, land, and relationships – cannot maintain any lasting peace, for they are all transitory.

The wonderful Nirankari Mission and the Neti-Neti meditation have revealed to me that the only lasting peace that can be sought is through love of Nirankar, the Formless.  Nirankar loves us so much that there is nothing we can do or say that will ever interrupt the flow of that love. This does not mean that we are free to cause pain or injustice; we must be accountable for these actions in the due process. However, the lasting peace that we feel knowing the love of Nirankar, is eternal. Far from living with guilt that has built up from past mistakes, weaknesses, thoughtless acts, we can talk to Nirankar and ask for forgiveness. Through the practice of Simran, we get to know and feel the peace of forgiveness and the all-embracing unconditional love of Nirankar.

When we realise that the Formless is the constant in our lives, we experience the inner peace that we have so desperately craved from the outside.  This is a peace that remains when we are in pain, when we are sad, when the world is in chaos, when we are tired, and when we are frustrated or disappointed. All of these emotions are transitory because the world is transitory. However, when everything we know disappears, the love and peace of the Formless is still there. It is always there with us. We do not need anything else to create or hold on to it. Nirankar is the peace.                               

– Helen Richards, Lichfield, UK

What do we mean by Truthful Living?  In his message at a youth conference in Delhi, Baba Hardev Singh Ji offered an insight into this topic in a manner that will resonate and feel relevant for people of all ages.  Speaking clearly and concisely, Babaji made it apparent what he wished from each of us, if we are to live a life of truth.

He explained that we are to properly understand the essence and the principles of the Sant Nirankari Mission. Babaji asked that we make use the Knowledge of God, seeing it as the true basis of our life. Those who understand the Knowledge wish to strengthen their connection with it. 

Babaji explained that the Mission is really a call to Oneness.  In other words, it is a teaching for brotherhood, love, tolerance and non-violence.  I feel Babaji was requesting our participation in spreading this message, so that it could reach every corner of the world.

Speaking further, Baba ji used the analogy of “walls” and “bridges”. He emphasised the importance of building bridges of understanding and cooperation between human beings, whilst being weary of the harmfulness created by walls of separation, prejudice and ignorance. Babaji made it abundantly clear that where there are walls between us, these are man-made barriers – divisions we have made which lead to growing distances from one another. These barriers have been formed from man’s ego, ignorance and desire for one-upmanship.

During a subsequent youth conference in Calgary, Canada, Baba ji spoke to an international assembly of youth members of the Mission.  The very theme of this conference was “…a world without walls”. In this meeting, Babaji described the manner in which walls are creating havoc with our world.  He inspired all present to use our efforts to pull down the walls and build bridges.  Babaji helped me understand that these bridges are necessary to establish peace and engender a sense of the global family of humankind. By coming closer to each other, irrespective of differences in diet, dress, nationality and culture, Babaji envisioned the growth of Oneness and Humanness.   

Babaji’s message was for the betterment of the whole of mankind, not just a sub-class or select few. Today, we are witnessing so much violence, where innocent blood is being shed. We need Babaji’s wisdom more than ever before. We need to be guided by the truth.  With the Knowledge of God as our foundation, it becomes possible to build towering examples of truthful and sincere living.

Let us consider that whenever we behave erratically, rudely or discriminate against the rights of others, we have lost sight of truth and truthful living.  Then even small things become big issues.  Being slowed down by 1-2 minutes on our journey to work becomes a catalyst for some disproportionate act of road rage. If minor things grate and irritate us, how will we even begin to tackle the global conflicts that are decimating our planet? Whenever we become intolerant, we are not being guided by knowledge and wisdom – this becomes a source of pain and troubles. The analogy Baba ji used to illustrate this state of affairs, was that of tooth decay, or as he playfully put it, “TRUTH DECAY”. 

When I was younger, I wanted to become a teacher. I soon realised that before I could share any knowledge with others, I would have to become a learner first of all. I had to go to school to acquire the requisite knowledge and tools. For part of my studies, I was told I would need to engage in an original research thesis, with which to add to existing knowledge and deepen my own understanding of any chosen subject. Along the way, I knew I would have to face the challenge of exams. I made a start, but after my first year of degree level education, I gave up. I simply found it too tough and never reached my desired outcome. 

It is very similar on the spiritual path.  To become a true devotee, there are instances in life when we are faced with tough times – challenges and tests.  We have to apply our knowledge, and discover it’s depths.  There is the laboratory of the world, and the tutorial group we find in Sangat, where fellow learners on the path support and inspire us. Using these tools and practices, we can build our faith and stay the course. The Mission becomes a school for our soul, teaching us how to live a saintly and noble life. However, if we do not use what we are taught or give due attention to the knowledge being shared, there is no application of the principles within our daily life.  We may find it too hard or fail to fully appreciate the real value of the teachings and opportunity.

In listening to a discourse by Mata Sawinder Hardev ji, the very same message is emphasised.  Mataji shared that having the Gyan (Knowledge of God) is not enough; after having the Gyan it is important for us to live as it teaches. But how do we do that? What I have realised through Sangat, is that we have to surrender to God and have complete faith in His work. I learned from another discourse by Mata Sawinder ji, that change is possible.  She spoke of a small caterpillar, which is capable of transforming into a beautiful butterfly. It is only able to metamorphosise if it can let go of its body, fearlessly moving with whatever is coming to pass.  This is the kind of surrender and faith we all need, if we are to transform into saintly beings and lead a truthful life. 

As I conclude, I recall my attempt to climb Mount Batur in Bali.  Standing at an imposing height over 2,000 feet, I set off with a small group during the early morning hours with the objective of seeing the sunrise at the peak. Using a small flashlight we began our ascent, with one tour guide at the front of the group and one behind. About an hour in, I began to struggle to keep up with the group, as the path was becoming pretty steep. Gradually, I fell to the back. The tour guide at the rear was very attentive to my struggles. As I was losing faith in myself and thinking I couldn’t continue, I almost felt ready to give up. What saved me was my guide, who kept faith in me.  He walked at my pace, and stayed with me. He encouraged me to take my time, sometimes modelling where to place my foot and at other times pulling me up as required. With his support and guidance, I managed to reach the peak. I climbed a mountain and saw the sunrise.  The sight was breath-taking. 

Living a truthful life, can feel like a monumental task.  The path can tough, and our stamina may desert us. We may also lose faith and direction.  But when we have a good guide, even the most unlikely person can make the journey, and succeed.  For me, Babaji and now Mataji are my sacred guides.  With their encouragement and modelling, I am making progress.    It reminds me of an often spoken quote, which seems like an apt way to conclude;

“When God pushes you to the edge of difficulty trust him fully because two things can happen.
Either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He will teach you how to fly”.

-Gurmeet Dhillon

Every morning we perform the ritual of prepping our bodies to engage in the public arena. On autopilot, we breeze through the ritual bathing, combing, brushing and dressing. As we proceed, we focus intently on each segment of hair, teeth, skin and clothing, and then with a quick glance we view the whole. One thing we don’t do during this ritual is to look at our true self with a good solid look into the eyes, the gateway to the soul. We make eye contact with other people, but we don’t make eye contact with ourselves. Somehow it is uncomfortable looking into one’s own eyes for any length of time.

Yet, if we do dare to stare, we fear the reflection of a fractured self, as if viewing our self with a broken mirror. The broken mirror distorts our reflection, making us appear somewhat unsettling, as we see ourselves strangely looking back. The feeling is unsettling because, with an honest analysis, we know our own faults and problems. Admitting to all of our shortcomings presents to us a multiple personality person. Just who are we? It seems quite perplexing to determine our true identity.

Wouldn’t it be grand to look our self in the eye and know exactly who and what we are? Yet instead we see a fractured self, but in reality we are whole and one with all. The key to this viewpoint of “Oneness” is revealed by the Satguru with the message of “Know One, Believe in One and Become One”. Once we have taken the fundamental step of God-realization, then we move on to have faith in God by building a relationship. Becoming very close to God finalizes the effort, as we become one with the One.

There is a final step that Satguru has given us – Self Realization through God Realization. This follow-on step is the way we finally meet our self, just like looking into the mirror and seeing one image. One image that you know is you. The process of knowing God allows us to know the self. We are not the body, but we are truly the soul housed in the body. We must relate to God with the soul and realizing the soul is all that matters, because that is our true identity.

Daring to stare at one’s self challenges us to accept our faults, to own up to them and to resolve them. The ability to accept and resolve comes with the knowledge of God and of the self. The empowerment is overwhelming once God is revealed and a serious acceptance and following occurs. Without the true connection to God, our life takes the course of the billions walking in darkness – i.e. the blind leading the blind.

Connecting to God takes a keen awareness of God’s presence all around us. Awareness is how we focus on anything important to us. That is how we are able to achieve success in our family, education and professional work. The same principle applies when relating to God. For without awareness and focus, the connection lies dormant. That is why we must remember God at all times and stay connected, so that we can look our self squarely in the eyes and know our true self – the soul.

 – Dan Slebodnik Washington D.C.

A few weeks ago I was attending a lecture on mindfulness in medicine. The physician spoke about a number of things concerning the topic. One topic in particular struck a chord with me. It was when she asked all of the attendees to stand up, raise one arm up, pointing our index finger to the sky (I urge you to perform the action I am describing as you read this text).

She then asked us to draw a clock with the raised arm, moving our index finger from the 12 o’ clock position to 3, 6, 9, and then back to 12. As we traced the shape of a clock with our fingers in the sky she asked us to slowly lower our arms, but continue to draw the clock.

Literally a few moments ago, we were looking up at our fingers moving clockwise just like the hands of a clock. As my arm was lowered and I looked down at my index finger still moving, it now appeared to be moving counterclockwise.

The physician used this example to illustrate the beauty of different perspectives. While looking up, our fingers were moving clockwise, but as the arm was lowered, the finger now appeared to be moving counterclockwise. The direction in which the finger was moving had not changed, but what had changed was our perspective. Just as no two snowflakes are the same, no two perceived perspectives about a situation will ever be the same.

We perceive the world through our inherent biases, filtering what we see of the world through the various schools of thought we develop over the course of our lives. It is the cumulative effect of our experiences that helps us to perceive what is right and wrong. Often people find themselves in the midst of a conflict. In situations such as these, it is easy to blame the other person, regardless of how right or wrong he may have been. In situations such as these, it is important to always consider what drove the other person to perform their respective action. Indeed, if you are the one who may have wronged another, it is even more important to be self-aware enough to analyze one’s own actions and intentions, and conversely consider the impact of those actions on other people.

Lately, I have been revisiting one of my favorite books, The Forty Rules of Love, in which Elif Shafak writes, “most of the problems of the world stem from linguistic mistakes and simple misunderstandings. Don’t ever take words at face value. When you step into the zone of love, language as we know it becomes obsolete. That which cannot be put into words can only be grasped through silence.”

As tolerance and love depreciate, conflicts continue to grow around us. We are quick to judge and seldom are we able to give the benefit of doubt. Right and wrong are such relative terms, influenced by our current state of mind, life experiences, upbringing and so much more.

Just as there are two sides to a coin, there are always two sides to a story. The next time I am put in a difficult situation, I hope I am mindful of my thoughts, considering the other person’s intent, words and actions, to proceed accordingly.

    – Akanksha Mehla – Toronto, Canada

It is said that selfless service (seva) alone is the antidote to duality. But what exactly is selfless service, and what is it that we mean by duality. How can the former negate the latter? Let us investigate.

Selfless service (seva) is the rising above of the material self and being in touch with the real Self (Formless God), in which there is no trace of selfishness. It is without prejudice and discrimination. It is likened to a flower which provides its fragrance to all asunder. It matters not if the recipient is a king, an itinerant, a poet or a doctor. The fact that he is close-by, a neighbour, is enough. Defining such a neighbour is the hallmark of duality, and the key to one of the greatest commandments – ‘love thy neighbour as you love thyself’. The flower is without bias; it serves from its own true nature, without harbouring a feeling of doer-ship. For the flower, there is no pride in giving freely. On the contrary, it is aware it cannot contain its fragrance, which it disperses freely. It loses nothing by sharing its fragrance. In fact, it becomes renowned by spreading its beauty. Such is its beauty that it is glorified in art, philosophy and Scripture. So much so that not even thorns and blemishes can take away its magnificence.

Duality, by contrast, is the mind-created labelling system, making you believe that you are separate from everything else. It divides all that is into opposites, e.g. you and me, day and night, right and wrong. It is this duality that shows up when consciousness – the awareness of the Self – forgets itself and collapses into the finite, conditioned mind. It is a closed belief, separating oneself from others. It distorts and deranges the view of reality.  

Unlike the selfless flower, humans choose to serve the extremes of duality, with a strong sense of doer-ship. They serve either the powerfully affluent or the poor and struggling. The mind, drawn to the powerfully affluent, wishes to be the same. Even when showing mercy to the poor and the struggling, the mind still carries the ego of doer-ship, limiting the scope of compassion. Fuelled by duality, the mind is fixated on ‘how about me and my desires and wants’. Those who suffer from high levels of anxiety and depression are often so self-absorbed that they are unable to think about serving others without a reason.

However, those who serve without an agenda are known to be joyous and content, even if this amounts to quite simply giving a glass of water or opening the door. These may seem like random acts of kindness, but there is nothing random about them. It is a purposeful way of living. The purpose is to act beyond the confines of worldly duality, and to be free from the doings, which plague the mind in a ‘carrot before the donkey’ syndrome. Simply break the stick and throw away the carrot. You don’t need it.

Seva, which is beyond the body, is unrestrictive. It serves one and all. Its focus is not the body. Through the vision of the boundless (gyan), service too becomes boundless. The knower of the Formless (the gyani) no longer focuses on strengths or weaknesses, powerful or the powerless. He transcends all differences; actions become harmonious and the feeling of ‘pushing water uphill’ no longer prevails. It’s a natural state of acceptance, which allows one-self to fall in humility. No effort is required in such falling. The battle only exists in climbing the ladder of ego.

The Oneness gathering (satsang) is a place where all worldly considerations are rejected, and where service for humans is truly practiced, irrespective of their being poor or rich, able or disabled, black or white, weak or strong. Serving humans for being humans is only possible with a non-dualistic approach. Being aware of the fact that the doer is the Formless, ego is shed and bliss is attained. Just as the river serves without seeking to ask the boatman’s culture, colour or class. Those engaged in true seva do not consider any worldly deliberations in serving humans.

This undiluted feeling of service is inspired by the vision of gyan, which the Teacher of Truth (Satguru) provides. Serving humans as humans is rare; it is the epitome of humanness. Seva can be done anywhere, but in the Oneness gatherings (satsang), it is unique. It is a place where everyone who attends understands that bodies are not what we focus upon. It is the Formless that serves, and is the Formless itself that is served! The duality of the mind is dismissed, and humanity in oneness is clearly seen. It may seem somewhat strange to a mind that is still stuck in dualistic thinking. It gives rise to many questions – ‘why should I serve someone who appears to be normal in every way; why should I give water to someone who can get it himself. All these questions are common in a deluded mind. The mind which is aware of the Formless perceives only the Formless, and knows no other and serves no other.

Such is the vision the Teacher of Truth provides and allows every moment to be fulfilled with beauty. For those who serve the Formless, are served by the universe. The moment the spirit of seva is embraced, the mind begins to serve. The hankering for ‘me, me and me’ ends and merges into YOU, the Formless. Duality, the separation of the self, is subdued by the Formless, giving rise to the Self, which becomes instrumental in providing selfless seva.

      – Surjit Dhami, Cannock, UK

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In the East, we are often greeted with folded hands with a humble ‘Namaste’ or ‘Namaskar’. What does it mean? It means that the divinity – the spark of life animating all existence – within I, myself, recognizes and honours the divinity within you, yourself. In so acknowledging, recognising and honouring each other, we automatically and spontaneously align ourselves with God.

Such a process, on a subtle level, amounts to passing on a benediction – “God bless you”. We can see this in the simple act of sneezing. It is said according to ancient beliefs that sneezing temporarily results in the loss of consciousness. This makes the individual vulnerable and as superstition would have it, open to evil thoughts for a brief span of time. The greeting or the invocation not only dispels evil, but also helps to return the individual to self-control.

When we are thirsty, what we really need to quench our thirst, is water. Other drinks, though made from water, do not fully quench our thirst because they are not 100% water. Likewise, although material assets – be they a new car, a bigger house, or a new phone – can grant us temporary joy, they cannot provide lasting, true happiness. Indeed, for true happiness, we have to connect to the everlasting source of love and abundant joy – i.e. the divine light – from which everything originates and into which everything merges.

With the said divine light we are able to see clearly. For example, when a stick in a glass of water appears to be bent, an ignorant person would declare it to be crooked, or blame it on poor eye sight. But if you ask a student of science, he will tell you that the stick is neither bent nor is the sight defective. It is simply a product of refraction. This knowledge of science makes the understanding complete.

Similarly, Satguru (the spiritual mentor) does exactly this. He removes the veil of ignorance from our eyes and shows us the Truth in all its glory. In seeing with new eyes, we are able to observe and realise as to what is real and permanent, and what is false and impermanent. We focus our attention on that which is everlasting, all-powerful and eternal, and we divert our attention from things and possessions that are here today and gone tomorrow.

The spiritual mentor, through the sharing of divine light, shows us that this very body, which we think we own, is not really ours. Science confirms that our body renews itself every day by shedding old cells and creating new ones. So much so, that an average person totally replaces his old cells for new ones, every seven years. This means that a fifty-year old man will have undergone a complete body change seven times over. The body he was born with is no longer there. What is, therefore, seemingly real and eternally real, are two different things.

The divine light helps us in this regard, allowing us to become fully aware. For being aware at any given moment, is to be fully present and conscious of what is real. That is why the play on words is sometimes used – realise, through real eyes! What is real is only understood and realisable in a human form. All our Holy Scriptures testify and emphasise the importance of human birth for attaining redemption.  However, the human form, according to saints and seers, is not enough. We need to be not just embodied as human, but live as complete human beings.  This is only possible by imbibing and manifesting human virtues, which make us humane.

Our sacred texts exhort that spirituality dawns in life only after direct communion with the spiritual self – your true self, soul, or pure consciousness. This, however, is only facilitated by the grace of a bonafide Guru, who bestows the brahm gyan on the seeker. This brahm gyan is divine light, giving rise at once to both humane and divine qualities which accompany the individual both here, in this life, and hereafter, in the afterlife.

So when the seeker is spiritually thirsty, the mentor does not beat around the bush. He does not talk about the properties of water or where and when it is available. He hands over the glass of water and the thirst is instantly quenched.

Therefore, until awareness or divine light dawns, one lives in ignorance. Contrary to popular belief, ignorance is not bliss. Rather we suffer a very confusing and unfulfilled life experience, struggling to find meaning, purpose or direction. If we did this on any other journey, we would have wasted precious moments to really enjoy our time. Why is it any different in the journey of human life?

The first step towards living in light (or enlightenment, as it is commonly described) is to let go of all that is known. Prior to enlightenment, we have not differentiated the real from the unreal, so all the understanding we have accumulated is based on false pretenses.  Letting go of what we think we know, makes us open to listening and reflecting on that which is real.  This reality is divinity, the source of eternal wisdom.

Divine light is our divine right – may we all be blessed by it.

-Shiva Rane, Glasgow, Scotland

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