We need a world where equality is rife

That’s the key for quality of life

To live with love respect and care

Never to fight over this world that we share

Love begins where co-existence starts

We can bridge the gap between distant hearts

Our similarities are different but our differences are the same

We all have desires that burn like a flame

No two snowflakes are ever the same

But all become one when they melt into rain

We need a world where quality is rife

That’s the key for the quality of life

To live with love respect and care

Never to fight over this world that we share

Rich finds may bring us pleasure but,

Enriched minds are a real treasure

To get lost in wealth is truly tragic

To have family and health is real magic

Value is more important and not the price

It’s nice to be important but more important to be nice

 We need a world where equality is rife

That’s the key for quality of life

To live with love respect and care

Never to fight over this world that we share

– Gurdip Roopra

“Knowing me knowing you – aha”. The catchphrase used by Steve Coogan’s character Alan Partridge, the Norwich-based talk show host. But let’s put aside thoughts of comedy for now, along with the lyrics of the 1977 Abba hit single of the same name.

Knowing me, knowing you is a concept that has come to make perfect sense to me. It works just as well the other way round too – knowing you, knowing me.

In the last 16 years or so, I have found it necessary to face up to a lot of things about my self in order to elicit change and growth – become more self-aware if you like. When I say self-aware I mean aware of my ego which I learned was completely separate from my Self. Through no deliberate intent, I have operated from an egoic stance for most of my (quite long) life. I still do a lot of the time – after all it’s the way most of us are shown how to respond to the world around us, from the earliest age.

During this transitionary period from 100% ego to 95% ego / 5% self (slow progress), I have sought out books, gurus and groups where similar seekers can be found. The Wellbeing Forum was one of these groups. At the close of the forum we would be led in a beautiful meditation and over time I have repeatedly heard these words, “There is only You”, and “Notice…notice who is noticing?” And, “If you find yourself thinking that first thought and you’re aware of it – then who is the watcher?” I never understood these expressions until recently. At last, I’m beginning to feel that slight breeze between me and my egoic thoughts. It’s the start – I’m sure of that.

So, where does knowing me, knowing you fit into this? I wanted to find out who I am – what makes me tick – to pin down the egoic character traits that so often trigger reactive responses to people places and things. It was hard at first to look at myself. Denial, defensive arrogance and shame can be big barriers to honestly taking stock.

Years ago, a good friend gave me an excellent piece of advice. She said, “you know how easy it is to find fault with others? List the things about them that drive you mad. It can be a huge help in learning about yourself.”

“Really?’

“Really – they say that whatever irritates you about the other person is a behaviour that you either use yourself or used to use – so listing those will help you get to know yourself.”

And that’s how it began – knowing me, knowing you.

Because I wanted to treat myself more gently than I have in the past, I took time to explore the roots of my negative behaviours – to trace them back to source. This was done without blame attached – finding historical fault was not the reason for doing this. It’s worth adding that when I did take the trouble to find out more about the past experiences of my family of origin, I was better able to see that blaming would be a pointless exercise.

Knowing them, knowing me. Knowing me, knowing them.

As time has gone by, I have also felt able to notice all the things I like so much about the increasing circle of newer friends around me and to realise that perhaps I have the capacity for those positive behaviours too. In doing this I have become more aware of my True Self.

So – more knowing you, knowing me.

Along with the capacity to recognise my positive qualities mirrored in you has come the ability to find compassion and understanding for not only my own seemingly unhelpful behaviours but also for those same behaviours that I can find so troublesome and irritating in others that I meet.

Knowing me, accepting me, knowing more about you, accepting you.

-Caroline Gibbs
Solihull

Looking back at my life, I find it is a continuous series of moments full of Grace! Not a single moment of my life has been devoid of Grace, but there have been times when I have failed to acknowledge or feel this, due to my own shortsightedness. I have several instances where blessings came in disguise, which I did not recognise.  It was only later I have realized they were such potent gifts. Let me share one such instance.

The year was 1992. My father was discussing my marriage proposal with my family. In the way arranged marriages work in my culture, my Dad was telling us about the educational background and job security of the prospective groom. Everything about the boy seemed perfect to my father. Yet, I was very apprehensive as he was not associated with the Nirankari Mission, with which I had grown up and felt so fulfilled by. “Father”, I said, “I am not going to get married to a Non-Nirankari”. The family tried to pacify me saying that they will speak to the boy about it and then decide.

When the boy was told about my attachment to the Mission and whether he has any issues with my attending Oneness Satsangs after the marriage, he was belligerent. On hearing the questions, his first reaction was, “I don’t believe in all this! There is so much fraud going on in the name of religion.  I don’t want to be forced into something that I don’t believe”. I was glad to see that it was not working out. But then a turn of events surprised me – he was quick to add, “If your daughter believes in it, I don’t mind. I can even accompany her to the place of Satsang, as long as I am not forced to join or enroll”. Given this reassurance, and so much else about the match that was agreeable, my parents consented. Somehow, I was still very apprehensive. After all, if I was inhibited from staying connected to what I have loved all my life, how would I manage?   

I told my parents, “I agree to the marriage proposal, but only if my Guru, Baba Hardev ji approves of this alliance and blesses me during his forthcoming visit to Mumbai”. After all, it was the most crucial decision of my life! To my dismay, the spiritual tour of Mumbai was cancelled. As pressed by the groom’s family, the date for the marriage was fixed. The day when both the families had planned to shop collectively for wedding attire, I did not go along and kept praying that taking note of my displeasure, the marriage may yet be called off. But that did not happen.

With only 20 days left for the ceremonies, my elder brother asked me, “Are you not happy with the marriage”? I broke down and told him how I wished Babaji had approved the alliance. He paused and said, “Don’t you know that Satguru is not a body but the Divine Knowledge, which is all-pervading? Satguru is always with us, everywhere and at all moments in form of Nirankar – the formless”.

I felt strengthened by these words.  I understood that I had limited blessings to a physical meeting and face to face conversation with my Guru.  I had forgotten my Guru’s teaching, that I can access every spiritual blessing through direct communion with Nirankar. Together with my brother, we sat in meditative ‘Simran’, seeking guidance for all to be well.

Within a few days, one of Babaji’s beloved Saints, Rev. Nirmal Joshi visited Mumbai.  As a noted philosopher and spiritually wise man, he had a special aura and influence. I had an opportunity to meet him at the home of a devotee in a township called Dadar. The hosts mentioned my forthcoming marriage to Joshi Ji, saying “Please bless Aruna, who is going to be wed soon”.  I could not hold back the tears in my eyes, upon seeing which Joshi ji responded, “Dear daughter, I hear you are getting married. This is a happy occasion, so why are you crying?”.  My answer came, “The boy is from a Non-Nirankari family”. Hearing this Joshi ji laughed, adding, “What do you mean by Non-Nirankari? Is it that this boy and his family are out of the boundary of the All- pervading Formless Nirankar?”. I meekly submitted, “There is nothing outside of Nirankar. The entire creation is in Nirankar”. Hearing this Joshi ji added, “Then, dear child, don’t you think the term Non-Nirankari is baseless and irrelevant?” Joshi ji’s advice reaffirmed what I had been advised by my brother. It was as if Babaji himself had come to guide me.

Finally, the marriage took place on 12^th May 1992. At an opportune moment, my father handed over a piece of paper to my husband with the addresses of Centres for Oneness in the Mumbai area, together with details as to when Oneness Satsangs took place. As promised, my husband dutifully took me to the Satsangs. At times, I would return tired from my work at the office, only to see a pile of housework ahead of me. I would tell my husband, let us skip the congregation today. He would reply, “We can do the housework together later, and if need be also eat-out.  I don’t wish for you to miss the Satsang”. He would take me for worship, even though he would stand outside waiting for me until ceremonies had concluded. This went on for 2 weeks. Once, on our way back to home from the Satsang, he said, “Standing outside the Oneness Gathering, I hear the speakers and singers who keep talking about ‘Gyan’. What is this Gyan?”. I was pleasantly surprised by his question, and the fact that whilst he had never taken a seat, he was listening just aswell as anyone else. Fearing that I may not be able to explain to him the meaning of Gyan, or the questions that may follow in respect of the philosophy of the Mission, I was evasive in response, saying, “Let’s talk about it at some other time.”

The very next day, we had a visit scheduled to my parent’s home. Incidentally, my elder brother happened to be at home. As a “Gyan Pracharak” (someone authorized by Babaji to share Gyan – the awareness of the all-pervading) I made my husband’s curiosity known to him. Speaking with my husband, my brother asked, “Do you wish to experience the all-pervading, almighty and formless? My husband replied, “Who would not? But is it really possible?” To this my brother said, “Yes – it is very much possible by the Grace of a contemporary Spiritual Master”. My husband received the blessing of Gyan that very evening. Overwhelmed by the revelation, he exclaimed, “Thank-you, for what I have experienced directly tonight confirms all that I have ever read or heard about the Divine!  What I had read about in the scriptures, I had longed to know”.

Incidentally, the much awaited news of Babaji’s tour to Mumbai was announced! The day Babaji was to arrive at Mumbai, both my husband and I were returning home from work by motorcycle. To my surprise, I saw Volunteers queued up near Sion railway station and was sure that Babaji would pass this way. I requested my husband to stop the vehicle, so that we may wait at the roadside for Babaji’s ‘Darshan’ (a glimpse of our Guru). Within a couple of minutes, the convoy arrived and slowed down. I was ecstatic and desperately tried to figure out in which vehicle Babaji was seated so that I could see him. Just then, Babaji rolled down his car’s window and waved to both of us, smiling. I too waved back, jumping with sheer joy. It was the first time my husband witnessed the euphoric scenes that have always greeted the arrival of HH. Speaking excitedly my husband said, “Babaji was waving to you. Does he know you personally?”. Tears rolled down from my eyes, and I said, “Yes, he knows you too. He knows everybody. He knows everything”. Thank You Babaji.

– Aruna Yadhav, Mumbai, India

There is a fundamental difference between knowing and understanding.

If you have not experienced yourself, how can you appreciate the experience of another?

…there is unchallenged hatred imbedded in our psyche for other religions, which I was taught as a child.

Once a disciple asked his Master, ‘what is real’? The Master said, ‘that is real which never changes’. This is an important answer. We can all agree that everything we can see and touch, changes. The only thing that can never change is that which notices the change. This is to be realised, and this realisation and experience is the reality itself! 

Once a philosopher said, ‘we cannot live in a world that is not our own’. A world interpreted for us by others is not our home. Part of the journey is to use our own listening and see our own light. At the Oneness Gatherings, the most common utterance we hear is‘formless’. How can we view this formless? What concept can we build around it? As His Holiness Satguru Babaji once said, ‘drop the words; catch the meaning’. When we catch the words and not the meaning, we make a lot of mistakes. My own experience in the past, where I caught the words and not the meaning, is a painful one. 

I used to go to Church every-day and I read the Bible on a daily basis too. Once, my sister fell in love with a Nigerian – a man from another caste – which was traditionally forbidden. My father and I did not approve and we rejected her. My sister often looked up to me, as I was the eldest brother, and seen to be very religious. This is because I went to Church every day and I read the Bible every day. She was totally dependent on me to save her, but I completely let her down. When the time came, and I was put to the test as a man who claims to stand for boundless God, I was not able to put my narrow-minded attitude away. I took my father’s side and his perspective. All this was only because I took Scriptural knowledge from a limited perspective. This All-pervading knows how to give us a reality check! 

The years of Scriptural knowledge did not amount to God knowledge, but just turned to man knowledge, which offers brutish discrimination. Bookish knowledge is not the same as Sacred knowledge. How can any man learn to swim by reading a swimming manual? We learn by having a swimming instructor nearby, who can tell us as well as show us how to swim. We have to be in the water, to develop our experience.

Just so, we have to see with our own inner eye. We have to feel the Sacred. It has to be our own experience. Otherwise, we are subject to errors alone. At this moment in time, I cannot tell my sister anything about God because of my previous inhumane behaviour. What possibly can be said about God when the actions of a man are far from being kind? 

When we pray and meditate, what exactly are we meditating on? The question should not only be what we are meditating on, but who or what is meditating? Who is praying? When we say formless, are we only talking about the outside air? Where is prayer coming from and how can we identify with it? As you are reading this, who is listening to the voice in your mind? Is it the body that is listening, if it is the body then who knows it is the body that is listening? Is it the mind, if it’s the mind then who knows, it is the mind? Do not speak because of what others have said or what you have read. Only speak of your experience! Experience the abode of the Living God, the one you are searching for. God lives in the heart of man. It has no name, no form, no content, but it is not empty; it is full. 

When I first walked into the Centre for Oneness, I did not know anything about the Oneness Gatherings (Satsangs). I only knew about meditation. When I walked into the reception area, a man pointed to Babaji’s photo and said, ‘he knows how to help people drop their egos’. At that moment I dismissed what he said, thinking to myself I didn’t have any ego. Then when I attended the Oneness Gatherings, I realised the meaning of dropping the ego. I have not stopped attending since. Ego is so sutble and it can easily creep into the mind. 

Before attending the Centre for Oneness, I visited Africa. I used to say to my friends, you have to see God in everything. God has to be seen in a dog, cat and a tree. But I didn’t know how to see God in a dog. The dog I was looking at in Africa happened to be a very ugly one! But I knew in my heart I have to see God even in an ugly dog, because it is God who is beautiful when everything else loses its own separate beauty. What we are looking for is not far. God is near at hand. This is something we all know, even a 3-year old can say this, but very few understand what it means. There is a fundamental difference between knowing and understanding. Just as you know God is in a dog, cat and tree, but to understand what that means is entirely different. 

When I attended the sessions at the Centre for Oneness, I was reminded that if I wanted to go further, I simply had to ask. One month went by and I thought, “Ok, I will ask to know God”. I also made the decision that if I didn’t like what I saw, I would just walk away, not being bound to any particular place. Then the moment came of receiving the Gyan, “you are This’. All of a sudden, all the things prior to that were things I thought I knew, but I did not understand. There needs to be total clarity in understanding that you are one with everyone. Not just saying it, but truly understanding what it means. If you have not experienced yourself, how can you appreciate the experience of another? It is not just words, but being. 

This is what I have experienced at the Centre for Oneness. I have come, attended and experienced. In Christianity, there is the holy trinity, which represents ‘know, experience and be’. I am so grateful that I have found you, or did you find me! I am immensely grateful to live life without strife or trouble, and to truly see everyone as one with humility in the heart. Every religion teaches the same and we can all agree, but under the surface layer of the mind there is unchallenged hatred imbedded in our psyche for other religions, which I was taught as a child. The thought of being pure consciousness, without the other, is an entirely different matter. 

The Centre for Oneness has eradicated my outspoken anger and life-long, self-imposed hatred for other classes, races and nationalities. To erase the hatred of the other and to completely go beyond the idea of the other is to embrace oneness, which is freedom. Each soul has a choice to make – to go towards divinity or towards doubt. Which one we take determines our life experience. 

-Albert Winners, Birmingham UK

Since time immemorial, it has been crystal clear that the path of the worldly is one, and the path of the saintly, the other. Their paths do not meet. Though they both belong to the same world as all God’s children, similar in appearance, diet and dress, there is a stark difference between the two.

The worldly are characterised by narrow thought, poor sightedness, feelings of apathy, negative deeds and selfishness. They treat their very own as strangers, and seem to derive pleasure from making others unhappy. The saintly are known by their large-heartedness, humility, humanity and human welfare. As they are happy, they share happiness with others. There are no strangers for them because they treat the whole world as their very own. Ironically, whilst they help people to settle down and allow their love to flow like great rivers, the worldly destroy their shelters and become responsible for the rivers of blood. Hence, both of these paths are different. One is likened to light, the other, to darkness.  

The Good Lord has endowed upon human beings the capacity to think and reflect. It is man, who has to decide whether to choose night or day. He has to decide whether to pursue love, compassion and the healing of human wounds or to fan hatred, harm and injury. Every man is potentially divine, as the recipient of the gift of wisdom. When such wisdom dawns on man, there is no room left for problems. But in the absence of such wisdom, separate lines are drawn and different qualities and attributes entrenched.

As there is no knowing when man is going to breathe his last, man has to rise and awake now. The path of truth has to be acquired now and the destination, reached now. This is why it is said, “what is to be done tomorrow, must be done today; what is to be done today, must be done now” – i.e. presently. The worldly seem to have time for negativity and criticism; time for social and family dealings; time for wealth and affluence, whilst being cunning and clever, but they have no time for the Truth.  Saint Kabir rightly says,

“There appears to be no takers of the truth
besotted with falsehood are, all un-couth”.

Negative thoughts

Despite the fact that this world is nothing but a myth and a dream, the worldly are still besotted by it every minute of the day. From their birth onwards, they devote their entire lives to it – their thoughts, behaviour and all their activities. This is why they are never freed from their routines and rituals. They are forever caught up and ensnared by this tempting world, having no other understanding.  

There seems to be no end of pretence. The rosary beads are ritually turned, but the mind is elsewhere. It is not the fingers or the tongues, but the mind that needs to be engaged. For, it is the mind that becomes satanic (Ravana) or angelic (Rama). It is the mind that is going to get upset; it is the mind that is going to be at peace. It is the mind that has positive qualities; it is the mind that has negative qualities. In fact it is said, he, whose mind is holy (enlightened), the Ganges (the Almighty flow of life) for him, lies everywhere.  

The very seed that gives rise to the harvest has to be sown. In the absence of the seed, there can be no yield. It is like a farmer, who prepares a patch of ground, which he tills, irrigates, fertilizes and then waits for the harvest. One day a man asks the farmer if his harvest has arrived. He says, ‘no’. The man asks if the farmer prepared the ground, tilled it, watered it and fertilized it. The farmer replies in the affirmative. Then the man asks if he had sown the seed. The farmer says, ‘no’. He forgot to put the seed in. It is all about this spiritual seed, which when properly tilled, irrigated and fertilised becomes a formidable harvest, like a deep-rooted tree that stands firm and provides solace in the form of shade. It becomes helpful and supportive for others.

Our Scriptures, full of the whereabouts of God, tell us one thing, and the worldly believe another. They still maintain that they can attain the realisation of God in remote forests and jungles. Saint Bulleh Shah reminds us as a rebuttal,

“if God was attainable in the jungles, then cows and calves
would have been the first contenders;
if God was attainable through bathing, then the fish and frogs
would have been the first contenders;
if God was attainable at tombs and graves, then bats and other nocturnal creatures
would have been the first contenders”.

The worldly still have their eyes closed, following the same meaningless routines and rituals. They carry on pursuing the same old defunct modes and methods to reach God. They maintain that only the clean and cleansed attain the Lord, and that the negative, the wicked are simply disqualified. However, if this were so, then Sajjan, the thief, would have remained a thief all his life. How did he then become a devotee? He did not do any good deeds; his slate was far from being clean. He was certainly not bright, but a blight. Kodah, the demon, had performed no deeds. There were many others like Ganaka, who had committed nothing but sins. So were they all disqualified? Perhaps they have forgotten what Lord Krishna says,

“just as a mighty horde of tinder can be turned to ashes with one match;
the light of knowledge can destroy a mighty horde of sins”.

The worldly also say that Lord’s devotion cannot be so easy. It takes many births. If indeed we have to take many births, then is it possible to know how many births one has already taken? The response is met with silence and ‘we do not know’. If one does not know how many lives it takes, then why is this life not the one for self-realisation? After all, somebody who is hungry and has not eaten for two days does not have to eat for two whole days to satisfy his hunger. He who has not bathed for five days, he surely does not need to bathe for five days to remove his impurities. Is it not so that all that is required is a plate of food and the presence of soap and water?  

It is the mind that needs to be still. It is forever vulnerable like the ever-changing monkey. Even if you tie it to a pole, it still jumps up and down; it is never still. The mind is no different; it is stubborn and refuses to listen. To illustrate, consider the naughty child, usually quarrelling and fighting with one and all, being given some responsibility to learn the error of his ways. The youngster agreed to do what he was told. The idea was for him to be busy counting the waves as they came and went. At first, he thought that it was an easy task to perform. So he sat at a convenient spot and started to count the waves, then all of a sudden, he became very angry and started throwing stones at a nearby, passing boat. The people on the boat asked as to why he was throwing stones at them. He said, “don’t you know? I’ve been counting the waves and you came along and disturbed my whole count. I can no longer count!”

In fact, wherever you take such people, their stubbornness never goes. Hence, this mind is proud – full of ego. It is always stressing upon the ‘I’. Saints say that we should take out the ‘I’ and replace it with ‘You’ (You, the Lord). This mind has to be humbled; made large-hearted and it has to be extricated from its arrogance and pride. To illustrate the plight of the worldly, consider the story of a married couple who went out for a walk. The wife taunted her husband by saying that he looked silly in his attire, like an animal handler. The husband retorted, “yes, indeed, I would look like an animal handler if a monkey like you accompanies me”. They were both engaged in defaming each other, sparing no efforts. Just so, labels of caste or class are used to belittle others; religion is being used to subjugate others; people use rank and fame to belittle others. There seems to be no end of I, me and mine. Why does man keep on putting off that which is going to salvage him, improve his here and hereafter, and make him praiseworthy?

Positives Thoughts

Without the company of the saintly, man’s intelligence remains destructive, for it is the saints’ positive company that illumine both the mind and intelligence. Endowed with a superior mind, they become instrumental in passing on the same to others. With such a transformation, they (the saintly) become worthy of turning this earth into a veritable heaven.  This is why there has been talk of the acquisition of saintly wisdom for many millennia. The Gurus have always taught us that the mind is to be low and humble; wisdom, is to be the highest.

Saint Prahlada did exactly this. He delved deep into selfless devotion and wisdom. His righteousness was unflinching, firm and strong, even when his father, King Harnakashapa, tried to kill him. We remember the demise of his Aunt, Holika, on the occasion of Holi every year. 

Swami Vivekananda reminds us that we should have the same desire for the Truth that we have for worldly achievements. In fact, the longing for the Truth should be akin to a drowning man, gasping for life. We should also yearn for freedom from the ocean of material snares. 

The Creator pervades everywhere; it is unique. To salvage oneself from the material ocean, one has to embrace the Unique One that has always existed. It was there before this universe, the stars, the solar system and the galaxies. Then it gave rise to this creation – all that we see. If tomorrow the world were to come to an end (‘Maha Pralaya’), the Creator would still be there.

The merger of our real identity, ‘atma’, with our Source, ‘Parmatma’, cannot be over emphasised. This Source is not this world or the creative expanse. Let us not confuse the two. We talk about God, the Creator, and yet the word that comes out of the mouth is nature (‘kudrat’). We give importance to nature, but according to the saintly, there can be no kudrat without the Creator (‘kaader’). This nature exists because of the Creator. The art exists because of the artist; a painting is only meaningful because of the painter. If we take away the artist, there can be no art. Just so, without the sun, there can be no rays. Without the Creator, there can be no creation.

The saintly give importance to the Creator at every step of their lives. So much so that they hold the Almighty in great esteem with every breath. Just like the vital breath, saints give importance to the Lord. When cataract sets in, we cannot even recognise the things close to us. We wander aimlessly all over the place. But when the cataract is removed by a knowledgeable physician, our vision is clear once more. It is just so, with the malady of spiritual blindness – it too must be removed by a knower of Spirit.  Just as a mechanic diagnoses the fault in a car with his expert experience, our ability to travel on the spiritual path is made possible, with the advent of a saint. Though it may be difficult to know God, it is made possible through an enlightened soul. 

Lord Krishna introduced Arjuna to the Lord on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Arjuna was not in any hermitage or a remote place, but on a battleground, where lives could be taken at anytime. Battle conches were being blown; blood was being shed; and people were at war. In spite of that, Lord Krishna decided to impart the realisation to Arjuna there and then – on the battle field.

Kabir ji acquired enlightenment with the grace of Ramananda ji, whilst doing his every day duties. Meerabai, though born into a royal family, was graced with the divine knowledge through Ravidass ji. It is only when Ravidass ji gave Meerabai the subtle vision that she was able to recognise the all-pervasive, Almighty Shyam.  Overwhelmed with emotion, she began to dance in the streets:

I have found, yes, I’ve really found

The wealth of Love’s precious gem

As my True Guru gave me this rarity

I accepted, with his grace, this gem!

The saintly do exactly that. They try to reach as many people as possible, propagating the Divine. This is not to be ignored, but very much to be concentrated upon. These are not light issues, but very serious ones. The whole phenomenal world depends on it. On the one side, the atma gets salvaged, and on the other, it is freed from the cycle of becoming.   

So it is not simply about self-enlightenment, but also about the enlightenment of others. Their welfare and salvation is also important. Not just to improve the hereafter through salvation, but also to work for the here and now. It is the mind that we have to adorn with salvation. When that’s done, it separates the enlightened from the un-enlightened.  We have to adorn the mind with love and compassion. To adorn the here and now is to adorn the mind. 

When the mind is so adorned, we see that our physical form is in equilibrium, and our wealth is used judiciously. If the mind is in fact balanced, then everything it works with is also balanced. Kabir ji says,

“do not indulge in dishonesty even by default,
for finally you have to face the consequences”

All that is required is the company of saints. Those who are already joined with the Lord, it is they who can help us also to link with the Divine. Saints have said, and are saying continuously, that if you need to look for anyone, then look for the enlightened souls. When you find someone in the form of a saint, the knower, then that which has been scarce and impossible, becomes very much easy and possible.   

Hence, the saintly are always contrary to the worldly. Unlike Ravana and Kansa, Duryodhna and Harnakashyp, they gain the whole world by becoming humble and model citizens. Knowing full well that they can breathe their last any minute, they rise, awake, acquire the right path, and whole-heartedly begin to walk on it too. They honestly feel and put into effect that what is to be done tomorrow has to be done today; and what is to be done today, should be done now.

In the world of madness I need someone to translate disharmony to harmony. Although we speak the same language, we still fail to understand each other. It seems as if we spend more time trying to be understood than to understand. For me this is sheer madness.  

Being harmonious is realising that there is one common flow in everything. It is this flow that animates elements and planets in their glorious splendour. This flow crowns the animal kingdom and the realm of plants in majestic balance. It leaves man as the sole creature, who is unable to live with his environment and ultimately with his own conscience. After having their fill, whilst other creatures rest in the shade, man is still running around franticly night and day trying to bloat his ego.

In this age of explosive globalisation, kindness and compassion are the first things that are ditched. With instant technological communication at our finger tips, many still feel out of touch with themselves. Although the internet enables us to access millions of pages of information and knowledge, sadly all this knowledge does nothing to eliminate ignorance which fuels the fire of hatred. We never witness the branches of a tree fighting amongst themselves. This is because the branches can see that they are part of the same tree. Similarly, disputes only occur because man does not see the Power that holds creation in place.

As the world population surges, people are geographically pushed closer and closer together, but the hearts and minds are moving further and further apart. We now live in a global village but still carry tribal mentalities. Today’s state of affairs is reflected in the words of Confucius:

“Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star”

There is enough moonlight on a clear night for a traveller to see the difference between the road and the pavement, but in pitch darkness only darkness can be found. There are tremendous unthinkable tensions between countries, communities and cultures rooted in historical wars and feuds lasting generations. This is the pitch darkness engulfing humanity, where man cannot even recognise man. Any existing relationship of coexistence and co-operation evaporates at the first sign of distrust and discord.

As long as our relationship is defined and determined by our differences we will empower those who sow hatred rather than harmony; those who promote conflict, not peace; and those who bring suffering, not hope.

But if we define our relationship based on our mutual bond, not by our borders or ethnicity; by our mutual understanding and respect, and hold tolerance and dignity of all human beings as paramount, then it can be said there is real progress. We move forward only if we move together. We can only move together if we follow what His Holiness Nirankari Baba often reminded us of;

“Separate ourselves from that which separates us from others”.

This does not mean that we forego that which makes us different. Instead, we must first embrace that which has made us the same! We are all human beings made of the same elements and we are all intrinsically linked to one another. This relationship happens only when a real sustained effort is made to listen to each other, and to learn from each other, to seek a ‘common ground’.

The understanding that we share is not European, American or African, but human. This mutual link is more powerful than any other material force or personal ambition. It is to realise that the power of love is greater than the love for power.

With harmony comes an undeniable sense of freedom, which is deeply rooted in the fabric of human nature. But the manner through which man seeks that freedom and happiness often becomes the cause of self-inflicting plight. Therefore, as Martin Luther King aptly says:

“Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking
from the cup of bitterness and hatred”

Those who are in harmony, experience freedom and they can set others free. Where there is harmony there is appreciation, joy, a feeling of liberty and sense of satisfaction. Where there is discord there is a feeling of distress and disturbance. Human beings are strangled by wanton selfish desire and crippled by pernicious bigotry. 

Although we share the same water from the same rivers, food from the same earth and breathe the same air, we struggle to share thoughts and words in harmony. We often quickly detest anyone who challenges us, never thinking that it is these precise moments that allow us to surpass our self-imposed limits. Man dwells in huge mansions, yet expects his Maker to dwell in his small mind.

Sallust, a Roman historian on this very point states:

“Harmony makes small things grow, but the lack of it makes great things decay”

Harmony is the seed of happiness which yields the fruit of peace. Those who attain this are revered throughout the annals of history. Those who caused great devastation and discord are now only remembered as demonic monsters. Those who remain true to their own humanity are like roses living amongst thorns. They still give fragrance not only to the admiring passers-by, but also to the very thorns that spike them. Despite the spite, true harmony blossoms.

-Surjit Dhami

I ask that you become a human. Who is human?

To be human

Is to live a life

To be human

Is to live a life

To be human: is a simple concept

Live, love, learn, and give

The simplest concept, from the mind is easily erased

A life of wealth, progression, success we have embraced

All our lives, the wrong things we have chased

Because a life without love, is life gone to waste

So I say love,

Because that is the most human thing you can do,

Because what the world worries about is gross revenue,

Because that mindset is what we must undo,

Because love is the purest goal to pursue.

To be human

Is to live a life

To be human

Is to live a life

And I say learn,

Because knowledge is part of being a human

By using that knowledge we grow more human

Educate yourself to enable insight

Enabled insight enables the soul to excite:

Excite spirituality, excite individuality,

Enlighten the mind, enlighten the generation

I was a human

I lived a life

I am human

I am living

– Saurabh Chowdry, Toronto

T

The one who bears God’s name in mind is the

one who will never fall.

Even when up against all odds

he remains ready and always tall.

Even when negativity testifies

that every moment will truncate,

he will always rise and awake

to the opening of the Master’s gate.

All of his questions will be answered

and his worries, obsolete.

All of his pains will have ended

even when the outlook seems bleak.

For he bears God’s name in mind

And lets the truth speak.

From this world of shattered glass

to the highest of soaring peaks…

…he takes the Master’s gracious hand

  leaving behind a state of agony,

and enters into the truth sublime

as the Master listens to this plea.

In return is nothing asked

to quench a thirst so great,

the Lord lowers His embracing flask

from which to drink and take…

…the knowledge that ends all feuds of time

for no second is left to spare.

Heed to this one moment

and handle it with care.

Get up and go forth,

remember Him in every instance.

Be truly mesmerized

within His sheer brilliance

So precious in itself,

that victory now cannot hide,

from the one who bears God’s name in mind

in the heavenly abode resides.

– Raman Chauhan | Victoria, British Columbia(Canada)

Adversity is the true test of our faith. God brings different types of experiences and circumstance into our life so that we may learn valuable lessons from them. The most important thing adversity can do for us is to bring us to a higher level of thinking and understanding as we pass through each test of faith, or lesson. These lessons have the ability to change our perception of the world around us and strengthen our relationship with God. However, we must be willing to acknowledge that the adversity we are going through will bring something positive into our life. When we are faced with adversity, there are two very clear choices. First, do we become negative, hostile, question God’s will, and even forsake God’s company? Or the other choice we have is to remain positive, calm, loving, compassionate, and continue to remember God. The Bible says, “if thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). What good is our faith if it is never tested or has never stood the true test of a storm?

The easiest thing in the world is to live life without any challenges, but this would probably lead to nothing of significance being achieved in our lives. The most remarkable thing in the world is to live with the challenges, the ups and downs, without breaking your spirit.

The most incredible people in the world are those who have experienced the test of faith over and over again in different forms but have remained constant in their faithfulness. Spiritual growth begins the moment we go from one test of faith to the next unruffled in our state of mind and being.

Even a kite rises higher against the wind and not with it – I believe this to be true even for human beings and spiritual growth. Just like a tree that is deeply rooted can sustain a storm, so is the life of a person of faith. Our roots need to be planted so firmly that we remain positive and unshaken by adversity.

We learn some of life’s most important lessons through difficult experiences and times. Herodotus, a Greek philosopher, said, “adversity has the effect of drawing out strength and qualities of a person that would have lain dormant in its absence.” What is meant by this quote is, when we are able to respond positively to adversity, characteristics of strength and courage come to surface and remain with us. It is only then we are able to remain like the lotus flower, which is considered to one of the most beautiful flowers in the world. It is not considered beautiful because of its colors but rather it’s quality to bloom beautifully inspite of the muddy water beneath it. Can we still bloom beautifully despite the challenges of life? His Holiness Nirankari Baba often said, devotees should live like flowers and spread fragrance even in adverse situations and the fragrance of spirituality must remain present always.

In the end, for spiritual growth to occur our faith must be tested over and over again, from one phase of life to the next. A student can only move from one grade to the next, as he or she successfully completes the tests administered by the examination board. This is important to determine what the student has learned, where there is need for improvement, and sometimes to make the student reflect on his or her own learning.

If we pass these tests of faith, standing tall in the face of adverse circumstances, the experiences will bring us to a place of higher understanding and awareness.  There will be self-reflection and growth, wherever it is needed. His Holiness has often emphasized the importance of Saints and Prophets, who delivered such sublime teachings of truth, love, faith and humanity. However, these messages are easily lost and forgotten in times of adversity. The recent mass exodus from Syria and other war torn parts of the world do bring tensions and financial strain on countries who harbor the refugees and victims – however, these are tests for our wider communities, governments and for each of us as individual citizens. From a humanitarian point of view, human values decline when the message of love and oneness is forgotten. Rather, His Holiness has always reminded us of these valuable precepts so that we may live in peace and harmony within, and with others, even during adverse times.

– Rajvir L. Raheja (Seattle)