Experimental science has enjoyed considerable success, having adopted the premise that any credible theory must be testable and concur with observations. In fact, much of the technology we use today is based on science born out of iterative experiments and their observations. Perhaps it’s not so surprising then that we seem to have an innate aptitude for believing only those things that we can see for ourselves, and find more difficult, if not impossible, to have faith in that which we cannot. Faith in an all-pervading power or God, therefore, pushes us to the extreme boundaries of belief, and has prompted endless discussion between Scientists and the Mystics, and their aspiring followers.

Personally, I have no issue with the foundations of experimental science. However, I do raise a concern that what we often ‘see’ can only be a representation of the best picture we have formulated in time, with every potential for it to change as new layers of our understanding are unveiled. Building a view of the world on only what you have seen (or on extrapolations thereof), seems to me to be somewhat naïve and limiting, yet it is an approach that many of us are willing to accept whilst science continues to provide us with explanations that readily conform with our physical perceptions of reality and provides us with the technology to unlock the potential of the universe right before our eyes.

However, history tells us that there inevitably comes a time when we are forced to question our models of reality when things don’t quite add up. My hypothesis is that this is a recurring cycle, in which case, can we really believe what we see? More importantly, should we be more cautious before dispelling that which cannot be ‘observed’ at present?

I invite you to ponder this further and to begin our journey I would ask you to imagine a world without mirrors, or more precisely, without reflection.

What sort of world would that be? No doubt we would still have the ability to observe each other and the things around us. We could continue with our normal chores and daily routines in more or less the same way – or could we? Obviously there are some clear difficulties when you consider the need for rear-view mirrors whilst driving (perhaps this is a distinction between a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ driving ability) or putting your make-up on, but let us consider these as technicalities that could otherwise be resolved through some other method. What I am more concerned about are the transformations in psychological and mental attitude that might take place, for without mirrors, we would never have the privilege of seeing our own face and would have to rely purely on the descriptions provided by others. The implications are interesting to say the least.

There is a school of thought that suggests that confidence (or self-belief) is partly dependent on how good you feel about yourself and can have profound influence the quality of one’s life. In the western world high regard is attached to appearances so it is natural for people to be concerned about the way they look. Often that concern can extend beyond normality and lead to a lack of confidence or even paranoia in some extreme cases. It would therefore be important that in our world without reflections, the descriptions provided by our companions are reasonably accurate. Of course there is a case to argue the opposite also, but in either scenario a wildly false description could leave you either as an emotional wreck, or an overconfident failure.

If the implications of removing physical reflection could be such then imagine the implications of an absence of more-deeper mental and emotional reflection. I would take this further to what some might call spiritual introspection or consciousness – a journey which prompts us to become more aware of our spiritual being. And yet strangely enough, how many of us take the time to really, truly introspect? Perhaps the rather patronising view of society in general towards believers in a ‘God’ of some sort is not so unexpected then. In today’s world there is almost an instinctive assumption that you must be either part of a cult or emotionally abnormal to be a dedicated follower of some God, let alone have a personal relationship with him. Yet many others have pondered this to such degree that they have been inspired to ask questions as to what is, in actual fact, our true reality:

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings having a human experience                                                          
–Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Moving onto a slightly different line of inquiry let us consider a trivial mathematic equation, say ‘2+2=4’. That might seem easy enough but what if we removed the equality sign? We would then have two separate parts, namely ‘2+2’ and ‘4’. These would still be seen to exist as real entities and would remain logically equal, but the equation itself would not hold true without the punctuation – it is almost as if the humble equality sign provides insight or some necessary assurance as to the balance of both sides, and by removing it the integrity of the equation is destroyed. In a similar way you might say that the separate entities of our spiritual and material lives do exist by themselves, but we require some insight to bring them together as a balancing equation. Just as the physical mirror reflects our physical representation so perhaps spiritual realisation provides insight into our spiritual self, and the ability to preserve the balance of the equation. Again the question arises as to how one might perceive their spiritual self

 “…You cannot see me with these human eyes of yours; therefore, I vouchsafe to you the Divine Eye. With this you behold My Divine power of Yoga.”
-Bhagavada-Gita (Ch.11.8)

For the spiritualist, this is the basis of Divine Knowledge, or Brahm Gyan. Brahm, or ‘Nirankar’ (the Formless), the almighty, all-pervading power, is considered to be subtly inherent within (and beyond) our physical environment; and Brahm Gyan is a means to providing the spiritual capacity with which to appreciate this

“The eye with which God sees me is the eye with which I see him; my eye and his eye are one. If God were not, I would not be; if I were not, then he would not be.”

–Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)

“Whatever is, is in God, and without God nothing can be, or be conceived.”                                            -Spinoza

So where does Science come back into this picture, for it has certainly been able to make great strides without the need for submitting to questions around the existence of God? One reason for this is probably that traditional (experimental) science is largely concerned with ‘observables’, and thus far, any approximation we make in the science of observables at the macro level is fairly consistent with our experience of the world around us. However, as we begin to dig deeper into the picture beyond the microscopic and venture towards the quantum world then our simplistic approximations begin to unravel. Suddenly we begin to enter a place where it becomes increasingly difficult if not impossible to visualise the order of reality, and it is even debatable as to whether one could in fact be able to ‘see’ the whole picture.

The spiritualists would highlight that they have, albeit somewhat simplistically, claimed this for some time.  Although we may not be able to physically observe something with our eyes that does not necessarily mean there is an ‘absence of something’ altogether. But I don’t think Science has ever claimed that to be the case either, rather Science exercises some patience in raising any claim until it uncovers a new understanding through whatever means is appropriate. Often that means a refinement in our models, but sometimes it just necessitates an advancement in our experimental and measurement technology. In my mind, the question always arises as to how we, as human beings, can also be considered as the ‘detectors’ where technology still falls short. Indeed, quantum mechanics and other related theories do prompt us to think more deeply about the peculiarities of conscious observers in all of this.

Another area of discussion is that of cause and effect, with the rather simple example being cited of the wind, which cannot be ‘seen’ but its presence is recognised very easily by its effects on the environment. Our existence on this planet and in this universe is also claimed to be just ‘too perfect’ to have been the result of an accident. It doesn’t matter what perspective you look at the world from (chemical, biological or physical), it’s obvious that nature operates as a remarkably perfect and efficient system.

Consider for example the birth of our universe. It is generally believed that our universe was the result of an enormous cosmic explosion – the ‘Big Bang’. The explosion caused the whole universe to expand from an infinitesimally small, but dense, clump of mass. Even today the universe is expanding and the question is raised as to whether there may come a point one-day when it stops expanding and starts to contract, in which case all matter could potentially disappear! That being said, if the initial explosion had been too small, the expansion would have been unstable and far too slow for the world to evolve. If the explosion had been too large, the expansion would have been so rapid that the universe would have expanded and then immediately contracted to nothing. In other words, we still would not have emerged. However, the ‘bang’ was absolutely perfect! Consider also the chemical composition of the human body. It has been calculated that the ratios and carbon and other elements in biological and physical systems need to be in an extremely precise balance for our Universe to exist, and if these differed by say even 0.000000005 then many things would cease to exist, including human beings – yet this balance does exist today. These ‘Goldilocks’ theorems (i.e. everything is ‘just right’) may not be sufficient evidence to convince the sceptics for the existence of an Almighty Creator, but they are certainly remarkable to say the least, and do prompt us to think a little more deeply.

“God has put a secret art into the forces of nature so as to enable it to fashion itself out of chaos into a perfect world system.”
-Immanuel Kant

I admit that this short collection of thoughts is not enough to build a case in the face of the serious sceptics, but that is not my intention. Rather I implore both the Scientist and the Mystic to open their minds to broader possibilities and to understand whether their worlds can find some common ground. With the advance of all the new weird and wonderful fields of research and the new wave of discoveries I am of the firm opinion that a deeper appreciation will need to come. For now, I am content to say that if technology is the detector of the scientist, then perhaps the conscious being is the detector of the spiritualist.

There are surely more surprises to come.

-George Khambe

Disappointment is a part of life, and try as we might we cannot save ourselves or be shielded from it. We can however make a choice. That choice is to accept that not everyone can come first in the race.  It is about coming to terms with the fact that we aren’t all A* students.

There is no need to feel disheartened.  Every failure brings an opportunity for a different kind of success.  It’s true that not everyone in the world will become a famous Singer, Footballer, Doctor, Lawyer or Rocket Scientist. However, there is a role uniquely available for you! 

Accepting that the road on which you currently travel no longer brings joy doesn’t have to be accompanied by feelings of shame, or inadequacy. Would you rather be the person who says in the dusk of their life that they never enjoyed their work or become the person who decides to take a moment to pause, to take a deep breath of life and to say, ‘this no longer serves me’?

To begin again, to work harder and smarter, or to recognise that your route or particular journey no longer thrills or excites you can be a real opening for renewal.  It can lead to a life that brings greater fulfilment and joy. Even a belief system you have inherited, or a religious tradition that has been passed down to you, can cease to serve you.  Re-evaluating what you have always accepted or understood can be the door to spiritual enlightenment.

Celebration should follow such a major life changing realisations. The dawn of a new day follows the darkest hour. Put differently, we have to be lost before we can be found! So, be courageous and follow your dreams. When your heart sings, move to the rhythm and be in alignment. Only then will you experience true bliss and a contented life.

-Jackie Heath, Solihull

We don’t do it enough, but what is essential

Is to think about our Highest Human Potential

For when this short life comes to its end

What will the world remember you for, my friend?

Your job, your house, bank balance or clothes…

You won’t be remembered for any of those

What did you do, how did you make others feel?

What did you give back? That’s the big deal

If you came, you lived then you went – so what!

Did you leave a mark… or just left a blot?

Those who are on histories’ pages

Are the ones who gave, like Saints and Sages

Those who made the world a better place

Of the billions, we recognise only their face

They did not waste a second, they came first

Such was their drive, such was their thirst

They knew that life could be gone in a breath

That nothing can be achieved after death

So they worked in the moment, lived in the Now

They just did and kept doing, did not wonder how

We too have one life and if we waste it with vices

Then hate breeds hate, we’ll be left in a crisis

Wars and terror and lives full of fear

Happiness cannot come from all of this, dear

Give human values, ‘humanness’ back to all

Build bridges says my Master, don’t build a wall.

Those who live for others, they have love in their hearts

Where our thinking ends, that is where theirs starts

Let’s reach our true potential, let’s start today.

Who knows if we’ll live to be old and grey

Let’s wear a smile and let’s see all as One

Embrace the world then the journey has begun.

See the beauty in every creation He made

He manages each moment, so why be afraid?

Worry not, for He will always provide…

The King and the Pawn are put back side by side

We’ll all have to go, but it’s about how we went

The time that was given, how was it really spent?

What use is the Sun, if the curtains are drawn?

What use is our life if we did nothing, once born?

Each day gone by, reminds me for sure

It’s another day wasted, I should have done more

Love, Live, Laugh… know who you are

Know the One Formless, who is Nirankar

The only One to know, is the only essential

Who helps us unlock our Highest Human Potential

                                                           – Sudhir Kundi, London

As a curious soul in search for silence, I have tried to observe the very moments in my life when noise prevails. I have reflected on experiences causing anger/annoyance versus those of happiness/tranquillity. I have noticed that being negative has almost always been the quickest, most automatic response to anything that disagrees with my way of life. However, the experience of positivity has almost always been a very subtle state of mind, comparable to the subtleness of breathing.  

It has been suggested that an adult inhales and exhales around 20 times a minute i.e. approximately 28,000 times in 24 hours. How is it that such a subtle, physiological process, so significant to every second of our life, goes unnoticed? Ironically, we only seem to notice our breathing when it is disrupted in some way – otherwise we remain unaware of its process. This silent nature is such that we even take our very existence for granted. Just so, to love someone is subtler than hating; to accept others is subtler than criticism; and to be at peace is subtler than being angry. 

As the essence of God (Nirankar) is so subtle, it is important that we go beyond what meets the eye in the pursuit of truth. When our mind connects the body to physical experience, such as sense perceptions, it severs the link to subtle internal experiences such as consciousness.  We get lost in the gross experience (perception), and disconnect from the subtle nature of the experiencer (the essence which is perceiving).

However, when the body relates itself to subtle, inner experiences, even our physical experiences become more and more meaningful. Such a connection between the internal and the external harmonises our world together, creating a broader and more mindful perspective.  

A few weeks ago, after attending Sangat (the Oneness Gathering), I was walking to my car with my grandfather. Suddenly out of the blue, an Asian man approached us and furiously began complaining about the cars that constantly block his driveway. He was so fed up. So much so that he was ready to leave the area for good, telling us he had put up with the situation for 20 years. My granddad looked at him, and with a warm smile and soft tone, said, “I can understand your frustration, but please don’t worry; everything is going to be alright”.

Normally, I would not have paid any great attention to such an incident, but on this occasion, what I witnessed was much deeper. I witnessed a man in need of kindness. I saw Nirankar (the Formless All-Pervading) giving a divine message through a Mahapursh (enlightened being or saint). Amazingly, the man felt better, responded with calmness and went on his way.

For me, this was no coincidence. It was just meant to be. These two souls, out of billions of people in the world, were meant to meet and exchange energies in this subtle moment. I was also meant to be there to witness it, and write the occurrence down so that it may be shared with others.

There is a deeper message in everything that comes to pass. If we could only look beyond the form, we would experience the Formless pulling us towards higher consciousness, providing moral choices and inspiring us to respond to situations with human values at the fore.  The Formless is always giving us lessons and blessings, like an internal compass or torch that lights the way.  

Those still searching for divinity or truth often under-estimate the subtler experiences that open up to the experience of Nirankar. There are two common routes. Some take the materialistic route, believing their peace and contentment to lie in greater wealth and the accumulation of belongings.  Others opt for religious observances, feeling they will gain contentment through worship and the ceremony that surrounds it. I have learned that both routes are a means to an end, but no goal. The materialistic eventually realise the never-ending list of wants and desires. The ceremonial worshippers, in their regular performances, forget to understand the meaning behind the rituals. Both forget that we are what we seek.

We are the question and the answer. As the great sufi mystic Rumi says, “what you seek is seeking you”. Rumi highlights that we are ultimately seeking something beyond our perceptions. Our task is not to seek love, contentment or happiness, but to pull down, one by one, those barriers that we have erected against it. Ultimately we are divine; we are the truth. If we seek with our hearts instead of our eyes, we will realise that happiness is a choice and not a result. His Holiness Nirankari Baba often reminded us not to build walls, because we only run the risk of losing ourselves within them. Every utterance Babaji made, was a subtle direction.  Through awareness and remembrance of these subtle experiences, we may become more conscious of the silent moments of peace, even in the midst of chaos.  

Life begins within emptiness, and yet it is in those full spaces of pure consciousness that life is reinforced within the soul.  The soul may be defined as the Formless within the form (i.e. our most subtle essence, within the gross material manifestation). The body gives rise to physicality, injecting sensation into every cell and pore and thereby creating the play of existence. When it is combined with the subtleness that is nothing and yet everything, it expands itself to experience life in its richest, purest form – Nirankar. 

By becoming aware and more attuned with our subtle experiences, we realize that we are not our thoughts, our emotions, our body, profession or nationality. We realize that we are beyond all forms and superficial labels. Our identities go far deeper than anything we have so far perceived. The truth that Nirankar is no-thing, yet permeates every-thing, baffles the mind.  There is no physical experience that can relate to what this means. Nirankar is much more than what the human being has identified with thus far.  Lost in a false reality, the human being stands adrift from what he really, most genuinely is. The mind, with all it’s conditioned responses, is the greatest contributor to the mirage that has been established. It requires someone who can operate beyond the mind, to free us from our false sense of separation. Such a person has been referred to as Satguru – that truth which leads from the darkness of ignorance, to the light of knowing.

Satguru inspires the most subtle, most simple awareness. It is here that everything begins. Once we have silenced the noise in our life (the ego) and given way to simple awareness, we truly begin to experience the hidden power of the universe. That is also when we begin our journey to knowing, believing and being the subtle reality of all that we are.

-Harishta Kaur, Huddersfield

I am a Human…

From desolated galaxies my Atoms came

For fractured stars, create my brain

Love and unity, are vitamins for the lobe

I’m a human like other humans, citizens of the globe

This life is magical like a wizard’s spell

My heart pumps passion through the highways of my shell

I have an imagination, tonight I captured Mars

I’m burning with light, maybe it’s the fractured stars

I am a Human…

Black, white, religion or race I am not a label

I am not this body, the body is unstable

From the molten lava to the clouds in the skies

Everything is temporary that I see with my eyes

I am not the heart and I am not the brain

Yet I am the sun and I am the rain

They are mere organs from which my soul can sing

I am nothing at all, yet I am in every thing

I am a Human…

My heartbeat and yours are like a poem that rhymes

Yet we’ve divided the world with imaginary lines

Ego thinks it’s high, don’t be slaves to the notion

There’s Oneness in all, like the waves of the ocean

My faith and intellect, they will always collide

But what I was seeking, was always inside

A human being is being human in my every quarter

Like snow I melted, and found I was water

I am a Human; a Human being

Beyond the confusions of illusions that I’ am seeing

I am not any label that I can find

I am not the heart, body or mind

I am Oneness a part of the whole

I am everything in Nothing, you can call me the soul

I am a human… I am a human…

                                              – Gurdip Roopra, Birmingham

Someone asked Jesus, ‘What is your God’s task like?’  He replied that it’s like a fisherman catching fish by throwing the net into the sea.  Many fish are caught, but only the ones that are ready to be eaten are chosen while the others that are too small are thrown back into the sea. 

How many times have people performed rituals or gone into the wilderness to live a life of solitude to find God?  How many times have different prayers been said, calling His name?  Each time this happens people are caught in God’s net, but, lacking in sincere devotion they are not ready and find themselves thrown back into the world.

Living a worldly life with only passing investment in devotional worship, people may well attain secular goals.  However, to attain God, changes must occur within a person, if they are to receive God’s grace.  One must have ‘God-like’ qualities.  When the process of making yogurt from milk is initiated, one needs at least one spoonful of actual yogurt to mix with the whole batch of prepared milk in order to arrive at the unadulterated yogurt.  In the same way, some God-like qualities are necessary in order to start the journey towards changing one’s thinking and behavior, enabling one to become one with God.

Lot of prayers and rituals occur at various places of worship to portray one’s devotion, but unfortunately that show of devotion outside is not getting translated into compassionate and kind-hearted thinking inside.  It amounts to the temple within being completely empty.  No matter how beautiful a poem is, it cannot be larger than the poet.  No matter how impressive a piece of art, it cannot be acclaimed to be greater than the artist.  No matter how beautifully we build and decorate our place of worship, it can never be more peaceful than the feelings of piety and goodwill within our hearts.  If people praise God and sing hymns with their lips, but harbor feelings of hatred, ill-will, and intolerance inside, that worship transmits an aura of negativity to anyone watching or listening.  Temples, mosques, and churches are like mirrors – they can only reflect the feelings and beliefs of their members, no matter how beautiful and awe-inspiring the building looks from the outside.

Intolerance and ignorance prevails whenever human beings fail to critically analyze their origin.  It is    easy to be labeled with a certain nationality, social status, and religious background, but only a very few ponder over their essential identity.  How can they get closer to God and be imbibed with God-like qualities when they do not even know their real, authentic self?  

Those who do not know themselves often rely upon people around them to characterize their identity.  If we stand amongst friends who praise our way of speaking or way of dressing, then we imagine ourselves as a very diligent human being.  On the other hand, if we stand around people who ignore us, criticize us, or refuse to mingle with us, then we may well visualize ourselves as somehow socially inept or incompetent.  This is why God-realization is said to go hand-in-hand with self-realization.  When we realize God, we comprehend our true origin and believe that all other labels given to us are of lesser relevance.  We then apprehend that the main aim of life is to help the soul recognize its eternal home – the supersoul (God).  Whether we are healthy or sick, whether we are rich or poor, or whether we are Indian or American, we realize who we really are through our connection with God.  Wherever and however we are, we are in a state of bliss regardless of the changing conditions on the outside.

Everyone wants this state of bliss, but only a few are able to experience it.  Why doesn’t everyone taste this bliss?  Where is the hurdle or obstruction to doing so? Saint Kabir Ji says that “Kam, Krodh, Lobh” is the reason why.  These three things are what obscures our judgment and why we cannot visualize the path towards eternal bliss. 

Kam refers to ‘greed’ or desiring more than what we have.   We are unsatisfied with what we already possess to the point that we are not even getting happiness from what we own. The bigger the desire, the larger is the deficiency.  The more we want, the bigger beggars we become.  One can be satiated with a $1,000 bonus for finishing a project.  Another can be disappointed with the same $1,000 when the expectations or desires were for $5,000.  The amount is the same, but the perception is contrasting.  Too many times one is caught being jealous by counting the possessions of another man and forgetting what he himself is blessed with.  Dreams are never fulfilled because as some dreams become true, bigger ones are being fabricated at the same time.

Lobh refers to our attachments.  It means holding on tightly to whatever one possesses.  Lobh refers to one’s hands tightly holding on to the past while Kam refers to the eyes being glued to the future. Lobh causes man to fear the loss of whatever he has accomplished and accumulated so far in his life (fame, fortune, and knowledge), even though they may not have given him complete happiness. Between these two conditions of Lobh and Kam is the small door that opens to the path of enlightenment and true bliss.  Jesus told his devotees, “straight is the way, but narrow is my gate.”  He further said that “through the eye of a needle, a camel may pass, but a wealthy man will not be able to enter through the gate of heaven.”  The wealthy man here refers to someone who obsessively holds on to his past accolades and recognitions.  Kabir Ji similarly reiterated this concept when he spoke of spirituality as a street so narrow, that there’s not enough room for two to pass at the same time.  The two he referred to was the authentic self, and the deluded self.  Past glories and achievements cloak over the real self, manifesting as ego.  What one has collected in the past is of very little use for eternal salvation because none of it is going with us after death. Living in the present is the only way to enter that “narrow gate” leading to God. Everything should feel complete and this in turn makes us feel complete.  This sense of elation and satisfaction negates the feeling of Kam. Similarly, one transcends Lobh if, without regret or clinging, he can give away his possessions.  In truth, only an enlightened master can give away his possessions with joy.  All others fear to share or give away what they own. God is gracious in giving human beings whatever they need.  Why can’t people pass on to others what God gave them without any hesitation?  Giving of what we own can be as simple as watering a deprived plant or giving an ailing patient some flowers.  Even love-filled words can brighten a depressed person’s day. It need not be material giving.

Krodh refers to anger.  It rightfully fits between Kam and Lobh says Saint Kabir.  When do we get angry?  It is when someone interferes with our desires or dreams (Kam).  The other times we experience anger is when someone threatens to take away our possessions (Lobh). Many people seek therapy or advice from great saints as to how they can get rid of their anger.  The most direct way to eradicate anger is to dissipate the sense of attachment (Lobh) and greed (Kam).  When one is not busy defending their possessions and dreams then there is no reason for anger to arise.  Kabir Ji states that the fortunate soul who overcomes Kam, Krodh and Lobh is then able to start on the simple and straight journey towards being one with God. 

As already stated, God-realization leads to self-realization.  Self-realization allows one to rise above attachment, anger, and greed.  Once these obstacles are cleared, the path towards enlightenment, bliss, and eternal salvation is clear and easy to walk.  God-realization is attained in the presence of a Realised Master, or Satguru.  Such Messengers of God can teach us the ways of attaining God-like qualities such as love, compassion and unwavering balance.  If one is fortunate enough to seek until they arrive in the benign presence of a Realised Master, then they can be assured that they are one of the fish that is ready to be carried home by the Great Fisherman.

Dr. Kanwal Chawla, Fort Myers, Florida, USA

Hope is to want or expect something – to have a wish to get or do something or for something to happen or be true, especially something that seems possible or likely.

Everyone is searching for hope.  Always, constantly searching for an elusive ‘something’ to make their lives complete. Some think what they are missing is more wealth; others, a life partner; others still, a better career.  For many, they say they are looking for happiness. I feel it’s really a search for one thing – the gift of hope.
 
Hope is what keeps us going. Hope is what drives us. Hope is why people are driven to different belief systems, religions and faith affiliations. When I sit in a Oneness Gathering (Satsang) I look around, absorb the positive atmosphere and feel a sense of great hope. It is the spiritually enlightened we come to listen to and learn from. It is always to seek, to share and to believe. I am beginning to realise that Faith is a by-product of hope.
 
We want so desperately to believe that there is a reason for our being here. Some are told what to believe and who to believe in, and they are happy doing so. Some start their own search, examining all the possible paths to knowing – they may find a Guru or belief system, and then follow that path.

Then there are others, who are constantly seeking. They go from one practice to another, one belief to another and one creed to another. They may not know what it is they are looking for, and continue until they believe that they have found it. Some remain in the search forever.
 
What I believe is that you have to seek within. The truth is within. Though so many layers of experience and conditioning are piled on top, we have to keep peeling them away and dig deep to find it. And then re-connect. I don’t say ‘connect’ because we’re never ever not connected. We just need to re-member who we are, and re-connect to the source within. I am not saying we do not need a guides, spiritual leaders or God. The source within is the GOD we seek to connect with. An enlightened Guru can act as a mirror, reflecting our deepest reality.  
 
For some it is easier to see this, feel this and experience this. Others have been schooled in the theory, but have yet to practice it. It boils down to choices we make every single moment of our lives. If we live on auto-pilot, we then are not conscious co-creators of our lives. But if we start being aware of what it is we think about, how we are shaping our own lives we can begin becoming conscious co-creators of our experience of life.

The choices before us need to be made all the time – consciously and consistently.  Such noticing becomes a habit, through which awareness and awakening arises. Call it self-development, if you will. 

How do we go about being more aware? It’s actually not that hard – you have to just start paying attention – real attention to what you are thinking about, and what you are feeling.  If the thoughts in your head do not serve you or are of a negative nature then simply stop thinking about them! Literally say “stop” in your mind and bring your focus on something that brings you joy or is of a positive nature.  It may sound silly but it’s necessary till we cultivate the habit of choosing positive thoughts. 

There is a saying, “What we think about, we bring about”. So take a look at your life as it is right now.  What are you attracting to yourself? Are you happy with what is going on for you and around you?  If not, think hard and really be honest with yourself about what it is you have been thinking about.  If you cannot remember the thoughts, then that awareness needs to come into play.  Really watch your thoughts and change them as and when necessary.  Keep choosing to focus on things that make you feel good.  If you are in a ‘feel good’ state of mind – you will naturally attract goodness.  Feeling good becomes so much easier, when you are connected within.  When you re-connect you will start being more aware. 

Develop this awareness so you can awaken to the source within. Re-connection to the source is full of hope – then hope is not something elusive as we once thought. Hope becomes Faith. Once we have Faith we learn to let go, to flow and truly be.  In this, is bliss.

NOW – Not tomorrow or next week or in the future – now is the time to wake up and stay awake.

Seek and ye shall find. Ask and ye shall receive. Knock and the doors of heaven shall open unto you……
 
Heaven is truly a state of mind.  Not someone else’s but your OWN.

Stay blessed.

– Dina Sabnani, Hong Kong

Over sometime, I have been grappling with the ins and outs of destiny and free will, really trying to understand. I mean really understand it. But this is the biggest paradox in spiritual science I have found.

The Scriptures talk about both, telling us that on one hand nothing can happen without God’s will and on the other, that everything is in our hands. His Holiness Nirankari Baba would often explain this point stating that ‘God is a Supreme Energy and within this Energy’s will, so to speak, is the freedom of action’. This means that we reap what we sow, but at the same time, the energy behind all our actions is this Supreme Force. So at the end of the day, it is all God!

Specifically, Baba Ji would use the metaphor of an electricity source.  He would explain that we can tap into the source to power a fan or air conditioning unit that provides cold air, or plug in a heater that provides warmth.  The electricity does not interfere with the choice of what we plug in, but what we choose affects our subsequent experience.  That made a lot of sense to me.

Later, I came across an article by one of my spiritual mentors in North America, Rajan Sachdeva. He relayed a story once told by Great Master Baba Avtar Singh Ji. It goes like this…

Once, a hungry, thirsty and ever so tired person in the desert suddenly begins to receive all that he desires, whilst sitting under the mythological tree of life (Kalapa Viriksha).  Not knowing where everything comes from, he becomes suspicious and entertains negative thoughts. He feels it could be a ghost. Then fulfilling his desire, the ghost appears! He fears that the ghost might eat him.  The ghost does eat him!

Baba Avtar Singh Ji would explain that the supreme formless power is like the tree of life; it is an energy field of Infinite Potentiality, which can give you whatever you desire. The message is to think positively, be positive and say positive things.

This blew me away. If whatever we think or say will come true, from today onwards, let us watch our thoughts and watch what we say, because it will change our lives! As the beautiful ancient Chinese saying tells us;

Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.

Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions.

Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits.

Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character.

Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.   

Our mental processes and speech connects to actions and habits – essentially, influencing what we experience in the world. The Infinite Formless Energy (the real tree of life) is the giver and source.  Let us tap into it with wisdom.

– Dave Dhanoa, Toronto, Canada

I live in Quebec, Canada, and I wanted a vacation in Portugal. In life, I felt I had everything financially and my health was good too, but since birth I always felt there was something missing.

I would often travel the world to try to fill this feeling of emptiness I felt since childhood. I did a ten day silent retreat where I did not speak and I did many other penances to try to find what was missing in my life. I tried so much to fill this inner void but the feeling of emptiness would not go away.  How did it go away? Strangely, not until I was sitting next to a fellow passenger who shared a mystic revelation with me, on a busy and noisy plane!  

My indirect flight from Montreal to Toronto was the first leg of my journey to the beach destinations of Portugal. I had planned a month’s holiday, intent on days of relaxation by the sea. Whatever I planned, I now realise it is God who sets all the plans in motion!

So, I found myself sitting on a plane next to a complete stranger. I remember the noise and the commotion. It was far from an ideal setting for an enlightening experience, as you may imagine. What exactly happened next was not planned and it is very difficult to put it in words.

I talked with this stranger about the deeper meaning of love and about meditation. I explained to him how I am on a journey looking for myself, seeking to get rid of the emptiness which had been with me since birth. The stranger only spoke English, but was able to somehow understand everything I said even when I spoke in French. He was able to feel what I wanted to say. Then suddenly he asked me if I wanted to receive the Gyan? He said ‘are you ready to have your life questions answered today?’ I thought “Oh my God, yes I am!”. Thinking back, I did not really know what the Gyan was, but I saw in his eyes so much love and truth. I trusted him. This is why I decided to be open to the wisdom he offered to share.

There was only 20 minutes left before touch down, to have the Gyan experience. I was listening to his voice and it felt good. I could focus, regardless of people talking all around me. At one point, even the air hostess interrupted, telling us to put the tables up as we were entering the descent for landing. Despite all the distractions, I kept listening. Then in a moment, he revealed the Formless.  Suddenly, everything else disappeared.  There was no more noise, nothing else could distract me.

It felt as though no one else was there. I am trembling just thinking about it! It is hard to find the expression to describe what I felt in any language. Even now, I can find no words to explain this Gyan experience. What I can say is there was so much energy and love. I felt complete. After the Gyan, there was no emptiness; there was only fullness. It was full of energy. The Gyan made such an impact in my life.

Ironically, I never liked being on a plane. As the plane was about to land this stranger was still talking and I was crying with joy and saying to myself, “please do not land too soon, allow my friend to finish”. Arriving in Toronto, I’d heard about the Tribute to Humanness Conference, and so wanted to stay for it. I was aware that the event would be a homage to the Spiritual Master who had made this Gyan possible, His Holiness Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh Ji. So many fellow passengers, including the stranger who had become my beloved friend, were travelling to attend this most special of gatherings. However, I had already made plans to travel straight to Portugal.

Reaching Portugal some hours later, I instantly felt I made a mistake and should have stayed in Toronto. I could not think of anything else but the Gyan. This experience was the only thing in my heart and mind.

I could not sleep for two days after the revelation I had experienced. It was as though I had no desires left, and I needed nothing else. I was not sleeping, drinking or eating. I was totally absorbed in Gyan. My entire consciousness was focused on this Formless, which was so complete.

I had to know more about the Sant Nirankari Mission, His Holiness and the fellowship that was sharing such deep wisdom with others, so freely. I arranged to travel from Porto to the Mission’s Centre for Oneness in the West Midlands, UK,  where I knew the friend I’d met on the plane would be. I was again sitting on a plane – this time smiling, thinking of the Gyan experience which I can never forget.

I stayed at the Centre for Oneness for a few days, enjoying the hospitality that was all around.  I realised why I had made this journey. It was to share love with all the people there, who have been touched by the same Gyan experience.  It was an opportunity to give and receive that same love.  This love is beyond anything I could have imagined. I asked for answers and I asked from love. I received more than I possibly could have expected.

Though I have no siblings, I now feel everyone is my brother and sister. This love is boundless. I am full of gratitude.  I felt at home in the company of those who also had this experience. When I sat in their company, I knew why I had come. The fulfilment I received on the plane was what I had yearned for since I was born.

I have since attended the Oneness Gathering (Satsang) in Montreal, and found the same love there.  Now I want to share this unending love with the world. I travelled the world looking for answers but now finally, I can say my search is over.

          Chantel Lacasse, Magog, Quebec, Cananda

The traditional definitions for engineering include: ‘the application of mathematics, empirical evidence, scientific, social and practical knowledge in order to invent, design, build, maintain, research and improve structures, systems and components.’ I’d like to think of applying this definition to my own personal journey of change.

Frankly, in engineering terms, my life had not run particularly well up until the turn of the century. Not well, not smoothly, not economically, not dynamically. It was as if there hadn’t been a service for years. I wasn’t putting the right fuels and lubricants into my system, in fact more the equivalent of sugar in the petrol tank (true sabotage) or at the very least, leaded petrol in an unleaded car. My environment was hostile – fog, rain, icy roads, many of my parts had seized up, bulbs had gone in the lamps and indicators and I was in the habit of either leaving the handbrake on or never applying the brakes at all! And the mirrors – what mirrors? I wasn’t going to look back to see what chaos I might’ve caused. Are you with me so far?

The vehicle that was me – ‘vehicle’, as in a means, a channel, a force, a method or an approach – that vehicle – was in bad shape and going down a one-way street. The crash was inevitable. Rather than get a new vehicle, I decided to overhaul and repair the one I had. And that took “Inner Engineering”. Remember the Haynes Motor Car Manuals? They explained how to carry out routine maintenance, restoration and servicing of your vehicle – primarily aimed at the Do-it Yourselfer.

Over the years, I think every part of my vehicle has been dismantled and checked over, with many components and systems needing to be either replaced, upgraded or permanently scrapped. I’ve referred to the appropriate manuals, frequently. I’ve spoken with other Inner Engineering enthusiasts and shared ideas – even towing myself to a workshop when that’s what it took….

During this time, I have taken on several passengers – both long-term and short-term – I’ve often been the passenger myself, as it became quite clear that an Advanced Driving Instructor or Higher Mechanic was what I needed to continue the Inner Engineering overhaul.

In my experience, it takes a gentle, patient and loving approach to create real and lasting personal change. Even in traditional engineering environments, it isn’t possible to improve structures, systems and components by hammering, beating, wrenching and kicking!  This has never been an effective approach to adaptations and repairs. Rather, it’s about easing, tending, oiling, adjusting, cleaning, resting and understanding. Easy does it.                                                   

Caroline Gibbs
Solihull, UK