As you keep moving around,can you give me the details of a perfect genuine guru.Or at least give me some hints to test and recognise him.I don’t believe in this guru-lineage and hypocrisy and would rather remain without a guru than become a victim of this system.What are your views?Kindly explain some easy criteria to test him.
Gurudev’s Answer:
My dear,it is absolute correct.It is better to remain without a guru than become a victim of hypocrisy.But do keep up constant search .I will give you some hints to specifically look for in a genuine guru so as to combat deception.
There is complete harmony in what he says and what he does.
He is self educated and his knowledge does not stem from books but springs from the depth of life and mind.
He is paradigm of peace and mind ; a symbol of mental peace.
He is beyond the reach of temptations like those of wealth and honour ,dignity and fame.
He remains for long time in Samadhi.
He lives away from women and does not allow to meet women privately.
He is a man of utmost compassion.
He remains constantly detached from the world.Dispassion is his constant nature.
He is not affected by the nine gates of sense organs.
Having killed his desire , he remains absolved in the imperishable word.Such a man transcends the sphere of Maya (illusion) of three modes and remains established in the self and he is a great teacher for others as well.One should immediately believe in such a Guru.Complete faith and devotion would bring in Guru’s grace in your system automatically. Thereafter,whatever is taught by the grace and your practice accordingly with full devotion and commitment would bring in the results.You would then experience a power quite apart from your body is subject to fear ,hunger ,thirst,heat and cold,life and death and so on. The soul is beyond all this.When you would experience this state of external bliss,it would result in peace in all environments.This practice would bring in peace despite all turmoil around you.Without constant spiritual practice,one is a mere shell like pitcher without water.
India is, and has been a land of seers since the beginning of history. Satguru Mahatma Mangat Ram stands in this great tradition connecting the past with our present, and with the future of mankind. He was the most profound exponent of “Samta” or oneness. His teachings are the quintessence of Samta. He taught nothing that he did not practice, and practice to perfection. It is only in the family of chosen once that a man of god is born. Blessed also is the land where such an event takes place. Shri Mangat Ram Ji incarnated in a pious family in village Gangothian Brahmana, Tehsil Kahoota in Rawalpindi district (Pakistan) on Tuesday 24 November, 1903. Even as a child of four/five years, Satguru Mangat Ram ji would get up in the middle of the night and start meditating for hours well past into midnight rather than to sleep. He was admitted to school at the age of five. By the age of eight years. Satguru started leaving home at midnight. He would go to a deep ravine near the village and sit in contemplation on a stone by the river. It was no ordinary feat for a child to leave the comfort of home for hard penance at a desolate place. He was good at studies and was personally offered a scholarship by the headmaster not only to complete his high school studies but right up to post graduation. He, however consciously renounced formal education at this point of his life. This seemed to him to be too self centered. As he said of himself later, “This one’s concern was with the knowledge of god that alone could benefit the ignorant of the world.” He spent most of his time in meditation in high altitude areas, dense forests and other lonely spots. Open sky remained his night companion for life. A wandering Fakir with no possessions but a love of God : his living was star tingly simple. For years at a stretch, he sustained himself on a single glass of milk-tea per day. He overcame sleep, hunger and thirst. He took up a job at the behest of his mother but gave it up when she died. He remained in service of his mother till her death in March, 1928 and felt released thereafter from his final domestic responsibilities. He remained a bachelor and a true ‘brahmchari’ throughout his life and led an ascetic life of intense unremitting contemplation. He was an embodiment of simplicity, humility & intellectual excellence with complete dedication to meditation.
CHALISA: As already mentioned, Satguru was dyed deep in God love right from childhood. When he was studying in class VII, he went into uninterrupted meditation for 40 days, such a penance was no easy task. He attained self-realization at the age of thirteen. All those living around were surprised. His body has become weak but his face shone with unique brightness.
MAHAMANTRA: Three days after this incident he was sitting near the banks of rivulet outside his village. Suddenly the first three words of the “MAHAMANTRA” appeared to him, thus: “Om, Brahma, Satyam”. The second day he emerged with “Nirankar, Ajanma, Advait Purukha ”. On third day he was blessed with words “Sarvabyapak, Kal Yan, moorat, Parameshwaraya, Namastang”. Each he would note them down on a piece of paper. How child-devotee Mangat Ram found God or came across the divine light of truth has been described in the sacred words of the “Mahamantra” for the edification of seekers of God. Later he fully expounded the significance of this “Mahamantra” in a section of his magnum opus “Shri Samata Prakash”. In that work, he has explained in some detail each words of this 13 word mantra.
Readers may find the mantra in its original form at the beginning of this book. It is enough to say here that this “Mahamantra” carries a significant effect. There is a special power inherent in it. Sincere and repeated recitation of this “Mahamantra” has been found to bring great benefit. It is also helpful if recited before starting any auspicious undertaking. He spent most of his time in meditation in high altitude areas, dense forests and other lonely spots. Open sky remained his night companion for life. A wandering Fakir with no possessions but a love of God; his living was startlingly simple. For fourteen years at a stretch, he sustained himself on a single glass of milk-tea per day. He overcame sleep, hunger and thirst. Sat Guru Mangat Ram sees similarity in the teachings of the founders of all religions the world over. The principle aim was to redeem man from the transient world he is born in and enable him to realize the bliss that is true and real. Sat Guru Mangat Ram had deep respect for all great souls. He accordingly advised study of their lives and teachings with reverence. However, cautioned against the futility of study if it was merely a mental preoccupation. He says: “The greatness of prophets and saints alone will not bring salvation unless their noble principles are actually adopted in life.” The revelatory verses of the “Vani” welled-up from the depth of his “Samadhi” and flowed for hours together.Bhagat Banarsi Dass who served at the master’s feet for over 16 years collected as many of these as he could and compiled them into “Granth Shri Samta Prakash”. The prose sayings on questions of applied Dharma and the way to right living are conserved in the “Granth Shri Samta Vilas”. Revelation and doctrine converged on a single focus: Samta - the point where difference and duality vanish, the state wherein the mind ascends the world of senses, and where phenomenon entities and experiences disappear and the individual being merges into the supreme Being leaving behind the limit of time and space.
LIFES MISSION: With deep meditation, constant Self-remembrance and complete Brahmacharya (celibacy) , Sat Guru Mangat Ram Ji had attained the supreme state of yoga. Vairagya (dispassion) within him had grown to boundless proportions. There was nothing more to be attained. The only mission before him now was to people who were burning in the fires of desires and snares of the senses. They were to be made aware of the real aim of life and introduced to true happiness and peace. Simple ways of spiritual progress were to be outlined for them. He preached what he practiced on himself. He was an embodiment of exquisite humility, undaunted fearlessness and an undesiring state of mind: a true example of Selflessness. He left his mortal frame on 4 February, 1954 at the young age of 50 years at Amritsar in Punjab. He was the greatest exponent of Samta which he described copiously in the two “Granths” mentioned above. These scriptures are an ocean of spiritual knowledge for seekers of Truth or Ultimate Reality.
The word ‘Samtavad’ literally means ‘to speak about the Changeless or the Sameness.’ As a philosophy, Samtavad shows the path to the Eternal Peace by following certain principles to get over the turbulent state of mind. According to Samtavad, the root cause of unhappiness and restlessness lies in the never ending desires for pleasure of senses and the mind generally, most of the desires of human being remain unfulfilled and this causes disappointment and unhappiness. Even where certain desires are attained, a passing satisfaction may be achieved but further desires soon follow and this cycle continues to bring dismay and disillusionment. Satguru has elaborately discussed these issues in his discourses and holy granths and has asserted that these limitations can be overcome by following the path of Samta. Supreme peace comes from achieving oneness with the Supreme Being by practicing for the tenets of Samta. He [God] being the core and life of the whole universe, eternal peace can only be attained by realizing Him. So, freedom from the cycle of birth and death and a state of equanimity even in the midst of duality and desires can only be gained by merging with the Supreme Self. All creation, indeed, is His manifestation and all religious and holy books proclaim His glory. Verily, verily teachings of Samta beacon all to follow the path led by the Great Master (Satguru) and be at perpetual peace with the Supreme Divinity.
Five Cardinal Principles
The principles laid down by Satguru for achievement of spiritual progress are given below-
Simplicity: By adopting simplicity, a person gains control over a lot of unnecessary desires. Simplicity pertains to dress, food and thoughts. Simple dress makes one humble, loving, considerate and to live within one's means. The increase of desires leads one to sinful acts. One should leave no stone unturned in one's efforts to arrive at a life of simplicity. This is the secret of real happiness. Eating simple food is the surest way to good health. The intellect gets purified and one attains a power to control one's senses. Simplicity of thoughts means to interact with everyone without guile. Never harbor ill will towards any one. Simple conversation should be without any prejudice. The principle of simplicity is the foundation of real life. Therefore, if someone wants to search for eternal place, then one should firmly establish oneself in simplicity.
Truth: Truth means something which remains eternally. It is not subject to birth, death or decay. One should try to search for Truth and mould one's life according to the precepts of Truth. One should give right thought to everything, and put into practice every true instruction. One's speech should in all respects be truthful. To utter with tongue whatever is in one's heart. This is the proper form of Truth. Truth itself is God. One should make whatever effort is necessary to arrive at firm faith in Truth. As long as one's mind is caught in the activities of sin, one can never experience the real form of truth. The true seeker of Truth is one who is firmly convinced that the world is transient, and one who tries all the time to emerge from his state of forgetfulness. One day he will find true happiness. The search for Truth is not the monopoly of anyone or special religion. The lesson of Truth is being taught all the time by Nature from within oneself. It is only one's ignorance that comes in the way. One should always keep one's conscience merged in truth. No opportunity should be given to untrue feelings to rise. Then only one gets to know the essence of truth.
Service: Selfless service is the highest aim of man's life. Just as wind, water, earth, sun and moon are engaged in ceaseless performance of duty, it is incumbent on man to realize his true duty and according to it serve others all the time. Then only he will be known to have acted in God's will. One's wealth should be offered in the service of worthy causes. One's body should be engaged in the service of the poor, the diseased and the orphans. One's mind should be controlled and surrendered at the feet of the Lord. Any one engaged in service is blessed with qualities like love, unity, creativity, renunciation, dispassion, modesty and contentment. Anyone who wants to be let into the secret of life should adopt the way of service. The essence of all happiness and the teaching of all saints in this service alone. The full import of service is to relieve pain of others by doing one's duty. Never do service with a motive and desire. The sincere effort should be towards doing good to others, as one day everyone has to leave this world.
Satsang: The first requirement of satsang is coming together and sitting together. The next principle is contemplating ways for self-improvement. Then to listen to teachings of true religion. To familiarize oneself with the lives of enlightened souls so as to benefit from their examples. To reflect on the true purpose of life. To learn about overcoming hurdles in the way and awaken into true drama. There are countless other benefits like gaining freedom from blind faith; becoming aware of one's failings and obtaining freedom from the hollow life of show. The Satsang of Samta means respecting the founders of all religions; learning from their noble examples and attending to one's spiritual progress. Coming into Satsang brings about an end to ignorance, bigotry and selfishness.
Sat Simran: Prayer, worship, meditation and yoga are all Sat Simran, or true remembrance of the lord. Selfless action is born of Sat Simran. The best way of Sat Simran is to do it with the mind. Uttering by the tongue or chanting loudly one loses the benefit. One attains to Simran yoga only by loving remembrance, keeping in mind all the time that Ishwara is lord and master. Ultimately you meet the one you so contemplate. There is endless blessing in the name of the lord. Only those who have benefited by practice can realize this. The glory of it cannot be described by tongue or expressed in writing. It is a destination of great wonder. It can only be obtained by practice during one's own life.
These were some selections from five main principles of spiritual progress as described in 'Granth Sri Samta Vilas'.
In the same granth, Maharaj Ji has outlined five true principles of Samta, which are briefly given below : For those having faith in 'Samta', Satguru Mangat Ram ji has listed the following instructions: The believers in 'Samta' should consider following God's true laws as their foremost duty. They should have no enmity with those following other religions. They should remain firm within God's will and make equanimity in all circumstances a means towards remaining in His will. Whatever religion or sect he may belong to, a believer in Samatavad should work to remove his own blemishes and should desire the welfare of others. One should free oneself from the narrow confines of customs and religious rituals and wasteful debates. Instead, one should establish oneself in performing selfless action with truth as the goal. There is welfare for all in 'Samatavad'. It is the real nature and true goal of man. It is the true drama. The path shown by the gurus is to strive to attain this even-mindedness. Therefore, free yourself from religious bigotry, bind yourself to the eternal laws and strive every moment to gain control over oneself. There is no other way to real peace.
