Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Primary Qualifications for Becoming a Satsangi. {10.}

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Radhasoami!

Some time back, I had received a request from a DEI {Dayalbagh Educational Institute; Deemed University} student, seeking to join one of my Radhasoami-related communities formed on Orkut. I asked her if she was a Satsangi / from a Satsangi family / Seeker or Jigyasu. She wrote back saying, “I am neither a Satsangi, nor from a Satsangi family, nor am I a Jigyasu, but I believe in Almighty Huzur.” It was naturally with great delight that I approved her request, replying, “& that is the most important thing, of course!”

So, who can become a Satsangi, or join the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh? Are there any restrictions on the basis of caste, race, nationality, one's erstwhile religious allegiance, etc.? None at all; {age, yes, requirement holds}. The primary & vital requirement is that the person believes in the teachings of the Radhasoami Fath, specifically that:

**** The name of the Supreme Godhead is Radhasoami Dayal;
**** The Revered Leader of the Radhasoami religion headquartered in Dayalbagh Is the Living Incarnation of Merciful Radhasoami; &
**** One wants to accept His Mastership for one’s spiritual practices & salvation.

All other behavioral or practical requirements, such as being a pure vegetarian & teetotaler, attending Satsang at a Branch, are secondary to & flow from this central act of transferring the responsibility for one’s spiritual welfare onto the Sant Satguru of Dayalbagh, and His Merciful Assumption of it.

Radhasoami!
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What Does the Word “Satsangi” Mean? {9.}

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Radhasoami!

The followers of the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh are known as Satsangis. Technically, the term is employed for those who have been initiated into the mystical practices prescribed by the Faith under the authority of the Revered Leader. Loosely, it is often extended to include such persons either born in Satsangi families or otherwise devoted to the religion, who might reasonably be expected to get initiation in due course of time.

However, the word “Satsangi” means “one in association with the Sath”. “Sath” here does not imply the truth {since that is vague & could be construed to mean just about anything}, but specifically the company of Sath Purusha, or the Lord of the divine realm Satloka {& above}.

Hence, “Satsangi” actually means a devotee who is fortunate enough to be blessed with the association or company {rather, mastership} of a Saint who has access to the Satloka or divine regions above it, including the most exalted paradise of Radhasoami Dham.

So, a “Satsangi” is a soul that has taken {& been given by the Param Guru} refuge in the only Living Incarnation of Merciful Radhasoami on earth in this Kaliyuga, & who lives by the teachings of the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh.

In modern times, the word “Satsang” is employed casually and indiscriminately to refer to any apparent devotional activity performed by any group of persons belonging to dubious religious affiliations. That may perhaps constitute Satsang only insofar as it indicates the devotees’ quest for God, but just about as much!

Radhasoami!
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The Loftiest Origin of Dayalbagh’s Radhasoami Religion. {8.}

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Radhasoami!


The Radhasoami religion has been founded by the only Living Incarnation of the Supreme Godhead, Radhasoami Dayal. Not Content with merely having Incarnated {so to say} in the world out of Parental Compassion for such undeserving beings as all of us & the whole of humanity & living kingdom, the Incarnated Divine Current has Been Continuing Its most glorious Mission of universal salvation through the agency of a continuing lineage of Param Gurus since August 24, 1818.

In a unique benediction, the Incarnated Divine Current has Declared & Reassured all living beings that It shall not return to its original Abode until It has Redeemed all jeevas or living beings in this world-system, prior to the impending MahaPralay at the end of the present decadent age of Kaliyuga.

The above tenets constitute the core of the weltanschauung or worldview of the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh.

The concept of heaven being a hierarchical structure may be found in various religions of the world, particularly Buddhism. The Radhasoami religion affirms the truth of this divine spiral, & clearly states the name, precise location & other description of each divine realm.

The Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh also names the different regions from where the various other divine incarnations & prophets of the world’s other major religions {Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism & Sikhism} had respectively descended from. This also indicates the severe limits of the spiritual benefit that they can possibly confer on their followers, because of their own relatively inferior origin, status & scope.

The intermediary heavens are to be traversed by the individual “surat’ or soul, {with the Permission, Grace & Help of the Param Guru of Dayalbagh}, to finally access & reach the Ultimate Abode of Radhasoami Dham, the loftiest paradise in existence. It is only such an internal ascent by the soul that may be regarded as constituting true & final redemption.

Radhasoami!
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Dayalbagh: The Garden of the Merciful. {7.}

Radhasoami!

“DAYALBAGH, which translated into English means the ‘Garden of the Merciful’, is the headquarters of the Radhasoami Satsang Community. The foundation of this Ashram was laid on the Basant Panchami day, the 20th of January 1915 by a simple ceremony of planting a mulberry tree by His Holiness Huzur Sahabji Maharaj, the fifth Revered Leader of the Radhasoami Faith. … It is a self-contained colony of the followers of the Radhasoami Faith, and is well-known for its institutions and for the activities of its inmates in the social and economic spheres, undertaken by them in a spirit of cooperation and for the organized way of life that conforms to the spiritual ideals of the Radhasoami Faith.”

---- Dayalbagh; published by the Radhasoami Satsang Sabha, Dayalbagh.


Radhasoami!

Here Till Redeem You All! {6.}

Radhasoami!

Almost everyone is acquainted with the concept of divine incarnations. All the world’s major established religions subscribe to the possibility of God taking birth in a mortal human frame for the purpose of guidance & / or salvation of human beings. This belief has been found in almost every land & every age in recorded human history.

The Bhagavad Gita unambiguously affirms that whenever evil gains ground in the world, Lord Krishna reincarnates to end it. The Quran refers to several prophets & messengers of Allah. Jesus Christ was regarded as the son of God. The traditions of the Sikh gurus, the Bodhisattvas & of the Dalai Lama all reinforce this idea.

Hence, there can per se be absolutely nothing to disbelieve in the tenet of the Radhasoami religion that the Supreme Godhead Radhasoami has Incarnated on earth, & Is Redeeming His followers, through an intergenerational agency of the Param Gurus or Grand Masters.

This Faith has a history of an uninterrupted lineage of eight sacred forms of the Param Guru to lend credence to its fundamental tenet, & inspire the faith of its numerous devotees from all across the world.

What is the matchless glory of the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh? The solemn declaration by the Param Guru that the Incarnated Divine Current or Nij Dhar shall NOT return to its original Avode of Radhasoami Dham {the most exalted paradise in existence} until It has achieved the true & final salvation of all living beings {& not just humans}.

In other words, the reassuring & glorious message given by the Nij Dhar to humanity may be simply writ as:

“I AM NOW PERSONALLY INCARNATED ON EARTH & I SHALL CONTINUE REDEEMING HUMANS & OTHER LIVING BEINGS ABSOLUTELY TILL I HAVE REDEEMED YOU ALL!”

So, how do we humbly go about possibly expressing our gratitude for such indescribable divine Grace & most glorious Mission of universal salvation?

Well, ....!

With hearty Radhasoami!

Divine Guarantee of Universal Salvation. {5.}

Radhasoami!

The Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh revolves around the holy person of the Param Guru or Grand Master. When the Param Guru sheds His mortal human frame, the Incarnated Divine Current or Nij Dhar continues Its most glorious Mission of universal salvation through a next chosen sacred form as the Param Guru.

Hence, the mode employed by divine Grace in the Radhasoami religion is through an intergenerational, uninterrupted & continuing lineage of Grand Masters. This concept has had other historical parallels also, the Sikh gurus & the tradition of the Dalai Lama being two examples that easily come to mind.

However, there remain several crucial differences between the Radhasoami religion & all others, which do not bear a discussion right now. Suffice it to say, that the Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh is a living tradition, originated from the most exalted divine realm, & it has been the first in all recorded human history & creational existence to unambiguously declare that the Nij Dhar shall blessedly not return to Its Realm until & unless It achieves the salvation of all living beings in this world-system in the ongoing depraved age of Kaliyuga.

Glory be to the living Radhasoami religion of Dayalbagh, which has been engaged in the most glorious Mission of universal salvation since the sacred Monday of August 24, 1818!

Radhasoami!

The Teachings of the Radhasoami Faith. {4.}

Radhasoami!

“The teachings of the Radhasoami Faith are similar to those of the Faith known as the Religion of Saints or Sant Mat as taught by Guru Nanak and Kabir Sahab and other Saints like Jagjivan Sahab, Paltu Sahab and Tulsi Sahab of Hathras. The Radhasoami Faith may, therefore, be described as the Religion of Saints. Seekers who are desirous of joining the Satsang are expected to accept the teachings of the Radhasoami Faith and promise to act according to its principles and perform the practices prescribed therein.”

---- Dayalbagh; published by the Radhasoami Satsang Sabha, Dayalbagh.

Radhasoami!

Most Glorious Supreme Godhead Radhasoami Dayal’s Message to Humanity. {3.}

Radhasoami!

Incarnated God's MESSAGE to Humanity:

“Proclaimed for the benefit of the spiritually deserving the Message that the Supreme Being, Most Bountiful, Merciful RADHASOAMI Has, upon Observing the extreme agony and delusion of living beings, Compassionately Pleased to Personally Incarnate Himself as the holy Form of the Sant Satguru {ot Grand Saint-Master}, for the express purpose of their redemption. In His boundless Grace. He Reveals the secrets of His Own Abode, and Preaches the Surat Shanda Marg as the means to attain it. It behoves the living beings to nurture faith and love in His Lotus Feet.”

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---- Param Purusha Puran Dhani Huzur Soami Ji Maharaj; the holy Sar Bachan {Nazm}.
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Import:
This forms the first {translated} paragraph of the key, crucial, and most glorious Message to humanity Communicated by the Supreme Godhead RADHASOAMI.

It simply means that upon Witnessing the ignorance, confusion and misery of living beings in this depraved age of Kaliyuga, the God dwelling in the loftiest divine realm Personally Decided to Incarnate His Highness upon earth, with the sole Intention of universal salvation.

Humanity should rejoice at this best possible of news for its redemption. Satsangis have already started doing so and, as Merciful RADHASOAMI Showers His Grace upon others, the rest of the world will also gradually follow suit.

Radhasoami!