FIRST MESSAGE

Dear Brothers,

I have devoted the major part of my life to constant remembrance. I was twenty two when I gained access to the holy feet of my master, Samarth Guru Mahatma Ram Chandraji Maharaj of Fatehgarh, who brought me up in the lap of his grace and affection. My only object, and the main pursuit of life, has ever been the devoted worship of my master and this continues from the beginning to end (i.e., till my present state). I took him into my heart as an object of worship and never took, nor do I take even now, anyone else into my view. May God keep up this feeling of mine forever. I did not take in any one but my master, nor did I ever look to any other but him. It is, as a general rule, the primary duty of a true disciple and the only key to success. That is the only means which helps the removing of impurities from the heart and the overcoming of all obstructions on the path. It effects the unfoldment of the knots. It is in fact the real essence of all Sadhanas. One who has tasted it once, shall never part with it in life nor lean towards any other side. This is the unfailing process which our revered master and all the sages of eminence had followed. As for myself the process went on within my heart by itself during all my routine of daily work and it permanently turned in to my habit. It was, in short, the very foundation of my life. It helped to get over all stages up to the present extent of my spiritual elevation. It is, therefore, on the basis of my life's experience that I strongly affirm that it is the only method which ensures unfailing results, and guarantees the fullest help and support of the Master. I wish you all to have a practical experience of its deep-rooted effect. Those who want to adopt this method may ask for its details personally. There are several stages of it. When an abhyasi has got over one stage, he may then enquire about the next. He may also go on reporting the conditions that he passes through during the course. The process was advised to me by the master during his life time. But one of the most important points to be kept in view in this connection is, what sort of personality must he be from whom this process is to be undertaken by the abhyasi? For this the example of my master is already before us. One who is merged in a state of utmost moderation and balance is the fittest personality to whom this process can be directed.

This wonderful process which is based on spiritual science is of immense value to an abhyasi. In my case the process started by itself. As a matter of fact the process indirectly involves meditation on the form of the master. As such it is quite necessary that the form taken up for the purpose must be of one of the highest calibre endowed with all the greatest moral and spiritual values. In that case the process will help the development of similar virtues in the abhyasi. The scientific principle underlying this process is that when an abhyasi meditates his thoughts create a vacuum in his heart which begins to be filled up with the power of that which is meditated upon, so as to keep up the balance in accordance with the law of Nature. So long as it persists, the power continues to flow in automatically.

Let us now consider for a while how one makes or mars himself. The world is composed of the finest paramanus (Sub-atomic particles) which are dense and dark, but in between there exists a faint glow also. That confirms the idea of the presence of both purusha and prakriti side by side. The wise and the prudent, inclined towards Divinity, take into view the brighter portion and get profited by it. On the other hand those held up by the charms for material objects get themselves linked with the darker paramanus and go on contacting the grosser effects thereof, which get solidified by the effect of their continued thinking. Thoughts create impressions which go on growing stronger, forming coverings. They offer a fertile ground for the mayavic effect to settle in. The effect thus cast upon the particles of the body, being thereby focussed on the membrane, is reflected upon the centre of the brain. This leads to the formation of sanskaras which having deepened make him easily susceptible, making his mind all the more rigidly adhere to environment and association which tend to support his evil tendencies. Thus he goes on from bad to worse. At this stage, it may only be the power of the Master that can save him and help in the transformation of his darkened inner state.

A true master can be he and he alone, who possesses such wonderful power and can at a glance create a state of light in an aspirant, diverting his thought from darkness to light till his tendencies, which were previously directed towards darkness, begin to absorb brightness within them. His passage towards light thus becomes smoother and his own internal power begins to act for it. His problem is thus solved and he is saved from all adverse influences, imbibing only that which is to his advantage. Another remarkable thing, which if adopted will leave no stage uncrossed, is that one should try to copy master's merging. I did the same and it helped me to attain my present state. May God grant you all the capacity for it.

One thing which I like to introduce in our Satsangh is that at 9.00 p.m. sharp every abhyasi, wherever he might happen to be at the time, should stop his work and meditate for 15 minutes, thinking that all brothers and sisters are being filled up with love and devotion and that real faith is growing stronger in them. It shall be of immense value to them, which their practical experience only shall reveal.

Happy be the time that brought forth the present day which promises fulfillment of the master's Mission. Every one endeavours hard for it, but only he whom God ordains is successful. But what may be the master's Mission and the purpose at its back? The simple answer may be: When a great master leaves for the Brighter world, he usually appoints one of his initiated disciples as his representative to look to the betterment of his associates, for which he receives light direct from the Master himself. In fact his job is the hardest. He cannot move even an inch nor take a drop of water without the Master's permission. For even the slightest mistake, he becomes the target of the Master's great displeasure.

A controversial point arises as to why this declaration was not made by the master during his lifetime. The reason for that is already explained in the notes, which anybody can go through if he likes to do so. These together with other facts may be sufficient to satisfy the people. The events too are already throwing light on them, by themselves. Moreover it is not always essential for a master to name his representative by the last moment of his physical existence and there are numerous instances of it. No further proof being necessary, I think what I have said above is all enough. Anyone who likes may try and test to judge things for himself. Besides this, my daily diary together with master's occasional comment on it may also offer sufficient proof of it. The master frequently quoted from my diary during his talks with associates and quotations from it have already appeared in the book `Shri Ram Sandesh'. All these points together with my diary notes of the 15th August 1931 (the date of master merging into infinity) offer clear indications of my present state which everyone is quite welcome to ascertain by any possible means.

But unfortunately some interested persons with their selfish motives are trying to blacken it by misrepresenting facts in numerous different ways. I therefore place before you the details of events related with it. My present state was exposed in the last week of April 1944 , and direct communion with the master was established. Accordingly on 4th May 1944, I started working under his direct instructions of which there is a detailed record. From that day I went on transmitting to all his associates in general, trying to check in them the growth of misdirected emotions (described by the master as the pinching pain of a boil) which they had misunderstood as a state of ecstasy. I went on with it for some time but to my regret, I was afterwards ordered to stop, since the good results achieved thereby were attributed to the credit of others.

Dear Brethren! I have no personal motive in this matter nor do I have any desire for money or fame. All that I feel concerned with is that those connected with the great master be benefited and the master's Mission be fulfilled. This shall be a source of satisfaction to us all.

You may also be surprised to note that the link of connections which existed so far is now no more, since it has been cut off under Divine directions and another one has been established in its place which every one has necessarily to come up to.

It is therefore essential for you all to turn round — the sooner the better — towards this new link and offer me an opportunity to mend and correct your connections without which one shall remain deprived of the Master's infinite Grace.

(Showers of Divine Grace Page 1)

MY MASTER'S MISSION

It was the auspicious day of Basant Panchami (1873) on which the Divine Soul of the Great Master descended on earth in the physical form of Samarth Guru Mahatma Shri Ram Chandraji of Fatehgarh (U.P.). The happy day, so beautifully coordinated with the most pleasant season of the year, breathed into every heart the blooming freshness of the spring. The blissful time ushered in by His advent introduced a new era of spiritual awakening which promises a practical solution of the human problem of existence. Our hearts leap up with joy when we recall to our mind the grand renaissance brought about by him in the spiritual field. He offers an easy solution of the problem of existence which has ever been confounding even the greatest of sages. Practical experience alone can verify the truth of what I say herein.

There was a time when India was at the highest pinnacle of spiritual glory, claiming to be the world-teacher of religion and spirituality. But with the march of time the degradation set in and almost every thing of it seemed to be lost. In course of time we sank to such a low level that even those who previously learnt from us began to claim to be our guides on the path. There have been, no doubt, at times higher souls who tried to mend and correct the situation, but in spite of their efforts the degradation went on increasing on the whole. Finally we not only lost everything but also forgot about it altogether; and now, if anything of it comes to our view, it seems to be quite foreign to us, and we do not feel inclined even to believe it. It was however not only to revive this long-forgotten spiritual science that the great master had come into this world but also to bring it again to our practical knowledge and perception.

It is thus for the spiritual regeneration of mankind and the emancipation of the pining souls that the Great Master came down to help the masses on the Divine path through the old yogic process of pranahuti. The process, though age-old, had during the later period been quite forgotten and was almost lost to the Hindus whose saints were the very originators of it. It is this service of the highest rank that the Mission stands for. None of the workers in it including even the preceptors have any personal motive, neither for money nor for fame and appreciation. This is, as a matter of fact, one of the essential duties of a true teacher of spirituality. But it is a pity that few of the people perhaps take these facts into account since we do not bear any imposing appearances by way of particular form of living or dress. My master's calibre was, of course, beyond words. To enumerate all his merits would be like lighting a candle before the sun. Suffice it to say that he was a Samarth Guru in the true sense. He brought to the people's view the ideal of human life and the surest means for achieving it in an ordinary worldly life surrounded by troubles and worries. The means he suggested provided for an easy approach to the highest point for which one had previously to give up one's home, family and worldly life and to take up an ascetic form of living. He not only convinced the people of the efficacy of the natural means but also took them successfully along the path up to the highest level.

The system which he brought to light provides easy means for the highest spiritual advancement along with due discharge of our worldly duties and responsibilities. Similar in spirit was the practice in vogue in the time of Lord Krishna, through which he imparted spiritual training during his time. But in course of time the system, having been relegated into oblivion, was completely lost. Now the same old system has been revived and brought to light in new colours by our great master who had beyond doubt come into the world for this very purpose. Blessed are those who had the good fortune of having been associated with him. He was beyond all shortcomings and had in this respect no parallel. What he did for the bewildered humanity is really beyond words. He infused into all those who were connected with him a new life by creating in them a spirit of negation which is sufficient to absolve the very being of man. He introduced unfailing practical means for the attainment of the Highest. Such great personalities of calibre, though very rare indeed, have been in existence at all times and shall ever be. But to trace them out is the real difficulty, which depends to some extent upon one's samskaras or past impressions also. There is still another difficulty. Even if we somehow happen to come into contact with such a great soul most of us may not feel inclined to accept him as such, because he seems to offer no charm. This is all due to the mayavic effect they are encircled in, which keeps them confined only to things of similar nature.

In olden days the gurus usually demanded from the abhyasis a good deal of personal service in order to develop in them capacity for the Divine knowledge and to promote fitness for it, before they imparted to them even an iota of spirituality. But our great master, taking into account the helpless condition of a common man, most graciously dropped this precondition. All through his life he avoided accepting personal service of the abhyasis. On the other hand he himself offered to serve them physically at the time of need. Thus he devoted himself to the all-round service of humanity, all his life.

It is thus in compliance with his wishes, revealed to me as his representative, that the Mission has been established and a new system under the name of ‘Sahaj Marg' has been introduced, in order to meet the need of the time. The Mission aims at the propagation of the ideology set forth by the great master through this newly introduced system of Sahaj Marg, and to awaken the sleeping masses to Divine consciousness so as to set them right on the path of progress. For this purpose it is essential to set aside the old mechanical methods involving forced austerity and penance, most ill-fitted to the environments of the present day life, and replace them by simple and natural means running in collaboration with the physical and mental disabilities of man who is now weaker, less enduring and short lived. Moreover the ever-increasing activities of modern life do not allow men sufficient time necessary for the practice of the tedious Sadhanas prescribed under the old systems.

The Reality which one aspires for is really so simple and plain that it is, for that very reason, often beyond common conception. So, for realising it we must also become simple like it. For that, it is absolutely essential that the means, which we adopt for the purpose, must also be equally simple and natural.

I have already stated elsewhere that the plainness and simplicity of Nature is itself a veil to it. It means unless we transform our vision to that extent of simplicity, we cannot have even a peep into it. In our system such a capacity begins to develop in an abhyasi by the effect of his own abhyas and the transmission from the master, which a sensitive man can well understand. But at the same time it is also definite that such capacities are possessed only by those who are really deserving. Due to the present degeneration of man, however, the rule must need be amended so as to offer a chance to those who, though not deserving in many ways, are yet prompted by an inner craving for realisation and are inclined to take up practice. In that case his proper moulding is also taken up by the trainer who, by the force of his own will, promotes the required talent in him as well.

With this point in view the master has graciously bestowed upon mankind this wonderful system which is suited to the requirements of the present day. The most remarkable feature of this system is that it goes on in conjunction with the normal worldly living of the common man with due regard to his duties and responsibilities of life, so that both the faces of life — the worldly and the divine — may develop equally brightly. We do not mean merely to preach or propagate these ideas but also to bring them in practice and apply them in daily life.