BABA JI’s (Dera Beas) SATSANG IN ENGLISH-- NEW DELHI 1ST DEC 2012.

BABA JI’s SATSANG IN ENGLISH-- NEW DELHI 1^ST DEC2012.

SPIRITUALITY IS HAVING YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.

(THIS GIST IS FROM MEMORY RECALL)

EVERY religion has two aspects--Spirituality and teachings. Teachings are the means of experiencing spirituality. Teachings never change. With the passage of time traditions are built around teachings.  Teachings have withstood the test of time, while traditions continue to change from time to time. Traditions are dos and don’ts of time. They are not the gospel truths and they are not sacrosanct. Traditions are meant to facilitate following of teachings. However we blindly follow the traditions without understanding the real purpose of those traditions.

 A Buddhist monk had a cat that used to run all over him whenever he would sit for meditation. He advised his fellow monks to tie the cat so that he might remain unperturbed.  This was done daily. The monk grew old, passed away and a new monk took his position. Now, whenever the new monk would sit for meditation, the cat was again tied. Finally, the cat died too and then a new cat was found for the same purpose. Now the cat has nothing to do with the meditation but the tradition became that unless cat is tied meditation is not possible. The tradition became a ritual. When rituals overtake teachings that is all the more dangerous.

Today, when we celebrate Diwali or Holi, we are unaware of their religious significance.  For most of us, Diwali means distribution of gifts and Holi is for fun and frolic. So the festivals have become an annual ritual.  Traditions have taken over the religions and teachings are taking a back seat. All religions declare that there is one God and we need to worship Him. Religions were created for the man; man was not created for the religions. We worship God because we need   Him in our daily life and want to realize Him.  

When we sit in meditation we feel nothing is happening. It is just like a shopkeeper saying that first a customer must come and then he will open the shop. That way he can never do the business. Every shopkeeper has to open his shop first and then wait for the customers to come. If the shop is closed, no customer will come. So a person, who is needy and cares for his family, will open the shop regularly and then can expect buyers to come for making his daily living. The same is true with our relationship with Divine. We need Him badly. If we daily meditate and be receptive then we can build that relationship with Divine.

The moment the Lord has given us human birth; he has blessed spiritual legacy in equal measure in each one of us. It is not that Mystics have more and others have less. Mystics have realized that Divinity while we have yet to experience that. The parents give the legacy to the child who has matured. For others, parents wait till such time they also grow for taking over the responsibility. No one can take away what He has given as our legacy.  

The purpose of these Satsangs and discourses is not to answer our questions but to provoke us to think so that we might find those answers within ourselves. That will be the true realization of the Divine legacy. Scriptures are the spiritual experiences of the mystics and past masters. They cannot become our experiences by reading them. We need to have our own experiences. Otherwise our faith will be on shaky grounds.

If I tell you that this is the sweetest thing on the earth, you might accept that as a matter of respect for me. But there will always be a lurking doubt. That doubt will vanish after you have yourself tasted the sweetness. Meditation is means of tasting that sweetness and of having that relationship with the Divine. That will provide real faith and understanding within. This also helps in settling karmic accountability comfortably. It is therefore important for us to build that relationship with the Divine through love and meditation.