From jamesjs@unixg.ubc.ca Sat Apr 25 11:32:34 1998
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.shabda
Subject: Change Your Habits Now
From: jamesjs@unixg.ubc.ca (James Shannon)
Date: 25 Apr 1998 18:32:34 GMT

 

                        
                          
                          
                           CHANGE YOUR HABITS NOW
                        
                                    by 

                           Sant Kirpal Singh Ji
      
                               (1894 - 1974)                           
                 
                       
                   This Satsang, based on a hymn of Soami 
                   Ji Maharaj, was given at Sawan Ashram 
                   in Delhi, India, and was published in 
                   the February 1971 issue of Sat Sandesh. 
                   ---------------------------------------


   Satsang is purely meant to discuss and explain the subject of contacting 
the Naam Power - it is not a place where the social and political matters 
are taken up. It is a place of righteousness, and we should regard and 
respect it as such. When we visit any religious temple, do we not enter 
with respectful humility? Where our attitude is not so, we surely expect to 
gain little from our attendance there. To talk of worldly affairs in sacred 
places is considered to be a sacrilege.

   So your purpose in coming to Satsang is to imbibe the love of God, to 
sit in His sweet remembrance, to unite with Him. All things past and future, 
all irrelevant matters can be dealt with in your own place of residence. 
Come, but come with the very best of intentions. Bring the remembrance of 
the Lord with you, and take it with you when you leave. Do not listen to 
others' conversation, and do not talk to anyone unless it be about the 
Truth. You will thereby gain full benefit from Satsang - otherwise the 
years will pass by without any real advancement.

   Soami Ji Maharaj tells us, "Many days of attendance at Satsang have 
passed; Now give up your old habits." So much time has been spent at 
Satsang without gaining the benefit. Only by having full attention focused 
will you receive. If the words enter through one ear and leave from the 
other, nothing will be retained. Furthermore, if you live up to what you 
hear, that will be a great achievement; otherwise, your purpose in joining 
the Satsang will have failed. Soami Ji says, "O Man, let anybody attend the 
Satsang in the accurate way from today." How to attend Satsang? When you 
leave home for Satsang, forget all worldly matters and go in sweet 
remembrance of the Master, and so long as you attend the Satsang, you 
should not think of anything else except the Master and God. "If your body 
is in the Master's company, but your mind is elsewhere," Kabir says, "how 
can you color an unbleached cloth?"

   Even though you may not understand all that is said, yet if you sit with 
full attention you will profit by it. If your thoughts are somewhere else, 
not only will you lose, but other people will also be affected by the impure 
atmosphere you are creating, for thoughts are living and possess great power.
Regard the Satsang as a place of purity; do not talk or think of anything 
but God, and whosoever attends will be blessed by the uplifting atmosphere. 
We do not go to Satsang to meet our friends or to socialize.

   "The Master unites us in a true relationship, which can never be broken."  
This relationship is with God Himself, who is manifested in the human form.  
It is such a relationship that can never be sundered, even after death, not 
to speak of during life. But we, with our poor understanding, assert 
ourselves with pride, ego, and low habits, desiring to be recognized. 
Consequently, we succeed only in heaping more misery upon our heads. What is 
the use of attending Satsang for so long if you are not going to change the 
old, unwanted habits? Dry land can become green again by giving it water, 
but of what use is land that is watered yet remains dead? Your attendance 
has become a mere routine - you cannot get salvation by rote - you will not 
get it, you will not get it.

    Try to understand what the spiritual path means, and then live up to it; 
and the more it seeps into your heart, the happier you will be. "Let the 
words of the Guru abide in your heart, and you abide in Him." This is the 
only way, the only hope. If you do not obey him, what can be done? For so 
many years I have pleaded with you. That which you receive here, you will 
not find anywhere else - but with all that you receive, yet you continue in 
your old ways of enmity, avarice, jealousy, etc. - you do not keep your 
spiritual diaries - whose fault is it that you are not progressing? Stop 
being childish and grow up. Those who do not wish to listen and obey should 
not enter upon this venture of the spiritual path. I am not saying any new 
thing. We are not all Saints - we have come here to become that, and you 
will become that if you fully understand and then live up to the teachings.

   Everyone makes mistakes. I remember, I went on leave from my office once,
and on returning found that two clerks had been dismissed. When I took their 
case to the Controller for appeal, he began to question the merit of it; 
but I asked him, "Is there any person without faults? You will not find 
anyone who has not done something wrong; and the punishment for mistakes 
should not be dismissal, for not only the man will suffer, but his wife and 
children also. He should be taught what is correct." They were reinstated in
service. If these teachings are no new thing, then try to fully understand 
them now, and take them into your lives. If we could learn to obey and keep 
the diary, we would become gods and goddesses. Do not discuss or wrangle 
intellectually over the subject, but think carefully - have you not come 
here to keep the company of the Truth? Then why keep the company of the 
others? This disease has ever been in evidence and will continue, but the 
Masters come to prescribe the cure by making us realize the Truth. In Soami 
Ji's Shabd, He laments over the situation:

     
                Many days of attendance at Satsang have passed;
                Now give up your old habits.


O Man, it is the time now to discard your old, disreputable habits and 
adopt new ones. Habits are formed by repeatedly doing the same things; so 
we should first unravel all the bad actions: lies, hypocrisy, cheating, 
criticism of others, enmity, avarice, malice, backbiting, and various others. 
If you do not intend to change these ways, what is the use of attending 
Satsang? "Your steps are forward, but your mind is retrogressing." Satsang 
is the means of making us into something beautiful, but not by merely 
repeating God's Name. Change your habits now into good ones, for habit 
turns into nature with time. Cast away all negative thoughts, and instill 
positive ones in their place. If a person does wrong, forgive him; and he in 
turn should forgive your misdeeds.

   In the Koran Sharif it is written, "Even God has no thought for him who 
has no inclination to change." How can we expect other people to show 
excellent examples? If we ourselves would change, the whole world would 
change with us. It is a message for all. One of the worst habits is that of 
criticizing others. All virtues exercised in righteous living are good, but 
that of "ahimsa - parmo - dharam" (non-violence of thought) is the highest. 
It can become a daily habit, for it lies inherent within us all; and 
although other thoughts are there, yet consciously or unconsciously, it is 
working and will rise to the surface one day. That is why you are told 
frequently in Satsang that the past is past, forgive and forget, and do not 
make a foundation of bad thoughts or there will undoubtedly be reactions.
You will be the loser, for again you will revolve on the cycle of births and 
deaths. So with love the Masters encourage Their children to change their 
habits while there is still time. With great compassion for humanity, Soami 
Ji is telling us:

                
                For how long will you try to deceive your Guru?
                Now recognize what He is.


Hiding the true facts, you think, "What does the Guru know? What we want 
to do is correct." You get hold of an idea and place it above all else, 
considering everyone else to be wrong - even if your Guru tells you 
something different. How long will you keep this up? Make no mistake, he 
watches our every action, for the Guru-power is residing within our very 
being. But we foolishly think that he is not present to see us; so we can 
do anything and he will not know. He entreats us to try and realize what a 
Guru is. The Guru is not the physical form - He is not the human pole, but 
is the all-omnipotent power of God which has manifested therein. It is 
accepted that God is everywhere and sees everything. Give full attention to 
learn what the Guru is, and then come to know it. He has love for everyone
- for his own, for all others; even for those who are against him. His wish 
is to do good to all, and even though a knife were put to his neck, he would 
nut think ill of the wrongdoers. He is different and expresses this wealth 
of love and forgiveness because of the Guru-power in Him. So he says we 
should stop all this deceit - if one thinks of one's Guru as a Guru, then 
obey Him. After all, he does not give bad advice.

   Sometimes it is possible that two idiots can be bound together in love, 
breaking the chains of the creeds that are binding them; whereas intellectual 
people would snap the silken threads of love - without hesitation. "Guru-
mukh loses, and lets the world win." He who loses out of love and humility, 
in actual fact wins the day, for he has saved what he has stored; otherwise, 
in the fire of anger his precious store would have been consumed to ashes. 
If there is no ire in a person, not even a wisp of smoke will be seen. Try 
to recognize your Guru, for Satsang is concerned with the Guru, not with a 
mere human being. When you go to Satsang, go in His remembrance for He is 
God in human form; be present there in His remembrance, and when you take 
leave, take that remembrance with you.

   We should exploit those qualities which will assist us to join back to 
God, and discard all traits which are liable to lead you away from Him. It 
is not difficult to realize the Lord, but it is most difficult to become a 
man - a true human being. One hundred times and more we bow our heads and 
say "yes, yes, I will do it" but in action we do just as we please. This 
indicates that as yet we do not truly understand the spiritual path. If 
you have not as yet changed your old habits, then do so at once. Make a 
start now. To have bad thoughts for others, to take sides in enmity, like a 
lawyer criticizing the lives of your fellow-beings - would you not expect 
the fire to flare up within you? The Guru sees all events with a different 
eye, for every man sees from his own level. If you have accepted someone as 
being superior to you, then obey him.

   A teacher who has not reached the higher level can easily be the cause 
of further downfall. Those from the higher levels always strive to reunite 
all humanity. You came to the Satsang to realize the Truth, to be free from 
your miseries. To fulfill all this, whatever you learn should be adopted and 
reflected in your homes and daily living, that peace and happiness may 
blossom forth in you and in those who surround you. The Satsang is a place 
of special purity, and even your thoughts should be pure as long as you are 
here. No other thought save that of the Lord, should enter your head; and
whatever advice you hear, live up to it. If you obey, without exception, 
you will change for the better; if not, you will suffer the consequences.

   Guru is not just a man, and whoever looks upon him from that angle of 
vision is gravely mistaken. Kabir Sahib says, "He who considers the Guru a 
mere man will retrogress in the lower species, birth after birth." The God 
in him is the Guru, though we respect his physical form because He is 
manifesting therein. Whatever he tells us, whether it appears to be correct 
or not, should be of the utmost importance and interest to us; otherwise, 
and with emphasis, I repeat that life will become complicated and nothing 
but misery will result. You can say that it is actually preparing the way 
for unhappiness. We attend Satsang to increase our joy, for those around us 
too, and when the soul is reunited with God it will reflect all His 
qualities. God in the Guru is all compassion, and without disclosing our 
sins, He washes us clean - free from undesirable impurities. When the child 
becomes dirty with filth, the mother does not throw him away but washes him 
with loving attention and draws him close to her breast. The soul of man is 
very dear and precious; so we may loathe the sin but rather love the sinner.  
If all men refrained from wrongdoing, there would be peace and happiness
everywhere. If your aim is to become Masters, you will succeed only when you 
first understand what you hear and then become that.

     
                Do not think of the Guru as a man;
                He is the life of the Sat Purush (True Form).


The question, who is a Guru? is not a new one - it has ever been asked 
through the ages. When it was put to Guru Nanak, He said, "Shabd is the 
Guru, and the surat is the disciple." The ever-existent God or His 
expression, the Shabd, is the Guru and the attention is the disciple. When 
Kabir Sahib was asked the same question, He said, "My Guru is above the 
gaggan (heaven), and the disciple is in the body." When our attention gets 
connected with Him, our coming and going is finished. "The greatest Being 
ever born: He, you should know, is my Guru." He is the Light itself, at 
whichever pole He is manifested, and only He can give the Light to others.  
By this the seeker can recognize the criterion in the True Guru. Christ 
said, "I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the Light of Life." At whichever pole this wealth 
is found, you can be sure there is something else there too, worthy of your 
obedience.

   He has not come for any particular person but loves everyone, and will 
wash anyone clean, regardless of their condition. Those who are wise enough  
to obey him will find their progress flourishing. "Satguru's Words - Words 
are the Satguru." The words he utters are he himself and those who bow down 
to his words will truly get salvation; but those who bow in hypocrisy and 
then do whatever they choose with the thought that the Guru does not know,
make their lives miserable. That which is hidden in us is apparent in the 
Guru; and wherever you find it blossoming forth in fullness, there you will 
get the experience. Anyone can talk on any subject, for and against, with 
a little training; but when a person receives something, there is no 
question of doubt. The Power in the Guru - the very Life of the Sat Purush
- is forever and will never die. When It worked through the pole named 
Jesus, they called It the Christ Power, and it works at various human poles 
according to the age. Whoever is fortunate to be connected to this Power 
will find that it never leaves them.
     
     
                Somehow or other, make your mind understand;
                Then put all your attention in Him.


Making the mind understand is difficult for it tries to convince us that
we are wrong in our search; but we must assure it that having got the
connection from where God is manifested, there is no need for doubts. 
Lectures, stories, bookish knowledge, acting and posing, all can be found 
in profusion - but who can give the Light? If someone can reveal the Light 
in the seeker, it is proof that he has got It. Having received from him, 
then obey him. If the mind dislikes obedience, then we must make it 
agreeable. When you frequently witness others receiving the Light, is this 
not proof enough? There would perhaps be cause for hesitation if you were 
told to fight or kill each other, but the Guru himself thinks good of even 
those who work against him. By acquiring such noble virtues, we also will
become Masters.

   Iqbal says that when Hazrat Mussa (Moses) climbed the mountain to talk 
to God and to realize Him, did he not know that God himself was in search 
of a man who desired only Him? Baba Jaimal Singh Ji left Punjab and went 
to search for Hazur in the Murree Hills - was there not any man in the 
whole of Punjab that was suitable? What I am stressing here is that you 
have to obey his commands. If you do not persuade your mind to accept the 
facts, thoughts will come that "am I less than he? I am as big as he is!" 
and many other illusory ideas, by means of which duality will increase.

     
                Through love and mercy He speaks;
                He is Complete and Nameless.


He creates love, for he is all love. He teaches how to love - the rays of 
love issue forth from him wherever he goes. His words are uttered to 
increase the love within us; so obey him and change the old habits which 
have encrusted for life upon life. If you do not, then you will continue 
on the wheel of birth and death. If through obedience to the Master a love 
for God is created in us and we see Him in all beings, then where is the 
necessity to return to this earth? When his words are forgotten, the 
squabbling among ourselves increases. If you hurt someone or bring 
unhappiness into their life, their natural reaction will be to return the 
same treatment. Karmic reactions are a very powerful law, and you will be 
ruled by that law.

   With so much love, Soami Ji makes us realize that our character must 
change. Masters are the very reflection of love, for the Positive Power 
works through love only. It can be observed that Saints work only with love, 
but Avatars also give punishment. The latter comes when righteousness is at 
an ebb, to punish the wicked and reward the innocent, and to keep the world 
conditions in proper balance. The Saints tell us to err no more. "They at 
once give connection with God, to whoever approaches them." Though the Lord 
is already within us, yet they make it possible for Him to appear, that we 
may see Him.

     
                He took this physical form, the Guru;
                To give salvation to you, somehow or other.

   It naturally follows that man's teacher must be a man. If a monkey 
screeches, hundreds of monkeys will gather around him in answer to his call. 
Even if a bird twitters, others will collect. So, the Guru comes in the 
human form to teach man the correct understanding of Truth. Excuse me, but 
the past Masters cannot come here and give this knowledge. Some intimation 
may be grasped from the scriptures, but those who have left the scene cannot 
give guidance as to their correct import. Even if a voice came from the 
skies to direct us, mankind would merely remark, "What has it to do with 
us?" On the other hand, if a man's Guru is a renouncer of worldly things, 
the disciple has doubt that his Master can understand his mundane troubles, 
for he feels that only one who has himself experienced the worldly ups and 
downs can really appreciate his condition. A true Master has achieved 
success in both the worldly and spiritual fields of life, and is thereby a 
living proof of what can be accomplished.

   One's principles in life are highly important and one should never fall 
below one's supreme principle - and that is? The highest principle is Truth 
itself, and if you have love for Truth, then you must have love for all 
life. Soothe and erase away the mistakes of others with your love. 
Bloodstains cannot be washed with blood, but anything can be cleansed with 
the Water of Love.

     
                Give service unto Him and worship Him;
                Think of Him as Guru Nanak.
                He was Kabir, He was Sat Naam; 
                Recognize all Saints in Him.


Develop into one who can serve the Master. What kind of service? True service 
means to obey His instructions implicitly; to live as He advocates in a 
clean, chaste, simple, and loving manner; to develop the Truth in yourself; 
to purify your thought. God dwells in every being; so love all life. Is this 
not what he teaches? You have got the human form through great good fortune; 
so make the best use of it and take advantage of every aid to reunite you 
with the Lord. Everyone makes mistakes, for all are not Saints as yet, but 
they should not be repeated. The same God-power worked through Kabir, Guru 
Nanak, and others at different times; just as a fused bulb is replaced by 
another. The teachings, however, remain the same.

   You will remember that when they brought before Jesus the woman who had 
been found committing adultery, they asked Him whether she should be stoned, 
according to the law of Moses; but Jesus told them, He that is without sin 
among you, let him first cast a stone at her. Can you put your hand on your 
heart and honestly say that you have never hurt anyone? Hazrat Mohammed 
Sahib says, "If you can control the two organs - one between the lips, and 
the other between the thighs - then I will stand before God in your support." 
Jesus told the woman to "go, and sin no more." With love he forgave her and 
helped her to understand - after all, it was his work to make her into 
something.

   Guru Power never dies; It is everlasting and continues forever. "Lo, I 
am with you always, even unto the end of the world." These are the words of 
Christ, and not of Jesus, for they were uttered by the Christ-power or Guru-
power in him. "The whole world is a house in which the Truth is residing." 
Those who attend Satsang, in particular those who have got a true Master, 
should set an example in their love for one another, and their forgiving 
attitude. Christ also said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my 
disciples, if ye have love one to another." Otherwise, where is the proof 
that you are on the spiritual path? The teachings are not bad, the Satsang 
is not bad, he who teaches is not bad - if anything is bad it is the mind; 
so make your mind understand correctly and everything will be set right. It
is the only cure if you want advancement. If we have helped even one person 
by removing a little misery from his day, we have done a great service. With 
sweet words, with kind sympathy, share the unhappy burden resting upon our 
poor fellow-beings, or it spreads and grows as the days go by. From a man 
it travels to his family, his friends, and so on.

     
                Only He can achieve your aim;
                Do not wander - be rid of your pride.


What is our work in this world? To meet God - and for that we must first 
have the right understanding. "Our true friend is he who removes wrong 
understanding." We have not come here to be property owners, socialites, or 
to have lofty ideas about ourselves, or to breed animosity among each other
- we have come to imbibe the correct understanding about life. But sadly, 
we daily sow more seeds, and only we will reap the harvest thereof. And 
each type of seed will bear its own fruit. If you have sown enmity, then 
try to smooth it out - do your best to wash it away with love, that it may
not grow with time and take deep roots. "You came to the world to receive, 
and you got God's Name in the Master's home; Now give up your pride and 
control your mind." We say that we are very important people, we are very 
intellectual, we give excellent lectures, we have great influence over 
others, etc., etc; but we should leave all this and take up the practice of 
Truth alone. Then only will the true happiness and joy well up from within 
us. We have come here to realize God, and only God can help us do so - who 
else is capable? "Do your work and do not entangle yourself in other's 
affairs." Think deeply, and if you find anything undesirable in you, weed 
it out, and with love help others to overcome their shortcomings also.
  
   King Dharitrashtra, famous ruler from the Mahabharata epic, on a certain 
occasion insulted the powerful bow of Arjuna, and Arjuna immediately made to 
kill the king; but Lord Krishna stepped forward and demanded, "Arjuna, what 
are you doing?" Arjuna replied, "I have taken a solemn vow to kill anyone 
who insults my bow - it is my dharma (principle)." Krishna then asked, "What 
is the outcome of dharma - happiness or unhappiness?" Arjuna said, "Of 
course, it is happiness." Lord Krishna smiled and explained, "Just think 
what will be the outcome of this action? Where is your dharma in this?"
Masters have spoken thus all through the ages. Christ advised, "Whatsoever 
ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." A butcher may 
think that to kill is good, but what is the outcome of his action? Can it 
be happiness? So, when we act, we must weigh the outcome. While we cling 
to our old habits we will never succeed - without exception. True happiness 
will be ours when we join back to God through the radiant company of the 
Master and through obedience to His words. He Himself has taken this 
practical path, which is the shortest route to salvation.

     
                This time is precious, do not fritter it away;
                Greater than He you will never meet.


If you lose this golden opportunity, you have no idea when you will be 
given another. Give up pride, cunning, and other worldly habits, and cease 
wandering in vain from one attraction to another. You will never get 
another like the Guru you have got. Whoever you meet will attempt to 
separate you from the Lord rather than rejoin you back to Him. "Know a 
Satguru as One Who comes to reunite." He wishes to bring all children of 
God together and sit among them. Such personages are rare; and if you 
have found one, then obey him - do whatever he says. If you refuse to 
obey, how will you hope to progress? The Master has no selfish motives; 
He is merely following the orders from above. This has nothing to do with 
any team or intrigue, nor is it a matter of creating policies. As 
everything is straightforward and above board, the question of policy does 
not arise; there is nothing underhanded or hidden; there are no ulterior 
motives behind the teachings. It is a very simple fact that only he whose 
soul has rejoined the Lord enjoys complete happiness. Human beings do have 
many weaknesses - you will find animosity and unrest amid peoples all over 
the world, and this is because each man is obeying his mind. If they were 
to obey someone who is above habits and failings, what an abundance of 
joy would there be throughout the nations.

     
                If you leave your Guru now,
                You will wander the four regions
                  of illusion.


If, having got the double blessing of the human form and the Satguru, you 
throw away the chance by disobeying him, what will happen? Those who live 
on another's earnings go under the law of give and take or illusion; if 
you offend or harm anyone, you reap the reaction of that and under the same 
law, you will be born there where the offended person is born, that the 
account may be accurately balanced. "Wherever your attention is, there will 
you reside." Who knows when you will again get the human form? Fire consumes 
even green wood as well as the dry, and everyone must go sometime. If you 
spend your days losing everything but saving invaluable treasure given to 
you, then your work here will be successful. True Masters do their work 
quietly, without a fuss and show. They lead a quiet life - not like the 
bulls in the ring, tossing their horns about. "Your earthly sojourn's 
purpose was distinguished; That was Amrit (Water of Life), given by the 
Guru."

   Jad Bharat was a king after whose name India was called Bharat. He was 
in search of God, and so he left his kingdom and went to live in the jungles, 
in order to realize Him. However, there he grew very fond of a certain deer 
which became tame and friendly - so what happened? After death, he was again 
reborn, but into the form of a deer. You should remember that what I'm 
saying is for your own benefit. A Guru wishes to see the whole world have 
joy in life, and when he sees faults and mistakes, he tries to wash them 
away and ensure they are not repeated.

     
                Never will you get a Guru like Him;
                Acknowledge, oh acknowledge this at last.


It is easily understood why Gurudom has such a poor reputation nowadays, 
for the gurus are mostly political at heart, with self centered motives for 
holding power over people and making money, etc. Instead of sincere 
sympathy for the plight of mankind, lies and cheating are used to gain the 
confidence of the followers. And sadly, people are more easily pleased and  
satisfied with suchlike performance than with what a genuine Master has to 
offer. Truth is truth - a lie is a lie. Black cannot be white, no matter 
how much it is washed.The true Master is met through great destiny behind 
the disciple. "Without great good fortune, you cannot meet a Satguru." If 
you have been fortunate to meet a Satguru, just obey Him and you will 
succeed. What is worth more than having our soul reaching the Lord's lap, 
never to be separated from Him? Now that so many years have passed, give 
up your old habits at last.

     
                Reading scriptures, singing the hymns;
                Why so much pride in this?


Are you proud because you can sing better than others, or because you can 
thrash out the written words? Or perhaps you are the best lecturer around? 
What real achievement is this - singing and reading and being proud because 
you know more than other people? It is written that King Ravan was a 
learned yogi who was familiar with the four Vedas and the six Shastras. 
Today, in what manner do we remember him? In effigy, we give him a donkey's 
head. Why? Because he lost whatever knowledge and progress he had gained. So, 
to be academically proficient is no spiritual accomplishment. "To be clever, 
to read, to write - that is an easy thing." It is not difficult to be clever 
or cunning, to bring together the earth and sky with eloquent words. "To 
control desire, to leave the body, to control the mind - these are 
difficult." Keep the Truth before you. "You go on praising your Guru, but 
will not allow Him to reside in your heart." He will have salvation who 
will bow down to his Guru's commands: "The whole world sees the Satguru but 
salvation does not come with just a glimpse; Without love for His words, 
you will not get it." These words are always uttered with no distinction of 
individuals - they apply to rich or poor, high or low, for Saints speak 
freely, even about themselves if necessary. Pride and ego do not let us
progress - when we make mistakes we will not admit them. In our hearts we 
have the thought, "There is none greater than me." Self respect and praise 
are both food for the mind. Caught up in this failing, we at times push the 
Guru aside, saying, "What does the Guru know?" A mother always considers 
her child's betterment, and so the Guru has concern for the progress of 
his disciples. Is it likely that the mother will cast out the child if he 
misbehaves toward her? The fact is that we do not even try to recognize 
what the Guru is. Give up the ego, or it will be your downfall.

         
                This pride has spoiled you;
                This same pride even now does you great harm.

    
   We may have been given human birth many times, but pride and ego killed
us again and again, ruining all our good work and causing us to return to 
the same scene, time and again. In the past it was our ruination, and it is 
winning the present also. Do not obey your mind - obey the words of the 
Guru, which will bring you great joy; whereas obedience to the mind will 
give you unending distress - the mind ever gave birth to trouble. Wash 
anger away with love, just as your Guru does. He never leaves his duty, 
though mankind may make good or bad remarks about him. He does not live on 
the earnings of others - does not accept anything for himself - has no
desires. If anyone brings money to the Satsang, it is used for the Satsang. 
Up to today I live on my pension and have managed to live within its means. 
If the advice is good, you should appreciate it and be grateful - if 
through the advice your distress is increased, it's a different matter.

         
                Oh beloved children, I have unfolded it to you;
                Think not that thy habits are good.
                Hurry and leave all deceit;
                Increase your devotional attitude.


Your carelessness will result in the loss of everything most valuable if 
you do not change your habits. In the heart there is one thing, on the 
tongue is another, and our actions denote something different again. Leave 
such deceit as soon as possible - leave all cunning ways and develop 
sincere humility. If you do this, the Guru himself will embrace you. An 
attitude of devotion will take its own place within your being. You are 
greatly mistaken if you think you can gain his pleasure by merely saying 
you love and serve him, when your heart denies it.

     
                If after this the mind does not agree,
                Then you will see the result yourself.


If you refuse to understand, then nothing can be done. You will just have to 
continue paying up for your mistakes. Even the Saints are defeated at this 
point and say, "If you will not listen, what can we do?"

     
                On your head, the Negative Power's orders;
                That's why the mind does not obey.


The hand of the Negative Power on your head will not allow the mind to obey 
you.  He will go on increasing the duality to make it more and more 
difficult and confusing. The Negative will not help you to overcome this 
duality - only the Positive can do that. It is a marked difference between 
the Powers.

     
                One thing I have discovered, my brother;
                You are dishonorable.


In the end, what can one do if no one wishes to listen and obey? Honor is a 
noble virtue - what kind of man is this, that has no virtue in him?
     

                Constantly keep the Guru's company;
                Perhaps one day the mind will agree.


With the cooperation of the mind, go on persevering. If we see the Guru 
through a dark curtain, it does not mean that the Guru has turned black! 
Slowly, slowly, slowly - do not leave the Guru, but go on trying to 
understand, then definitely there will be hope of the curtain being drawn 
aside forever.  To be constant and then unfaithful, sometimes this and 
sometimes that - this does not remedy anything. A rolling stone gathers no 
moss. That which has to be developed is the "inner man." If the Guru is 
true, and I have told you how to discover this, then stick to him, listen 
to his words, and do your best to understand. You will make the grade if 
you ignore your mind. The mind may stand in between, but the soul knows
what Guru is and what God is.

     
                Radha Soami has unravelled it;
                Why should man be in doubt?


God manifested on a human pole was termed as Radha Soami by Soami Shiv Dayal 
Singh Ji (who is usually called Soami Ji). It is surprising that mankind 
does not accept the true facts of life, when God Himself is explaining them 
through the Godman.

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