The Last Darshan
the final darshan of Sant Kirpal Singh's earthly sojourn
... an account of the evening of August 17, 1974

MASTER had become weaker and weaker over the last few weeks. The four-day
celebrations for the 117th Birth Anniversary of Baba Sawan Singh which
started on July 26 and which ended with Master giving Initiation to over
1,000 souls, was followed on August 1 with Master addressing the Parliament
of India; all this demanded His full attention. The strain must have been
tremendous.

Although the new dates when Western disciples could visit the Ashram had
been announced in May, Master allowed nearly twenty to be with Him at the
end. In spite of His illness He gave them His Blessed Darshan almost every
evening, sometimes downstairs in the porch, sometimes in His bedroom. There
were moments of such beauty, of such peace, they transcend the memory of
His suffering. His humor at other moments was so subtle that any feeling of
hopelessness that we might have felt never took hold. Yet there were
moments also of terrible foreboding. On the evening of August 2, a disciple
asked if she could see the Master privately after the darshan. He said,
"Yes, as long as there is breath...."

So much love and encouragement was flowing out. On August 6, He told us,
"When you look at the Master with devotion, you are repaid in kind." Later
He said, "The realm of the Saints is that of all-forgiveness." Then there
was a spontaneous moment of lightness when Master suddenly leaned forward
and thrust out His hand towards a German disciple who had expressed some
doubts, "Touch me," He said, "I'm a man like you." The young man grabbed
hold of the outstretched hand.

Master had suffered so much physically in recent years that we supposed
this illness would, as in the past, lift from Him in time. Looking back we
can now read the signs He was giving us that He would soon leave the
earth-plane. Master's last darshan talk was held on the roof-terrace just
outside His bedroom on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 17. The weather was
hot and oppressive. Master was on a white bed, sometimes sitting, sometimes
Iying, sometimes almost unable to speak. There were long pauses. There were
moments of radiant bcauty. At least one disciple saw a golden halo around
the entire body of the Master-when He moved a little this light would
remain where He had been, thus forming a golden figure beside Him; it
appeared as if Master's Divine Spirit was already drawing away from His
body-but of course nobody knew at this time how short a period was left;
only four days.

Master started by asking us gently but persistently if we had any
questions; He looked at everyone, but no one wished to speak. After a long
silence He then , said pointedly "No questions anyone? - No? Any doubts? If
there are no questions, any doubts? Something lurking in the mind? No?" At
this stage it now seems obvious that Master had some final words He wanted
to say, and as He knew there were in fact some things lurking in our minds
and needing to be resolved, He drew them out in the form of the following
questions which enabled Him to give out what remained to be said.

But on this occasion after a while and without waiting for a question, He
made this statement, "These are selections by God. They send the fruit-
certain people to administer certain things. They know when to come and
when they are going back. They won't let you down, mind that."

Then after another long silence Master asked again if there were any
questions. Someone who was not initiated and who was having Master's
darshan for the first time, said he would bring some tomorrow, but Master
replied, "If you have any questions to be brought tomorrow, why not bring
them up today? Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today;
procrastination is the thief of time . . . If you're not ready . . . that's
another thing." The Master gave an understanding smile.

Some anxious moments followed; Master was gasping for breath. A young
American then asked the first question, "Master, why don't you heal
yourself? You are all-powerful." Master repeated, "Why don't you heal
yourself . . . ?" Then a radiant smile appeared on His face and He asked so
sweetly, "Anyone whom you love, if he gives you something, would you refuse
it? Tell me. What does he hope for you? He should gladly accept it."

There was a long pause while the Master was coughing. At the end He started
looking around again and asked for more questions. Eventually someone
asked, "Is there any worldly desire that is correct?" Master said, "All
thoughts coming up are due to two things: either reactions of the past-as
you have sown -or outward necessities. As you sow so shall you reap. Things
go round the Wheel of Life unless, and until, you become a conscious
co-worker of the Divine Plan. It is He who takes work from everybody and we
are all mere puppets in His hands. Only then can you escape the reaction of
what you sow. you follow? So we have to consider manbody as the highest in
all creation, a golden opportunity to go back Home. We should meanwhile
weed out all unnecessary things and do what is to bring us near to God.
That's all."

Then someone else asked, "How may we differentiate between necessary
requirements of the body and so forth, and desires which should be weeded
out?" Master said, "You have got one pair of boots, yes? Then you get
another pair of boots too. That will last you a year or so. Those are
required for your use; any number more, very simply, have to be hoarded up
in your houses and make the atmosphere ugly. We simply add to our own
desires; out of possession, we want to possess everything . . . Anyone
else?"

An American lady who was leaving the following morning asked, "About
desirelessness-should we not desire to go to Sach Khand? Or is that another
trap?" And Master told her, "Whatever brings you closer, whatever goes to
bring you closer to God, that should be developed. Whatever helps you to
stand in the way of going back to God, avoid it! Simple living."

At this stage the same man who had said that he would bring his questions
tomorrow said, "Master, I have read your writings very carefully, to the
best of my ability, and I am a non-drinker, a non-smoker, and I am on the
vegetarian diet. Do I qualify for initiation?" Master smiled, "Those are
the minimum requirements . . ." This did not put him off; he said, "I would
like to be initiated." Master went on, "The main thing is that you must be
able to grasp the theory in detail. Then when you are put on the Way, you
will put your whole heart and soul into the practice; not half-heartedly or
in a slipshod manner. Some dying man out of desire may get it-is put on the
Way-but he has always been putting off till tomorrow what he could do
today. This is wrong. So please continue onwards with your practice.

A disciple then said, "I just want to pray to you that I develop more love
and faith in you." Master told him, "That love will sprout forth when you
come in contact with Light and Sound Principle . . . or sweet remembrance
of the Master."

Someone else made a sign to ask a question. Master said, "Yes, please?" and
was asked, "What type of life is most conducive to spiritual progress?"
Master explained, "Keeping the commandments one hundred per cent, and
developing receptivity. Then you'll have one hundred per cent of the
fruit."

Master then asked, "Anyone else?" The last question was put, "In some types
of work I am not able to keep full remembrance of the Master. How can I
remain permanently close to you and at thc same time do my work?" The last
reply was, "In the beginning, you see, whatever involves your memory or
brains, will have to be done as one thing at a time. Later on when this
habit is formed, that goes automatically. You see, just go jolly and you'll
also be keeping the will of the Master. But that will develop in due
course, not in one day.

"Go jolly."

     Like the holy, the ever-flowing waters of the sacred Ganges
     Flow the sermons of the Guru.
     In it bathe the congregations of the Sikhs.
     The scriptures are explained and recited,
     As if Brahma himself chanted the Vedas,
     Over the Guru's head waves the royal umbrella.
     From his lips Divine Name as nectar rains;
     In the company of Guru Nanak,
     Angad became the Guru,
     Then after him Amardas;
     And now Guru Ramdas has gone to the Lord;
     O Harbans, his glory fills the whole world.
     Who says the Guru is dead?

               HARBANS - from the Guru Granth Sahib

