                         Instructions for Seekers after Truth
          Issued in 1956 as circular letter #2 and was required reading for
                              all prospective initiates.
          -----------------------------------------------------------------

          BEFORE the living Master (an adept in the science of the Sound
          Current or Word), gives initiation, he wishes that every
          prospective initiate abide by the following instructions:

          I. To cultivate and develop the five cardinal virtues which
          constitute the bedrock of spirituality, These are:

               1) Ahimsa or Non-injury to all living creatures, and more so
               to fellow beings, by thoughts, words and deeds the
               injunction in this behalf being: "Injure not a human heart
               for it is the seat of God." We must have respect for others'
               feelings and tolerance for others' opinions.

               2) Satayam or Truthfulness: As God is Truth, we must
               practice Truth in all our dealings. If Truth resides in
               every heart, it must manifest itself in life and action. "Be
               true to thyself and it must follow as night the day, thou
               canst not be false to any man." We must therefore avoid
               falsehood at all costs. It includes, besides downright lies,
               hypocrisy and dishonesty, suppresso veri (suppression of
               truth), and suggestio falsi (suggestions of false ideas).

               3) Brahmcharya or life of Chastity: it includes continence
               in thoughts, words and deeds. We must not cast covetous eyes
               on others nor entertain impure thoughts within, for
               "Chastity is life and sexuality is death." If we want to
               tread the Path of Life Eternal, we must be chaste and clean
               both within and without.

               4) Prem or love for all living creatures and more so for all
               human beings. Let there be hatred for none. The entire
               manifestation is the handiwork of God and must therefore be
               loved and respected. "He who does not know love, cannot know
               God."

               5) Nishkam Seva or Selfless Service to all living creatures
               in sorrow or distress. If one limb of the body is in
               torture, the other limbs can have no rest. "Service before
               self" should therefore be our motto in life.

          II. To practice these three puritiesin DIET, LIVELIHOOD and
          CONDUCT:

               1) Ahar or Diet. What we eat goes to constitute the body and
               the mind. "Sound mind in a sound body" is a well known
               aphorism. We can neither have one nor the other with
               unwholesome diet. A strictly vegetarian diet consisting of
               vegetables and fruits, both fresh and dried, cereals, dairy
               products like milk, cream, butter, cheese, yoghurt, etc., is
               essential for all aspirants for Truth. We must therefore
               avoid meat, meat juices, fish, fowl, eggs both fertile and
               unfertile, or anything containing any of these ingredients
               in any form or in any degree. Every action has a reaction
               and flesh eating involves contracting fresh Karmas and thus
               helps to keep the inexorable Karmic wheel in motion for we
               have to reap what we sow. We cannot have roses if we sow
               thistles.

               The above prohibitions apply equally to all kinds of
               alcoholic drinks, intoxicants, opiates and narcotic drugs,
               as they tend to dull our consciousness and make us morbid.

               "The body is the temple of the living God" and it must
               therefore be kept scrupulously clean.

               Any prospective candidate for initiation should therefore
               try the vegetarian diet for at least three to six months, to
               ensure that he or she can adhere to it, when put on the
               Path.

               2) Vihar or Livelihood: Closely associated with diet are the
               means of livelihood. There are no short-cuts in
               spirituality. The end here does not justify the means, as it
               may be construed to do anywhere else. Ignoble means to earn
               one's living do contaminate one's diet, the very source of
               life itself. So an honest living by the sweat of one's brow
               is essential in this line. The life plant has therefore to
               be nurtured with pure water to make it sound and healthy, a
               fit instrument for the efflorescence of spirituality.

               3) Achar or Conduct: The above remarks apply equally to
               one's conduct in life. Every thought, every word and every
               deed, good or bad, leaves an indelible imprint on the mind
               and has to be accounted for. Hence the necessity for right
               thoughts, right aspirations and right conduct, all of which
               constitute the hedge around the tender sapling of
               spirituality. The details in this behalf have been dealt
               with under the five virtues discussed above.

          III. SATSANG or Association with Truth: The guidance of the
          living Master is of supreme importance. A Master is a Master
          indeed, a Master in all three phases of life: A Guru or Master on
          the physical plane, sharing our joys and sorrows, guiding
          affectionately each one of us in our worldly affairs, and above
          all imparting spiritual instructions; a Guru Dev or Radiant Form
          of the Master in astral and causal regions helping the spirit in
          meditation at each plane, and Satguru or Master of Truth or Truth
          itself in the Beyond.

          The importance of attending Satsangs or spiritual gatherings
          cannot be overemphasized. Theory always precede practice. It is
          but necessary to understand clearly the teachings of the Master
          in all their bearings before starting spiritual practice. The
          Master is the be-all and end-all of the spiritual path. He does
          not ask for blind faith, however, though experimental faith is
          necessary for the purpose, to start with. He emphatically says:
          "Believe not the words of the Master unless you see the Reality
          yourself," or at least have some experience of it yourself.

          IV. SPIRITUALITY: It is a path of love, discipline and
          self-control. After the initial spiritual experience given at the
          time of Initiation the rest depends on relentless regular
          practice as enjoined by the Master. Daily practice with loving
          faith, in all sincerity and humility, is the cornerstone round
          which each disciple must turn, so as to make progress on the
          Path. Love for the Master means implicit obedience to His
          commandments.

          V. TO ESCHEW ALL SYMBOLISM AND RITUALS: The observance of
          religious practices, rites and rituals keeping fasts and vigils,
          going on pilgrimages, etc., and doing breathing exercises are the
          elementary steps only which go to create in you a desire for
          turning to or meeting God. You have made the best use of them
          when you are put on the way back to God, which is the science of
          the Word or the Sound Current and is one for all humanity. A
          devotee of this science need not indulge in the elementary-steps.
          In short, all acts involving physical labor belong to the realm
          of the physical world while we have to rise above the body and
          bodily consciousness to get contact with the primal
          manifestations of the Godhead: Light and Sound. You cannot pray
          God with hands. "God is Spirit and can only be worshiped in
          spirit."

          Vl. RECORD OF CONDUCT AND PROGRESS: Every seeker after God is
          enjoined to maintain a strictly impartial record of his daily
          conduct, so as to find out his weaknesses and try to weed them
          out one by one; to note his/her progress on the Path and the
          various difficulties and shortcomings in the way. The diary so
          maintained is to be sent to the Master every four months for
          further guidance. For this purpose regular forms are available
          and can be obtained from the nearest center.

          Vll. APPLICATION FOR INITIATION: Every true aspirant for
          spiritual science, who can adhere to the above, after preliminary
          abstinence in diet for about three to six months, can put in an
          application on the form prescribed for the purpose, giving his
          brief life sketch, age, marital status and the like along with a
          copy of his or her photograph. All applications for initiation
          are to be forwarded to the nearest representative of the Master
          for His approval, and instructions in Initiation are given only
          after the Master authorizes them. The place and time of
          Initiation are communicated in each case by the representative.

          VlIl. RUHANI SATSANG or Path of the Masters: The science of the
          living Masters is the most ancient and the most perfect science
          the world has ever seen, it is the most natural and the easiest
          to follow, and can be followed by men of all ages. Married life,
          avocation, caste and creed, social and religious beliefs, poverty
          or illiteracy, etc., are no bars. It is an inner science of the
          soul and consists in contacting the soul with the Oversoul, with
          the help and guidance of the spiritual adept, well versed in the
          theory and the practice of Para Vidya or the Science of the
          Beyond and capable of granting some first-hand spiritual
          experience at the very first sitting. Nothing is to be taken on
          trust or make-believe. Miracles, spiritual healings, psychic
          phenomena, fortune-telling, akashic records and worldly desires
          are all to be left aside, for these are positive hindrances on
          the Path. The entire energy is to be conserved for internal
          progress.

               Seek ye first the Kingdom of God,
               and all things shall be added unto you.

          This is the highest Truth that has been taught from hoary
          antiquity by sages and seers since the day of creation. It is
          unalterable and shall remain so. God, Godway, and Godman can
          never suffer any change and shall ever remain eternal.

