From jamesjs@unixg.ubc.ca Thu Apr 02 01:21:15 1998
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.shabda
Subject: What Have You Become?
From: jamesjs@unixg.ubc.ca (James Shannon)
Date: 2 Apr 1998 09:21:15 GMT


                     
       
       
       
                          WHAT HAVE YOU BECOME?

                                    by 

                           Sant Kirpal Singh Ji
      
                               (1894 - 1974)                           
   
                 
                      This talk was given at Sawan 
                      Ashram in Delhi, India, and was 
                      published in the April 1974 
                      issue of Sat Sandesh magazine. 
                      -------------------------------

   
   When studying the lives of the great Masters, what purpose do we find 
in them? They show us an example; and seeing such an example, we should 
pattern our lives upon Theirs.

   Ages go by, man hears the same words again and again; but in a practical 
way how much have we learned? When a schoolteacher writes the words on the 
blackboard, the child copies them, carefully trying to make his letters as 
beautiful as the teacher's. Eventually he succeeds. The words of the 
Masters are the recorded examples of Those Who realized the great Love, 
and you are all here to realize that same Love. How did the Masters get this 
realization? One by one, the accounts and descriptions of Their experiences 
are given out to you, hearing which a deep enthusiasm swells up and a 
yearning is born within one to become like those Masters. Is it not so?

   There is but one way to achieve this noble aim: "Love thy Lord, O mind, 
Love thy Lord." This Love is innate in our soul; It is one with our inner 
true Self, for God is Love and the soul is the entity of that Love, and so 
is the very form of that Love. Consequently, its nature is to attach itself 
to something. It should have attached itself to the Supreme Lord but 
connected itself instead to the world at large. It is said, "Wherever one's 
desire, there one is;" and since we left the Lord's lap, we have not, up to 
now, returned to it. Had we done so, our entire condition today would be
very different.

   Ages have passed, and today we are still sticking on ourselves the 
labels of caste, religion, social status. Furthermore, through those ages 
we have at times been leaders, or managers, in various walks of mankind's 
society, but where has it led us? We were busy teaching others and 
learning nothing ourselves.

   Where is God? Where is He not? All that we can see is His manifestation, 
and the nearest approach to Him? He is in every being, and those who say 
that they have love for God, but do in fact, hate any of their fellow 
beings who are all God's entities, are nothing but liars. In truth, how 
can anyone love one whom he has never seen? He who has had no connection 
with God and has never enjoyed the happiness of that cannot love anything 
so remote. Real love is the only thing which holds any value. "Without love, 
O man, there is no tranquility" - in this world or the next. If there is 
no love in the home, there is conflict - simply through the lack of love.  
In religions, in different sections of the community, among countries one 
with another, in all phases of life you will find conflict - because love 
is lacking everywhere. Take just a pinch of love and put it in the 
household - it will be filled with peace. Put a little love in among a 
group of workers, and they will start loving one another. Religions and 
sects can enjoy peace together by incorporating love into their 
relationships, and the same principle applies to the countries of the 
world. Love is lacking everywhere; and if there is no happiness here, how 
can one expect to find it in the Beyond?

   All Masters have said that God is Love, and the way back to Him is also 
through love. The true purpose behind ritual and custom was to develop love 
in us. They were designed to do this work. Guru Nanak said very bluntly, 
"Burn all customs through which the Beloved is forgotten." He said also, 
"O Nanak, that worship is good through which love for the Lord is enhanced."
Only that love or worship has any value in which the Lord is remembered.  
If our love for God increases through meeting one another, it is all right.  
If not, what is the use?

   One Master even says that we should throw hundreds of books into the 
fire if necessary and should make our heart a garden of flowers of love.  
What kind of flowers? The words which are being placed before you are 
flowers from the Lord's garden. The big question is, in what way have you 
developed? Others may have developed spiritually, but what have you become?  
Love only gives - it does not take. This is a criterion of love; for love 
knows no returns. There is another criterion: it knows service - service
without show. Further indication of love is to sacrifice oneself in
service, without any show or ulterior motive, like a living martyr who 
lives only for the love of God.

   Now from where can such love be obtained? That true love is within us,  
but it has become bound up with the outer world - through us, the attention. 
In attention there is love; it is the very nature of attention. When 
expressed toward outer things, this love turns into attachment; but if it 
withdraws from outside and goes into itself; it becomes whole again.  
Everything wishes to go toward its natural source, and the source of the 
soul is God. The flame of a candle rises, even if it is turned upside down, 
for its source is the sun.  We must understand these things, and from where 
our help will come.

   When Namdev's family told him to bring a carpenter to repair the balcony, 
he forgot this errand because he was all day in deep remembrance of the 
Lord. For three or four days the same thing happened; the connections of 
the heart are serious enough, but when the soul itself becomes connected 
the result is overwhelming. So finally Namdev's people became very annoyed 
with him for his continued failures to bring a carpenter, and threatened 
to beat him if he failed again. Namdev gave his solemn vow that he would do
his duty the very next day, but when the day dawned he once again forgot 
everything in remembering God. Seeing His devotee's plight, and the threat 
hanging over him, God in His great benevolence came Himself as the 
carpenter and repaired the balcony. That evening, when Namdev returned home 
and saw that the balcony had been repaired with such beautiful workmanship, 
he knew that his Beloved had performed the task.  The saying states that 
only a bulbul (a bird with a distinctive call) can understand the language 
of another bulbul. Only a true lover of God can recognize the Lord's hand 
at work. And when the people asked him what payment his carpenter expected, 
that they might also employ him, Namdev told them that his Carpenter did 
not work under those conditions, but rather demanded true love as His 
wages.

          
                Break away, from family and all associations,
                Then my Carpenter will come.


He comes when one withdraws one's attention from all other things. Why 
should He come, just by the summons? Between Him and you stand your 
children, your friends, money, pride, ego.

   It does not mean that He does not have love for all His children - that 
love does come when you have withdrawn your love from all other things. So 
now please ask yourself: how successful have you been? I do not mean this 
sighing and nodding as if you are intoxicated with ecstasy, or other outer 
demonstration of show. I mean what have you become? "What is it to 
realizing the Lord? Just uproot it (attention) from here and plant it 
there." Very clearly both the learned and the unlearned alike can do this 
work, the work which must be done. It is the very bread and water of life 
- if there is no gasoline in the tank, how can the motor start? We know 
that God comes when we really want Him - He comes to the one who has true 
yearning for the Lord. Ask yourself, do you really desire God? Be honest 
about it. If the answer truly is "yes" then without your calling Him, He 
will come, for He would like to meet someone who wishes to meet Him. It 
is a natural inclination that a person likes to have the attention of 
someone; but if you have no desire for Him, neither will He desire you. 
Do you understand this?

   In love the tongue becomes very gentle; it catches hold of the other 
person's heart and drags it. A really love-filled glance can even affect 
a stone. Masters say very revealing things sometimes. Lord Krishna once 
remarked that He had a pain in His stomach, the cure of which could be 
effected by the heart of a living person; and He told one of His closest 
devotees to get such a heart from somewhere, otherwise He would die. The 
devotee was so concerned he ran at once and began searching from house to 
house, but no one was willing to cut his heart out and give it. All day 
he searched and searched until finally at night, exhausted and desperate, 
he came to the home of a prostitute. When he told her of his mission, 
she said, "All right, here, take it," and thereupon cut out her heart and 
handed it to him. At once he ran with the heart to Lord Krishna and sank 
at His feet. Lord Krishna said, "Oh, you finally found one person who 
loved me enough to give her heart! - but what about yourself? Are you not 
a living man with a heart, and are you not supposed to be my closest 
devotee?" You can judge for yourself who was the more devoted of the two
- the disciple or the prostitute. Everyone talks about how devoted they 
are to God, but what about their lives? Where there is love, there is 
peace, happiness, stillness, and an ever-present attraction toward the 
Lord - a constant remembrance.
   
   What is Love anyway? That is Love through which remembrance of the 
Beloved goes on without a break; helplessly through that attraction, the 
lover is changed into that very attraction. "If for only a short time I 
forget You, my Beloved, it seems like fifty years." In love the lover 
and the beloved become one, and in that oneness all differences are 
forgotten. This is why God is described as being Love Itself, and Love 
is God. And He in Whom that Love is manifested is an overflowing cup of 
that Nectar of Life. Such Personalities are said to be "Overflowing cups
of the nectar and color of love, in the company of which the yearning 
is developed." Overflowing cups of intoxication. "The intoxication of 
Naam,  O Nanak, inebriates day and night." Through this, radiation can 
be imbibed, but not by those who love the body and the world. Masters are 
like huge magnetic mountains, but if the iron is covered with mud it 
cannot be dragged. Remove all the mud and it will jump towards the 
magnet - the pull can work from even thousands of miles.

   You are all sitting here - but where have you reached? You preach, you 
demonstrate your great devotion, you act and pose; but how much love have 
you got? You almost kill yourselves fighting one another - this is not 
love. In love there is cooperation, and those who really love the Lord 
will naturally have love for all other beings. Is it not a natural 
sequence that whoever loves the Father will love His children? It may be 
possible to love the children without loving Him, but not vice versa. 
Masters give the most valuable advice: "O mind, love the Lord; O mind 
love the Lord." Also,

            
                Hear ye all, I tell you the truth;
                God is realized by one who loves.


They who learn how to love, realize the Lord.

   The worldly people waste their time sleeping, but not the lovers of 
God. Guru Arjan says, "Sleep does not come to me." How then do such 
people pass the night? They spend the night in sighing, for to them one 
single day of separation is like thousands of years. What use are all 
rituals and customs and outer modes of worship, if one does not achieve 
this condition? A certain poet writes,

           
                O mathematician, you have calculated many
                  complicated things;
                But have you ever calculated the length
                  of one night of separation?


One Master says,

                No sleep in the eyes or peace in the body,
                  for He comes not nor writes.
                O friend, if I do not see my Beloved, then
                  how can I live through this dark night?


Through the dark night the lover sits awaiting - and if that spark of
Light appears, it becomes Id (Muslim holy day, advent of which is
determined by the new moon). This Light is an indication of His coming.  
The Masters make it possible for those who are "blind" to see the Light 
of God. Hafiz Sahib describes it as the thief of the heart, coming in the 
darkness with a lighted lamp in His hand. So read, think, and digest all 
this. How much of your life has been given to your development? If the 
development is there, then all right - otherwise, you are not making the 
best use of your precious time.
   
   How many people have had the great blessing of meeting God animate 
in physical form during their lifetime? No doubt, the Guru and the disciple 
are one like "the Guru is me and I am the Guru;" but there is great 
intoxication in the outer attraction of the Guru, double attraction, in 
fact. He is a man like us, sympathetic to our suffering, just as a friend.  
Also there is the radiation. A friend can be recognized no matter what 
clothes he wears, and Guru Angad Sahib goes as far as to say, "Die in the 
Beloved's Presence - but cursed is the life without Him in this world."

   I have said before, love knows service and sacrifice. These are ideals 
being given to you. Love knows giving - giving in service and in sacrifice.  
What have we done up to now?

          
                Farid is not afraid of his youth passing,
                  as long as love for the Beloved does
                  not pass away;
                For many lives without love have withered away.


What is youth? If you eat and drink, you are healthy - what more is youth? 
We should be concerned with what the soul says, and the soul's food is 
love. Masters are sometimes very open - "O Lord, You are our Friend; but 
why have You kept us far from You? We have sacrificed everything in Your 
Name - now without You there is no life."

   Who are we in fact? We are soul. When we forgot this identity, we became 
the body. "Your residence is different, loved one; but you have tied 
yourself to matter." Similarly, Guru Nanak prays, "You reside in the True 
Home, and I am one with matter." It is a prayer of the soul - imprisoned 
in this matter I cannot reach You, and do not even know the path that will 
lead me to You. Also, as a prayer to those who have reached Him - "O 
Brothers, tell Him of my condition." Such desperate pleas are a sign of 
love for the Lord. Rain comes after the clouds form, and very far from
God is he who has no tears of separation in his heart. One may be a fine 
lecturer, or be intellectually advanced in other ways, or a good 
administrator, or have many other talents; but,

          
                Alive is he, in whom the Lord resides;
                O Nanak, without Him no one is alive.


The fact can be explained in many different ways, but the crucial question 
remains - what have you become?

          
                Regard the animal, with head toward
                  the earth;
                O man, your head is high, after all.


Nature has made the animals spend all their lives with head down, and their 
attention always towards the earth - this is not their fault. But man, with 
his head upright, should keep his attention aloft toward higher things. 
Animals fight each other - with their horns, etc. When man does this - 
"The outer form is of man, but the habits are of an animal." Paval Das Ji 
describes man as an animal with moustache and beard! Will he remain an 
animal always? When will he become a true man? A man is he who is the 
image of love - he who lives for all mankind. Only an animal lives for
himself. And he who lives for the Lord will automatically live for others, 
with a give and take attitude.

   If service is being performed, it should be selfless. Bringing happiness 
to others is really bringing happiness to oneself. Live for others, and 
they will love you. You may have done so much worship and devotion; but if 
your life is not like this then no matter to which sect or religion you 
belong, you are very far from Home. Some people light a lamp at the 
bedside of a dying person. Light the lamp while you live. And what is the 
use when those in whom this Light has been lit do not maintain it?  
Reformers are wanted - not of others, but of themselves. Know ye that 
example is better than precept. We do go on advising others to "do this" 
or "do that" or "go to the Master"; but ignoring our own lives, we who 
do go to the Master do not practice what we receive from Him.

   "Without love, O man, there is no peace." Not in this world, nor in the 
next. How much philosophy is needed for this? It matters not if a man be 
literate or illiterate; this is a subject for everyone. Change your way of 
living. Excuse me, but our home (body) is very filthy; what can God do?  
He is calling, "My children, come to Me"; but He is alone, and He wishes 
us to go to Him all alone - everything, body, mind, intellect, pranas, must 
be left behind. Ask your heart if it really desires God. What harm is there 
in asking? You can take a day, two days, even a few more to find out what 
really lies in your heart - and if you do desire the Lord, you will get 
Him.

   Many people desire God for business purposes. As Christ said, "They 
have their reward."


                My Beloved resides in each being -
                  no place is without Him;
                But I rejoice in that One in Whom
                  He is manifested.


Wherever He is manifested is worth worshiping. We may not have actually 
seen Him in each being, but we have read and heard the words of the 
Masters, that He is the very Life Sustainer in all life - why then so 
much hatred of one another? Seeing all this, in the twilight of my life 
I have turned toward the Man Center, Manav Kendra, which is a big revolt 
against all these conditions. Masters tell us to think of all mankind's 
caste as one. Guru Nanak said, "This puppet (body) is of five elements, 
in which the Invisible is playing."

   You came into this body to get the everlasting Elixir of Life from 
the Guru.  The purpose for which you came - that Amrit - is given by the 
Guru. Open your ears and listen carefully:

          
                Rise above outer garbs, or else
                  cunning ways and ashes of
                  repentance will follow;
                No fruit will be got from these.
     

   You cannot buy life everlasting with hypocrisy. If you believe in Islam, 
then become a true Muslim; if you believe in Sikhism, then become a true 
Sikh. Out of I-hood brother is fighting brother: "I am a Hindu; I am a 
Sikh; I am big; he is small; I am an intellectual; I am this; I am that."  
Brothers - become human! A true human being is full of love and compassion; 
what share of this humanity do you have?  This is seen only by your 
actions, and not by empty words, boasting, or intellectual prowess.

           
                Read year by year, month by month,
                  all through life with each breath;
                O Nanak, mere reading alone will not
                  give you elixir of life.

     
   When the Masters say that it is like a donkey laden with books, we can 
see just how much value They place on philosophies and bookish knowledge. 
This does not mean I am against reading; I have read a lot myself -
biographies of great men - and whatever I have understood from that 
reading, I am placing before you. I think I have read the words of more 
than three hundred great Masters. Keep the example of even one before you, 
and then become whatever you aspire to. What is the difference between the 
Masters and you? See that you make a definite decision - if not today, 
then tomorrow, or take a few days. When your decision is made and you know 
what you want to become, then daily change and grow nearer to that 
achievement.

   You people do not want to benefit from your diaries. What is the 
purpose behind keeping the spiritual diary? If you keep it accurately, you 
will gain inner benefit, for will not that water which has no dirt give a 
crystal clear reflection?

           
                When the waves of the mind are legion,
                  filled with ego and pride,
                There is no knowledge of Shabd,
                  no love for the Naam.


After more than seventy years of searching, Guru Amardas concluded, "Curse 
on the life in which there is no love for the Lord." If, after getting the 
blessing of this human birth, no love for the Lord has been born in us, 
then shame one thousand times upon our life. He added that even the work 
we do is cursed, if it does nothing to help develop our love for the Lord.  
And then He also gives the cure for the malady: "Love a Satguru, through 
which a love for the Lord is created." Sit beside the overflowing Cup of
Love - you will get peace if you are receptive. But how much will you get 
if you are covered with many layers of dirt? This is the reason why many 
people gain nothing in the Master's presence.

   Our Hazur used to say that the calf comes from some distance, drinks the 
cow's milk, and leaves again; but the ticks which are stuck to the udder 
of the cow and are closest to the milk get nothing but the blood they are 
sucking. The Masters' words are pregnant with meaning, and should be 
properly appreciated. Those who are near the Master have a golden 
opportunity, but whoever makes the effort gets the gift. This is not a 
lecture I am giving, but a heart to heart talk. It is a voice from the 
heart - love God.  What kind of love? A love for Him Whom you have seen.
What must you do to see Him? "Get in contact with the Beloved through the 
Satguru's teaching." He will give you something with which to start your 
spiritual work. Society makes a man, and a man is known by the company 
he keeps; so keep away from such a society which will do you nothing but 
harm. If you have got good society, it is all right; otherwise, live 
alone with your spiritual practices. Even if you get nothing, continue 
to live alone, by yourself and within yourself, for the important thing 
is to withdraw your attention from outer things and sit within yourself -
the practice of which has already been given to you. Those who find that 
they do not live near a Satsang group should spend the time in inner 
practice. 
 
   Even when we but speak of the Lord, what peace we get! What prospect 
is there, then, if we have also got the contact within.

   We say we respect the Guru. If that were so, could we talk when sitting 
at His feet? What respect is there in such an attitude? Benefit is not 
gained like this. Truly wedded is that person who has no other remembrance 
but that of the Lord - with full attention. Think deeply over these words.   
Even now, I think we feel reluctant to leave here; this is what happens 
when one talks about the Lord. All is calm, quiet, and no one wants to 
leave. What more can be enjoyed, then, if we have the inner contact with 
Him? Make the best use of whatever time you have been given.

   Christ told His followers that He had come to make those see who did 
not see. Lord Krishna, Mohammed Sahib, Lord Buddha, and other Masters have 
said the same thing in Their different languages, and each with the similar 
condition: "Through the Guru the Light becomes apparent." Only through the 
blessing of a God-realized Person can the Light be seen. He Whose Light
shines in full radiance can light the lamp of another. This human life is 
given through the grace of great good fortune and one should make the best 
use of it. And the highest achievement is to realize God, the nearest 
approach to Whom lies directly within the human form. Be in the company of 
the true Khalsa, in Whom the Light is apparent; and the Light will become 
apparent in you. He is a true Hindu, or Muslim, or Christian, or Buddhist, 
in whom the Light is apparent. You have all come here with a certain 
purpose in view - remember that everyone gets some experience to start with 
on the very first day (at initiation). Those who devote regular time to 
the practices, at least 2-1/2 hours daily, will find that the Light and 
Sound increases. Those who have already received their instructions - 
start carrying them out in full obedience.

   Muslim brothers say that one should read the Koran, and the Christian 
brothers say that one should read the Bible. The Sikhs say the Guru Granth 
Sahib should be read, and the Hindus recommend the Vedas. But the thing is 
that all these scriptures say the same things; and furthermore, mosques, 
churches, gurdwaras, temples, all have been designed after the same model
- the model of the human form, in which the Light of God is burning. The
outer modes of worship, such as lighting lamps, ringing bells, and so on 
are but aids to remembrance of the Lord-to remind us that the Light and 
Sound of God exist within the true inner temple of God, which is the 
physical human body. "This body is the temple of God in which exists the 
Light of Truth." Masters give the means of seeking out this hidden Truth
- the means of learning how to withdraw from all that is outer, and invert 
into that which is inner. "Tap inside." "The Kingdom of God cometh not 
with observation... it is within you."

   A Muslim Saint said similarly, "That which you seek is within you, 
O unconscious man; what you seek is within; why wander without?" That 
which must be realized is hidden in the human form, on which all outer 
buildings of worship are patterned; so why run to the models when one has 
been given the original? I am telling you these things very frankly. Live 
in your own religion; follow its outer modes of worship; keep all the 
signs and symbols. But always remember that the true meaning of that 
religion is basically the same in all others; and if you have not realized 
that basic true meaning, then of what use has your religion been to you?
Temples, mosques, churches, etc. have been made for those whose eye is 
not open, that they may learn about the Light within the true temple of 
God and the Sound which is also vibrating there. Small children learn how 
to become householders by playing with dolls and other toys; but when they 
grow up, the toys are put aside. Now is the time to know where you stand.

   The Koran states, "I am hidden within you like a hidden treasure -
seek Me." The Jap Ji states,

           
                In the mind is the jewel of all jewels;
                Seek it through the Guru's teaching.


Such is the advice from people who did go within and find that hidden  
treasure. All this singing and dancing in God's Name - what does it 
achieve? If, for instance, a bridegroom's party is going along the street, 
decked with its lights and flowers, etc., and the relatives and friends are 
dancing at the head of the procession, young and old alike, but the 
bridegroom himself is not present in the party, then what is all the 
dancing for? I have not come to break you away from religions and sects; 
I, rather, would make you more strong in them; because if by remaining in 
them you have not imbibed the very true teaching therein, then you have
up to now wasted your life. You may meet many learned or interesting 
characters - lecturers, story-tellers telling the tales of God - but ask 
them to show you the Lord; they will not be able to do so, for only the 
Master Who travels within can give you something spiritually substantial.
   
   Not only this, but "Unless I see with my own eyes, I cannot believe 
even my Guru's words." When a man sees the Truth with his own eyes, only 
then can he really believe that what the Guru has told him are true facts.  
Here, talks are given on the basic teaching existing in all religions; the 
subject of Truth is discussed and how one can get the company of that 
Truth - Satsang. When you have seen and heard the Inner Light and Sound, 
you will have tasted a little of the real intoxication. But you cannot get 
that intoxication by just reading books or listening to talks.

   One thing is very important to remember - wherever you fully put your 
attention, there you will succeed; for attention is the outer expression 
of the soul and as you think, so you become. If your attention is centered 
upon people of bad character, you will also become bad; and if you keep 
company with those of good character, you will develop in that direction.  
Anyone who works among perfumes will always spread around him a fragrance,
wherever he goes. Actually, if one merely passes through a perfumery, 
one's clothes will to some extent be permeated with fragrance.

   That school is successful from which a large percentage of children pass 
their examinations. If very few pass, then of what use is such a school?   
I am not saying anything against religions - rather would I praise them.  
But the work of each and every man is to withdraw from the outer 
environments and learn to sit within himself. The knowledge of this 
Science has been given to you, plus some experience to start the journey.  
Increase it; leave your bodies at will.  There are other worlds alive and
flourishing within you - And, Brahmand, Par Brahm, Sach Khand. The Lord 
can be realized in this very lifetime, but how much nearer to that are we 
if we have not even risen above the physical form? The reason for this? 
We have firmly fixed our attention on the enjoyments of the world. Yes, 
you may say that the whole world is similarly engaged; what can be done 
about it? But have you not had a little awakening from this tragic sleep 
of the senses? I have not spoken of these things in a foreign language; 
have you understood the depth of their importance? If so, then start 
doing the work - do not look to others; look to your own duty. If your
attention goes on focusing on others, you will take on their color,
whatever it may be. If your attention is always centered on that living 
force to which it belongs, it will become part of the Greater Attention.

   Mind your own business. You have understood something of what Truth is, 
and you have had some experience of the God within you - go your own way; 
try to reach Home first! If others do not have your enthusiasm, what is 
that to you? Make the best use of your time. Only those who have traversed 
the Beyond can be of any help to you on your journey; so do not be led 
away by those who indulge in learned cogitations and intellectual wrangling,
for such things will lead you nowhere.

   We have an ocean of the Elixir of Life within us. "That Nectar, for 
which you came to this world, that Amrit, can be got from the Guru." In 
creation, what is that life-giving Elixir? "Amrit is the Shabd." Only 
by rejoining God does one attain everlasting life, and this well of Amrit 
lies within; it can be contacted through the grace of the Guru. When 
sitting in the Lord's remembrance does it matter if those of other 
religions sit beside you? You have come to know the basic oneness in all 
life, for this science is the very basic teaching for all men. You have 
been put on the way; and if people ask you about the subject, tell them 
that this is the way of Spirituality - the one and only single way by 
which God can be realized. If you yourself listen to the arguments of 
others, you will be lost. Remember this: he who listens to others will 
waver. But those who take the Guru's words as Gospel will reap the fruit
of them.
   
   Many people are advanced in intellect, but they have not withdrawn or 
risen above body-consciousness, or have even taken the first step toward 
it. The intellect is useful to help one understand, or to ponder the 
subject. For instance, when I am talking to you I am using my intellect; 
and through the intellect you can understand, but its worth ends there.  
However, you can go on much further when this very intellect is stilled. 
So intellect is to be transcended. Withdraw from outer things and go 
within, "Look within yourself." The worldly minded will go on raving 
about the happiness and enjoyment in outer things, but what kind of judges
are they? What do they know of real happiness or enjoyment?

          
                You yourself must recognize yourself,
                Listen not to the words of others.


What is there to believe in words which are impregnated with the poisons 
of the senses? 

   Man has two halves: one is below the eyes, and the other above the eyes. 
If man had no head, he would never have had the faculty to understand, or 
the faculty to hear, etc. From the eyes downward lie layer upon layer of 
poison - poison from the outer impressions that one intakes through the 
eyes, ears, nose, etc. How can we get out of this poisonous trap? Rise 
above the eyes where all is tranquil, where the storms of life's tumult 
cannot affect you. You will be above it all. All this is the play of the 
attention; you are the attention. Put your attention here: (pointing 
between the eyes) - which is the seat of the soul in the body.  The 
Controlling Power is within. When Masters work in the world, They are 
not at all affected by the poisons.


                Like the lotus flower aloof from the water,
                  and the water-fowl who flies with
                  feathers dry;
                O Nanak, connected to the Surat Shabd one
                  can swim the ocean of life.


Those who are connected to Naam, although living in the world, can be 
entirely unaffected by it. There are certain men who live among the snakes 
and scorpions but are unaffected by their poisons; they have the knowledge 
and the ability; but if we were to copy them, would we not get the effects 
of the poison? So the Masters Who come to the world are spiritual experts 
- They do Their work while living above the effects of the senses. While 
doing Their work, They do no work; seeing They do not see; hearing They do
not hear.

   Guru Amardas Ji met His Master after more than seventy years of 
desperate searching, and then He said,
          
          
                We, the low, became high by sitting at
                  God's feet;
                Praise be unto Him who lifted out the
                  drowning stone.


He infers that like others He also was drowning, with attention steeped in 
the poisons of the senses, like a heavy stone which can only sink to the 
bottom. When He came to the feet of His Guru, He was lifted out of His 
plight. That great Controlling Power which is God cannot be seen - my 
fingers are holding this watch, but who is holding it? I am - not the 
body. So God is in those Realized Souls; and when the seeker goes to the 
Master's feet, it is God's mercy that works through Him. There is hope 
for everybody. Every Saint has His past, and every sinner a future. You 
are human, remember. When did you become a Hindu, Muslim, or Christian? 
All religions were made after the advent of some Master. Expert guidance 
is needed from One Who knows how to get out of this "physical well." He 
who knows not this secret can never help others to find it. The scriptures 
are full of the words of these Great Masters and are there for your 
guidance and action.

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