Die Before Death (Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh Ji)

Die Before Death

Spiritual Discourse by Satguru Baba Kehar Singh ji

Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh Railway Road, Tarn Taran 143401 Dist. Tarn Taran, Punjab, India

Published by: Balwinder Singh, Secretary

©

Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh Railway Road, Tarn Taran 143401 Dist. Tarn Taran, Punjab, India www.rstt.org.in

You can download a NOT FOR SALE current copy of this book over the Internet from the website of the Dera Baba Bagga Singh: www.rstt.org.in

ii

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Publisher's Note Baba Kehar Singh ji’s satsangs are a treasure of spiritual gems. Out of this infinite treasure one was brought forth in the original Punjabi edition of this book; which was later translated into Hindi and English. With the blessings of Baba Kehar Singh Ji, this edition of the book is translated from the original Punjabi edition by Mrs. Nirmal Sian and Mr. Kenneth Stambler, with assistance from Mr. Vipin Sian. Dera is grateful to them. I hope the seekers of spirituality all across the world will read this book and, in so doing, will understand the genesis of Sant Mat.

Balwinder Singh Secretary Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh Tarn Taran, Punjab, India

Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

iii

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

iv

Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

To Die before Death Sri Raag Mehl first Adi Granth P. 20-21

Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

1

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Spiritual Discourse marnai kee chintaa nahee jeevan kee nahee aas.

I have no anxiety about dying, and no desire for living. This Shabad is written by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He is trying to make us understand the word ‘death’, which is a great cause of fear to the whole world. He says, O' Gentlemen, the whole world is trembling with the fear of death, and no one is ready to take such a step to help us experience it. Death is a fundamental truth. It has to come to us. Then why are we frightened? We are such cowards that upon hearing the word ‘death’ we start trembling. Let us see what Guru Nanak Dev Ji explains about death. He repeats the beginning verse:

I have no anxiety about dying, and no desire for living. I have reached such a stage, that I neither have the fear of death, nor the desire to live. Whatever has to happen, will happen. Why be afraid? Baba Partap Singh served the Dera for 26 years. We never thought that He would leave us. Neither did we believe that Maharaj Charan Singh would leave us quietly. Thousands of men and women remained weeping at their death. You saw Baba Partap Singh during his life. At the time of his death a military unit was staying in our Dera. In the morning, the Colonel came to see Babaji. Taking a step back he took off his hat and saluted him. Looking at his face he said, has Babaji left? 2

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

You are telling a lie. Babaji did not show any symptom of death. He held his arm to feel the pulse. Being disappointed he put it down. Whom we considered God, slipped out of our hands and left. We were sad and kept weeping. Kabir Sahib said: Adi Granth, Page 1365

kabeer jis marnay tay jag darai mayray man aanand. marnay hee tay paa-ee-ai pooran parmaanand.

Kabir, the world is afraid of death. That death fills my mind with bliss. It is only through the (living) death, that Perfect, Supreme Bliss is obtained. O' Kabir! Why are you eager to die? Everyone wants to live. Even a person of 100 years wants to live for four more years. If we can’t walk, suffering with cough and breathing with difficulty, even then we want to live more. Someone asked Kabir Sahib, why are you feeling happy to die? He said, the place I have to go after death is delightful. It is full of variety and is a most beautiful place. I do not want to stay in this filthy world even for a moment more. A few days ago some of my relatives came to Dera from Canada. They were husband & wife, along with their kids. The husband and wife were Indians, but their children were Canadians. After seven days they said, Babaji, we are going back to Canada. I said, you had a program to stay here Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

3

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

for forty days? They said, Babaji, look at these kids. A spot on their fair complexion is more visible than the children with dark complexion. Mosquito bites do not matter if you have dark skin. I said, I will arrange a mosquito net for you. They said, it is not only the question of a mosquito net. There is so much dust and dirt everywhere. Persons coming from Canada leave within ten days. Why wouldn’t Kabir be happy to leave this world? He has come from a region which has no pain or pleasure, only peace and happiness. The pot made today, has to break tomorrow. Adi Granth, Page 1429

jo upji-o so binas hai paro aaj kai kaal. naanak har gun gaa-ay lay chhaad sagal janjaal.

Whatever has been created must be destroyed. Everyone shall perish: today or tomorrow. O’ Nanak, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, and give up all other entanglements. You may put a pot in a corner and let it sit there for a hundred or two hundred years as a symbol of your seniors, and not touch it. However, one day that empty pot will break. We also have to die, but we are afraid of death. The mahatmas who have visited the other world are not afraid of death. People ask, when can that stage be attained? Accept the teaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the Gita and the Ramayan. Every religious book talks about the same thing: Guru, 4

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

knowledge and contemplation. Guru Granth Sahib says, if you want to meet God, 'Mutu-a kibal ant mutu-aa', which means, Die before death . Adi Granth, Page 730

naanak jeevti-aa mar rahee-ai aisaa jog kamaa-ee-ai.

O’ Nanak, remain dead while yet alive; practice such a Yoga. If you want to learn such a yoga, what to do? Adopt a guru and get blessed with Nam; then meditate with concentration. To meet God you go to the temple, bow your heads, and pray at the tombs of Muslim Saints. These saints themselves

are no more, what can they do for you?

daadoo dunee-aa baavaree, marhee-aa poojan oot. jo aap jahaano chal gayay unaa kee daynay poot.

Dadu says, the world is mad; It worships the monuments in hopes of being blessed with a son. How can those who have left this world, bless others with sons? They can’t give anything. We remain eager to meet God, but how can we attain that stage in order to meet Him? Think for a moment! Is God present in this world, or not? Has anybody seen him? No, neither is He here, nor can you see or meet Him here. He has no shape, nor will He appear before you. It is said in Guru Granth Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

5

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Sahib, not by me, He neither belongs to any religion, nor does He have mother, father or relative. For example, we utter the word ‘electricity’. It does not have any shape, but we have to agree that it is a power which makes the fans work and the sound reach the audience. We have to agree that it is a power! How did the world come into existence? How did it expand? How does everything work in the world? People request, Babaji, we have come here to know how we can meet God and die comfortably. We don’t want to die the death of a dog, nor do we want a painful death. We want only one thing: to die while sleeping. They request a comfortable death. Try to understand its origin. A human being is made of five elements: fire, earth, water, air and ether. These elements do not constitute the real 'body', but just a shape. The thing that makes it stand, move, and walk, is the soul. So the soul has been placed in it. What is soul? I mentioned five elements. The source of fire is the sun. The source of water is the sea. The source of earth is ‘the Earth’, and the source of air is the atmosphere. A balloon is flying in the air. When it bursts, we do not know where the air has gone. In this body, the main element is the soul. Have you ever thought about its source? Till we know that, we cannot know about the world. Do not burn or bury a dead body but just put it in a lonely place, and after some time all the elements 6

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

will go back to their source, and only the skeleton will remain. This soul also has a source also. We think about Param-Atma (God) every day. We go to the temples in search of Him. It is nothing but the Supreme Soul, the Supreme Power. The

source of atma (soul) is Param-Atma.

Let us think how this Special Soul came into existence. In the whole world no one can answer the question, ‘what came first, the chicken or the egg?’ When we began discussing this, I asked the people sitting around me: what came first, the chicken or the egg? The people replied, Babaji, the hen came first. Then again another question arose, ‘How was the hen born?’ They replied, from the egg. I asked, how was the egg born? They replied, from the hen. So this circle of question and answers went on like the Persian wheel. When the Persian wheel revolves, we cannot see where the belt first began to turn. It has become a part of the chain. One may know the answer or not, but the question just creates confusion. I was in Nagpur, and the same question was asked, what came first, the chicken or the egg? Seven or eight press reporters were also present there, so I said to them that the hen was born first. They asked, Babaji, how was the hen born? I said, you ask this question, so I will tell you how the hen was born. To begin a talk and then run away from educated persons is something very difficult. If you start a talk to convince them, you have to prove it, and quote examples. They will agree only if they are convinced. They said, Babaji, how did it take place? I said, I will tell Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

7

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

you something new. As I have already said, there is no entity named ‘Paramatma’ in this world. The word paramatma is made up of two words, param and atma (Param+atma = Paramatma = Supreme Soul). Why should we waste two hours discussing whether paramatma is a word or not? Suppose Param–atma is there and paramatma is not. I am going to tell you something new which you can neither think about, nor will it strike your mind to discuss. Paramatma was created by Nam. The Creator of the world was also created by someone. Yes, His creator is Nam, about which Guru Nanak Dev Ji has said: Pran Sangli

sabaday dhartee shabadi aagaas. sabadai sabad bha-i-aa pargaas. sagali sristi sabad kay paachhay. naanak sabad ghatay ghat aachhay.

Shabad has created the earth and the sky. Everything is enlightened by the Shabad. The whole world is supported by Shabad, Shabad exists in every living being. Shabad is the creator of the whole world. What is that Shabad? There was a great Saint named John. He had written in his book, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

8

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

“All things were made through Him (the Word); and without Him was not anything made that was made.” In the beginning (of this cosmos) there was ‘Word’, ‘Kalma’, ‘Hare-Hare’, Allah. Today people have given one-hundred and eighty thousand names to God. You may call Him by any name, but Guru Nanak Dev Ji has named Him Sar Shabad and Satnam. That Sar Shabad ‘Word’ came into action. The question arises, how did the Sar Shabad come into action? An atmosphere or environmental situation came into being. For example, you are travelling in a boat on a river, or in a ship on the sea; there is an anouncement that a whirlpool has developed. Wind created the whirlpool, and even large boats and ships are pulled down in it. So we have to accept this reality of the atmosphere, or an environmental situation. Most people say that genera was born out of "Mada", a feminine force and the infinitesimal, primal atom. Primal force is also born as an outcome of environmental conditions, and subsequently created the whole world (genera). A special power came into existence. That Mada, or special power, Satnam or Word, created the Purush whom we call Paramatma. How did Paramatma come into existence? It is difficult to explain this mystery; rather, it is beyond our intellectual comprehension.

Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

9

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

I myself have pondered upon the subject. Sometimes a person does not get time to bathe for a month. We experienced this at the time of partition, when we came from Pakistan to India. Every person had lice on his head and body. Have we ever thought of how they were born? We picked them out and killed them, never thinking beyond that, as to who created them? All the species are produced by mating. At that time, people could not bathe. Due to the summer heat, every one was sweating, and small particles of dust got on the head and skin. In that dust, God created one male and one female. In time these two started to grow, became young, mated, and smaller lice were born. How were the lice first born and how did a male and female come into existence? All this was created by the atmosphere. In the rainy season we see ladybugs in a lonely place. The mosquitoes also breed. First the body was created, and to give it movement, the soul was put in it. Like this, environmental conditions developed, and Sar Shabad (Word) created the Purush or Supreme Soul. Now Purush thought that he is sitting there, alone, comfortably… He should create the order of the world; so Purush created Sixteen Sons or Powers. Niranjan was the fifth son. Now that Power of Sar Shabad or Word started coming downwards, and the biggest order of the world was to be set up. Prior to that, there was no mortal world, ether-land, nether-land, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiv, stars, moon, or anything. Only 10

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Purush was there, and He was blossoming within himself. According to Guru Nanak Dev Ji‘s philosophy, first of all, Sar Shabad (Word) came into existence. Sar Shabad created Agam and Alakh Desh, and then lower to that, Sachkhand. Reaching here, Sar Shabad haulted; then came out as a stream of Satnam. What is that Satnam? Adi Granth, Page 1

ik-oNkaar sat naam kartaa purakh nirbha-o nirvair akaal moorat ajoonee saibha-n gur parsaad jap

One Universal Creator God. His Name is Truth Personified. No Fear, No Hatred; Image Of The Undying. Beyond Birth, Self-Existent. By Guru's Grace, chant the holy Nam. Starting from here, Satnam further created two regions. We call them Bhanwargupha and Daswan Dwar. Daswan Dwar is also called Triveni, Amritsar or Paragraj. Sar Shabad again halted at Daswan Dwar. From there it comes out as Sound Current or the Audible Life Stream, and created two more regions named Trikuti and Sahansdal Kanwal. Descending to the back of the eyes, five regions and six stations were created. Now Paramatma did not feel any need to make the lower body; he created the microcosm from Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

11

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

behind the eyes to the top of the head. Tulsi Sahib says: hai ghat may-n soojhat nahee laahnat aisee jind. tulsee is sansaar ko bha-i-aa motee-aa bind.

He is in the body but cannot be seen. A curse is such a life. Tulsi says this world is suffering from cataract. We have taken only this much shape (the head) from God. If only the head is moving around, it does not make sense. In that shape we would have been like insects, or other such living beings. As a reward for his worship of 64 yugas, and 70 yugas; Kal got the souls. He ruled these two regions named Trikuti and Sahansdal Kanwal. These two come in the range of Vedas. Niranjan thought, ‘I have to make the world, and put glitter in it!’ So, he created the lower body, and fixed the same stations in it below the eyes. Adi Granth, Page 695

jo barahmanday so-ee pinday jo khojai so paavai. peepaa paranvai param tat hai satgur ho-ay lakhaavai.

12

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

The One who pervades the Universe also dwells in the body. Whoever seeks Him, finds Him there. Pipa salutes the Lord, the Supreme Essence. He reveals Himself through the True Guru. Niranjan put the same features in these two stages (Sahansdal Kanwal and Trikuti), that are above the eyes. All this comes in the range of Vedas, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv. It has no relation with God realization. Below the eyes there are six chakras. To cross these chakras, we would have to go down and then come up again, to ascend the upper five stages. We don’t need to do that. Describing everything existing behind the eyes, Kabir Sahib described the lower body also. How do we go upward at the time of death? Let us see how Kabir Sahib has explained it... At that time our hands and feet become cold. It seems as if death is about to come. The circulation of blood stops from the nails. The soul, breath and vital air start moving upwards. Breath and vital air are different things. These reach the rectal centre. Here lives the god Ganesh. The element of earth and a lotus with four petals exists there. The sound of ‘Kilyng’ ‘Kilyng’ is heard. This is the lord of riddhis and siddhis (reaching here one attains the spiritual power to accomplish anything he desires, in a physical shape; while being in a conscious state). Going up from there, one reaches the swadisht chakra, which is called the genital centre. The element of water is there; Brahma and Savitri are the lords. Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

13

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Creation of the world is done by them. Here exists the lotus with six petals and the sound of ‘Om’ ‘Om’ is heard. People doing yogabhyas, (practicing yoga) can see it. Next comes the navel centre. Here is the seat of Vishnu and Lakshmi. The element of fire is there. The sound of ‘Hiryng Hiryng’ is heard. The lotus here has eight petals. Stamping each grain and providing it to the insect sitting even in the stone, is the duty of Vishnu. Going still further on the left, below the chest, comes the heart centre. The element of air exists there. Gods Shiv and Parvati are sitting there to destroy the world. The sound of ‘Sohang’ ‘Sohang’ is heard. This lotus has twelve petals. Vishnu is the eldest of the three. Next comes their mother Shakti, the goddess of ignorance, sitting in the throat. The sound here is ‘Shi ryng’ ‘Shiryng’. This lotus has sixteen petals. At this place Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv get disconnected; even while the person is still alive. The Saints ask, ‘Who is that noble person? Who is that loving one in this world who can unite us with God?’ We need that noble person to unite our soul with Param-atma, the Supreme Soul and make us His embodiment. Who is that person? He is our Guru. Adopting a Guru, receiving Nam from him, and meditating; we are to die while living, as Kabir did. The third Guru says: Adi Granth, Page 555

ki-aa jaanaa kiv marhagay kaisaa marnaa ho-ay. jay kar saahib manhu na veesrai taa sahilaa marnaa ho-ay. 14

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

marnai tay jagat darai jeevi-aa lorhai sabh ko-ay gur parsaadee jeevat marai hukmai boojhai so-ay. naanak aisee marnee jo marai taa sad jeevan ho-ay.

What do I know? How will I die? What sort of death will it be? The world is terrified of death; everyone longs to live. If I do not forget the Lord-Master from my mind, then my death will be easy. By Guru's Grace, one who dies while yet alive, understands the Lord's Will. O’ Nanak, one who dies such a death, lives forever. As Guru Nanak Dev and other mahatmas die before death, that is called ‘Mutua kiblant mutua’, which means, “Die before death”. While living, when we retrace our soul, and bring it behind the eyes, our soul reaches the first stage, which is Sahansdal Kanwal. We are disconnected from the lower body. This is called the living death. In the company of Guru, we go up and see that region where we are to go after death. Whosoever has seen that region, does not want to come back. If he has five more years to live, but refuses to come back down after Guru shows him this region, it would be necessary to take another birth. Completing that period he can go there. Sometimes we are fed up with an elder in the family. That person also says, “I can’t even breathe. Stifle me. Kill me.” Someone stifles him and he dies. That old person takes his next birth in the same family. He lives for only five Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

15

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

hours and dies. It was the remaining period of his previous human life*. He had to finish that period before he could enter into some other life. Taking yourself behind the eyes through Nam and Simran is the real death. This is the method to reach behind the eyes.

*Baba ji was speaking about an old person w ho was fed up with his sickness and wanted to die. As per the desire of that senior person, someone killed (suffocated) him. It so happened that this person's destiny was to live for only f ive more hours; so, to complete that period of his present life, he took birth in that very family, and lived for only five hours and then died. Adi Granth, Page 932

gurmukh aavai jaa-ay nisang. Parhar mail jalaa-ay kalank.

The Gurmukh comes and goes without fear. His filth is taken away, and his stains are burnt off. When a Gurumukh (highly advanced soul) reaches behind the eyes, he is disconnected with this world (macrocosm), and lives in that world (microcosm). Coming back into the body, he gets connected to this world. He walks and eats in this world. Let us read what Guru Nanak Dev describes about death: too sarab jee-aa partipaalahee laykhai saas giraas.

16

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

You are the Cherisher of all beings. You keep the account of our breaths, and morsels of food. O' My True Lord, I did not know all this, and your power. I was quarrelling with my guru. Sometimes I was annoyed, and sometimes happy with him. Having a glance of Shabad Guru, my position has been enhanced, because he took me to Anami Desh. When Baba Jaimal Singh, Baba Bagga Singh, Baba Deva Singh, and Baba Partap Singh, took their souls to Anami Desh; the main gate was closed. It is something surprising that Paramatma (Guru) is calling Paramatma, to say that he has brought the souls according to the list. Christ also said, I have come to collect my marked sheep; the sheep which were marked for me - so and so, son of so and so, etc. etc. On my visiting different places, people would say Babaji is mad, as he is roaming in such a hot weather. Can’t he sit comfortably at Dera? If the police come to know that a big smuggler is travelling somewhere, they start following him; and do not stop until he is arrested. They are not bothered about their food or drink, hot or good weather! They just have one aim, to arrest the smuggler. Like that, Saints are going from house to house. They shower a lot of love and say, “O’ Gentleman, you do not know that I am after you, as I have your name and address on my list.” A person from Gohalvarh (a village in India) went to see his relatives in England. He came to Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

17

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

me when I was about to start Namdan. I asked, "From where have you come?" He said, "From Gohalvarh." I said that it is at a distance of 3 to 4 kilometers from Tarn Taran. He explained that he belonged to that village only. I said "All persons from Gohalvarh went to Maharaj Charan Singh in Beas. How were you spared?" He said,”Babaji, first I was not prepared. When I made up my mind, Maharaj ji left this world. Now after attending five to seven satsangs of yours, I am prepared.” I said, “You had a mind for Beas, so get initiated from there.” I sent him away. On the third or fourth day he again came to me, at a different location. He said, “Babaji, please listen to me. You said one should not be without Nam for a minute, even.” Saints are caught in their own words. I had said that one should get Namdan without delay as who knows when some accident is there on the road and who will help you then? He said, “Babaji, in case I die in an accident, you will be responsible!” He was right. He was an educated man, so he could say all that. I allowed him to sit for Namdan. I was trying not to initiate him, as I wanted him to get Namdan from Beas; but he got it from me in England. It was destined, as his name was in my list. Mahatmas say that unless you stay in Guru’s order and discipline, it is difficult to realize God. The door is opened and the souls are standing with Baba Bagga Singh. He enters the door and stands on the right side of his souls; and the same Baba Bagga Singh is sitting on the throne of Purush. His face is lustrous. Having his 18

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

darshan the mind is full of happiness. People here are not ready to agree with the fact that a door opens there. Without experiencing this, we cannot accept it. When the radio was invented we said, "Leave it, it cannot be possible." Radio came. Then it was said that motion pictures will also be coming along. We did not believe, but the television came, the pictures started coming. I was in America and watching T.V. news. The news reader said that after ten years, there won’t be any aeroplanes because of the fear of falling down. What will happen then? There will be a big platform. The person standing on it will disappear, and reach Indira Gandhi Airport in India with the help of waves. We say that it is totally fallacious. If such a platform is there, we will not enter it, thinking we may not board it properly. If a portion of our body is stretched outside the platform, what will happen? One day we will come to know the reality. Therefore it is said, we cannot accept the facts which we have not seen. We do not agree that Baba Bagga Singh is on that throne, and is standing with his souls also. We agree only after experience. Kabir Sahib took Queen Indermati to Anami Desh. The door was closed. He said, “O’ Lord, I am here with Queen Indermati, the wife of the king of Garh Girnal!” The door opened. Kabir Sahib entered with Indermati. Indermati saw the same Kabir Sahib sitting on the Majestic Throne there, and standing on her right side too. Coming out Indermati asked, “O’ my True Lord! If you Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

19

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

were Paramatma, why did you not tell me in the mortal world. I had been hiding so many things from you. It was wrong on my part because you know every mind.” Kabir Sahib said, “Indermati, if I would have told you that you are standing in front of Paramatma, you would not have accepted it. You agreed with the things only in your intellectual range." If I say, "I am Paramatma", people will say, “Look how tactfully he has taken the position of the Master. Now he claims to be the embodiment of God.” Just now the mind will start thinking in the wrong way. O’ Gentlemen, leave me out, a one month old child is also Paramatma. This body is the palace of God. He lives in it. With the growth of the child, God’s power in him also grows. But we need to know ourselves. Know thyself! How can we know ourselves? Christ says, ‘O’ Gentlemen, you cannot meet God, till you come to me.’ You have not recognized yourself. I will tell you the method to recognize yourself, then you can meet Him. Shri Krishan said, “O’ Arjun, you cannot meet God directly.’’ Arjun said, ’’What is my fault?’’ ‘It is not a question of fault.’ Then what, said Arjun? Shri Krishan said, ‘You do not have Shiv Netra, (the third eye) opened, so you cannot see God.’ We have to learn the method. We have to adopt a Guru, get Namdan, do Simran, and contemplate. About this, many people say to me, ‘Mine is such a stage that I do 20

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

simran and meditation while walking’. I say, ‘Then you have gone to the upper regions also?’ They say, ‘Yes, only this is needed.’ Nobody knows what simran and meditation are. Now listen, what is ‘simran’? Why does Nam contain five words? Behind the eyes there are five stages, five lights, and five sounds. While coming, we came through five stages. We are to sit, keep on repeating the five words, and contemplate on the Guru. Until Guru in the form of Shabad appears behind the eyes, the work is not done. Guru Nanak Dev said: Adi Granth, Page 943

sabad guroo surat Dhun chaylaa.

The Shabad is the Guru upon whom I lovingly focus my consciousness. I (the soul) am the chayla, the disciple. Shabad is our Guru, and the surat (soul) is the disciple. While doing simran we reach such a stage, that we feel drowsy, the work is done. This stage is like when we churn the curd, and it becomes thick and ready to give out the butter. At such a stage of simran, we are to contemplate on guru and sit in meditation, listening to the sound. Place two fingers at the forehead, two at the eyes and the thumbs in the ears. We do this so that the eyes may not open, the ears may not Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

21

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

hear the outside sounds, and the tongue may not utter any other word. That is the meaning of the picture of 3 monkeys. One with his hands on his eyes, so as not to see something evil; another has his hands on his mouth, in order not to speak something bad; and the third one has its hands on the ears, in order not to hear anything evil. The tounge has been made to speak good words, to do simran; to praise the Guru and God. Christ says, “Cut away that tongue which does not sing the praises of God”. Eyes have been given to see the path, to differentiate between Guru and ordinary human beings; and to have darshan of Guru. Put lead in the ears which do not hear the Sound from our Holy Father, God. We go through four stages- jagrit, supan, sukopat and turiya pad. First is jagrit; that is when we are wide awake, I am speaking and you are listening. In the second stage, supan, I am in my dreams, and you are in your dreams; this stage comes when we are asleep. Sukopat is the light above this, reaching here the soul realizes Paramatma. Lastly, Turiya Pad is the source of soul. As the drop goes into the ocean and takes its form; the soul goes there and becomes one with Paramatma. At the time of meditation no simran is required. One has only to listen to the Sound. Guru Nanak Dev also has referred to five words: Adi Granth, Page 1291

22

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

ghar meh ghar daykhaa-ay day-ay so satgur purakh sujaan. panch sabad Dhunikaar Dhun tah baajai sabad neesaan.

The True Guru is the All-knowing Primal Being. He shows us our true home within the home of the self. The Panch Shabad, the Five Primal Sounds, resonate and resound within. The insignia of the Shabad is revealed there, vibrating gloriously. He explains, ‘I want that Guru who tells me the five words, five lights, five sounds and five stages.’ That is why he says: Adi Granth, Page 974

panch sabad nirmaa-il baajay. dhulkay chavar sankh ghan gaajay.

The Panch Shabad, the five primal sounds, resound and vibrate there in their purity. The chauris - the fly brushes wave, and the conch shells blare like thunder. How to contemplate? You have to look upward, because the sound of Nad, the spiritual music, comes from above. At that time two things are there. There is complete darkness- no light, only pitch darkness. Don’t worry about that, and keep on meditating. From a long distance you will hear the sound of Nad. That sound will pull you, as if tied with a rope, and take you to the big Sound from where it has come. Which is that rope? The hunters put a Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

23

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

metal plate on an earthen pot and beat it. The deer follows that sound and reaches the hunter. He is ignorant of the intention of the hunter, so he gets his head cut and dies. How has the sound compelled the deer to go to the hunter? O’ People, this sound of Nad is known to you! You will be mad after It. In Anami Desh, the soul was alive because of that Sound. No eating, no drinking, no other work! Just to have His Darshan and listen to the Sound. What is that region for which we are so eager to go? This is our old region, where the soul listens to the Sound, and is mad after that. Sit in a separate corner in a room. Neither talk, nor listen to anyone. That Sound coming from above will penetrate behind your eyes. Now your work is complete. At that time one more thing will happen. Divine Radiance will shine. It shines out of the Sound. That Divine Luster reaches behind your eyes. The whole world says that until you explore the shiv netra (third eye), you cannot meet God. But what is that shiv netra, and where to see that? Has anybody ever described how we can get that? We keep on saying, "See the shiv netra in you". Whatever books I have read, they say that you should open the third eye. They do not say anything beyond that. I have experienced, what that third eye is. There is an eye; a point on our forehead. It does not have its own light. The divine lustre comes from above. I do not know why I always reach Dera at eight in the evening. After passing Jandiala (a small town near Tarn Taran), the road sign shows Tarn 24

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Taran, 16 km., Amritsar 16 km. Reaching there once, I saw a big flash of light, equal to a bulb of a thousand watts. Crossing that, it was all blank, as if nothing is written there. Since then, while passing from there, my attendents ask, “Babaji, has third eye come?’’ Through this third eye we have to see God. The physical ears cannot hear Him, the physical eyes cannot see Him, the physical legs cannot reach the spot where he resides. We cannot work there with our hands. Guru Nanak Dev says: Adi Granth, Page 139

akhee baajhahu vaykh-naa vin kanna sunnaa. pairaa baajhahu chalnaa vin hathaa karnaa. jeebhai baajhahu bolnaa i-o jeevat marnaa. naanak hukam pachhaan kai ta-o khasmai milnaa.

To see without eyes; to hear without ears. To walk without feet.; to work without hands. To speak without a tongue; like this one remains dead while yet alive. O’ Nanak, recognize the Hukam of the Lord's Command, and merge with your Lord and Master.

Same is the function behind the eyes. When the celestial light appears, the luster and radiance come. Your function is over. First we do simran. When the simran reaches the culmination, Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

25

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

we do meditation. While in meditation we hear the Sound, the Unstruck Music, which attaches us to the Shabad Guru. Your Guru is with you. When death comes the breathing does not stop, but the vital force leaves first. When this force is gone, the breath also stops. People say that the breath and the vital force are not the same thing. I have not read in books what they are. They just say that these are two different things. I have observed it like this, ‘A blacksmith works on his furnace; he feeds the air with a bellows, and the coal starts burning. Like this, the vital force is a bellows which pumps the air’. When the vital force is not there, the breathing will stop automatically. One more new thing. When the child is in his mother’s womb, he has only the vital force, and no breathing. We hear the lady saying, “I am four months pregnant. My baby moves, sometimes very fast.” It is because of vital force. At the time of birth, the vital force, the bellows start working and the breathing starts. In the mother’s womb, the baby gets oxygen through mother’s blood. As soon as he is born, breathing automatically starts through the nose. It leaves prior to breathing Like this the vital force and the breathing are two different things. When the vital force is gone, the breathing stops; the coal will also stop burning. The sound is not there, the person is dead. So if you get initiation and observe these things inside your body, then you will believe. antar gurmukh too vaseh ji-o bhaavai ti-o nirjaas. 26

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

You exist within the Gurmukh. As it pleases You... You decide our allotment. Now the person has come to know that he should – get Nam, do meditation, go inside, have Darshan of Shabad Guru, and become a Gurumukh. It is possible if we always stay with Guru. Who is a Gurumukh? We do not even know how a person can become a true disciple. Guru Gobind Singh says:

Adi Granth, Page 1235 jaagat jot japai nis baasar, ayk binaa man naik n aanai. pooran paraym parteet sajai,brat gor marhee man mool na maanai. teerath daan dayaa tap sanjam,ayk binaa nahi ayk pachhaanay. pooran jot jagai ghat mai,tab khaalis taahi n khaalis jaanai.

Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

27

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

He should see the burning light day and night. He should believe in one God only. He should have complete love in his heart. He should not believe in observing fasts or worshipping monuments or graves, even by mistake. He should follow one God. Should not have belief in pilgrimages, donations, mercy, austerities or self-control. He should have a complete light burning in his body. Then he can be known as a pure disciple. Reaching the first stage, the Sahansdal Kanwal, which is called ‘Mukame Allah’ by Mohammedans, we see the luster of jot, the light. Reaching Trikuti, Brahm (gyan khand), which is called ‘Mukame Alahu’ by Mohammedans, one becomes a yogi or yogishwar. Reaching the third stage of Daswan Dwar (Sharm Khand), which is called ‘Mukame Lahut’ by Mohammedans; one becomes a sadhu. It is said in Guru Granth Sahib: Adi Granth, Page 283

charan saaDh kay dho-ay dho-ay pee-o. arap saaDh ka-o apnaa jee-o. saaDh kee Dhoor karahu isnaan. saaDh oopar jaa-ee-ai kurbaan.

28

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Wash the feet of the Holy, and drink this water. Dedicate your soul to the Holy. Take your cleansing bath in the dust of the feet of the Holy. To the Holy, make your life a sacrifice. Reaching the fourth stage, Bhanwargupha (Karam Khand), ‘Mukame Alahu’ as per Mohammedans, one becomes more than a Swan. Reaching Sach Khand, one becomes a Gurumukh. Gurumukh is God’s name. This Gurumukh looks after us, protects us, and stays in His Command. Guru Sahib says, “O' my True Lord, You are living in me. It is your will to get work done according to your wish. Nothing is in our hands”. God observes us. One who concentrates on Guru, Guru appears in him. That person comes to know, that he is in His command. He says, “O’ God, keep me as per your wishes. You protect each one.” jee-aray raam japat man maan.

O’ my soul, chant the Name of the Lord; the mind will be controlled. Now Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, “O’ my soul, repeat the Ram Nam.” What is Ram Nam? It is the Name of a Power. Whichever Saint or Mahatma comes to this world, they have one common message and preach the same thing. With great love they make us understand, ‘O' people of the world- the nations, relations, Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

29

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

religions, whatever you see in this world, is perishable’. Then what will stay? What is eternal? He Himself replies: Adi Granth, Page 1429

naam rahi-o saaDhoo rahi-o rahi-o gur gobind. kaho naanak ih jagat mai kin japi-o gur mant.

The Nam remains; the Holy Saints remain. Guru, the Lord of the Universe, remains. Says Nanak, how rare are those who chant the Guru's Mantra in this world. Nam is eternal, Guru is eternal, everything else in this world is perishable. So my mind, meditate on Ram. What is Ram? Yesterday I took satsang from the Ramayan, which is written by Guru Gobind Singh, in his own words. There are three things here; first it is Ramayan, second it is written by Guru Gobind Singh, thirdly it was preached by a Radha Soami preacher. Many people thought, what was its need? The need was to look into Guru Gobind Singh’s writings, which were not read; see what he said, and what his thoughts were. We know only one thing (about him), that he created Panj Piyare. He cut the heads of five persons and again brought them to life. In Ludhiana, Punjab, India I spoke on the same topic. I was sitting in a house, and a person there said, “Babaji, you said that Guru Gobind Singh cut the heads (off) of five persons. He cut the heads of goats, not men.’’ I said, ’’What did you say?’’ Repeating his words, he said that Guru 30

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Sahib cut the heads of goats, not persons. I said, ‘Who told you?’ He said, “My father.’’ I said, ‘You are blaming your father. He must have been born later than my great grandfather and grandfather; who told me that he cut the heads of persons, not goats!’ I said, ‘O’ Gentlemen, if you want to eat meat, keep on eating it! Don’t use an excuse that he cut the heads of the and made maha prasad. It is absolutely wrong.’ Two ladies wearing ‘gatras’ (belt with small sword put across the upper body) said, ‘Jo bole so nihal.’ I said, ‘Sat Sri Akal.’ They were happy. But I was concerned with the blame people put on Guru Gobind Singh, who prepared Panj Piyare against the tyranny, and blessed them with special power. Kabir Sahib brought to life a dead body flowing in the river, and named him Kamala. The Mohammedans slaughtered a cow. Kabir objected to it, and said, “You drink her milk; how justified is it to kill her?” Kazi said, ‘Bring her to life.’ Kabir brought her back to life. Guru Gobind Singh also had the power to kill a person, and bring him back to life again. So to meet the Lord, you need Guru, Knowledge, and Contemplation. So follow this path and never be afraid of death! If one has to die, then why think of today or tomorrow? Preparing Panj Piyare, he gave the message that one should not be afraid of death! He has spoken in his writings in detail, about death.

Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

31

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

jal kahaa-n thal kahaa-n gagan kay gavan kahaa-n. kaal kay banaa-ay sab kaal hi chabaa-ay- gay.

Not just speaking of the residents of water, earth, and wanderers of the sky; all those created by the God of Death, will ultimately be devoured (destroyed) by him. One day Guru Sahib was walking by the riverside. A reindeer was drinking water. A fish entered his mouth. Turning his head upward he tried to swallow it. A hawk flying in the sky pounced upon the fish. The reindeer put his head down and the hawk got stuck in his horns and died. A hunter was following the reindeer. Hiding behind a bush he fired at him. The reindeer was killed. A snake sitting in the bush bit the hunter. The hunter hit the snake with the butt of his gun and killed it. Watching the death of these five at the same time, Guru Gobind Singh wrote that verse. Many a time I have narrated this story: that once a wedding party was going from Batala (a city in Punjab, India) to Chola Sahib village. The bridegroom had a double crease in his pants. His friend said that it did not look good and the bridegroom said, “I will just now go in and fix it.’’ He went in, switched on the iron. After three minutes he touched it to see whether it was hot. He was electrocuted. He was the only son. His father asked some one to bring him out, as it was getting late. His friend went in and came out crying, “My friend is no more!” Sisters were waiting to welcome the rituals; people were 32

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

dancing. They did not know about the mishap. As soon as they came to know, the happiness turned to misery. Everyone was weeping. The bride was ready to garland the groom. She started undoing her make-up and hair setting. antar laagee jal bujhee paa-i-aa gurmukh gi-aan. ||1|| rahaa-o.

The raging fire within is extinguished; the Gurmukh obtains spiritual wisdom. I understand that these people do not know the abc's of Guru Granth Sahib, and talk very high. When a person sings the praises of God, and attains such a stage that at all times, he likes to praise Him; his ego is destroyed. If we try to understand this verse, we are to follow what Guru Sahib says. He says, “Due to the fire of desire, I kept running after worldly things, to get one after the other. After attaining Nam from the Perfect Master, when I did meditation, that fire came under control.” antar kee gat jaanee-ai gur milee-ai sank utaar.

Know the state of your inner being. Meet with the Guru, and get rid of your doubts. O’ Gentlemen! If you want to be free of all doubts, meet the Master who knows the inner microcosm. People know the things in this outside world. This does not help, as the whole knowledge exists inside. The big learned persons Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

33

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

read Guru Granth Sahib. They have high thinking, but preach worldly knowledge; whereas each verse of Guru Granth Sahib says, ‘God is inside’. There is a big palace inside this body as quoted below: Adi Granth, Page 754

is kaa-i-aa andar na-ukhand parithmee haat patan baajaaraa. is kaa-i-aa andar naam na-o niDh paa-ee-ai gur kai sabad veechaaraa. kaa-i-aa andar barahmaa bisan mahaysaa sabh opat jit sansaaraa. sachai aapnaa khayl rachaa-i-aa aavaa ga-on paasaaraa.

Within this body are the nine continents of the earth; its markets, cities and streets. Within this body are the nine treasures of Nam; cntemplating the Word, it is obtained. Within the body, are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; from whom the whole world emanated. The True Lord has staged and contrived His own play; the expanse of the Universe comes and goes. This palace has nine gates; and the gate of liberation too. Adi Granth,Page 124

na-o dar thaakay Dhaavat rahaa-ay. dasvai nij ghar vaasaa paa-ay othai anhad sabad vajeh din raatee gurmatee sabad sunaavni-aa 34

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Those who close off the nine gates, and restrain the wandering mind; come to dwell in the Home of the Tenth Gate. There, the Unstruck Melody resounds day and night. Through the Guru's Teachings, the Shabad is heard. The one who knows the inside path can lead us there. Once Baba Partap Singh was on tour in Lukhnow and I was with him. A member of Dera committee Mr. Parkash Singh was with us. He said, “Babaji, let us go to the labyrinth?”. In olden days, to punish a king, he was put in the labyrinth. He could never come out. We went there, and after a little walk, we could not find the guide. Babaji said, “Where has he gone? Call him! Does he want to kill us?” Babaji got angry and said, “The kings could not come out of this place, how can we?” It was a matter of false notions, because every day we narrate the story that one cannot come out of it without a guide. Meanwhile the guide came and greeted Babaji. Babaji said, ‘We are not going up, take us down.’ He said, Babaji, “We are standing at a point from where going up or down is the same distance.” Babaji said, ‘How can that be?’ He took us up and showed the whole layout. We were relieved. He said, “Now I will take you straightaway to the ground level.” The stairs directly went to the ground and we heaved a sigh of relief. Leaving us there, if the guide would have gone away, locking the door, and I got lost there, my father, Baba Partap Singh, would find me; because he knew the ways inside the labyrinth. But if Baba Partap Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

35

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Singh got lost there, his father would not be able to find him, as he himself did not know the ways of the labyrinth, nor the whereabouts of his son inside the labyrinth. So, “O’ Gentlemen, as only a guide can take us out of the worldly labyrinth; without Guru and Knowledge, neither can we cross the inner labyrinth, nor know Him.” mu-i-aa jit ghar jaa-ee-ai tit jeevdi-aa mar maar.

To reach your True Home after you die; you must conquer death, while you are still alive. Guru Nanak Dev says, “O’ Gentlemen! The house where you are to go after death, go see that beforehand.” Guru Sahib asks us to die a living death, to see our permanent abode while living. If anybody says to us, “Go and die!’’, we would not leave him without beating. We get disturbed with these words. But Guru Nanak Dev says, “Die before death.’’ What type of Guru is he? He should say, “Son, may you live for 100 years!” Even if he says, I gift you 50 more years; this blessing is also painful, as one is not able to sustain himself, and he is dependent on others even for a sip water. This does not make sense. It is a punishment. There was reference of Akal Takhat Sahib (Supreme Court of Sikh religion). I said that Akal Takhat also favours dignitaries. In case of Giani Zail Singh (former President of India) and Buta Singh (former congress President of Punjab) who did not move away from their air conditioned 36

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

room; they had been given such a punishment they could easily undergo. Whom we are ready to serve, cleaning their dishes and shoes; they are given the punishment to wipe the shoes of the sangat. It was a blessing in disguise. In this way they did public service to wipe off their karmas; otherwise they would have never done such an ignoble service openly. Guru Nanak Dev says, “Control your mind, and go to that place while living, where you are to go after death.” anhad sabad suhaavanay paa-ee ai gur veechaar.

The beautiful, Unstruck Sound is obtained by contemplating the Guru. Now he says that the whole secret is inside the body. The Spiritual Melody is coming from the place beyond the border, from Anami Desh. aa rahee dhur say sadaa taray bulaanay kay lee-ay.

A sound is coming from above, to take you. I have talked about the inner music, the Sound Current, coming from above. This Sound is known to us. If we listen to this Sound, we can go there. Otherwise we cannot. No one has gone there without Satsang, Guru, Knowledge, Contemplation, and Meditation; and no one can. anhad banee paa-ee-ai tah ha-umai ho-ay binaas.

Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

37

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Getting connected to the Unstruck Music, egotism is eliminated. Guru Nanak Dev explains how the Sound, which is coming to us from beyond limits, helps us. Adi Granth, Page 628

Dhur kee banee aa-ee. tin saglee chint mitaa-ee. Da-i-aal purakh miharvaanaa. har naanak saach vakhaanaa.

The Bani emanates from the Primal Lord. It eradicates all anxiety. The Lord is merciful, kind and compassionate. Nanak has described this truth. By joining with that Bani (Shabad), all the garbage of ego, I and mine, is finished. Kabir Sahib has also insisted on leaving the ego. Guru Granth Sahib has also said the same: Adi Granth, Page 466

ha-umai deeragh rog hai daaroo bhee is maahi. kirpaa karay jay aapnee taa gur kaa sabad kamaahi.

38

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Ego is a chronic disease, but it contains its own cure as well. If the Lord grants His Grace, one meditates on the Shabad blessed by Guru. Ego is such a disease; it cannot be cured without Guru’s Grace, Simran and practicing Meditation. Kabir Sahib says that ego is a very big tree, which can be finished only by pulling out the roots. He says in Guru Granth Sahib: Adi Granth, Page 1369

kabeer ayk marantay du-ay moo-ay do-ay marantah chaar. chaar marantah chhah moo-ay chaar purakh du-ay naar.

Kabir, when one died, two were dead. When two died, four were dead. When four died, six were dead. Four males and two females. Ego is the root of a tree. Lust, anger, greed, attachment, desire and slander are its branches. Our bad thoughts are its leaves. If we 'overcome' lust, and face a woman after ten years, it is again there. We are calm for many years, but seeing an enemy, anger again comes! We left the attachment, when we see our son, it is again there. Observing property coming in hand, we are greedy. Other weaknesses start coming to the mind automatically. Kabir Sahib says, "Kill the ego, the root; and the whole tree will dry up!" Attaining Nam and doing meditation, ego is Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

39

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

killed; and all the other weaknesses become ineffective. Mind is overpowering all weaknesses, senses, and soul. Nam is a bigger power than mind. It can control the mind. If mind is controlled, malice is gone. Malice is gone, desire is gone. With desire, affection is gone. With affection, pleasure is gone. With the departure of affection and pleasure, lust is gone. Like this slander has also gone out. Kabir Sahib has described the killing (controlling) of the six with the killing of the one (ego). satgur sayvay aapnaa ha-o kurbaanai taas.

I am forever a sacrifice to those who serve their True Master. Guru Nanak Dev said, “I am a sacrifice to those who have served their Master within.” To serve the Master means to repeat the Holy Nam received from the True Master, and praise him all the time. This is called “True Service to Guru”. kharh dargeh painaa-ee-ai mukh har naam nivaas. ||3||

They are dressed in robes of honor, in the Court of the Lord. The Name of the Lord is on their lips. It is said that the Shabad is your Guru. Radha Soamis accept the Shabad Guru, and they honour the Living Master also. As long as the Living Master does not appear in the form of Shabad Guru, we are not respected in the Court 40

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

of the Lord. According to Guru Nanak Dev and the philosophy of Guru Granth Sahib, only by attaining Nam from the Guru, and uniting with Him, can we be successful. jah daykhaa tah rav rahay siv saktee kaa mayl.

Wherever I look, I see the Lord pervading there; in the union of Shiva and Shakti, of consciousness and matter. Guru Nanak Dev says that Shiv is maya. It is all a game of Shiv and Shakti (Maya). This world is an extension of illusion, nakedness, and sex. One day Shri Krishan and Arjun were sitting together. It was a relation of brother-in-laws. Arjun said, ‘Krishan, you have 360 female friends, give one to me.’ Krishan said, ‘Okay, have one. It does not make any difference to me, but you are to take that one with whom I am not present.’ It was night, Arjun entered a room, and saw Krishan sitting with his friend. Krishan said, ‘Arjun come in. What do you want?’ Being hesitant, he went out. History says that Krishan was present with all the 360 devotees. Like this, being one, He is many. How can he be seen in so many forms? You put a thousand buckets of water on the road from Tarn Taran to Amritsar on a sunny day. You will see the sun in each bucket. From one he became many. How can it become one. Drain the water out of all the buckets, and the shapes seen in them are gone. Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

41

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

If we want to give something, or a blessing to someone, but he is unwilling to take it, that comes back to us. Lukman, an ayurvedic doctor, went to a fair. His son was also with him, looking for different things children demand to buy. The boy touched something and the shopkeeper said, “O’ pig, why are you touching these things?” Lukman said, “My son, it is a fair. Clothes, conch, sweets, etc. are all sold here. Many shopkeepers have stands. This man is selling bad names. If you touch a utensil to ask the price, and the price does not suit us, we do not buy. If we ask about the sweets, but do not buy; the shopkeeper will call us bad names. If we do not react, it will not affect us, and go back to him. He will be upset." So gentlemen, what are you to do? Get Nam, meditate, and reach behind the eyes. Your work will be done. gun bandhee dayhuree jo aa-i-aa jag so khayl. vijogee dukh vchhurhay manmukh laheh na mayl. ||4||

The three qualities hold the body in bondage. Whosoever comes into the world is subject to their play. Those who separate themselves from the Lord, wander lost in misery. The self-willed manmukhs do not attain union with Him. The body of persons not worshipping God, is bound in three attributes. The persons following their mind, stay in the range of attributes (rajo, sato and tamo). They cannot meet God. 42

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

man bairaagee ghar vasai sach bhai raataa ho-ay. gi-aan mahaaras bhogvai baahurh bhookh na ho-ay.

If the mind becomes balanced and detached, and comes to dwell in its own true home, imbued with the fear of God; then it enjoys the essence of supreme spiritual wisdom, and it never feels hungry. Guru Nanak Dev says, “Detached from illusion, and keeping away from wandering in the world; the mind remains focused on the Guru.” This is possible if he is deeply in love with God. Being attached to the Godly pleasures, he does not wish for anything else. Guru Nanak says next, “O' mind, leaving the attachment with maya and illusion, remain attached to Guru. Doing this you will never face Guru’s separation.” As a drop of water going back to the sea gets merged with it, the soul going back to God gets merged with Him. He says next, “O’ Gentlemen, how can you get attached to the Truth?” If the mind gets detached. It cannot be detached, until it is attached to Guru and Knowledge, with inner bliss. Being attached inside, our mind becomes friendly to us. He is a big friend, because he brought us here to the satsang; and he is a big enemy because sitting in the satsang, we remember the things related to our family, and we are in our home. When we return, the satsang is over. So Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

43

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

all this is the game of the mind. Only Mahatmas can control the mind. Once a mahatma was walking in a city. He passed by a sweet shop. Jalebies (sweets) were being fried. His mouth started watering. The mind said, ‘I want to eat that.’ The mahatma said, ‘Keep going, do not ask for something unnecessary!’ Passing the shop he went further. His mind was stuck in the sweets. He went to the nearby jungle, collected some wood and came back to the shopkeeper. He got one and a half kilos of sweets, in exchange for wood, and went outside to eat those. After eating a quarter of a kilo the mind said, ‘No more!’ The mahatma said to his mind, ‘No you have to eat.’ After eating some more he vomitted. Mahatma told his mind to eat that also! Then to eat the remaining sweets too. He could only eat a little more, and said to the mahatma, ‘That is it; here after I will not ask for sweets.’ In winter we burn wood. When the fire is about to extinguish, we put more wood on it, and it keeps on burning; but the fire of hunger has a limit. When the stomach is full and we eat more, it is thrown up. On compelling, our mind requests us not to put more food in! Guru Nanak Dev says, “Controlling the mind, win over the world!” How we can win over the mind? We should derive benefit from Guru Sahib’s words.

44

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Adi Granth, Page 1379

fareedaa sakar khand nivaat gurh maakhi-o maaNjhaa duDh. sabhay vastoo mithee-aaN rab na pujan tuDh.

O' Farid, “Sugar cane, candy, molasses, honey and buffalo's milk are all sweet; but nothing compares to Your Sweetness.” Oh my True Lord, all these things are sweet, but compared to Nam they are tasteless. Mahatmas say that they who talk, have not ever experienced that sweet Nam. Those who have experienced, never talk about That. I recollect an incident from Baba Partap Singh’s life. On Saturday after getting off from my workshop, I reached Dera at 3 PM. After asking the lady in the kitchen to cook food for me, I went to Babaji. It was winter and he was sitting on a bed in the sun. After about ten minutes I was about to get up to go and eat food; the lentils were always ready in the free kitchen, and the lady had to cook chapatis only. So food was ready in a short time. Meanwhile Baba ji’s secretary Parbhat came with a bag and a box of sweets. In hopes of getting something from that big bag and box of sweets, I kept sitting, thinking that I may get something and my hunger will soon be extinguished! Baba ji asked Narayan (name of a helper) to put the bag in his room. My hope turned into despair, as I could not get anything from the bag. I left the hope of getting Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

45

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

anything from the box also. Parbhat used to bring pinnis in the box. Normally Baba Ji did not give these sweets to anybody. He loved pinni. Eating one a day, it lasted for twenty days. I thought 50% chance is gone! But man lives on hope. Baba ji opened the box and taking one pinni he asked Parbhat, “How much does one pinni cost?’’ Replying to all the expected questions he said, "The cost of one pinni is two rupees. The box contains twenty pinnis and the total cost is forty rupees.” These days it may cost one hundred rupees. Baba ji closed the box. I thought 100% chance is gone. Man hopes upto the last. Baba ji had a bite of pinni and said, 'wah ba-i wah'. These words told that the pinni is very sweet. Sitting by the side of Baba Partap Singh’s’ bed, I was already angry, but could express my unhappiness in a courteous way only. It was a relation of father and son; secondly that of guru and disciple. The situation was difficult. I humbly said, “Baba Ji, the pinni is very tasteless.” I was a bit uncomfortable. Treating me like a child Baba Ji said, “Oh no! It is very sweet.’’ Insisting on my point, I again said, “Baba ji, it is so insipid, that I cannot even express.” Feeling me disturbed, he said to Parbhat, “Look at his way of demanding. He has not directly asked for it.” I thought my purpose is solved. I did not know whether Baba ji was to give one to Narayan or not, as he may be eating at some other time. Baba ji knew better. In short, he gave one pinni to three of us; Paramjit (my nephew), Parbhat and me. I ate and relished it so much that I wanted to have one more. If I would have asked 46

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

Baba ji, he would have got angry, so keeping quiet I thought of getting up and having my food. After bowing in reverence I was about to walk off when I saw a five rupee note peeping out of my pocket. It was the balance I got back from the bus conductor on my way to Tarn Taran. I thought of trying one more time, and offering the note to Baba ji, I said, “Please take it.” He said, “What for?” I said “If I demand from you, you may ask this question. I am giving this money to you. If it suits you, keep it, otherwise return it to me.” Taking the note he said, “Say something good.” I said, “Yes, I will say something thoughtful and lawful. I have given you five rupees; two for the first pinni and two for the second. You may or may not return the balance of one rupee. It will not make any difference to me.” He threw the note at me. I thought let me take the note first and think about the pinni later. He thought, His son has asked for one more pinni, let him have it. So he gave me the second one. Had I stayed longer, knowing Baba Ji’s nature to prolong the talk on such subjects, it would have proved very embarassing for me. I cut short my stay. Biting the pinni I said, “Baba Ji, it is very sweet.” I left immediately for repast. What did Baba Ji say as I was leaving, to my back? I do not know. O' My True Lord! Let us eat such a kind of pinni to know whether it is sweet or insipid. naanak ih man maar mil bhee fir dukh na ho-ay. ||5||

Copyright © Radha Soami Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All right s reserved

47

To Die before Death Spiritual Discourse by Baba Kehar Singh ji

O' Nanak, conquer and subdue this mind; meet with the Lord, and you shall never again suffer in pain. Guru Nanak Dev makes us understand and says, ‘O’ man, control such a mind, who asks for tasty food and good clothes. Whatever nature has to provide you, it is there. Do not ask for more! If you do not demand anything, there will not be any reason to be sad.” Guru Nanak Dev has beautifully explained what death is. How to Die Before Death. We should think about it. Radha Soami!

48

Copyright © Radha Soami, Dera Baba Bagga Singh. All rights reserved