29 / (iii)

On Social Life

Kirpal Singh: Social life is only a way of living. There was one atheist in Lahore, I think forty, fifty years ago. He challenged all heads of the different religions there to prove that their religion is necessary. Generally, people take the word religion as social religion, not that re means back, ligore to bind – they don't dream of it. They came up – that's a very interesting question. I also joined in to find out what was what. I was sitting in the front row. All heads of other religions stood up to prove their social way of life.

Sikhs said there should be long hair, and this and that thing. Hindus spoke up for their own outer forms; Christians came up with their own thing; Mohammedans came up … All were finished and that atheist stood up and said:

Look here, dear friends. If you want to marry, stand before some man of God, through the hands of some pious man, maybe a Bishop, maybe a Pundit, maybe some other pious man … before 100-200 people – From today onward their connection is legal … is right. Now that girl goes with the husband and nobody points out. Before that everybody: 'Oh, what is going on?'

Then he added,

What difference does it make?

I was sitting in front. I stood up:

Dear friend, now you are denouncing all forms of social religions.

– Yes,

he replied. 

Suppose you have got 10,000 people of your way of thinking. You'll have to form a society. You will lay down certain rules to go by, is it not so? After some time you will see that this rule was not correct – you will amend it. You know life is very precious – every moment of life. Would it not be well to remain in your own social customs, which have been proved by time, And take up the cross, rise above body, know oneself, and know our Overself?

– You are right,

he admitted.

So we are stuck fast. Social bodies were formed only that so many people may derive the benefit of the teachings which were given under the guidance of some awakened man. But for want of awakened people the whole thing goes wrong. And ever since this paid preaching has started in all religions, there is havoc. I think this is a very clear talk, no dubiousness.

Masters come from time to time to revive that very old thing. I am not giving anything new.

Social religions have found a certain way of living and consider this is the end-all and the be-all. The casing is meant to safeguard the kernel. God has provided all fruits with a casing. But if the casing deteriorates with no thought or care of the kernel, what is the point? We are only wearing the badges of some social form of living, that's all. This is no religion – this is 'social order' you might call it. True religion – re means back, ligare to bind – to bind back your soul with God-that's all – that is religion. That will come when you take cross. If you cannot take cross daily yourself, someone should give you a boost – to have something. Then, go on under His guidance.

So Masters come to preach to all the world over. They don't look to the labels or the badges we are wearing on our body. They say,

You are a man first, born with the same privileges from God, outer and inner. You are not the body – you are having the body, you see. Golden opportunity is to know yourself and to know God, Who is controlling you in the body.

That's all. Does it not appeal to you?

Very common sense, no philosophy required, no inference to be drawn. So remain where you are. That's all right. For want of practical people all this deterioration resulted. So people again come to preach to you from the level of man. The Manav Kendra, what does it mean? It is a center for man – not of religions. Religions were meant to turn out perfect men. You have seen that definition of perfect men in the Manav Kendra brochures? Then … Remain where you are – in all churches they have lights outside, but the Light is within you – invert and see. What is the use of having symbols outside unless you see the real thing of which they are models.

This is called Apra Vidya. All methods relating to outgoing faculties, limbs, or intellect – They are all Apra Vidya, exoteric not esoteric. What you have been given, that is esoteric. There is no need of changing your outer form. Because you are stuck fast, you have the narrow angle of vision from which you see. Rise above!

Fly in a plane. You'll find all the outside things lose all importance, I would say. But it's all right to start, as ABC. I have not advised you to change your religious forms. Have you? That's all right.

I'm only giving you what makes you have that which is underlying the teachings of all social religions.

If you can do so of your own self, well and good … A blind man needs two eyes to see. If not, let him seek help from someone else. And who will help you? The God in Him. He is not to unite you with His own Self but unites you to the God within you already. That's all. This is a digest of all scriptures I am giving you in few words.

I wish you all to go jolly. Let your face shine – bright eyes, no brooding, no wrinkles. Learn to smile.

Where's our friend Mr Smiling? [a disciple who always had a smile on his face.]

Joy, you see. It is just giving oil to the machine. If you get something – be thankful for what you have got. Go on further. Time is passing. Your time is become short, has it not? Every day, every minute brings you nearer to the end of the time that you have been allotted here.

Always weigh: God first or the world first? Then you'll be all right. You say you love God. You say so. But in a matter of living you love the world more than God. If you say something, but do something else…?

God wishes every man to come to Him all alone. No family, no attachments, no worldliness. Even not your body, you see. All alone, He'll be pleased.

When you go to Him you take your body.

Oh, I cannot sit. There is my brother sitting – my wife sleeping there.

– So many worries of the world. How will He be pleased? Do one thing at a time.

Is it difficult to understand? Then live it. Live up to it, that's all. If you live like that for some days, then naturally you won't like to live the other way. When you do something for one day, two, three, four, ten days or a month or so, mind has a tendency to go that way like an ass or a donkey. If you lead a donkey around in a particular way for some days, after that even if you close his eyes he will go that way. So this regularity gives us a habit. Then mind will naturally like to go There. Now, it is too much attached outside. That is why it does not like to go There; because the twenty-four hours of the day we are attached outside most of the time. That has become a habit, and habit turns into nature and we have to unravel it, that's all, by attaching it to the other side.

When you are attached to one thing, wholly and solely, for some time naturally you are detached [to all else] – that is true renunciation.

So remain where you are; in whatever social life you are. Maybe as a worldly man, maybe a Sadhu, or anybody, then go up! All have to go up. Inner way is the same way for all. Of course there are some harder ways, difficult ways … the Path you have been given is natural, even a child can do it. Only a little boost …

This is the Ashram. Body is the Ashram. He is waiting for you There. You have not to call Him. He is waiting for you.

A man was addicted to gambling very much. His father was very ill at home. People said, Well, will you come? Your father is dangerously ill, on deathbed. – All right, I'm coming, he said. But he was still very much engaged in gambling. Just another game. Again they came: Now he's having his last breath. – All right, wait, I'm coming. Then they said, Your father has died. – All right, I am coming. Prepare the body. Still he was gambling. They said; They are carrying the dead man to the cremation place. – All right, I will come when he will reach there.

This is what we are doing, you see. We are so much engaged in gambling in trifling things that we say: All right, we will do, we will do, we'll come. I will take off tomorrow, day after … this work has to be done, that work is being done, only when it's finished will I come … until the last moment comes … then you have to leave the body.

Is it not something like that? Well, what remains now. You have understood it, live up to it. That's the only thing. Not by understanding only. That does not take you anywhere. It gives some intellectual satisfaction. But you remain where you are. You are to take the plane; go to the airport, that's all. You have got the ticket, nobody even lets you enter the airport without one. That is free for you and then, what do you do? – You say I have to take this, I have to do that – That is why Saints, from the very childhood, develop all around: physically, intellectually, and spiritually. Even the children have the right understanding. Why don't you? Children learn more. They copy you. Young or old – all should start. Who knows when life will end? The end may be in early life, maybe young life, maybe old life – we are not given any guarantee. The time is appointed, but we do not know it. It is already dated. Develop all around.

We must take an example before us to follow. First learn to leave the body. That's all I would say. God bless you.