The Master on Spiritual Healing

This complete, clear explanation of the dangers involved in spiritual healing is taken from a letter to an initiate. The shorter extracts on other matters which follow are also taken from letters, most of which were published originally by the New York Satsang.

Spiritual healing is prohibited by the Masters. It has reasons and deeper significance behind it, which ordinarily people ignore, considering the face value of the profits accrued and attributing it as service to the service to the suffering humanity. The inexorable Law of Karma is supreme and demands adjustment of each farthing. The human body is the highest rung in creation granted by providence for the Spiritual Perfection of soul during this incarnation. The soul in man being the essence of God Himself has the same attributes as those of God, but having been environed by mind and matter has lost its true heritage. Soul in its present state is gravely enmeshed by body and bodily attachments, which are more or less the reaction of past karma, which it has been contracting all through up to the present incarnation. The present earth life is a passing phase in the long journey of the soul from the lower categories of creation on to the True Home of the Father. Physical body is material but the soul is spiritual, but when reaction of Karma occurs the man is bound to suffer pain and pleasure.

Now the sufferings demanding spiritual healing fall mainly in the domain of physical troubles, which may include even mental agonies such as nervous breakdown, etc. These, being the reactions of the past karma, must demand adjustment and as such are to be borne by the victim. The healer, whoever he may be, conducting this service takes the karma on his head, to be borne by him at a later stage. Besides, the bit of spiritual attainment he has attained in silencing his mind, is dissipated in such gestures of a miracle healing. Moreover, this process of healing is administered on weaker minds, which usually fall a prey to their sentiments. What can ordinarily be cured by undergoing a bit of suffering and medicine, is exchanged for spiritual dissipation, and the debt remains standing, awaiting adjustment at a later stage. Again, this sort of healing becomes professional and at times encourages corruption and misery. It not only invites malpractices, but also brings in more mental agony and wretchedness in multiplied form added with interest. This is a casual postponement of payment for a future date, and adds strong fetters over the soul.

Contrarily, the Masters advocate right living and right thinking. A disciplined devotee of the Master is advised to lead a pure, clean, chaste life thereby pursuing a Spiritual Goal under the protective guidance. The implicit obedience of the dietary regulations and leading a simple truthful life leads to happiness and joy. If, however, some suffering due to the evolutions of past karma comes, its severity and duration in much toned down by the intervention of the gracious Master-Power, like a penny for a pound, or a needle prick for the gallows, and the disciplined child disciple comes out unscathed with the Grace of the Master.

The healing which is said to have been administered by Jesus or others was of a higher quality, as when you merge in the cosmic awareness, and lose your identity, you become so spiritual that even thinking of a person or those touching the hem of your garment will get healed, as termed colloquially in the Bible. You have not to exert on your part to heal others. Yet above all, it is the faith which cures, and the sincere initiates do not indulge in these things and rather aspire incessantly for the attainment of their Spiritual Perfection, which is the Highest Goal of earth life. The soul which has to go far higher to merge into the Oversoul, is retarded by engaging herself in lower pursuits. The initiates are, therefore, warned not to administer this spiritual healing in their own larger interests, which would result in spiritual dissipation and bankruptcy. It will add strong fetters over the soul and karmic debt will be very heavy to be repaid.

Other Matters

Drugs

I appreciate your kind sentiments for your friends when you wish them to progress spirituality. The so-called spiritual experiences had under the spell of drugs is misleading and are rather likely to affect you Inner Progress. Spirituality is a research into the realms of reality – the consciousness. […]

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It is amusing to note about the Utopiates (LSD, Marijuana, etc.) for producing hallucinations. You may please note that Spirituality is the Science of the Soul, which (the soul) is a conscious entity in the body. The Way back to God as offered by the Masters is one of developing Inner Consciousness with the aid of Holy Naam – the Word. All suchlike outer aids resulting in temporary hallucinations, as stated by you, are certainly a mockery for the Divine Grace. You can well understand the vast difference between having a conscious and wide awake approach for proceeding within and that which makes recourse to these outer aids which are no less than opiates creating sensational vibrations. You will recall that the observance of a strict dietary by avoiding all flesh food, intoxicants and opiates, is a basic essential for Inner Spiritual Progress, for attaining a refined state of mind. We have to develop consciousness, the Divine Attribute of soul, and for the achievement of (Inner) Consciousness, inner and outer piety and chastity are very much needed. The drugs are equally harmful, and should be avoided, which dull the brain and cloud the mind with vague feelings of distrust and confusion. You are advised to convey this piece of right understanding to all the dear ones who are on the Holy Path and to others who seek your counsel in this behalf.

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Astrology

The astrology is a regular science but few there are who are really conversant with it. This requires a clear mind vision. Moreover, it affects those who are under the influence of the stars; but those who transcend the starry sky, or are taken under the care of Masters Who transcend the starry sky, the predictions in their cases do not stand correct.

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The Macrobiotic Diet

I have not discouraged those initiates who have written to me saying that they find the macrobiotic diet congenial to them. However, I never advocate extremes, and the use of the macrobiotic diet appears to be extreme in its nature. Nectar of one man may be poison to the other. It depends on various temperaments. One should not impose his ideas on other people.

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The Masters have always stressed that food is for man and not man for food. They have therefore advised that pure foods, such as vegetables, fruits, grains and permitted dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese be eaten in order to provide sustenance to the body. As you mentioned, the body being the temple of the spirit, must be correctly maintained if the spirit is to manifest itself in one’s lifetime.

I do not advocate the macrobiotic diet that is apparently being followed by some of the initiates and advise all those who are presently following this diet to eat in moderation a balanced diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables and diary products as referred to above.

The best thing would be to follow the diet (vegetarian) which suits one.

If the animals are permitted to eat fruit, at least man, who is the Roof and Crown of all Creation, should also be permitted to eat it.

Initiates should be guided by the Teachings of the Master only in all phases of life, whether material or spiritual. To allow other concepts to creep in is to sully the teachings and confuse the initiates.

If you believe that it will help others to a correct understanding of the relation of diet to the Path, you have my permission to publish this letter for general distribution.

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Miscellaneous

The book ‘I Ching’ has been seen … Stop altogether asking questions of this book as these are not only misleading but fraught with dire dangers. It is incorrect to understand that Master speaks through the book. You are invited to refer to Stanza I and II of ‘Jap Ji’ for understanding fully about the Divine Will of the Lord. Please tell … others accordingly who seek your advice in this behalf.

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Question: Is group investigation of reincarnation and karmic relationships advisable among initiates?

Answer: You are kindly advised to leave all such studies well alone and devote you precious time in Holy Meditations and the study of the Sacred Books of the Master. The Holy Path of the Masters offers a direct conscious contact with the Divinity within after rising above body consciousness. This sublime principle differentiates the Holy Path from all other schools of thought. […]

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Desire is the root cause of all disturbance and suffering. You will become desireless by regular listening to the Holy Sound Current for some time. It is considered the tried panacea for that. It is the mergence of the soul in the Holy Shabd which grants such ineffable bliss and harmony, that the roots of desire are crippled for good.

Kirpal Singh