Respectful Love

by Tina McKnight and Ruth Goodwin

With Master’s Grace, we were given the opportunity to sit at His Holy Feet for a short time preceding His upcoming world tour. This was an invaluable experience which we would like to share with His children abroad who so long to see Him, so that all can benefit more from His Holy Presence.

One thing in India which prevails in the minds of all is a feeling of great respect for others. This is manifest both inwardly through great humility, and outwardly through respectful actions. All are children of the same Father. When we are with our Father, these actions and feelings should be paramount. In India, when Satsangis and visitors come from outside to see our Master, they greet Him with folded palms and bowed head; they keep a respectful distance from Him, thus allowing Him to move or be seated as He wishes. There is a minimum of hand-shaking or physical contact of any kind with the Master. He is treated with reverence as He should be. I think we should try to understand this.

Master knows what is in the hearts of each one of us. Faith and Love for Him should be our keynotes when we are with Him as well as afar. He knows what each one of us needs, and in His Grace, will provide. To be at His feet in India repeatedly bears witness to this. Again and again, out of crowds of hundreds, our Beloved Father would single out some soul at some distance away and ask him about his welfare, knowing full well the questioning heart of His child.

Another thing we noticed during a recent question period in the evening: Master said that He wants us to ask Him Spiritual Questions of importance. He wants that we understand all aspects of the Path and that we are fully satisfied with its different aspects. We should, however, limit questions to this sphere alone, and weigh our words carefully. Often when we would sit by the Master in the evening, He would ask us,

Any question? Any news?

If there was no response, Master would begin to speak and automatically answer those things of which we were unsure. So many people notice that it is almost better to remain silent in the presence of the Master. He will fill the silence with more than words.

In India also, people are very relaxed. I think we can learn from this too. Drawing upon this idea, perhaps we should try to remain calm and reposed as much as we can, not running from place to place or pressing the Master for urgent schedules. It is hard for us abroad to inculcate this habit of peace and relaxation, leaving Master’s will to take its course. Again, faith, Simran, and sweet thoughts is the only way we can exist. With these things, all runs so smoothly with Him Grace.

Master was so busy while we were there in India. With Manav Kendra expanding, He was working until 11.30 p.m. many nights, talking to workers, draftsmen, planners and officials. Returning to Delhi for Baba Sawan Singh’s birthday celebrations, Master took care of the needs of every single person – sitting with people in shifts throughout the three days as they came for His Blessed Darshan. Ceaselessly our Satguru worked. Six Satsangs were held during the three days. Treating each one as His child, He filled him or her with Spiritual Food and quenched mental and physical thirsts also. With such Love He serves us! We must learn to serve Him also. After all had left from the celebrations, Master spent His time answering correspondence, which had accumulated to large amounts in the past few days. Also, world tour plans are being formulated and so much work had to be finished before departure.

The work has not ceased even for a moment. Master is Godman. No one in the world could do what He does. Still, He does have a physical frame, which He has taken for our sake. Being physical, demands can be made on it which are over and above the laws of Nature. Masters do not transcend these laws for Their sake or comfort. Instead, They continue to labour for ours. Let us take this into consideration when we demand something of our Beloved and ask ourselves if we are deserving of His sacrifice. He will take care, if we allow Him to. Even if we go beyond our limits, He will take care, but often we have put our little selves in the way and benefit is less.

It is always good to read and reread His circular letters and books again and again. Each time we read them, His will becomes a little more clear with reference to our daily life. They can never be read too many times. It is good to carry them around to read in spare moments even when near Him physically. Then we can see the words personified.

In these ways, we can perhaps maintain equilibrium so that our Master can smoothly make His way around to see all His dear children. This, coupled with the deep Love and reverence which we all feel so deeply, will enable us to truly benefit from His magnificent presence.