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It is with a deep sense of gratitude to everyone concerned that I mention the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors of Ruhani Satsang – Divine Science of the Soul – the Master’s American corporation, which took place last 24^th November at the Holiday Inn, Rosslyn Key Bridge, Arlington, Virginia. The Love and harmony and mutual respect that the meeting was bathed in must have pleased Him beyond words, and served as an excellent example to all Satsangis everywhere.

Directors, officers and guests alike were humbly receptive to the will of the Master, and it was obvious. Special thanks go to Mr and Mrs T.S. Khanna, who served as hosts for the entire gathering and made excellent arrangements for the convenience of the dear ones. Both Mr Khanna, as Chairman of the Board, and Mr Reno Sirrine, as Vice President, fulfilled their duties in a manner entirely consistent with their high positions.

May Master bless and keep every one of His dear workers, who work day and night for His sake, immersed in His Love and remembrance throughout the coming year. Truly it was a great honor to have taken part.

*****

One of the many subjects discussed at the Board meeting was the very large number of devotees who are now visiting or planning to visit the Master in India. The following suggestions are based on the personal experience of many people, and while they are not hard and fast rules, they may be helpful:

1. No one should plan to visit the Master and stay with Him unless they are initiated.

To drop in on Him unannounced and uncommitted and expect to be taken care of is an error, and not pleasing to Him. People who stay at Sawan Ashram are expected to work hard at their practice, and if they are not initiated, how can they?

Here a little common sense coupled with ordinary courtesy goes a long way. Neither should anyone who wants initiation plan to get it from Him over there; He has said many times that He much prefers aspirants to apply over here, take the initiation, and put in some hard work on the Path before going to Him physically. Much more will be gained.

2. No one should visit Him without specific permission from Him.

This is of the utmost importance, for two reasons :

1. Sometimes people, for reasons connected with their own growth, are better off temporarily working something out over here. Master knows this, whether we do or not, and advises us from that level.
   
   
2. Master is gone a great deal at certain times, touring in India. If people write ahead, He can direct them to come at a time when He will be either in Delhi or at Manav Kendra. Again, a little common courtesy counts for much.

3. Be specific.

When you ask Him for permission to go, be specific with dates and length of time you wish to be there. If you are not, He will usually request this information before granting permission, for the reasons mentioned above. Then, after permission is given and you know the flight you are arriving on, cable the specific flight and arrival time, etc.

4. Responsibilities:

You will save yourself a lot of heartache if you make sure that your trip to India doesn’t represent an escape or cop-out in any way. If close family members or others to whom you owe responsibility will suffer because of your going, Master will know it and will let you know it.

5. Visa:

If your visit is for more than three weeks, you will need – unless you live in a Commonwealth country – a visa, which is a permit from the Indian Government allowing you to stay in India, and is stamped in your passport. Visas are good for three months, and that is the maximum time non-Commonwealth citizens – Americans included – can usually stay. To get a visa is not a rouline matter. Applications are available from the lndian Embassy in Washington and the Consulates in New York and San Francisco, but before filling them out please ask the advice of someone who has done it.

6.When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Here a little humility is required. We should be aware that whenever we insist on having things exactly as we want them or as we are used to whether in matters of accommodations, diet, personal appearance, how we spend our days, or how often and how privately we see the Master – we may get what we want, but the cost may be more than we think.

7. Most important: We go for one reason only.

Master expects us to be very serious in our Spiritual Work while there – six hours a day minimum in meditation, and avoidance of all socialising and distractions. He does not like the Ashram used for striking up friendships (His words), falling in love, as a base for shopping or sightseeing, etc. He is very strict about this, because He cares very much about our growth, and wants us to get the full benefit of our being there.

R.P.

Notices

New Publishing Project

The following notice appears at the request of the Dept. of Records, at Sawan Ashram:

In the past, all Master’s public talks and discourses in India and abroad have been recorded, and these have been the main source of publication in Sat Sandesh. All this material has been kept in the Ashram in Delhi, dated and filed, and will be of great historical and Spiritual Importance.

As many Satsangis who have visited Master in Jndia already know, His informal heart-to-heart sessions and question and answer periods have rarely been officially taped, so there is no comprehensive record of these invaluable words.

Many of the dear ones have indeed made their own private recordings, but these have dispersed when the Satsangis returned to their own countries.

With Master’s approval, arrangements are now being made for all these future informal sessions to be recorded officially. As several new projects for publishing Master’s impromptu sayings and talks are being prepared, it would be appreciated if any of the dear ones who have been with Master in recent years and who have private recordings of material which they feel has not been covered in previous publications, and would be of benefit to their brothers and sisters, would either make a typescript copy – or if this is not possible then a copy of the tape or cassette – and send it, taking care to note as accurately as possible the date and place of the talk, to the Dept. of Records, Sawan Ashram, Shakti-Nagar, Delhi 7, India. It is not necessary to send the whole transcript or tape; only that part which is considered to be of particular interest.