The Convocation of the Saints

– Rashtrya Sant Samagam –

An account of the celebration of the 117^th Birth Anniversary of Baba Sawan Singh Ji

by Charles S. Fulcher¹

On the auspicious occasion of the 117^th Birth Anniversary of Param Sant Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, Master Kirpal Singh chose to bring together representatives of the Cream of the Saints of India for the Rashtrya Sant Samagam to be held at the same time. By letter these invited Saints were requested to prepare to make suggestions for the practical implementation of the Unity of Man, both in India and throughout the world. Among the Saints attending were Maha Mandleshwar Swami Sarvagya Muni, M.M. Swami Chetanand Chidakash, Brahmchari Naval Ji, M.M. Swami Govindaprakash Ji, M.M. Swami Gurcharan Das Ji, H.H. Lama Kushak Bakula, and M.M. Swami Ved Vyasanand Ji.

The participation of the attending Saints and the Birthday Celebration activities began with an opening session of the Sant Mandal Supreme Body at Sawan Ashram on Friday morning, 26^th July 1974. Shri Kedar Nath Sahney, Mayor of Delhi, inaugurated the meeting. A welcome address was delivered by Shri Swami Sarvagya Muni Ji. Then, in turn, the colourfully-attired Saints addressed themselves to the subject of the Unity of Man in numerous speeches, were given garlands of flowers, and enjoyed a relaxed meeting under the presence of Master Kirpal Singh Who also spoke in welcome to them. After this opening session concluded, Master Kirpal Singh conducted these special guests of the Ashram to a private meal in their honour.

Nearby, in the open courtyard of Sawan Ashram, the Satsangis, assembled there from near and far, began to sing bhajans of yearning and Love under the musical leadership of the Music Master, Pratap Singh Ji. Hearing these love-filled entreaties from His children, Master Kirpal Singh respectfully excused Himself from His distinguished guests, and quickly joined His eager children. Seated on the dais to be seen clearly by every lovefilled eye, the Master gave His Darshan while the loving bhajans continued. After leaving the dais, the Master inspected and blessed the food prepared for His children by the free kitchen. Then the Master returned, along a roped-off path where large numbers gathered to greet Him personally, to His private quarters.

This feast of seeing and hearing the Master and, finally, observing food served by many loving hands, produced joy in everyone present.

At the spacious DESU Colony Ground, within easy walking distance from Sawan Ashram, colourful canopies with geometric patterns had been erected to shield the huge crowd assembled there on Friday afternoon from the sun. Many large electric fans were placed strategically throughout the crowd to circulate refreshing breezes over the people as they attentively listened to speeches by the assembled Saints. The opening speech was delivered by M.M. Swami Ved Vyasanand Ji. The featured guest speakers at this first public session were Dr Sarojini Mahishi, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation for the Government of India, and Shri Radha Raman, Chief Executive Councilor of the City of Delhi. Master Kirpal Singh presided and was deferentially recognised in all speeches for His work with Manav Kendra and for the Unity of Man. Master also spoke to the assemblage of several thousand persons present on the fundamental nature of man and of each man’s relation to all other men, forming one family under the Fatherhood of God.

The festivities on Saturday, 27^th July, began with meditation led by the Master at the Community Meeting Ground across the bridge from Sawan Ashram. After the meditation, an accurate count was made and recorded by the Master of the different Inner Experiences observed by those participating in the meditation.

Here, at this location, too, colourful canopies had been erected to shade the large assembly of people, with electric fans providing cooling breezes. Several thousand people were in attendance to listen quietly to discourses by the Saints and invited government officials. The opening speech was given by M.M. Swami Chetanand Chidakash. Major addresses were given by Shri Kamlapati Tripathi, Minister of Shipping and Transport, and by Professor Sher Singh, Minister of Communication. The writer was invited to give an address as a representative of the Westerners present. Again, the Master presided, warmly welcoming the speakers, and carefully attending to the proceedings.

At the conclusion of this morning session, a human carpet emerged from the grounds and crossed the narrow bridge back to Sawan Ashram. But with all of the tight crowdedness of those crossing the bridge, an amply-wide path was provided for a determined cow with horns going in the opposite direction. So great was the number of people arriving that the gates of the Ashram had to be closed in order that the half who were barred from entering could be fed from the free kitchen on an additional shift.

The afternoon session on Saturday again met at the DESU Colony Ground. The religious discourses of the Saints continued, including the account given by M.M. Swami Govindaprakash Ji who related the circumstances surrounding his meeting of Hazur Baba Sawan Singh some forty years previously. In addition, Shri Jagjivan Ram, India’s Defense Minister, gave a delightful address on the political significance of the Unity of Man.

He was followed by Shri G.L. Nanda, former Home Minister. Miss Jerry Astra Turk. Representative for Ruhani Satsang in Miami, Florida, delivered an invited address concerning the necessity for leadership of the Unity of Man by the living Godman, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji. The session was concluded by a heartrending song in memory of Baba Sawan Singh sung by Bibi Hardevi.

The concluding session of the Sant Samagam on the morning of Sunday, 28^th July, was preceded by a meditation led by Master Kirpal Singh. This session took place at the DESU Colony Ground. After a record of the meditation experiences was tabulated by Master Kirpal Singh, the session opened with an address to the large attending crowd by Shri Raja Ram Shastri, Member of the Parliament of India. Other invited addresses were delivered by Shri Uma Shankar Dikshit, Home Minister, and by Dr Karan Singh, Minister of Health.

The Saints present were also given the opportunity to express concluding remarks. Because the length of this final session extended beyond its scheduled closing time, the initiation – Naam Dan – originally planned for Sunday afternoon was postponed until Monday morning.

On Monday at 9 a.m. 1,067 qualified applicants for Holy Initiation on the Path of the Masters were assembled under the canopy at the Community Meeting Ground across the bridge from Sawan Ashram. Master Kirpal Singh arrived by car, and immediately began to impart the Spiritual Instructions. The Western initiates were given the opportunity to attend, sitting together to one side.

Monday evening, on the enclosed porch of the Master’s quarters, the Steering Committee of the Asian Regional Conference for the World Unity of Man convened. This group, consisting of Saints, Members of Parliament, and other competent individuals met with Master Kirpal Singh to review and analyse the kinds of problems which must be solved in Asia in order to increase the quality of life for the huge masses of common men.

The writer was invited to join the Steering Committee as a Western Representative. The various members of the Committee addressed themselves seriously to the problems which were itemised by the Secretary of the Committee in his initial address of the evening. Miss Jerry Astra Turk delivered an invited speech setting forth the Spiritual Qualifications of Sant Kirpal Singh for providing the necessary counsel to all groups willing to work for the Unity of Man.

Following her remarks, Master Kirpal Singh good-humouredly recounted the travels of Guru Nanak in the East and Middle East in His efforts over a period of thirty years to bring about the Unity of Man.

Thus was concluded a head-spinning four days: a panorama to Western eyes of humour, colour, sincerity, yearning, devotion, and overflowing Love.

A Visit to Parliament

On 1^st August, 1974, a very significant and historic event occurred in India: Sant Kirpal Singh Ji was officially invited to present His suggestions for bringing about the Unity of Man to interested Members of the Parliament of India. M.P. Shankar Dev Ji organised the meeting at Parliament, and more than 100 Members of Parliament were present to hear Master Kirpal Singh’s address to them.

While the members were arriving and finding seats in the large assembly hall provided, copies of books written by Master Kirpal Singh were presented to them. Books such as ‘The Crown of Life,’ ‘The Wheel of Life,’ ‘The Mystery of Death,’ ‘The Jap Ji,’ as well as assorted booklets concerning the teachings and life of Sant Kirpal Singh and the aims and accomplishments of Manav Kendra, were given to each member. Some members began examining the contents of these materials while waiting for the meeting to begin.

Dr G.S. Dhillon, Speaker of the Lok Sabha – the lower house of Parliament –, greeted the Master warmly and was seated on His left during the meeting.

Several Members of Parliament, including M.P. Shankar Dev Ji, made short introductory addresses to the assembly. After a brief introduction by the Speaker, Master Kirpal Singh addressed the assembly.

At the conclusion of the Master’s address, the Members of Parliament and any others present were all invited to attend a luncheon provided in a nearby room. There a sumptuous vegetarian buffet luncheon was set up with ample opportunity for discussion and questions pertinent to the implications of Master Kirpal Singh’s statements and reminders.

There was a pervading air of both seriousness and relaxation. The Master, as a distinguished guest, was provided with a seat and table in a partitioned area where His food was served to Him. There He could answer questions from interested leaders in a more subdued environment. The Master was still able, however, to observe the enjoyment of everyone, as they could both have their food and see Him too.

Following the luncheon, Sant Kirpal Singh left the Parliament building and returned immediately to Sawan Ashram.

He was evidently pleased with the interest shown by the Members of Parliament who had assembled to listen to His comments to them, and through them, with the Government of India for opening up an avenue by which the message of the Unity of Man can be effectively communicated to all national governments of the world.

The occasion of this visit of the Master to the Parliament of India was a historic first. It is the first time that an official invitation has been extended to a Spiritual Leader in India to visit Parliament and share His counsel with the Members. This inclination on the part of the leaders of the Government of India to avail themselves officially of the recommendations of a non-political leader is both laudable and significant: significant because, with such counsel sought and seriously heeded by members of other governments, having the vision to see the world as one single community of all men, the Unity of Man can soon become an ever-present consideration in the minds of all responsible men in every level of society everywhere.

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Footnote: 1) The author, a member of the Board of Directors of Ruhani Satsang / Divine Science of the Soul, has been the Master’s Representative in North Carolina for many years.