Comment

The subject of the illness of Saints too is no less a perplexing event. The fact of it is that this illness of Hazur was the result of the weight of our karmic debts¹, of the deeply-heaved sighs and tears of those afflicted amongst us.

Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj with a short narrative brief Life Sketch –
Hazur Sawan Singh left us to be with us every Time,
by Kirpal Singh, 1894–1974

Question to Kirpal Singh:

Master, why was Christ the only Master Who died for the sins of the world?

Answer by Kirpal Singh (laughing):

All Masters have died for the sins of the world.

Glendale, Calif., 1972

It is a historical fact that the great majority of Masters have died violent or painful deaths, involving terrible suffering. Our Master was no exception. Like Christ, Buddha, Ramakrishna, Mansur, Guru Arjan, Baba Sawan Singh, He climaxed His magnificent service to mankind with a crucifixion; and if some of us feel that His service was the greatest in history, perhaps it follows that His suffering was the greatest too. Through it all, as the material included in this issue makes clear, He remained conscious and in control, despite whatever pain He was undergoing; even making sure that His attendants had a tea break on His last day! And, according to the initiated doctor who was with Him at the end, when the last bit of suffering was over, He heaved a long, peaceful sigh, deliberately closed His eyes, closed His mouth,² and calmly stepped out of His body – in full consciousness and peace. His work was done.

But ours is just beginning. These are difficult times, no doubt; the most difficult by far – speaking personally – that I have ever lived through. But it is of the absolute utmost importance to remember that if we have got the Naam within that’s all that we require. Because it is perfectly true and has always been true that the real Master is within us; and He’s still there. He hasn’t gone anyplace. The form of the Master that we called Master, the man sitting in Delhi, that took trips, that used to talk with us and write letters to us, – well, that was only a very small part of the totality of Him.

And He was there to give us help and strength and encouragement as long as we were babies. And now that that part of the Master has gone away, it’s like He’s forcing us not to be babies anymore. When Buddha left His disciples, what did He say?

Be ye lamps unto yourselves.

That’s what we have to do. The Light is there; He put it there. That’s our lamp, and it’s within us.

Some people are upset because the Master left no successor. For those of us who are not yet initiated, that’s a difficult matter. But it is extremely important for the initiates to remember that we don’t need a successor. We have what we need. If we get distracted in a search for another guru at this stage – is he the Master?, no, it’s him, etc. – we can easily forget our real job. And if by chance we meet up with someone who is unworthy, then where is our devotion gone? It’s not necessary for us to search, that’s the point: what is necessary for us to do is to go within. That’s our job now; nothing else. What we used to call Master’s work – bringing people to the Path – isn’t Master’s work anymore.

Master’s work is putting in time and going inside and developing.

On one occasion Master was asked,

How will we know Your successor?

And He said,

Look here: When your friend comes with a different coat on, won’t you recognise him?

I don’t think there will be any confusion if we keep that criterion in mind. And if anyone does claim something, and we look into his eyes and they’re not Master’s – then what has he to do with us? Why should we waste our time and energy with someone who is claiming more than his due? Better by far that we put our attention into developing that Blessed Seed that He planted within us.

Our dear Master gave Naam to more than a hundred thousand persons – if each one of those hundred thousand developed even to the level of the astral plane, would that not have a tremendous impact on the world? An impact unprecedented in all history? And give the final dimension of meaning to Master’s life? He has given us what we need; it is up to us to use it.

Russell Perkins

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Explanation: 1) Saints take the burden of misdeeds of Their followers on Their own body to keep those initiated by Them clean and thus save Them from pangs and anxiety of the day of judgement. This is however a poor estimate of the gigantic treasure of Love They have for Their disciples, regardless of reciprocity. This explains one of the many great responsibilities that True Saints have to share, unperceived and unknown to Their disciples. 2) The usual pattern of a dying person is for the eyes and mouth to remain open until closed by an attendant.