Where do we go from here?
by Russell Perkins
The following release, dated 3rd September 1974, has been issued by the joint Managing Committees of the Ruhani Satsang and Manav Kendra:
Dear Brother/Sister,
His Holiness Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, our Holy Master and Founder Chairman of Manav Kendra and Ruhani Satsang, left for His Home Eternal on Wednesday, 21st August, 1974, when the brilliant Sun of Spirituality set after giving Light and Life to the whole world for more than a quarter of a century. His Holiness did not entrust the Spiritual Work to any individual and consequently it became necessary to consider and decide as to how best the Mission of our Holy Master could be carried forward.
It was thought proper to ascertain the views and wishes of the devotees through the representatives of the various centres before arriving at a decision. The general consensus emitting out of the wishes and views of the representatives of the centres and also the members of the Managing Committees of the Ruhani Satsang and Manav Kendra paved the way for unanimity in decisions.
Respecting the general consensus, both the Managing Committees have elected Smt. Hardevi (Tai Ji), till recently the Vice-chairman of both the bodies, as Chairman. It was also decided that the management of the property and its temporal matter and general administration be looked after by her as she has acquired vast and varied experience during the lifetime of our Holy Master, Whom she has been assisting ever since the founding of Kirpal Ruhani Satsang.
It is necessary that you may kindly note the foregoing position yourself and convey the same to all those who are connected with the Satsang. All communications and correspondence may kindly be addressed to Smt. Hardevi (Tai Ji) at Sawan Ashram in the capacity of Chairman. It is clarified that the news item appearing in newspapers regarding succession is not correct and did not have the authority of the Managing Committees.
At a time when our Holy Master is not physically present amongst us it is incumbent upon each one of us to do our very best to further the Holy Mission for which our Master dedicated His earthly life. I am confident that with the Grace and beneficence of our Holy Master we would not spare any effort which is otherwise necessary for the Holy Cause.
With kindest regards,
Yours in the Service of the Master,
(Signed:) M.M. Chopra
Secretary
Kirpal Ruhani Satsang Society
Manav Kendra
The statement that His Holiness did not entrust the Spiritual Work to any individual is based on the following facts:
- The Master made absolutely no public statement of any kind, or any verifiable private statement, regarding a successor;
- after He left, He appeared to advanced disciples in various parts of India and confirmed that there was no one at present to whom He had entrusted the Spiritual Work, and that on no account should initiation be given. These disciples, many of them simple villagers, gathered at Sawan Ashram on the evening of 1st September, and made known the Master’s wishes to the Managing Committees in such a way that there was no possibility of error.
It does not follow that there will never be a successor. History shows that at the passing away of Guru Hari Krishan, the eighth Guru of the Sikhs, there were 22 claimants to the Guruship, none of whom were fit; eventually, after a year or so, the ninth Guru, Teg Bahadur, was found – with Inner Help – meditating in a hut. Similarly, there was a period of 18 years between the death of Tulsi Sahib and the beginning of the public ministry of Swami Ji Maharaj; and a period of 12 years between the death of Swami Ji and the beginning of the public ministry of Baba Jaimal Singh. And our own Master did not initiate anyone for more than a year after the death of Baba Sawan Singh.
It seems clear though that if there is a Master in the world today, our Beloved One chose not to tell us about him; and if one is to emerge in the future, no one knows now who he is.
It is also clear that the temporal, administrative work – not the same thing as Spiritual Work – which in India is being handled by Bibi Hardevi, has in the West been entrusted to Reno Sirrine. This is clear not only by virtue of Master having named him an Executive Committee of One to handle administrative and organisational affairs back in 1972, but even more by the literally hundreds of occasions in the last few months of His life on which He shifted responsibility to Reno for almost every aspect of the work in the West. Master spoke specifically in this regard to the members of the Managing Committees, and Reno’s responsibility for the West was fully accepted and recognised by them, and indeed by everyone who was at His feet at the end. This does not mean that Reno has any Spiritual Competence whatever, or is in any sense a guru or anything like a guru. Neither does it mean that he won’t make mistakes. What it does mean is that Master has assigned him a job the enormity of which is beyond our comprehension, and that in carrying it out he needs the full cooperation and love of each one of us. When Master was in the body, He never gave responsibility without giving Grace; there is no reason to think that has changed.
Many Inner Messages have been received by disciples from the Master, both in India and in the West, that we should stay together and work together as in the past. Since we cannot foresee the future and have no idea what Master has in store for us, that seems the best possible course; if we keep our hands firmly in His, treat each other with Love, respect and humility, and work on our meditations, He will certainly in the fullness of time reveal to us the next step.
One last thought: When I was leaving India this last sad time, I went to Tai Ji – Bibi Hardevi – to say goodbye. Her message was to be sure to tell everybody that she was not a guru; she was simply heading the organisation. Reno also expressed very strongly the same thoughts. Perhaps it is because they are aware of their own limitations and are honest enough to admit them that they have been put in positions of such responsibility.