The Purpose of Human Life

V

Another purpose of Simran is to identify the soul with its Real Form. Yet another aim of Simran is to enable the self to know itself. As it is, the soul is completely identified with the physical body. It has to be withdrawn from the body and concentrated at its seat in the centre of the eyebrows.

In the Gita, Lord Krishna says,

[…] that Great Ones traverse into the cave starting from a place above the nose.

There are various methods of doing Simran:

• with the help of a rosary or 
   
• with tongue, 
   
• or in throat 
   
• and heart.

However, Saints do not advise these methods as these are apt to become mechanical and allow the mind to wander away. Thus, concentration of attention through those methods may not be possible.

Saints have, therefore, advised the practice of Simran with the tongue of thought. All Saints, including Maulana Rumi, Guru Arjan, and Swami Ji, have indicated this Spiritual Path.

Guru Arjan prayed:

Oh Saints, take pity on us; we have yet to learn to serve our souls.

We are working on the mental and sensual planes. Until we learn to rise above body consciousness, our plight remains unchanged.

Yogis tried to control breathing through kumbhak to achieve concentration of attention. It is a difficult process and everyone cannot practise it. Saints, therefore, do not interfere with the breathing function. They concentrate Their attention at the seat of the soul, behind and in the centre of the two eyes, by means of Simran with the tongue of thought. If it is done with rapt attention, the soul will cease to flow out through the body pores. The body will then become senseless. It is only then after that the concentrated soul gets the contact of God.

However, Simran with the tongue of thought is not as easy as it appears to be.

It can be accomplished successfully only through the blessings of a Competent Master. Now, there is a difference between practising Simran by repeating the Names given by a Competent Master and the name or names taken out of scripture of one’s religious belief.

The Names given by a Competent Living Master at the time of initiation are charged with His thought transference and have tremendous force in them. This type of Simran, therefore, is above all other forms of Simran.

The Vedas and other scriptures have stated that in order to seek God, one must seek the guidance of a True Master. Besides giving the Charged Names, the Master also gives a practical contact with the Divine Power. Now, the question is how to get that competent guidance?

Swami Ji tells us to serve the Master; one can serve the Master in many ways – physically, financially, intellectually, and spiritually. One should lead a chaste and clean life. Keep the body ever engaged in selfless service. This is physical service. As for monetary service, spend a part of your income for charity. After fulfilling your family requirements, you must keep aside a part of your earnings in the name of God. This is a duty one must not neglect. Service by heart and mind means Love for all, hatred for none, and observance of Truth. The service of the soul is of the highest order. To do this one has to rise above body consciousness and to open the Inner Eye.

Hazur used to say that a Master may keep a servant or two to serve Him. He does not need our services in the normal sense. If we only obey His commandments, keep our lives chaste and pure, we do not only serve the Master, but also our own ‘self.’

The Master loves them most who serve their own souls and lead a pious life. So, Swami Ji exhorts us to imbibe the feeling of service and to refrain from sensual desires.

All desires are included in sensuality. The observance of celibacy is most important.

Just as light and darkness cannot stay together, the Word and sensual desires are not compatible. Therefore, we must observe celibacy. Married people need not despair. They ought to live a disciplined life in accordance with the scriptures where marital relations are permitted only for procreation. Grihastashram (family system) is a great institution.

Most Saints or Great Souls, Mahatmas, were householders and fulfilled Their family obligations. Hazur has said that those who wish to bring up their children pure and chaste should themselves become so. Children tend to emulate their parents.

Swami Ji thus asks us to take three steps if we want to rise above body consciousness and to get contact with Naam: to practise Simran, to serve Satguru, and to lead a chaste life.

Swami Ji says that you can have a taste of the Divine Nectar with the help of a True Master only after you have brought your mind and sensual desires under control.

At present the soul is flowing out through the senses. Discipline your senses and keep your mind steady. You will then know who you are. When you have realised yourself, only then the question of realising the Overself will arise. Those who have disciplined their senses can free themselves from the influence of enemies like lust, anger, greed, attachment, and vanity.

These five deadly enemies attack us through the five senses. You can escape their fatal attacks if you rise above body consciousness.

The Upanishads state:

The soul is riding a chariot of the body driven by horses of the senses with the mind as its reins and the intellect as its driver in the field of sensual pleasures.

Swami Ji, therefore, stresses the need to discipline the senses and the mind. When this is done and the soul rises above body consciousness, the Master is there inside to offer the Divine Elixir of Naam.

Now, are these teachings meant for any particular sect? The teachings of all Great Souls are meant for the entire humanity and not for the followers of any particular religion.

Hazur used to say:

Go to the door where Satguru, full of compassion and Mercy, is waiting to receive you.

Which is that door?

This door is in the centre and behind your two eyebrows. Once the soul gets an opportunity of tasting the elixir of Naam, it has a starting point for its Spiritual Journey to the Ultimate Destination. Moreover, this will bring about freedom from the dragnet of the mind.