VIII / (iv)

Scriptures imcompetent to awaken Spirituality

This quickening impulse cannot be derived from sacred books. As light comes from light, so comes life from life. A soul must receive live impulses through the lyrical glances of some Master Soul. Mere book knowledge, or any intellectual development, fails to awaken Spirituality. Through book learning, the intellect is certainly fed but the spirit gets no food. This is why each one of us can speak wonderfully of Spiritual Matters, but the actual life betrays not a speck of it.

We may read and read endlessly and may read on devotedly for months and years, nay, ceaselessly all our lives; but, oh Nanak, all this simply feeds and fattens the ego only and is of no avail.

Guru Nanak, Asa War M1

A living spirit can be quickened into life only through the Living Impulses from a Master-soul. You may call such a man by any name you like, but such a man is a necessity. Each religion has testified to the need of such higher help.

We do not deny the need of help from outside in all our objective pursuits. We usually look to some one who is expert in a given subject. Why should we then be ashamed to seek the help of somebody in the pursuit of what is purely subjective – the Spiritual Path – and what is hidden from our objective vision and is wholly shrouded in mystery?

How grateful we should be, if somebody were to lead us into the inner recesses of the subjective world. Whoever has risen to the highest heights of Spirituality, above the ken of both gross and subtle matter, can transmit power and lead us safely across the ocean of illusive matter.

Maulana Rumi, a Muslim divine, says:

If you intend going for a pilgrimage (to the Divine), take with you one who has already pilgrimaged, no matter whether he be a Hindu, a Turk, or an Arab.

All-round deterioration is the main feature of our time. Literal words of the scriptures without the spirit or meaning behind them, have taken the place of living-the-life with most of us. Immersed in ignorance, some feel that they know everything and offer to take others’ burdens on their shoulders. Thus, with the blind leading the blind, both fall into the ditch. The world is full of so-called teachers. Such teachers have steeped the world in ignorance. These creatures of darkness, wise in their own conceit, pretend to give away untold treasures of Divinity. They are just like a beggar who wants to make a gift of a million dollars!

Thus, without the help of One who has truly imbibed the Truth beyond, no progress can be made in the Way of Spirituality.

The Master has said:

Rare indeed is the man who knows God-hood. If one is begging from door to door, cursed shall be his life and cursed the order to which he belongs.

Guru Amar Das, Bihagra War M3

The Master again says:

Never prostrate thyself at the feet of him who calls himself a spiritual preceptor and goes a begging. A True Master earns His own living and shares it with others; oh Nanak! Only such a One can know the Way to the Lord.

Guru Nanak, Sarang War M1