RADHASOAMI
AT THE CORE OF THE RADHASOAMI PHILOSOPHY IS A BELIEF THAT THERE IS A SPIRITUAL PURPOSE TO HUMAN LIFE – TO EXPERIENCE THE DIVINITY OF GOD WHO RESIDES IN ALL OF US. IT IS THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE THAT WE WILL REALIZE THE TRUTH OF THE CONCEPT THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD AND WE ARE ALL EXPRESSIONS OF HIS LOVE.
BY PERFORMING THE MEDITATION PRACTICE ACCORDING TO THE TEACHER'S INSTRUCTIONS, INDIVIDUALS CAN REALIZE THE PRESENCE OF GOD WITHIN THEMSELVES. IT IS A SOLITARY PRACTICE THAT IS DONE IN THE QUIET OF ONE'S OWN HOME. MEMBERS COMMIT THEMSELVES TO A WAY OF LIFE THAT SUPPORTS SPIRITUAL GROWTH WHILE CARRYING OUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SOCIETY.
TO BUILD ON THE PRIMARY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE OF MEDITATION, MEMBERS ARE VEGETARIAN, ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL AND RECREATIONAL DRUGS, AND ARE EXPECTED TO LEAD A LIFE OF HIGH MORAL VALUES. A VEGETARIAN DIET ENCOURAGES RESPECT AND EMPATHY FOR ALL LIFE AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS A DEBT TO BE PAID FOR TAKING ANY LIFE UNNECESSARILY. ABSTAINING FROM INTOXICANTS IMPROVES ONES ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE AND CALMS THE MIND DURING MEDITATION. MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE SELF-SUPPORTING AND NOT BE A BURDEN ON SOCIETY. THEY ARE FREE TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES IN LIFE AND MAINTAIN ANY CULTURAL OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS THEY CHOOSE. RSSB DOES NOT INVOLVE ITSELF IN THE PERSONAL LIVES OF ITS MEMBERS.
BY PERFORMING THE MEDITATION PRACTICE ACCORDING TO THE TEACHER'S INSTRUCTIONS, INDIVIDUALS CAN REALIZE THE PRESENCE OF GOD WITHIN THEMSELVES. IT IS A SOLITARY PRACTICE THAT IS DONE IN THE QUIET OF ONE'S OWN HOME. MEMBERS COMMIT THEMSELVES TO A WAY OF LIFE THAT SUPPORTS SPIRITUAL GROWTH WHILE CARRYING OUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SOCIETY.
TO BUILD ON THE PRIMARY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE OF MEDITATION, MEMBERS ARE VEGETARIAN, ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL AND RECREATIONAL DRUGS, AND ARE EXPECTED TO LEAD A LIFE OF HIGH MORAL VALUES. A VEGETARIAN DIET ENCOURAGES RESPECT AND EMPATHY FOR ALL LIFE AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS A DEBT TO BE PAID FOR TAKING ANY LIFE UNNECESSARILY. ABSTAINING FROM INTOXICANTS IMPROVES ONES ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE AND CALMS THE MIND DURING MEDITATION. MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE SELF-SUPPORTING AND NOT BE A BURDEN ON SOCIETY. THEY ARE FREE TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES IN LIFE AND MAINTAIN ANY CULTURAL OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS THEY CHOOSE. RSSB DOES NOT INVOLVE ITSELF IN THE PERSONAL LIVES OF ITS MEMBERS.
Surat-Sabda-Yog
The current of the Chaitanya Spirit is flowing in the reverse direction in this Region and is getting dispersed through the sense-organs. It cannot therefore get perfect and unalloyed happiness and its condition cannot remain always the same. It is therefore necessary that one should make this current flow in the right direction, i.e. make it ascend upwards within oneself. If he does so, his spirit would one day reach its Original Reservoir and attain perfect and eternal bliss.
All the Jivas, having their spirit seated in the region of the eyes in the physical body, function through their mind and sense-organs i.e. the current of the spirit flows outwards through the mind and the sense-organs and it has established its contact chiefly with material objects. One feels pleasure in turning his attention towards and in thinking about or in meeting those persons for whom he has affection. Similarly, he gets joy and pleasure when those enjoyments and objects for which he has attachment or in which he frequently indulges come before him or he comes into contact with them or makes use of them. This is the reason why the current of the spirit flows again and again, or very frequently, in their direction. Although it is quite clear that whatever joy, bliss and pleasure the mind gets from the sense-organs with the help of other jivas and the objects and enjoyments of the world, is really present in the current of the spirit, yet the people are unaware of this fact. If the current of the spirit would not flow down to a particular sense-organ and would not flow from them to the enjoyments and objects of the world, no joy or pleasure would ever be experienced. This practice can make the spirit reach its Original Abode from where it descended in the beginning of the creation and on reaching there, it would have the darsana of the Supreme Being Merciful Radhasoami Who is its True Father and Mother and Whose ansa or part it is, and would also be able to attain highest bliss. The Supreme Being Merciful Radhasoami has been pleased to shower His great Mercy on the Jivas in the present times, in as much as he has made the practices of the Surat Sabda Yoga so easy that a child, a young man or an old man, male or female, a family man or an ascetic, can easily perform its practices to some extent at least and can also secure the result in this very life and get some joy and bliss internally within himself and also see his salvation being gradually achieved and he can also experience the Grace and protection of the Supreme Being which are always available to one engaged in the practices of this Yoga. |
Sant Satguru
As already mentioned, according to Radhasoami Faith in order to awaken the spiritual faculties, one has to become disciple of a Sant Satguru. The Supreme Being has mercifully ordained a perpetual succession of Sant Satgurus for salvation of Jivas. After the departure of a Sant Satguru from this world, a question arises before the Satsangis as to who His Successor is? In order to avoid any controversy in this regard, and to facilitate a smooth transition, in the Constitution of Radhasoami Satsang Sabha which is a Society registered under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 with its headquarters at Dayalbagh suitable provisions have been made which have the approval of Sant Satgurus. The Constitution defines
"Sant Satguru as a Revered Leader of Radhasoami Faith believed to be a representative of Supreme Being Radhasoami Dayal and recognised as such by Sabha and includes the Founder of the Faith (Soamiji Maharaj) who was the incarnation of Radhasoami Dayal. "After the departure of a Sant Satguru from the world the Sabha shall recognise as His Successor and Sant Satguru the Person whose name may have been announced in general Satsang at the headquarters by the departed Sant Satguru or who may have been declared in writing by Him as His Successor. "In case no such announcement or declaration has been made, the Sabha shall within two years of the departure of the Sant Satguru ascertain in this behalf the wishes of Satsangis affiliated to the Sabha at the time of the departure of the previous Sant Satguru and declare as Sant Satguru the Person who is acclaimed as /Sant Satguru by the majority of such Satsangis." |