PURPOSE OF INITIATION
The object of Initiation is to realize God within ourselves. It is not for the purpose of seeking any material gain, or personal advantage; such as better health, accumulation of wealth, or improved worldly relationships. It cannot be emphasized too strongly that this is a meditation discipline, and each applicant is required to set aside a regular minimum daily period of two and one-half hours in order to fulfill the purpose of this commitment to the Master.
Those seriously interested in this path of soul liberation should read widely in the extensive Radha Soami literature in order to very thoroughly understand the essence of the philosophy. Those who decide to apply for the Initiation should do so out of a deep sense of the rightness of the path and an inner conviction that the path is theirs to follow. We should not be influenced by others, not be a victim of the current "fad" of following a guru. To quote the Master, "The pull must come from within. " Further, it should be recognized that this is definitely a life-long discipline requiring effort and struggle. One places one's hand into the hand of the Master, and with the aid of His Wondrous Grace, and the guidance of His Continuing Presence Within, one makes progress on the inner road.
Master says, "This process calls for no change in religion, no shift in avocation or profession, no distinctive garment or the like. The path is as easily trodden by young as by old. The Saints do not make cowards of men. They explicitly enjoin upon all who come under their influence to do their duty by their parents, family and children, friends and relations, the poor and the downcast. Those who love the Creator love His creation, too."
REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIATION
The Master has set forth four requirements which constitute the vows or commitments which are made by a seeker at the time of application for Nam. These are serious commitments and each seeker is strongly advised to sincerely search his heart before applying; he must be sure he thoroughly understands these requirements and is willing and able to live up to them. The Master has asked that these requirements be expounded upon at some length and so the following information is supplied so that the seeker can very clearly understand the nature of the commitments.
I -VEGETARIANISM- THE FIRST REQUIREMENT
The applicant is expected to adopt a strict vegetarian diet, omitting meat, fish, fowl, and eggs (fertile or infertile). Food which contains any of the above must be rejected. This diet must be rigorously followed for a MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS prior to making application, and thereafter permanently.
By "meat" is meant any product of slaughter, including shellfish, fish, fowl, flesh and their derivative products; such as gelatin or albumen. One must avoid unlabeled bakery products or those with vague labels indicating shortening or pure shortening, without describing it as vegetable shortening or butter shortening. Such products very frequently contain lard.
Including the above, one must avoid jello, albumen, animal gelatin, animal lecithin, animal glycerin, and foods without a label clearly listing contents. Most crackers and pies do not specify which type of shortening is used and, therefore, should be avoided. Any product containing eggs, egg whites, or albumen must al s o be avoided.
Eggs are found in mayonnaise and certain other salad dressings, rich icecreams, rootbeers, sherbets, cookies, rolls, candies, and marshmallows. A careful check on labeling is, once again, quite important.
Even in the taking of vitamins and food supplements, one cannot relax his vigil. For example: frequently fish oil is used as a source of Vitamin A, and some Vitamin D is animal in origin.
Satsangis are permitted to eat all dairy products (milk, cream, butter, cheese, buttermilk); all vegetables and fruits, whether fresh, dried, canned, or frozen; nuts, grains, seeds, cereals, and legumes; also, fruit and vegetable juices. Health food stores carry a large variety of meat substitutes for those who prefer them, but these must be carefully inspected as some contain egg products. However, with each passing year, the number of vegetarians in the United States increases markedly and processed foods of a suitable nature become more and more easily available. One will find no problem in preparing a wide variety of tasty and healthy dishes within the requirements of the teachings of the Saints. Nature's bounty provides us with vast varieties of wholesome vegetarian foods to supply all needed minerals, vitamins, and enzymes in abundance.
The Master says, "To be a vegetarian is not a mere formality in Sant Mat. It is a very vital matter and no exception under any circumstances is possible to this rule."
"In the matter of diet, Sant Mat principles are very clear and I cannot give any advice contrary to these principles. The vegetarian diet is not a mere ritual or ceremony, but it is a vital matter in the teachings of Sant Mat. I also do not believe that there is anything which, if curable, cannot be cured through the vegetarian diet. It is all a question of the right selection of food suitable to the needs of the individual."
"As it is virtually impossible for us to exist in this world without killing, the Saints advise us to go on a strictly vegetarian diet. This enables us to live a healthy life and at the same time collect the smallest possible load, as we are taking life consisting of one element only, in the form of fruits and vegetables. In this way we collect the least load possible during our life span. The Saints tell us that whatever meditation we do daily helps to clear or pay off the load of karma which we would have to pay otherwise for these innocent killings (of vegetables and fruits) that we do everyday for existence in this world. So when our purpose of existence is to attain God-realization, and we try to achieve that purpose by daily spiritual practice, these karmas that we incur daily through the annihilation of vegetable life are automatically taken care of through our devotion to spiritual practice. But if we are not concerned about our destination at all and just to fill our stomachs, we kill or are instrumental in having killed for us fish or fowl or other animals, surely we will have to pay for our evil deeds. And that becomes such a heavy load that we can hardly stand, let alone walk or run. Of course, killing for sport is much worse than killing for food and results in a much heavier load. So we are advised to be vegetarians to collect the least amount or load of karma. We have such a heavy store of karmas, such a heavy load with us already that we should try to reduce rather than increase that load during our life span."
II -ABSTENTION FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUGS- THE SECOND
REQUIREMENT
The applicant must avoid the use of all alcoholic drinks or any substance containing alcohol. Some medicines and many beverages contain alcohol. The Master has indicated that any person who uses alcoholic beverages should allow himself a period of THREE MONTHS of total abstinence before applying for Initiation. During this time he must make absolutely certain that he can live a life without the use of any form of alcohol or substance containing alcohol.
For those who have been using narcotic substances and/or psychedelic drugs, including Marijuana, the Master has indicated that these persons must be entirely free from their usage for a period of AT LEAST SIX MONTHS, and then permanently across the future.
The Master points out that the use of intoxicants or drugs of any kind has no relationship to the inner experience of meditation. He therefore requires each applicant to reject the use of such substances for the rest of his life and does not permit Satsangis to use these harmful substances under any conditions.
Below are some of the Master's comments regarding abstaining from the use of alcoholic beverages and/or drugs:
"Abstention from alcoholic drinks does not need much logic to support it. We all know what fools people make of themselves when drunk, and what follies and crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol."
"Give up the use of alcoholic drinks, narcotics and the like, for they are verily the worst of poisons. They gratify only for a moment. The end is constant remorse and disease. Their use so clouds our vision and so warps our sense of values that we fail to differentiate between good and bad, fair and foul, right and wrong. The result is that we commit deeds that land us in unsuperable difficulties. Alcoholic drinks are truly the mother of all vices. They lead us to evil actions. A moment of pleasure unmistakably weaves a long net of pain and suffering."
"Those who take drugs like LSD or marijuana or deal in them should be clearly told that they cannot be accepted on the Sant Mat Path, unless they give up these things completely."
"I quite understand your anxiety about young initiates, more and more of whom are drifting back to their old ways of moral looseness and the use of drugs. It is very unfortunate that in this present society, morality has lost all value, and the use of drugs has become so common that even respectable grownups find nothing wrong in the use of marijuana. The modern "permissive society" has become the bane of the younger these days. In view of what you write I feel that a stricter scrutiny of the applicants is necessary. Examine them more thoroughly, going into their background, the atmosphere they have lived in, for how long they have been taking drugs and since when they have given them up, the company they move in and their general interests in life. All these will give us a much better picture of their sincerity for following the Sant Mat Path."
{Instructions Written to American Representatives by The Master)
"It has been brought to my notice that in view of the present day unstable social conditions around the world affecting especially the young, a greater check is needed upon the applicants asking for Initiation.
"The widespread use of mind-affecting drugs and the loose moral permissiveness of the present society makes it advisable to increase the preparatory period for such applicants. Those living on meat diets, including eggs, on alcoholic drinks and drugs like marijuana, heroin, LSD and also leading immoral lives (unnatural and unlawful companionship) which Sant Mat does not approve, should assure themselves before applying for Initiation that they have been able to give up all these permanently and can now live strictly in accordance with Sant Mat teachings.
"For achieving this, I feel that an applicant should live on a strict vegetarian diet and be a teetotaler for a MINIMUM PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS before submitting his application. A similar period should be prescribed for those who have been leading a PERMISSIVE LIFE which is not in accordance with Sant Mat principles of morality.
"In cases of those who have been using some sort of mind-affecting drug, an evil so widely prevalent in modern society, this preparatory period should be of MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS.
"During this preparatory period the applicant will be able to judge for himself whether he will be able to live the Sant Mat way of life and it will also give him a firmer foundation and stability so essential for spiritual advancement."
NOTE: The letter reproduced above is so very important and relates to so many of the prerequisites, that the applicant is advised to reread it in light of the other two requirements-vegetarianism and the standards of morality.
{ Further Instructions
Written to American Representatives by The Master)
"We always like to have experience without working- without doing anything. We want the results, but we don't want to work for the results. So it would be very convenient if we could take a pill and get all the internal experiences, but unfortunately that is not so... The experiences of those people who take drugs differ from each other. But spiritual experiences do not differ from each other at all. All spiritual experience is bound to be the same, though our approach may be different.
"For example, if you drive from London to Edinburgh, your main experience, that is, what you see on the way is bound to be the same, though it varies in that sometimes you skip one scene and you give more importance to another village, but the experiences are bound to be the same for whomsoever travels on that road. But according to what little I have read about this drug (LSD) experiences differ with different individuals.
"Actually, these individual experiences are just of their own mind; they are mental experiences and have nothing to do with spiritual experiences. Only last night 1 heard from an American that there is a book written by some Englishman, who has contradicted the experiences which have been so much talked about by taking this drug. It may give you a little physical concentration, and may put you in a semi-trance, and you may be in a half-conscious state or in a sleeping-conscious state, and you may see something over which you have no control.
"Spiritual experience is something over which we have our own control. We can go there when we want to; we can come back to the flesh when we want to. But with this drug, the moment the effect is gone, nothing is within your control; you are again victim of the senses and become again the same sort of person.
"But spiritual experience is not like this; it develops our soul; it makes us much finer, better humans. We are no longer a slave of the senses. We control our mind, and the mind starts controlling the senses. But by taking drugs, we remain slaves of the mind and slaves of the senses, so these are completely useless experiences and I can only advise that we should not try to find shortcuts.
"We have to practice; we have to concentrate, to open that door and find for ourselves those experiences which are of a permanent nature. It is those experiences which will take us back to the Father. But these experiences, however little you take, perhaps you may get some sort of experience by over-drinking; by taking some sort of other drug, which may make you a little semi-conscious, even chloroform. I have seen many people when they have taken chloroform; they become senseless; they have many things to tell that they have seen in that state. So this LSD is something very different from spirituality. I can only advise that we should not dabble in these things, but keep to our practice; keep to our own path."
III -MORAL LIVING- THE THIRD REQUIREMENT
Every religious philosophy and every world religion stresses the need for high moral principles. Without such guidelines, life in this world would be subject to our own dictates of mind. Indeed, without morality as the foundation, spiritual progress is impossible. The applicant must agree to abide by a code of highest morality and integrity. The Master's instructions in this case cover several distinct areas, namely:
1. The regulation of sexual expression.
2. Dress, appearance and conduct in society. 3. Business and social dealings in the world. 4. Obligations and responsibilities as a citizen.
The Master requires that one be LEGALLY MARRIED if sexual relations are to take place. Again, the stress is on the word "LEGAL ." So-called "living together" is not sanctioned by the Master; even when permitted by the law, such as in the State of California. Master insists that we form a legal and lasting relationship and requests us to go through a conventional marriage ceremony according to our religious upbringing. If we are not legally married, we must remain SEX DALLY CELIBATE. Below are pertinent instructions from the Master on these points:
"Yes, it is necessary for two people who wish to live as man and wife to go through a ceremony of marriage. They should conform to the laws and customs of the country in which they live.
"A Satsangi takes the pledge of CHASTITY at the time of Initiation. One should not have any sexual relations with anyone other than one's duly wedded spouse. Any such relation out of wedlock is a sin and necessarily hampers spiritual progress. Such acts cause the mind to crumble down and lose all strength, and the result is apparent."
"The word CHASTITY, as used by the Saints, applies to people of all countries and ages. If Americans do not find any meaning in it, then they will not find any meaning in GOD-REALIZATION either. A high moral character is a condition precedent to God-realization. Lust and the love of God are poles apart and cannot remain together in a man's heart. When one comes, the other goes."
"Sex is a powerful force, and the best way to deal with it is not to suppress it but to sublimate it. Hazur Maharaj Baba Saw an Singh Ji also used to recommend reading aloud, but slowly, Kabir's verses on Kama (lust)."
"The sex energy is very useful if it is transmuted, that is, turned inwards and utilized for Bhajan and Simran. This is the real transmutation, i.e., of the lower self into the higher self. Seeking relief in any other manner would establish wrong tendencies and deprive you of the advantages of that energy."
"How can you believe from anyone that a high standard of morality is not necessary for following the Path of Sant Mat, when at the very time of Initiation one has to take a pledge to lead a highly moral and pure life? N O spiritual progress is possible unless a Satsangi's life is perfectly chaste and above suspicion. This weakness is a great hindrance in the way and has to be uprooted completely."
NOTE: For married applicants letters 16, 55, 262, and 379 in The Master's book Divine Light will be helpful.
"Keeping good company and reading good moral and spiritual books is also very helpful, but. Simran is the most effective method. Long and steady Simran will turn the mind inwards and bring it into contact with Shabd. Shabd is the thing and as you begin to enjoy the Divine Harmony you will automatically forget the lower sensual pleasures."
"I cannot lay adequate stress on living a pure moral life. High moral character is most essential for spiritual progress. Nam and Kam (lust) cannot exist together. They are as antagonistic to each other as light is to darkness. Where there is Kam, Nam does not enter. And when Nam comes, Kam vanishes. A Satsangi should be an example to the world. His eyes should radiate purity around and a spiritual fragrance should issue forth from his body. Avoid the life of sensual pleasures and turn out desire for lust from your heart. A life of virtue, peace and contentment is possible only when you rise above the nine doors of the body. To indulge in sex pleasures and expect to enter the Kingdom of Heaven is sheer mockery. For such a one that door will never open."
"Immorality cuts at the root of Spirituality. A Satsangi should never succumb to such weakness."
Continuing along the lines of MORAL PURITY, The Master goes
on:
"It is wrong to assume that because one is a Satsangi he need not pay attention to the moral code nor to any of the ten commandments. On the other hand, a Satsangi is supposed to do all that and more. The former is to prevent us from accumulating more karma, while the additional requirements for a Satsangi are to go beyond that by cleansing the vessel (our body and mind) and putting something in it by means of Spiritual Practice.
"So, by adhering to the moral and spiritual code, we cease adding to our karmas and gradually shed the burden of karmas which we have accumulated. The soul is thus freed from the chains that prevent it from returning to its True Home."
A point which frequently comes up, relates to dress, appearance and conduct. The Master's response:
"Regarding dress, I am not against moustaches or beards, but what I advise is that one should not be abnormal in his dress and appearance. Others should not talk about him deprecatingly, stand and stare at him or turn their faces in disapproval of him. It is not very proper to be too conspicuous anywhere because of one's bizarre appearance or dress. One should be decently dressed and have a proper appearance. Cleanliness, of course, goes without saying. That is a MUST for any decent person anywhere in the world. Sant Mat has not laid down any rules with regard, to dress or appearance, but a general sense of decency requires that one should not become an object of disapproval in any society anywhere."
A cardinal tenet in the teachings of the Saints is that each disciple M U S T earn his own honest living. Again, no spiritual progress is possible if we live off of others or do not earn our own wages, through honest and socially useful work. The Master recently gave us a beautiful statement with deep meaning: "When the young have no useful and suitable employment or occupation to keep them profitably engaged and occupied, they are likely to drift again into bad company and undesirable habits. "
Finally, The Master gives us guidelines on the points dealing with social obligations and responsibilities:
"Just be a good citizen but d o not get so much involved in these things that you do not live with yourself. The main thing is that we must live with ourselves. We must live with our meditation and not get so much involved in these outside things that they pull us down and make us forget the real purpose of this human life. It depends on individual circumstances as to how much we should get involved and how much we have to withdraw. We cannot have a hard and fast rule about these things. We have to live in some country and we have to be good citizens of that country. But as to how far we have to get involved in these things, 1 think our circumstances and our own feelings will tell us.
"The essence of the matter is that one should follow a career or profession to make one's living but should not become engrossed in it to the detriment of one's spiritual attainment.
`HAND TO WORK, BUT MIND IN SATGURU,' is a saying here.
IV -DAILY MEDITATION- THE FOURTH REQUIREMENT
The first three principles serve as foundations for the meditational life. Sant Mat is, after all, a meditational science designed to bring us Self and Godrealization. The applicant must be prepared to give the full two and one half hours daily to meditation after Initiation Because this vow is to be fulfilled AFTER Initiation; the applicant should take this vow as one of intent. The period of sitting may be broken up into several times during the day, but the full two and one half hours must be performed each day. Slowly, we consolidate the several sittings into one sitting so that the full two and one half hour period is done at the one sitting.
At the time of Initiation, very specific and detailed instructions are given regarding posture, technique, and other matters relating to the meditative process:
"A Satsangi must realize that this (meditation) is, in fact, man's real work, for which our benign Creator has bestowed this precious human body upon us."
"Apply this unfailing test: IF IT INTERFERES WITH BHAJAN (spiritual practice), DISCARD IT UNHESITATINGLY."
"Nam is our only true friend, both here and beyond. It is our only constant companion, our only sustenance, our only guiding light, our only refuge; and therefore, we must assiduously practice it. The friends and relations of this world are really fair weather friends. They desert us even in our lifetime. But Nam does not leave us even after death."
"The highest service to the Master is when we vacate the body, concentrate our consciousness at the eye-center, and contact Nam. It is this alone that unites us with the Guru and with God and takes us to the highest realm of Ultimate Reality."
"My only advice is that whatever we may do and whatever circumstances we may live in, our meditation should be our main concern, and this should never be sacrificed to anything of this life."
PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION
The sincere seeker must comply with the first three prerequisites fully (meditation is done only after Initiation). Then, when eligible, the form included in this booklet, entitled APPLICATION REQUEST should be sent to the Master's Representative at the address indicated.
Upon our receipt of the "request form," an application will be sent to the applicant, whereupon he or she will be referred to the area Secretary. The applicant should call the area Secretary or the Representative for the required Initiation interview. For those who may be outside of a General Satsang area, special instructions will be included as to the procedure to follow.
Some seekers have raised the question as to why a true Master stands in need of making inquiries about the background and qualifications of seekers for The Gift of Nam through Representatives and why The Master asks for recommendations, when He knows everything about them. In answer to this question, Daryai Lal Kapur, former personal secretary to the Master, has written:
"When God comes to earth in human form, He always acts like an ordinary human being. He eats, sleeps, lives, works, suffers pains, insults, imprisonment, crosses, and dies just like other men. God also follows certain laws, though made by Himself. A question might also be asked as to why He does not call back His children to His home without taking the trouble of coming to Earth as Master. Well, such intellectual gymnastics can be of no avail. Saints never call themselves God, or assume any superior airs. They call themselves the servants of the Lord and always behave as such. They have no vanity to feed, nor any personal axe to grind. A kindergarten student will surely get confused if his M. A. teacher were to expose his knowledge to the child. But as the student rises in grade the teacher unfolds Himself to his heart's content. Our intellect is too limited to understand the limitless laws of the limitless Master."
To Simplify the process of application, a step-by-step procedure is outlined below for the seeker's guidance and information.
1. Before submitting a request form for an application, the Master has asked that each seeker should have a very thorough knowledge of the Sant Mat philosophy so that all intellectual doubts can be cleared up and satisfied. To insure that this requirement is met, each seeker is asked to read A MINIMUM OF 1 INTRODUCTORY S ANT MAT BOOK such as:
A. Path of the Masters by Dr. Julian Johnson
B. Yoga and the Bible by Joseph Leeming
C. The Mystic Philosophy of Sant Mat by Peter Fripp D. Liberation of the Soul by Dr. J. Stanley White
2. After reading 1 introductory book listed above, the seeker should surely read several of the books written by the Master Himself, such as:
A. Die to Live
B. Divine Light (Discourses and Letters: 1959-64)
C. Light on Sant Mat (Discourses and Letters: 1952-58) D. Light on Saint Matthew (Gospel of St. Matthew) E. Light on Saint John (Gospel of St. John) F. Spiritual Discourses
G. Quest for Light (Letters: 1965-71)
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H. The Master Answers (Audiences in America: 1970)
1. Thus Saith the Master (Audiences in America: 1970) J. Truth Eternal
K. The Path
3. Finally, each applicant is asked to study the classic Sant Mat publication, Sar Bachan by Swami Ji Maharaj, the founder of the present line of perfect Masters. It is a veritable treasure-house of wisdom and spirituality, and should be re-read many times after Initiation.
4. Before submitting the request form, be certain that you meet the standards established by the Master for applicants:
A. Women must be age 20 or older, but married women age 19 are accepted.
B. Men must be age 22 or older.
C. The vegetarian diet has been strictly followed for the past 3 months and hereafter permanently.
D. No use of alcoholic beverages for the past 3 months (minimum) nor mind-affecting drugs, including marijuana, for the past 6 months (minimum) and henceforth permanently.
E. Standards of morality, as defined in this booklet, have been met for the past 3 months (minimum) and henceforth permanently, including the requirement of lawful marriage as per Master's instructions wherever couples are cohabitating. For the unmarried, sexual abstinence is required.
Complete the"Request for Application" form which is the last page of this booklet complete and mail it to the Master's Representative:
6. When you have received the application form and completed it, phone your area secretary and arrange for a personal interview.
7. To the interview, be sure to bring your completed Application. The Secretary will forward your Application to the Master's Representative who will, in turn, send it on to the Master in India.
8. Notification of the action of the Master regarding your request will be sent to the Representative and the applicant will be notified by mail immediately upon receipt of the Master's decision. If you are accepted, instructions concerning the Initiation time, place, etc. will be included.
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