Contemporary Sant Mat movements: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:14, 2 September 2005

Revision as of 01:00, 3 September 2005

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'''Sant Mat''' (or '''Path of the Masters''') is an [[esoteric]] religious movement active in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and especially India. Sant Mat shares a lineage with [[Sikhism]] and contains elements of thought found in [[Hinduism]], such as [[karma]] and [[reincarnation]]. SomeIt parties consider it tomay have been formally established by [[Shiv Dayal Singh]] of Agra (1818–1878). The tradition has inspired and influenced a number of other religious groups and organizations.

===Introduction===

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===Geographical Reach===

Sant Mat, while virtually unknown outside India prior to the 1960s, has since spread around the world, initially to Europe, then Latin America and the United States. [[Sant Kirpal Singh]] visited Europe and the United States in 1955 and 1963, and Europe, America, and Latin America in 1972.[14]

[[Sant Thakar Singh]] visited Germany for the first time in 1976, Mexico in 1977, and the USA in 1979. He also travelled with some regularity to South America, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, and Indonesia. He visited Russia in 1996--the first time any Sant Mat Master had ever ventured there. [36] However the vast majority of Sant Mat initiates reside in India. By his own estimate, Sant Thakar Singh initiated more than 2 million people between 1976 and 2005, and more than 1.5 million of these presently live in India. In February 2005 1.1 million people gathered in Pimpalner, India to see Sant Thakar Singh pass the mantle of Guruship to his successor, [[Sant Baljit Singh]]. [43]

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Supreme Brahma.</blockquote>

Compare this with the verses of John 1 [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201;&version=31 John] and the reader can begin to understand why Sant Mat makes special use of comparative religion (seeking the common thread in all religions within an underlyingand esoteric phenomena) and why the Word or Sound Current is of principle importance in Sant Mat. [http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/naam/contents.htm Naam or Word], written by [[Sant Kirpal Singh]], explores this theme in great detail.

The Sound Current is the esoteric form of God which is available to human beings. [39] The Guru, who is a human being, has merged with the Sound Current in such a manner that he is a living manifestation of it (the Word made flesh). [42] However, not just the Guru can achieve this, but all human beings are inherently privileged in this way; indeed, in Sant Mat the raison d’être for the human form is to meditate on the Sound Current, and in so doing merge with it into oneness. [42]

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The Masters teach a spiritual path which is intentionally easier than others described in the ancient scriptures as it requires nothing more than sitting quietly and looking and listening within. (As mentioned, the term "Sehaj" yoga means "easy" or "middle" way.) Meditation is the prescribed medicine for our ills, and is to be taken liberally. [26]

Specifics of this process include connecting one’sone's soul or attention, called ''[[Surat (soul)]]'' with the inner Current of Light and Sound of God, the [[Shabd]]. This Sound Current cannot be heard by the uninitiated; it is made manifest at the time of initiation.[27] An essential component of the practice involves sitting still with eyes closed, with one's attention focused at the "third eye center", located between and behind the two eyebrows, while (mentally) repeating one or more [[mantra]]s given by the Guru to the disciple at the time of initiation. This is called [[simran]] (repetition) and its primary function is to still the mind while remembering (or being connected to) the Guru via the mantra he provided. However listening to the Sound Current by plugging the ears with the thumbs and listening at the right side or above is equally as important. Sound is considered to be the source of the Light, and to contain everything required. [28] In some situations 100% Sound meditation is employed. When Sant Thakar Singh was undergoing heart bypass surgery he requested all of his initiates to meditate 100% on Sound.[37]

The concept of [[Satsang]] is also a common thread in Sant Mat. Satsang means literally "gathering of Truth." These gatherings serve as the formal meeting place of the Master and his devotees when he is present in physical form, but also, more often, follow the tradition of early Christianity and take place in the homes of disciples or in any convenient ___location as times of remembrance of the Master and the need for meditation. [29]