Ashok :
We will do the question-answer session now. Baba Ji, yesterday, when I met Him, He also asked me to announce this. When one is in these sessions, we should refrain from asking personal questions. And also, when we go for Darshan, and when we meet Baba Ji, we should refrain from asking worldly level, or personal questions, about relationships, etc. He advised that He is there for the soul and to get you to the Oversoul. So, everything associated with that is what He would like to advise you on if required. But, other than that, if we are asking Him personal questions, personal level issues, then these are a lot related to your personal karmas and the way they are unfolding. So, He would like restraints, as far as possible, on those kinds of questions. So, I'll take the first question… {reading from written questions}
Question :
This is from Tom. So, he asks, “What is Satsang?” He wants a clarification on what the meaning of Satsang should be when we listen to Satsang and there is a reference of attending Satsang and, every day, bringing Satsang in our routine, what does it mean? Is it the DVDs that we play when we go home, or the taped Satsang that we listen to, because there is often a thought process that goes on that anything that we do relating to Sant Mat, or relating to soul and Oversoul, is also Satsang. So, if we read a book, that is a Satsang. If two people meet and talk about the Guru, or talk about Satsang, then that is also a Satsang. So, if Master can shed light on what Satsang means, and whether there should be a fixed time for this.
Babaji :
So, Masters have referred to two types of Satsangs. One is the Satsang where the Masters, from Their mouth, speak something, and we listen to that. That is one level of Satsang. And the other Satsang is when we cross into the Tenth Door and we get in connection with the Sound Current. That is the second Satsang. So, the getting in connection with the Sound Current is the True Satsang. So, when two satsangis meet and they talk about Satsang, it is otherwise good, because then we continue to remain in touch with Satsang and all of that. So, it definitely has a good impression on us. But, Guru Nanak says, “Satsang is where there is the Word of Naam and the Masters speak of Naam. That is what is Satsang.” So, if the two people are talking and it's not colored with other discussions, then that is good. So, Baba Ji says, “When the Masters speak, it is a pure talk about Naam and your Path within.” And that is what is a real Satsang because that has a good effect. When the Masters speak on Naam, They also shower their Grace when They're talking and when we are listening. And that has a very good effect on the spirituality. So, when we do not have the benefit of the company of the True Masters when we are at home, then listening to the DVD, or listening to the Satsang there, that is also good. And, what we should do is, we should fix a time for listening to that Satsang, and we should not do other things while we are listening. Because, when we listen to Satsang and there are other things going on, either someone is talking and we're listening to him also, or we're listening to the Satsang, or were doing some other thing, or there is a lot of noise around when we're listening to Satsang, then what happens is, that the importance of the Word of the Master, we lose the respect of that Word. And then, oftentimes, when we actually meet the Masters also, we carry that same impression, and we also listen to the Master in His physical presence in the same manner. So, we should, therefore, concentrate on the Satsang itself.
Question :
This is a question from Jane. You, the Masters, have given us the Five Names of the Simran to help us reach Your Lotus Feet. Would you please explain the third Name?
Babaji :
So, the third Name is that name of the Lord of Par Brahm, which is beyond the compound of Kal. So, when we reach in that plane, then there is Mansarovar there. And, when the soul dips in the Mansarovar, by the time it reaches there, it is outside of the compound of Kal. So, then it takes a dip in that Mansarovar and gets purer. So there, the three covers that the soul carries in the physical, astral, and causal, all the three covers, are shed off. And it manifests itself in the form of the Sound Current. So there, the Guru is also of the Shabd, or the Sound Current, and the soul also becomes only Shabd, or the Sound Current. So, Kal has tacked the rope of the soul within its reach. When we are initiated by the Masters, the Masters, at the time of initiation, tie this knot at Par Brahm. So, that is how They tie us outside of the realm of Kal. So, that is the place, which is also referred as the place of salvation, where there is very little illusion, and there is a lot of luminance.
Question :
These are questions of Maggie… read one by one. What is happening in our body and energy when we are getting Baba Ji's Darshan?
Babaji :
When we take the Darshan with love and affection, then a lot of our karmas are redeemed when we are in the presence of the Master, or when we take His Darshan. With that, the mind becomes pure quite instantly. And, when the mind gets pure, it gets inclined towards spirituality. Otherwise, the mind is impure and it gets inclined towards worldly matters. So, therefore, Satsang, Darshan, and Bhajan Simran, if these are with us, we definitely get the fruit of that, of all of these.
Question :
The second question is… I read somewhere that the life of a Master is full of sorrow. Is it true? If yes, why?
Babaji :
Saints have sorrow in Their life. What happens is, the loved ones, the devotees, often within their minds, pray for some relief to the difficulties that they are going through. And Masters, very often, grace these devotees, these loved ones and, oftentimes, take over those karmas. So, They face those difficulties and They go through that pain of redeeming those karmas for those loved ones.
Question :
Okay. The next question is… What does Baba Ji see when He looks at us? Does He look at only the physical body, or our soul as well?
Babaji :
So, at the time of initiation, the Masters look at the soul only, and decide whether to give the initiation, or not to give the initiation, and They see the load of the karmas that are there on the soul. So, that is what They look at. So, at other times, when the Masters look at us, They also look at the body also, because They have to take some of those karmas, or They redeem some of those karmas. So, They look at that also.
Question :
The next question is… When we act in life, how to know if it is action because of our karmas, or what we are doing in this moment now, karma…new karma? So, I’ll just paraphrase slightly differently…so, how do we distinguish between our deeds, whether it is Kriyaman, or it is Pralabdh?
Babaji :
So, God Almighty has given the freedom of karmas to the human souls, to the human form. So, everything that we do is Kriyaman. Everything that we do within the realm of the mind is Kriyaman…is something that we are incurring as we are doing it. Now, what we get, how we benefit or how we suffer, the suffering and the pleasure, and the wealth, all of that is what is determined by your Pralabdh, what is already determined and fated for you. So, it's like one soul, which is born in a poor family and does his devotion. And there’s another soul, which is born in a wealthy family and does the devotion. So, that is his past karmas. So, everything that is being done, otherwise, is…and done within the realm of the mind is… Kriyaman. Is what we are incurring.
Question :
Baba Ji told in the Satsang that, a long time ago, it was more difficult to get the initiation. The jivas had to do much more seva. I would like to ask Baba Ji to tell us how this happened in Babaji’s life with Baba Somanath Ji?
Babaji :
So, before I took Naam, I did seva. I was paid to do seva for four months. But that was not a testing period. It was not any test to see whether I was fit for Naam or not. All this used to be done earlier when, for very long periods, the disciple would be with the Master. And over a very long period, that cleansing would happen, and then the Naam would be given out at a much later date. All that doesn't happen now. And we are given our initiation. Seva is given to a disciple to extinguish his ego. So, when we do that seva without ego, and when we do our Dhyan Bhajan with love and affection, then we get the benefit of that.
Question :
The spiritual and inner contact between Master and disciples is a big miracle. How can a Master be fully conscious with each and every one of His disciples, and at every moment, and at the same time? The Master is doing other things in His life, like He’s talking, giving Satsangs.
Babaji :
So, the True Form of the Master is Sound, is the Sound Current. So, it is only this body, which is one manifestation of that Sound Current. So, the Sound Current is taking care of everyone. If the physical body is resting, or it is doing some other work of the Master, then the Sound Current is always there to take care of the disciples. So, once Tulsi Das was in a forest in a hut. And He was resting when four thieves decided to steal from that hut. And, when they came in the night, the God Almighty took the form of a security guard and He was taking care of the hut from outside. So, these four waited till that guard would leave. But then, the whole night passed away and He was walking outside. So then, they were unable to steal from the hut. So, the Masters are beloved children of the God Almighty. So, when They are resting, or They are doing any other thing, then God Almighty Himself is taking care.
Question :
The next question is…there is an agreement between Kal and Sat Purush that Masters don't do any miracles during His life in this world. Jesus was a perfect Master and still, He made a lot of miracles. The blind man could see after His touch, the man who was lame could walk again after His touch, so how is that possible?
Babaji :
So, doing miracles is a matter…is from time to time. It is a matter of time. Sometimes, a miracle may be necessary to be done. So, in earlier periods, miracles were indeed performed. Even Guru Nanak Ji cleared the leprosy of a person and He also showed some miracles. So, it depends on the people and the environment at that particular point in time. Gradually, Saints have decided not to do miracles, not to show miracles, because, as of now, a lot of people are very inclined spiritually and by showing miracles, then that will disturb the present. But, having said that, it is not that Saints don't do miracles. So, with Maggie also, there was something that has happened along those lines…in that boat trip…{Bernard interjects referring to an incident in Maggie’s life that implied a miracle done by Babaji…and there is a lot of laughter}
Question :
There are two more questions… This is Maggie's question, or yours and Gyöngyi’s? So, we make a mistake, like we criticize, bad thoughts, or words or actions about somebody, or hurt somebody's heart by chance, so what can we do afterward, when we realize that we should not have done this?
Babaji :
So, we should…when we know this…we should ask for forgiveness of that person, and then that person’s mind moves away from that hurt.
Question :
The other question is, how should we, or could we, explain to the worldly people when they ask why we satsangis don't drink alcohol and take drugs? This question is asked because of the situation often, which comes up in my life.
Babaji :
So, if you are faced with a situation like this, then you should tell them that you have gone to a Master and you have been asked to refrain from all of this. And, if the questioning is further from there, as to why you have gone, then you can tell them that it is for following a spiritual path and for the soul.
Question :
{From Jacob} I understand so much is determined by karma and Master’s Will, but still, it often feels like we have important decisions to make. What is the right way to go about making decisions? Should we trust our intuition? Should we think logically about what might help us progress on the Spiritual Path? I get very stressed about decisions and would like to improve this.
Babaji :
So, we should follow the Path of Spirituality. The mind plays two roles. It plays the role of playing the good advocate and the bad advocate. So, we should try to refrain from getting entangled there, and stick to the Spiritual Path. If there is ever a question, or a decision, relating to how that decision is going to impact your spirituality, you should take the Path of the Masters, and follow what the Masters have told you. So, we should not get too stressed or tensed about our decision-making. If there are good thoughts that come, which progress you on the Spirituality, you should follow that and take your decision accordingly.
Question :
Like in earlier times, the Saints have changed the ways for making it easier to be given initiation. Now, we do our meditation and, oftentimes, it is very dry and we do not get internal experiences. So, when we don't get experiences, it becomes dry, and then, our time for spending on that meditation reduces. And, oftentimes, we take a holiday also from meditation. So, if the experiences are improved within…it's a wish…then won't the mind be brought in faster, acceleration, in terms of being controlled?
Babaji :
So, when the Masters grace and give an experience like that, then that experience stays for a short while. It doesn't last very long for us to change paths, or do any course correction, in terms of our meditation. But, on the other hand, when we are very devoted and we are doing a lot of Bhajan Simran and, despite that, we are not getting experiences, the Masters keep and withhold those experiences because, when these experiences are given to the soul, then the soul will leave its regular worldly duties completely, because he’ll get very intoxicated within. And then, your karmas, which were to be redeemed in the normal course, will all get accumulated and will stay as it is. So, therefore, the Masters prefer the path of Sahaj, or They prefer the path of steady continuity, when you are redeeming your karmas in the normal course, you're also doing your meditation. And then, you get some short experiences, then you continue on that, you fall, you get up, and you again fall, you again get up…that way you progress steadily. But you’re redeeming your karmas on one side, and you're doing your spirituality on the other.
So, Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj had also written a letter to Jaimal Singh Ji Maharaj requesting that he resign from his office duties in the Army and come to the ashram and devote himself completely to seva and meditation. But then, Jaimal Singh Ji Maharaj replied to him that he should refrain from doing so because, by doing that, he would leave his karmas unattended, and they would just build up. And he would have to take another life then to come back and redeem those karmas.
Question :
So, when we sit for meditation, and during the meditation, how do we know that our soul is actually progressing on the Path correctly?
Babaji :
So, why do we do our meditation? As the soul starts withdrawing and gets focused at the Eye Center, all four limbs, that is, both legs and hands, from the fingers, start becoming numb. So, you either get a tingling there or, like when we say, we get ‘ants’. And that withdrawing process starts uniformly from all the four limbs. So, if you're feeling numb in only one leg, or one hand, or something, that is not what is happening. So, it is all four, which will come. So, what happens is, as the soul concentrates and gets its attention focused, the withdrawal starts. Then again, we lose attention. Again, it goes back. And again, when we are focused, it starts becoming numb, all four again become numb. So, when you're meditating, you will realize that this is happening. So, you are progressing this way. So, when the soul has also retracted, it has gone up and focused at the Eye Center, after we leave our meditation also, it takes some time for us to get a full sense of all our limbs and the body. So, that also, we come to know that this is also a sign that our soul is withdrawing inside.
Question :
(Kashmir asks in English)…If our karmas are paid through pain and suffering, then if the pain and suffering we’re feeling while we’re meditating, is that actually relieving our set of karmas?}
Ashok translates the question: So when we…our karmas are also…when we have pain and suffering also, our karmas get redeemed?
So, when we sit for meditation our body often aches, so the pains that we are suffering during meditation, are we redeeming our karmas like that?*
*{Babaji corrects this last statement by Ashok referring to the original question.}
Babaji :
See, that is a lack of habit. So, that pain is not the redemption of karmas. But, when we steadily do our Simran and we do our devotion, then you be rest assured your karmas are getting redeemed.