Surat Shabd Yoga

SURAT SHABD YOGA THE YOGA OF THE CELESTIAL SOUND CURRENT I have written books without any copyright – no rights reserved – because it is a gift of God, given by God, as much as sunlight; other gifts of God are also free. – from a talk by Kirpal Singh with the author of a book after a talk to students of religion at Santa Clara University, San Jose, California on November 16, 1972 This book is excerpted from the book Crown of Life written by Kirpal Singh. No changes have been made to the text, it is exactly the same as Chapter 5 of Crown of Life. Last Edition published in 1999 This Edition published in 2006 by: Ruhani Satsang - Divine Science of the Soul 250 “H” Street, #50 Blaine, WA 98230-4033 ISBN 0-942735-95-1 Printed in the United States of America By Print Graphics Pros • (949) 859-3845 Dedicated to the Almighty God working through all Masters who have come and Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj at whose lotus feet the author imbibed sweet elixir of Holy NAAM—the WORD TABLE OF CONTENTS Circular Number 2 – Instructions for Seekers after Truth 1 Surat Shabd Yoga – Chapter 5 from the book Crown of Life by Kirpal Singh 7 A Brief Life Sketch of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji 60 Books by Kirpal Singh 83 THE STUDY OF SURAT SHABD YOGA The Yoga of the Celestial Sound Current (Chapter 5 of Crown of Life) KIRPAL SINGH This music streams from a transcendent plane within and is caught by a soldier Saint –Shabd 9, page 94, Sar Bachan (Poetry) Instructions for Seekers After Truth Before the living Master [an adept in the science of the Sound Current or Word], gives Initiation, he wishes that every prospective initiate abide by the following instructions: I. To cultivate and develop the five cardinal virtues which constitute the bedrock of spirituality. These are: 1. Ahimsa or Non-injury to all living creatures, and more so to fellow beings, by thoughts, words and deeds – the injunction in this behalf being: “Injure not a human heart for it is the seat of God.” We must have respect for others’ feelings and tolerance for others’ opinions. 2. Satayam or Truthfulness: As God is Truth, we must practice Truth in all our dealings. If Truth resides in every heart, it must manifest itself in life and action. “Be true to thyself and it must follow as night the day, thou canst not be false to any man.” We must therefore avoid falsehood at all costs. It includes, besides downright lies, hypocrisy and dishonesty, suppresso veri [suppression of truth], and suggestio falsi [suggestions of false ideas]. 3. Brahmcharya or life of Chastity: It includes continence in thoughts, words and deedhoughts within, for “Chastity is life and sexuality is death.” If we want to tread the Path of Life Eternal, we must be chaste and clean both 1 within and without. 4. Prem or love for all living creatures and more so for all human beings. Let there be hatred for none. The entire manifestation is the handiwork of God and must therefore be loved and respected. “He who does not know love, cannot know God”. 5. Nishkam Seva or Selfless Service to all living creatures in sorrow and distress. If one limb of the body is in torture, the other limbs can have no rest. “Service before self” should therefore be our motto in life. II. To practice these three purities – in Diet, Livelihood and Conduct: 1. Ahar or Diet. What we eat goes to constitute the body and the mind. “Sound mind in a sound body” is a well known aphorism. We can neither have one nor the other with unwholesome diet. A strictly vegetarian diet consisting of vegetables and fruits, both fresh and dried, cereals, dairy products like milk, cream, butter, cheese, yogurt, etc., is essential for all aspirants for Truth. We must therefore avoid meat, meat juices, fish, fowl, eggs both fertile and unfertile,