WHO IS A SADHU?
by
Sant Ajaib Singh Ji
This Satsang was given on May 14/77
at Sant Bani Ashram, N.H.
After seeking such a Sadhu, remain at His Feet:
One who has this good fortune, his sufferings
of birth are ended.
In his writings Swami Ji Maharaj has clearly differentiated between
Sadhus: between the real Sadhu and the false Sadhu or imitator.
He is called "Sant" Whose soul is always attached in Sach Khand. When
He opens His eyes He is in the world, and when He closes His eyes, He is
in Sach Khand. He is called "Sadh" Who reaches to Daswan Dwar, and makes
His soul free from all three vestures. He is called "Bheki" or initiate
who has been initiated by a Saint, is doing a little bit of meditation,
and has faith in the Master from Whom he has got initiation.
And Swami Ji says that he is called "hypocrite" who has never done
meditation in his life, but still is imitating a Sadh.
So Guru Ramdas Ji Maharaj says that we call him Sadh who is doing
the Sadhana (practice), because no one can become a Sadh only by
reading books or talking. You can read in the histories of the past
Mahatmas and Saints, how they meditated: some meditated for eleven
years, some twenty years, and one Master spent twenty-five years of
his life in the search for God.
So Guru Ramdas Ji says that he is called Sadh who is doing Sadhana
or meditation, and who contacts the Shabd Naam, and who becomes the
form of that Shabd Naam. And then He says that to talk with such a Sadhu
is just like talking with God, and to see such a Sadhu is just like
seeing God.
So in this hymn Kabir Sahib says that we should also try to search
for such a perfect Sadh; and if we find a perfect Sadh who has done the
practices and has become one with God, we should go to His feet and take
initiation from Him. And after taking initiation, and doing the practices
which he has shown us, we should remove the dirt of our soul which we
have got from ages and ages.
Neither tigers nor swans are found in groups,
nor jewels in bags.
So with Sadhus: They don't come in groups.
Huzur used to say that the time will come when there will be only Gurus
and it will be difficult to find any disciples; you will find Gurus under
every stone.
But Kabir Sahib says that you will not find tigers in groups, you will
not see groups of swans flying over, and you will not find rubies in bags.
In the same way you will not find many Sadhus at one place or many at a
time, because rare are the persons who can attain the position of Sadh.
Guru Nanak says that if you search in this world, you will find only
one or two persons who have united themselves with God. And further
Guru Nanak says that there might be only one out of millions who has
got the meditation of God.
All the forest is not sandalwood,
brave ones also are few,,
As pearls are rare in the ocean,
so Sadhus exist in the world.
Kabir Sahib says that just as all the woods are not sandalwood, everywhere
in the ocean you do not find pearls, and you do not find brave people
everywhere, in the same way Sadhus are rare; there are only a few Sadhus
in this world.
Many are imitators, Sadhus are few,
understand this.
There are many birds, but anul birds
are only a few.
Now Kabir Sahib says that there are only a few Sadhs in this world, but
there are many people who are imitating and in their name they are also
called Sadh. In the same way there is one bird called anul; there are many
birds in this world, but of the special kind called anul, there are only a
few. The anul bird is that bird which lives only in the sky; and Hazur
used to say that when its eggs are ready to hatch, it throws them from the
sky, and the eggs hatch before they land on the earth.
The lion and the Sadhu have similar qualities.
Both of them eat the living.
They don't bother the dead.
Now here the question arises that since we are all initiated, and we have
all got Naam, why are we not meditating? This is a matter of concern.
So Kabir Sahib says that the path of the tiger and the Saint is the same:
because tigers eat the living body, and Saints also eat the living body. But
we are dead bodies against the mind. That's why we are afraid and we are not
moving to Him. Because to die while living, and to take our soul out from
our body, is surrendering our life to Him.
Once a dear one in Ganga Nagar requested Master to tell me that I should
do Satsang. Master replied, "Now I'm looking forward to eating this man, and
you are talking about Satsang? When the time comes he will give Satsang, but
now let me eat this man." That's why Master told me, "First of all you have
to do your meditation, and there is no need to go and see other people." So
when dear ones come and tell me that Master told them to meditate for two
hours or four hours, I tell them, "You are fortunate; Master told you to do
four hours of meditation, but He didn't tell me that, He has given me
twenty-four hours for meditation."
Even if many clouds come together the radiance
of the sun does not decrease.
The Brahmand may upturn but the Word
of the Sadhu can never change.
Now Kabir says that the radiance, the light, of the sun can never be
decreased. No matter how many clouds come and surround that sun, still it
is temporary. When the clouds go away, again the sun shines with his real
original radiance. In the same way, the world might turn over, but the Word
given by the Master will never turn over, because He has to take care of
the soul. We can call it Bhajan, Naam, "Word," or Shabd - whatever we want
to call it, but He says, "Once that Word or Naam is kept within someone,
that Naam is not subject to destruction; and one who has that Naam within
him will reach Sach Khand sooner or later."
It is as difficult to become a Sadhu
as it is to walk on the razor's edge.
If one wavers, he falls. Only one
who is steady goes to the other shore.
Now Kabir Sahib says that it is not easy to become a Sadh; it is very
difficult. It is just like walking on the razor's edge.
It is as difficult to become a Sadhu
as it is to climb a date tree;
If one climbs he eats sweets,
if he falls down he is smashed.
Now Kabir Sahib says that it is as difficult to become a Sadh as it is to
climb a date tree. If one climbs that date tree he gets the very sweet fruit
to eat; but if he falls down, he's gone. We meditate for ten days or one
month, and then we ask, "How long will it take to complete this course? How
long will it take to reach the goal?"
Hazur (Kirpal) used to say that once Shamas Tabrez told Maulana Rumi,
"Tomorrow you will be beheaded in the Market of Love, but still I will not
give you a guarantee that you will get your beloved."
Hazur used to tell one story about two men who were doing meditation.
Once Narada, who is often called the Mind of God, was passing by, and both
of them asked Narada, "You are going to see God daily. Please take our
question to God and bring the answer: how long will it take us to meet Him?"
So Narada went there and God welcomed him: "Tell me some news about the
physical world." Then Narada said, "What to say about the physical world
- two people are meditating on Your Nammme, and they are working very hard.
But they are very curious to know how long it will take them to meet You."
God told him that the meditator who had first asked him this question would
have to meditate for six more years, and then he would meet Him. And the
other meditator should count the leaves of the pipal tree under which he
was sitting: he had to meditate for that many years, after which he would
be able to see God.
So when Narada came back to the physical world, he went very happily
to the first man. And he thought, I have got the message from God, so
hearing that he will be very pleased with me and will respect me. But that
man did not have any respect for Narada, and he asked him very harshly,
"Yes, what is the reply to my question?" So he said, "God has told me to
convey to you that you have to meditate for six more years, and after that
you can see Him." Hearing that, that meditator became very displeased with
Narada, and wanted to give him a beating. He said, "I have been meditating
for six years, and He wants me to meditate for six more years?" He was very
displeased with Narada and God, and he tried to give him a beating, but
Narada ran away.
After that he was very afraid to convey the message to the other one:
he thought that he would kill him, because that message was worse than
the first one. But still he had to do his work, so he went there to the
other meditator, and that man was very humble. He didn't inquire about his
question, but he started doing service to him: he gave him a good seat to
sit on, and he served him tea, and he made everything for him. But Narada
was still afraid that when he told him his message, he would also chase
him. So after drinking tea, he finally had to give the message; he prepared
himself to run if he began to beat him, and at the same time he said, "God
has told you to count the leaves of the pipal tree under which you sit,
and you have to meditate for that many years." So hearing that, instead of
becoming displeased, that meditator became very happy, and started dancing
in that joy, and said, "Blessed are you - thank you very much - that you
have brought me this reply from my God. At last He has promised me that He
will meet me. No matter how many years it takes, now I am sure that I will
reach Him!" And he started thanking God and thanking Narada, and he was
dancing with joy. So in that happiness, and that thankfulness, he was
intoxicated so much that his inner vision was opened, and he realized God
at that time. So in Sant Mat there is no fixed time; it depends on our
love, our devotion, and our effort.
The Way of the Saints is different
from the ways of the worldly people.
Don't call him "Sadhu" who has adopted
the way of hypocrisy.
Kabir Sahib says that the Way of the Saints, the way of living of the
Saints, is different from the way of living of the worldly people. What do
worldly people do? Even after taking initiation, sometimes they meditate
and sometimes they don't. But those Who are sent by God only for the
liberation of souls, when They come into this world, they do not behave
like worldly people. As soon as They find the Master and get Initiation,
They work very hard to attain that position which They are supposed to
attain. It may take Them ten or twenty years, but still They work very
hard, because They are preparing Themselves for the purpose for which
They have been sent into this world. And when They go to Their
Satguru, when They meet the Master, they go just like dry gunpowder
which, when it is put in contact with fire, bursts. When They come in
contact with Their Satguru, They just go up.
So Kabir says of one who has not sat for meditation, what is the use
of calling him a Sadh?
One who does not collect money
and is not attached to woman -
Kabir says, "I am the dust of such a Sadhu."
Now Kabir Sahib says, "What are the outward signs of a perfect Sadhu?" The
outward signs are, that he will never fight for worldly wealth or worldly
name and fame. The example of our beloved Hazur stands before all the
world: when His Master Sawan Singh left the body, He left the Dera, bowing
down to that place, without fighting for any wealth, without fighting for
anything in the Dera, even though there is property worth millions of
rupees in the Dera. In the Dera of Beas, Master had built His own house;
He left that building also in the Dera.
So Kabir Sahib says that he is a Sadhu who does not love Maya, nor is
attached to woman. When Baba Sawan Singh came to the feet of Baba Jaimal
Singh, Baba Jaimal Singh called Baba Sawan Singh's wife and told her, "Now
you have to look to Sawan Singh as a great soul, as a Saint." And the same
order was given to Master Kirpal's wife by Master Sawan Singh, "Now you
have to maintain chastity, and you have to look to your husband as a Saint."
So Kabir Sahib says that the Sadhus, the Param Sants Who are sent by
God Himself and Who attain the position of Sadh, are not attached to the
wealth of the world, nor are they attached to woman. He says, "If I find
such a Sadh, I would like to become the dust of His feet."
He who is not happy at the Sadhu's arrival
and does not weep at his departure -
Kabir says, "How can such a disciple get
liberation?"
Now Kabir Sahib says that if we find such a meditator Sadh, such a perfect
Sadh, and if He comes to our home or our courtyard, what should we do? Our
joy should know no bounds; we should be very happy to welcome Him. And when
He leaves our home, we should become sad. When people lose their valuable
rubies or other precious things, how sad they become! Kabir Sahib says that
if we don't develop these two attributes - that when the Sadhu comes we
become very happy, and when He leaves we feel sad - we cannot achieve our
goal.
When beloved Hazur first came to our Ashram, the dear ones sprinkled
water all around on the dust (because our land is made of dust) and they
covered the dusty road with sheets, so that not even Hazur's car should
touch that dust of our area. And when Hazur came there, a lot of happiness
was expressed by exploding firecrackers and things like that. When Master
came there He told me that He was not pleased with that. I told Him, "I
understand that You are not happy. But at least look at our happiness -
how happy we are." And then He said, "Yes, all right; I am happy in your
happiness."
After calling the Sadhu lovingly,
give Him bedding and feed Him.
One who does this is praised while living
and ultimately gets high status.
Now Kabir Sahib says that if we find such a perfect Sadhu, a meditator
Sadhu, what should we do? Lovingly we should serve Him, because serving
Him we obtain glory in this world, and when we go to the other world, in
the court of God, God also gives us much love and respect.
Sadhu is my soul. We are the jivas
of Sadhu.
As the ghee lives in the milk,
in that way I live in Him.
Now Kabir says, "What is my relationship to the true Sadhu? I live in
Him just as butter is in milk."
As there is ghee in milk,
so He is everywhere.
You may find many speakers
with an audience -
Few are those who discriminate.
Now Kabir Sahib says that it is not easy to find such a Sadhu, but it is
very easy to find lecturers or story-tellers, or people who can talk a
great deal: we can find these people very easily.
Tulsi Sahib says that even after reading the four Vedas, the Shastras,
and the Puranas - all the Holy Scriptures of the Hindus - even after reading
all these holy books with love for God, if our soul is not attached to that
Shabd, it is only like that bird which imitates the voices of other birds.
Sadhu is such a river whose water is love -
wash yourself there.
Kabir says, "By coming in the company of a Sadhu
one becomes pure."
In India there are many pilgrimages at the bank of some holy river, and
people believe that bathing in that river will bring them liberation. But
Kabir Sahib says that no water in the world has the power to liberate or
purify souls. Water can purify only dirt - outward dirt.
He says, What is real pilgrimage? To enter the company of a Saint is
the real pilgrimage, and after entering His company you should wash every
single part of the body. How are you to wash every single part of the body?
With the nectar of Shabd Naam. And only after that can you purify yourself,
removing all your sins.
The tree never eats its fruit,
the river never drinks its water.
In the same way the Sadhu has
taken up the body for others.
Now Kabir Sahib says that the tree is bearing fruit for the sake of others;
the tree never eats its own fruit. Similarly, the river is flowing only to
give water to others - the river doesn't drink its own water. Similarly,
Saints never live for Their own self; They live for the sake of others.
Seeing the Sadhu's coming,
my body smiled.
My problems disappeared and my eyes
fell in love with Him.
Now Kabir Sahib says that when we are having the darshan of such a Sadhu,
not only our eyes smile, because they are having darshan of Him, but our
whole body smiles and becomes happy. Darshan of such a Sadhu - when we
exchange our sight, when He looks into our eyes, and we look into His
eyes - will take us to Sach Khand.
At their places all Sadhus are great,
but One Who is the Recognizer of Shabd
is the crown of all.
The Sadhus are alike as poppies in a field -
some are red, some are white.
Now Kabir Sahib says that the Sadhus who meditated and reached Sach
Khand are all one: there is no difference between such Sadhus.
There are two kinds of Mahatmas: one kind comes directly from Sach
Khand, like Kabir and Nanak; and others take initiation from a perfect
Mahatma, work hard, and with His grace, They also reach Sach Khand;
but there is no difference between Them. They are both one.
Kabir Sahib explains this to us, giving a very beautiful example of a
field of poppies: all the flowers have the same intoxication, even though
their colors may be different.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji says, "The Light is the same, the practices are the
same, but that Power comes again in this world only after changing the
body."
The Sadhu's body is the residence
of the Formless One.
If you want to know the Unknowable,
know the Sadhu.
Kabir Sahib says that if there is any place where God is residing, it is
the body of a Saint. If we want to see God, we can see Him only in the
body of a Saint. There is no other place where we can realize Him.
Kabir says, "One day my Mind flew into the sky, like a bird, and went
into heaven. When I went there, I saw that God was not there, because
He was dwelling within the Saints."
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