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You are Indispensable
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On this website, and in our book Shri Hans Raj Maharajji and the Dawn of a New Consciousness, we have abundantly spoken about the theme of the Parivartan – the Great Transformation of consciousness which is progressively starting off all over the world. We have spoken about the extraordinary opportunities which this will bring to humanity on the whole, and to each of us. We have also mentioned the great dangers connected with such major changes in society and consciousness if humanity continues to hang onto a materialistic approach to life.
But one must not believe that this transformation will come about by itself, without the active participation of men, especially that of workers of goodwill, viz. disciples and seekers. The faith, school of thought or philosophy to which they are linked is of no importance, for beyond denominations, there is a common meeting point which is the individual soul, which, itself, is just a small part of humanity’s collective soul. And one more easily has access to both the individual and the collective soul through the heart. That is the meeting place of the inner Divinity and the universal Divinity – Who is worshipped under so many different names around the world.
Some people, seeing the beginning of changes brought about by this new cycle – changes characterised by more and more interest being shown in all aspects of spirituality (research concerning one’s inner life, research on how to get closer to God, research on bringing help to the needy through different associations and NGOs, protecting nature and animals etc...), think that each person’s consciousness is going to awaken by itself as with spontaneous generation, without any help at all. Their conclusion is that Masters, Saints and Gurus are no longer needed. Some of them claim that their consciousness became enlightened by itself, but when one hears the very commonplace things they have to offer instead of inspired, profound teachings, one realizes that they have not been awakened to anything at all! This is real ignorance of the present cycle of humanity’s evolution, for in this cycle such spontaneous generation of consciousness is impossible.
In fact, in order to speak about certain aspects of human evolution, it is necessary to know, even a little, about the unfolding of cycles and their characteristics, otherwise one is like a man who wants to do gardening while knowing nothing at all about the passing of the different seasons and their characteristics! Wouldn’t such a gardener be heading for disaster? The Great Beings who watch over the evolution of humanity allow human consciousness to develop naturally without the process of injecting external energy (injecting external energy means initiation as in the process Masters use at the present time) in two cases. On one hand, there is the case where humanity’s consciousness is still too low, and it is then better to let the process go on naturally so that a certain level of spiritual awareness be acquired. This happened a very long time ago. On the other hand, when man’s consciousness is already highly developed, there again, the natural process will automatically bring it up to the level of the next stage. This is what will happen in the very distant future. But today humanity is in an intermediary stage between these two extremes and so one cannot hope to become enlightened naturally without receiving the necessary energy from a Master. Masters are wiser and more practical than the average man. If their help were not necessary, then once they had attained divine enlightenment, they would leave for the higher planes instead of sacrificing themselves by staying on this earthly plane which is not the best place for one who knows the beauty and harmony of the higher planes, where there is no longer any struggling against gross matter, like here below.
Naturally, from time to time one hears that such and such a great saint did not need a Master and that he attained those spiritual heights by himself ! What those who believe this do not know, is that when one’s consciousness is very developed, it quite naturally has access to Masters who are no longer in their physical bodies, or else it gains access to Masters who are still in their bodies but who live very far from their students. These very advanced disciples, therefore, who are in the process of becoming Masters or saints, receive whatever is necessary from those far-away Masters or those who are on a high spiritual plane. If one looks closely, one will find that this is similar in a way to what happens in schooling: when a child is less than two or three years old, no one thinks of teaching him; his consciousness is not yet developed enough, and so one allows the natural process to do its work. Then comes the intermediate stage where he goes to school to receive knowledge from outside through primary school teachers then teachers of a higher level. Later on when he has obtained his Doctorate, generally speaking, he can learn by himself in his subject for he knows enough and has already acquired the methodology enabling him to seek further knowledge... So as for spiritual evolution, almost all human beings have to follow this usual process. But naturally, from time to time there are very rare exceptions and unless one is overestimating oneself, one should not hope that he, himself, is in such a case.
Consequently, human consciousness needs outer stimulation given by the Master, and the Master is therefore an architect who the new man to come cannot do without. That is what has made it necessary to set up teachings and initiations which the Masters give under the guidance of God, wherever there are ardent hearts seeking divine Wisdom and Love. These teachings and initiations have been established for thousands of years and will continue to last for thousands of years more.
What is of interest for us today, is that for this Great Transformation which is at its dawn, the Masters are the Great Architects, seeing the general plan, channelling and adapting the divine energies from the higher planes and preparing human consciousness on a large scale to be much more receptive to spiritual truths. For this same goal, they also carry out many tasks of which we know nothing about (a child does not know the full extent of his parent’s professional activities). We have said, for example, that Maharajji works in the Universal Soul, but because it is so much beyond our imagination, we are not able to know the details of this.
But architects have always needed masons, joiners, plasterers, tilers, painters, plumbers, etc... In the same way, Masters need hard-working and persevering disciples who will do certain types of tasks so that this process will take place in the best possible conditions and touch all beings, at least the maximum. Along the same lines, they need workers who inform the public at large that a great transformation called the Parivartan is going on and that each person must turn to the values of his soul. They need other types of workers like teachers, lecturers etc., to reach a maximum of individuals, for today, there is such a hubbub on the market of the earth that to make the message concerning inner truths heard, one has to go about it many times. There is also the need of workers in the purely spiritual field such as chanting regularly the mantra Prabhu Aap Jago or the Gayatri Mantra which contribute, through their power and vibrations, to raising human consciousness. All these tasks, whether they concern the outer field (teaching, conferences etc.) or the inner domain (recitation of Prabhu Aap Jago or the Gayatri Mantra), must be accompanied by a steady sadhana so that one is more and more effective in one’s work of service.
The sum of the efforts of all these spiritual workers will create a new atmosphere on Earth. The Masters of the Sacha lineage have devoted themselves to this and are still doing so today. We have learnt that Sacha Baba Girnari constantly travelled all over India. Sacha Baba Kulanandji also did so, and we are even told that he went from village to village. Maharajji went around the country covering every corner in such a way that he never had anywhere to lay his head, as the Bible says, until his Master told him, after 1983, to work from then on in the Universal Soul. Today ShantiMayi and her major teaching disciples also cover many countries to teach. Prem Baba is also active in this field. Maharajji regularly sends his swamis throughout India with his message. This goes to show that the whole Sacha lineage is engaged in this process and its teachers spare no pains in this work, but they alone cannot touch all the men on Earth, so vast is the task!
But one must not believe that this transformation will come about by itself, without the active participation of men, especially that of workers of goodwill, viz. disciples and seekers. The faith, school of thought or philosophy to which they are linked is of no importance, for beyond denominations, there is a common meeting point which is the individual soul, which, itself, is just a small part of humanity’s collective soul. And one more easily has access to both the individual and the collective soul through the heart. That is the meeting place of the inner Divinity and the universal Divinity – Who is worshipped under so many different names around the world.
The Need of External Energy
Some people, seeing the beginning of changes brought about by this new cycle – changes characterised by more and more interest being shown in all aspects of spirituality (research concerning one’s inner life, research on how to get closer to God, research on bringing help to the needy through different associations and NGOs, protecting nature and animals etc...), think that each person’s consciousness is going to awaken by itself as with spontaneous generation, without any help at all. Their conclusion is that Masters, Saints and Gurus are no longer needed. Some of them claim that their consciousness became enlightened by itself, but when one hears the very commonplace things they have to offer instead of inspired, profound teachings, one realizes that they have not been awakened to anything at all! This is real ignorance of the present cycle of humanity’s evolution, for in this cycle such spontaneous generation of consciousness is impossible.
Understanding Cosmic Periods and Their Cycles
In fact, in order to speak about certain aspects of human evolution, it is necessary to know, even a little, about the unfolding of cycles and their characteristics, otherwise one is like a man who wants to do gardening while knowing nothing at all about the passing of the different seasons and their characteristics! Wouldn’t such a gardener be heading for disaster? The Great Beings who watch over the evolution of humanity allow human consciousness to develop naturally without the process of injecting external energy (injecting external energy means initiation as in the process Masters use at the present time) in two cases. On one hand, there is the case where humanity’s consciousness is still too low, and it is then better to let the process go on naturally so that a certain level of spiritual awareness be acquired. This happened a very long time ago. On the other hand, when man’s consciousness is already highly developed, there again, the natural process will automatically bring it up to the level of the next stage. This is what will happen in the very distant future. But today humanity is in an intermediary stage between these two extremes and so one cannot hope to become enlightened naturally without receiving the necessary energy from a Master. Masters are wiser and more practical than the average man. If their help were not necessary, then once they had attained divine enlightenment, they would leave for the higher planes instead of sacrificing themselves by staying on this earthly plane which is not the best place for one who knows the beauty and harmony of the higher planes, where there is no longer any struggling against gross matter, like here below.
No One Can Do Without a Master
Naturally, from time to time one hears that such and such a great saint did not need a Master and that he attained those spiritual heights by himself ! What those who believe this do not know, is that when one’s consciousness is very developed, it quite naturally has access to Masters who are no longer in their physical bodies, or else it gains access to Masters who are still in their bodies but who live very far from their students. These very advanced disciples, therefore, who are in the process of becoming Masters or saints, receive whatever is necessary from those far-away Masters or those who are on a high spiritual plane. If one looks closely, one will find that this is similar in a way to what happens in schooling: when a child is less than two or three years old, no one thinks of teaching him; his consciousness is not yet developed enough, and so one allows the natural process to do its work. Then comes the intermediate stage where he goes to school to receive knowledge from outside through primary school teachers then teachers of a higher level. Later on when he has obtained his Doctorate, generally speaking, he can learn by himself in his subject for he knows enough and has already acquired the methodology enabling him to seek further knowledge... So as for spiritual evolution, almost all human beings have to follow this usual process. But naturally, from time to time there are very rare exceptions and unless one is overestimating oneself, one should not hope that he, himself, is in such a case.
Consequently, human consciousness needs outer stimulation given by the Master, and the Master is therefore an architect who the new man to come cannot do without. That is what has made it necessary to set up teachings and initiations which the Masters give under the guidance of God, wherever there are ardent hearts seeking divine Wisdom and Love. These teachings and initiations have been established for thousands of years and will continue to last for thousands of years more.
Architects, Masons and Joiners
What is of interest for us today, is that for this Great Transformation which is at its dawn, the Masters are the Great Architects, seeing the general plan, channelling and adapting the divine energies from the higher planes and preparing human consciousness on a large scale to be much more receptive to spiritual truths. For this same goal, they also carry out many tasks of which we know nothing about (a child does not know the full extent of his parent’s professional activities). We have said, for example, that Maharajji works in the Universal Soul, but because it is so much beyond our imagination, we are not able to know the details of this.
But architects have always needed masons, joiners, plasterers, tilers, painters, plumbers, etc... In the same way, Masters need hard-working and persevering disciples who will do certain types of tasks so that this process will take place in the best possible conditions and touch all beings, at least the maximum. Along the same lines, they need workers who inform the public at large that a great transformation called the Parivartan is going on and that each person must turn to the values of his soul. They need other types of workers like teachers, lecturers etc., to reach a maximum of individuals, for today, there is such a hubbub on the market of the earth that to make the message concerning inner truths heard, one has to go about it many times. There is also the need of workers in the purely spiritual field such as chanting regularly the mantra Prabhu Aap Jago or the Gayatri Mantra which contribute, through their power and vibrations, to raising human consciousness. All these tasks, whether they concern the outer field (teaching, conferences etc.) or the inner domain (recitation of Prabhu Aap Jago or the Gayatri Mantra), must be accompanied by a steady sadhana so that one is more and more effective in one’s work of service.
The sum of the efforts of all these spiritual workers will create a new atmosphere on Earth. The Masters of the Sacha lineage have devoted themselves to this and are still doing so today. We have learnt that Sacha Baba Girnari constantly travelled all over India. Sacha Baba Kulanandji also did so, and we are even told that he went from village to village. Maharajji went around the country covering every corner in such a way that he never had anywhere to lay his head, as the Bible says, until his Master told him, after 1983, to work from then on in the Universal Soul. Today ShantiMayi and her major teaching disciples also cover many countries to teach. Prem Baba is also active in this field. Maharajji regularly sends his swamis throughout India with his message. This goes to show that the whole Sacha lineage is engaged in this process and its teachers spare no pains in this work, but they alone cannot touch all the men on Earth, so vast is the task!
Little Links Make a Big Chain
Each person may find that individually he is insignificant, but isn’t it the sum of thousands of small links which make up a big chain that can go around the Earth? Therefore if all these little individual workers unite their efforts with Maharajji’s and that of the Masters of the Sacha lineage, then there is no doubt that they will contribute to building the new temple of humanity. The cycle of the Parivartan provides only an opportunity in relation to certain divine, beneficial energies, in the same way that spring offers a favourable opportunity to sow seeds. But it is also necessary that the gardener desires to sow something and take care of it, if he wants to have something to reap later on. Humanity’s fate is mostly in the hands of the Masters, but disciples and men have an important role to play so that this fate is one of happiness, wisdom, brotherhood and love among the entire humanity. Vast is the work site, but vast also is the labour! So get your tools (your individual talents, and everyone does have one!) and let us meet at the worksite, my brothers and sisters...
Realization Without the Help of a Master?
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We have already tried to briefly answer this question in the preceding article. We will come back to it today, but from a wider point of view, for it is a very important question to solve if your desire is to seriously take that path. Indeed, your choice will be sure to have repercussions on your success or failure in your quest. This question must therefore be examined impartially and wisely. Prejudices and conceived ideas can only be harmful.
Can one attain realization without a Master? This question comes up frequently, for certain seekers on the path of light claim that one does not need a Master to attain spiritual realization. According to them, all one has to do is to choose a discipline from among those that are offered to the public. And they maintain that by practising this discipline with perseverance, one will inevitably reach the goal one day.
These men and women affirm with conviction that spirituality is a matter between God and man and that there is no need at all for an intermediary. But let us say right away that this last assertion is risky, to say the least, for who then had spoken to them about spirituality? Where had they learnt that there was something called spirituality? Even if they had eventually got it from someone close to them, hadn’t it come directly or indirectly through messages from Great Prophets of the past? In any case, God Himself did not appear to them to tell them to follow that path!
One thing is sure: these same men will never say that if you want to reach a level in mathematics (or any other academic subject) which is as high as someone with a university diploma, you do not need qualified teachers. And why would they not say that? Because they had gone to school and had seen how much it was difficult for example, to solve certain equations in algebra. So when they remember how they had often toiled over those exercises, they will never underestimate the more than necessary help from a competent teacher.
Have they even thought about the fact that the disciple has to avoid falling into traps — and there are a lot of them — on the path? While it is up to him to avoid some of those traps, for others he will need the protection of the Master, for the disciple is not even aware that they exist. This is especially so for certain powerful forces which naturally try to impede the progress of all disciples so as to keep them in their present state of ignorance. And there are many other equations to solve, and not the least, for the path to liberation is a very hard battlefield. Do those who want to set off on this path on their own know the laws governing one’s being, so as to be able to lead their soul to the realization of God? The disciple does not know these laws whereas the Master does. That is why he is a true guide and in India, his highly respected name is Guru, i.e. he who leads from darkness (Gu) to light (Ru). Even this holy name has now been defiled and emptied of its meaning by some supposed gurus who have brought public condemnation upon true Instructors. But it is said that every cloud has a silver lining. Indeed, this state of affairs also helps to set up a guardian on the threshold of light so that those who are not yet ready and who listen to the murmurs of the world may not find the door to the Master...
But that is not all! A Master is able to give energy to a disciple at any time, so as to push his consciousness up to a higher level if he finds it necessary. It is similar to the case where the doctor gives tonic to a sick person.
Can one attain realization without a Master? This question comes up frequently, for certain seekers on the path of light claim that one does not need a Master to attain spiritual realization. According to them, all one has to do is to choose a discipline from among those that are offered to the public. And they maintain that by practising this discipline with perseverance, one will inevitably reach the goal one day.
These men and women affirm with conviction that spirituality is a matter between God and man and that there is no need at all for an intermediary. But let us say right away that this last assertion is risky, to say the least, for who then had spoken to them about spirituality? Where had they learnt that there was something called spirituality? Even if they had eventually got it from someone close to them, hadn’t it come directly or indirectly through messages from Great Prophets of the past? In any case, God Himself did not appear to them to tell them to follow that path!
Continuity of the Divine Message
But they feel that they know enough for them not to follow a living Master who is also a Prophet and who, in truth, continues the work of the Prophets of the past. Indeed, Maharajji has said several times that all true saints (meaning those who have attained divine realization), whatever path they had followed before their enlightenment, are one, for they are definitively united with God. From then on, in order to help other men attain the same magnificent goal, which is the aim of all that exists (even stones, plants and animals), these saints all receive the same message which, adapted to the level of evolution of the epoch and culture of each nation, becomes the religion of that nation. However, men, in their blindness and separative attitude, think that only their religion is the true one, and make war on other nations who have other beliefs, or make fun of them.Necessity to Hear the Guide
Spirituality is indeed a matter between man and God. But are those men able, at the level of evolution that they have reached, to hear or see the instructions that God would give them? Wouldn’t it be perilous to follow a path while being directed by someone whose instructions one can neither see nor hear? And is it not logical to think that God has appointed ministers or intermediaries who can speak the same language as those they speak to? What ordinary citizen speaks directly to the Head of state for business with government offices, schooling, medical care etc.? If our Heads of state work through ministers and numerous civil servants and agents, how could man, arrogant as he is, think that he can speak directly to the infinite God for instructions?One thing is sure: these same men will never say that if you want to reach a level in mathematics (or any other academic subject) which is as high as someone with a university diploma, you do not need qualified teachers. And why would they not say that? Because they had gone to school and had seen how much it was difficult for example, to solve certain equations in algebra. So when they remember how they had often toiled over those exercises, they will never underestimate the more than necessary help from a competent teacher.
The Path — a Hard Battlefield
Do they know that spiritual progress raises even more difficult equations to solve than mathematical ones or exercises in any other academic subject? Do they know that one of these equations is called purifying the consciousness of certain inclinations and bad entrenched tendencies (bad in the sense of what keeps one away from the Light, what prevents one from perceiving the Truth) and which the disciple cannot get rid of by himself ? Are they aware of this other equation which is first of all making the disciple’s karma lighter and then liberating him from it? And yet another one which is the judicious awakening and at the right time (and not in a disorderly or brutal way) of the different psychic centres? For the order in which they are awakened changes according to whether the disciple belongs to one or the other of the seven big groups of men which inhabit the planet; and the disciple does not know which group he belongs to.Have they even thought about the fact that the disciple has to avoid falling into traps — and there are a lot of them — on the path? While it is up to him to avoid some of those traps, for others he will need the protection of the Master, for the disciple is not even aware that they exist. This is especially so for certain powerful forces which naturally try to impede the progress of all disciples so as to keep them in their present state of ignorance. And there are many other equations to solve, and not the least, for the path to liberation is a very hard battlefield. Do those who want to set off on this path on their own know the laws governing one’s being, so as to be able to lead their soul to the realization of God? The disciple does not know these laws whereas the Master does. That is why he is a true guide and in India, his highly respected name is Guru, i.e. he who leads from darkness (Gu) to light (Ru). Even this holy name has now been defiled and emptied of its meaning by some supposed gurus who have brought public condemnation upon true Instructors. But it is said that every cloud has a silver lining. Indeed, this state of affairs also helps to set up a guardian on the threshold of light so that those who are not yet ready and who listen to the murmurs of the world may not find the door to the Master...
Fruitful Cooperation
In our schools and universities, students have to learn lessons and do the exercises set by their teachers. Their progress results from teaching and guidance from a teacher on the one hand, and their own efforts on the other. In the spiritual domain that is also how things go. The Master does teach indeed, but the disciple has to put those teachings into practice in his daily life. However, there are aspects of his progress which do not depend on him, or at least which he cannot deal with alone, for he is not even aware that they exist.But that is not all! A Master is able to give energy to a disciple at any time, so as to push his consciousness up to a higher level if he finds it necessary. It is similar to the case where the doctor gives tonic to a sick person.
Truly Like Childbirth
One can say that attaining divine realization is literally the birth of a spiritual man. And we know that to be born, at least in our age, we need parents. So who can say he was born by himself, without parents? We all know that the mother goes into labour and pushes while the baby is being born so that he can come into the world of men. In the same way, the Master pushes, so to speak, the disciple into the spiritual kingdom (the fifth) when he sees that his disciple is ready for this ultimate stage. To do so he uses his divine power to set off the disciple’s enlightenment. This energy is shaktipat, which the disciple does not possess, and therefore can never set off by himself. Isn’t the Master therefore indispensable?
But before we end, let us not forget the following for it may have a bearing on the topic we are dealing with. A true Master never wants anyone to be subjected to him. He does not try to dominate anyone, even his disciple. He only wants the latter to submit himself to his own inner God, which some call soul, for it is this inner God which must be revealed and come to power in one’s being when the ego or outer personality (the social man) characterized by ignorance and numerous limitations falls away … All the Master’s work consists in fostering the coming into power of this inner being.
And the disciple works towards that goal while living a normal life in society, with a job and a family. There is no need at all to go off and live in a monastry, an ashram etc. A true Master does not seek to keep his disciples with him all the time.
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