NEWS BRIEFS
DECEMBER 2005
Internet Broadcast, Sunday December 11th, 2005
Rarely has the path of Sant Mat been defined so clearly as it was in Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s live international webcast on Sunday, December 11, 2005. The spiritual Master began by saying the mission statement of Sant Mat is to reunite the soul with God. Although the outer signs of religions are different, their inner side is similar, and it is on the inner revelations of saints mystics from many different religions that Sant Mat focuses. To reunite our soul with God, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj said, we must invert through meditation. Whether we call it meditation, sitting in silence, or praying with attention, these are all names for the same activity.
Christmas Eve in Naperville, Illinois
On Saturday, December 24th, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj attended a special Christmas Eve program at the
Science of Spirituality Center in Naperville, Illinois. The evening began with a short talk, prelude to the
traditional Saturday evening question and answer session. One person asked why people do not recognize the
saints when they come into the world, and cited Jesus as an example. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj replied
that throughout history, saints and mystics from all traditions have exhorted human beings to recognize that
this is a world of illusion, and that the kingdom of God lies within us. However, those in power are often
threatened by the truth, and so they bring harm to the saints. He then explained that people generally
do not recognize the greatness of the saints during their lives; only when they pass away are they revered.
Christmas and Hanukkah Celebration
The Science of Spirituality Center in Naperville, Illinois hummed with activity in preparation for the Christmas and Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, December 25th. In Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s talk, he reminded the everyone that Sant Mat embraces everyone, no matter what tradition they are from or what part of the world in which they live. He said we revere and honor the saints and mystics of all faiths and in all cultures.
He then quoted a verse by Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj:
- All places of worship are symbols of the One Beloved.
- Bow your head when you see a temple,
- and salute when you see a mosque.
Holiday Program
Wednesday, December 28th:
The beginning of the Science of Spirituality winter holiday program saw the Oakbrook Marriott in Oakbrook,
Illinois filled to capacity with people who had traveled from all around the world to be there. The six-day
event included workshops, spiritual discourses, and time for quiet meditation. During the program, the Science of
Spirituality Young Adult group sponsored a blood drive in collaboration with the Red Cross.
"Be in Bliss in 2006"
At the very beginning of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s first talk, he said the love we gain on the spiritual
path brings joy into our lives. He suggested the slogan for the upcoming year be: "Be in Bliss in 2006."
He then went on to explain the difference between happiness and spiritual bliss. Happiness, he said,
is a temporary state related to activities of this world. Spiritual bliss, on the other hand, is a state
in which we are perpetually happy, in which we are oblivious to ourselves.
Thursday, December 29th:
On Thursday afternoon, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj gave the first of a series of talks on the subject
of love and devotion. He said the path of Sant Mat is a totally spiritual path because it deals with
nothing except the soul and God. It explores the purpose of being alive by clarifying the goal of our
existence: self-knowledge and God-realization. It then shows us the way we can attain our goal. Like the
Olympic torch that is eternally lit, he said, the Light that is ignited within us lasts forever.
Friday, December 30th:
On Friday, the spiritual Master continued to explore various aspects of love and devotion, saying we need to have the same passion to know God as a drowning person has to breathe air. He explained that the Lord seeks that devotion which does not change with the seasons or circumstances of one's life.
Saturday, December 31st:
On Saturday, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj talked about two categories of people who seek after the Lord: those who meditate and spend time in their devotional practices, and those who want to commune with the Lord but are not willing to put in the effort to do so. The beauty of the spiritual path, he explained, is that through meditation one can always commune with the Divine.
Sunday, January 1st:
On Sunday, in his final talk, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj said although the ups and downs of life exist,
they do not affect those who are under the protection of the Lord, for around them a circle of protection
has been drawn so that nothing can enter or bring them harm. He also said the world outside is the world
of duality and delusion, where we believe we are separate from others because of our languages, our
religions, etc. He added that love is the greatest of all virtues because it inspires in us all the other virtues.
For more information about Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj and his schedule, click here.