Sacha Baba Hans Raj Maharajji, the Embodiment of Love

                                                Sacha Baba Maharajji

Through love for humanity, Sacha Baba Maharajji worked for for many long years assisting humanity in bringing about a rise in the consciousness of man more rapidly in a peaceful, harmonious way, for otherwise the transition period would cause a lot of suffering : “My main work is in the Universal Soul for the good of humanity,” he said in the 1980s. 

Fourth Avatar in the lineage of Sacha Masters for the present cycle of work, he led the spiritual work of helping humanity to not only improve day to day living conditions (finding food and material necessities etc.) but also to reach a higher level of consciousness so as to be in harmony with the new energies coming onto the planet. Indeed, in order to survive in the new spiritual environment, our being has to learn to adapt to the new era.

Some extracts from his speeches to this effect :

“This is now the time of Divine Transformation, the awakening of consciousness on Earth. This is destined to happen, for it is the next step in the evolution of humanity on this planet.” “Harmonize yourselves with this transformation.” [8^th July 2008] “ For these last thirty years, I have constantly been advising you to pray to God for at least an hour a day. My mission has nothing to do with any religion at all. It mainly consists in turning humanity to God, for that is the ultimate aim in life.” [21^st July 2005]

“ We have to bring about the change in ourselves first, and then this change will have an effect on others also.” [2003]

“You have to do some sadhana (spiritual practice). Each religion has its own form of sadhana, but all these sadhanas lead to one spiritual ground. So you may follow any sadhana you like, but above all do it with your heart.” [Christmas 1999] “The heart is one. Love is God. Love is the heart.” “If you always contemplate the Guru and connect heart to heart, then the change in you or anybody else can take place, through the heart. But if you do not connect from the heart, it is not possible to get this rise in consciousness by connecting through the mind, the intellect. You will not be able to bring about the Change, the Parivartan in yourselves or in anybody.” [2003]

While Sacha Baba Maharajji continues his assistance to humanity from the higher plains, the Masters and disciples of the Sacha lineage, each to his capacity, also continue helping humanity so that we may reach the goal.

Maharajji Sacha Baba's Mahasamadhi

Brothers and sisters,

On Sunday 23^rd October 2011 in the morning, the great saint and Mahatma, our beloved Master Shri Hans Raj Maharajji Sacha Baba left his body at the age of 89. A few days earlier, he had been suffering from a slight infection and had been admitted to a hospital in Dehradun.

His leaving this plane has brought great emotion and sadness to the whole community of disciples and to all those who knew him, for everyone knows how much he was love and compassion, and that he only lived for the Common Good. Maharajji was simplicity, love and grace united in one being.

On that same morning of 23^rd October, his body was brought back to his ashram, Sacha Dham, and exposed in the great hall, decorated with flowers. Everyone was thus able to come and pranam, renew their love and devotion to the divine Guru who has served us all well. At the same time, the choir of disciples continually sang the powerful mantra Prabhu Aapa Jago. The last funeral and religious rites took place the following day, on Monday.

A special ceremony is to take place on 6^th and 7^th November during which disciples and friends from all over India and abroad will pay a vibrant homage to the holy Master.

After his enlightenment, which happened in exceptional conditions in October 1955, this great saint has thus spent fifty-six years serving God, his Master Sacha Baba Kulanandji and humanity. Maharajji Sacha Baba only lived for one goal — that humanity should turn to God through the path that each person would choose. He has always said that all religions lead to the same goal which is this same God, whatever the name each religion gives Him. So Maharajji Sacha Baba has never practised proselytism for any particular religion, for he often used to say, “Everyone has a heart, which is the seat of love; love is universal. And love is God, Who is universal.” For him, if a man listens to his heart, he will find God. But if he only listens to his mind, then he will take the wrong path.

So the divine torchbearer of the Sacha lineage has left for the higher plains, but we are certainly sure that from these high plains, he will continue to work for the transformaton of humanity and his disciples. Each of us will be able to continue benefiting from his holy guidance and assistance as long as our hearts are in harmony with him. May our faith and devotion in him shine like the indelible link which joins us to his divine grace forever!

Jay Maharajji Sacha Baba !

Gurupurnima 2011

Summary of Maharajji's speech, July 15^th

My people!

I have just one thing to say, it is necessary to bring God into your life. He is the only doer. Whatever effort you make, the Guru wants you to do it for Paramatman [cosmic Spirit, God]. You must understand. You should follow your own path. He will show you the way. The time today is such that it is like a dark, moonless night.

Now Parivartan [the spiritual rise in consciousness] is taking place. Remember, in the Sacha lineage after me, there will be two more Avatars in the future [Maharajji has not said exactly when in the future these Avatars will come. Is it just after him or later on, we do not know]. Then the Parivartan will be entirely fulfilled. How much of the world will remain, how many of the people will be wiped out from this world? All those who remain will be those who are devoted to Paramatman. What I am saying applies not just to India, but to the entire world.

This Kali Yuga is very simple, if only you chant "RAM RAM", the Name of God, you will be able to go through it easily. All sins of past, present and future lifetimes will be wiped away. But we don’t give priority to Paramatman. Whoever comes to me tells me, “I have this problem, that problem etc.”. Hardly anybody uptil today has come to ask for Paramatman. Whatever they ask for, I always pray for it; but the samsara [the almost endless cycle of rebirth and death till man attains liberation] keeps on expanding.

No one has managed to control this world and no one will, because whatever one’s actions are, that very fruit he will reap. If there are four brothers in a house, then the karma of each will be different. Even if all four live together lovingly and eat together, still the karma of all four is different. But if all four chant the Name of Paramatman even for an hour [a day], then their sins will be wiped away and they’ll attain moksha [liberation]. reaping in that way the fruit of that spiritual practice. But people want only samsara, and they go deeper into it, thus accumulating “dust” for many lifetimes.

We should at least think about where we are going and for what we are going. After a short time [of sadhana] people go off the path, because they have no wisdom.

Later Satya Yuga (the era of wisdom) will come. The world will keep on its flow. However today if by misfortune someone does not chant The Name of God, then he also will have to leave this world [because he will not be in harmony with the Divine Energies which are coming down on earth in this Parivartan cycle]. Human life is itself a chance. And there is no second chance.

Follow your religion seriously. The major religions, for example, all have different paths, but all lead to God. And all those who practise these religions sincerely attain union with God, whatever their social class.

In India there are many Gurus, you can easily choose one. If you don´t find Paramatman with one, you can find Him with someone else. And whether you find a Guru or not, follow the one in whom you have faith.

You should give up everything for 1-2 hours daily and chant the Name of Paramatman. If it becomes a habit then you will start doing it lovingly later on. You will grow love in your Heart for Paramatman.

Wake Up!

You should wake up early in the morning and chant the Name of Paramatman for 1-2 hours. And the rest of the time you can eat, sleep and work hard. The circle of maya (illusion) is weak in the beginning but later it grows hard like iron [if you don't have a steady spiritual practice]. It won´t break. If you tell an old man to say “RAM RAM”, he’ll say “go and tell someone else” [if he has been used to living without steady spiritual practice].

Time is passing, the sun will rise and set, it will do its work. The higher powers will continue doing their work whether we reach the goal or not. Therefore I won’t say much, I just say that you should devote some time to Paramatman, Whoever your Paramatman is, with form or without. Some people have faith in Allah. If they have faith by heart, when they rise up spiritually, there is then no distinction [between these devotees and those of other religions who also rise up spiritually]. Paramatman of all religions and people is One only. All people have similar organs. God has given to everyone intellect and strength.

Although I speak and speak [year after year], people still don’t understand. Therefore they get all kind of sorrows. So devote 1-2 hours daily [to avoid these trials and sorrows in your life]. In the morning after having a bath, or without a bath, sit and chant God’s Name. Usually people have a bath and then go to their shop. They [only] keep the shop in their mind.

It is up to you, nobody is forcing you . Whether you like or not, just sit. After a while or after two days you'll start liking it. Slowly slowly you will leave samsara behind. [Maharajji never forces anybody; he only gives wise guidance and let people freely follow it or not]

Permeated by Divine Light at Jageshwar (Premi, India)

In 2010, my wife and I decided to make a visit to Uttrakhand, Matkanya in order to have darshan of the jyotir shiva linga at Jageshwar, one of the twelve oldest shivalinga sites in india which Markenday Rishi and Adishankaracharya had visited, from where you can also see the entire range of the snow capped Himalaya mountains stretching from India to Nepal.

Before this visit my wife and I had darshan of Sacha Baba Mahatma Hans Raj ji at Laxmanjhula, and I informed him of the shaktipath he had done to me in 1996 in my room at midnight and we discussed the "swayambhu" divine light experience of Sat-Chit-Anand, divine existence, peace, love, conscious-awareness, bliss-joy.

This experience had made me to take up research in the swayambhu and satchidanand. I discovered that Guru Nanak explained this in his loolmantra as "saibhang" and Buddha referred to this to Maitrei who had established the swayambhu stupa by draining out the water from the Kathmandu valley in Nepal. I also studied the scientific work of Einstein on cosmology and discovered the scientific concept in the theory which he postulated as the "cosmological constant" of this universal phenomenon and its equation which is used in the quantum theory. I also discovered the "absolute horizon" concept of Nobel prize winner Subrahmanyan Chandrashekar in his study of the black hole phenomema in the universe along with the creation of stars and collapse of stars. Both these concepts lead to not only universe but multi-verses phenomena which are in line with with vedic thought of 10,000 realms or 3000 realms of existence plains in buddhistic thought. Einstein has clearly said that for an expanding universe the cosmological constant is required which never changes as it is the fulcrum substratum on which the wheel of the universe rotates and changes continuously.

This is is the "swayambhu" of Mahatma Hans Raj ji, other saints and mystics and which is present throughout the universe and in each and every individual but as superconductivity permeation. In that way it sustains all change in nature. Even in the Gita Lord Krisna has stated the two levels of his existential phenomena, one the lower which is the ever changing natural phenomena which is supported on the unchanging , unborn, eternal phenomena. Thus the swayambu satchidanand principle of saints and the cosmological constant of scientific physicists is one and the same. This is the meeting point for atheists, scientists and mystic saints. In the case of saints they can grant you the experience of swayanbhu satchidanand, the cosmological constant, whereas in the scientists case it is a derived mental observation and hypothesis of the universe, they cannot grant you the experience of the cosmological constant, absolute horizon— the swayambhu satchidanand.

I give below once again the experience granted to me by Sacha Baba Mahatma Hansrajji in 1996 through his divine light swayambhu satchidanand body in 1996 in English:

When the guru's grace dawns

The breath and mind stop

Bindu(reddness) and sunyatha (spaceless-space) occur

and then the being of light swayambhu occurs

flashing forth in all its divine glory throughout in consciousness-awareness and embracing all in divine love.

The swayambhu divine light says that

"I am a circle without a circumference whose centre is everywhere, and if you try to find my centre with the ego-centric mind then I am apparently nowhere, yet I am everywhere", hence the need to give up ego centric thinking and to surrender totally in heart and mind — as Sacha Baba says he /she who surrenders onto me, to him/her do I do yogshem (draw in and protect).

The entry of the divine swayambhu light in one’s being is portionate to The amount or extent of surrender in heart and mind.

Thus the following Gita sayings as received by my soul from gurudev's swayambhic soul are:

1. Thou art unborn, eternal and never are you born and thus you never die.

2.He/she who surrenders to me (Sacha Baba), him/her I draw in and protect — yogshem.

3.He /she who gives up his/her heart and mind to me comes to abide and rest in me (Sacha Baba's satchidanand swayambhuic state or soul)

4.Leave all the other ways and means you have heard of, just seek my shelter and protection and I will free you from all your sufferings, struggles, tribulations both physical and mental, I will bestow on you moksha, spiritual freedom, do not fear.

The swayambhic divine light of Sacha Baba Hansrajji says: "Never was there a time when I was not, never will there be a time when I will not be, many a time comes when even time is not (in total withdrawal of universal phenomena), yet I am forever."

When staying in Jageshwar, Matkanya I came out of my room at 2 a.m. at night and stood in the garden with the clear bright moonshine shining on me, I looked up to the heavenly stars shining down on me, and in the stillness of that divine moment Sacha Baba Mahatma Hansrajji manifested through the moonlight and permeated my whole being in a superconductive way.

Jai Guru Dev!

Guru Purnima 2010 at Sacha Dham

Sacha Dham Packed Full

Sunday 25th July 2010 was a special day in India, for it was Guru Day, Masters day. And in India the Guru is such a central person in the thoughts and life of a Hindu that each family has a Guru.

This marvellous festival was celebrated at Sacha Dham ashram in Risikesh, in honour of our beloved Master Shri Hans Raj Maharajji Sacha Baba — the Guru Purnima festival. As usual, on this occasion the ashram was packed full, for many of the Master’s disciples had come from every region for this solemn event. They were about two thousand. They had come to honour and thank their Master for all he had given them and will continue to give, in particular — spiritual light.

At this special event there was a puja (prayer) in the ashram temple and the whole atmosphere was permeated with divinity. Love and devotion reinforce the mutual links between Maharajji and his children. The Master shed his holy blessings on all his disciples — both those present and absent.

At the end of this special puja, Maharajji spoke to his disciples about the perils which humanity has to face in this Parivartan cycle (cycle of transformation in hearts and consciousness) which has begun.

Lunch was a bandhara or brotherly meal of which all partook in a joyous atmosphere.

The Most Powerful Links

It is said that the links between Master and disciple are the most powerful and solid links in this world. Indeed, they are links which continue in each life. When one reads, for example, the book Shri Hans Raj Maharajji and the Dawn of a New Consciousness, one is struck by certain stories which say that when certain disciples met Maharajji for the first time in this life, they definitely had the impression that they knew him already from past lives. This is due to the fact that when a disciple is incarnated, if his Master also is, then divine laws come into action so that they meet again.

This is perhaps one of the reasons why Sacha Baba Kulanandji, Maharajji’s Master one day said that Maharajji’s disciples, who live all over the world, would come to him. He had said that at a time when Maharajji did not yet have one single foreign disciple. But today, come to Sacha Dham, especially in autumn or spring and you will see the many disciples from all five continents.

A Priceless Treasure

It is a special blessing to have a Master, for no one but the Guru can give all that he gives. Not only does he progressively raise his protégé’s level of consciousness with love and compassion, but he also spares from him thousands of useless trials and suffering. The student will, of course, have to undergo certain trials, but quite often the Master has already made them lighter, even if, from the student’s point of view, what remains of these tests is just as difficult to bear. But through trials one learns a lot and it would not be wise to spare someone from all tests. This is true in both the secular and the spiritual world. Above all, the Master is the one who will one day bestow enlightenment and the treasures of God on his disciple when the latter is ready.

However let us never forget, Maharajji's and the Sacha Lineage’s work goes beyond his disciples for it concerns the evolution of the entire humanity, particularly in this period of the Parivartan or period of the transformation of hearts and consciousness which is now beginning.

Let us say with love and devotion,

Glory to Maharajji, Glory to the Guru, Glory to he who is one with God, Glory to he who is God!

Om Shri Sache Maha Prabhu Ki - Jay Ho !

Realization Without the Help of 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 monastery, an ashram etc. A true Master does not seek to keep his disciples with him all the time.

* * *

What’s the Situation Today?

A big hello to you, our dear friends, brothers and sisters,


It has been over a year since we last published an article on this Blog. However, this is not because there was nothing to speak about, for during the past year, there have been celebrations like Guru Purnima, Prakash Diwash, Navaratri, Holi, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Basant Panchami and others like Holi a short time ago. All these festivals have one thing in common, and that is the victory of light over darkness.

A Major Turning Point in Humanity’s Life
On all these occasions, or practically all, our beloved Master Maharajji encouraged us, his disciples to show ourselves worthy of what God and the Masters expect of us in this particular period of humanity's life, which is a period of transition: this concerns the opportunity for all men to henceforth adopt a spiritual path and progressively turn away from materialism which has ruled humanity up till now. It is the Parivartan or the Transformation of hearts and consciousness.

The Heart, a Gateway to Everything Possible
Maharajji says that the aim of Man is to acquire divine Light. According to him, Man can succeed in doing so by relying on his heart and living according to its inspiration. He often says that everyone has a heart, the heart is the seat of Love and that Love is God. If Man lives through his heart and not following the commands of his purely terrestrial desires, to put it mildly, he will then find the divinity which lies within and will attain transcendence, perfection.

There is nothing as authentic, beautiful and simple as living through one’s heart. This causes a multitude of qualities to blossom out in a human being, and these qualities vie with one another in beauty — Love, being the highest of them all. To follow this path is to make the arid desert green, to bring invigorating warmth in winter, to give life to faded flowers, to bring the dead back to life. The path of the heart leads to the accomplishment and acquisition of the famous Chintamani stone which transforms life into what is even better than a fairytale. Above all, this path leads you to the very Heart of God, the centre of all the possibilities from which you can dry the tears of your human brothers and sisters, heal their illnesses and bestow joy and immortality on them.

Shivaratri Festival at Sacha Dham Ashram, February 23 2009

On February 23, at the Shivaratri festival at Sacha Dham ashram in Rishikesh, there was a large gathering of disciples as there is every year. The temple turned out to be too small and many had to participate in the special ceremony from the hall leading to the temple. Maharajji went to the ceremony and delivered a message to the participants, which is summarized as follows:

My souls,

Mahesh [Lord Shiva] is considered to be very compassionate, as he is known as Bole Shankar — innocent Shankar. The following stories illustrate this very well :

Once there was a couple who was unable to have children. One day a Mahatma came to their home, and seeing their devotion, blessed them: they would have a son, but he would live for only sixteen years. Their son was thus born. The boy grew up, and only three days before the end of his sixteenth year, he found out about his coming death. Greatly sorrowed at this, he prayed to Narada for him to to change the course of things and allow him to live. Narada advised him to go to a Shiva temple and embrace the Shiva lingam [Shiva’s symbol which symbolises the creation of the universe through two energies, one masculine and the other feminine.] during these last three days. The boy obeyed and as a result, the God of death proved helpless. Finally Shiva granted the boy’s request to become amar (immortal). This boy was later known as Markandar (or Markandeya which is the name he is best known by), who since then lives throughout all Yugas. [Yugas are very long cycles of time which follow one another as seasons do, during the lifetime of the world and the universe.]

This illustrates the fact that with a little effort Shiva can be pleased and so answer our prayers.

When Brahma was ready to create the universe, He first created seven Rishis Who He asked to help with the creation of the world. They refused. Narada also refused. So Brahma went to Lord Shiva and asked him to help. As Shiva was compassionate, he agreed and, taking on the attributes of Ardha Narishwar [half of Him became a Man and the other half became a Woman, in other words, he took on the form of a divine Androgynous Being], created the universe.

Sita also prayed to Parvati [Parvati is the feminine aspect of Shiva] so that Rama would become her husband, as in the following couplet :

Devi pooji pada kamala tumhaare

sura nara muni saba hohin sukhaare

[O Devi, Gods, human beings, and sages bow down at Your lotus feet, And in doing so they easily gain all that they truly seek.]

Her prayer was heard and she married Rama. This couplet became a prayer which states that through prayer each person can realize the God Who resides in our hearts.

During this Kali Yuga, “Om Namo Shivaya” [also pronounced “Om Nama Shivaya”] is the most powerful and fruitful mantra. So in the present period of time, the easiest way to attain spiritual as well as material goals is to pray to Shiva for just one hour every day.

A Few Comments on this Message

Let us bear in mind that this festival celebrates the marriage of Shiva (first God in the Hindu Trimurti corresponding to the Father of Christians) with Parvati, the daughter of the mountain (Parvat means “mountain”), the Himalayas. In particular, it is a symbolical representation of the inner alchemical marriage which takes place in human beings who are duly prepared through assiduous spiritual practice.

When this alchemical marriage, which is usually called enlightenment happens, the divine Spirit aspect in man unites with the earthly personality aspect or Parvati. This union, which takes place when man is still in the night of ignorance, makes him enter God’s light of Day for ever. He becomes immortal, spiritually speaking: the different bodies in which he will henceforth live (if he decides to reincarnate in order to help his human brothers progress) can die, of course, for they are governed by earthly laws, but he, himself, never ever looses the consciousness of being. Ordinary man, however, looses this consciousness when he dies and in his next incarnation, no longer remembers what he had been before.

But for realized or enlightened man, the body is simply like a vehicle in which the driver enters at birth and leaves when it becomes worn out; he then takes another one and continues his work for the universal good. This driver is constantly aware of being, and is fully conscious of his past incarnations.

Consequently, with this mantra, “Om Namah Shivaya” man invokes the Spirit aspect within so that he will be governed by it. This is the highest aspect, the highest power which man can invoke and that is why it is such a powerful mantra. During the last three days we have left to live, i.e., the final part of the process of our evolution, if we embrace the Shiva lingam, that is to say if we unite with our Atma, then Yama, the God of death (God of ignorance) will not be able to overcome us and we will become immortal, living through all the Yugas like Markandeya !

Christmas 2008 and New Year Celebrations at Sacha Dham ashram, Rishikesh

Jesus Christ Came for All

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ who, through his life of love and sacrifice opened the way on the inner planes so that man can reach the Heart of God more easily. Indeed, when upon the cross he gave up the spirit, then the veil of the temple was rent in two, meaning that a significant opening in the veil of ignorance (maya) separating man from God was made, and henceforth man can more easily apprehend the truth leading to the Kingdom of God so that it can become a reality for him. Man then gained access to his soul more easily, as an opening in the the veil between his soul and his outer self was also made. And as Shri Hans Raj Maharajji has pointed out in his message, Christ never came for just one person or one group of people, he came for everybody, and his spiritual work on the inner planes touched all mankind.

As usual, Christmas was celebrated at Sacha Dham ashram. Indeed, the Master of this ashram, Shri Hans Raj Maharajji is beyond religion, having achieved unity with God and the Whole through enlightenment in 1955. All his disciples are his children, whatever path they follow, and so different religious festivals, including the Christmas Day celebration, regularly take place at his ashram. This year, present were the disciples who live at the ashram, along with Western and Indian disciples who come to be with their respective Gurus — Maharajji, ShantiMayi and Prem Baba during the Christmas season.

Showers of Blessings

Christmas is a time when love is more openly manifested, and so gifts are often given, reminding us of the love for others Christ taught us through the example of sacrifice and abnegation he showed. Gifts are only a symbol of this brotherly love among human beings. Disciples at the ashram gave their Masters presents to show their love and gratitude for all they do for them and the entire humanity.

The Gurus, in silence, shower blessings on all present and also on those who connect with them through their hearts in spite of their being away from the ashram. Christmas is indeed a time when the energy of the Christ is poured down on the Earth, on all men, in response to humanity’s call for Peace and Goodwill towards all men at this particular time. Masters who work for the welfare of humanity receive this energy and then redistribute it all over the world and it is our duty to open our hearts to receive what is given; indeed, one cannot receive with a closed heart, or with a heart already filled up with other things. But only those who have consciously tuned in with the saints associated with the festival in question and who have opened their hearts on this occasion reap any significant benefit.

On Christmas day, as usual, the carol singing took place early in the morning at around 7 a.m. The joyous group of singers went around the ashram, warming our hearts with traditional carols. They stopped to sing for Maharajji on his verandah, then sang for the Mother (Mataji) of the ashram, Anitaji, and then for ShantiMayi. Presents and a mala (rosary of beads) were given to all three of them, and a mala given for Sacha Baba (Maharajji's Master who is no longer in our world but whose statue is in the temple). Christians and non-Christians alike were happy at the merry Christmas spirit this created in the ashram.

Follow the Example of Love

At about 11.30, Maharajji went to the hall to deliver his Christmas message. He was accompanied by ShantiMayi and Prem Baba. Maharajji reminded us that Jesus Christ had come for all mankind and insisted on the importance and universality of his message: that we should love one another. Even while he was being crucified, he told his disciples to love those doing him wrong just as much as they loved him. Maharajji repeated that we must love one another regardless of our different origins, and live as one family, also loving those who do us wrong, He concluded by saying that love is God and that this is the easiest way to attain realization.

Prem Baba then gave his message. He stressed the fact that although Jesus Christ was well-known for his great miracles, few people were able to see that the greatest miracle was the fact that he had accepted to die on the cross and still kept his compassion for others intact. Even while he was being crucified, he did not deviate from this love, and was even able to pray for his assassins, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” He thus showed us the way, the way to love.

ShantiMayi pointed out that like his life, Jesus Christ’s birth also had a very strong signification. At this event, there was a guiding star which guided everyone to Him. That had something to do with us as Earth people, as a living family of the Earth, being of the Cosmos, that we open our hearts rather than just being Earth-bound; that we open our minds to the whole of the universe. This ideal has to do with the guiding star which came that day; we remember that He was born on this day which was a new beginning for the great power. And this great power should not be feared for it is the power of love which is in every single human being.

Receiving the Blessings

During the messages, the spiritual atmosphere became very charged and one’s heart felt touched and uplifted by “something”, which could be called “spiritual blessings”. Following the messages, bhajans were sung by the disciples. These songs, added to the messages opened our hearts, and many a tear was wiped away as our hearts overflowed. The following beautifully expresses the experience which a disciple had on a similar occasion :

"On Christmas day all the foreigners were in the temple and most of them were disciples of ShantiMayi. Maharajji was present and his hands radiated a sort of energy in the form of white tear drops which entered all the participants alike.
Maharajji told us that to be in contact with him was enough to put our hearts into contact with his. This is what I think: it is not necessary to be physically at his side to feel his energy." ( Ascension, Spain)

After this celebration, ShantiMayi's disciples went to the Ganges river nearby to carry out a ritual for the benefit of humanity. Standing on the Laxman Jhula bridge, they poured flowers into the holy Ganges to the rhythm of the Gayatri mantra, as a prayer for the enlightenment of humanity. This beautiful ceremony lasted for about twenty minutes.

Then came the bhandara (agape or religious meal shared as a sign of love and fellowship) which was excellent. Added to the disciples, children from nearby schools along with pupils from the ashram’s Sanskrit school participated, adding a special touch to the day.

At about 3:30 in the afternoon, ShantiMayi’s disciples received their present for the New Year.

Prayers for Humanity for the Coming Year

Continuous prayers for the enlightenment of humanity were said for the New Year. The divine mantra Prabhu Aap Jago revealed to Sacha Baba Kulanandji was chanted without interruption for twenty-four hours in order to enhance the spiritual atmosphere of the world and bring humanity closer to God.

Disciples who participated were deeply marked by the strong, purifying vibrations of this mantra, and it also brought them great joy. They were happy to serve God and humanity, and these celebrations had offered them many occasions to do so with others. These past days of spiritual celebration were indeed days of fellowship and blessing.

Om Shri Sache Maha Prabhu Ki -Jay Ho !

Maharajji’s Message at the Diwali Festival 28 Nov. 2008 (Summary)

My souls...

Why is Diwali celebrated in India? In Indian culture, there is a spiritual cause for all festivals. One must therefore go beyond the outer aspects to see the true message.

The Importance of Self-Sacrifice so as to Obtain Everything

The Diwali Festival commemorates the crowning of Ram in Ayodhya after having been banished for fourteen years. When Rama entered Ayodhya, people spontaneously showed how happy they were. During his reign, there was prosperity, happiness, truth and good health for all. These changes were possible because Rama had sacrificed himself for many long years, far from his family, fighting demons in the jungle.

This shows that to succeed, one must make sacrifices. You must therefore make sacrifices if you want to realize God. Through devotion, you enter into communion with the transcendental state of the Master and you can also become spiritually developed to the point where you are as well-known and celebrated as your own Master. That is how Hanuman, because of his great devotion to his Master Rama, is today as celebrated or even more so than he is. If his devotion is great, the disciple becomes perfect and through the grace of his Master, he can do things as great as him, or ever greater.

Today, one sees few true sadhus (people who have renounced the world and seek God). They die their clothes, but are not real sadhus. The true sadhu is one who has surrendered to God and who, through his grace finds the solution to all his problems, and who is not materialistic.

It has been five years now since I no longer leave the ashram. Sacha Baba told me that I would have all I needed and that it was no longer necessary to look for anything whatsoever outside. And because I have always surrendered to my Guru, this is what has happened. God can give you everything, but you must first surrender to him.

Entrust the Master With all Aspects of your Life

You must be devoted to and have complete confidence in the Master. No aspect of your life can or must be hidden from God. The Guru sees everything in the life of the disciple and he takes care of him in every little thing as with the more important things. All aspects of his life, the most important as well as day to day situations must be carried out with his inspiration. He must not be left out of any of them.

Ever since I’ve been with my Master, I’ve never disobeyed, nor done anything against his will. One day, I had to leave Varanasi and go to Calcutta. Normally there were three trains I could take, and as usual I had decided to take the first one because usually there was more space. But that time, my Master told me to take the second one. So, confidently, I waited for the second train. When it arrived at the station, it was indeed packed, and there was no space. But as it stopped, a door opened just in front of me. Only one person got down from that door, and I was able to get on the carriage and take his place.

Cooperate with the Masters so as Not to be Crushed

Spirituality must be manifested by all, for God’s creation must become perfect. That is what saints work for, when they watch over humanity’s evolution, thus serving God. This evolution comes about in two ways : either easily and harmoniously when men cooperate with this transformation, or else difficulties will bring about this change. This is so not only for individuals, but also for nations.

Disciples in particular and humanity in general must cooperate with God and the saints for their evolution.

The Earth Has a Good Future

Maharajji ’s Gurupurnima Message (summary), 18th July 2008

Dear souls,

Harmonize Yourselves With This Transformation

This is now the time of divine transformation, the awakening of consciousness on Earth. This is destined to happen, for it is the next step in the evolution of humanity on this planet.

May Sacha bless you with enlightenment. Today we are here to celebrate Gurupuja [religious celebration in honour of the Guru] so that we will connect our hearts with the Guru. In celebrating this puja, we will pray that the Guru will hear our prayer and fill our hearts with peace, honesty and love for all.

Harmonize yourselves with this transformation, remember me and connect yourselves strongly. So when maya wants you to repeat the karmic mistakes of humanity, this connection will save you and open you up so you become one with me. Then you will become free of the ego, the human demon.

Bhai Kanhaiya

I will give you an example from life of a very loving human being and his Guru.
Once there was an Indian who was both a ruler and a Guru. His name was Gobind Singh. At that time he was fighting Mogul people in a big war. He had a close devotee, Bhai Kanhaiya who was asked to go to the battle field and give water to the warriors. So he went out, and started give water to both Indian and Muslim warriors (Moguls were Muslims). At this, the people became very angry and ran to the Guru to complain about his conduct. Bhai Kanhaiya was sent to Guru Gobind Singh, who asked him to explain this behaviour.
Bhai Kanhaiya told him,
“Beloved Guru, I can’t see any difference between Indian and Muslim warriors; I only see Guru Gobind Singh.”
The Guru looked at his devotee and replied,
“I’m very pleased with you, Bhai Kanhaiya.”

My Guru Opened my Spiritual Eye

Look at my life. I was a simple clerk and I surrendered my life to my Guru, and that principle has always brought everything which was needed to the ashram and to the people living here. And much is needed to have an ashram. People always come here and support the ashram for a long time. For five years I have not left the ashram to ask anybody for anything. My Guru opened my spiritual eyes so that I could help humanity in this life.

Get Ignorance out of Your Heart

All I ask of you is to get ignorance out of your heart and become good devotees of Sacha. Follow the custom of dharma.
You Indian people have to change your opinions about Western people. They come here to India and have faith in the Vedas and puja; they worship and practise the dharma sincerely. You want to live in very modern style, giving up your spiritual practice, and that is not good. You should have faith in your religion. If you are fond of a worldly life, then maybe you will have to experience some of the destruction taking place. This will destroy all your plans.

The Lord will Always Remember You

In these days many people suffer from all kinds of diseases like cancer, tuberculosis, aids diabetes, high blood pressure etc. If you want to live a high life, sacrifice one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening for meditation, kirtan (devotional songs), havan (fire ceremony) or some kind of spiritual practice. This will be helpful for all.

It is important to see kindness in others and to be kind to one another. The best thing to do is to donate to people who are in need. Give food, clothing, donate money or do whatever you can for people who suffer in life. You will see that the Lord will always remember you and bless you.

Be honest in all aspects of life, especially those who are doing sadhana. Suffering will come when this has not been acquired as a living principle of life. You can realize this divine leela. You can also do this “Prabhu Aap Jago Paramatma Jago” mantra for your benefit and also for the world’s.

The Time to Reconnect With Me

The Earth has a good future. Are you ready to join this transformation?
Always remember God within and you will always have what you need. Guru Purnima is the time to reconnect with me.

OM SHRI SACHE MAHA PRABHU KI - JAY HO
PARMATMA KI - JAY HO
OM SHANTI

A Book on Maharajji and the Lineage Published

A book has just been published in English about Maharajji and the Sacha lineage. Its title is :
Shri Hans Raj Maharajji and the Dawn of a New Consciousness

The Contents
This book of 365 pages is divided into five main sections as follows:
Section 1 : Maharajji’s leelas or how Maharajji intervenes, sometimes in an extraordinary way in the lives of his disciples.
Section 2 : How certain men and women became his disciples.
Section 3 : A sketch of the life and work of the past Masters of the Sacha lineage with some unpublished anecdotes about Kacha Baba, Sacha Baba Girnari also known as Girnari Baba and finally Sacha Baba Kulanandji, Maharajji’s Master.
Section 4 : A sketch of the life and work of Maharajji. This section includes the heart of his message to humanity for Maharajji works above all for the entire humanity. We follow him through his childhood up to the time he dedicates himself to the Universal Good, where his life takes a radical turn one October day in 1955. He had gone to be healed of a chronic illness which was sapping his life. God asked him to heal the entire humanity ...
Section 5 : ShantiMayi, her meeting Maharajji, the circumstances of her enlightenment, the work she has undertaken since then and how some of her disciples came to her.

Back Cover
What does the back cover of the book say ?
“One day, when I was forty-one years old I went to bed at home as usual. I laid down, relaxed with my eyes closed and suddenly a picture appeared in my third eye. I had never seen anything like this before. A very peaceful man with very strong, pure love appeared. He smiled in a heartfelt way and looked directly into my eyes. He was sitting on a chair, dressed in white and had a long beard. I could see his upper body. After that, I woke up. I was very touched and wondered who this man was and what it meant,” says Monika from Switzerland.
Later on, she did indeed meet Maharajji during a trip to India and became his disciple like many others from the five continents...

“Maharajji” is the title that his disciples have given to the great saint Shri Hans Raj who lives in Rishikesh in India. He became enlightened in 1955, on the very next day after meeting his Master in Allahabad. He is the latest successor in a line of great saints which was started at the beginning of the 20th century with the aim of leading the entire humanity in the great adventure — that of the spiritual Transformation or Parivartan which started off then and which is progressively unfolding decade after decade. This great Transformation, will be the means to overcome the upheavals in all fields of human life, and so bring more light, brotherhood and peace to all men if they seize the chance given. With total abnegation and a heart which encompasses each being, Maharajji works night and day for this task so that each human being on this planet, whatever he may be, will find true happiness.
In this book we will see Maharajji with his disciples through engrossing stories, and also a sketch of his life and work along with that of other Masters of the Sacha lineage.

How to order
This book will be available within a month in Europe for 18€. You can order on the following websites, given in alphabetic order :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/
http://www.prajnaparamita.nl/engels/cdshop.shtml
http://www.sacha-cd.com/
It will also be sold in Australia, the United States (adhikari@shantimayi.com) and at Terre de Sacha in France (TdS@ShantiMayi.com).
A website which is being created in France will also be offering it for sale.
This list will therefore be completed later.

Maharajji’s Message at the Basant Panchami Festival (Monday, 11th February 2008)

Saints and the Sun Are Alike
Saints and the sun are alike. Just as the sun sends its rays all over the world without making any distinction between clean and dirty places, in the same way saints give their love and blessing to everyone, whether they are considered righteous or unrighteous, spiritually advanced or not. In the same way, the Ganges gives its coolness to everyone alike. One must love each being, for he is a child of God whatever he may seem to be. Whether one be good or bad, when one dives into the Ganges, not only does one get its coolness but one also benefits from the purification it offers spiritually. It is the same for saints when one goes to see them; whatever your status or the state you may be in, you receive their blessing.

The Guru is God
When I met Sacha Baba [Kulanandji] in 1953 and had his darshan for the first time, I immediately thought he was God Himself incarnated. I had complete faith in him. So whatever he told me to do, I obeyed; I had confidence in Him because for me it was God who was speaking. The Master is God, and one does not disobey. That is why in 1958, when Sacha Baba told me that if I could manage to fulfil the basic needs of the ashram [in Allahabad] for food, then he in turn would satisfy India’s basic needs for food, thus putting an end to recurrent famine in the country. I had faith in what he promised. I therefore went to Punjab to ask the people there to donate cereal, which I transported to Allahabad. I devoted myself to this task every year until 1972. My Master kept his promise, for today, India is self-sufficient in food. Today, Tripathi is the one who is continuing this task for those who live at the ashram in Allahabad, by going around and asking for donations of cereal.

Empty Your Heart for the Master
One day I had a profound mystical experience where I had the darshan of three great Divine Mothers, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi et Mahasaraswati. Tripathi was with me that night. When I wanted to bow down before Them, They refused for they said, “You are Narada, you are Vishnu, you are God.” Then I understood that Sacha Baba wanted to incarnate in me. I sent Tripathi to tell him that I did not want him to incarnate in me because my body was too fragile and could not bear a large amount of divine energy. So if he could incarnate in the body of a young disciple or of a more appropriate person, it would be better for me. Sacha Baba replied that the first thing was that I thought that I would always be just sitting at his feet at his ashram in Allahabad, whereas one day, I would have to take care not only of that ashram, but also of another one and of the whole world too. Secondly, he could only use a place which had been cleared out, not one which was cluttered up, for there was no space at all there. “As you have emptied your heart and your heart is longing to be with me, I will come into you, and will work through you for the whole world.”

If You Worship Your Guru, He Will Give You What You Ask
When time came for Sita to get married, a competition was organized, as was the custom in those days. Only the suitor who won the contest which consisted in breaking a special bow could be given her hand in marriage.
Now Sita had already seen young Ram before and she had seen in a vision that the young man was God Himself incarnated on Earth. So, well before the contest which was held in order to choose her future husband, she performed tapasya [austerities undergone in order to obtain God's help] and asked the Goddess Parvarti for two favours. First of all, she asked that everyone pray to Parvarti and that She grant humanity whatever it wanted — whether the people be saints or ordinary men. Secondly, she wanted to marry God if he was incarnated on Earth, and not an ordinary man. So she implored Parvarti, saying that if God was really present, let him accept her as his wife.
This means that she thought Ram was God and wished that Ram would accept to marry her. And finally, Ram was the one who won and was given her hand in marriage. If you worship your Guru, he gives you whatever you ask.

Whatever a Saint Promises Will Ineluctably Come True : Story of Turkaram and Namdev
In the past, there lived a great saint called Tukaram who lived in Maharastra. One day, someone by the name of Namdev, from Punjab came to visit him. Namdev lived for a long time by his side. When he wanted to return home, he asked Tukaram to help him so he would have God’s darshan. The Master answered, “Go and wait, for one day you will have it.”
And Namdev returned home. One day he was making chapatis [indian flat bread] under a tree. When the chapatis were ready, he went away for a few seconds to wash his hands so as to spread ghee (clarified butter) onto the chapatis before first offering them to God according to the custom, then eating them. But as soon as he turned his back, a dog came and took the chapatis out of the fire and moved away to eat them. When Namdev saw that, he was so angry with the dog that he took a big stick to hit it. As soon as he raised the stick, Lord Krishna came out of the dog, holding all the chapatis. Namdev was both surprised and embarrassed. He bowed down at Lord Krishna’s feet saying,
“Lord, why didn’t you wait until I had put ghee on the chapatis before taking them? They would have been nicer.”
The fact is that he had in that way had God’s darshan. This means that if a saint says something, you must believe him for what he says will ineluctably be fulfilled.

Devoting Oneself to Serving God
Devote yourself to serving God. Do at least one hour of sadhana in the morning and another hour in the evening. He who devotes himself to God does not need to pray for his material needs for God will fulfil those needs, seeing that he knows what they are. Look at this ashram [Sacha Dham], I never ask who is coming to eat, I don’t choose those who should eat here, yet there is always enough food for everyone. God meets the needs of whoever serves him, and he does not even need to worry.

The Good Or Bad You Do Will Come Back to You
Be just and good towards all. If you do good or bad, this will inevitably come back to you. If you cheat someone, in fact you cheat yourself, for karma is inflexible and one can neither escape from it nor get rid of it. Take Lord Ram, for example, when he came to Earth, he killed a demon called Bali by hiding behind a tree. Later on, when he came back in the form of Lord Krishna, he was killed in exactly the same circumstances by a hunter who was hiding behind a tree.

Maharajji's Christmas Day Message 2007

My souls,

All Saints are like the sun. The sun never finds that this water is dirty, and that that water is pure, or that this place is dirty, and that place is cleaner, it never thinks so [It therefore shines everywhere]. So every Saint gives the same message; whether it be Christ, Krishna or Guru Nanak, the message is the same : “Love is God. Love one another.” However certain religious people create differences, otherwise there is no difference between saints. You worship Christ, I worship Krishna, others Vishnu or Guru Nanak, etc. They all give the same message : Love. And Love is God. Remember Rama and Krishna, they had the same love.

When Christ was being crucified on the cross, he told his disciples that they should love the people who were crucifying him in the same way as they loved him. He never thought that since they were crucifying him they were his enemies, but rather that he was one with them. The sun and saints are the same. The sun never sees that the place where it goes is dirty or clean. In the same way, Saints never think that this person is “like that” so they will not give him love, and that others are righteous so they will give them more love. NO. Love is equal. It is the same love for all men, whether they be “righteous” or “unrighteous”. Indeed, everybody is entitled to become realized, and the message of realization is the same.

So I pray to God that He will make us forget our differences and that all will get Love and give it to to the whole world so that there will be no differences in religions. All religions go to God, and God is one. God is in every heart. The heart is one; Love is one, and Love is God. Rama says “Love is God.” Krishna says “Love is God.” Christ says “Love is God.” Nanak says “Love is God.” Love with your heart. When one works, it is done mentally and intellectually, not with the heart. When one loves with one’s heart, one loves everybody equally. The heart makes no differences. The heart is one, and it is universal. Why am I the same as you? I am the same since my heart is within all of you, you are all one heart, so I think all of you are my heart. And the heart is one. Love is heart.

I pray to Christ, I pray to Krishna, I pray to Rama, I pray to Guru Nanak who all give us the same message, so that throughout the world there will be peace, love and wisdom; in this way every body here will love one another and become an example for the world. And for everybody in Sacha Dham I want things here to become such that all religions will live together in love, through their hearts, not with their intellect. And I pray again and again and again to Christ for him to give me Love so that I can give it to all of you.
This is my message.

Prakash Diwash or Enlightenment Day

Maharajji’s Enlightenment

On 3rd October 2007, the festival called Prakash Diwash or Enlightenment Festival will be celebrated at Sacha Dham. It is held every year to commemorate the spiritual enlightenment of our beloved Master Shri Hans Raj Maharajji which took place on 3rd October 1955. Surprisingly, he had arrived at the great Guru Sacha Baba’s ashram in Allahabad only the evening before.

How did he arrive there? At that time, Maharajji was working as an accountant in the Indian civil service in Allahabad. Unfortunately he developed a chronic form of dysentery which was exhausting and which resisted different treatments prescribed by doctors. This discouraged Maharajji so much that he did not know what to do to return to health. Then, a fellow office worker, Swami Navalji, suggested he go and see Sacha Baba, a very great saint living in Allahabad, who would heal him. At that time, Maharajji had already moved away from religion, although as a child and a young man he had ardently desired to realize the Divinity, so great was his aspiration. It must be said that from a very young age he would often see Great Beings in his visions and dreams. But with time, this aspiration had progressively disappeared. He no longer believed in religion and saints.

However, having followed medical treatment in vain, he accepted his colleague’s offer, for after all, one never knows where the solution to a problem might come from. He therefore went to Sacha ashram in Arail, Allahabad, where he was received very kindly by the Master, Sacha Baba. The latter gave him a room with all he needed for his stay at the ashram and recommended that he go and participate in a session of devotional songs which was going on. The following morning, Maharajji decided to meditate at dawn. It was during this meditation that an extraordinary mutation took place in his consciousness and his whole being, causing him to reach divine realization. He had come for his physical body to be healed, but he had received healing for his whole being! He had attained Self-realization. This was a marvellous event which became the turning point in his life and which, later on, would have profound effects on thousands of men throughout the world.

With time, Maharajji became progressively attached to Sacha Baba and he had only one aim : to help his Master awaken the consciousness and hearts of men to Wisdom, Love, Peace and the Beauty of God. In order to achieve this, he left his job as an accountant and abandoned everything in order to Serve God and his Master.

Serving God

For several decades, Maharajji travelled throughout India to share his Master’s teachings with all those who he could reach. He completely forgot himself in this task. Little by little, disciples gathered around him and in 1974, Sacha Baba asked him to create his own ashram in Rishikesh, at the foot of the Himalayas : Sacha Dham or “The place of Ultimate Truth” (or “Holy Place”). Thus Sacha Dham was born, where Maharajji settled. Since then, he has always lived in Rishikesh and up until the time of Sacha Baba’s mahasamadhi (his leaving this world) in 1983, Maharajji, who has always nourished deep love for his Master, went to see him regularly. He has always said that he works in the name of God and that of Sacha Baba, and whatever he does, he attributes it to his Master, taking no personal merit, even when he works what men call miracles.

For those who have spent even a few days with Maharajji, the life of this great saint is an immense sacrifice made out of love for all men. His example, while evoking in each of us the greatest respect and the deepest veneration, remains a model from which we should draw inspiration for the good of all beings. Indeed, all beings are in fact ourselves, in spite our consciousness which has been muddled by ignorance, thus leading us believe that we are different and distinct from others.

Intense Moments of Spiritual Communion

The Prakash Diwash Festival is an opportunity to remind disciples that the aim of life is to achieve this divine realization, for with time, one lets oneself go and forgets one’s highest aspirations. Moreover, during this same festival where a puja (a highly significant religious ceremony) is celebrated, Maharajji gives special impetus to his disciples’ spiritual development by granting them certain specific energies which are usually grouped together under the term “blessings”, but all blessings do not have the same aim and the same impact. On Prakash Diwash day, enlightenment is given special importance! Many of his disciples come together at Sacha Dham to benefit from these unique moments of spiritual communion and deepen their ties with the Master. For those who are far away, it is always possible to share these moments with Maharajji and the assembly of his disciples by connecting inwardly with them, for we are taught that time and space do not really exist.

Special Blessings

So on this special day, without neglecting his task of directing humanity towards a higher spiritual state, Maharajji devotes great attention to pouring blessings upon his disciples wherever they are in the world. It is true that Maharajji blesses his disciples all year long, but this day is a special one, and so special energy is transmitted. On this day, the channel between the Master and his disciples widens, and disciples who focus on Maharajji, opening their hearts even more to receive his blessings, will receive particular grace according to the efforts they have made in the past year to connect with the holy river (the Master), who purifies them like the holy Ganges purifies dirty water which flows into it.

Indeed, Maharajji has often said that the more one loves a true Master, the more easily one is purified, for the love one shows to him opens a canal through which the Master can work to take away negative things which keep us away from God, while transmitting positive energy to allow the divine spirit of God in us to manifest. Indeed, the Guru is God’s representative who He sends to guide disciples seeking more and more light. And since the aim of all disciples is to achieve union with God, it is the Guru who plays the role of intermediary between them and God. God has therefore given great power (the power of Shiva) to the Guru to cut away whatever is negative from the disciple’s personality and heart. He has also been endowed with the necessary shakti or spiritual power to make the disciple grow little by little into a great spiritual tree. This enlightened person will finally be able to communicate freely with the Divinity and in turn cooperate with God to help others return to the divine state which all men have to reach one day.

What is therefore important, is what happens in one’s heart throughout the year, and not just on Enlightenment Day. Knowing that it is the Guru who leads us from darkness to light, it is necessary to constantly focus our hearts on Maharajji throughout the year, while carrying out the specific sadhana he has recommended. Then we are sure that whatever particular blessing the Guru has to bestow on us, we will be able to receive all of it.

Kind Attention to Humanity

Disciples, of course, show deep gratitude to Maharajji for devoting his life to humanity and his pupils. Maharajji in turn, asks his disciples to pray for humanity, so that all may turn to God, and that hardship and even lives may be spared from disasters in the coming months and years. He also wants his disciples, through their prayers, to help humanity so that all their needs may be fulfilled. The Sacha lineage has seen to it that this can become reality; that progressively all hearts will turn towards God, and that the basic material necessities of all men will be met.

May Maharajji’s peace, love and light descend on us all !

Maharajji Mahaprabhu Ki Jay !