baba jaimal singh - kirpal singh.pdf

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AGreatSaint

BABAJAIMALSINGH:HISLIFEANDTEACHINGS

[1838-1903]

by

SantKirpalSinghJi

FirstEdition,1960

SecondEdition,1968

ThirdEdition,1971

----NotCopyrighted----

Thismusicstreamsfromatranscendent

planewithin

AndiscaughtbyasoldierSaint.


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Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj

(1858-1948)


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Dedicated

totheAlmightyGod

workingthroughallMasterswhohavecome

andBabaSawanSinghJiMaharaj

atwhoselotusfeet

thewriterimbibedsweetelixirof

HolyNaam-theWord


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Sant Kirpal Singh Ji

(1894-1974)

---------------------------------------------------------------


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Gratefulthanksareduetoallthosewhohave,inoneway

oranother,assistedinthepublicationofthisbook;but

ShriBhadraSenaandVinodJimaybementionedinparticular

fortheirdevotedlaborwhichenabledthefinalizationof

themanuscript.

-KIRPALSINGH

***

FOREWORD

SantKirpalSingh,theauthorofthisbook,needsnointroduction.

ForthelastdecadeandoverhehasbeenatSawanAshram,Delhi,and

throughoutthelengthandbreadthofthecountryandabroad,carrying

aloftthetorchofpurespiritualityfortheupliftofhumanity.The

callcomestomany;butfewchoosetobechosen.Allofusareso

absorbedinmeetingthedemandsofmundaneexistenceonphysicaland

mentallevelsthatwehavelittletimeandthoughtleftforhigher

thingsofthespirit.Talkofself-realizationandGod-realization


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moreoftenthannotsoundsasmereemptyverbiagewithnorational

contentandsubstance.Theworldistoomuchwithus.

Abooklikethiscanbetrulyhelpfulinawakeninginusthedesire

fortreadingthepaththatleadstoenlightenmentandliberationfrom

thecycleofbirthanddeath.Itisnotmerelyabrieflifestoryof

agreatman,butofaGodmanwhoseimpeccablepurity,deephumility

andceaselessdevotiontotheGod-Pathatthebiddingofagreat

Master,whichliftedhimtopeerlessspiritualheights,canserveas

aninspiringexampleforinnumerablesoulspuffingandpantinginthe

struggleoflife,andwishingtobefreedfromthebondageofmindand

body.

Atrulygreatmanneedsnoothertributethananaccountofhislife

andwork.Anattempthasbeenmadetocollectinthisvolumethemain

eventsofBabaJi'slifehistoryandanoutlineofhisteachingsas

theyhavebeenrecordedinhislettersandinpublishedandunpublished

accountsleftbyhisdisciplesandadmirers,chiefamongthembeing

MaharajSawanSinghJi,hisspiritualheir,BabaSurainSingh,Gyani

PartapSingh,etc.Itisastorymarkedbyanamazingintensityof

spiritualyearninginitsfirstmovement,anequallyamazingapplication

andone-pointedconcentrationinthenext,andanolessremarkable

humilityandselflessnessalliedtosupremespiritualexaltationinits

lastandconcludingphase.


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TheauthorcharacterizestheSantMatpracticedandpreachedbyBaba

JaimalSinghJiasascience,andwellhemight,becausehehimselfis

adistinguishedexponentofit,whohasbeeninitiatedintoits

mystiqueatthefeetofagreatSaint;andwhosemasteryofitis

widelyacknowledgedandacclaimed,asdemonstratedbyhiselectionas

PresidentoftheWorldFellowshipofReligionsonthecrestofawave

ofuniversalovationandapplauseinwhichthesages,scholarsand

savantsfromseveralpartsoftheworldlustilyjoined.

Thebookisanendeavortopresent,forthefirsttimeinEnglish,the

biographyofoneofthemostoutstandingSaintsofourtimes,onewho

deservestobebetterknownthanheis.Thestoryisamemorableone,

andisofpermanentvalueintheannalsofman'sspiritualhistory.It

deservestobereadbyeveryseekerafterGod.Iamconfidentthatthose

whoreadthisbookwillnotfailtobeinspiredanduplifted,andwill

begintoseethatspiritualityisnotwhatitisgenerallysupposedto

be,butisasciencewhoseMastershaveappearedatalltimesandinall

places,andwhichmaybelearnedatthefeetofanadeptwhereverhe

maybefound,irrespectiveofsectsandgaddis;thefinaltouchstoneof

hiscompetencebeinghisabilitytogivedirectinnerexperiencetohis

discipleshereandnow,andnotinsomefuturelife.

NewDelhiRADHAKRISHNAKHANNA

August8,1960


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***

TABLEOFCONTENTS

PARTONE:THEGREATTRADITION

TheGod-way

Therichheritage

Rediscoveringloststrands

PARTTWO:BABAJI-ABRIEFBIOGRAPHY

Earlyyears

Thegreatsearch

Theconsummation

TheSoldierSaint

TheTorchBearer

PARTTHREE:BABAJI&THESCIENCESPIRITUAL


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Thecreation

ThePathofLiberation

ThePerfectMaster

Faith,loveandself-surrender

Thelifewithout

Thelifewithin

Anancientscience

SuratShabdYoga

TheSatguruortheTrueMaster

TheGurmukhorthegenuinedisciple

Theouterandtheinner

GLOSSARYOFORIENTALTERMS

____________________________________________________________________________

PARTONE:THEGREATTRADITION

THEGOD-WAY


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TheWaybacktoGodisnotofman'smakingbutof

God's,anditisfreefromartificeandartificiality.God

drawsmanbacktoHimselfthroughHischosenelect,the

Godman,towhomthesecretofthePath(theGod-way)

isrevealeddirectlyormademanifestbysomeSantSatguru,

forthebenefitofthepeople.

TheMasters,theMessiahs,theteachersandprophets

alltheworldoverfallintotwocategorieswithaseparate

missionassignedtoeach.Thereare,ontheonehand,

thosewhosesolepurposeistokeeptheworldgoing

harmoniously;andontheotherhandtherearethosewho

arecommissionedtoleadbacksoulswhoareripefor

home-going,andyearnforanearlyreturntotheSource

Spiritualfromwhichtheypartedlongagobeforedrifting

downwardtothematerialplane.Inthefirstcategoryfall

allthereformers,andinthesecondsuchSantsandSadhs

asarecompetenttorevealtheknowledgeofGodandto

makemanifestthepowerofGodinman.

TheprocessofascentbacktotheSourceisjustthe

reverseofthatofdescentdowntothephysicalplane,and

onehasthereforetoreintegratehimself,togatherall

hiswanderingwitsatthestillpointofthesoul-in


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betweenandbehindthetwoeyes-wheretimeandTimelessness

intersect,beforethespiritcomestoitsownandlaunches

upontheSeaofLifeforaninnerjourneyhomeward.This,

infact,hasbeenthesolethemeofallsagesandseers

everywhere.Noneofthem,however,wantedtosetupany

newcreedorinstitutionalizedreligion.Whilereferringto

theexistenceofsomanyreligionsandcreedsintheworld,

allbristlingwithbewilderingtheoriesandconflicting

dogmas,HazurBabaSawanSinghJiMaharajusedtoremark,

"Therearealreadysomanywellsallover,whyshould

onediganymorepitfallsandmakeconfusionworse

confounded?"

GodmademaninHisownimage;andmanmadereligions,

eachinhisownimage,andinhiszealmadefetishesof

themall.Truereligioninitsinceptionisfreshandsimple,

likeanewly-bornbabebubblingoverwithvitallife,but

incourseoftime,likeanyotherthing,itdevelopsinto

anInstitution;andwiththatitbeginstodeteriorate,tends

toloseitsnativevitalelasticitybornofthelivingtouchof

theMaster-spirit,andgraduallycomestoacquireasocio-

economicappearance.Insteadofservingasasilkenbond

oflovebetweenmanandman,itbecomesasourceofconstant

strife,rancourandillwill,tearingclassfromclassand

nationfromnation.Whenthecupofhumanmiseryisfilled


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tothebrim,thencomestheSaviourwiththemessageofhope,

redemptionandfulfillmentforstrife-tornhumanity.He

triestoredressthefesteringsocialwoundsandpreaches

onenessandequalitytomaninordertorestorethe

equilibriuminthescalesofhumanvalues.

Alongsidethis,hismainobjectiveistosavehumansouls

forahigherpurpose:atruelifeofthespiritas

distinguishedfromthatoftheflesh.Suchindeedhasbeen

thegoalofgreatMasterslikeZoroaster,Mahavira,Buddha,

Christ,Mohammed,KabirandNanak,eachinhisowntime,

accordingtothethenprevailingconditionsandpeople's

aspirations;fortheyalwaystrytoleadthemfromthe

lineofleastresistance,anddoleoutthebasicgoodnessin

termsthatmayreadilyappealto,andfitinwith,their

mentalmake-upforastephigherintheprocessofevolution

orunfoldingofthespirit.ThisiswhatSaintsdoforthe

generalrunofmankind,derivingtheirinspirationfromthe

greatreservoirofthespiritwithin,whichisthesamefor

all.

THERICHHERITAGE

InthereligiousthoughtofmodernIndiatheperiodfrom


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themiddleofthefourteenthtothemiddleofthefifteenth

centuryisoneofoutstandingimportance.Itisanerain

whichanattemptwasmadetoreorientreligionandpresent

itinitssimplestform:theformoftruefaith,universal

loveandsingle-mindeddevotionasagainsttherigorsof

priestlyritualismandfanaticismleadingtointolerance

andbigotry.Amongthegreatteachersoftheperiodwefind

figureslikeRamananda,withhisprincipaldisciplesdrawn

fromvariouswalksoflife(RajaPipa,Ravidasthecobbler,

Sainathebarber,Kabirtheweaver,Dhannathejat,Narhari,

SukhaPadmavati,Sursuraandhiswife,etc.);Vallabhacharya,

thefamousexponentoftheKrishnacult;ChaitanyaMahaprabhu

ofNadiainBengal,withhischaracteristicstresson

Hari-bholeorchantingoftheLord'sname;Namdev,the

calicoprinterinMaharashtra;andthegreatKabirandNanak

intheNorth.

Noneofthemlaidmuchstressonidolworshipandobservance

ofouterreligiousformsandsymbols.Self-purity,loveand

inneryearningweretheirconstantthemes.Namdevsaid:

Loveforhimwhofillethmyheartshall

neverbesundered;

NamaappliedhishearttotheTrueName.

Asthelovebetweenachildandhismother,


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SoismysoulimbuedinGod.

Kabirlikewisesaid:

ItisneedlesstoaskofaSaintthecaste

towhichhebelongs;

ThebarberhassoughtGod,thewasherman

andthecarpenter;

EvenRavidaswasaseekerafterGod.

TheRishiSwapachawasatannerbycaste.

HindusandMuslimsalikehaveachievedthat

End,whereremainsnomarkofdistinction.

Againheproclaimed:

Itisnotbyfastingandrepeatingthe

prayersandthecreed

Thatonegoethtoheaven;

TheinnerveilofthetempleofMecca

Isinman'sheart,iftheTruthbeknown.

SospokeNanak:

Abideinthepureamidst

theimpurityoftheworld;


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Thusshaltthoufindthewaytoreligion.

Thismovement,however,attaineditsgreatestheights

atthehandsofKabir(1398-1518)andhisyounger

contemporary,Nanak(1469-1539).Bothofthemroseabove

thefettersoftheworldandtranscendedreligiousbarriers

andsowereacclaimedalikebyHindusandMuslimsboth.

TheirteachingsmainlycenteredaroundGodandmanand

therelationshipbetweenthetwo.Bothofthemwere

exponentsoftheSuratShabdYoga(YogaoftheSound

CurrentorcommunionwiththeHolyWord),andtheir

writingsextolthisasthecrownoflife.Ifwestudy

theessentialcoreofanyofthereligiousteachingsin

itspristinepurityandtruthasitappearedintheoriginal

sayingsoftheMasters-whattheythemselvesactually

practicedandwhattheygavetotheirchosendisciples

(Gurmukhsorapostles)-wecannotfailtogetaninsight

intotherealitythattheywere,oneandall,inoneform

oranother,votariesofthetranscendentalseeingandhearing,

nomatteratwhatlevel;thoughtothelaymentheygave

theirsubtlethoughtsintheformofparablesonly,as

otherwisetheywouldnothearandmuchlessunderstand

theirteachings.


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Suchworldteachersserveasbeaconlightsinthestormy

seaandtrytosavehumanityfromflounderinginthe

quicksandsoftime.ChildrenofLightastheyare,they

cometodispelthedarknessofthesoulandarenaturally

calledGuru,thedispellerofdarkness:darknessbornof

ignoranceofthetruevaluesoflife.Theyhaveunbounded

loveforallreligionsandreligiousheadsandhaveequal

respectforallscriptures.Theirsisauniversalfoldthat

takesin,inonelongsweep,theentirehumanitywithall

itsvariegatedpatternsandcolors,andsteepsthemequally

intheloveofGod.Kabirtellsusinthiscontext:

Alloursagesareworthyofveneration,

ButmydevotionisforOnewhohasmastered

theWord.

Hefurthertellsusthathe,withhisdivinemessage,

incarnatedfromagetoageforthebenefitofthepeople.

HeappearedinallthefourYugasorcyclesoftime:first

asSatSukrat,thenasKarnaMai,againasManinder,and

finallyasKabirinKaliYuga,thepresentphaseoftime.

GuruNanakalsoceaselesslytellsusofthegreat

importanceandsupremeefficacyofthemethodofSurat

ShabdYogaasthemeansofsalvation:


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laydownorpredictanyrulesofsuccession,placeortime.

Thisrichheritagegoesfromeyetoeyeandrefusestobe

boundtotraditionalgaddis(so-calledsanctifiedseatsand

sacredplaces),nordoesitdependonhumansanctionsof

temporalorclericalcharacter.GuruNanak,withhisseatat

Kartarpur,passedonhisspiritualheritagetoBhaiLehna,

who,asGuruAngad,shiftedtoKhadurSahib;whilehis

successorGuruAmarDaswasobligedtotransferhisseat

toGoindwal.

WithGuruRamDas,Amritsarcameintobeing,andlater

onbecametheheadquartersofGuruArjan.Thuswesee

thatthereisnothingspecialaboutplacesassuch.They

owetheirsanctitytothesanctifyinginfluenceofthe

Saintswhopasstheirtimeatoneplaceoranother."All

isholywheredevotionkneels."Itisnottheplacesthat

gracemenbutmentheplaces.

REDISCOVERINGLOSTSTRANDS

Thestreamofliferollsonceaselesslyintheendless

courseoftime;thepoweroftheTimelessappearsand


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disappearsintherealmofrelativity.

BeforeproceedingwiththelifesketchofBabaJaimal

SinghJi,itwouldbeworthourwhiletohaveapeepinto

thebackgroundthatmadehimwhathewas.Itwasindeed

thepowerofSwamiJithatflowedthroughhiminwhatever

hedidandwhereverheworked,forhewaswhollylostto

himselfandgivenovertotheDivineinhim.

Inordertounderstandthingsintheirproperperspective

andlinkupthehistoryofourspiritualheritage,wewill

havetogobacktoGuruGobindSingh,thelastoftheten

GurusinthelineofsuccessiontoGuruNanak.

TheRani(Queen)ofoneRatanRaoPeshwa,accompanied

byBhaiNandLal,cametothefeetofGuruGobindSingh

forrefuge.(*2)

(*2Cf.ShriDesRaj,HinduSikhIthras.)

GuruGobindSinghtraveledwidely,penetratingthe

HimalayasintheNorthandgoingtoDeccanintheSouth.

Duringhisextensivetravels,hemetandlivedwiththe

rulingfamilyofthePeshwasandinitiatedsomeofits

membersintotheinnerscience.Itissaidthatone


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Again,SwamiJiveryoftengavetohisfollowers

instancesfromthelifeofhisgreatpredecessor,toteach

themtheimportanceofvirtueslikepatience,forbearance,

forgivenessandGodliness.(*6)

Beforehispassingawayin1843,TulsiSahibbequeathed

hisspiritualheritagetoSwamiJi.ForsixmonthsTulsi

Sahiblayinastateofsamadhi(spiritualtrance)lostin

Divineconsciousness.ItwasonlyafterSwamiJihadpaid

himavisitthatTulsiSahiblefthismortalframe.Baba

GaribDas,oneoftheearliestdisciplesofTulsiSahib,

confirmedthatthespiritualmantlehadbeenentrustedbyhis

MastertoMunshiJi(asSwamiJiwasthenknownonaccount

ofhisgreatlearninginPersian).(*7)SwamiJiwasto

spendfifteenyearsofhislifeinalmostincessantabhyasa

(spiritualpractice)inasmallcloset.

(*4ChachaPartapSingh,op.cit.,p.109.

*5Ibid.,pp.33-34

*6Ibid.,pp.93-96.

*7JivanCharitarBabujiMaharaj,Vol.III,p.29.)

AfterthepassingawayofTulsiSahib,SwamiJicontinued

tovisitHathrastohonorthememoryofhispreceptor.On


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onesuchoccasion,wearetold,whenSwamiJiwenttoHathras,

theheatwassogreatthathisdisciplesRaiSaligramand

BabaJiwanLalhadtocarryhimbetweenthemselvesoverthe

lastlapofthejourneywherenotransportwasavailableand

thegroundwasveryuneven.(*8)

ThegreatrespectthatSwamiJidisplayedforthe

GranthSahibembodyingtheteachingsofGuruNanak

andhissuccessorsseemsultimatelytohavebeenderived

fromfamilytradition.TherecitationoftheSikhscriptures

wasanarticleoffaithinthefamily.Hisfather,Lala

DilwaliSingh(aSahejdharikhatriSikh,belongingtothe

orderofNanakPanthis),wasdevotedlyattachedtoJap

Ji,RahoRasandSukhmani(Sikhscriptures),whichhe

readfromdaytodaywithgreatreligiousfervoranddeep

reverence.AcopyofSukhmaniinPersianscript,inthe

handofSwamiJi'sgrandfather,SethMalukChand,atone

timeDiwanofDholpurState,isstillpreservedinthe

archivesofSoamibagh.(*9)

(*8AjodhyaParshad,JivanCharitarHazurMaharaj,p.36.

*9ChachaPartapSingh,op.cit.,p.5.)

TheessenceofSantMatthuscametopermeatethevery

beingofSwamiJi.Inlateryears,atleastononeoccasion,


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Again,welearnthatwhentheendofLalaDilwaliSingh

drewnear,hissonShivDayalSingh(SwamiJi),sitting

nearhisbedstead,beganrecitingtheGurbani,soasto

keephisfather'sattentionsteadilyfixedthereinat

thatcrucialtime.

GianiPartapSingh,basinghimselfonBabaBholaSingh's

RadhasoamiMatDarpan,tellsusinhisstudyofworld

religions(*11)howSwamiJiincourseoftimebecamea

frequentvisitortotheholySikhshrineofMaiThanat

Agra,commemoratingthevisitoftheninthGuru,Tegh

Bahadur;whereSantMaujParkash,originallyknownas

DidarSinghoftheNirmalaorderandagreatSanskrit

scholar,usedtogivelucidexpositionsoftheGurbanior

Sikhscriptures.Itwasbecauseofhiscloseassociation

withSantMaujParkashthatSwamiJilearnedGurbani

anditssignificanceinSuratShabdYoga,andhebegan

usingthisveryshrineforhisdiscoursesonGurbani.

ChachaPartapSinghinhislifesketchhasgivenin

rapturoustermsagraphicdescriptionofonesuch

discourse:

(*10Lucknow:NawalkishorePrintingPress.

*11SansarDaDharmicIthas.)


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awayfromAgracity.

Anotherdisciple,BabaJaimalSinghJi,oneoftheearliest

andmostspirituallyadvanceddisciplesofSwamiJi,as

directedbythegreatMasterhimself,settleddownatBeas

inthePunjabtorevitalizetheworkofSpiritualityand

torepayinsomemeasurethedebtthattheworldowedto

GuruNanak.Wewillnowexamineinsomedetailthelife

andworkofthisdistinguishedspiritualsonofSwamiJi.

EARLYYEARS

Itwasin1838thatBabaJaimalSinghwasborninthe

villageofGhumanintheGurdaspurDistrictofthePunjab,

toafamilyofpiousSikhcultivators.Ghumanwasas

anyothervillageintheregion.Ifitwasdistinguishedin

anyway,itwasbyitshavingashrineknownasDeraBaba

Namdev,inmemoryofthegreatsageNamdevwho,many

centuriesearlier,hadspenthislastdaysthere.Legend

holdsthatwhentheSaintarrivedandwishedtopray

insidethelocaltemple,hewasrefusedadmissionbecause

hewasanoutcaste.Undeterredhewentandsatdown

behindthebackwallandwassoonlostinsamadhi.The


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Lord,unhappyattheinsultofferedtoHisdisciple,turned

thefaceofthetempletowardtheplacewhereNamdevsat,

andallthepriestsandbrahminsfellathisfeetasking

forforgiveness.Itisfromthatdaythatthelocalvillage

issaidtohavetakenthenameofGhuman,aPunjabiword

signifying"toturnaround."Thevillagefolkvisitedthe

shrinetoofferdevotion,andmanyawanderingsadhu

oftencametheretopayhishomagetothegreatsage.

BhaiJodhSinghandBibiDayaKaur,theparentsofJaimal,

werefrequentvisitors,andthelatter,whilethere,

wouldoftenprayforasaintlyson.Greatsoulsseldom

comeunannouncedandonenightBibiDayaKaurwasvisited

bythegreatNamdevinadreamwhotoldherthather

prayersweregranted;andtenmonthslaterJaimal

wasbornamidstdomesticfestivityandrejoicing.

ThehistoryofaSaintisthehistoryofasoul's

pilgrimage.Itisastorywhichtobespirituallycomplete

coversinnumerableyearsandcountlesslives.Thefinal

enlightenmentmayseemsudden,butitspreparatorystages

arelongandarduous.LikeBuddhaandJesus,Jaimalshowed

remarkablespiritualprecocityfromaveryearlyage.When

visitingtheshrineofBabaNamdevwithhisparents,unlike

otherchildrenofhisage,hewouldsitcalmandattentive;


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andevenasachildofthreehecouldrepeatmanyofthe

versesheheardatspiritualdiscourses.Thevillagers

wonderedathisprodigiousness.Hewassoonnicknamed

Bal-Sadhuor"child-saint,"andhisruraladmirerspressed

hisparentstogivehimanopportunityforeducation.

SowhenJaimalwasfive,hewasputinthechargeof

BhaiKhemDas,alearnedvedantistwholivedcloseby.

InthosetimeseducationinIndiadidnotconcernitself

withtrainingforavocation.Itwaspre-eminentlya

mentalandspiritualdisciplinebasedonthestudyofthe

scriptures.Theyoungchilddisplayedkeenaptitudeforit

andsoonmasteredtheGurmukhiscript.Withinayearhehad

alreadyreadcarefullythePunjGranthiorfivebasicSikh

scriptures,includingtheJapJi,theSukhmaniSahib,and

RahoRas.Inanothersixmonthshehadthekeypassages

ofthesespiritualtreasuresbyheart,andbytheageof

sevenhehadgrownintoanexcellentpathioronewho

couldrecitethescripturesinamelodiouswaywith

professionalmastery.Thenextyearwasspentinstudying

theDasamGranth-thescripturescompiledbythelast

oftheSikhGurus.

Jaimalshowedgreatrespectforhisteacherwhowas

delightedwiththeboy'sapplicationandrapidprogress.


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Thetwowouldspendlonghourstogether,andthelad

wouldhearBhaiKhemDaswithgreatattention.His

hungerforknowledgewasinsatiableandthereadingof

scripturesonlyfiredhisimaginationstillfurther.One

day,pickinguptheJapJi,hebeganrecitingthetwentieth

stanza,andafterfinishingtherecitation,turnedtohis

teacherandasked:"Sir,whatisthemeaningofNaam,

ofwhichNanakhassaid,`Whenone'smindisdefiledby

sin,itcanbecleansedonlybycommunionwithNaam,'and

ofwhichalltheothergreatoneshavesungsuchpraises

intherestoftheGranthSahib?"KhemDaswastouched

byhispupil'squestioningspiritanddiscrimination,but

wasunabletoenlightenhimonthesubjectashehimself

wasnotconversantwiththemysteryofNaam.

Adaylater,BhaiJodhSingh,seeingthathisson,now

eight,wasoldenoughtohelphim,wenttohisguruwith

anofferingofasilverrupeeandjaggeryintraditional

style.Afterlayingitathisfeet,heexpressedhisdesire

tohaveJaimalreleasedfromhisstudiesinordertotend

hisflockofgoats.KhemDasraisednoobjection."Heis

yoursonandyoumaydisposeofhimasyouconsiderbest."

Buthisyoungwardcouldnotwishhimfarewellsoeasily.

"Sir,"heassuredhim,"Ishallworkformyfatherallday,

butintheeveningIshallcometoyouandcontinuethe


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boyoncetoldhisteacherthathecouldseestarsand

moonwithinandglimpseinnerLight-thefirstspiritual

experienceofthemysticsoul.

BhaiJodhSinghwasfarfromsatisfiedwithhiseldest

son'sunworldlyways.Howeverreligious-mindedamanmay

be,heisseldomhappytoseehissonturnedarenunciate.

Jaimalwasgrowingup,butinsteadofshowinganyinterest

infamilyaffairs,hewasmovingintheoppositedirection.

Henotonlyspentagreatdealofhistimereading

scriptures,practicingspiritualsadhnasandvisitinghis

teacher,BhaiKhemDas,butalsobeganpassinglonghours

inthecompanyofthesadhusandholymenwhocametothe

villagetopayhomagetotheshrineofNamdev.

Wishingtocurbhisson'sinordinatereligiousinclination,

hisfatherthoughtitbesttosendhimawayfromGhuman

anditsvisitingsadhus.Soattheageofelevenyears

andeightmonthsJaimalwassentoffwithhisfiockto

thehomeofoneofhistwosisters,BibiTabo,wholived

inthevillageofSathyala.

Athissister's,Jaimalcontinuedhisoldscheduleof

religiouspracticesandgoat-grazing.Manyamonthpassed

awayinthisuneventfulmanner.Thenonedaywhile


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followinghisherdhemetayogiwhohadjustarrivedatthe

village.Happytofindthecompanyoftheholy,hebowed

inreverence,milkedhisgoatsandofferedtheyogiadrink

ofmilk.Themaninsaffronwastouchedbythelad'spiety

andbegantoquestionhim.Jaimaltoldhimofthescriptures

hehadreadandtheintensedesireforenlightenmentthey

hadsparkedinhim.Thesadhuwasverypleasedbythe

accountandofferedtotrainhim.Hetoldhimfrankly

thatasregardsthemystiqueofNaamheknewlittle,but

whateverhehimselfpracticedhewouldfreelyimpart.So

nextmorningasinstructed,Jaimalproceeded,without

havingeatenanything,tohisnewly-discoveredguidefor

initiation.Theyogiwasanadeptinpranayamaand

instructedhisyoungdiscipleintoitssecrets.

Havingfoundaspiritualguide,Jaimalwasonce

againlosttotheworld.Hisoldholyindifferencetofamily

tiesandworldlyaffairsreturned,ifanythingwith

redoubledintensity.Hewouldoftensitforthreehoursat

astretchinmeditation.Theyogi,pleasedbyhisdevotion,

stayedoninthevillageandJaimalwasmoreoftenthan

nottobefoundinhiscompany.Thesedevelopments

causedhissistermuchconcern,andanxietyfinallydrove

hertosendwordtoherfathertotaketheboyaway.Bhai

JodhSinghsoonarrivedonthesceneandorderedhisson


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backhome.Thetwosetouthomewardearlynextmorning,

butwhiletheywereonthepointofleavingthevillage,

Jaimal,hiseyesmoistwithtears,beggedhisfatherto

permithimtoseetheyogiforthelasttimeandbidhim

farewell.Hisfatheragreedandtheboy,withanoffering

offreshmilk,hurriedtohispreceptor.Hesadlyrelated

howhisfatherhadarrivedandoftheirintendeddeparture

thatday.Theyogismiled,blessedhimandbadehimbeof

goodcheer."Continueyoursadhnasathomeasbefore,"

hesaid,"andallwillbewell.Imyselfshallseeyou

theresomeday."

AtGhumanJaimalrevivedhisassociationwithBhai

KhemDasandcontinuedtogreetvisitingsadhusasof

yore.Hewasnowinhisfourteenthyearandcontinued

withunmitigatedzealthepracticeofthesadhnashehad

learned.Buthesoonbegantohungerformore.Theyogic

practiceshehadmasteredfailedtosatisfyhim,andon

readingtheGranthSahibhebecameconvincedofahigher

reality,tobeattainedbydifferentmeans.Ashe

progressedonthepath,hebecameprogressivelymore

detachedfromtheworld.Henotedalltheesoterichints

andreferencestothefive-wordedWord,thePanchShabd,

tobefoundintheSikhscriptures,andkeptponderingover

them,askingeverynewyogiorsadhuhemetifhecould


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explainthemtohim;butallinvain.

Atthisstageofhissearch,heandhisfamilysuffereda

sadbereavement.Hewasnotyetfourteenwhenhisfather

fellillanddied.Thefamilywasgrief-strickenbutJaimal's

spiritualdisciplineworkedasaprotectiveshield.Quoting

fromthescriptures,hecomfortedhismotherandhistwo

youngerbrothersanddiscouragedanyweepingorwailing.

Ifthesoulwasdeathlessandifallwasaccordingtothe

Lord'sWill,thenwhyanymourning?

THEGREATSEARCH

HadJaimal'sinterestinSpiritualitybeenonlyaseed

castonrockorsandorasaplingyettenderinitsfiber,

haditbeennomorethanthemerecuriosityorthe

spontaneouspietyofasimplevillagelad,thepassingaway

ofhisfatherwouldhaverungthedeath-knellofhisquest.

Astheeldestmalememberofthefamily,theburdenof

domesticresponsibilitiesfellonhisshoulders;andperhaps

moresoulsarelosttoheavenbythesenseofdutytoearth

thanbydownrightsinandevil.ButJaimal'surgewasa

plantoftougherrootsandstrongerfiber.Undauntedand


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unmoved,hedividedtheoutdoordutiesamonghisbrothers,

keptuphisoldexactingroutine,andinsixmonths'time

masteredtheYogaVashishtaandVicharSangreh(two

standardworksofHindatheology).

Therearrivedinthevillageaboutthistimeasadhuof

theUdasisect.Aswashiswont,Jaimalwenttoseehim

andinquiredofhimthemeaningofthepassageshehad

noteddownfromtheGranthSahib.Thesadhuexplained

thathecouldinitiatehimintoatleastthemysteryof

theGhorAnhadordeepreverberatingsoundreferredtoin

theSikhscriptures,ifnotintothatofthePanchShabd.

Jaimal,keentolearnwhateverhecould,offeredhimselfas

adisciple.ButtheDiwalifestivalwasathandandhis

newteacherwantedtocelebrateitatAmritsar.Reluctant

tomissthisopportunity,Jaimalwenttohismotherand

beggedhertoallowhimtojointhesadhuandgoforth

onhisquestfortruth.ButBibiDayahadtoseetothe

welfareofthefamilyandwouldnothearofhereldestson

goingaway.Sheremindedhimofhisduties."Yourfather

isnomore,"shesaid,"andyoumustcarryoninhisplace.

Ifyouaregone,whatwillbecomeofus?"

"Iamnotinsensitivetowhatyousay,mydearmother,"

repliedherson,"buttheLordisaboveus,andhewho


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sustainshiscreaturesevenontherocksandinthesea

willnotforsakeusinourneed.Man'sprimarydutyisto

seekhisCreatorandallotherdutiesaresecondary.Be

notafraidbutbeofgoodcheer;andletmeproceedwith

yourblessings."

Deeplyreligiousherself,BibiDayawastouchedby

whatJaimalsaidwithsuchconviction.Seeinghis

determinationandbeingtoofondofhimtobreakhisheart,

sheatlastrelented."IknowIcannotstopyou.NordoI

wishtodoso.Butifyoumustgo,promisetoreturnhome

whenyourquestisover."

Givinghiswordofhonor,Jaimaldepartedandhis

motherandbrothersbadehimatearfulfarewell.Hehad

hardlyenteredhisfifteenthyearandhewasalready

embarkedonaquestthatwastocarryhimthroughmany

citiesandwastoinvolvehimingreattoilandtravail.

ItwasatimewhentherailroadwasstillunkowninIndia,

letalonemodernmotorwaysandairways.Therichcould,

ofcourse,rideonhorses,butthehumblerfolkhadto

dependonthesturdinessoftheirownfeet.Travelwas

difficultandarduous.TheBritishhadonlyrecently

conqueredthePunjabandstabilitywasstilltobe

established.


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TheGreatMutinywasonlyhalfadecadeaway,butthe

peopleweregrowingrestiveandthecountrywasbeginning

toseethewithdiscontent.

ItwasinsuchconditionsthatJaimalsetforthfor

Amritsar.Threedaysafterreachingtherehewasinitiated

bytheUdasisadhuinalocalgardenintothescienceof

theGhorAnhad.LikehiscontemporarySriRamakrishna

(1836-1886),JaimalSinghwasdestinedtositatthefeet

ofmanyintermediarymastersbeforemeetinghisTrue

One.Likehimhewasdestinedtolearnmanyasadhna

andmakerapidheadwayineach.Andlikehimhewas

destinednottobebound,likeotheryogis,toanyofthem,

buttopresseverforwardtowardahigherandstillhigher

goal.HisearlymasteryoftheGranthSahibstoodhimin

goodstead.Itworkedasaninfallibletouchstonewith

whichtotesteverynewattainmentandtoknowthathis

realgoallaystillfurtherahead.

Havingpracticedjapaandpranayama,andhaving

delvedintotheecstacyoftheGhorAnhad,thequestfor

thesecretofthefive-wordedWordbecameJaimal'sover-

masteringpassion.WhileatAmritsar,hedidnotfailto

contactotheryogisandsadhus,questioningthemforthe


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wereHindusadhusandMuslimfakirsofalldescriptions

there.TheyoungSikhladsoughttheircompanyatall

hoursandincessantlymingledwiththem.Buttryashe

might,hecoulddiscovernoclue.Findinghimselfina

greatcity,havingtrudgedmanyamile,withnomoneyin

hispocket,hardlyevercertainofhisnextmeal,hewas

notalittlediscomfitedwithhispredicament.Helivedin

thehopeofsolvingthesecretwhichnonecouldunravel

forhim.Wearyoffootandheavyofheart,hesetoutfor

NankanaSahib,thebirthplaceofGuruNanakandaplace

ofholypilgrimagefortheSikhs.

ButatNankanaSahib,Jaimalfailedonceagaintofind

whathewanted.ThewaysofProvidencearemysterious.

Aseeker'swaymaybeclutteredwithcountlessobstacles

whichmayalmostseemtobreakhisheart,yetatthevery

momentwhenthespiritisonthebrinkofcollapse,it

whispersawordofencouragementandflashesarayofhope,

savinghimfromthegiantdespairandputtinghimonthe

roadtoNewJerusalem.Andsotheboy,nowfifteen,met

atNankanaSahib,BhaiJodhaSinghoftheNamdhari

sectwhodirectedhimtoBabaBalakSinghofHazro,a

villagebeyondAttockinwhatlatercametobeknownas

theNorthwesternFrontierProvince.Withundeterred

resolution,Jaimalsetoutonthelongjourney.Hefirst


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haltedatAminabadwhenceheproceededtoShahDaulah.

FromShahDaulahhisjourneytookhimacrosstheJhelum

rivertoTilaBalnath,andthencetoRawalpindi.Hespenta

fewdaysineachofthesetownsandneverfailedtogetin

touchwiththefakirsandsadhustobefoundthere.Being

notveryfarfromPanjaSahib,thefamousshrinemarking

oneofGuruNanak'smostmemorablemiracles,(*1)he

proceededthereevenifitlaysomewhatoffhisroute.

Therehesojournedforawhile,enjoyingthenatural

sceneryandtheclearwatergushingfromthesacredfount.

HejourneyedfromtheretowardAttockandatlastarrived

atHazro,hisdestination.

(*1ItisrelatedinGuruNanak'slifethatthegreatsage

wastouringtheregionwithhisdevoteddisciples,Balaand

Mardana.Thepartywasfeelingexceedinglythirstyandthere

seemedtobenotraceofwateraround.Thesagedirectedhis

followerstoWaliKandhari,aMuslimhermitwholivedonthe

hillsidebythesideofaspring.TheWali,lostinhisown

pride,sentawaythestrangersempty-handed.Whenthey

returnedagainattheirMaster'sbidding,hescoffed:"If

yourGuruisasgreatamanasyouaffirm,can'theeven

quenchyourthirst?"

WhenthesewordswererelatedtoNanak,whostoodatthe

footofthehillbelow,hesmiledandstrucktherockwith


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hisopenhand.Straightwayacrystaljetburstforthand

everyonedrankhisfill.TheWaliwasfullofremorse,but

itwastoolatenow;andtohisconsternationhediscovered

thatthespringthatranbyhishuthadsuddenlydriedup.

TherockwheretheSaintstruckhishandstillbearsthe

imprintofhispalmandfingersandaclearstreamofwater

sproutsfrombeneath.ItisagreatcenterforSikh

pilgrimage.)

HewasveryhappytomeetthevenerableBabaBalakSingh

whowasimpressedbytheyoungvisitor'skeennessofmindand

intensityofspiritualyearning.Theypassedsomedelightful

daystogetherreading,recitinganddiscussingtheGranth

Sahib.BalakSinghwasamanofgreatwisdomandpiety,but

asfarasSpiritualitywasconcernedhe,likeGulabDas,was

onlyconversantwithjapathroughprana,andknewlittleof

thePanchShabdiNaamspokenofbyKabirandthegreatSikh

Gurus.Howeverhegavehisyoungfriendhopeanddirectedhim

toChikkertoahouseholderSikhofgreatspiritualeminence.

JaimalarrivedfromHazrointhevillageofChikkerand

beganinquiringforthemanhesought.Heseemedtofind

nocluetillhemetanoldretiredSikhwhoaskedtheyoung

strangerifhecouldassisthiminanyway.Jaimalrelated

fromwherehehadcomeandtheobjectofhisquest,and


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Hehadthesatisfactionofbeingputontherightroad,but

hewasnotthemantoresttillhehadattainedhisgoal.At

thisancientfrontiercityheonceagain,likeakeen

huntsman,beganseekingthetrailofsomemanoffullGod-

realization.ButPeshawarwasnottheplacewherehisquest

wastobecrownedwithsuccessandhisthirstsatiated.

WhilewanderingamongPathansthroughitsmanystreets,

amastanaSikh,losttotheeverydayworldofrational

behaviorbydivineintoxication,stoppedhimandaccosted

himwiththewords:"Whydoyouexpendyourlaborsin

theNorthwhenyourdayistodawnfromtheEast?"Though

hecouldextractnothingmorefromthestrangecounsellor,

hisadvicedrovehomeandsoonafterJaimalbeganretracing

hisstepstothePunjab.OnreachingRawalpindihedecided

tovisitthefamousKashmirValleyandthepopularhill

resortofMurree.AloverofNature'sbeauties,hegreatly

enjoyedhishillytourandinKashmirmetmanyasadhu.

Hissightseeingover,hefinallyturnedhomeward.With

tattersonhisbackandbarelyanyshoesonhisfeetor

moneyinhispocket,heatlastreachedGhumantothe

greatjoyofhisfondmotherandhisaffectionatebrothers.

Thefamilycelebratedthehomecomingintraditionalstyle,

offeringthanksgivingtotheAlmighty,arrangingscriptural


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recitationsandthesingingofhymns,distributingsweets

amongtheneighborsandofferingfoodtothepoor.Jaimal

Singh,nowsixteen,tookupthefamilydutiesoncemoreand

gavehimselfuptotheconsolidationofwhathehadlearned

inhisrecentitinerary.

Soonafterhisreturn,theSathyalayogiwhohadinitiated

himintoPranayamthreeyearsearlierarrived,truetohis

partingpromise,atGhumantoseehisyoungdisciple.Jaimal

Singhreceivedhimwithreverenceandhumilityandhisformer

teacherofferedtoinstructhimintheotherpracticesof

traditionalyoga.Buttheyouthwasnolongerachild.His

widetravelsandthevariedaccompanyingexperiencehad

givenhimanewmaturity.Whathadseemeddesirableonce

nolongerseemedofmuchvalue,forhiscontactwithmany

ayogihadconvincedhimofonethingatleast:thekriyas

ofHathaYogamightgivestrangephysicalandoccult

powers,buttheycouldnotbestowfullinnerpeaceand

freedom.Everyfreshdayonlystrengthenedhisold

convictionthatthepathofcompletemuktioremancipation

laysomeotherway,andallthathenowsoughtwas

initiationintothemystiqueofthePanchShabd.

Timerolledonitsmercurywheels,butJaimalSingh

wasnotthemantositidleorbecontentwithonlythe


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weredrowsinganddozing,continuehisjourneyasquickly

aspossible.

AtVairach,avillageonthebanksoftheBeasnotfar

fromhome,hemetasadhunamedKahanwhowasengagedin

collectingbricks."Goodday,holyone,"saidtheyouth.

"Whatisitthatkeepsyousobusy?"

"Nothing,myson,nothing;Iamonlycollecting

materialforyourfuturedwelling,"smiledKahan,and

oncemoregotlostinhiswork.Whenothersofthevillage

wouldquestionhiminlikemanner,hewouldreplywith

characteristicbrevity,"Atemplewillrisehereoneday,"

andrelapseintohisusualsilence.

JaimalSingh,notknowingwheretogo,directedhis

stepstowardHardwaronthebanksofthesacredGanges,

afavoritehauntoftheholy.Travelingbynightandby

day,hefootedthedistancewithcommendablespeedand

intwelvedaysreachedtheGanges.Heexploredtheghats

ofHardwar,thenasmalltownalmostentirelypopulated

bypanditsandsadhus,hearinglearnedyogis,questioning

themanddiscussinghisproblemswiththem.Fromthemain

townhetraveledalongsidetheriver,visitingallthe

sacredspotsintheneighborhood.AtTappoBanheheard


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theyouthfromGhumansaton.Theyogiatlastrosefrom

hisseatandspentthesecondnightinthesamemanneras

thefirst.Whendaybroke,hewentforhisbath,andon

returningbeckonedJaimaltohisside."Myson,Icannot

tellyoumuch,"hesaid."ButinmymeditationIsawthat

theGuruyouseekdwellswithhiswifeinAgra.Heis

indeedagreatsoulanddiscoursesfromtheGranthSahib.

HeshallunlocktoyouthetreasuresofthePanchShabd.

ProceedthereandImyselfwillfollowassoonasIcanto

partakeofhisbounty."

WhataburdenfelloffJaimalSingh'sback!Howmany

nightshadhespenttossingandpraying,wonderingifGod

wouldevergranthiswishes!ThestrangeratPeshawar

hadgivenhimhope,buthiswordswerevague,andnothing

wascertain.Nowatlastadefinitecluehadbeengiven

tohimandsuccessappearedwithinsight.TheLordwas

indeedkindanddidnotignorehishumbleservant's

supplication.Refreshedinspiritandconfidentinmind,

theyouth,withaheartoverflowingwithinexpressible

gratitude,bowedbeforetheyoginowwrappedinsilence

andhumblytookhisleave.

THECONSUMMATION


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BarelytendayshadelapsedbeforeJaimalSingh,passing

throughHapurandtheholytownofMathura,arrivedatthe

gatesofAgra.Itisacityfamoussincethedaysofthegreat

Moghuls;andmanyatouristfromfarandnear,frombeyond

theAtlanticandthePacific,hashadglimpsesofits

magnificentTajandotherhistoricmonumentsaswellas

itssultryheatanddustystreets.Buttheyouthfromthe

Punjabhadnotcometoviewitshistoricsplendor;hehad

noflairforitsgorgeousandmassivemausoieums,fortsand

palacesbuiltbyAkbarandhisillustrioussuccessors.

Whathesoughtwasnotthereminiscencesoftimebutthe

enliveningbreathoftheEternal.Insteadofvisitingthe

Tajheexploredthelocalshrinesandtemplesinsearchof

theboonthathadbeenpromisedhim.

Buttryashemight,hisexplorationsseemedtolead

nowhere.Hecouldfindnocluetothemanhesought.

Werehishopesbaseless?Wasthepromisegivenhimat

Peshawarandconfirmedintheheartofaforestonthe

banksofthesacredGangesonlyahoaxandadelusion?

Perhapstherehadbeenerror?Perhapshewasnotyetripe

forthegift?ManythoughtscrowdedJaimalSingh'smind

ashesatcontemplatingonthebanksoftheJamunaone

morningafterhavingbathedinitswaters.Whilehesat


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thismorning,twomenapproachedhim,discussingpersonal

matters.Atfirsthetookscantnoticeofthemformany

camedailyforadipinthesacredriver.Butthenaword

shotthroughhisearsandhewasallattention.Yes,they

weretalkingofa"SwamiJi,"agreatsage,whooften

discoursedontheSikhscripturesathishometoasmall

audience.JaimalSinghwasonhisfeet.Heaccostedthe

strangers,inquiredofthemaboutthegreatmanofwhom

theyspokeandbeggedtobeconductedtohisdwelling.

Assoonasthetwodevoteeshadfinishedbathing,they

setoutwithJaimalSinghforPunniGaliwherelivedthe

greatSwamiJi.Whenthethreereachedtheirdestination,

theMasterwasspeakingontheJapJi,expoundingits

profoundmeaningandunearthingthespiritualtreasures

hiddeninitslyricalecstacy.Therewereonlyafew

listenersandJaimalSinghslippedquietlyintoacorner.

Heheardthediscoursewithraptattention,drinkingin

everywordthatfellfromthelipsoftheSaint.

Whenthemorningassemblywasover,SwamiJiwelcomed

hisnewvisitorandaskedhimwhathewanted.

"IaminsearchofthegiftofNaamandaSaintwho

canbestowitsblessinguponme,"repliedJaimalSingh.


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ahumbleservantoftheLord,andonemaysayanything

toaservant-anything-highorlow;don'tbeafraid,

butspeakfrankly.Iwouldbeonlytoohappytobeof

someassistancetoyouforIregardthisasmyservice

tomyGuru."

LaterthatafternoonSwamiJionceagainrequested

JaimaltoreciteahymnfromtheSikhscriptures,andthe

Sikhyouthbeganchanting:

Utpat,Parlae,Shabdehovae

Shabdehephiropathovae

CreationanddissolutioniscausedbyShabdand

thecreationagaincomesintobeingbyShabd.

RAGMAGHM.3

Theafternoontalkcenteredaroundthishymn,andthe

MastertookupatlengththethemeofShabdorNaam,

answeringoneafteranotherJaimalSingh'sasyetunvoiced

questionsonthesubject.HeshowedhowtheWordwasthe

primalcauseofcreationaswellasofitsdissolution;how


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daybroke,buthecontinuedmotionless,lostintheinner

blisshehaddiscovered.Anotherdaysawitselfswallowed

bythenight,andthenightsawitselfreplacedbyanother

day,andyettheyouthsatlosttotheworldaroundhim.

Whensomeforty-eighthourshadthusgoneby,SwamiJi

askedsomeofthedisciplesiftheyknewwherethevisitor

fromthePunjabhaddisappeared."Wesawhimtwodays

agoattheSatsang,"theysaid,"butwehavenotseenhim

since."SwamiJismiledandproceededstraighttothelittle

roomwherehehadlefthislatestdiscipleandwhichnone

hadenteredfortwodays.HeplacedhishandonJaimal

Singh'shead,andwhenthelater'ssoulreturnedtonormal

physicalconsciousnessandheopenedhiseyes,hesawhis

Gurubeamingathim."Doyou,myboy,stilldoubtifyour

MasterbeatrueSikhornot?"heaskedwithatwinklein

hiseye.Theladwishedtofallathisfeetbutthelongspell

ofsamadhihadlefthisjointsnumbandstill.SwamiJi

suggestedthatherubhislegs,andwhenJaimalcouldmove,

heconductedhimoutside.Therehegavehimadrinkofmilk

withhisownhands,andgazingathimfondly,hesaid:"You

tooshalldoonedaytheworkIcarryonnow.Ourpathis

notconcernedwithouterformsandritualsandeachofus

mustlivebythebesttraditionsofthecommunityinwhich

theLordhasbeenpleasedtoplaceus."


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HethenbegancommendingtheteachingsofNanakandtheSikh

Gurusandsaidthatthosewhoweretheirfollowersneeded

littleinstruction."Alwaysabidebytheinjunctionsofthe

GranthSahib,"hecontinued.

"Abstainfrommeatanddrink.Neverdependforyour

sustenanceonothersbutlivebythelaborofyourown

hands.Whateveryouearnsharefreelywiththeneedyand

remembertoservetheholyandthepoor.Andaboveall

neverbeproudofyourowngooddeedsorcriticalofthe

actionsofothers,butknowyourselftobeinerror,and

neverstepoutsidethevirtueofinnerhumility."

JaimalSinghheardwithreverentattentionhisMaster's

adviceandeverafterwardtriedtomodelhimselfonthe

same.HedevotedlyattendedthedailySatsangandassisted

inwhatevermannerlaywithinhisreach.Hispasttraining

haddisciplinedhimwellforhisspiritualsadhna,andhe

woulddevotehimselfuntiringlytoBhajan.UnderSwami

Ji'sguidanceandwithhisphenomenalinnerprogress,

newmysteriesweredailyrevealedtohim,themysteries

ofwhichNanak,KabirandTulsihadsoecstaticallysung.

Inthosedaysduringthemid-fifties,SwamiJididnot


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havealargefollowing.Hehadnotyetbegungivingpublic

discourses,andconfinedhismeetingstosmallprivate

audiencesathishomeinPunniGaliafterhaving

discontinuedhistalksattheMaiThanGurdwara.Sevenor

eightofhisdiscipleswereespeciallydevotedtohimand

constantlysoughthiscompanyandtherewasgreataffection

andharmony.EverymorningtheMastergaveaninspiring

talk,displayingbeforehislisteners'eyesthespiritual

treasureshiddenintheGranthSahiborthewritingsof

KabirandothergreatSaints.AfterthemorningSatsang

thosepresentsatdownfortheirmeals.Thefoodwas

cookedbySwamiJi'swife,SrimatiNarainDevi,who

camesubsequentlytobeaddressedasRadhaJiasamark

ofpublicrespectandadoration;whileSwamiJipersonally

servedthefoodtoallwithlovingattentiontoeach.Inthe

afternoonsandeveningstherewouldoftenbeinformal

conversationsanddiscussionsandattimesregular

discourses.

Amonthandahalfpassedbyinthisway.JaimalSingh

washappytoliveatthefeetofhisbenevolentMaster.It

wastheyear1856,andaregimentofIndiansepoys,including

severalSikhs,wasaboutthistimestationedaAgra.Atthe

instanceofSwamiJi,JaimalSinghjoinedupasarecruit.

Hewouldattendhismorningparadeanddutiesover,hasten


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tohisGuru'sdoor.TherehewouldattendtheSatsang,hear

SwamiJi,sitformeditationandreturntohisquartersin

thecantonmentatnight.Hisarmycolleagueswouldoftenask

himwherehespentmuchofhistime.Whenhetoldthemof

thegreatnessofSwamiJi,someofhisSikhfriendswished

tomeettheillustriousSaint,andonedayaccompaniedby

sixofthemJaimalSinghsetforthforPunniGali.

SwamiJiwasdiscoursingonsomehymnfromtheGranth

Sahibwhenthegroupfromthecantonmentarrived.Chacha

PartapSinghgood-humoredlyremarkedthatthePunjabseemed

todominatetheSatsangthatday.SwamiJiturnedtohimand

said:"Thepeopleofthatlandaboveallothershavearight

tothespiritualrichesofwhichIspeak.Whocaneverdo

justicetothegloryofPunjabthatboreasoullikeNanak?

Heabovealltaughtusthatfreedomdoesnotlieinidol-

worshiporinrituals,andwhileweinthesepartsarestill

lostinceremonyandidolatry,insensitivetothemessageof

KabirandNanak,thesoulsofPunjabarefreefromsuchevils

andneedonlyasparktosetthemablaze.Markmywordsfor

theyareworthremembering:thegiftbestoweduponmebythe

LordshallfloweronedayontheplainsofthePunjab."

Thenturningtohisvisitors,hewelcomedthem,entertained

themasbestashecould,badetheirleaderJaimalSinghto


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beregularinhisarmyduties,andwhenthetimecamefor

theirdeparture,wishedthernfarewell.

ThelightarmydutiesleftJaimalSinghampletimefor

meditation.Ifhehadnonightduty,hewouldgetupat

2A.M.,bathe,andsitdownformeditation.Duringthe

day,assoonastheparadeandothernormaldutieswere

over,hewouldengagehimselfinlikemannerorhasten

tothehomeofSwamiJi.Hewasknownfornotwasting

asinglemomentonpastimespopularamonghisfellow

soldiers.HevisitedPunniGaliwithgreatregularity,and

oftenactedthereasSwamiJi'spathiorreciter;andmany

ofhisfriends,becauseofhisimpact,becamehisMaster's

disciples.Lifewaspeacefulandhappyandwasbearing

steadyfruit.Butadayarrivedwhentheregimentwas

orderedtomovefromAgra.Heavyofheart,JaimalSingh

methisMasterandsadlyrelatedthenews."OhSir!"he

said,"howIyearntoenjoytheblessingsofSatsanga

littlelonger."SwamiJismiledandreplied,"Well,letus

waitandwatchfortheWilloftheSahib."Nextdayfresh

ordersarrivedcancelingthedepartureoftheregiment.

JaimalSinghwasmakingspeedyinnerheadway.He

oftentoldSwamiJiofhisvariousspiritualexperiences

andhisGuruwaspleasedwithhisprogress.Oncewhenhe


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toldhimofhisreadyaccesstoDasamDwar(theTenth

Gate-thethirdmajorstageofthemysticsoul)buthis

inabilitytopenetratebeyondit,SwamiJiexclaimed:"Ah!

Thatisquiteunderstandable.Wehaveworkedatthis

spiritualexplorationtogetherbefore,andinyourlast

lifeyoumastereduptothethirdstage.Henceyourease

inprogressingthusfarandyoursubsequentdifficulty."

Hehoweverreassuredhisyoungdiscipleandencouraged

himtokeepuphiseffort.

Whenthelatteronedayreportedstillhigherascent,

SwamiJiwasmightilypleasedanddeclared

enthusiastically:"Continueinthisfashionandyouwill

soonbereadytohelpothersoulstosalvation.Youhave

beenborntohelpmankind,andbetweenyouandmeisno

realdifference."

"Iamnotworthyofsuchhonor.Oh,letmebehumbly

atyourfeet,farfromthefangsofpride."

"Fearnot,atrueSaintcanneverbeproud."

"OhSir,keepmeatyourfeet,theservantofthe

servantsofSaints.ThatisallIask."


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"YoushallindeedhaveaSaint'sservice:saving

humanity,bringingittotruthandspiritualliberation.

Whatisthegivingawayofamillioncowstothesavingof

asinglesoul?"

"Youmaydoasyoujudgebest,butasformyselfI

knowonlytoowellmyworthlessnessandlimitations."

Thesixmonthsforwhichtheregiment'sdeparturewas

postponedwereoverandJaimalSinghhadtogo.Hetook

leaveforthelastthreedaysandspenttheminthe

companyofhisMaster.Whenatlastthetimeforbidding

farewelldrewnear,JaimalSinghcouldbearitnolonger.

"Myheartbreaksatthethoughtofparting.Ifyouso

will,Icanhavemynamestruckfromthearmyrolls."

ButSwamiJiwouldnothearofsuchathing:"Build

yourloveontheShabdwithin.ThatisyourrealGuruand

iseveratyourside.Allelseistransientandmustbe

leftbehind.Youmustearnyourlivingforifyoudepend

onthelaborofothers,youmustpayforitwithyour

mentalpeace,andyourunderstandingwillbeclouded.If

youhavetowork,thenwhyleavethearmy?"


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JaimalSinghhadnochoicebuttobowbeforethe

superiorwisdomofhisMaster.Atparting,SwamiJispoke

ofthenatureofSainthoodandtheconductofSaints.He

relatedanecdotesoftheirgreathumilityand,whenbidding

farewell,said:"Yourregimentisnowleaving.Ifyouever

meetatrueseeker,puthimontheinnerpath,butremember

alwaysthatyouareonlyahumbleinstrumentoftheSaints."

Tearsfilledtheyoungsoldier'seyesashefellatthe

feetofhisGuruandbadehimadieu.

THESOLDIERSAINT

FromAgratheregimentmovedtoDelhi.JaimalSingh,

deprivedofhisMaster'scompany,beganlookingforsome

spiritualseekerwithwhomhecouldassociate.Hesoon

discoveredoneBabaKaramSingh,alsointhearmy,who

wasagreatdevoteeoftheLord.Hebeganvisitinghim

frequentlyandwouldsitathisquartersenjoyingthe

elder'scompany.WhenonedayBabaKaramSinghasked

JaimalSinghwhatattractedhimtohisplace,hevery

simplyreplied,"IcomeherebecausesincemychildhoodI

havelovedsittingatthefeetoftheloversoftheLord."


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BabaKaramSinghwasdelightedtofindafellowspiritso

younginyears,andalivelydiscussiononSpirituality

ensued.ItturnedoutthatBabaKaramSingh,likeBaba

BalakSinghofHazro,mistookthepranicrhythmforthe

principleofNaamsungofintheGranthSahib.Theyoung

soldier,whohadnotyetattainedhismajority,beganwith

greathumilitytocorrecthiserror.Hequotedrelevant

passagesfromtheSikhscripturestoshowthattheDivine

Shabdawastheprimeenergyactivatingeverything,even

prana,butwasnottobeidentifiedwithprana.Hedwelt

onthefactthatallgreatexponentsofSantMatorthe

PathoftheMastershadclearlyandunequivocallydeclared

thatinourtimepranayamaandothersuchpracticescould

notbringinneremancipation.Hethenspokeofhisgreat

teacheratAgraandofhisinspiringteachings,andhelped

BabaKaramSinghtogetontotherightpathtoGod.

AfterthegreatRebellionof1857,theregimentinwhich

JaimalSinghwasemployedwasdisbanded.Hehadnotmet

hisfamilyforalongtimeandproceededstraighthome.

Hismother'sjoyatseeinghimagainknewnobounds.But

hewasnotdestinedtobewithherforlong.

Onreceivingthenewsthata24thSikhRegimenthad

beenformedatPeshawar,hebadehisfamilyfarewelland


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proceededtojoinit.AftersometimeintheNorthwest

FrontierProvincetheregimentwastransferredinJanuary

1858toAmbala.InSeptemberofthefollowingyearitwas

transferredtoSagar,acityonthebanksofalargelake

incentralIndia.BynowJaimalSingh'sfellowsoldiers

hadgotusedtohisrigorousspiritualdiscipline;but

duringthedaystheregimentwouldbemarching,they

weresurprisedtofindhimexcavateasmalldugoutin

whichhewouldthensitinarecliningposture,hisback

restingagainsttheearthyembankment,andpassthe

entirenightinmeditation.

WhilestationedatSagar,JaimalSinghonenight

requestedSwamiJiinmeditationthattheregimentbe

transferrednexttoAgrasothathecouldhavethebenefit

ofsittingathisholyfeet.AmanofGod-realizationcan

workstrangemiracles,beingatonewiththeWillofGod;

andaGuru'sloveforatruediscipleissogreatthathe

denieshimnothing.(*3)JaimalSingh'sprayerwasgranted;

andnextmorninghecasuallyobservedtoBhagwanSingh,

hismateandadevotedadmirer,thatasandwhenthe

regimentwouldbetransferreditwouldbemovedtoAgra.

(*3Whatwecannotexplainintermsofwhatweknow,we

normallytermasa"miracle."Thusthefirstwitnessesof


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locomotionlookeduponwhattheysawasawonder;yettoday

hardlyanyonewouldtakeitassuch.Inlikemanner,hewho

hasmasteredtheinnerScienceknowsthatwhatpeopletakeas

miraclesarenotmiraclesassuch,butarebasedonthehigher

lawsofcreation,accessibleonlytothescientistsofthe

SpiritwhohaveexploredthemysteriesoftheinnerPath.See

inthisconnectionthechapter,"TheLawofMiracles,"in

TheAutobiographyofaYogibyParamhansaYogananda.)

OnthatoccasionBhagwanSinghtooklittlenoticeofwhat

wassaid,butwhenthenewsofitsnextstationingwas

received,thestoryofthepropheticsoldierspreadthrough

theregimentlikewildfire.

TheordersformovingtoAgrahadnotyetbeenreceived

whenJaimalSinghappliedforannualleave.Theleavewas

grantedbutwhenhereportedbeforedeparture,hissuperior

informedhimthathehadtorejoin,notatSagar,butat

Agra.Thesepoywassoovercomewiththenewsthatinstead

ofgoinghomehewentstraighttoAgra.

SwamiJireceivedhimwithgreataffectionandRadhaJi

especiallypreparedhalwatomarktheoccasion.Thegreat

GururegardedhimasapuranGurmukh,atruedisciple,

andrecitedtohimsomeofthemysticalpoemshehad


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composedduringJaimalSingh'sabsencefromAgraand

whichwerelatercollectedbyRaiSaligramJi,another

notedanddistingusheddisciple,alongwithmanyofhis

owncompositions,inthevolumeentitledSarBachan.

Oneoftheverseshereadreferreddirectlytohis

disciple:

Yehdlaunhaidhurlokadhurki

KoyipukreSantsipahi

Thismusicstreamsfromatranscendentplane

withinandiscaughtbyasoldierSaint.

SARBACHAN,SHABD9(p94)

JaimalSinghmadethemostofhistimewiththeMaster.

HeattendedtheSatsangregularlyandoftenchantedthe

versesonwhichSwamiJilaterdiscoursed.Meanwhilethe

24thSikhRegimentmovedintotown,buthecontinued

tostayatPunniGaliforhestillhadsomeleavetohis

credit.OnenightSwamiJiaskedhimtocarryanumberof

sheetsandclothesandaccompanyhimtoapoorlocality.


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Therehepersonallydistributedtotheneedyaccordingto

theirwantsthegiftshehadbroughtforthem.The

recipientswerefullofgratitudeandenthusiastically

thankedandblessedthemagnanimousstranger.ButSwamiJi

wasnotthemantodrawpraiseforhimselfevenwhenitwas

hisrightfuldue."Oh,"heexclaimedtothosewhoflocked

aroundhim,"donotthusburdenmewiththanks.Iamonly

anagentofmygenerousMaster.Itistohimthatall

creditisdue."

Whenthenocturnalmissionwasover,thegreatteacher

turnedtohisdiscipleandsaid,"Jaimal,myson,always

servethepoorinthisway,neverclaiminganythingas

yourdue."

JaimalSinghwentbacktodutywhenhisannualholiday

wasover.Buthemadeitapointnottomissanyopportunity

ofvisitinghisMaster.HewouldoftenarriveatPunniGali

atnoonandstayontilllateintheevening.Oneday,lost

inSatsangandBhajan,heforgotcompletelythathewason

dutyatnight.Itwasearlyinthemorningthathereached

thearmyquartersandwentstraighttohismate.

"Haveyoucompletedyourduty?"askedBhagwanSingh.


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"Why,wasIondutylastnight?"venturedJaimalSingh.

"Areyoubeingfunny?AsifIdidn'tseeyougoingout

dressedfordutylastnight!"

JaimalSinghmadenofurtherreply.Hewasmusingon

theunfailingcareofhisMasterandwonderingwhatexactly

hadhappened.Ifhestillhadanydoubtsaboutthemiracle,

theyweresoondispelled.TheHavildarabovehim,onmeeting

himshortlyafter,alsoreferredtohisnightdutyandthat

hisattendancehadbeendulymarkedinthenightregister.

Assoonashecouldgetaway,hehastenedtoPunniGaliand

fellathisMaster'sfeet."Howlittleweerringmortals

deservethegraceyoushoweronus!"heexclaimed,and

relatedthestrangehappeningsoftheprecedingnight.

"Ihopeyouhavenotspokenofthemtoanyofyour

armyfriends."

"Sir,Iwastoodumbfoundedtoutteraword."

"Excellent!Excellent!Nowkeepittoyourself.And

markifanysuchthingeverhappensinthefuture,remember

torestrainyourselfandnotmakeapublicfussaboutit."


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Thismiraclewastoberepeatedwhenasimilarsituation

arosenotlongafter.

Theyearandahalfthatthe24thSikhRegimentspent

atAgrapassedonlikeahappydream.Beforetheregiment

departed,JaimalSinghspentthreedayswithSwamiJi.On

thelastdaywhenhehadtobidfarewell,hehumblyfell

athisMaster'sfeet.SwamiJiraisedhimfromhisfeet,

pressedhimfondlytohimself,andobserved,"Thereisno

differencebetweenuswhatsoeverforwearealikepermeated

withthepowerofNaam."

FromAgratheregimentproceededtoPeshawarasisthe

wontinarmylife.The24thSikhRegimentkeptmovingfrom

onecantonmenttoanothereverytwoorthreeyears.Among

variousplacesatwhichitwasstationed,themostimportant

wereRawalpindi,Abbotabad,MianmirnearLahore,andJhansi.

Whileatthelastmentionedstation,JaimalSinghwas

promotedtotherankofaNaik.

InOctober,twoyearslater,hewasonceagainonhis

waytoAgratospendtheannualleavewithhisGuru.

Whocandescribethebeatitudetobeexperiencedatthe

feetofaDivineTeacher!Thetimeslippedbyandbefore

hecouldevenrealizeit,JaimalSingh'sdayofparting


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arrived.HewenttoSwamiJiforblessingsandtobidhim

farewell."Thisisgoingtobeourlastmeeting,"observed

theMaster."Mymissiononearthisahnostover.Ineed

hardlyrepeatthatIhavecastyouinmyownmoldand

youareofmyveryessence."

WhenChandaSingh,whowasalsoatPunniGaliatthat

time,heardthatSwamiJiintendedtoleavetheworldin

ashortwhile,heexclaimed,"Whatwillbecomeofus?"and

beggedhimtoleavesomeonebehindtocarryonhisworkin

thePunjab.SwamiJismiledandreplied,"Yourprayers

havealreadybeengrantedbytheAlmighty,andJaimal,

whomIhavealreadygivenauthorityforInitiation,hasbeen

deputedforthetask."

ThenturningbacktoJaimal,hesaid,"Putallseekersthat

cometoyouonthepathofNaam;butseethatyousteer

clearofsectsandcreeds.OursisthepathofNanakandKabir.

Whosoeverisfiredbyspiritualzeal,whetherofthisfaith

orofthat,hasarighttoit.Carryoninallhumility,and

whateveryoudo,doitasaservantoftheSaints."

HethenturnedtoRadhaJiandplacinghishandonJaimal's

backdeclared,"HeisindeedourGurmukhson,"andtakinga

saropaorheaddresshelovinglybestoweditasaparting


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gifttohisaptandfaithfuldisciple.Thisgreatloveand

honorwastoomuchforthehumbleGurmukhand,overwhelmed,

hiseyeswerefilledwithtears.Hisheartwasheavyashe

left,thinkingoftheapproachingendofhisMaster's

earthlysojournandthedifficultburdenthatwasbeing

placedonhisshoulders.

FromAgra,JaimalSinghreturnedtohisregimentat

Jhansi.Therestofhisstoryasasoldierissimplytold.

Itisunnecessarytoenumeratethemanyplacesatwhichthe

24thSikhRegimentwasstationedfromtimetotime.

Whateverhappened,whereverhewent,JaimalSinghlet

nothinginterrupttheroutineofhisspiritualsadhnas.Like

aloverinthefrenzyoflove,hewasforevercenteredin

thejoyoftheinnerlife.Evenwhenhisregimentwasin

actionintheNorthwesternFrontierduringtheAnglo-Afghan

Warin1879,hewouldleavehisquartersatnight,gointo

thewilderness,digapitand,withhisrifletuckedunder

hisknees,getlostinmeditation.Enemysniperswouldoften

spothim,butseeinghisRadiantfiguremakeoutthathe

wasnoordinarysoldierbutsomegreatfakir,andleave

himuntouched.Attimeswhenhearosefromhissadhna,they

wouldevenbowbeforehiminreverence.


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AsJaimalSingh,whohadbeen18whenhehadfirst

enteredthearmyatAgra,grewintoamaturemanand

passedfromyouthtomiddleage,heslowlybutsteadily

wontheheartsofallaroundhim.Atfirstsomeofhis

companionsmighthavesportivelydismissedhimasan

orthodoxnonentitywhodidnotknowtheartofenjoying

life,butwaslostinthereadingofscripturesandtedious

spiritualsadhnas.Butastheyearspassedby,theyrealized

thattheyhadamongthemnoordinarymortal.Hisprediction

toBhagwanSinghatSagaroftheirregiment'snextposting

gotwidecurrencyandwonhimmanyadmirers.Whilestationed

atJamrudduringtheAfghanWar,hismateBhagwanSingh,who

hadgonewithaconvoy,suddenlyfellillanddied.Atthe

verymomenthisspiritwasleavingitsphysicalframe,

JaimalSingh,manymilesaway,abruptlyexclaimed,

"Wahwahnipatgaye,"i.e."Well,well,itisatlast

over."

InderSingh,whohadjoinedtheregimentatJhansi,

andhaddevelopedanintimateattachmentforhisrevered

senior,becominghisfirstinitiate,wassittingwithhim.

Hewasnotalittlesurprisedbythisdramaticoutburst,

andaskedhisteacherwhatitmeant.JaimalSinghwas

reluctanttodeclarehimself."Whybotheraboutthat

whichdoesnotconcernyou?"hesaid,butwhenInder


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thatthemembersofthe24thSikhsshowedanextraordinary

interestinspiritualmatters?Itisnotanunusual

phenomenonthatthetrueholymenspreadanauraofpeace

wherevertheyare,drawingthedevoteesoftheLordtoward

themselvesandinfluencingthosearoundthem.Thisregiment

becameknownforitsreligiousinclinationsandmanyasadhu

wouldpayitavisitwhereveritwasstationed.

JaimalSinghwasalwaysinvitedwheneveranysadhupaid

avisittotheregimentalcenterorwhenanyofitsmembers

wentforthtomeetthem.WhenoncesomeoftheyoungSikh

soldiershadtobebaptizedasadultsintotheirfaith,

hewasunhesitatinglychosentoconducttheceremonyand

gaveanilluminatingdiscourseontheinnerspiritual

significanceoftheritual.Hisrecitationsfromscriptures

begangraduallytobeattendedbymoreandmorepeople,and

inlateryearsJaimalSingh,whobythenhadcometobe

popularlyaddressedas"BabaJi,""BhaiJi,"or"SantSepahi,"

oftendiscoursedbrieflyontheirtrueimport.Hismagnetic

personality,hisimpeccablecharacter,hisspiritual

masteryandhisgrowingfamegraduallydrewaroundhima

smallcircleofverydevotedfollowersfromtheregiment,

menlikeInderSingh,BaggaSingh,BhagwanSingh,etc.,

whobecamehisearliestinitiates.


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LikehisgreatGuru,JaimalSinghwasunassailable

bothinswarthaandparmartha-worldlinessandgodliness.

Hisexemplaryregularity,sobrietyandcourage,his

readinesstoshoulderresponsibilities,andhishonest

dischargeofallhisduties,forallhisquietnessand

unobtrusiveness,didnotgounnoticed.InJanuary1869he

wasawardedamedalfortherankofaNaikwhileatJhansi.

InMianmironthesameday,threeyearslater,hebecame

aHavildar;andwhenthe24thSikhswereatMultanfrom

1880onwardforthreeyears,hereceivedasecondmedal

forloyalandmeritoriousservice.Heretiredonl5th

August,1889,afterfull34yearsoffaithfuland

creditableservice;andwhenhebadehisregimentfarewell,

theheartsofallwereheavy-juniors,colleaguesand

seniors-fortheylostinhimnotjustasteady,hard-

workingcomrade,butafriend,ateacher(hetaughtGurmukhi

totheofficers)andwhatisfarrarer,anunfailingand

inspiringmoralandspiritualguide.

TheaccountsofBabaJileftbyhisarmycolleaguesand

othersareofapiecewiththerestofhislifeandcharacter.

Readingthroughthemwelearnofamanwho,whilelostin

theDivinemysteries,wasyetnotlosttotheworld.

Afellowsoldierwhohappenedtobeplacedunderhim


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whilehewasaHavildarwassurprisedthatinallthe

threeyearstheyweretogether,hedidnotoncenoticeor

hearofhisbeingoutoftemper.Hewasalwayssweet-spoken

andrefrainedfromharshnessandvulgarity.Allhis

lifeheremainedastrictvegetarianandanequallystrict

teetotaler.Andtothesewemayaddhisrigidbrahmcharya,

forheremainedacelibateallhisyears.Weddedto

devotiontoGod,heneverexperiencedtheurgetomarry,

andstoutlyresistedanyattempttocajolehiminto

matrimony.WhenhisyoungestbrotherJiwanSinghalso

enteredthearmyandexpressedhisdesiretomarry,Jaimal

Singhdidnotobject,butonlysaid,"Whyenterintothis

webwhenourfamilyisnotdestinedtocontinue?"Jiwan

Singhwasmarriedandayearlaterasonwasbornwho

diedshortly,followedbyhismother.DanSingh,the

secondbrother,whomanagedthefarm,alsohadnoissue,

andJaimal'spredictionwasthusfulfilled.

OtherqualitiesthatmarkedJaimalSinghoutofthe

generalrunofmenincludedaninexhaustiblecapacityfor

service,charityandgenerosity.LikeSwamiJi,heoften

distributedclothesandothernecessitiestotheneedyand

thewretched.Hehadnoenemiesandlookeduponallas

hisfriends.Hislovehoweverwasespeciallydirectedto

thepoor,andevenmoresotosadhusanddevoteesofthe


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Lord.Whileotherswereidlingorbusywithsport,he

soughtoutthecompanyofsuchdevotees,ministeringto

theirneedsordiscussingspiritualproblems.Neitherinhis

armylifenorevenafterwarddidhedistinguishbetween

creedandcreed,buttreatedall-Muslims,Christians,

SikhsorHindus-onanequalfooting.Whileeverready

tohelpmateriallyorspiritually,healwaysavoidedthe

limelight.Evenasachildhehadbeenknownforhis

modesty;hisshynessbeingsometimesmadeasubjectof

ridicule.Ifhemetsadhus,hecontentedhimselfwith

listeningtowhattheysaid;herarelycontradictedor

criticized.Ifhemetagenuineseeker,hewasreadyenough

todiscussandexplain,butheattributedwhateverheknew

nottoanyvirtueinhimself,buttothegraceofhis

peerlessMaster.

Hisdressandappearancewereassimpleyetelegantas

themanhimself.Ofmediumheight,somefivefeetand

sixinches,hewassturdilybuilt.Hehadaknotty

protrusiononhisforeheadabovetherighteyeandalotus

mark,symbolicoftruespirituality,onthesoleofhisright

foot.Hehadfinefeatures,wheatishcomplexionandaglowing

facewhoseruddycolorwassetoffbyarichfreelyflowing

beardwhichretaineditslustrousblacknesstothevery

end,exceptforafewstragglingstreaksofwhite.When


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notinarmyuniform,heworeawhiteturbaninJatstyle,

awhitemuslinkurta(looseshirt),andtight-fitting

pyjamasofthesamecolor.Whileinhisquarterinformally

amonghisfellows,hewouldusuallywrapakhadisheet

abouthimselftuckingitontheleftside,coverhishair

(whichwhenunloosedfelltohiswaist)withatowel,and

moveaboutinkharaon(woodensandals)orjooti(Indian

shoes).Hewassimpleinhishabitsandfrugalinhisneeds.

Milkwashisfavoriteitemoffoodandhewasparticularly

fondofgoat'smilk.Hespentlittleuponhimselfandhis

earningsweremostlyspentincharityorinsending

allowancestohisbrother.

THETORCHBEARER

BabaJaimalSingh,onretiringasaGovernment

pensionerfromthearmy,decidedtovisitthehomeofhis

incomparableMaster.SwamiJihadpassedawayin1878

ashehadhimselfforetold,butBabaJiwasgreatly

attachedtohisfamilyandhisdisciples.So,in1890,he

tooktrainfortheoldMughalcapital,andonreaching

thereproceededstraighttoPunniGali.RadhaJiwas

overjoyedtoseeSwamiJi'sbeloveddiscipleoncemore

whileChachaPartapSingh,hisyoungestbrother,was

delightedandgavehimacordialwelcome.Wordwassent

toBabaGharibDas,thenapparentlyatAgra,andhe


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hastenedtomeetthegreatsoulfromthePunjab.Whocan

describethedeepjoythatwastheirsastheygreetedand

embracedeachotherandrememberedthegreatMaster,who,

nolongerinthisphysicalplane,wasyetspirituallyever

withthem?WhocanfathomthefeelingsofsuchMasterspirits?

Theoldspiritualcomradesradiatedloveastheygreeted

eachotherandtoseethemmeetwasitselfalessoninthe

truththatGodislove.RadhaJibroughtfortharedturban

andanaasanorprayercarpetwhichSwamiJihadleftwith

herbeforehispassingawayasalastgifttohisgurmukh

disciple.ChachaPartapSinghthenbroughtagaddiand

beggedBabaJitobeseated.Buthewouldnothearofit

andcommenting,"Iamonlyadogofthishouseblessedto

beadmittedwithinitswalls,"keptstanding.

ChachaPartapSinghprotestedandpersisted,buttono

avail.AtlastRadhaJiintervenedandendedthe

controversybysaying,"JaimalSinghisindeedakhatau

(worthy)sonofSwamiJi,whohasmadethemostofthe

capitalentrustedtohim.Hehasbestowedhimwiththe

LordshipofSatLok.Sowhyshouldhecareforearthly

gaddis?"Whenmealswereover,BabaJiinsistedonwashing

theutensils."Thishomeformeisatemple,foritwashere

thatIgotenlightenment.Myonlyambitionistoserve


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thishouse."ButRadhaJiwouldnothearofit."Youmay

doasyoupleasesomeotherday,"shedeclared,"but

todayyoumustabidebywhatIsay."

Nextday,accompaniedbyChachaPartapSinghand

BabaGharibDas,BabaJaimalSinghJiproceededtoRai

Saligram-abeloveddiscipleofSwamiJi-whohadbeen

entrustedafterhimwiththeworkatAgraandcarriedon

hisdiscoursesatPipalMandi,wherehewaspopularly

knownasHazurMaharaj.Herejoicedatthevisitand

receivedthehonoredguestfromGhumanwithrespect

andaffection.ThetwoembracedafterwhichHazurMaharaj

drewBabaJitowardthegacdionwhichhehadbeen

sittinginordertoseathimnexttohimself.Butwith

characteristichumility,hedeclinedthehonorandseated

himselfonthefloor.

ThethirddayHazurMaharajpresentedBabaJiwith

arichsilkenrobeembroideredwithgold.He,however,

wouldnothearofit."Whathasasimplefarmerlikeme

todowithsuchpreciousfabrics?Khadisuitsmebetter."

"Howcanyousaysuchthings,"protestedthehost,"when

SwamiJihasmadeyouakingofSpiritualityandentrusted

youwithhismissioninthePunjab?"SeeingthatBabaJi

wouldnotgiveway,hefinallysuggested:"Verywell,if


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youwillnotacceptthisrobe,atleastdomethehonorof

puttingitononce,afterwhichIwouldkeepitasaprized

souvenir."Onhearingthis,ChachaPartapSinghdeclared

thathehadapriorrightandshouldbeallowedtohave

thedressafterBabaJaimalSinghhaddonnedit.Atlast

RadhaJisteppedinandinterceded.HowcouldJaimal

Singhresistanylonger?Suchlove!Suchhonor!What

mortalcoulddeserveit?ItwasallthegraceofhisMaster.

Withtearsinhiseyes,hetooktherobefromRadhaJi's

handsandplaceditreverentlyonhishead,recitingthe

versesfromtheGranthSahib,beginning:

Maenav-ghun,gunnahinkoi...

Iamunworthy;andnovirtueisinme...

Aweekpassedbyinthisfashionand,havingpaidhis

homagetotheplacewherehehadreceivedspiritual

illumination,BabaJaimalSinghpreparedtodepart.He

invitedBabaGharibDastojoinhim,andthelatter

graciouslyacceptedtheinvitation.Thepartysetforth

forthePunjabandwhentheyarrivedatGhuman,

scripturalrecitationsanddiscourseswerearrangedin

theirhonor.JiwanSingh'smarriagewasathand,andthere

wasfeastingandrejoicing.Thevillagerskeenlyenjoyedthe


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talksgivenbythetwospiritualfriendsandthedaysrolled

bytillBabaGharibDashadtoleave.JaimalSingh

accompaniedhimtotheBeasRailwayStationandbadehima

touchingfarewellasheleftbytrain.

BabaJicontinuedtobeonveryfriendlytermswith

SwamiJi'sdisciplesandwiththemembersofhisfamily.

TherewasgreatmutualrespectandesteemandBabaJi's

visittoMurreein1894wasmadeattheinvitationofsome

Agrasatsangis.ButafterthepassingawayofHazurMaharaj

RaiSaligramJi,thingsbegantoundergoachange.Amove

wasmadetobringallactivitiesunderthecontrolof

PanditBrahmShankarMisra(aliasMaharajSahib)through

thecreationofaCentralAdministrativeCouncil

atSoamibagh.BabaJiwasnominatedalongwithnine

othersforthefirstpaneloftheCouncil.Theletter

senttoBabaJaimalSinghbyChachaPartapSinghfrom

Allahabadontheoccasion,dated4thAugust,1902,

nominatinghimassuch,isonrecord.(*4)

(*4ChachaPatapSinghJi'sletterdatedAugust4,1902:

"BelovedoftheSatguru,purifiedbyShabd,pureoffaceand

intellect,BabaJaimalSinghJi.

Ihavereceivedyourletterandwasverygladtoreadits

contents.Andthestonewhichyousuggestedwillbeputinthe


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building.Youmaybeassuredaboutthat.Myson,SuchetSingh,has

comebackonpension.Iam,however,sorrytonotethatthereis

atendencyofformingdifferentsectsandcliquesinourSatsang,

andthatallsatsangisarenotinharmonywitheachother.For

thispurposeIhavecomehere(toAllahabad).

WehavedecidedthataRadhaSwamiSatsangCentralAssociation

shouldbestarted.PanditJi(BrahmShankarMisra)hasinsisted

thatIshouldbeitsPresidentandhewillbetheVice-President;

thatLalaAjodhiaPrashad,sonofHazurSahibMaharajm(Rai

BahadurSaligram)andeightothers,aswellasyourself,should

bemembers.Or,inwhatevermanneranytenmemberscanbe

selectedbytheSatsangisbyavoteofmajority.Iam,therefore,

sendingyouapamphletcontainingacompletedescriptionabout

thisCentralAssociation,andcansendyouanynumberofcopies

asmayberequired.Pleasesendinstructionstoallyoursatsangis

thattheyshouldsanctionthefollowingtennamesandendorse

thesepamphletsintokenoftheirnomination.IfyouhaveSatsangis

infar-offplaces,theyshouldalsobeaskedtoactaccordingly.

Iamgivingbelowthenamesofthetenmembersreferredtoabove:

1.LalaAjodhiaPrashad(sonofRaiSaligram).

2.PanditBrahmShankarMisraSahib.

3.LalaBaleshwarParshad.

4.LalaMadhoParshad.

5.RaiIshwarSahai,aliasRajaSahib.

6.LalaSuchetSingh(sonofChachaPartapSingh).


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7.BabaJaimalSinghJiSahib.

8.LalaSudershanSingh(anothersonofPratapSingh).

9.MunshiHargobindDayaSahib.

10.Mr.BoolChandSahib.

ItisexpectedthatbytheconstitutionofthisSociety,different

groupsandcliqueswilldisappearandsatsangiswillloveeachather

asbrothers.

KindlysendthislettertoBabuSawanSinghalsoforhis

information.")

BabaJi,however,wasreluctanttojointheCouncilas

hefeltthechangesthatweretakingplaceaboutthistime

amongtheAgrasatsangiswerenotinconsonancewithSwami

Ji'steachings.HealsoobjectedtoandopposedMaharaj

Sahib'splanforbuildingamagnificentsamadhinmemory

ofSwamiJi,becausehefeltthatsohumbleaspiritas

hisMasterwouldneverhavecountenancedsuchaproject.

WhenhewenttoAgraaboutthistime,heopenlyexplained

hispointofviewbutMaharajSahibwasnottobedissuaded.

Findinghimselfnolongerwellreceivedandhiswordsofno

avail,hereturnedtoBeasanddecidedtoremainalooffrom

theactivitiesoftheCouncilatSoamibagh.

DuringhismilitarycareerBabaJaimalSingh,whenever


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hehadanyleave,spentpartofitatGhuman.Thoughdetached

fromworldlyties,hewasyetveryfondofhismother.Onone

occasionhewastotelladevoteddisciplethatintheirpast

threelives,heandhismotherhadenjoyedthesamerelationship.

Onsuchoccasionswhenhecametohisancestralhome,itwas

hiswontnottowastetimeinneedlessgossipandidling,but

toproceedtothebanksoftheBeasandsithiddeninthe

gulliesthatthewaywardriverhadcreatedbyitsfreakish

changesofcourse,andcontinuelostinspiritualdevotion

fordays,subsistingonlyonafewdrychapatisthathe

broughtfromhomeandhungonakikartree.

Atothertimeswhenhewasathomehewouldwalkdownto

DeraBabaNamdevandcarryonhismeditationsthereorin

adugoutinthecourtyardofthefamilyhouse.Thishouse

anddugoutwerepreservedlongafterBabaJi'sdeath,and

hissuccessor,HazurBabaSawanSinghJiMaharaj,would

sometimestakehisclosestdisciplestoGhumanandshow

themthespotwherehisgreatGuruusedtositfor

meditation.Inparticularhewouldpointoutthepegon

thewallbehindthedugoutwhereBabaJiwouldtieuphis

hairinordertowardoffsleepduringabhyasa.

Justashisfellowsoldierslearnedintimetorespect

andrevereBabaJaimalSingh,inlikemannertheinhabitants


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ofGhumancamegraduallytorecognizehisgreatspiritual

stature.Hisearlychildhooddevotionhadalreadybecome

alocallegend;andwhenevertheSantSipahicame,the

localfolkflockedtoseehimandhiscompanywassought

byyoungandold,whosoeverwasspirituallyinclined.Mistri

ElahiBakshandBhaiLehna,whohadbeenhisboyhoodfriends,

werethefirsttoseekhisspiritualguidance.Hecommended

theirzeal,butsaidthatthetimewasnotyetripefor

theirinstruction.Manyyearslaterwhenhefeltthatthe

hourhadcome,heputthemontheinnerpathandtheywere

amonghisearliestGhumandisciples.

AfterhisretirementBabaJi,oncomingtohisnative

village,continuedhisoldhabitofgoingtoBeasriver-

sideforhissadhnas.Theyearsimmediatelyfollowingthe

closeofhisarmylifewerelargelyspentinthismanner.

OncewhileatAmritsarwithHakimNandLal,hementioned

thathewasinsearchofaquietplaceinthewilderness

wherehecouldsettledownandcarryonhismeditation.

LalaKhazanaMal,amoney-lenderwhowasalsopresent,

suggestedthatsuchaplacecouldbefoundbetweenthe

villagesofVairachandBalsaraionthebanksofBeas

wherehecarriedonhisbusiness.BabaJi,whohadalready

beenattachedtothearea,acceptedthesuggestion.This


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wastheplacewhereKahan,aGod-intoxicatedman,met

BabaJiinhisearlylifesayinghewaspreparingaplace

forhiminthedaystocome.

MeanwhileBabaChandaSingh,whotoohadreceived

instructionsatthefeetofSwamiJi,passedaway.Inhis

lastmomentsBibiRukko,averydevoteddisciple,asked

himwhatwastobecomeofher."Fearnot,mychild,"replied

thesage,"anothergreaterthanmyselfshalltakecare

ofyou.""WhereshallIfindhim,Sir?"askedRukko.

"Findhim?No,youshallhavenoneed,forhehimselfwill

seekyouout."

ShortlybeforeBabaJicametosettledownonthe

banksoftheBeas,BibiRukko,whowasthenlivingat

Vairachandwasfairlywelladvancedspiritually,toldthe

villagersthatherprotectorwascomingtolivethere.When

BabaJaimalSingharrived,hefoundasmallhutbuiltout

ofstrawandbranchesforhim,abareeightfeetbyeight

feet,andhebeganlivingthere.SoonafterKhazanaMal

arrived,andhearingthatBabaJihadcome,cametosee

him.Hehadthehutplasteredwithmudandacavedug

out.Itwastheyear1891andBabaJigavehimselfup

withredoubledzealtohisspiritualsadhnas.Hewould

enterthecaveandstayinitfordaysonend,sometimesas


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longasafortnightwithoutanythoughtforfood,raptin

innersamadhi.

ThoughBabaJishunnedthepublicgaze,yetmusk

cannotbehiddeninthedark.Hemighthavenocarefor

earthlynameandfamebutnameandfamefelltohisshare

inspiteofthis.Fameofhisspiritualgreatnesshad

alreadyspreadfromGhumantotheneighboringvillages;

andgoingfordarshantoaholymanisanancient

institutioninthislandofthesages.Wheretherehadbeen

wilderness,peoplebeganappearinginevergrowingnumbers

andregularSatsangsbegantotakeplace.HowcouldBaba

Jiturnawaythosewhohadcometohisdoor?Inall

simplicityandhumilityhetaughtthemthespiritual

messagethathehadreceivedatthefeetofSwamiJi.Many

amoneyedmanbeggedhimtobepermittedtobuildpucca

quartersforhim,buthe,richinhisownhumility,

continuedinhissimpleaustereways.

ToundertaketowritethebiographyofaSaintisto

attempttheimpossible.Ifitistodorealjusticetoits

subject,itmustfollowtheinnermovementsthatdefy

observation,analysisandformulation.Youmaytakeupthe

lifeofagreatartist,writer,soldierorstatesman,andif

youareamanofdeepunderstandingandimagination,you


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mayreincarnateitinwordsgivingavividpictureofthe

psychologicalconflictsandresolutionsinvolved.Butthe

Saintsatoneleaphavepassedfromthisworldtoanother

andhavecasttheirtentsininaccessiblerealms.Fewmen

havereachedthere;andthosethathaveenteredhavebeen

wrappedinsilence.

Whenthepensettopicturingthisstation

Itbrokeinpiecesandthepagewastorn.

Thestudyoftheprogressofthemysticsoulisbeyondthe

reachofordinarymortals,andthosethathavebeenon

theinnerjourneycanonlyspeakinmetaphorandparable,

forhowelsecanthelanguageofcommonhumanitybe

compelledtoexpressexperiencesforwhichitwasnever

fashioned?ThehistorythenofaMasterSoul,asfiredby

arestlesszeal,whichmovesfromplanetoplane,must

remainanunwrittenone;atbestitcanonlygivethehusk

ofoutereventsandhappeningstosuggesttheunusual

natureofthespiritualexperiencestheyunfold.Andonce

suchasoulhasattainedfullenlightenmentandbecome

onewiththeInfinite,itshistoryisnolongeritsown,but

isthehistoryofthosethatcameunderitsspellandwere

liberatedfromworldlybondage.


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ThestoryofBabaJi'slifeafterhisgreatsearchhad

beencrownedwithsuccessisthestorynotsomuchofhis

owndevelopmentasofthemanysoulsthatbenefitedfrom

him.ThusMianChiragDinrelatesthestoryofhismaternal

grandfather,MistriElahiBaksh,ofwhomwehave

alreadyspoken.

Elahi,achildhoodfriendofBabaJi,showedgreat

interestinspiritualmattersandwoulddiscussthemwith

himwhenhe(BabaJi)wouldcomehomeonleavefromhis

regiment.OncewhenBabaJi,knowninhisvillageas

"Bhai,"wasinGhuman,Elahisawhimapproachingin

thecompanyofasadhu.Alivelydiscussionwasin

progressandwhenElahiwishedtoknowitstheme,hewas

toldthatthesadhuinsistedthatBrahmandwasthehighest

ofallheavensinspiteofthefactthatBabaJiassured

himthattherewerehigherrealms.Onhearingthis,Elahi

turnedtothesadhuandwithsolemnconvictionsaid:

"Reveredsir,BhaiJiisabsolutelyright.Thereareindeed

regionshigherthanthoseofwhichyouknow."

Thissilencedthesadhuandhewentaway.Whenthe

friendswereleftalone,BabaJithankedElahiforhis

friendlyinterventionandadded,"Butitisstrangethatyou


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nevertoldmeofyouraccesstotheinnerspiritualrealms."

"WhoeversaidIhadaccesstothem?"

"Butthenhowcouldyouspeakwithsuchconviction?"

"Oh,Bhai,Ionlyknowthatamanofrealizationcan

neverutterafalsehood.SohowcouldIdoubtwhatyou

said?"

BabaJiwassomovedbyhisfriend'sspontaneousand

deep-rootedfaiththathetoldhim,"Ishallunlocktoyou

treasuresofwhichfeweverdreamandwhichfewerattain."

Hetookhimstraighttoanearbypondandinitiatedhim

intotheSuratShabdYogaonitsbank.However,Elahihad

baba jaimal singh - kirpal singh.pdf

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