November 22, 1922
Published in Sant Bani Magazine, June 1990
November 22, 1922
Dear Daughter,
Your letters of 4th and 13th September to hand; the note of Mrs. Spear’s enclosed in one of them is nothing but absurd. She was not with Mrs. Bridgeman at the time of her death. As she herself has not performed the exercises for four years, what can she know about the condition of a spiritual practitioner at the time of her death? Mrs. Bridgeman’s relations who surrounded her at her deathbed were all uninitiated, so she could not speak her mind to them; if you had gone there, she would have talked to you and told you of the internal mercy that she received. Her own last letter is full of love. Mrs. Charles received help at her death and here hundreds of persons have spoken of the help that was given to them at the time of their deaths. But the dying one does not disclose himself to the non-initiate even if they are his near relations, but he does so to a fellow-soul even if not related to him in this world. If the non-initiated are removed from his chamber, he will speak out. He is silent for some portion of his daily time as his soul is engaged inwardly. If the non-initiated crowd his room or sit on his bed, he will cry out, the reason being that the karma of a non-initiated is heavy and the dying one is distressed by coming in contact with such. These souls who have been given the spiritual instructions will never fall into the clutches of Kal at their death. Her sister was uninitiated and so did not know beyond Christ. Mrs. Bridgeman’s state is good. She is in Trikuti and she shall have to stay there for a long time because she did not take her exercises for a sufficiently long time in this world. She did not renounce the Path and is in such an excellent condition that language cannot describe it. Her last letter also gives some indication of it. In future please do comfort an initiated soul at its last moments. Inquire from him whether he recollects the Five Holy Names. If he does not, please tell them so that he comes to remember them by heart and remove the uninitiated from his chamber and ask him whether the Master is visible to him or not. Mrs. Bridgeman has not failed; none can interfere with a soul initiated by the Saints. Christ is on the first stage, neither He nor any other prophet can obstruct her. She must reach the region of pure spirit. It is incorrect that Mrs. Clark saw her. When the soul passes out of the body it at once ascends upwards with the Master; even if it has to take a second birth it is stopped at the first stage (not lower than that). After it has sojourned for sometime at that region it is sent back. It very seldom happens that a soul is sent back; after undergoing purification at that stage it is taken up higher and higher.
I do like your spirit of inquiry and should see it still increasing as inquiry breeds trust. There is no higher or convincing philosophy than that of R.S. Having diverted your mind from the world, give up all aspirations and hopes except that of reaching the pure spiritual region. Make a firm determination that you must gain the Radhasoami region. It is impossible that anyone could obstruct you or call you to render an account. Such is the law.
Please be not afraid to ask any questions or to present any doubts that occur in your way.
Initiation is sowing of the seed which needs the water of Satsang and concentration for sprouting; love and faith are necessary for its growth. If an initiated soul fails to get this watering and is attracted towards the world, the seed may not become a plant but it is never destroyed. Its karma obstructs its growth, but when the weight of karmas has become light, the seed must and will sprout. It is not true that everyone who asks for spiritual instructions gets it. There are certain souls to whom spiritual instructions have to be imparted although their karma is heavy. Karma is washed by sound practice which they do not go through. They get the instructions because it is so ordained by their destiny and the Lord orders that to them the secret shall be disclosed. Such people are not sent to lower births than human. Still you should satisfy yourself before recommending anyone as far as you are able. He must be a sincere seeker after Truth. It is not our object to increase our followers or sect; the object is to help the sincere and truly loving seekers. Those who are accepted for Initiation are directed to be given the instructions by the Creator. This is the inner law. Yet you should satisfy yourself before sending a name. We are not a sect nor are we interested in increasing our brotherhood. It is our inner experience and vision and it admits of no mistake. Such initiated souls of whom you have spoken in your letter will have to get a second birth. If the patient does not take the medicine prescribed by the physician, the latter cannot be blamed. Those who get the spiritual instructions but fall into bad ways, they will get a second birth and undergo the penalty of their karmas and begin from the point at which they had left. They shall not be taken upwards unless and until they are purified.
Persons of dirty karma will have to undergo a rebirth. A soul whose tendency is towards worldly pleasures and goods will have to be reincarnated, while no force can give a rebirth to those whose tendency is upwards. No doubt it is our duty to obey the directions of the Master and spiritual exercise is nothing more than to obey His directions. It is the direction of the Supreme Father that we should be moral, honest, and laborious in performing the spiritual practices and so long as we do not try to obey this direction we cannot escape by saying that His Power is unlimited and so He will save us. We should try our best.
With love and blessings to both of you.
Yours affectionately,
SAWAN SINGH