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Inner Light and Sound Meditation -Surat Shabda Yoga -Sant Mat
“The one who has purity of character, who practices diligently the Yoga of Sound, and who can explain *clearly* Sant Mat (The Teachings of the Saints), can be accepted and trusted as Satguru.” (Quintessence of Yoga – Secret of All Success)
This online satsang group features an in depth, serious exploration of an Eastern form of Gnosis - Gnostic Mysticism - Gnosticism ) known as Sant Mat ( santmat ) & Radhasoami (radha soami, radhaswami), the Path of the Masters - Way of the Saints. The mystic-poetry of the Sants and Sufis of the East is Divinely romantic and blissful: Rumi, Hafiz, Kabir, Guru Nanak – and the Adi Granth of the Sikhs, Mirabai, Dadu, Tukarama, Ravidas, Namdev, Dariya Sahib, Tulsi Das, Tulsi Sahib, Swami Ji Maharaj, Huzur Maharaj (Saligram), and counless other lovers of the Beloved within and outside of Hinduism.
Contemporary Sant Satgurus of the spiritual practice of Sant Mat, known as Surat Shabd Yoga (meditation upon the inner Light and Sound, Nada Yoga), have much wisdom and guidance to offer the sincere spiritual seeker yearning to explore Inner Space, the Kingdom of the Heavens that are within all.
My Most Favorite Spiritual Quote of All-time, from Yogani Mata Ji, The Power of Love
The following is my most favorite quote about the spiritual journey, especially the last part: How can one sit so still, repeat only holy names and think of God constantly? “By falling in love,” Mataji answered serenely. “Because when one is truly in love nothing but the Beloved can enter one's mind. So the secret of Surat Shabd Yoga and of mysticism,” she goaded, “is not necessarily practice and more practice, but love. To be so devoted to one's Lord that nothing can stand in the way – this and nothing else is the truth of Sant Mat”. These paragraphs below are from Yogani Mata Ji. She is a Radhaswami Guru from India.
Namaste',
James
Mataji exuded a sense of joy and happiness. We talked for more than three hours about a variety of subjects, but I was most intrigued with Mataji's experiences on the inner spiritual planes. I asked her what it was like to leave the body. Mataji responded with a beautiful description of how consciousness can be released from the mortal frame by attaching itself to the stream of celestial music radiating from the top of the head and beyond. To do this, she said, one first must be initiated by a genuine mystic who has gained access to the higher realms. The practice itself, although it may take years to master, sounds relatively simple. The body should be kept perfectly still with one particular posture held for at least three hours. One may choose a cross-legged position (like the yogis in the lotus pose) or a more comfortable, relaxed position in a chair. Keeping the back erect and the mind alert, one continuously repeats God's name as given by his/her guru. This simran, as Mataji termed it, should be done with one's attention centered behind closed eyes.
Coupled with this physical stillness and ceaseless repetition of God's name [simran practice], the next step is to contemplate the Light within. At first, Mataji pointed out, there will be only darkness but eventually Light will appear in the form of either small flashes or small star-like points. In any case, one should focus on the radiance, keeping one's simran intact and allowing the Light to draw the soul inward. The third and most important step, Mataji said, is to listen to the Sound that issues forth from the Light. It is this Internal Music which will numb the body and allow the consciousness to leave its ordinary dwelling. By riding this Current of Light and Sound, like a fish going upstream, the soul will be able to go back to its original home. On the journey within, however, the soul must be guided by a true master so as not to be detained in any of the lower illusory regions. According to Mataji, what near-death patients experience is only the beginning of a vast sojourn into great universes of Light, love and beauty.
Personally I was overcome with the profundity of Mataji's account. Although it seemed plausible, especially given the findings of near-death patients who have been resuscitated, the soul's journey in the beginning stages appeared too difficult. How can one sit so still, repeat only holy names and think of God constantly? “By falling in love,” Mataji answered serenely. “Because when one is truly in love nothing but the Beloved can enter one's mind. So the secret of Surat Shabd Yoga and of mysticism,” she goaded, “is not necessarily practice and more practice, but love. To be so devoted to one's Lord that nothing can stand in the way-this and nothing else is the truth of Sant Mat,” Mataji stressed…. (Enchanted Land)
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Sant Mat