Universal Religion

Introduction
By: Khoji



Readers will find that I have not gone into details of conventional religions.

These numerous religions, with their sects and sub-sects, have already been fully described in hair-splitting details, with concrete instructions and directions, in the massive religious literature and scriptures of the world.

Countless libraries, religious institutions and Universities are already imparting and propagating religious knowledge. Some Universities have also instituted Departments or Chairs for the study and research of religions.

In other words, there is no dearth (shortage) of intellectual knowledge of religion in the world, and every body seems satisfied and complacent about his or her own religious knowledge.

Some ‘thinkers’ have even deeply studied religions, other then their own.

With the plethora (overabundance) of religions knowledge and literature in the world, it would look superfluous and absurd to make an attempt to write another intellectual treatise about various conventional religions. Apart from this, it will be unwise to open ‘Pandora’s Box’ of religions, when the atmosphere all around, is fully charged with communal strains and emotional elements of:

Intolerance,
Prejudice,
Bigotry,
Jealousy,
Pride,
Hatred, and
Strife.

I have therefore tried to confine myself to the general and sublimer aspect of religion, and have concentrated on the core quintessence (essence) point – inherent in all religious concepts.

This article is a ‘Love-gift’ to the devoted Aspirants of Spirituality, who are sincerely working in the pursuit of Divinity, but are confused and bogged down in the maze of superfluous, illusive, bewildering, controversial religious ideologies, concepts and beliefs!

These confusions and controversies about religious concepts arise from our intellectual incompetence and ignorance of the spiritual world.

Our limited intelligence can – at best – take us to the outer courtyard of the Divine Realm, but not beyond that.

The blind man’s knowledge is limited to what he perceives through his outer sense, but cannot grasp the complete and true perception of the world of Light.

Similarly, our intelligence is incompetent to perceive the Immanent Divine Light or to realise the Wonders of the Spiritual World.

The knowledge of the Divine Realm Can only be realised by the Insight or Consciousness of our Souls, called ‘Intuition’, which is also called the ‘Third eye’.

Until and unless this ‘Insight’ or ‘Intuition’ is developed and the soul is blessed with a glimpse of Divine Grace and Light, there are bound to be:

Differences,
Controversies,
Discord,
Confrontation, and
Bigotry

amongst various religions, and between ‘Outer Religion’ and ‘Spiritualism’.

Very few persons take up religion seriously, but even these few are:

Misguided,
Distracted,
Confused,
Diverted, and
Carried away,

from the real Essence of Religion, and are bogged down or lost in the maze of conventional religions and their:

norms and forms
dogmas and creeds
rites and rituals,
sermons and ceremonies,
logic and theology,
reasoning and philosophies,
superstitious obsessions,
obdurate bigotry,
fanatic aberrations,
wrong conceptions,
illusive achievements, and
hypothetic goals.

Even if a rare soul outgrows and transcends these outward religious obsessions, and rises to the higher consciousness, it is liable to be distracted and bogged down in some of the following phases of occult plane:

Imaginary hypothetic Visions,
Emotional flights of thoughts of the Unseen,
Reveries of fanciful notions,
Playing with psychic powers,
Clairvoyance & prophecies,
Large number of followers,
Religious ashrams and institutions,
Sufferings of ascetic life,
Illusory spiritual achievements,
Niceties of spiritual knowledge,
Nothingness of Yogic Trances, and
‘mutki’ or salvation from the cycle of birth & death.

Such souls are so involved and absorbed in the emotional exercises of their occult powers, that they become obsessed with their religious and occult attainments, and become oblivious or ignorant of any higher spiritual vision. All these emotional and imaginary achievements , visions and occult powers are based on egoistic foundation, and revolve around the lower consciousness of ‘I’ and ‘Me’. Hence they belong to the cosmic world and are devoid of the touch of Divine Grace & Light.

In fact, these occult visions and powers are enchanting mirages, in which most of the Yogies are caught and trapped, which prove a great hindrance for their further advancement towards the true spiritual goal.

It is therefore obvious, how difficult or impossible it is for an aspiring soul, to overcome by himself, the powerful gravity of ‘Maya’, and to transcend both the religious and occult barriers of distractions and misconceptions.

Only Illuminated & Blessed souls of Divine Vision can guide and introduce the aspiring soul into the higher consciousness of spirituality, to enable him to enjoy the inner experiences of Divine Bliss and Grace. This inner intuitional experience of the soul comprise of:

• Intuition and Divine Vision
• Vibrating thrill of Divine Touch
• Intoxication of Divine Bliss
• Infatuation of Celestial Music
• Secret and sacred Flame of divine Light
• Ecstasy of Divine Love
• Cosy Warmth of Divine Presence
• Glory of the divine Efflorescence
• Bewitching & captivating Divine Beauty
• Sweet Caresses of Celestial Grace
• Soothing peace of Celestial Silence
• Dancing Joy of Divine Grace

This is the:

True,
Eternal,
All-embracing,
Living,
Vibrating,
Practical, and
Joyful

UNVERSAL RELIGION of all souls.

__________________

Universal Religion

Chapter 1
By: Khoji

Religions were created to inspire and guide the inner consciousness of man, and to transform it:

From animality to ‘humanity’
From humanity to ‘nobility’
From nobility to ‘spirituality’
From spirituality to ‘the angelic’
From the angelic to ‘God-Consciousness’

But, generally, we, the so-called religious people, do not transcend these planes of consciousness, and tend to continue in our usual materialistic way of life.

Religion is to be lived and practiced with every breath, and should be reflected and manifested in all aspects of life.

If religion does not transform our consciousness and make a better and nobler man of us, then the adoption and profession of religion becomes:

Hypocrisy,
Superfluous,
Showy,
Meaningless,
Farce,
Self-deceiving,
Bigotry,
Egoistic, and
A mockery!

In fact, Religion is meant to provide a link between God and man, and between ‘man and man’, but when the emphasis is more on:

Norms and forms,
Creeds and dogmas,
Rites and rituals,
Conformity and conduct,

Rather then on GOD and HIS LOVE, then, Religion itself becomes a hindrance between Man and God, and a wall between man and man.

Religion is NOT merely intellectual –

Belief,
Faith,
Theology,
Dogmas,
Rites,
Rituals,
Ceremonies,
Discussions,
Do’s,
Don’t’s,

Or, to be

Learned,
Practiced,
Adopted,
Owned,
Professed,
Possessed,

just to satisfy our false sense of egoistic imaginations and hypothesis.

Various religions,
Numerous sects and sub-sects,
Ever changing dogmas and beliefs,
Divergent interpretations,
Different intellectual presentations,
Changing rites and ceremonies,
Contradictory practices,

through the ages – are proof of

imaginative,
superfluous,
hypothetical,
illusive

nature of fickle ideology, belief and conception about God and religion!

These mental beliefs and dogmas merely remain an ‘obsession’ of mind and is manifested in hair-splitting discourses and discussions of theories and philosophies.

This obsessional religious zeal often explodes into emotional fanaticism, causing untold sufferings and destructions.

In our narrow-minded religious ignorance and bigotry, we have reduced ‘Religion’ to:

Selfishness,
Egoism,
Partisanship,
Showmanship,
Bargaining,
Shop-keeping, and
Commercialism!

‘Religion’ denotes:

goodness
compassion
kindness
fairness,
charity,
nobility
forgiveness
tolerance
co-existence
magnanimity
service
affection
love
happiness
health
prosperity
peace
bliss

and all other sublime virtues of Divinity.

If our thoughts and actions do not reflect these sublime virtues, we denigrate and malign our adopted religion, and make a mockery of it!

‘Religion’ is opposed, contradictory and antithetic to:

selfishness
unkindness
injustice
corropution
malice
hatred
envy
prejudice
avarice
jealousy
anger
aggression
wickedness
strife
enmity
cruelty
sensuality and
egoism.

Attachment to anything in the world, is like a ‘screen’ between God and man. We keep up such screens of separation with tenacity and determined application.

We cling to religion as:

An ornament
Embellishment
Certificate of credibility
Testimonial
Appendage
Fashion
Feather-in-the cap!

So God stays away from us – as we simply do not ‘need’ Him yet!

When we actually feel the need for Him, yearn and cry for Him and His Love, ‘Religiosity’ is torn asunder, and universal aspect of religion shines forth with the grace of God and is perceived and realised in full glory of Divine Light and Love!

In fact, religion is generally adopted for:

Respectability
Solace
Material gain
Selfishness
Camouflage for our Karmas
Boosting the ego
Escape from ‘Satan’, and
Salvation from rebirth,
But, NOT with a flame of ‘Love of God in the Heart’!

Any religion which preaches, propagates and encourages directly or indirectly:

Discord
Hatred
Division
Repulsion
Harm
Conflict
Confrontation
Bigotry
Violence
Crusades
Superior complex
Exclusiveness
Partisanship and
Parochialism,

Is not worth being called a ‘Religion’!

During the ages, the ‘consciousness’ of man got –

Bogged down,
Fascinated,
Attracted,
Absorbed,
Entangled and
Lost

in the glittering illusion of ‘Maya’, entirely forgetting the original golden thread of Divinity running through the cosmos.

Consequently, our changing, imperfect, limited, whimsical ‘intelligence’ becomes the ‘base’ of our so-called religions.

All ideologies or beliefs, based on such imperfect fickle intelligence, can also be:

Superfluous
Imaginary
Illusive
Hypothetical
Whimsical
Variant
Opposite
Contradictory and
Controversial.

This explains the emergence of:

So many religions,
Numerous sects and sub-sects,
Ever-changing dogmas and beliefs,
Different rites and rituals,
Divergent religious approaches,
Contradictory teachings,
Confronting ideologies and beliefs,
Bigotry,
Religious communalism,
Religious fanaticism,
Religious hatred,
Religious strife,
Religious confrontation,
Religious enmity,
Religious atrocities,
Religious crusades,

And what not!

It is strange and ironical that man with—

• all his physical, intellectual, emotional advancement, and boastful modern civilazation
• proliferation (creation) of numerous religions into various sects and sub-sects
• profusion (abundance) of religious knowledge and philosophy
• hair-splitting discussions and discourses about religions, ideologies and theories
• Plethora (surplus) of religious books and scriptures
• un-ending exhortation and propagation of religious sermons and dogmas through modern scientific electronic gadgets
• multiplication and exaltation of religious temples and institutions
• surfeit (flood) of so called God-Men or ‘Sadhus’,

has failed to:

comprehend
realise
grasp
recognise and
identify

the subtle difference between:

• the ‘One’ universal ‘Religion of Love’ or ‘Nam’ of the Divine Realm

and

• various dogmatic religions of the world.

In fact, ‘Religion’ is two-pronged or two faced:

• One aspect of it, is the outer religion, which we term as ‘Karm-khand’ or dogmatic religion of rituals
• the other aspect is the ‘esoteric Religion’, i.e. inner universal religion of the soul.

The former is a ‘means’ to achieve the latter, which is the ULTIMATE END of our religious journey.

The only object of ‘Religion’ is to:

Encourage
Stimulate
Induce
Motivate
Inspire and
Drive

The soul to ‘turn inward’ – deeper and deeper – until we arrive at the ULTIMATE DEPTH – the Divine Home of the soul.

If the outer ‘ritual religion’ does not inspire and take us to the Ultimate Divine Realm, it becomes meaningless.

It is a pity that with all his intellectual knowledge and scientific achievements, man is still ignorant or conveniently complacent of the Truth about ‘God’ and Religion!

In fact, man’s misguided intelligence, galvanized (stimulated) with illusive ‘Maya’, is the cause of misconceptions and confusion about ‘God’, ‘Religion’, or things pertaining to the Divine Realm.

__________________

more to come...

Blessed Love!

__________________

__________________


LOVE LOCKDOWN

Universal Religion

Chapter 2 – Part1
By: Khoji

‘Things Divine’ are beyond the comprehension or grasp of our limited intelligence. They can only be perceived or realized by the ‘insight’ of the Soul – called ‘Intuition’ or the ‘Third eye’ – in the sublime company of the Illuminated Souls, i.e. Sadh Sangat.

When we try to understand secrets of the Celestial World, they hazy vision of our limited intelligence, we mix up and confuse the things of the two different worlds, and get confounded, resulting in:

Differences
Confusion
Controversies
Confrontation
Ill-will
Hatred
Bigotry and
Hypocrisy

in regard to ‘God’ and ‘Religion’.

The outer religions comprise:

Logic
Learning
Scripture quoting
Convincing discourses
Hair-splitting philosophies
Rites and
Ceremonies.

The intellectual preacher of this outer religions lives in the world of senses, and by his clever logic & theories, builds convincing systems of religions out of meagre details, writes brilliant treatises (articles), but he is ‘NOT LIVING’, as he is not in touch with the Higher ones; he knows them not, nor has he the ‘eye’ of faith to see the Real Divine Realm of Bliss, Joy, Peace, Love & Glory.

Religion is meant to:

• transcend mind, heart and intelligence
• transform intellectual theories and philosophies into practical religion
• remould the man in the ‘Image of God’ – as God intended him to be, and
• elevate the consciousness of man from materialistic world to the Divine Realm.

God is Man’s elemental need, and religion is a psychological necessity.

God is the ultimate fulfillment of life.

The Divine Religion is the innate heritage of every soul, but is lying dormant and latent, hidden in our worldly consciousness.

This Divine Heritage Of Divine Grace and Light has to be:

Awakened
Ignited
Activated
Developed and
Manifested

in our consciousness.

Man’s profound intelligence has been able to develop the materialistic science to unlimited horizons of the cosmos, but is incapable to comprehend and grasp the Science of the Soul.

Our modern science, despite all credible achievements, is still groping for the real purpose of life.

Our intellectual gymnastics and earnest reasonings to prove one very abstract point, or its opposite, exude an air of unreality.

Such mind boggling logical exploits may be the professional philosopher’s excursion, but definitely the common man’s despair!

This Spiritual ‘Science of the Soul’ can only be realised and experienced through inner ‘Intuition’ or the innate Divine intelligence of the Soul.

In fact, it is the transformation and transmutation of our consciousness, from materialistic world to the Realm of Divine Grace and Light.

Any religion or faith which deviates, distracts and diverts our attention and belief from the above mentioned genesis of Divine Truth, is a ‘misnomer’ and is not worth being called a religion!

The profound confusion, frustration, unhappiness, sorrow and misery prevailing in the world, is a direct result of

misunderstanding
misconception
confusion
bigotry, and
hypocrisy

of the so-called professed religions!

To clear the mind of dogmatic theological debris, it is essential to attune it to the Divine Vision within, which alone can guide us through the worldly consciousness of the cosmos, to the Divine Consciousness. This is the only way to transcend the sordid (disgusting) world of the illusive Maya, and find refuge and solace in the Divine Realm.

The only way of salvation or freedom from the sordid, cruel butchery of ‘Maya’, is to TURN BACK and take refuge in the True Universal Divine Religion.

This ‘turning back’ from the world of ‘Maya’ to the world of ‘Shabad’ or ‘Divine Grace’ is not a physical, intellectual or emotional process. It is essentially a process of transformation or transmutation of ‘consciousness’ on the ‘Intuitional’ plane.

This transition of transformation of our thoughts, beliefs, faith and consciousness, from the illusive, materialistic world, to the Divine Realm, is the:

True,
The only ONE,
Original,
Living,
Vibrating,
Universal,
Ultimate, and
Eternal

Divine Religion.

In fact, it is the:

Primal
Spontaneous
Simple
Natural
Innate

Religion – inlaid and inherited by every soul.

Sometimes we do come across expressions of such spontaneous simple amongst simple, unlettered guileless (honest) folks, which put to shame the so-called intellectual religious professionals!

The self-realised, enlightened simplicity of human life in its own natural sympathy, labour, faith and love, is after all the simplest and highest practical universal religion of the masses.

But such simple, natural, spontaneous, universal religion can only be instilled into the consciousness of the masses by the spiritual genius of supernatural vision of Enlightened God-Man, i.e. Sadh Sangat.

The humanity would be much better off, if it is not beguiled (lured) and confused with different, contradictory, controversial and dogmatic religions!

The ‘Divine Light’ or the ‘Essence of Divine Grace’ is called ‘SHABAD’ – the word-less ‘WORD’.

Prophets and Sages may come and go, but this word-less ‘WORD’ is the

All engulfing,
All pervading,
All illuminating,
Unchanging,

Eternal Diving Light, which has been enlightening and sustaining the Cosmos, since eternity.

This same ‘SHABAD’ was in the beginning, during the ages, and pervades through the whole cosmos.

All the Gurus, Prophets and Sages were illuminated and possessed of this same ‘SHABAD’.

We may give different names to this ‘SHABAD’ in various languages, but the essence of this word-less ‘WORD’, is the same ‘Divine Grace and Light’.

Therefore, this word-less ‘WORD’ or ‘SHABAD’ is the:

True,
Vibrating,
Living,
All-illuminating,
All-engulfing,
All-powerful, and
Eternal

‘Guru’ of the universe.

To:

Realise,
Partake,
Experience,
Enjoy,
Emanate,
Spread, and
Glorify

the Divine Blessings of Joy, Bliss, and Love, is the only:

true
basic
original
ultimate, and
eternal

Universal Divine Religion!

Consciousness of this ‘Divine Truth’ or ‘Naam’ is the core or quintessence in the ‘Cosmos’, around which all major religions revolve.

All the True Religions are expressions and projections of this basic Divine ‘RELIGION OF LOVE’, which are preached, propagated and glorified in different:

Norms,
Forms,
Dogmas,
Creeds,
Rites,
Rituals, and
Ceremonies

For the upliftment and salvation of humanity.

This inner transition of ‘transformation of consciousness’, from ‘Maya’ to the Divine Realm of Joy, Peace, Bliss, Love and Grace, is the True, Practical, Universal Divine Religion.

If this ‘transformation of consciousness’ does not take place, and our life is not ‘changed’ for the better, then ‘religion’ remains:

Physical exercise,
Mental excursion,
Intellectual satisfaction,
Emotional reveries,
Obsession of mind,
Hypothetical belief,
Superfluous faith,
Shallow theology,
Dry philosophy,
Meaningless dogmas,
Dead rites,
Dry rituals,
Dreary ceremonies,

Resulting in:

Superiority complex
Pride
Hatred
Jealousy
Malice
Bigotry
Strife
Aggrandizement
Enmity, and
Hypocrisy

in the guise of ‘religion’!

Every religion proclaims the cardinal principles of Truth, Righteousness & Love, based on the

Fatherhood of God, and
Brotherhood of men.

The underlying unity between scriptures of all faiths, also bear an unmistakable testimony to the ‘Universality’ of Religion.

But in actual practice, we overlook, ignore and forget the subtle ‘universal aspect’ of Religion, and unconsciously slip into superfluous dogmatic aspects of religious

Differences,
Opposition,
Contradiction,
Confrontation,
Hatred,
Strife,
Bigotry,
Violence, etc…

Thus, we deny or belie (contradict) the subtle basic principles of ‘Religious Unity’ or Universality.

It is only the golden thread of ‘Divine Love’ which is:

All-pervading,
All-embracing,
All-loving,
Eternal,
Spontaneous,
In-laid,
Inherent,
Innate,

In all hearts and souls, which govern, direct and motivate all subtle deep feelings and actions of life.

Therefore, this thread of ‘Divine Love’ is essential and most potential of Universal Religion.

In fact, a Religion cannot be called ‘Universal’, without the current of ‘Divine Love’.

Usually, every religion proclaims & preaches ‘Love’, but it becomes:

Superfluous,
Limited,
One-sided,
Diluted,
Polluted, and
Stagnated

with bigotry and religious pride.


Cont’d….

__________________

Universal Religion

Chapter 2 – Part 2
By: Khoji


Stagnated water gets putrefied (mouldy) and polluted in course of time. On the other hand when it is connected to the main stream, it remains fresh and pure.

Similarly our mind, emotions and Love can be pure and fresh, so long as it is connected to or in tune with, the main current of Divine Love.

The consciousness of egoistic-self and sense of possession disconnects our mind from the Divine Life Stream and makes our thoughts, emotions and Love diluted, polluted and stagnant.

We sincerely love our own children, but cannot love others' with the same fervour. Similarly, our love is biased when we deal with people of other faiths!

There can be NO UNIVERSALITY in religions, unless the soul transcends the limits of worldly consciousness and enters the subtle and purified state of 'Divine Consciousness'. In this Supra-consciousness, the soul is in touch, and in tune, with the Divine Consciousness, where there is a sense of

ONE in All, and
All in ONE,

engulfed in the Bliss of Divine Love.

Therefore, the

activation,
expression,
manifestation,
proliferation, and
glorification,

of Divine Love, in the vast cosmos is the:

original,
primal,
basic,
eternal,
practical,
vibrating,
living,
True
Universal

'LOVE RELIGION'.

This:

all-pervading,
all-engulfing,
all-loving,
inherent,
hidden,
latent,
innate

Eternal 'LOVE RELIGION' is working:

incessantly,
eternally,
silently,
imperceptibly,
secretly,
spontaneously,
perfectly, and
meticulously,

within every soul of the cosmos, for its individual evolution and emancipation.

This vibrating and blissful 'Love-Religion' is beyond the comprehension and grasp of limited human intelligence, and needs no 'man-made':

conventions,
dogmas,
rites,
rituals,
theories,
sermons, and
philosophies

Hence, this Universal 'Love Religion' cannot be:

learnt,
achieved,
grasped, or
imposed

through intellectual:

knowledge
philosophies
discussions
research
preachings
theorising
sermonising
propagating
austerities
recitations
rites
rituals
do's, and
don'ts.

This 'Love-Religion' is simply a

DIVINE GIFT,

from the Divine Realm, bestowed through:

company,
guidance,
inspiration,
infection,
ignition, and
grace

of illuminated Souls, blessed with Divine Vision.

This process of:

'conversion' of the Soul -


'transformation of consciousness'


is going on silently, imperceptibly, incessantly but surely, through the guidance and grace of Illuminated God-men of Divine Vision, i.e. Sadh Sangat.

This natural sublime evolution of souls, goes on unconsciously and spontaneously, according to the Law of Dispensation of Divine Grace and Love, irrespective of religious preaching or propagation, like the natural spontaneous growth and blooming of the flower.

All this secret and sacred Dispensation of Divine Grace and Love is working:

incessantly
eternally
silently
spontaneously, and
perfectly,

in spite of:

1. darkest period of evolution of souls in 'KAL-YUG'
2. scarcity of real Illuminated Souls of Divine Vision in the universe
3. tremendous distraction of glittering illusive MAYA
4. neutralising and nullifying effect of the superfluous, dogmatic religious propaganda
5. malice and persecution of the Illuminated man of Vision, by the established dogmatic religions.

Flower emanates and spreads:

fragrance,
beauty,
colours,
tenderness,
kindness, and
magnanimity

to everyone

unconsciously,
spontaneously, and
effortlessly

without any

condition,
distinction,
prejudice, and
pride.

This process of:

accumulating,
condensing,
preserving,
emanating, and
spreading

the fragrance and beauty of the flower is the

true,
natural,
spontaneous,
inlaid,
inherent

'religion' of the flower.

Similarly, the Divine 'Gift of Love', in-laid and inherent in every soul, is the fundamental True Universal Religion of man.

This 'Love-Religion' is the expression, projection and dispensation of:

Divine Grace,
Divine Bliss,
Divine Joy,
Divine Light,
Divine Love,
Divine Compassion,
Divine Kindness, and
Divine Kinship,

through human heart and soul.

With our little false 'Ego-centric consciousness', we have blocked the incessant flow of Divine Love into our mind and thereby deprived ourselves of all the Divine Blessings of 'Love-Religion'.

As and when we become conscious of our Divine Heritage, through inward deep meditation, and in sublime company of Awakened and Illuminated Souls, we partake and enjoy the Divine Blessings, and we shall thereby express and emanate the Glory of Divine Love.

Thus, the spiritual aspirant is wholly purified and engulfed by the Divine Grace and Light of His Presence, so that no trace of:

desire
selfishness
greed
passion
complaints
resentment
indignation
malice
discord
prejudice
jealousy
anger
enmity
revenge, and

any other base thoughts, are left in his consciousness!

Thus, Divine Love becomes:

all-knowing
all-embracing
all-engulfing
all-pervading
all-powerful
all-absorbing
all-intoxicating,

and the essence of all religions.

Therefore, the aspirant overgrows all conventional religions, and soars in the infinite skies of the Divine Realm!

His only True, Eternal, Universal, Living Religions, is to:

live in love,
move in love,
breathe in love,
sleep in love,
swim in love,
soar in love,
eat love,
drink love,
wear love,
think love,
speak love,
dream love,
get lost in an ecstasy of love,
become an embodiment of Love or
'LOVE personified'!

He becomes a 'LOVE ROSE' of the 'Divine Garden', unconsciously emanating the Divine attributes of:

beauty
fragrance
sunshine
tenderness
kindness
sweetness
forgiveness
compassion
magnanimity
peace
joy
bliss
grace
Love

and thereby:

expressing,
exalting,
glorifying, and
propagating

the Glory of the LORD, and sharing with others the Divine Joy, Bliss, Grace and Love.


Cont'd....

__________________

Universal Religion

Chapter 2 – Part 3
By: Khoji


The general public is not interested or superficially interested in religion. Even so, they adopt religion for their material gains or mental and emotional satisfaction.

Some of them do follow religion seriously for their own salvation from 'Satan', or 'Mukti'.

Even the so-called religious preachers are ignorant of-- or conveniently indifferent to-- the esoteric spiritual religion of the soul! Although they preach, propagate and exhort about spiritual matters, through quotations from scriptures, they themselves have little or no interest, faith or conviction about the spiritual religion of the Soul, i.e. Divine Grace and Light or 'Naam'!!!

Therefore, the outer show and profession of 'Religiosity' may not be a true expression of 'spirituality'!

We may go about as 'religious people' without any 'spiritualism'-- with God 'staying away' from us!

Very few seek God for his sake alone.

Only a handful of aspirants, devotees do really yearn and long for God, and cry for His Grace and Love.

Both the outer dogmatic and inner spiritual aspects of religions are supposed to be complementary and supplementary to each other, and source of inspiration and drive for the aspiring soul.

But the ignorance or misconceptions of either or both aspects of religions, makes them look like:

different,
opposite,
contradictory,
confrontative, and
anti-thetic

of each-other!

The outer dogmatic aspects of religions have already been discussed, described, explained and dilated into hair-splitting details in the various scriptures and by their preachers, in spite of which there is so much:

misunderstanding,
misconception,
confusion,
controversies,
confrontation,
bigotry, and
hypocrisy

amongst their followers!

If there can be so much confusion and misconception about the outer aspects of religions, which are amenable to our intellectual research and analysis, then, the ignorance and misconceptions of the spiritual aspects of religion is imperative and natural, since it is the beyond the grasp of our intelligence.

In the pitch darkness, there are bound to be differences and controversies about the perception of things. When the light is put ON, we get the correct perception of everything and all confusion and controversies are solved.

The intellectual has, therefore, no authenticity of the Divine Vision and whatever he preaches is:

vague logic,
clever theories,
empty ethics,
dry philosophy,
hypothetic faith,
superficial convictions,
superstitious belief, and
dead religion.

These religious preachers live in darkness of ignorance, without the Inner Intuitional Light.

'Ignorance' does not mean ignorance of 'why' and the 'wherefore' of creation, but it is a life lived in darkness of the 'soul'.

Intellectual beliefs,
arrived-at conclusions,
made-up faiths,
forced-in thoughts,
logical ethics,
imposed religions, and
vague theories

are artificial props of intellectual pillars, to support a well deliberated scheme of religious life, which are only:

diseases,
distractions, and
hindrances

in the path of soul-evolution.

The scholars, intellectuals and religious preachers, so-called saints and self-proclaimed gurus, mis-interpret Divine Nectar of Life, i.e. 'Naam', for mere intellectual 'gargling' so to say , while the blessed ones sip and drink the Nectar and live intoxicated life of Divine Bliss, Joy, Peace and Love, and bask in the cosy Sunshine of Divine Presence.

So long as we prefer to live in the darkness of illusive MAYA, there are bound to be:

differences,
misconceptions,
controversies, and
confusion

and what not, in all aspects of our life, including Religion.

Universal Religion

Chapter 2 – Part 3
By: Khoji


The general public is not interested or superficially interested in religion. Even so, they adopt religion for their material gains or mental and emotional satisfaction.

Some of them do follow religion seriously for their own salvation from 'Satan', or 'Mukti'.

Even the so-called religious preachers are ignorant of-- or conveniently indifferent to-- the esoteric spiritual religion of the soul! Although they preach, propagate and exhort about spiritual matters, through quotations from scriptures, they themselves have little or no interest, faith or conviction about the spiritual religion of the Soul, i.e. Divine Grace and Light or 'Naam'!!!

Therefore, the outer show and profession of 'Religiosity' may not be a true expression of 'spirituality'!

We may go about as 'religious people' without any 'spiritualism'-- with God 'staying away' from us!

Very few seek God for his sake alone.

Only a handful of aspirants, devotees do really yearn and long for God, and cry for His Grace and Love.

Both the outer dogmatic and inner spiritual aspects of religions are supposed to be complementary and supplementary to each other, and source of inspiration and drive for the aspiring soul.

But the ignorance or misconceptions of either or both aspects of religions, makes them look like:

different,
opposite,
contradictory,
confrontative, and
anti-thetic

of each-other!

The outer dogmatic aspects of religions have already been discussed, described, explained and dilated into hair-splitting details in the various scriptures and by their preachers, in spite of which there is so much:

misunderstanding,
misconception,
confusion,
controversies,
confrontation,
bigotry, and
hypocrisy

amongst their followers!

If there can be so much confusion and misconception about the outer aspects of religions, which are amenable to our intellectual research and analysis, then, the ignorance and misconceptions of the spiritual aspects of religion is imperative and natural, since it is the beyond the grasp of our intelligence.

In the pitch darkness, there are bound to be differences and controversies about the perception of things. When the light is put ON, we get the correct perception of everything and all confusion and controversies are solved.

The intellectual has, therefore, no authenticity of the Divine Vision and whatever he preaches is:

vague logic,
clever theories,
empty ethics,
dry philosophy,
hypothetic faith,
superficial convictions,
superstitious belief, and
dead religion.

These religious preachers live in darkness of ignorance, without the Inner Intuitional Light.

'Ignorance' does not mean ignorance of 'why' and the 'wherefore' of creation, but it is a life lived in darkness of the 'soul'.

Intellectual beliefs,
arrived-at conclusions,
made-up faiths,
forced-in thoughts,
logical ethics,
imposed religions, and
vague theories

are artificial props of intellectual pillars, to support a well deliberated scheme of religious life, which are only:

diseases,
distractions, and
hindrances

in the path of soul-evolution.

The scholars, intellectuals and religious preachers, so-called saints and self-proclaimed gurus, mis-interpret Divine Nectar of Life, i.e. 'Naam', for mere intellectual 'gargling' so to say , while the blessed ones sip and drink the Nectar and live intoxicated life of Divine Bliss, Joy, Peace and Love, and bask in the cosy Sunshine of Divine Presence.

So long as we prefer to live in the darkness of illusive MAYA, there are bound to be:

differences,
misconceptions,
controversies, and
confusion

and what not, in all aspects of our life, including Religion.

All ills and miseries of humanity, sprout from, and are aggravated by, the darkness of illusive Maya i.e. the absence of Divine Light.

This darkness of Maya cannot be removed or eliminated by egoistic human efforts alone. It can only be substituted with the Divine Light -- by the Grace of the Guru -- through the help and guidance of His Illuminated Souls -- 'Sadh Sangat'.

All scriptures have emphasized and exalted the value of 'Sadh Sangat' i.e. the sublime company of the Blessed Souls or Saints.

If a child gets admission in a good school and is placed under the tuition of a competent teacher, his smooth successful educational career is assured.

Similarly, if a student of the 'Science of Soul' finds place at the feet of Illuminated Blessed Souls, or Sadh-Sangat, his spiritual advancement and development is assured.

Therefore, the most important and crucial point for the Aspirant or 'Bhagta' is to seek the company of Awakened and Illuminated Souls, the Sadh-Sangat, who have been blessed with the Divine Grace and Light i.e. 'NAAM'.

The problem of spiritual life is that of finding truly Illuminated Souls or Sadh-Sangat.

Cont'd...

__________________

Having found a True Guru, all we have to do, is to surrender ourselves completely and unconditionally to him and walk the way of implicit obedience. Nothing else is necessary. What is needed is loving surrender to the Guru. He is the ever-compassionate one. He awakens, ignites and illuminates our dormant soul with Divine Light, as we walk in the darkness of this world. He transmutes our senses and mind, and purifies and illuminates our heart. And holding us by the hand, He leads us on the path, until the curtain of illusive 'Maya' drops, the veils are removed, and we behold the Beloved face to face.

In the past, sages, Gurus and Prophets have been teaching the technique of 'turning inwards', to inspire, motivate and re-direct our consciousness, back to our Divine Home in our souls, by putting us in direct contact with the 'word-less WORD' -- the 'SHABAD' -- the Ultimate Divine Essence.

But we have conveniently ignored and forgotten these invaluable Divine Instructions, to our own detriment and peril!

Even now, the technique of 'turning inward', or transformation of consciousness, may be learned and achieved with the:

company,
guidance,
inspiration,
infection,
ignition,
grace,

of

inspired,
Awakened,
Illuminated, and
Blessed

Souls or Saints -- 'SADH SANGAT'.

To be blessed with the company of sublime 'Sadh-Sangat', is a rare privilege. The very presence of such blessed souls gives more then a million books!

Out of 'LIFE' cometh life; and true Illuminated Souls can wake up within you, the centre of 'LIGHT'.

For the attainment of such exalted spiritual Consciousness, the following points are most important and essential:

1. 'Sadh Sangat', i.e. company of Illuminated souls of Divine Vision
2. Meditation, i.e. Simran
3. Loving Selfless Service, i.e. 'SEVA'

__________________

__________________


LOVE LOCKDOWN

xexon sits under the tree, smiling broadly.

He knows that H.S. is talking about Radha Soami, xexon's own spiritual lineage.



x

__________________
Destroyer Of Worlds

Actually, you are incorrect.

__________________

Universal Religion

Chapter 3
By: Khoji


"Some practical advices and percepts on this subject from some Illuminated Blessed Sages and Saints may be useful in guiding the sincere spiritual aspirants and students of the 'Science of the Soul'.

"Minute sensitive waves of 'thought-current' are constantly and habitually scattered and wasted in the outer direction towards materialistic world, and are spent, absorbed and lost in materialism. These extroverted thought-waves have to be collected, concentrated and re-directed inwards -- to the Source of Divine Light i.e. our Soul"

This reverse process of mind, from 'extrovert' to 'introvert', is called 'Meditation' or 'Simran'.

The easiest process of Meditation is to concentrate the mind on the divine Word -'SHABAD' or 'GUR-MANTAR', and repeat it continuously for some minutes in the beginning.

The duration of meditation should be increased gradually with practice.

Sit in a comfortable posture, close your eyes and meditate at a fixed time, regularly everyday, morning and evening and at any other available time.

Repeat the 'Gur Mantar' in a low voice, so that you can hear the whisper of Gur Mantar, uttered by yourself. By this simple method, concentration on the 'WORD' becomes easy and smooth.

This is the preliminary technique for the beginners only. In due course, with consistent practice , the 'Gur-Mantar' will imperceptibly dissolve into 'SHABAD' i.e. the word-less 'LIVING WORD', vibrating with Sublime Thrill, Bliss, Joy and Love. At this stage, Meditation i.e. 'Simran', becomes effortless, automatic, spontaneous and enjoyable.

For the practice of concentration and meditation, the following things are essential:

silence
solitude
regularity
guidance, and
company

of Awakened and Illuminated Saints,i.e. Sadh Sangat, blessed with Divine Grace and Light."


"Through meditation, you will gradually grow into harmony with Divine rhythmetic vibrations, and become more and more 'god-like', magnetic and endearing to all.

As you grow in meditation, you will find that veil after veil of illusive darkness of Maya is withdrawn, until a new revelation of the Divine Realm rises before you, with New Divine Consciousness."


"Repeat the Name of God -- again and again, as you:

sit in a bus or train to office
work in the kitchen or garden
during your walks
as you take your bath
as you dress up
before going to sleep
during sleep, and
on awakening.

Repeat the Name as often as you can.

Repeat the name with love and longing in your heart and tears in your eyes.
Take care that the repetition does not become mechanical and boring."


"Fasten this one 'Word', 'Gurmantar' to your heart.

Let the 'Word' go with you in your daily work and your daily life.

The 'WORD' will keep your consciousness awake.
In case of doubt, temptation or trouble, solve it with this ONE WORD!
Repeat the WORD, until it:

penetrates your heart,
engulfs your soul,
'hear' it with your 'heart'!
'see' it in your integral intuition, and
your whole being becomes this ONE WORD!

All else is evaporated or eliminated!"


"The reverse process of transformation of Consciousness is a difficult and tardy work, but it becomes easy and smooth in the company of Illuminated and Enlightened Souls. i.e. 'Sadh-Sangat'.

As this reverse process takes place in our life, our mind is gradually purified and spiritualised in the 'Sadh Sangat', and becomes amenable and conductive to the sublime influence of subtle vibrations of Divine Grace and Light. At the same time the influence of materialism is imperceptibly reduced and eliminated from our consciousness.

The more our thoughts are spiritualised by sublime company or 'Sadh-Sangat' and meditation, the more they become subtler, powerful, dynamic and magnetic with reflections from Divine Grace and Light.

Ultimately, when our soul is awakened and illuminated with Divine Light, by the Grace of the Guru, we, in turn, become channel or pipe-line for the outward flow and expression of all Divine attributes of kindness, Joy, Bliss, Love, Compassion, etc."


"The personal contact or company is the easiest and quickest way of conveying thoughts and influencing others.

The effect of such influence of thoughts is dependant on the intensity and conviction of one's feelings on the one side, and the receptibility of the other mind.

Hence, persons of developed minds, with deep convictions and strong faith, can influence and infect we