To See Him Again

Once, during an evening meeting Hazur Maharaj Ji spoke most lovingly about his own Master, Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji. Tears welled up in his eyes as he recalled his relationship with his Beloved. “I would give my life to see him again in his human form,” he said.

He was unable to hold back his tears when asked about his relationship with his own Master, who had left this world decades before.
_{Adventure of Faith}

Initially, this heartrending expression of emotion by the Master was quite perplexing. In Sant Mat, we have always been taught that the real Master is the Shabd -the Radiant Form. And yet, here was our own beloved Hazur longing for a glimpse of his Master in the human form. Why?

Eventually, it became clear. By this incident, the Master revealed to us that even though the Shabd Master is always with us in his spiritual form, as human beings it is only natural to feel great love for the physical form. On this coarse plane of material existence where the Shabd form is inaccessible to us, it is the physical Master who teaches us how to go within and get in touch with the inner Master; he is the one who guides us with infinite love, patience and understanding, and it is he who helps us develop our faith and understanding. In fact, it is only because of our love and trust in him that we are able to move forward and progress on the spiritual path.

But it was only after Hazur Maharaj Ji’s sudden passing that we understood the pain and agony Hazur felt that evening. The shocking news of his unexpected departure on the first of June 1990 turned our whole world upside down; it may as well have been doomsday. How could he leave us orphaned and alone? We were inconsolable.

And then it all made sense. Perhaps he had been giving us subtle hints all along, to value every precious moment we have with our Master while he is with us on this earth – a hint we unfortunately didn’t get.

Let not your heart be troubled. In my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
_Bible

And then he explained that we would never be orphaned; that the inner Master, our eternal Comforter would always be with us guiding and consoling us every step of the way.

After initiation, the question of our Master’s leaving us does not arise. As long as he has not seen us to our home and made us stand face to face with our Father, he does not leave us. He is not only with us in this life, but this companionship goes on even after death. He does not become carefree after initiating us, but has taken on the responsibility of taking us back to our original home.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Divine Light}

With the years gone by, as initiates of Hazur Maharaj Ji we still find ourselves in pain. Like Hazur, we too shed tears when we think of our Beloved; his beautiful, radiant face – if only we could see him again.

Knowing well the grief we would go through, Hazur made sure that we would not be left alone. He left us a precious gift – his most loving disciple, the one who would take over the guidance and care of all his souls and continue his spiritual work on this earth.

It is often said that everything happens for a purpose and perhaps there was an important lesson learned from the passing of our Master -that our attachment to the physical was making us complacent towards our spiritual duty. Hazur often quoted Christ in the Bible: “It is expedient for you that I go away … when I leave you it will be in your interest.” He explained again and again that the disciple must connect with the Shabd within; that without the physical form, the disciple would have no choice but to seek him within. In the end, the message is clear, that meditation and more meditation is the only way to see him again.

The world will not see me when I leave this body, but you will still see me because I am not going to leave you. Where will you see me? Within yourself. I will always be with you in my Radiant Form so for you I do not die…. The Master never leaves, he never dies.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Light on Saint John}