The Master Answers

A selection of questions and answers with Maharaj Charan Singh

Q: When a strong desire to do service awakens in a disciple’s heart, should he think only of turning that service to simran and bhajan?
A: No, whatever service he’s capable of doing, he can do. Of course, the best service is bhajan, but there are other services also which are strong means leading to bhajan. To train the mind to live in the will of the Father is also a service.

Q: How do we do that day by day?
A: We have to face situations at every step of our life, and at every step in this life we have to explain to our mind, “You have to accept whatever comes in your fate and accept it smilingly and cheerfully. Why grumble?” It’s a constant training of the mind. This is also doing service, because that will help us in meditation. If we always feel perturbed with every little thing, then how can we concentrate, how can we meditate? If we make every little thing an issue the size of Himalayas, then how can we concentrate? We have to forget, we have to forgive, we have to train our mind to take things easily, lightly, to laugh them away, ignore them. This is all training the mind.
_{Die to Live}

Q: Can the intellect ever fully understand the teachings of Sant Mat?
A: No. I would say to understand the real teachings of the saints is to experience them.
_{The Master Answers}

Q: Master, can one be too serious about Sant Mat? I find it difficult at times to laugh at certain things where other people can laugh at them.
A: We should be serious about following Sant Mat, but that doesn’t mean that we should disregard the cheerful side of life altogether. Rather, we should feel more relaxed because we are following the path. Concentration helps you to get rid of all your tensions. Meditation will help you to rise above this feeling of tension or remorse, or any miserable feeling.
_{Die to Live}

Q: Maharaj Ji, it seems clear that the lover needs the Beloved. Does the Beloved have any need of the lover?
A: Yes. Who gives the love to the lover? It is the Beloved who gives love to the lover. The lover thinks he loves the Beloved. The pull in the lover’s heart comes from the Beloved always. It gives the feeling to the lover that he is in love with the Beloved. Actually, it is the Beloved who has put that pull in the lover’s heart. Without that need, why should the Beloved give that pull to the lover? Why should he create the seed of love in the lover’s heart? The Beloved must be needing that love.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}

Q: I was wondering if it is right to give money to people; how should we give, and to whom?
A: There’s no harm in giving money in charity to deserving institutions, to deserving people; helping people who are really in need. But giving to those people who will use it for drugs or drinks, who will just waste money in sensual pleasures, is no good at all.
_{Thus Saith the Master}