The Master Answers

A selection of questions and answers with Maharaj Charan Singh

Q: When we are initiated, we are told that the Master is with us from then on. What I want to know is, does the Master know everything that goes on within our mind or within our actions, or is his attention only drawn to us in a spiritual way when we are meditating? He does not really watch all that is going on, does he?
A: I think that perhaps it would be better if he did not watch all that we do. Unfortunately, he watches all that we do. Do you not think that God exists everywhere and that he is within each one of us, and watches every one of us, what we do?
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}

Q: I suppose, Maharaj Ji, that any satsangi who does his meditation daily, diligently and devotedly for two and a half hours or more in the morning hours can reasonably expect to reach his spiritual destination?
A: Definitely. You see, you not only make spiritual progress within, but with regularity in meditation and living the Sant Mat way of life, your whole attitude and approach to the world and worldly problems changes. The time comes when you feel you’re not attached to anybody at all. And that is the main factor in our not coming back to this creation at all, no matter how little progress we have made within. Our whole attitude and approach to life changes by meditation, by living this way of life, and automatically we get detached from everything. And that detachment pulls us out of this creation.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}

Q: When a body is dead, if we say some prayers so that the soul may hear it, and to help the soul, does the soul hear us?
A: No, the soul does not hear our prayer. These prayers are said for the benefit of the bereaved ones. All that we do is to console those people whose relatives or friends have left them. Practically, we can do nothing for the departed soul. It has to answer for its own karma. All the ceremonies, prayers and things that we do after anybody dies are, in fact, to console the survivors and ourselves, and not that departed soul. We do not help the dead at all. His or her karma will take care of that. Generally when we pray for the dead, I think we are praying for ourselves to be able to bear our loss and separation. We do not help the departed at all.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. II}

Q: Will we gain credit even when we’re not hearing the Sound?
A: Any minute you spend in love and devotion for the Father is to your credit. It’s a stepping stone. You are making some progress – maybe at an ant’s speed, but you are making progress. Any little bit of love and devotion for the Father is to your credit.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. II}

Q: Is there suffering in the astral plane? Or is this the plane for offsetting our bad karma?
A: There is no physical suffering there. Mental suffering is there, in a sense that we are away from the Lord. Physical suffering is only in the physical body.
_{Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}